Steve Womack

In late 2009, Womack jumped into the race for the 3rd District after incumbent Representative John Boozman announced that he would run for the United States Senate. The 3rd is one of the most Republican districts in the South and the nation (Republicans have held it since 1967), and it was generally believed that whoever won the Republican primary would be the district's next representative. Womack ranked first in the seven-candidate primary with 31% of the vote.[7] In the June runoff, he defeated State Senator and fellow Rogers resident Cecile Bledsoe, 52%-48%.[8]

In the general election, Womack defeated Democratic nominee David Whitaker, 72%-28%.[9]

Womack was originally set to face veteran Ken Aden in his reelection bid, but Aden withdrew from the race on July 8, after admitting to exaggerating his military record. As it was too late to select a replacement candidate for Aden (under Arkansas law, the Democratic Party could only name a replacement at that date if the original candidate died, moved out of the district or opted to seek another office), Womack faced no major-party opposition in November.[10] He was reelected with 76% of the vote.[11]

Womack in 2011.

In 2010, Womack signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.[12]

Womack was a member of the House Appropriations Committee when in 2014[13] lawmakers inserted a prohibition into an appropriations bill that would prevent USDA staff from working on finishing regulations related to the meat industry.[14]

In a 2015 episode of his show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver criticized Womack for blocking the enforcement of laws proposed by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration that were designed to protect chicken farmers from being threatened or punished by the companies they work for if they spoke out regarding their farming experiences.[15]

In December 2017, Womack voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[16][17][18]

On May 19, 2021, Womack was one of 35 Republicans to join all 217 Democrats present in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol.[19][20][21]

On November 30, Womack voted in favor of H.R. 550: Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2021. The bill helps create confidential, population-based databases that maintain a record of vaccine administrations.[22]

As of October 2021, Womack had voted in line with Joe Biden's stated position 15% of the time.[23]

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
  • United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense

• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus[24]
• Republican Study Committee
• Republican Governance Group[25]