Mark Souder

Souder was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Irma (née Fahling) and Edward G. Souder, on July 18, 1950.[4][5][6] He attended Leo Junior/Senior High School, Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne and the University of Notre Dame. While in college, he was a member of the Young Americans for Freedom.[7] After graduating from college, Souder worked as a marketing manager and small business owner. He was a member of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.[8]

From 1974 to 1976, Souder served as marketing manager for Gabbort's Furniture. From 1976, he was the owner of Souder's General Store, also known as Historic Souder's of Grabill.[9] Souder served as an aide for United States Representative Dan Coats from 1983 to 1984; as minority staff director of the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families from 1985 to 1988; and again as an aide for Coats from 1988 to 1993, staying with Coats when the latter became a United States Senator in 1989.[4] He was a staff director on the United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.[10]

Souder early in his congressional career

Souder was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Republican in November 1994, defeating Coats' successor in Congress, Democrat Jill Long, in that year's national Republican landslide. He was re-elected in every election thereafter until his resignation in 2010. It was the only elected office he ever held. He originally ran on a signed pledge with America that he would not serve more than two additional terms.[11] He was regarded as a staunch advocate of abstinence education and family values.[12][13]

Souder was the Ranking Member on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism. He was also a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee. Along with U.S. Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), he was co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional National Parks Caucus. He was also co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Drug Policy.[14] Until the start of the 110th Congress, Souder was chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.[15]

In November 1997, Souder was one of eighteen Republicans in the House to co-sponsor a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton.[16][17] The resolution did not specify any charges or allegations.[17] This was an early effort to impeach Clinton, predating the eruption of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. The eruption of that scandal would ultimately lead to a more serious effort to impeach Clinton in 1998.[18] On October 8, 1998, Souder voted in favor of legislation that was passed to open an impeachment inquiry.[19] On December 19, 1998, Souder voted in favor of one (and against three) of the four proposed articles of impeachment against Clinton (only two of which received the majority of votes needed to be adopted). The only article of impeachment that Souder voted in favor of adopting was the third article, which charged Clinton with obstruction of justice.[20][21][22][23][24]

In March 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act, which represented the most comprehensive anti-methamphetamine legislation ever passed by Congress. Souder authored much of this law, which targets meth trafficking at local and state, national, and international levels.[25]

In December 2006, Bush signed into law the ONDCP Reauthorization Act, which Souder had authored and introduced. The law reauthorizes the office of "the Drug Czar" for five years.[26]

Souder said that an actual voting record in Congress is more valuable than claimed positions on issues. His 1994 issues profile is available in the project archives. The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime rating of 90%.[40]

In his initial campaign for Congress in 1994, Souder pledged his support for term-limit legislation.[49] He served four terms (1995–2003) representing Indiana's 4th congressional district. In 2002, after redistricting based on the 2000 census, Souder was elected to represent Indiana's 3rd congressional district.[50]

In 2004, the 3rd district re-elected Souder 69%–31% against Maria Parra.[51] In the 2006 general election, Souder's Democratic opponent was Fort Wayne City Councilman and military veteran Tom Hayhurst, an MD. Souder won 54% to 46%, carrying all eight counties in his congressional district.[52]

In 2008, Souder was re-elected to an eighth term in the U.S. House. Souder defeated Democrat Mike Montagano and Libertarian William Larsen.[53]

Souder's resignation prompted the 2010 Indiana's 3rd congressional district special election, which coincided with that year's regular elections. Souder was succeeded by Republican Marlin Stutzman.[54][55]

After his resignation, Souder and his wife, Diane, returned to their home in rural Allen County, Indiana.[56] He co-wrote a book about the history of local television in Fort Wayne, which was published in 2021.[57] He also wrote columns for the website Howey Politics Indiana.[58]

Souder was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2022.[59] He died of the disease on September 26, 2022, at age 72.[60]

• Souder, Mark; Long, Melissa; Herron, Heather (2021). Television in Fort Wayne 1953 to 2018. M.T. Publishing Company. ISBN 978-1949478747.

• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Higher Education Act Drug Provision
• Appearances on C-SPAN