About

K. Michael Conaway was first elected to Congress in November 2004 and he began representing the 11th district of Texas in January 2005. Serving in his fourth term, Mike has earned the reputation as “a voice of reason” in Washington.

Mike’s background as a CPA affords him the experience and skills necessary to be a vocal proponent in reducing the national debt. Utilizing skills gained from a long career in the private sector, Mike spends much of his time carefully evaluating legislation with a critical eye for spending and budget gimmicks.

As a grandfather seven times over, Mike is concerned about the future we are leaving to the next generation. As an advocate of a simpler and fairer tax system, he has sponsored legislation that would bring more accountability in government funding.

To ensure Congress starts making tough choices now Mike authored “No New Programs” legislation that directs Congress to offset any newly introduced federal program with the elimination of an existing program of equal or greater cost. This idea was eventually incorporated into the House Rules at the start of the 112th Congress and the House now holds all legislation considered for a vote to this standard as a result of Mike's efforts.

Born in Borger and raised in Odessa, Mike’s experiences as the son of an Army veteran turned oil field worker convinced him at an early age to dedicate his life to hard work and to the protection of freedom.

After graduating in 1970 from East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas with a bachelor’s in accounting, Mike enlisted in the US Army reserve. Following his service, Mike held numerous positions in both public the private sectors from being a chief financial officer at a bank to the chair of the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

In Congress, Mike currently sits on the House Agriculture, Intelligence, Armed Services, and Ethics Committees.

As a member of the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, Mike put this experience and expertise as an auditor to work, chairing a panel charged with paving the way for the Department of Defense to get their financial books in order. As a fiscal conservative, he knows that no federal agency will be immune from tight budgets in the coming years and DOD must continue to find efficiencies where available. Mike has championed the audit issue since coming to Congress so that policy makers can better oversee the Department and so that taxpayers know exactly what they are getting for their money.

On the Agriculture Committee, Mike serves as Chairman of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee, which oversees programs and markets for major commercial crops such as cotton, wheat, and rice. It also reviews the operations of the Commodity Credit Corporation, crop insurance programs, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, more particularly the implementation of the Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform law (P.L. 111-203), and the Commission's ongoing consideration of more than three dozen proposed rules.

Mike and his wife Suzanne reside in Midland, Texas. Their family includes two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren.