- John Boozman
Infobox_Congressman
name =John Boozman
date of birth= birth date and age|1950|12|10
place of birth=Fort Smith, Arkansas
occupation=optometrist, rancher
alma_mater=University of Arkansas ,Southern College of Optometry
state =Arkansas
district = 3rd
term_start =November 20 ,2001
preceded =Asa Hutchinson
succeeded = Incumbent
party = Republican
religion =Baptist
spouse = Cathy Boozman
residence=Rogers, Arkansas John Boozman (born
December 10 ,1950 ) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of theUnited States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the 3rd District ofArkansas ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ar03_109.gifmap] ). He is currently the sole Republican member of Congress (in either House) from Arkansas.Boozman was born in Arkansas and was an
optometrist andrancher before entering the House. He is married to the former Cathy Marley. The couple has three daughters.Boozman serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs, International Relations, and Policy committees in the House. In the
109th Congress , he served as Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, which focuses on ensuring veterans have a smooth transition to civilian life.Boozman was born in
Fort Smith, Arkansas to Marie Nichols and Fay Winford Boozman, Jr. [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/reps/boozman.htm 1 ] ] After graduating Northside High School in Fort Smith, Boozman played football at theUniversity of Arkansas while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from theSouthern College of Optometry in 1977 and entered private practice that same year as co-founder of Boozman-Hof Regional Eye Clinic in Rogers, which has become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas.Boozman was elected to Congress in special election after his predecessor,
Asa Hutchinson resigned to become the head of theDrug Enforcement Administration . Boozman was unopposed in 2002, won re-election in 2004 defeating Democrat Jan Judy by a margin of 59 percent to 38 percent and again won re-election in 2006, defeating DemocratWoodrow Anderson III .In the 108th and 109th Congresses, Boozman served as an Assistant Whip, making him responsible for helping House Majority Whip
Roy Blunt secure the votes necessary to pass critical legislation. Boozman was also named to the Speaker's Task Force for a Drug-Free America in 2003. The task force advised House SpeakerDennis Hastert on major drug policy issues and advocated comprehensive legislative solutions to illegal drug problem. In May 2004, Rep. Boozman was appointed by theSpeaker of the House to the House Policy Committee, the committee of key Republicans who vet issues and formulate legislation to address them. However, Congress.org's power rankings rate Boozman's power rating at 7.31, making him the 386th most powerful member out of 435, and displaying a considerable loss of influence. [http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/power_card.tt?id=48793] .Boozman is also a member of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), which is an inter-parliamentary organization of legislators from the 19 member countries of NATO and 20 associate countries. He was also appointed vice-chairman of the British American Parliamentary Group, a group of American and British lawmakers who meet to discuss issues of concern and fortify the already strong alliance between the two nations.Boozman is a member of numerous House caucuses including the Congressional Caucus to Fight & Control Methamphetamine, the National Guard & Reserve Components Caucus, the Congressional Rural Caucus and the Congressional Sportsman's Caucus. Boozman was also one of the founding members of the Congressional I-49 Caucus to promote completion of Interstate 49 and he is the chairman of the Congressional Caucus on the
Côte d'Ivoire and West Africa Caucuses.Prior to his election to Congress, Boozman served two terms on the Rogers Public School Board, which governs one of the largest school districts in Arkansas. He established the low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in
Little Rock and worked as a volunteer optometrist at an area clinic that provides medical services to low-income families. Boozman successfully raisedPolled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the show ring, as well as in bull testing atOklahoma State University .John Burnett had early announced plans to oppose Boozman in 2008. However, he withdrew from the race. It later appeared SSgt. Dave Pritt (http://www.PrittforUS.com/) would be the Democratic candidate to oppose Boozman, despite having never lived in the 3rd District of Arkansas. However, SSgt. Pritt withdrew from the race prior to the Democratic Primary leaving
University of Arkansas graduate studentAbel Tomlinson of theGreen Party of Arkansas as the sole opposition to Boozman (http://abelforcongress.com/). [cite news |first=Laura |last=Kellams |title=GI in Iraq plans bid for House seat| url=http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/216024/| publisher=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=February 7, 2008 |]U.S. attorney controversy
According to the
April 28 "Washington Post ," Boozman was told by officials in theWhite House about its intention to fireBud Cummins ,United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and replace him withTim Griffin , an aide toKarl Rove . According to the "Post," none of the Democrats in Arkansas' congressional delegation were told that Cummins was to be one of eight U.S. Attorneys to be fired.Boozman told the "Post" and the
Associated Press that White House officials had promised him that Griffin would be subject to Senate confirmation. Instead, Attorney GeneralAlberto Gonzales appointed Griffin as interim U.S. Attorney, using a provision of thePatriot Act that has since been repealed due to the controversy. Boozman also said that he didn't think Cummins should have been fired because he was "very well respected and has served the president well." [cite news |first=Dan |last=Eggen |title=GOP Lawmaker Told of Plan to Fire U.S. Attorney| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/27/AR2007042702112.html| publisher=The Washington Post |date=April 28, 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-28] [ [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/04/27/national/w162323D03.DTL Fired U.S. Prosecutor Warned of 'Stink' ] ]Committee Assignments
*Committee on Veterans' Affairs
**Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity (Ranking Member)
*Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
**Subcommittee on Aviation
**Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
**Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment (Ranking Member)
*Committee on Foreign Affairs
**Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
**Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and TradeReferences
External links
* [http://www.boozman.house.gov/ Congressman John Boozman] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.boozman.com/ John Boozman for Congress] official campaign website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=John_Boozman Profile] atSourceWatch Congresspedia
* [http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/power_card.tt?id=48793 Power Ranking] at Congress.org
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