Allen Boyd

Infobox_Congressman
name =Allen Boyd, Jr.


width=200
date of birth=birth date and age|1945|06|06
place of birth =Valdosta, Georgia
state = Florida
district = 2nd
term_start=January 3, 1997
preceded = Pete Peterson
succeeded = Incumbent
party =Democrat
religion = Methodist
spouse = Stephanie Roush
alma_mater=Florida State University
residence=Monticello, Florida
occupation=farmer
branch=United States Army
battles=Vietnam War
unit=Infantry

F. Allen Boyd Jr. (born June 6 1945) is an American politician, and has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing ushr|Florida|2 ( [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/fl02_109.gifmap] ). His district includes all of Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, Jackson, Liberty, Gadsden, Franklin, Wakulla, Taylor, Suwannee, Lafayette, and Dixie Counties. The district also includes most of Leon and Jefferson Counties. Allen Boyd, a Blue Dog Democrat, serves as the group's Co-Chair for Administration He is ranked as one of the most Conservative Democrats in the United States Congress, which is in line with other members of the Blue Dog caucus.fact|date=July 2008

Personal life

He was born in Valdosta, Georgia to Margaret Elizabeth Finlayson and Fred Allen Boyd. [ [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/reps/boyd.htm boyd ] ] He was educated at Florida State University, graduating in 1969, and he served as an infantry officer in Vietnam with the United States Army. [ [http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BC038328 Project Vote Smart - Representative Allen Boyd Jr. - Biography ] ] Boyd is a fifth generation farmer from Monticello, Florida and continues to own his famiy's traditional plot.

Boyd was a member of the Florida House of Representatives before entering the U.S. House. From 1989 to 1997 he served in this body and spent much of his time as chairman of the state Democratic Conservative Caucus. Boyd gained a reputation as a fiscal conservative, a social moderate, and a politician with a commitment to issues facing groups such as farmers, the elderly, and labor.

Committee Assignments

*Budget Committee
*Appropriations Committee
**Subcommittee on Defense
**Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
**Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee

Military and veterans advocacy

Representative Boyd is a member of the House Caucuses for the Army, Air Force, and Mine Warfare. He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life. Boyd was a combat veteran with the U.S. Army, and cites his experience as a reason for his advocacy. He is considered a patron of military bases in the Florida Panhandle, notably securing funding for Tyndall Air Force Base, and the Naval Support Activity — Panama City base. Boyd voted for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, funding and supplemental funding for the war in Iraq, and is a vocal supporter of democracy in Iraq as a model for the Middle East.

Boyd was unopposed in the November 2006 elections, assuring him a 6th term in Congress. Boyd has traditionally performed better than most Democrats in his socially conservative, pro-military, Republican-trending North Florida district. He won reelection in 2004 with 62% of the vote, even while John Kerry lost the district.

On October 10, 2002, Allen Boyd was among the 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.

ocial Security

Representative Boyd was the only Democrat out of 202 in Congress at the time to endorse and actually was the cosponsor of the bill creating personal accounts to help fund Social Security (H.R. 440 — "The Bipartisan Retirement Security Act").

Election 2006

Position on 2008 "Bailout"

On September 29, 2008, Boyd voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008cite web|title= Bailout Roll Call | url= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/29/bailout.rollcall.0929.pdf| date= 2008-09-29 Retrieved on September 29, 2008]

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.house.gov/boyd/ Congressman Allen Boyd] official U.S. House site