Allen Boyd

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Allen Boyd, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Pete Peterson
Born	June 6, 1945 (1945-06-06) (age 64) Valdosta, Georgia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Stephanie "Cissy" Roush (filed for divorce)
Residence	Monticello, Florida
Alma mater	Florida State University
Occupation	farmer
Religion	Methodist
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Unit	Infantry
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

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 Florida's 2nd congressional district. 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Personal life

He was born in Valdosta, Georgia to Margaret Elizabeth Finlayson and Fred Allen Boyd.^[1] He was educated at Florida State University, graduating in 1969, and he served as an infantry officer in Vietnam with the United States Army.^[2] Boyd is a fifth generation farmer from Monticello, Florida and continues to own his family's traditional plot. He is married and has 3 grown children (2 sons and 1 daughter). His son John was imprisoned in 2008 for transporting illegal narcotics and illegal aliens into the United States from Mexico.^[3] On September 30, 2009, it was announced that his wife of 40 years, Cissy, had filed for divorce.^[4][5]

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.

[edit] Committee assignments

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
• Committee on the Budget

[edit] Business ventures

Representative Boyd is also an owner of Boyd Family Farms Inc.^[6], which is currently receiving farm subsidies^[7] appropriated by the same Appropriations Subcommittee of which Boyd is a member.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Legislation

[edit] Social 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").

[edit] 2008 financial crisis

• On September 29, 2008, Boyd voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008^[8] also known as the "Stimulus Plan," but later voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

[edit] Health care

• On November 2009, Boyd voted along with 39 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. ^[9]

[edit] See also

United States Army portal

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Congressman Allen Boyd official U.S. House site

• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues