Allen Boyd

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Allen Boyd, Jr.
Allen Boyd

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 63)
Valdosta, Georgia
Political party Democratic
Spouse Stephanie Roush
Residence Monticello, Florida
Alma mater Florida State University
Occupation farmer
Religion Methodist

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 (map). 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]

Contents

[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 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.

[edit] 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

[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] 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] Election 2006

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Pete Peterson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd congressional district

1997–Present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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