Leonard Boswell

Public Figure

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Leonard L. Boswell (born January 10, 1934) has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing the 3rd District of Iowa ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ia03_109.gif map]).Boswell was born in Missouri, was educated at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. He spent twenty years in the United States Army. He was first drafted in the Army in 1956 as a private. He later graduated from Artillery Officers Candidate School, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his military career he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, the Soldier's Medal, and numerous other awards and decorations. He served two one-year tours of duty as an assault helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He also served two NATO tours of duty in Europe, first for four years in Germany, and later three years in Portugal.He was a farmer and a member of the Iowa Senate before entering the House. Boswell was also the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor of Iowa in 1994. Boswell is a member of the Community of Christ.[http://www.adherents.com/adh_congress.html] He and his wife Dody have three children.[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/1998/states/IA/H/03/leonard.boswell.html]Boswell had a non-cancerous tumor removed from his stomach in 2005.The surgery and resulting recovery period caused him to be the most-absent member of Congress for the year. Rumors circulated that Democrats were looking to replace him on the ballot for 2006's Congressional race against Iowa GOP Senate leader Jeff Lamberti, but Boswell's return to work and apparent good health have put an end to the speculation.Boswell was reelected to his 7th term on November 4th, 2008.In the 110th Congress, Leonard Boswell has voted with the Democratic Majority in the House 95.6% of the time. Boswell authored H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and provides mental health services and support for veterans. Boswell has voted to double Pell Grants and supported the 2007 College Cost Reduction and Access Act, providing the largest increase in college aid since the GI bill. He voted for the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. Boswell voted to expand funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and voted twice to override the President's veto of SCHIP legislation. Boswell has voted to hold the Iraqi government accountable and begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq.However, Boswell has voted with Republicans on key issues in the past. In 2000 he voted to phase out the estate tax, a bill that was later vetoed by President Clinton. In 2001 Boswell voted for the USA PATRIOT Act, and for its reauthorization in 2005. In 2002 he voted to allow President Bush to invade Iraq. In 2005 he voted for the bankruptcy bill sponsored by Senator Grassley. In 2008 he supported passing the FISA bill granting telecommunications companies immunity from prosecution for their involvement in warrantless wiretapping of American citizens, including his sending a letter to Speaker Pelosi encouraging her not to fight the bill. He voted for the final House version of the bill once he was convinced it provided adequate protection to the telecom companies. When he first went to Congress, Boswell voted for a Constitutional amendment to limit Congressmembers to six terms, and promised to serve only four. He is now running for his seventh term.In 2008, Boswell voted in favor of the proposed $700 billion wall street bailout package.1996: Defeated Mike Mahaffey 49%-48%1998: Defeated Larry McKibben 57%-41%2000: Defeated Jay Marcus 63%-34%2002: Defeated Stan Thompson 53%-45%2004: Defeated Stan Thompson 55%-45%2006: Defeated Jeff Lamberti 52%-46%2008: Defeated Kim Schmett 56%-42%*U.S. House Committee on Agriculture**Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy & Poultry (Chairman)*U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure**Subcommittee on Aviation**Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials*U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence**Subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis and Counterintelligence (Vice Chair)From 2003 through 2005, $14.7 billion in crop subsidies went to the congressional districts of members on the House Committee on Agriculture, an analysis by the non-partisan Environmental Working Group found. That was 42.4% of the total subsidies. Boswell is reported to have brought $404 million to his District. Dilanian, Ken, [http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-25-farmbill_N.htm#subsidies" Billions go to House panel members' districts"], USA Today. July 26, 2007.*[http://boswell.house.gov/ U.S. Congressman Leonard Boswell] ''official U.S. House website''*[http://www.boswellforcongress.com/ Re—Elect Boswell U.S. Congressman] ''official campaign website''

July 25, 2008

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Vice President Dick Cheney should be impeached. Co-Sponsored HR 333 to Impeach Cheney

July 12, 2008

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Affirmative action is necessary. Boswell wants to continue federal affirmative action programs.

July 10, 2008

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The government should negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies. Boswell has voted to ensure that Medicare can negotiate drug prices to bring down prices for seniors.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Global warming is a problem that humans must take actions to address. Both pieces of legislation would provide an excellent path to encourage the development of emissions and energy technologies that will help reduce pollutants in the air, and will take steps to begin to reverse the effects of global climate change.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Congress should eliminate the estate tax. Congressman Boswell has voted to end the marriage penalty six times, voted to increase and expand the child tax credit, and eliminate the inheritance tax.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Different genders are not treated equally in the workplace. But even today, full equality of pay between the sexes has not fully been achieved.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Employer health care plans should offer equivalent benefits for both mental health and physical conditions. I strongly support legislation requiring that mental health and addiction be treated fairly by insurance policies

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Human cloning should be allowed. Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The U.S. should enact a constitutional amendment prohibiting the burning of the American flag. Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The Constitution should not be amended to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Voted NO on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The Patriot Act is constitutional. Voted YES on making the PATRIOT Act permanent

July 9, 2008

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The U.S. should not allow online voting. Boswell does not support voting on-line

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Affirmative action is constitutional. Boswell wants to continue federal affirmative action programs.

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved The federal government should subsidize Amtrak. Voted YES on increasing AMTRAK funding by adding $214M to $900M

an opinion of Leonard Boswell was approved Regulations on campaign contributions do not violate the First Amendment. Voted YES on campaign finance reform banning soft-money contributions

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