John Boozman

John Boozman (born December 10 1950), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2001, representing the 3rd District of Arkansas (map). He is currently the sole Republican member of Congress (in either House) from Arkansas.

Bozzman was born in Arkansas and was an optometrist and rancher 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. After graduating Northside High School in Fort Smith, Boozman played football at the University of Arkansas while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from the Southern 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 the Drug 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 Democrat Woodrow 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 Speaker Dennis Hastert on major drug policy issues and advocated comprehensive legislative solutions to illegal drug problem. In May 2004, Rep. Boozman was appointed by the Speaker of the House to the House Policy Committee, the committee of key Republicans who vet issues and formulate legislation to address them.

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 raised Polled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the show ring, as well as in bull testing at Oklahoma State University.

John Burnett has announced plans to oppose Boozman in 2008.

U.S. attorney controversy
According to the April 28 Washington Post, Boozman was told by officials in the White House about its intention to fire Bud Cummins, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and replace him with Tim Griffin, an aide to Karl 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 General Alberto Gonzales appointed Griffin as interim U.S. Attorney, using a provision of the Patriot 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."