John Boozman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Boozman
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee | |
| In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Debbie Stabenow |
| Succeeded by | Amy Klobuchar |
| United States Senator from Arkansas |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2011 Serving with Tom Cotton
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| Preceded by | Blanche Lincoln |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arkansas's 3rd district |
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| In office November 20, 2001 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Asa Hutchinson |
| Succeeded by | Steve Womack |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Nichols Boozman
December 10, 1950 Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Cathy Marley
(m. 1972) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Fay Boozman (brother) |
| Education | University of Arkansas Southern College of Optometry (OD) |
| Signature |  |
John Nichols Boozman (born December 10, 1950) is an American politician. He used to be an optometrist, which is a doctor who checks eyes and prescribes glasses. He is currently a U.S. Senator for Arkansas. He has held this important job since 2011.
Before becoming a senator, he was a U.S. representative for Arkansas from 2001 to 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is also the leader of the group of lawmakers from Arkansas in Congress.
Boozman was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His family later moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he grew up. He went to the University of Arkansas and played football there. He then studied at the Southern College of Optometry. In 1977, he helped start an eye clinic. He also volunteered to help low-income families with their eye care.
In 2001, he won a special election to join the U.S. House of Representatives. While there, he helped lead the Republican Party and worked on policies. He also helped pass laws that gave more support to veterans who were looking for jobs.
In 2010, Boozman was elected to the United States Senate. He defeated the person who held the job before him, Blanche Lincoln. He became only the second Republican from Arkansas to be elected to the U.S. Senate since the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. He started his Senate term in January 2011. He is now a senior member of important committees, like the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
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Early Life and Career
John Boozman was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. His father was in the United States Air Force. John's older brother, Fay Boozman, was also a politician.
After high school in Fort Smith, Arkansas, John went to the University of Arkansas. He played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. He then graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977. That same year, he helped start an eye clinic called Boozman-Hof Regional Eye Clinic in Rogers, Arkansas. This clinic became a big eye care provider in Northwest Arkansas.
He also started a program at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock. He volunteered his time to help people with low incomes get eye care. Before joining Congress, Boozman served on the Rogers Public School Board for two terms. This board manages one of Arkansas's largest school districts.
U.S. House of Representatives
Joining Congress
John Boozman was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in 2001. This happened after the previous representative, Asa Hutchinson, left the job. Boozman won his elections easily in the following years. In 2008, he won with over 78% of the votes.
His Work in the House
In October 2002, Boozman voted for a resolution that led to the Iraq War. Later, in 2011, he said he hoped Iraq would become a stable democracy.
Boozman served as an Assistant Whip for the Republican Party. This meant he helped gather votes for or against important laws. During the 2008 presidential election, he supported Mike Huckabee, who used to be the Governor of Arkansas.
He also led the Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. This group helps veterans have a smooth return to civilian life. He worked to pass laws that honored veterans and increased their benefits. For example, he helped pass the Veterans Retraining Act of 2009. This law provides training for unemployed veterans. He also helped create grants to help disabled veterans change their homes and cars to fit their needs.
In 2004, Boozman joined the House Policy Committee. This committee helps Republicans think about new ideas and create laws. He was also part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA). This group brings together lawmakers from NATO countries. He also helped lead a group of American and British lawmakers to discuss important issues.
U.S. Senate
Senate Elections
In 2010, John Boozman decided to run for a Senate seat instead of staying in the House. He won the Republican primary election. Then, he defeated the Democratic Senator, Blanche Lincoln, in the main election. He won with almost 58% of the votes.
He won a second term in 2016, defeating Conner Eldridge. He became the first Republican from Arkansas to be elected to a second Senate term by popular vote. In 2021, he announced he would run for a third term. He won his third term in 2022, defeating Natalie James.
His Time in the Senate
Boozman started his term in the Senate in January 2011. In 2015, he became the senior senator from Arkansas. This happened when Mark Pryor left the Senate.
After the events at the U.S. Capitol in January 2021, Boozman voted to support the official count of the 2020 presidential election votes. He said that what happened was "shocking and unlawful." In 2024, Boozman led a group of lawmakers to France to honor the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Committees and Groups
John Boozman is a member of several important Senate committees:
- Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (He is the Ranking Member, meaning the top Republican on the committee).
- Committee on Appropriations (This committee decides how the government spends money).
- Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Committee on Veterans' Affairs
He is also part of many special groups called caucuses. These groups focus on specific topics. For example, he co-chairs the Air Force Caucus and the Senate Broadband Caucus. He is also part of the 4-H Caucus and the Sportsmen's Caucus.
Political Views
Boozman has voted on many important laws and issues.
Health Care
He voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2009. He said that while he supported health care reform, he felt this bill would do "more harm than good."
Support for Veterans
Boozman has often worked to help veterans. In 2012, he voted against a bill called the Veterans Job Corps Act. Even though he helped write parts of it, he voted against it because of changes made to how it would be paid for.
Environment
In 2017, Boozman was one of many senators who asked President Donald Trump to remove the United States from the Paris Agreement. This agreement is about fighting climate change. Boozman said that leaving the agreement would not stop the U.S. from working on clean energy solutions.
Foreign Policy
In 2017, Boozman supported a bill called the Israel Anti-Boycott Act. This bill would make it a federal crime for Americans to support boycotts against Israel. In 2019, he voted to try and stop President Trump from lifting sanctions against some Russian companies.
Personal Life
John Boozman lives in Rogers, Arkansas, with his wife, Cathy Marley Boozman. They have three daughters. He has also raised Polled Hereford cattle, which are a type of cow. The Boozman family is active in the 4-H program, which is a youth development organization.
In 2014, Boozman had emergency heart surgery. He had another procedure in 2017 to monitor his heart.
His brother, Fay Winford Boozman III, was an eye doctor too. He helped John start the Boozman Regional Eye Clinic. Fay was also a politician and served in the Arkansas Senate. He passed away in an accident in 2005.
Images for kids
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Agriculture Sec. Sonny Perdue and Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson listen to Boozman speak about flood damage in Arkansas in 2017
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See also
In Spanish: John Boozman para niños
