John Boozman

John Boozman
Appointed 2015
Committees: Compensation and Human Resources; Strategy, Innovation, and Technology

John Boozman, a successful businessman and life-long resident of Arkansas, was sworn-in as U.S. Senator on January 5, 2011. Raised in Fort Smith, John graduated from Northside High School and went on to play football for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks while completing his pre-optometry requirements. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1977 and entered private practice that same year co-founding a family business with his brother that would ultimately become a major provider of eye care to Northwest Arkansas. John serves on five committees and chairs two subcommittees in the 114th Congress. John also serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, commonly referred to as the Helsinki Commission, and the Congressional Study Group on Europe (CSGE), a bipartisan organization dedicated to frank and candid dialogue between American lawmakers and their peers in European capitals and Brussels. John's main legislative priority remains getting Arkansas's economy back on track. Since agriculture accounts for nearly one-quarter of Arkansas's economic activity, John has used his seat on the Agriculture Committee to fight for an equitable farm bill to ensure that Arkansas's farmers, ranchers and loggers are protected. While an equitable farm bill is one way that the federal government can help Arkansas's farmers, over-regulating is one way it can harm them. For that reason, John focuses his work on the EPW Committee to limit the size and intrusiveness of the federal government to help. And in this particularly difficult economy, John remains committed to providing our veterans with economic opportunities to ensure they can assume their rightful role as an indispensable part of America's work force. Prior to serving in the Senate, John represented the people of the Third District of Arkansas in the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms where he established a reputation as an advocate for Arkansas, especially our state's veterans for whom he passed legislation to improve the transition to civilian life, expand treatments for our wounded warriors and modern educational benefits under the GI Bill. He was instrumental in bringing together Third District and state leaders with the international community culminated in the creation of the Arkansas World Trade Center (AWTC) in Rogers, which opened in 2007. Prior to his election to Congress, John served two terms on the Rogers School Board, which is one of the largest school districts in the state. 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. John successfully raised Polled Hereford cattle that were competitive in the show ring, as well as in bull testing at Oklahoma State University. John, 64, is married to the former Cathy Marley and they currently reside in Rogers, AR. The couple has three daughters and one granddaughter.