Joint Action Committee
for Political Affairs

Voting Record:

Rep. Leonard Boswell Democrat of Iowa, District 3

Statistics

Party: Democrat
Born: January 10, 1934
Education: Graceland College, BA Business Administration, 1969
Occupation: Farmer, U.S. House of Representatives
Family: Married, Dody Boswell; 3 children, 4 grandchildren
Religion: Community of Christ
Political Career: Iowa State Senate (1984-1996); President of Iowa Senate (1993-1996); U.S. House of Representatives (1997-Present)
Committees: Committee on Agriculture – Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

Why Your Support

Leonard Boswell is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of Congressional Democrats who identify themselves as moderates. He votes along party lines on most issues, but will depart on foreign affairs or financial issues more than social policies.  Congressman Boswell has been a friend to Israel and the pro-Israel community.  He has resolutely reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and has upheld the strong relationship between the two allies with consistent votes for foreign aid, the establishment of joint ventures, and support for the peace process. Boswell's twenty-year Army career has informed his views on foreign policy and treatment of veterans. 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 a timetable to begin withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

On women’s reproductive health rights, Boswell has a record of supporting family planning initiatives and access to education and contraceptives. While his record on abortion is mixed, the demographics of parts of his district places his votes into a more comprehensible context. In recent votes, Boswell has supported women’s rights in legislation relating to health care, family planning and other initiatives that involve reproductive choice. In the health care reform debate, Congressman Boswell voted against a measure to prohibit federal health coverage that included access to abortion procedures. Further, the Congressman has consistently voted yes on expanding access to education and services, including family planning services and contraceptives as well as improving women’s health services on a broader level.

Background

The 3rd district of Iowa, which Congressman Boswell has been representing since 1997, is based in Des Moines. For his first three terms, Boswell represented a district that stretched along the Illinois border, nearly reaching Iowa’s border with Nebraska. However, after the 2000 redistricting process, Boswell’s district was all but dismantled, with the territory reapportioned among three other districts with Boswell’s home drawn into the heavily Republican 5th district. Rather than face near-certain defeat, Boswell moved to the Des Moines area, and the newly created 3rd district, where he was elected to Congress. The 3rd district of Iowa is over 88 percent white and more educated than the majority of the country - over 90 percent of the district has at least a high school diploma. With a small minority population, blacks and Hispanics together account for less than 9 percent of the population, the district is heavily homogeneous. The median income in the district is just over $51,000 annually, with poverty below 9 percent. In 2008, the district voted for President Obama by a margin of 54 percent, voting for Boswell by just a slightly higher 56 percent. Most notably, in order to win the 2008 election against his republican challenger, Boswell spent over $1.5 million in contrast to the Republican’s $155,000. Similarly, in 2010, Boswell faced two challengers, and won with just 51 percent of the vote. Leading to a competitive election cycle in 2012, Boswell will likely face a significant challenger for his seat in an uncertain political climate.

About The Candidate

After graduating from Graceland University in Iowa, Congressman Boswell spent twenty years in the United States Army. He was first drafted in 1956 as a private, and he later graduated from Artillery Officers Candidate School before he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his career in the military, Boswell earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, the Soldier’s Medal, and various other decorations and awards. In those twenty years, Boswell served two one-year tours of duty in Vietnam as an assault helicopter pilot. He also served two NATO tours of duty in Europe, in both Germany and Portugal.

In 2005, Boswell had a non-cancerous tumor removed from his stomach. The surgery and recovery period caused him to be the most-absent member of Congress for the year, and left rumors to circulate that the Democratic party was looking to replace him on the ballot for the 2006 race against the leader of the Iowa GOP Senate leader, Jeff Lamberti. However, Boswell was able to return to work, put an end to the rumors, and the voters of the 3^rd district voted him back to office for his 7^th term in 2008.

In his personal life, Boswell is a devoted family man, an avid churchgoer and farmer. He operates a farm in Davis City that has been in his family for several generations and remains active in his home community.