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He apparently isn’t your typical ‘Rat so don’t go too harsh on the man.

Congressman F. Allen Boyd, Jr.
Second Congressional District, Florida

Allen Boyd was sworn into office on January 7, 1997, as a Democratic member of the 105th Congress representing Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. The district spans 16 counties, from South Walton County through Tallahassee, almost reaching Jacksonville, making up the largest geographic congressional district in the state. This area of North Florida is distinctly rural, yet surprisingly diverse. The regional economy is as reliant on small fishing villages and rural farming operations as it is the higher education and state government communities of Tallahassee.

For the past 10 years, Congressman Boyd has been a leader of Congress’ Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 47 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives who advocate fiscal responsibility in the federal budgeting process. The Blue Dogs are centrist legislators working to forge middle of the road, bipartisan answers to the current challenges facing the country. Over the years, the Blue Dog Coalition has been called upon to lead the House to a comprehensive fiscal policy anchored in federal debt reduction for America and tax relief for all citizens. Boyd was instrumental in the successful efforts by Congress to reach the historic 1997 balanced budget agreement, and as the Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration in the 110th Congress, Boyd led the Blue Dog charge for the return to pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules in the House.

A leading voice on fiscal responsibility in the House of Representatives, Congressman Boyd was named to the House Budget Committee in the 110th Congress. As a member of the Budget Committee, Boyd will be actively involved in every aspect of the nation’s fiscal policy and work to implement budget enforcement tools that are necessary to restore our country’s fiscal house.

In the 106th Congress, Boyd was appointed by his peers to the highly-coveted Appropriations Committee where he works to ensure fairness in funding to North Florida’s priorities. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Boyd has worked to protect Florida’s military community and bring much-needed aid to the agriculture industry. In the 110th Congress, Boyd’s understanding of our national defense and strong commitment to our military were recognized by his appointment to the powerful Subcommittee on Defense of the House Appropriations Committee. This new role will allow Boyd to further work to improve and strengthen North Florida’s military bases. In addition to the Subcommittee on Defense, Boyd will continue to serve on the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee in the 110th Congress.

Further, as a farmer and business owner, Congressman Boyd is conscious of the issues facing small businesses and workers in today’s economy. He knows that in order to grow the economy and achieve long-term stability, government must act as a catalyst, not an obstacle, for empowering companies to grow and thrive in a changing world market. He believes that government should provide an economic model for businesses to follow in order to stimulate growth. That central belief has earned him endorsements over the years from the United States Chamber of Commerce and the fiscal watchdog group, the Concord Coalition.

From 1989 until his election to Congress, Boyd served in the Florida House of Representatives. Throughout his career in public service, Boyd has led the charge for government reform and fiscal responsibility. He is also known as an articulate voice for consensus building and reasonable compromise. As Chairman of the Florida House Democratic Conservative Caucus, Boyd helped build bridges between diverse interests on such difficult issues as public education, healthcare, and welfare reform—issues he continues to work on in Congress.

A fifth generation farmer, Boyd graduated from Florida State University in 1969 and served his country in Vietnam. To this day, he continues to oversee the family farm operations on land that has been in his family for five generations. He and his wife, Cissy, reside on their farm in Monticello, FL. Their children—Suzanne, John, and David—are also Florida residents.