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Allen Boyd was sworn in to 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 12 years, Congressman Boyd has been a leader of Congress’ Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 52 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.  In the 111th Congress, Boyd was appointed Chairman of the newly-established Blue Dog Budget and Financial Services Task Force. This 15-member group will work to promote policies and strategies that reflect Blue Dog priorities through sustainable and responsible fiscal reform.

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 is actively involved in every aspect of the nation’s fiscal policy and works 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.  Boyd’s work on this subcommittee allows him to improve and strengthen North Florida’s military bases and promote defense-related economic development projects in the district. Boyd also serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Mine Warfare Caucus. This bipartisan group promotes initiatives relating to Mine Warfare that maintain the security of our domestic waters and advance America’s international sea power.

In addition to the Subcommittees on Defense and Financial Services, Boyd continues to serve on the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee where he works to provide funding for a safe food supply and a healthy agricultural economy in Florida and throughout the nation.

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.