Eric Alan "Rick" Crawford (born January 22, 1966)[2] is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. Before he was elected to Congress, Crawford was a radio announcer, businessman and a soldier in the U.S. Army.
Early life and education
Crawford was born in the Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, the son of Ruth Anne and Donny J. "Don" Crawford.[3] Crawford grew up in a military family. His father served in the United States Air Force. He graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson, New Hampshire. He enlisted in the Army, where he served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician for four years,[4] while advancing to the rank of Sergeant. After his service, he attended Arkansas State University and graduated in 1996 with a B.S. in Agriculture Business and Economics.
Radio career
He has been a news anchor and agri-reporter on KAIT-TV in Jonesboro and Farm Director on KFIN-FM. He owned and operated the AgWatch Network, a farm news network heard on 39 radio stations in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
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2010
Crawford decided to run for Arkansas' 1st congressional district after Democratic incumbent U.S. Congressman Marion Berry decided to retire. Crawford received the endorsements of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Congressman Asa Hutchinson, and former Congressman Ed Bethune.[5] He won the Republican primary, defeating Princella Smith 72%-28%.[6] He won the general election, defeating Berry's chief of staff Chad Causey 52%-43%.[7]
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2012
Crawford won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic prosecutor, Scott Ellington, 56%-39%.[8]
Tenure
Crawford was sworn into office on January 5, 2011 as a member of the 112th Congress. He is the first Republican to represent his district in Washington since Reconstruction. Crawford is a member of the Republican Study Committee.
Crawford voted to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and to return federal non-security spending to fiscal year 2008 levels. He also voted to terminate taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions.
In 2010 Crawford signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.[9]
Legislation
On January 18, 2013, Crawford introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (H.R. 311; 113th Congress) into the House.[10] The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to modify the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, which regulates oil discharges into navigable waters and adjoining shorelines.[11] The rule requires certain farmers to develop an oil spill prevention plan that is certified by a professional engineer and may require them to make infrastructure changes.[11] According to supporters, this bill would "ease the burden placed on farmers and ranchers" by making it easier for smaller farms to self-certify and raising the level of storage capacity under which farms are exempted.[12]
Committee assignments
Personal life
Crawford and his wife, Stacy, live in Jonesboro with their children.
References
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^ [1]
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^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20101103/pl_cq_politics/politics000003758279
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^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/crawford.htm
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^ Stiles, Andrew (2010-10-27). "National Review: Turning Arkansas Red". Â
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^ http://www.meetrickcrawford.com/endorsements/
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^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=572929
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^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=487762
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^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=705041
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^ http://americansforprosperity.org/noclimatetax//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/crawford-rick.pdf
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^ "H.R. 311 - Summary". United States Congress. Retrieved 10 March 2014.Â
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^ a b "H.R. 311 - CBO". Congressional Budget Office. Retrieved 10 March 2014.Â
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^ "Committee passes legislation to ease burden of SPCC program". High Plains Journal. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2014.Â
External links
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