| Rick Boucher | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | William Wampler |
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| Born | August 1, 1946 Abingdon, Virginia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Amy Boucher |
| Residence | Abingdon, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Roanoke College, University of Virginia School of Law |
| Occupation | attorney |
| Religion | Methodist |
Frederick Carlyle "Rick" Boucher (born August 1, 1946) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing Virginia's 9th congressional District (map).
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Personal life
Boucher is a native of Abingdon, Virginia, where he currently lives. He earned his BA from Roanoke College and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He has practiced law on Wall Street in New York and in Virginia. Prior to his election to Congress, he served for seven years as a member of the Senate of Virginia.
Long considered "married to his job", Boucher announced his engagement at age 59 to Amy Hauslohner, an editor of the Galax Gazette in Galax, Virginia. Said Boucher of the engagement "We have decided since I will be 60 in August and she just turned 50 last week, we probably are mature enough to handle marriage." [1] Boucher and Houslohner were married on June 3, 2006.
Congress
He was first elected to Congress in 1982, defeating Republican candidate William (Bill) Wampler. He then went on to defeat Virginia House of Delegates member C. Jefferson Stafford, of Pearisburg, Giles County in 1984. As of 2009, Boucher is serving his 14th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Running unopposed, the popular Democrat won re-election in November 2008. He sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee , the Judiciary Committee, chairs the United States House Energy Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet[2] and has been an assistant whip since 1985.
Boucher has been active on Internet-related legislation, including a bill that became law in 1993 authorizing electronic commerce by permitting for the first time the transmission of commercial messages over the Internet. His proposals to promote competition in the cable and local telephone industries contributed to the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Boucher originated the House Internet Caucus and is currently its co-chairman. He also created the Digital Media Consumer's Rights Act (DMCRA) legislation and co-authored the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. He was named Politician of the Year for 2006 by Library Journal, largely due to his efforts to protect the fair use doctrine and expand Internet technologies to rural areas.
The unsuccessful Republican candidates who have challenged Boucher often accused him of being a liberal out of touch with a conservative leaning district. Boucher voted in favor of the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act, as well as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. In contrast, Boucher has received a rating of "A+" from the National Rifle Association and is one of the 81 House Democrats who voted in favor of authorizing the invasion of Iraq.
Rick Boucher is a strong opponent of tax patents and has introduced bills to either have them banned or to exempt tax attorneys and tax payers from liability in infringing them.[3]
In June 2009, Boucher voted in favor of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (see: Emissions trading), which would restrict greenhouse gas emissions. Boucher was chairman of the energy sub-committee of the previous Congress which first drafted the legislation, and was deemed to be instrumental in the bills development. Boucher opened his pre-vote remarks on the bill by saying that he was in "strong support of the bill."[4]
In November 2009, Boucher voted along with 39 other Democrats against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. [5]
Rick Boucher endorsed Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president, while his district went solidly for Hillary Clinton.
According to Congress.org, Rick Boucher is the 10th most powerful member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee assignments
References
- ^ [1] "The big secret is out: Rick Boucher is engaged" Roanoke Times, March 17, 2006]
- ^ http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?art_aid=97993&fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage
- ^ Dennis Crouch "Tax Patent Legislation: Excusing Infringement of Patented Tax Planning Methods" Patently O blog, June 20, 2008
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2xwW08yc1w
- ^ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
External links
- Congressman Rick Boucher, U.S. House site
- Internet and Technology Initiatives, via U.S. House site
- Rick Boucher for Congress, campaign site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
- Sept. 15, 2006 Library Journal profile
| United States House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by William Creed Wampler |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th congressional district January 3, 1983 – present |
Incumbent |
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