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Our Values

In our campaign, we get results for everyday folks, keep us safe from terrorism and make a commitment to the things we value: better schools, better safety, better jobs and better health.

Voter Information

You may register to vote if:

1. You are a citizen of the United States.
2. You are a resident of Iowa.
3. You will be at least 18 years old on or before election day.

NOTE: If you are 17 years old, you may register to vote, but your registration will not be effective until your 18th birthday.

The Iowa Secretary of State has made the official voter registration available online in a pdf format:

-English voter registration form

-Espanol Aplicacion para el registro de votacion

-Vietnamese Voter Registration Form

-Laotian Voter Registration Form

You may print these online forms and fill out the one you need to use by hand. Please be sure to sign the form before you send it to your County Auditor. For a list of County Auditors and their address, please click here.

If you would like a hard copy of any of the forms above, please call the Secretary of State's Office at 515-281-5760 or 800-SOS-VOTE (800-767-8683).

The Secretary of State has also made the Application for an Absentee Ballot available on the web please print this off and fill it out and mail it according to the instructions on the form.

-English Application for an Absentee Ballot

-Espanol Formulario Official Para Solicitud de Votacin en Ausencia

-Laotian Application for an Absentee Ballot

-Vietnamese Application for an Absentee Ballot

-Absentee Voting for Iowans who are in the Military or Overseas

Education

Leonard Boswell believes that every American should have the opportunity to acquire a first-rate education and that every child should go to school in a safe, constructive learning environment. more...

Precription Drug Costs

Leonard Boswell supports a plan to increase the availability of cost-saving generic prescription drugs. more...

Agriculture

Leonard Boswell voted in favor of the most recent Farm Bill, which funnels more federal funds to Iowa than to any other state. more...

Medicare Reimbursements

Leonard Boswell is Iowa's leader in the fight to bring equity to Medicare reimbursements. more...

Support

Congressman Boswell has enjoyed the support of many organizations in this campaign. A partial list of supporting organizations includes:

• AFL-CIO

• Airline Pilots Association

• American Bankers Association

• American Federation of Government Employees

• American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees

• American Hospital Association

• American Nurses Association

• Associated Milk Producers

• Association of American Railroads

• Association of Trial Lawyers of America

• Committee on Letter Carriers

• Dairy Farmers of America

• John Deere and Company

• Human Rights Campaign

• Independent Community Bankers of America

• Independent Insurance Agents of America

• Iowa Construction Industry

• Machinists Non Partisan Political League

• National Association of Home Builders

• National Association of Social Workers

• National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

• National Farmers Union

• National Turkey Federation

• National Education Association

• National Rifle Association

• Sheet Metal Workers International Association

• Sierra Club

• Sugar Cane Growers

• United Auto Workers

• United Egg Association

• United food and Commercial Workers International Union

• United Steel Workers of America

• Veterans of Foreign Wars

Authorized by Boswell for Congress. Contributions to Boswell for Congress are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Leonard's honesty, hard work and decency ground his work in the values we live every day. A father, a farmer, a soldier, and a community leader, Leonard Boswell has always been there for his neighbors, and he's always been there for his country.

Leonard Boswell was born January 10, 1934, and raised in Ringgold and Decatur counties. He attended public schools and learned the tremendous value of Iowa's exceptional teachers and education system. He graduated from Lamoni High School. Leonard later received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Graceland College, where he met his future wife Dody. These experiences led to dedication to quality education that continues today as he diligently works to see to it that the quality of Iowa schools, teachers, and students improve upon their nationally recognized high level of achievement. Leonard supported increasing Pell Grants to the level they are today, more than double the level they were when he was first elected to Congress, providing low income students with the means they need to continue their education and strive for a better future.

Proud Veteran

In 1956, Leonard was drafted into the United States Army as a private. He would spend twenty years serving his country in the Army, eventually rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. While in the military, Leonard continued his education. He first graduated with honors from the Artillery Officers Candidate School. Later, he graduated first in his class from both the Army Aviation Fixed Wing Flight School and then at the Army Aviation Helicopter Flight School. He also graduated from the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and later returned there as an educator, imparting his knowledge onto another generation of brave soldiers.

During his long and distinguished military career (in which he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, the Soldiers Medal, and numerous other awards and decorations), Boswell saw the world. Leonard served two one-year tours of duty as an assault helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He also served two NATO tours of duty in Europe, first for four years in Germany, and later for three years in Portugal. Though he saw the world, the place he longed to be was home in Iowa.

Proud Farmer

In 1976, after retiring from the United States Army as a decorated and respected officer, Boswell returned to Iowa with his family to farm. The farm life had changed drastically from the one he knew and loved as a boy. The farm crisis of the 1980s hit Iowa particularly hard. However, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of his local farmers cooperative and grain elevator, Leonard steered the coop through the turbulent times when many others folded.

Proud Iowa Leader

At the urging of his community, Boswell ran for and was successfully elected to the Iowa Senate in 1984. There he expanded his lifelong commitment to education. He was also instrumental in passing significant spending reform legislation that put Iowa's finances back on track, thus ensuring a government that was both fiscally responsible and responsive to the needs of Iowans. In 1992, Boswell was honored by his colleagues in the Senate by being elected as Senate President, and he was reelected President in 1994 by the unanimous vote of his colleagues.

Proud Congressman

In 1996, Leonard was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Here he has continued his tradition of fighting for fiscal responsibility in government and for a good education for all. In Congress, he has participated in bringing about the first balanced federal budget in nearly three decades, provided meaningful tax relief to working families, supported the most comprehensive education reform ever undertaken, and has been instrumental in crafting aviation security legislation. He also continues to fight to keep Iowas small businesses and rural communities vibrant, to prevent crime, and to protect Social Security and Medicare.

On March 14, 2001, Congressman Boswell was named a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Given his extensive military background and Top Secret clearance, Leonard had a comfortable transition as he took on his committee responsibilities. This committee has oversight over the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and as other security agencies. As a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Leonard works closely with the administration to ensure our brave men and women in uniform have the information they need to successfully prosecute the war against terrorism. His subcommittee assignments include the Technical and Tactical Intelligence Subcommittee, as well as the Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence Subcommittee, of which he is the Ranking Member.

Congressman Boswell also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is a member of the Aviation and Railroads Subcommittees. And Leonard is a member of the Agriculture Committee, where he serves on both the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, and the Livestock and Horticulture subcommittees.

Proud Family Man

Leonard and Dody have been married for more than forty years. Dody has been a teacher for more than thirty years, teaching even while the family was stationed in Germany and Portugal. Together they have three children and four grandchildren.