Thursday, April 17, 2014

Senator Boozman and the CRPD

Senator John Boozman from Arkansas served in the House before 10 years coming to the Senate in January 2011. He holds the doctor of optometry degree. He and his brother, an ophthalmologist, opened an eye clinic to serve disadvantaged people in Arkansas. He also helped establish a low vision program at the Arkansas School for the Blind. He serves on the Appropriations Committee. That is no easy feat for a newly elected Senator. And like Senator Burr, whom I also have profiled in this blog, he serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. He has been active and aggressive cosponsor of legislation to benefit veterans, especially disabled veterans. He is a vocal supporter of restoring retirement benefits and increasing veterans' pay benefits to make them commensurate with the private sector.

He is no stranger to the benefits of play on a world stage. In 2007 he was instrumental in the creation of the Arkansas World Trade Center.

We need someone like Senator Boozman to help us with the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Why? In video clips he appears mild-mannered and comfortable with facts.  Two different Senate committees have moved two pieces of his legislation out of their committees this month. That is amazing given the partisan atmosphere we see in Congress. He seems to weigh what he says. So I suspect he weighs what he reads as well. He could help us find the words to put in a CRPD resolution that would satisfy conservatives like him.

The more I read about members of the Senate I hope will help us with ratification if we approach them in good faith, the more I realize that they are individuals who want to make things better in the U.S.  It's our job to let them know that the ratification of the CRPD is part of that.

Here is contact information for Senator Boozman:

Washington DC: 202.224.4843
Little Rock:  501.372.7153
Fort Smith:  479.573.0189
Lowell:  479.725.0400
Mountain Home:  870.424.0129
Jonesboro:  870.268.6925
Stuttgart:  870.672.6941
El Dorado:  870.863.4641
Website:  www.boozman.senate.gov
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SenatorJohnBoozman (no traffic, 129 likes, let's give him some of both!)
Twitter: @JohnBoozman

As with so many Senators we want to reach, veterans and their families could really sit well (literally!) with Senator Boozman. Please try and do just that during this Easter and Passover break.

Thank you.
Common Grounder

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