Rick Crawford (politician)

Elections

2010

Crawford chose to run for Arkansas' 1st congressional district after Democratic U.S. Representative Marion Berry decided to retire. Crawford received the endorsements of Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, current Governor Asa Hutchinson, and former U.S. Representative Ed Bethune of Arkansas' 2nd congressional district.^[5] He won the Republican primary, defeating Princella Smith 72 to 28 percent.^[6] He won the general election, defeating Berry's chief of staff Chad Causey 52 to 43 percent.^[7]

2012

Crawford won re-election to a second term by defeating Democratic prosecutor, Scott Ellington, 56 to 39 percent.^[8]

2014

Crawford won re-election to a third term, defeating Heber Springs Mayor Jackie McPherson 63 to 33 percent.^[9]

2016

Crawford won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Libertarian candidate Mark West 76 to 24 percent. ^[10]

Tenure

On January 5, 2011, Crawford was sworn into office as a member of the 112th Congress. He is the first Republican to represent his district in Washington since Reconstruction. The last Republican to represent the district was Asa Hodges who vacated the seat on March 3, 1875, during Reconstruction.^[11] Crawford is a member of the Republican Study Committee.^[12]

Crawford voted to repeal U.S. President Barack H. Obama's 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.^[13]

In 2010, Crawford signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity to vote against any global warming legislation that would raise taxes.^[14]

Crawford supported President Donald Trump's 2017 executive order to impose a ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying that the order was "designed to keep our nation safer" although "Green card holders and aides of the U.S. military should be allowed entry."^[15]

Crawford voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, supporting tax reform.^[16] He believes that the bill will make it easier for people to file their taxes and that "the vast majority of middle-income families in my district will get to keep more of their money to use as they wish." He also believes that local businesses will hire more and provide pay raises to current employers in the wake of the bill's implementation.^[17]

Legislation

On January 18, 2013, Crawford introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act (H.R. 311; 113th Congress) into the House.^[18] 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.^[19] 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.^[19] 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.^[20]

Committee assignments

Congressman Crawford questions Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in 2013.

• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Republican Study Committee

LGBT rights

Crawford opposed the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling legalizing same-sex marriage and believes that it should have been decided state-by-state, not by the Supreme Court.^[21]