Biography
Eric Alan "Rick" Crawford, born on January 22, 1966, at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, is an American politician, author, businessman, and Army veteran. He has served as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district since 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Crawford was elected as the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee for the 119th Congress, beginning his term on January 16, 2025.
Raised in a military family, Crawford enlisted in the United States Army after high school, serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician and achieving the rank of Sergeant. After his military service, he pursued higher education and later embarked on a career in agriculture communications and business. He founded the AgWatch Network, a farm news network serving multiple states, and worked as a marketing manager for a major John Deere dealer group.
In 2010, driven by a desire to serve and secure a brighter future for Arkansas's 1st District, Crawford ran for Congress and has since been re-elected multiple times. He resides in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with his wife, Stacy, and their two children.
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business and Economics from Arkansas State University, 1996
Political Experience
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U.S. House of Representatives: Serving as the Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district since 2011.
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House Intelligence Committee: Appointed as chairman for the 119th Congress, beginning January 16, 2025.
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House Agriculture Committee: Senior member, played a critical role in passing two Farm Bills, serving on the Conference Committees in 2014 and 2018.
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House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee: Worked to create safer and more reliable transportation systems; instrumental in the interstate designation of I-555, a vital corridor for Northeast Arkansas.
Notable Achievements
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Legislation: Introduced the Farmers Undertake Environmental Land Stewardship Act in 2013, aiming to ease regulatory burdens on farmers by modifying the EPA's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure rule.
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Caucus Memberships: Co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Caucus and the Congressional Rice Caucus; member of the Congressional Western Caucus.
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Awards: Recipient of multiple awards, including the USA Rice Federation Friend of the Rice Industry Award and the National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business Award.
Crawford's tenure in Congress reflects his commitment to agriculture, national security, and infrastructure development, aligning with his background and the needs of his district.
