As a 20-year veteran, including two combat tours in Vietnam, Congressman Leonard Boswell is a voice for all veterans.  As one of only 62 veterans in the House of Representatives, Boswell has championed for legislation that helps our veterans’ transition to life after combat and addresses an emerging veteran population – women.

In the 111th Congress, Boswell introduced H.R. 3926, the Armed Forces Breast Cancer Research Act, to address concerns about women soldiers who are being diagnosed with breast cancer after returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also supported H.R. 2583, the Women Veterans Access to Care Act. Women are the fastest growing demographic within the veteran population and currently represent 8 percent of our armed forces. Boswell believes that as our military population changes we must make sure that our veterans health care services and other benefits change to meet the new needs of these service members and veterans.

Boswell understands the challenges our veterans face in returning to civilian life. Last year, he introduced the Help Veterans Own Franchises Act to provide assistance to veterans opening up these small businesses in their communities. Additionally, he was proud to support the Post 9-11 GI Bill which took an outdated G.I. Bill model and updated it to fully restore G.I. education benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to match the level made available after World War II.  Boswell believes that we must give our returning veterans the tools to succeed after their military service and will offer those currently serving in our armed forces another means for success.  

In 2007, Boswell authored and shepherded into law the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act in 2007.  He counts this as one of his greatest legislative accomplishments as it provided mental health assistance to our men and women returning from combat.

As a veteran, Boswell understands that it is crucial to ensure our veterans always have access to healthcare, education, and other benefits that they were promised and he will continue to fight for these services on behalf of every service member, veteran, and their families.