Rick Crawford

Rick Crawford
Nationality	American
Occupation	Template:Hlist
Title	U.S. Representative from Arkansas's 1st congressional district
Known for	U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district

Eric Alan "Rick" Crawford is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Arkansas's 1st congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Crawford has represented the district — which encompasses the eastern portion of Arkansas, including the Arkansas Delta and much of the northeastern part of the state — since 2011. Based in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Crawford has built a congressional career centered on agricultural policy, national security, and intelligence matters. He serves as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and has held significant roles on committees overseeing agriculture and transportation. Before entering politics, Crawford served in the United States Army as a bomb disposal technician and later worked in the agriculture and media industries. His legislative priorities have consistently reflected the rural and agricultural character of his district, and he has been a vocal advocate for farm relief legislation and federal food assistance programs that serve his constituents.

Early Life

Rick Crawford was born Eric Alan Crawford. Before entering public life, he served in the United States Army, where he trained and worked as a bomb disposal technician. His military service provided him with experience in explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), a highly specialized and dangerous field within the armed forces. After completing his military service, Crawford transitioned to civilian life in Arkansas, where he became involved in the agriculture industry and local media. He settled in the Jonesboro area, within what would become the congressional district he later represented. His background in both the military and agriculture shaped the policy priorities he would carry into his political career, particularly his focus on national security and the economic needs of rural communities in eastern Arkansas.

Career

Entry into Politics

Crawford first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010, representing Arkansas's 1st Congressional District. The district covers a large swath of eastern Arkansas, an area characterized by its agricultural economy, particularly rice, cotton, and soybean production. Crawford ran as a Republican and won the seat, beginning his service in the 112th United States Congress in January 2011. He has been reelected in subsequent election cycles, maintaining his hold on the district through multiple terms. As of 2025, Crawford continues to serve in the House and has faced a primary challenge from Terri Yarbrough Green, a retired pathologist from Paragould, who filed to run for the 1st Congressional District seat in November 2025.

Committee Assignments and Leadership

Crawford has served on several key House committees during his tenure in Congress. He has held positions on the House Committee on Agriculture, reflecting the agricultural character of his district, as well as the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. His most prominent committee role is as chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, a position that places him among the most senior Republican voices on matters of national security and intelligence policy.

In his capacity as Intelligence Committee chairman, Crawford has worked alongside Senator Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on a range of intelligence and national security matters. In July 2025, Cotton and Crawford jointly wrote to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard urging a review of intelligence-sharing arrangements with Spain. The letter called on Gabbard to evaluate whether Spain's intelligence cooperation with the United States was adequate and whether adjustments to the bilateral intelligence relationship were necessary.

Crawford has also served in a leadership role related to the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (commonly known as the Select Committee on the CCP). In November 2025, Crawford joined Chairmen John Moolenaar of Michigan, Brian Mast of Florida, and Andrew Garbarino of New York in asking the Department of Commerce to investigate technology threats linked to entities connected to the Chinese Communist Party. The bipartisan inquiry reflected growing congressional concern about the national security implications of Chinese technology companies operating in or exporting products to the United States.

Agriculture and Farm Policy

Throughout his congressional career, Crawford has maintained a strong focus on agricultural policy, consistent with the economic profile of Arkansas's 1st Congressional District. The district is one of the most agriculturally productive regions in the United States, and Crawford has positioned himself as an advocate for the interests of farmers and rural communities in the region.

In October 2025, Crawford introduced the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act (H.R. 5710), legislation designed to provide immediate economic relief to farmers. The bill was introduced at a time when agricultural producers in Arkansas and across the country were facing significant economic pressures, including challenges related to commodity prices, input costs, and weather-related disruptions. Crawford framed the legislation as a necessary measure to support rural communities and ensure the viability of family farming operations in his district and nationally.

In November 2025, Crawford discussed his involvement with the Harvest for Hope initiative, a program related to farmers' aid and food security, during an appearance on the Talk Business & Politics D.C. Edition podcast. He highlighted the intersection of agricultural policy and food assistance, noting the importance of federal programs that support both producers and consumers in his largely rural district.

Government Shutdowns and Federal Spending

Crawford has been an active participant in congressional debates over government funding and federal spending. During periods of government shutdown or near-shutdown, Crawford has spoken publicly about the effects on his constituents in eastern Arkansas, particularly regarding the continuation of federal assistance programs.

In late October 2025, during a government shutdown, Crawford addressed the potential disruption of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which were set to stop as the shutdown continued. He spoke with KATV Channel 7 about the impact on hundreds of thousands of Arkansans who relied on SNAP benefits for food. Crawford placed responsibility for the prolonged shutdown on the U.S. Senate, specifically criticizing Senate leadership for failing to act on appropriations legislation. He urged Senate action to resolve the funding impasse and restore benefits to affected families. Crawford's comments reflected the significant reliance on SNAP in Arkansas's 1st Congressional District, where food insecurity rates are among the highest in the nation.

In early 2026, Congress narrowly avoided another major government shutdown, though debates continued over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Crawford appeared on KARK's Capitol View program to discuss the funding situation and the ongoing legislative negotiations surrounding homeland security appropriations. He also discussed these issues on the Talk Business & Politics program alongside economist Mervin Jebaraj, analyzing the economic implications of government funding decisions for Arkansas.

National Security and Intelligence

As chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Crawford has been involved in several high-profile national security matters during the 119th Congress. His role places him at the center of congressional oversight of the U.S. intelligence community, including agencies such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The July 2025 letter to DNI Tulsi Gabbard regarding intelligence sharing with Spain, co-authored with Senator Tom Cotton, signaled a proactive approach by the intelligence committee chairs toward evaluating and potentially restructuring intelligence partnerships with allied nations. The letter indicated that Crawford and Cotton had concerns about specific aspects of the U.S.-Spain intelligence relationship, though the full details of the classified concerns were not publicly disclosed.

Crawford's involvement with the Select Committee on the CCP in November 2025 further demonstrated his engagement with national security issues beyond traditional intelligence oversight. The joint request to the Commerce Department to investigate technology threats linked to Chinese Communist Party-connected entities reflected a broader congressional effort to address perceived vulnerabilities in the U.S. technology supply chain and to counter Chinese efforts to acquire or exploit sensitive technologies.

Personal Life

Rick Crawford resides in the Jonesboro, Arkansas area, within the 1st Congressional District he represents. Before entering politics, he was involved in the agriculture sector and local media in northeastern Arkansas. He is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served as a bomb disposal technician. Crawford has spoken publicly about the intersection of his military experience and agricultural background as formative influences on his approach to public service and policy-making. His involvement with initiatives such as Harvest for Hope reflects his continued engagement with food security and rural economic development issues beyond his formal legislative duties.

Recognition

Crawford's sustained presence in Congress representing one of the most agricultural districts in the United States has established him as a significant voice on farm policy within the Republican caucus. His elevation to the chairmanship of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence represents one of the most prestigious committee assignments in the House, reflecting the trust and confidence of Republican leadership in his capacity to handle sensitive national security matters.

His introduction of legislation such as the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act has drawn attention from agricultural groups and media outlets in Arkansas, and his advocacy during government shutdowns for the continuation of SNAP benefits and other federal programs has been covered by regional news organizations.

Crawford's role in addressing Chinese technology threats through the Select Committee on the CCP has also positioned him as part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers focused on strategic competition with China, an issue of increasing prominence in American foreign and economic policy.

Legacy

Rick Crawford's career in Congress has been defined by two parallel tracks: a deep commitment to the agricultural and rural policy needs of eastern Arkansas, and an increasingly prominent role in national security and intelligence oversight at the national level. Representing a district where agriculture is the dominant economic activity, Crawford has consistently prioritized farm policy, rural infrastructure, and food assistance programs. His advocacy for immediate farmer relief through legislation like the Bridge the Gap for Rural Communities Act reflects the ongoing economic challenges facing agricultural producers in the Mississippi Delta region and throughout rural America.

At the same time, Crawford's chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee and his involvement with the Select Committee on the CCP have placed him in the ranks of senior Republican policymakers on national security issues. His work on intelligence-sharing with allied nations and on technology threats from China illustrates the breadth of his portfolio beyond the agricultural issues most closely associated with his district.

As a military veteran who transitioned to a career in agriculture and then politics, Crawford's trajectory reflects a path common among southern Republican members of Congress who combine national security credentials with a focus on the economic interests of rural constituencies. His continued service in Congress and the scope of his committee responsibilities suggest that he will remain a significant figure in both agricultural policy and intelligence oversight in the years ahead.