In January 2008, Boucher said that because of Virginia's dwindling tobacco farmers, his office would promote programs to encourage farmers to invest in sheep, beef and fruits and vegetables production.

Energy and the Environment

Representing a coal-rich district skeptical of cap-and-trade measures, Boucher backed the climate-change bill that passed the House in June 2009. Boucher has said he supports the climate change bill because if Congress doesn't establish some standards, the Environmental Protection Agency will. The EPA cannot "balance the need for economic sustainability against environmental regulation," Boucher said. "We can and we have done that in the bill that's passed the House."

Prior to the vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee, Boucher worked to soften the bill, gaining some protections for the coal industry, workers and electric utilities. Among the compromises Boucher championed are emissions allowances and offsets for free electric utilities, keeping energy costs low in regions where coal is the primary electricity source, as well as increasing funding for clean-coal technology.

Technology

Boucher's interest in communications and technology stems from his desire to help his rural district connect with the world. In 1996, Boucher co-founded the Internet Caucus with fellow rural Virginian Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R).

A supporter of the $787-billion economic stimulus package that was enacted in February 2009, Boucher pushed for funds to increase rural broadband access in the bill. The final package includes $7.2 billion for rural broadband access.

In the 1990s, Boucher helped wire small towns in his district with fiber-optic networks, bypassing the local phone company with newer technology.

Boucher is a supporter of updating copyright laws, introducing legislation multiple times that would allow consumers to make digital copies of materials for personal use.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which eliminated barriers between television, telephone and Internet services, was a descendant of 1988 legislation penned by Boucher and Gore.

Health-Care Reform

Boucher voted against both versions of President Obama's health-care reform bills.

Boucher was initially hesitant to say whether he would support the House version passed in November 2009, eventually saying in August 2009 that a public option could crowd out private insurance and could "financially destabilize" rural hospitals. He also said reform should include medical malpractice caps, which wasn't included in either of the reform packages.

Boucher explained his 2010 opposition by saying that his "concern largely centers on the dramatic reductions in Medicare funding."

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