[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 133 (Wednesday, December 6, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H8872-H8874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         GOODBYE TO COLLEAGUES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, I just would like to begin, I 
guess, where Dan Burton has left off in saying so long to so many 
Members of Congress that we have worked with. Because there are so few 
people here, I think it is an indication of how we have legislated in 
terms of waiting so late and Members having to leave, but I guess the 
most important thing that I wanted to say is that this legislative body 
has been very good to me, and I have been here for well over three 
decades.
  Not only did I have, do I have, an opportunity to serve my district 
and my country in this Congress, but it allowed me to meet and work 
with some of the most exciting, intelligent and interesting people that 
I never would have met had I not had the great honor of serving here.
  This has been especially true in the last decade where friendships 
have been very difficult to maintain, one, because of the legislative 
schedules that have been so different with the small amount of time 
that we spent here; two, because we don't travel abroad as a 
Congressional team; but, lastly, and I guess the thing that hurts the 
most, is that the group became not just friends, what committee, what 
part of the country you came from, but it was whether you were 
Republican or Democrat, and that made the difference.

                              {time}  2100

  I do hope that the new Congress will have just as much partisanship 
as relates to the issues that they believe in, but that we will have 
the Congress that I came to enjoy; that the partisanship would include 
friendship and would allow people to differ in the ideologies and their 
political beliefs, but at the end of the day we can say that we still 
were able to be friends. I really think that we all have to agree that 
in part, and perhaps a large part, the American people said that in the 
last election.
  I say that because tonight the epitome of how that works is with my 
friend of long years, Congressman Sherry Boehlert, a gentleman, a 
scholar, an American, a Member of Congress; a person who loves his 
district, his constituents, but loves Congress and his country; a 
person that stood up to Republicans and Democrats for what he believed 
in; a person who soared in popularity among those people that were 
concerned with our country, with our environment; and a person that, no 
matter how strongly he believed or other people disagreed with him, 
never lost a friend in that process.
  We will miss Sherwood. He has fought the good fight. He set an 
example for all of us. But I think that the best tribute that we can 
pay to him is that maybe all of us, Republicans and Democrats, would 
try to find out, how did he do this? How was he able to maintain his 
convictions, keep his head high, be eloquent in the debate, disagree 
with so many people, Democrats and even those within his party, and, at 
the end of the day, everyone is able to say what a true gentleman 
Sherwood Boehlert is, what a great gentleman he is, and, I am pleased 
to say, what a great friend he has been.
  So I know that because of the depth of his commitment, that he could 
never walk away from us in terms of commitment. And so as he follows 
through in an extension of his life and terminates that legislative 
part, I just want you to know that the entire delegation felt a sense 
of friendship for him. We will miss him, and we in the New York 
delegation, and I hope the Congress, will try desperately hard when we 
are tempted to do what we think our party label would want us to do, 
that we can remember that some have come here as friends; they can do 
their job, they can work hard, they can disagree, and, God willing, we 
can leave as friends.
  Mr. Speaker, my failing eyes allowed me not to see my buddy on the 
floor when I started this talk, and I just want to say personally, 
Sherwood, you have been a model for me, a model for the New York 
delegation, and if people had known our delegation, as diverse as it 
is, perhaps they could go to their delegation and be able to say that, 
hell, anybody, if we try hard, can be like Sherwood Boehlert.
  We will miss you, but I am so glad that I am in the same State, and I 
know I will be seeing more of you.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit Mr. Boehlert's biography for the 
Record.

             Biography of Representative Sherwood Boehlert

       Utica native Sherwood Boehlert (R-New Hartford), Chairman 
     of the House Science Committee, was first elected to the 
     House of Representatives in November 1982. He is currently 
     serving in his 12th consecutive term representing Upstate New 
     York.
       Boehlert has served on the Science Committee since 1983, 
     and was elected Chairman in January 2001. The Committee has 
     jurisdiction over all federal, nonmilitary scientific and 
     technology research and development programs, on which the 
     federal government spends more than $30 billion a year. The 
     Committee has jurisdiction over NASA, the National Science 
     Foundation, and research and development initiatives within 
     the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of 
     Energy, and the Department of Commerce. In addition, the 
     Committee has jurisdiction over civil aviation research and 
     development and marine research.
       Boehlert is a senior member of the House Transportation and 
     Infrastructure Committee, serving as Chairman of its 
     subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment from 1995 to 
     2000. He remains an active member of that Subcommittee.
       Boehlert was a founding member of the House Homeland 
     Security Committee, by appointment of Speaker J. Dennis 
     Hastert. Boehlert was also an eight year member of the House 
     Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (term limited).
       Born on September 28, 1936 in Utica, New York, Boehlert is 
     a graduate of Whitesboro Central High School and Utica 
     College Bachelor of Science, 1961). Before serving as Oneida 
     County Executive (1979-83), he was manager of public 
     relations at Wyandotte Chemical (1961-83), he was manager of 
     public relations at Wyandotte Chemical (1961-64) and served 
     two years in the U.S. Army (1956-58).
       Boehlert served as chief of staff for two area Congressmen, 
     Alexander Pirnie (1964-72) and Donald Mitchell (1973-79), 
     where he became intimately familiar with the people, places 
     and issues of Upstate New York.
       An avid New York Yankees fan and movie buff, Boehlert and 
     his wife, Marianne (Willey) Boehlert, make their home in New 
     Hartford, New York. They have four grown children and five 
     grandchildren. When Congress is not in session, he returns to 
     Central New York each weekend to stay in touch with the 
     people who elected him to represent them in Washington.
       The 24th Congressional District includes all or parts of 
     Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Oneida, 
     Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, and Seneca counties.

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, the upstate city of Utica, New York, calls 
itself the ``City of Possibilities;'' and I rise today to pay tribute 
to one of its sons, who saw his service in government not only as that 
of great possibilities, but of responsibility and achievement.
  My friend, my colleague, Sherwood ``Sherry'' Boehlert will retire at 
the end of this Congress after 12 terms of proud service to his 
community, his state and our nation.
  Whether it was as a Congressional staff member, U.S. Army veteran, 
Oneida County Executive, or Member of Congress, Sherry Boehlert saw 
government as a proud and noble profession, serving others to achieve 
for them a better quality of life.
  His service on the House Science Committee, which began in 1983 and 
culminated with his election as chairman in 2001, earned Sherry high 
marks for his intellect and independence, his ability and his vision.
  As a fellow New Yorker, I have been honored to be Sherry's friend and 
colleague for so many years.

[[Page H8873]]

  I know how committed he has been to the responsibilities of his 
office and those he serves, and the tremendous devotion he feels to 
this institution.
  Second only to this House is Sherry's devotion to another great 
institution, the New York Yankees.
  And it was the Yankee Clipper himself, Joe DiMaggio, who once said 
``there is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time. I 
owe him my best.''
  Mr. Speaker, for more than two decades, Sherry Boehlert has always 
given us his best.
  So I ask that this Body join me in thanking Representative Sherry 
Boehlert for his service, and that you join me in wishing him, his wife 
Marianne, and their family our sincerest best wishes for great health 
and happiness in the year's ahead.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, Sherry Boehlert was my good friend. He was a 
wonderful chairman and a great environmental champion. Sherry was a 
consistent bulwark in the Republican Party against drilling in the 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and his outstanding 
leadership is one of the main reasons why the Refuge remains a pristine 
wilderness today. In defending this magnificent wilderness, he more 
than filled the shoes of a Republican General--President Dwight David 
Eisenhower--who had the foresight to protect the refuge for its unique 
environmental values and the backbone to resist a storm of pressure to 
let the drillers destroy this untrammeled corner of America forever. 
Sherry was also the leading Republican voice for higher fuel economy 
standards for our nation's cars, trucks and SUVs. In doing so, he stood 
tall for our soldiers who fight on the oil fields of the Middle East 
and for the children of our children who are facing a climate change 
catastrophe that we are only beginning to fathom. I was fortunate 
enough to have had the opportunity to work with him often in these 
fights and his leadership and passion were an inspiration to me and to 
everyone who knew him.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my good friend and 
colleague, Sherry Boehlert.
  It has been my honor to serve on the Science Committee with Sherry 
for more than a decade. As the Committee Chairman, his inspired 
leadership earned the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle. Sherry's thoughtful approach to policy and commitment to 
pragmatic, non-partisan solutions to our nation's problems have led to 
policies that are both sensible and effective. Under his leadership, 
the Committee has elevated the importance of the federal science and 
technology portfolio, promoted sound environmental and energy policies, 
and strengthened math and science education. He also reinforced the 
scientific expertise of the Committee by adding a number of seasoned 
scientists to its staff.
  Sherry's unflagging optimism allowed him to plow through adversity 
and what most of us would consider insurmountable challenges. Through 
even the most discouraging times, his generosity of spirit and his 
endless good humor has been contagious to his colleagues--even when 
they don't share his point of view. I am certain that his endless 
enthusiasm and constant optimism will be remembered by all who have 
worked with Sherry. He has served the public in a manner that is rarely 
seen today: thoughtfully, carefully, and with great humility. In all, 
Sherry will leave this Congress considerably better than he found it, 
and he will be sorely missed.
  It lessens the blow slightly to know that Sherry will not be going 
too far away. He will be continuing his service to his fellow citizens 
in Washington at the Wilson Center on a scholarly appointment. 
Undoubtedly, science policy will continue to feel the influence of his 
thoughtful and dynamic approach to problem-solving.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, the New York delegation is a strong and 
unified delegation. At the end of the 109th Congress, four of our 
colleagues and friends will be exiting Congress. Tonight, we honor 
them.


                           SHERWOOD BOEHLERT

  I first commend my dear friend and colleague Sherry Boehlert on his 
service to the people of New York and the people of this country. He 
has developed the reputation as one of the most well-respected Members 
of this body, and it is well-deserved. Since he came to Washington in 
1983, Sherry has helped make good policy for our nation, and he has 
made countless friends along the way.
  From the minute I set foot in the halls of Congress, it became clear 
to me that Sherry was a colleague to whom I could look for honest 
opinions, respectful dialog and sound advice. It never mattered that he 
was on the other side of the aisle.
  Sherry's legislative skill is reflected in his record, which includes 
a rise through the ranks of the Science Committee to the Chairmanship 
in 2001. On that committee as well as the Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee, he has a long list of accomplishments. 
Clearly, anyone who says ``Nice guys finish last'' never met Sherry 
Boehlert.
  I am glad that I have had the honor to serve with Sherry and to be 
able to call him my friend. I wish my colleague a long, happy and 
healthy life away from the Congress, and I thank him for his 
friendship.


                               SUE KELLY

  I want to speak about my friend and colleague Sue Kelly, who has 
worked with me for many years in the Financial Services Committee, the 
Women's Caucus, and the Terrorist Financing Task Force, among other 
things.
  Congresswoman Kelly has worked hard for New York. One of the issues 
on which she has been a strong voice is the renewal of TRIA. I know she 
shares my view that TRIA is essential for New York's economy and growth 
and she has advocated vigorously for its renewal.
  Like the rest of us who lived through 9/11 in New York she 
understands the need to provide continuing support as the city 
continues to recover, and to provide economic security against the 
possibility of future terrorism.
  She has also worked hard for women. As a member of the Women's Caucus 
she and I have worked together to advance the rights of women in many 
areas, and I consider this a very important part of her service.
  Perhaps my favorite memory of something that Sue and I did together 
was our visit to Qatar in 1999 to observe and celebrate its first 
democratic elections, and the first time that women of any of the 
countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council had the right to vote and run 
for office.
  Allowing women to vote and giving them the opportunity to run for 
office was a major step forward in the democratic transformation of 
Qatar and I know we both felt that it was a truly momentous occasion.
  I thank Congresswoman Kelly for her service to New York and for her 
support for these issues that are dear to me as well.


                              Major Owens

  I would like to wish a very fond farewell to my good friend and 
colleague Major Owens. The residents of our city, our state and our 
nation are better off for his service, and on a personal level, I am 
better off for his friendship.
  Major has done a tremendous job for the working men and women of this 
country, most recently serving as ranking member of the Subcommittee 
for Workforce Protections and helping lead on such important issues as 
raising the minimum wage and protecting OSHA. His work on civil rights 
has been vital, and his work on behalf of New Yorkers has been 
tireless. We have worked closely together to ensure that the recovery 
from 9/11 is followed through, and he has shown himself to be an 
insightful and hard working legislator.
  I will certainly miss my colleague from Brooklyn. We have served 
together for my entire time in Congress, and I cannot imagine this 
place without him. I wish Major nothing but the best, I thank him for 
his dedicated work for the people of New York, and I will always 
treasure our friendship.


                              John Sweeney

  I honor my colleague and fellow New Yorker John Sweeney for his 
service. Together, we have collaborated on a number of issues vital to 
our state, including the recovery from 9/11 to the fight for fairer 
homeland security funding for high-threat areas.
  John has always been an impassioned advocate for his beliefs, and I 
have very much enjoyed and appreciated our work together.
  I wish John nothing but the best, and I am proud to have served with 
him and to call him my friend.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to respectfully acknowledge 
and pay tribute to the distinguished careers of the four retiring 
Members of the New York delegation, Sherwood Boehlert, Major Owens, 
John Sweeney, and Sue Kelly.
  Representative Boehlert has served the people of his upstate New York 
district with pride for 12 consecutive terms and leaves us now as the 
Republican dean of our delegation. His tenure in the House will be 
reflected upon with admiration and he will be remembered in particular 
for his successful efforts at bipartisan compromise. Reaching across 
the aisle numerous times, Sherry has delivered results which have 
benefited not only the people of his native New York but which have 
also enhanced the welfare of the entire nation. As long-time Chair of 
the House Science Committee, he has worked on a number of issues 
ranging from fuel efficiency and researching environmentally-friendly 
energies to improving the quality of math and science education 
programs for our nation's youth.
  Congressman Owens leaves behind a distinguished record as a 
legislator who has devoted special attention to labor and education. 
His commitment to social issues as a member of the Congressional 
Progressive Caucus has also led to a number of far-reaching 
improvements for the American people. Since his election in 1982, Major 
has fought for school modernization and, most recently, has been

[[Page H8874]]

an advocate for increased No Child Left Behind funding. Additionally, 
he has promoted initiatives to increase the minimum wage and create a 
system of universal health care.
  Congressman Sweeney is someone whom I had the fortune to know in 
Albany and deserves recognition for his tireless service to the 
citizens of New York State. His accomplishments are felt from his 
northern upstate district down to the five boroughs of New York City. 
As Vice-Chairman of the Transportation, Treasury, and HUD 
Appropriations Subcommittee, John has always been a reliable source of 
support for the state's small business owners and has championed 
projects facilitating growth and job development. As a Member 
representing Queens and the Bronx, I am also personally indebted to 
John for his successful fight to secure over $21 billion in recovery 
aid for the people of New York City in the aftermath of the September 
11 terrorist attacks on our city.
  I also wish to highlight the achievements of Representative Kelly, 
and in particular, her work as a colleague of mine on the House 
Financial Services Committee. She has made large contributions to 
significant pieces of legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley bill that 
ensures greater corporate accountability and has led the battle to 
enforce corporate diligence by heading initial hearings into fraud 
cases involving Enron and WorldCom. Mrs. Kelly also merits appreciation 
for her efforts to achieve justice for Holocaust survivors by leading 
hearings regarding WWII restitution. I wish Representative Kelly well 
in future endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank these Members for their distinguished service to 
this Congress and I wish them the sincerest of luck on their upcoming 
projects. New York State and this Congress are richer as a result of 
their contributions.

                          ____________________