[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
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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.
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