(Washington, DC) – Last night, former New York Congressman and House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert passed away.
Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s (D-TX) statement is below.
“Last night, my friend and former colleague Congressman Sherwood Boehlert passed away. Congressman Boehlert served as Chairman of the House Science Committee from 2000-2006. We served on opposite sides of the aisle, but I had no better partner in advancing legislation to strengthen the U.S. scientific enterprise and applying science to solve societal challenges. He also led our Committee admirably through the years following 9-11 and through investigations of the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia accident. Congressman Boehlert represented the best of what the American people should expect from their legislators: integrity, fairness, openness to diverse perspectives, and a determination to do what is right, even when it put his own political career at risk. He was also simply a kind man with a big heart. As the current Chairwoman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I am proud to continue the tradition of leadership that he helped uphold. I offer my sincere condolences to his wife Marianne, to his children and grandchildren, and to all who loved him.”