Sherwood Boehlert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sherwood Boehlert
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| Chair of the House Science Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Sensenbrenner |
| Succeeded by | Bart Gordon |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Hamilton Fish IV |
| Succeeded by | Mike Arcuri |
| Constituency | 25th district (1983–1993) 23rd district (1993–2003) 24th district (2003–2007) |
| Executive of Oneida County | |
| In office January 1, 1980 – December 31, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | William Bryant |
| Succeeded by | John Plumley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sherwood Louis Boehlert
September 28, 1936 Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 2021 (aged 84) New Hartford, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Jean Bone
(m. 1959; div. 1976)Marianne Willey
(m. 1976) |
| Education | Utica College (BA) |
Sherwood Louis Boehlert (September 28, 1936 – September 20, 2021) was an American politician from New York. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007. This means he was a lawmaker who helped create laws for the country.
Boehlert was a member of the Republican Party. He was known for being a moderate Republican, which means his views were often in the middle, not too extreme. From 2001 to 2006, he was the Chairman of the Science Committee.
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Early Life and Career
Sherwood Louis Boehlert was born on September 28, 1936, in Utica, New York. He went to Utica College and earned a degree. After college, he served in the United States Army for two years (1956–1958).
Later, he worked in public relations. He also worked for two Congressmen from New York. From 1979 to 1983, he was the county executive for Oneida County, New York. This job is like being the chief manager for the county government. In 1982, he successfully ran for Congress. He was re-elected many times until he retired.
Serving in Congress
Sherwood Boehlert served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 years. He represented different parts of central New York during his time in office.
Focus on the Environment
Boehlert was very well known for his work on protecting the environment. In the 1980s, he became a strong voice in the Republican Party for environmental issues. He helped create important parts of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. This law aimed to reduce acid rain, which harms forests and lakes.
He also worked to improve how much fuel cars and trucks use. This is known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Because he often disagreed with his own party's leaders on environmental laws, he was called the "Green Hornet" by a magazine. He was seen as a key player in Congress.
Science and Technology Leadership
As Chairman of the Science Committee, Boehlert supported investing in science. He helped fund the National Science Foundation and programs for science and math education. He also supported the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
After the 9/11 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks, Boehlert worked on laws to improve cybersecurity research. He also helped create a new part of the Department of Homeland Security to develop technologies against terrorist attacks. This was a big step in keeping the country safe.
Boehlert also pushed for ways to keep the U.S. strong in science and engineering. He supported a major report called "Rising Above the Gathering Storm." This report looked at how the U.S. could stay a leader in these fields.
Supporting First Responders
Boehlert was a big supporter of first responders, like volunteer firefighters. He was a founding member and chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. This group in Congress works to help firefighters.
On March 17, 2006, Boehlert announced he would not run for re-election. He retired from Congress in 2007. Some important places are named after him, like the Union Station in Utica and science buildings in Rome, New York.
After Congress
After leaving Congress in 2007, Boehlert continued to work for environmental and scientific causes. He was part of the Alliance for Climate Protection, a group led by former Vice President Al Gore. He also worked with the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Death
Sherwood Boehlert passed away on September 20, 2021, at the age of 84. He died in New Hartford, New York.
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Sherwood Boehlert
