Sherwood Boehlert
Encyclopedia
Sherwood "Sherry" Louis Boehlert (born September 28, 1936) is a retired American politician
from New York
. He represented upstate
New York
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1983 until 2007. Boehlert, a Republican
, was considered to be a member of the party's moderate
wing. In 2003, Utica Union Station was renamed in the Congressman's honor. On March 17, 2006, at a press conference Boehlert announced that he would not seek a thirteenth term in office.
to Elizabeth Monica Champoux and Sherwood Boehlert, and graduated from Utica College
. He served two years in the United States Army
(1956–1958) and then worked as a manager of public relations
for Wyandotte Chemical Company.
and Donald J. Mitchell
; following this, he was elected the county executive of Oneida County, New York
, serving from 1979 to 1983. After his four-year term as county executive, he ran successfully for Congress in the elections of 1982. He was reelected to every Congress subsequent.
Boehlert also was a member of several national moderate GOP groups including the Republican Main Street Partnership
, the Ripon Society
and Christine Todd Whitman
's It's My Party Too.
Boehlert is best known for his work on environmental policy. Beginning in the 1980s with the acid rain
crisis, Boehlert became a prominent voice in the Republican party for the environment. He was a major contributor to the acid rain provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Boehlert pushed continually to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy
(CAFE) standards for light trucks and automobiles and was the lead GOP sponsor of numerous CAFE amendments.
Due to Boehlert's constant battles over environmental legislation, often putting him at odds with his party's leadership, National Journal
dubbed Boehlert the “Green Hornet” and featured him as one of the dozen “key players” in the House of Representatives.
Due to his centrist views, Time Magazine also recognized Boehlert as a “power center” on Capitol Hill and Congressional Quarterly
named him one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress.
On the Science Committee, Boehlert championed investments in the National Science Foundation
, science and math education programs and the Department of Energy's Office of Science
. As Chairman he pushed for measures to increase cybersecurity R&D and the creation of a Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. After 9/11 and the 2001 anthrax attacks
, Boehlert crafted legislation establishing the DHS S&T Directorate to oversee development of technologies to secure against terrorist attacks. This homeland security S&T bill reported out of the Science Committee was ultimately accepted by the congressional leadership and President Bush and enacted as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Boehlert was one of the first Members of Congress to call for a competitiveness agenda, culminating with a major National Academy of Sciences
report Rising Above the Gathering Storm on retaining U.S. leadership in science and engineering, as well as the American Competitiveness Initiative
introduced by President Bush in 2006.
chaired by former Vice President Al Gore
. Boehlert serves as a co-chair of the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He represented upstate
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1983 until 2007. Boehlert, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, was considered to be a member of the party's moderate
Moderate
In politics and religion, a moderate is an individual who is not extreme, partisan or radical. In recent years, political moderates has gained traction as a buzzword....
wing. In 2003, Utica Union Station was renamed in the Congressman's honor. On March 17, 2006, at a press conference Boehlert announced that he would not seek a thirteenth term in office.
Early life
Boehlert was born in Utica, New YorkUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
to Elizabeth Monica Champoux and Sherwood Boehlert, and graduated from Utica College
Utica College
Utica College is a private university located in Utica, New York. The history of the college dates back to the 1930s when Syracuse University began offering extension courses in the Utica area. Syracuse University established Utica College as a four-year institution in 1946, and in 1995, UC ...
. He served two years in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
(1956–1958) and then worked as a manager of public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
for Wyandotte Chemical Company.
Early political career
After leaving Wyandotte, Boehlert served as Chief of Staff for two upstate Congressmen, Alexander PirnieAlexander Pirnie
Alexander Pirnie was an American congressman. He was born in Pulaski, New York, USA. He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Cornell University in 1924 and 1926, where he was also a member of the Quill and Dagger society...
and Donald J. Mitchell
Donald J. Mitchell
Donald Jerome Mitchell served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York, 1973-1983.-Early life:Donald J...
; following this, he was elected the county executive of Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
, serving from 1979 to 1983. After his four-year term as county executive, he ran successfully for Congress in the elections of 1982. He was reelected to every Congress subsequent.
Committees
Boehlert served on the Science Committee for his entire congressional career. In 2001, he was made the chairman of the committee. In addition, he was the third-ranking member of the Transportation Committee; from 1995 to 2000, he served as the chairman of its Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. He was also a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, serving as interim Chairman of the committee in 2004.Tenure
Boehlert was an active promoter of first responder legislation, a strong champion for volunteer firefighters and original member and Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.Boehlert also was a member of several national moderate GOP groups including the Republican Main Street Partnership
Republican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
, the Ripon Society
Ripon Society
The Ripon Society is an American centrist Republican think tank based in Washington, D.C. They produce The Ripon Forum, the Nation's longest running Republican thought and opinion journal....
and Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd Whitman
Christine Todd "Christie" Whitman is an American Republican politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001, and was the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. She was New...
's It's My Party Too.
Boehlert is best known for his work on environmental policy. Beginning in the 1980s with the acid rain
Acid rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions . It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen...
crisis, Boehlert became a prominent voice in the Republican party for the environment. He was a major contributor to the acid rain provisions of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Boehlert pushed continually to increase Corporate Average Fuel Economy
Corporate Average Fuel Economy
The Corporate Average Fuel Economy are regulations in the United States, first enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1975, and intended to improve the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold in the US in the wake of the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo...
(CAFE) standards for light trucks and automobiles and was the lead GOP sponsor of numerous CAFE amendments.
Due to Boehlert's constant battles over environmental legislation, often putting him at odds with his party's leadership, National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
dubbed Boehlert the “Green Hornet” and featured him as one of the dozen “key players” in the House of Representatives.
Due to his centrist views, Time Magazine also recognized Boehlert as a “power center” on Capitol Hill and Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
named him one of the 50 most effective Members of Congress.
On the Science Committee, Boehlert championed investments in the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, science and math education programs and the Department of Energy's Office of Science
Office of Science
The Office of Science is a component of the United States Department of Energy . The Office of Science is the lead federal agency supporting fundamental scientific research for energy and the Nation’s largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences...
. As Chairman he pushed for measures to increase cybersecurity R&D and the creation of a Science and Technology Directorate at the Department of Homeland Security. After 9/11 and the 2001 anthrax attacks
2001 anthrax attacks
The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on Tuesday, September 18, 2001, one week after the September 11 attacks. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to...
, Boehlert crafted legislation establishing the DHS S&T Directorate to oversee development of technologies to secure against terrorist attacks. This homeland security S&T bill reported out of the Science Committee was ultimately accepted by the congressional leadership and President Bush and enacted as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Boehlert was one of the first Members of Congress to call for a competitiveness agenda, culminating with a major National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
report Rising Above the Gathering Storm on retaining U.S. leadership in science and engineering, as well as the American Competitiveness Initiative
American Competitiveness Initiative
The American Competitiveness Initiative is a federal assistance program intended to help America maintain its competitiveness through investment in research and development and education. The ACI’s focus is on programs that are likely to strengthen U.S. competitiveness by targeting funding to...
introduced by President Bush in 2006.
Recent activities
Since 2007, Boehlert has remained active promoting environmental and scientific causes. He serves currently on the Board of the bipartisan Alliance for Climate ProtectionAlliance for Climate Protection
The Alliance for Climate Protection was founded in 2006 by Nobel laureate and former United States Vice President Al Gore. The Alliance is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to educating the global community about the urgency of implementing comprehensive solutions to the climate crisis...
chaired by former Vice President Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
. Boehlert serves as a co-chair of the National Transportation Policy Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center
Bipartisan Policy Center
The is a non-profit organization that "drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue." Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole, and George Mitchell, "BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking...
.