Mr. Speaker, as our colleague, the Honorable gentleman from New York, Sherwood Boehlert, prepares to retire from the Congress, I want to join the entire New York delegation in wishing Sherry a fond farewell and in commending him for a job very well done.

Sherry Boehlert has served the people of the 24th Congressional District, which includes all or parts of Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, and Seneca counties, for 12 consecutive terms. He has been my congressional neighbor to the west for as long as I have been in Congress. We have had the opportunity to work together on many issues, such as the Tech Valley initiative in upstate New York, the FAIR Alliance for transportation funding, and, of course, rooting on our beloved New York Yankees.

With expertise and leadership in so many different fields, from the environment and the sciences, to transportation and homeland security, Sherry has not only capably served the people of his district, but also every citizen of New York and the United States.

Sherry has earned the opportunity to spend more time with his wife, Marianne, their four grown children and five grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Sherry Boehlert a respected colleague and a dear friend. His presence and strong voice will be missed during the coming debates. There is no doubt, however, that his proud legacy of committed public service and bipartisan achievement, will live on for generations.