Rich Neal: “I have the sad responsibility this evening of reporting to this Chamber that a very distinguished former Member of this…”

“I have the sad responsibility this evening of reporting to this Chamber that a very distinguished former Member of this institution, Edward P. Boland, died on Sunday evening. Ed Boland served in this House for 36 years with distinction as a member of the Committee on Appropriations and as a chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He served in an institution that he revered. He represented the people of western and central Massachusetts with distinction. He was a patriot of the highest order and an individual who loved the notion that politics had meaning in American life. In addition to that, for all of us that are gathered here tonight, just two quick lessons that have stuck in my mind for a long period of time as one who even served as an intern for him many years ago. Mr. Speaker, in 36 years, Eddie Boland had one fund-raiser, and he was mad that he had to go to it. In 36 years, Mr. Speaker, Eddie Boland had one press conference when he announced that he was retiring. He would not issue a press release, and when members of the national press over the Boland amendment attempted to secure his favor, he simply said he would report to the hometown paper and to the people back home what he was doing, and that was about the size of it. This institution mourns his passing.”