born september american politician representative massachusetts 1st congressional district raised farm pennsylvania graduated college age went earn chemistry later taught chemistry years served chambers elected ran special election succeed term congressman died office democrat represent 1st congressional district announced seek election retired end eleventh term congress district dismantled early life education career born september pennsylvania son helen née paternal grandparents english descent maternal grandparents german grew father farm tended cows mother ran boarding house served families philadelphia new_york graduated high school enrolled earned chemistry age earning undergraduate degree went earn master science chemistry doctor philosophy chemistry taught chemistry years later resigned pursue career politics served terms member january january later served terms january resignation serve elections february congressman died month taking office 17th term june sworn 10th term state senate months earlier january narrowly defeated republican special election seat democrat win seat changed 13th district resigned state senate june sworn june won election term year republican took control house time years ran unopposed defeated state senator future lieutenant acting governor margin continually won election high margins october announced seek election clearing way potential democratic massachusetts losing congressional seat united states census district eliminated bulk territory merged 2nd district fellow democrat home drawn old 3rd district fellow democrat tenure politics america described staunch liberal prefers yield spotlight similarly ideological members consistently high rankings progressive lobbying group americans consistently low rankings conservative counterpart democratic national convention endorsed future president barack_obama tribute outgoing remarked unlike elected officials embraced superficial positions public favor happy tell disagree believed foreign policy staunch opponent united_states involvement iraq opposed united_states military presence iraq authorization use force iraq advocated removal troops iraq consistently voted proposals increase funding military operations increased deployment stated believes united_states seek political solution cooperation states neighboring iraq iran syria pursuing strategy based primarily military means order create stable democratic iraq critical united_states lack involvement genocide members congress arrested april protesting genocide outside arrested protest members congress actor domestic policy thirty voted count electoral votes ohio presidential election given presidency sponsored introduce universal health insurance program single financing addition supporting different pieces healthcare reform legislation house strongly supported allowing federal funds related health care programs fund abortion operations addition supporting inclusion coverage healthcare consistently supported pro choice legislation house received favorable ratings pro choice interest groups pro choice america gave rating supports efforts reduce number illegal immigrants entering united_states believes immigration reform qualified immigrants easily granted entrance believes illegal immigrants currently residing united_states need provided citizenship immigrants return countries origin obtaining citizenship committee assignments related agencies ranking member party leadership personal life married professor psychology sexuality women death daughter named martha lived massachusetts new central bus rail station massachusetts dedicated honor building zero net energy transportation facility nation generating heat power wells panels sunlight october awarded soldier award presented veterans group soldier award created soldier sculptor recognizes individuals leadership actions advanced goal ending veteran
John Olver