Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Congressman Leonard Boswell

"Today, our country lost a leader of exceptional courage, compassion and character.  Congressman Leonard Boswell dedicated a lifetime to serving our country, both as a soldier and a statesman.  His passing is a great loss to the people of Iowa and to the nation, and is a source of heartbreak for all who were blessed to call him friend.

"Congressman Boswell was an American hero.  He served for twenty years in the U.S. Army, where he was decorated for his exceptional bravery and selflessness. In the Congress, he continued to defend our country as a member of the Intelligence Committee, and as a dedicated champion of our veterans, their families and their caregivers.

"As a family farmer, Congressman Boswell was proud to serve on the Agriculture Committee.  His leadership was instrumental in writing a strong, bipartisan farm bill that honored our obligations to the men and women of agriculture, which passed despite a presidential veto.  Serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, he was a champion for growth, bringing the good-paying jobs of the future to Des Moines.  Throughout his time in the Congress, he brought honesty, decency and civility to everything he touched, and the Congress is better for his leadership.

"For Leonard, no job was more important than that of husband and father.  May it be a comfort to his beloved wife of more than sixty years, Dody, their three children and many grandchildren that so many share in their grief at this time."