Washington, D.C. - House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the following statement on the death of former Committee Chairman Ben Gilman (R-NY).
“I was saddened to learn of the passing of former Committee Chairman Ben Gilman. My thoughts are with his family.
“Ben dedicated his life to public service, first as a decorated World War II bombardier who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and later in Congress and on the international stage as a fierce yet diplomatic defender of U.S. interests. For three decades he tirelessly served the people of his New York congressional district. As Chairman of this Committee, Ben led in a truly bipartisan fashion and enjoyed respect from his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Ben was an advocate for human rights reforms in post-Soviet Russia, expanding NATO and advancing liberty and equality to people who had never known it. A committed supporter of Israel, Ben strove tirelessly for peace.
“Today, thousands have benefited from studies and internships abroad through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, founded by Ben over a decade ago. While Ben will be missed, the legacy of his public service will endure.".
