John Olver was born on September 3, 1936 in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, where he grew up on a farm with his brother and sister.
John earned a B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.A. from Tufts University and a Ph.D. from M.I.T. After teaching chemistry for eight years at UMass – Amherst, John began his legislative career in 1969 when he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives representing part of Hampshire County. Four years later, he was elected to the Massachusetts State Senate, where he served for eighteen years representing parts of Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties. On June 4, 1991, John was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election to complete the term of the late Congressman Silvio O. Conte. John has been re-elected to the U.S. House eight times since, from 1992 – 2006.
In Congress, John has had the rare opportunity to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, which makes annual funding decisions for most federal agencies and programs. In 2007, he became Chairman of the Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related agencies. That panel’s jurisdiction extends over federally impacted roadways, railways, seaports and airports. John also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies and the Subcommittee for Energy and Water Development.
In addition to his national priorities of helping those who need housing assistance the most, making public housing more energy efficient, increasing transit options, and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, John has used his seat on the Appropriations Committee to boost economic development and enhance the quality of life throughout the “four corners” of the First Congressional District. His many accomplishments over the years in this regard include:
Outside his work on appropriations issues, John is best known in the Congress for his science background and as the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Climate Change Caucus, a bipartisan group of House Members dedicated to curbing global warming through changes to our energy-related policies. Formed in 2003, the Climate Change Caucus employs educational and legislative strategies to address the growing crisis of rising atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and other heat-trapping gases.
As a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus, John additionally has an important role in the development and passage of the broad legislative priorities of the Democratic party. Key initiatives championed by the Democratic Caucus during John’s service in the organization include those supporting livable wages, improving homeland security, expanding health coverage, increasing retirement security, improving public elementary and secondary schools, and making college more affordable.
John is a devoted hiker and rock-climber. He is married to Rose Olver, a professor of psychology and women’s studies at Amherst College. They have lived in Amherst since 1963 and have one daughter, Martha.