Born in Pipestone, Minnesota, Ehlers attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids for three years before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned an undergraduate degree in physics and, in 1960, a Ph.D. in nuclear physics. His doctoral dissertation, "The nuclear spins and moments of several radioactive gallium isotopes", is available from University Microfilms International as document number 0227304. After six years of teaching and research at Berkeley, he moved back to Michigan and took employment at Calvin College in 1966, where he taught physics for 16 years and later served as chairman of the Physics Department.
Ehlers died on August 15, 2017, at the age of 83.[2]
A portrait of Ehlers during his service as chairman of the Administration Committee is in the House collection.[6]
Political positionsedit
Ehlers was a moderate Republican. According to the National Journal, in 2006 his votes split 50-50 between "liberal" and "conservative." While strongly anti-abortion and supportive of lowering taxes, he was willing to break with his party on environmental and government spending issues. He was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership and Republicans for Environmental Protection. He was the only member of the Michigan Congressional delegation of either party to vote to raise fuel economy standards for automobiles in 2001[7] and 2005.[8]
Ehlers was a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker. In 2006 he cosponsored H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act[9] and H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.[10]
In 1993 Ehlers won a special election for the 3rd District, which had been vacant since Congressman Paul B. Henry died six months into his fifth term. He won a full term in 1994 and was re-elected six times with little significant Democratic opposition. Ehlers retired from Congress in 2010.[15]
Selected publicationsedit
Lead authored articles in scientific journalsedit
V. J. Ehlers and A. Gallagher, Vernon; Gallagher, Alan (1973). "Electron Excitation of the Calcium 4227-Å Resonance Line". Physical Review A. 7 (5): 1573–1585. Bibcode:1973PhRvA...7.1573E. doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.7.1573. ISSN 1050-2947.
V. J. Ehlers, Y. Kabasakal, H. A. Shugart, O. Tezer, Vernon; Kabasakal, Yurdanur; Shugart, Howard; Tezer, Orhan (1968). "Hyperfine Structure of 67Ga and 72Ga". Physical Review. 176 (1): 25–42. Bibcode:1968PhRv..176...25E. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.176.25. ISSN 0031-899X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
V. J. Ehlers, T. R. Fowler, H. A. Shugart, Vernon; Fowler, Thomas; Shugart, Howard (1968). "Nuclear Magnetic Moment of 85Rb: Resolving a Discrepancy". Physical Review. 167 (4): 1062–1064. Bibcode:1968PhRv..167.1062E. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.167.1062. ISSN 0031-899X.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
V. J. Ehlers, H. A. Shugart, Vernon; Shugart, Howard (1962). "Hyperfine-Structure Separations and Nuclear Moments of Gallium-68". Physical Review. 127 (2): 529–536. Bibcode:1962PhRv..127..529E. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.127.529. ISSN 0031-899X.
V. J. Ehlers, W. A. Nierenberg, H. A. Shugart, V.; Nierenberg, W.; Shugart, H. (1962). "Nuclear Spin of Gallium-70". Physical Review. 125 (6): 2008–2012. Bibcode:1962PhRv..125.2008E. doi:10.1103/PhysRev.125.2008. ISSN 0031-899X. S2CID 120163937.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Articles on science policyedit
Ehlers, Congressman Vernon J. (September 2000). "Science Education and Our Nation's Future". BioScience. 50 (9): 731. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0731:SEAONS]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0006-3568.
Ehlers, V. J. (January 1998). "The Future of U.S. Science Policy". Science. 279 (5349): 302a–302. Bibcode:1998Sci...279..302E. doi:10.1126/science.279.5349.302a. S2CID 154533319.
Referencesedit
^Cornelia Dean (July 10, 2008). "Physicists in Congress Calculate Their Influence". New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
^Hulett, Sarah (August 16, 2017). "Former Congressman Vernon Ehlers dies". Michigan Radio. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^"Ehlers elected chairman of House Administration Committee | Committee on House Administration". cha.house.gov. February 2006. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
^"HR 507: The Peak Oil Caucus is working for you!". December 17, 2005.
^"Vernon James Ehlers - US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^"Final vote results for Roll Call 311". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^"Final vote results for Roll Call 121". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
^. Archived from the original on November 25, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^Chris Geidner, House Passes DADT Repeal Bill October 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010),
vern, ehlers, vernon, james, ehlers, february, 1934, august, 2017, american, physicist, politician, represented, michigan, house, representatives, from, 1993, until, retirement, 2011, republican, also, served, eight, years, michigan, senate, michigan, house, r. Vernon James Ehlers February 6 1934 August 15 2017 was an American physicist and politician who represented Michigan in the U S House of Representatives from 1993 until his retirement in 2011 A Republican he also served eight years in the Michigan Senate and two in the Michigan House of Representatives Vern EhlersMember of the U S House of Representatives from Michigan s 3rd districtIn office December 7 1993 January 3 2011Preceded byPaul HenrySucceeded byJustin AmashMember of the Michigan Senate from the 32nd districtIn office 1985 1993Preceded byPaul B HenrySucceeded byGlenn Steil Sr Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the 93rd districtIn office 1983 1985Preceded byJohn OtterbacherSucceeded byRichard BandstraPersonal detailsBornVernon James Ehlers 1934 02 06 February 6 1934Pipestone Minnesota U S DiedAugust 15 2017 2017 08 15 aged 83 Grand Rapids Michigan U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseJohanna EhlersAlma materCalvin CollegeUniversity of California BerkeleyOccupationCollege Professor Ehlers was the first research physicist to be elected to Congress 1 he was later joined by Rush Holt Jr D NJ and Bill Foster D IL Contents 1 Early life education and academic career 2 Early political career 3 U S House of Representatives 3 1 Committee assignments 3 2 Caucus memberships 4 Political positions 5 Political campaigns 6 Selected publications 6 1 Lead authored articles in scientific journals 6 2 Articles on science policy 7 References 8 External linksEarly life education and academic career editBorn in Pipestone Minnesota Ehlers attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids for three years before transferring to the University of California Berkeley where he earned an undergraduate degree in physics and in 1960 a Ph D in nuclear physics His doctoral dissertation The nuclear spins and moments of several radioactive gallium isotopes is available from University Microfilms International as document number 0227304 After six years of teaching and research at Berkeley he moved back to Michigan and took employment at Calvin College in 1966 where he taught physics for 16 years and later served as chairman of the Physics Department Ehlers died on August 15 2017 at the age of 83 2 Early political career editEhlers served on the Kent County Board of Commissioners from 1975 to 1982 Ehlers served from 1983 to 1985 in the Michigan House of Representatives and then served from 1985 to 1993 in the Michigan Senate 3 U S House of Representatives editCommittee assignments edit Committee on Education and Labor Subcommittee on Early Childhood Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee on Higher Education Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness Committee on House Administration Chairman and Ranking Member 4 Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Research and Science Education Ranking Member Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Caucus memberships edit Co chair of the STEM science technology engineering and mathematics Ed Caucus Peak Oil Caucus 5 nbsp Chairman Ehlers greets Ranking Member Juanita Millender McDonald at a hearing of the House Administration Committee Ehlers served as chairman of the House Administration Committee in the 109th Congress after Bob Ney resigned from the position A portrait of Ehlers during his service as chairman of the Administration Committee is in the House collection 6 Political positions editEhlers was a moderate Republican According to the National Journal in 2006 his votes split 50 50 between liberal and conservative While strongly anti abortion and supportive of lowering taxes he was willing to break with his party on environmental and government spending issues He was a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership and Republicans for Environmental Protection He was the only member of the Michigan Congressional delegation of either party to vote to raise fuel economy standards for automobiles in 2001 7 and 2005 8 Ehlers was a staunch advocate of a federal prohibition of online poker In 2006 he cosponsored H R 4411 the Goodlatte Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act 9 and H R 4777 the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act 10 Owing to his votes in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment in both 2004 and 2006 as well as his votes against hate crimes legislation and prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation Ehlers was given a 0 rating by the Human Rights Campaign indicating a voting record generally opposed to gay rights However in December 2010 Ehlers was one of fifteen Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing the United States military s Don t Ask Don t Tell ban on openly gay service members 11 12 13 and one of eight Republicans to vote for the DREAM Act 14 Political campaigns editSee also 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan District 3 and 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Michigan District 3 In 1993 Ehlers won a special election for the 3rd District which had been vacant since Congressman Paul B Henry died six months into his fifth term He won a full term in 1994 and was re elected six times with little significant Democratic opposition Ehlers retired from Congress in 2010 15 Selected publications editLead authored articles in scientific journals edit V J Ehlers and A Gallagher Vernon Gallagher Alan 1973 Electron Excitation of the Calcium 4227 A Resonance Line Physical Review A 7 5 1573 1585 Bibcode 1973PhRvA 7 1573E doi 10 1103 PhysRevA 7 1573 ISSN 1050 2947 V J Ehlers Y Kabasakal H A Shugart O Tezer Vernon Kabasakal Yurdanur Shugart Howard Tezer Orhan 1968 Hyperfine Structure of 67Ga and 72Ga Physical Review 176 1 25 42 Bibcode 1968PhRv 176 25E doi 10 1103 PhysRev 176 25 ISSN 0031 899X a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link V J Ehlers T R Fowler H A Shugart Vernon Fowler Thomas Shugart Howard 1968 Nuclear Magnetic Moment of 85Rb Resolving a Discrepancy Physical Review 167 4 1062 1064 Bibcode 1968PhRv 167 1062E doi 10 1103 PhysRev 167 1062 ISSN 0031 899X a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link V J Ehlers H A Shugart Vernon Shugart Howard 1962 Hyperfine Structure Separations and Nuclear Moments of Gallium 68 Physical Review 127 2 529 536 Bibcode 1962PhRv 127 529E doi 10 1103 PhysRev 127 529 ISSN 0031 899X V J Ehlers W A Nierenberg H A Shugart V Nierenberg W Shugart H 1962 Nuclear Spin of Gallium 70 Physical Review 125 6 2008 2012 Bibcode 1962PhRv 125 2008E doi 10 1103 PhysRev 125 2008 ISSN 0031 899X S2CID 120163937 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Articles on science policy edit Ehlers Congressman Vernon J September 2000 Science Education and Our Nation s Future BioScience 50 9 731 doi 10 1641 0006 3568 2000 050 0731 SEAONS 2 0 CO 2 ISSN 0006 3568 Ehlers V J January 1998 The Future of U S Science Policy Science 279 5349 302a 302 Bibcode 1998Sci 279 302E doi 10 1126 science 279 5349 302a S2CID 154533319 References edit Cornelia Dean July 10 2008 Physicists in Congress Calculate Their Influence New York Times Retrieved February 11 2010 Hulett Sarah August 16 2017 Former Congressman Vernon Ehlers dies Michigan Radio Retrieved August 17 2017 The Voter s Self Defense System Vote Smart Retrieved August 17 2017 Ehlers elected chairman of House Administration Committee Committee on House Administration cha house gov February 2006 Retrieved August 13 2018 HR 507 The Peak Oil Caucus is working for you December 17 2005 Vernon James Ehlers US House of Representatives History Art amp Archives history house gov Retrieved August 17 2017 Final vote results for Roll Call 311 clerk house gov Retrieved October 5 2023 Final vote results for Roll Call 121 clerk house gov Retrieved October 5 2023 Thomas Library of Congress HR 4411 Archived from the original on November 25 2008 Retrieved August 17 2017 Thomas Library of Congress HR 4777 Archived from the original on October 18 2014 Retrieved August 17 2017 Chris Geidner House Passes DADT Repeal Bill Archived October 21 2013 at the Wayback Machine Metro Weekly December 15 2010 House Vote 638 Repeals Don t Ask Don t Tell Archived 2016 01 18 at the Wayback Machine New York Times December 15 2010 Final vote results for Roll Call 1638 clerk house gov Retrieved October 5 2023 Final vote results for Roll Call 1625 clerk house gov Retrieved October 5 2023 Congressman Vern Ehlers Announces Retirement February 10 2010 Archived from the original on March 4 2010 Retrieved February 15 2010 External links editVern Ehlers for U S Congress official campaign site Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Financial information federal office at the Federal Election Commission Profile at Vote Smart Appearances on C SPAN Michigan House of Representatives Preceded byJohn Otterbacher Member of the Michigan House of Representativesfrom the 93rd district1983 1985 Succeeded byRichard Bandstra Michigan Senate Preceded byPaul B Henry Member of the Michigan Senatefrom the 32nd district1985 1993 Succeeded byGlenn Steil Sr U S House of Representatives Preceded byPaul B Henry Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Michigan s 3rd congressional district1993 2011 Succeeded byJustin Amash Preceded byBob Ney Chairman of the House Administration Committee2006 2007 Succeeded byJuanita Millender McDonald Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Vern Ehlers amp oldid 1178770767, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
