Year One: U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, who serves on the Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Government Reform committees, said the Iran nuclear deal was his toughest decision. He was among 25 Democrats who voted against the accord. TOM WARING / TIMESÂ PHOTO
U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle has been in office a little more than a year, and he points to the Iran nuclear deal as his toughest decision.
President Barack Obama lobbied Boyle (D-13th dist.) to vote for the deal, designed to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear bomb while easing sanctions on that nation. The easing of sanctions would release assets that could total $150 billion for Iran.
The House of Representatives rejected the plan, 269–162, but it and the Senate would have needed two-thirds majorities to override Obama’s veto.
Boyle studied the issue and read all 159 pages. He was among 25 Democrats who voted against the accord.
“It was a very difficult vote,” he said during a recent interview at his office in Washington, D.C. “But in my view, Iran just cannot be trusted.”
While Boyle broke with his party on that vote, he has generally been a loyal Democrat.
According to a nonpartisan ranking of how each member works across party lines by the Lugar Center and Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, Boyle was the 266th most bipartisan member among the 438 members who served in 2015.
In the House, he serves on the Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Government Reform committees.
The Foreign Affairs Committee has been particularly meaningful, he said. The committee has held hearings on ISIS, North Korea, Iran, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Syrian Civil War and the Nigerian-based Islamic extremist group Boko Haram.
Boyle said the committee acts in a bipartisan manner. He credits California Republican Rep. Ed Royce, the chairman, and New York Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel, the minority-party chairman.
“They both act in a responsible way,” he said. “It’s great. I wish there was more of it around here.”
Boyle was happy with the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which he said will help local companies like the AgustaWestland helicopter manufacturer, 3050 Red Lion Road.
He welcomed the naming of Parkwood native Patrick Murphy, a former congressman, as Under Secretary of the Army and Acting Secretary of the Army. He and Murphy are good friends, and both insist their beloved high school alma maters are better (Boyle went to Cardinal Dougherty, Murphy to Archbishop Ryan).
“I’m proud of Patrick. It’s great for Northeast Philly,” he said.
Boyle was also pleased to support a bipartisan transportation bill, but believes more spending is needed on roads, bridges, gas and water pipes, the electrical grid and high-speed rail. He points to last May’s Amtrak derailment in Port Richmond that killed eight people.
Boyle — who toured the site and thanked first responders — called the derailment “completely avoidable,” contending that Positive Train Control technology — which slows down a train on curves — was not installed on the train.
“We’re dramatically underfunding our infrastructure,” he said.
Boyle’s duties have also included traveling, including a meeting on ISIS in the United Arab Emirates.
The congressman has also been to Israel and Ireland, both staunch U.S. allies. He met top officials of the Israeli government and took part in a legislative event in Dublin. He, his dad and brother were also able to visit Donegal, their dad’s homeland.
“Both trips were incredibly special,” he said.
In April, he’ll head to Russia to meet with member of the Duma.
Before being elected in 2014, Boyle spent six years as a state representative. A Somerton resident, he and his wife, Jenny, welcomed daughter Abby during the campaign two years ago.
Sometimes, Boyle is able to make it home in time for Abby’s bedtime.
And with Jenny on a leave of absence from her teaching job, she and the toddler are able to stay for days at a time in Washington.
“We’re able to spend more time together than in Harrisburg,” he said.
Perhaps the lowlight of Boyle’s first term came last September, when he broke his leg in the congressional football game.
But his spirits improved shortly thereafter when he was able to be in the presence of Pope Francis five times during his visit to the United States.
Boyle saw the pope at a White House welcoming ceremony, at a Mass at the National Shrine in Washington, at his landmark address to Congress, at his speech at Independence Mall and at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. Pope Francis greeted the wheelchair-bound Boyle at the prison.
“That was really special,” he said of the experience.
Boyle works out of a rather modest office. He’s in Room 118 of the Cannon House Office Building, next to fellow freshman Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, of Michigan.
In the 13th Congressional District, he has four offices, more than any other Pennsylvania congressman. The local office is at 2375 Woodward St. He also has offices in Olney, Glenside and Norristown.
Boyle said he puts a premium on constituent service, putting it on par with the traditional legislator’s duties of passing laws and fighting for resources.
“There’s no reason you can’t be equally good at both,” he said.
The district consists of about 725,000 people and spans places as far as Lansdale and the King of Prussia Mall.
“It’s a pretty huge area,” he said.
Politically, Boyle is in good shape. He won the 2014 primary when three Montgomery County candidates split the suburban vote.
This year, he is unopposed in the primary. And Republican Armond James, a reluctant candidate facing a petition challenge, dropped out of the race.
Assuming he wins a second term, he’ll still likely be stuck in the minority. Republicans hold a commanding 245–188 advantage. That’s the fewest number of Democrats since 1928.
In the presidential race, he has not taken sides in the battle between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Boyle is no fan of the GOP presidential frontrunner.
“If Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee, that would deeply concern me as a citizen,” he said. ••
