U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) issued the following statement after the passing of former U.S. Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY):

“Amo Houghton was truly a kind, charitable, and remarkable man all his days who made a difference for his community, the boardroom, and the Congress. 

Always one demanding to be convinced on the merits rather than the politics of any issue, he was deeply respected on both sides of the aisle.  As a WWII veteran and Fortune 500 CEO, he brought real world experience to Capitol Hill never losing touch with his district’s constituents at a coffee shop or a major Ways and Means hearing.

His steady focus on economic issues for businesses or the most vulnerable coupled with his genuine compassion to build lasting coalitions of civility and trust made him a deeply beloved colleague.

Bridging race relations was one of his priorities, earning the deep respect and love of Nelson Mandela and Civil Rights icon John Lewis.

He simply cared about people - all of them— with no distinction. His moral compass never failed him or those of us who looked to him for guidance.

Amo was an uncommon friend to everyone, and he will be forever missed.”