Lawmakers Memorialize The Late Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly On The House Floor

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On the House floor Thursday, lawmakers commemorated the late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA).

Transcript

00:00For what purpose, the gentleman from Virginia seek recognition?

00:11Mr. Speaker, I ask you now to consent to speak out of order for one minute.

00:15Gentleman is recognized.

00:17Mr. Speaker, I'm gathered here today with colleagues from the Commonwealth of Virginia

00:21and others with a heavy heart to announce to the House the passing of our friend and

00:27colleague, Congressman Jerry Connolly.

00:31I've had the distinct honor to serve alongside Jerry for many years.

00:35Jerry served in this chamber since 2009, and before that, he served 14 years on the Board

00:42of Supervisors in Fairfax County, including five years as its chairman.

00:47Jerry was a tireless fighter for his constituents, an unwavering advocate for the federal workforce,

00:54and a true steward for our democratic institutions.

00:58He loved America, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and, of course, his beloved hometown of Fairfax.

01:04As the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, he spent the last few

01:09months on the front lines as a chief advocate for our federal civil service workers.

01:15I deeply valued Jerry's partnership.

01:18We worked together to champion policies that strengthen our communities, protect workers'

01:23rights, and expand opportunities for all Americans.

01:27As his friend, I know I speak for all of us here to say that we will miss Jerry's infectious

01:32energy, his humor, and his unique ability to connect with people.

01:37This is a loss for this chamber, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and our entire nation.

01:42Our condolences go out to his wife, Smitty, his daughter, Caitlin, his staff, and the rest of

01:48his family and loved ones.

01:49Mr. Speaker, I'd now like to yield to my colleague from Virginia, Mr. Whitman.

01:56I thank the gentleman for yielding.

01:59You know, I've had the honor and privilege to know Jerry Connolly for over three decades.

02:04He and I served in local government together for years.

02:07We're part of the Virginia Association of Counties.

02:10Jerry had a deep passion for Fairfax County, for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and for this

02:16nation, and you wouldn't find anybody that had a deeper knowledge of issues and knew more

02:21about what was best to be done and knew more about trying to find a place to agree about

02:27getting things done.

02:28You know, it was really something special about Jerry.

02:30I remember us having discussions back in the day when we just started out in local government

02:34because we both learned from each other.

02:36He came from a big county there in Fairfax County.

02:38I came from a small county.

02:39I live in a town today, population 350.

02:42We couldn't have been any more different in how we reflected on the counties that we represented.

02:47But you know what?

02:48We had a deep commitment to doing what was right.

02:51And you know, I learned a lot from Jerry in his perspective on Fairfax, but also his perspective

02:55on the Commonwealth and perspective on the nation.

02:58And he was always looking to find solutions.

03:01He was always very passionate about people, about making sure he understood the policies and

03:06understood how to get things done.

03:08Jerry was always committed to doing that.

03:12Jerry's legacy is going to live on forever in all of us.

03:15He'll live on forever in his family and live on forever in the things that he's done for

03:20Fairfax County, for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and for our nation.

03:24We will miss Jerry, but we will remember his legacy through the things that he has done and

03:30through what he did to reach out to others and to look for common ground to get things done

03:36in the best interest of not only his constituents, but of our Commonwealth and of our nation.

03:42And with that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.

03:46Mr. Speaker, I ask all of us to join in a moment of silence in honor of Jerry Conley.

04:06Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

04:10I yield back.

04:11It's really Mr. Speaker.

04:13Yeah.

04:20Pursuant to Clause 8 of Rule 20, the unfinished business is the vote on the passage of Senate

04:25Joint Resolution 31, on which the yeas and nays are ordered.

04:28The clerk will report the-

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