Latest news with #EsophagealCancerAwarenessAct
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic, GOP lawmakers mourn Connolly
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are mourning the passing of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), showing an outpouring of support for the 75-year-old lawmaker who died Wednesday morning after a short stint with cancer. Colleagues from both parties praised Connolly for his years of service and shared personal stories following his family's announcement. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.) opened a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with a prayer honoring Connolly, who was a longtime member of the committee. 'Dear Lord, thank you so much for the gift of Gerry Connolly,' he said. 'Lord, you know he and I didn't agree on much of anything other than our friendship,' he continued. 'He always had a kind word to say to me when I was down, and I tried to lift him up in his very brief but tragic illness.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Connolly, who this year became the senior Democrat on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a 'hardworking, humble and honorable public servant.' 'In addition to his legislative wisdom, Gerry always brought his signature mirth and wit to the House, making even something like proxy voting a point of levity during an otherwise challenging time in our nation,' he said in a statement. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his sympathy to Connolly's family. 'He's a dear friend of mine. I will miss him dearly, and the Irish twinkle in his eye,' he said. The House Rules Committee, which was in the middle of debating President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' held a moment of silence after Connolly's death was announced. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) interrupted the hearing to make the announcement and request a moment to pray for his family. Everyone in the room, including photographers, bowed their heads in silence. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the Oversight Committee, and Connolly joined forces on Tuesday to sponsor the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, his final piece of legislation. Following Connolly's death, Comer proposed an amendment to rename the act in his memory, instead naming it the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. 'I can't say enough about how much respect I had for Gerry Connolly,' Comer continued. 'He was a good guy. He was somebody who was here for the right reasons and cared deeply about his district. We disagreed a lot on policy, but I never questioned his sincerity or truthfulness or his knowledge of the issues.' Fellow Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) called Connolly a 'friend, colleague and fierce champion of federal workers, public integrity and the people of Virginia,' quipping that he 'never surrendered his hearty south Boston accent.' Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said in a post that Connolly was 'always ready to stand up for what is right.' 'Working alongside him as Vice Ranking Member has been like getting a front-row seat to a masterclass,' she said. 'In every hearing and every strategy session, he pushed us to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay grounded in the facts. He knew how to cut through the noise and keep the committee anchored in what mattered. I learned so much from him.' Laura Kelly and Mike Lillis contributed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Democratic, GOP lawmakers mourn Connolly
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are mourning the passing of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), showing an outpouring of support for the 75-year-old lawmaker who died Wednesday morning after a short stint with cancer. Colleagues from both parties praised Connolly for his years of service and shared personal stories following his family's announcement. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.) opened a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with a prayer honoring Connolly, who was a longtime member of the committee. 'Dear Lord, thank you so much for the gift of Gerry Connolly,' he said. 'Lord, you know he and I didn't agree on much of anything other than our friendship,' he continued. 'He always had a kind word to say to me when I was down and I tried to lift him up in his very brief but tragic illness.' House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Connolly, who this year became the senior Democrat on the powerful House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a 'hardworking, humble and honorable public servant.' 'In addition to his legislative wisdom, Gerry always brought his signature mirth and wit to the House, making even something like proxy voting a point of levity during an otherwise challenging time in our nation,' he said in a statement. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chair emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his sympathy to Connolly's family. 'He's a dear friend of mine. I will miss him dearly, and the Irish twinkle in his eye,' he said. The House Rules Committee, which was in the middle of debating President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' held a moment of silence after Connolly's death was announced. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) interrupted the hearing to make the announcement and request a moment to pray for his family. Everyone in the room, including photographers, bowed their heads in silence. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the Oversight Committee, and Connolly joined forces on Tuesday to sponsor the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, his final piece of legislation. Following Connolly's death, Comer proposed an amendment to rename the act in his memory, instead naming it the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. 'I can't say enough about how much respect I had for Gerry Connolly,' Comer continued. 'He was a good guy. He was somebody who was here for the right reasons and cared deeply about his district. We disagreed a lot on policy but I never questioned his sincerity or truthfulness or his knowledge of the issues.' Fellow Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) called Connolly a 'friend, colleague and fierce champion of federal workers, public integrity and the people of Virginia,' quipping that he 'never surrendered his hearty south Boston accent.' Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said in a post that Connolly was 'always ready to stand up for what is right.' 'Working alongside him as Vice Ranking Member has been like getting a front-row seat to a masterclass,' she said. 'In every hearing and every strategy session, he pushed us to stay focused, stay sharp, and stay grounded in the facts. He knew how to cut through the noise and keep the committee anchored in what mattered. I learned so much from him.' Laura Kelly and Mike Lillis contributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75
Rep. Gerry Connolly, a fiery Virginia Democrat with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, died Wednesday morning after a short stint with cancer, his family announced. Connolly, 75, was a familiar figure around the halls of the Capitol, where he was known as a feisty advocate for the institutions of Washington — particularly following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — and a champion of the many federal workers hailing from his Northern Virginia district. First elected in 2008, Connolly rose this year to become the senior Democrat on the power House Oversight and Government Reform Committee — a seat he had sought unsuccessfully twice before. His ascension was not without controversy. Connolly announced shortly after November's elections that he was being treated for esophageal cancer, and a challenge for the ranking member seat from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had rekindled the long-running generational debate over the role of seniority within the House Democratic Caucus. Still, Connolly was a popular figure within the caucus, and he prevailed easily. On Tuesday, Connolly joined forces with Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chair of the Oversight Committee, to sponsor what would be his final piece of legislation: the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act. In a statement, Connolly's family remembered him as a devoted family man and dedicated public servant, one who had served Northern Virginia for decades in both county and national politics. 'Gerry lived his life to give back to others and make our community better,' they wrote in a statement. 'He looked out for the disadvantaged and voiceless. He always stood up for what is right and just.' While pointing to Connolly's accomplishments in elected office, the family said his greater contribution was to the local community, where he leaves behind a host of local projects that will serve as his legacy. '[M]ore important than his accomplishments in elected office, Gerry lived by the ethos of 'bloom where you are planted,'' they said. 'From the Silver Line to the Oakton Library, Mosaic District to the Cross County Trail and beyond, his legacy now colors our region.' Connolly's illness had caused him to step back from his daily responsibilities on the Oversight Committee last month, when he tapped Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), another senior member of the panel, to take the seat as interim ranking member — a temporary position requiring no elections. With Connolly's death, Democratic leaders will now start the process of seating a permanent replacement, which is likely to be fiercely contested and could pit senior members against a newer crop of up-and-coming Democrats clamoring to rise quickly in the ranks. Lynch, 70, is among the most experienced Democrats on the panel, but several younger members — including Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) — have expressed interest in the seat. Ocasio-Cortez, for her part, has said she won't seek the seat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Rep. Gerry Connolly dies at 75
Rep. Gerry Connolly, a fiery Virginia Democrat with decades of experience on Capitol Hill, passed away on Wednesday morning after a short battle with cancer, his family announced. Connolly, 75, was a familiar figure around the halls of the Capitol, where he was known as a feisty advocate for the institutions of Washington — particularly following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol — and a champion of the many federal workers hailing from his district Northern Virginia. First elected in 2008, Connolly rose this year to become the senior Democrat on the power House Oversight and Government Reform Committee — a seat he had sought unsuccessfully twice before. His ascension was not without controversy. Connolly announced shortly after November's elections that he was being treated for esophageal cancer. And a challenge for the ranking member seat from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) had rekindled the long-running generational debate over the role of seniority within the House Democratic Caucus. Still, Connolly was a popular figure within the caucus, and he prevailed easily. On Tuesday, Connolly joined forces with Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chairman of the Oversight Committee, to sponsor what would be his final piece of legislation: the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act.
