James Comer Names Esophageal Cancer Research Bill In Honor Of The Late Lawmaker Gerry Connolly

2 days ago

During a House Oversight Committee hearing before the congressional recess, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) discussed esophageal cancer research and late Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

Transcript

00:00The members seek recognition. Mr. Reckon, member.

00:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

00:05You know, when we think about Jerry's legacy, when I think about it, it really is embodied by his staff.

00:14Jerry has some long-standing and long-serving staff members, Colin Davenport and Jamie Smith, among others.

00:22I think both those gentlemen served with Jerry in his office and on committee staff for over 17 years.

00:30And he was enormously proud of his staff.

00:34Every single person on his staff, he bragged on them, and rightfully so.

00:43They are the best.

00:45And that is really part of his living legacy, the team that he put together in this office.

00:53And I just remember, I just recall just two of the longest serving, but there were many that worked here with him and have moved on to other pursuits.

01:04But I just want to thank them for their wonderful, wonderful support of Jerry throughout the years,

01:12and especially in these last months when that support, that guidance, and those prayers were deeply felt.

01:22Thank you, and I yield back.

01:23Tillman yields back.

01:24Any other members of recognition?

01:27Seeing none, I now recognize myself for the purpose of offering an amendment.

01:32Madam Clerk, I have an amendment at the desk.

01:34Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3490 is offered by Mr. Comer of Kentucky.

01:39Without objection, the amendment is considered as red.

01:41I reserve a port of order.

01:43I recognize myself.

01:44This is the amendment to rename the bill after Jerry Conley, and, again, I can't say enough about how much respect I had for Jerry Conley.

01:57He was a good guy.

01:59He was somebody that was here for the right reasons and cared deeply about his district.

02:03We disagreed a lot on policy, but I never questioned his sincerity or truthfulness or his knowledge of the issues.

02:14He was a great member, and I enjoyed working with him.

02:17And this was the very last piece of legislation that he and I talked about.

02:21We had a list of some bipartisan bills.

02:24We'd passed bills in the past together.

02:26And this was something, obviously, in the last two or three weeks he was very, very interested in.

02:33And I'm very honored to offer an amendment to rename this bill, rightfully, after Jerry Conley.

02:42I yield back.

02:43Does any other members speak to the chair recognizes the ranking member to speak on the amendment?

02:47Sure.

02:47I think this is a fitting, one of the fitting tributes to Jerry.

02:51Jerry, he has always been a champion on behalf of health services and health care, especially for federal employees.

03:04As you know, Jerry, I believe, has the distinction of having more federal employees in his district than any other.

03:11And he was valiantly in their service throughout his career here in Congress.

03:20And I think this is a fitting tribute.

03:23Jerry and I sat about 18 inches apart for this past 20, 20-some-odd years.

03:28So we traveled together, did a lot of CODELs.

03:32I got elected on September 11th, the day of the attacks on this country.

03:38And Jerry and Jerry and I partnered up on a lot of the oversight responsibilities that emerged from that day, traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan.

03:51Jerry was our lead in our dialogue with NATO for many years.

03:59And he embodied the complete legislator.

04:04He was indeed, there are politicians and there are statesmen.

04:09Jerry, Jerry was a statesman.

04:11He took that job so seriously and for all the right reasons and was a wonderful reflection.

04:19Many times during the Munich Security Conference, we would stop in Brussels and Jerry would be working on behalf of this country, on behalf of Congress.