Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement:

The Democratic Caucus, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the country have lost a hardworking, humble and honorable public servant with the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly. 

For more than three decades, Gerry relentlessly defended our democracy on the Oversight Committee, where he became a Subcommittee Chair and then the Ranking Member. As the co-author of the Issa-Connolly Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), he was instrumental in overhauling our federal IT laws and ensuring our government institutions remain strong and secure. He used his foreign policy expertise as both a Senate staffer and a Member of the People’s House to bolster our transatlantic alliance, serving twice as the President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Even as he battled a difficult cancer diagnosis, Ranking Member Connolly continued to push back against the unprecedented attacks on the federal workers in his district and across the country.

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. My prayers, and those of the entire House Democratic Caucus, are with Congressman Connolly’s loved ones and the devoted staff who he considered to be his family. 

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