Discussion · House of Representatives
Pete Sessions Republican
“I support this bill to name a post office in Fairfax, Virginia, after former Congressman Gerald Connolly. He spent his life serving his community and the country, and he worked well with both parties in Congress.”
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of a bill which would rename a post office in Fairfax, Virginia, for one of our former colleagues, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, a father, a husband, friend of mine and to this body, and a lifelong civil public servant, one that dedicated his life to his constituents, his community, and to his country. Gerald Connolly began his life of service at the Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas is a beautiful, young State that we have here in the United States, and he chose to move there and to live to work on his project to begin his service. He then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972. Gerry rose from the education director to executive director of the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation while simultaneously serving as the executive director of the U.S. Committee on Refugees. He became a pillar of a person and stalwart for Northern Virginia through his 13 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and served for 16 years as our colleague in this body representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. In 2025, he was elected as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after serving as a member of the committee since 2009. In Congress, Gerald Connolly was a friend to many of us and my friend also. He was steadfast in fighting for what he believed in. He was always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree, and he would find those issues. I worked with him on many. Many of my Republican committee colleagues found Gerry Connolly to be a partner and a friend. The bottom line is that his exemplary public service will endure, continuing to guide and inspire those committed to serving our Nation. I am sure that his life and the stories of his life are being told with many as an example of public service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of a bill which would rename a post office in Fairfax, Virginia, for one of our former colleagues, Congressman Gerald E. Connolly, a father, a husband, friend of mine and to this body, and a lifelong civil public servant, one that dedicated his life to his constituents, his community, and to his country. Gerald Connolly began his life of service at the Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas. Arkansas is a beautiful, young State that we have here in the United States, and he chose to move there and to live to work on his project to begin his service. He then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972. Gerry rose from the education director to executive director of the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation while simultaneously serving as the executive director of the U.S. Committee on Refugees. He became a pillar of a person and stalwart for Northern Virginia through his 13 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and served for 16 years as our colleague in this body representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. In 2025, he was elected as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after serving as a member of the committee since 2009. In Congress, Gerald Connolly was a friend to many of us and my friend also. He was steadfast in fighting for what he believed in. He was always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree, and he would find those issues. I worked with him on many. Many of my Republican committee colleagues found Gerry Connolly to be a partner and a friend. The bottom line is that his exemplary public service will endure, continuing to guide and inspire those committed to serving our Nation. I am sure that his life and the stories of his life are being told with many as an example of public service. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.