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House of Representatives

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building

2026-07-13 Issue 113 Showing 1–4 of 4

A bill to name a post office after a former Congressman. Members spent the debate giving speeches praising the former Congressman and thanking each other.

Official Congressional Record ↗

Pete Sessions

Republican

“I want to name a post office after a Congressman. That's my whole speech.”

Pete Sessions

Republican

“I want to name a post office after my friend. He did many things. He worked with us. He served for a long time. He is a good example. That's my speech.”

Official Congressional Record

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.

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Pete Sessions

Republican

“I want to praise the family of this public servant. The family also serves. The family also sacrifices. Thank you to the family.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, while directing my comments directly to the young speaker, will say that I, too, recognize not only Congressman Connolly's family being here, but I equally recognize, as Mr. Walkinshaw does, their contribution of service with their husband and their father and their uncle and those members of the family because service goes beyond just a person. It is extended to the family, who many times is a part of the success that is gleaned from their service, but they are an equal part of it. I, too, recognize, on behalf of myself and my colleagues on this side, the generosity that they extended by being here today and for the service that they will be rewarded with and thanked for today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Pete Sessions

Republican 3:40 p.m.

“I want to thank the chairman for working with us. Naming this post office is a nice way to remember our late colleague's service.”

Official Congressional Record

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw) has very nicely thanked the young chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, James Comer. Mr. Comer, I think, really did work well with the minority to make sure not only that this bill was handled appropriately, but to make sure that it could be scheduled in time so that the families would be here. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and all of our colleagues to understand that, today, naming this post office is a nice way to remember not just the memory but also the service that our late colleague, Gerald Connolly, provided. Mr. Speaker, I ask for their support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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