Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building

Floor Speech

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Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support and cosponsor legislation designating a postal facility in Fairfax, Virginia in honor of our late colleague, and my dear friend, Congressman Gerry Connolly.

Gerry was a devoted public servant who spent over three decades serving the people of Virginia and our Nation with unmatched dedication and purpose. He began his career in public service as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995, and served five years as its Chairman, from 2004 to 2009. As Chair of the ten-member board, Gerry balanced a budget of $4.5 billion and managed a county that, based on its size, would make it the Nation's thirteenth largest city, twelfth largest school district, and sixth largest office market.

Gerry Connolly went on to serve the people of the 11th Congressional District of Virginia in this House from 2009 until 2025. He was recognized by the University of Virginia's Center for Effective Lawmaking ``as being the most effective member of the House in advancing policies pertaining to government operations'' during the 117th Congress, and was also cited as ``being the most effective lawmaker in the House overall'' among all Members, both Republican and Democrat.

Gerry understood that the best way to get things done for his community and for his country was to work with people from both sides of the aisle. We served on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, where I was proud to partner with him on postal reform issues, and on legislation protecting the rights of our federal workforce.

We both had the honor of serving as president of the U.S. Delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. There was no stronger champion in our NATO Parliamentary Assembly than Gerry Connolly for the importance of NATO, which he called ``the indispensable bulwark for democracy itself.''

Gerry's impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia and his country will not soon be forgotten. His legacy will live on for years to come, both in his work and in the many lives he touched. I was honored to serve with him in this chamber, and it was an even greater honor to call him my friend.

It is appropriate that we honor Gerry in the community he served by naming this post office as a tribute to that all he did to make his Congressional district, and our Nation, a better place. May his life and memory be a blessing to us all.

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