[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 152 (Tuesday, October 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11363-H11367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH 
OF THE HONORABLE JO ANN DAVIS, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF 
                                VIRGINIA

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 717) 
and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 717

       Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
     the death of the Honorable Jo Ann Davis, a Representative 
     from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
       Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House as 
     the Speaker may designate, together with such Members of the 
     Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeral.
       Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House be 
     authorized and directed to take such steps as may be 
     necessary for carrying out the provisions of these 
     resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection 
     therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House.
       Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
     the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn as 
     a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair may postpone 
further consideration of House Resolution 717 as necessary to 
accommodate voting at approximately 6:30 p.m.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized 
for 1 hour.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott), pending which I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that we come to the floor 
tonight to honor the memory of our colleague and friend, the Honorable 
Jo Ann Davis, who lost her 2-year battle with breast cancer this past 
Saturday. She was not only our House colleague; she was our Virginia 
colleague who represented the First District of Virginia, a district 
which she proudly called ``America's First District'' because of our 
country's roots at Jamestown and the many significant events in history 
which occurred there.
  Jo Ann Davis also could have had a first next to her name because she 
was the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Virginia in 
2000 to succeed our late colleague Herb Bateman. But that historic 
aspect of her career in Congress was not important to her. Representing 
her constituents and being the best Member of Congress she could be for 
the people of her district, that was what was most important to her.
  Her career in elected office spanned 10 short years, from her first 
election in 1997 to the Virginia House of Delegates to her four elected 
terms in the House beginning in the year 2000.
  But over that decade she made her mark as a deeply caring and very 
hardworking public servant who believed in common sense and 
conservative ideals. In remembering Jo Ann's work in Congress, there 
are several thoughts I would like to share.
  She battled to the end with courage and grace in her fight against 
breast cancer. When she was first diagnosed in 2005 with the insidious 
disease, she announced it publicly to encourage other women to beware 
of the disease. Her bravery and personal strength were a source of 
inspiration to many. She was a person of honesty, integrity, and very 
strong moral conviction in representing her district and living her 
life. And she had a very strong commitment to the Lord. She was a 
dedicated and tenacious fighter for her beliefs, and the importance of 
her faith was obvious in the way she cared for and treated others and 
in the way she did her job.
  She was a tireless and passionate advocate for the First District in 
Virginia, working to protect the military interests in her district and 
Navy shipbuilding in Newport News. She cofounded the Congressional 
Shipbuilding Caucus as she worked to provide for the defense of our 
Nation.
  But as important as that work was for Jo Ann, protecting the 
interests of men and women in uniform, their families, and veterans was 
priority number one.
  She also worked hard for other local interests, such as the removal 
of the ``ghost fleet'' of obsolete, environmentally hazardous ships 
from the James River; better regulation of the amount of trash coming 
into Virginia; and protecting the resources of the Chesapeake Bay.
  This House and this Nation will miss Jo Ann Davis and her dedication 
to public service. I want to express my sincere condolences to her 
staff, both in Washington and in her district, who can be proud of 
their work by her side for the people of America's First District. Jo 
Ann Davis had an outstanding staff, and I want to thank the staff.
  I also want to join with my colleagues in expressing profound 
sympathy to Jo Ann's husband, Chuck; and their two sons, Christopher 
and Charles; and a granddaughter.
  In remembering Jo Ann Davis and her life of service to others, I am 
reminded of the words of Scripture where it says: ``Well done, good and 
faithful servant.''
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a news article and editorial 
from the Newport News Daily Press about our late colleague, the 
Honorable Jo Ann Davis.

                [From the dailypress.com, Oct. 8, 2007]

   The Unlikely Politician--The Self-Described Country Gal Preferred 
                Horses to the Capitol Hill Party Circuit

                           (By David Lerman)

       She was, by her own admission, an unlikely politician.
       Virginia Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who died of breast cancer 
     Saturday at age 57, was more at ease with her beloved horses 
     on her Gloucester farm than the cocktail party circuit on 
     Capitol Hill.
       The self-described country gal and former real estate agent 
     fell into a congressional career almost by accident. It took 
     church connections, perseverance and the sudden withdrawal of 
     the leading Republican Party favorite to propel Davis to the 
     office she first won in 2000.
       ``I could have cared less about politics,'' she recalled in 
     a 2003 interview. ``I did not know there was a Republican 
     Party committee in Virginia.''
       But since becoming Virginia's first female Republican 
     member of Congress, Davis learned her role quickly and, many 
     agreed, managed to make the 1st District House seat her own:
       When obsolete, environmentally hazardous ships started 
     mushrooming in the James River off Fort Eustis, Davis fought 
     for federal funding to speed up their removal--and made 
     significant progress.
       When state and local officials complained about the barrage 
     of trash coming into Virginia landfills from other states and 
     littering state highways, Davis pushed for legislation to 
     limit interstate waste.
       While that effort stalled, she won approval of a measure 
     establishing a series of random safety inspections for waste 
     haulers.
       When military personnel and federal employees complained of 
     inadequate benefits, Davis won passage of legislation 
     increasing the life insurance benefits paid to survivors of 
     military members killed on duty.
       And when Pentagon budgets forecast a steady decline in the 
     size of the Navy's fleet, Davis sounded the alarm.

[[Page H11364]]

       A staunch advocate for the thousands of shipyard workers in 
     her district, she co-founded the Congressional Shipbuilding 
     Caucus and pushed legislation, albeit unsuccessfully, 
     mandating a larger fleet.
       ``At a time when people have such a negative impression of 
     Washington, Jo Ann Davis was a refreshing reminder that there 
     are people here who do their best for their constituents,'' 
     said Christopher Connelly, her chief of staff.
       ``A lot of the issues she worked on were local issues. She 
     didn't get lost in the Washington glamour.''
       While seldom a major player on national policy matters, 
     Davis won respect from Republicans and Democrats alike for 
     her ability to delve into local concerns and to stay true to 
     her beliefs.
       ``While we had different political loyalties, we had no 
     differences in our efforts to work together for the Hampton 
     Roads area,'' said Rep. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, D-Newport 
     News.
       Davis'' rise to political power was as unconventional as it 
     was unlikely.
       Unlike her predecessor in office, the late Rep. Herbert H. 
     Bateman, Davis lacked the traditional credentials and years 
     of political grooming that typically foreshadow a 
     congressional career.
       No prestigious university or law-school degree appeared on 
     her resume.
       The daughter of a Hampton city bus driver, Davis came from 
     modest roots that stood in contrast to those of many of her 
     wealthier colleagues in Congress.
       After graduating from Hampton Roads Business College in 
     1971, she went to work as an executive secretary for a real 
     estate firm before becoming a stay-at-home mom.
       She later got her real estate license and opened Davis 
     Management Co. in 1988, followed by Jo Ann Davis Realty in 
     1990.
       All the while, Davis was becoming a deeply religious 
     person.
       When her mother-in-law suffered a fatal heart attack, Davis 
     has said, she had a born-again experience and then joined the 
     Assembly of God church.
       Through her church, Davis met Brenda Pogge, a fellow real 
     estate agent and local GOP activist, who encouraged her to 
     enter politics and invited her to her first Republican mass 
     meeting.
       ``She was my sister in the faith,'' Pogge said. ``She was 
     my friend, my boss and then my congresswoman. Jo Ann was such 
     a role model.''
       In 1997, at Pogge's steady urging, Davis reluctantly agreed 
     to challenge a 15-year Democratic incumbent in the General 
     Assembly and won, despite being outspent roughly 3 to 1.
       In 2000, when Bateman announced his retirement and then 
     died in office, Davis launched her upstart campaign for 
     Congress.
       The odds seemed stacked against her because of formidable 
     opposition for the Republican nomination, led by former 
     Newport News Mayor Barry DuVal.
       But when DuVal withdrew from the race, Davis had an 
     opening. She faced a grueling five-way party primary but 
     emerged victorious with 35 percent of the vote.
       Her general election victory was then little in doubt 
     because of the 1st District's strong Republican tilt. She 
     easily won re-election repeatedly, as she did last year.
       Because of her faith, Davis has said, she remained an 
     outspoken conservative voice on social issues.
       She co-sponsored a constitutional amendment banning gay 
     marriage and took a purist position on abortion, opposing it 
     even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is 
     endangered.
       ``It's just who I am,'' she once said. ``I believe what I 
     believe. I didn't know I was called a right-winger.''
       If there was a historic aspect to Davis' career, it was in 
     her becoming the first Republican woman to win a House seat 
     from Virginia. Former Rep. Leslie Byrne of Fairfax was the 
     first Democratic woman.
       But Davis bristled at such gender-based distinctions, which 
     she regarded as irrelevant. ``It shouldn't matter if you're 
     male or female,'' she once said. ``I'm just a member of 
     Congress, like they are.
       ``No different.''
                                  ____


                [From the dailypress.com, Oct. 9, 2007]

Jo Ann Davis--A Career Spent Making Friends, Working Hard and Doing her 
                                  Duty

       Rep. Jo Ann Davis died on Saturday as the new edition of 
     Time magazine appeared in mailboxes around Hampton Roads. 
     ``Breast Cancer is Spreading Around the World,'' the cover 
     headline read.
       Cancer. The scourge of our times. And it has run up a 
     wretched score in the 1st Congressional District. Davis' 
     predecessor, Rep. Herbert Bateman, fought lung cancer and 
     prostate cancer before succumbing in 2000.
       Davis confronted her illness bravely and with little regard 
     for the odds, just as she had approached politics.
       Del. Shirley Cooper, the redoubtable Democrat from York 
     County, held her seat in the General Assembly for 15 years 
     until an outspent Davis came along in 1997 and snatched it 
     away from her. That was an impressive win.
       Three years later, Davis went one better. The 1st District 
     congressional seat, open after Bateman's death, drew five 
     contenders for the Republican nomination, including one who 
     self-financed his bid to the tune of $l million.
       For her part, Davis amassed around $45,000 and won handily. 
     Now, that tells you something.
       Davis enjoyed a l0-year political career, a brief span in 
     relative terms, but memorable for what it lacked. ``Jo Ann 
     knew no enemies,'' Brenda Pogge said, in an interview on 
     Sunday. ``She was just emotionally and spiritually strong.''
       Democrats also said as much. Not long after Davis arrived 
     in Washington, Rep. Bobby Scott started quietly telling 
     people that he admired Davis for her independence and 
     readiness to do the work. There was nothing flashy, no 
     attention-gathering histrionics so common to the profession, 
     just diligence and commitment.
       And empathy. The 1st District naturally draws its 
     representatives into military affairs, including such arcane 
     matters such as defense contracting and Pentagon 
     appropriations. But for Davis the military was first and 
     fundamentally about people--the soldiers, the families, the 
     veterans--and what had to be done to provide for their 
     interests.
       There's a legacy there. Something to admire. Something, 
     perhaps, to emulate as the inevitable scrambling develops to 
     fill the 1st District seat. You can, as Jo Ann Davis amply 
     demonstrated, succeed in politics by making friends, working 
     hard and doing your duty.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in mourning the loss of one 
of the Commonwealth of Virginia's finest public servants, Congresswoman 
Jo Ann Davis. She was a good friend and a tireless advocate for 
America's First District, as both she and the late Congressman Herb 
Bateman referred to the First Congressional District of Virginia.
  Jo Ann was a self-made woman who came from modest roots. Born in 
North Carolina, she grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where her father was 
a city bus driver. She graduated from Hampton Roads Business College in 
1971, received her real estate license in 1984, and received her real 
estate broker's license 4 years later. She was a successful business 
woman, having opened Davis Management Company in 1988 and Jo Ann Davis 
Realty in 1990.
  Mr. Speaker, Jo Ann was not a career politician and probably never 
imagined that she would run for office and end up serving in the United 
States Congress for over 6 years. In 1997 she was reluctantly convinced 
by her friends to run for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. 
When our late colleague Herb Bateman announced his retirement from the 
House, Jo Ann mounted an underdog campaign. Notwithstanding the fact 
that she was outspent by a margin of 40 to one in the primary, she 
prevailed; and in November, 2000, she became the first Republican woman 
from Virginia elected to Congress.
  While we had different political loyalties, we had no differences in 
our efforts to work together for the citizens of Hampton Roads. Jo 
Ann's service on the Armed Services Committee directly mirrored her 
commitment to the thousands of military personnel in her district. One 
of her first pieces of legislation that she introduced passed in 2001. 
It increased the amount of life insurance benefits for survivors of 
members of the U.S. Armed Forces killed in active duty.
  Jo Ann was also a tireless advocate for the thousands of shipbuilders 
in her district that worked at Northrop Grumman Newport News, and she 
cofounded the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus with Congressman Gene 
Taylor of Mississippi. That caucus has made a compelling case to the 
Department of Defense that it is pivotal for our national defense that 
the Navy spend more money on shipbuilding. In the last Congress, she 
was instrumental in efforts to secure funding for the refueling of the 
USS Carl Vinson. Without Jo Ann's hard work, the Hampton Roads area 
might have lost billions of dollars in economic revenue tied directly 
to that aircraft carrier.
  Jo Ann placed a high priority on the removal of ships in the so-
called James River ``Ghost Fleet,'' which posed a major environmental 
threat to the James River and the Chesapeake Bay; and as a result of 
her leadership, many of those ships have been removed. Together, we 
have worked to secure Federal funding for the Achievable Dream 
education program in Newport News to ensure that at-risk children have 
the best opportunity to succeed in school.
  Mr. Speaker, every Member of this body was saddened to learn that Jo

[[Page H11365]]

Ann developed breast cancer in 2005 and even more so when the cancer 
returned this year. The sadness is especially felt by members of the 
weekly Congressional Prayer Breakfast, which Jo Ann and I regularly 
attended. Despite her personal battle with cancer, Jo Ann did not 
retire from Congress. She stayed and fought her cancer and continued to 
represent the people of the First District to the best of her ability 
until the very end. Learning from her own experience with cancer, she 
has encouraged her colleagues and her constituents to get screened 
regularly for all types of cancer.
  Mr. Speaker, the Hampton Roads delegation has lost a tremendous 
advocate for the interests of our region. I want to extend my deepest 
sympathies to her husband of 33 years, Chuck Davis; their two grown 
sons, Charlie and Christopher; their granddaughter; and her wonderful 
staff with whom my staff has worked so well over the years. America's 
First District and the U.S. House of Representatives have lost a true 
friend and advocate with the passing of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to my 
friend and colleague, Jo Ann Davis, who has served this body with 
dignity and honor and dedication since her election in 2000.
  I first met Jo Ann when she was running for the House of Delegates in 
1997 and quickly became impressed with her strong work ethic. Her 
congressional district, like mine, is the home of many current and 
retired Federal employees. So when I became chairman of the House 
Government Reform Committee, it was an easy decision to ask her to 
oversee the Civil Service Subcommittee.
  She took on the responsibilities of subcommittee Chair with great 
diligence and energy. Through her efforts, we made important strides in 
helping the Federal Government recruit and retain quality employees. 
With her help, we improved Federal student loan repayment programs and 
expanded dental and vision benefits. Jo Ann was a strong supporter of 
legislation allowing retired Federal employees to deduct health care 
premiums from pretax dollars, moving this important legislation through 
her subcommittee. She was also a reliable ally in the annual fight for 
pay parity for civilian Federal employees.
  Her district borders mine; we both represent portions of Prince 
William County. We have worked closely on a number of local issues. 
With her passing, Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth have lost a 
strong advocate.
  I salute Jo Ann Davis for her courageous fight against cancer. Her 
passing reminds us all that we need to fight this horrible affliction.
  My heartfelt condolences go out to her husband, Chuck and to her 
sons, Christopher and Charles. I hope they find solace in knowing she 
did so much to represent the people of Virginia.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Missouri, the chairman of one of the committees that Jo 
Ann served on and a past president of the weekly Congressional Prayer 
Breakfast (Mr. Skelton).
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for 
giving me the opportunity to express my condolences to the Jo Ann Davis 
family, her husband and two sons.
  It's always difficult to say good-bye to a friend. And Jo Ann Davis 
was my friend. She was my colleague. We served together on the Armed 
Services Committee since she came to Congress. She represented the 
First District of Virginia, which had and has a strong military 
tradition. She was preceded in this Congress by my friend through the 
years Herb Bateman.
  She was a strong advocate for the men and women in uniform, and she 
will be sorely missed in supporting them as the days lie ahead. 
Shipbuilding was the centerpiece of her work because of the district 
she represented, and she understood and advocated the importance of 
shipbuilding for the United States Navy. She was a member, actually a 
subcommittee ranking member, on the Readiness Subcommittee.

                              {time}  1815

  And it is interesting that we should, this evening, point out that 
she fought a disease with grace and dignity, and that this is the 
Breast Cancer Awareness month, that I think we should make note of.
  She fought a tremendous fight. She came back when she could, and our 
heart was with her. She fought the good fight. But in looking back at 
my friend, Jo Ann Davis, I remember her most for her sense of humor, 
how we would joke with one another and how absolutely pleasant she was. 
Those are attributes that people remember just as much as they remember 
the good work that she did as a Member of this body. So I thank the 
gentleman from Virginia for allowing me to say a word or two about my 
friend, Jo Ann Davis.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time to the gentlewoman from 
Virginia, Thelma Drake.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our colleague and my 
friend, Jo Ann Davis. I was honored to have served with her in both the 
Virginia General Assembly and now here in the U.S. Congress.
  Jo Ann and I had reverse roles. When Jo Ann ran for the House of 
Delegates, I was her mentor. I was glad to see her success at being 
elected there. And when I ran for the U.S. Congress in 2004, Jo Ann was 
my mentor.
  We were both Realtors and shared that common bond and that 
friendship. I was proud to support her in her historic elevation to the 
Congress. Jo Ann, as you have heard, was the first Republican woman to 
serve in this body. She was also the first woman from Virginia to be 
re-elected.
  We all know that Jo Ann was a woman of great faith, great strength, 
great courage, great honesty and great integrity. I don't believe that 
it was ever Jo Ann's intention to be a trailblazer. I think her 
successes in her life as a mother, a grandmother, a businesswoman, as a 
legislator are all the result of a path that she chose in her life, and 
that was the path that cared for other people first, put other people 
first, and that she stood very strong on the principles to protect 
those around her. That earned her the respect of the people of the 
First District, and it lead her on the path to the House of Delegates 
and then here.
  Jo Ann was a valued resource and a trusted confidant. Here in 
Congress, I was honored to work with her on issues facing the people of 
Hampton Roads and of Virginia. We served together on the House Armed 
Services Committee, and I have watched her very deep appreciation for 
the contributions of the shipbuilding industry, and she understood the 
important role that the Navy plays in our Nation, projecting strength 
and security around the world.
  Jo Ann also was a true leader and a hero in protecting our military 
and their families, and she always worked to ensure that their rights 
and interests were protected.
  It is fitting that the month of October is dedicated to raising 
breast cancer awareness. For even as Jo Ann battled her own illness, 
she saw her illness as an opportunity to help other women. When she was 
first diagnosed, she told me that she would be healed, and she was, 
from her first bout of cancer, and that she would use this as an 
opportunity for other women to see and to make sure that other women 
received the health care and didn't put things off.
  I know that today I join my colleagues in extending our deepest 
sympathies to her family, to her husband Chuck, to her staff, to her 
friends. I appreciate the opportunity to stand here and to honor my 
good friend. I know that we will all miss her greatly.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlelady from California (Mrs. Capps).
  Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I, with great sadness, rise to pay tribute as well to 
our dear colleague, Jo Ann Davis.
  As other women in the Congress know, there is a sisterhood among many 
women Members. This weekend, we lost one of our sisters to a disease 
that has fostered another kind of sisterhood throughout the Nation, 
breast cancer. And while Jo Ann would have chosen to confront her 
disease in private, she bravely and valiantly decided

[[Page H11366]]

to take her experience to improve the experiences of other women in 
that sisterhood. She did so by advocating for the Breast Cancer Patient 
Protection Act and other legislation that would improve the lives of 
those who suffer from this disease.
  I was also proud to work with Jo Ann on the Federal Firefighters 
Fairness Act. Together we worked, one from the west coast and one from 
the east, to extend to Federal firefighters the same presumptive 
disability rights offered to most city and State firefighters. I 
enjoyed working with Jo Ann on this issue, especially as she showed so 
much her dedication to firefighters and their families.
  I will, however, most fondly remember the many mornings I and several 
others spent with Jo Ann at prayer breakfast on Wednesday mornings at 
the C Street House, as we will gather in sadness and sorrow tomorrow.
  We were bound together, several of us, through personal experiences 
with cancer. And when amongst our fellowship Jo Ann was first 
diagnosed, we supported her with prayer; and then as she regained her 
strength, we rejoiced. But as so often and tragically happens with this 
dreaded disease and others, there was a relapse. And we have been much 
in prayer, as all of us have, for her recovery, but it was not to be.
  You know, she and I had our differences in the direction of policy, 
but we certainly shared in our desire to let our faith serve as a guide 
for our work in Congress. And she was a very strong, principled person 
whose convictions and certainty of her faith shown through everything 
that she did.
  I know we're going to honor our dear departed colleague by following 
in her strong example, by calling on our faith to serve as the 
motivation for our work here in Congress the way that she did. We may 
not measure up to her strength, but we have a role model in her. And I 
also hope that we, as a Congress, will serve to honor her memory by 
redoubling our efforts to remove the scourge of cancer through support 
for prevention, for following her example of reaching out, through 
education outreach and awareness, and for increasing research dollars 
so that we can more effectively prevent and treat this disease.
  I join my colleagues in paying tribute to Jo Ann Davis today and 
offering our condolences to her family, her staff and her constituents 
in this time of their sorrow. We will miss Jo Ann Davis dearly.
  Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I, like so many others, rise today to pay 
tribute to Jo Ann Davis and to offer my sympathies to her husband, 
Chuck, and her family.
  By now, you begin to hear a pattern that reflects very accurately the 
life of Jo Ann. And you hear many people stand up and saying the same 
thing, that she was our friend, and like so many others, we will miss 
her.
  I spent a lot of hours talking with Jo Ann in this corner and in the 
Armed Services Committee, and I remember reading one account in one of 
the papers that said that she was born of ``modest'' means. But if you 
listened to Jo Ann, she was born poor. Jo Ann never went to a 4-year 
college, but she had more wisdom than you could ever see reflected in a 
diploma, and one mistake you could never, ever make with Jo Ann Davis 
was to underestimate her.
  I still remember how she used to talk that so many people felt that 
she could never put herself through real estate school, and she proved 
them wrong. I remember her talking about how, that as a wife and 
mother, many people didn't feel that she could become a successful 
Realtor, and she proved them wrong.
  I remember when she was first running for the House of Delegates 
meeting with her and talking with her and she told me that people 
didn't think she could win, and she proved them wrong. And then, like 
my good friend from Virginia, Congressman Scott, said, when she was 
running for Congress, she was a 40-1 financial underdog and nobody 
thought she could win, and she proved them wrong.
  Who would have ever thought she would have served on the Armed 
Services Committee, been the ranking member of one of the 
subcommittees, that she would serve on the Intelligence Committee of 
the House of Representatives, and as so many people mentioned, she 
became a national leader on shipbuilding and defending the shipbuilding 
trade.
  She was a tireless advocate for our veterans and men and women in 
uniform. She loved her husband, Chuck, and firefighters and would stand 
with firefighters in almost every issue that they brought forward, both 
in the Virginia House of Delegates when she served there and here in 
Congress.
  She loved her family, and she was proud of them. And she loved her 
constituents, and she fought for them. And nobody, and I emphasize 
``nobody,'' ever told her what to do. She always did what she thought 
was right for Virginia, and what she thought was right for the country.
  And two final things that I think you don't hear people reflect here 
today, but we need to just mention, she loved horses. And I remember 
her and I talking many times about the fact that we were probably two 
of the only Members of Congress that actually had to go home on 
weekends and clean out horse stables; and yet Jo Ann was the kind of 
person that was humble enough not only to do it, but to love it.
  But above everything else, I am absolutely convinced that she would 
also want us to say today, and this is what Congressman Wolf alluded to 
a little bit earlier, that she absolutely loved, above anything else in 
her life, her faith in Jesus Christ. And I have no question that today 
she has heard those words that Congressman Wolf mentioned, and that is, 
``Well done, good and faithful servant.''
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the Speaker 
of the United States House of Representatives, Ms. Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to 
acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis and to pay 
tribute to her. As we all know, she passed away on Saturday. And 
although she had been diagnosed a while ago, we knew she was sick, it 
still hit this Congress very hard to lose her.
  Congresswoman Davis was tremendously proud to represent Virginia's 
First District, which she called ``America's First District'' because 
it included Jamestown. She spoke often on this floor of the deep 
patriotism of her constituents and of the pride of the many brave men 
and women in uniform who were her constituents.
  When Jo Ann Davis was elected to Congress, as has been mentioned by 
some, she made history as the first female Republican ever elected to 
the House from Virginia; but she knew it was far more critical to make 
progress than to make history, and she did, particularly in honoring 
our troops and our veterans. In fact, the first piece of legislation 
Congresswoman Davis ever introduced increased the life insurance 
benefits paid to survivors of military members killed on duty, and that 
passed the House in 2001.
  After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, Congresswoman Davis 
became an outspoken advocate in favor of education, prevention and 
treatment of the disease. We in this body can express our admiration 
for her dedication with a real national commitment to fighting this 
disease which annually takes the lives of 40,000 American women.
  The Daily Press of Newport News, Virginia wrote of their Member of 
Congress this weekend, ``You can, as Jo Ann Davis amply demonstrated, 
succeed in politics by making friends, working hard, and doing your 
duty.'' All of us in this body can honor Congresswoman Davis's legacy 
by doing just that.
  As was mentioned about the patriotism of her district, she was deeply 
patriotic as well. She loved our country, and this Congress loved her. 
When she was diagnosed, we all hovered over her and prayed for her and 
were deeply saddened. At first, she would be gone for a while, and when 
she came back, we all encircled her and hugged her, and as it turned 
out, drew strength from her. As we were trying to encourage her, she 
gave us strength. Her attitude, her dignity, and the strength with 
which she confronted this terrible disease was something that was a 
lesson for all of us. When she passed away, we were all very, very 
deeply saddened, as I mentioned before, to get that sad news.
  She was really a bright light in this Congress. I hope it is a 
comfort to her

[[Page H11367]]

husband, Chuck Davis, to her family, her two sons, her granddaughter, 
and her many family and friends that so many people in our country, 
indeed, intensely in this Congress, mourn their loss and are praying 
for them at this sad time.

                              {time}  1830

  Mr. WOLF. I yield such time as he may consume to Mr. Lincoln Diaz-
Balart.
  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend 
for yielding.
  One of the great privileges in the daily honor of being able to serve 
in the Congress of the United States is the privilege of being able to 
meet extraordinary people on a constant basis here in these Halls.
  I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to remember and pay tribute to a dear 
friend who was one of those truly extraordinary people whom I have had 
the privilege of meeting in my 15 years here in these Halls of 
Congress, Jo Ann Davis. We will always remember her not only as the 
gracious and dignified and wonderful lady that she was, but as the 
effective representative for her constituents and the great American 
patriot, who every day gave her all to defend our Nation and to honor 
and protect, to the best of her ability, those who protect us and our 
freedom, our men and women in uniform.
  I am deeply comforted, Mr. Speaker, by the fact that Jo Ann Davis had 
such a profound faith in God. It was her strength. At this time, it is 
especially comforting to know that she is now with the Lord.
  I enjoyed my conversations with Jo Ann, the fellowship, her sense of 
humor. She was a wonderful, wonderful human being. How her eyes would 
light up, Mr. Speaker, when the subject of her granddaughter would be 
brought up, Charlotte. I had the privilege of getting to know her son, 
Charlie, very well. He was a member of my staff, an extraordinary young 
man, who did his job day in and day out. Each day he worked in our 
office in a marvelous manner with total devotion to this Congress, to 
the people of the United States. I am deeply grateful for his service. 
I extend to him, my friend, Charlie, and his family, obviously his 
wife, his daughter, Charlotte, his brother, Jo Ann's other son, Chris, 
and of course, Chuck, Jo Ann's husband, my deepest sympathy and 
condolences at this time.
  We will never forget her, that wonderful, wonderful colleague, that 
wonderful friend, that wonderful lady who not only graced these Halls 
but served her constituents of the First District of Virginia so 
effectively, so well, and indeed served all of America so well.
  As I say, I will never forget her and consider it a great privilege 
to have been able to meet and to be a friend of Congresswoman Jo Ann 
Davis.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I learned of 
the loss of our colleague and four-term Representative, Jo Ann Davis, 
who represented Virginia's First District, referred to as America's 
First District. She was a great leader and a tireless advocate for all 
of her constituents. And for those of us who came in after her, I 
remember she organized a WeightWatchers class, saw that we were there 
every week, and that we followed the procedure for weight watching. She 
said, Now, be sure to weigh yourself so that you can see what kind of 
progress you are making. But I want you to know, I don't weigh myself 
because I don't think I am progressing.
  Jo Ann was first in many ways. As the first elected female Republican 
from the Commonwealth, she set an example for women across the country 
who aspire to political office. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our 
men and women in uniform and the many Federal civil servants in her 
congressional district and succeeded in introducing and passing 
legislation that benefited these important constituencies.
  We all know that we lost our colleague to breast cancer. I remember 
going over to her when we heard that Juanita Millender-McDonald was 
taking a leave, and the women's caucus wanted to send greetings, and I 
asked her if she would be the first. She looked at me and she said, No, 
because on that day, Friday, I take my chemo and I am very sick 
afterwards. So I said, Well, I understand. I just thought the two of 
you had much in common and that you could inspire her. We know that it 
is such a devastating disease that takes away our loved ones too 
quickly. I don't know at the time if it was in Jo Ann's mind, but she 
never let on. She seemed to be very secretive about her personal self.
  So, as a reminder, this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I think 
it is so appropriate that we salute her and her life because she lived 
so well and influenced so many people and was really a symbol for how 
to deal with the condition that she had and she was challenged by.
  Our colleague will be sorely missed, not only here, but in her home 
district where her constituents knew that she represented them with 
excellence, integrity, and tenacity. We all mourn her loss, our friend 
and colleague. I send my most heartfelt condolences to her family, 
staff, and her many close friends here on Capitol Hill and in Virginia.
  Mr. WOLF. I am going to yield to Mr. Cantor. We have been told we can 
do one more, but we will resume after the votes for anyone that is 
interested and is listening. But before we go to the votes, I recognize 
Mr. Cantor from Virginia.
  Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
  Along with my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, I too rise with a very heavy 
heart today as we mourn the passing and reflect on the life of our dear 
friend and colleague, Jo Ann Davis. In life, Jo Ann amazed so many of 
us with her determination and her fighting spirit. In politics, as has 
been noted before, she made history, becoming the first Republican 
woman from Virginia to serve in this House. In fighting for everything 
she believed in up until the last day of her bout with cancer, Jo Ann 
taught us how to make every moment on this Earth count. Jo Ann was a 
true gentlelady from Virginia. She was a woman of faith and family who 
had an unshakable commitment to the principles of our Nation's Founders 
and of our Nation's military.
  As was indicated by my colleagues before, Jo Ann was a true patriot. 
And though she spent only a mere 10 years in elected office, she left a 
profound imprint on national and State politics. The State of Virginia 
and our country will miss her greatly. All of us talk about the 
experiences and recall with much sadness, but yet appreciation, that we 
did have the time we did with Jo Ann Davis.
  I, like many of my Virginia colleagues, served with Jo Ann in the 
Virginia legislature. I had 3 years with Jo Ann. We served together on 
the General Laws Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates. It was 
there that I first saw this incredibly strong woman with a will to make 
sure that she did the right thing regardless.
  We had adjoining districts. We shared many of the same community 
interests. Jo Ann was a believer and a promoter of the James River. As 
was noted earlier by my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Scott), she cared 
greatly about the Ghost Fleet there as well as making sure that 
Virginia was no longer a dumping ground for out-of-state trash.
  As has been noted, Jo Ann was a great person of faith. I had the 
tremendous fortune of visiting the Land of Israel with Jo Ann and Chuck 
and saw firsthand how much her faith meant to her. Regardless of what 
you say about Jo Ann Davis, I think we can all agree that Jo Ann Davis 
was never concerned about being politically correct. She carried the 
bill to make sure that we recognized the holiday of Christmas and that 
the issue of faith and God was not taken out of the public realm.
  Jo Ann spoke her mind when she had opinions about this war in Iraq. 
When it came down to it, she cared about her troops, her constituents, 
her family, and her God. We all will miss Jo Ann tremendously. I want 
to, at this time, also extend to her family, to Chuck, to her two sons, 
her granddaughter, a great deal of sympathy. We will miss her.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lincoln Davis of Tennessee). Pursuant to 
the earlier order of the House, further proceedings on House Resolution 
717 will be postponed.




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