[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2343-H2350]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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HONORING REPRESENTATIVE WALTER B. JONES, JR.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Torres Small of New Mexico). Under the
Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2019, the gentlewoman from
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee
of the minority leader.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, we are here tonight to
honor our colleague, Walter B. Jones.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Price for the effort he
has put in to making this evening a time for us to honor Walter, our
esteemed colleague.
Madam Speaker, Walter Jones will always be remembered for his
dedication to North Carolina's Third District and his steadfast support
for all of our Nation's men and women in uniform. I know that many of
the speakers will
[[Page H2344]]
talk much more about that this evening, as will I.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Price), for his comments.
Then, Madam Speaker, we will be recognizing our colleagues from both
sides of the aisle, which is extremely appropriate, particularly in the
case of Congressman Jones.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for
yielding and for calling this Special Order to pay tribute to our
departed friend and colleague, Walter Jones, Jr.
Walter died on February 10, his 76th birthday. He lived a full life
of service: four years in the National Guard, ten years in the North
Carolina General Assembly, and nearly a quarter century in this U.S.
House of Representatives.
Walter and I met long before either of us served in the House. We
worked together on the Jimmy Carter Presidential campaign of 1976. I
have a photo on my desk of a very youthful-looking group of campaign
workers to prove that.
Walter, of course, went on to chart a different course politically, a
course that was uniquely his own. In fact, he found himself frequently
at odds with, if not one party, then the other, but by the same token,
he sometimes found possibilities for alliances and cooperation in
unexpected places, and he didn't hesitate to take those opportunities.
Madam Speaker, tonight we are going to hear from a wide range of
colleagues, an amazingly diverse group of colleagues that reflects the
friendships that Walter had in this Chamber. That was also reflected in
the delegation that went to Greenville for Walter's funeral service on
February 14. He was an independent man and he just had friends all over
the place.
Now, that independence was rooted in Walter's strong convictions and
his personal sincerity. He actually, I think we would all agree, stood
out. In an age in which sincerity is sometimes in short supply in our
Nation's politics, he earned respect and admiration on both sides of
the aisle.
The outpouring of tributes and remembrances that we have seen and
will see tonight is a testament to that fact.
Much has been said about the personal encounters Walter had with
veterans of the Iraq war and the families of those who never returned
and how those encounters led him to reassess his past and present
policy circumstances.
Walter sent over 10,000 letters to families of fallen troops and he
memorialized those who died from North Carolina's Camp Lejeune with
photos outside his office.
Walter's determined and effective voice for the military and
especially his beloved Marines and his deep love for his home State of
North Carolina are going to be missed in these Halls and in the coastal
farming and military communities in the Third Congressional District.
So we express heartfelt condolences to Walter's wife Joe Anne,
daughter Ashley, his loyal staff who are joining us in the Chamber here
tonight, his countless friends, neighbors and community members, the
lives he touched along the way.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a tribute from one from his
longtime staff members, Ray Celeste, Jr.
A Tribute to Congressman Walter B. Jones
(By Colonel Ray Celeste Jr., U.S. Marine Corps (Retired))
I had the pleasure and good fortune to have served with
Congressman Walter B. Jones for almost eight years in his
D.C. office as his Military Legislative Assistant. He was an
American icon of virtue and American values. He loved America
and his constituents deeply. He worked tirelessly on their
behalf for many decades. He stood up against injustices that
many of them faced.
He had an iron-will to do what was best for his
constituents. His will was strong and unflinching. We, as
part of his staff, worked to ensure we represented the
congressman as best as possible and to be as helpful as
possible to him and our constituents of the 3rd District. His
constituents' services were renowned.
Congressman Jones was the epitome of a public servant. He
was always working for the betterment of his people. He was
their divine servant. He greatly appreciated the sacrifices
our military veterans have made for our great Nation.
He also appreciated the sacrifices their families make. The
general public sometimes overlooks these sacrifices. He did a
lot of work in promoting the proper education of military
children who are autistic through the use of Applied Behavior
Analysis (ABA).
Congressman Jones worked tirelessly to help treat service
members and Veterans who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) and those that suffer from Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI). He promoted the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen
Therapy (HBOT). He did not think this was a cure-all for PTSD
or TBI, but as one of treatment methods that that should be
available to service members and Veterans. He authored a
legislative provision that was adopted in the Fiscal Year
2017 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2017 NDAA). This
provision allows for the use of HBOT to be used as a
treatment method for PTSD/TBI by the Department of Defense
(DoD).
He was shocked at the overuse of drugs to treat PTSD/TBI
where there was no conclusive clinical trial done that proved
a certain regime of drugs could cure or alleviate the
horrible mental and physical impacts of PTSD/TBI. In some, if
not many cases, it made matters worse. He was shocked at the
over reliance on the use of drugs.
Congressman Jones looked for holistic methods to treat
PTSD/TBI such as the use of service dogs. He also admired the
positive influence influences of yoga and combat acupuncture.
Congressman Jones was the Republican lead on the
legislation to honor Purple Heart recipients and other
American heroes by giving them access to Department of
Defense commissaries and recreation facilities. The Purple
Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 extends
access to commissaries and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
(MWR) facilities to Purple Heart recipients, all veterans
with a service-connected disability, Medal of Honor
recipients, former prisoners of war, and veteran caregivers.
Commissaries are grocery/department stores on military
installations that sell food and some household items. MWR
facilities offer a range of services on bases including
libraries, outdoor recreation, dining, golf courses, and
sports and fitness centers. It was adopted in the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Two words sum up Congressman Walter B. Jones. He was highly
principled and he was a statesman. He thought we, as a
Nation, must look at what is best in the U.S.'s interests
first. He was not an isolationist, but he did think the U.S.
was allowing itself to be taken advantage of by our allies.
Congressman Walter B. Jones was a once in a lifetime member
of Congress. God bless him, his wife Joe Anne, and their
daughter, Ashley. Semper Fidelis.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for
yielding.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Price for his
comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Amash) for
his tribute to our good friend, Walter Jones.
Mr. AMASH. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I can't begin to tell you how saddened I was at the
passing last month of my dear friend and colleague, Walter Jones.
What a great man Walter was and what a great loss to this
institution.
Walter was one of my closest friends in Congress. I wish I had been
able to spend more time with him, but I will be forever grateful for
the time that I did spend with him.
I am glad I was able to attend his funeral in North Carolina to say
good-bye and celebrate his life with his family and friends. I am
pleased to join with my colleagues here today to do the same.
Even though Walter was one of my best friends, he would always refer
to me as ``Chairman.'' I used to think that was because I was the
chairman of the House Liberty Caucus. Then one day I realized that he
would call all sorts of people ``Chairman,'' so I asked him about it,
and he told me, ``Everyone is chairman of something.''
Well, Walter, you were the chairman of kindness, humility, dignity,
courage, integrity and honor.
Walter was one of the best men I knew, a kind, humble, dignified man
dedicated to his faith, his family, and the people he represented.
Walter had a courage and integrity you rarely see in this chamber or
anywhere. He never gave up fighting for what he believed in. He wasn't
in Washington for money, power, or fame. He cared about honor and doing
the right thing, and he was brave enough to admit when he was wrong.
You were a good man, Walter, no matter what you may have thought
about your mistakes. You were a good man, chairman, and I will miss
you.
May your memory be eternal.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative
Amash for his comments tonight.
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Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard).
Ms. GABBARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of my
friend, Congressman Walter Jones, Jr., a man who was known by all of us
throughout his many years serving in this chamber for his kindness, his
southern charm, and his big heart, his fierce independence, and his
pursuit of peace.
Walter left us on February 10, his 76th birthday. He lived a long
life of service: four years in the North Carolina National Guard, ten
years in the North Carolina General Assembly, and nearly 25 years
serving in these halls.
Walter stayed true to himself throughout this time, following his
heart. He was never afraid to challenge the status quo, often to the
chagrin of his party leaders.
We found a common bond and friendship around shared ideals, of
putting people before politics, putting service above self. He knew
that when we see each other as people, as public servants, not just as
Republicans and Democrats that this is when we have the opportunity to
find common ground and work toward our common goal of serving the
people of this country.
Now, in 2002, Walter voted for the Iraq war, the war that I served
in, the war that took the lives of my brothers and sisters in uniform,
the war that took the lives of over 4,000 U.S. servicemembers and over
100,000 Iraqis.
Walter shared with me, as he shared with many others, that this vote
that he took was the biggest regret of his time in public service.
He shared how when he attended a funeral at Camp Lejeune for a 31-
year-old marine that was killed in Iraq in March of 2003 while
evacuating wounded troops, everything changed for Walter, because he
sat there and he heard this marine's widow, in front of their three
children, read the final letter that this marine sergeant sent home,
and he saw those three kids, knowing that they would never see their
father again.
This impacted him so deeply, and maybe for the first time caused him
to realize the cost of war and who pays the price. So Walter started
writing. He wrote over 12,000 letters to families who lost their loved
ones in both Iraq and Afghanistan and shared how he begged God to
forgive him for his mistake.
He memorialized those who died from North Carolina's Camp Lejeune, as
you see here, with photos that he displayed for all to see before they
could come inside his office here in Washington.
He became a leading voice not just in his party, but in Congress,
pushing for additional oversight over matters of war and peace. He
called for ending illegal regime-change wars that put our troops' lives
on the line, leaving their families behind. He pointed out that our
taxpayer dollars should not be used to be the policeman of the world.
Walter and I didn't agree on many things, but we also found many
opportunities to work together on things that we strongly believed in.
We cosponsored and co-led the No More Presidential Wars Act, which
rightly put the responsibility back in Congress' hands to declare war,
as the Constitution provides.
He cosponsored my bill, the Stop Arming Terrorists Act, to make sure
that taxpayer dollars are not being used to directly and indirectly
fund terrorist groups, as we have seen done in both Syria and Yemen.
We cosponsored the Weekend Voting Act to strengthen voting rights.
We worked together to strengthen civil liberties and privacy,
upholding our Fourth Amendment rights.
Walter was courageous. He didn't care about party politics, and as a
result, he suffered the consequences in tough primary elections, but he
didn't care. He never hesitated to stand up for what he believed in.
So while Walter and I were two very different people coming from two
very different places, Walter was my dear friend, fellow servicemember,
and my brother. He will be deeply missed.
My heart and prayers go out to his family, his friends, and his loved
ones.
We all know that Walter's legacy of service and his principles and
values will continue to live on in Washington, in the Halls of
Congress, and in the lives of the many people who he touched.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), another one of our colleagues.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I rise today, along with my
colleagues, to remember and honor a great, great public servant, a
great North Carolinian, devoted husband and father, a man of great
faith, and my personal friend for over 40 years, Congressman Walter B.
Jones, Jr.
And, Madam Speaker, I emphasize the word ``junior,'' because I knew
Walter's father and knew him very well, for he was the Congressman for
eastern North Carolina for many years. And though Walter did not use
``Junior'' in his official name, he was indeed a junior.
Walter Jones passed away on Sunday, February 10, 2019, on his 76th
birthday.
He was a lifelong public servant, serving in the North Carolina
National Guard for four years, the General Assembly of our State for
ten years, and the U.S. House of Representatives for 24 long years,
where he served North Carolina's Third Congressional District.
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Since coming to Congress, I watched Walter cast difficult votes with
conviction, standing firm in what he believed was right for his
constituents and for the American people. That is why the people of
North Carolina's Third District sent him back to Congress again and
again and again, electing him 13 times since 1994.
Even as Walter gained seniority in the Congress, he maintained his
strong conscience and principles. As a senior member of the House
Committee on Armed Services, Walter was an outspoken and effective
voice for our military.
Anyone in eastern North Carolina who knew Walter Jones, or knew of
him, would know of his love for the military. He was committed to
safeguarding the well-being of our Nation's veterans and active
servicemembers. In fact, Congressman Jones sponsored and cosponsored
more veterans legislation in the last three congressional terms than
any other sitting Member of Congress.
Madam Speaker, it was one of the greatest honors of my life for my
friend, Congressman Walter Jones, to ask me to administer his oath of
office, which I performed at his Farmville home on January 4, 2019. And
I might say that his home in Farmville is 20 minutes from my home in
Wilson.
I am equally proud to say that a 30-Member delegation traveled to
Greenville, North Carolina, for the homegoing service for Congressman
Jones. That 30-Member delegation was led by the dean of our delegation,
Congressman David Price, and the ranking Republican among our
delegation, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.
I will miss Walter Jones in these halls and in our beloved State.
Walter would drive home each week. We would sit right here on the House
floor each Friday and talk about our weekends. He would tell me how he
was preparing to drive home and how he dreaded the traffic, but that he
would offset the dread of the traffic by listening to audiotapes in his
car while he would drive.
Madam Speaker, we may have stood on opposite sides of the aisle here
in the House, but there was always a mutual respect and friendship
between us. I would say to the gentlewoman from Hawaii who spoke a few
moments ago that he, too, called me Mr. Chairman. I never understood
exactly why he would do that, but that was his vocabulary, and I found
it very honorable that he would do that.
Although our friend is no longer here, he has left an indelible mark
on eastern North Carolina, on the House, and on the Nation. May our
friend, Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr., rest in peace and have
eternal life with our Father in Heaven.
To Joe Anne, Ashley, and all the family and friends of Walter Jones,
we wish you God's blessings in the years to come.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman
from eastern North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer), my colleague.
Mr. ROUZER. Madam Speaker, many in North Carolina and around the
country are mourning the passing of our friend and colleague,
Congressman
[[Page H2346]]
Walter B. Jones, just as much as we are. Our dear friend humbly served
the great people of eastern North Carolina in the State legislature and
in Congress for more than 30 years. Having known Walter for more than
23 years, I can attest to his great faith in our creator and his
servant's heart.
Congressman Jones was elected to Congress with the 1994 class, and it
was in his first term that I met him. I was brand new to the Hill
myself, working for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms at the time. Senator Helms
and his wife, Dot, quickly became great fans of Walter, so much so--and
many may not know this--that even after Senator Helms passed, Dot Helms
would cut radio ads for him up until her passing just a few years ago.
What Dot and Jesse Helms admired about Walter was no different than
what everyone else across the State of North Carolina and throughout
the country who knew him admired: his character, his adherence to his
convictions, and his commitment to serving others.
He was a staunch advocate, of course, for those who made the greatest
sacrifice of all while serving our country. He constantly worked on
behalf of our troops and veterans every single day, especially those
who were based in his district at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville and
Cherry Point in Havelock.
Congressman Jones dedicated his life to serving others. He stood
strong for his beliefs and even stronger for his faith, always choosing
to do what he believed to be best for his constituency, our State, and
our Nation.
The citizens of this State and country have lost a great friend whose
life made a real difference for so many. His honesty, faith, and
integrity will not be forgotten.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the
distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson).
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding, and I thank the dean of the North Carolina delegation for
putting together this Special Order on behalf of someone who truly
epitomized the word ``gentleman,'' indeed, ``Southern gentleman,''
though not what you may immediately conjure up if you are from the
North when you think about that gentile Southern person and plantation
owner.
His father, who served in this body, was a factory worker. Walter
grew up with great admiration for his dad, who I was able to talk with
him about on several occasions on this floor.
What a special and unique place this Chamber we serve in is, and
throughout history, how many people have graced these hallowed halls
and served with distinction. Walter served not only with distinction
but with an acute humility for what that service meant and for the
people he represented, most notably, those at Camp Lejeune and, has
been alluded to already, the thought process that Walter went through
in coming to the conclusion that he must speak out and oppose a war he
had voted for. The very troops that he nurtured, cared for, and felt so
much a part of, he felt honor bound that he must speak on their behalf.
He could not withstand and was tortured by the memory of looking at the
little boy who lost his father, knowing that he would never know his
daddy, as Walter would say.
I came in with Virginia in 1998. I served on the Armed Services
Committee with Walter. I was introduced to him by a man from
Mississippi named Gene Taylor, who said that there is more integrity in
this man than any Member of the United States Congress. How right he
was.
Walter would frequently come over to the corner, as we referred to
it, and confer with Jack Murtha, my mentor and arguably one of the most
knowledgeable people in this Chamber and in this body on matters of
defense, on matters of the military, as he had served as a colonel with
distinction in Vietnam. Walter would often probe Mr. Murtha about the
war in Iraq and how bothered he was by that vote.
Jack would counsel him. When Walter would walk away, Jack Murtha
would add to the chorus of people who would say: What honor, what
integrity, what thoughtfulness, what a genuine human being Walter Jones
is. He cares so deeply about the people he represents and the feeling
that he had not done the right thing with his vote for Iraq.
There are a number of reasons why Jack Murtha came out to,
ultimately, oppose the war in Iraq. But I will always believe that
Walter's regular pilgrimages over there to talk about the rank-and-file
soldier, about the person on the frontline and their families behind at
home, and the fact that people felt they were lied to, played an
enormous part in Mr. Murtha's decision, two profound figures that I had
the honor to serve with in this body, both who have passed, both whose
opposition to the war in Iraq changed the course of events here in this
country.
Walter, ever the gentleman, always sincere, always humble, his
friendship and his acts of kindness are legendary.
I thank the dean of the North Carolina delegation, who I hold in
profound regard, because I know he, and everybody here tonight, cares
deeply about this institution. What makes this institution what it is,
it is not the splendid hall, but it is the humanity of people like
Walter Jones who have graced us with his service and his presence,
indeed, the people who bring honor and dignity and integrity to the
United States Congress.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I yield to the
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
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Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Ms. Foxx and Mr.
Price, both from North Carolina, who have made this opportunity
fittingly available for all of us here tonight in order to honor our
friend, Walter Jones.
I would always encounter him as a low key but kind, gentle, sweet
soul that he is, around the building; and just in his own way, just
thumbs up, keep going, encouraging in what we do around here.
There were a lot of very kind remarks made about him here tonight
from people that got to serve with him a lot longer than I did, but
indeed, we hear about how he was a very independent voice. I think
marching to his own higher standard to what he felt his own integrity
required, not only as a representative, as a person in this political
business, but one who is answering to a higher power--the importance of
God in his life made abundantly clear.
Indeed, at his service in North Carolina, it really, really hit home
for me how much that was a part for him.
As we know, he was very, very unhappy with the Gulf war. And after
that started, he really--I believe, and the results show--he spent the
rest of his career trying to find and make and provide comfort for the
members of the military--and even more so--the Gold Star families, who
he knows--and we all realize--bear the loss the most when one of theirs
has fallen.
I heard that he would write to every single Gold Star family when he
would learn of one of their loved ones having fallen in conflict, that
were killed in action.
He would take his time in that position as a Member of the United
States House of Representatives, using his name, using that title and
whatever that carried, to provide comfort and show those families that
there are people in this place that really, really do recognize--we all
do--but he went that extra mile for people all over the country, not
just in his district, to take that care, to take that time. And I
thought that was pretty amazing.
Another way that he tried to help was supporting the various programs
that were out there, to provide those working dogs, a program I have
encountered, to soldiers that have come home that suffer with PTSD or
similar-type afflictions, that those comfort dogs could provide
something unique to them that maybe no human contact can reach for some
of them.
He spent a lot of time, a lot of effort in helping with that because
he did want to make as much of a positive mark on those soldiers as
possible.
Most importantly, though, his higher calling he felt, it wasn't here
to put treasures in this place or in his title. It was the treasures he
wanted to store in Heaven, as he wanted to do what he could to please
God and walk with his Savior Jesus Christ. And that is the most
important thing about Walter Jones and his life and his devotion.
God bless him and his family and the memory of him to this place.
[[Page H2347]]
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
California (Mr. LaMalfa), and I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's
courtesy and my friend, Congressman Price, in bringing us together.
I am standing in front of the chair here on the floor that I
routinely occupied, and Walter sat next to me hundreds of hours. It was
fascinating watching the dynamic on the aisle. I think some people like
to be on the aisle because it is a place where people come together.
I watched a parade of people in both parties who would stop, greet
him, and talk about issues large and small, radiating a sort of
humanity that at times is in short supply around here.
Walter epitomized what I think politics should be.
We talked often about how he was creating problems for himself at
home. There is probably not a district in the United States that is
more oriented towards the United States military, as we have heard
already.
He comes from a district that is intensely patriotic and more than a
little Republican. Yet, he charted a path--once he had determined that
he had made a mistake--he charted a path to try and make it right, not
just to the Gold Star families, but to having that interaction here on
the House floor, not in an accusatory fashion for people who may have
disagreed with him, but just humbly focused on the human consequences
on the political foibles of Congress.
He willingly took that burden on; even though he knew that it could
have cost him his position in Congress. And this is family tradition,
as is mentioned, I mean his father before him. It mattered a great deal
to Walter to carry that banner, to serve his constituents and his
State, but he walked into that storm willingly because he thought it
was the right thing to do.
We don't see a lot of that around here, people who can face up to
mistakes--which we all make. How many of us have as graciously and
publicly acknowledged our mistakes, attempted to make them right, and
accept the consequences?
Walter was a singular human being, and I feel privileged to have sat
next to him all those hours.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for his comments. And I now yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).
Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I thought it was appropriate, FOX News
had this headline: ``Farewell to Representative Walter Jones--a man who
lived his life putting people above politics.''
Another headline from W. James Antle: ``Walter Jones and the Road Not
Taken.''
Another from CBN News, Crystal Woodall: ``A Man of Faith, Honesty and
Integrity.''
He was all of those. He, I guess, manifested a bit of what Robert
Frost talked about when he said:
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
That was Walter Jones.
He was not going to take the easy way. He was going to--and did--have
great integrity, great conscience, and fulfilled his commitment to the
people in his district in North Carolina.
Those attributes, he would say, go back to his Christian commitment.
He said on one occasion, There are some documents you can't rewrite,
and truthfully, one of them is the Bible.
He said, For over 15 years, I have led the charge to return freedom
of speech to our churches and houses of worship. During that time, I
have spoken with countless legal experts, and we believe the clearest
avenue to rectifying those First Amendment rights is a full repeal of
the Johnson amendment.
He also said, America was built on Judeo-Christian values, and these
values should be protected. During my years in Congress, I have been a
steadfast supporter of traditional marriage, the unborn, and the free
exercise of religion.
Some people think that Christians must hate everybody that disagrees
with them. And I think Walter Jones was a living example of what a
Christian should be.
With that conscience, with love, even for those who hate, Walter had
that love. And I saw that that last day that Thomas Massie and I were
with him.
God blessed America with Walter Jones.
God blessed this body with Walter Jones.
And God blessed me for having a friend like Walter.
We miss you, Walter.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Gohmert) for his extremely eloquent remarks.
Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North
Carolina (Ms. Foxx) for helping to organize this evening, as well as
the dean of the North Carolina delegation, David Price.
Truly, so many of us miss Walter Jones among us already. And we thank
them for this Special Order, this order to celebrate the honorable life
and service of the late Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina,
a man of deep conscience and integrity. His word was his bond.
Madam Speaker, it is with a sense of true sadness, but abiding
gratitude, that I rise tonight to join all of you as we pay tribute to
our cherished friend and colleague, Walter, and offer sincerest
condolences to his beloved wife, Joe Anne and daughter Ashley, to their
friends, to their family, to his constituents in North Carolina, and
friends across the country.
I also rise this evening in memory of his father, Walter Jones, Sr.,
with whom I had the privilege to serve when I was first elected to the
Congress.
We both shared a great interest in maritime commerce. And so when
Walter arrived in Congress, it was my great privilege to serve with his
son.
So I was able to serve with Walter during his entire quarter century
of exemplary service here in the House. And, yes, he was a man of deep
conscience in an era of utter distraction. He exemplified exceptional
honor, kindness, and a steady conviction that always stayed true.
I brought with me today a book Walter gave me entitled, ``Extortion''
by Peter Schweizer. And in it Walter inscribed the following message:
Marcy, may those of us who serve in the U.S. House work
together to return the House to the people and not let
``special interests'' continue to influence policy. Thank you
for your friendship. God bless America.
Walter Jones.
At the time Walter wrote these words, he and I had been talking about
a bipartisan effort to clean up Congress using our joint efforts,
traveling to appropriate venues along the way to advance reform of our
democracy, and get big money out of politics.
But as the months went by, it became clear that Walter would not be
able to make this journey, and he bore his wounds with great dignity
and in silence.
What a man of courage.
Walter, as others have said, had a deep passion for the people he
represented--surely, the Marines of Camp Lejeune and their families and
colleagues, as these photos attest.
He would always take to this House floor to compassionately recall
their patriotic service. He never, ever forgot them.
The war in Iraq weighed so heavily on him, and his integrity required
him to speak out. And he did, often.
His constituents knew the measure of this committed, modest man of
sterling conviction.
{time} 2015
Walter is held in highest esteem by his colleagues on both sides of
the aisle, and he will be sorely missed.
A grateful nation thanks the people of the Third Congressional
District of North Carolina, and I know all of his constituents join us
in thanking Walter for his decades of public service and his family for
all of their sacrifices because he so conscientiously and selflessly
dedicated himself to our Nation.
He was true; he was reflective; he was faithful; and he was a
patriot. His spirit lives right here. I can feel it myself as a beacon
across this Congress and as a shining star for all to come with
integrity and moral conviction.
[[Page H2348]]
May God bring comfort to his family, and may his strength shower them
to move through this period of deep mourning and come into the sunlight
again.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman
for her comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho).
Mr. YOHO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina
for yielding.
As I look at Walter here, it reminds me when I came to Congress in
2013, my first term here. Walter was one of the first people who
befriended me.
We had, over the course of several Congresses, many, many good
laughs. He was always quick to laugh. He was always gentle, strong in
his conviction, and he wouldn't hesitate to hold you accountable.
Every time I went on a codel, he would scold me for spending the
taxpayers' money. When the codel went to go to his funeral, I said, if
I went on that codel, Walter would roll over in his grave and yell at
me, and so I chose not to go just to honor him on that.
He would give you the shirt off of his back and help you in any way
he could. There was a Christmas ball, and I had to have a date for my
daughter because she came up here. I took my wife, and I called Walter.
He said: ``I don't want to do that, but for you, I will do that.'' That
is the kind of friend he was. And he walked my daughter in there so
that she got to go.
He cared about God, country, his family, the people who serve this
great Nation, and the people in his district.
He was held in high esteem, as was evidenced the day when Thomas
Massie and Louie Gohmert gave the eulogy here in the talk about Walter.
That was the quietest this Chamber had ever been without the Speaker
having to interrupt.
He was always fun to have a joke with or laugh, and we had many. His
team is back here, faithfully to the end. Next time we are at a
reception, we will have a red wine and a cigar in Walter's favor.
I thank the gentlewoman for doing this, and I thank you, buddy,
Walter Jones, for the things you did for us.
God bless.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
his comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Pascrell), a long-serving Member and another respected Member of this
body.
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, to Virginia Foxx and to David Price, I
would expect you two to be here. I really would.
To the gentleman and the gentlewoman and to the staff, I sat quietly
in the back, but I know what you felt about Walter Jones. I say thank
you to you for serving him as he served you and all of us.
In a moment when our Nation cries out for principled leadership, the
loss of Walter Jones is especially difficult. The challenges we face
right now really demand the wisdom of men and women like Walter Jones.
The absence of his voice in our Chamber is devastating.
Walter Jones was a real patriot. He was gentle but persistent. He was
fervent but not self-indulged. He was a real winner.
Our tenures in this place overlapped almost completely, so I had the
pleasure of working closely with Walter many, many times.
There is no Member I have served with, man or woman, Democrat or
Republican, old or young, who was more forthright or was more courteous
or kind. He was revered for his generosity because that is exactly who
he was.
Walter was my friend, and I was his friend. We had been leading an
effort, both of us, to get Congress to reassert its prerogatives and
apply oversight of the executive branch of government. Walter stood up
by himself for this.
If operating in the minority was a lonely crusade for us, imagine how
it was for Walter to cast those votes all by himself. He understood the
song we sing many times on Sunday, ``Be Not Afraid.'' He was not
afraid, but for Walter Jones, it was just another day at the office.
Walter made a career standing up by himself, guided solely by what he
thought was the right thing, and he was often punished for it. He was
stripped of political clout and prestige for his independence.
He was a person of faith who respected all faiths. We were all equal
in Walter's eyes and in Walter's heart. What a lesson. So it is
important to understand what that really entails.
There may be nothing more difficult than standing alone. We see every
day here how challenging it is for men and women to stand up when
everyone else is lined up against them. So even when you know a
position, a vote, an act is right, to do it alone takes immense
confidence, courage, and unswaying principle.
Walter Jones embodied those qualities as much as anyone who has
served in the people's House. There was only one Walter Jones, and we
have lost him. We could use a lot more like Walter. He was not a photo
op. He was the real thing.
Thank you. Thank you for your gracious friends who came tonight to
speak about you, and it was from everyone's heart. I hope that Congress
learns something.
Thank you, Walter.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
New Jersey for his eloquent comments.
Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) for
his comments.
Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina
for yielding.
Madam Speaker, I thank the dean, the gentleman from North Carolina,
for bringing us together. The delegation has done an awesome bit of
tribute here to recognize Walter B. Jones, Jr., our colleague who has
served so faithfully well. I will offer a few comments here. It has
been a tremendous tribute.
I do, in my initial comments here, want to extend my condolences to
his widow and his family and his many friends and colleagues and, in a
particular way, to his staff.
To know Walter Jones is to love Walter Jones. I have to believe that
the relationship that he had with so many and, in particular, his
family and his extended family, his work family, had to be driven by
that love, that compassion that was part of him. It was undeniable. It
was so clearly presented by every step, every thought he shared.
He was a person of deeply rooted faith. His Christian faith, his
Catholic faith guided him. He was a pious individual who was not self-
righteous but spoke with such integrity and such deeply rooted beliefs
that our goal in life is to connect inextricably with everyone and to
serve everyone.
He understood the role of a legislator to be compassionate, to
empathize, to be able to express to the many people who trusted in his
leadership, to share what needed to be done here.
And so, tonight, we gather together to offer our thanks to this
consummate gentleman who was every bit of the way, yes, an individual
of greatness, but if we do not mention his heart, his kindness, we
don't capture the individual.
His kindness worked in several ways. He wove that kindness into every
bill that he addressed, every vote he undertook, every step that he
made in his career of public service. He understood that these acts of
kindness would accumulate to express an individual of greatness.
His integrity was impeccable. I cherish the many conversations we
would have on the walk over to the House or in riding in the trolley
about having a sense of guidance, a sense of how to conduct yourself,
how to go forth and understand that the work you can address in this
body affects individuals so greatly.
Obviously, he was a person who was humble and could acknowledge
mistakes, as was indicated earlier, to do that publicly and graciously
as he did when he suggested that the many thousands, the 12,000-plus
letters that he had drafted to families of dead troops since 2003 was,
in a sense, an act of penance, a sense of expression that he had erred
and that he regretted that there were these consequences of war that
were borne by these many families who lost their loved ones
prematurely.
There was a sense of coming together that he would allow all of us to
share in the efforts for peace. Walter carried himself in a peaceful
way, a peaceful manner. He was a moral compass for this House, one who
taught us, by his very actions, that it is essential for us to be bold,
that our fight to be there for what is just and fair should guide us.
[[Page H2349]]
Tonight, I acknowledge his great work, his great friendship, his
great lessons taught. He didn't use or need to use words to teach us.
His actions spoke louder than any words he could utter. And tonight, we
say thank you to an individual who is very much missed already in the
weeks that have passed since his departure from this world.
Walter, we cherish your memory. It will live forever. You will be the
measuring stick for Members who serve in this House, and you will be
that constant reminder, as I look at that kind and loving smile that
you have worn in this photograph that we have on display on the House
floor. It has guided us. It will continue to speak to us.
Your actions are powerful. Your words were so carefully chosen and so
heartfelt. Your drive to be a just and fair man has earned you an
eternal reward. Good job, humble and faithful servant.
God bless you. May you rest in peace.
{time} 2030
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Tonko for
those words.
Madam Speaker, as we sometimes say here to keep from using up time we
shouldn't use, I want to associate myself with all the comments made by
my colleagues.
Walter was all of the things that our colleagues have talked about.
He had a fantastic Southern charm and a fantastic smile. He was humble;
he exhibited acts of kindness; and he was pious, not self-righteous.
I regret, as others have said, that I didn't take more time to spend
with him. But I think even in Walter's death, he has done something we
talk about doing here and that is to bring the House together on an
issue.
We are here to honor a very extraordinary man who did what his
conscience told him to do, and he sometimes suffered the consequences.
But I think tonight exhibits that doing the right things for the right
reasons will be honored and has been honored tonight.
I thank, again, all the Members who came here tonight to speak on
Walter's behalf. We all benefited from that.
I particularly thank the dean of our delegation, David Price, who
was a longtime friend of Walter B. Jones, Jr. I thank his assistant,
Gloria Nlewedim, for her great assistance in this.
General Leave
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of
my Special Order, because I know there are Members who wish to insert
their comments because they could not be here.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I would ask Mr. Price if
he has any closing comments he would like to make.
Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for
presiding over this remarkable series of tributes. It has been a
memorable evening--more than I could have anticipated--in the array of
colleagues who have paid tribute and in the kind of emotions stirred in
all of us, I think, by the memory of a good friend and a good man, but
also a sense of the values and the affection that binds us together
here.
It is too bad, perhaps, that it took an occasion of this sort to
bring this out. But I will never forget it, and we will never forget
Walter Jones and what he meant to all of us, so I thank the gentlewoman
so much.
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I again thank Mr. Price
for his contribution to this evening, and I agree with the gentleman.
It is unfortunate sometimes that it takes a death to bring out these
kinds of comments and this kind of camaraderie. We must remember
tonight and practice it more often.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to our colleague
Walter Jones, who passed away last month. Walter was my friend. Ever
collegial and kind, he saw this institution for the good it could do
for his constituents and for our country.
I admired Walter for his candor and for his patriotism. Over the
years, I watched him make very difficult decisions, take very difficult
votes. He did so out of principle. He stood up for what he believed.
It's no surprise that Walter had so many friends on both sides of the
aisle. And it's no surprise either why the people of North Carolina's
coastal communities sent him back to Congress election after election.
Those of us who served with him could also see the extraordinary love
he had for his wife Joe Anne and for their daughter Ashley.
We will miss Walter Jones in this House. I will miss my friend. We
all are better off for having served with him, and this House and this
country are better off for his service.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life
of my friend and colleague, Walter Beaman Jones, Jr., who passed away
on February 10, 2019 at the age of 76. His passing is a deep loss to
this institution, and we miss him dearly in the House of
Representatives. Walter was proud to represent North Carolina's 3rd
congressional district, a geographically diverse district, for over 24
years and always found a way to address the concerns of his coastal
constituency as well as his rural inland residents.
Those who knew Walter remember a tenacious, earnest and passionate
Member of Congress, who tirelessly fought for what was right.
Throughout his 24 years in Congress, Walter represented his district
and constituents with a passion and intensity that I think we each
strive to emulate. He followed a moral compass that rarely took him off
course. In the rare event that it did, he did not let himself off the
hook and dedicated his life and career to right any wrong. Walter was
known for saying: ``I would rather do what I think is right than to
sell my political soul.''
Walter spent much of his career in Congress serving on the Armed
Services Committee. In this capacity, he stood up for military
families, investigated corruption within the Department of Defense, and
was relentless in his pursuit to bring our troops home from Iraq.
Walter sent over 12,000 letters to families who had lost loved ones
overseas and gave over 150 floor speeches to clear the names of two
Marine Corps pilots who were unfairly blamed for a deadly military
accident. He was also passionate about renaming the Department of the
Navy to the Department of the Navy and the Marine Corps to better
reflect the service and sacrifice of our Marines. Walter was one of the
most independent voices in Congress. He was never afraid to vote
against his party or President if it was what he thought was best for
his constituents, his district, and the nation.
I had the opportunity to work closely with Walter on several
legislative initiatives. He was the lead Republican cosponsor of the
Youth Promise Act, a comprehensive juvenile justice bill that I first
introduced in 2007. We were proud to have core provisions of the Youth
Promise Act included in the Juvenile Justice Reform Act passed by
Congress and signed by President Trump late last year. We also worked
together on legislation to protect the mid-Atlantic coast from offshore
drilling.
Madam Speaker, the House of Representatives lost one of its most
dedicated public servants last month. We were all lucky and privileged
to know and work with Walter Jones. I join my colleagues in expressing
our sympathy to Walter's wife Joe Anne, his family, many friends, and
constituents for their loss.
Mr. HOLDING. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy
of my good friend and former colleague, Congressman Walter B. Jones.
For nearly a quarter century, Walter Jones served his country and the
people of North Carolina with steadfast dedication, conviction, and
integrity.
A man of deep faith, Walter Jones' kindness and servants heart earned
him the affection of all who knew him.
In Washington, Walter Jones was a rare breed who truly broke the
mold. He was an independent-minded public servant who rose above the
trappings of partisan politics and political parties to vote his
conscience, no matter the consequences.
Lucy and I send our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to his
wife Joe Anne, his daughter Ashley, and the entire Jones family during
this difficult time.
Our nation and the state of North Carolina are better off today
because of Walter Jones' principled and steadfast public service. I
will forever be honored to call Walter my friend and colleague.
Ms. ADAMS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of my colleague,
Representative Walter Jones, Jr.
For 24 years, Congressman Jones represented the people of North
Carolina's 3rd Congressional District with pride and integrity.
In his quarter century in service to our great country, Congressman
Jones was a steadfast voice and advocate for North Carolina.
He was unafraid to put people before politics. He was a dedicated
public servant.
[[Page H2350]]
And he was a principled leader.
He stood firmly for what he believed--and wasn't afraid to admit when
he made a mistake.
2 Corinthians 5:8 reminds us that `to be absent from the body is to
be present with the Lord.'
I pray that my friend has now found the peace he sought.
To his wife, Joe Anne, and his daughter, Ashley--please know that
Walter left an indelible mark upon our state and nation.
Let all Members of the estimable body learn and profit from the
example of Congressman Walter Jones, Jr.
He will be missed.
____________________