[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H3595-H3596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE CHRIS JACOBS TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Lowey) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, it is my honor, on behalf of the New York 
Congressional delegation, as the co-dean along with Chairman Eliot 
Engel, to welcome our newest member, Chris Jacobs. Or perhaps I should 
say welcome him back, since Mr. Jacobs began his career just out of 
college working for New York Congressman Jack Kemp.
  After returning home to western New York, he has pursued various 
professional paths, including public service. He began an education 
charity and his own small business, Avalon Development.
  Mr. Jacobs served as the Erie County Clerk and most recently was a 
member of the New York State Senate since 2017.
  I congratulate Congressman Jacobs and look forward to working with 
him at this critical time to deliver for our home State of New York in 
the coming months.
  I also welcome his family here today, including his wife, Martina, 
and beautiful young daughter, Anna.
  Madam Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. King).
  Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, it is really a privilege to be 
here today to welcome Chris Jacobs to the House of Representatives.
  As Congresswoman Lowey said, he has a long career both in government 
and being active in his community, especially setting up an inner city 
scholarship fund for the City of Buffalo, serving as Secretary of State 
for the State of New York, then being elected Erie County Clerk, and 
then being elected New York State senator.
  It is a very perilous time to be coming to Congress. The country is 
going through extreme tension and conflict. The fact is, Chris has the 
credentials, he has the qualifications, and he has the ability to make 
sure that he will do

[[Page H3596]]

the best for his constituents, for the entire Congress, and also for 
the country.
  So with that, Chris, I am really proud to welcome you here today.
  And, again, sometimes you hear about all of the partisanship. Believe 
me, we in New York do try to work together. Nita and I, we don't always 
agree on everything, but we always find a way to work together. This is 
true of most of the members of the delegation. I have no doubt that you 
will do an outstanding, excellent job. I look forward to working with 
you over the next several months.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield to our newest Member 
of Congress, Congressman Chris Jacobs.
  Mr. JACOBS. Madam Speaker, thank you very much and thank you for 
conducting the ceremony today.
  I want to thank Representative Lowey and Representative King for 
those kind introductions.
  I also want to acknowledge the Members of the entire New York State 
delegation that are here today. I look forward to working with all of 
you to help our State in a time that they are clearly in need, in a 
fiscal crisis.
  I also want to acknowledge my family members that are here today: My 
wife, Martina, and my daughter, Anna. Thank you for your love and 
support during this campaign. My mother, Pamela, and my two brothers, 
Larry and Luke, are also here. Thank you for all your support during my 
entire time of public service. I love you all very much.
  I also want to acknowledge two special friends of mine that are here 
in the audience today, Marina Woolcock and Dr. John Long. John Long has 
been an adviser and mentor to me my entire career in public service. 
Dr. John Long is 93 years young, and he is a veteran of World  War II. 
If we could just acknowledge Dr. Long and thank him for his service to 
our country.

  Finally, yesterday was my late father's birthday. He would have been 
82. My father was a doctor in Buffalo, New York. I want to wish him a 
happy birthday in heaven, and I want to thank him for instilling in me 
a desire to serve others as he did.
  I just want to conclude with a message to the citizens of the 27th 
Congressional District. It is the greatest honor of my life to be 
chosen by you to represent you in Congress. As your Congressman, I 
promise to fight hard every day for the comeback of our region and to 
always serve with honesty and integrity.
  Thank you very much.

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