[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7306-H7308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE SERVICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER WEXTON
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Grothman). Under the Speaker's announced
policy of January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Beyer) for 30 minutes.
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to help manage the Special
Order hour to recognize our wonderful friend who is now leaving us in
the U.S. House, Ms. Jennifer Wexton. I rise with respect and admiration
and love for Jennifer.
Mr. Speaker, I first became aware of Jennifer in December of 2013
when she won a crowded primary to succeed a State senator who had just
been elected attorney general. I mostly saw her on local TV, these ads
that showed up again and again.
That was a very cold month and a very special election. When she won,
I was just starting this race for U.S. Congress, and she was a real
inspiration to me at that very time.
A couple years later, Gerry Connolly and I served with Barbara
Comstock. We were a sometimes good, sometimes tense team from northern
Virginia, but we really wanted to take back the House, and we thought
the best possible candidate to take on Barbara Comstock was this
wonderful State senator from Loudoun County. I remember calling
Jennifer and saying, why don't you--not give up your senate seat, but
jump into this race and take on Barbara, she has only been in for 2
years.
Jennifer has the wisdom of a great politician and knows that timing
is everything in politics. She said, no, absolutely not. Donald Trump
went on to win that election.
Barbara Comstock went on to win it easily. Maybe a bunch of us got
something started in her mind because 2 years later, there was a tough,
six-way primary, with a number of very good women in that race, and
Jennifer prevailed in that primary, went on to beat Barbara with 56
percent, a two-term incumbent. Jennifer has just been a delight and a
great resource for Virginia ever since.
Mr. Speaker, she actually went to the University of Maryland, but we
forgive her because she went to law school at William & Mary. She
redeemed herself. I am very proud to represent her parents that live in
Alexandria, Virginia.
She has a great husband, two sons. Somehow, contrary to the two-
parent working families that we have everywhere in America, she was
able to work it out with Andrew so that he would be the full-time
caretaker at home for the kids, which is relatively unique in current
American culture, but it worked beautifully. They got the right people
in the right jobs.
I am also thrilled that for many, many years, I worked on campaigns
against Frank Wolf who actually was a distinguished Member of this
House, but I started in 1982 and Frank served for 34 years.
All that just goes to say that this district was founded in 1952 at
the post-war expansion. Joel Broyhill won in 1952 and held the seat for
22 years. For 66 years, only 6 of those 66 years was that seat held by
a Democrat; Joe Fisher was only elected in the Watergate landslide of
1974 and ousted in the Reagan landslide of 1980.
Then, after 66 years, finally, we get Jennifer Wexton who comes back,
turns the seat blue, gives us great representation, and I believe she
is the first Loudoun County Member in the history of the country ever
to represent Loudoun County in the U.S. Congress.
I have loved working with her, as has Abigail Spanberger, Tim Kaine,
Mark Warner, Gerry Connolly, all of us have come together on northern
Virginia issues, and on Virginia issues, to make enormous progress.
She is tough, but kind, and the toughness has really come out in the
last year when Jennifer first believed
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that she had been diagnosed with Parkinson's. We saw a toughness and a
resoluteness, but then when that diagnosis turned out to be much more
serious, she called all of us to let us know that she wasn't quitting,
that despite the, at least short-term, deterioration in her physical
condition, she was resolute.
She was full of courage. She was full of commitment, and through
these long difficult days, she has been here every single day, cast
every single vote, been here patiently listening, contributing whatever
she could, using the latest technology to speak up. With her aide at
her side, she has been a vital part of this Congress through the super
nuclear policy.
We hate to see her go. It is a great loss to this institution. It is
a loss to Virginia not to have her in this body.
She wisely looked at the next primary, the primary to succeed her,
looked at all the different candidates and chose one that she thought
would best represent her, and I think most people would believe that he
only won that primary because he was blessed by Jennifer Wexton.
We will all have more to say, but I yield to our dear friend and
colleague from across the aisle, our just newly reelected Member from
Virginia Beach, Congresswoman Kiggans.
Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the
career of my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton of
Virginia's Tenth District.
I first met Congresswoman Wexton not here in the Halls of Congress,
but when I was elected to the Virginia State Senate in 2019. I remember
the day that she first came and visited us on the floor and how she
went around the room, and shook hands with every member, all 40 of us
that day.
While our time in the Virginia General Assembly did not overlap, her
legacy of serving her constituents lived on in the chamber. When I
entered Congress, I was elected as the second of three Jennifers to be
elected to the 118th Congress from Virginia.
I have enjoyed serving alongside these other two Jens as a member of
the bipartisan Jennifer caucus. Like so many in Virginia and across the
country, I was saddened by the announcement of Congresswoman Wexton's
diagnosis in September of 2023.
While she announced that she would not be running for reelection in
2024, she fought against the odds to fulfill her commitment to her
constituents and serve for the remainder of the 118th Congress.
She also became an advocate for her disease process and a loud voice,
she brought awareness to so many of us here in the House of
Representatives.
Members of Congress will oftentimes stand here on the House floor and
talk of the sacrifices they make to serve their districts, but Mr.
Speaker, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who has sacrificed
more for her constituents than Congresswoman Wexton has over the past
year and a half.
{time} 2130
Rather than leave Congress to spend time with her family and friends
in northern Virginia, she has remained here working every day.
Even when her physical voice left her, she got very creative, and
with the help of technology, has continued to be a strong advocate for
the residents of Virginia's 10th District with distinction.
The impact she left in Richmond and will leave in Washington is truly
impressive and will be remembered by the citizens of Virginia for years
to come.
I thank my friend for her eagerness to continue serving against all
odds and for her years of selfless sacrifice to our Commonwealth and to
the United States of America.
She will be missed by our entire Virginia congressional delegation,
and I know that the Commonwealth of Virginia will be thinking of her
and will be supporting her in the future.
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for staying late and
for her thoughtful remarks.
I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the dean of the
Virginia delegation, recently reelected by the steering committee this
afternoon, and hopefully to be the next ranking member of the Education
and the Workforce Committee.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
organizing this Special Order hour and giving us an opportunity to say
some nice things about our good friend Jennifer Wexton. She is retiring
after many years of dedicated service to the Commonwealth of Virginia
and our Nation.
Since joining the House in 2019, Jennifer has been a relentless
advocate for her constituents and a champion for equality, justice, and
fairness.
Before serving in Congress, she was a leader in the Virginia State
Senate where she led gun safety initiatives, expanded access to
healthcare, and supported public education. Her legal background as
both a prosecutor and an advocate for survivors of domestic violence
still provides an important perspective to her service.
During her time here in Congress, she has fought for working
families, reproductive rights, and transportation improvements. She has
worked to expand broadband access, protect voting rights, and advance
climate initiatives. During a time of bitter partisanship, Jennifer has
also focused on bipartisan cooperation in working across the aisle to
bring people together.
Beyond her legislative accomplishments, her courage and resilience in
facing her personal health challenges while continuing to serve her
constituents exemplifies her strength, character, and grace. She is an
inspiration to everyone who serves in this Chamber and many others
across the country.
She has also placed a much-needed spotlight on the need for Congress
to invest more resources in combating Parkinson's and other related
neurodegenerative diseases.
As the dean of the delegation, I know as the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Kiggans) has just said, I know we will all miss her here
in Congress, and I join a chorus of voices thanking her for her
service, determination, and dedication to the Commonwealth of Virginia
and to our Nation. Thank you, Jennifer, for your dedication.
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman once again for staying
late and for his 32 years of service just in this institution not
counting all the others.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Ms.
Spanberger), a force of nature and who many of us hope will be the
first woman Governor in Virginia's history.
Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and
for the opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary work and the
extraordinary example of our dear Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.
I first had the experience of seeing Jennifer when she was a State
senator at an equal rights amendment event. I was a mom, a former
public servant. I had just moved back home to Virginia, and I was at
this advocacy day to see what was happening at the general assembly to
see the good work of so many people who have become friends of mine.
I saw this woman with this beautiful, long hair and this effusive
control of the room. She was talking about Virginia's role, and
ultimately the goal that would be achieved, the goal of ensuring that
Virginia became one of the States--at that time one of the final three
required States--to ratify the equal rights amendment. Ultimately,
Virginia became the last, the necessary.
I remember watching her speak full of vibrance and joy and humanity
and humility, and I thought she is amazing. Little did I know that not
only would she continue to be an example for me but that she would be a
friend and someone who I would look up to throughout my time here in
Congress.
What I know to be true about Jennifer is she is an extraordinarily
witty, sometimes sassy, and devoted colleague. For those who have the
pleasure of knowing Jennifer, you better know your facts, your details,
your information, and be ready because just when you think you are
having a serious-minded conversation about a serious topic she will
come right into the conversation with her perspective. She is whip
smart, and she is funny.
Even as this disease, this PSP, has taken her voice, for anybody on a
text chain or anyone who is next to her and her technological devices,
her wit is there, her wit is fierce, and it is extraordinary to see how
she continues both to do the work for the people of
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Virginia's 10th District but also to be a caring, focused peer and
mentor to so many of us.
I am wearing this scarf today because while I met her many years ago
when she was in the State senate, where we really became friends was
when we were both running for Congress in 2018. This scarf shows so
many of us who were on the ballot that year. There is a picture of
Jennifer right here with her gorgeous, long hair and bright smile that
shows her as I know her to be right focused, thoughtful, and peering
straight forward even in this drawing that is on a silk scarf. Her
stare and her focus is clear.
Since the first day that we all arrived here, so many in our class
didn't come from state legislatures, they came from a variety of
backgrounds bringing different expertise, different types of passion to
our work in the Halls of Congress, and at times it was Jennifer who
chose to kind of herd the cats of the class of 2018, making sure that
we were getting some of the procedural language correct, making sure
that we were kind of seeing the forest through the trees.
For me as a mother with three young daughters, our friendship grew as
I have watched her navigate being a mother to two teenage boys, as we
talked about the types of television commercials to do along the way. I
saw her, I would say, essential minivan commercial which is like
everything you ever want to see or need to see about moms and politics
just getting it all done. I have been grateful for her friendship. It
has been amazing to see you lead by example.
It has been amazing to see you fight for what you believe in. It has
been amazing to see you live every single day full of vim, full of
vigor and with deep, deep humility and a focus on serving others.
I want to continue focusing on all of your extraordinary bright
spots, but I do think it is important to note that so many other people
in your shoes, so many other people were they facing any type of
challenge, let alone the health challenge that you face, would have
made different decisions, would have stepped away. The fact that while
you are in the fight of your life you have continued to fight for
others, you have continued to be here day in and day out, you have
continued to vote for your constituents, to work for your constituents,
and lead by your extraordinary example, it means a lot to all of us. I
know it means a lot to your constituents. I think you are teaching us
all a lesson every single day that you show up and that you do the good
work.
The team you have built and the extraordinary people who spend their
days learning from you and learning with you will continue forward to
do right hopefully by the Commonwealth of Virginia or in whatever other
paths of public service they may pursue.
Jennifer, as a friend, I am grateful for you. As a colleague, I have
learned so much from you. As a woman in politics and as a mom you have
been an extraordinary example for so many of us. I love you so, so very
much. I look forward to continuing to celebrate you into the future,
and I hope that by the end of this week we actually get a CR done on
time so you can begin enjoying your retirement, my darling friend.
{time} 2140
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Spanberger very much
for speaking from the heart, as she always does.
I want to put just a little more context into Ms. Wexton also because
Congressman Scott mentioned that she had been a prosecutor. She was
actually deputy Commonwealth attorney for 4 or 5 years in the early
2000s, with a number of major cases to her credit that she had
prosecuted.
When she got to the Virginia Senate, she was one of the real
champions for the Medicaid expansion because we had made that possible,
but it had to be adopted State by State. It was Jennifer's leadership
in the State Senate that made that huge difference. She especially
fought for people with disabilities.
Interestingly, when she was elected in 2018, we are very proud that
was the day that Jennifer Wexton, Abigail Spanberger, and Ms. Luria,
three Virginia women, took back the U.S. House.
She was the first Member ever to put a transgender flag on the door
of her office. This is a difficult thing even today, but then it was
spectacular.
Most of us here have been involved in suicide prevention for a long
time. When you realize that perhaps 75 to 80 percent of transgender
teenagers have major suicide ideation, this was a bold and very loving
thing to do.
I am particularly impressed because Jennifer came with Abby, her
chief of staff, the only chief of staff. This is an office famous for
very low turnover because they all are dedicated and devoted to
Jennifer. Jennifer even graciously has given Abby to her successor. She
will be here to keep the 10th District running well.
Most people don't know this, but she is a proud citizen, an American
of Italian heritage. She was born Jennifer Tosini. In a place run by
Nancy Pelosi for all those decades, this was a very smart thing to be
an Italian American here.
Her birthday is May 27, which means probably once every 6 years, her
birthday is on Memorial Day, which is a very good thing, a time when we
memorialize everyone who sacrificed for our country.
Jennifer, I don't want to give away your birth year.
She was born in those tragic weeks between the assassination of
Martin Luther King, Jr., and Bobby Kennedy.
I know that you were just a baby, but I sometimes think that, on some
level, that notion of being born into the heritage of two of the great
public servants, the great martyrs, the great people who lived their
lives to serve others became part of who you are all your life.
I think that Bobby Scott probably said it best. You are a woman of
strength, character, and grace. I think I speak for all Virginians,
maybe all Americans, in thanking you for your wonderful, grateful years
of service for the people of Virginia and for all Americans.
By the way, Mr. Speaker, before yielding back, I would like to point
out that Jennifer Wexton did an eloquent, beautiful speech today in the
Virginia House. It is available on her Twitter account or her X
account, @RepWexton.
To all of you watching, please look at this speech. That will be so
much better than anything that we would have said tonight.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
____________________