[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING JOANNE RAJOPPI

  (Mrs. McIVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. McIVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of Joanne Rajoppi, the longtime Union County clerk who dedicated more 
than five decades to public service and passed away on Thursday, July 
16, at the age of 78.
  Joanne made history as Springfield's first female mayor, later 
becoming the first and only woman to serve as chair of the Union County 
Board of Commissioners. She served as Union County Clerk for 30 years.
  Throughout her career, Joanne worked to modernize county government 
by expanding access to public records, improving election information, 
and creating new resources for residents throughout the county.
  Joanne cared about our democracy and did the work of keeping it. That 
work is sometimes hard and thankless, but it is also important. Joanne 
knew that.
  A six-time recipient of the National Association of Counties 
Achievement Award, Joanne's leadership and innovation left a lasting 
impact on New Jersey.
  On behalf of New Jersey's 10th Congressional District, I extend my 
deepest condolences to Joanne's family, friends, colleagues, all of 
those who loved her so much, and all those whose lives she touched 
throughout her extraordinary commitment to public service.
  May she rest in peace.

                          ____________________