[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5985-5986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN CELEBRATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BARBARA AND BILL CARNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BARBARA COMSTOCK

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 13, 2016

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 
marriage of Barbara and Bill Carney. On May 14, 2016, Barbara and Bill 
Carney will celebrate fifty years of marriage, friendship, fun, and 
family. Those 50 years have taken them on a winding and unpredictable 
journey--from the Irish Catholic neighborhood of Flatbush, Brooklyn, to 
the suburbs of Long Island, to the halls of the

[[Page 5986]]

United States Congress--with unforeseen stops and innumerable joys 
along the way. With love, respect, and patience, they made it look 
easy. Their lives together, their love for each other, their generosity 
of spirit, and their faith and humor have impacted so many people 
through the years.
  Barbara Haverlin and Bill Carney grew up blocks from one another in 
Brooklyn. They attended the same parish, St. Catherine of Genoa, 
frequented the same places, and enjoyed overlapping groups of friends. 
They did not meet, however, until their early twenties at O'Reilly's 
Pub, where Bill was tending bar and Barbara was dating one of the 
O'Reilly brothers. On a dare from co-workers, Bill asked out the boss's 
girlfriend. Within two weeks of the first date, they decided to marry 
and were wed twelve months later.
  Both having lost their parents in their teens, Barbara and Bill 
deeply appreciated the importance and value of family. Both were 
blessed with extensive community and family, where one's brother, 
cousin, and neighbor were always there for each other. That is the 
value and spirit that Barbara and Bill maintained in raising their two 
daughters, Julie Baker and Jackie Carney D'Aquila.
  After marriage, Bill held multiple jobs to support his family--always 
willing to try or learn a new skill. Never one to shy away from 
challenges or view something as impossible, Bill decided to run for 
U.S. Congress at 32 years old. In 1977, with Barbara's backing and the 
support of a handful of what would prove to be life-long friends, Bill 
beat the odds and was elected to represent the 1st Congressional 
District of New York. During his political career, Bill enjoyed 
phenomenal staff, advisors, and friends. He served four terms in the 
House before deciding to retire and open his own boutique consulting 
firm in 1986.
  Bill and Barbara will be joined in celebrating their 50th Anniversary 
this month by their daughters, sons-in-law, four grandchildren, and 
scores of friends and family.

                          ____________________