[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

[[Page H7307]]

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.

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