{"id":2442427,"date":"2025-06-03T17:03:02","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T21:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-honors-gerry-connolly-by-passing-cancer-bill-in-his-honor\/"},"modified":"2025-06-03T17:04:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T21:04:24","slug":"house-honors-gerry-connolly-by-passing-cancer-bill-in-his-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-honors-gerry-connolly-by-passing-cancer-bill-in-his-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"House honors Gerry Connolly by passing cancer bill in his honor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhouse-honors-gerry-connolly-by-passing-cancer-bill-in-his-honor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2442427&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The House of Representatives recently honored the late Democratic Rep. Gerry Connolly by passing the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill aims to enhance oversight and promote research on esophageal cancer and was passed unanimously. A chair in the house chamber was draped in a black blanket and adorned with flowers in Connolly&#8217;s memory during the vote, which reflects a collaborative spirit among both parties to honor his legacy.<\/p>\n<p>Connolly, who passed away in May due to esophageal cancer, had previously introduced this legislation alongside Oversight Chairman James Comer. The bill focuses on encouraging research into preventive treatments for the disease and mandates a report on healthcare spending related to cancer under the federal employee Health Benefits program.<\/p>\n<p>Comer praised Connolly as a dedicated statesman and a collaborator across party lines. Following Connolly&#8217;s passing, a special election has been scheduled for september 9 to fill his congressional seat, with a number of candidates already emerging for both the Democratic and Republican parties.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">House honors Gerry Connolly by passing cancer bill in his honor<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2138715\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house-of-representatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">House<\/a> honored the late Democratic Virginia Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3418130\/virginia-rep-gerry-connolly-dies-at-75\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Gerry Connolly<\/a> on Tuesday by passing a new bill, named for the congressman, that instructs additional oversight of esophageal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cancer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">cancer<\/a> research.<\/p>\n<p>The Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act of 2025 passed the House on a voice vote as both parties came together to honor Connolly. Inside the chamber, the House covered a chair with a black blanket and a floral arrangement in Connolly&rsquo;s memory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3428793\/young-democrats-primary-race-challenges-david-scott-jasmine-clark-georgia\/\">David Scott, 79, draws another Democratic primary challenger<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3428836\/freedom-caucus-recissions-bill-immediately\/\">Freedom Caucus demands passage of $9.4 billion rescissions package &#8216;immediately&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3428609\/eric-swalwell-taco-tiktok-trolls-trump-tariffs-strategy\/\">Eric Swalwell trolls Trump tariffs strategy by eating a taco on TikTok<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Connolly died in May after his esophageal cancer reemerged. A little less than a month before his death, the longtime Virginia Democrat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3393396\/gerry-connolly-will-not-seek-reelection-and-steps-down-as-top-democrat-on-oversight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">stepped down<\/a> from his position as the ranking member of the Oversight Committee and announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The bipartisan bill, originally titled the Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, was introduced by Connolly and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY). The legislation <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/release\/oversight-committee-passes-the-bipartisan-gerald-e-connolly-esophageal-cancer-awareness-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">encourages<\/a> research into preventive treatments for esophageal cancer and directs the Government Accountability Office to draft a report on the total effect of <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >cancer-related healthcare spending<\/a> under the Federal Employee Health Benefits program.<\/p>\n<p>Comer called Connolly a &ldquo;true statesman&rdquo; in a statement announcing the bill&rsquo;s renaming and passage out of committee. The chairman said he was proud to co-sponsor eight bills with Connolly.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In Congress, Gerry Connolly was a friend to many of us. He was steadfast in fighting for what he believed in, but he always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree &hellip; I know I&rsquo;m not alone in that many of my Republican committee colleagues found Gerry Connolly to be a partner,&rdquo; Comer <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/release\/oversight-committee-passes-the-bipartisan-gerald-e-connolly-esophageal-cancer-awareness-act\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The race to replace Connolly as the top Democrat on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rand-paul-dr-faucis-resignation-will-not-prevent-investigation\/\" title=\"Rand Paul: Dr. Fauci&#039;s Resignation Will Not Prevent Investigation\">powerful investigative committee<\/a> is on June 24. Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Robert Garcia (D-CA), and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD) all launched bids to succeed Connolly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Steering Committee will recommend who should get the position, followed by a full caucus vote. The caucus rarely votes against a steering recommendation, meaning that whoever emerges with the committee&rsquo;s support is likely to become the next ranking member.<\/p>\n<p>Connolly endorsed Lynch as his successor before his death. Lynch has been temporarily serving as the Oversight ranking member.<\/p>\n<p>The special election to replace Connolly in Congress will take place on Sept. 9, with a filing deadline for interested candidates of July 11. The 11th District is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-bds-house-candidate-soundly-defeated-in-florida-primary\/\" title=\"Pro-BDS ... Candidate Soundly Defeated in Florida Primary\">solidly blue district<\/a> in the northern Virginia suburbs, but the race is expected to draw a crowded primary on both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n<p>Connolly held the seat for over a decade.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3422897\/democrats-house-oversight-election-jasmine-crockett-gerry-connolly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">JASMINE CROCKETT AMONG FOUR DEMOCRATS TO COMPETE IN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ELECTION AFTER CONNOLLY&rsquo;S DEATH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The late congressman endorsed Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw as his successor, and he is seen as a front-runner in the Democratic primary. Potential Democratic candidates also include state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, Fairfax Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett, and attorney Amy Roma.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On the GOP side, Mike Van Meter is back for round two after losing to Conolly in the 2024 elections. He&rsquo;s the sole Republican candidate as of now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2138715\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2138715\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>House passes cancer bill honoring Gerry Connolly&#8217;s legacy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2648,"featured_media":2442430,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP24312585036847.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[47185,54190,32304,56472],"class_list":["post-2442427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-cancer-bill","tag-gerry-connolly","tag-house-of-representatives","tag-legislative-honor"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/AP24312585036847.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2648"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2442427"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442427\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2442432,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2442427\/revisions\/2442432"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2442430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2442427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2442427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2442427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}