Recognizing Mayor Jim Ardis (Cong. Rec., Jan. 13, 2022)
Summary
This is E33 of the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, January 13, 2022. Mr. Cline submits a personal explanation of his votes on five roll call votes, saying he was absent due to illness. Mr. Hudson honors Tom Grady, a motorsports attorney who received the Cabarrus County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award. Mr. Nadler thanks Melissa Connolly for her service as Legislative Director, citing her work on 9/11 health and victim compensation programs that he says have distributed more than $9 billion, and Mr. LaHood begins remarks recognizing Jim Ardis, with the views attributed to the Members.
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“Recognizing Mayor Jim Ardis (Cong. Rec., Jan. 13, 2022).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-01-13-crec-2022-01-13-pt1-pge33-3-4864354f5d/
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January 13, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E33
EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS
PERSONAL EXPLANATION springing into action after Texas enacted its Finally, Melissa has a great attitude, a good
abortion ban to help plan a hearing to spotlight sense of humor, and is a joy to work with. She
HON. BEN CLINE the devastating impact of the law. She ap- has sound judgment, excellent people skills,
OF VIRGINIA
proaches the topic of reproductive freedom and a deep understanding of how Congress
and health with the knowledge, passion, and works. My staff and I are lucky to have worked
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
energy that makes her an extremely effective with her for all these years, and we will surely
Thursday, January 13, 2022 policymaker. miss her as she moves on to new endeavors
Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I am not re- In addition to these issues, Melissa has in the private sector.
corded because I was absent due to illness. managed a broad portfolio over the course of f
Had I been present, I would have voted YEA her 13 years on the Hill. She worked to help
on Roll Call No. 4; YEA on Roll Call No. 5; pass and ensure effective implementation of HONORING CABARRUS COUNTY
NAY on Roll Call No. 6; Nay on Roll Call No. the Affordable Care Act and helped fend off LIBERTY BELL AWARD RECIPI-
7; and NAY on Roll Call No. 8. numerous Republican attacks designed to re- ENT TOM GRADY
f peal it. She has worked diligently with stake-
holders to build support for the Living Donor HON. RICHARD HUDSON
RECOGNIZING MELISSA CONNOLLY Protection Act, which would protect living OF NORTH CAROLINA
AND HER SERVICE TO THE organ donors from high insurance premiums IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and remove barriers to organ donation. She
has also long led my office’s effort to increase Thursday, January 13, 2022
HON. JERROLD NADLER funding for both Section 8 housing and Hous- Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today
OF NEW YORK ing Opportunities for People with AIDS in the to honor Tom Grady on receiving the
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES annual appropriations bills. Her efforts to build Cabarrus County Bar Association Liberty Bell
support for these programs has translated into Award.
Thursday, January 13, 2022 millions of dollars of additional funding for peo- A native of Cabarrus County, Mr. Grady
Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I rise today ple in dire need of support. They may never graduated from Wake Forest University School
to thank Melissa Connolly for over eight years know her name, but she has, nevertheless, of Law before returning home to begin prac-
of service to the constituents of New York’s improved countless lives through her efforts. ticing law with Williams, Willeford, and Boger
10th Congressional District. Twenty years later, my office continues to in 1966. He continued work for this firm and
Melissa’s career in the House began in work on issues stemming from the terrorist at- its successors for fifty-five years before retiring
2009 as a Legislative Assistant to former Rep- tacks of September 11, 2001. Melissa was es- in 2020.
resentative Jerry Costello following her grad- sential to our efforts to extend and expand the Mr. Grady quickly became well-known for
uation from Duke University’s School of Public 9/11 health and victim compensation programs his skill and success as a motorsports attor-
Policy and the University of Pennsylvania. that have distributed more than $9 billion to ney. He provided exceptional legal services to
After working with former Representative Shel- the families of first responders and survivors many associated with NASCAR, and his lead-
ley Berkley, Melissa joined my office in 2013, of these attacks. The health care program has ership proved paramount in the 1990s and
rising from Legislative Assistant to become my helped care for tens of thousands of Ameri- early 2000s when the motorsports industry un-
Legislative Director. cans with 9/11 related health conditions and derwent a significant period of advancement
As Legislative Director, Melissa has been a Melissa helped organize the most recent Judi- and growth. On account of his excellence as
trusted and valued advisor who helped set ciary Committee hearings on the programs a legal professional and mentor, Mr. Grady
and manage my policy agenda. She also that led to their long-term extension. had the honor of serving as the President of
played a significant leadership role in my In response to the COVID–19 outbreak, Me- the Cabarrus County Bar Association and was
Washington DC office, serving as a mentor lissa not only smoothly managed her legisla- inducted into the North Carolina Bar Associa-
and a resource for junior staff, and I appre- tive team’s transition to a remote work envi- tion Hall of Fame.
ciate and have relied on her skill and experi- ronment, but she also worked tirelessly to ad- The Liberty Bell Award is presented by the
ence in managing our team. Melissa also vocate for the needs of New Yorkers and keep local bar to an individual who exhibits exem-
helped staff me in my role as Dean of the my constituents informed of our efforts. She plary or distinguished accomplishments and
New York Delegation, which included coordi- effectively advocated for specific legislative contributions to the legal profession. Over the
nating meetings with the New York Delegation provisions to assist New York’s hospitals, course of his career and service to Cabarrus
and other elected officials from the City and mass transit, small businesses, arts institu- County, Mr. Grady provided a strong and con-
State. tions and museums, and tenants, and she sistent source of legal knowledge to support
Throughout her tenure in my office, Melissa worked doggedly to see that these provisions and assist his clients and community. I know
established herself as an expert on issues re- were included in the comprehensive bills that I speak for our entire community in wishing
lating to women and families and as a critical were passed to address the pandemic and him and his family continued success and
resource for other staff on Capitol Hill working economic collapse that followed. She also happiness going forward.
on those issues. She worked tirelessly with planned and implemented our COVID–19 Madam Speaker, please join me today in
the Education and Labor Committee, women’s communication strategy with our communica- congratulating Mr. Tom Grady as the Cabarrus
and labor rights organizations, and businesses tions and community liaison staff, including County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award re-
to help pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness drafting issue-specific, weekly e-newsletters, cipient and wish him well as he continues to
Act on the House floor with a strong bipartisan setting up web pages explaining the CARES enjoy retirement.
vote. Her countless hours of work building Act and Heroes Act benefits, and creating f
support for this legislation should pave the toolkits for constituents seeking assistance.
way for it to become law soon and to improve I would be remiss if I did not mention RECOGNIZING MAYOR JIM ARDIS
the lives of millions of Americans. Melissa’s husband, Mike Connolly, and her
Melissa also worked closely with my Judici- children, Maisie and Robert. Both of her chil- HON. DARIN LaHOOD
ary Committee staff on several important initia- dren were born during her tenure in the office, OF ILLINOIS
tives, including legislation extending the dead- and for me and the rest of our team it has IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
line to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, been a pleasure watching them grow up, hear-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with REMARKS
which passed the House twice. She also ing their stories, and occasionally receiving Thursday, January 13, 2022
helped lead the Judiciary Committee’s work to their artwork, many of which are displayed Mr. LAHOOD. Madam Speaker, I would like
protect women’s fundamental right to abortion, throughout the D.C. office. to recognize Jim Ardis for his leadership and
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.
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