IFPTE Mourns the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly, Remembers Him as a Champion for Working People
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – The executive officers and staff of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) expressed condolences today on the passing of Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly.
Matt Biggs, IFPTE President:
“Congressman Connolly was a longtime friend of IFPTE members, a stalwart defender of IFPTE’s membership, in particular, a principled voice standing up for federal workers and their unions, and a champion for working families everywhere. He was on the front lines fighting against the Trump Administration's effort to dismantle the federal workforce and the federal unions. The IFPTE family across North America mourns his passing."
Gay Henson, IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer,
"Representative Connolly was just speaking in support of our members at our February legislative conference. His support for IFPTE and his responsiveness to IFPTE members cannot be overstated. We remember him as a champion for federal workers and all working people, and we offer our condolences to his family, staff, and constituents."
IFPTE Legislative Director Faraz Khan:
"As the Ranking Member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and as a past Chair of the Subcommittee responsible for the federal workforce and government operations, Congressman Connolly and his staff have always been close to IFPTE on all issues impacting our federal sector membership. In those leadership roles, he aggressively moved legislation to support the work of federal employees and took on fights to defend the civil service, including against the so-called Schedule F or Schedule P/C executive orders that would turn hundreds of thousands of nonpartisan federal workers’ jobs into at-will positions. He was a champion for workers and will be missed."
Assistant to the Executive Officers Brian Kildee:
"As one of the senior members in Congress from the D.C.-area delegation, and given his position on the committees of jurisdiction, he became the 'go-to' lawmaker on the Hill when it came to federal employees. He was their champion, and we honor him for that."
Congressman Connolly was elected to Congress in 2008 to represent Virginia's 11th Congressional District. Before coming to Congress, he served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.
IFPTE is a labor union representing upwards of 90,000 workers in the federal, public, and private sectors throughout North America.
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