[JPRT, 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Jo Ann Davis
LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
VIRGINIA
a
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES
AND OTHER TRIBUTES
hon. jo ann davis
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1950-2007
hon. jo ann davis
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1950-2007
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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T8150.001
Jo Ann Davis
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Memorial Addresses and
Other Tributes
HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND SENATE
OF THE UNITED STATES
TOGETHER WITH A MEMORIAL SERVICE
IN HONOR OF
JO ANN DAVIS
Late a Representative from Virginia
One Hundred Tenth Congress
First Session
a
?
Compiled under the direction
of the
Joint Committee on Printing
CONTENTS
Biography.............................................
v
Proceedings in the House of Representatives:
Tributes by Representatives:
Aderholt, Robert B., of Alabama................
21
Baca, Joe, of California.......................
30
Baldwin, Tammy, of Wisconsin...................
40
Blackburn, Marsha, of Tennessee................
4
Blunt, Roy, of Missouri........................
34, 35
Brown-Waite, Ginny, of Florida.................
23, 40
Cantor, Eric, of Virginia......................
19
Capps, Lois, of California.....................
13
Clay, Wm. Lacy, of Missouri....................
42
Cleaver, Emanuel, of Missouri..................
24
Davis, Danny K., of Illinois...................
3
Davis, Susan A., of California.................
26
Davis, Tom, of Virginia........................
10
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, of Florida...............
17
Drake, Thelma D., of Virginia..................
12, 38
Duncan, John J., Jr., of Tennessee.............
41
Feeney, Tom, of Florida........................
38
Forbes, J. Randy, of Virginia..................
14
Frank, Barney, of Massachusetts................
33
Goode, Virgil H., Jr., of Virginia.............
27
Goodlatte, Bob, of Virginia....................
25, 39
Hoyer, Steny H., of Maryland...................
35
Jackson-Lee, Sheila, of Texas..................
29, 32
Kaptur, Marcy, of Ohio.........................
22
Lampson, Nick, of Texas........................
38, 39
Lantos, Tom, of California.....................
20
Meek, Kendrick B., of Florida..................
35
Moran, James P., of Virginia...................
30
Murphy, Christopher S., of Connecticut.........
35
Myrick, Sue Wilkins, of North Carolina.........
31
Pelosi, Nancy, of California...................
16
Pence, Mike, of Indiana........................
34
Schmidt, Jean, of Ohio.........................
28
Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby,'' of Virginia........
9, 40
Sessions, Pete, of Texas.......................
33, 36
Skelton, Ike, of Missouri......................
11
Snyder, Vic, of Arkansas.......................
40
Udall, Mark, of Colorado.......................
39
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, of Florida..........
35
Watson, Diane E., of California................
18
Wilson, Joe, of South Carolina.................
3, 31
Wolf, Frank R., of Virginia....................
4, 29
Proceedings in the Senate:
Tributes by Senators:
Warner, John, of Virginia......................
43
Memorial Service......................................
45
BIOGRAPHY
First elected to Congress in November 2000, Jo Ann Davis
brought to Washington a fresh perspective from outside the
political Washington DC beltway. The first elected female
Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from the
Commonwealth of Virginia, Congresswoman Davis was deeply
in touch with the constituents of ``America's First
District.'' Her straight talk and no-nonsense style was
refreshing both to her constituents and to her colleagues
in Congress. Concentrating on a district-first approach to
her role in Congress, Jo Ann's emphasis was on local
issues before DC politics. This principle remained the
bedrock of the Congresswoman's convictions and played an
integral role in her service to her community.
The 110th Congress signaled significant leadership
opportunities for Davis. In addition to her committee work
on the Foreign Affairs Committee, she also served on the
Armed Services Committee, where she was chosen as the
ranking member of the Readiness Subcommittee. The
Congresswoman's committee assignments enabled her to work
on legislative initiatives of great interest to Virginia's
First District and the country as a whole.
Issues affecting the First District were Davis's
priority, and throughout her time in Congress, she worked
for important projects in the First District with
tenacity.
National security and shipbuilding are essential to the
health of the district, and during her tenure, Davis
secured $160 million for construction on the Navy's next
generation aircraft carrier, CVNX, and $47 million for the
removal of a portion of the James River Reserve Fleet,
otherwise known as the Ghost Fleet.
A strong advocate for both our men and women in uniform
and Federal employees, Congresswoman Davis maintained
continued success in passing landmark legislation to
correct significant benefit shortfalls. In March 2001, the
House passed Jo Ann's first piece of legislation--H.R.
1015, the SGLI Adjustment Act, which increased the amount
of service members' group life insurance paid to
beneficiaries of members of the Armed Forces who died in
the performance of their duties between November 1, 2000
and April 1, 2001.
Further inspired by the trials of Stafford County
Pentagon survivor Louise Kurtz, Davis moved through
legislation to correct pension shortfalls for injured
Federal employees. H.R. 978 changed the way a Federal
employee's benefits are calculated during a disability by
increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
benefit to cover any shortfall.
In addition to H.R. 1015 and H.R. 978, Representative
Davis was successful in passing legislation that revised
the boundaries of the George Washington Birthplace
National Monument to allow the National Park Service to
purchase 110 acres of additional land surrounding the
national treasure located in Westmoreland County, VA.
To reflect the significant historic, cultural, and
environmental significance of the Commonwealth and the
Chesapeake Bay, Davis authored legislation to create the
Nation's first all-water national historic trail. In
December 2006, the President signed into law H.R. 5466,
the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
Designation Act, celebrating John Smith's voyages of
discovery from Jamestown and ensuring future opportunities
for recreation, conservation, and economic development
along the Chesapeake Bay.
Continuing her work to help regulate the amount of
interstate waste that the Commonwealth was forced to
import, Davis passed legislative language in H.R. 2673
directing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) to evaluate truck transport solid waste
containment procedures in order to keep our roads safe and
environmentally sound. Davis was also successful in
passing language to establish a series of random safety
inspections of trash trucks to ensure that they met safety
road regulations.
Aware of the need to cut government waste and save
taxpayer dollars, one of Congresswoman Davis' priorities
was legislation designed to reign in government waste and
inefficiency by preventing redundancy in government
programs. During her tenure as chairwoman of the Civil
Service Subcommittee of the Government Reform Committee,
she introduced H.R. 75, the ``Government Accountability
and Streamlining Act,'' would require the Comptroller
General of the United States to determine whether any
proposed legislation in the House or Senate creates any
new ``Federal entities, programs or functions'' that are
redundant of any existing Federal program. When she could
not get the bill passed, she successfully offered a
similar provision to the House rules.
Davis believed that Congress should work to strengthen
our national defense while holding down spending in other
areas. Congresswoman Davis was also an advocate of tax
relief for all who pay taxes, and believed that the
Federal Government must cut back on spending to provide
this tax relief.
As a former real estate broker and small business owner,
Davis opened Davis Management Company in 1988 and Jo Ann
Davis Realty in 1990. In this capacity, Davis focused her
attention on achieving the highest level of ethical
standards for her industry, serving first on the grievance
committee of the Virginia Peninsula Association of
Realtors and then on its professional standards committee.
Davis was an avid horse enthusiast, and when she was not
in Washington one could find her working on her farm. She
was married for 33 years, and had two grown sons and one
granddaughter.
MEMORIAL ADDRESSES
AND
OTHER TRIBUTES
FOR
JO ANN DAVIS
Proceedings in the
House of Representatives
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
PRAYER
The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered
the following prayer:
Lord God Almighty, source of consolation and wisdom, we
need to approach Your awesome presence with humility,
trusting in Your goodness.
It is with great admiration and affection that Members
of the House of Representatives and staff here on Capitol
Hill lift up before You today the Honorable Jo Ann Davis,
who represented the First District of Virginia and served
in this Chamber with grace and distinction.
Her faith in You, Lord, was manifest in many ways. Her
faithfulness to sworn duty, her leadership at the House
Prayer Breakfast, and her perseverance in suffering have
provided great witness to You as the source of her
strength and peace.
Now that You have taken her to Yourself, reward Your
servant Jo Ann Davis for her public service, for her love
of family and friends, as well as her kind courtesy to
colleagues and staff alike. May You, our redeeming Lord,
grant eternal rest to her and to all who have served in
this noble institution with hearts fixed on serving others
in Your holy name. Amen.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. . . . In conclusion, God
bless our troops and we will never forget September the
11th. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends, and
staff of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis of Virginia.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay
tribute to Representative Jo Ann Davis with whom I served.
She served as chairperson and I as ranking member on our
subcommittee in Government Reform.
It was always a pleasure to work with her. And while we
didn't always agree on every issue that came before us, we
always agreed that we would be civil and that we would
work in tandem for the best interests of the people of
this country.
So I'm going to miss her. I extend my personal
condolences to her family and would just like for her to
know that it was indeed a pleasure working with her.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Speaker, I too today stand to pay
tribute to our colleague Jo Ann Davis and to express my
condolences to her family, her friends, and her staff. She
will be missed in this body. . . .
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution
(H. Res. 717) and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 717
Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow
of the death of the Honorable Jo Ann Davis, a
Representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House
as the Speaker may designate, together with such Members
of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the
funeral.
Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House be
authorized and directed to take such steps as may be
necessary for carrying out the provisions of these
resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection
therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House.
Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions
to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of
the deceased.
Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it
adjourn[s] as a further mark of respect to the memory of
the deceased.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the Chair
may postpone further consideration of House Resolution 717
as necessary to accommodate voting at approximately 6:30
p.m.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Virginia is
recognized for 1 hour.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), pending which I yield
myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is with profound sadness that we come to
the floor tonight to honor the memory of our colleague and
friend, the Honorable Jo Ann Davis, who lost her 2-year
battle with breast cancer this past Saturday. She was not
only our House colleague; she was our Virginia colleague
who represented the First District of Virginia, a district
which she proudly called ``America's First District''
because of our country's roots at Jamestown and the many
significant events in history that occurred there.
Jo Ann Davis also could have had a first next to her
name because she was the first Republican woman elected to
Congress from Virginia in 2000 to succeed our late
colleague Herb Bateman. But that historic aspect of her
career in Congress was not important to her. Representing
her constituents and being the best Member of Congress she
could be for the people of her district was what was most
important to her.
Her career in elected office spanned 10 short years,
from her first election in 1997 to the Virginia House of
Delegates to her four elected terms in the House beginning
in the year 2000.
But over that decade she made her mark as a deeply
caring and very hardworking public servant who believed in
common sense and conservative ideals. In remembering Jo
Ann's work in Congress, there are several thoughts I would
like to share.
She battled to the end with courage and grace in her
fight against breast cancer. When she was first diagnosed
in 2005 with the insidious disease, she announced it
publicly to encourage other women to beware of the
disease. Her bravery and personal strength were a source
of inspiration to many. She was a person of honesty,
integrity, and very strong moral conviction in
representing her district and living her life. And she had
a very strong commitment to the Lord. She was a dedicated
and tenacious fighter for her beliefs, and the importance
of her faith was obvious in the way she cared for and
treated others and in the way she did her job.
She was a tireless and passionate advocate for the First
District in Virginia, working to protect the military
interests in her district and Navy shipbuilding in Newport
News. She cofounded the Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus
as she worked to provide for the defense of our Nation.
But as important as that work was for Jo Ann, protecting
the interests of men and women in uniform, their families,
and veterans was priority number one.
She also worked hard for other local interests, such as
the removal of the ``Ghost Fleet'' of obsolete,
environmentally hazardous ships from the James River;
better regulation of the amount of trash coming into
Virginia; and protecting the resources of the Chesapeake
Bay.
This House and this Nation will miss Jo Ann Davis and
her dedication to public service. I want to express my
sincere condolences to her staff, both in Washington and
in her district, who can be proud of their work by her
side for the people of America's First District. Jo Ann
Davis had an outstanding staff, and I want to thank the
staff.
I also want to join with my colleagues in expressing
profound sympathy to Jo Ann's husband, Chuck; and their
two sons, Christopher and Charles; and a granddaughter.
In remembering Jo Ann Davis and her life of service to
others, I am reminded of the words of Scripture where it
says: ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''
Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record a news article and
editorial from the Newport News Daily Press about our late
colleague, the Honorable Jo Ann Davis.
[From the dailypress.com, October 8, 2007]
The Unlikely Politician--The Self-Described Country Gal
Preferred Horses to the Capitol Hill Party Circuit
(By David Lerman)
She was, by her own admission, an unlikely politician.
Virginia Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who died of breast cancer
Saturday at age 57, was more at ease with her beloved
horses on her Gloucester farm than the cocktail party
circuit on Capitol Hill.
The self-described country gal and former real estate
agent fell into a congressional career almost by accident.
It took church connections, perseverance and the sudden
withdrawal of the leading Republican Party favorite to
propel Davis to the office she first won in 2000.
``I could have cared less about politics,'' she recalled
in a 2003 interview. ``I did not know there was a
Republican Party committee in Virginia.''
But since becoming Virginia's first female Republican
member of Congress, Davis learned her role quickly and,
many agreed, managed to make the 1st District House seat
her own:
When obsolete, environmentally hazardous ships started
mushrooming in the James River off Fort Eustis, Davis
fought for federal funding to speed up their removal--and
made significant progress.
When state and local officials complained about the
barrage of trash coming into Virginia landfills from other
states and littering state highways, Davis pushed for
legislation to limit interstate waste.
While that effort stalled, she won approval of a measure
establishing a series of random safety inspections for
waste haulers.
When military personnel and federal employees complained
of inadequate benefits, Davis won passage of legislation
increasing the life insurance benefits paid to survivors
of military members killed on duty.
And when Pentagon budgets forecast a steady decline in
the size of the Navy's fleet, Davis sounded the alarm.
A staunch advocate for the thousands of shipyard workers
in her district, she co-founded the Congressional
Shipbuilding Caucus and pushed legislation, albeit
unsuccessfully, mandating a larger fleet.
``At a time when people have such a negative impression
of Washington, Jo Ann Davis was a refreshing reminder that
there are people here who do their best for their
constituents,'' said Christopher Connelly, her chief of
staff.
``A lot of the issues she worked on were local issues.
She didn't get lost in the Washington glamour.''
While seldom a major player on national policy matters,
Davis won respect from Republicans and Democrats alike for
her ability to delve into local concerns and to stay true
to her beliefs.
``While we had different political loyalties, we had no
differences in our efforts to work together for the
Hampton Roads area,'' said Rep. Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott,
D-Newport News.
Davis' rise to political power was as unconventional as
it was unlikely.
Unlike her predecessor in office, the late Rep. Herbert
H. Bateman, Davis lacked the traditional credentials and
years of political grooming that typically foreshadow a
congressional career.
No prestigious university or law-school degree appeared
on her resume.
The daughter of a Hampton city bus driver, Davis came
from modest roots that stood in contrast to those of many
of her wealthier colleagues in Congress.
After graduating from Hampton Roads Business College in
1971, she went to work as an executive secretary for a
real estate firm before becoming a stay-at-home mom.
She later got her real estate license and opened Davis
Management Co. in 1988, followed by Jo Ann Davis Realty in
1990.
All the while, Davis was becoming a deeply religious
person.
When her mother-in-law suffered a fatal heart attack,
Davis has said, she had a born-again experience and then
joined the Assembly of God church.
Through her church, Davis met Brenda Pogge, a fellow
real estate agent and local GOP activist, who encouraged
her to enter politics and invited her to her first
Republican mass meeting.
``She was my sister in the faith,'' Pogge said. ``She
was my friend, my boss and then my congresswoman. Jo Ann
was such a role model.''
In 1997, at Pogge's steady urging, Davis reluctantly
agreed to challenge a 15-year Democratic incumbent in the
General Assembly and won, despite being outspent roughly 3
to 1.
In 2000, when Bateman announced his retirement and then
died in office, Davis launched her upstart campaign for
Congress.
The odds seemed stacked against her because of
formidable opposition for the Republican nomination, led
by former Newport News Mayor Barry DuVal.
But when DuVal withdrew from the race, Davis had an
opening. She faced a grueling five-way party primary but
emerged victorious with 35 percent of the vote.
Her general election victory was then little in doubt
because of the 1st District's strong Republican tilt. She
easily won re-election repeatedly, as she did last year.
Because of her faith, Davis has said, she remained an
outspoken conservative voice on social issues.
She co-sponsored a constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage and took a purist position on abortion, opposing
it even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life
is endangered.
``It's just who I am,'' she once said. ``I believe what
I believe. I didn't know I was called a right-winger.''
If there was a historic aspect to Davis' career, it was
in her becoming the first Republican woman to win a House
seat from Virginia. Former Rep. Leslie Byrne of Fairfax
was the first Democratic woman.
But Davis bristled at such gender-based distinctions,
which she regarded as irrelevant. ``It shouldn't matter if
you're male or female,'' she once said. ``I'm just a
member of Congress, like they are.
``No different.''
----------------
[From the dailypress.com, October 9, 2007]
Jo Ann Davis--A Career Spent Making Friends, Working Hard
and Doing her Duty
Rep. Jo Ann Davis died on Saturday as the new edition of
Time magazine appeared in mailboxes around Hampton Roads.
``Breast Cancer is Spreading Around the World,'' the cover
headline read.
Cancer. The scourge of our times. And it has run up a
wretched score in the 1st Congressional District. Davis'
predecessor, Rep. Herbert Bateman, fought lung cancer and
prostate cancer before succumbing in 2000.
Davis confronted her illness bravely and with little
regard for the odds, just as she had approached politics.
Del. Shirley Cooper, the redoubtable Democrat from York
County, held her seat in the General Assembly for 15 years
until an outspent Davis came along in 1997 and snatched it
away from her. That was an impressive win.
Three years later, Davis went one better. The 1st
District congressional seat, open after Bateman's death,
drew five contenders for the Republican nomination,
including one who self-financed his bid to the tune of $1
million.
For her part, Davis amassed around $45,000 and won
handily. Now, that tells you something.
Davis enjoyed a l0-year political career, a brief span
in relative terms, but memorable for what it lacked. ``Jo
Ann knew no enemies,'' Brenda Pogge said, in an interview
on Sunday. ``She was just emotionally and spiritually
strong.''
Democrats also said as much. Not long after Davis
arrived in Washington, Rep. Bobby Scott started quietly
telling people that he admired Davis for her independence
and readiness to do the work. There was nothing flashy, no
attention-gathering histrionics so common to the
profession, just diligence and commitment.
And empathy. The 1st District naturally draws its
representatives into military affairs, including such
arcane matters such as defense contracting and Pentagon
appropriations. But for Davis the military was first and
fundamentally about people--the soldiers, the families,
the veterans--and what had to be done to provide for their
interests.
There's a legacy there. Something to admire. Something,
perhaps, to emulate as the inevitable scrambling develops
to fill the 1st District seat. You can, as Jo Ann Davis
amply demonstrated, succeed in politics by making friends,
working hard and doing your duty.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in mourning
the loss of one of the Commonwealth of Virginia's finest
public servants, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. She was a
good friend and a tireless advocate for America's First
District, as both she and the late Congressman Herb
Bateman referred to the First Congressional District of
Virginia.
Jo Ann was a self-made woman who came from modest roots.
Born in North Carolina, she grew up in Hampton, VA, where
her father was a city bus driver. She graduated from
Hampton Roads Business College in 1971, received her real
estate license in 1984, and received her real estate
broker's license 4 years later. She was a successful
business woman, having opened Davis Management Company in
1988 and Jo Ann Davis Realty in 1990.
Mr. Speaker, Jo Ann was not a career politician and
probably never imagined that she would run for office and
end up serving in the U.S. Congress for over 6 years. In
1997 she was reluctantly convinced by her friends to run
for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. When our
late colleague Herb Bateman announced his retirement from
the House, Jo Ann mounted an underdog campaign.
Notwithstanding the fact that she was outspent by a margin
of 40 to 1 in the primary, she prevailed; and in November
2000 she became the first Republican woman from Virginia
elected to Congress.
While we had different political loyalties, we had no
differences in our efforts to work together for the
citizens of Hampton Roads. Jo Ann's service on the Armed
Services Committee directly mirrored her commitment to the
thousands of military personnel in her district. One of
her first pieces of legislation that she introduced passed
in 2001. It increased the amount of life insurance
benefits for survivors of members of the U.S. Armed Forces
killed in active duty.
Jo Ann was also a tireless advocate for the thousands of
shipbuilders in her district who worked at Northrop
Grumman Newport News, and she cofounded the Congressional
Shipbuilding Caucus with Congressman Gene Taylor of
Mississippi. That caucus has made a compelling case to the
Department of Defense that it is pivotal for our national
defense that the Navy spend more money on shipbuilding. In
the last Congress, she was instrumental in efforts to
secure funding for the refueling of the USS Carl Vinson.
Without Jo Ann's hard work, the Hampton Roads area might
have lost billions of dollars in economic revenue tied
directly to that aircraft carrier.
Jo Ann placed a high priority on the removal of ships in
the so-called James River ``Ghost Fleet,'' which posed a
major environmental threat to the James River and the
Chesapeake Bay; and as a result of her leadership, many of
those ships have been removed. Together, we have worked to
secure Federal funding for the Achievable Dream Education
Program in Newport News to ensure that at-risk children
have the best opportunity to succeed in school.
Mr. Speaker, every Member of this body was saddened to
learn that Jo Ann developed breast cancer in 2005 and even
more so when the cancer returned this year. The sadness is
especially felt by members of the weekly Congressional
Prayer Breakfast, which Jo Ann and I regularly attended.
Despite her personal battle with cancer, Jo Ann did not
retire from Congress. She stayed and fought her cancer and
continued to represent the people of the First District to
the best of her ability until the very end. Learning from
her own experience with cancer, she has encouraged her
colleagues and her constituents to get screened regularly
for all types of cancer.
Mr. Speaker, the Hampton Roads delegation has lost a
tremendous advocate for the interests of our region. I
want to extend my deepest sympathies to her husband of 33
years, Chuck Davis; their two grown sons, Charlie and
Christopher; their granddaughter; and her wonderful staff
with whom my staff has worked so well over the years.
America's First District and the U.S. House of
Representatives have lost a true friend and advocate with
the passing of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay
tribute to my friend and colleague, Jo Ann Davis, who has
served this body with dignity and honor and dedication
since her election in 2000.
I first met Jo Ann when she was running for the House of
Delegates in 1997 and quickly became impressed with her
strong work ethic. Her congressional district, like mine,
is the home of many current and retired Federal employees.
So when I became chairman of the House Government Reform
Committee, it was an easy decision to ask her to oversee
the Civil Service Subcommittee.
She took on the responsibilities of subcommittee chair
with great diligence and energy. Through her efforts, we
made important strides in helping the Federal Government
recruit and retain quality employees. With her help, we
improved Federal student loan repayment programs and
expanded dental and vision benefits. Jo Ann was a strong
supporter of legislation allowing retired Federal
employees to deduct health care premiums from pretax
dollars, moving this important legislation through her
subcommittee. She was also a reliable ally in the annual
fight for pay parity for civilian Federal employees.
Her district borders mine; we both represent portions of
Prince William County. We have worked closely on a number
of local issues. With her passing, Northern Virginia and
the Commonwealth have lost a strong advocate.
I salute Jo Ann Davis for her courageous fight against
cancer. Her passing reminds us all that we need to fight
this horrible affliction.
My heartfelt condolences go out to her husband, Chuck
and to her sons, Christopher and Charles. I hope they find
solace in knowing she did so much to represent the people
of Virginia.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from Missouri, the chairman of one of the
committees that Jo Ann served on and a past president of
the weekly Congressional Prayer Breakfast (Mr. Skelton).
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Virginia for giving me the opportunity to express my
condolences to the Jo Ann Davis family, her husband and
two sons.
It's always difficult to say goodbye to a friend. And Jo
Ann Davis was my friend. She was my colleague. We served
together on the Armed Services Committee since she came to
Congress. She represented the First District of Virginia,
which had and has a strong military tradition. She was
preceded in this Congress by my friend through the years,
Herb Bateman.
She was a strong advocate for the men and women in
uniform, and she will be sorely missed in supporting them
as the days lie ahead. Shipbuilding was the centerpiece of
her work because of the district she represented, and she
understood and advocated the importance of shipbuilding
for the U.S. Navy. She was a member, actually a
subcommittee ranking member, on the Readiness
Subcommittee.
It is interesting that we should, this evening, point
out that she fought a disease with grace and dignity, and
that we should note this is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
She fought a tremendous fight. She came back when she
could, and our hearts were with her. She fought the good
fight. But in looking back at my friend, Jo Ann Davis, I
remember her most for her sense of humor, how we would
joke with one another and how absolutely pleasant she was.
Those are attributes that people remember just as much as
they remember the good work that she did as a Member of
this body. So I thank the gentleman from Virginia for
allowing me to say a word or two about my friend, Jo Ann
Davis.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time to the
gentlewoman from Virginia, Thelma Drake.
Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our
colleague and my friend, Jo Ann Davis. I was honored to
have served with her in both the Virginia General Assembly
and now here in the U.S. Congress.
Jo Ann and I had reverse roles. When Jo Ann ran for the
House of Delegates, I was her mentor. I was glad to see
her success at being elected there. And when I ran for the
U.S. Congress in 2004, Jo Ann was my mentor.
We were both realtors and shared that common bond and
that friendship. I was proud to support her in her
historic elevation to the Congress. Jo Ann, as you have
heard, was the first elected Republican woman from
Virginia to serve in this body. She was also the first
woman from Virginia to be re-elected.
We all know that Jo Ann was a woman of great faith,
great strength, great courage, great honesty and great
integrity. I don't believe that it was ever Jo Ann's
intention to be a trailblazer. I think her successes in
her life as a mother, a grandmother, a businesswoman, and
as a legislator are all the result of a path that she
chose in her life, and that was the path that cared for
other people first, put other people first, and that she
stood very strong on the principles to protect those
around her. That earned her the respect of the people of
the First District, and it led her on the path to the
House of Delegates and then here.
Jo Ann was a valued resource and a trusted confidante.
Here in Congress, I was honored to work with her on issues
facing the people of Hampton Roads and of Virginia. We
served together on the House Armed Services Committee, and
I have watched her very deep appreciation for the
contributions of the shipbuilding industry, and she
understood the important role that the Navy plays in our
Nation, projecting strength and security around the world.
Jo Ann also was a true leader and a hero in protecting
our military and their families, and she always worked to
ensure that their rights and interests were protected.
It is fitting that the month of October is dedicated to
raising breast cancer awareness. For even as Jo Ann
battled her own illness, she saw her illness as an
opportunity to help other women. When she was first
diagnosed, she told me that she would be healed, and she
was, from her first bout of cancer, and that she would use
this as an opportunity for other women to see and to make
sure that other women received the health care and didn't
put things off.
Today I join my colleagues in extending our deepest
sympathies to her family, to her husband Chuck, to her
staff, to her friends. I appreciate the opportunity to
stand here and to honor my good friend. I know that we
will all miss her greatly.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Capps).
Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I, with great sadness, rise to pay tribute
as well to our dear colleague, Jo Ann Davis.
As other women in the Congress know, there is a
sisterhood among many women Members. This weekend, we lost
one of our sisters to a disease that has fostered another
kind of sisterhood throughout the Nation, breast cancer.
And while Jo Ann would have chosen to confront her disease
in private, she bravely and valiantly decided to take her
experience to improve the experiences of other women in
that sisterhood. She did so by advocating for the Breast
Cancer Patient Protection Act and other legislation that
would improve the lives of those who suffer from this
disease.
I was also proud to work with Jo Ann on the Federal
Firefighters Fairness Act. Together we worked, one from
the west coast and one from the east, to extend to Federal
firefighters the same presumptive disability rights
offered to most city and State firefighters. I enjoyed
working with Jo Ann on this issue, especially as she
showed so much her dedication to firefighters and their
families.
I will, however, most fondly remember the many mornings
I and several others spent with Jo Ann at Prayer Breakfast
on Thursday mornings at the C Street House, as we will
gather in sadness and sorrow tomorrow.
We were bound together, several of us, through personal
experiences with cancer. And when amongst our fellowship
Jo Ann was first diagnosed, we supported her with prayer;
and then as she regained her strength, we rejoiced. But as
so often and tragically happens with this dreaded disease
and others, there was a relapse. And we have been much in
prayer, as all of us have, for her recovery, but it was
not to be.
You know, she and I had our differences in the direction
of policy, but we certainly shared in our desire to let
our faith serve as a guide for our work in Congress. And
she was a very strong, principled person whose convictions
and certainty of her faith showed through everything that
she did.
I know we're going to honor our dear departed colleague
by following her strong example, by calling on our faith
to serve as the motivation for our work here in Congress
the way that she did. We may not measure up to her
strength, but we have a role model in her. And I also hope
that we, as a Congress, will serve to honor her memory by
redoubling our efforts to remove the scourge of cancer
through support for prevention, by following her example
of reaching out, through education outreach and awareness,
and by increasing research dollars so that we can more
effectively prevent and treat this disease.
I join my colleagues in paying tribute to Jo Ann Davis
today and offering our condolences to her family, her
staff and her constituents in this time of their sorrow.
We will miss Jo Ann Davis dearly.
Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Forbes).
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I, like so many others, rise
today to pay tribute to Jo Ann Davis and to offer my
sympathies to her husband Chuck and her family.
By now, you begin to hear a pattern that reflects very
accurately the life of Jo Ann. And you hear many people
stand up and say the same thing, that she was our friend,
and like so many others, we will miss her.
I spent a lot of hours talking with Jo Ann in this
corner and in the Armed Services Committee, and I remember
reading an account in one of the papers that said that she
was born of ``modest'' means. But if you listened to Jo
Ann, she was born poor. Jo Ann never went to a 4-year
college, but she had more wisdom than you could ever see
reflected in a diploma, and one mistake you could never,
ever make with Jo Ann Davis was to underestimate her.
I still remember how she used to talk that so many
people felt that she could never put herself through real
estate school, and she proved them wrong. I remember her
talking about how, as a wife and mother, many people
didn't feel that she could become a successful realtor,
and she proved them wrong.
I remember when she was first running for the House of
Delegates, meeting with her and talking with her. She told
me that people didn't think she could win, and she proved
them wrong. And then, like my good friend from Virginia,
Congressman Scott, said, when she was running for
Congress, she was a 40 to 1 financial underdog and nobody
thought she could win, and she proved them wrong.
Who would have ever thought she would have served on the
Armed Services Committee, been the ranking member of one
of the subcommittees, that she would serve on the
Intelligence Committee of the House of Representatives,
and as so many people mentioned, she became a national
leader on shipbuilding and defending the shipbuilding
trade.
She was a tireless advocate for our veterans and men and
women in uniform. She loved her husband Chuck, and
firefighters and would stand with firefighters in almost
every issue that they brought forward, both in the
Virginia House of Delegates when she served there and here
in Congress.
She loved her family, and she was proud of them. And she
loved her constituents, and she fought for them. And
nobody, and I emphasize ``nobody,'' ever told her what to
do. She always did what she thought was right for
Virginia, and what she thought was right for the country.
And two final things that I think you don't hear people
reflect here today, but we need to just mention, she loved
horses. And I remember she and I talking many times about
the fact that we were probably two of the only Members of
Congress that actually had to go home on weekends and
clean out horse stables; and yet Jo Ann was the kind of
person who was humble enough not only to do it, but to
love it.
But above everything else, I am absolutely convinced
that she would also want us to say today, and this is what
Congressman Wolf alluded to a little bit earlier, that she
absolutely demonstrated, above anything else in her life,
her faith in Jesus Christ. And I have no question that
today she has heard those words that Congressman Wolf
mentioned, ``Well done, good and faithful servant.''
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to
the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Ms.
Pelosi.
Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I
rise to acknowledge the passing of Congresswoman Jo Ann
Davis and to pay tribute to her. As we all know, she
passed away on Saturday. And although she had been
diagnosed awhile ago, and we knew she was sick, it still
hit this Congress very hard to lose her.
Congresswoman Davis was tremendously proud to represent
Virginia's First District, which she called ``America's
First District'' because it included Jamestown. She spoke
often on this floor of the deep patriotism of her
constituents and of the pride of the many brave men and
women in uniform who were her constituents.
When Jo Ann Davis was elected to Congress, as has been
mentioned by some, she made history as the first female
Republican ever elected to the House from Virginia; but
she knew it was far more critical to make progress than to
make history, and she did, particularly in honoring our
troops and our veterans. In fact, the first piece of
legislation Congresswoman Davis ever introduced increased
the life insurance benefits paid to survivors of military
members killed on duty, and that passed the House in 2001.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005,
Congresswoman Davis became an outspoken advocate in favor
of education, prevention, and treatment of the disease. We
in this body can express our admiration for her dedication
with a real national commitment to fighting this disease
which annually takes the lives of 40,000 American women.
The Daily Press of Newport News, VA, wrote of their
Member of Congress this weekend, ``You can, as Jo Ann
Davis amply demonstrated, succeed in politics by making
friends, working hard, and doing your duty.'' All of us in
this body can honor Congresswoman Davis's legacy by doing
just that.
As was mentioned about the patriotism of her district,
she was deeply patriotic as well. She loved our country,
and this Congress loved her. When she was diagnosed, we
all hovered over her and prayed for her and were deeply
saddened. At first, she would be gone for awhile, and when
she came back, we all encircled her and hugged her, and as
it turned out, drew strength from her. As we were trying
to encourage her, she gave us strength. Her attitude, her
dignity, and the strength with which she confronted this
terrible disease was something that was a lesson for all
of us. When she passed away, we were all very deeply
saddened, as I mentioned before, to get that sad news.
She was really a bright light in this Congress. I hope
it is a comfort to her husband, Chuck Davis, to her
family, her two sons, her granddaughter, and her many
family and friends that so many people in our country,
indeed, intensely in this Congress, mourn their loss and
are praying for them at this sad time.
Mr. WOLF. I yield such time as he may consume to Mr.
Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
Mr. DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank my
friend for yielding.
One of the great privileges in the daily honor of being
able to serve in the Congress of the United States is the
privilege of being able to meet extraordinary people on a
constant basis here in these Halls.
I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to remember and pay tribute
to a dear friend who was one of those truly extraordinary
people whom I have had the privilege of meeting in my 15
years here in these Halls of Congress, Jo Ann Davis. We
will always remember her not only as the gracious and
dignified and wonderful lady that she was, but as the
effective Representative for her constituents and the
great American patriot, who every day gave her all to
defend our Nation and to honor and protect, to the best of
her ability, those who protect us and our freedom, our men
and women in uniform.
I am deeply comforted, Mr. Speaker, by the fact that Jo
Ann Davis had such a profound faith in God. It was her
strength. At this time, it is especially comforting to
know that she is now with the Lord.
I enjoyed my conversations with Jo Ann, the fellowship,
her sense of humor. She was a wonderful human being. How
her eyes would light up, Mr. Speaker, when the subject of
her granddaughter would be brought up, Charlotte. I had
the privilege of getting to know her son, Charlie, very
well. He was a member of my staff, an extraordinary young
man, who did his job day in and day out. Each day he
worked in our office in a marvelous manner with total
devotion to this Congress, to the people of the United
States. I am deeply grateful for his service. I extend to
him, my friend, Charlie, and his family, obviously his
wife, his daughter, Charlotte, his brother, Jo Ann's other
son, Chris, and of course, Chuck, Jo Ann's husband, my
deepest sympathy and condolences at this time.
We will never forget her, that wonderful colleague, that
wonderful friend, that wonderful lady who not only graced
these Halls but served her constituents of the First
District of Virginia so effectively, so well, and indeed
served all of America so well.
As I say, I will never forget her and consider it a
great privilege to have been able to meet and to be a
friend of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sorrow that I
learned of the loss of our colleague and four-term
Representative, Jo Ann Davis, who represented Virginia's
First District, referred to as America's First District.
She was a great leader and a tireless advocate for all of
her constituents. And for those of us who came in after
her, I remember she organized a Weight Watchers class, saw
that we were there every week, and that we followed the
procedure for weight watching. She said, ``Now, be sure to
weigh yourself so that you can see what kind of progress
you are making. But I want you to know, I don't weigh
myself because I don't think I am progressing.''
Jo Ann was first in many ways. As the first elected
female Republican from the Commonwealth, she set an
example for women across the country who aspire to
political office. She worked tirelessly on behalf of our
men and women in uniform and the many Federal civil
servants in her congressional district and succeeded in
introducing and passing legislation that benefited these
important constituencies.
We all know that we lost our colleague to breast cancer.
I remember going over to her when we heard that Juanita
Millender-McDonald was taking a leave, and the Women's
Caucus wanted to send greetings, and I asked her if she
would be the first. She looked at me and she said, ``No,
because on that day, Friday, I take my chemo and I am very
sick afterward.'' So I said, ``Well, I understand. I just
thought the two of you had much in common and that you
could inspire her.'' We know that it is such a devastating
disease that takes away our loved ones too quickly. I
don't know at the time if it was in Jo Ann's mind, but she
never let on. She seemed to be very secretive about her
personal self.
So, as a reminder, this is Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, and I think it is so appropriate that we salute her
and her life because she lived so well and influenced so
many people and was really a symbol for how to deal with
the condition that she had and she was challenged by.
Our colleague will be sorely missed, not only here, but
in her home district where her constituents knew that she
represented them with excellence, integrity, and tenacity.
We all mourn her loss, our friend and colleague. I send my
most heartfelt condolences to her family, staff, and her
many close friends here on Capitol Hill and in Virginia.
Mr. WOLF. I am going to yield to Mr. Cantor. We have
been told we can do one more, but we will resume after the
votes for anyone who is interested and is listening. But
before we go to the votes, I recognize Mr. Cantor from
Virginia.
Mr. CANTOR. I thank the gentleman.
Along with my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, I too rise with a
very heavy heart today as we mourn the passing and reflect
on the life of our dear friend and colleague, Jo Ann
Davis. In life, Jo Ann amazed so many of us with her
determination and her fighting spirit. In politics, as has
been noted before, she made history, becoming the first
Republican woman from Virginia elected to serve in this
House. In fighting for everything she believed in up until
the last day of her bout with cancer, Jo Ann taught us how
to make every moment on this Earth count. Jo Ann was a
true gentlelady from Virginia. She was a woman of faith
and family who had an unshakeable commitment to the
principles of our Nation's Founders and of our Nation's
military.
As was indicated by my colleagues before, Jo Ann was a
true patriot. And though she spent only a mere 10 years in
elected office, she left a profound imprint on national
and State politics. The State of Virginia and our country
will miss her greatly. All of us talk about the
experiences and recall with much sadness, but yet
appreciation, that we did have the time we did with Jo Ann
Davis.
I, like many of my Virginia colleagues, served with Jo
Ann in the Virginia Legislature. I had 3 years with Jo
Ann. We served together on the General Laws Committee in
the Virginia House of Delegates. It was there that I first
saw this incredibly strong woman with a will to make sure
that she did the right thing regardless.
We had adjoining districts. We shared many of the same
community interests. Jo Ann was a believer and a promoter
of the James River. As was noted earlier by my colleague
from Virginia (Mr. Scott), she cared greatly about the
Ghost Fleet there as well as making sure that Virginia was
no longer a dumping ground for out-of-State trash.
As has been noted, Jo Ann was a great person of faith. I
had the tremendous fortune of visiting the land of Israel
with Jo Ann and Chuck and saw firsthand how much her faith
meant to her. Regardless of what you say about Jo Ann
Davis, I think we can all agree that Jo Ann Davis was
never concerned about being politically correct. She
carried the bill to make sure that we recognized the
holiday of Christmas and that the issue of faith and God
was not taken out of the public realm.
Jo Ann spoke her mind when she had opinions about this
war in Iraq. When it came down to it, she cared about her
troops, her constituents, her family, and her God. We all
will miss Jo Ann tremendously. I want to, at this time,
also extend to her family, to Chuck, to her two sons, her
granddaughter, a great deal of sympathy. We will miss her.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lincoln Davis of
Tennessee). Pursuant to the earlier order of the House,
further proceedings on House Resolution 717 will be
postponed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the
House of today, proceedings will now resume on House
Resolution 717.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. When proceedings were postponed
earlier today, 28 minutes remained in debate.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) has 11 minutes
remaining and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) has
17 minutes remaining.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the chairman
of the Foreign Affairs Committee of which Jo Ann Davis was
a member.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Foreign
Affairs Committee, I never speak for the whole committee,
only for myself, but this is an exception.
Jo Ann Davis was respected and admired across the total
political spectrum, and as I was listening to my
colleagues paying tribute to this extraordinary woman, to
this remarkable Member of Congress, to this unique public
servant, I, of course, agreed with everything they said.
But there is one aspect of Jo Ann's life that has not yet
been mentioned, and that is what I would like to address.
She loved her district, she loved the State of Virginia,
but she was also one of the great promoters of alliances
in this body. She was passionately committed to rebuilding
the alliance between Europe and the United States, and she
did an extraordinary job over a long period of time
successfully doing this.
My predecessor, Henry Hyde, and I had many conversations
about her little-noticed, but enormously important, work
on behalf of our effective foreign policy, on behalf of
rebuilding so many of the ties that over the years had
been weakened by a variety of actions.
Jo Ann will be missed in all of her endeavors, but those
of us on the Foreign Affairs Committee will particularly
miss her enormous contribution to building alliances for
the United States, for being a multilateralist, for
recognizing that while we may be the one remaining
superpower, we are a superpower in need of allies and
friends and collaborators.
I want to express my deepest condolences to her family
and I want to express on behalf of all of my colleagues on
the Foreign Affairs Committee our respect, our admiration,
and our love for our dear colleague Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).
Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in
mourning the loss of one of our own, Representative Jo Ann
Davis. Representative Davis, as has been said and as we
have discussed tonight, battled cancer for several years,
and of course, as we know, lost her battle Saturday
morning.
At a time when others would have considered retirement,
Jo Ann Davis continued to represent the people of the
First District of Virginia with distinction. Through her
service she set an example of courage in the face of
adversity. She refused to allow a disease that afflicts
far too many affect her life and take her away from the
work that she loved so dearly.
As the first female Republican elected to the House of
Representatives from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Jo Ann
was a leader and example to all of us. But of all of Jo
Ann's accomplishments, of all the roles she played, she
would not be ashamed to tell you that her decision to
follow Jesus Christ was the most important decision for
her.
The people of Virginia were privileged to have known her
as a public servant. The Members of this Congress were
honored to share her as a colleague. I was honored to
consider her a friend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her husband, Chuck;
her sons, Charlie and Chris; along with her granddaughter,
Charlotte. May God give each of them an extra measure of
peace during this time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentlelady from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
Member from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for yielding me this
time, and on behalf of the people of the State of Ohio and
myself, the senior woman in this House, I would like to
express deepest condolences to the people of the
Commonwealth of Virginia on the passing of Jo Ann Davis,
our very respected colleague, from this life.
To her husband, Chuck, to her two sons, to her
granddaughter, we respected Jo Ann as a woman, as a
Member, as a wife, as a mother, as a grandmother. We also
respected her because she was a heroic Member of this
Congress.
There are some people in life who teach us how to live,
and then there are those rare few who teach us how to die.
Jo Ann Davis was such an individual. She exemplified great
courage.
As a woman, I might like to put in the Record that in
the entire history of this institution there have been
very few women that have actually served here. Out of a
little over 11,000 Members of our Republic who have been
elected to Congress, about 200 or so that have been
elected were women. And so we know that with every woman
who is elected, a new page in history is written. It may
seem easy, but it is very hard. Jo Ann Davis was a part of
that new page in history of this Republic.
Others have stated, of course, she was the first
Republican woman to have been elected from Virginia, and
so we know in having met her, we met a pioneering woman, a
woman who truly is a first. That took great stamina; it
took rare courage and great perseverance.
She had other careers before she came here, as a
realtor, as a member of her own State legislature, and
upon being elected here, she was then elected to some of
the most weighty committees in this institution: to
Defense, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, always a woman who
stood tall for those in the uniformed service of our
country.
She had a warm and radiant smile, and she held herself
erect and with a stalwart stance that revealed the
strength of character that represented Jo Ann Davis'
entire life. You knew she would meet all of life's
challenges, and she did.
Her faith imbued her with that strength, and it also
imbued the kindness that she demonstrated to every Member
of this institution, a warm cordiality, and also in her
closing days on Earth, great dignity in her heroic
struggle.
It was my privilege to know her and to be allowed to
serve with her during the years that she gave to the
people of this great Republic.
May she rest in peace.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlelady from
Florida (Ms. Brown-Waite).
Ms. BROWN-WAITE of Florida. I thank the gentleman.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and a
colleague, Jo Ann Davis from the great State of Virginia.
When I was first elected in 2002, and came to this body in
2003, Jo Ann was one of the first people to approach me
and say, ``What can I do to help you, can I help you look
for staff, what can I do?'' Jo Ann was always known for
being a very willing, helpful person.
She never offered advice, but if you asked her for
advice, you better be prepared for frankness, and she
would strongly suggest that you follow that advice. She'd
say you asked for it. And she was always very frank and
very candid when she gave advice but always very gentle,
always a lady.
I would have to say that Jo Ann Davis epitomized the
Golden Rule. She followed the Golden Rule. She was a
fighter and she was a woman who, although diminutive in
size, demonstrated great strength, whether it was fighting
cancer, that she beat back once, and then we all know it
came back a second time to take her from us, but she was
always a fighter and always had a smile on her face.
It can safely be said that Jo Ann loved God, and her
country, as well as her beloved family.
We will miss Jo Ann Davis because of what she brought to
this body, because of her spirit, because of her ever-
winning smile.
Jo Ann Davis had the honor of being respected by people
on both sides of the aisle. They respected her, and they
knew that she worked very hard to represent her district
in Virginia.
We extend our sympathies to her husband, Chuck, her
sons, Charlie and Chris, as well as her granddaughter,
Charlotte.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from Missouri, who served with Jo Ann as
joint president of the Congressional Prayer Breakfast, Mr.
Cleaver.
Mr. CLEAVER. I thank the gentleman from Virginia.
Mr. Speaker, one of the first individuals I met when I
was elected to Congress was Jo Ann Davis. I actually met
her, along with the gentleman from Virginia, at our Prayer
Breakfast and immediately had the opportunity to get to
know her and to work with her. I sat beside her on each
Thursday; and over the course of a year, we got a chance
to know each other and began to tease each other, play
with each other, have fun with each other, and then we
ended up as the cochairs of the Prayer Breakfast for this
past year.
On the night before the Prayer Breakfast, I was called
in my apartment and told that Congresswoman Davis was not
feeling well enough for us to jointly lead the Prayer
Breakfast. I knew of her physical problems, and so I knew
that things had to have gotten worse, but I had the
opportunity to say to her something that I really feel
strongly about. My goal is not to hate a single
individual, and I get up each morning with a goal of not
even trying to resemble, in my actions, something that
would be related to hate.
But I told her, and I will say it here, I hate cancer, I
hate it. I have seen it wreak havoc in the lives of men
and women almost all of my life.
When Jo Ann tried to come back to Congress, this body
that she loved, I was able to go over and sit down beside
her. I wasn't going to have a gloomy conversation. She
said, ``You know, you don't recognize me, do you, because
I have lost so much weight.'' We had a relationship where
we could tease each other, and I kept in contact with her
office staff and the Prayer Breakfast. As the gentleman
from Virginia and the gentleman from Tennessee will
recall, we sent flowers to her about 3 months ago, for
which she was very thankful.
But I would like to say this, Jo Ann Davis and I didn't
agree on a lot of things politically; but we were able to
sit together, talk together, eat breakfast together, eat
lunch together and enjoy this world together. If there is
anything I think we ought to be able to remember about
her, I think it is in spite of political differences,
ideological differences, this woman from Virginia, this
tiny woman, was able to put all that aside in terms of
personal relationships.
Thank you for this opportunity to share my thoughts
about one of my colleagues, someone I cared a lot about.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for as much time as he may
consume.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlemen from
Virginia, Mr. Wolf and Mr. Scott, for leading this tribute
to a great and courageous woman, Congresswoman Jo Ann
Davis.
I had the opportunity first to meet Jo Ann Davis when
she was a member of the Virginia General Assembly. She
showed there the same courage, determination and hard work
that she has shown here during her service in the U.S.
Congress. Right through to her final week here, she was
still working for the people of the First Congressional
District of Virginia. She was very proud of her
representation of those great people and often talked
about her district as being America's First Congressional
District because it contained Jamestown and Yorktown and
Williamsburg, and worked very hard for the past year or
more as we prepared for this year's celebration of the
400th anniversary of the settlement of Jamestown.
She also was a member of three very important committees
here in the Congress, the Armed Services Committee, the
International Relations Committee and the Intelligence
Committee, all very much related to our Nation's national
security and working with other countries around the world
in our war against terror and was very dedicated to our
Armed Services, the men and women who served there and our
veterans. She stood up for them time and time again.
When I arrived at my office today, I found in my in-box
a copy of a bill that she introduced just last Tuesday,
October 2. It may well be the last bill that she
introduced in the Congress, House Concurrent Resolution
222, cosponsored by myself and all the other Members on
both sides of the aisle, commending the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research
Center in her district, on the celebration of its 90th
anniversary later this month.
I can think of no better tribute to Congresswoman Davis
and to the men and women of the NASA Langley Research
Center, the premier aeronautic space and research facility
in the country. I would commend to the Speaker and to the
chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology where
this bill has been referred to pass it, not only in
tribute to those great workers at that great facility, but
also a tribute to a great Member of Congress,
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who worked in this body in a
very bipartisan spirit.
Every month the Virginia congressional delegation meets,
both the Senators and the House Members, the Republicans
and the Democrats, in a bipartisan fashion. We talk about
the issues that we are dealing with here in the Congress,
particularly those that have a great impact on the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
She was an active and vocal participant in all of those
discussions looking after the interests of Virginia and
her congressional district. But she also loved to get away
from here to her home in Gloucester, to her horses, to her
family, her wonderful husband Chuck, her children, and
grandchildren, where she was when she passed on at the end
of last week.
We will all miss her. Our hearts go out to her family,
to her constituents. It is my hope that we will all take
heart from this brave and courageous woman to her last
days serving the people of her district with distinction
and courage and great honor and determination.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to
the gentlelady from California (Mrs. Davis), a member of
the Armed Services Committee who served with Jo Ann Davis.
Mrs. DAVIS of California. I want to thank my colleagues
from Virginia for having this time set aside for all of us
to come to the floor today and express our real sadness in
losing our friend, Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. Speaker, in many ways Jo Ann was not just my friend,
but in some ways my sister here. I came to the Congress in
2001 with Jo Ann; and at the beginning, because our names
are the same, we got a little confused. In fact, people
confused one particular bill with our names, and it took
us awhile to sort that out. We had a good laugh over that
because sometimes we didn't always agree on everything.
But I can say that of so many people that I have met and
had a chance to spend time with, I really enjoyed my time
with Jo Ann. She was just such a strong woman who didn't
always have an easy time, particularly as we saw her
suffer through cancer.
But she was so desirous, I think, of telling people a
little bit about how she was doing and yet at the same
time letting us know that she was OK. Well, you know, she
wasn't always OK, but she wanted us to know that.
The first experience that I had with Jo Ann is when we
had an opportunity to travel to Afghanistan together, and
one of our first codels, to see how our military was doing
there, what was happening, and try to help develop the new
Afghani army.
We had quite an amazing trip. In spending all that time
in the air and on the ground and really having a chance to
talk, I felt like I got to know her as a true individual
with great values, connected with family, and someone who
was so devoted to her community. We both represent a
military community, and I think we shared a great deal of
that together.
I wanted to just say thank you for what Jo Ann gave me
over these last years and helping me to also talk about my
values and what is important to me. Family was very
important to her. My husband and I reach out to Chuck and
the family, and we wish them all the condolences in the
world that we can bring to them and thank them for being
the wonderful family that they are.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Goode).
Mr. GOODE. I too want to thank Congressman Wolf and
Congressman Scott for arranging this special order on
behalf of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the service of my
friend and colleague, Jo Ann Davis. She worked tirelessly
on behalf of Virginians in the general assembly and in the
U.S. House of Representatives. Jo Ann was a stalwart
defender of the rights of the unborn and a leader on
numerous other commonsense issues.
In 2000, Jo Ann surprised many political pundits and
prognosticators by winning a hard-fought primary in which
she was heavily outspent by her opponents. She was easily
reelected in subsequent campaigns because of her devotion
to the constituents in her district and her focus on the
concerns of the citizens in the eastern part of Virginia.
She was a feisty fighter and frequently reminded others
in Virginia and around the country that she represented
not only Virginia's First District, but also America's
First District, as it includes Jamestown, VA, where our
Nation's first settlement was founded in 1607. She was a
vigorous proponent of celebrating the 400th anniversary of
Jamestown and made sure it received notice throughout
Virginia, the United States, and around the world.
As evidenced by the comments and tributes made here this
evening, she touched everyone on both sides of the aisle.
Her good works and her fighting on behalf of this great
Nation will be long remembered.
Her husband, Chuck, and her family are in our thoughts
and prayers. It was an honor to have served the
Commonwealth of Virginia and this Nation with Jo Ann
Davis.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I recognize the gentlelady from
Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt) for the balance of the time.
Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the
life of a very dear friend of mine, Jo Ann Davis.
When I came here a little over 2 years ago, I walked
into a room filled with strangers, and I looked for the
smiles. She was one of those smiles. She quickly took me
under her wings. In addition to helping me through the
maze of Congress, she also invited me to come to the best
hour of the week, the Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. It's
an event I rarely miss.
She not only was a fighter for her district and a
fighter for her country, but she was a woman who truly
loved her family and loved the Lord, and it showed in each
and every day and in each and every way of her life. To
her husband, Chuck, to her two sons, to her darling
granddaughter, my heart goes out to you.
Every day since I learned of her cancer, I have been
praying for her. I shall continue those prayers for you.
May God bless all of you.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and
extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on
H. Res. 717.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the
gentleman, my colleague from Virginia, for introducing the
resolution. I ask for support for the resolution, and will
yield the gentleman, my colleague, the balance of my time.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I think for those who are
watching, you've seen this Congress at its best, to see
people from both sides of the aisle come together, and
that is a tribute to Jo Ann.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I rise to pay tribute to a
great American and a Member of this House. Jo Ann Davis
was a veteran legislator, businesswoman, and Member of
Congress from Virginia's First Congressional District. Her
district, which stretches from the Washington suburbs to
the Hampton Roads area, is often called America's First
District. The site of the Jamestown settlement is located
there.
Congresswoman Davis was the second woman from Virginia,
and the first Virginia Republican woman, elected to the
House in her own right. She was reelected by substantial
margins in 2002, 2004, and to her fourth term in 2006. She
was a productive member of three very important committees
in the House: Armed Services, Intelligence, and Foreign
Affairs. She was the ranking Republican on the House
Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy.
Jo Ann Davis was born in Rowan County, North Carolina,
but lived in Virginia since she was 9 years old. She
attended Hampton Roads Business College and worked in real
estate before she was elected to the Virginia House of
Delegates in 1997. She was reelected in 1999, where she
served until her election to Congress.
Congresswoman Davis died on Saturday, October 6, 2007,
and was a respected Member of this body and respected by
all who knew her. She was a legislator's legislator. She
was known to often put aside partisan politics and reach
across the aisle to legislate in a bipartisan manner for
the best interests of the American people.
Her presence will be greatly missed and we all mourn her
loss and extend our sincerest condolences to her husband
Chuck, her children, and grandchild.
Mr. Speaker, a dear colleague has fallen but she will
not be forgotten. We are all saddened by our loss but we
are happy to have served with her. Our prayers and
condolences go out to her husband, Chuck, her children,
and to thousands of friends around the Nation. She touched
so many lives during her tenure in this body and she will
be missed very much by the people she represented so ably.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to
express deepest condolences on the passing of my fellow
colleague from Virginia, the Honorable Jo Ann Davis.
During her time in Congress, Jo Ann was a strong
advocate for her constituents and an active voice on
issues affecting the Commonwealth.
As Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Readiness
Subcommittee, Jo Ann was well positioned and a successful
advocate for her district's economic bread and butter--the
shipbuilding and national defense industry.
Regarding our joint efforts to grant Federal recognition
to Virginia's six state-recognized tribes, Jo Ann was a
passionate and helpful ally. Her familiarity with the
tribes' issues and her testament as to their traditional
values and practices helped pave the way for the
recognition bill's passage in the House. I am grateful
that, despite her failing health, she lived to see the
bill receive the unanimous support of her colleagues.
Jo Ann will be deeply missed both within Congress and
the Virginia delegation. Our hearts and prayers go out to
her husband Chuck Davis, her two sons, and their entire
extended family as they cope with the loss of their
beloved wife, mother, and citizen legislator.
Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in support of
H. Res. 717, the Privileged Resolution on the Passing of
the Honorable Jo Ann Davis.
Today we stand in remembrance of a distinguished Member
of the 110th Congress, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who
after a 2-year battle with breast cancer has passed away.
Her husband, Chuck Davis, battalion chief for the
Hampton Fire Department; two sons, Christopher and Charles
Davis, and extended family survive her, remembering the
incredible legacy Congresswoman Davis has left behind her.
A woman of modest beginnings, Congresswoman Davis knew
the meaning of hard work and proved headstrong and
committed as she worked her way to becoming the first
elected Republican woman to lead the First District of
Virginia. She would maintain her leadership there for 7
years.
She has been praised for her commitment to Armed
Services, and commended for her commitment to researching
and pursuing legislative reform.
Her determination to pursue change and prevail over
hardships knew no bounds, even in her fight against breast
cancer.
Even in this moment of memorial, her presence and
upstanding character is reflected as we discuss a
recommitment of H.R. 1124--a bill providing financial
assistance to low-income students and ensuring a brighter
future for all Virginian youth.
Because of the Congresswoman's ongoing commitment to
preserving life on a social and political level, my
colleagues and I will make great strides to continue
supporting breast cancer awareness and the well-being of
all Americans.
In her memory we will continue to uphold two priorities
to which she was greatly dedicated.
While it is with sadness that we say goodbye to an
incredible woman, we think of her with joy and fondness as
we remember her devotion to creating a better America.
The use of her life to benefit America's First District
of Virginia is unquestionable and has served to ensure a
sense of responsibility among her fellow colleagues in the
109th and 110th Congress.
I thank Congresswoman Davis for dedicating her life to
service on the behalf of the First District of Virginia. I
am honored to have worked with her and I truly appreciate
all she has given.
Her efforts have touched many lives and her exceptional
impact upon our country will create a lasting legacy for
generations to come.
Congresswoman Davis will be greatly missed.
Mrs. MYRICK. Mr. Speaker, we've lost another great
American who always put others before herself. She was
devoted to her husband, Chuck; her two boys, Charlie and
Chris; and her granddaughter, Charlotte, as well as all of
the people she served. She and I were close friends--we
talked about everything--and I, along with others here in
Congress, will miss her dearly. Jo Ann never gave up--she
fought hard until the end.
She had her priorities right--God is going to be very
good to Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today
to honor the life of Jo Ann Davis--a friend and colleague
who served the people of Virginia for 7 years in the House
of Representatives.
As the first female Republican elected to the House from
Virginia, Jo Ann was dedicated to representing her
constituents with a genuine leadership and passion for
public service. She was committed to fighting government
waste and strengthening our national defense and remained
devoted to her duty despite her illness. As a fellow
Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am grateful to have known
and worked with Jo Ann. I am especially grateful for the 3
years we sat together on Thursdays at the Congressional
Prayer Breakfast which she ultimately so devotedly
chaired.
During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are
with Jo Ann's husband, Chuck, their two sons, her
granddaughter, and the entire Davis family.
In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never
forget September 11.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous
question is ordered on the resolution.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the
resolution.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is
recognized for 5 minutes.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this
evening to pay tribute to our fallen colleague, the
Honorable Jo Ann Davis, Member of Congress from the
Commonwealth of Virginia. Let me, first of all, offer my
deepest sympathy to her family and acknowledge the special
role that Congresswoman Davis had in this body.
She was a veteran legislator, a business woman, and a
Member of Congress from Virginia's First District. She was
the first Virginia Republican woman elected to the House
in her own right, and she was the second woman from
Virginia to be elected in the U.S. Congress.
More important, she loved the work. She loved this House
and loved America. As a member of the House Armed Services
Committee, Intelligence, and Foreign Affairs Committees,
she was diligent in her work. I am reminded of her
participation in the Women's Caucus. The caucus was
bipartisan. We had many opportunities, as women Members of
the U.S. House, to sit together to study issues,
particularly health issues, the way a number of diseases
impacted women. We were able to gather together to sponsor
legislation that particularly focused on enhanced research
on diseases that impacted women negatively.
I am reminded of the leadership of a former colleague
also recently deceased, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-
McDonald, who organized the women's effort to lay a wreath
at the Women's Memorial at Arlington Cemetery, and I have
in my mind a memory of Congresswoman Davis joining us on
those many occasions, uniting around our effort to pay
tribute to women members of the armed services of the
United States of America.
So this evening I simply say that we will miss her,
thank her for her pioneering spirit and her leadership,
and I would like to say simply to her husband, Chuck; her
children; and to thousands of her friends around the
Nation and in her district our prayers and condolences are
to your family and certainly to your community. So many
lives were touched by your service. So we say to you,
farewell, our dear friend. May you rest in peace.
Mr. SESSIONS. . . . And of course the House of
Representatives, in recess right now, is beginning to
prepare for the funeral for our colleague, Jo Ann Davis of
Virginia, who passed away. Today, our colleagues came to
the floor one by one to not only acknowledge the service
that Jo Ann Davis gave to the United States of America,
but also in her representation of her congressional
district. Jo Ann will be missed. Jo Ann courageously
fought cancer. Jo Ann courageously went back home day
after day, week after week, after serving the U.S.
Congress, making sure that she talked about those things
which she did in her job and her representation of people
from Virginia. Perhaps more important, were the strength
and character and courage that Jo Ann, even in the midst
of adversity, brought to this body. She was an inspiration
to Republicans and Democrats alike. It is with a heavy
heart that we all will miss her, and we say to her family,
how much we know they will miss her, too, and to her
constituents, we know they were well served. Mr. Speaker,
we will miss Jo Ann Davis from Virginia. . . .
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I move that the
House do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 10 o'clock and
15 minutes p.m.), pursuant to House Resolution 717, the
House adjourned until tomorrow, Wednesday, October 10,
2007, at 10 a.m., as a further mark of respect to the
memory of the late Honorable Jo Ann Davis of Virginia.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, Saturday, Congresswoman Jo Ann
Davis passed into eternity after a long and courageous
struggle with cancer. The gentlewoman from Virginia was
elected in 2000, the same year I arrived in Washington,
DC, and we became fast friends. From the start, Jo Ann
Davis stood out. Her commitment to her family, her
devotion to God, and her commitment to a strong defense
and traditional values were inspiring.
On the day I met Jo Ann, she said to me very simply,
``Mike, the Lord put me here. I am going to serve Him
every day that I am here.'' Representative Jo Ann Davis
kept her word.
May our Savior, hers and mine, comfort her and Chuck and
the boys with the words, ``Well done, good and faithful
servant.'' May this Congress always remember the service
of Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. BLUNT. . . . I would also like to say to my friend I
appreciate the accommodation of the House schedule this
week based on the loss of our colleague from the First
District of Virginia, Jo Ann Davis. She cared about the
things this Congress does. She was a great Member of
Congress. I think it's fair to say she was particularly
focused on the armed services and on Federal employees,
both of which she had a real opportunity to impact.
And I would say that I remember her seat over here where
she almost always sat, that last week she was able to be
here with us, just looking, and it was obvious the great
health challenge she was facing and the incredible effort
she was making to be here to cast the last week of votes
she was able to cast. And for your quick accommodation of
the schedule so that we could participate in her memorial
service tomorrow and also, frankly, recognize her service
by the House not being in session tomorrow, I am grateful
to you for that.
I would yield for any comments you might want to make.
Mr. HOYER. I thank my friend for yielding, and I want to
join him in commending Jo Ann Davis and sending our
sympathies from this side of the aisle to her family.
I had the opportunity of working with her on a number of
Federal employee issues. She and I both represented large
numbers of Federal employees. She was very conscientious,
hard working, focused, obviously very concerned about our
national security, as she represented very substantial
defense establishments and Navy establishments in her
district. Her district was across the Potomac River from
mine, as the gentleman probably knows, and we will miss
her. I know that her constituents will miss her. And we
were certainly pleased to have the opportunity to make
sure that any and all Members who could go and wanted to
go would be able to attend the services that will be held
for her tomorrow at 1 p.m.
I thank the gentleman for his observations and join him
in my commendations to her.
Mr. BLUNT. I appreciate your efforts to do that. She was
an example of public service and personal courage.
Mr. MEEK of Florida. . . . I just want to say also,
Madam Speaker, our colleague, Congresswoman Davis, our
hearts go out to her family and also to her constituents
and also everyone that she has touched in her lifetime. We
served together, I believe on Armed Services, and even
though she was on the Republican side of the aisle, we
were colleagues here in Congress. She served to the very
end, and I am forever grateful to her family for allowing
her to serve and be a part of this body, to serve the
American people.
I know that over the coming days, tomorrow, I believe,
will be her home-going service, that there will be further
reflections on her life.
With that, I would like to yield to Mr. Murphy.
Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut. Thank you very much,
Mr. Meek, and my condolences go out as well to the Davis
family. . . .
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I also want to add
my voice and sorrow that goes out to the Davis family. Mr.
Meek, Mr. Murphy, this is also Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. Since we know that our dear colleague, Mrs. Davis,
succumbed to breast cancer after a valiant 2-year battle,
I think it is important to note that we are in Breast
Cancer Awareness Month.
Breast cancer affects so many women from so many
different walks of life, and it strikes every potential
family, whether you're a Member of Congress, a maintenance
worker, whether you're a scientist or someone from any
walk of life. It is important that we focus our research
and our effort, our dollars, our passion, and our
commitment to finding a cure for this horrendous disease.
My prayers and thoughts go out to her family as well. . .
.
Mr. SESSIONS. Madam Speaker, I rise with great sorrow
today as the House of Representatives mourns the passing
of the Honorable Jo Ann Davis, Congresswoman from the
First District of Virginia. Congresswoman Davis succumbed
to breast cancer on Saturday after a lengthy struggle with
the disease. I was greatly saddened when I heard the news
of her passing. I will be keeping her husband Chuck, their
surviving family, and her congressional staff members in
my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.
I had the distinct pleasure of being able to know Jo Ann
from her early days in Congress when she was first elected
in 2000. She leaves behind a legacy of constant dedication
to our men and women in uniform. Though she struggled with
breast cancer the past 2 years, she remained determined in
her commitment to continue serving her district, and our
service men and women. This same drive was evident at the
beginning of her career in public service. Her first
election to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1997 came
as a result of her defeating a heavily favored 15-term
incumbent. There was never a challenge too large for her
to pursue, and her constituents were the benefactors of
this unswerving commitment to public service. She will be
greatly missed by me, our colleagues, and the people of
Virginia. God Bless.
Friday, October 12, 2007
APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE TO ATTEND FUNERAL
OF THE LATE HONORABLE JO ANN DAVIS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution
717, and the order of the House of January 4, 2007, the
Chair announces the Speaker's appointment of the following
Members of the House to the committee to attend the
funeral of the late Honorable Jo Ann Davis:
Mr. Wolf, Virginia
Mr. Boehner, Ohio
Mr. Blunt, Missouri
Mr. Putnam, Florida
The members of the Virginia delegation:
Mr. Boucher
Mr. Moran
Mr. Goodlatte
Mr. Scott
Mr. Davis
Mr. Goode
Mr. Cantor
Mr. Forbes
Mrs. Drake, and
Mr. Skelton, Missouri
Mr. Engel, New York
Mr. Hoekstra, Michigan
Mr. King, New York
Mr. Mica, Florida
Mr. Ehlers, Michigan
Mr. Hastings, Washington
Ms. Jackson-Lee, Texas
Mrs. Myrick, North Carolina
Mr. Thornberry, Texas
Mr. Wicker, Mississippi
Mr. Aderholt, Alabama
Ms. Granger, Texas
Mr. Pitts, Pennsylvania
Mrs. Tauscher, California
Mrs. Capps, California
Ms. Berkley, Nevada
Ms. Schakowsky, Illinois
Ms. Harman, California
Mr. Akin, Missouri
Mrs. Capito, West Virginia
Mrs. Davis, California
Ms. McCollum, Minnesota
Mr. Pence, Indiana
Ms. Watson, California
Mr. Miller, Florida
Mr. Wilson, South Carolina
Mr. Cole, Oklahoma
Mr. Hensarling, Texas
Mr. Neugebauer, Texas
Mr. Cleaver, Missouri
Mr. Conaway, Texas
Mr. Fortenberry, Nebraska
Ms. Foxx, North Carolina
Mr. Gohmert, Texas
Mr. Price, Georgia
Mrs. Schmidt, Ohio
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 222 which
honors the 90th anniversary of NASA Langley Research
Center.
House Concurrent Resolution 222 was introduced by the
late Representative Jo Ann Davis. Her four terms in
Congress were characterized by hard work and dedication,
and I am sorry that she can't be here today to take part
in these proceedings. . . .
Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of House Concurrent Resolution 222, commending NASA
Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA, on the celebration
of their 90th anniversary, and out of respect to my friend
and our colleague, Jo Ann Davis, who so ably represented
NASA Langley and who introduced this, her last resolution,
just 4 days before she passed away. . . .
Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago we commemorated the 40th
anniversary of the launch of Sputnik and the beginning of
the space race. It is fitting that today we commemorate
NASA Langley Research Center, which has and will continue
to play such an integral role in our Nation's constant
pursuit of the next frontier. I urge my colleagues to
support H. Con. Resolution 222.
Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Lampson), and I would like to rise in support
of H. Con. Res. 222 commending NASA on the occasion of the
90th anniversary of the founding of the Langley Research
Center located in Hampton, VA.
This legislation was introduced by our friend and
colleague, Representative Jo Ann Davis, just a week before
she succumbed to cancer; and it is with mixed emotion that
I stand here today to talk about this resolution.
Mrs. Davis was proud to represent the engineers and
technicians at NASA Langley Research Center who have made
the U.S. aeronautics research and testing the envy of the
world for 90 years. . . .
But as a word of caution, it bears mentioning that U.S.
aeronautics research and testing programs are declining,
no matter that countries in Europe and elsewhere are
investing heavily in aeronautics research. The health of
the U.S. aviation industry depends upon aeronautics
research and development, especially long-term research
that private industry cannot perform itself, in order to
compete in the world market. NASA is the only Federal
agency that supports research on civilian aircraft. Their
researchers are working to make our planes and our skies
safer, and Mrs. Davis believed that this is a worthwhile
investment of taxpayers' money.
I am pleased to join with my colleagues to commemorate
the Langley Research Center on its anniversary, and I urge
members to support this resolution.
Mr. GOODLATTE. I thank the gentleman from Florida for
yielding, and I rise today to commend the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration Langley Research
Center on its 90th anniversary, and, in doing so, express
my respect for the resolution's sponsor, Representative Jo
Ann Davis.
Congresswoman Davis worked tirelessly to fight for the
constituents of the First District of Virginia. This
resolution was the last measure that she introduced in
this body before she passed on just 10 days ago on October
6. I see it as only fitting that we pass it in a timely
manner to honor this research center and our late
colleague. . . .
I urge my colleagues to join me in commending this
facility's contributions to the scientific world and the
security of our country, and in doing so, honor our late
colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis.
Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I think that the NASA Langley
is a real jewel for advancement of science and engineering
in the United States of America, and I think it's fitting
that we recognize this anniversary, their 90th, and at the
same time, honor our colleague Jo Ann Davis for the hard
work that she did, the great work that she did in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong
support of Concurrent Resolution 222, because I believe
NASA's Langley Research Center to be a national treasure.
With this resolution we are acknowledging nine decades of
outstanding technological achievement.
However, before I continue, I must note with sadness
that the driving force behind this resolution, Ms. Jo Ann
Davis, is no longer with us. In addition to all of the
other important causes and issues for which she was such
an articulate spokeswoman, she was an ardent champion of
the importance of NASA's aeronautics R&D programs. I shall
miss her as we all will, and I am sorry that this is the
last time that I will be able to have the opportunity to
speak in support of one of her initiatives. . . .
Mr. SNYDER. . . . Also available at usmint.gov is the
other 2007 coin that was brought by the late
Representative Jo Ann Davis, a much beloved Member of this
body who recently passed away. That coin honors the 400th
anniversary of the founding of Jamestown in 1607. . . .
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. . . . I would like to thank NASA
for its continued recognition of NASA Langley as a viable,
thriving part of the NASA community. I would also like to
thank the individuals who have worked and who are
currently working at NASA Langley for their sustained
efforts in making the Center a world leader in the
aeronautics and space exploration fields. Finally, I would
like to recognize the leadership of my former colleague,
the late Representative Jo Ann Davis, on this resolution.
Congresswoman Davis was a tireless champion for NASA
Langley and will certainly be missed. It is my hope that
the Virginia delegation can continue this strong support
for NASA Langley and look forward to more anniversaries to
come.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Ms. BALDWIN. . . . I also rise to pay tribute to our
friend and our colleague, Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, who
lost her life to breast cancer earlier this month. We are
reminded that breast cancer can strike anyone. . . .
Ms. BROWN-WAITE of Florida. . . . My colleague, Ms.
Baldwin, mentioned Jo Ann Davis. Jo Ann Davis certainly
was a very brave lady who fought breast cancer. Actually,
she fought it twice. She won the first time, and it came
back. We all remember her in this Chamber and we remember
her desire to make sure that a cure is found. If Jo Ann
Davis were here today, she would not only vote in favor of
this, but she also would be speaking on behalf of it.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Baldwin and
the 129 Members who co-signed this very important piece of
legislation with me. I certainly urge all Members to
support H. Con. Res. 230 to ensure that the House
continues to bring awareness to this important issue.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Mr. DUNCAN. . . . I rise today to urge passage of H.R.
1236, to extend the authority of the U.S. Postal Service
to issue a stamp to support breast cancer research.
Those of us in Congress received a tragic reminder of
the need for continued research into this disease with the
passing of our beloved colleague, Jo Ann Davis; and we
thank the majority, in particular Mr. Clay, for taking the
opportunity to honor her memory.
Nearly 180,000 people, mostly, but not all, women, will
learn that they have invasive breast cancer this year
alone. About 40,000 people will die from this disease.
Women who are white and over the age of 40 are more likely
to suffer from breast cancer, but its victims run the
gamut of age, race and socioeconomic background. We have
made some progress in recent years thanks to early
detection and increased awareness and availability of
mammograms.
But in the past 3 years, both mammograms and incidence
of breast cancer have decreased. This doesn't mean things
are getting better. It means ominously and unfortunately
that fewer cases are being detected.
As I am sure Jo Ann Davis would tell us if she were
still with us here today, early detection, early
treatment, constant vigilance and public awareness are key
to putting this disease in its place. For example,
incidence rates of both invasive and in-situ breast cancer
rise and fall with the percentage of women who receive
mammograms.
After two decades of progress, both the use of
mammograms and the rates of detection have begun to slip
in recent years. As early detection increased, so did
survival rates; but they will fall, too, if we can't
improve public awareness of the importance of early
detection.
That's where the measure that is before us comes in.
This bill would reauthorize the Postal Service to issue
the 55-cent stamp for first class mail, with 14 cents of
each stamp going to breast cancer research and awareness
programs for an additional 4 years. Since the program
began in 1998, the Postal Service has sold more than 785
million of these stamps and raised $54.6 million for
breast cancer research.
This disease preys on women such as Jo Ann Davis and on
so many others, women on whom others have come to depend.
They are mothers, grandmothers, business owners, teachers,
researchers, even Members of this great body. We need
these women and the invaluable contributions they make to
our life and society. We need this measure to help save
their lives.
I have had the privilege of attending every single Race
for the Cure for the past 11 years, every single one that
has been held in my hometown of Knoxville.
This is a very worthwhile cause that I am sure all of
our colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support very
enthusiastically.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), my friend, who is certainly
committed to this cause and who has joined with me in what
I think is a worthwhile cause for the people of this
country.
I also want to dedicate H.R. 1236 in memory of the late
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. Jo Ann's courageous battle
with breast cancer further inspires us to expand efforts
to secure more research dollars and find a cure for this
devastating disease. . . .
Proceedings in the Senate
Monday, October 15, 2007
Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, the First Congressional
District of Virginia is, like all of Virginia, a unique
treasure. Beginning not far from the Nation's Capital, it
stretches down Virginia's eastern coast along the
Chesapeake Bay, as far south as the cities of Newport News
and Hampton. Today, the First District is home to crucial
national defense resources, like the Marine Corps'
installation at Quantico and Langley Air Force Base. It is
also home to national historic landmarks like Jamestown,
Yorktown, and Williamsburg, places that gave birth to
Virginia and that are forever tied to the independence of
our Nation and our Constitution.
On October 6, 2007, the people of Virginia's First
Congressional District lost one of its most respected and
admired leaders, a dedicated Member of Congress and loyal
friend, Representative Jo Ann Davis. It is with deep
sadness that I share my thoughts on the passing of my
colleague.
Born in North Carolina, Jo Ann Davis attended Hampton
Roads Business College in Virginia, later obtaining her
real estate license and real estate broker's license over
the next several years. In 1990, she started her own
company, Jo Ann Davis Realty, and followed this successful
endeavor with a run for public office in 1997. Serving as
a delegate in the Virginia General Assembly for 4 years,
Jo Ann Davis became the first elected Republican woman to
serve Virginia in the U.S. Congress after winning election
in 2000.
Representative Davis was a relentless champion for the
needs of the First District. It was my privilege to work
with her on many matters, ranging from national defense to
the environment, and in that regard she worked hard to
improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Also, I commend
her diligent leadership in the removal of the James River
Reserve Fleet from Newport News. From her support for the
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge to her
concern with the preservation of Dragon Run or providing
funding for oyster restoration, she always put the quality
of Virginia's environment above politics.
With sincere passion and concern, Representative Davis
worked to improve our Nation's armed services and the
lives of the men and women who bravely answer the call to
duty. She provided strong representation for the
communities in and surrounding the Naval Surface Warfare
Center at Dahlgren and the Marine Corps base at Quantico,
ensuring that these facilities continue to make important
contributions to protecting the Nation and to the economic
foundations of their respective areas. Her initiative to
increase the life insurance benefit paid to survivors of
military members and her advocacy on behalf of the rights
and benefits of Federal employees will continue to be
appreciated in the years ahead.
I have always admired Representative Davis for her
strong convictions and the tenacity that she brought to
bear in acting on them. She fought a courageous struggle
against cancer, and I will miss her insights and her
friendship in our Virginia congressional delegation.
I close with a personal note that we both shared
interests in equestrian activities. There is an old
English saying that ``the outside of the horse is good for
the inside of the man.'' As an avid, accomplished rider,
she often quipped with me that the saying applies equally
to a woman. She loved the noble horse.
I join with my colleagues from the Commonwealth and from
the entire U.S. Congress in expressing my deepest
sympathies to her husband, her two sons, and her extended
family. They will remain in our thoughts and prayers
during the difficult days ahead.
In Loving Memory of
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T8150.001
Jo Ann Davis
June 29, 1950-October 6, 2007
<
Jo Ann Davis
June 29, 1950-October 6, 2007
Wife of:
Chuck
Mother of:
Charlie
Christopher
Mother-in-law of:
Stephanie
Grandmother of:
Charlotte
Daughter of:
Lena Sides
Sister of:
Melinda
Celebration of Life Service
Thursday, October 11, 1:00 PM
Lighthouse Worship Center
Gloucester, Virginia
Interment
Bellamy Memorial Cemetery
A wish for you
I wish you enough
Sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough
Rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough
Happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough
Pain so that the smallest joys in life appear
Much bigger.
I wish you enough
Loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough
``Hello's'' to get you through the final
Good-bye.
With Love,
JoAnn
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Special acknowledgements to:
World Outreach Worship Center
&
Andrews Funeral Home
Gloucester, Virginia
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T8150.002
THE HONORABLE
JO ANN DAVIS
AMERICA'S FIRST DISTRICT
JUNE 29, 1950-OCTOBER 6, 2007
GLOUCESTER, VIRGINIA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007
In loving memory of Jo Ann Davis, a wonderful mother,
devoted wife, and dedicated public servant. An inspiration
to us all, Jo Ann lived a life of honor and integrity and
served as an example for those who knew her. Jo Ann was a
living testament to God's Word who showed us the power of
prayer and faith.
John 6:35-40
And Jesus said to them, ``I am the bread of life. He who
comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me
shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen
me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me
will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no
means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to
do my own will, but the will of him who sent Me. This is
the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has
given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at
the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may
have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last
day.''
Pallbearers: Members of Jo Ann's Staff
Chris Connelly
Joe Schumacher
Brent Robinson
Billy Errico
Chris Jones
Charles Downey
A Celebration
of the life
of
Jo Ann Davis
Musical Prelude
United States Navy Band
Entrance of Family
Opening Prayer
Senior Pastor Bobby Collins
World Outreach Worship Center, Newport News, Virginia
Words of Tribute
The Honorable J. Randy Forbes
United States House of Representatives
Senior Pastor Dan Mucci
Abundant Life Church, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Musical Selection
``It Is Well With My Soul''
Words of Tribute
The Honorable Sue Wilkins Myrick
United States House of Representatives
Senior Pastor Bobby Collins
Congregational Worship
``Amazing Grace''
Closing Prayer
A very special thanks to Senior Pastor Ken Cramer and the
Lighthouse Worship Center, Andrews Funeral Home, the
United States Navy, the Colonial Virginia Council of the
Boy Scouts of America, and to everyone else for their
loving care and concern for the family at this time. Words
are inadequate to express the family's appreciation for
your acts of kindness, thoughts, and prayers.
The service will conclude at graveside with full military
honors.
Bellamy Memorial Cemetery
4870 Chestnut Fork Road
Gloucester, Virginia 23061
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made
to:
An Achievable Dream
10858 Warwick Blvd. Suite A
Newport News, Virginia 23601