VIDEO: Connolly, Virginia House Delegation Honor Late Former Virginia Congressman Herb Harris

Flanked by the bipartisan members of Virginia’s congressional delegation, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) delivered brief remarks on the House floor Wednesday recognizing the service of former Virginia Congressman Herb Harris, who passed away at age 88 on Christmas Eve.

The House then observed a moment of silence in Harris’ honor.

“It is with great sadness that I rise with the members of the Virginia delegation to inform our colleagues of the passing of one of our colleagues, a former Member of this chamber, Herbert Harris,” Connolly said.

Congressman Harris served three terms in the House from 1974 to 1980, representing what was then Virginia’s 8th Congressional District. Newly-elected Congressman Don Beyer now represents the 8th CD.

“Like his predecessor, Stan Parris, my predecessor, Tom Davis, and I, Herb served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors prior to his election to Congress, and that experience served him well here in the House. He was a champion for the region, helping to secure the necessary federal funds to complete construction of the Metro system and to expand the Manassas National Battlefield Park with civil war preservation,” Connolly said on the floor.

In 2001, former Virginia Congressmen Jim Moran, Tom Davis, and Frank Wolf collaborated to pass legislation naming a new Post Office building in the Mount Vernon area in honor of Congressman Harris’ service.

Here are the entire remarks delivered by Connolly:

Congressman Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11th)

Floor Statement Recognizing the Passing and Service of Former Rep. Herbert Harris

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Mr. Speaker,

It is with great sadness that I rise with the members of the Virginia delegation to inform our colleagues of the passing of one of our colleagues, a former Member of this chamber, Herbert Harris.

Herb died at the age of 88 on Christmas Eve at his home in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Fairfax County.

He served three terms in this body from 1974 to 1980, representing what was then Virginia’s 8th Congressional District.

Like his predecessor Stan Parris, my predecessor Tom Davis, and me, Herb served on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors prior to his election to Congress, and that experience served him well here in the House. He was a champion for the region, helping to secure the necessary federal funds to complete construction of the Metro system and to expand the Manassas National Battlefield Park with civil war preservation.

He returned to private law practice after leaving the House.

Our former colleagues, Representatives Moran, Davis, and Wolf collaborated in 2001 to name a new Post Office building in the Mount Vernon area in honor of Herb’s service.

Many of us attended funeral services for Herb Monday, and flags were flown at half-mast at the Fairfax Government Center and the Capitol in Richmond.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join all of us in extending our gratitude for his public service and our sympathy on his passing to Herb’s family and friends by standing with us to observe a moment of silence in his honor.