Video: On 1-Year Anniversary of Rep. Gerry Connolly’s Death from Esophageal Cancer, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA11) Says It’s a “hard day for all of us who loved him”

On the one-year anniversary of then-Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11)’s death from esophageal cancer, his former/long-time Chief of Staff James Walkinshaw, who Connolly strongly supported to succeed him (and who has proven to be a VERY worthy successor – smart, scrappy, tough, tenacious, etc) in pretty much every way – speaks about Rep. Connolly’s legacy. See below for video and highlights:

• “So first, you know, I just want to say it’s a hard day for all of us who loved him and cared for him, but also a day to celebrate his legacy and his accomplishments and the impact he had.”
• “And one piece of that is this legislation which will require the government accountability office to produce a a report on esophageal cancer uh pre-screening efforts, treatment efforts for federal workers. And I think the way to look at it is this report can lay the groundwork for us to really take the fight to esophageal cancer in the way that Gerry would want us to.”
• “[Rep. Gerry Connolly] was rated as the most effective legislator in Congress. He passed dozens and dozens of pieces of legislation. I think he would have been particularly proud of this one. He recognized even after his diagnosis that we’re at an inflection point in terms of cancer treatment in this country in this world, with dramatic advancements occurring every day. We’ve seen recently dramatic advances in treatment for pancreatic cancer, and I think he saw esophageal cancer as the next on that list in line for dramatic improvements in treatment to eventually find a cure.”

On two other topics, Rep. Walkinshaw said:

Walkinshaw Statement on Gerry Connolly’s Final Bill Heading to President’s Desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed the Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act, sending Congressman Connolly’s final bill to the President’s desk. The House passed the bill in June 2025.

“One year ago today, esophageal cancer took Gerry Connolly’s life. But the fight against this devastating disease is not over. Gerry made sure of that,” said Congressman Walkinshaw. “For more than a decade, I had the honor of serving as Gerry’s Chief of Staff, learning from him, working alongside him, and witnessing up close the Irish humor, grit, and fighting spirit that made him such an extraordinary public servant. Even in his final days, Gerry was doing what he always did: fighting for his constituents, federal workers, and the American people.”

“I am thrilled that the Senate passed Gerry’s final bill unanimously, following House passage last year, and sent it to the President’s desk. Gerry spent his life and career in public office making government work better for people. This bill is an example of just that,” concluded Congressman Walkinshaw. 

The Gerald E. Connolly Esophageal Cancer Awareness Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to Congress on esophageal cancer care, screening, and health care spending under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Specifically, GAO must examine how much FEHB spends on esophageal cancer-related care and whether high-risk federal employees, retirees, and covered family members are receiving screenings consistent with established medical guidelines.

Esophageal cancer is one of America’s deadliest cancers, and early detection can be the difference between life and death.