Home holds second of silence for late Rep. Donald McEachin

Lawmakers held a second of silence within the decrease chamber on Tuesday to honor the late Rep. Donald McEachin (D-Va.), who died on Monday night time after an extended battle with most cancers.

Home members stood on the ground between votes for roughly 40 seconds to honor McEachin, who had served within the decrease chamber for practically six years. Virginia Sens. Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) have been current for the second of silence.

McEachin, who has represented Virginia’s 4th Congressional District since 2017, died from “secondary results of his colorectal most cancers from 2013,” in response to his workplace. He was 61.

“Valiantly, for years now, we’ve watched him struggle and overcome the secondary results of his colorectal most cancers from 2013,” the congressman’s chief of employees, Tara Rountree, mentioned Monday in a statement. “Tonight, he misplaced that battle, and the folks of Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District misplaced a hero who all the time, all the time fought for them and put them first.”

The congressman had two surgical procedures in the summertime of 2019 following “ongoing problems” linked to therapy he acquired for his most cancers, in response to ABC 8News. The operations stored him outdoors Washington for roughly three months to get well, per the Virginia Mercury.

McEachin was first elected to the Home in 2016. Previous to that, he served within the Previous Dominion’s state Senate and Home of Delegates.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) ordered that each one flags on the Capitol be flown at half-staff in honor of McEachin. The White Home did the identical.

Earlier than the second of silence, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), surrounded by members of the Virginia delegation, referred to as the late congressman “a considerate and principled legislator revered by members on either side of the aisle.”

“This physique has misplaced considered one of its most devoted public servants and fiercest advocates for justice and equality, and he will likely be deeply missed,” he added.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) mentioned McEachin was “an unimaginable chief” and “cherished serving others.”

He mentioned he first met McEachin “in passing” when the 2 have been in highschool as a result of they have been college students at rival colleges. They went on to serve collectively within the Virginia state Home of Delegates.

“What a person. An individual of integrity, an individual of ardour, devoted to the people who he served,” Wittman mentioned. “He cherished being a legislator. He cherished fixing issues for folks. He cherished interacting with folks. He simply cherished the entire concept of giving of of himself and placing others first.”

“That really was what Donald was about,” he added.