Paul Tonko: “1 year ago, this body and our Nation lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of an extraordinary congresswoman…”

“1 year ago, this body and our Nation lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of an extraordinary congresswoman and my dear friend, Louise Slaughter. I first came to know Louise in the early 1980s when we served together in the New York State Assembly. We remained close until her passing on March 16, 2018. While I will always miss her presence, her legacy lives on in many, many ways. It lives on in the renaming of the STOCK Act, an effort that I was proud to sponsor last Congress. Louise's legacy lives on in the Fairport post office, renamed after Louise and her husband, Bob, a fitting tribute to a loving couple. I thank my colleague, Joe Morelle, for making that happen. Her legacy lives in the Rochester train station, named after Louise after years of her advocacy and determination to make it an improved destination and a special place of connection. Most importantly, her legacy lives in the freshman class of this United States House of Representatives. Louise used to represent Seneca Falls and was proud of the women's rights movement that had its strongest, deepest roots in upstate New York. This year, more than 100 women serve in this body for the first time in American history. Of course, if Louise were here, she would surely remind us that 100 is much less than half of 435 and that our work was far from over. Madam Speaker, to my friend, Louise, our thoughts and prayers are with her as we mark 1 year since her passing.…”