Connecticut Congressional Delegation Welcomes Himes, Congratulates Larson
HIMES
Norwalk Hour
Jordan Zappala
Boston University Washington News Service
11/19/08
WASHINGTON – Connecticut’s members of Congress officially welcomed Jim Himes, the 4th District representative-elect, to Washington Wednesday in a small, ornate room in the House wing of the Capitol that was overflowing with good cheer and aggressive hugs.
All seven members of the now all-Democratic delegation spoke at a press conference designed to formally introduce Himes, who will take office in January, and to congratulate 1st District Rep. John Larson on his election as House Democratic Caucus chairman– a post that will be left open in the new Congress when Rahm Emanuel moves to the White House in January.
“I want to congratulate all the House members on their victories this past November, and of course, particularly welcome Jim Himes,” Sen. Christopher Dodd said. “We have a small delegation in this state, and we need to work very closely together…. We try to make a difference every day for the people we represent.”
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of the 3rd District,– and new dean of the Connecticut House delegation – echoed Dodd, saying the hallmark of the delegation was the willingness to work together to get things done for Connecticut.
“Jim Himes has truly changed the face of the 4th District, and we could not be prouder,” she said.
Larson called Himes a “tribute to the people in your district who have sent you here” and welcomed him to an already “blessed” talent pool of Connecticut members of Congress.
Himes, in turn, accepted the louder-than-anticipated applause graciously and immediately spoke of the “real honor to be standing with these giants of Congress who have accomplished so much.”
And he paid tribute to the man he beat, Capitol Hill veteran Chris Shays.
“My predecessor, Congressman Shays…we certainly disagreed on a number of critical issues, but he is a man of courage and a man of grace, and I stand here knowing that I have very big shoes to fill,” Himes said to a roomful of applause.
Though certainly the main attraction, Himes was not alone in receiving congratulatory praise.
In his remarks, Dodd described Larson as “one of the most respected and well-liked” members of the House – a sentiment echoed by the other members of the delegation.
Dodd also addressed speculation about this week’s closed-door meeting in which fellow Sen. Joe Lieberman learned of his potential punishment for speaking against the party and campaigning for Sen. John McCain.
“An overwhelming majority of my colleagues from across the political spectrum stood up one after another and expressed their confidence and support in the person they’ve known, worked with and admired,” Dodd said of the meeting.
Lieberman, who joked that Himes shouldered a “special burden” in having him as a constituent, said that the post-election period “hasn’t been an easy” one for him.
“I do want to say a personal ‘thank you’ to [Dodd,]” Lieberman said. “It meant everything to me to have the man who is not just my senior senator, but my dear friend for 40 years, not just standing by my side, but advocating on my behalf. I am so pleased to be continuing as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.”
With the delegation banding together in support of their once-rogue senator, newcomer Himes did not want to speak out of turn.
“Truthfully, I haven’t given it much thought, I’ve been so busy,” Himes said of Lieberman’s situation. “I’m not even a congressman yet, let alone a senator, and the people who brought me here didn’t do so to worry about Sen. Lieberman.”
Nearing the end of “freshman orientation,” Himes has spent his week on Capitol Hill, along with wife, Mary, attending back-to-back activities – some of which recalled his school days: a freshmen photo, class elections and choosing an office, for example.
“It’s been an enormously exciting week for me,” Himes said Wednesday during a 10-minute break in House leadership meetings at the Library of Congress. “There’s such energy here, and a sense that we need to do bold things quickly.”
Himes also referred to what he saw as a “commitment to being pragmatic” by describing the traditional welcome dinner hosted by the speaker of the House that usually includes only majority party members but that this year included both parties and party leaders.
The freshman congressman said that though he loved the history in Washington, he wouldn’t dream of moving here at this point because it would be too disruptive to his young daughters, Emma, 9, and Linley, 6. Also, he added, it is critical to stay connected to his constituents, who haven’t had the chance to get to know him as well as they knew 11-term veteran Shays.
Rep. Joe Courtney of the 2nd District, who said he and 5th District Rep. Chris Murphy often felt like “Frick and Frack” during their freshman term the past two years, offered some advice to the young congressman from the 4th District.
“Be tough on your scheduler to make sure family doesn’t get lost,” said the father of two. “If you want, you can use my rule. Just say: never on Sunday.”
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