Reps Bill Pascrell and Richard Neal in Mexico City on a 2019 trade trip. (via Office of the President of Mexico/Reuters)

With less than four months until this Congress expires and two months before voters choose who will rule the next one, Democrats are reorganizing their side of the House Ways & Means Committee. This comes after the passing of a long-serving member, New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell. Consequently, Democrats have a new leader atop a subcommittee and welcomed a colleague to the full Committee.

Ways & Means Democrats, which Springfield Congressman Richard Neal lead, saw a shake-up earlier this congress. In February, New York Congressman Brian Higgins resigned. opening his seat on Ways & Means. Then, as now, the Democrat is not entirely new to the panel. After the party lost the majority in 2022, it shed members to make room for Republicans. Two have now made their way back.

Nevada Congressman and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Steven Horsford, has returned to the Committee, filling Pascrell’s slot. It follows California Rep Jimmy Gomez’s February return after Higgins’s exit.

Pascrell role as the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Subcommittee now passes to California Congresswoman Linda Sánchez.

“It’s well past time for a woman to join the ranks of our Committee leadership, and I’m thrilled to announce that Congresswoman Linda Sánchez has broken this glass ceiling,” Neal said in a statement.

Highlighting her record of service, Neal said Sánchez would be a “fierce advocate” for the American people.

Now-Ranking Member Linda Sánchez (via wikipedia)

“She steps into the role at a time when our Committee still grieves the loss of previous Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member Bill Pascrell, Jr., who brought vigor and tenacity to all our Committee work, and I am grateful for Congresswoman Sánchez’s willingness to step into his very big shoes,” he continued.

In a statement, Sánchez said she was honored to be taking on the new role and following Pascrell’s example.

“My predecessor and good friend, Congressman Pascrell, used this position to fight for the working and middle class,” she said. “I plan to continue that fight and remain committed to advancing policies that support families, strengthen our economy and ensure that all Americans have an opportunity to succeed.”

Pascrell died August 21 aged 87, weeks after suffering a heart attack and slipping into a coma. His wife Elsie and three sons survived him. Until his hospitalization this year, the spry, liberal octogenarian rarely shied from political combat. His colleagues said it reflected his roots in Paterson, New Jersey.

As Pascrell was on the ballot, Garden State Party leaders selected a replacement candidate. New Jersey State Senator Nellie Pou will appear on the general election ballot for the late congressman’s House seat.

On Tuesday night, Neal and Republican Congressman Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania led tributes on The House floor. Kelly also served with Neal and Pascrell on Ways & Means.

Kelly feted Pascrell’s kindness and his dedication to his district. The Pennsylvanian often transposed “Paterson” for Pascrell’s last name given how closely everyone associated him with his hometown.

“Bill’s concern was always for somebody else and not for him,” he continued, recalling how Pascrell inquired about the health of Kelly’s wife.

Kelly added that despite their differences, he will miss Pascrell’s in the chamber and on the Committee.

Rep Kelly remembering Pascrell on the House floor Tuesday. (still via C-Span)

“As tragic as it is that Bill will not be here, the greater tragedy would have been if he had never was here,” Kelly said.

Neal, leading off the mourning for Democrats, joked that Kelly mistaking Pascrell’s last name made sense.

“By the way, Mike, Calling him Bill Paterson? That’s appropriate. Anybody who’s ever been to Paterson—they were just like him. Nobody talked softly!” Neal said.

However, the Springfield Democrat recalled how as committed to Pascrell to his beliefs, it did not escalate to personal animus.

“There’s nobody who went at it with Mr. Kelly more vigorously in the Ways & Means Committee than Bill Pascrell,” he said. “After the battle, the ensuing argument, we’d be out to dinner, Bill would have a drink and say, ‘you know, Kelly’s alright.’”

Neal emphasized the late colleague’s commitment to fairness and to the little.

“When he set his eye on something, he was relentless, as difficult with Democrats as he could be with Republicans,” he said.

“Paterson lost a great man and America lost a great friend,” Neal said, before ceding the floor to other colleagues wishing to pay respects to Pascrell.