House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) joined Rep. Jackie Walorski’s (R-IN) family and friends at the White House for a bill signing that caused the late congresswoman to be at the “top” of President Joe Biden’s mind earlier this week.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed McCarthy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Walorski’s husband, mother, brother, and staff were at the signing ceremony renaming an Indiana Veterans Affairs clinic in her memory. The event was not on Biden’s public schedule.
WALORSKI VETERANS CLINIC BILL SIGNING KEEPS BIDEN GAFFE TOP OF MIND
“We don’t put every bill signing on the schedule,” Jean-Pierre told reporters Friday, describing the signing as a “personal” occasion. “Like I mentioned in the briefing a couple of days ago, the president has been looking forward to hosting the late representatives’ family and other lawmakers to honor her legacy.”
The White House added in a statement after the bill was signed: “Thank you to the Indiana delegation and many others for their leadership.”
Jean-Pierre referenced the signing earlier this week as she tried to clarify why Biden had asked for Walorski at the White House’s anti-hunger conference. The congresswoman died last August in a car crash.
“The president was naming the congressional champions on this issue and was acknowledging her incredible work,” she said Wednesday. “She was top of mind for the president. He looks, very much looks forward to discussing her remarkable legacy of public service with them when he sees her family this coming Friday.”
That morning, Biden was recognizing Walorski’s contributions to counter food insecurity, along with those of Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Braun (R-IN), when he made the mistake.
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“I want to thank all of you here, including bipartisan elected officials like Rep. McGovern, Sen. Braun, Sen. Booker, Rep. — Jackie, are you here?” he said. “Where’s Jackie? I thought she was going to be here — to help make this a reality.”
