Representative Jackie Walorski, an Indiana Republican, two of her aides and a driver in another vehicle were killed in a two-car crash in rural Indiana on Wednesday.
Walorski, 58, who represented Indiana’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, served on the House Ways and Means Committee and was the top Republican on the subcommittee on worker and family support.
Police say the accident happened just after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in Nappanee, Ind., involving a Toyota RAV 4, driven by Zachery Potts, 27, of Mishawaka—a staffer for Walorski—and a Buick LeSabre going in the opposite direction driven by Edith Schmucker, 56, of Nappanee. Both died in the crash along with another Walorski staffer, Emma Thomson, 28, of Washington, D.C., and Walorski. Police said all occupants of both vehicles were confirmed to have been wearing seatbelts and airbags did deploy.
The passing of Walorski and her staffers was mourned by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who each announced that flags at the White House and U.S. Capitol would fly at half-staff in her memory.
President Biden noted in a statement that Walorski was an honorable public servant who strived to work across party lines to deliver for her constituents, and spent a lifetime serving the community she grew up in, as a journalist, a nonprofit director, a state legislator, and eventually as a member of Congress since 2012.
“We may have represented different parties and disagreed on many issues, but she was respected by members of both parties for her work on the House Ways and Means Committee,” Biden said.
She previously served on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the House Budget Committee (113th Congress), and the House Agriculture Committee (114th Congress), where she chaired the Nutrition Subcommittee.
“I am overwhelmed with sadness over the horrific loss of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and two members of her staff,” said a statement from House Ways and Means Committee Chair Richie Neal (D-MA). “Jackie brought a passion and love to her public service that I will always remember. She put nervous witnesses at ease with her kindness, and never met a stranger. Her bright smile, booming laugh, but most of all, deep commitment to children and families will be forever missed on the Ways and Means Committee.
Her work on retirement security issues was noted in a statement released Thursday by the Insured Retirement Institute, which expressed its deep sadness at the news.
“Rep. Walorski was a tireless advocate for her district and a hardworking member of the House Ways and Means Committee. She was a strong supporter of legislation to strengthen and enhance retirement security for America’s workers, retirees, and families,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, loved ones, and colleagues of Rep. Walorski, Zachery Potts, and Emma Thomson.”
The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely also released the following statement: “We are deeply saddened over our country’s sudden loss of a tireless leader and faithful public servant. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski always led with her full heart to serve our country and her constituents. She was beloved by many and will be sorely missed. During this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, staff and colleagues. We also want to express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Zachary Potts and Emma Thompson, members of Congresswoman Walorski’s staff who tragically died today.”
In early June, Walorski and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) reintroduced the “Expanding Access to Retirement Savings for Caregivers Act,” a bipartisan bill that would allow individuals who took at least one year out of the workforce for the purpose of caring for a family member to begin catch-up contributions to their eligible retirement accounts in years prior to age 50.
“Taking time away from work to care for a loved one often results in missed opportunities for hardworking Americans – especially women – to save for retirement,” Walorski said at the time. “These caregivers should not be penalized for putting their families first. This bipartisan bill would ensure these caregivers have access to critical retirement savings tools by allowing them to start catch-up contributions to their retirement accounts sooner.”
Also in June, Walorski reintroduced the “Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act,” legislation to end a penalty on seniors who continue working or return to work after claiming Social Security benefits.
“Older Americans who stay on the job or return to work after claiming Social Security shouldn’t have their benefits reduced or delayed as a result,” Walorski said. “With small businesses across the country struggling to hire workers, our economic recovery depends on encouraging work, not penalizing it. By eliminating an unnecessary Social Security penalty, the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act is a simple but important fix to ensure working seniors get the full benefits they’re counting on.”
Walorski was born in South Bend and lived near Elkhart, Ind. She leaves behind a husband, Dean, who is a schoolteacher in Mishawaka, according to her official biography. A Community Memorial Vigil to remember and pray for the family and friends of Walorski, Zach Potts, and Emma Thomson will be held tonight at 8 p.m. at Jimtown High School.