Obama Pays Tribute to Retiring Ackerman
President Barack Obama paid tribute Friday to New York Rep. Gary Ackerman, who announced he would retire from Congress at the end of his current term.
Obama trumpeted Ackerman’s steadfast support for Israel, along with his backing of funding for 9/11 first responders and Wall Street reform.
“Gary’s unique enthusiasm will be greatly missed in the halls of Congress,” the president said in a statement, Politico reported. “I am confident he will continue to serve the people of New York for years to come. Michelle and I wish him and his family well in the future.”
Ackerman announced his retirement Thursday after three decades of public service.
Insiders said he was concerned about a Congressional redistricting that may significantly reshape his Queens-based district. However, a recent proposed map of new districts appeared to favor Ackerman.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30