Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on the Passing of Governor Hugh L. Carey

August 7, 2011

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on the Passing of Governor Hugh L. Carey

(JAMAICA, N.Y.)–Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, (D-NY) of the Sixth Congressional District released the following statement on the passing of Governor Hugh L. Carey:
"Today, our state and country has lost a visionary public servant and distinguished former elected official. All New Yorkers are saddened by the news that Governor Hugh Leo Carey passed away Sunday morning at the age of 92, surrounded by family at his home on Shelter Island. The seven-term Congressman and New York Governor, who served with valor in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany during World War II, was a tireless advocate of the people of New York and a fearless practitioner of responsible governance. He was a proud graduate of St. John’s University and St. John’s School of Law.
Elected to Congress in 1960, Hugh Carey was a member of the House Education and Labor, and later the House Ways and Means Committee. As one of the most influential members of New York’s congressional delegation, he not only effectively legislated on behalf of his Brooklyn constituents but also helped lead the way for the enactment of most of President Kennedy’s New Frontier and President Johnson’s Great Society legislation.
As governor of New York from 1975 to 1982, Hugh Carey skillfully navigated the state through New York City's fiscal crisis, restoring fiscal discipline in a manner that brought New Yorkers together to share the difficult sacrifices that had to be made to bring the city and state back from the brink of financial catastrophe. Governor Carey's legacy challenges us today to once again come together and share the difficult sacrifices that must be made to enable the American people to recover from economic and fiscal crisis.”}