Congresswoman Terri Sewell released a statement regarding the passing of Congressman Donald McEachin.
“I am heartbroken by the passing of our friend and colleague, Congressman Donald McEachin. I was honored to serve alongside him in the House and on the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Board of Directors,” Sewell said in a statement. “Virginia has lost a dedicated public servant and fighter for justice. I am keeping his wife, family, and staff in my prayers.”
“Jill and I are saddened by the death of Congressman Don McEachin of Virginia, following a battle with cancer,” said President Joe Biden. “We send our deepest condolences to Don’s wife, Colette, and their three children.”
“I got to know Don after he was elected to Congress in 2016,” Biden continued. “I will always be grateful for his friendship and his early and fierce support when I ran for President. Don was a fighter. He fought for justice, for civil rights, and for communities that are often left behind. Thanks to Don’s leadership and tireless advocacy, we passed historic legislation to combat the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.”
“The son of a school teacher and an Army veteran, public service was in Don’s DNA,” the President said. “After practicing law, he served honorably in both chambers of Virginia’s General Assembly before winning election to the United States Congress. Through it all, Don always fought for the working people of Virginia. He never quit in his pursuit of justice. May God bless Don McEachin, Colette, and the entire McEachin family.”
Rep. McEachin was first elected to represent the 4th Congressional District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives on November 8, 2016. McEachin served as co-chair of the House Democratic Environmental Message Team, co-chair of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Transportation, Infrastructure, Environment and Energy Policy Council, and vice-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC). McEachin co-founded the United for Climate and Environmental Justice Congressional Task Force and led the task force as a co-chair to his death.
McEachin was a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (E&C), the House Committee on Natural Resources, and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. As a member of E&C, Rep. McEachin sat on the Environment and Climate Change, the Communications and Technology, and the Energy subcommittees. As a member of Natural Resources, Rep. McEachin sat on the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee.
McEachin served as a legislator in both chambers of Virginia’s General Assembly prior to. He started several law firms in the Richmond area during his legal career. McEachin graduated from American University with a degree in Political Science and from the University of Virginia School of Law, as well as a Master of Divinity from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.
McEachin was a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the NAACP, as well as the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. McEachin is survived by his wife, Colette, and their three adult children.
Sewell was recently reelected to a seventh term representing Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.
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