The first thing George Helmy did after casting his first vote as a U.S. Senator was hop on the phone.
He called his dad.
“That will be one of the highlights of my life,” he said. “Not just of my time in the Senate, but of my life.
“As the son of two Egyptian immigrants who left their country to give their yet unborn sons a better future, to be able to walk onto the Senate floor and cast a vote was just awesome. And to be able to speak to my father after it, is a moment I’ll never forget.”
Helmy, who recently returned to his role at RWJBarnabas Health as its chief external affairs and policy officer, made the most of his time in the U.S. Senate, where he was appointed by Gov. Phil Murphy to serve out the unexpired term of Sen. Bob Menendez (from Sept. 9 to Dec. 8) before giving way to the newly elected Andy Kim.
He introduced or co-sponsored 30 bills while serving on three Senate committees – and he worked a five-day week in Washington, where most of his Senate colleagues come in on Tuesday and go out on Thursday. The extra effort allowed him to build important relationships in Congress and around the government.
Helmy did more than just make his parents proud. He served the state with distinction through his dedication.
“I only know one way to play: Full speed,” he said. “I didn’t want to do something honorific. I was happy where I was at RWJ Barnabas; I didn’t need another title. But if you’re given a job to serve the state, that’s what you do: You serve the state the best way you can.”
ROI-NJ recently caught up with Helmy to talk about his experience. Here’s more from the conversation.
ROI-NJ: Having previously served as chief of staff to Sen. Cory Booker, going onto the Senate floor was not new to you. Of course, going on as a sitting senator was. Talk about the experience?
George Helmy: It was incredibly humbling and inspiring. I took a moment and a deep breath every time I walked onto the Senate floor, because I knew that those moments and those breaths on that floor were limited.
I looked around. I remembered the greats that had stood on that floor and debated – whether it be John McCain or Ted Kennedy or others. From vote one to the end, I took each moment on the Senate floor with majesty it deserved.
ROI: Katie Britt, a Republican from Alabama with whom you worked together on a mental health bill, said she was amazed by the effort you put into the role. Talk more about how you made the most of the experience?
GH: I knew my days there were numbered, so I made the most of them. I started work as soon as the governor said, ‘George, we’re going to appoint you on this day.’ I was setting up meetings so I would be ready on Day One.
I loved her for what she said about me – how I was trying to meet with everyone and anyone. That was important. The relationships I was able to bring back – whether it be with her or John Thune (R-South Dakota) or Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), with John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) and John Ossoff (D-Georgia), with Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) – will be important to the state and my work at RWJ Barnabas.
ROI: Many of the Senators you just listed are Republicans, meaning you truly acted in a bipartisan manner. How important was that?
GH: Very important. Those conversations were meaningful. In some of them, we disagreed more than we agreed. But, as you know, we are all in the relationship business. And if you can find areas of agreement, that’s great. The important thing is that I now know what to call Republican senators on and what not to, because I spent the time like figuring out what was important to them.
ROI: Your time in the Senate was short – but historic. You were just the sixth Arab American to serve. How important was that?
GH: It was an incredible point of pride to be the only Arab American in the Senate during this Congress. Of course, I celebrate the advancement of Andy Kim, but I do so while noting that there is no Arab voice in the Senate at a time where there’s decimation in the Middle East.
ROI: Being the first Coptic Orthodox senator also was important.
GH: Absolutely. We got outreach from people in Egypt of every faith, Muslim, Christian, otherwise, who were just so proud to see one of their own ascend to that – even a temporary appointment matter to them.
I had people write to me, ‘George, whether it is a day or 100 years, it was just important for us to see someone ascend to that because it’s symbolic for us who love this country and are living the American dream, but also symbolic for our children to see someone who they think reflects them and resembles them in those in those seats.’
ROI: Your sense of history is evident. How did it impact your brief time in the Senate?
GH: They were moments I’ll never forget. My goal was to serve in a way that honored (former N.J.) Sen. (Frank) Lautenberg looking down and Senator Booker, my Republican and Democratic colleagues, but most importantly, the state. That’s what this was all about.
