President Biden Mistakenly Addresses Late Rep. Jackie Walorski at Hunger Event: 'Jackie, Are You Here?'

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President Joe Biden misunderstoodly called out Jackie Walorski, the late Rep. Jackie Walorski, while delivering opening remarks to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Wednesday morning. Jackie was the co-sponsor of a bill that would have funded the conference before her passing.

"Jackie! Are you here?" Where's Jackie?" He asked, looking out at the crowd of about 500 people. "She was going be here."

Walorski, a 58-year old Republican congresswoman from Indiana, was killed in a car accident near Nappanee on Aug. 3, about 30 miles southeast.

Emma Thomson, Walorski's communications manager, was 28 years old. Zachery Potts (St. Joseph County Republican Party Chair), was 27 years old.

PEOPLE reached out to the White House for comment on Wednesday's apparent gaffe.

RELATED: U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski Dies at 58 after a 2-Car Collision in Indiana

Soon after Walorski's passing, the White House flew flags at full-staff in her honor. Jill Biden, the president and first lady, issued a statement about her death.

"I appreciate her partnership as we prepare for a historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in the fall that will be marked with her deep care for rural America," NPR's August statement stated.

It continued: "We send our deepest condolences, Dean, to her husband and to the families Zachery Potts, Emma Thomson, who died in public service, as well as to the people of Indiana's Second District, who lost a representative who was one their own."

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According to NBC News, the congresswoman, a long-serving congresswoman, was an integral part in the legislation that funded the meeting.

Walorski and Rep. Jim McGovern (D.Mass.), Sen. Cory Booker, (D-N.J.), and Sen. Mike Braun (R.Ind.), introduced a bipartisan, bi-cameral bill last October which made Wednesday's second national White House conference about food, nutrition and health possible.

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This conference was held just over 50 years ago. It resulted in the creation and expansion programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, (WIC), and the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program.

RELATED :Biden Administration Plans to End Hunger in America by 2030

Since 2013, Walorski represented Indiana's District 2. In May, she was nominated Republican for reelection and was scheduled to defend her congressional seat against Paul Steury, a Democratic challenger.

Rudy Yakym was selected by the Indiana Republican Party as the GOP nominee to succeed Walorski in the next election.

"Rudy will be strong voice for northern Indiana, and continue Jackie Walorski’s legacy of fighting for conservative principles in Washington, D.C." Kyle Hupfer, Indiana GOP Chairman, said in a statement.