Transcripts For CSPAN Road To The White House 20141215

Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, i would yield now to our friend and colleague from santa barbara, congresswoman capps, 2 1 2 minutes. Mrs. Capps i thank our dean of the california delegation for yielding me time and, mr. Speaker, it is with such great pride, also mixed with a heavy heart at our pending loss, as we gagget err here this evening gather here this evening to honor two of the giants of the house of representatives. And their friends theyre friends, friendses to me, friends to us all, henry miller, henry George Miller and henry waxman. Henry and george are two of americas greatest public servants. Each serving their california constituents and serving the nation for almost 40 years. But its not just their longevity that makes them so notable. They have been incredibly effective. Theyve used each of their days here in this institution to improve the lives of all americans. Theyve taught us who served with them. By their example to do the same. Theyve made their footprint their inprit on this place indelible for all age as. Because they have focused on all americans and particularly the vulnerable. Each of them have been especially skilled and adept at combining their keen knowledge of how to get things done here on the hill with their ability to dive deep into policy and to see how average americans, everyday americans, are affected back home in their districts, all americans. When you look at any major piece of domestic policy over the past 40 years that theyve served here, their inprint is felt. For example, henry waxman was so intimately involved in our nations best efforts to strengthen medicare and medicaid coverage, to improve access to generic drugs so that all americans could afford their medicine, to protect our air and water. These topic have been mentioned but theyre major pieces of legislation and he has led us in moving toward a Clean Tech Energy economy. Henry waxman literally wrote the laws that have improved the lifes of so many, including the lives of so many, including the ryan care act for h. I. V. Treatment and prevary action, the landmark Clean Air Act of 1990, the 2009 family smoking Tobacco Control and prevention act, henry, working with you on the energy and Commerce Committee has been one of the greatest joys that i have experienced here in congress. Similarly, George Miller has been such a stalwart in protecting middle class families, the ones i worked with in the School District that i used to represent, similar to all the School Districts across this country. You have promoted education and opportunity for the least of these, for all of these. He authored the last increase n the federal minimum wage, he passed the Lilly Ledbetter fair pay act so that we could address pay discrimination. Imagine what that means to every woman, every family in this country. Because of this legislation. Hes led efforts to reform our nations education system, as a school nurse this hits home with me. Made colonel more affordable, to protect college more affordable, to protect our environment and our coastal communities from increased oil drilling. And thats an issue that you empowered me to focus on when i came here as a new member of congress. It must be noted that thanks to each of these members, to the work that you did on the Affordable Care act, so incredibly important each of you were to this major landmark passage. Families now can have the peace of mind knowing that theyre not going to go bankrupt, just because they get sick. And while were going to deeply miss you here in this place next year, as we gather to vote tomorrow, if you look around this chamber during that vote you can see each of the people you have mentored during your time here. Including me. So while you and your family are going to enjoy a very well deserved retirement next year, the legacy that youre leaving in this chamber will live on for a very long time. On behalf of this chamber, this congress, californians in my district and throughout the state, and all americans, i thank you, each of you, both of you. I yield back the balance of my ime. Ms. Lofgren at this point id like to yield three minutes to our colleague, congresswoman doris matsui. Ms. Matsui thank you, ms. Love fwren, for yielding ms. Lofgren, for yielding to me. We are here to thank two of californias greatest congressional legislators and our dear friends, henry waxman and George Miller. This is an especially, as the leader has said, bittersweet and poignant time, because they are our dear friends and were so proud of them and we are going to miss them dearly. The reason why henry and george are so significant here in this body are that theyre the architects of the most significant legislation of the last 40 years. You think about anything weve done in this house, whether its health care, environment, energy, consumer protection, communications, work forest protection, education opportunities, it goes on and on. And the reason why they have been so successful and why they are so dearly respected and loved is that theyre men of the house. Theyre men of the people. They love this institution and they honor this institution and so this institution honors them. They are people, individuals, who understand this country and understand what makes it great, understand that its the people that they are going to be helping. Henry has been a dear friend of mine for over 30 years. And he has and his absence will be keenly felt in the halls of congress and in the energy and Commerce Committee, which i serve. His four decades here, henry has been a stalwart advocate for his constituents in los angeles. And for this whole nation and the world, too. On the energy and Commerce Committee, i have worked closely with henry to tackle a number of Critical Issues facing the country. The Affordable Care act will forever stand out in my mind as one of the committees greatest accomplishments and henry has been a true leader in that passage. We worked together to combat Climate Change, eliminate the armful formaldehyde emissions, promote strong Net Neutrality rules and improve Internet Access for more americans. He has been a true leader. Were also saying goodbye to my real eye good friend, George Miller, and during my time in congress he has become a trusted friend and colleague he led the fight on raising the minimum wage, fighting for a vibrant education system. But what i remember the most and cherish the most about him is that he leaves such a great legacy on water policy in california from historic california reform law that requires the balanced use of our states scarce Water Resources to the many battles on the floor fending off illconceived attempts to drastically change the distribution of our precious Water Resources. With the departure of henry and george, congress is losing the champions of the people whose knowledge and passion will not soon be replaced. He leaves many of us behind who understand how important it is. We say fare well to them but we also wish them well and certainly wish their families well and i yield back. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, i would now like to recognize our colleague and yield to congressman Mike Thompson from napa, two minutes. Mr. Thompson i thank our california delegation leader for yielding. Mr. Speaker, i rise tonight to recognize two men i have had the high honor and great privilege to serve with for their last 16 years in congress. George miller and henry waxman. And ive had the unenviable task to try and represent part of georges old district, and i tell you, youve got to work about three times as hard just to try and catch up to where hes been. When i was first elected to congress, i learned quickly that none of us are able to accomplish anything without the help and the sacrifices of those who came before us. For many of us, myself included, none have helped or sacrificed more than george and henry. They fought the good fight, they have won some incredible battles, and america is a better place for it today. George, i remember, i dont know about fondly, but i remember like it was yesterday, joining forces with you to reverse a water decision that a former administration had made that killed 80,000 spawning salmon in my district. Devastating, economically, the area that i represented. And had it not been for you, those people would still be washed up on the rocks. But we came on this floor together and with your guidance and you as my mentor we were abling to help those folks weather that very, very terrible time. I appreciate your help and so do they. Its been said that any of us who experience any success at all in congress do so on the shoulder of giants. This institution has seen many giants but none larger than henry waxman and George Miller. Theyre great legislators. They have legislated successfully on everything from health care to education to tobacco to natural resources. They have fought the fight that has made American People live a better life. We will always read in our history books about the great men and women who have worked in this magnificent institution. I for one am thankful that i had the opportunity to serve with two of them. Theyre Living Legends and we should all recognize how fortunate we have been. Their work and their accomplishments will endure long past their retirement and our country will forever be a stronger and better place because of George Miller and henry waxman. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I yield back. Ms. Lofgren i would now like to yield to my colleague over the mountains, congressman sam farr, two minutes. Mr. Farr thank you very much for yielding and being chair of the California Democratic delegation, the largest single delegation in the United States congress. And with its champions of note, George Miller and henry waxman. This is a historical room and this is a historical moment and thats why its being recorded and by and being covered by cspan this room is historic in that the leader leaders of the worldcom to speak theer join sessions of congress. We are every leaders of the world come to speak here to joint sessions of congress. We are reminded that one person can make a difference. Tonight, we honor two people, each who have made one health of a difference. One hell of a difference. I dont think that ive ever met in my contacts with these two and my contacts with these two gentlemen goes way back, with George Miller, he was 9 years old. He was the pudgey little kid and i was the tall skinny kid. Now im the pudgey little kid and hes the tall skinny kid. But we went camping, our fathers introduced us to politics, both of us ended up as Staff Members in the California State Legislature where in 1968, henry waxman was elected. And george on the senate side and myself on the assembly side, i worked a lot with henry waxman, i was doing constitutional revision work and one of the few things henry was interested in was revision. This is about the history of the constitution and hed carry these really complicated constitutional amendments to clean up the constitution. And i just remember the dedication, the style was always one of intellect, very legal, lawyerlike. Quiet. But everybody respected him. We got a lot done. George. George is like his dad. Hes the fiery one. In fact this podium right here, i saw broken by george hitting it. This is a new podium, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to George Miller. Now its adjustable and all kinds of things it didnt used to be in the old days. Look, behind us is the american flag. Theres 50 stars on it. Everybody knows those represent the 50 states. In my opinion, theyre going to remind us of the 50 pieces of major legislation that each one of these members carry. A lot of these people that come through here are famous and theyre weve had senator kennedy and so on been in this house. We think of the legislation theyve created. Look, these gentlemen have done more for this nation in major legislation than any people in either the senate or the house. In fact, little be known but George Miller would have been the speaker of the house when he when nancy pelosi wanted him to run. And he said, nancy, this is your job. Were going to make history with you. These two gentlemen are some of the greatest people that ever served in the United States congress and i hope the record will remember all of their incredible accomplishments because were a better country and a better world for their service. Were going to greatly miss them. Ms. Lofgren i yield now to a new member of our delegation, congressman swalwell, up in the east bay, for two minutes. Mr. Swalwell mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor to pay tribute to two legislators, two lions of the United States congress, who i am honored to have the privilege to serve with for two years. Henry, its often said theres nothing more important than ones health and no one has done more to improve the health of americans than the gentleman from california, henry waxman. He provided Better Health care for the elderly and poor through improved medicare and medicaid programs. Offered federal help to those with h. I. V. And aids and vastly expanded the use of less expensive generic drugs. On and on and on. Henry also worked to advance Public Health by improving the environment in which ewith live. This included pushing for legislation to protect the quality of our air, water and food. Now george, my neighbor, just to the north, ill never forget the first day i met george. It was at our caucus meet, he came up to me and said, how old are you . I told him i was 31 years old he said about the same age, just a little younger when elected and he gave me one piece of advice. He said, you are not elected in this town until youre reelected. You go home every single weekend and you represent your constituents. And i saw george every single weekend flying home on that plane and i never felt sorry for myself because i knew that george went home for the past 40 years every single weekend. Hes also stood up and advocated for working families. And im fortunate that not just what hes done for advocating to increase the minimum wage but he came to my district and talked to our local brothers and sisters in labor about how he can teach me to work with them and listen to them and advocate for them. He stood up for children to make sure that poor kids across our district have access to education and a better chance to expand upon that freedom to dream. I think one of the greatest things about george is not just the legacy and the legislation that hes leaving but also the members that hes mentored. When you look at the bills george has passed into law, and in it inspires you to be part of a place that can do good and can do better. But perhaps my favorite memory of george is coming down onto the house floor as george was giving an impassioned floor speech. And george tends, as you know, to go just a little bit over time but when he starts to go over time he starts to raise his voice and he starts to bang and bang and bang on that podium as hes standing up for working families and children in our country and the poor speaker tries to gavel him down, but never, never, never has anyone been able to gavel down George Miller. And what he has stood up for in this congress. Long live your memory, george. Long live your legacy. And may you continue to inspire all of taos do better. All of us to do better. Ms. Lofgren im pleased to yield to our new colleague from the north bay, congressman jared huffman, one and a half minutes. Mr. Huffman i thank the gentlelady. I also rise to join my colleagues in honoring two of the alltime greats of the United States congress, George Miller and henry waxman. As many of my colleagues have said, these two will go down for sure in history as some of the most able policymakers, intellectual engines, and progressive champions in the history of the house of representatives. People around this country benefit every day from their work in this body. From the clean air and clean water that we have because of their work, to human rights and workers rights, to education, to consumer safety, to public land protections. Safer and more affordable pharmaceuticals. The list goes on and on. And lets not forget the millions of people in this country today that have access for the first time to Affordable Quality Health care because of a very important and Historic Health care act that they helped bring into law. This special order doesnt give us enough time, but two who have special meaning to me. For henry waxman, your work to expand the scope of the Clean Air Act and strengthen its enforcement has been tireless and over the decades, it has meant huge improvements to the Public Health of the American People. He was one of the leading architects in 1990 that targeted acid rain, smog and the thinning ozone layer and helped lay the groundwork for president obamas. Mportant efforts to combat and safe climate caucus to create a climate policy. The science of this issue will catch up to the minds of our colleagues across the aisle and the duty to future generations will catch up to the hearts of our colleagues. But henry, the work you have done in this house has helped keep the positive track on Climate Change alive. And the work we have done will be standing on your soldiers. George miller worked for years to bring California Water policy era culminating into a project signed into law by 1992. The federal government was required to consider the impacts to californias fish and wildlife when managing the Central Valley project, one of the Worlds Largest Water Management systems and one that did enormous damage to fish and wildlife and moved it too far in one direction and had to be reset and that is what George Miller did. It encouraged more efficient water use and established conserves requirements and started to reform the old water contracts that gave away public water for 40 years at a time below market rates. The law that he authored paved away the restoration of the san joaquin waterway. Although, we will miss their daily leadership in our delegation and in congress, i know that their body of work will continue to stand the test of time. People of california have been very fortunate to have congressman miller and congressman waxman representing them for the past 40 years and privilege and honor for me to serve with them the past two years. Ms. Lofgren i would now yield to our distinguished colleague rom los angeles, congresswoman roybalallard. S. Roybalallard we bid far ewell. When i came to congress in 1993, they served 18 years as a colleague of my father, who had Great Respect for these men. I, as a freshman member, remember being very much in awe of them and their accomplishments. Henry was already considered the health guru and george was well established as a leader in education and as a member of the house for the last 22 years, i have seen firsthand the expertise, the passion and courage with which they fought for policies and laws to improve the quality of life for all americans. And while their accomplishments are much too many to mention, henry will always be remembered for his championship of universal health coverage, his efforts to ensure the affordability and the availability of prescription drugs and for his leadership in Tobacco Cessation policies. Georges legacy will be a stewardship of a fair minimum wage, Worker Protection and staunch advocacy of full modernization and student aid expansion. My constituents and all americans, including future generations will benefit from the Educational Opportunities, labor protections, clean air and water and spappeded Health Access that were made possible by these two california statesmen with whom i had the privilege to serve. I will cherish the opportunities i had to collaborate with them on issues i had on newborn screening and education technology. Henry waxman and George Miller will need a void that is nearly impossible to fill and heritage of critical policy imperatives that will define our efforts in health, education, labor and Environmental Justice for many congresses to come. These men truly understand the meaning of the responsibility of serving in the house of representatives. I wish them god speed, good health and sincere thanks for their lifetime of service for doing the peoples work in the peoples house. I yield back. Ms. Lofgren i would be delighted to yield to our colleague from new york, an honorary californian or a fan of these two members, congressman paul tonko 1 1 2 minutes. Mr. Tonko thank you to the gentlewoman from california for yielding. Its an honor this evening to join in the tributes to two very strong individuals who have represented their districts so very well, representative waxman and representative miller. One of the benefits, one of the opportunities that comes away of members of this house is to stand alongside men and women of greatness who lead not only their home district and state, but the nation and the world, for that matter. And this evening, we recognize the contributions of henry waxman and George Miller. When i first arrived in the house some three terms ago, my first assignment was on education and labor and i thank you representative miller for being an outstanding chair to join in your efforts, sound efforts, in providing for the empowerment of children, the strength the then of workers and stamping out discrimination, gender discrimination and all sorts of work that enabled us to address issues in your home state but the entire nation and the world. It has been an empowering statement and to henry waxman, who was the ranker in energy and commerce when i joined in this third term, it was an honor to join with you, henry, and recognize the great work you have done on Climate Change, on energy issues, certainly on Public Health, from the warnings of tobacco, to affordable prescription drugs and to move forward with the Affordable Care act. It has been an honor and great treasure to call you colleagues and friend and thank you for your intellect and institutional memories that you carry with you and the passion that you have put forth for the states, country and the world. We will deeply miss you. Ms. Lofgren i would be so honored to yield to our colleague from maryland, congressman chris van hollen, a minute and a half. Mr. Van hollen it is an honor to salute two extraordinary members, George Miller and henry waxman, two friends, to swidshob an inspiration to me and so many other americans. What is extraordinary about these two men is that they greeted every day, every day of their 40 years here in the United States congress as if it were their very first day, with the same determination, with the same drive, with the same passion to make our country a little better place than they found it. And make no mistake, they came here on a mission, to build a more screws, a more inclusive nation where every american, every american has a fair shot at the american dream. And through that determination and that perseverance, they succeeded. You look around the country today in almost every aspect of american life, these two gentlemen have left their mark from health care, to education, to workers rights, to protecting our environment. They have changed the arc of american history. One quality really stands out when i think about both these individuals, fearlessness, moral courage, a willingness to take on the most powerful special interests on behalf of the common good, no matter the personal risks, no matter the political costs. They have been warriors for the public good. Sometimes happy warriors, sometimes just tough warriors, but always standing up for what is best in america. It is the job of those of us who remain here who dedicate ourselves to carry on the work that these gentlemen carried out for the love of their country. Thank you. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, i would also like to yield to another distinguished gentleman from maryland, congressman john sarbanes, a minute and a half. Mr. Sarbanes it is a privilege to rise and acknowledge the Incredible Service of George Miller and henry waxman. I had the honor of serving with both of them on each of their committees and education and labor and Work Force Committee in the case of George Miller and energy and commrs committee and Oversight Committee with henry waxman. As public servants, they are unrivaled. At a time when unfortunately when Many Americans have become cynical and wonder whether their voice is heard here in washington. These are two individuals that when you look back over their careers in public service, you cannot have a shred of cynicism because they got up every day to help people across this country. In the case of henry waxman, his fight on behalf of consumers is legendary. His work to guarantee access to Affordable Health care is before us every day. His desire to see every citizen be able to live in a world where they have clean air and clean water, a world that is protected against the ravages of Climate Change, that is his legacy. In fact, when it comes to Climate Change, i think we can say he is the conscience of the congress. In the case of George Miller, somebody who was deeply committed to making sure that the next generation had decent Educational Opportunities and fought for that during his entire time here in congress and always putting the priorities and the needs of working families first. His legislating is a profession and these two individuals reached the height of that profession. They knew the substance of the work. They fought hard for what they believed in but knew how to reach compromise when it was demanded and as people, theyre both decent, ethical and caring and most important, down to earth, getting up every day, saying ive got a job to do and going out to do it. We will miss them. We thank them for their service and as long as we have the privilege of serving here, we will cherish their legacy. I yield back. Ms. Lofgren i yield one minute to the gentleman from new jersey, rush holt, one minute. Chosen as one who has to step aside at the end of this term, i want to recognize and thank two legislative giants, henry waxman and George Miller. And came at the same time but different people. But each showed compassion, courage, determination, persistence, a powerful mind, skill and good humor in accomplishing all these things that we heard about tonight. I have seen their personal qualities up close. I have been with henry as he stands for fairness and justice in israel. I have been with George Miller as he inspects the vanishing glaciers that are the victims of our Climate Change. They have worked, as you have heard on elementary and secondary education, health care, communication, clean air, clean water, sustaining lands and climates. They will not toller ate those who violate worker rights, Family Welfare and individual opportunity. In america or elsewhere, we heard about central america. I was with George Miller in chile where he received the highest medal that that country gives for activities that he did as a freshman from this house hen he went to chile and courageously stood up in the face of terrorism to defend labor and individual rights. We could go on far beyond the hour that is allotted here. Simply put, their record puts to rest any claim that government doesnt work, that government cant help people, that special interests always prevail. It makes us proud to be members of this body. It makes us proud to be in the United States of america. Thank you george and henry. Ms. Lofgren i yield one minute to the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer. The speaker pro tempore the entlewomans hour has expired. Ms. Lofgren we have just this one additional speaker, i wonder if i could have an additional two minutes. Ill yield. Ms. Lofgren i appreciate the gentlelady for yielding so we macon collude. The speaker pro tempore two minutes. Ms. Lofgren mr. Blumenauer, one minute. Mr. Blumenauer just squeaking under the wire, im not going to do a George Miller imitation, talking over the speaker and pounding the elect torn, nor am i going to repeat what has come before us talking about the legendary accomplishments of these two gentlemen. When i first came here, i was privileged to be part of a Small Discussion Group of faith and politics. It had henry and george. And it opened a base to me of people who cared about their colleagues, extraordinary kind thans both had given to me and my family, and give a face to this institution that is too often missing now. And i think that may be their greatest contribution. Ms. Lofgren mr. Speaker, we are through with an hour, we could have fill maryland hours, but we say goodbye to these two colleagues 80 years of experience and expertise goodbye to these two colleagues. 80 years of experience and expertise will be leaving this congress. Top of the charts the year they were elected was a song Michele Bachmann has served eight years in the house. He founded the tea party caucus. Here is her farewell speech. It is about 20 minutes. For 60 years and privilege for me now, mr. Speaker, also to be in this well to deliver what is my last speech on this floor. It has been a privilege and honor of a lifetime for me to serve as a member of the United States congress, serving as the first woman ever elected from the state of minnesota in the capacity of being a republican. Its an honor and its a ride of a lifetime. And as i stand here in the well of this house, im fulfilled with joy and so much happiness and understanding that the privilege that i have is one of being really a link on a chain, thats gone on for hundreds of years. And i stand right here on the soil in the square feet that are the freest square feet in the world, because you see, mr. Speaker, it is here where any ice that holds an election certificate can speak forth the words, words that maybe the president of the United States would agree disagree with, words that maybe colleagues from ones own party or other party may disagree with, words that might have people go to riot. But words, nonetheless that are free, free, free because a price was paid so that speech could be given. Its an honor. Where else could we find this level of freedom anywhere in the world . And thats why at the very top of this capitol on the rotunda dome, standing a full 20 feet tall is a statue called freedom. Its a woman and her name is freedom. And she stands as the uppermost point in this part of our nations capitol. And she faces east, because she faces towards the sunrise, so that every day freedoms face looks into the morning son and happily we begin yet one more day of liberty in this country. You see, im so proud to be a part of this nation. Im so proud to be an american citizen, because i recognize the costs that my freedom was the price that was paid for it by those who have gone before and so thrilled to have this opportunity. Just behind me mr. Speaker, above where you are standing is our nations motto, and it says in god we trust. What a fabulous motto. Could any better motto be written for any nation to declare full voice that it is in god that we as a nation put our trust. What other more trustworth venue could there be . What other trustworthy vehicle could there be than a holy god. These words were mouthed by the founders of our country, those who decided to leave the comforts of their home to come here to what was essentially an untested, untapped world where there were people, the native americans who populated this land, but where a brand new culture was about to be born. One that would be blessing the entire world. Where people knew they could come from any portion of the world and find a new birth of freedom, as individuals but also as a nation. We have so much to be thankful for, so much to be grateful for. For people who have never been in this chamber before, this is the room where the laws of our nation are formulated. Our founders meant that the house of representatives would be the most powerful form of government. Why . Because it would be these 435 members that we eventually became, we would hold the power of the purse, we would hold the nations credit card. And it would be us to decide what we spent money on and what we didnt. We would formulate policy with million w 300plus American People. We are the law givers. The people have given us the privilege of the election certificate to make the laws. We must never forget that it is by the consent of the governed that we rule and we decide our laws. As i look about this chamber, we re ringed with the sill wet. Various law givers throughout all of time, law givers for whom veneration is required and yet only one law giver has the distinction of not having it but having the full faith being revealed by the artist. That law giver is moses. Moses is directly above the double doors that lead into the centermost part of this chamber. And in the face of moses, his eyes look straight upon not only our nations motto, in god we trust, but moses face looks full on into the face of the speaker of the house. Daily the speaker of the house, as he stands up in his authority and in his podium, recognizes that he, too, is a man under authority, just as moses was a man under authority. Because you see, mr. Speaker, moses is given for the full honor of the greatest law giver in this chamber, because he was chosen by the god that we trust to be entrusted with the basis of all law. The basis of all law as was written by blackstone, the famous english jurist was the 10 commandments that were given none other by the god we trust on mount sinai. We know those laws. Those are the fundamental laws of mankind. And here in the United States, the 10 commandments that god gave to moses is the very foundation of the law that has given to happiness and the rise of the greatest prosperity that any nation has known before. R. Speaker, it could be no coincidence that this is nation knowing great prosperity, that it could be built upon that foundation of the 10 commandments and the laws given by the god in who we trust. What a privilege we have been given. What an unparalleled foundation. We have so much to be grateful for and thankful for. And before i continue my remarks. I want to also say to thank you to people in their individual capacity who have done so much to help me in my service in the ouse of representatives of. I thank the people of the 6th Congressional District of minnesota who gave me the election certificate that i have been privileged to hold for these four terms that i have served in office for eight years. Had the people not elected me to serve, i would have never known what a privilege it would be to serve them here in this chamber. And i thank the great people of the 6th district. It is known as the greatest people in this country as far as im concerned. People, where all the men are good looking and the children are above average. It is a state unlike any other. And it was a privilege to serve. I thank the numerous volunteers who worked on my campaigns to send me here. Without their tireless works and making phone calls, it never would have happened. I was a home maker at home, with our family. I have been a federal tax litigation attorney. I had the privilege of starting a Charter School and my husband and i started our own examine. Company. I want to thank the people of the 6th district and the volunteers who sent me here. And i thank the donors who gave their money also so i could be here. I had very hardfought campaigns. I was the top nemes is and millions of dollars were spent to make sure that i would not have the privilege of standing in the well of this house. But i want to thank those who gave me the money to be able to come and who sacrificed so i could be here. Over the years, my races were so expensive that at one point, mine was the most expensive race in the country and that was done on an average donation of 41 per donation. Millions and millions of dollars with an average donation of 41. Im so proud of that, because real people across the United States saw in me an authentic credible voice who was here to speak for them. I had people who said to me, thank you, you speak for me and im so thankful that you fought for me here in washington. They knew i wasnt here to speak for special interests and knew i wasnt bought and paid for, and knew i was speaking for them. And i want to say to those who did donate money to my campaigns, im the same person today as i was when i came here eight years ago and i fought for you and for the values that you sent me here to fight for. I also want to thank the god who created us. The creator god, the god that jefferson pointed to in the declaration of independence. It is because of him and because he created me in his image and likeness as he has each one of us that i even had the possibility of coming here to be able to serve. I also thank my parents, my father who has passed away, i thank my mother, jene, and my stepfather, for their love and their support over the years as well. I am thank tolve my brothers, david and gary and paul and my stepbrothers and my stepsisters. Im thankful to my husband, marcus, of 36 years. To to our five wonderful children, lucas and his wife, christine, harrison, elisa, caroline and sofia. And also to our wonderful 23 foster children that we were privileged to raise over the years. As i often joke, yes, i am the old woman in the shoe. Ive raised 28 children and im so grateful for each one of them. Im thankful for my very dear friend over the years who prayed for me and stood by me and helped me to get to this position, to my supporters from the great state of minnesota. And most particularly to the prayer warriors. The very First Committee that we formed every time i ran for Political Office was our prayer committee. And i thank you to the intersessers who prayed routinely for me, those prayers i believe were answered. I also say thank you to the men and women who serve today in our armed forces. It was the privilege of a lifetime for me to go and travel across the world to iraq, to afghanistan, to germany and various places around the world where i was able to meet you in your service and i thank you for allowing me to meet you there. I say thank you to our veterans who have gone before. You know how near and dear you are to my heart. Im the daughter of a veteran, stepdaughter of a veteran, sister of a veteran. And i am so grateful because i recognize we would not be here today if it wasnt for our veterans and i thank you for your service to our country. Because you answered the call. I want to also say thank you to my staff, my longest serving staff member, kim ruben, who came with me on day one and who has served me every single day so superbly as my scheduler. There is no one quite like her and i have absolutely no idea how i will order my life once i leave here without kim ruben. I say thank you to my chief of staff, robert bowlen, who has stepped in and done a wonderful job with our wellorganized machine and our office. He makes it a joy for everyone in our office to serve. I say thank you to my press communications director, dan, who has done such a wonderful job every day, challenging know make sure that i can be as good as i can and to keep me from making the mistakes that im all too prone to make. For mckayla hall who keeps me on the current edge in absolutely everything that she does, with a brilliant career in front of her. For renee doyle, my dear longtime friend and legislative director, who has a heart of gold and who has served tirelessly in every form of her capacity. For jason fry, sergeant fry, who has served our nation as a veteran, but who now will be a legislative director for my successor and he will do a wonderful job serving. For kevin wasaki who has a tremendous future and has served me so well. I thank him, mr. Speaker, for the brilliant, highquality man of integrity that he is. For jessica cah limbings, l who what cahill who has always served me. For our intern, julie, for our district director, deb, who has been so faithful to me during my time and service. For barbara harper, who has been with me through thick and thin, through 16 years of activism and political life. For nicole receiversonpe receiverson seversonpelzer. Im so grateful for the Capitol Police for all that theyve done to secure my safety. For the sergeant at arms, for our chaplains, our bible study leaders, for the clerks office. I want to give a special shoutout to james who runs the railroad car in the basement of the rayburn building. James has become a wonderful friend, a man of god, and we literally have tears in our eyes when we are saying goodbye to each other in these last days. He has brought joy to my heart and i thank him, as well as i thank maria, who stands right out here outside the door. She has to fetch me all the time because im usually the last one in the chamber, trying to get more business done. Maria says, its time to go, congresswoman, and i thank god for maria and what a darling shes been. For the Committee Staff from Financial Services committee of which ive been privileged to serve for eight years. For the Committee Staff on intel committee. No one knows how hard they work and what a Vital Service they play to our nation. To bonnie, the elevator lady, whos always so happy. Im so grateful for her. And for the two ladies that are at the lunch counter back in the cloakroom. To ms. Pat and ms. Doirs. You are such good cooks, you make wonderful sand witches. And i always knew that if i was short 2, youd see me through to the next day. So thank you for believing in my credit worthiness. More than anything, i want to say thank you to the founders of this nation who gave us the most incredible ride by believing in us and in our future, by recognizing that these truths are selfevident, that all men and all women are created equal, that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, that among those rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And what that means to me is this. No government gave me rights that only god can give. And no government can take away the rights that only god can give. The only reason that we even have a government and the only reason it was instituted among men is to secure for me and for you the rights that god gave us. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Beyond that we rule by the consent of the governed. This is a Pretty Simple gig to figure out here. There are things that government cant touch. Would that we would learn that. But there are things that we do. And those things that we do should be for the happiness of man kind. You see, it is our job not to think only of ourselves but to think of the generations that are yet to come. My favorite americans are people who didnt know they were americans. They were the pilgrims. They came here before our nation was founded. And i love the story that was written by governor bradford. He wrote in his journal, which i have read in the kings english mument approximately times, its one of my favorite groups of people, the pilgrims. Governor bradford wrote that with the sorrow and the sacrifice that the pilgrims made, you know, vet first year when they came over, fully half of them died in that first starving winter. Governor bradford wrote that it was worth it all because the pilgrims saw themselves in his words as stepping stones. He said, they willingly laid down their lives and sacrificed themselves because they looked into the future, mr. Speaker. And they saw you and they saw me and they saw all of the american generations that would come after them and they saw what a marvelous land filled with natural resources, the ability to have freedom, a completely new covenant, a completely new promise that we could make with the future and with the god that we trust. We could have here a brand new ordered experiment in liberty and we did. And the generations benefited. And our generation has benefited like nothing before. And thats what we too must do. And as i wind down my remarks, i say thank you, mr. Speaker. Thank you that i could have that privilege of also being a stepping stone, to look to the future, so that the next generation would live better than we tomorrow, the senate gavels in at 10 00 eastern. There will be executive nominations, among them, president obamas nominee for the next surgeon general. There are also two bills that house has yet to take up that the senate will take up. The house has finished all legislative work for the year. Members will not return until the new congressional session begins in january. As always, the house is live on cspan. The senate is live on cspan 2. Rex next on q a, journalists profile Incoming Senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. Then, british deputy Prime Minister nick clegg takes questions at the house of commons. After that, a discussion on cia interrogation techniques. Q a is 10 years old. To mark a decade of compelling conversations, we are featuring one program from each year of the series, starting december 22, on cspan. This week on q a, John Bresnahan and manu raju share stories about mitch mcconnell, as he first won a republican primary and then won the general election. This experiment of government has lasted long enough. [applause]