[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H7269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THANKING THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Quayle) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. QUAYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the people of the 
Third Congressional District of Arizona, who put their trust and faith 
in me to represent them in the 112th Congress. The people of our 
district are good, hardworking Americans. They value their family, 
their country, and their freedoms. It was an absolute honor to serve 
them in this Congress.
  I would also like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering 
support throughout my life. Without them, I would not be here today.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to thank my tireless staff both here in 
Washington and back home in Arizona. Their dedication to our district 
and to our country was something that was amazing to watch. And over 
the course of 2 years, working day and night, they became a lot more 
than just people I work with. They became extended family. And I thank 
them for that.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to finally thank, more importantly, my wife, 
Tiffany, who, a few years ago, made me the luckiest man on the face of 
the Earth when she said ``yes'' to be my wife. I want to thank her for 
all of the sacrifices that she has made so that I could be in this 
House. She has held down a full-time job, all the while playing both 
mom and dad to our daughter, Evie, when I was away from home. I can 
never thank her enough for all that she has done.
  Mr. Speaker, the past 2 years have been an interesting ride, 
primarily because it was highly unlikely that I would ever speak on 
this floor. You see, Mr. Speaker, if you had asked me 5 years ago if I 
would ever run for public office, I would have said ``no.'' And not 
because I don't value and honor public service. I certainly do. But 
it's because the environment that I grew up in, I saw the bad side of 
politics and I didn't know if I wanted to put my family through the 
same trials and tribulations. However, that all changed as I witnessed 
our country continuing to stray from its founding principles, and if it 
didn't reverse course, we were going to lose countless generations 
because of lost opportunities.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I ran for office not for a title, not for some 
unhealthy desire to be the center of attention, but to serve my fellow 
citizens and to be a part of a movement that would reestablish the 
belief that our country's greatness comes from its people and not from 
the government and to make sure that America remains the last great 
hope on Earth.
  Two years ago, we sat out to accomplish those objectives. We didn't 
succeed--not for the lack of trying. We did take steps toward solving 
the biggest and most severe issues that we face. We must build on this 
and not shrink from solving the fiscal disaster that awaits us if we do 
nothing.
  Mr. Speaker, as this Congress comes to a close in the next couple of 
weeks, I'm confident that the Members of the next Congress will rise to 
the occasion and provide the solutions to a worried Nation. However, my 
confidence is not limitless. If petty politics drives policy decisions, 
if one group is pitted against another for political gain, if personal 
destruction drowns out personal accountability, then, sadly, the legacy 
of our great Nation will be forever altered and the world will be a 
dimmer place.
  I hope and pray this does not happen, Mr. Speaker. But as I said, my 
confidence is not limitless.

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