[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9765-H9766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            FAREWELL SPEECH

  (Mr. POLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, it has been the honor of my life to have 
served 10 years in this body, and I want to take this occasion to thank 
the amazing and talented staff that has worked both in our 
congressional office here in Washington as well as in Ft. Collins and 
Boulder and in Adams and Summit Counties.
  I want to thank all of the interns who have lent their services over 
the last decade, on behalf of the people of the Second Congressional 
District, hopefully providing them with a great experience that 
furthers their interest in public affairs.
  And, of course, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle. The men and women I have come to know and have worked with in 
the last decade have been some of the most important relationships of 
my life. I truly believe that there is no problem so large that the 
deliberative and thoughtful minds in this body can't rise to the 
occasion and solve all the pressing issues.
  It has been sad to see that, all too often, things stand in the way 
of that progress, whether it is partisanship, yes, but not only 
partisanship, the role of the special interests, and the increasingly 
divided electorate that we have nationally.

[[Page H9766]]

  But I know that the men and women of this body and in the next 
Congress, the 116th Congress, will hopefully come together to solve a 
lot of the pressing issues that affect our country and the world.
  Whether it is making sure that kids grow up with a good education, 
that families have access to affordable healthcare, or protecting our 
environment for ourselves and future generations, I know that the men 
and women in this body will be able to rise to that occasion.
  It truly has been an amazing honor to have worked with so many 
terrific people from all over this country, authentically representing 
their constituents and their districts.
  I look forward to taking this decade of service to our Nation with me 
throughout the rest of my life, wherever I go, to help inform the 
decisions I make to do the very best job that I can, every day.
  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the honor of serving in the United States 
Congress for a decade. I look forward to continuing to work with future 
United States Congresses.

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