[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 194 (Monday, December 10, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9769-H9770]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THANKING MY SOUTH FLORIDA CONSTITUENTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, though I still have a few days left 
before the end of my term, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank 
the constituents for allowing me to represent them in the U.S. House of 
Representatives for so many years.
  Whether it has been helping a veteran obtain the VA assistance he or 
she needs, or fighting for our Dreamers, or securing funds for 
important projects in our community, or passing critical legislation to 
help those oppressed by totalitarian regimes, or one of the many, many 
other duties that the people of south Florida have entrusted to me, I 
have been honored to serve them in this distinguished body for almost 
30 years, and I have played a small part in making our slice of 
paradise an even better place in which to live.
  Every day when I come to this floor, when I walk these hallowed 
Halls, or when I look at that magnificent Capitol dome lit up, I pinch 
myself to make sure that I am not dreaming.
  That is because as a political refugee, I have a unique perspective 
on the greatness of our Nation. America opened its arms to my family 
and to me as we fled the Communist Castro regime. When we arrived in 
Miami, it was in one of the last commercial flights out of Cuba. I was 
only 8 years old.
  So to think that I have been elected to serve in the U.S. Congress, 
that I became the first Hispanic woman to serve in Congress and the 
first woman to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, it is simply 
astounding, not because it is about me but it says a lot about the 
greatest democracy that man has ever created: the United States of 
America.
  We are a country that says: You can be successful no matter where you 
started, and that is something that we do not ever take for granted in 
my south Florida community where it seems like almost everyone seems to 
be from somewhere else. My constituents are also a testament to the 
endless possibilities that all of us have as free Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, where I was born is not just a place listed on my 
passport. It has defined how I view the world through the prism of 
democracy, of freedom, of the rule of law, and of human rights. These 
are fundamental American principles that have guided my legislative 
record.
  I have been honored to fight for equal rights for all people by 
joining efforts that will put an end to the discrimination and the 
violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or 
gender identity.
  I have been proud to advocate for the natural allies of our country, 
like the democratic Jewish State of Israel, her right to exist, and her 
right to defend herself; to secure support for a free trade agreement 
with Colombia, one of our biggest trading partners in Latin America; 
and to promote U.S. assistance that allows Taiwan to resist Beijing's 
increasing coercion. I have also worked to promote religious autonomy 
for the people of Tibet who are also victims of Chinese aggression; and 
to reestablish democracy and the rule of law in my native homeland of 
Cuba, in Nicaragua, in Venezuela, in Syria, and in so many other 
countries; and to sanction rogue regimes like that in Iran, in Russia, 
in North Korea, and all those who wish to do us harm.
  Domestic issues have been priorities for me as well, Mr. Speaker. 
Growing up in south Florida, I learned to appreciate the wonderful 
natural resources all around us, and I have made it my priority to 
protect those treasures so that future generations are also able to 
enjoy them.
  I have worked to re-nourish our beautiful south Florida beaches, to 
restore the seagrass beds and coral reefs, to provide for advanced 
wastewater treatment in our beloved Florida Keys, and to reinvigorate 
our Miami River. Throughout my tenure I have represented Miami 
International Airport and Port Miami, two of the largest economic 
engines to our county that serve as the gateway to the Americas and 
support thousands of jobs and economic development across our Sunshine 
State.

[[Page H9770]]

  As the wife of a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat and a 
stepmother to marine aviators, I have been proud to support our 
military and our veterans. During my time in Congress, I authored 
legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II 
Women Air Force Service Pilots, WASP, and supported efforts to 
reinstate burial rights at Arlington National Cemetery to these women 
pioneers.
  I supported legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and 
some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
  Mr. Speaker, each one of these issues is important, not only to me, 
but to our community in south Florida, and I will carry them wherever I 
go next. I want to thank the hardworking staff and interns with whom I 
have had the delight to work throughout my tenure in Congress. Some are 
still looking for jobs; please hire them.

  I want to thank my loving and supportive family, my parents, Abu 
Mandy and Abu Kiki. I know they are watching me from Heaven, and I 
thank them for encouraging me to run for office and for their love in 
every step of the way.
  I thank Dexter Wayne for supporting and joining me on this crazy 
adventure and for his unwavering support. The same goes to our adult 
children: Rodrigo, Patricia, Douglas, and Katharine. I am so proud of 
each and every one of them. I know that they have accomplished so much, 
and there is still some more to come.
  I hope to have contributed to leaving a better world for our five 
grandchildren to enjoy with a sixth one coming before the new Congress 
is sworn in. I thank each one of my colleagues from both sides of the 
aisle who have worked with me in a bipartisan manner throughout my 
three decades in Congress. I will continue to cheer on my pals in the 
bipartisan Congressional Women's Softball Game.
  Mr. Speaker, it truly has been the highest honor of my professional 
life to represent the great people of south Florida. I am excited to 
start a new chapter in my life, and for whatever life throws at me, all 
I have to say is: Put me in, Coach.
  Muchas gracias. I thank my constituents.

                          ____________________