[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 195 (Tuesday, December 11, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H10035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ADDRESSING THE HOUSE FOR THE FINAL TIME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Michelle Lujan Grisham) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise for 
what will likely be the last time I address the House.
  First, I thank the people of New Mexico for entrusting me to 
represent you in Washington, holding me accountable, and giving me 
direction. From my first day in Congress to my last, every constituent 
or stakeholder who stopped me on the street or walked into my office, 
your office, to tell me about their issues and priorities was my boss. 
It has been the honor of a lifetime to work with you.
  Thank you to our team of brilliant, passionate staff who worked early 
mornings, late nights, and weekends because they knew just how 
important our work was to the people we served. Our team secured 
hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal investments in our State's 
economy and returned almost $5 million in earned benefits to New Mexico 
veterans, seniors, and taxpayers.
  Your dedication to New Mexico changed lives. Lastly, thank you to all 
the Members with whom I had the pleasure of serving who helped ensure 
that my time here was a success.
  Whether it was Congressman Meadows helping me launch an investigation 
into SNAP mismanagement in New Mexico, Congressman Cole for helping 
pass Care Corps grants to assist caregivers, or Congressman O'Halleran 
for working with me to pass the first-ever economic development 
broadband grant program in the farm bill, I have worked with and 
learned from Members on every part of the political spectrum. And 
regardless of our differences, I have found a universal passion for 
solving problems and public service.
  Every Member here understands the privilege and responsibility of 
working in the most powerful institution in the world and the 
immeasurable potential of this body to address the problems that we 
were elected to solve. Our shared values and commitment to each other 
is always and has been this institution's greatest strength.
  To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson: Let us never forget that the 
differences of opinion are not differences of the fundamental 
principles that unite us as Americans. We are all Democrats. We are all 
Republicans.
  I believe that we can embrace our differences of opinion in a shared 
effort to form a more perfect union while never allowing polarization, 
politics, and short-term political expediency to undermine our 
obligation to make a difference in the lives of those who sent us here.
  Always remember that power is short lived, politics is cyclical, and 
one day someone else will fill our shoes.
  As Congressman Cummings used to say when I served with him on the 
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: We only hold these 
positions of power, leadership, and trust for a short period of time. 
What better way to honor the great leaders who came before us and the 
people who entrusted us to serve in their footsteps than by seizing 
every opportunity we have to work together and to pass the reins of our 
Nation to future leaders better than we found it.
  To all the new Members: Stand tall, no matter how tall you are; be 
courageous; don't take ``no'' for an answer; and never stop working to 
tear down the roadblocks that stand in the way of advocating for your 
constituents who count on you every day.
  And to the people of New Mexico, thank you for the honor of 
representing the First Congressional District, and thank you for 
entrusting me to revolutionize our education system, lead the Nation in 
clean energy development, and create an economy that prioritizes 
hardworking families as your next Governor. I look forward to 
continuing to work for you in your Roundhouse next year.
  Mr. Speaker, although I yield back for the final time, I have never 
been more hopeful about our future and the next generation of Members 
who will stand here, address this Chamber, and commit to the shared 
values that form the foundation of progress after I am gone.

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