[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H6050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          FAREWELL TO CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Heck) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HECK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on this floor for the 
last time. My purpose is to convey two simple thoughts: first, an 
expression of gratitude, foremost to my wife, Paula--we are newlyweds; 
we have only been married 44 years--and to my two sons. Their support 
has been the only reason that I have been able to do this.
  I have been absent. I am sorry. I promise to do better.
  Thank you as well to my staff. Every Member here knows we ain't 
nothing without them. We are just the ornament on the hood of the car, 
and they are the engine. They have both my undying love and gratitude.
  Thank you to my colleagues. My life is enriched, and I am a better 
person for having known you.
  And a very special callout to my dear, dear friend, albeit messy 
roommate, and an outstanding legislator, Derek Kilmer.
  Last, thank you to the people of the 10th Congressional District of 
Washington, whom I affectionately but sincerely refer to as my bosses. 
You sent me here to represent a newly created congressional district. 
It has truly been my privilege. Thank you.
  Second, a plea, a plea to all those who follow here: Please, please 
work to nurture this institution. Institutions sustain us, be they our 
houses of worship for our faith or this secular equivalent for our 
democracy. They get us through hard times, but only if we tend to them.
  Citizens in a democracy have, of course, rights and responsibilities; 
Members of this institution, this body, likewise. We are all too aware 
of our rights here, but it is the responsibilities that bear 
emphasizing.
  We have a responsibility to conduct ourselves in a civil fashion. It 
is self-evident that civic discourse in America has degraded; some 
would say that it has even become vulgar.
  You know, it is hard to reach agreement with a colleague tomorrow 
that we have character assassinated today. So let us not measure our 
success in terms of the number of Twitter followers we have gathered 
through emotion-charged or clever attacks. Let us not define those with 
whom we disagree, even if that disagreement is profound, as ``the 
other.''
  We live in a pluralistic society. Part of our responsibility is to 
figure out how the political Rubik's Cube comes together; getting to 
``yes'' among different and competing points of view; fashioning a 
result where everyone can get up from the table, perhaps not with 
everything they sought, but with enough to vote ``yes'' while still 
being true to their values.
  There is such a thing as principled compromise. Indeed, I believe 
that principled compromise is the only way we can move forward and lift 
up those around us in desperate need of our help.
  Do we no longer believe that? Or did we forget it?
  Where I have failed to live up to these ideals, I beg your 
forgiveness. I can only promise to keep trying.
  Finally, I cannot help but think of the eternal wisdom of our former 
colleague, John Dingell, the longest serving Member of this Chamber in 
our Nation's history. When I arrived here, every first-term Member 
walked on down to where he sat and sought his advice, and he gave the 
same to everyone; the same to everyone. He would look us in the eye and 
say:

       You have an important job--a very important job--and you 
     are not a very important person.

  Indeed, John taught us that we do not possess power, but that we only 
hold it in trust. For the privilege of holding the trust for these last 
8 years, I am forever changed and forever grateful.
  I am 2,300 miles out and headed home.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I permanently yield back.

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