[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 214 (Thursday, December 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H7232-H7233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                FAREWELL TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise with honor to address this 
Chamber one last time. And I say ``with honor,'' because it has been 
truly that to serve the people of South Carolina's First Congressional 
District. I want to thank them for that opportunity, particularly 
because, by most accounts, I never should have been here in the first 
place.
  I was reminded of that over the Thanksgiving holiday as I walked on 
the beach on Sullivan's Island with my 2-year-old son, Boone. We were 
out there searching for a sandcastle that he had built the day before, 
but I knew it had been washed away by the tides.
  I thought about the slim chances I had of making it here back in 
2018. And then my defeat 2 years later. It became apparent that 
political victories and losses are as transient and vulnerable as my 
son's sandcastle on the beach. Especially in a district like ours, a 
Democrat in a ruby red and gerrymandered district that President Trump 
carried by 13 points back in 2016, one that had not been served by a 
Democrat in my lifetime.
  But we made it here by promising something different, by promising to 
work with one another, reach across the aisle, listen to those we may 
not agree with, and get things done.
  Washington, D.C., was rife with partisanship and chaos. However, I 
didn't arrive 2 years ago to simply complain; I came to roll up my 
sleeves and be part of the solution. Or, as the old adage goes, I did 
not come to curse the darkness, but to light a candle.
  But it wasn't just about talk; it was about action. We said we would 
work across the aisle, and I was ranked the fourth most bipartisan 
Member in Congress.
  I said I would work with anyone to get things done, and President 
Trump signed two of my bills into law.
  I promised to protect our beautiful shorelines in South Carolina, and 
we passed my bipartisan bill that did exactly that.
  We showed that working together can manifest remarkable results, all 
of which was made possible by the dedication of my incredible staff and 
with the love and support of my family.
  Sadly though, here in Washington, D.C., bipartisanship and civility 
seem to be the exception and not the rule. In my short tenure, I have 
been disappointed with a lot that I have encountered.
  I have seen Members consistently put their party ahead of their own 
people; embracing conspiracy theories or arguments detached from 
reality while knowing better and, sometimes, admitting so privately.
  I have seen Members mock the President behind his back and praise him 
to his face; loathe him in private and worship him on television.
  I have seen them intentionally spread misinformation and lies, flirt 
with white supremacists, and pander to the most extreme voices in our 
society.
  And it has been for one reason and one reason alone: self-
preservation; people more interested in protecting themselves and their 
party than protecting our country; more interested in keeping their job 
than doing their job.
  Such reckless and selfish behavior has created a system where most 
politicians can't lose and most Americans can't win. And when it is 
time to tackle the greatest challenges before us, our leaders cannot 
even agree on the problems, let alone the solutions.
  Today's elected leaders bear a tremendous responsibility to be the 
custodians of our young and fragile democracy. And make no mistake, our 
democracy has been battered and bruised, but it is not yet broken. And

[[Page H7233]]

to save it, we must agree on one basic truth: that the other side is 
not the enemy. The enemy is the stubbornness of our own biases.

                              {time}  1215

  The enemy is a political system that seeks to divide us for sport. 
Let's fight that and not each other. Our country is facing some serious 
issues right now, and our country will be much better served if 
Democrats and Republicans can come together.
  My grandfather always told me that you can get through about any 
problem if you actually sit down with somebody and have a beer 
together. I have been trying to work with people since the first day I 
got here. I won't ever stop reaching across the aisle or trying to work 
with one another or sitting down and having a beer and listening to 
each other.
  For the betterment of this country, we have to come together. We have 
to sit down, listen to each other, and maybe even have a beer.
  In the spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation, I raise this glass 
to my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans.

                          ____________________