[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 88 (Friday, May 20, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FAREWELL REMARKS TO THE 117TH CONGRESS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ANTONIO DELGADO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 20, 2022

  Mr. DELGADO. Madam Speaker, as I rise today for the last time as a 
Member of the 117th Congress, I must begin by thanking the people of 
New York's 19th Congressional District.
  I thank them for trusting me to represent them in Washington. I thank 
them for every phone call they have placed to my office. I thank them 
for the hundreds of thousands of letters and emails they have sent to 
me. I thank them for coming to my town halls, and for scheduling 
meetings with me and my staff. Democracy is a two-way street, and their 
passionate engagement has helped me to be a more effective 
Representative.
  I would also like to thank Lacey, my wife, and the love of my life, 
who has sacrificed so much since I decided to run for Congress more 
than four years ago. I want to thank Maxwell and Coltrane, my two sons, 
who drive my desire for positive change day in and day out.
  I first addressed this Chamber in January of 2019. The longest 
government shutdown in our Nation's history had just ended, and I spoke 
about the need for Congress to live up to its charter as outlined in 
Article I. I said that Democrats and Republicans must work together to 
shoulder the sacred responsibilities entrusted to us by voters--and 
that we all must pledge to cast partisanship aside and be good stewards 
of the republic that we inherited from the generations that came before 
us.
  Congress has done important work in the years since I gave that 
speech. We passed a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation's 
infrastructure; we outlawed surprise medical billing; we delivered 
pandemic relief that helped America recover better economically than 
any of its peer nations. All in all, 18 of my bills were signed into 
law under two presidents--bills to provide emergency pandemic funding 
to municipalities of all sizes, to support underserved veterans, to 
provide loan forgiveness to small businesses and to protect family 
farms. I am proud of this record.
  Over the past few years, I have tried to build a brand of politics 
that puts people before partisanship. I have made decisions based not 
on whether an idea comes from the right or left, but whether that idea 
is right or wrong. I fought tirelessly for those I represent; I 
listened to others before speaking; and I treated all people with love 
and respect.
  Building a political movement based on love, respect, and humility 
will be the work I carry on in the years to come. The Capitol--this 
Chamber--is hallowed ground. I hope and pray that Congress will once 
again become a place where Representatives from every corner of this 
great country gather together not to emphasize their differences and 
use them for political gain, but to hash those differences out for the 
good of the people.
  Representing New York's 19th District in Congress has been the 
greatest honor. But I have not done it alone and I want to acknowledge 
the incredible team that has made it all possible.
  Several members of my team have been with me since day one.
  My Chief of Staff, Jessie Andrews, is at the heart of my legislative 
success and has served our team as a sound and trusted leader.
  Amanda DeSantis, my District Director, has logged tens of thousands 
of miles traversing NY-19 with me and on my behalf and shares my love 
of New York State and every corner of the district.
  My Legislative Assistant, Matthew Gerson, with his intellectual 
curiosity and commitment to the veterans and small businesses in NY-19.
  Vicky Perry has spearheaded my in-district programming--from Military 
Service Academy nominations to the Congressional Art Competition to our 
``Antonio's Summer Superstars'' reading program.
  Many others have joined along the way and brought immense value to 
the work.
  My incredibly talented Legislative Director, Robert Dougherty. 
Christine Bienes, the best Scheduler in Congress. Jacob Salzmann, who 
accompanied me to countless events across the district. And the rest of 
my team in Washington and in-district for all their tireless work on 
behalf of my NY-19 constituents: Gabriela Foster, Sarah Bibeau, Max 
Prime, Chris Hanse, Daniel Wrenn, Natalie Lincoln, and Marques Grimes.
  Madam Speaker, it is with a hopeful heart that I close out my time in 
Congress. I thank the residents of upstate New York for their love and 
support and to all who have been on this journey with me.

                          ____________________