[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7776-H7777]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING THE HONORABLE PATRICK RYAN TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Nadler) is recognized for 1 minute.
  Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, as the dean of the New York delegation, I 
have the distinct honor to rise today to introduce the new Member of 
the House of Representatives from New York's 19th Congressional 
District, Representative Patrick Ryan.
  Representative Ryan is a fifth generation New Yorker who was born and 
raised in Kingston, New York. After graduating from the U.S. Military 
Academy at West Point, he served our Nation as an Army intelligence 
officer and deployed for two combat tours in Iraq.
  Returning to New York as a decorated veteran, Congressman Ryan went 
on to become a successful small business owner before returning to 
public service as the County Executive of Ulster County.
  As County Executive, Representative Ryan has been shown to be a 
dedicated public servant, and I know he does not take his new role 
lightly.
  As the dean of the delegation, I know I speak on behalf of the entire 
delegation when I say that Representative Ryan will be a wonderful 
colleague whose experience, entrepreneurial leadership, and history of 
devoted service to our country will help this Chamber navigate the 
challenges of our times.

  I am now honored, Madam Speaker, to yield to a fellow New Yorker (Mr. 
Ryan).
  Mr. RYAN of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Nadler for those 
kind words and introduction. I am proud to rise today as one of the 
newest Members and Representatives in the House, serving the great 
people of New York's 19th Congressional District.
  On a clear, crisp May morning in 2004, I stood proudly with my West 
Point classmates, raised my right hand, and solemnly swore an oath to 
protect and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and 
domestic. I still vividly remember the mix of emotions I felt as my 
classmates and I tossed a thousand white service caps simultaneously 
into the air--elation, relief, honor, pride, but mostly the tremendous 
weight of responsibility that came with that oath.
  I didn't know exactly what lay ahead, but I knew I would soon lead 
troops in combat and that it would be my job to protect my fellow 
soldiers, to serve my country, to serve my community, to make difficult 
decisions with life or death consequences, and always to maintain my 
integrity, no matter what.
  Today, 18 years later, I am so proud to have renewed that oath to 
protect and serve our great Nation. The weight of the responsibility I 
feel today standing before you-all is even greater. The same way that I 
fiercely protected my fellow soldiers, I will fight for my 
constituents, the community that raised me, that sent me care packages 
every single week when I was deployed overseas, that has had my back 
every step of the way. I will fight for their health, I will fight for 
their safety, and I will fight for their freedom.
  As I look up into the gallery, I can see my wife, Rebecca, and our 
two young boys, Theo and Cameron.
  Theo is clapping. Good job, buddy.
  They are extremely well behaved tonight, and for that we are greatly 
appreciative.
  They are 3 years old and 9 months old. They are too young to fully 
appreciate the significance of this day and this moment, but I cannot 
wait to explain to them the immense pride I feel standing here before 
you, with you, my distinguished colleagues, humbly representing my 
community.
  This is a moment of immense consequence and challenge for our 
country. I truly believe it is an all-hands-on-deck moment for our 
democracy.
  I pledge that I will fight every single day, with every ounce of my 
being, to deliver for the great people of New York's 19th Congressional 
District and to renew trust and faith in our Nation.

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