[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6967-H6972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FAREWELL TO SPEAKER EMERITUS KEVIN McCARTHY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Finstad). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 9, 2023, the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) 
is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
submit extraneous materials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As the Dean of California's Republican delegation, it is my honor and 
privilege to come to the floor of the people's House to recognize 
someone from the Golden State who has made a historic impact on this 
institution.
  Kevin McCarthy is not from one of California's world-famous cities. 
He hails from the blue-collar city of Bakersfield. Kevin is not the son 
of politicians or corporate titans. He is the son of a firefighter.
  His story is an American story. He is the grandson of an Italian 
immigrant. From staffer to Speaker, he has devoted the better part of 
his life to the House of Representatives.
  In politics, nothing is handed to you. That certainly holds true in 
this town and in this building. Kevin's success is the result of hard 
work and determination. Kevin is a fighter. Time and time again, he 
fought for his constituents, his State, his conference, and his 
country.
  The first sign of Kevin's go-get-em attitude was when, at the age of 
19, he started his own small business selling sandwiches. While 
attending college at Cal State Bakersfield, Kevin got interested in 
politics, took a job working for our former colleague, former chairman 
of the Ways and Means Committee Bill Thomas. For the next 15 years, he 
worked as a congressional aid and ultimately served as a district 
director for Congressman Thomas.
  In 2000, Kevin stepped forward as a candidate for the first time and 
was elected as a Kern Community College District trustee. Just a couple 
years later, in 2002, he was elected to the California State Assembly. 
After just one term in the Assembly, he was chosen to serve as the 
minority leader.
  Upon retirement of Mr. Thomas, Kevin was elected, in 2006, to follow 
in the footsteps of his former boss here in the House. As a freshman, 
Kevin was appointed to serve on the Republican Steering Committee.
  From those early days in the House until today, Kevin has been a 
strong and effective advocate on a number of important issues.
  Water is the lifeline of the Central Valley in California. In 
California, we have a saying: ``Whiskey is for drinking and water is 
for fighting.'' Kevin approached the issue of water with his 
characteristic optimism that brought anyone together who wanted to find 
real solutions.

                              {time}  1130

  California has a proud history of being at the forefront of 
aeronautics and space exploration, including the region Kevin has 
represented. He has been a champion for recognizing that past and 
investing in the future.
  Our State is a leader in innovation, and Kevin has always been a 
vocal promoter of industries that will shape our economy and America's 
competitive edge in the years ahead.
  Here in the House, we have seen Kevin answer the call to lead time 
and time again--as chief deputy whip, majority whip, majority leader, 
minority leader, and then, ultimately, Speaker. Kevin has consistently 
led the charge for our Conference and conservative priorities. During 
some difficult times, Kevin was always the calm in the storm, 
levelheaded and positive.
  Republicans would not be in the majority here today without Kevin's 
tireless work and leadership. To say he will be missed is an 
understatement. Our loss is his wife Judy's gain. I wish his family, 
including his son, Connor, and his daughter, Meghan, the very best as 
we head into the holidays and the next chapter of his life.
  As I mentioned earlier, Kevin is from Bakersfield. He is probably the 
second most famous person to hail from Bakersfield. Country music 
legend Merle Haggard has had him beat for that top spot. A few years 
back, Kevin introduced and passed a bill renaming the Bakersfield post 
office in honor of Merle Haggard.
  As we join here today to celebrate another son of Bakersfield whose 
journey in the House is coming to an end, it seems fitting that Merle 
had a song titled ``If We Make It Through December.'' In that song, 
Merle sings:

     If we make it through December
     Got plans to be in a warmer town come summertime
     Maybe even California
     If we make it through December, we'll be fine.

  Kevin, I have no doubt that warmer days await. I am grateful for your 
service, your friendship, and your leadership. You will continue to 
make your mark, and I look forward to the many great things to come.
  Until then, farewell, my friend. God bless, and I know I will see you 
soon.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Steel).
  Mrs. STEEL. Mr. Speaker, this is a bittersweet moment.
  I am grateful to have the opportunity to stand on the floor of the 
U.S. House of Representatives, an institution shaped by years of 
Speaker Kevin McCarthy's faithful leadership. I thank and honor him for 
his service to the people of our State and to our

[[Page H6968]]

country. I am also sad to be saying farewell.
  I have known Speaker McCarthy as a staffer, State legislator, 
Congressman, whip, majority leader, and Speaker of the House. Like many 
of us, he supported me and built me up to where I am today. I am most 
proud to know him as a mentor and friend.
  One of his greatest strengths is that he listens. He gets to know his 
Members and plays to each of their individual strengths to create a 
winning team. His work for our home State and for our country has been 
invaluable.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful beyond words to have been a member of his 
majority and to have fought with him to better the lives of 
Californians and all of our fellow Americans.
  You will always be my friend. Thank you for everything you have done 
for me and for the country.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. McClintock).
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, the ancient Greeks would have 
appreciated the irony of this story. Kevin McCarthy spent his life 
preparing for the job that he held for just 269 days. For decades, he 
devoted all his energies and skills to building one of the most 
formidable political organizations of our time that ultimately took 
back the House last year.
  In those 269 days as Speaker, despite the most slender of majorities, 
and with Democrats controlling the Senate and White House, he cut $2 
trillion of spending over the next decade. He forestalled the hiring of 
an army of IRS agents. He curtailed the woke policies plaguing our 
Armed Forces. He averted a government shutdown in a dangerous world.
  He reopened the Capitol to the American people. He launched 
historical investigations into government corruption. He produced the 
strongest border security measure in a century and landmark legislation 
to restore American energy independence.
  On his 269th day as Speaker, he enjoyed the overwhelming support and 
confidence of his Republican colleagues. He was completing the process 
of adopting the most conservative appropriations bills in decades. He 
had put House Republicans in a commanding position to sweep the 2024 
election. National polls recorded that he had become the most popular 
elected official in America.
  His speakership ended on that day. It did not end because of the 
Republican Conference. It ended because of eight sad and pathetic 
mediocrities nursing petty personal grudges. As Shakespeare said: 
``This house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died.''
  This is not the end of the tale. History commands, and we must obey. 
Soon, Kevin McCarthy will be called back to the national stage to play 
a vital and leading role in a command performance by history to save 
our beloved country.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. LaMalfa).
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Calvert, for 
leading this appropriate time here today.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come forward to be part 
of this. It is also with optimism because I have known Kevin for 21 
years, and he was always and is always the optimistic one in the room. 
He always sees what we can do.
  He always sees the vision for each of us as elected Representatives 
and, more importantly, the country. He always thinks of the country. He 
always thinks how we are going to better the institution, whether it 
was in the California State Assembly as we were cutting our teeth in 
politics there or here on this national and international stage.

  Mr. Speaker, I am somber right now because what has happened really 
is a waste, as my good friend and colleague, Mr. McClintock, mentioned. 
There were only 269 days of what could have been a really great thing.
  Kevin will be part of everything we do in a different form and in a 
different venue because he still loves and cares about this country. He 
still is a great friend to his colleagues, even though he exits this 
area for a time.
  I am grateful to him for his friendship. Anything I have ever asked, 
he has always helped in his leadership role for me as a Member in 
either one of the bodies, the State Assembly or here. He is always 
optimistic and has a smile. He has a lot of funny stories to go with it 
that I can't tell here.
  He has always reached out to our families, making sure they are 
included. He always thinks of everybody. He is an amazing talent and 
will go far in leading his next enterprise, which is going to be based 
on our values and making our country stronger yet again. We will get 
there.
  I am proud to call him a friend. I hope I can always have his 
friendship, his guidance, and his playing a major role as we go forward 
in saving and strengthening our great country.
  Kevin McCarthy, I thank you for everything you have ever done for me, 
and for all of us, as a friend. I am blessed to know you.
  To Judy, Connor, and Meghan, the sacrifice has been big, but we are 
always very grateful. My family understands that, as well. God bless 
you.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Obernolte).
  Mr. OBERNOLTE. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to be here to thank 
my friend and former Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, for his service to this 
country and to our Conference.
  I had the experience of getting to know Kevin when I first decided to 
run for Congress. I got a call from my predecessor alerting me that he 
would announce the next day that he was not running for reelection. I 
had to quite suddenly make the decision about whether or not I wanted 
to run for Congress.
  I got a call from Kevin, and Kevin said: Jay, I believe in you. You 
can do it. I will help you. And he did.
  Once I was elected and sworn in as a Member of the House of 
Representatives, I was shocked to discover that I was 1 of over 100 
Members of this Chamber who could say that of Kevin. There were over 
100 Members who Kevin had given the confidence to step up and serve 
their country. Kevin and I subsequently became good friends.
  What I discovered about his leadership style is that it is a 
leadership style that I think I honor the most, that of servant leader. 
Every decision that Kevin makes and has made as leader was not for his 
own self-aggrandizement or his own betterment. The decisions that he 
made served the interests of the people who he led, the Conference, his 
constituents, and the Members of this Chamber.
  He also exhibited a quality that I think is unfortunately pretty rare 
in public servants, that of humility. Kevin is an amazingly humble man. 
If you met him on the street, you would never guess that he was third 
in line to the Presidency.
  Mr. Speaker, I will share a story, and Kevin probably doesn't even 
remember that this happened. Earlier this year, I was giving a 
constituent and their family a tour of the Capitol. They were here in 
D.C. They had a couple of children with them. I was showing them the 
rotunda when Kevin came bustling out of his office, surrounded by a 
whole group of people. You could tell he was on his way somewhere 
important.
  He saw me and stopped. All of his people were saying: Kevin, we have 
to go. We have to go. He stopped, walked over, and asked to be 
introduced to my constituents. He insisted on taking a picture with 
them in the rotunda. I will tell you, that made not just their day but 
their entire trip. They still talk to me about it. Kevin would do that 
for any Member of this Chamber.
  It has been an incredible honor to serve under his leadership. I have 
no doubt that the future is bright for my friend, Kevin McCarthy, and 
that we can expect even more great things in the future.
  Kevin, I thank you for your leadership. I am excited to learn about 
what the future holds for you.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Emmer), the Republican whip.
  Mr. EMMER. Mr. Speaker, no one has worked harder to help House 
Republicans win back the majority and deliver on our conservative, 
commonsense agenda than Kevin McCarthy.
  As the son of a firefighter, Kevin learned the values of grit, 
determination, and courage early in life. Throughout his years here in 
Washington as a Congressman, whip, majority leader, and our 55th 
Speaker of the House, it was those values that made

[[Page H6969]]

him one of the most fierce fighters for Republican priorities ever.
  I had the privilege of serving on Kevin's leadership team this 
Congress. I have seen him work tirelessly to ensure House Republicans 
delivered on our promises to the American people. I have seen him 
listen to and work with Members across every sector of our Conference 
to bring forward viable solutions. I have seen him do the right thing, 
no matter the cost. He truly believes in the greatness of this country 
and this institution.

                              {time}  1145

  I will be brutally honest. I usually am. It was hard to watch as 
things played out the way they did. Kevin McCarthy did not deserve any 
of that treatment, but no matter what, he has always risen above the 
fold, handled every situation with grace, and put whatever is in the 
best interests of America first.
  I thank Kevin for his leadership. It has been an honor to serve 
alongside him. Jacquie and I are rooting for him always, and we wish 
him nothing but the best in whatever comes next.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Mrs. Kim).
  Mrs. KIM of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Calvert 
for his leadership and for yielding.
  I rise to honor and thank Speaker Kevin McCarthy who is a selfless 
and amazing leader and who is always optimistic about his service in 
Congress which has left a lasting impact on his community, our States, 
our party, and our country.
  Kevin has had my back since I first decided to run for Congress, and 
he has encouraged me every single step of the way. He has worked 
tirelessly to make our party look more like America, and the gains we 
have made in the past 5 years are a testament to that.
  Kevin has been committed to ensuring people like me and each of us in 
our conference have what it takes to be effective Members for our 
districts. He is the reason we have a House majority today.
  I always say the GOP is the grand opportunity party, and that is 
because of Members like Kevin, who are committed to promoting 
commonsense policies to get our country back on track, make life more 
affordable, keep our communities safe, and protect the American Dream.
  I thank Kevin. I wish him the best in the next chapter. I know he is 
just getting started because I know he never gives up.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. McHenry).
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from California (Mr. 
Calvert) for hosting this Special Order for a special friend.
  Kevin McCarthy's relentless perseverance, keen insights, and 
unmatched knowledge of the personalities of the House were amazing to 
witness firsthand.
  While the public saw the 15 rounds of votes in January and the 
historic spending cuts of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, privately, 
what I got to see was the legislative equivalent of an elite power 
athlete expertly working people, process, and policy to get the best 
outcome in this Chamber. It was truly an expertise that he had honed 
over his service in the California State Assembly and here in Congress 
to make this place work.
  It takes a legislative craftsman to make an institution like this 
work. It takes history, it takes training, it takes focused energy, and 
it takes will, perseverance and grit. I got to see all those things in 
Kevin.
  Now, everybody else got to see the sunny optimism, the personalities 
that he loved embracing, and his spirit of friendship with people he 
had just met. That was wonderful to see. However, to see him behind the 
scenes being able to put all these disparate talents and gifts that he 
has to work for public policy was awesome. It was a special thing to 
work with Kevin.
  In the wildest moments this Chamber has seen in decades, he was a 
great leader for House Republicans, for this institution, and for 
America. He had coolness, calm, and a sense of charity for folks, even 
if they were not going to reciprocate. As a public leader, he truly 
lived his values, and the way he treated us is the way that he expected 
others to treat everyone else.
  He was a great Speaker. Success after success after success took 
place this whole year when Republicans in Washington are outnumbered by 
a Democrat Senate and a Democrat in the White House. With a very narrow 
majority we got big things done. It is a tough thing.
  He had an innate sense of optimism. He always found an opportunity to 
see the bright side of any moment. Even in the darkest of days, he saw 
something there that would give us a sense of hope and optimism. Those 
qualities are what has got him through an incredible career and a 
really incredible life.
  He is a political mastermind as well. It wasn't just policy in here 
that he understood how to engineer. It was the architecture of 
campaigns, elections, and all the stuff that goes into modern campaigns 
that he was an expert in. There was no one better for Republicans and 
no one better in America who had his capacity to put things together 
and to win elections.
  The American people and this institution are worse off for not having 
Kevin McCarthy here. Nevertheless, I know he will be just fine. He will 
be just fine. I look forward to seeing what he has in store for 
himself, his family, and for this country. I look forward to his new 
way of contributing to make this place better and to make the country 
better.
  I love working with Kevin on technology issues. His engagement there 
was the most spirited and the most interesting for both of us. His 
innovation initiative from a couple Congresses ago and his deep, keen 
interest in public policy as it relates to technology and the use of 
technology will have a lasting impact here, as well. I hope Kevin will 
continue to contribute in that arena.
  For us, this institution is worse off for not having Kevin McCarthy 
here. It is worse off.
  It is with a bit of sadness that I have to say farewell to my dear 
friend here on the House floor, but not farewell forever because he is 
a dear friend and will always be one of my dear friends.
  Kevin, we will miss you, and we love you.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Duarte).
  Mr. DUARTE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Calvert for this Special 
Order.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank, admire, and pay respect to my 
good friend, Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
  For many years I supported candidates, many of the men I admire here 
and many of the ladies. I did fundraisers, and they came to my house. 
Kevin was one of them.

  When this race came up where I decided to run for Congress, I looked 
to the example of Kevin McCarthy, and I said: America is about to turn 
socialist. If I don't step up and work alongside Kevin McCarthy to win 
this seat, to win this critical majority today, then I may grow old in 
a socialist country for lack of my own efforts and for lack of seeing 
the inspiration and responding to the tireless work of Speaker Kevin 
McCarthy, who is a dear friend of mine and a dear friend of many.
  I know in the years to come when--however far forward it is--when I 
talk about my time in Congress, the conversation will quickly go to an 
American hero, Kevin McCarthy, who tirelessly and successfully worked 
to stop socialism in America by winning this critical majority here in 
Congress.
  I thank Kevin for our freedom, his leadership, and I thank him for 
his friendship. I wish the best to him in the future. I will be here in 
Congress while he does his thing, and I am happy to see it.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Valadao).
  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, this is not a speech I ever wanted to give. 
I have had the honor of serving in office now for a number of years, 
and even during my time in the State legislature my district has always 
bordered Kevin McCarthy's. He was in Congress, and I was in State. When 
I had the honor of being elected to this body, I served alongside him 
for a number of years now.
  To say that he hasn't played a role in my ability to be here or my 
success here, yes, I wouldn't be here without

[[Page H6970]]

him. The policies we have been championing for a number of years would 
never have existed and would have never come to fruition if it wasn't 
for Kevin McCarthy. We wouldn't have been able to change some of the 
things in the Valley that have been so positive for us if it wasn't for 
Kevin McCarthy.
  It is a sad day for us as an institution and a sad day for us in the 
Valley when we have all these different issues we are dealing with 
across the country, across this body, and across even the Central 
Valley in my home, we have got so much we need to still do, and the 
reality that he is not going to be there is a huge hole for us in the 
Valley.
  Mr. Speaker, if you look at his time in service, understanding the 
policies that affect us, if it was something like water, we wouldn't 
have the WIIN Act if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy. We are seeing some 
of the results of that as we speak today.
  The expansion or the repairs in the Friant-Kern Canal, being able to 
move water south through the delta so that our farmers and our 
communities can survive, projects that are being funded as we speak to 
expand and add water infrastructure for the Valley would not be in 
existence if it wasn't for Kevin McCarthy.
  Mr. Speaker, when you look at valley fever, a thing that we are 
dealing with that we are fighting, we still don't have enough research 
at the Valley Fever Institute, or the ability to have those policies in 
place or at least the research started so we can create some real 
solutions for a thing that we are dealing with across the country now.
  Energy, as we all know, Kern County is a huge hub for energy 
production and to have a champion like we did--or we do today not much 
longer--in Congress like Kevin McCarthy for energy production to make 
sure we continue to provide energy for our country to succeed, we are 
losing that voice.
  As far as fire and forestry, I served in Congress under different 
Speakers. There are not a lot of times I have been in a situation where 
I am on a codel serving with my colleagues with a bipartisan group or 
at a press conference here on the Hill with a bipartisan group of 
Members talking about the same issues with a Speaker of the House. I 
honestly can't think of one situation where I have seen that happen, 
other than when it was Kevin McCarthy and our Save Our Sequoias Act. I 
remember standing there looking around thinking: I don't think I have 
ever seen any other person and I still can't remember--but that is 
something that affects votes.
  Mr. Speaker, when you think about the air quality and the impact it 
has on the Central Valley and the burning that has destroyed our 
mountain ranges, to have a piece of legislation championed by a Speaker 
and being able to get bipartisan support, that was something that I was 
very proud to be a part of.
  The fun part was talking trash while playing basketball when I 
outscored him on the basketball court in the charity game. I think I 
made one basket, and he might have made zero. I am not sure. As far as 
shooting, I know I kicked his butt. I saw the picture of the scorecard 
at some of our charity events that we do in the Valley.
  There are a lot of opportunities for us to do good things and have 
some fun together. Some of the most memorable moments are going to be 
this past year sitting in ELC and watching him across the table, his 
understanding of the policy itself, the dynamics of the votes, what is 
going to be able to pass the Senate, how to get the President engaged, 
and all those different things, we were able to have some real 
successes this year, to actually have a plan in place to solve real 
problems that now people who voted to take him out seem to acknowledge 
that that plan was probably our best option.
  We are on the verge of losing that. It is something we are going to 
miss out on. To fill those shoes, to have that person who understands 
enough of this place and who understands how to make a change, how to 
implement those changes, and how to execute a plan is something that we 
are going to struggle with to fill.
  I wish this day wasn't here. I wish he would stick around. 
Nevertheless, obviously, I know he is off to bigger and better things. 
I know we will still have plenty of opportunities for me to talk trash 
and make fun of him and maybe outscore him on the basketball court 
again if he is not too out of shape, but he is getting close to that 
point.
  I just want to say thank you to Kevin and to his family. Judy has 
been a huge asset to my family. His children have been a huge 
inspiration for my kids as they go through some of the same headaches 
that all of our children of people in this position have to deal with.
  I thank Kevin for everything he has done and will continue to do. 
Hopefully, we will have opportunities to work together soon in some 
situations.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, we spend a lot of time in this House focusing on that 
which we disagree on. I think if we spent more time focusing on what we 
have been able to do together and agree on, we would be a better House.
  So I rise not to talk about the disagreements that the Speaker and I 
had, we had many differences, we are of different parties, and we had 
different perspectives, but I rise and thank Speaker McCarthy for that 
on which we could agree, because when we could agree, he took that 
opportunity to act upon that agreement.
  It was good for the House, it was good for the country, and it was 
good for me.
  So I thank Kevin for what we agreed upon and what we were able to do 
together here and abroad to try to bring us together, try to lift us 
up, and try to make sure that when we could work together we did work 
together.

                              {time}  1200

  It is an example that we ought to follow because it was a positive 
example.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Calvert for giving me the opportunity to 
come to this floor as a former majority leader, as a partisan Democrat, 
to say and recognize the work that Speaker McCarthy did to try to, when 
we could, move forward in agreement in a positive, constructive way. 
Good luck and Godspeed.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Kiley).
  Mr. KILEY. Mr. Speaker, as a freshman Member, I haven't had as much 
time to work with Speaker Emeritus McCarthy as some of my colleagues 
have, but I am grateful for this year, working with him as part of the 
California delegation. Just observing his leadership of the Conference 
and of the House has really been something to behold.
  I think it is clear to everyone that he is a once-in-a-generation 
political talent. The millions of things that you have to do, large and 
small, to build a majority, to manage the Conference, to run the House, 
to exercise leadership on the national and international stage, he made 
it look effortless and was always cheerful in the way he went about it.
  I think that everyone in this House and across the country, whatever 
their politics, recognize that he is someone who is a leader in a way 
that transcends whatever position he holds, even a position as high as 
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
  When I think about what he has meant to this institution, I think 
about the famous essay by Max Weber, ``Politics is a Vocation,'' where 
he talks about the need to both have principles, but also to have a 
sense of responsibility when you are in the political arena; that this 
isn't just a philosophy class.
  I think Speaker Emeritus McCarthy really embodies that sense of 
political leadership, of being firmly grounded in your principles, but 
also having an appreciation for the consequences of our actions and the 
unique responsibilities that we have when it comes to exercising 
political power.
  It was also a great benefit to have a Californian leading this House. 
I know that Kevin understands, as well as anyone, the challenges we 
face in California. I know that he and our delegation will continue to 
be a check there. I know he will continue to be in the fight to turn 
around California and this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Speaker McCarthy for his service, which will be 
felt by this institution for a very long time.

[[Page H6971]]

  

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Hill).
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, for me it is a sad day to come to this House 
floor. When I think of all the battles on this House floor over the 
better part of a decade that I have been a part of and witnessing the 
leadership of Kevin McCarthy, I have to flip Shakespeare on his head 
today.
  Mr. McCarthy loves the House of Commons and he loves this House of 
Representatives, and so we are two nations, of course, separated by a 
common language. It seems like it would be good to quote The Bard. I 
come to this House floor to praise McCarthy, not bury him, because 
Speaker Emeritus McCarthy has many years of leadership, decades of 
leadership ahead, not only at home, not only here in America, but 
around the world because of his leadership exhibited in this House.
  As Shakespeare talked about, he, too, has suffered the slings and 
arrows that life brings in the public world, in politics, in this 
Capitol, in this House, but he has handled those every single day with 
grace, with humor, with leadership, exhibiting his commitment to being 
that happy warrior that we all know and love; that happy warrior that 
worked to advance every Member of the House's objectives more than his 
own, because that is how he is wired, Mr. Speaker. That is in his DNA 
in recruiting candidates--minorities, vets, women, making the 
Republican Party the party of the United States that reflects our 
entire society that believes in those fundamental tenets of America.
  He nurtured that in each of those Members once they were in this 
House on their legislative priorities because he believes in his 
favorite book's mantra that we want to go from good to great, and he 
wanted every Member to go from good to great. Kevin McCarthy delivered 
on that in his leadership responsibility in this House. He put the 
right people in the right seat every time.
  As I conclude, Mr. Speaker, in this tribute to my dear friend from 
California, our Speaker Emeritus, I go back to Shakespeare, and like 
Mr. McHenry from North Carolina, it is not farewell; it is adieu.
  Let me tell you something, Mr. McCarthy, as they said in Henry V, 
when you tackle the next agenda: ``Once more unto the breach, dear 
friends,'' we are at your side. We are charging forward.
  Mr. Speaker, may God bless him, God bless his family, and God bless 
this House.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Guam (Mr. 
Moylan).
  Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my heartfelt 
gratitude to Speaker Emeritus McCarthy for his dedication and service 
in Congress and for leading the Republican Party courageously.
  We saw this year how he prioritized doing the right thing and 
maintaining his integrity above all else, regardless of the 
consequences. His unwavering support for my district, the island of 
Guam, and his tireless efforts in fighting for the island's interests 
will never be forgotten.
  His legacy will continue to inspire future leaders and his impact 
will be felt for years to come in my district and in the Halls of 
Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, as Speaker McCarthy embarks on new endeavors, I know 
that he will be greatly missed. May God bless and guide him in all his 
future endeavors.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. McCarthy), the Speaker Emeritus, for any remarks he may want to 
make.
  Mr. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the dean, Mr. Calvert, and my 
colleagues from California for their kind words. I am so very proud and 
appreciative of my friends for coming.

  Mr. Speaker, I thank the constituents for giving me this opportunity 
to serve them. To America, I loved every single day.
  Less than 13,000 people have ever been given the privilege or the 
honor to serve in this body.
  To those colleagues on the other side of the aisle, I thank them for 
the work they have done. We may disagree at times--I disagreed with the 
vote on this one, too, but one thing I think we must quite understand 
and the advice I can give is, do not be fearful if you believe your 
philosophy brings people more freedom. Do not be fearful that you could 
lose your job over it.
  I knew the day we decided to make sure to choose to pay our troops, 
while war was breaking out, instead of shutting down, was the right 
decision. I also knew a few would make a motion because somehow they 
disagreed with that decision. Do it anyway. I would do it all again.
  However, there is so much we were able to accomplish in a short 
amount of time. I watched a short clip the other day of a quote of 
mine: ``I had the privilege of being leader for 5 years and I think 
about did I leave this place better than I received it?''
  I remember sitting where Congressman Calvert was and it was the state 
of the Union. The Democrats had won the majority. I was elected 
minority leader while another colleague from my State, Nancy Pelosi, 
was elected Speaker.
  I watched the Democrats stand up and they were very diverse. They 
looked like America. I watched us stand up. We had lost the majority. I 
say we looked like one of the most restricted country clubs in America. 
I thought at that moment I could be the leader of a declining party, or 
I could focus on what I know brought me to this party: Conceived in 
liberty and dedicated to the proposition that we are all equal.
  I would take that message to places people didn't think they would 
vote for a Republican. The California delegation at that time was 
pretty small, and, yes, it was competitive having the Speaker from 
California. She would put out that she was going to win a lot more 
seats in California. However, I am proud to say in those election 
cycles, we picked up five more seats in California. That is larger than 
our overall majority. We picked up five more in New York, Oregon, and 
Arizona. And in that same timeframe, the party I loved lost in the 
Senate, both cycles, lost the Presidency, but we won. What is the 
secret? It is the quality of the candidate.
  I looked at Young Kim, Michelle Steel,  John Duarte, and  David 
Valadao. These are unbelievable seats that that idea wins in. I look at 
our party today and it doesn't look like it did 5 years ago. We were 
winning in places you haven't seen before. When I look to the future, I 
think it is much brighter. Why? Because the ideas are different.
  When you look at the time I served as Speaker, we didn't ignore the 
border. We actually secured our border with the smallest majority here 
to govern. Even when we had a large one, we could not do it, and that 
came from the subcommittee of the Chairman   Tom McClintock. We brought 
people from all sides of the aisle together.
  When I watch the gas prices just skyrocket under the Biden 
administration, we didn't sit back. We made it our number one priority 
and passed energy independence.
  The public sits above, but for those 4 years, they didn't get to. We 
opened this place back up because it is the people's House. We created 
the select committee on China to make sure America can be competitive. 
We put our accountability on the weaponization so the American citizen 
would be protected.
  We made the largest cut in American history, and this body voted for 
it, welfare reform to get people back to work, and the largest 
recissions in American history, where money was appropriated, not used. 
Only in Washington would you let it still be there.
  As we watched crime rise across the country and D.C. want to go the 
same way, first time in 30 years, this body stood up; 170 on the other 
side of the aisle thought you should decriminalize carjacking, and 
others. The President threatened to veto it, but we did it anyway. We 
stopped him; and it became law.
  We believe in building things in America, but we watched many times 
the laws we thought that were passed before to protect us only slowed 
us and weakened us. For the first time in 40 years, we reformed NEPA.
  We did all this with a slim majority, but what I am most proud of is 
what the future holds. The legacy will be about the ones I see who 
serve here now, and I know the potential of what they will do. I know 
the potential of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so thankful to be given the opportunity to serve. I 
will

[[Page H6972]]

be departing, but that doesn't mean I will stop serving. Those across 
this Nation should join together to become those citizen legislators. 
We cannot let this body fail to do the jobs that are the most basic 
that we should do every day. We should never allow this body to stop 
doing what is right.

                              {time}  1215

  If you come across that question of whether you should do what is 
right out of fear of losing your job, do it anyway because it is the 
right thing to do, and this is what the Nation requires. I think 
putting people before politics is always the right answer.
  I thank my friends for their kind words. I thank them for their 
friendship that will not end, and I thank this Nation for creating a 
body that is represented by the people. I think we should rise to the 
occasion one more time. Thank you.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, it has been my privilege to lead this 
Special Order for the last hour to say good-bye to our friend from the 
floor but not from our lives. He will be around.
  Finally, I will requote our friend from Bakersfield, California, 
Merle Haggard, once again:

     If we make it through December
     Got plans to be in a warmer town come summertime
     Maybe even California
     If we make it through December, we'll be fine.

  Merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

                          ____________________