[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 184 (Wednesday, December 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6807-H6808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE HONORABLE GRACE F. NAPOLITANO'S FAREWELL REMARKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in this Chamber one 
last time as a most humble Representative of the 31st District of 
California.
  Mr. Speaker, I am incredibly grateful to the people of San Gabriel 
Valley and southeastern Los Angeles County for the trust that they have 
placed in me for the last 26 years. It has been my distinct pleasure 
and honor to serve them and to work tirelessly with them on issues that 
directly impact our district and our region.
  Born in Brownsville, Texas, to an immigrant mother and a father from 
San Antonio, I have worked since the age of 12 for everything I have 
achieved. I was not expected to succeed with only a high school 
diploma. I believed in myself and was helped and mentored by so many 
people who believed in me.
  I have been extremely fortunate to have made so many dear friends in 
the House, and it has been a great joy to serve alongside them. Past 
and current colleagues from all walks of life have enriched this whole 
experience, been friends and family, and have helped me better serve my 
constituents.
  I especially thank my colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic 
Caucus, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Natural Resources 
Committee, Congressional Mental Health Caucus, Youth Challenge Caucus, 
and so many others. I thank them all for their partnership, mentorship, 
and collegiality.
  I express my gratitude to my extraordinary staff, most of whom have 
been with me for the majority of my time in Congress. I have the best 
staff in Washington. They are the most knowledgeable in water, 
transportation, and mental health, led by my wonderful chief of staff, 
Joe Sheehy, Jerry O'Donnell, Joseph Ciccone, Morgan Leonard, Sam 
Schiller, and Daniel Chao, my former chief of staff. They have always 
been accessible, polite, and helpful.
  I also thank my incredible staff on the Subcommittee of Water 
Resources and Environment, Ryan Seiger, Logan Ferree, and Alexa 
Williams, all in the gallery.
  In my district, my staff has always been in the community, meeting 
with residents, local agency staff, and volunteers to improve how the 
Federal Government services and invests in our community. They have 
dealt with hundreds of casework issues every year, getting veterans 
their proper benefits, Medicare recipients their proper care, and 
recent immigrants their proper status in the United States.
  They have been led by my district chief of staff, Perla Hernandez 
Trumkul, Elena Robles, Robert Pence, Carrie Lam, Leandra Berdin, Tracey 
Cooper-Harris, and Irma Elisheva Diaz.
  I thank my current staff and all previous staff in both offices for 
their service to our community and our Nation.
  I also thank the countless hardworking staff who make Congress run 
smoothly. These are the cafeteria workers, custodians, post office 
workers and letter carriers, and so many other employees of the AOC and 
CAO; the always-helpful Democratic Cloakroom staff; stenographers; 
employees of the Clerk, who always assist with legislative business; 
the friendly lady in the Lindy Boggs Reading Room; the incredible 
doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and medical staff in the Office 
of Attending Physician; the many brave Capitol Police officers, who 
protect us all; and so many others.
  Lastly, I am incredibly grateful for my remarkable, supportive, and 
loving family. Each and every one of them has provided the 
encouragement, guidance, and love that has sustained me through my 26 
years of Federal service and 13 years of prior State and local service.

  My husband, Frank, was my rock and my greatest encouragement.
  My children have taken care of many family obligations while I have 
been away in Washington.
  My beautiful grandchildren and 13 fabulous great-grandchildren have 
been my inspiration to make America a better place for future 
generations.
  I thank my son Fred and his family--his wife, Norma, and Freddie, 
Veronica, Elizabeth, Andrea, Niko, Nolan, Brooklyn, my first great-
great-grandchild on the way, and Daniel. I thank my son Edward and his 
family--Kelly, Bryan, Nathaniel, Scott, Nick, and Danielle; my son Mike 
and Lourdes; my daughter Cynthia and her husband, Curt, and

[[Page H6808]]

Jennifer, Tyler, Ethan, Emma Grace, Hayley Joan, Ryan, Jocelyn, Brenna, 
Kinsley, and a great-grandson arriving soon; Dillon and Chelsey; my 
beloved late daughter's family, Christopher, Karina, Christopher Jr., 
Grayson, Michael, and Dominic.
  I thank them all for supporting my service and supporting me 
throughout my career. I am so very proud of them all.
  Once again, I am proud of everything we have accomplished together 
throughout my tenure.
  I also thank my constituents for trusting in me to be their 
Representative. As I have said to both Republican and Democratic 
Presidents alike, my focus has been representing my district first, 
State second, and Nation third.
  I will continue fighting for the San Gabriel Valley through my last 
day in office.
  I wish everybody a merry Christmas, a joyous holy season, and much 
health and happiness in the New Year and beyond. May God bless 
everybody in this House and those who serve in it.

                          ____________________