[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 187 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H7233-H7234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      BIDDING FAREWELL TO CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to address my colleagues 
here on the House floor one last time and to express my heartfelt 
gratitude for what has been the greatest honor of my lifetime.
  Twelve years ago, I was sent here to Washington to represent the 
people of northeastern Pennsylvania, a region defined by its natural 
beauty, rich industrial heritage, and honest, hardworking residents.

[[Page H7234]]

  When I was elected, I vowed to be an effective legislator, somebody 
who would put aside party politics and work across the aisle to pass 
legislation meaningful to the lives not just of my constituents back 
home but of all Americans, and I did that.
  In my 12 years here, I have had fully 16 bills, pieces of substantive 
legislation passed into law by the past three Presidents. These are 
laws that are actively protecting our Nation's veterans, preserving our 
environment, reducing government waste, and helping government work 
more efficiently.
  I have also worked to restore passenger rail between Scranton, 
Pennsylvania, and New York City. After more than 12 years of hard work, 
we are finally on the cusp of seeing that come true, thanks in large 
part to the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure law we passed last 
Congress.

  I seek to give credit to my outstanding staff, including former 
members of Team Cartwright, who are amazing people who worked so hard.
  To my district staff, former State Senator John Blake, Bob Morgan, 
April Niver, Tammy Aita, Colleen Gerrity, Jonas Crass, Christa Mecadon, 
Wendy Wilson, Lee Anne Pugliese, Len Namiotka, Tyler McAlpine, Michael 
Marsyada, Sabrina McLaughlin, Anne Lauritzen, and Chris Garza; and to 
my staff here in D.C., my formidable Chief of Staff Hunter Ridgway, 
Rachel Cohen, Kaylee Robinson, Jeremy Marcus, Stephen Coffey, Samuel 
Negatu, Karina Hull, RT Rogers, Laura Masterton, Lily Fortsch, Aliza 
Oppenheim, Daniela Amodei, Anna Mason, Jacob Feit, and Casey Wilson, 
your work has directly touched the lives of so many in our district and 
America.
  A thank-you is also in order for the outstanding staff on the 
Appropriations Committee who worked for me. Clerk Bob Bonner and staff 
members Shannon McCully, Faye Cobb, Nora Faye, and Jamie Wise have been 
so valuable to me during my time as chair and ranking member of the 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations 
Subcommittee.
  None of my work or success would have been possible without the 
unending support of my family: my sons, Jack and Matty, and their 
partners, Dr. Tim DeVita and Dr. Celeste Pallone; the wonderful support 
from the whole family; and my rock, my North Star, my wonderful wife, 
attorney Marion Munley Cartwright. I thank her for letting me go on 
this 12-year junket. It has been a real party.
  Madam Speaker, this is the United States Congress. When you make it 
here, you have made it to the major leagues of world politics.
  I have seen it all here in 12 years. I have seen stupendous 
skullduggery and treachery, and I have observed Olympic-caliber levels 
of obsequiousness, but I have also served with the best people I have 
ever met in my life.
  These are people whom you look up to, people whom you admire, and men 
and women whom you would do anything for. Your only regret is that you 
didn't know them your entire life. It has been my honor to serve 
alongside them.
  In the darkling predawn light of a spring day in May 1775, when Ethan 
Allen attacked the British garrison at Fort Ticonderoga at the 
beginning of the American Revolution, he demanded that the British 
surrender the fort in the name of the great God Jehovah and the 
Continental Congress.
  I am here to say that I have gotten to know the latter. It has been 
my honor to serve in the latter and to get to know the latter, and now 
I am off in search of the former.

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