[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 30 (Thursday, February 12, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H2208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





            HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF MELISSA HORTMAN

  (Ms. MORRISON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. MORRISON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and service of 
Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband 
Mark, whom we lost to an unspeakable act of political violence last 
year.
  The Minnesota House of Representatives will convene next week for the 
first time in more than 20 years without Melissa's presence. She was 
the single longest serving female speaker in Minnesota State history.
  She always led with a calm and steady demeanor, emphasizing the 
importance of conversation and listening to one another. She rejected 
the idea that our political differences should prevent us from working 
together, and she always encouraged us to focus on our shared desire to 
make our State and our country a better place for the next generation.
  Melissa was a giant among Minnesota lawmakers and modeled leadership 
qualities that we all should emulate.
  She recognized that true leaders do not bully and coerce. They listen 
and sacrifice, and they compromise while remaining true to their 
convictions. They lead with humility above all else.

  I think of her mentorship and her example every day and call on my 
colleagues to honor her legacy by prioritizing civility and humility in 
our service and always striving to make our communities just a little 
bit better for someone else.

                          ____________________