[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 2-3]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RESIGNATION FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The CLERK. The Clerk is in receipt of a letter of resignation from 
the Honorable Rahm Emanuel from the State of Illinois.
  Without objection, the letters relating to his resignation will be 
printed in the Record.
  There was no objection.

                                                December 30, 2008.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Pelosi: I am writing to inform you that I have 
     notified the Governor of Illinois of my resignation from the 
     U.S. House of Representatives effective January 2, 2009, at 
     the end of the 110th Congress. I do not intend to take the 
     office of Representative for the Fifth Congressional District 
     in the 111th Congress. A copy of that letter is attached.
       It has been a privilege to serve the constituents of 
     Illinois' 5th District for the last six years and to work 
     with you and our colleagues in Congress.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Rahm Emanuel,
     Member of Congress.
                                  ____

                                                  January 2, 2009.
     Hon. Rod Blagojevich,
     Governor, State of Illinois,
     Statehouse, Springfield, IL.
       Dear Governor Blagojevich: I am writing to resign my 
     position as United States Representative from the Fifth 
     Congressional District of Illinois, effective January 2, 
     2009.
       It has been a tremendous privilege to serve the people of 
     the Fifth District over the past six years. I am grateful for 
     the opportunity to represent the hopes and dreams of a 
     quintessentially American district, from hardworking families 
     to new immigrants to the senior citizens who built this great 
     country. It has been my particular privilege to represent the 
     district's many military troops and veterans, who put their 
     lives on the line to protect the values we cherish. Their 
     sense of duty and sacrifice has been an inspiration, which I 
     will carry with me to my new duties as chief of staff to 
     President-elect Barack Obama.
       As sons of immigrants to this country, you and I have a 
     deep appreciation for the opportunities America provides to 
     those who are

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     willing to work hard and sacrifice for their children. As a 
     member of the next Administration in Washington, I will 
     strive to maintain and expand that opportunity for all 
     families, because the chance to work hard and build a better 
     life is the principle that unites all Americans. Over the 
     past few years, our government in Washington has lost sight 
     of that principle by catering to the wealthiest Americans and 
     powerful special interests--leaving middle-class Americans to 
     struggle with rising health care costs, reduced pensions and 
     a collapsing economy. The recent election was a clarion call 
     for a change in direction, so we can recapture the values 
     that have made our nation a beacon of hope and opportunity.
       As I go to work everyday in the incoming Obama 
     Administration, I will keep in mind the stories of the 
     working families and senior citizens who I met during the 
     past six years in grocery stores, schools and churches across 
     the Fifth District. I will strive to make our government work 
     for them and their children, because that is the true measure 
     of our success as a nation.
       With gratitude and best wishes,
           Sincerely,
                                                     Rahm Emanuel,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________