[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[House]
[Pages 5643-5644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      WELCOMING THE HONORABLE THEODORE E. DEUTCH TO THE HOUSE OF 
                            REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to introduce 
to you today our newest member of the Florida delegation, Congressman 
Ted Deutch.
  After serving with distinction in the Florida State Senate, Ted now 
joins us to represent the people of Florida's 19th Congressional 
District here in Washington. Ted brings with him a commonsense and 
results-driven approach that distinguished him during his time in the 
Florida State Senate, where he wrote and passed landmark legislation, 
including a health care bill that will raise $1 billion for essential 
health services for Floridians, and he also passed the Iran divestment 
legislation that made Florida the first State in the Nation to put 
direct economic pressure on companies doing business in Iran.
  Throughout his career in public service, Ted has fought on behalf of 
those who risk losing the most, including seniors, working families, 
children,

[[Page 5644]]

Holocaust survivors, veterans, members of the Armed Services, and small 
businesses.
  I have worked alongside Ted as a leader in the community and as a 
legislator. I know him well, and I am confident that he will do an 
excellent job replacing our former colleague and good friend, Robert 
Wexler, who is with us today, do a good job representing Florida's 19th 
Congressional District.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in welcoming Ted Deutch, his wife Jill, 
their three children, Gabrielle, Serena, and Cole, who are here on the 
floor with us, to our congressional family. I would also like to 
recognize Ted's mother Jean, his four siblings, extended family, and 
friends who are here today to celebrate this special occasion with him.
  At this time, Madam Speaker, I would like to yield to my 
distinguished colleague from Florida, the dean of the Florida 
delegation, Congressman C.W. ``Bill'' Young.
  Mr. YOUNG of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague 
from Florida for yielding the time to me, and I want to say on behalf 
of the Republican members of the Florida delegation, the great 
delegation here in the Congress, Congressman, welcome.
  Congratulations. You will be serving in the people's House. Your oath 
of office that you have just sworn to uphold the Constitution is 
something that you will find very challenging as you go through your 
career here. But just rest assured that those of us in the Florida 
delegation on both sides of the aisle will be here to be helpful to you 
as you carry out your important activities. Again, welcome. 
Congratulations.
  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the newest Member of the House of 
Representatives, Congressman Ted Deutch, is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DEUTCH. Thank you, Speaker Pelosi.
  This is a truly humbling day, and the honor of a lifetime. My 
constituents are an extraordinary collection of Americans, seniors who 
served our Nation valiantly in times of war and rebuilt this country 
after the Great Depression. They are hardworking families who strive to 
pass on a better world and greater opportunities to their children.
  I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for their 
exceptional leadership. I am also grateful to my South Florida friends, 
Representatives Klein, Meek, and Wasserman Schultz, and especially our 
dean, Congressman Hastings. I want to thank Congressman Wexler for his 
service, as well as his support and friendship.
  I will never forget my family, friends, volunteers, and most 
importantly voters, who helped send me here today. I want to profoundly 
thank my wife, Jill, and my three children, Gabrielle, Serena, and 
Cole, who are all here with us today. Their love and support means the 
world to me.
  In all of her 86 years, my mother, Jean Deutch, never could have 
imagined hearing her name in this Chamber, and she is here with us 
today.

                              {time}  1345

  Mom, thank you for making me believe that I could be anything I 
wanted to be, because today I am a Member of the United States 
Congress.
  Thank you, Madam Speaker.

                          ____________________