[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8071]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 WELCOMING THE HONORABLE JASON T. SMITH TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. 
Clay) is recognized for 1 minute.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, as the co-dean of Missouri's U.S. House 
delegation, I want to congratulate and extend a warm welcome to my 
newest colleague, Congressman Jason Smith.
  Mr. Smith is an attorney, a fourth-generation farmer from southeast 
Missouri, and he has distinguished himself as one of the youngest 
speaker pro tems in the history of the Missouri House. He follows in 
the footsteps of my dear friend, former Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, 
who represented Missouri's Eighth Congressional District for 17 years, 
and I know Mr. Smith will continue her legacy of public service.
  Now I am pleased to yield to my good friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves).
  Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I want to also welcome Mr. Smith 
to the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Lacy said that he is a fourth-generation farmer, but he is actually a 
seventh-generation Missourian, and he has been living on the same farm 
that his great-grandfather once lived on. He graduated from my alma 
mater, the University of Missouri, and he has been involved in 
agriculture and practicing law. As a farmer, I don't think we can ever 
have enough farmers in this body.
  Mr. Speaker, Missouri is known as the ``Show-Me'' State, and last 
night, Jason Smith won a special election with over 67 percent of the 
vote, and I think that shows that he is truly the Representative of the 
Eighth District of the State of Missouri.
  So it gives me a great deal of pleasure to yield to the gentleman 
from the Eighth District of Missouri, Jason Smith.
  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Thank you very much.
  First, I would like to thank Congressman Clay and also Congressman 
Graves for their kind remarks and also the Missouri delegation. Thanks 
for being here, and it's great to have that support right behind you.
  Less than 18 hours ago, I was standing before friends and family in 
my small town of Salem, Missouri, and had just gotten elected. We hit 
the ground running and wanted to make sure that we didn't waste any 
time to get up here.
  All I can say is that I truly look forward to working with every 
Member of this body. There are 435 of us. My goal is to get to know 
each and every one of you and help move the country forward one step at 
a time. I know that we're not going to agree on everything, but do you 
know what? We need to find those places that we do agree on the issues 
and then come together and work for the better. I think that we can do 
that, and I look forward to working with the entire Chamber.
  It is truly an honor and a pleasure to represent the fine folks from 
southeast and south central Missouri, following in the good footsteps 
of my friend Jo Ann Emerson and also the late Bill Emerson. Thank you 
all very much, and I look forward to working with you.

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