[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16017-16018]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         PUTTING FLORIDA FIRST

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Graham) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. GRAHAM. Mr. Speaker, I am so very fortunate to have grown up in a 
family dedicated to public service. I watched and learned from my 
father as he served as a State legislator, Florida's Governor, and as a 
United States Senator, and from my mother who worked tirelessly as an 
advocate for students and seniors. Together, they were a team that 
always put Florida first.
  Following in their footsteps, I served my community as a PTA 
volunteer, and I worked for my local school district. While I was happy 
to serve, I never planned to follow in my father's footsteps into 
politics. But as our country became more divided, my thoughts began to 
change. Like so many Americans, I was disappointed to see our Nation's 
civil discourse deteriorate to shouting matches on cable news and 
gridlock in government.
  In 2013, I decided to run for office with my own message and my own 
mission: to bring back civility, to work with both parties to actually 
get things done, and to always put the people of Florida first.

                              {time}  1015

  I ran for office to bring the north Florida way to Washington. Almost 
4 years after making that decision, I am proud to say we have had many 
successes in our own mission.
  After winning my election, I immediately began reaching out to my 
Florida colleagues, Republicans and Democrats. I am proud to say that 
those friendships have paid off to the benefit of Florida.
  We were able to recruit almost the entire State delegation to support 
our Apalachicola Bay Restoration Act. I cosponsored legislation with 
Congressman Patrick Murphy to protect the Everglades and with 
Congressman David Jolly to ban oil drilling off the coast of Florida.
  I asked to serve on the committees that were most important to my 
district--the Armed Services Committee and the Agriculture Committee.
  On the Armed Services Committee we were able to make substantial 
legislative gains. We were able to amend the National Defense 
Authorization Act with initiatives to protect programs that helped 
Florida's economy, create jobs, and strengthen our national security, 
as well as the work we have done to improve our relationship with 
Israel, including authorizing a joint anti-tunneling program to fight 
terrorism and to protect both of our countries' borders.
  On the House Agriculture Committee, I work closely with farmers 
across the State. I will never forget our 14-county north Florida farm 
tour, where I tried my own hand at planting peanuts and even pregnancy 
checked a cow. I am so proud of the work we did to bring the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture Strike Force program to Florida, which will 
help rural counties to protect their communities, to grow their 
economies, and to create jobs.
  While we have had many successes in Washington, I am even more proud 
of the work we have accomplished in Florida. Our focus on constituent 
services and cutting through bureaucratic redtape has paid off. We have 
helped return almost $2 million in benefits owed to Florida seniors and 
families, including more than half-a-million dollars to veterans.
  While the numbers are impressive, the stories behind them are what 
really count. Stories like Kenneth McCray, a Vietnam veteran who was 
denied benefits by the VA until our office stepped in to help. In every 
vote and in every way, we always put the people of Florida first.
  While working in Congress, the people of north Florida have never let 
me down. I have felt their love and support in each hug, whether at a 
press conference or along a parade route. I have witnessed their 
compassion after Hurricane Hermine, when neighbors helped neighbors 
clear debris and sheltered those in need. I have seen local leaders put 
partisanship aside to fight for our communities.

[[Page 16018]]

  We call this the north Florida way, but we don't have a monopoly on 
that spirit. It is the essence of the American spirit. I have witnessed 
a bit of it here in Washington. Between campaigns and commercial 
breaks, I have seen that Republicans and Democrats can actually like 
one another. If we can begin talking to each other again instead of 
shouting at each other, we can move our country forward in a way that 
helps every American.
  So, as I prepare to leave Congress, I offer up this parting advice to 
new and veteran Members. Take the time to form friendships, put 
partisanship aside, and always put the people you represent first.
  Now that I have shared this advice, I would like to end my speech by 
saying thank you. Thank you to my committed staff, my family, and, most 
importantly, I want to thank the people of north Florida's Second 
Congressional District. I am so thankful to them for giving me the 
opportunity to serve. Running for Congress and serving in the House has 
been an enriching experience with many workdays, possum festivals, and 
parades along the way.
  I am sad it is coming to an end, but this moment is bittersweet. I 
will always treasure the friendships and experience I have gained in 
Congress. I know that as this chapter closes, another opens, and I will 
continue to serve my community and the people of Florida for as long as 
I am able.

                          ____________________