Concluding My Service In Congress
Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor and privilege to serve in Congress for the past 10 years, representing the people of the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania. As many of you know, my mother came to this country alone at the age of…
Mr. Speaker, it has been my honor and privilege to serve in Congress for the past 10 years, representing the people of the 13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania.
As many of you know, my mother came to this country alone at the age of 16, a refugee of the Holocaust. America offered her safety, freedom, and opportunity. Her experience of fear and tragedy, resilience and hope inspired my commitment to public service, my love of our country, and all it can be.
As I conclude my congressional service, I want to thank my family and friends who believed in me and supported me, my constituents who trusted me, the civic and elected leaders, activists and advocates who gave voice to the wide array of concerns and causes, and to my talented staff, who enabled me to do all that we did.
I am proud of what we accomplished together, from the new parks and bike paths along the north Delaware River in northeast Philadelphia to the revitalization of main streets in towns across Montgomery County. We made our streets safer, promoted economic growth, and improved the lives of families across the Philadelphia region.
I came to Congress in 2005 at a time of war. As the daughter of a Korean war veteran, I know how important it is for veterans to find meaningful work to support themselves and their families when they come home. That is why my first legislative initiative to become law addressed the needs of young men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by offering incentives to employers to hire our newest veterans.
In the time since that first legislative victory, I have sought to embrace innovative ideas, to find common ground, and to turn these ideas into action. I successfully championed legislation that is now law, including extending tax credits for energy-efficient commercial buildings, establishing incentives that changed the way physicians write prescriptions to reduce errors and save lives, new tax credits and grants to startup biotech companies, and changes in Medicare to improve access to primary care for our seniors.
Ensuring all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care has been a priority for me throughout my professional life, in both the private sector and in elected office. I am proud of the role I played in the achievement of health coverage for all Americans and protecting and strengthening Medicare and advancing access to care for women and for children, including those with preexisting conditions. Today, we see the benefits of this effort, with millions of Americans who now have meaningful health coverage for themselves and their families.
For this success and others, I want to express my appreciation to the other Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who enabled us to get things done for the people we represent and for the Nation. I value the work that we did together, and I value your friendship.
As the only woman in the Pennsylvania delegation, I am proud that I had the opportunity to stand up for women's rights and for women to be leaders in Pennsylvania and across our Nation.
I am so honored to have served my State and our Nation here in Congress. It is my hope that we, Democrats and Republicans, activists, and everyday Americans can come together to continue to seek ways to ensure safety and security, prosperity and justice, hope and opportunity for the people of our great Nation, just as my mother would have hoped.