Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give notice of my intent to resign from the United States House of Representatives on May 12 and to share a few words with my fellow Members and the American people. It has truly been an honor and privilege to…
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give notice of my intent to resign from the United States House of Representatives on May 12 and to share a few words with my fellow Members and the American people.
It has truly been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania's 15th District, and I am proud of my time in Congress. I believe that I have made a difference and improved the lives of the constituents whom I have served in Pennsylvania: from serving on the House Homeland Security Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is being very ably led by my good friend from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster)--and his term is also coming to its end. I want to commend him and congratulate him on his dedicated service all these years--and to my current role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, chairing the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and as past chairman of the House Ethics Committee.
And I was delighted for my good friend Linda Sanchez, who just spoke a few moments ago, serving with her. She was a wonderful partner on that committee. So much of the staff, some of whom are here in the Chamber today, I was so thrilled to be able to have that opportunity to work with her and the staff, who are all so professional.
I also had the opportunity to serve as co-chair of the Tuesday Group Caucus. I was very pleased with what we were able to accomplish in that role. And as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought to fulfill the basic functions of government, like keeping the government funded and preventing default on our Nation's obligations. At times, that has not been easy.
I see my good friend Mr. Cole is here, too. He has been a great appropriator, a great leader, and a great mentor to me.
Unfortunately, due to disruptive political influences, increased polarization has led the Congress to becoming more paralyzed and unable to perform even our most basic and fundamental tasks. This phenomenon manifested itself most clearly during the 2013 Federal Government shutdown, but it continues today.
This political polarization has led to a disturbing trend where fringe elements of both the far right and far left are emboldened and empowered. And while the bases of both political parties are well represented in Congress, the governing center has been under increased pressure.
Too many Republicans expect unquestioning--blind, unquestioning-- loyalty and obedience to President Trump, no matter how absurd or disruptive the comment or behavior. Constitutional separation of powers is almost an alien concept, after relentlessly demanding Congress assert its Article I powers during the Obama years.
On the other side, far too many Democrats offer unflinching resistance and opposition to President Trump, even if they agree with him on a given policy or position.
Separation of political parties has replaced separation of powers as a guiding, governing philosophy. This dynamic is simply not sustainable, and it is already having troubling consequences.
We have already seen a rise in the three-headed monster of isolationism, protectionism, and nativism. These are not qualities of a great nation. In fact, they dishonor the sacrifices and service of the Greatest Generation, who delivered both victory during World War II
and the farsighted, outward-looking, post-war, rules-based order that has brought unprecedented freedom and prosperity to America and its friends, allies, and partners.
Furthermore, traditional democratic values--the rule of law, freedom of press, an independent judiciary--are under unprecedented attack throughout much of the world.
It is incumbent upon all of us to stand up and defend our way of life and our institutions. In Congress, we need to reestablish a strong, bipartisan governing center that will help restore order and stability to Washington and that will also help alleviate a lot of concerns throughout the country.
To be sure, there are a number of Members working towards that goal: the members of the Tuesday Group, Republican Main Street Partnership, the Blue Dogs, New Democrats, Problem Solvers Caucus, and there are others. Many of these Members understand that consensus and compromise are not capitulation or surrender but, instead, are essential to a functioning republic.
We need to pursue real fiscal reform, both on the mandatory side and the revenue side of the ledger. We need a Simpson-Bowles 2.0, with teeth; and reforms must be bipartisan to ensure they are both durable and sustainable, which we know won't happen on a partisan basis.
Additionally, we need to address other challenges, such as how to increase access to and affordability for our Nation's healthcare system, expanding educational opportunities for our children and our grandchildren, and making needed improvements to our infrastructure like so many around here are dedicated to, especially my friend Chairman Shuster.
The administration must realize that America has to honor its agreements if we ever hope to enter into new ones. We simply cannot walk away from American commitments, even ones we may have voted against or disagreed with, if we expect to continue to build new coalitions and enter into new agreements.
Instead, we should double down on the multilateral rules-based order, whatever the flaws, that America worked so hard to establish after World War II by defending the institutions, alliances, and partnerships we established or helped establish: NATO, European unity, and, yes, a global trade regime through which we have advanced America's economic, security, and strategic interests.
We should look at ways to open new markets and expand new opportunities that unleash the power and benefits of the American free enterprise system. All of us, Republicans and Democrats, need to work together to move America forward as friends and partners who share values, ideals, and common interests.
Whether confronting a revanchist, aggressive Russia; a terrorist, theocratic Iranian regime; or China's mercantilist policies, success can only be achieved by finding strength in unity.
And while I may be leaving the Halls of Congress, I am not retreating from the battlefield. Some of you may regret that. I intend to continue aggressively advocating for people and the policies of the sensible center. I hope to provide an even larger voice in favor of responsible governance and hope to foster a strong center-right movement that embraces traditional conservative virtues of order, discipline, stability, measured statements, and incremental change--not the incendiary rhetoric, chaos, and dysfunction that we have, unfortunately, grown accustomed to in recent years. Although my time in Congress is drawing to a close, I know that our Nation's future is bright.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to all my friends and colleagues, again, some of whom are here today. I thank them all, my friends and colleagues not only here in the House, but also in the Senate, for their support, their guidance, their wisdom, and their friendship over the years. It is truly very meaningful to me, and I have been especially touched by some of the very nice things people have said and other tributes that have been paid to me.
My wife said, after she heard a few of them, she is kind of waiting to meet this guy that they are all talking about. But seriously, I can't thank you enough.
I also want to give a special thank-you to all my staff, both past and present, for everything that they have done dutifully to serve our constituents in Pennsylvania and to my legislative and policy priorities.
I should note, some of my staff are seated up in the gallery, past and present. I am not supposed to do that, but, hell, it is my last day, so I can do that.
I just want to again thank the staff for their dedication and work, both my Washington and my district staff, who do a lot of work not just for me, but all of our staffs. They do a lot, and sometimes they take a lot of grief, and we don't say thank you enough to them. But the bottom line is we could have never achieved as much as we did without their dedication and their commitment.
And above all, thank you to the people of Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District for the trust they have shown in me time and again. I have always said I don't know how many constituents would allow their Member the amount of latitude they have given me to be somewhat of an independent voice here and say what I felt needed to be said. I really appreciated my constituents allowing me to do that. I recognize in some districts that might not be case, so to them I say thank you again. After my family, representing them and carrying their voice to Washington has been the honor and joy of a lifetime.
Mr. Speaker, I say thank you, and I yield back the balance of my time.
