Michelle Lujan Grisham

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Staff Sergeant Patricia Salazar, who recently retired from the New Mexico Air National Guard after 25 years of distinguished service. Throughout her accomplished career, Staff Sergeant Salazar played many valuable roles in defense of our state and our nation.

A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Staff Sergeant Salazar graduated from St. Michael's High School in 1980. She received an athletic

scholarship from the College of Santa Fe and graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology. She went on to receive a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University, Long Beach in 1986. After completing her graduate degree, Staff Sergeant Salazar returned to her home state and attended New Mexico State Police Training Academy. She then enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed her training in 1993.

Staff Sergeant Salazar began her tenure with the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. After the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, she helped develop and initiate emergency evacuation plans for senior Pentagon leadership. In 2003, she transitioned to the New Mexico Army National Guard's 1209th Medical Detachment. From 2009 to 2011, Staff Sergeant Salazar was stationed in Kosovo and supervised a team of field medics during deployment and field operations. In 2012, she returned to Kirtland to serve with the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Special Operations Wing.

I had the pleasure of meeting Staff Sergeant Salazar last year when I worked with the Army to ensure that her father, Staff Sergeant Joe Salazar, received the medals he earned while serving our nation in World War II. He served with the 497th Bombardment Group of the Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945, earning several honors including a Bronze Star. Mr. Salazar was also a role model for his daughter when she enlisted and during her service overseas.

Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Staff Sergeant Patricia Salazar for her 25 years of service to New Mexico and the United States. It is hard- working, service-minded individuals like her who continue to make our state and our nation so great. I wish her the best of luck in all her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise for what will likely be the last time I address the House.

First, I thank the people of New Mexico for entrusting me to represent you in Washington, holding me accountable, and giving me direction. From my first day in Congress to my last, every constituent or stakeholder who stopped me on the street or walked into my office, your office, to tell me about their issues and priorities was my boss. It has been the honor of a lifetime to work with you.

Thank you to our team of brilliant, passionate staff who worked early mornings, late nights, and weekends because they knew just how important our work was to the people we served. Our team secured hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal investments in our State's economy and returned almost $5 million in earned benefits to New Mexico veterans, seniors, and taxpayers.

Your dedication to New Mexico changed lives. Lastly, thank you to all the Members with whom I had the pleasure of serving who helped ensure that my time here was a success.

Whether it was Congressman Meadows helping me launch an investigation into SNAP mismanagement in New Mexico, Congressman Cole for helping pass Care Corps grants to assist caregivers, or Congressman O'Halleran for working with me to pass the first-ever economic development broadband grant program in the farm bill, I have worked with and learned from Members on every part of the political spectrum. And regardless of our differences, I have found a universal passion for solving problems and public service.

Every Member here understands the privilege and responsibility of working in the most powerful institution in the world and the immeasurable potential of this body to address the problems that we were elected to solve. Our shared values and commitment to each other is always and has been this institution's greatest strength.

To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson: Let us never forget that the differences of opinion are not differences of the fundamental principles that unite us as Americans. We are all Democrats. We are all Republicans.

I believe that we can embrace our differences of opinion in a shared effort to form a more perfect union while never allowing polarization, politics, and short-term political expediency to undermine our obligation to make a difference in the lives of those who sent us here.

Always remember that power is short lived, politics is cyclical, and one day someone else will fill our shoes.

As Congressman Cummings used to say when I served with him on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee: We only hold these positions of power, leadership, and trust for a short period of time. What better way to honor the great leaders who came before us and the people who entrusted us to serve in their footsteps than by seizing every opportunity we have to work together and to pass the reins of our Nation to future leaders better than we found it.

To all the new Members: Stand tall, no matter how tall you are; be courageous; don't take ``no'' for an answer; and never stop working to tear down the roadblocks that stand in the way of advocating for your constituents who count on you every day.

And to the people of New Mexico, thank you for the honor of representing the First Congressional District, and thank you for entrusting me to revolutionize our education system, lead the Nation in clean energy development, and create an economy that prioritizes hardworking families as your next Governor. I look forward to continuing to work for you in your Roundhouse next year.

Mr. Speaker, although I yield back for the final time, I have never been more hopeful about our future and the next generation of Members who will stand here, address this Chamber, and commit to the shared values that form the foundation of progress after I am gone.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. James Borrego on becoming Head Coach of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Mr. Borrego is the first head coach of Hispanic heritage in the history of the league.

A native of Albuquerque, Mr. Borrego attended Albuquerque Academy and led the basketball team to two state championships. He went on to attend the University of San Diego, where he walked on to the team and later served as a graduate assistant coach. He earned a bachelor's degree in English as well as a master's degree in Leadership Studies.

After leaving the University of San Diego in 2003, Mr. Borrego joined the San Antonio Spurs organization, where he began as an assistant video coordinator and eventually was promoted to assistant coach. During his tenure with the Spurs, he was a part of two NBA Championship winning teams.

In 2010, Mr. Borrego moved to the New Orleans Hornets and served as an assistant coach for two seasons. He then became an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, which included a stint as interim head coach in 2015. In 2015, Mr. Borrego returned to his original NBA team as an assistant coach for the Spurs.

Mr. Borrego has noted that his upbringing in Albuquerque taught him to value the Hispanic culture he grew up surrounded by while also appreciating the opportunity to live in such a diverse community. The people of Albuquerque are so proud that one of their own has had such an accomplished career and reached the top of the NBA's coaching ladder.

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. James Borrego for making history by becoming the NBA' s first Hispanic head coach. I wish him, his wife, Megan, and his children, Grace, Zachary, and Nicholas the best of luck in this new chapter of their lives.