On the recordDecember 12, 2018
I thank the gentleman for those remarks. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa). Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Calvert, for organizing this tonight. Indeed, it isn't pleasant, because we are losing some great colleagues here. The people have spoken, it is their will in the election, and we all know that this is a fleeting time and opportunity to be here. It just really is a reality check when you have plans and you are going along, and an election happens, and all of a sudden those plans change for some of your colleagues or even yourself. Who knows? But indeed, it has been a great pleasure for me to serve several of my years here overlapping with David Valadao, Ed Royce, Dana Rohrabacher, Darrell Issa, Steve Knight, Jeff Denham, and Mimi Walters. It is a fleeting moment, but also one you will always remember. The friendships are the most important things. I am not going to list bills we have passed or this or that, because indeed what I take away are the friendships. Having come up in the legislature with Mimi, Jeff, Steve, and David, we came in together, we formed our early competitive political lives together in that crucible in Sacramento. I think when I think back on this, I am not going to remember a lot about the bills or a lot about that, and I don't think any of us really will so much. It is the friendships. It is the relationships. And I count Mimi, Jeff, and David as my closest friends in this place.…
