Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy and great pride that I rise to celebrate two longtime members of our congressional community-- indeed our family--as they prepare for retirement: Ella Terry and Patricia Smith, better known as Miss Pat. {time} 1400 On behalf of the United States House of Representatives, it is my privilege to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation for their decades of service. With extraordinary devotion and a deep-seated love for this institution, each has served the Congress longer than most Members. That is reason to applaud. Ahead of their well-earned retirements, let us wish them both well. It is sad to see them go, but we are grateful for their many, many years of service they have given us. On our side of the aisle, we all know that Ella Terry has worked in the House Democratic cloakroom since the dawn of the millennium in January of 2000, after working for more than a decade in the Capitol Coffee Shop. She knows our preferences. Altogether, she has dutifully served on Capitol Hill for 34 years. She has a warm, caring, steadfast presence, a sunny smile, no matter how arduous things may be going on the floor or the cloakroom. With Ella, no one is a stranger, everyone is a friend. She is a bedrock member of our family here in the House. When Congresswoman Gabby Giffords first returned to the floor after the heinous attack on her life, Ella embraced Gabby and told her through tears: I am so proud of you. Gabby was so proud of you, too.…”