Wendy Sherman: “I would like to begin the speech I had planned to give tonight. Mr. Speaker, you have been here on many occasions when I…”

“I would like to begin the speech I had planned to give tonight. Mr. Speaker, you have been here on many occasions when I have addressed the House late at night, and this is the last speech of the 106th Congress, as I understand it, the last three quarters of an hour which you will be presiding over this House. I wish the gentleman tremendous luck and tremendous good fortune as the gentleman leaves this House. I want to thank the gentleman for his service to this House and to this Nation, and particularly his service as a presiding officer over this House, which he has done so many times. Mr. Speaker, I especially want to thank you in advance for your indulgence during the next three quarters of an hour. I also want to thank the House for this opportunity to address the House in the closing minutes of the 106th Congress and take this opportunity to wish all of my colleagues happy holidays and a happy and productive new year. Mr. Speaker, we come to the end of the 106th Congress; and we come to the conclusion of the selection of the 43rd President of the United States, perhaps more in exhaustion than in glee, having severely tested our constitutional structure.…”