Kendrick Meek: “Members of my beloved House, it is no secret that I love this institution and I love my job in Congress. Working with…”

“Members of my beloved House, it is no secret that I love this institution and I love my job in Congress. Working with all of you over the years has been one of the great joys of my life. I told this to my constituents in Miami on Sunday, because they mean a lot to me. And I love all of you, too, both the Republicans and the Democrats, even the independents, so I wanted you to hear it from me directly that I have decided not to run for reelection this fall. So you will have me until December. I have enjoyed this stay. It has been a good run, Mr. Speaker. It has been a good run. I was elected to Congress in 1992. Corrine Brown, Alcee Hastings and I were the first African Americans elected from the State of Florida since right after Reconstruction. I said then that we waited 100 years to get to this body, so we were very anxious to get to work, and so we did. I came here after 13 years as a State representative and a State senator in the Florida legislature. I have been impressed with the House from the very first. Every time I look at the Capitol dome and look at Lady Liberty I am more and more in awe. It will never get old to me. I am a good American. I love America. I was elected to Congress during a crisis time in my community. Hurricane Andrew, the costliest hurricane of all time, had just devastated the entire south end of my district. We worked very hard together, both Republicans and Democrats.”