Mr. Speaker, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule. I know that you do have a few things to look after these days, and thank you for being here and recognizing the significance of this organization. Mr. Stearns.

The Chair announces that 30 former Members of Congress have responded to their names. Mr. Walsh.

Will the gentlewoman suspend for just a moment. We have been advised that we have to vacate the floor in 5 minutes by 9:25. I would ask that the gentlewoman submit the remainder of her remarks for the Record. However, she must proceed…

The Chair again wishes to thank the former Members of the House for their presence here today and also the leadership of the House of Representatives for hosting us once again in this revered Chamber. Before terminating these proceedings…

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, we all wish you well in the months ahead. The Chair recognizes the distinguished Democratic whip, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

The Chair is happy at this point to recognize the distinguished Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

I thank the gentleman from Maryland. The Chair now calls upon the Honorable Jim Walsh, vice president of the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, to present the Association's annual report to Congress. Mr. Walsh.

Few Congressmen in recent times have had a greater impact than our friend Jim Wright.

No city in America was better represented in Congress than Fort Worth.

Jim Wright was an extraordinary leader both for the people of Fort Worth and for our Nation.

Thank you, Connie. Since we have to be off the floor at 9:30, I'm going to truncate these remarks a little bit. A number of years ago, we created the International Election Monitors Institute under the leadership of then-president Jack…