On the recordFebruary 13, 2018
I thank the gentleman for not only doing this but allowing me to be a part of it. Mr. Speaker, I am a relatively new member of the committee, as the chairman is aware. I have only served on it for about 13 months now. I have only been in Congress for 3 years. One of the most frequent questions that I get asked when I go back home is: What is the most surprising thing that you have discovered since you have become a Member of Congress? I tell them the truth: The most surprising thing is also the most encouraging thing, and that is that there really are a lot of good people in Congress. There are a lot of people serving in Congress, a lot of good people who work with staff and work as staff, who are good people who truly want to do the right thing and who truly want to move this country forward. Yes, that is somewhat surprising. But more than anything, it is encouraging. Sometimes I feel like as Members that we get kind of a bad rap, that we are dysfunctional, that we don't get along, and that we are not getting anything done. I get frustrated by that. But I think about people like Ray Baum, and I think: If they only knew somebody like this, somebody who is truly dedicated, who is truly trying to do the right thing and to move this country forward, then they would understand better. You are not going to see that on the news. This is not going to be reported that, oh, we have lost one of the good guys. That is not what sells papers.…
