On the recordNovember 27, 2018
Mr. Speaker, Representatives of the 115th Congress, I am profoundly humbled and honored that the people of my district have entrusted me with the duty of representing them. The work of conducting the people's business in this Chamber has endured through unfinished struggles for equality and justice, through conflicts abroad and crises at home. I look forward to taking part in that work through the remainder of this session and into the next Congress, when a historically diverse freshman class, including more women than ever before in our Nation's history, will take their oaths. Our first responsibility must be to the most vulnerable and least fortunate among us, and our voices should amplify theirs. My parents both lived lives of service. My father, a conservative Republican, spent his entire career in the Air Force and was driven by a sense of duty. My mother, a progressive Democrat, believed at her core that we are defined by what we do for others. They have both passed away now, but my standing here is a testament to them. We in Congress have a responsibility and opportunity to improve the everyday lives of the people of our districts. On behalf of my community, your communities, and generations to come, I know that we can and must rise to the occasion and deliver shared and lasting progress. ____________________





