On the recordNovember 14, 2016
On Veterans Day, I was pleased to join my many friends and colleagues honoring our veterans, our soldiers, and their families. We stood in front of the Houston City Hall with many, many veterans and their families, local elected officials and Members of Congress, United States Senate, and many, many soldiers and veterans. And we simply said thank you, thank you to them for putting on the uniform. A number of us mentioned that it was only days away from a contentious election, and I specifically said how grateful I am that I live in a nation that allows a contentious election but yet to have the right to peacefully transfer power. Let me also take note of some of the seismic changes that we faced in Texas. I am excited about the newly elected officials in Harris County, the new district attorney, the new sheriff, tax assessor, the new judges that will come, all of them elected by the people. To my community, from Dallas to San Antonio, Galveston and Beaumont, with a new sheriff, the first African American woman, I say that this is democracy. In an hour or two, I will discuss some of the elements that undermined democracy. But I celebrate our soldiers, Mr. Speaker. I honor them for wearing the uniform to give me a sense of freedom and to allow democracy to work. ____________________
