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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E926-E927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FAREWELL LETTER FROM U.S. REP. TOM GRAVES (R-GA-14)
______
HON. TOM GRAVES
of georgia
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 2, 2020
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Madam Speaker, when I was young, my Dad always
used to tell me that if I dreamed big and worked hard, I would achieve
much. Dream Big, Work Hard, Achieve Much. I have carried that advice
with me my entire life. Those words fueled my ability to go from the
hall of a single-wide trailer to the halls of Congress.
I write that today as I reflect on what makes America so special: the
ability to chart your own course and achieve any dream. My heart is
filled with gratitude for our country and the enduring experiment of
democracy that has allowed someone like me to end up in the U.S. House
of Representatives for the past decade.
Serving as the Representative of Georgia's 9th and 14th districts has
truly been the honor of my life. This privilege was made possible by
the sacrifice and support of so many wonderful people. First and
foremost, my parents ``Big Tom'' and Penny; my wife, Julie; my
children, Josephine, John, and Janey. My family has supported me every
step of the way on this path of public service. My wife and children
bore a burden that often goes unrecognized in politics. There are many
precious days of life that we spent apart. Knowing their sacrifice
motivated me every day to do the very best I could. Now it's time to
shift the focus to them, and support their journeys and dreams, just as
they supported mine.
For my final words entered into the Congressional Record as a member
of Congress, I want to share the most essential lesson learned over the
past decade: the importance of relationship building. Tone, rhetoric
and civility are crucial to opening doors to new and unexpected
relationships with lawmakers from across the political spectrum. Often
the best policies are the product of broad perspectives and creativity,
with input from people who bring experience from different walks of
life.
I can think of no better embodiment of that ideal than the Select
Committee on the Modernization of Congress. Committee members hail from
opposite sides of the country, with different professional backgrounds
and life experiences. Regardless of our political and personal
differences, our commitment to those we serve--our constituents--came
first. The way our committee operated should serve as a model for this
institution. Our bipartisan collaboration resulted in 97
recommendations to make the legislative branch work better. I hope that
this work continues, because the American people deserve an institution
that is as forward thinking and innovative as they are. Bipartisan
relationships are at the heart of anything that can become law, and the
American people are far better off when we connect over shared goals
and work together to accomplish them.
Serving on the Select Committee is the perfect capstone to my career
in public service. I am grateful to my partner, Chair Derek Kilmer of
Washington, for his outstanding leadership. Nothing the committee
produced would have been possible without Chair Kilmer's bipartisan
approach and boundless passion for our work. I am also grateful to
Leader Kevin McCarthy of California for appointing me Vice Chair of the
committee. It was truly an honor to be chosen from the pool of talented
members I serve alongside.
I am also filled with gratitude for my staff, who have delivered
incredible service to my constituents and the country. These are people
with a heart for public service, who truly care for our nation. I saw
tremendous sacrifices made: long hours, late nights, the burden of
stress and pressure that comes with the weight of the work, whether it
was securing life-saving veterans benefits for one person or passing a
policy that affects millions of Americans. My team carried themselves
in such a way that it was clear they knew the honor and privilege of
working for the U.S. House.
In my tenure, I had two chiefs of staff: Tim Baker and John Patrick
Donnelly, They led our
[[Page E927]]
teams in Washington and Georgia, which included the following people:
My current staff, Bud Whitmire, Jason Murphy, Sam Mahler, Danielle
Stewart, Ryan Diffley, Kristin Fillingim, Rachel Black, Max Berry,
Diane Menorca, Tracey Bartley, Valerie Jones, Ashley Langston, Travis
Loudermilk, Linda Liles and Jackie Mooney.
My former staff, Josh Finestone, Jason Lawrence, Bo Butler, Drew
Ferguson, Garrett Hawkins, Shivani Vakharia, Rebecca Anderson, Morgan
Joyce, Maggie Newton, Kate Bell, Ansley Rhyne, Alicia Stafford, Matt
Hodge, Paige Davies and Ericka Pertierra.
Appropriations and Modernization Committee staff, John Martens, Jake
Olson, Tim Monahan, Jenny Holmes, Dena Baron, Marybeth Nassif, Kelly
Hitchcock, Ariana Sarar, Amy Catherine Murphy, Brad Allen, Allie Neill,
Shalanda Young and Lisa Molyneux.
These are just some of the many extraordinary people who contributed
to our work over the years.
Now, it is time for the next season in life. I will be forever
grateful for the incredible privilege of serving my country and my
community as a member of Congress.
May God bless every person in this institution, those serving now and
those who serve in the years to come, with the wisdom, strength and
compassion to advance this great and glorious cause we call the United
States of America.
God bless America, and God bless Georgia. Go Dawgs.