Welcoming the Honorable Brad Finstad to the House of Representatives
Floor Speech
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Mr. FINSTAD. Madam Speaker, I thank Leader McCarthy, and the Minnesota delegation.
Madam Speaker, it is an extraordinary honor to be here and to be chosen by my southern Minnesota friends, families, and neighbors to serve in this Congress.
First, let's take time to remember my predecessor, the late Congressman Hagedorn. He was a true fighter for southern Minnesota, and he was a great example of hard work and what we strive to be in Minnesota.
I thank my wife, Jackie, and these hooligans up front, my seven kids.
Thank you, guys.
I thank my parents, my brother, sister-in-law--everyone, just thank you so much. We really couldn't do this without you, so I just appreciate you being here and the support and love that you have given us our entire lives.
Madam Speaker, people in my district sent a farmer to Congress. I tell people that when I wake up, I have dirt under my fingernails-- sorry, Jackie. I don't clean up that well. But I drive a John Deere tractor, and on the farm, when we wake up in the morning, we know something will be broke. So we wake up trying to figure out, How am I going to fix things?
So really, to me, serving in Congress is all about that. Rolling up my sleeves, taking that farmer mentality, figuring what is broke, and how we are going to fix it, and move on. That is the farmer in me, and that is the southern Minnesotan in me, born and raised. That is the DNA that Jackie and I have had in our generations of families that have built a farm and agribusiness in south central Minnesota.
We inherited the best country on Earth from the last generation. I think quite often of those that have given blood, sweat, and tears to give us the greatest country in the world. As I look at my seven children and the children across southern Minnesota and across this country, I know that we can do better, and it is up to us to make sure that we are leaving them a better country than we have been left.
Madam Speaker, with that attitude, with that work ethic, and with my compassion and hope to meet all of you and work with you, I just very humbly say thank you. I am ready to get to work.
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