Welcoming the Honorable Patrick Ryan to the House of Representatives

Floor Speech

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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, as the dean of the New York delegation, I have the distinct honor to rise today to introduce the new Member of the House of Representatives from New York's 19th Congressional District, Representative Patrick Ryan.

Representative Ryan is a fifth generation New Yorker who was born and raised in Kingston, New York. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served our Nation as an Army intelligence officer and deployed for two combat tours in Iraq.

Returning to New York as a decorated veteran, Congressman Ryan went on to become a successful small business owner before returning to public service as the County Executive of Ulster County.

As County Executive, Representative Ryan has been shown to be a dedicated public servant, and I know he does not take his new role lightly.

As the dean of the delegation, I know I speak on behalf of the entire delegation when I say that Representative Ryan will be a wonderful colleague whose experience, entrepreneurial leadership, and history of devoted service to our country will help this Chamber navigate the challenges of our times.

I am now honored, Madam Speaker, to yield to a fellow New Yorker (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. RYAN of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. Nadler for those kind words and introduction. I am proud to rise today as one of the newest Members and Representatives in the House, serving the great people of New York's 19th Congressional District.

On a clear, crisp May morning in 2004, I stood proudly with my West Point classmates, raised my right hand, and solemnly swore an oath to protect and defend our Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. I still vividly remember the mix of emotions I felt as my classmates and I tossed a thousand white service caps simultaneously into the air--elation, relief, honor, pride, but mostly the tremendous weight of responsibility that came with that oath.

I didn't know exactly what lay ahead, but I knew I would soon lead troops in combat and that it would be my job to protect my fellow soldiers, to serve my country, to serve my community, to make difficult decisions with life or death consequences, and always to maintain my integrity, no matter what.

Today, 18 years later, I am so proud to have renewed that oath to protect and serve our great Nation. The weight of the responsibility I feel today standing before you-all is even greater. The same way that I fiercely protected my fellow soldiers, I will fight for my constituents, the community that raised me, that sent me care packages every single week when I was deployed overseas, that has had my back every step of the way. I will fight for their health, I will fight for their safety, and I will fight for their freedom.

As I look up into the gallery, I can see my wife, Rebecca, and our two young boys, Theo and Cameron.

Theo is clapping. Good job, buddy.

They are extremely well behaved tonight, and for that we are greatly appreciative.

They are 3 years old and 9 months old. They are too young to fully appreciate the significance of this day and this moment, but I cannot wait to explain to them the immense pride I feel standing here before you, with you, my distinguished colleagues, humbly representing my community.

This is a moment of immense consequence and challenge for our country. I truly believe it is an all-hands-on-deck moment for our democracy.

I pledge that I will fight every single day, with every ounce of my being, to deliver for the great people of New York's 19th Congressional District and to renew trust and faith in our Nation.

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