Recognizing Matthew Ceja for His Public Service on Behalf of the 39th District of California

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor one of my longtime staffers, Matthew Ceja. Matt's career in my office spanned over five and a half years, a time in which I have had the honor of watching him grow into each new role.

A proud, born-and-raised Inland Empire native, Matt joined my office at the very beginning of his career on the Hill as an intern. From there he grew into every role from staff assistant to legislative assistant, tackling each new position with great aptitude and enthusiasm.

As a staffer, Matt has been unfailingly dependable. His work on energy and environment issues for the office addressed some of my constituency's most immediate concerns, and his passion for the Inland Empire is always at the core of his work. Matt's commitment to progressive values inflected his approach to each of his portfolio issues, and I am grateful for his depth and breadth when working with me to craft policy.

What makes Matt truly a standout as both a staffer and a coworker is that he possesses qualities that are impossible to teach: his kindness, his generosity, and natural inclination towards mentorship. To every younger staffer that has come to my office after him, Matt has been a source of advice and encouragement. He is everyone's first friend and biggest cheerleader, and he has played a major role in creating the kind of warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment in my office that any Member of Congress would be lucky to have.

Although he will be leaving my office, I am glad that he will not yet be departing the Hill and wish him the best of luck in his new role. The Inland Empire is lucky to have an advocate like him in our corner.

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