Serving in Congress Has Been the Honor of My Lifetime

Floor Speech

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Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to send off my colleague, Debbie Lesko, and honor her long career in public service.

I first got to know Debbie when she was working on pension reform as a State senator and I was working on pension reform as mayor of the city of Phoenix.

We were both elected to Congress in the year 2018, and over the last 6 years, we have probably canceled each other's votes out more often than not.

Mr. Speaker, you know what? We have developed a really great friendship, spending so many hours together, talking about our families and politics at Sky Harbor International Airport and DCA as we wait to board our weekly flights back and forth to Washington.

I want to say something about Debbie. She inspires me. She is a survivor of domestic violence, and she got out of an abusive marriage.

Do you know what she did?

She poured herself into our community on the Peoria school board, at the State legislature, and now as a Member of the United States Congress. That is a great American success story.

Over her years in public office, she has shown immense courage in sharing her story as a domestic violence survivor and using her office to fight for other survivors to receive the care and attention they deserve.

To Debbie's husband, Joe, I see you on those weekly flights. It is not easy being a congressional spouse. I see the long hours you put in, in supporting Debbie. Thank you for sharing her with us.

I am going to miss Debbie in Congress, but she is continuing her work in public service as a newly elected Maricopa County supervisor. Debbie, I have one request in your new role. Please don't ever let the Cyber Ninjas back in Maricopa County.

In all seriousness, I am wishing you all the very best. Godspeed, Congresswoman Lesko.

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