Thanking Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers for Her Service

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and pleasure to say thank you, Cathy, and to wish you well. I know there was much celebrating when you were named chair, breaking that barrier, becoming the first woman to lead Energy and Commerce.

As we know, we just heard from our colleague, Anna Eshoo, that there is this breadth and depth to the committee that enables us to serve people in so many ways on so many issues. On behalf of the Democrats in the House, I thank you for the opportunities you presented to work together to do a lot of legislation and certainly to effect policy in the realm of energy and environment, which have been strong points for the committee and certainly of particular interest for me.

I do appreciate all the work on the challenged, the differently abled, the people in our society who teach us much by their daily walks in life. I know your son is an inspiration to you. Thank you for carrying the torch for legislation that enables people to showcase their abilities, to be able to be included in a very powerful way. It is a lifesaving, life-changing opportunity that we can present the given community. I thank you for that forcefulness.

Personally speaking, thank you for the assistance on the medication- assisted treatment effort, the MAT Act, which will, in my opinion, save lives as we enable people to prescribe for those who are struggling and living with the illness of addiction. That is going to be a major difference for so many people that we will never ever meet. That is the joy and I think the soulfulness of this job, where we are able to assist those who will be here in this universe well after we have gone or people who live here and share the moment with us but that we will never meet. Those are great opportunities for us to express in compassionate measure making a difference on behalf of individuals who have deep challenges each and every day in life.

Thank you also for the efforts on bringing together, with our side, with Ranking Member Pallone, to be able to do the Parkinson's bill. There are 1 million people in this country who live with Parkinson's, and the fact that we are able to provide for an effort, an all-out effort, a collaborative effort with agencies in the Federal Government, working with clinicians, patients, and caregivers to make a difference, to make certain that we focus on a cure, better, earlier prognoses, and better treatments. These are measures that will really speak to the dignity of the individual and deliver hope to the doorsteps of so many people who struggle with that illness.

There are countless achievements. I know you will leave here with your heart filled with opportunities that presented themselves where you were able to deliver. On behalf of this side of the aisle, I say thank you. I am sure we haven't heard or seen the last of you. I wish you well as you go into the next phase of life.

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