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Floor Speech
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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time to do what is fitting and appropriate, and that is, honor the life of our colleague, a life well lived, a Member of the House of Representatives who did such a good job on behalf of his constituents who he represented faithfully since coming to Congress in 2013.
Doug and I knew each other before then. We had interactions on a number of issues that we were mutually passionate about beginning with rural California and people who live in rural areas, which both reflected his and my background.
He, perhaps, represented if not the, one of the largest congressional districts by geography in California, a lot of northern and eastern California. A lot of my colleagues when they think about California they think of Los Angeles or the Bay Area, but we have parts of California where the communities are a white spot in the middle of a major highway or, you know, are 400, 600 people.
Doug was a Member's Member and a Representative who believed that his entire constituency was his passion. He would go to some of those remote areas to indicate and to listen on how he could be a better Representative and make their views known here in our Nation's Capital.
I served with him the entire time that I have been on the House Agriculture Committee, three different farm bill reauthorizations, and he was always willing to meet halfway. Of course, we understood the ag issues affecting California, and he was very proud, very proud to represent the upper Sacramento River Valley and all the wonderful people there.
When disaster struck his district with the wildfires, he was among the first to be there with the challenges of some of the floods in Lake Oroville and Yuba areas. He was there. He reminds us why we serve: not only the passion, but the desire always to put our constituents first and to help people. Let that be a role model for all of us.
Doug, we miss you. Doug had a life well lived. He was a person who cared passionately about our country and about the people's House. May you rest in peace. I give my condolences to your wife and your family. I thank all of you for giving us an opportunity to serve with our friend, Doug LaMalfa.
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