RECOGNIZING RETIRING U.S. REP. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

On 2024-12-10, Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY-20) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING RETIRING U.S. REP. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered taxes, trade policy.

RECOGNIZING RETIRING U.S. REP. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS

Congressional Record, Volume 170 Issue 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024) [Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 10, 2024)] [House] [Pages H6590-H6592] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING RETIRING U.S. REP. CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 9, 2023, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) for 30 minutes. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg). Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate my friend, Cathy McMorris Rodgers. From taking on TikTok, as we have talked about, to boosting America's energy strategy, Chairwoman Rodgers has been our fearless leader for the last 4 years on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and as Conference chair before that. I am most thankful for her commitment to taking care of our Nation's children, all our children. Through her efforts on kids' online privacy and safety, as well as on improving health outcomes for babies, children, and mothers, her passion and hard work have never wavered. We are sad to see her go but wish her God's richest blessings in her next stage of life, for it is God who guided her good and principled representation of those she served. The State of Washington and her family are lucky to have her back. Maybe I would change that from lucky to blessed to have her back full time. Thank you, Madam Chair, for your years of service to this country, the committee, the God you serve, and Members like me who so appreciated your leadership. God bless you. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen). Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to stand here tonight with my colleagues to recognize Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and her remarkable service to the United States Congress. When she was elected to Congress, Cathy was a Member of our leadership team, serving as the chair of the House Republic Conference. In the 115th Congress, she led our Conference's messaging machine as we delivered historic results for the American people including the best economy in our lifetime. Additionally, I have learned a great deal from Cathy's leadership on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce this Congress as she helped each Member fulfill our promises to reclaim American energy dominance, expand clean power generation, and improve transparency in our Nation's healthcare system. Above all else, I have cherished sharing our faith and fellowship during LEAD House over these past years. Your love of God and family and devotion to your Christian values is something we will miss in the next Congress. I am proud to call you my sister in the faith. May God bless you and your family as you embark on your next season in life. Sister, I love you dearly. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Indiana (Mrs. Houchin). Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and celebrate my friend, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a dedicated leader whose two decades of service to Washington's Fifth Congressional District and our Nation have been truly exceptional. If I only had one word to describe Cathy, it would be trailblazer, and many people have said that yet tonight. She has been a great example of how it is possible to balance a demanding career in public service, while also being committed to her family. She was the 200th woman elected to Congress, the first female chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the first woman to have three children while serving in Congress. She embodies grace and resilience. She is kind and caring. She always desires to help others achieve success. Quite frankly, Cathy McMorris Rodgers is one of the driving reasons I stand in this Chamber today. Thank you. Those are not the only reasons or the only qualities that make her stand out. Her leadership as chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce has been transformative. She has led efforts to advance energy security, promote healthcare innovation, and build a stronger, more competitive economy. We could go on and on tonight on her policy success. She has been a champion for rural communities, small businesses, and families. She has advocated for policies that reflect the values of the American people. Her legacy is one of tireless advocacy, principled leadership, and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others. It has been an honor to serve alongside Cathy and witness the incredible impact she has made while serving in Congress. While it is bittersweet and the Conference will miss her, we are overjoyed that she will spend more time with her beloved family, with Brian, Cole, Grace, and Brynn. Cathy, best wishes and congratulations. Thank you for your guidance and friendship. You have shown us all what true servant leadership looks like. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman (Ms. Tenney) from of New York. Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my great colleague from New York, Mr. Tonko. I really appreciate this honor. Mr. Speaker, you have heard so many wonderful things about our outgoing chairwoman, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, or, as we like to call her, CMR. That is who she was when I first came into Congress. As you know, she served 20 years. She served honorably. She is an incredible mother. She has championed so many great policies. I would just like to say I call Cathy McMorris Rodgers a friend. I have to say this from my heart. I have never met another person on Earth who represents the godly qualities so important to serving in public office. She is honest, she has integrity, she has compassion, and she has charity. Those things are very rare, and she is going to be so missed with those qualities. She is also a true friend. True friends are hard to come by in Washington, D.C. She is one of those people who stands with you honestly and confidentially throughout the difficult times, throughout your good times. I am so grateful to Cathy McMorris Rodgers for everything she has done for me as a leader, everything she has done for our Nation, and the State of Washington. Another really important part of Cathy McMorris Rodgers that I am really going to miss is her son, Cole, who has been a dear friend of mine here when he comes to visit us in Washington. Cole has become a great friend and a wonderful inspiration for me. I know he inspires so many of us here in Congress and especially Cathy and her family. When Cole was here last, I was a little agitated about a couple of things. I got a little anxious. Cole said: Chill out. I think that is what Cathy will do when she retires next year. She is going to chill out for a little while. She will never stop serving our country, her State, our Nation, our world, her family, and our God. We are so grateful to you and for having you here. It has been a complete blessing to know you. There is never a better friend that I have ever met than Cathy McMorris Rodgers, our beloved CMR. I wish you and your family the best. You really are one in a billion, one in several billion on Earth. We thank you so much. Congratulations and thank you so much for your really honorable, wonderful service to our community. {time} 1845 Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Weber). Mr. WEBER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding, and I thank Congresswoman Harshbarger for doing this for us and for Cathy. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers exemplifies principled leadership. As chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, she has championed--you have heard about them--the policies that protect American families, secure energy independence, and foster innovation. Her deep commitment to her faith, her family, and the cause of freedom has been a guiding light, and her presence will undoubtedly leave a void here in Washington. [[Page H6591]] I want to give you a personal insight from Randy Weber. She was the conference chair, I don't know, 4 years ago maybe, and she got some opposition when she was going to run for conference chair, from a woman. It was going to be a little tough. It was going to be a little tough on the Republican Conference, the Republican Members of Congress. Cathy very graciously stepped down and said she would not run, which left the seat open for the lady that did get the Republican Conference chair. That just shows that she has grace and she cared more about the conference than she cared about herself. Her deep commitment to her faith, her family, and the cause of freedom has been that kind of guiding light and undoubtedly is going to leave that void I talked about. Under Cathy's leadership, I have watched this committee tackle critical issues from affordable energy to healthcare challenges, making our Nation stronger. I was involved with about three Bible studies, and then I found out that Cathy McMorris Rodgers had one on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. I said I am going to start going to that Bible study if she will let me. Unfortunately for her, she did. She let me in. I have watched her grow. I have watched her lead and pray for the Nation and pray for our friends on both sides of the aisle. Cathy's dedication to America, Washington's Fifth District, and her colleagues, all I can say to them and to us is that we have walking among our midst--if you read the Bible, book of Proverbs, chapter 31, we have a virtuous woman. Cathy, we are going to miss you in these Halls, but we are grateful that you were here. In the words of our Lord: Well done, thy good and faithful servant. Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee). Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to be here, to get to recognize such an exemplary Member of Congress. Cathy McMorris Rodgers does all of the things that you could hope a Member of Congress would do, and she does them with integrity and incredible skill. She leads on pol