Hoyer: Speaker Boehner Is a Patriot Who Cares Deeply About This House and the Nation it Serves

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) spoke on the House Floor today to thank Speaker John Boehner for his service. Below is a transcript of his remarks and a link to the video:

Click here to watch the video.

“I rise today to pay tribute to the Speaker of the House, John Boehner. Speaker Boehner and I, as some would note, do not always agree. We've been on opposite sides on this Floor and opposite sides of debate many times. However, that is behind us for John Boehner.

“In all the years I’ve served with him, Speaker Boehner has shown me the same kindness, grace, and friendship that he's shown [to] so many of this House, its colleagues on both sides of the aisle. John Boehner is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and a leader who, even in the act of stepping back from his position in the leadership, has always put the best interest of our country first.

“When it came time to make difficult decisions, even in the face of strong opposition from some in his own party, Speaker Boehner was willing to work across the aisle to make sure that this House was achieving its most fundamental responsibilities to those we have the honor of serving.

“We did not have a catastrophic default [on] our debt, at least twice, in large part because of John Boehner's determination not to let it happen.

“Millions of children benefited from the reforms of No Child Left Behind because John Boehner, the Chairman of the [Education and Workforce] Committee, put children's interests first and worked in partnership with the late Senator Ted Kennedy and Congressman George Miller. That was in the best traditions of a President Bush-sponsored piece of legislation, a Republican Chairman, a Democratic Chairman, and a Ranking Democrat working together on behalf of our country's interests.

“John Boehner worked to keep his Conference and this House marching forward down a productive path. History will be the judge of his success as the leader of his party, but all of us, all of us who have had the honor of serving with him will judge him as we know him, a considerate and thoughtful individual, who is a patriot and cares deeply about this House and the nation it serves.

“I want to thank him, as I would hope all of our Members would thank him, and, frankly, those Members who served with him but are not in this House now, for his service and for his friendship. And I want to wish him well and wish him luck out there on the golf course where I’m sure he'll be spending a lot more time – I’m going to be envious of that –  in addition to time that he will spend with his family and continue to serve his community, his state, and his nation.

“John Boehner served his country and this House of Representatives with fidelity and responsibility, and we should all thank him for that. We wish the Speaker and his wife, Debbie, well as they embark on a new phase of their lives. He's served his country well. I’m confident that he will continue to do so, and I yield back the balance of my time.”