Fixing A Broken Washington Means Bridging Partisan Divides

Floor Speech

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Mr. McADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to say farewell to this institution that I have been so lucky and honored to serve.

I want to first thank my wife, Julie, for supporting my career in public service for the past 12 years and for these last 2 years while I have been a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives. It is an understatement to say that I could not have done this job without her, both in terms of her unconditional love and support, for taking care of our family while I have traveled back and forth to Washington, and as a thought partner, sounding board, strategic adviser, moral conscience, and North Star. Any time that I was faced with a politically difficult dilemma, she would tell me to follow my conscience and stand for what I believe in.

I want to also thank my four children: James, Kate, Robert, and Isaac: Your humor, love, and support have kept me going even when things get tough. Thank you for allowing me to pursue this great adventure, and I am looking forward to more evenings at home with the four of you.

I also want to thank my staff. I know that I have had one of the best staffs on Capitol Hill, and it is a testament to their hard work and their perseverance that we were able to accomplish as much as we did. So to Nichole, Tiffany, Alyson, Eric, Michelle, Andrea, Chris, Brennen, Julianne, Katie, Christian, Marcus, Hannah, and Stephanie, thank you.

To the people of Utah who granted to me this opportunity, thank you.

I also thank my House colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, for your ideas, for our constructive disagreements. For those who shared my desire to work together to find solutions to our challenges, I am grateful.

Mr. Speaker, I packed up my Washington, D.C., office this week with mixed emotions: pride in the work that I accomplished to support Utah's hardworking families, but frustrated at what did not get done. Nothing captures it quite like the failure to deliver to date much-needed emergency relief due to the coronavirus.

We see this catastrophe happening in Utah and around the country. People are dying; people are sick; people are hurting economically; small businesses are on the brink of failure, and many have already failed. It is time for each and every one of us to step forward and to do our part.

It is long past time for Congress to put the partisanship and politics aside and to do its job, to get it done and to show results. A bill that does not pass the House and Senate and get signed by the President means nothing to struggling businesses or to a struggling family.

The partisan divide has taken a toll on public confidence in government's ability to meet the challenges we were elected to solve. Americans recognize their distrust of the Federal Government and each other is a problem that gets in the way of solving tough issues. A new type of polarization is gripping the country.

As one researcher noted: ``This level of political divisiveness on both sides creates a feedback loop of hatred and leaves the U.S. open to manipulation by foreign powers that wish to further these internal rifts.''

I have tried to counter that in my public service by walking a centrist path: to heal and to listen where I can, to hear from all sides, and to find common ground.

I believe it is important to elect people willing to work across the aisle, people like me who build bridges rather than fan the flames. I have seen this work, whether it is working with Republicans to counter the alarming rise in the rate of suicide or traveling to our southern border to get agreement for emergency food, housing, and medical aid for refugees fleeing violence and danger in their home countries. Once you learn that people in both parties agree on both humanitarian treatment and securing the border, efforts can focus on ironing out the details.

I was proud to represent Utah's Fourth Congressional District during the 116th Congress, serving my community, my State, and my country as an elected Representative in the people's House. This was a great honor and a privilege. I am glad to have carried out their good ideas across the finish line, including four bills expected to be signed into law.

I have built relationships with Republicans and Democrats that led to success on clean air, stopping child trafficking, preventing suicide, and recovering investment savings for hardworking seniors cheated by fraudsters.

My wish this holiday season for those who serve next year in Congress is to be less partisan and more like Utahns who see the best in each other, who work together, roll up their sleeves, and solve problems together for the good of everyone.

Godspeed, and may God bless the United States of America.

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