Welcoming the Honorable James Gallagher to the House of Representatives

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, we welcome a new Member of the California congressional delegation to our ranks.

On June 2, James Gallagher was duly elected in a special election to

fill the remainder of the term vacated by our friend and former colleague, the beloved late Doug LaMalfa.

Doug was passionate about his commitment to the people of northern

California and advocating for rural Californians, a passion that I am sure is shared by Representative Gallagher.

As chair of the Democratic congressional delegation, it is my honor

to welcome you to the largest delegation in Congress, representing the greatest State in the Union.

We look forward to working with you to advocate on behalf of

• Californians here in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to my friend, Mr. Calvert, dean of the Republican delegation from California.

Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, as chair of the California Republican delegation, I rise to welcome our newest Member of the body, the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallagher).

Today, the people of California's First District have chosen a

champion, once again. James comes to this floor having devoted his entire career to what we affectionately call the North State: 6 years on the Sutter County Board of Supervisors, more than a decade in the California State Assembly, and years of service as his party's leader in Sacramento.

He fills the seat made vacant by the loss of our dear friend and

colleague, Doug LaMalfa, a tireless voice for rural California who is deeply missed in this Chamber.

I have no doubt that James will carry the same fighting spirit and

• love of country to this work ahead.

To James and his family, welcome. The First District couldn't ask for a finer Representative, and the delegation couldn't ask for a better friend.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be the first Member of the House of Representatives to yield to our new colleague, Representative James Gallagher.

Mr. GALLAGHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

I have some very long prepared remarks today. No, I am truly honored to be here this afternoon, and I come here to this floor to fill some very big boots in Congressman Doug LaMalfa.

I come here from the wild north of California, of industrious people; of beautiful landscapes, mountains, and valleys; the breadbasket and farming capital of the north. I come here on behalf of the citizens of the First Congressional District, who overwhelmingly gave me their stamp of approval to be here to speak for them.

I intend to do so because, many times, they are the overlooked part

of California, and they need a voice. Doug LaMalfa was their voice, and I plan to continue in that same spirit.

I come here also as a husband to my wife, Janna, who joins me in the

gallery with my children, and whom I certainly could not do this without.

I am also joined by the wife of Doug LaMalfa. Jill LaMalfa is with us in the gallery today, as well, and some rabble-rousers who have come along from the wild north. I thank them for joining me here today, as well.

I am looking forward to serving in this body. It is truly, truly an honor. I know that this work that we do is very important.

I pray that God goes ahead of us and gives us the wisdom, the

fortitude, and the integrity to bring our country together, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “to bind up the Nation's wounds,” and that we do right and that we seek the righteous way for the people of this great Nation.

I am proud to be one person in that long line of many leaders who

have been able to be on this floor and speak for their people, and I take that honor very seriously.

I also know that my colleagues didn't come here necessarily for me. There is a big game tonight, I hear. I did want to say that I did play baseball, thanks to my dad here, who played in the minor leagues for the Kansas City Royals organization. I spent a lot of my young life on a baseball field somewhere, and so, with that, I will just end with: Play ball.