Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy thanked his constituents and lawmakers Thursday as he ready to exit Congress halfway by way of the time period, saying he “loved every single day” regardless of the ignominious finish to his speakership in October.
A conservative insurrection ousted the California Republican from the highest job within the House after simply 269 days wielding the gavel.
Yet Mr. McCarthy, a longtime GOP chief, struck notes of optimism and gratitude on his final day.
“To America, I loved every single day. Less than 13,000 people have ever been given the privilege or the honor to serve in this body,” Mr. McCarthy stated after lawmakers hailed him in a retirement occasion of kinds on the House flooring.
Rep. Ken Calvert, California Republican, kicked off the tributes, which included remarks from Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican and key McCarthy ally who served as interim speaker after Mr. McCarthy‘s ouster. Mr. McHenry recently announced that he would not seek reelection.
House lawmakers also lined up to take a photograph with Mr. McCarthy.
He said he had no regrets about the decision he made as speaker, pointing to efforts to fund the government and make sure troops were paid despite repeated threats to knock him out of the speaker’s chair.
“Do not be fearful if your philosophy brings people more freedom,” Mr. McCarthy stated. “Do not be fearful that you could lose your job over it.”
Mr. McCarthy has served in Congress since 2007, rising to majority whip and majority chief earlier than he received the speaker’s gavel in January after a sequence of inauspicious votes within the new GOP majority.
His speakership was fraught from the beginning attributable to fixed threats from conservatives to oust him over spending issues and different selections.
Mr. McCarthy defended his file, pointing to efforts to safe the southern border and reverse native D.C. efforts to weaken penalties for crimes like carjacking.
“So if you come across that question of whether you should do what’s right out of fear of losing your job, do it anyways. Because it’s the right thing to do, and this is what the nation requires,” he stated. “I think putting people before politics is always the right answer.”
He stated America stays in good arms.
“I know the potential of this nation,” he stated. “I am so thankful to be given the opportunity to serve. I will be departing, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop serving.”
• Reporter Alex Miller contributed to this text.
