Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave his farewell speech on the Congress floor, encouraging colleagues to hold on to their philosophical beliefs and not to fear job loss. In a comparison drawn to the iconic British leader, Winston Churchill, he left his fellow Congressmen with words of courage, 'Do not be fearful. If you believe your philosophy brings people more freedom, do it anyways.'
As the holiday season is upon us, Congress has exited the Capital leaving a significant to-do list behind in Washington, D.C. The House will not return to duty until after the Christmas season and into the New Year. Meanwhile, the Senate will make a final attempt on Monday to conclude an agreement on immigration that would address the crisis at the Mexican border. This move, which aims to release aid to Ukraine and Israel, is caught amidst several obstacles.
The lack of resolved legislation, before the House members dispersed for the holidays, has roused visible discontent. Expectations for a productive Congress were disappointed - instead, legislation concerning spy authorities were reluctantly placed onto the Defense Department's authorization bill.
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This scenario sparked frustration from Congressman Matt Gaetz, who previously led the ouster of Kevin McCarthy. Despite the disappointment, Gaetz expressed hope for better results in the upcoming year. Dismay is clear not only from Gaetz but also from those on the hard right.
In an interview on Meghan McCain’s podcast earlier this week, McCarthy acknowledged the fairness of Capitol Hill reporters in their coverage during his time as minority leader. Ever-unpredictable, McCarthy contributed his farewell by offering some parting advice. Echoing Churchill, he restated his belief in 'tough but fair' reporting, while humorously foreshadowing more challenging discourse that is likely to occur in the halls of Congress in the years to come.
