Hastert's Farewell Address

HASTERT: Madam Speaker, as members of Congress, we are not here just to vote, but to speak -- to give voice on this floor to the aspirations of our constituents.

So, this place where we speak, the well of the House, is very special to me. When I was a freshman congressman in 1987, I delivered my first remarks from this podium.

12 years later on January 6th, 1999, when I was first sworn in as speaker, I made my acceptance speech from here, as well. I explained at the time that I was breaking the tradition of the speaker by making an acceptance remarks from the -- not from the speaker's chair, because my legislative home is here on the floor, with you, and so is my heart.

Well, my heart is still here; it always will be. But the Bible reminds us, in the book of Ecclesiastes, through everything, there's a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. And I think that pretty much sums up our existence in this place.

So now, after 21 years in serving the people of Illinois in this House, the time has come for me to make my last speech from this podium.

HASTERT: Our founding fathers envisioned a citizen legislature. And it's time for this legislator to return to being a private citizen.