Rep. Gallego says goodbye, slams Congress

Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Texas) bid Congress farewell in a floor speech Wednesday, lamenting Americans’ dissatisfaction with politics.

Gallego, who lost reelection after one term in the House, expressed disappointment that the 113th Congress would be ranked as one of the most unproductive sessions in modern history.

{mosads}”Who are the giants of history among us? Where are the statesmen and women who have accomplished historic feats through signature legislative achievements?” Gallego asked.

Gallego noted that major bipartisan legislation, like overhauling the Department of Veterans Affairs in light of lengthy wait times for medical appointments, didn’t happen very often. 

“When Congress puts party labels aside, like we did on VA reform, we can accomplish some great things for the American people. But those occasions were far too rare,” Gallego said.

The Texas Democrat said voter frustration with Congress resulted in historically low turnout. Exit polling showed that turnout for the 2014 midterms was the lowest in any election cycle since World War II.

“This Congress made history as the least productive and most unpopular Congress in the history of this proud nation. And the American people responded by making history of their own. On Election Day, a record number of them simply threw up their hands, wondered, ‘What’s the point?’ and didn’t go to the polls,” he said.

Gallego called on the new Congress to find a way to engage voters again.

“A robust democracy requires active participation,” he said.