'The greatest honor of my life': Retiring Democrat departs Congress with emphasis on 'hope'

United States Representative David Cicilline (D-Rhode Island) — the openly-gay ranking member on the House Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust — delivered his final address as a congressman on Tuesday.

Cicilline announced in February that he will retire from government effective June 1st to serve as the president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Foundation, a community-run organization that helps secure funding for local nonprofit groups.

Cicilline's departure comes amid his seventh term.

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"I come from a state whose motto is hope, and as I leave Congress, I want to leave with this parting word — hope. Hope for our democracy and for this institution. For centuries, the United States has been the hope of the world. We are the nation where freedom, equality, opportunity for all, and unity have made us a beacon of hope in some of the darkest times in human history. For generations, men and women have fought to preserve our way of life, and many have given their blood, sweat, and even their lives for it. Yet today, there are forces working to undermine our democratic institutions and our shared values. This institution has the sacred responsibility to honor the sacrifices made by so many. And the work we do every day, and the way we treat one another as colleagues, and in our commitment to let truth, not fear, reason not extremism, and respect for all, not division, lead our every effort," Cicilline said.

"Our unity as a nation and the ability of our democracy to withstand the test of time depends on the resolve of this institution, those who serve in its halls, and the people whose votes are their voice in this government to keep that hope alive. And so with that, I once again extend my deepest gratitude to the people of Rhode Island for giving me the greatest honor of my life. The opportunity to represent you for the past twelve years here in the Congress of the United States. May God bless you and protect you. May the spirit of hope forever endure in this institution and the people who serve it," Cicilline added.

"May God bless the United States of America," Cicilline concluded. "And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for the final time in this chamber, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island, Mr. Magaziner."

Watch Cicilline's speech below or at this link.

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