Congressional Republicans celebrated House Speaker Paul Ryan and heralded his nearly 20-year tenure in Congress after Ryan revealed he will not run for re-election in November.
Ryan told his fellow Republican colleagues Wednesday morning he will serve the remainder of his term and retire in January. The speaker said his decision stemmed largely from his desire to spend more time with his children and avoid being a “weekend dad.”
“Paul Ryan stepped into his role as speaker at a critical moment, and has led our House with great dignity. Under his leadership we have worked with President Trump to pass groundbreaking conservative reforms like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that are making life better for the American people,” said House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La. “Paul is a deeply principled father and conservative leader, and a great friend. I’m grateful for his leadership and I look forward to working with him through the remainder of his time in the House to advance President Trump’s agenda so we can rebuild our economy and preserve our Republican majority.”
Scalise, the No. 3 House Republican, is a top contender to replace Ryan, along with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. McCarthy also praised Ryan’s record in Congress.
“Paul is one of my best friends. He has fearlessly led this conference and championed ideas that are moving this country forward. We enacted generational tax reform, we are rebuilding our military, and we passed historic legislation to protect the lives of the most vulnerable. Paul’s leadership has pulled each of these and countless other victories across the finish line,” McCarthy said.
The House majority leader, though, said Republicans still have more to accomplish this year.
“Obviously, today is a sad day for me personally and for our conference, but Paul’s selfless leadership has put our conference and our country in a better place. There is more work to do this year, and we will do it together as a team,” McCarthy said. “We will continue to carry the flag we carried as Young Guns, fighting every day to earn the support of the American people and continue to make our country stronger.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, thanked Ryan for his leadership and said he “set us on a path” to keep control of the House.
“Speaker Ryan’s leadership has transformed our nation,” Stivers said in a statement. “His vision to reform our broken tax code sparked a new era of American prosperity and confidence.”
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said Americans should understand Ryan’s wishes to be with his family more.
“Paul Ryan is a person of true integrity who I have had the great fortune to know over the last eight years. He has served Janesville, southeastern Wisconsin and our nation honorably. We should all be grateful for his sacrifice and understand his desire to be a full time dad,” Johnson tweeted.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., spoke of Ryan’s positive demeanor and said he is pleased the speaker will remain in Congress to serve his full term.
“His leadership was vital to securing everything from the largest year on year increase in defense funding in 15 years to the remaking of the way we treat and find cures for rare diseases. What’s more, Paul has paired that ambitious agenda with an infectious good cheer and unflagging commitment to serve all Americans,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
“I am glad we can count on his continued leadership through the rest of the year because our work together is far from finished,” he continued. “I look forward to collaborating closely these next months to implement more of the inclusive pro-growth, pro-opportunity agenda, the American people are counting on us to keep advancing.”
Paul Ryan is a person of true integrity who I have had the great fortune to know over the last eight years. He has served Janesville, southeastern Wisconsin and our nation honorably. We should all be grateful for his sacrifice and understand his desire to be a full time Dad. -rj
— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) April 11, 2018
Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee who chose Ryan as his running mate, said the Wisconsin Republican will be missed in the halls of Congress.
“Love of country compelled Paul Ryan to accept the speakership, a role he alone could fill at a critical time. He unified the House, passed scores of bills, and led with integrity, honor and dignity. The country will miss Speaker Ryan,” Romney tweeted.
Love of country compelled Paul Ryan to accept the Speakership, a role he alone could fill at a critical time. He unified the House, passed scores of bills, and led with integrity, honor and dignity. The country will miss Speaker Ryan.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) April 11, 2018
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who is also retiring, praised Ryan’s intelligence and thanked the Wisconsin Republican for leaving his position as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee to become speaker.
“Paul has always been the smartest kid in the class. He is brilliant, strategic, selfless, and an incredible communicator. He has always been willing to put the interests of others, and the interests of his country, above his own,” Gowdy said. “I respected Paul even before I entered Congress. His roadmaps to entitlement reform made me proud to be a conservative. His budgets showed Congress could be courageous. His willingness to surrender his dream job for no one’s dream job shows exactly what sacrifice looks like.”
But Gowdy also issued a call to action to Republicans in Congress.
“To those within Congress who always seemed to have a better idea or a smarter strategy, now is your chance to run for speaker,” Gowdy said. “To those outside of Congress who always seemed to have a better idea or a smarter strategy, you do not have to be a member of the House to be Speaker of the House and hence, now is your chance to run for speaker.”
