Rep. Harman delivers floor farewell

Veteran Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) addressed colleagues from the House floor for the last time on Friday, thanking staff and reminiscing about visiting some of the world’s most dangerous spots as part of her work on the House intelligence subcommittee.

“Foreign travel is, I believe, a wonderful way to build personal, bipartisan friendships, something dearly needed here,” said Harman, a centrist Democrat who occasionally sided with Republicans on matters of national security.

{mosads}Harman has represented California’s 36th District for a total of more than 16 years; her last day will be Feb. 28.

Since announcing Feb. 7 her intention to step down to head the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington think-tank, Harman said she had been flooded with congratulatory messages, including one from President Obama. But the note she treasures most came from one of her children, and said simply, “Brave Mama.”

Harman also thanked her staff — “We call ourselves Team Harman,” she said — and her constituents, whom she said are “the smartest constituents on earth.”

The lawmaker closed her remarks seriously and slowly: “I depart with great affection and gratitude to wonderful colleagues and longstanding friends, to a leadership with whom I have worked closely, to my sisters from California and throughout the United States on both sides of the aisle. All of you have become valued, valued, valued, very valued friends.”

Following her remarks, a few of those friends offered brief commendations, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), Rep. Norm Dix (D-Wash.) and Republican Reps. Jerry Lewis (Calif.) and David Dreier (Calif.).

In an unexpectedly warm tribute, Lewis said, “You’ve become a wonderful friend as well as a policy partner, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed our years together on the Intelligence Committee … you are a wonderful person, a wonderful personality, and [my wife] Arlene and I love you and wish you well as you go forward.”

More members would likely have waxed poetically about Harman were it not for the pressing need to finalize debate on a number of proposed amendments to the continuing resolution for fiscal year 2011.

A special election to replace Harman will be held later this year. It is likely to coincide with a statewide referendum on extending tax increases proposed by California Gov. Jerry Brown (D).