Chairman Gowdy Statement on Speaker Ryan

Washington, DC – House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy released the following statement after Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced he will not be seeking re-election:

“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. 

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. 

To say Paul will be missed in Congress is an extreme understatement. He was beloved by Members on both sides of the aisle, and we can’t thank him enough for nearly 20 years of service to our country. The House of Representatives, Congress, our government, and our nation would not be the same if it weren’t for his leadership.

I wish Paul, Janna, and their three precious children all the best.

To those within Congress who always seemed to have a better idea or a smarter strategy, now is your chance to run for Speaker. 

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.”

###