The reason I’m leaving Congress

[Commentary] I announced that I will be retiring after having the honor of serving my Los Angeles constituents in Congress for 40 years. Immediately, speculation began that I am leaving because I am frustrated with a broken institution. But the exact opposite is true: I am leaving Congress with my conviction intact that the legislative branch can be a powerful force for good.

Denying climate change, voting over and over to repeal the Affordable Care Act, shutting down the government and threatening default are deplorable examples of the extremism of tea party Republicans. But even in this polarized environment, there are important opportunities to advance the public interest.

Two years ago, I worked with Rep Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the House Commerce Committee, and our Senate colleagues to write a landmark telecommunications law that will ease the looming shortage of wireless spectrum, create new Super Wi-Fi technologies and fund the long-overdue construction of a nationwide broadband network for police and firefighters. No question, it is hard to pass legislation in today’s Congress. But it has always been hard. Our system of checks and balances makes it simpler to stop bills than to enact them. In fact, the story of my career is that Congress can do tremendous good, but it never comes easily. I hope the lesson that the next generation of lawmakers will draw from my experiences is not cynicism about the legislative process, but optimism that progress is always possible with persistence and determination. Enacting laws that make America a better nation has never been easy. It won’t be easy in the future, but it will always be worth the fight.