Daniel Perez says goodbye to the House

House Speaker Daniel Perez gave his farewell speech Thursday on the House floor, describing how the lower chamber asserted itself “to chart our own independent course through turbulent waters and unforeseen storms.”

Perez spoke of “formidable adversaries” and “incredible highs” after a video played of House lawmakers proclaiming they had “taken back the House” under Perez’s leadership, even though the GOP has controlled it for decades. 

But in the past two years, the House reasserted its role and pushed back against some of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts, including serving as a watchdog over the Hope Florida scandal. The House also regularly pushed back on policy debates over property taxes, artificial intelligence and immigration enforcement, often clashing with DeSantis or the Senate.

“The Florida House in particular will teach you, if you let it, some very, very fundamental life lessons. We are better when we place ourselves in service to a purpose greater than our own individual ambitions,” Perez said, receiving a standing ovation during his speech. “We are more powerful when we borrow strength from one another, and if we’re willing to throw away our selfish need for attention, we will find ourselves rewarded with boundless opportunities.”

Perez depicted himself as a House Speaker who was a representative first and more likely to eat lunch in the members’ dining hall than in his office.

Perez’s speech was notable for who he named — and who he didn’t.

He didn’t mention DeSantis or Senate President Ben Albritton.

“I want to thank those Speakers of the House under whom I’ve served and have earned my respect,” Perez said, citing Richard Corcoran, José Oliva and Chris Sprowls, who all led the House after Perez was first elected in 2017. Not getting a shout out: former House Speaker Paul Renner.

Perez credited Corcoran for teaching him to “never let fear stop you from swinging for the fences.”

On Oliva, Perez said he “spent a good deal of time during my freshman term trying to stop me from becoming Speaker.” At the same time, Oliva guided Perez how to stand strong in his beliefs.

Perez also praised Sprowls, who “taught me that the process was more complicated than I knew and showed me grace while I learned.”

The Miami Republican also thanked President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. 

“Thank you for the many kindnesses you have shown me even when you had far more important things to do,” Perez said.

Perez’s wife, Stephanie Perez, and their three children joined him on the House floor to unveil his official portrait.

Perez thanked his loved ones “for giving me something to fight for,” and his community for uplifting him, including his family, his Miami-Dade hometown and his fellow Cubans.

Perez, who said he didn’t like being center stage, quipped that he was trying to keep his goodbyes short.

“If I tried to thank all the people who deserved to be thanked, this would begin to resemble a Senate farewell speech,” he said.