Eric Cantor Bids Farewell as House Majority Leader

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) bid farewell as House majority leader Thursday morning to a standing ovation of both Republicans and Democrats.

In his farewell speech, Cantor praised the chamber’s bipartisanship and emphasized the need for more active foreign policy, the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Our nation and our economy cannot meet its full potential if we in America are not leading abroad,” he said, citing conflict in the Middle East and Russia. “Never before have I been more worried about the prospects of that peace due to our diminished engagement on the world stage.”

Cantor said serving in the House had been the “privilege of a lifetime.”

“We don’t always see eye-to-eye even with our own parties in this chamber. But that’s how it’s supposed to be,” Cantor said. “We have found ways to agree on much more than was ever reported, with many bills passing this House in a bipartisan way.”

Cantor specifically praised Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for his “dedication to finding solutions” and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) whom he called his “closest confidant.” McCarthy is replacing Cantor as House majority leader.

The Virginia Republican was elected to the House in 2001 and served as House Minority Whip from 2009 to 2011, after which he rose to House majority leader.

Cantor became the first majority leader to be defeated in a primary in June in an unexpected defeat by tea party-backed economics professor David Brat.

Cantor will remain a rank-and-file member until the end of his term in January.