WASHINGTON D.C. (KSNT) - Kansas' congressional representative for its 2nd District gave a goodbye address in Washington D.C. Tuesday as his term nears its end. Congressman Jake LaTurner delivered his speech in front of the House of Representatives on Dec. 17. He used examples drawn from his family history to highlight the importance of determination and resilience. "As the son of Kansas, I'm guided by our state motto: Ad Astra Per Aspera, to the stars through difficulties," LaTurner said. "It's a truth I have seen lived out in my own family generation after generation." LaTurner also took the time to offer two suggestions to his fellow representatives in Congress. One suggestion concerned junior members of Congress showing respect to the House of Representatives while his other suggestion was on hunger among children. "We must be thrifty, strategic and we must never outsource our sovereignty, but we still have a critical role," LaTurner said. "One small but impactful example is preventing children from dying of starvation. Ready-to-use therapeutic food or RUTF is an American-made nutrient-dense paste that has saved millions of lives across the globe. The State and Foreign Operations subcommittee increased funding by $300 million while reducing overall spending by over 10% and this body passed it. That increase should be realized, it is the right thing to do. What new laws go into effect in Kansas on Jan. 1, 2025? Republican Derek Schmidt will replaced LaTurner as the congressional representative for District 2 in Kansas. Schmidt won the race for this position in the recent Nov. 5 General Election, defeating his Democrat opponent Nancy Boyda. LaTurner announced in April 2024 he would not be seeking reelection, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. He was first elected to Congress in 2021. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf