Outgoing U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner thanked his family, his colleagues and his constituents as he gave his final floor speech Thursday.

And, noting that the approval ratings for his fellow Washington politicians is not very high, he pointed out that House members are “men and women of courage, integrity and decency.”

“We share a common love of country,” he said, also recognizing the staff members who “work in the shadows” in Congress.

Bonner is stepping down in the midst of his term to take a position with the University of Alabama System.

A field of nine Republicans has announced plans to seek his seat. No Democrats have formally announced. Party primaries will be held Sept. 22.

In his speech, Bonner told a familiar yarn, eliciting laughter from his colleagues, then said that, “Perhaps our country needs to start laughing more.”

“We need to stop yelling at each other,” he said. “We need to start working together.”