Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) addressed his decision to not seek re-election to Congress on Wednesday, telling reporters he didn't want to be a "weekend dad" and expressing pride in his tenure.
Shortly before he addressed the media, Ryan's office confirmed reports out Wednesday he would not seek another term. The Speaker since taking over after John Boehner's retirement in October of 2015, Ryan clarified he was not resigning from office immediately, saying he would leave in January when his term officially ended.
Ryan, whose father died when he was 16, noted all his children are now teenagers and their "ideal weekend" was not to spend the whole time with their parents.
"What I realize is if I am here for one more term, my kids will only have ever known me as a weekend dad," he said. "I just can't let that happen, so I will be setting new priorities in my life, and I will also be leaving incredibly proud of what we have accomplished."
Ryan touted the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act he led last year, which overhauled the nation's tax system, and the rebuilding of the nation's military as two of his proudest achievements.
While he repeated the well-known fact that he did not want to be Speaker of the House when essentially thrust into the position in 2015, he said he had "no regrets" about accepting the job.
He said he intended to "run through the tape" in finishing out his term, and he added he believed he would leave in January with the Republican majority intact and with a "very bright future."
Ryan also said the prospect of Democrats winning the House in 2018 did not factor into his decision, and he did not buy into one reporter's question that his announcement would serve to dampen Republican hopes of retaining the chamber.
"I gave it some consideration, but I really do not believe whether I stay or go in 2019 is going to affect a person's individual race for Congress," he said. "I really don't think it affects it. If we do our jobs, which we are, we're going to be fine as a majority."
Ryan didn't mention President Donald Trump in his opener—the two have had a difficult relationship since Trump's foray into politics—but he did say during his question-and-answer session with reporters that he was grateful to Trump for his win and the opportunities it afforded the GOP.
Ryan has served in the House of Representatives since 1999, and he was the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2012 when Mitt Romney lost to President Barack Obama.
While in Congress, he chaired the House Budget Committee and House Ways and Means Committee.