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Hastert announced Thursday he is leaving Congress at the end of the year.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - In a brief speech tempered with reflection, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Illinois, announced his midterm resignation Thursday afternoon on the House floor.

"The time has come for me to make my last speech from this podium," he told his colleagues. "Our Founding Fathers envisioned a citizen legislature and it's time for this legislator to return to being a private citizen."

Peering up occasionally from his written speech, the congressman said, "I do hope that I have left a few footprints behind that may be of value to those who come after me - just as I have benefited from the footprints of those who I followed to this most wonderful of institutions, the People's House."

After his speech, the current speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, D-California, called Hastert honorable, "not just for the office he holds, but by virtue of his character, his leadership and his contributions to our country."

She added, "Thank you for your leadership, congratulations on a great career. God truly blessed America with your service."

Last month, two congressional GOP sources told CNN that Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker in history, would give up his congressional seat rather than serve out the remaining year of his term.

"I think he is just done with being a member of Congress," a GOP aide told CNN. Hastert did not give a specific reason Thursday for his resignation.

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WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is expected to announce Thursday on the House floor that he is retiring from Congress, a senior aide to the congressman told CNN Wednesday.

The aide said that Hastert will announce his plans to retire tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in an address on the House floor. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office provided the floor time to the former speaker to address his colleagues.

"His plan is to make his farewell address tomorrow on the House floor," the aide said. "He is then going to decide at some point this year when he will step down."

The aide said the effective date of Hastert's resignation not yet been determined.

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