FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 07, 2003

CONTACT: Brendan Daly (202)225-0100

Remarks of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Upon Opening of the 108th Congress

Washington, D.C. -- Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi gave the following remarks this afternoon from the Speaker's chair on the House floor, following a roll call vote in which Pelosi's name was placed in nomination for Speaker of the House -- the first time in history that a woman has been nominated for Speaker:

Congratulations to every Member of the House on your swearing-in to the 108th Congress. A special congratulations and welcome to the Capitol to our freshmen members and their families.

Let me say thank you to my Democratic colleagues. I am humbled by the honor you have bestowed upon me to become House Democratic Leader.

I know I speak for all of us when I express profound gratitude to our esteemed colleague, the gentleman from Missouri, Richard Gephardt, for his unwavering service to this institution and to our nation. It is an honor to follow in his footsteps.

And to my family, my dear husband Paul, our five children, and our five grandchildren, and to my D'Alesandro family: thank you for the love, joy and encouragement you have given me.

Because of you, and the people of San Francisco, whom I am honored to serve, I had the unprecedented privilege today to be the first woman in history to have her name placed in nomination for Speaker of this distinguished House.

I am grateful to my colleagues for their confidence, and proud of my party for breaking down another barrier and leading America closer to the ideal of equality that is both our heritage and our hope.

We serve in the people’s House, and today, I want to pay tribute to the American people. It is their greatness, their fair-mindedness, their commitment to family; their willingness to hope and dream that sustains our country.

I especially wish to acknowledge the men and women in uniform whose courage keeps our country free and safe, and makes it possible for us to strive for peace on earth and goodwill toward mankind.

For more than 214 years, the American people have issued a most awesome challenge to us in Congress.

Debate, the American people tell us when they send us here, debate the great issues of our nation. Decide matters of war and peace.

Fashion laws and policies that will make our economy sound, our institutions fair, our society just, our environment protected, our people educated and healthy, our religions and beliefs free from constraint, and our homeland secure from terror.

Debate policies, the American people tell us, which will ensure peace and justice throughout the world. Comfort the afflicted, give voice to the oppressed. Make the future brighter for our children.

I speak today as the leader of the minority in a closely divided House of Representatives.

We are on different sides of the aisle, but we have a shared oath and a greater obligation to serve our country together -- both to find common ground wherever we can, and to stand our ground wherever we must to be true to the people we represent.

My colleagues, I commit to all of you and to the American people that our party will always stand for the principles in which we believe.

For I believe those principles represent the mainstream beliefs of our nation -- fairness, opportunity, patriotism, community, equal rights, and a strong America -- safe and prosperous at home, and committed abroad to a more secure and just world, free from the fear of terrorism.

So in that spirit, I ask the majority in this House and the Administration to join us in a new effort to get our economy moving again -- in a way that helps working families.

I ask that you join us in creating jobs and providing access to quality health care for all American families, including prescription drug coverage for seniors.

I ask that, after having passed the No Child Left Behind Act, we now pledge to put children first and fully fund education.

Finally and fundamentally, on the great and fateful issues we have all faced as Americans, especially since September 11, let me pledge for my party, our absolute commitment to our national security -- to winning the battle against terrorism and countering the threat of weapons of mass destruction.

At times, we will debate how best to provide for the common defense. That debate is not only right and necessary, it is at the heart of our democracy.

But let there be no doubt: In our commitment to the strength and safety of America, there are no Democrats, there are no Republicans. Together, as Americans, we must and will prevail.

We have great and grave issues to decide -- as fateful as those faced by the 107 Congresses before us. So let us reach across party lines as we stand for principle.

And let this be our only test -- to advance and defend what is best for America.

Now it is my privilege to present to you the Speaker of the House. Congratulations, Mr. Speaker. I hope that in the next Congress our roles will be reversed, and you will have the privilege of presenting the gavel.

In introducing our Speaker, let me first pay tribute to his skill, his decency and his integrity. We all hold the title "honorable" by virtue of our office; Dennis Hastert holds it by virtue of his character. He is a man of honor.

Colleagues, may I present the Speaker of the House for the 108th Congress, the gentleman from Illinois, Dennis Hastert.

“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi