In January 2009, Nancy Pelosi accepted the gavel as Speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time. She made history in 2007, shattering the marble ceiling to serve as the first woman Speaker, a Constitutional office placing her second in line to the presidency. Since serving as Speaker, Pelosi has proven to be a strong, pragmatic leader, building consensus and uniting a diverse caucus more than any Democratic leader in the last 50 years according to Congressional Quarterly.
| Speaker Pelosi addresses the 2010 DNC Winter Meeting |
In the 111th Congress, Pelosi is focused on creating jobs and turning the economy around after eight years of Republican rule. She has led the House of Representatives in passing the three pillars of President Obama's budget: comprehensive energy and climate legislation, major education reform for America's children, and most recently, historic health insurance reform legislation. She continues to work to restore accountability, greater transparency, and fiscal discipline to Washington.
In 2006, the Speaker led a talented leadership team to put Democrats in control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. Having recruited quality candidates, united the caucus with a cohesive message, and raised funds for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and individual candidates, Pelosi led the effort to increase the Democratic majority in 2008. She also served as Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver where Democrats began the historic general election effort to elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the White House.
Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution, said "she's probably gained the reputation as of one of the strongest and most effective speakers in decades." Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute commented in May on the work of the Congress Pelosi is helping lead: "This Congress has been as active and productive as any I can remember. The number of major bills passed and enacted into law, the serious, sustained activities in areas of broad, complex, and critical importance, all are truly impressive." The Washington Post Writers Group said: "... Pelosi is more responsible than anyone for the Democratic takeover of the House in 2006 and for the gains that widened her party's majority in last year's elections."
Pelosi first made history in November 2002 when House Democrats elected her the first woman to lead a major political party. She brings to the Speaker's role over 22 years of experience in the House, representing the city of San Francisco. Before being elected Leader, she served as House Democratic Whip for one year. She has represented California's Eighth District since 1987, achieving a distinguished record of intelligence and security initiatives, family and child policy, health care, human rights and environmental policy.
Nancy Pelosi comes from a strong family tradition of public service. Her late father, Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., and her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, both served as Mayor of Baltimore. She and her husband Paul have five grown children and seven grandchildren. While raising her five children prior to her election to Congress, Pelosi served in a number of positions within the Democratic Party including Chair of the California Democratic Party.
In January 2009, Nancy Pelosi accepted the gavel as Speaker of the House of Representatives for the second time. She made history in 2007, shattering the marble ceiling to serve as the first woman Speaker, a Constitutional office placing her second in line to the presidency. Since serving as Speaker, Pelosi has proven to be a strong, pragmatic leader, building consensus and uniting a diverse caucus more than any Democratic leader in the last 50 years according to Congressional Quarterly.
In the 111th Congress, Pelosi is focused on creating jobs and turning the economy around after eight years of Republican rule. She has led the House of Representatives in passing the three pillars of President Obama's budget: comprehensive energy and climate legislation, major education reform for America's children, and most recently, historic health insurance reform legislation. She continues to work to restore accountability, greater transparency, and fiscal discipline to Washington.
In 2006, the Speaker led a talented leadership team to put Democrats in control of the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. Having recruited quality candidates, united the caucus with a cohesive message, and raised funds for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and individual candidates, Pelosi led the effort to increase the Democratic majority in 2008. She also served as Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver where Democrats began the historic general election effort to elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden to the White House.
Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution, said "she's probably gained the reputation as of one of the strongest and most effective speakers in decades." Congressional scholar Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute commented in May on the work of the Congress Pelosi is helping lead: "This Congress has been as active and productive as any I can remember. The number of major bills passed and enacted into law, the serious, sustained activities in areas of broad, complex, and critical importance, all are truly impressive." The Washington Post Writers Group said: "... Pelosi is more responsible than anyone for the Democratic takeover of the House in 2006 and for the gains that widened her party's majority in last year's elections."
Pelosi first made history in November 2002 when House Democrats elected her the first woman to lead a major political party. She brings to the Speaker's role over 22 years of experience in the House, representing the city of San Francisco. Before being elected Leader, she served as House Democratic Whip for one year. She has represented California's Eighth District since 1987, achieving a distinguished record of intelligence and security initiatives, family and child policy, health care, human rights and environmental policy.
Nancy Pelosi comes from a strong family tradition of public service. Her late father, Thomas D'Alesandro Jr., and her brother, Thomas D'Alesandro III, both served as Mayor of Baltimore. She and her husband Paul have five grown children and seven grandchildren. While raising her five children prior to her election to Congress, Pelosi served in a number of positions within the Democratic Party including Chair of the California Democratic Party.