Pelosi Statement on the Retirement of Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence

Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement after Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence announced that she will retire at the end of her term:

"Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence has devoted her entire life in service to her beloved Detroit-area community. Whether working for the Postal Service, serving on the school board, leading the city of Southfield as Mayor or legislating in the Congress, she has made a meaningful difference for her constituents and for our country.

"Over her four terms in the House, Congresswoman Lawrence has been a force for equality and justice for all. As a leader of the Democratic Women's Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus and the powerful Appropriations Committee, she has long fought to lift up working women and communities of color – from better maternal health care, to more apprenticeship opportunities, to action on gun violence, and more. When a water crisis erupted in nearby Flint, she was a leader in sounding the alarm about the danger that lead pipes pose to our children. In the years since, she has proudly led the charge to improve our nation's water infrastructure, particularly in underserved communities. Recognizing her leadership and concern for justice, I was proud to appoint her to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

"Our Caucus and the Congress are grateful for Congresswoman Lawrence's continued leadership For The People through the end of her term. We wish her all the best as she prepares for her next chapter, alongside her devoted husband McArthur, loving children Michael and Michelle, and precious granddaughter Asya."