Pelosi Dear Colleague: Endorsing Anna Eshoo for Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee

Dear Colleague,

The recent announcements that our esteemed colleagues, Mr. Dingell and Mr. Waxman, will retire at the end of this Congress present our Caucus with a decision as to who will lead the Energy and Commerce Committee – "the Committee of the Future."

In that spirit, of moving with a policy for the future, I strongly endorse Anna Eshoo to become the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee.  It had not been my intention to make a public endorsement, but since so many of you have asked, I am writing to let you know why I support Anna.

For over 20 years, Anna has represented the people of Silicon Valley and their innovative spirit in the House with great success as she conveyed the priorities of House Democrats to her constituents.  Her commitment has been to the House Democratic Caucus and to our progressive agenda on behalf of the American people.

Anna's priorities in Congress reflect the future of America's vibrant and competitive economy.  A decade ago, Anna, along with Zoe Lofgren, George Miller, and others, launched our Innovation Agenda.  It was crafted through careful consultations with leaders of education, industry, labor, research and non-profit organizations across the nation.  Under Chairman Bart Gordon, that agenda was enacted into law as the Competes Act to invest in our people and to support STEM education, broadband capacity, and advanced technology development.  Anna's energy, creativity and the respect she commanded led to this effort's success to increase America's competitiveness and to keep America Number One.  She is now in the process of working with members in developing Innovation Agenda 2.0.

Anna's leadership is marked by integrity, inclusiveness and bipartisanship, critical qualities in a committee leader.  She advocates in the committee and in the House for health care, consumer protections, the environment and access to technology and issues related to women and children.  She has been recognized for her leadership in fighting breast cancer, juvenile diabetes, HIV/AIDS and pancreatic cancer, to name a few awards.

Her proven leadership as Ranking Member on the Communications and Technology Subcommittee, and the eight years she spent on the Intelligence Committee, give Anna the understanding of the balance between security and liberty, which serve our caucus and the Congress well.

These are just a few examples of the respect for Anna's legislative accomplishments over the last 20 years and for her unceasing commitment to our Caucus' progressive agenda.  She has always dedicated her time and her resources to our success.

Anna's leadership, vision, values and progressive commitment to the future gives us the opportunity to newly invigorate the debate.

Thank you for your consideration.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI

Democratic Leader