Pelosi Remarks at Press Conference Unveiling 'Make It in America' Agenda

Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a press conference with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, and House Democrats to unveil the "Make It in America" agenda for the 112th Congress.  Below are the Leader's remarks. 

"Thank you very much, Whip Hoyer.  Thank you so much for your leadership on this ‘Make It in America' agenda.  I congratulate you on the statement you just made, associate myself with those remarks in the interest of time, and commend all of our colleagues who are here for the initiatives that they have introduced into the Congress.

"It is in keeping with our founders about a country of opportunity.  President Kennedy said when he announced the man on the moon project, ‘If we are to honor the vows of our founders, we must be first, and therefore we intend to be first.'

"Mr. Hoyer recognizes that innovation begins in the classroom, and therefore his bill has a commitment to education.

"I want to commend him because this ‘Make It in America' [agenda] is not just about jobs--which, our first priority [is] the creation of jobs--but honors our first responsibility to protect the American people.  Stopping the erosion of our manufacturing and technological base is essential to our national security.  That's a very important national security issue.

"It's about our economic security, keeping America number one competitively, and it is about the personal security of America's families.  Steny has said over and over again, when we ‘Make It in America,' when we manufacture in America, America's families can make it in America.

"So thank you, Mr. Hoyer, for putting forth this initiative relentlessly, with great, great priorities contained in it, galvanizing the support of our colleagues, because in doing so you not only help families make it in America as we ‘Make It in America,' you make our country stronger.

"With that, I am pleased to yield to our distinguished leader, Mr. Clyburn."