Pelosi Remarks to Press at House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference

Cambridge, MD - House Democratic leaders held a press conference today in Cambridge, Maryland at the House Democratic Caucus 2011 Issues Conference.  Below are Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's remarks:

"Thank you very much, Xavier [Becerra].  Thank you and John Larson for your leadership in bringing the Members together--not only for these couple of days, but over time so they could help shape the agenda for the meeting on how we solve problems for the American people, how we create jobs, how we reduce the deficit and how we strengthen the middle class.

"We just left a very lively session that Steny headed up, Democratic Whip Hoyer of Maryland, headed up.  ‘Make it in America,' just very, very encouraging about a path to how we can not only be economically viable, have energy independence and environmental strength, but how we can do it in a way that creates jobs here in our country so, as the double meaning says, people can make it in America.  It is very exciting.

"To hearken back as John Larson did, to yesterday as we gathered in the Rotunda, part of the remarks talked about, President Kennedy talking about getting America moving again, coming out of a decade with three recessions in it, at that time.  Well, we come out of a decade with a deep, deep, deep recession in it, would have been a depression without the actions taken by President Obama and the Democratic Congress.  And to hear the representative for motor companies say that, the head of the American United Auto Workers, there would be no industry without our actions.

"This initiative, ‘Make it in America,' is about personal fulfillment for individuals.  It's about economic strength for our country.  It's also about our national security.  If we are not strengthening our industrial, manufacturing and technological base, we are weakening our national security.  It's again, very exciting on how we create jobs, reduce the deficit, strengthen the middle class, which is the backbone of our democracy.

"We also had a lively discussion that you'll hear from Steve Israel about, about our prospects for success, to the extent that we can convince the American people that we are here to solve their problems, by creating jobs, we'll be back.

"Thank you all very much.  Now I am please to yield to the distinguished Democratic Whip, the author of ‘Make it in America,' fresh from a very lively session with our members, Steny Hoyer of Maryland."