Media

"Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praises the duo for “the breadth of their knowledge and their commitment to public service,” adding, “They are simply indispensable to the efforts of the Democratic Caucus.”

"President-elect Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress are already signaling a welcome new seriousness in Washington about protecting civil rights after eight years of erosion."

Today, the House passed two key government reform bills that were passed by the House in the 110th Congress but were never acted upon in the Senate: the Presidential Records Act Amendments, which restores meaningful public access to presidential records by nullifying a 2001 Bush executive order, and the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act, which requires the disclosure of big donors to presidential libraries.

Oversight Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns:

Speaker Pelosi on passage of the legislation:

This morning, the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee is holding a forum on the economic outlook and the components of an economic recovery plan to spur job creation and create long-term growth. Speaker Pelosi, Steering and Policy Committee co-chairs Congressman George Miller and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro are chairing the forum featuring a panel of economists and experts in infrastructure investments. The chairs of the House Science and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Budget, Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees are also participating.

Panelists:

Norman R. Augustine, Author of the Gathering Storm

Martin Feldstein, George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University and President Emeritus of the National Bureau of Economic Research

“Together, we welcome the many new Members of Congress who today join the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Congratulations to all of our new Members and our re-elected Members."

By a vote of 255-174, Rep. Nancy Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House this afternoon during the opening session of the 111th Congress:

Transcript:

"Thank you, Leader Boehner.

"Together, we welcome the many new Members of Congress who today join the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Congratulations to all of our new Members and our re-elected Members.

"Your constituents have placed great trust in you. Your families have given you the love and support to make your leadership possible. Let us join together to salute our families of the 111th Congress.

"Nancy Pelosi, whose steel-and-satin political style was shaped by a childhood in the Democratic clubhouses of Baltimore and the chardonnay fundraising circuit in 1980s San Francisco, is living the paradox of a politician whose dreams are about to come true."