[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 7 (Tuesday, February 5, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H126-H127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI, MEMBER OF CONGRESS, NEW 
                             MINORITY WHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brown of South Carolina). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate and honor our new minority 
whip, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), I also must really 
thank her for being such a role model. As a wife, a mother, a 
grandmother, a friend to many, a great humanitarian and a phenomenal 
leader, Ms. Pelosi has really demonstrated that women can do it all at 
the same time.
  Nancy Pelosi's congressional district is right across the Bay Bridge 
from my district. Her constituents have recognized her intellect, her 
passion, and her coalition-building ability by electing her to the 
House of Representatives eight times. Now, as minority whip, these same 
attributes and values will be brought to our leadership team to meet 
the challenges of this new millennium.
  No one is more qualified to lead than Ms. Pelosi. She understands 
that education is the soundest investment we can make as a Nation to 
secure our future. She understands that access to quality health care, 
affordable housing, job and pension security, and a commitment to 
fighting the global HIV/AIDS pandemic are essential to our economic and 
national security. And she knows that job security and economic 
security are not Democratic or Republican issues, but American issues 
that deserve bipartisan support.
  As a true leader on international issues, Ms. Pelosi cares about our 
foreign policy and fights to ensure that our foreign aid is directed 
toward the betterment of humankind. She has been a powerful and 
relentless ally in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS in San Francisco as 
well as in Africa and throughout the world. Her deep commitment to 
civil rights and civil liberties here at home and her unwavering 
support for human rights abroad have given us all a standard for 
justice and equality.
  On October 10, 2001, exactly 90 years to the day after women won the 
right to vote in California, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Pelosi) was elected by her colleagues to become our Democratic House 
whip, the highest ranking woman in the 212-year history of this 
institution.

[[Page H127]]

  This victory is really a great triumph for our Nation. Ms. Pelosi has 
broken through a glass ceiling that has long kept women from reaching 
the upper echelons of power in this House. As she said shortly after 
being elected, ``We made history; now we have to make progress.''
  Nancy, congratulations on earning this place in history. 
Congratulations and Godspeed as you accept this place of distinction in 
the people's House. I know that there are many girls and young women 
throughout the world who are saying, ``When I grow up, I want to be 
just like Congresswoman Pelosi.''
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones).
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself 
with the comments of my colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee), and I stand here to congratulate the new minority whip of the 
House of Representatives, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  This is my second term in the U.S. Congress, and I have to express 
the fact that the joy I have had serving in the Congress I partly owe 
to Nancy Pelosi and the guidance she has given me as a colleague 
throughout these 3, almost 4, years in the House of Representatives.
  The wonderful thing is that the world is very small, because I came 
to know Nancy Pelosi through some friends of mine from Cleveland, the 
Sklars; and so I stand here celebrating with them as well this great 
opportunity.
  I also have to say that there was no greater joy than being a monitor 
in the room when those votes were counted and I was able to say, yes, I 
have been a part of history being made as those votes were counted on 
behalf of Nancy Pelosi. I am looking forward to her leadership and the 
opportunity to be there to help her lead this Congress and lead this 
Democratic Party into this new century and to have an opportunity to 
say to the world that ``a woman's place is in the House, the House of 
Representatives of the U.S. Congress.''
  Congratulations Nancy Pelosi, and I am here to let you know I am here 
for you.

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