[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2-H5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ELECTION OF SPEAKER

  The CLERK. Pursuant to law and precedent, the next order of business 
is the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 
110th Congress.
  Nominations are now in order.
  The Clerk recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Clerk, as a father of three young children, I am 
particularly thrilled to be a part of this moment, thrilled that a 
generation of young girls and boys across America are about to witness 
another historic step in our Nation's march toward equality of 
opportunity. Nancy Pelosi's goal is a Congress known for its ideas, not 
its insults; its patriotism, not its partisanship.
  Madam Clerk, as chairman of the Democratic Caucus, I am directed by

[[Page H3]]

the unanimous vote of that caucus to present for election to the office 
of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress 
the name of the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, a Member-elect from the State 
of California.
  The CLERK. The Clerk now recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Putnam).
  Mr. PUTNAM. Madam Clerk, I am pleased to put forward the name of a 
man who represents the best of honesty, integrity, decency, uncanny 
wisdom and understanding.
  As chairman of the Republican Conference, I am directed by the 
unanimous vote of that conference to present for election to the office 
of Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 110th Congress the 
name of the Honorable John A. Boehner from the State of Ohio.
  The CLERK. The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, a Member-elect from the State 
of California, and the Honorable John A. Boehner, a Member-elect from 
the State of Ohio, have been placed in nomination.
  Are there further nominations?
  There being no further nominations, the Clerk will appoint tellers.
  The Clerk appoints the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen).
  The tellers will come forward and take their seats at the desk in 
front of the Speaker's rostrum.
  The roll will now be called, and those responding to their names will 
indicate by surname the nominee of their choice.
  The Reading Clerk will now call the roll.
  The tellers having taken their places, the House proceeded to vote 
for the Speaker.
  The following is the result of the vote:

                              [Roll No. 2]

                              Pelosi--233

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Engel
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Fattah
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Giffords
     Gillibrand
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Millender-McDonald
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                              Boehner--202

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Cubin
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Jindal
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy, Tim
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Norwood
     Nunes
     Paul
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Tancredo
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                              {time}  1344

  The CLERK. The tellers agree in their tallies that the total number 
of votes cast is 435, of which the Honorable Nancy Pelosi of the State 
of California has received 233 and the Honorable John A. Boehner of the 
State of Ohio has received 202.
  Therefore, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi of the State of California is 
duly elected Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 110th 
Congress, having received a majority of the votes cast.
  The Clerk appoints the following committee to escort the Speaker-
elect to the chair:
  The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), the gentleman from Maryland 
(Mr. Hoyer), the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Emanuel), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam), the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Larson), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter), 
and the members of the California delegation: Mr. Stark, Mr. George 
Miller, Mr. Waxman, Mr. Lewis, Mr. Dreier, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Lantos, Mr. 
Berman, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Herger, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Doolittle, Ms. 
Waters, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Calvert, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Filner, Mr. McKeon, 
Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Royce, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Farr, Ms. Zoe Lofgren, 
Mr. Radanovich, Ms. Millender-McDonald, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Loretta 
Sanchez, Mrs. Tauscher, Mrs. Capps, Mrs. Bono, Ms. Lee, Mr. Gary G. 
Miller, Mrs. Napolitano, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Baca, Ms. Harman, Mrs. 
Davis, Mr. Honda, Mr. Issa, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Solis, Ms. Watson, Mr. 
Cardoza, Mr. Nunes, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren, Mr. 
Costa, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. McCarthy, and Mr. 
McNerney.
  The committee will retire from the Chamber to escort the Speaker-
elect to the chair.
  The Sergeant at Arms announced the Speaker-elect of the House of 
Representatives of the 110th Congress, who was escorted to the chair by 
the committee of escort.

[[Page H4]]

                              {time}  1400

  Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, Leader Hoyer, my distinguished 
colleagues, welcome to you all. I would particularly like to welcome 
our new colleagues. It is an honor and a privilege to serve in this 
great institution, and I would like to thank you in advance for the 
sacrifices and contributions you will make to this body during your 
time here.
  As colleagues, we owe a huge debt to those who have served before us. 
I would be remiss if I did not mention the enormous contributions of 
one of my predecessors, Gerald Ford. Former President Ford served in 
the House over 25 years, including 8 of those years as Republican 
leader from 1965 to 1973. He served his Michigan constituents and the 
American people with great distinction not just here in Congress, but 
as Vice President and as President of the United States. The thoughts 
and prayers of this House and those of a grateful Nation are with Betty 
and the Ford family.
  This is an historic day. In a few moments, I will have the high 
privilege of handing the gavel of the House of Representatives to a 
woman for the first time in American history.
  For more than 200 years, the leaders of our government have been 
democratically elected, and from their ranks our leaders have always 
selected a man for the responsibility and honor as serving as Speaker 
of the House. Always, that is, until today.
  It is sometimes said the Founding Fathers would not recognize the 
government that exists here in Washington today. It has grown in size 
and scope far beyond anything they could ever have imagined, much less 
endorsed or advocated for our future. But today marks an occasion that 
I think the Founding Fathers would view approvingly. And my fellow 
Americans, whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent, 
today is a cause for celebration.
  Today also, of course, marks a change in the House majority. Twelve 
years ago, some of us stood proudly in this Chamber as our former 
colleague, Dick Gephardt from Missouri, handed the gavel to the 
Republican Speaker, Newt Gingrich from Georgia. There were some great 
achievements during those 12 years that followed, and we are fortunate 
that the man who was the driving force behind many of those 
achievements will continue to serve with us: The gentleman from 
Illinois, Denny Hastert.
  There were some great achievements during those 12 years that 
followed; there were also some profound disappointments. If there is 
one lesson that stands out from our party's time in the majority, it is 
this: A congressional majority is simply a means to an end. The value 
of the majority lies not in the chance to wield great power but in the 
chance to use limited power to achieve great things.
  We refer to the gavel that I am holding as the Speaker's gavel; but 
like everything else in this Chamber, it really belongs to the American 
people. It is on loan from the real owners. This is the people's House; 
this is the people's Congress. Most people in America don't care who 
controls it. What they want is a government that is limited, honest, 
accountable, and responsive to their needs; and the moment a majority 
forgets this lesson, it begins writing itself a ticket to minority 
status.
  The 110th Congress will write the next chapter in American history, 
but the American people will dictate it.
  Today, the Democrat Party assumes the challenge and opportunity of 
majority power in the people's House. Republicans will hold the 
incoming majority accountable for its promises and its actions, but we 
also want to work with the incoming majority for the good of our Nation 
that we were all elected to serve.
  Fundamentally, democracy is a battle of ideas. The battle of ideas, I 
believe, is healthy and is important for our Nation. But it is also a 
battle that can take place respectfully. Republicans and Democrats can 
disagree without being disagreeable to each other. Sometimes what 
people call partisanship is really a deep disagreement over a means to 
a shared goal, and we should welcome that conversation, encourage it, 
enjoy it, and be nice about it.
  It is now my privilege to present the gavel of the United States 
House of Representatives to the first woman Speaker in our history, the 
gentlewoman from California, Nancy Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Thank you, Leader Boehner. Thank you, my colleagues. Mr. 
Speaker. Mr. Speakers.
  I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship, 
and I look forward to working with you, Mr. Boehner, and the 
Republicans in the Congress for the good of the American people.
  After giving this gavel away in the last two Congresses, I am glad 
someone else has the honor today.
  In this House, we may be different parties, but we serve one country, 
and our pride and our prayers are united behind our men and women in 
uniform. They are working together to protect the American people; and 
in this Congress, we must work together to build a future worthy of 
their sacrifice.
  In this hour, we need and pray for the character, courage, and 
civility of a former Member of this House, President Ford. He healed 
the country when it needed healing. This is another time, another war, 
and another trial of American will, imagination, and spirit. Let us 
honor his memory not just in eulogy, but in dialogue and trust across 
the aisle.
  I want to join Leader Boehner in expressing our condolences and our 
appreciation to Mrs. Ford and to the entire Ford family for their 
decades of leadership and service to our country.
  With today's convening of the 110th Congress, we begin anew. I 
congratulate all Members of Congress on your election. I especially 
want to congratulate our new Members of Congress. Let's hear it for our 
new Members.
  The genius of our Founders was that every 2 years, new Members would 
bring to this House their spirit of renewal and hope for the American 
people. This Congress is reinvigorated, new Members, by your optimism 
and your idealism and your commitment to our country. Let us 
acknowledge your families whose support have made your leadership 
possible today.
  Each of us brings to this Congress our shared values, our commitment 
to the Constitution, and our personal experience. My path to Congress 
and to the speakership began in Baltimore where my father was the 
mayor. I was raised in a large family that was devoutly Catholic, 
deeply patriotic, very proud of our Italian-American heritage, and 
staunchly Democratic. My parents taught us that public service was a 
noble calling, and that we had a responsibility to help those in need.

                              {time}  1415

  My parents worked on the side of the angels, and now they are with 
them.
  But I am so happy that my brother, Tommy D'Alesandro, who was also a 
mayor of Baltimore, is here leading the D'Alesandro family from 
Baltimore today. He is sitting right up there with Tony Bennett.
  Forty-three years ago, Paul Pelosi and I were married. We raised our 
five children in San Francisco where Paul was born and raised. I want 
to thank Paul and our five children, Nancy Corrine, Christine, 
Jacqueline, Paul, Jr., and Alexandra, and our magnificent 
grandchildren, for their love, for their support, and the confidence 
they gave me to go from the kitchen to the Congress.
  And I thank my constituents in San Francisco and to the State of 
California for the privilege of representing them in Congress. St. 
Francis of Assisi is our city's patron saint, and his prayer of St. 
Francis is our city's anthem: Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; 
where there is darkness may we bring light, where there is hatred may 
we bring love, and where there is despair, may we bring hope.
  Hope, that is what America is about. And it is in that spirit that I 
serve in the Congress of the United States.
  And today, I thank my colleagues. By electing me Speaker, you have 
brought us closer to the ideal of equality that is America's heritage 
and America's hope.
  This is a historic moment, and I thank the leader for acknowledging 
it. Thank you, Mr. Boehner. It is a historic moment for the Congress, 
and it is a historic moment for the women of America.
  It is a moment for which we have waited for over 200 years. Never 
losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve 
our rights. But women were not just waiting;

[[Page H5]]

women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise 
of America that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters 
and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. For 
our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit. Anything is 
possible for them.
  The election of 2006 was a call to change, not merely to change the 
control of Congress, but for a new direction for our country. Nowhere 
were the American people more clear about the need for a new direction 
than in the war in Iraq.
  The American people rejected an open-ended obligation to a war 
without end. Shortly, President Bush will address the Nation on the 
subject of Iraq. It is the responsibility of the President to 
articulate a new plan for Iraq that makes it clear to the Iraqis that 
they must defend their own streets and their own security, a plan that 
promotes stability in the region and a plan that allows us to 
responsibly redeploy our troops.
  Let us work together to be the Congress that rebuilds our military to 
meet the national security challenges of the 21st century.
  Let us be the Congress that strongly honors our responsibility to 
protect the American people from terrorism.
  Let us be the Congress that never forgets our commitment to our 
veterans and our first responders, always honoring them as the heroes 
that they are.
  The American people also spoke clearly for a new direction here at 
home. They desire a new vision, a new America built on the values that 
have made our country great.
  Our Founders envisioned a new America driven by optimism, 
opportunity, and courage. So confident were they in the America that 
they were advancing that they put on the seal, the great seal of the 
United States: ``Novus ordo seclorum,'' a new order for the centuries. 
Centuries; they spoke of the centuries. They envisioned America as a 
just and good place, as a fair and efficient society, as a source of 
hope and opportunity for all.
  This vision has sustained us for over 200 years, and it accounts for 
what is best in our great Nation: liberty, opportunity, and justice.
  Now it is our responsibility to carry forth that vision of a new 
America into the 21st century. A new America that seizes the future and 
forges 21st-century solutions through discovery, creativity, and 
innovation, sustaining our economic leadership and ensuring our 
national security. A new America with a vibrant and strengthened middle 
class for whom college is affordable, health care is accessible, and 
retirement reliable. A new America that declares our energy 
independence, promotes domestic sources of renewable energy, and 
combats climate change. A new America that is strong, secure, and a 
respected leader among the community of nations.
  And the American people told us they expected us to work together for 
fiscal responsibility, with the highest ethical standards and with 
civility and bipartisanship.
  After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit 
itself to a higher standard: pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending. 
Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future 
generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.
  In order to achieve our new America for the 21st century, we must 
return this House to the American people. So our first order of 
business is passing the toughest congressional ethics reform in 
history. This new Congress doesn't have 2 years or 200 days. Let us 
join together in the first 100 hours to make this Congress the most 
honest and open Congress in history. 100 hours.
  This openness requires respect for every voice in the Congress. As 
Thomas Jefferson said, ``Every difference of opinion is not a 
difference of principle.'' My colleagues elected me to be Speaker of 
the House, the entire House. Respectful of the vision of our Founders, 
the expectation of our people, and the great challenges that we face, 
we have an obligation to reach beyond partisanship to work for all 
Americans.
  Let us stand together to move our country forward, seeking common 
ground for the common good. We have made history; now let us make 
progress for the American people.
  May God bless our work, and may God bless America.

                              {time}  1430

  Before we move forward, because there are so many children here and 
so many of them asked me if they could touch the gavel, I wanted to 
invite as many of them who wanted to come forward to come join me up 
here. I know my own grandchildren will.
  Let's hear it for the children. We're here for the children. For 
these children, our children, and for all of America's children, the 
House will come to order.
  I am now ready to take the oath of office from the Dean of the 
Congress of the United States, Mr. Dingell. In acknowledging him, I 
also want to acknowledge Speaker Foley who has been with us as well.
  Mr. DINGELL then administered the oath of office to Ms. Pelosi of 
California, as follows:
  Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the 
Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and 
domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; 
that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or 
purpose of evasion; and that you will well and faithfully discharge the 
duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you God.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  Mr. DINGELL. Congratulations, Madam Speaker.

                          ____________________