[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1039-E1040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF LEADER NANCY PELOSI'S 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 12, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Leader Nancy 
Pelosi's outstanding achievements during her 25 years of service as a 
Member of Congress. It has been a great privilege to serve alongside 
and learn from such a strong and effective leader.
  One of the proudest moments of my career was when I was sworn into 
the House of Representatives by Ms. Pelosi. She has been a mentor to 
me, and I am continually inspired by her unwavering commitment to 
social and economic justice. She skillfully balances her desire for 
bipartisanship cooperation with faithfulness to her core beliefs, a 
rare talent in politics today.
  Speaker Pelosi made history when she was selected as the first female 
Democratic Leader

[[Page E1040]]

of the House of Representatives in 2002 and the first female Speaker of 
the House in 2007. She demonstrated great skill and political savvy 
during her tenure as Speaker, transforming the 111th Congress into one 
of the most productive sessions in American history. With unmatched 
party unity in voting, the House of Representatives passed more 
landmark legislation than any Congress since the Johnson 
administration, addressing issues as diverse as food safety, nuclear 
arms treaties, and the repeal of the discriminatory ``Don't Ask, Don't 
Tell'' policy in the military.
  Her successful stewardship of the Patient Protection and Affordable 
Care Act has provided healthcare to 32 million uninsured Americans and 
reformed a broken system. She backed Wall Street Reform as well as 
President Obama's stimulus package to protect working Americans from 
job loss and prevent economic collapse. Her handling of the Lilly 
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the increase of minimum wage have also 
demonstrated her dedication to supporting pay equity in our labor 
force.
  I would also like to take a moment to acknowledge Ms. Pelosi's many 
contributions to people living with HIV/AIDS. This issue has been a top 
priority for Ms. Pelosi since she first took her oath of office, and 
her work has led to significant advances over the past 25 years. By 
publicizing this issue, she has helped to reduce discrimination and 
social stigmas associated with the disease. She has also doubled the 
level of U.S. funding for global health initiatives during her time as 
Speaker. Ms. Pelosi is responsible for U.S. leadership on this issue, 
which has saved the lives of millions of the world's most vulnerable.
  Mr. Speaker, this long list of accomplishments is a testament to Ms. 
Pelosi's determination, and her quarter century of service has left an 
indelible mark on this great institution. I am honored to serve under 
her leadership, and I look forward to her future accolades.

                          ____________________