[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 515]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE HONORABLE NANCY PELOSI ON HER ELECTION TO MINORITY 
                                  WHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Brown of South Carolina). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to tell our 
colleague and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) that every 
single day she teaches me something. In my 1992 campaign, the 
gentlewoman from California showed me that senior Members, important 
Members, actually help candidates. In fact, I learned how to run my 
first race by watching her first race in San Francisco. After I was 
elected, Nancy showed me and the rest of my class that more senior 
Members step aside and push junior Members forward to give them the 
exposure that they need and to give them the guidance that is so 
important in getting your feet on the ground around here.
  Nancy has shown us what a real Democrat is, what it is all about, 
while at the same time how to get bipartisan support. That is no easy 
task. She has shown us how to run a whip campaign, how to win, and how 
to bring the caucus back together at the end of that race. Finally, now 
that Nancy is the whip-elect and when she takes over tomorrow, she is 
going to show us how to fill the position of the highest-elected office 
for any woman in the history of the United States, while remaining the 
same gracious, genteel, fair and generous person that she is. I think 
that is the most important lesson of all that I have learned from the 
gentlewoman from California. You can actually be all of that and be 
successful.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York.
  Mr. OWENS. Nancy Pelosi is a national political leader and has deep 
practical political roots, while at the same time she maintains bright, 
widespread idealistic wings. I can think of no better trait for 
leadership than to have roots and wings. She is optimistic and 
idealistic, but she also is a great political strategist.
  Last year she led the congressional delegation from California to 
victories which were greater than all the other combined Democratic 
Caucus members together. As a compassionate idealist, Nancy refuses to 
adopt a position that certain vitally needed reforms are impossible. We 
are proud to follow a great leader that has roots and wings, Nancy 
Pelosi.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, Nancy has asked us all to be brief and 
therefore I will be. After all, she is the whip.
  Nancy, you are the greatest. Thank you for the passion you bring to 
your office. Thank you for all you have done to improve the quality of 
life for America's families and our most precious resource, our 
children. Thank you for all you have contributed to the Congress, for 
your advice and counsel to Members, old and new.
  And, America, get ready. If you do not know Nancy Pelosi yet, you are 
going to love what you see.
  Congratulations, Nancy. You make us all proud.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. SANDLIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Focused, organized, 
hard working and goal oriented: those are words that spring to my mind 
when describing our new whip, Nancy Pelosi. As will no doubt be 
mentioned many times tonight, Nancy Pelosi's election is historic and 
an indication of positive change to come. Nancy's leadership will 
complement our current leadership. She will bring a new energy, a new 
vision to our caucus and to our country. Her leadership may be to the 
same destination, but I suspect that she will have a few new road maps 
for us to follow.
  I am proud of our caucus, particularly the men of our caucus, that we 
were able to be a part of breaking the glass ceiling for women in 
leadership. And make no mistake about it, that glass ceiling is 
shattered forever.
  This is important to men and women all across the country, and it is 
important to me personally. I am the father of four children, two boys 
and two girls. I want to make sure that my daughters have the same 
hope, the same opportunity, the same vision as my sons. Nancy Pelosi 
will guarantee that. We all congratulate Nancy Pelosi; and I say thank 
you for including us all at the table, from left to right, region to 
region, persuasion to persuasion, but most of all thank you for your 
years of hard work, your dedication and your preparation in earning 
this leadership position.
  The country will be better for the leadership of Nancy Pelosi.

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