Nancy Pelosi's Blog

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after House Republican leaders announced their decision to pull their continuing resolution from floor consideration:

“Today, the Republican record of dysfunction and disarray reached a new low. Republican leaders spent all week pledging to jam through a temporary funding measure that defunds the Affordable Care Act, wreaks havoc on Medicare, and extends the life of the Republican sequester. But division in their own ranks scuttled this latest gambit and upended this doomed strategy.

“The American people are witnessing yet another sign that Republicans can’t get their own act together, even when a government shutdown hangs in the balance. Now, they’ve simply wasted more time on partisan political games while refusing to work with Democrats to achieve positive results for America’s families and middle class.

“Americans do not need another Republican-manufactured crisis. Democrats agree. We are committed to enacting a plan to end the sequester, create jobs, and grow the economy now. It’s time for Republicans to work with us to keep the government’s doors open and get the job done.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks on the 12th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, on the East Front Steps of the United States Capitol. Below are the Leader’s remarks:

“Twelve years ago, our nation was shaken, our hearts were broken, and our country came together. All of us remember where we were when the Twin Towers fell, when the Pentagon was struck, when Flight 93 was brought down in Pennsylvania. All of us remember the horrific images of that clear morning – the destruction and devastation, the tragedy and fear, the unimaginable loss. All of us still mourn the men and women – mothers and fathers, family members and friends, office workers and complete strangers – who lost their lives in that great moment of sorrow.

“Out of the sadness of that day, we can never forget, and we must never forget, what came next. No one could ever forget the courage of the firefighters and first responders who ran into the carnage to save others and search for survivors, without regard for their own safety. No one could ever forget the 9/11 families, who turned their grief into action to make America safer, to protect the health of first responders, and to cherish the memories of loved ones forever.

“As we gather on these steps, as we did 12 years ago, no Member of Congress who served then could forget our shared sense of purpose as we sang out the words: ‘God Bless America.’ Americans revere our flag, and we hold in the greatest reverence the flag that flew above Ground Zero, as we cherish the service and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform who protect us from harm every day. Because of them, because of the acts and deeds of millions of Americans, we found hope in the face of despair, strength in the wake of fear, unity in the shadow of loss. That hope, that strength, and that unity must forever be the enduring legacy of September 11, 2001.

“May the story of that day always inspire us to stay true to the character of our country and our common values as Americans. May time and prayer diminish the pain and grief felt by those who lost loved ones, even as time will never dim the memories of those who perished. And we always pray that God may always continue to bless the United States of America.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement following the President’s address to the nation on Syria this evening:

“Tonight, President Obama made a principled presentation to the American people as to how the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons impacts our national security and why the regime must be held responsible for the reprehensible gassing of more than a thousand people, including hundreds of children.

“The President using the credible threat of American military action to bring diplomatic solutions back to the table demonstrates the strength of his leadership and his willingness to exhaust every remedy before the use of force.

“As the Obama Administration continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution, the President justly made clear tonight that the threat of military action remains on the table as we continue to work to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction, a pillar of our national security.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks today at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley, the four girls killed 50 years ago in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15th, 1963. Below are the Leader’s remarks:

“Benita Washington – what a perfect, perfect song – hope, ‘when hope was gone, just press on.’ And always find it sitting right there between faith and charity, it’s usual place. I hope that is a comfort to the family and that the time has eased your pain, and it is some comfort to you that it has not dulled the memory of your babies, of your baby girls.

“September 15th, 1963. It was a Sunday like any other in Birmingham, Alabama. Families went to church. Congregations prayed. And at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, four little baby girls – they look like baby girls to me, they were the age of my grandchildren – went to Sunday school. They were dressed in their Sunday best, prepared to lead in a service, excitingly talking about their first days of school. Little did anyone know that morning that these four little girls would lose their lives simply because of who they were and what they looked like, where were standing and where they worshipped. Little did anyone know that, in a moment of unspeakable tragedy, they would become tragic icons of a movement, symbols of a struggle for equality.

"Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Denise McNair – her parents with us – their names remain seared in our hearts, certainly in yours, we know that, 50 years later. They left their families, their community, and their country far too early. Yet, as Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King declared at a memorial service just days after the bombing, he said: ‘Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American Dream.’ Just a few weeks after the ‘I Have A Dream’ speech, he was evoking the realization of the dream. Sadly, no. Today, that same message endures. Their legacies, as the Gold Medal states, remain ‘pivotal in the struggle for equality.’ Their memories still inspire our fight to establish justice, to form a more perfect union, to realize the dream – the dreams of four little girls; the dream of a nation that loves and values all of America’s children.

“Several years ago, I had the privilege of traveling with Reverend Lewis – oh, Reverend, I call him Reverend because he’s like a preacher to us, our colleague who we’re honored to serve with, John Lewis. Spencer Bachus with us as well. Steny Hoyer, he’s gone on many of these trips and many more to come, I’m sure. And we visited the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. It was so heartbreaking to just be there in this place that looked so normal. That such an extraordinary thing had happened to these little girls. It was a highly emotional experience that I don’t think any of us will ever forget. For anyone that visits that sacred ground, it is also a call to action.

“That experience and other travels to civil rights monuments impressed upon me and others who were there that every American should visit these sites. Anyone who travels the country to visit the patriotic sites of America should go. They are as important to our history as Concord and Lexington, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and yes, the United States Capitol. Shaped our history, shaped our future.

“Earlier this year, I was telling Dr. Pijeaux, that I had the privilege to travel to another one of those sites, the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama, which records the names of martyrs of the movement. He told me we had to come back, all of us, and go to visit him at the – now what is it, I want to say the exact right name – he is the President and CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, we all have to go there too on our tour of patriotic places. Many of the names tell the story of the lives sacrificed crossing bridges, registering voters, taking Freedom Rides, marching for equality – stories of struggle, yes, Frederick Douglass, the struggles and the patriotism, but also of the sacrifice. Among the names of those who were emblazoned, in this case Montgomery, were the four little girls – their lives taken in the simple act of going to church.

“They were four students; four daughters of Birmingham; four innocent victims to the forces of hatred and prejudice, racism and injustice. Their memories must always be a blessing to all of us; their loss must remain a sober reminder of our tasks today: to ensure that equality is a birthright never denied; to defend the right of all Americans, regardless of race, to lead their lives without fear, with the blessings of liberty and justice for all.

“Now, mention has been made that Rosa Parks is looking over our shoulder right here. She seems to have always been looking over our shoulder. I remember in March and the Speaker brought us together then – thank you again, Mr. Speaker, for bringing us together when we dedicated this statute. Many of us had been, earlier in the morning, on the steps of the Supreme Court because that was the day the court was hearing the arguments, the oral arguments, on the Voting Rights Act. We came over here after that, we came over here and dedicated the statute, hoped and prayed. The court made a different decision; Rosa Parks is looking over our shoulders to see what we’re going to do about it. And we won’t disappoint you, Rosa Parks.

“So, half-a-century later, from the tragedy of losing the little girls, we only hope that the senseless and premature deaths of these four little girls still ignite the fires of progress and fan the flames of freedom. We only hope that we can have the strength and wisdom to live up to their legacies as we award them, tearfully, the highest honor that Congress can bestow: the Congressional Gold Medal. I don’t remember us ever giving this medal to anyone so young, even adding all of their ages together, so young. And usually when we have a ceremony of this kind, it’s about celebration and acknowledgements. This one is especially sad. But on the positive side, the youth of these children, as I say this medal usually is an honor bestowed, but these children, with their youth, their sacrifice, they invigorate this medal, they bring luster to this medal. It will never be the same. Thank you to our colleague for making all of this possible for us today. Thank you, my colleague.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Department of Labor announced that the economy added 169,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.3 percent in August, the lowest since December 2008. With businesses adding 152,000 jobs, this marks the 42nd consecutive month of private sector job growth.

“While today’s jobs report is a step forward, the pace of economic progress is too slow for too many Americans who are struggling to find jobs and make ends meet. Congress must act to create good-paying jobs, expand the economy, and ensure that hardworking families gain the economic security they deserve.

“Now is the time for Members of Congress to put forward solutions that invest in job creation, small business growth, and education—the pillars of a 21st century economy. House Democrats remain focused on these priorities, including our ‘Make It In America’ and ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds’ agendas to protect and promote economic opportunities for middle class families. Unfortunately, House Republicans have ignored this responsibility by refusing to produce a single jobs bill, rejecting efforts to compromise on a budget, and allowing Americans to languish under devastating sequester cuts that jeopardize the economic security we are supposed to protect.

“Congressional Republicans must put aside political obstruction and start working with Democrats to deliver a budget that will create jobs, expand the economy, strengthen the middle class, and responsibly reduce the deficit. Democrats are working to move our country forward in building a strong economy that delivers the bright and boundless future that every American deserves.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a press stakeout in front of the White House following a meeting with President Obama and Congressional leadership on Syria. Below is a transcript of Leader Pelosi’s remarks and the question and answer session:

Good morning. The President honored us with his presentation this morning that he does not take going into a military action lightly. That there are compelling reasons, the evidence, the intelligence is clear that Assad perpetrated this attack of using weapons of mass destruction, really. Weapons of mass destruction, deterring their use, is a pillar of our national security. Assad has done that. That is the differentiation from what he has done up until now. People say, ‘well, he killed a hundred thousand people, what’s the difference with this 1,400?’ With this 1,400, he crossed a line with using chemical weapons.

President Obama did not draw the red line, humanity drew it decades ago – 170 some countries supporting the convention on not using chemicals, chemical warfare. So, it is really something that from a humanitarian standpoint cannot be ignored or else we cannot say ‘never again.’ Secondly, from a national security standpoint, it will send a very clear message to those who have weapons of mass destruction of any variety, that they should forget about using them. It was a very constructive meeting, the President listened to our colleagues, the Speaker was very clear and I’m sure he has told you his view, I associated myself with his remarks. But, again I believe that the American people need to hear more about the intelligence that supports this action. And that is that the responsibility for this chemical weapons use is clearly at the feet of Assad.

The -- now, we go to the next step of having a further debate in the Congress of the United States. And I am hopeful, as the American people are persuaded – that this action happened, that Assad did it, that hundreds of – hundreds of children were killed. This is behavior outside the circle of civilized human behavior and we must respond.

***

Q: Madam Leader, are you ready then to in a sense, whip your membership to get on board with the President? Because we’ve been hearing, obviously, from the House especially, all over the place.

Leader Pelosi. Well, yes and I’m respectful of that. I – we do not, on these kinds of issues it’s not a question of whipping, it’s a question of discussing to make sure that people have the information that they need to make an informed decision, to make sure that they have the full value of the intelligence that says this is how this happened. And then Members have to decide, are they willing – do they want to ignore the fact that this humanitarian disaster took place or not? And then there’s the larger issue of Syria’s behavior if they get away with this.

So, again, very respectful of all of the concerns that the Members have, that our constituents have – I do not, in my district, I don’t think people are convinced that military action is necessary, but it’s important for them to know that the weapons of mass destructions use has taken us to a different place. That the President takes, obviously any President would, but this President does not take this lightly. And that what will happen will be targeted, tailored, of short duration, and will send the message that is necessary and then we go from there.

So you’re absolutely right, there’s work to be done. But it’s not a question of whipping, it’s a question of discussing with our Members, hearing their views. And some won’t ever be comfortable with it – I myself, from the humanitarian standpoint think that waiting for the U.N. and waiting for Putin – the slowest ship in the convoy of reacting to the use of weapons of, of the chemical weapons by Assad – is a luxury that we cannot afford.

I have to go. Thank you all very much.

Q: Madam Leader, you said ‘never again.’ Do you want to compare this to the Holocaust?

Leader Pelosi. No, no. No, I was thinking more like Rwanda and the like, like that. Nothing is like the Holocaust.

Q: If Congress does reject this, can the President proceed if Congress rejects?

Leader Pelosi. I don’t think Congress will reject. But I do want to remind you because the – I’ve been reading some of what some of you have written and say the President has never gone forward if Congress has not approved, when it has taken up the issue. I remind you that in 1999, President Clinton brought us all together, similar to this meeting here, but over a period of time to talk about going into the Balkans and the vote was 213-213, 187 Republicans voted ‘no,’ 180 Democrats voted ‘yes,’ about 30 on each side, something like that, went in a different way than the majority of their party. And that was when the planes were really ready to go into Bosnia. He went. And you know what happened there.

So, I don’t – I don’t think that the Congressional authorization is necessary. I do think it’s a good thing. And I hope that we can achieve it. I feel pretty confident on the evidence, the intelligence, the national interest that is at stake, that we have a good conversation to have with our Members.

I myself – I’ll tell you this story, and then I really do have to go. My five year old grandson, as I was leaving San Francisco yesterday, he said to me: ‘Mimi’ – that’s my name – ‘Mimi, war with Syria are you ‘yes,’ war with Syria, ‘no’ war with Syria?’ Now, he’s five years old and ‘war,’ he’s saying ‘war,’ I mean we’re not talking about war, we’re talking about an action here. ‘Yes, war with Syria, no war with Syria?’ I said, ‘well, what do you think?’ He said: ‘I think no war.’ I said, ‘well, I generally agree with that but you know they’ve killed hundreds of children there, they’ve killed hundreds of children.’ And he said, five years old: ‘were these children in the United States?’ And I said: ‘well, no. But they’re children wherever they are.’

So, I don’t know what news he’s listening to or where, or who he’s listening to, but even a five-year-old child has to, you know, with the wisdom of our interests, how does it affect our interests? Well, it affects our interests because it was, again, outside the circle of civilized behavior. It was humanity drew a line decades ago that I think, if we ignore, we do so to the peril of many other people who could suffer.

So, in any event, I just go back to the point in the Balkans, Congress, 213-213, failed for lack of a majority, but President Clinton went in.

Q: Madam Leader, many Democrats feel the authorization should be written to be more narrowly focused.

Leader Pelosi. I think that’s a subject of discussion. There’s some people want it broader and some people want it more narrow. I think that’s an open discussion.

Q: What do you think, Madam Leader?

Leader Pelosi. Well, I want to hear what my Members have to say.

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in recognition of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown on Wednesday:

“For Jewish families around the world, Rosh Hashanah is a moment of reflection and renewal, joy and prayer, repentance and introspection. With hope for a future of health and happiness, the new year is an opportunity to reiterate the core commitments and values of the Jewish people: to repair the world, and perfect it; to cherish justice, and pursue it; to seek peace, and secure it.

“This time in the Jewish calendar is a reminder of the contributions made by American Jews over the course of our history – in business and medicine, in public service and law, in academia and the arts. As we mark 50 years since the March on Washington, this is a time to recall the Jewish leaders and citizens who marched alongside Americans of all faiths in the name of equality and civil rights. As we confront the challenges of today, this is a time to rededicate ourselves to the causes we share as Americans: the task of lifting up the less fortunate and advancing the common good; the responsibility to welcome immigrants arriving on our shores; the belief in diversity and pluralism.

“As Jewish households gather to hear the sound of the shofar, to celebrate with loved ones, to dip apples in honey, to rejoice and to pray, let us hope that this Rosh Hashanah will bring a year of peace and security to Israel and her neighbors across the Middle East. Let us hope that this new year ushers in a time of joy, good fortune, and progress for the Jewish community in the United States and around the world. Shana tovah u’metukah – may you have a happy, healthy, sweet new year.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement following President Obama's remarks on Syria this afternoon:

"President Obama is right that the debate and authorization by Congress for action will make our country and the response in Syria stronger.

"President Assad was wrong to gas the Syrian people killing more than 1,400 people, including 400 children.

"It is a pillar of America's security that we must stop the use and proliferation of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

"As the President stated today, military action in response to Assad's reckless use of deadly gas that is limited in scope and duration, without boots on the ground, is in our national security interest and in furtherance of regional stability and global security.

"I look forward to the debate."

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement in recognition of Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 2nd:

“On Labor Day, we pay tribute to the hardworking men and women whose ingenuity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit are the foundation of America’s strength.

“Both in times of prosperity and hardship, we rely on our workforce to safeguard the economic security of our families, our communities, and our country. Yet too many Americans still struggle to find solid ground. That is why House Democrats have dedicated every moment of this Congress to seeking and proposing solutions that protect our workforce, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class—the backbone of our democracy. Through our ‘Make It In America’ and ‘When Women Succeed, America Succeeds’ agendas, we are committed to reinvigorating our manufacturing base, raising the minimum wage, promoting work and life balance, and unleashing the power of every hardworking American who strives for a better future.

“From highways to factory floors, from conference rooms to classrooms, America’s working men and women are the cornerstone of a vibrant, thriving, and resilient 21st century economy. In recognizing their invaluable contributions on this Labor Day, we renew our commitment to building a future that ensures a full day’s pay for an honest day’s work, fair treatment in the workplace, equal opportunity and shared prosperity for all Americans.”

###
 

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today after the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that legally married same-sex couples would now be recognized as all married couples for federal tax purposes after the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

“Once again, the Obama Administration has taken the lead in reaffirming the fundamental principle inscribed into the walls of the Supreme Court: ‘equal justice under law.’ With this swift action, the federal government moves one step closer to ending discrimination against LGBT Americans and securing equal protection for all families.

“Even with today’s progress, the struggle for equality continues and the fight for fairness marches on. The Supreme Court placed itself on the right side of history by discarding Section 3 of the defenseless Defense of Marriage Act earlier this year; moving forward, we must not rest until justice is done for every American, no matter who they love.”

###