By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
A host of Los Angeles federal lawmakers paid homage to U.S. Rep. and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who announced her retirement this week.
Pelosi, 85, was first elected in 1987 and served as House Speaker when Democrats held the majority from 2006 to 2022. She was the first and only woman Speaker in the nation’s history, and is considered one of the most powerful political figures in American history.
“For nearly four decades, Nancy Pelosi has fought for fundamental rights and freedoms not just for her beloved city of San Francisco, but for all Americans. And as a torchbearer of Democratic and California values, Speaker Pelosi stood as our nation’s chief defender against Donald Trump’s attacks on our democracy,” said U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
“She broke glass ceilings as the first woman to be Speaker of the House, worked relentlessly to pass the Affordable Care Act, and championed transformative legislation to invest in our nation’s infrastructure. And from her roots in San Francisco through her trailblazing tenure in Congress, Speaker Pelosi was a champion for LGBTQ+ rights, fighting to guarantee the right to marry who you love and helping lead San Francisco through the AIDS crisis that devastated the city.
“Through our country’s greatest triumphs and biggest tests, Speaker Pelosi has always been a voice of the People and a champion for children. It has been an honor to serve alongside her. She always called on us to ‘organize, not agonize.’ Now it’s up to us to carry on her legacy.”
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Pelosi will be recorded as the greatest Speaker in American history, the result of her tenacity, intellect, strategic acumen and fierce advocacy.
“She [Pelosi] has been an indelible part of every major progressive accomplishment in the 21st century — her work in Congress delivered affordable health care to millions, created countless jobs, raised families out of poverty, cleaned up pollution, brought LGBTQ+ rights into the mainstream, and pulled our economy back from the brink of destruction not once, but twice,” said Schiff.
“Nancy Pelosi was not content to be just a master legislator in Congress. She was a global leader. Her voice carried far beyond the walls of Congress as she championed human rights and democracy, women’s equality, and a healthier planet in her travels around the world. She represented the United States on the world stage, trailblazing while balancing the demands of an unruly Congress, and like Ginger Rogers – she did it backwards, and in heels.”
U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona, La Verne, San Dimas) said that Pelosi’s leadership transformed the course of the nation’s history.
“For nearly four decades, Speaker Pelosi has been a steadfast voice for working families guiding landmark legislation like the Affordable Care Act, protecting democracy in the face of grave threats, and ensuring that women everywhere know their power,” said Torres.
“I will always be grateful that Speaker Pelosi entrusted me with the responsibility of serving on both the Rules Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and to look out for California’s interests there. And I will never forget her participation in a congressional delegation trip to Guatemala to better understand the connections between our two nations- a trip that was deeply personal to me.
It has been an honor to serve alongside her and to learn from her example of grace, strength, and conviction. I thank her for her extraordinary service to our country and wish her and Paul all the best in this next chapter.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, Bellflower) said Pelosi will be remembered as the most effective and historic Speaker in American history.
“She [Pelosi] passed generation-defining legislation, including the Affordable Care Act, the American Rescue Plan, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the repeal of the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” said Garcia.
“She defended our democracy during some of our nation’s darkest days and her leadership inspired generations of Americans, particularly young girls, to see themselves in the halls of Congress.
“As a Californian and a friend, I am honored to have worked with her and to have learned from her. She will be greatly missed in Congress, but I am confident that her work, legacy, and fearlessness will continue to inspire generations to come.”
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas) said Pelosi’s historic leadership will forever stand as a testament to the strength, courage, and resilience that define the American spirit.
“It has been a privilege to call her a colleague and an even greater honor to call her a friend. I am deeply grateful for her leadership and for paving the path that made it possible for me and so many other women to serve in Congress. Her wisdom, mentorship, and generosity have shaped my work and that of countless others who have had the honor to serve alongside her,” said Brownley.
“Thank you, Speaker Emerita Pelosi, for your extraordinary vision, your steadfast dedication, and your lifelong service to our country. Even in these challenging times, history will remember your leadership as a turning point – one that made our nation stronger, more just, and forever changed for the better.”
