Senator Carper Statement on Speaker Pelosi’s Decision to Depart House Leadership

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) today issued the following statement on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s announcement to step down from her position in House leadership:

“In 1983, a few months into my first term in Congress, I was participating in a hearing at the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs. Shortly after the hearing gaveled in, a newly elected congresswoman entered the hearing room and took her seat next to me. She turned to me, stretched out her arm, and introduced herself as Nancy Pelosi. From our first interaction nearly 40 years ago, I knew she was going places. And I feel privileged to say that from that day on we became not only great colleagues, but also great friends.

“To say Speaker Pelosi has broken glass ceilings would be an understatement. For 35 years, she has represented and served the people of San Francisco honorably. In 2007, she made history by being the first woman elected to serve as Speaker of the House. And, to this day, she is still the only woman to ever serve as Speaker. Without Nancy Pelosi, historic pieces of legislation that have transformed our nation, such as the Affordable Care Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the Inflation Reduction Act, would have never seen the light of day.

“For decades, Speaker Pelosi has led her caucus with grace, tenacity, and great reverence for our Constitution. Today, she passes the torch to the next generation of leaders with that same reverence and respect. As an American, I have immense gratitude for all that Speaker Pelosi has accomplished in service of our great nation. As a colleague, I continue to pray for her husband Paul and wish her and her family only the best from this day forward. Thank you for everything, Madam Speaker.”

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