U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) released the following statement regarding Speaker Emerita Pelosi's upcoming retirement:
"Speaker Emerita Pelosi will go down in history as the most effective Speaker of the House in history. I know, because I had a front row seat to her leadership, service and accomplishments over the past eighteen years. When she was sworn in as the first woman Speaker of the House in 2007 and I was sworn in for the first time, my daughters stood with her on the dais as Pelosi took the gavel and announced her work would be 'For the Children'. I have had the honor to work with Speaker Pelosi and watch her leadership progress our country forward and positively impact the lives of our neighbors."
"Pelosi's leadership spanned seven presidents and she helped America make progress no matter the political party in power. Pelosi was a true health care champion, leading Democrats to pass the monumental Affordable Care Act into law with President Obama. She was dedicated to serving our service members and their families just as they have served us through passing the Post-911 GI-Bill and the Honoring Our Pact Act. As a steadfast defender of LGBTQ+ civil rights, she worked to secure federal funding for lifesaving AIDS research under President Bush. Pelosi's forward-looking legislative agenda made space to address the climate crisis. She tapped me to Chair the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis for two terms where we adopted the most detailed plan for climate action in American history. With the help of the Select Committee, Congress was able to strengthen our infrastructure and grow clean energy jobs across the country, paving the way for the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act with President Biden."
"Pelosi's legacy will live on in veterans who can get a higher education or the health care they have earned. It will live on in equal rights, equal pay and equal opportunity. Children are healthier, life-saving cures and treatments are more available, and Americans enjoy greater civil rights due to Pelosi's leadership. Our country and our people are better because of her, and I am grateful for her service, leadership and friendship."
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