Schakowsky Statement on Speaker Pelosi's Decision to Leave House Leadership

WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement commemorating Nancy Pelosi's service as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives:

"Today marks nearly 16 years to the day that I was able to second the nomination of my treasured friend, Nancy Pelosi, as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. In my nominating speech back in 2006, I promised that she was going to be a leader for every day, hardworking Americans. Today, I can proudly say that she went above and beyond the duties of her office. Generations of Americans are better off because of the progressive leadership of Nancy Pelosi.

"Speaker Pelosi is the shrewdest strategist and has the astounding ability to successfully navigate the most complex negotiations. She is as good at chess as she is at poker. She has never let anything come in her way of helping the American people.

"Millions of people across the country have health care thanks to her work and guidance on the Affordable Care Act. Our nation's infrastructure has finally received the resources it so desperately needed thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Most importantly, our democracy remains intact thanks to her courage and devotion to our founding principles.

"Speaker Pelosi will go down in history as the most effective speaker in the history of our country."

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