Oaths and Obligations
Oath of Honor
Thirty-nine years ago this week, I raised my right hand and took the oath of office to represent San Francisco in Congress. Looking back on that day, I am filled with gratitude—not only for the opportunity to serve, but for the family who stood beside me, including my father, who had once brought me to witness his own swearing-in and was there to see mine. Shortly after that oath, I delivered my first speech on the floor of the House, and pledged to spend my time in Congress fighting against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
As I reflect in this final year of my service in Congress, I do so with great patriotism, pride and emotion. Serving in the People’s House one of the greatest official honors of my life and I remain deeply grateful to the people of San Francisco for placing their trust in me.
Nancy Pelosi taking the ceremonial oath of office in June of 1987.
Insult to Intelligence
This week, I took to the House Floor to oppose Republicans’ effort to extend FISA Section 702 without meaningful reforms under the current leadership structure of the Intelligence Community. Drawing on three decades of experience serving on Intelligence matters, I reflected on the bipartisan work Congress undertook after September 11th to establish strong standards for leadership, accountability and national security. America’s Intelligence professionals deserve leaders with the judgment and expertise to match the seriousness of their mission.
I made clear that support for surveillance authorities must be paired with confidence in those entrusted to carry them out. The bipartisan framework that created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence was designed to protect both our security and our values. We can do FISA right—but not with Patel at the FBI and Pulte serving as DNI.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi delivers remarks on the House floor.
Equal Pay for Equal Work
This week marked the anniversary of President Kennedy signing the Equal Pay Act into law—a landmark step forward in the fight for economic justice. Yet more than six decades later, women in America still earn less on average than men for the same work. That gap is not only unfair—it holds back families, workers and our economy.
Equal pay for equal work should not be controversial. Congress must pass Democrats’ Paycheck Fairness Act and finally close the gender pay gap once and for all. Women deserve fairness, dignity and a paycheck that reflects the full value of their work.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi calls for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act in March.