Pelosi Floor Speech Honoring the Late Ron Dellums

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi delivered remarks of the Floor of the House of Representatives to honor the late Ron Dellums, Oakland Mayor and 13-term Bay Area Member of Congress. Below are the Leader's remarks:

Leader Pelosi. Thank you very much [Congresswoman] Barbara Lee for bringing us together in this special order to honor a very special person, Congressman, Mr. Mayor, Ron Dellums. You worked with him, so you saw close up his commitment to values to make the future better for everyone in our country. And you also participated in his collaboration. When an issue arose or was anticipated, he engaged the entire community in the discussion, in the collaboration of what is best for the community, not deigning to them but listening, he listened and we all listened.

When he came to the Floor, it was an occasion. Everyone stopped and wanted to hear what he wanted to say. We knew it would be eloquent and, on occasion, humorous. He was a star in the Congress of the United States like no other. In the galaxy of stars here that many of us have served with, he shined so much brighter and the world is a darker place for his leaving us.

What was important about Ron, some of which my colleague Mr. [Hank] Johnson referenced about apartheid in Africa and how important he was in that fight and how effective he was as a leader in that fight.

When he assumed the chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee, a progressive from Berkeley, he understood that our country had to be strong, but he measured our strength not only in our military might but also the health, education and well-being of the American people. He saw them go together, without that piece of it, we could never reach the potential of strength that America is about. We'll have a number of occasions, one in Oakland on Sunday to share some stories there and then at a later date here in Washington, D.C. again and many times in between to share stories about Ron Dellums.

But I know that with everyone who served with him – and he was in Congress long before I came – anyone who served with him considered it a tremendous honor to call him colleague and for those of us who had the privilege to call him friend, that was a joy in our lives.

As Californians, we took special pride in Ron Dellums. And one story that I love about him, and many, but one I love about him – this is a Prince [referencing picture of Ron Dellums]. You see how elegant he is, dressed meticulously, so beautifully. But one story that he told was that the first time he went to Africa, a person, proud of the community he represented and sprang from, but to be on a continent and visit countries where the leaders of the country were African, to see people who shared his ethnicity, lead their country and be respected. It was something he brought home to us with great emotion and great pride. And with great emotion and great pride, I'm grateful I had the opportunity to serve with him. I know our time is limited so I will save some stories for Sunday.

But I thank [Congresswoman] Barbara Lee again for not only bringing us together here, but for honoring the legacy of Ron Dellums and his long career as a Member of Congress, honoring the values they shared, making her own mark in the Congress, and now keeper of the flame of Ron Dellums.

Thank you.

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