Pelosi Letter to House Democratic Caucus Ahead of Leadership Election

Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter to Members of the House Democratic Caucus today congratulating House Democrats on their election to the House of Representatives and hailing the diversity, experience, and energy that the new House Democratic Caucus will bring to the 113th Congress as the most diverse Caucus in history.

As Leader Pelosi wrote in her letter, “In the incoming 113th Congress, with the first majority minority Caucus in history and broad unity, we will play a significant role in advancing the priorities of the American people. We still have work to do in the crucial areas of job creation, tax simplification and fairness, responsible deficit reduction, comprehensive immigration reform, and campaign finance reform. We may not have the gavel or the majority, but we have unity and we speak for the vast majority of the American people.”

Further, the letter states, “As we go forward, I pledge inclusive leadership that encourages every member of our Caucus to promote the policies that will allow millions of Americans to achieve the American Dream.”

Below is the full text of the letter:

Congratulations to you on your election to the House of Representatives. You will be serving in the most diverse Caucus in history, and one composed of experienced, thoughtful and energetic women and men who are deeply committed to advancing the American Dream for all.

Thanks to the courage and commitment of our Democratic Caucus, we have achieved historic accomplishments on behalf of the middle class. We expanded opportunities for all with passage of the Lily Ledbetter law, by ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military and, of course, by enacting the Affordable Care Act. We promoted economic fairness and opportunity with the recovery act, affordable higher education, assistance to veterans, and Wall Street Reform. And we advanced the entrepreneurial spirit with support for our innovation agenda, renewable energy, the COMPETES Act, and small business expansion.

All of these landmark accomplishments are now secure because of the re-election of President Obama, the election of a strong Democratic Senate, and at least 200 Democratic Members in the House.

In the incoming 113th Congress, with the first majority minority Caucus in history and broad unity, we will play a significant role in advancing the priorities of the American people. We still have work to do in the crucial areas of job creation, tax simplification and fairness, responsible deficit reduction, comprehensive immigration reform, and campaign finance reform. We may not have the gavel or the majority, but we have unity and we speak for the vast majority of the American people.

As we go forward, I pledge inclusive leadership that encourages every member of our Caucus to promote the policies that will allow millions of Americans to achieve the American Dream.

With pride in our accomplishments, a resolve to continue our work for the American people and with great humility, I respectfully ask for your vote as Democratic Leader.

Thank you for your leadership, your courage, and your friendship.

best wishes,

NANCY PELOSI

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