Pelosi: Outstanding Obama National Security Team Will Keep America Safe and Meet Global Challenges

Contact:Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President-elect Obama’s announcement of his national security team: Senator Hillary Clinton to be the new Secretary of State, Robert Gates to stay on as Secretary of Defense, Eric Holder as Attorney General, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security, Susan Rice as Ambassador to the United Nations and General Jim Jones as National Security Adviser:

"With the selection of this excellent national security team, President-elect Obama has made clear that he understands his first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. He has moved decisively to assemble an outstanding team that reflects our national priorities and will meet our global challenges. All the members of this team have tremendous experience, great intellect, strong leadership, and a commitment to change.

"The announcement of this team sends a message to the world that our foreign policy will be built upon respect, and that the Obama Administration is ready to lead and prepared to govern."