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Pelosi Remarks Introducing President Biden at 2021 House Democratic Issues Conference

March 3, 2021
Contact: Speaker's Press Office,
202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced President Joe Biden at House Democrats' 2021 Democratic Issues Conference. Below are the Speaker's remarks after being introduced by Congresswoman Angie Craig of Minnesota:
Speaker Pelosi. Thank you so much. I'm so honored by your introduction.
This is a very special evening for me, my colleagues, to be introducing for the very first time Joe Biden as President of the United States. And I could – my heart could not be filled with more joy to have that occasion marked by introducing him to our House Democratic Caucus.
That joy is also increased by being introduced by Angie Craig. And I'm so glad she referenced her wife and her four sons, whom I love hearing about, and now in front of the President of the United States. Thank you, Angie, for your leadership, your friendship and your very generous introduction. You've made this evening very special to me.
A special evening. First time, Mr. President, that I'm introducing you as President of the United States to my great House Democratic Caucus. That makes it even better.
My colleagues, as you know, our nation is blessed with Joe Biden as President of the United States. He is an extraordinary President. He knows how to get the job done. When our nation faced the Great Recession. It was Joe Biden, who led the implementation and accountability of ARRA, helping to create and save millions of jobs. That experience serves him well with the American Rescue Plan. When the Democratic Caucus was passing the Affordable Care Act, Joe Biden was a partner for progress in the White House. And that experience serves him well as we face the coronavirus crisis. Joe Biden has been a voice of reason and resilience with a clear path to lead us out of this crisis.
On another front, I want to tell you about Joe Biden: the Joe Biden I've seen with parents of victims of gun violence, listening to them and offering them the empathy, grace and courage that he can give them as someone with a terrible understanding of a father who has shared their experience.
Continuing on the family front, Joe and Jill Biden have taken their experience as a boost to our family to help ensure that servicemembers, military families, and veterans have their service respected, the support that they need and the benefits they have earned. He is our Commander in Chief. And Joe Biden is the first president in 40 years to have a son who served in a war. He knows what it's like for military families of those who are deployed. He knows the role that our hidden heroes and caregivers have for returning veterans. And he's so proud of Beau. He's concerned about other veterans who have suffered from cancer. Men are at – many after being exposed to toxins in the burn pits of Iraq. That is just one reason for his enthusiasm for the Cancer Moonshot, demonstrated as recently as today by a bipartisan meeting on cancer at the White House.
I've seen President Biden working behind the scenes, hammering out solutions for the American people. He is a leader with the humility to seek expertise and science and the confidence to act upon it.
On the policy side, President Biden has been a longtime legislative partner, including for VAWA, for gun violence prevention, and of course, with his connection to America's working families.
On the global front, President Biden is a distinguished world leader who commands the respect of the allies and adversaries alike. I especially, personally enjoyed seeing – as a Catholic I enjoyed seeing him received at the Vatican when the Pope was inaugurated – when Pope Francis was inaugurated.
On the political front, Joe Biden has campaigned with or for many Members of Congress, almost everyone in this virtual setting. Thank you, Mr. President, for being there and for – with us and for us.
My husband, Paul always says, ‘I just wonder how long into a speech it will be before Nancy starts talking about her grandchildren.' Our grandchildren, my grandchildren, have for many, many years, been longtime friends of Joe Biden. They have a range in age, but all of them love Joe Biden. But let me tell you one story,
I think was like 2013, four and five year old, two of mine, Paul and Thomas. We were at an event, the DCCC in New York, and Joe Biden was the keynote speaker. They were so excited to see him because they'd heard so much about him from their cousins. And they met him they talked about pets and things like that. And afterward, after the luncheon was over, I took them got candy. Don't tell their mom. I took them for candy at a place, Dylan's in New York, where they have sort of like swinging doors. You have to get through the doors from one part of the store to the next. So, here they are, the place is packed and jammed. Kids are making all this noise over there on the side. And all of a sudden, I hear them pronounce, ‘In order to open these doors, we do not say open sesame, we say "Open Biden." That's our magic word.'
Open Biden? I love it.
Now more than ever, we need a battle-tested, forward-looking leader who will fight For The People, a President with the values, experience and the strategic thinking to bring our nation together and to build a better, fairer world for our children. As President, he is taking us to new heights of inclusion in the success of America. President Biden is a leader who is the personification of hope and courage, values, authenticity and integrity. Joe Biden is President – as President and with Democratic Majorities in the House and Senate, we will deliver bold progress For The People.
And now it is my privilege to present the [46th] President of the United States, as my children – grandchildren would say, ‘Open Biden,' Mr. President.
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