Pelosi Statement on Chairman Obey Announcing He Will Not Seek Re-election

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

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today regarding the announcement that Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin would not seek re-election this year: :

"Chairman Dave Obey’s announcement today that he will be leaving the Congress he loves calls forth our expressions of gratitude for his unparalleled accomplishments. He is a visionary for a better life for the American people and a legislative genius: he has an ability to see around corners, anticipate challenges and opportunities, and sustain a fight on behalf of what is right. For nearly a half century, he’s been an indefatigable reformer.

"Dave Obey was my Chairman when I served on the Appropriations Committee; I saw firsthand how he wielded the power of the purse for the common good. When it came to foreign affairs, Chairman Obey promoted a principled foreign policy rooted in the values of the Midwest. He was my Chairman; he will always be my dear friend.

"Chairman Obey’s impact has been national, but his first priorities have always been local: the people of Wisconsin’s 7th District. The aspirations of his constituents have been his aspirations, and their challenges have been his call to action.

"Dave Obey is a transformational figure in the Congress; his leadership on behalf of the American people is unsurpassed. Over his nearly 42 years in Congress, he has made health care a cornerstone of his work. He will leave Congress having worked to ensure that health care is a right, not a privilege, for all Americans."