Transcript of Pelosi Press Conference Today

Contact: Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi held a press conference today to announce her recommendations of Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) for House Democratic Leadership positions. Below is a transcript of Leader Pelosi's opening statement, as well as a question and answer session.

Leader Pelosi's Opening Remarks

"Good afternoon everyone. The Chairman of the Democratic Caucus has informed Members that tomorrow we will elect the Leadership team for the 114th Congress.

"Should I receive the honor of serving as the House Democratic Leader, I will be proud to recommend the Members gathered here for important positions of leadership in our Caucus in the new Congress. As the next Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, I am pleased to recommend to our Caucus Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico. He is a dynamic and forward-looking leader with the fresh energy and ideas House Democrats need for victory in 2016. Congressman Luján has the bold vision and determined leadership to deliver wins in difficult districts. I am confident that Congressman Luján will prove a tireless champion for our Members and candidates across the country, and I'm absolutely delighted to recommend him to the Caucus.

"As Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the past four years, Congressman Steve Israel has consistently proved the depth of his wisdom and the strength of his strategic vision in making our case to the American people. In his new role – and we thank him for his leadership over those four years – in his new role as Chair of something called Policy and Communications, Congressman Israel will be an invaluable asset to our Caucus, working closely with the Steering and Policy Committee to develop our Caucus message, jumpstart the middle class and to reignite the American dream. Thank you, Mr. Israel, for agreeing to serve.

"Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut – well her innovative and unrelenting leadership is essential to our Caucus. She is what I call the godmother behind the 'When Women Succeed, America Succeeds' agenda. Her work on behalf of students and working families is unparalleled. Congresswoman DeLauro is the lioness of our Caucus, and I look forward to continuing to work with her as the co-Chair of the Steering & Policy Committee.

"I have to say about Rosa: the 40-some Members that were here from the freshman class of last year – we had 51, I think it's now 45 – they have entrusted their hopes, dreams, aspirations and their career paths to Rosa. And she understands their aspirations, as well as even more senior Members. So she is an institution that everyone by popular demand insisted that she, again, serve in this role. It pleased all of us; but I'm glad it pleased Rosa to do that.

"Congresswoman Donna Edwards of Maryland has been an energetic and impassioned voice within our Caucus ever since she came to Congress. As Chair of the Democratic Women's Working Group, she has been a forceful champion of America's women – continuing the work that she began as co-founder and executive director of the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Congresswoman Edwards' deep grasp of policy and priorities of middle-class families will make her a great asset to our caucus in the role of Policy Co-Chair.

"These Members are tested and tenacious Members of our Caucus. They have the energy and the vision to win progress for the American people. I'm excited to work with them in these important roles, and I'm very pleased and honored to yield to my nominee to be Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico."

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Q: I have a question for Congressman Luján. Just managing expectations – Republicans have built their largest majority sine at least the Truman Administration, possibly even the Hoover Administration if they can pick up one seat from these outstanding races. Where do you manage expectations? And is it a realistic goal to try to take back the majority?

Rep. Luján. As Steve pointed out – as Chairman Israel pointed out, so many of the American people didn't come out to vote this year. As we're celebrating and remembering the 50th year of the Voting Rights Act and we continue to see Republicans chip away at that. I think that it's important that we go talk to more and more people. And I think we can set those expectations high. Going into 2016, we're going to see more of the electorate involved, excited, ready to work, and get ready to get more people elected. And so I think that, again, working closely with Steve and the team, we'll see those numbers as they roll out. But you saw those very close elections this year where Republicans spent a record amount of money. I think we're going to see a lot more Democrats get elected in 2016, and those numbers are going to surprise you.

Q: To add to that point here. Very soon we're probably going to have an executive order from the President. And not all Latino voters see issues the same: some will see the things the way most Republicans appear to see this issue. How do you see that playing out in the near term? I know two years is a long way away, but how do you see that playing out in the Latino community as this fight will probably emerge in the next few days here as to what the positions are?

Rep. Luján. Chad, Republicans have been solving comprehensive immigration reform for over two years now. They've had a chance to put a bill up to vote; Speaker Boehner has stalled that. If Republicans in the House and the Senate aren't happy with actions that the President will consider – and we'll see what those look like going forward – they're in charge. They can put a bill forward, and I certainly hope that we can come together and work that way. I don't believe this is going to poison the well. And I'm certainly hopeful that we'll see more of that.

Q: Leader, there was some criticism this week about the decision to not let Representative Duckworth vote via proxy. And a lot of that is being directed to you given your position on leaves for women who have children, Family and Medical Leave Act. Could you respond to some of that criticism?

Leader Pelosi. First of all, let me say, I was one of the ones who said to Congresswoman Duckworth: "Don't come back here. This is the most glorious experiences in your life, your center of the universe will change for you when you have this precious new baby."

The rules of the Caucus are the same as the rules of the House: no proxy voting. And it would require changing rules of the Caucus as opposed to different from the rules of the House. She understood that full well. The fact is is that it's really important to be here, to be in Caucus; it's more important to vote on the Floor. If I were to make a fight, I'd vote to have a proxy on the Floor than whatever is going on in the Caucus. But the fact is: we don't know what's going on in the lives of many people – I think one of our Members may be having an operation this week or that – you're going to establish a situation where we're going to determine who has a note from the doctor or not. It's really a place we shouldn't go down, but is not to be confused with not having family and medical leave. We wish her well; she's a heroine to our country; we're very excited about the baby. And in fact, knowing about the baby, I appointed Congresswoman Duckworth to the Benghazi committee. Only five appointments did I have. I wanted our strongest Members there. She informed me of her good news and I just said: "Just take it as it comes to the extent that you can serve, we want you to be there."

So I don't know why all this fuss was made about a vote in the Caucus. I think that if the House wants to change its rules about proxies in general that applies to the Floor and the Caucus, it's another thing. But we wish her well. She has all of our good wishes and prayers. And I had a very lovely conversation with her. But even again, knowing of her beautiful expectation very early on, I said: "We need our best thinking there. We need you on the Benghazi committee."

I just want to ask Ben Ray Luján if he would speak to his mom.

[Congressman Luján speaks in Spanish]

Leader Pelosi. Thank you all.

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