Via
Greg SargentLetter for Pelosi from female House members
Nancy Pelosi: A Champion for Women
Dear Colleague:
We strongly urge you to support Nancy Pelosi's bid for Democratic Leader in the 112th Congress. Throughout her tenure in leadership, Speaker Pelosi has worked nonstop on behalf of the entire Caucus, and she has also elevated both the prominence of issues important to women and the roles played by women members of the House. We have no doubt that as Democratic Leader she will continue to ensure that the issues most important to women will remain a focus of our Caucus' agenda.
As the first women Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi has borne the brunt of unfair criticism and attacks, but her record of accomplishment speaks for itself - particularly to women. As Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi was instrumental in launching the Democratic Women's Working Group to ensure that women Members had a forum to highlight issues of importance to women and their families both in the United States and around the world. She was especially effective in drawing attention to the devastating impact that privatization of Social Security would have on women - a major reason we were successful in defeating then-President Bush's plan.
As Speaker, Nancy Pelosi promoted more women into Committee Chairmanships than ever before. From day one, she worked to advance policies important to women and families: the Fair Minimum Wage Act and the College Student Relief Act in 2007 and in the 111th Congress the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act. Throughout the consideration of health reform legislation, Speaker Pelosi guaranteed inclusion of maternity coverage and prohibitions on pregnancy being considered as a "preexisting condition" and the practice of gender rating.
Beyond the halls of Congress, Speaker Pelosi has maintained close and productive relationships with outside organizations representing American women. She has assured that although women are underrepresented in elected office - less than 20% of the House or Senate - their voices are heard and their priorities are the priorities of Democratic leadership.
At a time when the incoming Majority is expected to threaten the progress we have made for women and families, we need Nancy Pelosi as Democratic Leader to help us stay unified and fight back. We need her leadership to protect the interests of American women and we urge you to join us in enthusiastically endorsing her bid for Minority Leader.
Sincerely,
Lois Capps
Member of Congress
Jan Schakowsky
Member of Congress
Diana DeGette
Member of Congress
Rosa DeLauro
Member of Congress
Louise Slaughter
Member of Congress
Gwen Moore
Member of Congress
Carolyn Maloney
Member of Congress
Nita Lowey
Member of Congress
Doris Matsui
Member of Congress
Anna Eshoo
Member of Congress
Allyson Schwartz
Member of Congress
Donna Christensen
Member of Congress
Barbara Lee
Member of Congress
Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of Congress
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Member of Congress
Maxine Waters
Member of Congress
Zoe Lofgren
Member of Congress
Betty McCollum
Member of Congress
Loretta Sanchez
Member of Congress
Donna Edwards
Member of Congress
Marcia Fudge
Member of Congress
Eddie Bernice Johnson
Member of Congress
Mazie Hirono
Member of Congress
Karen Bass
Member-elect
Terri Sewell
Member-elect
Judy Chu
Member of Congress
Chellie Pingree
Member of Congress
Laura Richardson
Member of Congress
Grace Napolitano
Member of Congress
Jackie Speier
Member of Congress
Lynn Woolsey
Member of Congress