87R23749 BK-D

By: González of Dallas H.R. No. 1029

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of the United States House of Representatives, was elected to a fourth term in that office in January 2021; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Pelosi's career as a member of congress began in 1987, and she has long been one of the most powerful and influential figures on Capitol Hill; in 2002, she was elected as house minority leader by her Democratic colleagues, becoming the first woman in history to hold that title; after rising to the position of speaker in 2007, she presided over the house during the highly productive 111th Congress from 2009 to 2011, working with President Barack Obama to secure passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the landmark Affordable Care Act; she also rallied support for Wall Street reforms, consumer protection legislation, and anti-discrimination laws, such as the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, as well as the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy; and

WHEREAS, Throughout her time in office, Speaker Pelosi has been a leading advocate on environmental issues; in 1989, she introduced a provision known as the Pelosi Amendment to the International Development and Finance Act, requiring greater scrutiny of the environmental impacts of proposed development; as speaker, she worked to enact comprehensive energy legislation in 2007 that raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and under her leadership, the house continued its efforts to combat climate change by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009; demonstrating her strength as a negotiator, she later helped secure renewable energy tax credits as part of the fiscal year 2016 spending bill; and

WHEREAS, In her efforts to promote accountability and transparency in government, Speaker Pelosi has led the house in passing robust ethics reforms; other prominent bills signed into law during her speakership have ushered in a minimum wage increase, a significant expansion in college aid funding, and improved veterans' services; and

WHEREAS, While holding the post of house minority leader from 2011 to 2019, this determined legislator helped attain funding to fight the opioid epidemic, to advance medical research, and to provide child care assistance to low-income families, among other accomplishments; moreover, she united house Democrats in opposing attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and championed a bipartisan agreement to strengthen Medicare; and

WHEREAS, Speaker Pelosi again made history in 2019 when she became the first member of congress to regain the speaker's gavel in more than 60 years; through her widely publicized work as a congressional leader, she has helped break down barriers at the highest levels of public service and has served as a role model for other women seeking elected office; in recognition of her immense influence in politics and society, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2013; and

WHEREAS, Nancy Pelosi has played an instrumental role in American government during a pivotal era in our nation's history, and her leadership will be integral to the important work carried out by the United States Congress in the years ahead; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate Nancy Pelosi on her election to a fourth term as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Speaker Pelosi as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.