U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) issued the following statement on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to pass the torch to a new generation of House Democratic leadership:  

“Speaker Pelosi’s career in public service has been one of firsts, from serving as the first female Speaker of the House to becoming the first woman to reclaim the gavel after serving as leader of the Democratic minority. She spearheaded the passage of the first significant regulation of our financial system since the Great Depression, the first major investment in affordable health care since the 1960s, and most recently, the single largest climate investment in our nation’s history.  

“This Congress, Democratic leadership faced a series of challenges the likes of which our nation has never seen. In just two years, Speaker Pelosi led our Caucus to pass historic investments in working families, including the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. She did this with only a narrow majority, all while facing down a global pandemic, the subsequent economic hardships, and a wave of anti-democratic sentiment that culminated in a violent insurrection at the Capitol.   

“For two decades, Speaker Pelosi has overcome obstacles to ensure that House Democrats deliver for the people. While her grace, presence, and guidance will be missed, I am grateful that she will continue serving the people of California’s 12th District and serve as a mentor for the next generation of House Democratic leadership.”