Biography

On January 6, 2009, Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 111th Congress.  Accepting the gavel for the second time, Speaker Pelosi committed to work for the common good to strengthen America’s future. Nancy Pelosi made history in 2007, shattering the marble ceiling to become the first woman to serve as Speaker of House. Building consensus across the aisle and within the diverse House Democratic Caucus, Speaker Pelosi has proved to be a strong, pragmatic leader, unifying her caucus more than any other leader in the last 50 years.  

In the 111th Congress, Speaker Pelosi “is an extraordinary leader for the American people,” in the words of President Barack Obama.  She worked with the new President to pass the pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide relief for American families, create or save 3.5 million American jobs, and to get our economy moving again.  Also early in the new year, Congress passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to restore the ability of women and all workers to access our judicial system to vindicate their rights when they have been harmed by discrimination, and children’s health care legislation (SCHIP) providing health care for 11 million American children. The House also passed the Edward Kennedy Serve America Act to encourage volunteerism and a national budget that builds the foundation for long-term growth, creates jobs, cuts taxes for middle-income Americans and invests in health care, clean energy and excellence in education.

Focusing on the priorities to the American people, Pelosi has built an impressive record of accomplishment as Speaker, enacting comprehensive energy legislation in 2007 that raised vehicle fuel efficiency (CAFE) standards for the first time in 32 years and making an historic commitment to American home grown biofuels.  With energy security has her flagship issue, Speaker Pelosi pledges to pass legislation on the global climate change and creating innovative new green jobs.

Additional key accomplishments under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi include the toughest ethics reform legislation in the history of the Congress, an increase in the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years, the largest college aid expansion since the GI bill in more than 60 years, and the largest increase in veterans health care funding in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration as well as a new GI education bill for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.  

Thomas Mann, a congressional scholar at the Brookings Institution, said “she’s probably gained the reputation of one of the strongest and most effective speakers in decades.”

Pelosi first made history in November 2002 when House Democrats elected her the first woman to lead a major political party.  She brings to the Speaker’s role more than 20 years of experience in the House, representing the city of San Francisco since 1987. Before being elected Democratic Leader, she served as House Democratic Whip for one year.

Speaker Pelosi comes from a strong family tradition of public service.  Her late father, Thomas D’Alesandro, Jr., served as Mayor of Baltimore for 12 years, after representing the city for five terms in Congress. Her brother, Thomas D’Alesandro III, also served as Mayor of Baltimore.  She graduated from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.  She and her husband, Paul Pelosi, a native of San Francisco, have five grown children and eight grandchildren.