Press Releases
Contact:
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
For Immediate Release
03/06/2008
Pelosi: On Recommendation of Congressman Howard Berman as Chair of House Foreign Affairs Committee
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that
the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee voted to recommend
Congressman Howard Berman of California to serve as Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, filling the vacancy left by the passing of Chairman
Tom Lantos of California.
The full Democratic Caucus is expected to vote next week on
the nomination.
“Howard Berman comes to the Chairmanship of the Foreign
Affairs Committee at a critical juncture in history, which is why his
colleagues chose to entrust a leader of his knowledge and experience,” Speaker
Pelosi said. “Congressman Berman brings
an enormous intellectual capacity to his new duties and will continue to be an
indispensable resource for the Democratic Caucus on issues ranging from human
rights and trade to weapons proliferation and the war in Iraq. While the Congress and indeed the world will
miss Chairman Tom Lantos, I know Congressman Berman will lead the Committee
with distinction.”
Said Congressman Berman: “I'm honored to have the support of
Speaker Pelosi and the Steering Committee.
While I can never reproduce the unique historical perspective and
natural eloquence that Chairman Lantos brought to this position, I'll work as
hard as I can to repair the damage done to America’s standing in the world over
the past seven years by this Administration.
My highest priority will be to reassert the role of Congress in
developing a foreign policy that reflects our national interests and is true to
our values.”