Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

(December 5 — December 11)

Tuesday, Madam Speaker met with Chef José Andrés and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in the Speaker’s Office. That evening, Madam Speaker joined the Congressional Black Caucus for a candlelight vigil on the East Capitol Steps in support of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Wednesday, Madam Speaker hosted her weekly press conference at the Capitol Visitor Center. In the afternoon, she hosted current and former Members of Congress and their guests for a holiday reception in the Cannon House Office Building. Madam Speaker then welcomed His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway to the United States Capitol to discuss bilateral issues and transatlantic relations, green transition and trade, and the United Nations and NATO.

Madam Speaker and Congressional Leadership on Thursday welcomed President Biden, Vice President Harris and the Dole family for the lying in state of The Honorable Robert J. Dole in the United States Capitol Rotunda. She later spoke with His Royal Highness Charles, The Prince of Wales, and discussed COP26 and their continued collaboration to solve the climate crisis. That afternoon, Madam Speaker joined Chairman Adam Schiff, Chairman Jerry Nadler and Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney for a press conference on the House passage of the Protecting Our Democracy Act.

Friday morning, Madam Speaker joined Chairwoman Maloney, Members of Congress and advocates to unveil findings of the Oversight Committee’s three-year investigation into pharmaceutical pricing and business practices and highlight the need to pass the Build Back Better Act to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Following the press conference, she joined the family of Senator Bob Dole and Members of Congressional Leadership for the departure of the late Senator from the Capitol Rotunda. Madam Speaker later signed a bill to fast-track the process needed to raise the debt ceiling and prevent the country from defaulting.

On Saturday in San Francisco, Madam Speaker joined Bay Area Representatives Jackie Speier and Mark DeSaulnier, local Bay Area transit, rail and union leaders at the Salesforce Transit Center to discuss how the job-creating bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes historic investments to modernize our public transit and rail systems.

Take a look at this week’s behind-the-scenes photos:

December 7

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

“I light a candle in honor of the late Congressman John Lewis and in support of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, as we carry on our fight to protect the sacred right to vote For The People.”

December 8

“Congress supports the President’s strong leadership in the NDAA bill, which we passed in the House last night in a very strong, bipartisan vote. We are very proud that it provides a pay raise for our military, supports military families’ financial security and health in so many ways, modernizes our defenses and fortifies our military’s technological edge, and combats adversaries, invests in alliances and supports our partners.”

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

December 9

“Bob Dole was an extraordinary patriot, who devoted his entire life to serving our nation with dignity and integrity. From the Well of the House to the Floor of the Senate, as a presidential candidate and as an elder statesman, he was one of the foremost advocates for our Servicemembers, veterans and military families.”

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

“The House passed the Protecting Our Democracy Act to ensure the strength and survival of a democracy of, by and For The People: defending the rule of law, revitalizing our system of checks and balances and restoring our democratic institutions. This legislation ensures that no one, not even a president, no matter who he or she may be, is above the law. Addressing presidential abuse is at the heart of the survival of our democracy.”

December 10

“This report is so very important because it is a documentation of what has happened. It’s a presentation on how the highest cost drugs lose Medicare savings. And, it’s an opportunity cost for those savings to go to help other provisions of Medicare. Pharma, we will be relentlessly on your case, For The People.”

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

Madam Speaker: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the U.S. Speaker of the House

December 11

“The Salesforce Transit Center is a testament to the truth that this is one of the most important public dollars that we can spend. Because, what does it do? It builds infrastructure, which improves the quality of life, more people taking public transportation, clean air for our children, less time in cars for their families, boosts the quality of life. It promotes commerce in every possible way, whether moving people to work, to and from, but also product and the rest, writ large, the infrastructure.”