Pelosi Statement Following Electoral College Vote Count

by: Oreo

Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 18:39:28 PM EST

Washington. D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a photo opportunity this afternoon following the Electoral College vote count that made the election of President-elect Barack Obama official. As young people were so pivotal in this year's election, the Speaker was joined by her guests from the joint session, 26 youth activists from across the nation:

"Good afternoon. It is with great excitement that we come by and say how honored we all were to be part of history this afternoon. The House of Representatives and the Senate meeting together witnessed the count of the Electoral College, making Barack Obama and Joe Biden the next President and Vice President of the United States. The outcome was not surprising, but it's wonderful to have it official.

"A particular pleasure for me, officially and personally, was to have so many young guests in the gallery today: students from universities who worked on the election, young people across the country who are not necessarily politically-oriented, but issue-oriented. Whether it's about non-discrimination, about protecting the environment, whether it's about voting rights, or about protecting rights of people with disabilities, all of these people are engaged in making the future better for America. And with the official election of Barack Obama and Joe Biden today, we took a giant step in that direction.

"And so I thank them for livening the proceedings by being with us in the Speaker's Box and throughout the gallery as Members of Congress came together. I think this is the largest number of students for such an occasion. Any election of a President is historic; the election of Barack Obama is truly historic. We all are honored to be part of it. Thank you all very much."