Washington, D.C. – Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), the Dean of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that she intends to run for House Minority Leader in the next Congress:

“I welcome Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that she intends to stay and I intend to vote for her when the House Democratic Caucus elects its leadership team for the next Congress.

“We need Nancy Pelosi on the field and in this fight for the American people.

"Nancy Pelosi is already an historic figure, and she is poised to make an even greater contribution to our country’s future.  If America is going to get back to work, we need the hardest working person in Congress leading the way, and that is Nancy Pelosi.

“Speaker Pelosi has been a strong and visionary leader in both the minority and the majority.  She helped bring Democrats out of the minority in 2006, and she has fought successfully for new laws that have saved or created millions of jobs, ensured affordable and quality healthcare for all Americans, protected Social Security and Medicare, and reduced our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.”