Pete Stark: “as dean of the California delegation, I often wonder what it gets one besides old age and the infirmities that come with…”

“as dean of the California delegation, I often wonder what it gets one besides old age and the infirmities that come with that, but I must say that it is a great pleasure today as dean because I have the honor to recognize officially the true accomplishment of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) as she takes over the position of minority whip and becomes the highest-ranking woman ever in the U.S. House of Representatives. I offer my congratulations to her and her family on this tremendous achievement. Our State is proud of Nancy, as are all the women and men throughout the country. Nancy's a trail blazer for women and for our State, but she is not the first. She joins a long line of women leaders from the State of California. Throughout American history, California has sent more women to Congress than any other State. The first woman, Mae Ella Nolan, was elected to replace her late husband and sworn in January of 1923, shortly before I got here.”