Pelosi Praises Dingell And Waxman

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who took great pains to stay neutral in the divisive fight for the Energy and Commerce chairmanship, praised both lawmakers after the election, despite her sometimes deep differences with the loser, Michigan Rep. John D. Dingell.

“John Dingell is a giant of the Congress and his leadership over the last 28 years as Chairman and Ranking Member of the Energy and Commerce Committee is unsurpassed," Pelosi said in a statement released by her office. "As Chairman Emeritus, John Dingell will continue in his tradition of strong and steady leadership on behalf of all Americans.

And of his successor, Pelosi said, “Henry Waxman will bring to the post of Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee the outstanding leadership he has demonstrated as Chair of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He has been a longtime leader on health care, drug safety and affordability, and climate change. Under his leadership, the committee and the entire caucus will make progress toward making America energy independent, making health care available to all Americans, and addressing the greatest challenge of our time, global warming."