WASHINGTON -- Rep. Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday she looks forward to leading a loyal but tenacious opposition in the House that will focus on job creation and debt reduction.
Introducing Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Henry Cuellar of Texas as vice-chairpersons of the Democratic Steering and Policy committees, respectively, Pelosi said the Democratic leadership's priorities will be to cement laws Democrats passed during the 111th Congress.
"House Democrats will continue to protect the gains we have made on behalf of health and economic security for the American people, both in terms of the health care reform bill and the Wall Street reform bill, both of which gives leverage to America's working families," Pelosi said.
She added that Cuellar will lead the way in proposing ideas for deficit reduction, procurement reform, ending waste, fraud, and abuse "and making the right value decisions as we go forward to -- to create jobs, reduce the deficit, and protect the middle class."
Pelosi added that she has no regrets on her last day as House speaker, a reign that last four years and is ending after the November elections. Republican John Boehner of Ohio will be sworn in as the new speaker on Wednesday, and Pelosi will be demoted to minority leader.
Republicans have already scheduled a vote for next week on repealing the sweeping new health care law, an effort that is sure to fail in the Senate. Pelosi said Democrats' will work to make insurance available to children with pre-existing conditions, keep children on their parents' plans until age 26 and give people a patient's bill of rights that let's them be in charge of their medical care.
