After pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, Ms. Pelosi quickly worked with congressional leaders to secure the building so lawmakers could return and affirm President Biden’s victory — and then she moved to impeach Mr. Trump. With arm-twisting and tactical savvy, Ms. Pelosi was able to muster enough support in her divided caucus to pass the legislation, a feat that brought about a historic drop in the number of Americans without health insurance. About 35 million people have gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid.

In late January Trump finally agreed to end the shutdown, which was the longest to date, even though he had failed to secure the necessary funding. Pelosi drew particular praise for her handling of the situation. Pelosi developed a reputation as a shrewd politician, and she steadily rose within the party, becoming minority whip walking vs cycling weight loss in 2002. Later that year she was elected minority leader, and, when she took office in 2003, she became the first woman to lead a party in Congress. Using what she referred to as her “mother of five” voice, Pelosi began pushing for unity among the diverse factions within her party by embracing conservatives and moderates.

Pelosi and “Sesame Street“ character Ernie stand in front of 35,000 letters from across the country in support of public television during a Capitol Hill news conference on March 1, 1995. Pelosi was sworn in as speaker of the House for a second time as the government shutdown nears its third week. She said Democrats have legislation prepared to reopen the government. Pelosi was also put on the powerful House Appropriations and Intelligence committees, and was the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Operations committee. Here she is with then Rep. Barney Frank at a 1995 news conference. “Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi is the most consequential Speaker in American history and I am humbled by the opportunity to recognize her as Speaker Emerita,” new House Democrats leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, said.

Vice President Mike Pence, center, looks on as House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and President Donald Trump speak during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, in Washington. As House minority leader, Pelosi became a chief Trump critic. In 2017, she led the House’s charge against Trump’s decision to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The move was seen as an attempt to secure certain conditions for the Senate trial, and its effect was debated. Bill extended health care to some 30 million previously uninsured Americans and prohibited insurers from denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions. Burton died in 1983 and was succeeded by his wife, Sala, who, shortly before her death in 1987, urged Pelosi to run for the seat. She narrowly won a special election and was reelected in 1988 to a full term. Pelosi easily won subsequent elections in her overwhelmingly Democratic district.

Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer speak to members of the press after a meeting with Treasury… House Of Representatives Nancy Pelosi , left, speaks after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon,… Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. Access the best of Getty Images and iStock with our simple subscription plan. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options await you.

Capitol on July 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. Pelosi was asked about… Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi answers questions during her weekly press conference January 10, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pelosi answered a range of… Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi leaves after holding her weekly press conference at the U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi answers questions during her weekly press conference on January 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pelosi answered a range… Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Statuary Hall at the U.S.