November 15, 2006

Dear Friends,

You may have heard this week that House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has appointed me to head the transition as Democrats prepare for a majority role in the 110th Congress. I am deeply honored that she has entrusted me with this responsibility and I will work tirelessly to ensure an organized, seamless transition. In the coming weeks, I will work with Leader Pelosi's office on a host of issues, from establishing the Democrats' agenda to logistical matters.

I am also continuing my work as chair of the Democratic Caucus's Committee on Organization, Study and Review, overseeing a comprehensive review of the internal rules of the Democratic Caucus.

Preparing for a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is a new and welcome experience for me. During the 8 years I have been in office, our party has not had these opportunities or these responsibilities. I have no idea what to expect, but I am looking forward to finding out.

I also want to say thank you, for signing on as a subscriber, and for taking an interest in the day-to-day work of the House of Representatives. I look forward to sharing more news with you from the perspective of the majority party.

Congress is currently in the midst of a lame duck session. Much work remains, including nine of the eleven annual appropriations bills necessary to fund the government through the next fiscal year. Because of the impending power shift in the Congress, no one can really predict how we will proceed, but I will report back in the weeks ahead, on votes we have taken and on my work heading the transition.

Thank you,

Mike