I believe that we won't get the fullest contribution from women, they won't be able to reach their fullest aspirations, until we take a completely different look at how we make healthcare more affordable, higher quality, with better access to many more women.

I was raised in an Italian catholic family in Baltimore, Maryland. Our faith is very important to us, our patriotism, love of faith, love of family, love of country. I took pride in our Italian American heritage and to be the first woman speaker of the House and the first Italian American speaker of the House, it's quite thrilling for me.

I think about my parents all the time, especially on Sunday when I'm at Mass. My mother always said, 'We do not pray to win elections. We pray for people's health, we pray that God's will be done, we pray that we do our best. But we do not pray to win elections.'

There is no question that women helping women works for women.

Hamas is a humanitarian organization.

With President Obama, we will move America forward.

The more women we elect to public office, the more wholesome the whole process will be, whether it's government, politics, whatever.