It’s hard to put into words the mark Steny Hoyer’s decades of public service have left on our nation. As the longest-serving Democrat in the House of Representatives and a former Majority Leader, his steady leadership helped deliver some of the most consequential legislation in our nation’s history.
Throughout his career, Steny has always known how to work across the aisle. He knows how to get things done and deliver. People always trusted Steny, and that trust mattered. He’s as decent as they come: a man of deep character, faith, and dignity. He was a champion of the Make it in America agenda, fighting to create good-paying jobs and strengthen manufacturing here at home. Steny’s leadership also extended beyond domestic policy. As Chair of the Helsinki Commission, he played a critical role in promoting democratic values around the world, and his commitment to ensuring Ukraine remains a free, sovereign, and independent country has been unwavering.
As President, I was proud to work alongside Steny and Democrats in Congress to pull our economy back from the brink, create millions of jobs, make historic investments in our infrastructure, take on the climate crisis, and expand access to more affordable health care. Through it all, Steny never lost sight of who he was serving, always putting the people of Maryland and our country first.
Beyond his remarkable record, it’s been a privilege to call Steny a dear friend. He is a great American, and truly the very best. With deep gratitude, Jill and I send our love and congratulations to Steny, his wife Dr. Elaine Kamarck, and his entire family — his daughters Susan, Stefany, and Anne, and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren — as he enters this new chapter. We hope he enjoys more time with family on what I like to call the Western Shore of Delaware.