国际英语新闻：Pelosi bids farewell as U.S. House Speaker

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday conducted her last news conference as head of the House, bidding farewell as Republicans are set to take over in the lower chamber.

"House Democrats will keep our focus on the creation of jobs," said Pelosi, vowing to "measure every policy from both parties as it comes forth as to whether it creates jobs, whether it strengthens the middle class, and whether it reduces the deficit."

Pelosi said Democrats will work with Republicans. She has retained her position as Democratic Leader in the House. She also indicated the Democrats will strive to preserve the healthcare reform, the signature achievement in her term as House Speaker, which the Republicans have vowed to repeal.

The first woman to lead a major party in Congress, Pelosi has represented the 8th Congressional District of California, which consists of four-fifths of the City and County of San Francisco, since 1987. After the Democrats took control of the House in 2007 and increased their majority in 2009, Pelosi was elected Speaker of the House for the 110th and 111th sessions of Congress.

As House Speaker, she was second in line of presidential succession following the Vice President, making her the highest- ranking female politician in American history.

After the Democrats took a beating in last year's mid-term elections, Pelosi was elected the Democratic Leader by House Democrats and is now the Minority Leader in the Republican- controlled 112th Congress. She is set to be replaced as Speaker by Republican leader John Boehner.