Late in the day on Wednesday, I found myself in Portsmouth at a public press conference with NH Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Marine Michael was there, and so was Chaz Proulx, who handed out ONE Campaign literature at an event for Rep. Shea-Porter last month.

After the short press conference and some questions from reporters, I was able to talk with Speaker Pelosi. I thanked her for the brave and bold leadership by the Congress during the CR that saw an additional 1.45 billion dollars to fight global AIDS, Malaria, and TB in fiscal 2007 – truly a high point for all ONE members. She thanked me and accepted a ONE band that she immediately recognized. She told me how much she loves the ONE Campaign and how her family loves Bono for his work in Africa. I told her how important it was to maintain that leadership this year by passing the bi-partisan Education for All Act, and the Global Poverty Act in the House.

As always, Michael was there to politely ask for a picture with Speaker Pelosi in his ONE shirt!

We also spoke with Rep. Shea-Porter who commented how important ONE’s work is. She told me that our issues are beyond Republican and Democrat differences and she told me that ONE was about humanitarian issues that we should all unite around. Rep. Shea-Porter also commented on how happy she was to see ONE Vote ‘08 in action and urged us to keep on all of the candidates’ “feet to the fire” on global disease and global extreme poverty.

Later that night, a ONE member Stefany was able to attend a private event with both Speaker Pelosi and Rep. Shea-Porter. Stefany noted how Rep. Shea-Porter said that she was going to represent the best interest of the nations’ children AND the world’s children. Stefany also spoke with Speaker Pelosi who told her how she had just seen and heard from the ONE Campaign and reiterated her support on ONE’s global priorities.

-Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer