Rep. Doris Matsui

Thank you very much and good afternoon fellow delegates.

First, I want to thank Howard Dean, the distinguished chairman of the Democratic National Committee who’s done an outstanding job over the last three and a half years. Thank you, Governor Dean.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m very proud to be the parliamentarian of this historic convention. As such, it’s my duty to advise the chair on the issues confronting the convention. I’m here to advise all of you as well, and stand ready to answer any parliamentary questions that may arise throughout the week.

I’m especially honored to be joined in the duties of parliamentarian by four outstanding Americans: Commissioner Roger Johnson, a third-generation family farmer and North Dakota’s agriculture commissioner; Cassandra Butts, a noted domestic policy advisor who most recently was with the Center for American Progress; and Helen McFadden from South Carolina, the first woman parliamentarian of a national convention.

And finally, it is my distinct pleasure to be joined by a colleague and a friend, a leader of Democrats in the House and a fighter for all Americans, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. It’s our responsibility to help the chair apply and enforce the rules of this convention. In that capacity, I would advise the delegations that proxy voting is prohibited. Rather, if a pledged delegate is absent, he or she must be replaced by an alternate.

During the convention, the parliamentarians will be available to respond to any of your questions about the order of the proceedings, the methods of voting and the nature of our procedures. Each delegation can call our office at any time, and a parliamentarian will always be on the podium, available for advice and counsel.

Ladies and gentlemen, we know that this will be a well-run, orderly and successful convention, and we’re honored to join with you in a convention that will nominate the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. Let’s have a great convention.