# Steve Scalise

Stephen Joseph "Steve" Scalise (October 6, 1965 –) is an American politician who serves as the House Majority Leader and representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district. He served as the House Minority Whip from 2019 to 2023. Scalise is in his ninth House term, having held his seat since 2008. The district includes most of New Orleans's suburbs, such as Metairie, Kenner, and Slidell, as well as a portion of New Orleans itself. He is a member of the Republican Party and was the chair of the House Republican Study Committee.

## Quotes

* Mr. Speaker, you have no idea how great this feels to be great back here at work in people's House. As you can imagine, these last 3 1/2 months have been pretty challenging times for me and my family. But, if you look at the outpouring of love — my gosh Jennifer and I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring — It's given us the strength to get through all of this. And get to this point today; it starts with God.W hen I was laying out on that ball field, the first thing I did once I was down and couldn't move anymore, I started to pray. And tell you, it gave me an unbelievable sense of calm knowing at that point it's in God’s hands. I prayed for specific things, and I'll tell you, pretty much every one of those prayers was answered. They were some pretty challenging prayers I was putting in God's hands, but he really did deliver for me and my family. And it just gives you that renewed faith and understanding that the power of prayer is something you cannot under estimate. So I'm a living example that miracles really do happen. ... As we're fighting through the issues of the day, let's just keep in mind that we rise above the challenges of the day and understand that it's not just us and our constituents and the country, the United States, that's counting on us to be successful. People all around the world believe in freedom are counting on us as well, and we will deliver for them. That's why I am so honored to be back here in the House serving with you. God bless each and every one of you, and God bless the United States of America.
** Speech to Congress (September 28, 2017)
* President Biden, instead of following the science, is attempting to distract from his numerous crises by playing politics and moving out ahead of the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) when it comes to the science on coronavirus vaccine booster shots.
** Scalise and James Comer in a letter to the FDA according to Republicans ask FDA for details on any White House pressure on boosters" (September 14, 2021)
* Top scientists and researchers were stunned by this decision—particularly because the CDC and the FDA had not yet conducted their independent review of the data
** Scalise and James Comer in a letter to the FDA according to Republicans ask FDA for details on any White House pressure on boosters" (September 14, 2021)
* This is how the fake news media machine against President Trump and @MELANIATRUMP works. This never happened. My family went to visit the White House while I was still in the hospital and were graciously given a tour by President and Mrs. Trump.
** 8:23pm October 4, 2021 response to 5:26pm tweet earlier that day from Insider's Politics account stating "Melania Trump refused to meet Rep. Steve Scalise at the White House after he was shot because she 'already said hello' at the hospital: book"
* Yesterday’s unprecedented leak is an attempt to severely damage the Supreme Court. This clearly coordinated campaign to intimidate and obstruct the Justices of the United States Supreme Court, and its independence in our political system, from upholding the Constitution must immediately be investigated by the court. House Republicans are committed to upholding the sanctity of life, and we will continue to fight to be a voice for the truly voiceless. There is nothing more special, extraordinary, and worth fighting for than the miracle of life.
** Collins, Manchin and other lawmakers react to the Supreme Court draft opinion (Updated: 05/03/2022 03:11 PM EDT)

## About Scalise

* Stephanie Grace, a Louisiana political reporter and columnist for the past 20 years, first with The Times-Picayune in New Orleans and now The Advocate of Baton Rouge, recalled her first meeting with Mr. Scalise. "He was explaining his politics and we were in this getting-to-know-each-other stage," Ms. Grace said. "He told me he was like David Duke without the baggage. I think he meant he supported the same policy ideas as David Duke, but he wasn't David Duke, that he didn't have the same feelings about certain people as David Duke did." Mr. Scalise, his Washington staff and political consultant did not respond to emails, texts and phone calls over the past two days. Mr. Duke did not respond to an email sent through his website.
** Jeremy Alford "Much of David Duke's ’91 Campaign Is Now in Louisiana Mainstream", The New York Times (December 1, 2014)
** Scalise had admitted speaking at a 2002 conference of the European-American Unity and Rights Organization (EURO), a white supremacist group, while a Louisiana state representative, but his spokesman had said Scalise was unaware of its neo-Nazi activists at the time. EURO was founded by David Duke.

## External links

* Congressman Steve Scalise
* Steve Scalise for Congress