On January 3, newly elected members of Congress were sworn in, surrounded by their family and friends. Among them were women veterans, Native Americans, and Muslims. More than ever before, onlookers were able to view the diversity of America embodied in the faces of those very individuals they chose to represent them and their views in our government.
This latest Congress has been celebrated as the most diverse in history. With a record number of women in elected office, as well as congressmen and congresswomen of all races and creeds, things are changing in Washington. Diversity in Congress is increasing and Americans like it.
How Many?
Women have seen a huge gain in representation among Congress, with almost 25 percent of elected officials being female. In the House alone, 102 women took their seats, with the vast majority of them being Democrat.
Sharice Davids of Kansas and Deb Haaland of New Mexico are the first Native American women elected. Following their swearing in, they embraced and celebrated the monumental moment. Davids is a member of the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) nation and Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe.
Many states reached important firsts, including Debbie Mucarsel-Powell as the first elected Ecuadorian-American and South American immigrant. Texas saw Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia represent them as the first Latina congresswomen from that state. Massachusetts and Connecticut elected Ayanna Pressley and Jahana Hayes, the first African American women to represent those states.
Chris Pappas of New Hampshire is the first openly gay representative from that state. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee will represent their constituents as the first elected women from their states. At the age of 29, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York became the youngest women elected to Congress.
But, diversity of religion has not reached the same heights as many other aspects of inclusivity. 88 percent of Congress identifies as Christian, according to the Pew Research Center. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota are the first Muslim women elected to congressional office. Omar, the first elected Somali-American, went against the standing rule prohibiting head coverings on the House floor by wearing a headscarf. Tlaib is the first Palestinian American woman elected.
At this moment, somewhere in the world, young girls and women who look like us are learning to believe that they too can change the world and that no dream is too big.
Representation matters.@AyannaPressley pic.twitter.com/SmMA5r6v0Z
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 7, 2019
Families Welcome
The number of invited guests also increased, allowing representatives to bring children and grandchildren to their swearing in.
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) made headlines earlier this year when she fought for the rights of breastfeeding mothers serving in the Senate. She led discussions that resulted in a rule change—senators are now allowed to bring their children under age 1 onto the Senate floor and women are allowed to breastfeed while voting.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s policy change on the number of guests representatives were allowed to bring to their swearing in showed a similar shift in the House. Eric Swalwell of California and Antonio Delgado of New York both tended to their young children while performing their duties as elected representatives.
It was really special to have the boys with me in Congress today. Proud to be an example for them, and grateful for this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/1ieA5abMjQ
— Antonio Delgado (@DelgadoforNY19) January 3, 2019
The needs of working parents are changing and this newest Congress seems to be recognizing that it needs to evolve as well.
A Promising Future
Following the swearing in, the House passed two pieces of legislation to reopen the federal government, which has been partially shutdown since December. The solutions passed in the House did not include President Trump’s requested $5 billion funding for a border wall, however, and are not expected to make any progress in the Senate. The most recent talks between the White House and Democrat leadership are focused on finding a middle ground. Possible solutions discussed include a steel barrier. Border security and immigration remain critical issues for both Democrats and Republicans.
This new Congress certainly has its work cut out.
Founding Father and 4th President of the United States James Madison said, “a diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.” With their varied backgrounds and experiences, the 116th Congress can look at the problems facing our country with clear eyes. If they bring open ears to listen to each other and develop solutions to today’s challenges as well, the future is promising indeed.
