By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
On Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. the Congressional Black Caucus of the 119th Congress held a ceremonial swearing-in for its 62 members. Included in the number were nine new members.
Among the nine new members were two new United States Senators, former Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and Delaware Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester.
Both ladies follow in the footsteps of the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate in 1993, Carolyn Mosley Braun, of Ill.
Senators Alsobrooks and Blunt-Rochester’s elections mark the first time in U.S. history that two African-American women will serve in the United States Senate at the same time.
Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt-Rochester join three Black males currently in the United States Senate; Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Raphael Warnock, of Georgia. There are also five African-American Republicans: Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and U.S. Representatives Byron Donalds of Florida, Westley Hunt of Texas, John James of Michigan and Burgess Owens of Utah. None of the Republicans attended the ceremonies and are not members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
The ceremony included other distinguished individuals who took to the stage. Award winning journalist April Ryan, served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
“It is an honor to be with you this morning. We have work to do,” she said. “The CBC has done and continues to do the critical work of building a more just society.”
Ryan announced to the crowd that as of Jan. 13, she is the longest serving Black White House Correspondent in the history of this nation at 28 years.
She thanked the crowd as they erupted in applause.
Governor Moore also gave remarks.
“This is a history-making CBC because we have a record 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus. It’s a history-making CBC because this CBC represents more states than ever before in our country’s history.”
“The CBC has been our conscience,” continued Moore. “It is an organization that not only fought against injustice but fought for justice. I am so excited to be a part of this history-making day.”
Gov. Moore also congratulated the past and present leadership of the CBC, including outgoing Chair of the CBC Congressman Steven Horsford, and incoming Chair Congresswoman Yvette D. Clark, a U.S. House of Representatives member from the 9th District of New York.
Governor Moore then introduced the 67th New York State Attorney General Letitia James who conducted the ceremonial swearing of the 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Maryland Congressmen Kweisi Mfume and Congressman Glen Ivery were among the 62 members of the Congressional Black Caucus who participated in the ceremonial event.
Congressman Steven Horsford said “It has truly been an honor of a lifetime to serve as the 28th Chair.”
“We’ve kept our focus on issues of justice, equity and opportunity,” he said, thanking the entire CBC for their leadership and cooperation. He also thanked the staff of the CBC and Nicole Austin Hillery, president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the staff of every member of the 118th Congressional Black Caucus.
“My most prevailing emotion is that of optimism. As we enter this next chapter in this new Congress we remain clear in our mission to use our full constitutional authority to improve the lives and conditions of Black people in America; Because when we build up Black America we build up all of America. I could not be prouder than to pass the baton of justice, and yes to pass the CBC Chair’s gavel to the gentle lady, from New York and our incoming chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from the 9th Congressional District of New York, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Yvette D. Clark,” said Congressman Steven Horsford.
Chairwoman Yvette Clark spoke about the former chairman, saying, “he led our Congressional Black Caucus through troubled waters. Thank you for your courage, your leadership and your grace under pressure.”
“There is still so much for us to do,” she said. “We know that the challenge only gets bigger now that we are about to begin the 119th Congress. Yes, it is a demanding time but it is also exciting —and like Congressman Horsford— I am an optimist. This is the largest Congressional Black Caucus. Can you imagine how proud our founders must be?” said Chairwoman Clark.
“We love our country and we have been working for more than half a century as the Congressional Black Caucus to make America the best version of herself. As that work continues, let me thank all of my colleagues again for your trust and for giving me the opportunity to work with each and every one of you to lift up the Black community —the Blessed community,” said Chairwoman Yvette Clark.
Both new Senators, Alsobrooks and Blunt-Rodchester had to leave the Congressional Black Caucus ceremonial swearing soon after they took their oath because they both were being sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Old Senate Office Building. Alsobrooks was the first new U.S. Senators of the dozen new ones to be sworn in ceremonially. She was joined by Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, retired Senator Ben Cardin who she replaced and retired Senator Barbara Mikulski, Maryland’s first female U.S. Senator. Family and friends also attended the ceremony. Senator Alsobrooks was photographed with her 19-year-old daughter, who held a ceremonial Bible during the ceremony.
Senator Angela Alsobrooks called the experience of two ceremonial swearings-in “a day of joy.”
“I started here in 1992 as a Congressional intern,” said Senator Alsobrook. “I had grandparents who could have never imagined a day like.”
Alsobrooks said she was in the chambers eight years ago when Kamala Harris was sworn in as the second Black woman elected to the United States Senate. Alsobrooks calls Vice President Harris, “a friend, mentor and role model.”
Alsobrooks says she first heard of Vice President Harris in 2009, from a profile in Essence magazine on Harris’ criminal justice reform in California.
The day continued as the full Congress also convened at noon on Jan. 3. The first order of business was the election of a speaker and the certification of the 2024 election.
Republican Mike Johnson was re-elected in the first round as Speaker of the House. Representative Johnson received 218 votes while Representative Hakeem Jefferies received 215 votes.
Jefferies said after the vote, “the campaign is over and we must work together to fight hard to make sure that no one takes away Social Security or Medicare, not now, not ever.”
This post was originally published on here
