Congress swears in new members
Electoral College challenge looms
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage and Republicans try to overturn Joe Biden’s presidential election win, new members of Congress were sworn in on Sunday as Nancy Pelosi was again elected speaker of the House.
Jake Auchincloss, the newest member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, told the Herald that walking onto the House floor for the first time and seeing the massive painting of the signing of the Constitution was a “thrill.”
Auchincloss, the former Newton city councilor who prevailed in the crowded Democratic 4th District primary and then sailed to victory in the general election, said his top priorities are COVID-19 vaccine distribution — 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days, as promised by the Biden administration — and using coronavirus testing to get kids back to in-person learning.
“We need to use COVID-19 testing as a bridge to the spring and summer,” said Auchincloss, who was preceded by Joe Kennedy III, who lost to U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in the Senate race.
Massachusetts Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, tweeted, “We begin the new Congress today during a time of extraordinary difficulty. But we are ready to work. We must defeat the virus, put money in the pockets of workers, and support our heroes with robust funding for state and local governments.”
Also on Sunday, Pelosi was elected speaker of the House by a slim majority. The California Democrat received 216 votes, followed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy with 209 votes.
Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, tweeted, “Congratulations, Madam @SpeakerPelosi! There’s no leader more dedicated to helping America meet this moment — ending the pandemic, pushing families forward, and restoring trust in our democracy. Now, let’s get to work #forthepeople!”
The swearing-in of new members of Congress on Sunday comes as a group of Republicans are attempting to reverse Biden’s victory over President Trump by objecting to the results when Congress convenes a joint session Wednesday to confirm the Electoral College tally.
Auchincloss called the effort is “shameful.”
“They’re seeking to undermine the Constitution,” he said of plans to block certification of the Electoral College, adding, they’re “going outside the guardrails of our democracy.”