First Day of Congress: Scott and McClellan Get to Work; VP Kamala Harris Swears-in History; Photos: Black Caucus Ceremonial Swearing-In
🚩 Today is the first day of the 119th U.S Congress
🚩 5 days until the Virginia General Assembly convenes on Jan. 8, 2025.
🚩 17 days until the Martin Luther King Holiday on Jan. 20, 2025.
🚩 17 days until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, 2025.
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Virginia Congressional Delegation for the 119th Congress
VIRGINIA. The 119th Congress kicked off today with three new members from Virginia: Former State Senator and now Congressmen John McGuire, former State Senator Suhas Subramanyam and U.S. Army vet Eugene Vindman. Today all of the new members were on the floor voting for House Speaker and walking around the U.S. Capitol with family.
RELATED: Here, Right Matters: An American Story by Alexander Vindman | (2021)
The delegation will have two ranking members: Rep. Bobby Scott continues as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Education and Workforce and Rep. Gerry Connolly is now the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee after defeating New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez for that key leadership position.
Vice President Kamala Harris Swears-in Senators Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester, Greets MAGA Adversaries
After everything that happened in 2024, Vice President Harris was seen in the old Senate Chamber today performing the ceremonial swearing-ins of incoming U.S. Senators. Many of the moments were historic — others deeply ironic — as the Vice President laughed and traded small talk with MAGA Republicans Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley as well as Democrats Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester.
RELATED: Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America Hardcover (2024) by Barbara McQuade
One of the daughters of newly elected GOP U.S. Senator Dave McCormick told the Vice President “I voted for you” during photos. Other family members of GOP Senators could be seen winning a selfie with Harris. Harris exchanged friendly banter with Senators Cruz and Hawley despite the fact that the hyper partisan 2024 campaign featured endless negative commentary from both GOP Senators. In the Senate Chamber, incoming Vice President JD Vance stared at Harris for a moment, she didn’t return a glance back.
With 17 days left in office, the Vice President has but a few final acts. Photos with incoming U.S. Senators is one of them.
Congressional Black Caucus Ceremonial Swearing In
Every two years the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation hosts a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony of CBC members. This year there is a record number of Black members of Congress: 62.
This year’s ceremony took place at The Anthem concert venue in the District of Columbia. On stage were incoming CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and New York Attorney General Tish James.
In the audience were former DNC Chair Donna Brazile, Atlanta DA Fani Willis, Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and departing member of Congress Barbara Lee. New U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester mostly stole the show. The mention of their names were met with loud applause and standing ovations by the crowd and their fellow colleagues in Congress.
Above: Leader Jeffries, NY AG Tish James, Gov. Wes Moore and Senators Alsobroooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester being honored.
Reps. Suhas Subramanyam, John McGuire and Eugene Vindman Join Virginia Congressional Delegation
Below: Reps. Eugene Vindman, Suhas Subramanyam and Jennifer McClellan wait in line for the ceremonial swearing-in photos with Leader Jeffries and Speaker Mike Johnson. John McGuire and his family are seen taking the ceremonial photo with Speaker Mike Johnson.
Below: Rep. Morgan Griffith takes an picture with Speaker Johnson.
Staff at the Library of Congress provided a number of holy books for members to choose from if they do not have one with them.
Congressman Bobby Scott
The dean of Virginia’s congressional delegation has moved over $60 million into the third congressional district since FY2022. Rep. Scott has shown he can find agreement with the opposition to get something done. With Republicans in control of all three branches of government and the GOP discussing austerity, the challenge will be even greater.
Below: Rep. Scott speaks to visitors at a reception in his office on the firstly of the 119th Congress.
Below: Packed attendance in Statuary Hall from today.
1- Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America Hardcover (1999)
2- Ida: A Sword Among Lions: Ida B. Wells and the Campaign Against Lynching Paperback (2009)
3- Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey (Oct. 2024)
4- Positive, Successful, Stylish Black People Coloring Book (2024)
5- When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia's Capital City by Linwoood Norman (Aug. 2024)
6- Rumor, Repression, and Racial Politics: How the Harassment of Black Elected Officials Shaped Post-Civil Rights America (Since 1970: Histories of Contemporary America) by George Derek Musgrove
7- Son of Virginia, A Life in America's Political Arena (2015) by L. Douglas Wilder
8- The New Jim Crow (2010) by Michelle Alexander
9- Remaking Virginia Politics by Paul Goldman (Jan. 2022)
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