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Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was re-elected speaker of the House on Sunday regardless of a shrinking Democratic majority within the House.
With Democrats holding a smaller majority than within the earlier Congress, Pelosi might afford to have solely a handful of lawmakers peel off and decide to write down in another person. The last rely was 216 to 209, with simply two Democrats — Jared Golden of Maine and Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania — selecting somebody aside from Pelosi and three others voting current.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy bought 209 votes from his personal celebration. Pelosi gained the earlier vote for speaker by 220-192 over McCarthy.
Sunday marked the swearing in of the 117th Congress. In a letter to colleagues Sunday morning, Pelosi mentioned the brand new Congress will convene “during a time of extraordinary difficulty.”
“Each of our communities has been drastically affected by the pandemic and economic crisis: 350,000 tragic deaths, over 20 million infections, millions without jobs — a toll almost beyond comprehension,” she mentioned. “Thank you for your generosity of spirit and patriotism to take on this challenge For The People.”
“I am enormously grateful for the trust that Members have placed in me,” she added. “I am confident that the Speaker’s election today will show a united Democratic Caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead.”
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the vote for speaker — which should be performed in individual — seemed completely different from earlier votes. Members had been damaged up into separate teams reasonably than gathered on the ground without delay.
A handful of members weren’t anticipated to be current, together with Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., who’s battling pancreatic most cancers, and David Valadao, R-Calif., and Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., who just lately examined optimistic for Covid-19.
In an announcement Sunday afternoon, Dr. Brian Monahan, Congress’ attending doctor, introduced the setup of an space above the House flooring for members uncovered to Covid-19 however who’ve examined unfavorable so they might vote in individual whereas remaining quarantined. A Capitol official mentioned two Democrats and one Republican had been utilizing the choice. It was not but recognized which members did so.
“The highest possible safeguards have been implemented including separate, enhanced ventilation in this space and separate holding facilities for any Members utilizing Gallery 4,” Monahan mentioned. “This step will only be necessary until proxy voting resumes as an option for impacted Members.”
Senators elected in November had been additionally sworn in Sun. The ceremonies marked the tip of Republican David Perdue’s time period in workplace. Perdue left his Georgia seat vacant till both he or Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff is licensed because the winner of certainly one of Tuesday’s extensively watched runoffs. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., additionally faces a runoff Tuesday, however she stays in her seat via the election as a result of she was appointed to proceed a time period that didn’t expire Sunday.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., kicked off the brand new 12 months by acknowledging the “challenging time” forward. McConnell faces a rising contingent of Republican senators who’ve threatened to contest the Electoral College outcomes Wednesday as Congress convenes to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win.
“From political division to a deadly pandemic to adversaries around the world, the hurdles before us are many, and they are serious,” mentioned McConnell, who has been urging senators to not problem the outcomes. “But there’s also plenty of reason for hope.”
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The Senate stands at 51 Republican senators and 48 Democrats after the ceremonies. Should Democrats prevail within the Georgia runoffs, the break up would turn out to be 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving because the tiebreaking vote, giving Democrats the bulk.
Earlier Sunday, quite a lot of Republican senators and House members launched separate statements opposing the election problem deliberate for Wednesday.
“To take action otherwise — that is, to unconstitutionally insert Congress into the center of the presidential election process — would amount to stealing power from the people and the states,” mentioned seven House Republicans, together with a number of the House’s most conservative members. “It would, in effect, replace the electoral college with Congress, and in so doing strengthen the efforts of those on the left who are determined to eliminate it or render it irrelevant.”
Alex Moe and Haley Talbot contributed.
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