This afternoon, Donna Edwards was sworn in as the Congresswoman from Maryland's 4th District. She is the first African-American woman to be elected from Maryland. She was fantastic!
When we got there around 1:00, Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) was speaking to only a handful of people about a bill having something to do with benefits for federal employees. Then the debate went on for a little while between Darrell Issa (R) of California and Carolyn Maloney of New York. Then in came Donna, with Steny Hoyer, who is both House Majority Leader and Congressman from the 5th District in Maryland. Donna's entrance coincided with the arrival of many House members to vote on the bill about benefits.
Donna was like a magnet, with people coming from all directions to welcome her, hug her, shake her hand, etc. Speaker Nancy Pelosi came in, greeted Donna, and then went up to chair the session. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) came up several times to talk to Donna.
The Maryland delegation came in too. Elijah Cummings, Van Hollen, Wayne Gilcrist (moderate Republican defeated in the February primary by right wing Andy Harris; Gilcrist's people now supporting Democrat Frank Kratovil) and a couple of others I don't know by sight. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski came too and they all sat together. I think Gilcrist was sitting on the Democratic side. The other Republican, Roscoe Bartlett, Republican (MD-06) was there, I think, but on the other side of the isle.
Pelosi introduced Donna, Hoyer said some welcoming words, and then Donna spoke. It was short. She honored her late father and brother for their service to the country, she thanked her mother and sisters, and then she turned to the matters at hand.
We cannot, she said, wait until January to start change. She mentioned foreclosures in her district and across the country. She mentioned the prices of food and gas and said we cannot wait to begin exploring alternatives to our dependence on oil. I am sure she listed a few other areas, but I was teary just hearing her boldness and determination and eagerness to get started. I was not the only one dabbing my eyes. (Note that though I worked to get Donna elected, I am not even in her District. Van Hollen is my Congressman; he's a good guy but on the CAUTIOUS side. Donna will be a BOLD leader.)
The whole event was interrupted four or five times by applause from the gallery, where her family, friends and supporters were about half of the spectators. I don't know if everyone gets applause upon swearing in, and maybe it's lucky that she was the only one being sworn in since it was a special election, but it was great. GREAT.
With Donna and others like her coming, we can have some hope that things will start to change for the better. Steny Hoyer looked very pleased and proud both at Donna's Tuesday evening victory party and today in the House. He'd better get ready, 'cause HERE SHE COMES.