History is made as Congress finally begins to look like America

Kelly Macias

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Thursday January 03, 2019 · 8:34 AM PST

2019/01/03 · 08:34

Democratic congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (L) of New York and Deb Haaland of New Mexico speak after posing for the 116th Congress members-elect group photo on the East Front Plaza of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on November 14, 2018. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) — On Thursday, the new Congress begins with the most diverse incoming class in history.

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After two very long years of enduring the hellish Trump administration and the Republican Party that enables it, we’ve finally made it to the day that Democrats take back the House of Representatives. There is much to celebrate about this day and we should never take for granted that Democrats succeeded in electing the most diverse incoming freshman class in the history of Congress.

The MOST DIVERSE Congress ever will be sworn in today including 102 women!

These are the Dem majority makersÃ°ÂÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ½:

* 52 Black members
* 39 Hispanics
* 8 lesbian/gay/bi
* 2 Muslim women
* 2 Native American women

Now THIS is America! Ã¢ÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ½Ã°ÂÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ½Ã°ÂÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ½Ã°ÂÂ¤Â©
— Aisha C Moodie-Mills (@AishaMoodMills) January 3, 2019

Now that this incredible group of lawmakers are finally in office, there are several women of color to watch in this 116th Congress. Vox notes that among them are: “Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Lucy McBath of Georgia, all of whom are poised to push Democrats on an array of policy areas such as climate change, health care, and gun control.”

There’s also Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Deb Haaland of New Mexico, Sharice Davids of Kansas, Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia, both from Texas, and Jahana Hayes of Connecticut among others. And let’s not forget Lauren Underwood of Illinois, a registered nurse and former Obama administration appointee, who, at age 32, also becomes the youngest black woman ever to serve in Congress.

All of these women made history in their races, bringing exciting and much-needed energy to the Democratic party and they enter into a Congress that has existing experienced leadership from the women of color already serving (think Maxine Waters!). It’s amazing to witness this history being made today and also to think about how each of these women will bring tremendous diversity of thought, ideas, and experience to their work.

There’s no doubt that they are ready to take on the challenge of governing and especially to take on the Republican Party’s agenda. They haven’t even started yet but they are already the subject of many nightly rants on Fox News.

SÃÂ, se puede. pic.twitter.com/Mdkf01qKZQ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 2, 2019

Let’s all gleefully watch these women cause the anchors on Fox News to have epic meltdowns and temper tantrums for the next two years. While Fox & Friends will be busy creating faux outrage and spewing lies, these women will be hard at work and helping Democrats usher in progressive legislation for America related to health care, education, gun control, climate change, and more. We are only three days into a new year and we are already witnessing a new, exciting future for America.

Sí se puede, indeed!

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History is made as Congress finally begins to look like America

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