On the recordApril 9, 2019
We are here today to recognize the accomplishments of the freshman class of the 116th Congress as we approach the 100th day since we were sworn into office. History is before us. Congress is 230 years old. As co-president of the freshman class, alongside my colleague, Representative Colin Allred of Texas, we ring with a dutiful pride, deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve in a legislative session that will mark the conclusion of a decade and the beginning of another. We take stock of new representation, new voices, people, that the likes of this body have never seen before, what the American people called for in their voting booth, and all that this great body represents. This class of freshman Democrats, 67 Members strong, from every corner of our great Nation, is the largest in nearly 45 years. Our class represents several historic firsts. With 42 new women in Congress, the House of Representatives is more female than at any point in the Chamber's deep history. Representative Davids of Kansas and Representative Haaland of New Mexico are the first Native American women to serve in this Chamber. Representative Omar of Minnesota and my fellow Michigander, Representative Tlaib, are the first Muslim women in Congress. We now have more African American women and men serving in this body than ever before. Nearly two-dozen new Members, from both sides of the aisle, have served our country as members of the military or Central Intelligence Agency.…
