The 117th Congress of the United States was convened on Sunday. Former House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, was re-elected Speaker of the House by a slim margin of 2 votes. She received votes from 216 Democrats, the minimum required being 214.
The Congress convened with many changes in procedures and new protocols due to the prevalence of the coronavirus. The House Chamber had a special section, enclosed in plexiglass to accommodate three lawmakers who are in “quarantine status.”
At noon, the election of a new speaker was the first order of business. Democrat Jeffries from New York nominated Pelosi and spoke of her belief in America. He called her a “resilient leader.”
Pelosi spoke of the challenges that the new Congress is expected to face. The economic disruptions due to the pandemic and the increasing health crisis as the coronavirus continues to sweep across the nation. She also thanked the Democratic caucus for nominating her to the post of House Speaker for another term.
In a letter to her Democratic colleagues, she said that she was confident that her nomination would show that the Democratic caucus was united and that they were ready to face the challenges ahead, beginning “with the Electoral College meeting on Wednesday.”
Congress is scheduled to meet again on January 6, 2021. This is the day when President-elect Joe Biden’s victory will be re-affirmed after the count of the Electoral College votes.
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