New Congress brings necessary change

It’s been 62 days since the midterm elections. Thanks to more than 113 million voters, Nov. 6 will forever mark a national moment of reckoning. A moment where the course of our country shifted for the greater good.

The American people voted 62 days ago, and change answered. That change became official last Thursday, with the swearing in ceremony of the 116th Congress.

Historically, this is the most diverse Congress in United States history. From gender to age and even in military service, the word “representative” is now weighted in more accuracy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNf8YpYFR1E

Now, female representatives and senators comprise almost a quarter of Congress, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. For the first time in history, more than 100 women will serve in the House of Representatives, only to be led by Nancy Pelosi — the first and only woman to become speaker of the House and the first speaker to regain the gavel in over 50 years.

Research shows the inclusion of women in office will translate to more female-related issues being considered into law. Female legislators are more likely to introduce bills important to women and families on issues such as child welfare and education, according to a 2005 political science study conducted by Georgetown University.

"Women in Congress are just more likely to prioritize issues that have a direct connection to women — violence against women, family leave policy, those kind of things," Michele Swers, the political scientist who headed the 2005 Georgetown University study, said. "The more you can directly connect the consequence to women, the more you see female legislators getting involved."

This Congress brings historic firsts for many states when it comes to electing women, both white and more notably, women of color.

Somali refugee Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are the first Muslim women to serve in Congress. Lauren Underwood, a 32-year-old registered nurse, became the youngest black women to serve in Congress. Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids shared an embrace-gone-viral last Thursday, after getting sworn in as the first Native American women elected to Congress.

People of color face a unique experience when living in America. When it comes to police brutality and the school-to-prison pipeline, people of color are disproportionately impacted by the failures of the systems put in place to protect us. As for one new legislator in Congress, the failures of our nation’s criminal justice system comes way too close to home.

Lucy McBath, the first black women to represent Georgia’s 6th Congressional district, made gun safety a central part of her campaign due to the loss of her 17-year-old son in 2012.

Jordan Davis, who was 17 years old at the time, was shot and killed at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida following a dispute over loud music in the gas station parking lot.

Since her son's death, McBath has dedicated her life to reform America’s gun laws with social activism and service, from her five years of service as the Faith and Outreach Leader at Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and as a leader in the Everytown for Gun Safety Survivor Network.

“The bullet that killed my son also tore a hole in my heart. But while I grieve Jordan every day, his death also gave my life a new purpose: advocating for gun violence prevention,” McBath said in her statement of campaign promises on her official website. “As a member of Congress, I will work to defeat conceal carry reciprocity measures and introduce legislation to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and other criminals.”

The numbers of LGBTQ legislators also reached double digits for the first time in Congress’ history last Thursday. One of those legislators, Kyrsten Sinema, hails from Arizona and is the nation’s first bisexual senator in history. Sinema is also the first female senator in Arizona’s history. Congress also elected its first lesbian mother, Representative Angie Craig, to represent Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional district.

With veterans, five newly elected officials — Chrissy Houlahan, Max Rose, Martha McSally, Dan Crenshaw and Jared Golden — conflict in regard to party affiliation, but all unite when it comes to their record of military service to our country. Thanks to voters in this past midterm election, 95 veterans now serve in the House and Senate, with 19 of them being first time lawmakers and seven of them being women.

A new day has dawned in American government with the new freshman class of representatives. Diversity is the very fabric of what makes America the extraordinary land that it is and its virtues should be reflective of those in office.

Our democratic society is often taken for granted. It is the civic duty for all Americans to participate in the democratic process, in order to elect officials who will better reflect the constituents they represent.

Take pride in the difference you can cast upon this country with your ballot. Change starts with this Congress and by taking the initiative to vote in local elections on a regular basis, change will remain constant in our government once and for all.