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WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress prepares to meet for the start of a new session, swearing at lawmakers during a tumultuous time as a relative handful of Republicans scramble to overturn Joe Biden’s victory over the President Donald Trump and the coronavirus outbreak are setting limits on Capitol Hill.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi is expected to be re-elected as House Speaker on Sunday by her party, which retains a majority in the House, but with the smallest margin in 20 years after an election was canceled in November.
Opening the Senate could be one of Mitch McConnell’s last acts as Majority Leader. Republican control is in question until the second round of elections on Tuesday for two Senate seats in Georgia. The result will determine which party holds the chamber.
It is often said that the divided government can be a time for legislative compromises, but lawmakers advance to the 117th Congress with the nation more torn than ever, disputing even basic facts, including the fact that Biden won the presidential election.
The fraud did not spoil the 2020 presidential election, a fact confirmed by election officials across the country. Before resigning last month, Attorney General William Barr, a Trump-appointed Republican, said the fraud did not affect the election outcome. The Republican governors of Arizona and Georgia, whose states played a crucial role in Biden’s victory, also said their election results were accurate.
Nevertheless, a dozen Republicans headed for the new Senate, led by the senses. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, and more in the House, have vowed to become a resistance force in Biden’s White House, beginning with efforts to overthrow the will of American voters. These GOP lawmakers plan to oppose the election results when the electoral college meets on Wednesday to count its 306-232 victory over Trump.
Democrats, meanwhile, are moving forward, eager to partner with Biden on common priorities, starting with efforts to stem the pandemic and economic crisis. They plan to revisit the failed effort to increase pandemic aid to $ 2,000 for most people.
“It has been a time of great challenge in the United States of America filled with trials and tribulations, but help is on the way,” said Representative Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., Democratic Caucus Chair from the room. interview.
“America is a resilient nation, filled with resilient people,” he said. “We will continue to rise to the occasion that has emerged from this pandemic and walk towards our more perfect union.
Among the Republican newcomers to the House are Trump-aligned Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has nodded to Q-Anon conspiracy theories, and gun rights advocate Lauren Boebert of Colorado, who circulated a letter of support for retaining the right of lawmakers to carry firearms. in the Capitol.
Taylor Greene was among a group of House Republicans led by Representative Mo Brooks from Alabama who visited Trump in the White House during the holiday season about their efforts to overturn the election.
The “Jan. The challenge is on, ”Taylor Greene said in a tweet pinned to the top of her social media account. Boebert also tweeted his support for those challenging Biden’s victory.
House Republicans bolstered their ranks in the November election, electing a handful of women and minorities more than ever. Some of the new GOP lawmakers are called the “Force of Freedom,” and a counterpart to the “squad” – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other female liberal Democrats who came to power in the from the last session.
Progressive Democrats have bolstered their ranks with newcomers aligned with more liberal priorities.
The Capitol itself is a changed place under coronavirus restrictions. Lawmakers are arriving in Washington from all parts of the country potentially exposed to the virus during their trip.
Several lawmakers have been sickened by the virus. A memorial was held on Saturday for newly elected Republican lawmaker Luke Letlow, 41, of Louisiana, who died of complications from COVID-19 days before the swearing-in.
The Attending Physician’s Office has issued several lengthy memos warning lawmakers not to meet in groups or hold traditional receptions to prevent the spread of the virus. The masks were worn at all times and Pelosi demanded that they be used in the chamber of the House. Members must undergo coronavirus testing and have access to vaccines.
“Do not attend social events, receptions, celebrations or in-person dates outside of your family unit, and always wear a face mask outside your home,” the doctor’s office warned in a note. . “You should strictly avoid any type of reception or celebration in the office during the days to come.”
Even the traditional swearing-in during ceremonies will be limited to the House. No more large family portraits with new legislators taking the oath. Instead, each elected official can bring a guest into compliance with social distancing protocols.
The vice president usually swears in the senators.
Pelosi, who returns as president, faces a close race, with House Division 222-211, with a race still undecided and a vacant post following Letlow’s death.
The California Democrat may suffer a few defections from her ranks, but only a few, barring absences. Some lawmakers are in quarantine after infections or exposure to coronavirus. She needs to win over the majority of those present and voting to retain the speaker’s hammer.
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