Tag: Norman Rockwell

Washington – U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes began her congressional career Thursday kissing babies, casting votes to reopen the partially shuttered federal government, and keeping watch for news about a daughter who was due — at any minute — to give birth. “This is a big day for me in many ways,” Hayes said. A Democrat representing the 5th Congressional District, Hayes replaces retired Rep. Elizabeth Esty and was propelled to office by enthusiastic supporters seeking change and enamored by the energetic, optimistic can-do-ism exuded by the former national Teacher of the Year. A political neophyte, Hayes repeatedly described her first day in Congress as “surreal.” “Can you believe we’re here?” she asked the throng of supporters jammed into her congressional office. “This is okay, right?” she asked those attending her office reception, waving her arms around the room. A bus filled with 75 supporters came to Washington Thursday to witness the swearing in of the first black congresswoman to represent Connecticut. Like all of Connecticut’s House members, Hayes voted to elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi as Speaker. The House cloakroom called her office and she ran back to the Capitol to cast the vote. “But mostly I’m surprised that we got right to work,” she said. Besides electing the Democratic and Republican leadership, and a new set of rules for the House that requires all bills to be subject to committee hearings and reviewed for at least 72 hours before a vote, the House prepared to vote late Thursday on Democratic legislation that would fund the agencies that have been shuttered in the partial government shutdown.