With the 118th Congress being sworn in on Jan. 3, Americans across the country are eager to see how the victors of last year’s midterms will pan out in office. However, the lack of transparency between elected officials and their constituents over what actually happens in office can make voters feel like they’re not being represented. Part of what makes this Congress so unique — aside from the first-ever Gen Z representative and a bunch of other history makers — is that they are willing to share what their intentions, goals, and actions are in Congress, starting with their swearing in.
One incoming Congressmember that’s establishing transparency right from the get-go is Delia Ramirez, a Democrat representing Illinois’ 3rd District. Ramirez is the daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and will be the first Latina that Illinois has elected to Congress. The issues she’s been most passionate about through her campaign have been affordable housing and education, and its interaction with public safety. Back in 2018, when she was running for Illinois House in the 4th District, she said to the Chicago Sun Times, “And looking at public safety not just from a law enforcement perspective, but from a perspective of really looking at the root causes of violence and how we ensure that we’re addressing the issues both at the root but also in the way in which we relate with police and access.”
Ramirez is being sworn in today alongside her Twitter followers. In a Twitter thread on her account, she writes, “I’m going to post throughout the day so you can join along with me and get the inside look of how Congress kicks off the year.”
In a video featuring her family, she describes how she received her Member Pin and voting card, explaining their importance in Congressional procedure. The voting card is what Congressmembers must use to vote on various bills while Congress is in session. She also makes sure to appreciate those that have supported her throughout her political journey, carrying part of her Guatemalan culture in the form on her suit.
Ramirez also posted a selfie with other members of the 118th Congress, including Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress, Robert Garcia, the first out LGBTQ+ immigrant elected to Congress, and Summer Lee, the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.
With these officials already mobilizing and using social media as a resource for their constituents, the 118th Congress is proving their dedication to make government more accessible to the public. The inauguration ceremony for these elected officials was Jan. 3, and although they’ve already started to elect the Speaker of the House, the bulk of their Congressional duties are yet to come. House members will be in D.C. until Jan. 5, and will then reconvene on Jan. 9. According to a tentative schedule, Senate members will be on State Work Period until Jan. 20, after which they will return to D.C.