House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy accuses Pelosi of leading 'least productive Congress in nearly 50 years' as she's elected to House Speaker for FOURTH term with 216-209 votes - and the help of AOC who poses with her newly expanded 'Squad'
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., made a fiery speech on Sunday night just as House speaker Nancy Pelosi was reelected to her fourth term as Speaker of the House.
McCarthy accused Pelosi and the Democratic party of being more concerned with a far-left agenda rather than focusing on the needs of the American people, however he did not mention the Democrats by name.
Before her ceremonially handed her the speaker's gavel - a normally genial moment - he provided a stark reminder of the partisan divide coloring Congress.
McCarthy accused Pelosi of over the past two years leading 'the least productive Congress in nearly 50 years' and said there was a clear message in last November's elections, when Republicans gained seats by defeating a dozen Democratic incumbents. 'It was a wake-up call,' he said. 'The question I ask of this majority: were you listening?'
Those are assertions that Democrats strongly dispute, saying it's Republicans, especially in the GOP-led Senate, who've blocked progress on pandemic aid and other issues.
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is handed the Speaker's gavel by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to lead the 117th House of Representatives after Pelosi was re-elected as Speaker in Washington, U.S.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was reelected to her speakership on Sunday as the first session of the 117th Congress gaveled in members sworn in
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California) walks to the House chamber in the US Capitol in Washington, DC
Both chambers held rare Sunday sessions to open the new Congress on January 3 as the Constitution requires. Swearing-in Ceremony for members of 117th Congress,
'When the need for more pandemic relief was obvious, did we deliver a timely lifeline America needed? Or did we say nothing was better than something until politics dictated our actions?' McCarthy asked.
'When unrest spilled into the cities and communities across the country, did we deliver safety that Americans wanted or did we let calls to defund the police, intimidate us from protecting life, liberty and property?'
McCarthy accused lawmakers in the House of neglecting their responsibilities 'during some of the most challenging times for our country.'
Those watching were divided with in their response with some members booing at McCarthy's remarks, while others cheered the House minority leader on.
But McCarthy wasn't finished and continued to contrast the Republicans' and Democrats' respective mantras claiming the GOP listened to the American people and have 'made a commitment to America to restore our way of life, rebuild the economy and renew the American dream.'
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy accused Democrats of being more focused on their 'far-left agenda' than with the needs of the American people
McCarthy accused lawmakers in the House of neglecting their responsibilities 'during some of the most challenging times for our country'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was re-elected to her leadership position on Sunday despite concerns progressive members would object to her fourth term as speaker
United States Representative Brian Mast (Republican of Florida) walks with his sons Magnum and Maverick in the US Capitol
United States Representative Louie Gohmert (Representative of Texas) waits outside the House chamber in the US Capitol
Members and guests wait outside the House chamber in the US Capitol in Washington during the swearing-in ceremony for members of the 117th Congress
United States Representative Brian Mast (Republican of Florida) (L) walks with his sons Magnum and Maverick in the US Capitol in Washington
Members of the house depart after the first session of the 117th Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol
He stated as evidence the fact that no Republican incumbent was defeated in November's election.
'Voters have endorsed common sense, not conflict,' McCarthy proclaimed. 'It was a referendum against a radical agenda to defund the police and punish hard work. It was a wakeup call,' he continued.
McCarthy vowed to fight for the people he represents: 'farmers and oilfield workers who rise at the dawn to go to work, who pray to God and raise the next generation of good, decent citizens.'
'Can we keep that commitment to America? No more misplaced priorities. The American people deserve better. America is worth fighting for. American's rights are worth fighting for. Their dreams are worth fighting for. Their voices are worth fighting for. And most importantly, their voices are worth being heard on this floor,' McCarthy continued.
When McCarthy had said his piece, he finally congratulated Pelosi on her fourth term as House speaker.
"We accept a responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced," Pelosi, a California Democrat told the chamber as she accepted a fresh two-year term in her post, perhaps her last.
Citing the 350,000 Americans who've died from COVID-19 and the millions who've lost jobs and livelihoods, she won a standing ovation when she said, "Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it, we will."
United States Representative Matt Gaetz (Republican of Florida) and Ginger Luckey walk to the House Chamber
United States Representative Young Kim (Republican of California) (R) walks in the US Capitol in Washington
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (Democrat of California) walks back to her office after being in the house chamber
United States Representative-elect Blake Moore (Republican of Utah) speaks to his family in the US Capitol
Pelosi has led the Democrats in the House since 2003 and is the only woman to be speaker. She received 216 votes compared to 209 for McCarthy with just a handful of Democrats either voting 'present' or for another member.
Democrats gave Pelosi a standing ovation as the final tally was revealed. The Republican side of the chamber was virtually empty.
Among those voting to restore Pelosi to her position as Speaker was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who at first abstained.
'When you look at the razor-thin margins, and the fact that you have – we are just an extremely slim amount of votes away from risking the speakership to the Republican Party. And this is bigger than any one of us, and that is consequential,' Ocasio-Cortez explained to reporters on Capitol Hill.
On Sunday, 427 members announced themselves as present – 220 Democrats and 207 Republicans. This means Pelosi could have only lost six votes or else be booted from her position and pave the way for McCarthy, to take the post despite Democrats holding a majority in the chamber.
In the weeks leading up to the vote, Ocasio-Cortez voiced the Democratic Party needs new, more progressive leadership. She also said she couldn't be the one to fill that role right now.
Democrats have the slimmest majority margin in the House in 20 years with just 11 more members than Republicans.
It was the first vote of the new Congress, which convened Sunday with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for lawmakers. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer legislators and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck.
Pelosi's election came 17 days before Biden is inaugurated. Yet rather than a fresh start for him and Pelosi, there are issues and undercurrents that will carry over from President Donald Trump´s tempestuous administration.
Though Congress enacted - and Trump finally signed - a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package late last month, Biden and many Democrats say they consider that measure a down payment. They say more aid is needed to bolster efforts to vaccinate the public, curb the virus and restore jobs and businesses lost to the pandemic.
Biden´s priorities also include efforts on health care and the environment.
Guiding such legislation through the House will be a challenge for Pelosi because her party´s narrow majority means just a handful of defectors could be fatal.
There were concerns of the Speaker gaining reelection as she could only afford to lose six Democratic votes, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez initially abstained from her vote before later switching in favor of Pelosi's reelection
Pelosi resumes her Speakership with Democrats having the slimmest majority margin in the House in 20 years with just 11 more members than Republicans
Ocasio-Cortez thinks Democrats need new leadership. Pictured is the newly expanded squad, pictured from L to R: Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, AOC, Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley
Vice President Mike Pence arrived on Capitol Hill to swear in members of the 117th Congress – starting with the Senate before moving onto House members
Pence elbow bumps with Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon during the swearing-in reenactment where lawmakers receive a photo-op holding up their hand with the other placed on the bible and reciting their oath of office for the vice president
With coronavirus-era restrictions in place, Pence began by swearing in members of the Senate. Here Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell takes his oath of office with wife and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao by his side holding a Bible
Unmasked: McConnell easily won reelection to his Kentucky Senate seat. He and his wife removed their masks for a portion of the swearing-in ceremony
At most points, Republicans removed their face masks during the swearing in. Here Maine Senator Susan Collins removed her masks as the oath of office was administered
Incoming Representatives Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman, two new members of the 'squad,' – and the first male member – were noncommittal last week on if they would vote for Pelosi in her speakership reelection.
The 'squad' now sits at six members with AOC at the helm, freshman Reps. Bush and Bowman and original members Reps. Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.
Vice President Mike Pence arrived at Capitol Hill Sunday afternoon to first participate in the swearing in of senators as House members continued calling roll – a process lengthened by coronavirus restrictions breaking up how many people can be in the chamber at once.
When Ocasio-Cortez's name was initially called to vote for House speaker, there was no response – indicating she was abstaining from voting. She later changed her vote for Pelosi.
The 117th U.S. Congress is beginning as the House and Senate gaveled into a rare Sunday afternoon session to swear in new members and open the new Congress on January 3, as the Constitution requires.
All members of the House and roughly one-third of the Senate are participating in the swearing in.
Freshman Representative Troy Nehls of Texas hugs his his daughter Tori in the Capitol Rotunda ahead of his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday
Freshman Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (left), known for being a follower of QAnon conspiracies, walks outside the House Chamber. She refused to wear a mask once inside the chamber
Control of the Senate is in question until Tuesday's runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia. The outcome will determine which party holds the chamber.
Georgia's incumbent Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue are facing off against Democratic challengers Reverend Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.
If Republicans hold onto just one – or both seats – they will retain a slim majority in the upper chamber. If Democrats, however, are able to flip both seat blue, they will bring the count to 50-50, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote.
