Meet the 113th Congress: More diverse than ever
By Jim Acosta, CNN National Political Correspondent
Washington (CNN) - The newly sworn-in 113th Congress is the most diverse group of representatives in history, reflecting changing demographics and changing public attitudes.
The New America: What the election teaches us about ourselves
98 women, 43 African-Americans, 31 Latinos, 12 Asian-American and Pacific Islanders, and seven gay and bisexual members are now new members of the House and Senate. Plus, there is the first Buddhist member in the Senate and Hindu member in the House of Representatives.
“It means that we reflect America more,” said newly elected Rep. Tammy Duckwork, an Illinois Democrat. “And it is good to see Congress starting to look more like the rest of America.”
Duckworth, a double-amputee veteran of the Iraq War, is one of the historic number of Asian-Americans elected and joins the record number of women inducted, along with new Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
“Here is the first woman from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Warren said to cheers from her supporters.
And the new members are not the only ones making history. Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski will serve as the first female chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and Nancy Pelosi has returned to her role as that chamber’s Democratic leader.
But the diversity is not exclusive to the Democrats.
Republican Tim Scott became the first African-American from the South to serve in the Senate since Reconstruction, and Ted Cruz, who is Cuban-American, was elected to the Senate. Both were supported by the Tea Party.
“It is an incredible day and a testament to the power of the grass roots and the power of the people,” Cruz told CNN.
There is also more representation of the gay and lesbian community in the Congress.
Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin was sworn-in as the first openly gay U.S. Senator. On the other side of the Capitol, Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) is the first openly bi-sexual member of the House.
About In America
What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.
Black in America
iReport
The nation's first female native American was sworn in yesterday. No mention of that. Why?
The diversity shows up in their inability to get things done.
Any member of the house or the senate born south of the Mason-Dixon line should be forced to resign.
What, no transgender reps?
This country is going to hell quickly. Why does it always have to turn into a racial issue? Whites are going to be ran out of this country that they founded.
Yup, they am.....
hahahahaha
Yes whites founded this country on the basis that "All men are created equal" and are free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. So when whites are surpassed in numbers those same values are what we (minorities – soon to be majorities) will fight to uphold for everyone. I came to this country with the belief that I will be treated fairly and be given equal opportunity. I bought into the whole idea of AMERICA – The land of the Free. I have served and retired from the US Armed Forces. I would gladly bleed to keep the stripes RED. I don't believe this country is getting worse. On the contrary...I believe it is finally living up to its creed. This is my country. The land that I love.
Some would say that the whites stole the country from the native americans.
Look Mr. Racist white dude, and Racist Black woman Black men are going to date white women no matter what you do or what you say. You can smash the world and leave 8 people left and thee will still be a white woman and black couple in the mix get over it. And yes I do believe that this is all racism is a bout, oh and by the way. Republicans use racist whites as puppets to pass crappy laws, to make it seem like blacks are the only ones getting raped.
Republicans do not know that the 1950s are over. Maybe they can watch the movie Pleasantville. Why do they want a Leave it to Beaver world ? Abortion rights wil not be overturned and even if they were to be overturned just stock up on RU-486 or go to Canada or Mexico or Europe to get your legal abortion. Blacks, Hispanics, Women, Gays, and Asians now make up the majority of voters. Muslims ounumber Jews. What does the Republican party not understand.
THIS IS WELCOME NEWS. HOPE WE BUILD ON THIS TREND- MORE DIVERSE AND MORE EDUCATED SMART WOMEN.
HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL DO BETTER THAN MEN'S CLUB FOR 200 YRS.
How is this news? Who cares what color the people we've elected to represent us are? Who cares what building they worship in or who they share their bed with? I don't, I just want decent people who are going to deal with the massive fiscal issues we face. I want people who understand more government isn't the answer, that the answer is people being allowed to live their lives as they choose.
More diverse? thats the problem, there are no AMERICANS anymore, only "Groups"
I'm an american citizen and belong to a group. you are too, unless you're a native american indian, (real north americans) we're all americans.
Yes, but too many people put their special little group first and then consider themselves an American. It should be the other way around.
Diverse or not, that picture is full of people who fail us when they are needed most. It's nice to see today that more and more groups of people have a voice and representation. Too bad we are all represented by complete morons
Finally, a sound comment on the insane and diverse comments!
However, the failings are led by the lingering old white men.
You have it exactly right. These people do not begin to represent what the American people want.
They may be more diverse than ever before, but that doesn't make them any less agenda driven and corrupt than they already are.
Wow! You're an incredibly out-of-touch, extraordinarily hateful person!
It comes down to two things: overcoming discrimination and building a network of support. The first is relatively easy. Minority groups haven't faced wide-spread discrimination for decades, just in pockets. However, building a network of support takes several decades to ensure that people grow up in not only a community but a culture that fosters ambitions like running for congress.
Get rid of the two party system. It doesn't work.
Here's hoping that the new members 113th congress are more productive (and less obstructive) than their horrific predecessors. Sadly, the November election did not clean house as much as expected (shocking, considering the last congress' abysmal approval rating and all-time historic low of productivity).
But, as always, one is allowed to hope....
It didn't clean out the Senate as well (which was just as obstructive). Remember, Reid sat on many pieces of legislation that Obama endorsed.
Push the GOP out of power and out of office. Then America will start to heal and grow once again.
Hear hear. Let's have one-party Democrat rule for 50 years. Detroit has paved the way with that model, to serve as an inspiration to us all.
True! And let's not forget Baltimore, Philly, Birmingham, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago etc. etc. etc. One more big flush and these cities will be forever lost. Diversity rules!
Put their pay raises and benefits to a public vote.
What does your comment have to do with this article? Nothing.
More diverse than ever ... and more dysfunctional by the day. Limit terms and once out of the job, off the benefits wagon.
Drop the cushy retirement as well.
Exactly, you got it totally correct! The fact that we let these Democrat and Republican do-nothing morons remain in power for multiple terms spanning decades is shameful and embarrassing. They get so entrenched in power that they wouldn't know average America if it hit them in the face, which I'm sure most average Americans would love to do. I'm with you – maybe 2 Senate terms or 6 House terms max (12 total years), and then they should be back in their home state having to work for a living like everybody else. No lifetime benefits for years of doing nothing in Washington!
Ridiculuos retirement of $300 a month to pay the gas for life like if you won a scrach.That's our life today..
Until the Republicans take back control of their party from the Tea Party and stop being the "mean party", they will continue to lose ground. The American people are tired of party politics in Washington and want Congress to consider the best interest of ALL Americans.
The word "diversity" is a bell ringing. The public are dogs salivating.
I guess diversity doesn't bring unity, imagine that.
Considering their ability to accomplish anything is going downhill at an increasingly higher rate, diversity obviously isn't helping anything except their image in their own minds.
The general populous is disgusted with them.
hahaha...you mean the general populous that voted them in..do you mean the general populous that will be even more diverse next election. that the one your talking about. Get ready for change
I don't know how this new batch could do any worse then the ones they replaced.
Diverse but equally corrupt as all those before them...nothing ever changes...just the faces.
Time for term limits.
term limits.,...I agree lets increase the Presidency position now.. I would vote for that
Diverse? Be precise thats the duty of media. How diverse ethnically, politically,religiously all of the foregoing or none of the foregoing? Yep we have more women in there and I think that's a good thing they know a lot more about managing budgets than any tea partier whose policies would either get us into more debt or make Eurpoean or even Greek austerity measures look like childs play and for sure Increase unemployment levels.
Regards,
Hodgson.
Diversity is Boehner's blue eyes crying.
The rest is Ship Of Fools.
I see a lot of people equating diversity with being liberal, or simply racial in its context; Yet diversity is a broad term used to quantify that of which is not the status-quot. For the first time certain minority groups are gaining representation within both parties. Also, California is the top state in terms of GDP, and is one of the most lucrative economies in the world. An agricultural and pop culture epicenter.
California has cities going bankrupt.
Don't forget the part about California being broke. There was a discussion just last night about government offices having to close early. Some as early as 1:00 PM simply because of no money. The threat of bringing the state's legal system to a stand-still is on the horizon.
The California Dream has been over for decades. It's a cesspool now. Non-cultural epicenter.
Diversity means bull. Talent is what defines a job position, not the color of skin. CNN is purely racist, choosing skin color over talent.
I see no rationale for your claim.
Jay, how does talent define a job position? So, senator Cruz from texas is a senator today because of his talent in being ignorant about the economy? If talent is the only determinant of a job position most republicans should be jobless for lacking the talent to understand economics.
diversity is not a strength
Reality says it too.
"Diverity is not a strength"
Found on page 27 of the KKK Bible
Remember new representatives of Congress and The Senate, if you fall in line with the Republicans who want to destroy our country, You will only have a four year run, we will vote you out of office if you do not work for the people, That is your only job! It is what you were elected for!!!
Why should they fear YOU? You obviously don't vote. You don't even know that Senators serve for 6 years, and Representatives for 2 years.
PG, what can you expect from idiotic partisan zealots like the above poster? These Democratic and Republican ultra-wingers never let facts and reality get in the way of a good partisan jab!
Mathew please.. zealots, fascist ect those words are over
Tammy Lozano, please. "Zealot" is a perfectly valid English word that, according to Merriam-Webster, means "a fanatical partisan." I don't know what ridiculous notion you have that a perfectly ordinary word can be "over," but, according to the dictionary definition, "zealot" is a more apt today as a description of American politicians than ever before.
The only thing Wrong with being Right is when being Right is Wrong
The media and academics notoriously leave out the word "ethnic" when using the term "diverse." Most diverse ever means most ethnically diverse ever. They do not mean, the most socioeconmically diverse ever, or most diverse in terms of political party representation. It's time for the media to be more specific with what they're referring to when they just use the word diverse to mean ethnically diverse.
Saying "ethnic diversity" wouldn't cover the diversity of having more women in Congress as such, or the diversity of having more gays in Congress as such.
The most diverse.....And the most useless and incompetent. Who cares about the Congress' diversity if it can't get anything good done????
It's good that Congress isn't totally all white, all male, all Christian, all straight. But, you are right, if they can't get anything done, so what?
It will turn into the Maury Povich show really quick!
And the headline reads as if this is a good thing? Oh, this is CNN.com. I forgot.
Diverse yes and totally disfunctional. Where you WANT your diversity is in the parts you can't measure: life experience, common sense, and devotion to duty.
No, I don't want diversity there at all, I want all of them to have those qualities in common.
United We Stand Divided We Fall
As a country we are very divided.
A Panera's waiter of Sarasota, Florida, told how we are divide in America: "Now, or you are rich, or your poor, forget about midled class in this country."
wow
Most diverse, maybe. Most disconnected, absolutely.
What are...........5 years old ? It's hard to imagine a more childish post.
a judge in texas warned of civil war if obama is re-elected president. i am now so scared. how will obama handle this discontent? can we have some special quota for them? or can some of these minority elected congress people resign their positions in favor the mainstream americans?
Wow, sknmrowley is a dinosaur. What a racist. If people want to become part of the GOP they will do so because they prefer those politics. Why would you include skin tone? Because you're a racist, that's why. AND.....you're a reason the GOP and Tea Party is declining.....dying, fossilizing, dinosaurs.
Haha, right on cma 🙂
Actions speak louder then Racial Diversity?
This signals the beginning of the end for the GOP/Tea Party as we know it. Look at the California, less than 30% of the voters are registered Republicans. Democrats control both state houses and all statewide offices. Instead of reinventing itself, California Republicans deceived itself for many years that its policies resonated with a changing population.
Yeah........California....great example !!! Demcrat dominated government (and always has been) going bankrupt while republican run states thrive. HELLO !!!! McFly !!!!
Amen, Shalung!!
Typical thought process of a liberal to think that their way is ultimately better than any other. Look at all the Democratic controlled states. Most of them are of the social elite, hollywood stupid or social program dependent. That means California is at the top of the list. Most of the Conservative states are surviving and doing well. Too bad the left is too stupid to learn from their follies and too ignorant to to see what really works. Why else would states like Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma have sucessful governments that are more conservative across the board?
Sorry, but as usual the Teajadists get their facts wrong. "Blue" states contribute far dollars to the federal government than they receive. "Red" states receive far more federal money than they contribute. The only exception is Texas, but that's only because the federal government's enormous subsidies to the oil industry don't get counted as federal dollars going to states. The rest of the red states are "takers" as well as haters.
You are forgetting that Arnold was the Republican governor and he left the state in the worst financial shape it has ever been in. Don't keep blaming the Democrats. There's enough blame to go around.
@kbob365 Doesn't sound like you've ever been to a "red state". Things are good there. Economy is strong, things are growing and progressing and as always the people are the nicest you will find anywhere. The hatred is coming from outsiders who know nothing of said states and who make huge undue generalizations of these states. They'll all be moving to these states soon enough to get a job.
California was a sinking ship before arnold took the reigns.