On the opening day of the 117th Congress, California Democrat Nancy Pelosi was reelected Speaker of the House.
Congressman Don Young administered her Oath as having been the longest continuously serving member of the House, “Madam speaker before I issue the Oath, I’d like to take privilege of the floor as the Dean. I’ve been in this house longer than anybody else. I’ve served a few longer than anybody else has served with you. I love this institution. I’ll be honest, I do not like what I see. It’s time we hold hands and talk to one another.”
At this point, the entire U.S. House erupted in applause in agreement.
Young continued, “Madam speaker I say this with all sincerity, you will be the speaker of the House, not of the party. That may hurt some of you. The job of the nation is for the House of Representatives to govern this nation. It was never meant to be the executive branch. It was never meant to be the Judicial branch. It is this house that raises the money and dedicates how it’s spent and we are representing the people as elected. I say this with all sincerity, madam speaker, that when you do have a problem or if there is something so contentious, let’s sit down and have a drink and solve the problems for the good of this nation for this institution and for the future children of this great nation. We can do it as a body. I ask you that as the Dean to the new speaker. I ask you to try to attempt to do that with our leader. We can do it together.”
At this point, “If the gentlewoman from California would please raise her right hand. Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; that you will bear true faith and allegiance to be the same; that you take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office of which you are about to enter, so help you God?”
Pelosi said, “I do.”
