New York’s New Senator Sworn in by Vice President Biden
Photos by Caroline Bridges
Gillibrand
WENY-TV
Lindsay Perna
Boston University Washington News Service
Jan. 27, 2009
WASHINGTON – With a confident “yes” and two quick signatures, U.S. Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand was sworn in Tuesday on the floor of the Senate chamber by Vice President Joe Biden as New York’s junior senator.
Gillibrand spent her last moments as a representative with family in her House office after meeting with members of the press and before making her way to the Senate chamber on the other side of the Capitol.
“My goal for the next two weeks is to travel as far and wide as I can,” Gillibrand said. Speaking in the Cannon House Office Building corridor, she said she plans to meet with media throughout the state.
Gillibrand addressed issues close to her constituent’s hearts and pocket books.
“In times like this we do need to spend,” she said, but “spend carefully.”
After voting twice against the bailout bill, Gillibrand spoke of quickly involving herself in efforts to stimulate the economy and create jobs for citizens of New York.
Gillibrand talked about other problems facing her state after taking the oath on the Senate floor. She said she wants to work toward energy independence within 10 years, to fix decrepit sewer systems and to cut taxes.
“It’s reached the point where we have to get to work,” the senator said. “We don’t want to have a 10-year-long recession. We want to rein it in.”
It was a busy day on Capitol Hill as President Barack Obama shared the same hallways on the Senate side of the Capitol to speak of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan after meeting with Republicans in the House and the Senate.
“The American people expect action,” President Obama said. “I do hope that we can all put politics aside and do the American people’s business right now.”
Greenport native Sen. Gillibrand was the first woman ever elected to Congress from New York’s 20th District. She was also the first Democrat in 30 years to win the Upstate seat.
“It’s just an honor to get to serve,” said the freshest face of the Senate.
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