Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan of Virginia was sworn in Friday to the U.S. House of Representatives for the 119th Congress.
McClellan, the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, has served District 4 since 2023.
“I was raised on stories of my parents and grandparents, who lived during the Great Depression in the Jim Crow South, which instilled in me the desire to serve others and help our nation live up to the ideals on which it was founded. As the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, I stand on the shoulders of the brave trailblazers who came before me, like Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to serve in Congress, and John Mercer Langston, the first Black man to represent Virginia in Congress – also from Virginia’s Fourth,” McClellan said.
McClellan said she expects challenges and uncertainty in the 119th Congress, but that she will remain optimistic about the future and is “determined to build on the progress I made in the 118th Congress. Despite dysfunction in Washington, my team and I worked every day to deliver for my constituents, closing thousands of cases, returning millions of dollars in missing benefits, and developing new legislation to address the greatest challenges we face. In this new term, we will remain laser focused on how to help people and solve problems, no matter what chaos or obstacles come our way.”
McClellan thanked her friends, family and husband, David, as well as her children.
“Their love and support serves as a constant source of stability and motivation. I also thank the people of Virginia’s Fourth District who have entrusted me to serve as your voice in Washington. As I look ahead to this new term, I carry with me the values instilled by my family, the lessons from my years of public service, and the stories of the constituents who have shared their hopes, fears and dreams with me. Together, we will pave a new path forward and continue our work to build a more perfect union.”
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
