Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi Make History as First Women at Biden’s Presidential Address
On Wednesday, April 28, Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made history as the first two women officials to stand behind a president at a joint session of Congress. Harris and Pelosi took the stage during Joe Biden’s first speech to congress.
This milestone happened just months after Harris became the first African-American and first female Vice President in American history. Harris sat on the dais of the House Chamber alongside Pelosi, who was nominated by the House Democrats to lead them into Joe Biden’s Presidency last November. Another major historic achievement by Harris and Pelosi is that they are first and second, respectively, in the presidential line of succession.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CBS This Morning, “We’re there sending a message — the sky’s the limit for girls and women.” She bumped elbows with Vice President Kamala Harris, as both women stood behind President Joe Biden. Their duty was to preside over the joint session of Congress, which is a gathering between the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“Madam Speaker. Madam Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium. No president has ever said those words. And it’s about time.”
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) April 29, 2021
President Joe Biden kicked off his first joint session of Congress with VP Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. pic.twitter.com/ytpCTbz5vh
Harris’s duty during these meetings as President of the Senate is to preside over the counting of electoral votes. Harris told CNN that she is the last person to leave the room during Biden’s decision-making.
Pelosi’s duty as Speaker of the House has been to help with the passing of Biden’s agenda, which includes the COVID-19 relief package that was passed last month.
The two women supported President Biden as he spoke about American infrastructure, education, and strengthening the safety net. He also expressed his hope for Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which includes measures to eliminate racial bias and racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels.
“No president has ever said those words, and it’s about time…”
— Ayanna Alexander (@aalex413) April 29, 2021
Biden says when greeting Madam Vice President Kamala Harris and Madam Speaker Nancy Pelosi.#BidenSpeech
Witnessing Vice President Harris and Speaker Pelosi sit next to one another during President Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress is an event I won’t forget. Witnessing it with my wife and daughter is a gift all of us will hold near and dear to heart forever.
— Cooper Hefner (@cooperhefner) April 29, 2021
President Joe Biden’s full address to Congress is available to watch on Youtube. You can also watch Harris and Pelosi’s historic entrance into the Chamber of the House.
