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The U.S. Capitol as seen on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON, DC Congress prepared to convene for the start of a new session Sunday, swearing in lawmakers during a tumultuous period as a growing number of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden s victory over President Donald Trump and the coronavirus surges.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi was set to be reelected as House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years after a November election wipeout.
Opening the Senate could be among Mitch McConnell s final acts as majority leader. Republican control is in question until Tuesday s runoff elections for two Senate seats in Georgia. The outcome will determine which party holds the chamber.
U.S. Congress opens new session amid turmoil over pandemic aid, Biden win
The U.S. Congress convened Sunday for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers during a tumultuous period as a growing number of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden s victory over President Donald Trump and the coronavirus surges.
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The Associated Press ·
Posted: Jan 03, 2021 10:12 AM ET | Last Updated: January 4
Democrat Nancy Pelosi was narrowly re-elected as House speaker on Sunday. The Democrats lost 11 House of Representatives seats in the November elections, leaving them with a narrow 222-212 majority.(Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Lisa Mascaro
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi administers the oath to members of the 117th Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. (Erin Scott/Pool via AP) January 03, 2021 - 4:37 PM
WASHINGTON - Congress convened Sunday for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers during a tumultuous period as a growing number of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden s victory over President Donald Trump and the coronavirus surges.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi was reelected as House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years after a surprisingly strong GOP performance in the November election.
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To gain her victory, Pelosi had to overcome some Democratic grumbling about her longevity, a slim 222-211 edge over Republicans after November’s elections, and a handful of absences because of the coronavirus. There were two vacancies in the 435-member House one in New York still being decided and the Louisiana seat of COVID victim GOP Rep.-elect Luke Letlow and whatever happens, Democrats will have the smallest House majority in two decades.
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The new Congress convened Sunday, just two days after lawmakers ended their contentious previous session and with COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing and face coverings for House members. There was widespread mask-wearing and far fewer lawmakers and guests in the chamber than usual, an unimaginable tableau when the last Congress commenced two years ago, before the pandemic struck.