On January 3, the 113th Congress began with the swearing-in ceremony for newly elected or reelected Members of Congress. A record 81 women in the House (including three delegates) and 20 women in the Senate took the oath of office (see 2012 Election Wrap-Up).
The Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues also elected its new leadership for the 113th Congress. Reps. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) and Donna Edwards (D-MD) were elected to serve as co-chairs of the Women’s Caucus. Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) will serve as vice-chairs.
Women also were elected to leadership positions in the Republican Conference and the Democratic Caucus, as well as in the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (see The Source, 11/16/12 and 12/3/12). The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus has not yet elected its leadership for the 113th Congress.
