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USA | Apr 29, 2021

VP Harris, Speaker Pelosi make history while breaking glass ceiling

Juanique Tennant

Juanique Tennant / Our Today

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Vice-President Kamala Harris (Left) alongside President Joe Bidden (Center) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Right) at a joint session of Congress on April 28, 2021 (Photo: Twitter @enews)

American Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Representatives Nancy Pelosi made congressional history last evening (April 28), shattering the political glass ceiling for women when together they presided over a joint session of Congress.

In its nearly 245- year history, the United States Congress was never privy to a two-women-led joint session and, in the words of the leader of the free world, President Joe Bidden, “it’s about time”.

Highlighting the historic moment, Biden began his speech with the words, “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.”

Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi share a pandemic-approved elbow bump while celebrating a historic moment in Congress (Photo: Twitter @enews)

Leading a trail of firsts for women in the United States, Pelosi became the first female Speaker of the House in 2007 and today continues to oversee the House of Representatives.

Similarly, Harris became the country’s first woman vice president after taking office on January 20 this year, and now presides over the US Senate in her role as second in command.

Indeed Wednesday’s joint session of Congress will go down in history as a day of firsts but hopefully not lasts.

US Vice President Kamala Harris (Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

When asked, “What’s the significance of two women sitting behind the President for the joint address tonight?”, Harris responded “Normal”, suggesting that these occurrences will not be the last of their kind.

Many are hopeful that Biden will be reelected for a second term, after which Harris will most likely put her hat in the ring and possibly become the country’s first ever female president.

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