The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WELCOMING MEMBERS OF THE SENATE” mentioning Mark Kelly was published in the Senate section on page S6 on Jan. 3.
Of the 100 senators in 117th Congress, 24 percent were women, and 76 percent were men, according to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
Senators' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WELCOMING MEMBERS OF THE SENATE
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, very briefly, I simply want to welcome all Senators on this first day of the 117th Congress.
Today, six new Members are joining our ranks for the first time. Senators Hagerty from Tennessee, Hickenlooper from Colorado, Lujan of New Mexico, Lummis of Wyoming, Marshall of Kansas, and Tuberville of Alabama have been elected to serve the people of their home States, and, of course, Senator Kelly of Arizona was sworn in a few weeks ago. We congratulate all of our new colleagues, as well as their families, and look forward to the ways in which their unique experiences, their ideas, and their priorities will enrich this institution and strengthen our shared work for the Nation.
To say the 117th Congress convenes at a challenging time would indeed be an understatement. From political division to a deadly pandemic, to adversaries around the world, the hurdles before us are many, and they are serious. But there is also plenty of reason for hope. An optimistic, forward-looking, can-do spirit has been one of our country's most distinctive calling cards since our very earliest days. And with safe and effective vaccines rolling out across our Nation every day, I would say 2021 looks bright already.
We gavel in today like 116 prior Senates have gaveled in before us, with plenty of disagreements and policy differences among our ranks but all--all--swearing the same oath to support and defend the same Constitution, all loving the same country, and all of us committed to do all we can to leave behind an even stronger nation than the one we have been blessed to inherit.
So I look forward to the Senate's work these next 2 years. Let's make the American people proud.
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