The 2007 Yorktown High School graduate, who represents New York’s 14th Congressional District and was already the youngest woman elected to Congress, temporarily took over the gavel on Friday, May 10, sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s chair as part of a routine rotation of Congressional members.
During her time at the head of the table, Ocasio-Cortez presided over “special orders,” which are typically short speeches by members of the House at the end of the legislative day, typically of concerns in their specific districts.
While presiding, Ocasio-Cortez was tasked with calling on House members as they called to speak, though she reportedly stumbled on some of the representatives’ state of origin.
"Today I presided over the House floor for the first time," Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter. "Every day here is a sacred privilege + responsibility entrusted to me by my community. I never forget that, and moments like these drive it home.”
“Thank you to the people of NY14 + beyond," she added. "This House belongs to all of us."
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