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General News: Nan Hayworth Sworn into Congress
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| Congresswoman Hayworth re-affirmed her commitment to the values that helped her win in November. |
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| Congressman Hayworth with her husband, Scott, and two sons, Will and Jack. |
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| A duet sang just before Hayworth was sworn in. |
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| Members of the Nimham Mountain Singers performed two sacred songs. |
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| Protestors stood outside during the ceremony. |
January 18, 2011
By Ross Miller
On Sunday, newly-elected Congresswoman Nan Hayworth celebrated her November victory over incumbent John Hall at a ceremonial inauguration held at Orange Hall Theater at SUNY Orange in Middletown, NY. She was officially sworn in to office in Washington, DC, on January 3, along with 92 other freshman members of Congress but wanted to have another ceremony for her supporters at home. More than 400 honorary guests, campaign supporters, friends, and family gathered for the afternoon event that featured speeches, patriotic songs and American Indian sacred music, culminating in Congresswoman Hayworth’s reciting the oath of office.
Public officials from throughout the 19th Congressional District were on hand, including Dr. William Richards, President of SUNY Orange, and Edward Diana, Orange County Executive. Dutchess County Sheriff “Butch” Anderson emceed the ceremony with folksy humor, inviting boy scouts from Troop 45 in Warwick to present the colors as the Stephen P. Driscoll Memorial Pipe Band played. Sergeant Eddie Ryan recited the pledge, emphasizing “one nation, under Christ,” followed by the Congresswoman’s son, Will, who sang the national anthem a capella. The Reverend Dr. Adolphus C. Lacey, of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Peekskill, then prayed for public servants. Senator Charles Schumer, who indicated that he was honored to be invited by Congresswoman Hayworth to speak, praised her election as evidence of the long-standing tradition of “the participation of citizen-legislators” in American politics.
Accompanied on acoustic guitar, two singers sang America, the Beautiful and My Country ‘Tis of Thee directly before Judge Forman of Dutchess County administered the oath of office.
Congresswoman Hayworth then delivered a speech that thanked her supporters and recapped her campaign themes, provoking several loud rounds of applause. Expressing that “at her core is a passionate belief in American exceptionalism,” Congresswoman Hayworth described her legislative agenda to limit government further, lower taxes, and extend individual liberty. She noted that she has joined House colleagues to reduce her office budget by five percent and will sponsor legislation to use unspent appropriations to pay interest on the national debt. She implied that she would vote to repeal recent health insurance reform legislation signed by President Obama, noting that the health care legislation had “great goals” but wasn’t done in the right way. Following an enumeration of goals to assist small businesses, the congresswoman included the observation that “social justice is a valued concern” in the work of Congress.
Following keynote remarks from Congresswoman Hayworth, members of the Nimham Mountain Singers sang two sacred songs, accompanied by a communally-played drum, with Rabbi Rebecca Pomerantz Shinder of Temple Beth Shalom in Florida offering the benediction.
A group of about 20 protesters organized by the Orange County Democratic Alliance stood outside of the event, carrying signs that focused on health care reform, the war in Afghanistan, recent tax cuts, and social security’s status. The protestors were also concerned that Congresswoman Hayworth would take actions that would defund social security, permit more jobs to go overseas and fail to provide adequate health care for working people.
Photos by Ross Miller.
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