Trahan Votes to Reopen Government Hours After Taking Congressional Oath

Rep. Lori Trahan takes the oath of office administered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photograph)

Rep. Lori Trahan takes the oath of office administered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Jan. 3 in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy photograph)

Thursday was a busy day in Washington, D.C. for 3rd District freshman Rep. Lori Trahan. Mere hours after being sworn in to office and assuming the seat left vacant by Niki Tsongas, the Westford Democrat cast a vote in support of reopening the government.

As the country enters the second week of a federal shutdown, Trahan joined fellow members of the 116th Congress in voting to pass legislation to end the stalemate without allocating money for President Donald J. Trump’s proposed border wall.

“The President has turned his back on federal workers and the people of the United States that they serve. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and their families — as many as 7,500 in Massachusetts alone — are being actively hurt by this shutdown,” Trahan said in a statement. “The voters sent a message last November that they wanted a Congress that works for them. The new Democratic House just showed that we heard them loud and clear.”

Officially sworn in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trahan had a ceremonial introduction to Congress alongside her husband David, daughters Grace and Caroline, and many other family members and friends. After defeating Republican opponent Rick Green in November, Trahan said she is thrilled to be one of 102 women sworn into office.

“This Congress has a lot of work to do and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and making sure that the voices of the people from our community are heard loud and clear in Washington,” Trahan said.