
Abcnews
Excerpts from the full story below.........
The 3rd of January 2013 will make history in the Senate, swearing in a record-breaking 20
female senators, four Republicans and 16 Democrats -- in office.
As the 113th Congress is sworn in today on Capitol Hill, ABC "World
News" anchor Diane Sawyer has an exclusive joint interview with the
historic class of female senators.
"I can't tell you the joy that I feel in my heart to look at these 20
gifted and talented women from two different parties, different zip
codes to fill this room," Sen. Barbara Mikulksi, D-Md., said while
surrounded by the group of women senators. "In all of American history
only 16 women had served. Now there are 20 of us."
Senator-elect Deb Fischer, R-Neb., today becomes the first women to be elected as a senator in Nebraska.
"It was an historic election," Fischer said, "But what was really fun
about it were the number of mothers and fathers who brought their
daughters up to me during the campaign and said, "Can we get a picture?
Can we get a picture?' Because people realize it and -- things do
change, things do change."
The women senators all agree that women will be getting things done in
this new Congress, a sign of optimism felt for the new Congress, after
the bruising battles of the 112th Congress.
"We're in force and we're in leadership positions, but it's not just
the position that we hold. I can tell you this is a can-do crowd,"
Mikulski said of both Democrats and Republican senators in the room. "We
are today ready to be a force in American politics."
And while the number of women in the Senate today makes history, many of
the women agreed that they want to keep fighting to boost those
numbers. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said that women are still "underrepresented" in the Senate.
"I think that until we get to 50, we still have to fight because it's
still a problem," Boxer said. "I think this class as you look around,
Republicans and Democrats. ... I think that because of this new class
and the caliber of the people coming and the quality of the people
coming, I think that hopefully in my lifetime -- and I really do hope
and pray this is the case -- we will see 50 percent.
AM SO INSPIRED, WHAT CAN I SAY.