“I do.” With that Judy Chu (D-San Gabriel) was sworn in by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on July 16 as the newest member of the House of Representatives and first Chinese American woman in Congress. Her first committee assignment is to the Education and Labor Committee, which is in the process of debating health care legislation.

She won the seat in a special election on July 7 to fill the seat vacated by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.

Chu’s three nieces joined her at the podium in her first speech on the House floor and she thanked her mentor Solis, supporters and husband Mike Eng, a member of the State Assembly.

“It is at time like this I think about my grandfather who came to this country with nothing. He worked hard and opened up a small Chinese restaurant … and now two generations later, here I am. America is truly the land of opportunity,” Chu said.

Rep. Judy Chu swearing in ceremony, CSPAN (YouTube)

—GWEN MURANAKA