Another Interracial Family in Washington Politics

Sean Maloney gets right to work in Washington

Congressman casts first vote after taking oath

Rep. Sean Maloney sworn in with his husband and children. House Speaker John Boehner, left, and Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., right, on Thursday. With them are Maloney's partner Randy Florke and daughters Essie and Daley Maloney Florke. / Charles Dharapak/AP

WASHINGTON — Sean Maloney, a Democrat from Cold Spring, took the oath of office Wednesday as the new congressman representing the Lower Hudson Valley.

Maloney joined most members of his party in unsuccessfully voting for Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California to serve as House speaker.

Instead, Pelosi will continue to serve as House minority leader. Republican Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was re-elected as speaker.

Maloney brought two of his three children to the floor of the House for his official swearing-in by Boehner, who followed the custom of swearing in all House members en masse immediately after his selection as their leader.

Maloney is one of 21 Democrats in the New York delegation and one of two members of Congress named Maloney representing New York in the House (the other is Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan). That means the House will list Sean Maloney’s first name for all votes.

Another new member of the New York delegation, Republican Rep. Chris Collins of Buffalo, is one of two House members with that name, but he will be known as Collins of New York. The other Collins is Republican Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia.

Maloney’s first New York-related vote will be today, when the House is scheduled to consider giving the National Flood Insurance Program an additional $9.7 billion in borrowing authority to handle claims filed in connection with Superstorm Sandy.

He expressed disappointment that the House did not vote earlier this week on a package of $60.4 billion in Sandy disaster aid prior to the end of the 112th Congress.

“I think it’s a disgrace it hasn’t happened before now,” he said.

Maloney plans to deliver his first floor speech today in support of the flood insurance funding.

Because of redistricting, New York has two fewer House seats — 27 instead of 29 — as the new Congress begins. The number of Republicans in the delegation has decreased from eight to six.

Among the former Republicans is former Rep. Nan Hayworth of Bedford, who was defeated by Maloney in November.

Source: AP and Gannett