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Sitting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's chair as part of a
routine rotation of House members, Ocasio-Cortez took her turn
with the gavel and ran the chamber for about an hour. The duty
is shared day-to-day by members of the House majority, currently
the Democrats.
In the event, Ocasio-Cortez did not have a great deal to do. She
presided over "special orders," which are generally short
speeches by House members at the end of the day's legislative
business, often on issues of concern in their districts.
Ocasio-Cortez, 29, called on members as they rose to speak, once
or twice stumbling over their states of origin. "For what
purpose does the gentleman from Ohio - um, from Illinois, excuse
me, seek recognition?" she said as Representative Sean Casten, a
fellow freshman Democrat, took the floor.
"That was my first time presiding. And it's exciting. It's
certainly a view. I wish we could, I wish we were allowed to
take photos," she told reporters after the session.
Ocasio-Cortez describes herself as a Democratic socialist and is
the most prominent member of a group of female Democrats elected
to the House for the first time last November, bolstering the
party's liberal wing.
She has become a sensation on social media, drawing headlines
for dance routines as well as championing the Green New Deal, a
package of proposals to tackle climate change.
She is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, representing
New York's 14th district in the Bronx and Queens.
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and
Alistair Bell)
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