Swearing-in Day may well be the most festive day of the congressional calendar. That’s the first day of a new two-year congressional session when members of Congress take the oath of office. On January 5, 2011, as the 112th Congress was gaveled into session, the halls of every congressional office building rang with the sound of celebration. In virtually every meeting room and office, busloads of constituents gathered around large screen TV’s to watch live as their home-state or hometown legislator took the oath. On the floor of the House, children and grandchildren of representatives got a rare chance to sit in the hallowed chamber and watch the action first-hand.

For the NCJW Washington office staff, Swearing-in Day affords a chance to meet new members of Congress and their staffs – a chance to congratulate the newly elected and returning lawmakers and pass out business cards over cheese and crackers. This year’s festivities on the Senate side featured an historic milestone as well. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), recently reelected for a fifth term, became the longest serving woman senator, surpassing the record held by the late Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME). NCJW joined a crowded room of her constituents, state dignitaries (including the Governor), and senators from both parties to mark this momentous occasion.

We walked along the marble halls until our feet ached, we stopped to congratulate Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), new Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), and chat with other senators. We ended our long day on the House side where we met the staff members in several newly elected representatives’ offices. In each case, we let them know that we look forward to working with them to advance NCJW priorities.

Now that the celebrations are over, the hard work begins – building relationships with new members of Congress and their staff members, educating them about NCJW and our agenda, and persuading them to join us in our causes. The success of this work will depend less on what happens in DC and more on what congresswomen and men hear from their constituents. Knowing how active the advocates of NCJW are, we know that our voices will be heard well beyond this first day!