On Wednesday, Karen Bass was sworn in as a member of congress representing California’s 33rd Congressional District, which includes parts of Los Angeles, Hollywood and Culver City. Bass is a freshman member of congress and succeeds retiring Congresswoman Diane Watson.

“Today we must continue the hard work of putting our families back to work.  Communities throughout Los Angeles are struggling like never before,” noted Bass. “We have a responsibility to strengthen our middle class and serve the underserved that have borne the brunt of this painful recession. We cannot be distracted and let politics interfere with our duty to get the economy back on track for our working men and women,” she said.

Prior to her election to congress, Bass served in the California Assembly and was elected to serve as the state’s 67th Speaker, making her the first African-American woman in the country to hold that legislative position. She has been selected by Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi to serve on the prestigious Steering and Policy Committee, which sets the policy direction of the Democratic Caucus. Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland appointed Bass to serve as an assistant whip.