Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

House will address ‘rise of the Chinese Communist party,’ says McCarthy in inaugural speech as Speaker

Newly-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy said he will look into the issue of public debt and pledged that the House will address the “rise of the Chinese Communist party.” McCarthy, 57, was elected the House Speaker in a historic post-midnight 15th ballot late on Friday. He replaced Nancy Pelosi, 82, of the Democratic Party.

McCarthy defeated 52-year-old Hakeem Sekou Jeffries by 216 to 212 votes, in the 15th round of votes that went past midnight.
New U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is sworn into office after being elected the next Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in a late night 15th round of voting on the fourth day of the 118th Congress on January 7.

In his first speech as Speaker, McCarthy said he wanted the U.S. to win the economic competition with China.

“We will address America’s long-term challenges: the debt and the rise of the Chinese Communist Party. The Congress must speak in one voice on these issues,” McCarthy said.

The Republican was able to muster a majority from the lawmakers present on the floor only after six of his party rebels voted present, which brought down the magic number from 218 to 215 votes.

“As for the Chinese Communist Party, we will create a bipartisan Select Committee on China to investigate how to bring back the hundreds of thousands of jobs that went to China. Then we will win this economic competition,” he said, evoking applause from the lawmakers.

He also said that the moment calls for restoring trust within the country, with each other.

“In that spirit, I will work with anyone, everyone who shares our passion to deliver a better future for the nation. I hope you’ll join me as a Congress can only operate if we cooperate,” he said.

McCarthy becomes the 55th House Speaker after the fifth-longest contest in history.