First Black secretary of Senate sworn in

Sonceria “Ann” Berry was sworn in as the Senate’s new secretary Monday afternoon, becoming the first Black American and eighth woman to hold the appointed position.

A veteran Senate aide, Berry most recently served as deputy chief of staff for Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who swore her in for her new role.

“We begin this week on a joyful note welcoming an upstanding individual to serve as the new Secretary of the Senate,” Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said following Berry’s swearing in. Schumer named her to the position in February.

Sonceria Ann Berry is sworn in as Secretary of the U.S. Senate. pic.twitter.com/fW9TlZmrLU

— CSPAN (@cspan) March 1, 2021

Schumer added that Berry’s elevation to the position was a “testament to her outstanding career as a public servant of the highest caliber over her 40 years in Washington.”

The Secretary of the Senate has existed since 1789, when Congress was still in its infancy. Per the Senate website, the upper chamber’s secretary is responsible for a wide array of “legislative, financial and administrative functions” in support of the legislative body’s “day-to-day operations.”

The Senate this week is expected to confirm two more of President Biden’s Cabinet nominations — Miguel Cardona for Education secretary and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) for Commerce secretary.

During his remarks, Schumer also signaled that the Senate would take up Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that passed the House on Friday.

Any version of the bill that’s passed by the Senate is almost guaranteed to be different than the House’s version, as moderate Democrats and Republicans have balked at multiple parts of the legislation.