Kamala Harris and Cory Booker Are The Newest Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee

By: Kayla Pasacreta

Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, photo via Twitter

The high-profile Senate Judiciary Committee is finallyy making some better strides for diversity. With the appointments of Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), the committee is welcoming their first black members in over a century. The committee has been around for 201 years - but only ever had one black member before Harris and Booker.

The two seats on the committee opened up after the resignation of Minnesota Senator Al Franken and the election of Senator Doug Jones of Alabama. The Congressional Black caucus was actively pressuring Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to appoint a black senator to the Committee, and Democratic senators responded by not adding one but two members to the committee.

In his Twitter announcement, Booker says he'll use his post to stand up against Trump:

As a new member of the Senate Judiciary Committee – I will make it my mission to stand up to Jeff Sessions & President Trump.

And I won't rest until there is liberty & justice for all. Thread 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/lfopZFefcB

— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) January 9, 2018

Kamala Harris took to Twitter to say she's "thrilled" about the post:

Thrilled to share that I've been appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. You have my commitment that I will fight for justice on behalf of Californians and all Americans.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) January 9, 2018

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