The 117th Congress was sworn in Sunday, and included three new members representing New York City — Jamaal Bowman (D-Westchester/Bronx), Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx).

Sunday’s opening day proceedings stretched out over hours amid COVID-19 precautions that restricted the number of lawmakers who could be on the House floor at once, and required cleanings after one group left and the next came.

But by the end of the day, three New York politicians became a part of the House’s Freshman class.

They help diversify the U.S. House’s makeup, too, adding new backgrounds and lived experiences. One commonality they all share are their humble beginnings.

Malliotakis told NY1 she sees her ascent to the House as part of the American Dream her parents sought to realize in emigrating to the country. 

Bowman and Torres, both champions of progressive politics, were raised by single mothers, have lived in public housing, and relayed the challenges of growing up Black in America.

Bowman, a former middle school principal, is new to government, but Malliotakis is a former state assemblywoman and Torres a former City Council member.

Mondaire Jones (D-Westchester/Rockland) and Torres, who identifies as Afro-Latino, are the first openly gay Black members of the House.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) narrowly won re-election as speaker of the House with 216 of her colleagues' votes to the 209 cast for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Pelosi welcomed the new Congress with remarks underscoring the severity of the COVID-19 crisis. 

“As our Founders intended, our Democracy will be reinvigorated by the vibrancy and dynamism of the communities that you represent,” she added in a statement directed to the newest legislators.

At 222 members to the Republicans’s 211 members, the Democrats hold the slimmest majority of either party in two decades.

But newcomers of both parties were united in their excitement and anticipation of serving in the legislative body.

The three new members of the New York City delegation took to social media to post photos and videos of themselves at their new offices, next to their name plaques and with family at the U.S. Capitol complex.