Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D - NY)

The start of the 110th Congress will kick-off for Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D - NY), by being officially sworn in on Thursday January 4 to begin her 8th term of serving the residents of New York's 12th congressional district.

Congresswoman Velazquez will now serve as the Chair of the House Small Business Committee in the upcoming Congress, making her the first Hispanic woman to ever chair a full congressional committee. She served as the Ranking Member on this committee since 1998, working to improve the economic environment for this nation's small businesses. She will also maintain her seat as the most senior New York Member on the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, allowing her to spearhead efforts to lay out a new legislative plan that will address the City's - and nation's - ongoing housing crisis.

Kate Davis is press officer for Congresswoman Velazquez.