WASHINGTON– Being the second youngest member ever to serve in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Katie Britt faces several challenges, such as being a mother and a wife 1,000 miles away from the family and even being frequently asked for her ID.
But the Republican from Montgomery considers it an honor to serve in the Senate. Britt sat down with Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday to talk about her first 10 days as a United States Senator.
Britt is no stranger to Capitol Hill, having served as an intern, a staffer, and then chief of staff to retired Sen. Richard Shelby from 2016-2018.
Asked what it was like to return to Capitol Hill as a senator herself, she chuckled that it hasn’t stopped security from asking for her badge several times a week. At the same time, she admits every time someone calls her senator, she still looks around to see who they are talking to.
On a serious note, she said the gravity of seeing her name on the door for the first time was remarkable.
“To have a shot at being a part of making our nation better and stronger, is truly an honor of a lifetime,” she said.
Bream asked about the challenges Britt’s family is facing with her being a wife, mother and lawmaker, but when compared to the sacrifices others have made for our nation, it pales in comparison, she said.
“To our servicemen and women who go overseas many times for months on end … You think about people pulling twelve-hour shifts, or people who are working two jobs,” Britt said. “It puts it into perspective that everybody across this country has a story, and everybody is giving their all to make thing work.”
Being one of the youngest members on the Hill, she had two pieces of advice for young people who want to see changes but are not sure what it takes to get involved.
“We need you whether it is a school boards or the U.S. Senate,” she said. “You see people of my generation and it is time, it is time for us to do our part, its time for us to contribute, it’s time for us to be part of a solution.”
Number two, Britt said don’t be afraid to fail.
When she started her campaign for Senate, people looked at the numbers and told her there was no path to victory and she agreed it looked that way.
“But hard work, passion and energy make a difference,” she said.
When asked about her legacy as a senator, Britt said, “I think it is critically important at this time in our history that we have people who are willing to have the tough conversations so they can make tough decision so that we can face our challenges head on … I hope that people will see me as one of those people who is working every day to move the ball down the field so the people of my state are better as a result of my service.”
Speaking of football analogies – the state of Alabama now has a former Auburn football coach and the wife of a former Alabama football player – both sides of the football rivalry represented in the U.S. Senate for the first time.
See the full interview here.
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