City Councilman Ritchie Torres made history earlier this month when he was elected as the country’s first LGBTQ Afro-Latinx member of congress. He’ll be heading to Washington, D.C. in January to represent New York’s 15th district, which includes Mott Haven, Hunts Point, Melrose and parts of Soundview. Appearing on “Inside City Hall” with Errol Louis, Torres had just returned from freshman orientation and said he’s ready to serve the people of New York.

“The most important lesson is to never forget where you come from and never forget the district you represent and the people who voted you into office, so the highest priority to me is to be visible and vocal in the district,” he said.

As for Torres’ committee aspirations in the House, he said he has his eyes on the House Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over public housing. Torres, who grew up in a public housing project, was also the chair of the City Council’s public housing committee. He also aims to be a member of the The House Oversight Committee.

Torres also acknowledged that there is an ideological divide within the party and said governing over the next couple of years will be challenging, saying it’s “critically important” that Democrats win Georgia’s two runoff elections in January, which will ultimately determine which party controls the Senate.

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, Torres said the Bronx was one of the hardest hit areas in the city at the peak of the crisis earlier this year, leading to an increase of food insecurity. And he said one of his highest priorities in Congress is expanding child tax credit, which he says would cut child poverty by 40% in one year.

“It would send a powerful message,” he said, “that where you’re born and where you live should never be a barrier to how far you can go in the United States.”