In his farewell speech, Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.), the only African American in the Senate, said it was “troubling” that when he leaves at the end of the month, there will be no blacks when the new Senators are sworn in next January.
Burris will be replaced on Nov. 29 by Sen.-elect Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) who won election earlier this month to a full six year term starting next year and for the weeks remaining of the original term of President Obama.
