the 113th congress. center mark kirk returns to the capital after his recovery from this budget from a stroke year ago. in today's opening of the senate, following a debate on the house will congress. one the first orders of business was to elect a speaker of the house. republican john major will continue as speaker. nancy pelosi will remain the democratic leader with 192 votes. 14 members, two democrats and 12 republicans, voted for other candidates than speaker boehner. six members did not vote, including speaker boehner himself, following a tradition of the house. after the vote, that both spoke to the house.

>> colleagues, colleagues, to my fellow members of the house of representatives, it is a high honor to welcome you to the 113th congress. [applause] to our newest members of congress, it is a special privilege and honor to welcome you and your families and extend congratulation to the newest members of congress, welcome. to reach this day, each of us has been strengthened by our faith and our families.

with a full and grateful heart, i want to thank my family -- my husband of 49 years, paul pelosi, our children, nancy corinne, christine, jacqueline, paul, and alexandra, our grandchildren, who are represented today by our granddaughter madeleine, and i have to include the d'alesandro family of baltimore in that gratitude as well. and i must thank my constituents in san francisco for giving me the privilege of representing that beautiful and diverse city in the congress of the united states. each of us is here today is truly a representative, a representative in the truest sense of the word -- to represent the highest hopes and

aspirations of the american people. on new year's eve -- some of you, a large number of members of congress joined hundreds of people at the national archives building where we observed at midnight the 150th anniversary of the emancipation proclamation. at midnight, there was an enactment of harriet tubman ringing the bell, ringing the bell, and as she rang the bell she said, "now we are free." it was quite an incredible moment and it was one that ushered in what president lincoln would call 'a new birth of freedom' for his era and for generations to come.

that transformative moment in our history is a reminder of the best traditions we have as a people -- the ability and the obligation of each generation of americans to renew the promise of our founders, to carry forward the torch of progress, to reignite the american dream. this is who we are as americans. this is the character of our country. this is the strength of our democracy. the strength of our democracy rests on a strong and thriving middle class -- the backbone of our democracy that middle class is. so we have a moral imperative to invest in good-paying jobs here at home and in the prosperity of our people, as we build our infrastructure and reduce the deficit.

we must ensure that innovation rests at the heart of our success, that we remain first in science, technology, engineering and energy, that we educate and prepare our young people for the opportunities of tomorrow, and when we "make it in america" all of america's families can make it in america. [applause] the strength of our democracy also demands that we restore the confidence of the american people in our political process. we must empower the voters, we must remove obstacles of participation in our democracy for all americans. we must increase the level of civility and reduce the role of money in our elections. when we do, when we do we will elect more women, more minorities, more young people to public office and that's a

good thing. the american people are what make our country great. by and large the united states is a nation of immigrants -- built, enriched, and strengthened by men, women, and children who share our patriotism and seek the american dream. the strength of our democracy will be advanced by bold action for comprehensive immigration reform. today, we take an oath to protect and defend our constitution, our people, and our freedom. to protect and defend -- that is our first responsibility.

and our democracy requires that we each uphold the duty of keeping americans safe in their homes, in their schools, and in their neighborhoods. as we mourn the families of newtown, we know that ensuring the safety of all americans would be a truly meaningful tribute to the children and teachers of sandy hook elementary school. for the strength of our democracy, for the sake of our children, let us work together to protect and defend all of our people. [applause] in the same year that president lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, the statue of freedom was unveiled atop the capitol dome. it continues -- that dome -- it

continues to be a beacon of freedom to the world and a source of inspiration for all who have had the honor to serve in congress. as we take our oath of office today, let us renew the promise of our freedom. let us work in friendship and partnership to live up to the legacy of our founders and the aspirations of our constituents. let us renew the strength of our democracy by reigniting the american dream. as we celebrate this moment, let us honor and thank those americans who protect our democracy and secure our freedom -- our veterans and our men and women in uniform, their families, and wherever they serve. god bless them. god bless america. thank you all. [applause]

now the house will continue to be led by a proud son of ohio, a man of conviction, and a public servant of resolve. speaker boehner is a leader who has earned the confidence of his conference and the respect of his colleagues on both sides of the aisle. [applause] he is a man of faith -- faith in god, faith in our country, and faith in his family. as we congratulate him, we also congratulate and thank his wife debbie, and their two daughters lindsay and tricia, and the entire boehner family.

speaker boehner -- i know all too well that we will not always agree. but i hope, with all my heart, that we will find common ground that is a higher, better place for our country. surely we can be touched by "the better angels of our nature," so beautifully expressed by president lincoln. this is the people's house. this is the people's gavel. it represents a sacred trust. may we all fulfill that trust and make real the ideals of democratic government. with respect for our constitution, with faith in the american people, with hope for the future of our country, i present the people's gavel to the speaker of the house, john

boehner. may god bless you. [applause] may god bless you, speaker boehner. may god bless this congress. may god always bless the united states of america. my colleagues, the speaker of the house, john boehner. [applause] >> thank you.

leader pelosi, members of the house and senate, dear family and friends, fellow countrymen, we meet again at democracy's great port of call. every two years, at this hour, the constitution brings a new order to this house. it is an interlude for reflection, a glimpse of old truths. to our new members and their families, welcome. you are likely feeling awestruck right about now. history runs through here. and now you are among a select few to share in this privilege.

for those who are returning, who have walked these aisles before, maybe it's time we feel awestruck again. the way our founders envisioned it, the republic would be led by citizens who recognize that the blessing of governing ourselves requires that we give something of ourselves. everything depended on this. so they made each other and their successors swear an oath of allegiance. in a few moments, i will take this oath for the twelfth time as representative of the eighth district of ohio. it is word for word the same

oath we all take. note that it makes no mention of party, faction, or title, contains no reference to agendas or platforms - only to the constitution the one addition we dare to make, as george washington did at the first inaugural, is to invoke the assistance of our heavenly father. this covenant makes us servants of posterity. it calls us to refuse the pull of passing interests and follow the fixed star of a more perfect union. put simply, we are sent here not to be something, but to do something - to do the right thing. it's a big job, and it comes with big challenges.

our government has built up too much debt. our economy is not producing enough jobs. these are not separate problems. at $16 trillion and rising, our national debt is draining free enterprise and weakening the ship of state. the american dream is in peril so long as its namesake is weighed down by this anchor of debt. break its hold, and we begin to set our economy free. jobs will come home. confidence will come back. we do this not just to boost gdp or reduce unemployment, but to secure for our children a future of freedom and opportunity. nothing is more important. as washington wrote in his

farewell address, we should not "throw upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear." well, the burden is ours and so is the opportunity. there is no substitute for the wisdom of the people. we are their servants. as speaker, i pledge to listen and do all i can to help you carry out the oath you are about to take. because in our hearts, we know it is wrong to pass on this debt to our kids and grandkids. now we have to be willing - truly willing - to make this right. public service was never meant to be an easy living. extraordinary challenges demand extraordinary leadership. so if you have come here to see your name in lights or to pass off political victory as

accomplishment, you have come to the wrong place. the door is behind you. if you have come here humbled by the opportunity to serve, if you have come here to be the determined voice of the people; if you have come here to carry the standard of leadership demanded not just by our constituents but by the times, then you have come to the right place. [applause] there is a time to every purpose under heaven. for the 113th congress, it is a time to rise. when the day is over, and the verdict is read, may it be said that we well and faithfully did our duty to ensure freedom will

endure and prevail. so help us god. [applause] i am now ready to take the oath of office, and i would ask the dean of the house of representatives to a minister the oath of office. >> please raise your right hand. do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that

you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god? >> i do. >> congratulations, mr. speaker. [applause] >> thank you, all. thank you. according to precedent, the chair will swear in the members en masse so all members-elect will rise, and the chair will now administer the oath of office. if all members-elect will raise

their right hand -- do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support and defend the constitution of the united states against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that you take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that you will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which you are about to enter, so help you god? >> i do. >> congratulations. you are now members of the 113th congress. [applause] >> while john boehner will remain speaker of the house, the vote was not unanimous among house republicans. the story on the hill is that a group of republicans failed to push john boehner -- 12 broke from boehner in a tense public

roll-call vote either by voting for someone else are not voting at all. it was five short of what would have been needed to force a second ballot. after electing mr. boehner as speaker, republicans announced their other leadership positions. eric cantor and kevin mccarthy work reelected as majority leader and minority whip. cathy mcmorris rodgers takes over as conference chairman and craddick walton becomes -- greg walden becomes chairman of the nrc see. joe crowley is the new caucus vice chair. after the formal swearing-in of the group, speaker boehner met with members and their families for a mock swearing-in selected have their picture taken.

-- so they could have their picture taken. >> how are you? thank you all.

>> thank you. thank you very much. >> thank you.

thank you all.

>> thank you, sir. i am proud of you. >> stand right there.

there we go. >> thank you, mr. speaker. >> raise your right hand. >> you are in the middle. you can hold that. >> thank you very much.

>> thank you, mr. speaker, it is

and honor.

>> look straight ahead. congratulations. >> we will hold it. look straight ahead. >> congratulations.

>> good job. >> how are you? there you go, just like that. >> perfect.

right hand up, and there you go, perfect. >> congratulations. here we go. come on, get in there.

gee whiz. right hand up. there we go.

nice to see you. hi. there we go. smile. good job, good job. wow, look at this.

>> thank you. >> here, put your hand up. there you go. >> are you behaving yourself? >> may be. >> i know better.

nice to see you. how are you? guys, how are you? here we go. look at this. thank you.

>> put your right hand here and we are going to look right over here.

are you? there you go. >> thanks very much. >> mr. speaker, congratulations. >> thank you.

go have fun. >> make sure we can all be seen. >> good job. here we go. there you go.

>> congratulations, sir. >> i know how much you hate doing this. >> 37 years old.

>> i was that clark county hospital. >> how are you? >> congratulations.

>> looking forward to working with you. right here. perfect. how are you?

>> come on over here. all right, got it. perfect. >> hello, sir.

left hand on here, ok? there you go. >> hold this, put your right

hand up. >> thank you for helping. appreciate it. there we go, perfect. how are you? nice to meet you.

all right, just raise your right hand. >> congratulations. >> thank you. >> how are you. >> is that it?

>> how is everybody doing? >> hi, how are you? how are you? nice to see you.

how are you? >> happy new year to you. glad you are here. aw, betty, standing here all by herself. all right, keep coming.

there you go. thank you. there we go. thank you.

here we go. thank you.

perfect. perfect.