Emerson Sworn In as 112th Congress Convenes

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today took the oath of office as she was sworn in to the 112th Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Eighth District member of Congress has represented Southern Missouri in the Capitol since 1996.

"I have never been more enthusiastic about bringing the ideas of our congressional district to Washington, DC. This is a critical hour for our nation. We need to cut spending, roll back the legislative excesses of the last four years, and - most important - provide a check and balance on an administration which has run off the rails," Emerson said. "Our country is on an unsustainable financial course, but this Republican majority in the House is going to stop the free-spending way that characterized the last four years in Congress."

Emerson joins a new Republican majority in the House of Representatives, while the Senate and White House remain in Democratic hands.

"No question, there are going to be tough debates and difficult decisions. We owe it to the future of our country, however, to prevent needless regulations that impede the freedoms of Americans, to preserve the entrepreneurial spirit with smart tax reforms that encourage job creation and economic growth, and to make policies that reflect our desire to pass a healthy, solvent nation on to future generations of Americans," Emerson said.

The 112th Congress began at noon today and will begin the session with a bipartisan reading of the U.S. Constitution tomorrow. The process of pulling back the Obama-Reid-Pelosi health care bill will begin with consideration of a rule for debate on a repeal measure on Friday.

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