Rep. Peter Welch on Thursday took the oath of office for a fourth term as Vermont's representative in the U.S. House of Representatives for the 113th Congress.
"It is an honor to represent the people of Vermont in Congress. In an era of partisan gridlock in Washington, Vermonters make me hopeful for the future. In Vermont, we work to make progress not score political points. We focus on solving practical problems rather than fighting ideological battles. And we treat those with whom we disagree with civility and respect, knowing that no one has a monopoly on good ideas. In this new Congress, I will be working in the Vermont way to make progress on the many challenges facing our country. There is much work to be done," Welch said.
Welch was first elected to Congress in 2006. An attorney from Hartland, Vt., he was first elected to represent Windsor County in the Vermont State Senate in 1980 and subsequently served as Senate President Pro Tempore from 1985 through 1988 and again from 2002 through 2006.
In the 113th Congress, Welch will serve as a Democratic Chief Deputy Whip, a member of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.