Skelton sworn in for 111th Congress

The 111th Congress met for the first time on January 6, 2009, when newly elected and re-elected members of the U.S. House of Representatives took oaths of office and were officially sworn in for terms of two years. Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District in the 111th Congress. This marks the beginning of Skelton’s 17th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Skelton will serve as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in the 111th Congress.  He has served as Chairman of this committee since January 2007.  In photo above, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi administers the oath of office to Congressman Ike Skelton during a ceremonial swearing in for the 111th Congress. Skelton is accompanied by members of his family. “I am very grateful to my neighbors in west-central Missouri who have allowed me to represent Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District,” comments Skelton. “Representing the interests of small town and rural America is a labor of love for me, and I am excited about the opportunity to serve for another term.”
“I also look forward to the opportunity to serving another term as the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.  I have been the Chairman of this committee since January 2007, and am honored and humbled that my colleagues have re-elected me to serve in this role.  As Chairman, I will continue to work in good faith with my colleagues, the new Administration, and the military to develop defense policies that keep America safe and support our men and women in uniform.
Our nation faces a number of challenges at home and abroad that will affect how Congress, the new Administration, and the American people move forward in the days ahead.  As we start a new Congressional session, I hope that we can work together in a bipartisan way to improve the lives of all Americans."