[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 199 (Thursday, December 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H14900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SWEARING IN OF THE HONORABLE JESSE L. JACKSON, JR., OF ILLINOIS AS A 
                          MEMBER OF THE HOUSE

  Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman 
from the State of Illinois, Mr. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., be permitted to 
take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not 
arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with 
regard to his election.
  The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from 
Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER. Will the Members of the Illinois delegation please 
escort the member-elect to the rostrum.
  Mr. YATES. Mr. Speaker, as dean of the Illinois delegation, it is my 
honor, my very high honor and high privilege, to present to the Speaker 
and to the House of Representatives a newly elected Congressman from 
the State of Illinois. He has taken the seat that was previously held 
by Mr. Mel Reynolds.
  The gentleman is eminently qualified to enter upon this position, Mr. 
Speaker. He holds a degree as a Baptist minister. He holds a degree as 
a practicing lawyer. He holds a degree as a Master of Business 
Administration. He has spoken the length and breadth of the country in 
public addresses. He has engaged in all kinds of political activities, 
which is to be expected when one realize the family which is his.
  I know that the people of Chicago, the people of his district, are 
very proud to have him as their new Member of Congress from the city, 
and it is with that that I present him to you for swearing in, Mr. 
Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. Let me say to my friend from Illinois that I know the 
father well and look forward very much to getting to know the son. We 
are delighted, I think all of us, to have you here.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois appeared at the bar of the House and took the 
oath of office, as follows:

       Do you solemnly swear 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?

  The SPEAKER. Congratulations, you are now a Member of the Congress of 
the United States.

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