[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SWEARING IN OF MEMBERS

  The SPEAKER. According to the precedents, the Chair will swear in all 
Members of the House at this time.
  For what purpose does the gentleman from California rise?


                        Parliamentary Inquiries

  Mr. HUNTER. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. The gentleman will state his parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, In lieu of requesting Representative-elect 
Sanchez to step aside, is it the fact that a notice of contest filed on 
behalf of Robert Dornan pursuant to the law is on file with the Clerk?
  The SPEAKER. The Chair is advised by the Clerk that a notice of 
contest pursuant to the statute, section 382 of title 2, United States 
Code, has been filed with the Clerk. Under section 5 of article I of 
the Constitution and the statute, the House remains the judge of the 
elections of its Members. The seating of a Member-elect does not 
prejudice a contest over final right to the seat.
  Mr. HOYER. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. The gentleman will state his parliamentary inquiry.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, am I correct that the gentlewoman from 
California [Ms. Sanchez], has been duly certified by the Secretary of 
State as duly elected from the 46th District of California?
  The SPEAKER. That is the information that has been submitted to the 
Chair by the Clerk.
  The SPEAKER. If the Members will rise, the Chair will now administer 
the oath of office.
  The Members-elect and Delegates-elect and the Resident Commissioner-
elect rose, and the Speaker administered the oath of office to them 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 all now Members of the U.S. 
Congress.

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