[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H5]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SWEARING IN OF MEMBERS

  The SPEAKER. According to precedent, the Chair will swear in the 
Members-elect en masse.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. HOLT. I have a parliamentary inquiry, Madam Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. The gentleman may state his inquiry.
  Mr. HOLT. In light of the fact that there are nonpartisan and 
partisan lawsuits under way with regard to Florida's 13th Congressional 
District and that the votes of 18,000 voters were not recorded on the 
paperless electronic voting machines in an election decided by only 369 
votes, may I ask for the record whether a notice of contest has been 
filed with the Clerk on behalf of Christine Jennings pursuant to law 
and what effect, if any, today's proceedings have on the pending 
contests?
  The SPEAKER. The Chair is advised by the Clerk that a notice of 
contest pursuant to 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 this Member-elect is entirely 
without prejudice to the contest over the final right to that seat that 
is pending under the statute and will be reviewed in the ordinary 
course in the Committee on House Administration.
  Mr. HOLT. I thank the Speaker.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. PUTNAM. Parliamentary inquiry, Madam Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. The gentleman may state his inquiry.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Am I correct, Madam Speaker, that the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Buchanan) has been certified by the Secretary of State as 
duly elected from the 13th District of Florida?
  The SPEAKER. The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. PUTNAM. I thank the Speaker.
  The SPEAKER. If the Members-elect 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 or affirm 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 Members of the 110th 
Congress.

                          ____________________