[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 36]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 36]]

           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  This being the day fixed by the 20th amendment to the Constitution of 
the United States and Public Law 108-433 for the meeting of the 
Congress of the United States, the Members-elect of the 109th Congress 
met in their Hall, and at noon were called to order by the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives, Hon. Jeff Trandahl.
  The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered the following 
prayer:
  Almighty and eternal God, before You all Nations rise and fall.
  We ask You to bless the United States of America with security, 
prosperity, generosity and peace.
  Those who have been rightly elected by the people of the 
congressional districts across the Nation now stand before You, as the 
grateful inheritors with a great tradition of government by free 
people.
  May they serve faithfully the people who have chosen them as their 
representatives in the 109th Congress.
  With personal integrity, enable them to exercise day-to-day decisions 
that will uphold this Nation's Constitution and bring enlightened hope 
to a troubled world desirous of knowing a free democracy in action.
  Let all Americans join in their own way of blessing these women and 
men, that they may establish justice, ensure lasting tranquillity, 
provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure 
the blessings of liberty.
  In doing so, they will serve both You, our God, and our beloved 
Nation.
  Amen.

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