Rep. Eric Swalwell started his morning with a run past the U.S. Capitol, where he would later be sworn in:
Kicked off morning with run to the Capitol.The day this sight no longer moves me is the day I should leave. twitter.com/SwalwellForCA1…
— Eric Swalwell (@SwalwellForCA15) January 3, 2013
Senator Heidi Heitkamp arrived from frigid North Dakota to find a warm welcome awaiting in her new Capitol Hill office:
Incredible day already! Walking into office for first time this morning surrounded by family, friends, & staff. #NDSEN twitter.com/Heidi4ND/statu…
— Heidi Heitkamp (@Heidi4ND) January 3, 2013
South Carolina’s Tim Scott, the only African American member of the Senate, showed what his first day of work entailed:
Ready to Go On the Record with @gretawire twitter.com/SenatorTimScot…
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 4, 2013
Incoming Virginia Senator Tim Kaine posted bilingual Tweets for the benefit of his Spanish-speaking constituents:
Hoy día comienzo mi término en el Senado. Aquí esta un mensaje especial en español por este día importante. youtube.com/watch?v=UOr1yQ…
— Gov. Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 3, 2013
Many of the new Congress members didn’t arrive in Washington alone: they brought along their families, in person or in spirit, for the historical occasion:
On the floor of the US House with my kids, Griffin, Toryn and Clark twitter.com/ElectRodneyIL/…
— Rodney Davis (@ElectRodneyIL) January 3, 2013
Officially a U.S. senator. Mahalo for helping make it happen. Now let's get to work! twitter.com/mazieforhawaii…
— Mazie Hirono (@mazieforhawaii) January 3, 2013
Family, friends and constituents at the Library of Congress watching the swearing-in ceremony live. twitter.com/FilemonVela/st…
— Filemon Vela (@FilemonVela) January 3, 2013
Swearing-in day. THE day. Am dedicating my first week in Congress to the memory of my dad, a big influence in my life. Wish he was here.
— Pete Gallego (@petegallego) January 3, 2013
In addition to welcoming to the new members, colleagues of Illinois Senator Mark Kirk shared in his emotional return to Capitol Hill following a stroke last year:
Will never forget seeing my capitol hill family from the cap steps today. #Amazing, so grateful.While other returning Senators noted the historic composition of the new class:
— Mark Kirk (@SenatorKirk) January 3, 2013
The #113Congress has a record 20 female Senators. Welcome to new Senators Hirono, Warren, Heitkamp, Baldwin & Fischer.
— Frank R. Lautenberg (@FrankLautenberg) January 3, 2013
Now there are 20 women in Senatehighest ever. That's good for our nation and good for Senate
— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) January 3, 2013
Also on the agenda for the first day of business was electing party leadership. The vote for Speaker of the House attracted notable attention; several representatives used Twitter to share updates and their thoughts:
My constituent, David Walker, just got anomination for Speaker of the House. If Boehner doesn't have the votes, maybe a new CT Compromise?
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) January 3, 2013
Congrats to @speakerboehner. Thank you for your leadership—looking forward to 113th.
— Lynn Jenkins (@RepLynnJenkins) January 3, 2013
Honored to have been elected by my colleagues to continue serving as Speaker of the House for the 113th Congress.
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) January 3, 2013
As the 113th Congress gets underway, following your representatives gives you a closer perspective every day on the goings-on in D.C., your state and district.
Posted by Bridget Coyne (@bcoyne)
Government, News, & Social Innovation Team