Washington, D.C. -- Joined by his family and friends, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) was sworn into his first term in the United States House of Representatives for the 114th Congress. Emmer released the following statement regarding his first day in office:

“The 6th district of Minnesota has been my home for nearly 20 years, and it is an honor to represent it now in the halls of Congress. We have a solid team in place both in D.C. and in Otsego, and are ready to hit the ground running.

“The work began on day one, as I cast my vote for the Hire More Heroes Act. This important legislation, of which I was proud to be an original cosponsor, protects veterans who already receive healthcare through TRICARE or the VA by exempting them from the Obamacare 50-plus employee mandate. Veterans currently have a 10 percent unemployment rate, and we have a sacred obligation to protect their benefits and help them secure work when they return home by incentivizing potential employers.

"I also had the opportunity to elect the Speaker of the House. Two months ago, the Republican Conference met and nominated potential candidates for the 114th Congress. No opposition to the current Speaker came forward, nor were any alternatives offered. While several members threw their hats in the ring over the past 72 hours, I was never approached or contacted by any new contender asking for my support or sharing their plan and why they believed they should receive my vote. 

"There will be times I will vote with leadership and times I will vote against leadership, but at all times, I will be pushing for what is best for the people of the 6th District."

Emmer joins 59 other House freshmen in the 114th Congress. He will serve on the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Agriculture. For more on Emmer and his first term, visit his new website at Emmer.house.gov. For behind the scenes photos of his first days in office, click here.

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