Shaheen sworn in as New Hampshire's newest senator
WASHINGTON --Jeanne Shaheen was sworn into office Tuesday as New Hampshire's first female U.S. senator, but said her excitement was tempered by the massive economic challenges facing the country.
The Democratic lawmaker was among nine new senators -- seven of them Democrats -- taking the oath of office from Vice President Dick Cheney in the Senate chamber of the U.S. Capitol. Her husband, three daughters and other family members looked on from the gallery above.
"I think it isn't as much of a celebration, but it's a solemn occasion because we are faced with tremendous challenges in this country," Shaheen said following the ceremony.
Shaheen was accompanied by New Hampshire's senior senator -- Republican Judd Gregg -- as she walked down the chamber's center aisle, clutching the same leather-bound Bible she used to be sworn in as the state's governor in 1997.
The noon ceremony was followed an hour later by a re-enactment at the old Senate chamber for the benefit of television cameras.
Shaheen also announced that she has been chosen to serve on the Senate committees on energy and foreign relations. She reiterated her campaign pledge to make energy and health care her primary focus in Congress, but said she is pleased to be on the foreign relations panel too.
With New England having some of the highest home heating costs in the country, Shaheen said she wants to increase production of renewable sources of energy. Helping President-elect Barack Obama pass an economic stimulus package that could cost up to $1 trillion is also high on her agenda.
"My first priority lies with the president-elect to try and get this economy moving again," she said.
She suggested lawmakers address the growing problem of unemployed workers losing their health insurance as they lose their jobs.
Her swearing in caps a historic victory that saw Shaheen become the first woman in the United States elected both governor and senator from a state, according to associate Senate historian Donald Ritchie.
Shaheen's victory over incumbent Republican Sen. John Sununu in the November election helped Democrats boost their majority in the Senate to either 58 or 59 seats, depending on the outcome of the contested Senate race in Minnesota. Her successful campaign came six years after Sununu defeated her to win his first term in 2002.
As the first Democratic senator from New Hampshire in 33 years, Shaheen's election also helped further the Democratic tide in New England. Now, Gregg and Maine's Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe are the only Republicans left among the region's 12 senators. There are no GOP House members left in New England.
Shaheen said she has already spoken to Gregg about working closely on the economic recovery package and said she hope they can collaborate on other issues. There are a number of state agencies compiling a list of "shovel ready" projects that could be in the stimulus plan, she said.
Gregg said he was honored to join Shaheen for her historic swearing in.
"Jeanne and I have a long history of working together to advance the interests of New Hampshire and I look forward to building on that strong bipartisan relationship to ensure that the decisions made in Washington promote our states values and benefit New Hampshire citizens," he said in a statement.
While freshman lawmakers typically have to bide their time and gain seniority before exerting much clout in the Senate, Shaheen said her class may be able to play a greater than expected role, similar to many of the senators elected in 2006.
"I hope we'll also make that kind of policy stamp on this Congress," she said.
House lawmakers were also meeting for the first time this year, joined by two new members from New England. Democrats Chellie Pingree, of Maine, and Jim Himes, of Connecticut, were sworn in along with 53 other new House members. 