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Last updated on Wednesday, January 7, 2015
(WASHINGTON, DC) - A new Congress has convened with Republicans ready to take charge of the House and Senate.
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell was poised to become the new Senate majority leader. In the House, John Boehner was widely expected to win another term as speaker.
The Senate includes 13 freshmen, and the House has 58 freshmen.
The Republican-controlled Senate's first piece of legislation will seek to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline, testing President Barack Obama on a project he's been increasingly critical about, saying it wouldn't have a huge benefit for U.S. consumers.
The bipartisan legislation, which is sponsored by 54 Republicans and six Democrats, was expected to be introduced later Tuesday. Supporters said they had 63 votes in favor of the bill, enough to overcome a filibuster but not a presidential veto. The House is expected to vote and pass a bill approving the pipeline Friday.
The bill is identical to one that fell a single vote shy of passage in November, when Democrats controlled the Senate and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana pushed for a vote to save her Senate seat. She lost.
A White House official says President Barack Obama will meet with the new congressional leadership next week.
Next Tuesday's meeting will be the first since Republicans officially assumed control of Capitol Hill. Obama and leaders from both parties did meet days after the November midterm elections.
The president and GOP leaders have talked about finding areas of agreement on issues like trade and tax reform. However, confrontations await the White House and congressional Republicans on matters including the Keystone XL pipeline and the president's immigration executive orders.
Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) issued the following statement regarding the start of the 114th Congress:
"Today marks a fresh start in Washington and an opportunity to move forward much-needed measures to strengthen our security and economy. I am anxious to get to work on responsible legislative solutions to our nation's biggest challenges. My primary focus will be on growing the economy, tackling our debt and deficit problems and keeping America's homeland safe from terrorist threats.
"There are several areas where Republicans can work with President Obama, if he is willing to work with us. Many of these already have bipartisan support in Congress: repealing the excise tax on medical devices, constructing the Keystone XL pipeline and reforming federal regulations that prevent businesses from growing and hiring. Other areas of potential bipartisan agreement include expanding exports and reforming our broken tax code. Republicans also are committed to repealing Obamacare to replace it with more effective and patient-centered solutions.
"My hope is that in the new Congress the Senate returns to regular order and the so-called world's greatest deliberative body is productive again. I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work on behalf of Hoosiers."
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