Congress begins new session under GOP leadership; Boehner re-elected Speaker

World Today

The U.S. Congress began a new session today with Republicans now holding a majority in both chambers. CCTV America’s Daniel Ryntjes reported this story from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

A fresh tone was set by a tearful John Boehner after he was re-elected for a third term as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Let’s stand tall and prove the skeptics wrong. Let’s make this a time of harvest and may the fruits of labors be ladders our children can use to climb the stairs to the stars,” Boehner said.

Despite those remarks there is plenty of skepticism among Democrats.

Senators from both parties supported a proposed law to approve a massive Canadian pipeline deal called Keystone XL.

“Congress has the authority to regulate commerce with foreign countries, and under the ‘Commerce Clause’ we are able to approve the Keystone XL pipeline,” Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. said.

The White House said the president would block the bill by refusing to sign it into law if it passed Congress.

“Republicans do want to show the nation that they can get things done, and I think that means more than just sending things to the President and having him veto them. So I think they’re going to want to show ‘Hey, we tried to honestly, forthrightly negotiate compromise on these issues,'” Sarah Chacko, a reporter with the political newspaper CQ Roll Call said.