Collins: 'Most humbling experience of my life'

WASHINGTON - Doug Collins of Gainesville became one of the newest members of Congress Thursday, declaring it "the most humbling experience of my life."

Collins, along with other new and returning members of Congress, took their oaths of office about noon.

"I thank everyone for their support, and I promise to always represent our area to the best of my ability," Collins said. "We had the slogan 'We Are the 9th' during our campaign, and I will never forget that. We live in the greatest place in the greatest country in the world. I'm honored to call that home, and I will fight every day to make sure our conservative voices are heard in Washington whether the leaders in Congress agree with me or not."

Collins represents the new 9th Congressional District in Georgia. After reapportionment, a 14th district was added. It is centered in the northwest corner of the state and is represented in Congress by Tom Graves, who had represented the 9th district since 2010 when Nathan Deal, the longtime holder of the office, resigned to run for governor.

ELECTION OF THE SPEAKER

Shortly after the swearing in of the 113th Congress, the election of the Speaker of the House began. Collins, a Republican, cast his vote about 12:45, and voted for Ohio Republican John Boehner, who was re-elected. The GOP maintained its control of the House after last fall's elections.

Boehner, bruised after weeks with his fractious caucus and negotiations with the White House on the fiscal cliff, won a second, two-year term as leader with 220 votes. Despite grumbling in the GOP ranks, just 10 Republicans voted for someone other than Boehner.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi got 192 votes.

SENATE CONVENED, TOO

In the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden swore in 12 new members elected in November, lawmakers who won another term and South Carolina Republican Tim Scott. The former House member was tapped by Gov. Nikki Haley to fill the remaining term of Sen. Jim DeMint, who resigned to head a Washington think tank.

Applause from members and the gallery marked every oath-taking. Looking on was former Vice President Walter Mondale.

Shortly before the session, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., who had been absent for the past year while recovering from a stroke, slowly walked up the 45 steps to the Senate, with Biden nearby and the Senate leaders at the top of the stairs to greet him.

"A courageous man," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Members of the Illinois congressional delegation and senators stood on the steps.

As he entered the building, resting on a cane, Biden and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., helped Kirk take off his coat. The senator said he was glad to be back.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)