WASHINGTON — Rep. Nancy Pelosi made history Thursday when she was sworn in as the first woman speaker of the House — an event even Republican Leader John Boehner acknowledged was cause for celebration.
Democrats officially took control of Congress for the first time since 1994 with the start of the 110th session. Each party leader called for cooperation between the two parties.
"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship," said Pelosi, accepting the gavel from Boehner, the new House GOP leader.
"Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or an independent, this is a cause for celebration," he said, noting the significance of Pelosi's election.
But he also gave notice to the party she leads, adding, "Republicans will hold the incoming majority accountable for its promises and its actions."
In the Senate, Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada became the new majority leader.
"We stand today ... ready to write a new chapter in our country's great future," Reid said, citing cited the November elections that swept Democrats into power.
"The voters are upset with Congress and the partisan gridlock," he said. "Together, Democrats and Republicans must deliver that change."
Pelosi beat Boehner in a largely symbolic roll-call vote, with a straight 233-202 party-line vote.
Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, voted for Boehner, a Republican from Ohio. Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, voted for Pelosi, a California Democrat. The House clerk called members by name and listed their votes.
Matheson said any new start of Congress is exciting, and he appreciates the "spirit of cooperation" talked about so much in the opening day's speeches.
"I think people realize the only way you get things done around here is by consensus," Matheson said. "We don't like the fact nothing is getting done."
The House chamber looked like a huge high school homeroom, with members returning to Washington after the long December recess and ready to start a new year. Colleagues greeted each other and introduced family members invited to the floor to witness them taking the oath of office.
The usually empty chamber buzzed with conversations as babies bounced on power-suited knees and at least one young boy loved playing with the turned-off microphone at one of the floor's podium.
Pelosi swore in the members after she took her oath of office from Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the longest serving member in the House.
The Republican side of the House was not quite as jovial, but there was polite applause for Pelosi from the new minority to accompany the cheers and standing ovations from her own party.
In her speech, Pelosi honored the role of American women and the significance of Thursday's event. "For our daughters and granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling."
Boehner said the Republicans will hold the Democrats accountable for promises and actions, but that they also "want to work with the incoming majority for the good of the nation we were all elected to serve."
"Republicans and Democrats can disagree with each other without being disagreeable to each other," Boehner said. "Sometimes what people call partisanship is really a deep disagreement over a means to a shared goal. We should welcome that conversation, encourage it, enjoy it and be nice about it."
Pelosi said "in this House, we may belong to different parties, but we serve one country."
"We stand united in our pride and prayers for our men and women in the armed forces," Pelosi said. "They are working together to protect America, and
we, in this House, must also work together to build a future worthy of their sacrifice."
She called on President Bush to offer a new plan for the war in Iraq, saying that her position as speaker stemmed from the November 2006 election's "call to change."
Reid also challenged Bush over Iraq.
"No issue in our country is more important than finding an end to this intractable war," Reid said. "Completing the mission in Iraq is the president's job, and we will do everything in our power to ensure he fulfills it."
Bush is expected to announce a revised strategy next week for the war, which has claimed the lives of more than 3,000 members of the U.S. armed forces.
The new speaker outlined the goals of the Democrats' first 100-hour plan, which includes passing ethics and rules changes as the first thing on the agenda. The House began debate on proposed rules for the House and an ethics package later on Thursday.
House Democrats have pledged to pass bills to raise the minimum wage, expand the opportunity for federally funded stem cell research, make Medicare prescription drugs cheaper, reduce the cost of student loans, implement anti-terror measures and reduce tax breaks enjoyed by the oil industry — all before Bush goes to the Capitol on Jan. 23 for his State of the Union address.
The Senate operates at a far slower pace, but Reid has said he will attempt to complete work on the early measures. Legislation to crack down on lobbyists will be the first bill brought to the floor next week.
"We have made history, now let us make progress for our new America," she said.
It was definitely Pelosi's day, and she beamed as she collected congratulations, hugs, kisses and handshakes from fellow Democrats on the House floor. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., the dean of the women in the Senate and the first Democratic woman senator elected, was on the House floor
during her swearing in as was former Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta.
Mineta, now with public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, represented a California district from 1975 to 1995 and came back to the House on such a "significant day" to watch Pelosi lead the Democrats in taking back the house.
"We're all very proud of Nancy and she'll do a great job."
Contributing: Associated Press, McClatchy Tribune Information Services
E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com