WASHINGTON -- A host of historic firsts took place Thursday as the 110th Congress convened under new leadership and Midwestern lawmakers stood poised to assume more power on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. House gathered under Democratic control for the first time in 12 years, and immediately the new leaders talked of ethics reform as part of a broad-ranging set of goals for the first 100 hours of their control.
"It's a lot of responsibility, and I think we're ready," said Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson, who represents western Minnesota's 7th District.
History was made in the new Congress as Nancy Pelosi, who steered House Democrats to their big November election victory, became the first female House speaker.
"I accept this gavel in the spirit of partnership, not partisanship," the San Francisco Democrat said in her first speech as speaker.
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Attention also was focused on Keith Ellison, who became the first Muslim congressman. The Democrat represents Minnesota's 5th District -- Minneapolis and nearby suburbs -- and also is the state's first black congressman.
Ellison drew international attention Thursday as he used a Quran -- the Muslim holy book -- in a ceremonial oath with Pelosi. Members of Congress typically are sworn in on a Christian Bible.
A swarm of photographers packed a Capitol room as Ellison, surrounded by relatives, placed his left hand on a two-volume edition of the Quran once owned by Thomas Jefferson and dated to 1764.
Democrats also took control of the Senate, and Amy Klobuchar became the first female elected senator from Minnesota. She replaces fellow Democrat Mark Dayton and joins Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.
"We bring to Washington a Minnesota work ethic," Klobuchar told family and supporters at a reception before she was sworn in. "This means that Washington stops passing laws that favor the few, stops passing laws that tilt the playing field against the middle class."
Walter Mondale, the former vice president and U.S. senator from Minnesota, said the election of a new congressional majority and more women to influential positions is a testament to progress.
"It's a reflection of a changing America," said Mondale, who with Coleman and Dayton escorted Klobuchar to the Capitol.
Klobuchar stressed her desire to reform congressional ethics guidelines, develop a new strategy for the Iraq war, stress growth of renewable energy alternatives and make college more affordable.
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Coleman, who begins the fifth year of his first six-year term, said there appeared a willingness by Senate members on both sides of the aisle to work together on pressing issues, including the war in Iraq.
The new Congress "is going to be different" because it will lead with fiscal discipline and expose the legislative process in Washington, Peterson said.
"Everybody's going to know exactly what's being done," he said.
Peterson, a conservative Democrat, said Congress will take a "down the middle" approach. He will serve as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, which is considered among the least partisan congressional panels.
"We have a lot more people like me in the caucus and I think that's good for the country," Peterson said of his centrist politics. "They're not going to be able to go off on some left-wing agenda."
