Congressman Steve Knight was sworn in Tuesday as a member of the United States House of Representatives by House Speaker John Boehner.

This marks Knight’s inaugural term as a US Congressman, after formerly serving in the California State Assembly and State Senate. Rep. Knight is the first person in history from the Antelope Valley to be elected to Congress, and will serve on the prestigious House Committee on Armed Services and House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, according to a news release from Knight.

“I am thrilled to start in my new role as a member of the House of Representatives and to begin serving the people of the 25^th Congressional District,” said  Knight.

As far as his priorities are concerned, Knight says they will begin working on “Cemex issues” right away. 

“I am excited to work with Representative Knight this legislative session,” said fellow California Representative and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. “His knowledge and passion for Defense and Aerospace will make him a valuable asset to the committees he has been assigned to.”

“The 114th freshman class stands ready for the new Congress,” according to a statement from Knight. “The first session of the 114th U.S. Congress will commence on Jan. 6 in Washington, DC.”

The call for a special election is mandated within 14 days of his resignation from a state Senate seat, where he represented the 21st District before his election to Congress in November.

“When A New Congress Begins,” according to the Senate’s website:

The proceedings of this first day follow a well-established routine. Having presented their credentials to the Senate, newly elected and reelected senators are sworn in by the vice president.

The Senate is divided into three classes for election purposes, and every two years one-third of the Senate is elected or reelected. For this reason, only a third of the senators will take the oath on Jan. 6. 

Because photography is prohibited in the Senate Chamber, following the official oath ceremony new senators join the vice president in the Old Senate Chamber, where a reenactment of the swearing-in ceremony takes place. With this opening ceremony complete, the Senate proceeds with other business, such as the election of the president pro tempore and other officers as well as the assignment of desks in the chamber.

Unlike the House of Representatives, where all members face election every two years, the Senate does not have to reorganize itself following each election, but it will adopt an organizing resolution early in the new Congress to set procedures for operating the Senate during the next two years. 

Typically, the adoption of this resolution is routine, but there have been occasions when the Senate faced unique challenges, making organization difficult.

As January continues, the Senate turns to legislative business. With each new Congress, all pending legislation of the previous Congress expires (with the exception of treaties), so many bills and resolutions are reintroduced. 

During the first weeks of the new Congress, most freshman senators mark an important milestone in their Senate careers by delivering their maiden speeches.