Newcomers include Rep. Charles Bass '74, R-N.H., Rep. John Carney '78, D-Del., Sen. John Hoeven '79, R-N.D., and Sen. Rob Portman '78, R-Ohio. Returning members Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand '88, D-N.Y., and Rep. Michael Capuano '73, D-Mass., also took their respective seats after the December recess ended last week.
The struggling economy, national energy policy and greater cross-party cooperation are all top priorities for the newly sworn-in members, according to several Congressmen's press offices.
Hoeven, a member of the Senate's Committee on Appropriations and Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, will prioritize passing a national energy policy that employs all available energy resources, according to Don Canton, communications director for Hoeven's office.
Hoeven intends to support legislation that models the "comprehensive" approach of EmPower North Dakota, a multi-resource state energy program that Hoeven helped initiate, Canton said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
"EmPower North Dakota sought to develop all energy resources and not designate winners or losers," Canton said. "We need all available energy resources and we need to develop them with good stewardship and in an environmentally sound way."
During Hoeven's ten years as governor, production of wind energy increased from less than one megawatt in 2000 to over 1,300 megawatts as of 2010, Canton said.
Although Hoeven is not currently working on specific energy legislation, he is considering policy that will help stabilize the budget and build a "stronger business climate" without "unnecessary economic regulations," Canton said.
"Now the [Environmental Protection Agency], for example, is in the process of creating rules to restrict greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act," Canton said. "We don't think that's the right way to go."
Hoeven believes that environmental regulation and control should be the domain of Congress, rather than that of the regulatory agencies, Canton said.
Carney also plans to develop renewable energy sources as a way to stimulate job creation, according to James Allen, Carney's communications director.
"In terms of off-shore wind power, there's an opportunity right now for Delaware with Google's investment of $300 million for an offshore wind farm off the East Coast," Allen said.
He added that such investments will provide an opportunity for Delaware to become a "hub" for manufacturing the tools and equipment required for wind energy.
Bipartisanship will be necessary to pass this type of legislation, and equally important in efforts to reduce the deficit and ensure that future generations are not burdened with settling "trillions of dollars of debt," Allen said.
"Tough conversations have to work across the aisle," Allen said. "Carney's a person if you look back at his time in office who has tried to find like-minded members, whether Republican or Democrat, to work together to move the ball forward on issues people care about, specifically jobs and the economy."
Portman, a former congressman and budget director under former President George W. Bush, will focus on job creation as well as tackling controversial policies such as national health care and cap-and-trade legislation, Jeffrey Sadosky, Portman's communications director, said in an interview with The Parkersburg News and Sentinel.
Portman represented Ohio's 2nd congressional district from 1993 to 2005, the News and Sentinel reported.
In an e-mail to supporters, Portman emphasized the need to focus on stimulating the domestic economy, the Cincinnati Examiner reported.
"We need to get our fiscal house in order, become less dependent on foreign energy and make it easier for small businesses to succeed," Portman said in the e-mail. "Above all, Congress should be creating an environment for economic growth."
Bass will focus on balancing the nation's deficit by reducing federal spending and supporting the development of alternative energy sources, according to a statement released to The Dartmouth. His agenda also includes expanding broadband access to rural communities.
As a returning senator, Gillibrand announced a new reform strategy to promote transparency and accountability, according to a press release from her office. Gillibrand plans to reform the filibuster, a "highly abused political weapon," pass legislation to ensure earmark transparency and eliminate automatic pay raises for members of Congress, according to the release.
"This election was not a mandate for any one party, but a mandate for action that creates jobs," Gillibrand said in the release. "We can't afford more of the same partisan fighting that wastes taxpayer time, slows our economic recovery and costs us jobs."
Gillibrand currently serves on the Senate's Agriculture Committee, the Special Committee on Aging and the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Capuano, now in his sixth term representing Massachuetts' 8th congressional district, has been working to "stabilize the economy" and address issues of affordable housing through his service on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Financial Services, according to his website.
"Several times over the past year, I hosted economic roundtables with leading experts from the 8th district to discuss different approaches to reforming financial regulations," Capuano wrote on his website. "Moving forward, we must strike the right regulatory balance, focusing on increasing transparency and restoring faith in our financial system."
The offices of Capuano, Gillibrand and Portman could not be reached for comment by press time.
