Aderholt Sworn In For New Term As GOP Assumes Majority

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CONGRESSMAN ADERHOLT SWORN IN TO 112TH SESSION OF CONGRESS

Aderholt Takes Historic Oath of Office With The First Bible Ever Printed In America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today was officially sworn in to represent the 4th Congressional District of Alabama for another term on the official first day of the 112th Session of Congress. The new Speaker of the House, John Boehner, conducted an individual ceremonial swearing-in for Rep. Aderholt, with his wife and children attending, in the Capitol following the oath of office for all Members on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“I am extremely honored to be given the opportunity to represent the people of the 4th District for another session. This job is a special privilege and I don’t take this great responsibility lightly,” said Congressman Aderholt. “The Congress and the city of Washington have changed since I was first elected, but the values of the great state of Alabama have not. My colleagues in the Alabama delegation and I are committed to the principles of smaller, more accountable government and we are looking forward to focusing on issues like creating jobs, reining in spending and making Congress more responsive to the people.”

Aderholt’s swearing-in ceremony was historic in that he took his official oath-of-office on the very first Bible ever printed in America. This Bible, widely known as the “Eliot Bible,” was published in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1663 under the title “The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New.” Aderholt was the only Member of the full 435 House of Representatives body to use the Eliot Bible for his/her oath of office. The text of this Bible was translated into the Algonquian Indian language by John Eliot, to support his missionary efforts among Native Americans. The first complete English language edition of the Bible was published in 1782 by Robert Aitken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eliot Bible is currently held in the Rare Book & Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

During the previous Congress (the 111th Session of Congress), Aderholt served as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee within the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Aderholt also served on the House Budget Committee and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (better known as the Helsinki Commission).

With the change in control of the House of Representatives, Congressman Aderholt is expected to be named a Subcommittee Chairman for the first time in his career. A decision on which subcommittee within the Appropriations Committee he will chair is expected soon. All decisions for Appropriations Subcommittee Chairmanship must be approved by the House Steering Committee.

During November’s historic election, Republicans picked up 63 seats in the House of Representatives, giving them the majority. Republicans now hold a 49-seat majority over Democrats.

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From Left To Right: Speaker John Boehner, Robert Hayes Aderholt (son), Caroline Aderholt (wife), Congressman Robert Aderholt and Mary Elliott Aderholt (daughter)