Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge, surrounded by a bipartisan and bicameral representation of her colleagues, was administered the oath of office by Speaker Nancy Pelosi on November 19, 2008.

She addressed her peers, her constituents and jubilant friends in the gallery with the following statement:

"Madam Speaker, Leader Boehner, Representative Kaptur, Representative Regula, the Ohio delegation, Members of the 110th Congress, it is, indeed, my pleasure and my privilege to be with you here today.

I want to first just thank my mother and my family and my staff, my friends, the members of my great sorority--Delta Sigma Theta--all of the residents of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, where I served for so many years as mayor, and all of the people of the 11th District for the confidence they placed in me in the last three elections that I have been in over the last 6 weeks. I, as well, would like to thank my predecessors on whose shoulders I stand today--the Honorable Louis Stokes and my very dear friend, the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

To all of my colleagues, I say to you that I look forward to working with you because there is much work to be done, and I am certainly up to the task. I am a person who you can count on. I will work hard because I know what my job is, and my job is to serve the people who put me here. I know that my job is to do the most for those who have the least, and so I will work hard because I have promises to keep. I have made promises not only to myself and to the people of the 11th District but to my departed friend. So count on me because I do, indeed, have a promise to keep.

Thank you so much."