The 110th Congress was sworn in this week with Democrats in control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The 110th Congress began its work on Thursday, with plans to meet five days a week for the next six weeks. This will be a change from last year when members arrived Tuesday afternoon and would leave on Thursday.

Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) made history as the first female Speaker of the House. Other House leaders include Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), majority leader; John Boehner (R-OH), minority leader; and Roy Blunt (R-MO), minority whip. Senate leadership includes Sens. Harry Reid (D-NV), majority leader; Dick Durbin (D-IL), majority whip; Mitch McConnell (R-KY), minority leader; and Trent Lott (R-MS), minority whip.

The House Democratic leadership has announced that among measures to be considered in January are tightening ethics rules for members, raising the minimum wage, allowing more research on stem cells, implementation of various recommendations of the Sept. 11 Commission and port security, end subsidies for big oil and invest in renewable energy, and cutting interest rates on student loans.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent