New Senate sworn in by Biden as 112th Congress convenes

Vice President Joe Biden swore in the newly elected class of senators Wednesday afternoon, marking the official start of the 112th Congress.

Freshman senators and reelected incumbents took the oath of office in small groups, accompanied by home-state colleagues.

Family members and reporters packed the chamber's galleries to witness the ceremony.

Family and former senators also roamed the floor, including former Vice President Dan Quayle (R), and former Sens. Lauch Faircloth (R-N.C.), Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.).

Family members also attended, including former Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska) — the father of Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) — and Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), whose son Rand Paul was elected in November as the junior Republican senator from Kentucky.