WASHINGTON, DC -- Standing before Vice President Joe Biden today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) took the oath of office and was sworn in to his fourth term representing the people of Rhode Island in the United States Senate.

The ceremony in the Senate chamber marked the official commencement of Reed’s fourth six-year term, as well as the start of the 114th Congress.

“It is an honor to serve the people of Rhode Island.  My focus remains economic improvement and economic empowerment.  Congress needs to work together to help create good paying, sustainable jobs that will strengthen and grow the middle-class.  That means we need to focus on priorities like an economy that benefits everyone, strengthening our infrastructure, and making college more affordable for working families” said Reed, who is Rhode Island's 46th United States Senator.

First elected in 1996, Reed is currently the 17th most senior member of the U.S. Senate and will continue to serve on three key committees in the 114th Congress: the Appropriations Committee; the Armed Services Committee; and the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.  Reed recently announced his intention to be the Ranking Member on the Armed Services Committee, where he will serve alongside Chairman John McCain (R-AZ).

The last Rhode Islander to lead a full U.S. Senate Committee was John H. Chafee (R-RI), who served as Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works up until 1999.  Reed’s predecessor in the U.S. Senate, Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI), served as the Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee when he left office in January of 1997.

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