One More Democrat, Rep. Ted Deutch, Joins the House

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) became the newest member of the House of Representatives Thursday when he was sworn in to replace Rep. Robert Wexler, the Democrat who left the House last year to run a think tank.

Deutch, a 44-year-old attorney, won a special election in the Boca Raton, Fla., district Tuesday with 62 percent of the vote. Democrats now outnumber Republicans 254 to 177, and House leaders pointed to Deutch's victory as an endorsement of the health care reform bill passed by Congress this year.

Here is Deutch's his full statement upon being sworn in:

"This is a truly humbling day and the honor of a lifetime.

"My constituents are an extraordinary collection of Americans. They are seniors who served our nation valiantly in times of war and rebuilt this country after the Great Depression. They are hardworking families who strive everyday to pass on a better world and greater opportunities onto their children.

"I want to thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for their exceptional leadership. I am also grateful to my South Florida friends, Representatives Klein, Meek and Wasserman-Schultz, and especially our Dean, Congressman Hastings. I want to thank Congressman Wexler for his service as well as his support and friendship.

"I will never forget my family, friends, volunteers, supporters, and most importantly voters, who helped send me here today.

"I want to profoundly thank my wife, Jill, and my three children, Gabrielle, Serena, and Cole. Their love and support means the world to me.

"In all of her 86 years, my mother Jean Deutch, never could have imagined hearing her name in this Chamber. Mom, thank you for making me believe that I could be anything I wanted to be, because today, I am a Member of the United States Congress.

"Thank you Madame Speaker."