The 112th Congress of the United States was called to order on Wednesday, and John Boehner was elected Speaker in the House of Representatives.

Newly elected House Speaker John Boehner holds the speaker's gavel during the opening day of the 112th United States Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, Jan. 5, 2011. The 112th Congress of the United States was called to order on Wednesday, and John Boehner was elected Speaker in the House of Representatives. [Yuri Gripas/Xinhua]

In his first address as the House's top member, Boehner focused on cutting the government's record deficit and creating jobs. He replaced Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat whose party lost to the Republicans last year in the mid-term elections.

"Our spending has caught up with us, and our debt will soon eclipse the size of our entire economy. Hard work and tough decisions will be required," said Boehner.

Before Boehner spoke, Pelosi addressed the lawmakers and introduced Boehner.

In the House of Representatives, 87 new Republican members and nine new Democrats were sworn in at noon, shifting control of the chamber officially to the Republican party. Republicans now hold a 242-193 edge in the House.

After his address, which ended amid loud cheers from the chamber, Boehner took the oath of office and then administered the oath to the rest of the lawmakers en masse.

On the Senate side, Vice President Joe Biden gave the oath of office to Senators, while the House began a long roll call that ended in Boehner's election.