Washington, D.C. – Today Filemon Vela was sworn in as a Member of the 113th Congress by House Speaker John Boehner in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. He will represent the 34th Congressional District of Texas. It was an historic moment for South Texas, as this is a newly-established Congressional District.

“Today I took a solemn oath to uphold the laws of this nation and the Constitution. Having lived in South Texas almost my entire life, I am aware of the challenges we face and am committed to representing the interests of my constituents to the best of my ability,” Vela said.

“It is a privilege to be surrounded by family, friends and supporters as I embark on this journey of serving South Texas and my country. I was honored to have my wife Rose and my mother Blanca with me during this exciting moment.”