A new U.S. Congress was sworn into office January 3, 2013. It will quickly face an old dispute about the country's burgeoning debt , and controversial new gun control and immigration proposals.
The 113th US Congress
![Women members of Congress gather in front of the Capitol, Washington, January 3, 2013. ](https://gdb.voanews.com/bb691408-82e5-42a8-b2a0-5b3d5e3b0fbf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Women members of Congress gather in front of the Capitol, Washington, January 3, 2013.
![Senator Mark Kirk is applauded by members of the House and Senate as he stands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on his return to the U.S. Senate after suffering a stroke, January 3, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/7ef697c5-cf07-4459-be88-e86c0cf5f939_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Senator Mark Kirk is applauded by members of the House and Senate as he stands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on his return to the U.S. Senate after suffering a stroke, January 3, 2013.
![Vice President Joe Biden administers the Senate Oath during a mock swearing in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 3, 2013, as the 113th Congress officially began.](https://gdb.voanews.com/d18d4216-6125-42e1-adde-c15eae667707_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Vice President Joe Biden administers the Senate Oath during a mock swearing in ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 3, 2013, as the 113th Congress officially began.
![New Senator Angus King speaks to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, January 3, 2013.](https://gdb.voanews.com/22467ff1-1472-446c-861b-2757e6b17ab5_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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New Senator Angus King speaks to reporters after the swearing-in ceremony, January 3, 2013.