Former State Representative J. Dennis Hastert, R-Yorkville, was formally sworn in Tuesday as a member of the 100th United States Congress.

The swearing in of Congressman Hastert, along with 434 of his colleagues, ceremoniously opened the House of Representatives Spring session.

After taking the oath, Hastert said, “I pledge to vigorously represent my constituents in the nine counties of Illinois that comprise the 14th Congressional District.” Hastert said he would “work hard to stimulate economic development and create new jobs” in the area.

“I will protect those federal programs vital to the district and ensure that we receive our share of federal dollars,” he said.

astert’s first assignment as a member of Congress was his appointment to the House Public Works and Transportation Committee.

The 52-member committee has jurisdiction in legislation dealing with matters such as economic development, transportation and efforts to clean up the water supply.

astert, the only Republican member from Illinois on the committee, said he welcomes the assignment and the opportunities it will give him to help his constituents.

Subcommittee assignments have not been made, but Hastert said he was particularly interested in the area of economic development.

“One of my goals for the next two years is to bring together federal, state and local resources to transform many of our closed, smokestack industries into ones with potential for high tech and small business development,” Hastert said.

Safe drinking water and adequate sewage treatment facilities to support rapidly growing areas of the district are other issues Hastert said he could address as a member of the committee.

astert said a great deal of legislation introduced in Congress that directly affects Americans comes before this important committee.

astert will maintain offices in Batavia and Ottawa and will continue to operate a mobile van to serve the nine-county district.

astert represented the 82nd district in the Illinois General Assembly for six years where he served as Republican leader on the Appropriations Committee.

“I pledge to vigorously represent my constituents in the nine counties of Illinois that comprise the 14th Congressional District.”