John Boehner has narrowly won a third term as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, surviving a stiff challenge from 25 conservative Republicans in a Congress that is controlled by that party.
Boehner received 216 of 408 votes cast, with a growing faction of dissident House Republicans declining to vote for him.
The first bill to be introduced was the approval for Keystone XL, a controversial oil pipeline extension project that's been on hold for years.
However, the White House says that President Barack Obama will veto the legislation if it makes it to his desk.
