Mississippi was getting a new member of Congress on Tuesday.

Republican Gregg Harper was taking his oath of office in Washington to begin a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Harper was elected in November to succeed Republican Chip Pickering in the 3rd Congressional District, which stretches from the southwestern corner of the state, through the Jackson metro area and up into parts of the Golden Triangle.

Pickering was first elected in 1996 but chose not to run again in 2008.

The entire U.S. House was being sworn in Tuesday, as were most of the senators elected in November.