Long, Hartzler kick off 3rd terms, excited that GOP controls Senate

WASHINGTON – Reps. Billy Long and Vicky Hartzler are no longer congressional newbies.

When the two Springfield-area lawmakers took the oath of office Tuesday, they kicked off their third terms in Congress with as much excitement and awe as if it was their first time in the U.S. Capitol. But with four years of legislative experience under their respective belts, the two Missouri Republicans are now seasoned lawmakers who know how to navigate Washington's political minefields and can dispense advice to their freshman colleagues about how Congress works.

"Swearing to uphold the Constitution — that part will never get old," said Long, R-Springfield. "A feeling comes over you; it's heady."

But pomp and ceremony aside, Long said he's very ready for a change after the past four years, when House Republicans were frustrated by the Democratically controlled Senate. He said when he arrived in Washington in 2011, he didn't realize how little influence the House Republican majority would have in its political showdowns with Democrats in the Senate and the White House.

"If you don't have the Senate, you don't have a whole lot," Long said, when asked what the most important lesson has been for him in his four years so far.

In the new Congress, he said, "We are finally going to have a Senate we can work with. That's the thing I'm most excited about."

Hartlzer, too, said that while she was excited to take the oath of office again, the most thrilling scene for her unfolded on the other side of the Capitol — where Republicans took control of the Senate and installed Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., as the new majority leader.

"It's a new day," Hartlzer, R-Harrisonville, said. "There's a whole new sense of optimism here. We will be able to advance our ideas and move them forward."

For Missouri's two senators — Republican Roy Blunt and Democrat Claire McCaskill — there was not much personal pomp. They are both in the middle of their six-year terms, so they were spectators to the Senate swearing-in ceremonies and the shift in power.

In the House, Long and Hartzler were sworn in shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday, along with 432 other members. House Republicans re-elected Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, for a third term as speaker. Hartzler and Long both voted for Boehner, shunning a revolt by about two dozen GOP lawmakers who tried to oust him.

The two Missouri Republicans shared the moment with their children. Long's 25-year-old daughter came to Washington for the ceremony and joined Long for a photo with Boehner. And Hartzler's 15-year-old daughter was on the floor with her for the ceremony

"I wanted her to be a part of the historic moment," Hartzler said, adding that her husband watched from the gallery.

They both said they have big legislative goals for the 114th Congress. Long said he wants to focus on getting the Keystone XL pipeline approved, along with other energy issues. His local priority, he said, will be making sure that Veterans Affairs officials do not close the Mount Vernon clinic before its replacement in Springfield is ready to open.

Long said he is also excited to begin his stints on two new Energy and Commerce subcommittees, dealing with health and energy policy. He won those assignments, and kept a third slot on the telecommunications subcommittee, when GOP leaders doled out jobs late last year.

"My committee work is where I put my stock and trade," Long said. With purview over such high-profile issues, he added, "we're going to be extremely busy."

Hartzler said she will be focused on trying to roll back across-the-board spending cuts to military spending. She sits on the House Budget and Armed Services panels. And she was tapped to lead the Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

"National defense is high on my priority list, and these cuts are going to be devastating to our national security," she said.

Given their experience in the House, both Long and Hartlzer said they will also be counseling their new colleagues. Hartlzer said she is mentoring freshman Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga.

She said she's encouraged him to immerse himself in briefing books and get to know as many of his congressional colleagues as possible.

But her most important piece of advice? "Stay close to the people at home, and listen to their concerns and help them with things in the district," she said.

Long said he is not officially mentoring anyone yet, but he's doled out plenty of advice — especially on how to find the best staff. "I've tried to (tell them) what to look for and what to be careful of."

Contact Deirdre Shesgreen at dshesgreen@usatoday.com or @dshesgreen on Twitter