Republican Rob Bresnahan of Dallas Twp. took the oath of office as member of the 119th U.S. Congress following a swearing-in on Friday.
On a phone call with the newspaper on Friday, U.S. Rep. Bresnahan, R-8, said it was a “beautiful day in Washington, D.C.” and called the experience a “pinch-me moment.”
“I never would have dreamed a kid from Butler Street in Wyoming would be sworn into Congress,” Bresnahan said. “It’s a very emotional day here … like the first day of school. I’m very excited to get to work and start fighting for Northeast Pennsylvania.”
The businessman unseated Democratic incumbent former U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright of Moosic following a tense election season.
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Pierce Frauenheim, Chief of Staff in U.S. Rep. Bresnahan’s Washington, D.C. office.
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Brian Langan, District Director of U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan’s District Office in Northeast PA.
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Dan Horning, Legislative Director in U.S. Rep. Bresnahan’s Washington, D.C. office.
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Derek Rockey, Deputy District Director of U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan’s District Office in Northeast PA.
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Edie Doman, the Director of Operations in U.S. Rep. Bresnahan’s Washington, D.C. office.
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Hannah Pope, the Communications Director in U.S. Rep. Bresnahan’s Washington, D.C. office.
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Pierce Frauenheim, Chief of Staff in U.S. Rep. Bresnahan’s Washington, D.C. office.
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On his X account, at 12:45 p.m., his team shared a photo of Bresnahan standing beside his office and nameplate in D.C. The plaque reads, “Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr., Pennsylvania,” and has the number 1133 below his name.
“Today’s the day! I am looking forward to electing Speaker Johnson and being sworn in,” he said. “It is a true honor to represent NEPA in Congress!” Johnson was elected on the second ballot.
He will represent Northeast Pennsylvania’s jagged-edged diamond-shaped 8th Congressional District, which encompasses the entire northernmost corner of Pennsylvania, including all of Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne and Monroe counties, and the eastern half of Luzerne county.
Regarding his plans for the region, he said, “nothing has really changed since the campaign,” and plans to focus on “making life affordable, securing the southern border, and making safe communities.”
He pointed to his committee assignments, infrastructure, agricultural and small business, and said that his experience as a “heavy highway infrastructure contractor” will help him focus on reinvestments “through infrastructure,” citing, “ports and levees, drinking water, so many opportunities we can invest in with tangible improvements.”
He said plans are in the works for his first bills.
“We’re considering a few different pieces that we will be bringing forth, and when they’re ready to see the light of day, you’ll certainly know,” he said. “If it’s not good for NEPA, you’re not going to see the congressman supporting it.”
He said his office will be available to “everybody.”
“I’m here to represent everybody in northeast Pennsylvania, whether they voted for me or they did not vote for me,” Bresnahan said. “I would hope they’d consider me as a resource and an ally… nobody should be apprehensive… nobody should be afraid to come to our offices and seek help.”
Bresnahan’s new office locations are in progress, with plans to set up a branch in each county in the district, and should be “announced over the next few weeks,” he said.
His office issued a statement on Thursday announcing his senior staff appointments.
“I am thrilled to have an excellent team behind me as we begin our work on behalf of the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Bresnahan said in the statement. “We are ready to hit the ground running, and this team will ensure we can bring positive change and deliver results for NEPA.”
In his Washington, D.C., office, Pierce Frauenheim, a former national field director at the National Republican Congressional Committee with experience in New Jersey politics will serve as his chief of staff.
Legislative director will be Dan Horning, who previously worked as a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-11, and in the Trump administration as an assistant director in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and as the chief of staff in the AI and Technology Office.
Hannah Pope will serve as his communications director, who previously worked in the same vein for U.S. Reps. Jen Kiggans and Brian Fitzpatrick.
Director of operations is Edie Domain, who previously worked as staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio.
The statement alerts constituents that Bresnahan’s district office will be headquartered in Luzerne County, with multiple offices positioned throughout district 8.
His District Director is Brian Langan, a Lackawanna county resident and Marywood University graduate, who served as the director of projects and programming for America250 Pennsylvania, which focuses on the nation’s 250th anniversary. He previously worked for U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey
Deputy District Director is Derek Rockey, Bresnahan’s former campaign manager. The Luzerne county man formerly worked for Bill McSwain and Dr. Mehmet Oz.