WASHINGTON – As pomp and circumstance kicked off the new 110th Congress on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, was sworn in to her third term in the Senate.

Reps. Michael Michaud and Tom Allen, also re-elected this November to represent the state, joined the new majority Democrats in the U.S. House as they set about fulfilling campaign promises.

“Finding solutions to the challenges facing our nation will require working across the political divides, and I will continue to be a voice of responsible consensus-building in the Senate,” said Snowe in a statement released after the ceremony. “We must achieve results through accommodation and bridge-building when possible, and recognize that there is strength in compromise, courage in conciliation, and honor in consensus.”

She thanked Mainers for “entrusting me with the responsibility of representing our state.”

Allen, who is entering his sixth term, said that as the father of two daughters, he was especially proud Thursday of helping to elect Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California as the country’s first female House speaker.

“I am excited that this new Congress and its leaders are committed to an agenda that puts middle-class families first,” he added. “And as a strong advocate for reform, I am pleased that our first order of business will be to adopt new ethical standards and practices that will root out the corruption that has enabled special interests to wield too much power over business in the people’s House.”

Michaud, who was sworn in to his third term Thursday, vowed “to continue working as hard as the hardworking people of Maine.”

The former millworker from East Millinocket said he would focus his energy in the 110th Congress “on ensuring that future trade deals are not only free but fair; providing access to quality health care for our veterans; promoting my Regional Economic Development bill and lowering the costs of prescription drugs.”

Those three of Maine’s four congressional delegation members easily defeated their opponents last fall.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins did not face re-election.