The House and Senate have convened for a new Congress that will immediately confront the country's struggling economy.

Nine new senators and 54 House members are there to start their new lives on Capitol Hill. And they are joined by two freshmen non-voting delegates. Vice President Dick Cheney swore the senators into office.

The opening of the new Congress came on the same day that Senate officials denied a seat to Roland Burris because of a dispute over his appointment by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Besides the economy, lawmakers also will face considerable early work in reviewing President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet nominees.