Newly installed Rep. Peter Welch made his mark on the House floor Friday, with a speech on civility, on behalf of the House Committee on Rules, and the passage of a bill naming Vermont's White Rocks National Recreation Area in honor of the late Sen. Robert Stafford.

Welch was chosen to speak for five minutes on civility. Here's a snippet:

"I served thirteen years in the Vermont legislature - sometimes in the
minority, other times in the majority. We in Vermont were proud of the
legislative process and standards we set. Those in the majority didn't do
things simply because they could- minority voices were heard, members were kept
informed, and our legislative process was respected. We had intense
debates- on the issues- but more often than not, at the end of the day, good
ideas were considered and were able to move Vermont ahead."

- Terri Hallenbeck