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The House of Representatives is back in session and Republicans are ready to work. Those were the words of newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).

Johnson’s speakership puts to an end three long weeks of deadlock after a group of hardline Republicans ousted former speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

The Louisiana representative is relatively new to Congress as he was first elected in 2016. Since then, he’s gone on to serve as Conference Vice Chair and Deputy Whip, in addition to leading the Republican Study Committee.

He’s also an outspoken evangelical Christian, a fact that he made clear last night.

Johnson’s first major task is leading negotiations to avoid a government shutdown as current funds are set to run out on Nov. 18. He’s now considering another stopgap bill to keep the government open until January or April of next year.

He says this will give the House more time to pass all 12 of its appropriations bills, which he hopes to do quickly.  Johnson indicates that he plans to push at least one of these bills as soon as this week.