RICHMOND - The House and Senate are now in session.

The 2011 Virginia General Assembly kicked off Wednesday with lawmakers set to tackle issues such as education, transportation – and one bill that would look at having Virginia mint its own coins in case of the collapse of the Federal Reserve System.

Early portions of the House and Senate's Wednesday agenda included housekeeping items; Bill Stanley, R-Pittsylvania, was sworn into the Senate and Greg Habeeb, R-Salem, was sworn into the House.

The newly-minted legislators each won special elections on Tuesday. Stanley replaces former state Sen. Robert Hurt and Habeeb took the place of former House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith. Hurt and Griffith were elected to Congress in November.

The House of Delegates will adjourn its first-day session in memory of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and other victims of last weekend’s shootings in Tucson.

Gov. Bob McDonnell is scheduled to deliver the State of the Commonwealth address later Wednesday.