Paul Ryan Says House of Representatives is 'Broken' After Becoming Speaker

It was announced Thursday that Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan will serve as the speaker for the House of Representatives after receiving the Republican nomination on Wednesday.

Ryan accepted the role of House Speaker while speaking from the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, calling on members of Congress to unite and start a new chapter of progress moving forward.

"Let's prove ourselves worthy," Ryan said on Thursday, adding "Let's be frank: The House is broken."

 "We are not settling scores. We are wiping the slate clean," the Wisconsin congressman added.

Congressman Ryan called on both Democrats and Republicans to work to be "bipartisan" and "open up the process."

"Open up the process," Ryan told both parties. "Let people participate. And they might change their tune. A neglected minority will gum up the works. A respected minority will work in good faith."

When accepting the Republican nomination for the Republican-controlled House on Wednesday, Ryan echoed the sentiment of unity going forward to put America back on the right track.

"We believe that the country's on the wrong track. We think the country's headed in the wrong direction, and we have an obligation here in the people's House to do the people's business, to give this country a better way forward, to give this country an alternative," the congressman said on Wednesday.

Ryan's election to the office comes after former House Speaker John Boehner announced he would be stepping down from the position at the end of October amid ungoing unrest in Congress.