Pa. lawmakers react to swearing-in of Biden, Harris

Congressmen and senators representing Southwestern Pennsylvania weighed in on Wednesday’s swearing-in of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with messages focusing largely on Biden’s call for unity in addressing the major problems facing the nation.

Here’s what they had to say in statements and on social media:

• U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton: “Exactly two weeks ago, terrorists stormed the Capitol and attempted to undermine the will of the American people as expressed through their votes in a free, fair and lawful election. Today, American democracy prevailed when Joe Biden was sworn in as our nation’s 46th President and Kamala Harris made history as the first woman and Black woman of South Asian descent to become vice president. During his address, President Biden laid out a vision to heal our nation, contain the covid-19 pandemic and build our economy back better. It’s now time for us to get things done on behalf of working families.”
• U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh Valley: “President Joe Biden took the oath of office today during a health crisis and significant political strife. I commend President Biden for his call for national unity, and his assurance to those who did not support him that he will nevertheless be president for all Americans. I urge the president to follow through on this commitment by working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to pursue policies that will lead to peace and prosperity for all Americans. I am praying for President Biden and his success in leading our country forward.”
• U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon: “I just want to say thank you. For all you’ve taught me. For keeping the faith and taking on this great challenge. For having the courage to lead us at this perilous time. We’re counting on you to succeed. And I’ll do everything I can to help.”

• U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills: “After 4 years of chaos, I look forward to a better future under the Biden-Harris Administration. We will get our economy back on track and get the federal government working for the people again. This is much-needed after the disastrous policies under Trump.”
• U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-Peters: “Thank you President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for working to make America great again. Under their leadership our nation saw historic job creation and wage growth; strengthened border security; trade deals that put American workers first; better care for our veterans. President Biden’s call for ‘unity’ isn’t about bringing a divided country together. It’s about coercing unity of thought. As long as you agree with radical progressives, you will be tolerated. If you disagree, you will be canceled.”
• U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Blair County: “As each new president takes office, the inauguration is a testament to our nation’s enduring commitment to the peaceful transition of power – a hallmark of American democracy. Despite the challenges that we are facing, there is more that unites the American people than divides us. This is the time to build national unity as we work together to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuild our economy, and restore our communities. As President Biden and Vice President Harris begin their administration, I will continue working hard to advance commonsense, conservative solutions to the issues before us. As a nation, we must continue to pursue the pro-growth agenda that has delivered results for American families, workers, and small businesses.”

• U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler: “After a peaceful transition of power, Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States. I promise to work with him where we agree, and to responsibly oppose him where we do not. One way we can work together to unite our country is to build on the Trump administration’s successful conservative policies that led to unprecedented economic growth for American workers, families, and small businesses before the pandemic. We know what works to build a stronger, safer and more prosperous nation for all Americans, so let’s stick with it to overcome our present challenges. Calls for unity and healing sound nice, but they must be backed by action. It is my hope that the Biden administration will respect the lessons of the recent past by choosing common sense over radicalism that will only divide us further.”