Washington leaders, lawmakers react as Biden, Harris are sworn into office

With President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris taking the oath of office Wednesday, Washington state’s leaders and lawmakers expressed a range of emotions and reactions.

That included Gov. Jay Inslee, who pointed to a National Mall “free of insurgency” following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building.

“I am alive with the excitement of national rebirth,” Inslee said. “And, to see the new president honoring those lost to COVID, I know that our hopes for better days ahead are well grounded.”

I took this of the Obamas and the Bidens 12 years ago at top of Capitol stairs after the inauguration of President Obama concluded. A fresh promise then, and a fresh promise now. pic.twitter.com/2T2eSuBxHd

— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) January 20, 2021

From Seattle, Mayor Jenny Durkan labeled Wednesday’s inauguration as “an inspiring and historic moment for our country, and a complete repudiation of the last four years.”

“As we turn the page on this presidency, we must remember that before we can have reconciliation, we must have truth and accountability for the actions of individuals who put self over country in an attempt to violently subvert the will of the people,” she said.

Representing Washington’s Republicans in Congress, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was more focused on policy moves the incoming president is set to make on his first day in office.

As part of his “Day 1” priorities, Biden vowed to withdraw the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a decision Rep. McMorris Rodgers — the Republican Leader of Energy and Commerce — decried as “the beginning of another painfully long recession, where the American people are asking, ‘where are the jobs?'”

“President Joe Biden’s expected decision to revoke the Keystone XL pipeline permit will hamper America’s economic recovery and energy security,” she said in a written release. “As we recover from the health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 shutdowns, there couldn’t be a worst time to double down on Obama-era and Green New Deal policies like this.”

On the other side of the Congressional aisle, Washington Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal called Wednesday a “beautiful day [that] proves that the flame of democracy still burns bright.”

“Historic change has come to America — and we’re just getting started,” she said.

Jayapal also congratulated Vice President Kamala Harris – the first female, first African-American, and first South Asian-American person to fill the office. Jayapal herself was the first South Asian-American woman elected to the House of Representatives.

She said she is “deeply proud” to call Harris our Vice President, and called it a “truly meaningful moment in history for our country, including for so many women, people of color, and immigrants.”

Washington’s 6th District Rep. Derek Kilmer was among those who attended the inauguration in person. He says President Biden’s speech stressed unity, and he hopes Congress will follow Biden’s lead.

“It was a good day. It was a hopeful day,” Kilmer said. “And even after the benediction as the pastor said ‘Hallelujah,’ a good number of us chimed in ‘Hallelujah’ also, so I think we’re all very hopeful about the days ahead.”

Rep. Kilmer represents the Kitsap and Olympia Peninsulas and says he believes the new administration and Congress will be able to reverse battles that he’s been fighting for the past four years.

“President Trump had proposed zeroing out all federal funding for things like Puget Sound recovery, and recovering our salmon, and the funding to help coastal communities that are dealing with resiliency challenges,” he explained.

Now, he believes he can accomplish more to protect coastal communities, waterways, and wildlife.

Senator Patty Murray reflected on the inauguration as well in a written statement, and thanked Washingtonians for “making yourselves heard, because as today shows, it could not matter more.”

“As I watched Joe Biden and Kamala Harris be sworn in as our next President and Vice President, I couldn’t help but think about this day four years ago,” Murray wrote. “I went to President Trump’s inauguration because as much as I didn’t like it, he’d won. But, I went wearing a Planned Parenthood scarf – the same I had on today – to show I planned to work every day to defend all the rights I knew were threatened.”

“The next day I went to the Women’s March and saw crowds of women ready to stand up for their rights and each other’s,” she continued. “I realized then how much it was going to matter that every single person who opposed what President Trump stood for – hate and division, racism and bigotry – speak up and make sure they were heard. And Washington state, you did.”

Sen. Murray says she’s heard from more constituents since Trump’s inauguration than ever before.

“… You make our democracy what it is, and your commitment to a fair and just future for all will help our country rebuild stronger from all we face right now.”

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