Today marks a fresh chapter in American history. In the wake of a historic election, one that received the largest turnout in over a century and saw more Americans vote than ever before, we have a new federal administration, led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Willed on by a diverse coalition of support from across the country, the new federal government is committed to, and reflective of, the American people. We have a president who will complete a journey from a working-class family in northeast Pennsylvania to the greatest seat of power in the world. We have the daughter of immigrants and the first woman of color in the second-highest office in the nation—and we also have the most diverse administration in our nation’s history.
This new government will be getting straight to work to offer a comprehensive response to the coronavirus, to chart our economic recovery, and to ensure that we implement a progressive vision that is equitable and in the best interests of all Americans. Tackling climate change, improving access to health care, enacting reforms to strengthen our democracy, making our immigration system more humane and fair, combating right-wing nationalism, and building a more resilient and green infrastructure spells a tall task ahead for the incoming administration.
The Biden administration has a historic opportunity to ensure that we build an America that works for everyone—not just those at the top. Instead of dividing Americans and pitting them against each other, the Biden administration recognizes a simple fact, which the pandemic has laid bare: We are all in this together, and that starts with a government that is committed to solving problems that improve the lives of all Americans. I believe that President Biden and Vice President Harris will hold true to that principle, that they will put principle into practice, and that we, as a nation, will continue to strengthen in the years to come.