"A wonderful day." That's how Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos describes Wednesday's inauguration in Washington.
The Democrat from Moline who represents the 17th District says it was a historic and celebratory occasion following a period she thinks future generations will look back on with dismay.
"A time when we witnessed the worst economic turmoil our nation has seen since the Great Depression, a time that I was an eyewitness firsthand of an attack on our nation's capital by domestic terrorists, a time where we witnessed two impeachments for a single presidential term."
And she hopes in the future, people will see how a Biden presidency, with bi-partisan help from Congress, made up for the previous four years.
"That when we were faced with deep divisions, we chose instead to stand together. That was what Joe Biden's message was about today - a story of people who are choosing to move forward as one nation."
Bustos says the new president probably used the word "unity" a dozen times in his inaugural address.
Her top priorities now are bringing the pandemic under control, re-building the economy, fixing the nation's infrastructure, providing better health care, and expanding access to broadband.
Some new Republican members of the US House say they're willing to work together with the president. And the group includes Iowa 2nd District Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
In a tweet, she wrote of her "sincere willingness" to work with the new administration on coronavirus relief, infrastructure, and rebuilding the economy.
The letter she signed with the other newly-elected Congress members says "After two impeachments, lengthy inter-branch investigations, and, most recently, the horrific attack on our nation's capital, it is clear that the partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans does not serve a single American."
