[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       59TH INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I request to have printed in the 
Congressional Record my full remarks delivered on January 20, 2021, at 
the 59th inaugural ceremonies.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Mr. President, Well, I should have known when Senator 
     Klobuchar got involved, at least there would be a touch of 
     snow up here this morning. Of all the things we considered, I 
     don't think snow was on my agenda until I walked out the door 
     a moment ago.
       But thank you, Senator Klobuchar, and thanks to the other 
     members of the Joint Congressional Committee on the 
     Inauguration as we officially begin the 59th Inaugural 
     Ceremony. I also want to thank the Joint Committee staff and 
     our partners, particularly our security partners, for the way 
     they have dealt with unprecedented circumstances.
       When I chaired the Inauguration four years ago, I shared 
     President Reagan's 1981 description of this event as 
     commonplace and miraculous. Commonplace because we've done it 
     every four years since 1789. Miraculous because we've done it 
     every four years since 1789.
       Americans have celebrated this moment during war, during 
     depression, and now, during pandemic. Once again, all three 
     branches of our government come together as the Constitution 
     envisions. Once again, we renew our commitment to ``Our 
     Determined Democracy, Forging a More Perfect Union.''
       That theme for this Inauguration, ``Our Determined 
     Democracy, Forging a More Perfect Union,'' was announced by 
     the Joint Committee before the election--with the belief that 
     the United States can only fulfill its promise and set an 
     example for others if we are always working to be better than 
     we have been.
       The Constitution established that determined democracy with 
     its first three words, declaring the people as the source of 
     the government. The Articles of Confederation hadn't done 
     that. The Magna Carta hadn't done that. Only the Constitution 
     says the government exists because the people are the source 
     of the reason it exists. They immediately followed those 
     first three words with the words ``to form a more perfect 
     Union.'' The founders did not say ``to form a perfect 
     Union.'' They did not claim that in our new country nothing 
     would need to be improved. Fortunately, they understood that 
     always working to be better would be the hallmark of a great 
     democracy.
       The freedoms we have today, the nation we have today, is 
     not here just because it happened, and they aren't complete.
       A great democracy, working through the successes and 
     failures of our history, striving to be better than it had 
     been. And we are more than we have been and we are less than 
     we hope to be.
       The assault on our Capitol at this very place just two 
     weeks ago reminds us that a government designed to balance 
     and check itself is both fragile and resilient.
       During the last year, the pandemic challenged our free and 
     open society and called for extraordinary determination and 
     sacrifice--and still challenges us today. Meeting that 
     challenge head on have been and are health care workers, 
     scientists, first responders, essential frontline workers, 
     and so many others we depend on in so many ways.
       Today, we come to this moment. People all over the world, 
     as we're here, are watching and will watch what we do here.
       Our government comes together. The Congress and the Courts 
     join the transition of executive responsibility.
       One political party more pleased today, and on every 
     inaugural day, than the other.
       But this is not a moment of division. It's a moment of 
     unification. A new administration begins and brings with it a 
     new beginning. And with that our great national debate goes 
     forward and a determined democracy will continue to be 
     essential in pursuit of a more perfect Union and a better 
     future for all Americans. What a privilege for me to join you 
     today.
       Thank you.

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