U.S. Chamber Comments on Violence at Capitol, Certification of Biden’s Election
The U.S. Congress early today certified the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be the next president and vice president of the United States. The events of yesterday, in which a mob entered the Capitol and delayed for a few hours the work of the Congress, represent a disturbing moment in American history that will be impossible to forget, but the institutions of American democracy have weathered the test.
The Chamber has strongly supported this constitutional process and has been engaging with the Biden-Harris transition team for weeks. You likely saw statements from our CEO, Tom Donohue, on Monday, in which he urged the Trump administration “to facilitate an orderly transition,” and yesterday, in which he decried “the attacks against our nation’s Capitol Building and our democracy” and urged the Congress to complete the certification process. Today we issued a longer statement, which reads in part:
“We condemn the rioters who stormed the Capitol yesterday, and those, including President Trump, whose words and actions gave fuel to the mob. There is no place for demagogues in our democracy. We also applaud those members, especially Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who ensured that the work of Congress continued and the electoral college ballots counted.
“But we must go beyond words. The Chamber and our members will lend all assistance necessary to ensure a successful and peaceful transfer of power on January 20th, and to help President-elect Biden and the new Congress address the many challenges that confront our nation, most notably ending the pandemic that has killed more than 360,000 Americans, imperiled our economy, closed tens of thousands of small businesses, and put millions out of work.
“As we have been saying for years, we need responsible and resolved governing to lead our nation. We also must strengthen the structures of our democracy. The business community must and will play a critical role in supporting the rule of law, fortifying democratic norms, and restoring trust in our institutions.”
Source: The U.S.Chamber of Commerce
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