WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) released the following statement:

Today I attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden with the backdrop of a dystopian-like Washington, D.C. where military outnumbered civilians by an unthinkable magnitude. We must be better than this as a nation—building our country up through a debate of words and ideas rather than tearing it down with violence.

I did not vote for President Biden, but I am committed to working with him when we can find areas of agreement, especially on the issues that are most important to me personally: fixing Florida’s water issues and serving our veterans. President Donald Trump secured a historic increase in funding for Everglades restoration, and I will hold President Biden accountable to building on this legacy. Likewise, when I disagree with President Biden, I will say so—loudly. His embrace of socialist policies and efforts to appease the radical left, if followed through on, would lead our country down a disastrous path.

Despite the divisions that exist in our nation right now, I do believe there is still more that unites us than divides us, and there is certainly no country I would rather call home!

###