As Congress debated impeaching President Donald Trump over last week's riot at the U.S. Capitol, North Carolina lawmakers opened a two-year session on Wednesday with promises of less partisanship and more cooperation to benefit the state.
OPPORTUNITIES. MORE SCHOOLS COULD SIGN ON IN THE FUTURE. READ MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAM ON WRAL TECH LIAR. >>> STATE LAWMAKERS RETURN TO RALEIGH TO START THE NEXT TWO YEAR SESSION. HIGH ON THE AGENDA, COVID RELIEF. LAURA LESLIE JOINS US VIA ZOOM WITH THAT STORY. >> Reporter: THE FIRST SESSION IS USUALLY BIG CELEBRATION, EVERYONE'S FAMILIES THERE, EVERYONE SWORN INTO OFFICE. THIS YEAR A COUPLE SHADOWS OVERHUNG THE DAY. NUMBER ONE, COVID, KEPT PEOPLE FROM GATHERING IN GROUPS TO LAST WEEK'S RIOT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WAS ON EVERYONE'S MIND. IN THE STATE HOUSE AND SENATE, LEADERS OF BOTH PARTIES SAID THE EVIDENCE OF LAST WEEK HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO BACK AWAY FROM PARTISAN BICKERING AND WORK HARDER TO FIND COMMON GROUND. >> OUR COUNTRY IN 2020 HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH. WE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS NEED TO UNIFY. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS AMERICANS. >> THE OTHER THING MADE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR BY THESE EVENTS IS THAT HAS TO START HERE. >> Reporter: HOUSE LAWMAKERS RE- ELECTED TIM MOORE AS FOURTH TERM FOR SPEAKER AND THE SENATE RE-ELECTED PHIL IS A SIX TERM PER TEMP. HE DENOUNCED THE CAPITOL RIGHT IS MOB VIOLENCE AND EQUATED IT WITH LAST SUMMER'S SEQUENTIAL JUSTICE AND REST. HE URGED MEMBERS TO PUT PARTISAN BICKERING ASIDE. >> ALL OF US FROM THE MOST SENIOR TO THE MOST JUNIOR HAVE A SOLEMN RESPONSE ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT AND HONOR THE RULE OF LAW. >> Reporter: THEY SAID AFTER SESSION THE THINGS THEY ARE LIKELY TO ACT FIRST ON OUR COVID RELIEF INCLUDING MAKING SURE OR TRYING TO HURRY VACCINES AS THEY GET DISTRIBUTED AND ALSO LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING LIKE STUDENTS DURING REMOTE LEARNING.
