Van Hollen Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union address:
“Over the past three years, we’ve worked with President Biden to get big things done for the American people – passing landmark legislation to tackle prescription drug costs, modernize our infrastructure, invest in U.S. manufacturing, address climate change and more. These historic laws – and the President’s decisive action in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic – have resulted in a strong economic recovery that far outpaces other nations, including near-record low unemployment with more than 12 million jobs created. I’m glad that the President came out swinging tonight, and hammered home the enormous progress the country has made since he was elected as well as his determination to do more.
“As the President laid out this evening, we will keep fighting to lower costs, promote more economic fairness, and protect Americans’ sacred rights and freedoms. We want the wealthiest of the wealthy and mega-corporations to pay more of their fair share so that we can invest in the prosperity of all Americans. We want Americans’ right to the ballot box and their right to reproductive choice to be safeguarded from those who wish to strip them away.
“And as we face growing challenges abroad, President Biden rightly stressed the need for House Republicans to follow the Senate’s lead and take up the bipartisan National Security Act. Supporting the Ukrainian people as they defend themselves against Vladimir Putin’s aggression is critical both for the future of Ukraine and the future of democracy vs. autocracy in Europe and beyond. The President was also right to acknowledge the horrors of October 7th and the right of Israel to defend itself while underscoring that this war must be fought justly. I was glad to hear the President touch on the desperate need to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and announce new measures to do so. But the President must also use the United States’ leverage and U.S. law to insist Israel allow in more aid, and I will continue to push for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
“While the challenges we face are great, together we are greater. President Biden made that clear tonight. And alongside President Biden, we will keep working to move our country forward, not backwards into chaos and division.”