Van Hollen Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s first State of the Union address:

“Just over one year ago, President Biden was sworn into office as a nation in disarray looked on – left shocked by the attacks on our democracy and battered by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic harm. Tonight, President Biden reported that America is coming back strong. 

“We’ve made big strides over the last year, from the deployment of millions of vaccines to defeat the pandemic to record job growth. This progress was made possible by the resilience of people across Maryland and the nation and the passage of the American Rescue Plan. We have also started the historic effort of putting millions of Americans to work building the infrastructure of the 21st century.

“But there’s more to be done. As President Biden discussed in his speech, there are still many challenges we face – from combatting Putin’s aggression and standing against autocracy abroad to shoring up our democracy here at home. To build a better future and grow opportunity for all, we must pass the President’s plan to combat the rising prices that are squeezing American families, confront the climate crisis, and much more. 

“We have a duty – but also a unique opportunity – to tackle these challenges head-on and to deliver more results to the American people. I’m committed to working with the President to get this done."