WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address.
“In his State of the Union Address, President Biden highlighted the progress we have made over the past year to combat COVID-19 and recover economically and made a clear case for what more must be done in the year ahead. When President Biden’s term began in 2021, the majority of Americans were not yet vaccinated and federal support for many families and businesses was running out. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s vaccination program, over 200 million Americans have been vaccinated, a number that continues to climb. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congressional Democrats provided a lifeline to individuals, small businesses, and communities – leading to a historic economic recovery in the U.S.
“Building on the success of the past year, President Biden laid out an optimistic vision for the future of our economy based on the facts. In 2021, our gross domestic product grew by 5.7 percent – the fastest growth since 1984 – making the United States the first advanced economy in the world to reach pre-pandemic GDP levels. We created 6.6 million jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped from 6.4 percent to around 4 percent, representing the biggest single year drop in our country’s history. The United States economy has not only recovered but has come back stronger in many ways, including the long overdue rise in wages for many workers.
“The President’s address reflects his commitment to the issues that matter to the American people: access to good jobs with fair wages and better benefits, lower costs for things like child care, and a safe and sustainable future. It is imperative that we follow through on the President’s remarks tonight to advance the pillars of his agenda that prioritize lower costs for American families and address the climate crisis. The provisions from the Build Back Better agenda to combat climate change and promote clean energy will lower energy costs for families, reduce harmful emissions, put us on a path to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, and modernize our electric grid to be sustainable in the long-term.
“President Biden was also clear eyed about the challenges we face, namely Vladimir Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine. President Biden has joined other leaders around the world to swiftly condemn Putin’s invasion of this independent country and impose severe sanctions that will weaken and isolate Russia. Despite Putin’s attempts to divide the West, I remain confident in our strong network of partners and allies across the globe, and I look forward to continuing to work together towards a more stable, just, and peaceful world.
“I commend President Biden for his achievements in the past year, for bringing us out of one of the worst economic crises we have seen in our nation’s history and for bringing us into a future of opportunity and possibility. I look forward to my continued work with the Administration in the year ahead to deliver for the people of Washington’s Ninth District and all Americans.”
“In his State of the Union Address, President Biden highlighted the progress we have made over the past year to combat COVID-19 and recover economically and made a clear case for what more must be done in the year ahead. When President Biden’s term began in 2021, the majority of Americans were not yet vaccinated and federal support for many families and businesses was running out. Thanks to the Biden-Harris administration’s vaccination program, over 200 million Americans have been vaccinated, a number that continues to climb. The American Rescue Plan passed by Congressional Democrats provided a lifeline to individuals, small businesses, and communities – leading to a historic economic recovery in the U.S.
“Building on the success of the past year, President Biden laid out an optimistic vision for the future of our economy based on the facts. In 2021, our gross domestic product grew by 5.7 percent – the fastest growth since 1984 – making the United States the first advanced economy in the world to reach pre-pandemic GDP levels. We created 6.6 million jobs, and the unemployment rate dropped from 6.4 percent to around 4 percent, representing the biggest single year drop in our country’s history. The United States economy has not only recovered but has come back stronger in many ways, including the long overdue rise in wages for many workers.
“The President’s address reflects his commitment to the issues that matter to the American people: access to good jobs with fair wages and better benefits, lower costs for things like child care, and a safe and sustainable future. It is imperative that we follow through on the President’s remarks tonight to advance the pillars of his agenda that prioritize lower costs for American families and address the climate crisis. The provisions from the Build Back Better agenda to combat climate change and promote clean energy will lower energy costs for families, reduce harmful emissions, put us on a path to eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels, and modernize our electric grid to be sustainable in the long-term.
“President Biden was also clear eyed about the challenges we face, namely Vladimir Putin’s war of choice against Ukraine. President Biden has joined other leaders around the world to swiftly condemn Putin’s invasion of this independent country and impose severe sanctions that will weaken and isolate Russia. Despite Putin’s attempts to divide the West, I remain confident in our strong network of partners and allies across the globe, and I look forward to continuing to work together towards a more stable, just, and peaceful world.
“I commend President Biden for his achievements in the past year, for bringing us out of one of the worst economic crises we have seen in our nation’s history and for bringing us into a future of opportunity and possibility. I look forward to my continued work with the Administration in the year ahead to deliver for the people of Washington’s Ninth District and all Americans.”
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