Leaders praise Obama’s State of the Union Address
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) said, “Tonight the President delivered a powerful plan for action. Congress and the American people were given a clear blueprint for rebuilding our economy, strengthening the middle class, and restoring tax fairness for hard-working Americans who are not millionaires. Looking ahead, the choice for Congress is between an agenda for action for the middle class or more political obstruction. I know Democrats are to ready to get to work re-building America, and I hope my Republican colleagues join us.”
Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) said, “His vision for restoring the economic security to the middle class by focusing on American manufacturing, energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values was a very timely message for Congress and the people of this country.”
“I was particularly pleased to hear him focus on the need for reviving our manufacturing sector. After years of watching American companies ship jobs overseas, we are finally beginning to see entrepreneurs and manufacturers deciding to keep factories and production facilities here in the United States. This is evident in my home state of Wisconsin with companies like Master Lock which began bringing production back to Milwaukee—the same place where the company was founded in 1921. Manufacturing is a critical part of the economy in Wisconsin, and it will be important to invest in strengthening this industry to ensure that we have more good jobs here at home.”
“Additionally, his plans to invest in the education of our students, and training for our workers will be necessary to fill the jobs of the future and provide much needed opportunities for the long-term unemployed.”
“The President’s plans to expand American energy by investing in American energy sources and alternative energy will be extremely important as we work to create a cleaner, greener environment.”
“Paramount in his speech was the need for a return to American values in this country - a country where everyone gets a fair shot and we provide for the most vulnerable of our society.”
“It is my hope that my colleagues will heed the President’s call to work together for the betterment of our country. We have a responsibility to govern, and not simply block all progress for the American people as the Republicans have done since President Obama took office. It is our moral obligation as Members of Congress to continue to fight on behalf of our constituents and our country so that they can achieve the ‘American Dream.”
Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors said, “President Obama’s address this evening emphasizing a renewal of American values around equity and fairness spoke directly to many of the critical policy principles that our members care deeply about and have been fighting for. The President’s proposals for job creation and to tackle the foreclosure crisis are critical steps toward ensuring that all Americans truly benefit from our nation’s recovery. We applaud him for addressing the NAACP’s long-standing priority of economic stability and progress in communities of color.”
Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP President and CEO said. “President Obama has a plan for bringing jobs back – back to our country, back to every state, back to every block in the hardest-hit communities. Congress is dominated by obstructionists who are all too willing to let millions of families and children suffer endlessly if it advances their petty political purposes. It is time for America to be America again. It is time for the people to insist that politicians stop their partisan stalling. It is time for Congressional obstructionists to be a part of the solution and to show the leadership their constituents are dying for.”
Hilary O. Shelton, NAACP Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Policy and Director of the Washington Bureau said, “Since the outset of the economic crisis, the NAACP has worked diligently to convince the President and Congressional leaders that job creation cannot wait. We have met with President Obama several times, and have been encouraged by his vision for this country and this economy. We look forward to advocating on behalf of his forward-looking agenda.”
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said, “After inheriting an economic catastrophe, President Obama has delivered 22 straight months of private-sector job growth. Mayors across the country have benefited from his leadership in putting cops on the street, teachers in the classroom and unemployed workers back on the job — including in the auto industry, which made one million more cars last year because of the President’s bold leadership. He has also delivered critical investments in small business, including upgrades in homegrown energy, which have created hundreds of thousands of new jobs that didn’t even exist before. The President’s leadership has delivered for America’s middle class.”
“The built-to-last economy that President Obama laid out tonight will level the playing field for the middle class. The President’s vision for America is one in which people who work hard, do their fair share and play by the rules will no longer be swimming upstream, but will actually get ahead. That’s just common sense.”
Minnesota's First District Congressman Tim Walz said. “When President Obama said he would bring our troops home from Iraq, he meant it. Now we must turn our focus to making sure returning vets have access to good jobs and the care they have earned. From his Returning Heroes Tax Credit to the online resources his administration is building for veterans to his efforts to improve the transfer to medical records between VA and DOD, he has been a fierce advocate for those who have served. I am proud to work with him to honor the sacrifice and service of our nation's veterans.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) said, “I applaud President Obama for putting forth a blueprint for an America that is built to last. Americans are looking for a serious, long-term strategy that will revive the economy, put people to work, and assure a prosperous and healthy future for our children.”
“This is a make or break moment not just for the middle class but for the entire 99%, which includes our children, seniors, and the poor. Our jobs crisis is a national emergency. With nearly 50 million Americans living in poverty and the average length of unemployment continuing to rise, we must take bold action now. I am glad that President Obama understands we must build a nation where everyone gets a fair shot at achieving their full potential – and we will not be able to achieve this goal without making the proper investments in infrastructure project, health care, education, and our environment. We must end the war in Afghanistan, cut the bloated Pentagon budget, and invest in job creation. It is time to put our weapons down and pick our people up.”
“It is my hope that tomorrow Republican leaders in the House will act to address this crisis that they continue to ignore. It is critical that we address the needs of the most vulnerable: the long-term unemployed, communities of color which experience higher rates of unemployment, youth, and veterans. The truth is that job creators are people who go to work every day and participate in the economy. Until Republicans wake up and work to create jobs, we must strengthen our safety net, extend unemployment benefits, and work to prevent families from falling into poverty – and reignite the American Dream for those who have.”
“We must speak to the moral and economic crisis of income inequality. We cannot forget the long-term unemployed, the poor, our seniors, our students, and the working poor. Everyone should have the opportunity to strive for the rewards and security of the American Dream.”
Chairman of the Black Congressional Caucus (CBC), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) said, “I agree with President Barack Obama. We stand at a critical moment in American history. We can choose to uplift a small segment of our population or we can work together to improve the lives of all Americans. As our nation's economy slowly rebounds, the African American community experiences disproportionately higher rates of unemployment, home foreclosure, educational and healthcare disparities, as well as economic hardship. As a result, vulnerable communities increasingly rely on public programs to meet their basic needs, but these are the very same programs the Republican Leadership has continued to attack. I along with President Obama believe that we all deserve a fair chance, access to jobs, good education, fair taxes and an opportunity to achieve the American dream, but every American does not have access to these kinds of opportunities.”
“Recklessly eliminating vital programs like job training, education, and health care for millions of hardworking American families is not a roadmap to getting our economy back on track. It is a road map to permanently damaging the future wellbeing of our great nation. Tonight, President Obama laid out a clear blueprint to continue rebuilding our economy through American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values that will strengthen our nation's fragile economy, not just for our children's children, but for generations to come. I commend the President for recognizing the millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules everyday and for further recognizing that they deserve a government and economy that do the same. It is high time that we all pay our fair. It is also time that we stop with the obsessive compulsive worry that another American is trying to take what we have earned. We are in this together and if we, as a country, do not realize that fact very soon we are headed for a rude awakening.”
“The Republican Leadership refused to take any real action on jobs for the duration of the first session the 112th Congress, despite our many efforts from the 'For the People' Jobs Initiative, including our over fifty pieces of jobs legislation offered by Members of the Congressional Black Caucus and nine job creation recommendations. More recently, they have rejected the American Jobs Act, which would provide opportunities for hard working American families. By denying the American people opportunities we are denying ourselves full economic recovery. The American Jobs Act is not a hand out; it is a hand up out of poverty, out of debt, out of foreclosure and most importantly, out of hopelessness. We cannot ignore the fact that those in our most vulnerable communities continue to suffer. Their sufferings are our own. It is a new year, which creates a new opportunity to do the right thing.”
“The CBC also remains committed to working with President Obama to responsibly reduce the deficit, while safeguarding the progress that we have made in the job market by investing in our future. Investing in our communities goes hand in hand with full economic recovery. No investment, no recovery. It is time to put politics aside and make the promise of the America the practice.”
