WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement Tuesday night following President Obama’s State of the Union address.
“President Obama tonight laid out a clear vision for strengthening America’s economy and investing in American workers, focusing on ideas that hold real promise for revitalizing America’s manufacturing sector. Simplifying the tax code and closing loopholes that reward companies that move American jobs overseas just makes good sense, as does increasing our investment in infrastructure and finding creative new vehicles for financing it. The President also called for a new commitment to federally funded scientific research, which plays a critical role in the nation’s innovation pipeline and our nation’s global competitiveness.
“I could not be happier with the emphasis President Obama placed on skills training in tonight’s speech. An across-the-board review and reform of the nation’s training programs is a terrific idea, as is having Vice President Biden lead it. We need to make sure that at every level, we’re training Americans for the needs of the modern economy. Investing in American workers is how we’ll be able to rebuild our middle class and ensure that our nation can compete over the long-term.
“The President also announced his intention to launch six new public-private manufacturing hubs this year, like the one launched in North Carolina earlier this month. He also correctly noted that if Congress were to take up and pass the bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Sherrod Brown and Roy Blunt — the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act — we could double the number of these manufacturing hubs and make a difference in even more communities in this country. There are more than a dozen of good bipartisan manufacturing bills Congress could consider today if it can get past the partisan gridlock.
“Finally, while I understand and even appreciate President Obama’s commitment to making at least some progress in the coming year through executive orders, he should not give up on working with Congress. Now more than ever, the country can’t afford for Republicans and Democrats in Washington to remain paralyzed. Congress needs to find a way to work together and with President Obama to grow our economy and rebuild our middle class.”
Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations, Budget, Judiciary and Foreign Relations committees, and leads the Senate’s Manufacturing Jobs for America campaign.