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 made a forceful case for how we can strengthen our middle class and accelerate our nation’s economic recovery. Our nation has come a long way since the depths of the recession, and today we have the lowest unemployment rate in years and have had the longest period of sustained, private-sector job growth on record. Unfortunately, I hear from too many middle class and working families that haven’t yet experienced the benefits of the recovery, and with the gap between rich and poor still growing, much more work lies ahead of us.”
“The President laid out a bold plan to help our businesses create good jobs, give working Americans a leg up, and make our tax code more fair. Our infrastructure needs serious investment to meet our economy’s growing demands, so the President’s proposals to bring private capital off the sidelines and increase the effectiveness of public investment at all levels are important. I’ve been proud to support innovative ways to fund our infrastructure needs and I look forward to working with the President to create good jobs today and tomorrow.
“Central to our nation’s promise has always been that if Americans are willing to work hard, they’ll be able to get ahead. The President’s plan to reform our tax code includes Democratic and Republican proposals to better support working Americans and close tax loopholes that only benefit the wealthy. While it is no substitute for Congress enacting comprehensive reforms to our tax system, the President has proposed a compelling start. I was also encouraged that the President proposed that our nation provide hard-working Americans with a community college education. I look forward to working across the aisle to learn from the experience of Delaware’s SEED and Inspire Scholarships, and to crafting a solution that makes community college a reality for the next generation of Americans. If our economy is to remain competitive, Americans must have access to the education and training they need to thrive.
“There were many more proposals that should unite members of both parties – from manufacturing and expanded access to broadband internet, to middle-class tax cuts and stronger cyber security measures – but I agreed with President Obama’s main message tonight: we must do more for middle class Americans. The President’s call for fairness and opportunity is not only consistent with our values, but is pivotal to our nation’s continued prosperity. I look forward to working with his Administration and my colleagues in Congress to find common ground and move our nation forward.”
Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Ethics, and Small Business committees.