Garamendi’s Statement on the State of the Union
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA) issued the following statement after attending President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address:
“Since he took office three years ago, President Biden has created over 14 million jobs, more than any other President has created in four, and delivered a roadmap for an economy that works for everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy. More Americans have healthcare than ever before, there has been a 6.5% increase in manufacturing jobs, GDP has grown by 22%, inflation rates have cooled to one of the lowest rates among major industrialized nations, and we’ve had the strongest three years of small business applications in U.S. history,” Garamendi continued.
“This was all achieved thanks to strong Democratic policies, like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure and Jobs Act, and the American Rescue Plan. Despite facing the narrowest Congressional majorities in 100 years and zero Republican support in these efforts, President Biden and Congressional Democrats delivered for the American people,” Garamendi continued.
“The work isn’t over. While extreme Republicans push to leave Ukraine alone to defend against Russia’s years-long war of aggression, President Biden and Congressional Democrats are championing critical funding that would protect Ukraine and prove that the United States will not abandon its allies. At the same time, despite the Republican push to dictate a national abortion ban, President Biden’s administration is ensuring women can make their own reproductive health care decisions,” Garamendi continued.
“Tonight, President Biden announced that his Administration is implementing my amendment with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin requiring that all construction materials for taxpayer-funded transportation projects be made in America. In March 2023, I called on Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to rescind a waiver in place since 1983, which has allowed countless billions of taxpayer dollars to be spent on foreign-made construction materials. I am delighted that President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg heeded my call, rescinding this deeply misguided Reagan Administration waiver in tonight’s State of the Union,” Garamendi continued.
“After years of endless happy talk in Washington, President Biden and Congressional Democrats are finally turning free trade into fair trade, correcting our nation’s longstanding trade imbalance with countries like China, and stopping foreign state-controlled companies from gutting our manufacturing jobs. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we are making landmark federal investments to modernize our country’s infrastructure and tackle the climate crisis by building the clean energy economy of tomorrow with American workers, materials, and know-how,” Garamendi continued.
“I am thrilled that President Biden has embraced the commonsense 'Buy American' and 'Make it in America' policies I have championed in Congress. With the President on our side, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that taxpayer dollars support domestic manufacturing, create thousands of middle-class jobs that can never be outsourced, and make America competitive in the 21st century. Skilled American workers are ready, willing, and able to do the job,” Garamendi continued.
“America’s story is one of resilience and progress. I am more determined than ever to continue delivering positive results for my constituents and all Americans,” Garamendi concluded.
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