DeLauro Statement on President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) issued this statement following President Biden’s State of the Union address:

“Americans are struggling to make ends meet. They live paycheck to paycheck, and have not seen their wages increase in years. Tonight, President Biden outlined his vision for the nation – an America where we invest in all Americans to ensure the middle and working class have a fair shot.

“On his vision for the economy, President Biden called for a future that we can build together – one where everyday Americans come first, not billionaires and the biggest corporations. That means protecting the Affordable Care Act, Social Security, and Medicare from cuts and enacting policies like the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit to help families make ends meet. It means providing Americans with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, so they do not have to choose between the health of themselves or their loved one and keeping their job. We must enact trade policies that prioritize American workers and protect their livelihoods. And we must ensure that billionaires and giant corporations – who already pay little to no taxes – pay their fair share.

“President Biden also outlined how the future of our nation is at stake, and how we must come together to defend the rights and freedoms that some are actively seeking to strip away from us. All Americans, regardless of party affiliation, have an obligation to defend democracy. All Americans should exercise their constitutional right to vote, and lawmakers must restore legislation that has protected this sacred right for generations. We must also move legislation that restores the rights guaranteed under Roe v. Wade, so that women can make their own healthcare decisions and are not held hostage by their geography.

“President Biden made clear that the United States will not skirt its obligations on the global stage. We must stand with Ukraine against Putin’s war of aggression. And we must work to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza, free all the hostages held by Hamas, and enact a six-week ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict that allows for the protection and survival of innocent Palestinian civilians caught in the middle of war. I am glad that President Biden is using every lever to ensure that desperately needed aid gets to innocent Palestinian civilians, including the recently announced seaport that will be established in Gaza to distribute aid. Ultimately, we need long-term regional stability between Israel and the Palestinian people. That includes strong U.S. leadership to bring security and peace to the Middle East, and a two-state solution that allows Israel to live side-by-side with an independent Palestinian State.

“Since taking office, President Biden and congressional Democrats have been hard at work. The president has signed over 400 bipartisan bills into law ranging a number of topics – on gun safety, health care for veterans, infrastructure and jobs, and more. We must continue the progress we have made under this president. As President Biden reminded the country tonight, America is a story of progress, possibilities, and resilience. When we are united, we can deliver a prosperous future for the American people. Now, let’s get to work.”