Arizona legislators are responding to the State of the Union Speech given by President Joe Biden on Tuesday. The 62-minute speech touched on the war abroad and worries at home. Biden resolved to fight against Russia’s aggression while tending to inflation, COVID-19 fatigue, and sagging approval ratings.
Rep. Ruben Gallego commented on Biden’s speech, commending the president’s response to “historic challenges.”
“Coming into office, the Biden-Harris administration faced historic challenges. Whether it was an economy in turmoil, soaring COVID-19 cases, an inauguration in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection, or the need to rebuild diplomatic alliances abroad, this administration has met the moment in every instance,” Gallego stated. “In the year since, this administration has worked with Congress to deliver an unprecedented economic recovery, a historic infrastructure package, and a vaccination campaign that has finally beaten down COVID-19. And as the united Western and NATO response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated, President Biden has very much restored the United States’ leadership on the world stage.”
Gallego concluded, “As the President eloquently said tonight: ‘the State of the Union is strong—because you, the American people, are strong.’ This administration and Congress, together with the American people, have put our country back on the right track, and we are not done yet. I look forward to continuing to deliver on the key issues affecting our country, including lowering costs for families, strengthening our economy, fighting climate change, and standing up to Russia’s appalling aggression in Ukraine.”
Debbie Lesko expressed criticism of the Biden Administration, stating in a press release, “The State of the Union is in Crisis. Gasoline, grocery, and energy prices are soaring, crime has risen through the roof, the southern border is wide open, fentanyl is killing our kids, and war has broken out in Ukraine. President Biden is going to have to do more than offer empty rhetoric. It is time for him to abandon his far left agenda and work with Republicans for the sake of our nation and our allies around the world.”
Rep. David Schweikert issued a press release critical of President Biden, calling the speech a “distortion of reality.”
“President Biden’s speech tonight sounded more like a fiction novel than an honest address to the nation. Instead of offering solutions to move our country forward, the President spent over an hour trying to tell the American people that his failures are really accomplishments. It was a complete distortion of reality,” commented Schweikert.
“Regardless of what President Biden said this evening, it doesn’t change the fact that we are a country in crisis. The past year has been marked by foreign policy failures, record levels of crime, an open border with fentanyl pouring through, and historic levels of inflation.
“Americans deserve better than this.”
Rep. Tom O’Halleran commended some of the policies championed by the Biden Administration and expressed approval of the Infrastructure Act. However, he also criticized the president for not commenting on rural Americans in his speech.
“Tonight, I was also pleased to hear the president’s plan of action to address comprehensive immigration, pay down the deficit, and address supply chain issues and lower costs for families by investing in American goods, manufacturing, and jobs,” O’Halleran commented.
“However, I was disappointed not to hear a mention of the importance and role of rural America in the president’s remarks. In rural communities like Arizona’s First District, hardworking families feel more acutely the issues the president discussed tonight—rising prices, the need for new, good-paying jobs, and the desperate desire to bounce back from this pandemic better than before. We must ensure rural communities are prioritized in the legislative actions we take to better our country for all.
“I’ll always do what’s right for Arizonans, regardless of party and no matter who the president is. While President Biden and I may not agree on everything, we agree that the State of our Union is stronger when we come together as Americans, not politicians, and put aside our differences to improve the lives of our constituents.”
Senator Kyrsten Sinema responded to Biden’s speech on Twitter. “As the world watches Russia’s unprovoked and illegal attacks on a free and democratic Ukraine, we are reminded that there is much more that binds Americans, and Arizonans, together than pulls us apart. We stand united with Ukraine and our allies against Russian aggression,” Sinema stated.
Focusing on what unites us allows us to deliver lasting solutions, like our historic bipartisan infrastructure law, that will lower costs and improve the lives of everyday Americans. I welcome President Biden’s support for our policies boosting American manufacturing of semiconductors, ensuring Arizona veterans – including those exposed to harmful burn pits – receive the care they’ve earned and lower health care costs for Arizona seniors.”
