Luján Statement on President Trump's State of the Union Address

Statement

Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union Address:

"Last night, President Trump painted a very dark picture in his State of the Union address.

Contrast that with the remarks that we heard from Congressman Joe Kennedy, who was inspirational. He talked about real plans and tangible ideas to help hard-working families across the country.

Or contrast it with the eloquence of Virginia Delegate Elizabeth Guzman speaking directly to the President, but reaching out to earn the trust of the American people.

These were two very different pictures that were painted last night.

I really believe that people in this country today want to be forward-looking. They're tired of this dark cloud that has been hanging over the Trump Administration.

With the words the President shared last night, there was a lot of talk, but it was just talk. Especially when it came to combating opioid addiction. This is not the first or even the second pronouncement that this President has made that he will be doing something concrete to help people across the country who are suffering.

I say, "actions speak louder than words, Mr. President.' Let's get to work.

This is a bipartisan effort -- Democrats and Republicans want to work together to do something meaningful to help the American people.

What was absent last night?

The President did not talk about how to help the American people when it comes to access to healthcare. The President also did not talk about the rising premiums that came at the hands of Congressional Republicans.

In the GOP tax plan, actions were taken by House Republicans, Senate Republicans and by President Trump which destabilized the marketplace and are now increasing premiums on the American people. And the President refused to talk about it.

Let us look at the differences we are seeing today -- the dark cloud that continues to hang over this administration and the dark picture President Trump painted last night. Or the message of hope and inspiration that Democrats presented. All that darkness pales in comparison to the conversation that we will continue to have with the American people about how to help our hard-working families.

That's the difference. Let's work together to get people back to work. Let's create an infrastructure proposal that has real plans and concrete ideas rather than a plan filled only with words.

The President had a chance to unify the country around some of these goals with his address last night, but he did not.

We must step up where he did not.

Because the consequences of inaction will do too much harm to too many hard-working American families."

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