Lujan Statement on the President's State of the Union Address

Statement

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico's Third District released the following statement tonight after President Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.

"Tonight, President Obama spoke of the great promise of America and the essential role that a vibrant middle class plays in enabling our nation to achieve its full potential. In declaring a time of action and signaling his determination to move our country forward, President Obama made it clear that the challenges facing our country and the American people can't wait.

"With New Mexico facing high levels of poverty, too many hungry children, and so many of our friends and neighbors looking for work, the delays and gridlock of the past must remain in the past. Last year was the least productive Congressional session of all time. We cannot afford to have a repeat of that this year. Rather than waste time trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act and hold the debt limit hostage, House Republicans need to work with President Obama so that we can find common ground and make progress on jobs and the economy -- not govern from one manufactured crisis to the next.

"President Obama offered a number of important proposals that will build a stronger middle class and provide opportunities to hard-working Americans, from raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers to making college more affordable and accessible. These efforts are welcomed; however they are not a substitute for Congressional action. President Obama is taking action because Congress has failed to act. Congress must no longer turn a blind eye to the struggles of working people and the poor in America."

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