Congresswoman Matsui Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
Tonight, in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) released the following statement:
I was pleased to hear President Obama make clear tonight that our main focus must continue to be creating jobs and getting Americans back to work. In order to lay the groundwork for an America built to last , we must take action now to keep our country competitive. This means investing in American infrastructure, manufacturing, clean energy, and education.
Tonight, the President again noted his commitment to strengthening our nation's infrastructure. In Sacramento, this means federal support for our flood protection projects. In August, I wrote to the President asking that he include critical flood protection projects in his jobs package. As I stressed then, not only will these projects ensure public safety, but they will also create much-needed jobs. Congress can and should move quickly in a bipartisan fashion to authorize and fund needed levee improvements, including work in Natomas.
Further, I share the President's belief that in order to have a strong middle class, which is so essential to the health of our nation, we must restore our manufacturing sector. In light of the fact that America lost over one-third of its manufacturing jobs during the last decade, I have joined with House Democrats in recent years in promoting the Make it in America agenda in Congress. We have worked to support and advance several of the proposals that the President mentioned tonight in order to bring manufacturing jobs back to our country, and help more of our businesses and families make it in America too.
As part of the Make it in America agenda, I have introduced legislation the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act that would not only help restore our manufacturing base, but also help grow our clean energy sector. Just as the President pointed out tonight, advancing domestic clean energy technologies will help create good jobs, strengthen our economy, and address national security and environmental concerns. Right now, we have a historic opportunity as a country to become a clean energy leader, and make American energy synonymous with clean energy but the government must give our businesses the tools they need to succeed and compete in a global marketplace.
And, we must give our students and workers the foundation to compete in a global marketplace as well. Our students must be prepared now for the jobs of the future, and I share the President's view that we can make significant changes in how we educate and prepare our youth. We should put an emphasis on STEM education in order to produce the innovators and inventers of tomorrow. We should direct resources toward our community colleges to help expand job-training programs and offer new opportunities for our youth. We must make the changes today that will prepare our students and workers for tomorrow's industries.
Though the first session of the 112th Congress was a difficult one that did not see much in the way of meaningful jobs legislation, I hope that we can go into the second session with a renewed energy and a greater sense of bipartisanship. I was glad to hear the President emphasize a return to the basic American values of fairness for all, responsibility from all. I believe that we have gotten away from this idea in recent years, but it should be a basic tenant in building an economy that works for everyone. The 14 million unemployed Americans cannot wait any longer. Congress must work to create jobs, grow our economy, and keep our country competitive. I will continue fighting to see that Sacramento, and America, are built to last .
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