Congresswoman Matsui Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Statement on the President's State of the Union Address
Tonight, following President Obama's State of the Union Address, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) released the following statement:
The President was clear tonight that we need to keep putting Americans back to work and continue to increase our competitiveness around the world. We must restore our economy and create jobs; we must win the future.
I share the President's commitment to strengthening our nation's infrastructure. Not only will these infrastructure investments increase public safety, they will also create high-paying jobs for our local workforce. In Sacramento, that means focusing on flood protection. It is absolutely imperative to deliver lasting flood protection for the region, and preserving public safety for generations to come.
Investing in our nation's infrastructure also means investing in our public transit, affordable housing, roads and bridges. History has shown us that for every $1 billion in infrastructure investments, we create 35,000 jobs. By strengthening our nation's infrastructure, we are harnessing the tools and resources we need to keep our communities safe, efficient, and competitive.
I was encouraged by the President's focus on innovation and bolstering America's manufacturing base. We can put more people back to work by advancing our Make it in America agenda, which keeps manufacturing jobs here at home and increases our competitiveness abroad. That is why I am focused on supporting Sacramento businesses and industries with proven growth potential in our region, like clean technology and health care. As Sacramento-area clean tech companies continue to look for ways to grow their businesses, they need support to hire additional workers, invest in research and development, and grow our clean tech resources. I look forward to working with my colleagues and the President to pass these types of initiatives that will keep our clean energy sector both innovative and competitive.
Education is essential to our goals of competing in a global marketplace and making Made in America a reality once again. Moreover, I believe every child deserves access to a quality education where students are encouraged to achieve their dreams. But, I also recognize that recent budget cuts have severely impacted our local schools, and that is why we need to continue to prioritize education at the local, state and national levels.
We must also do everything we can to prepare our students for the future, including focusing on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education; and fostering creativity, collaboration and new ideas. Investments in K-12 will help inspire a new generation and pave the way for sustained economic growth while directing resources toward our community colleges will help train our local workforce and offer new opportunities to Sacramento students and families.
The President laid out a blueprint for economic growth tonight, and this Congress must work in a bipartisan fashion to grow our economy, create jobs, and invest in our communities. California specifically needs leaders in Congress that are serious about creating jobs and rebuilding our economy. I will continue fighting to get more Sacramentans back to work, grow our economy, restore the confidence in our financial system, and help keep Americans in their homes.
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