Matsui Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163/ (202) 302-3249

Following President Obama's State of the Union Address this evening, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-Sacramento) released the following statement:

The President was clear in laying out his priorities for this year: jobs, jobs, jobs. The President and Congress must have a laser-beam focus on creating jobs and turning around our economy. I have seen first-hand that our local workforce is ready to take an active part in our economic recovery. Recovery has begun but we need continued investment in our local workforce, small businesses, clean energy and technology, education and flood control.

At the same time, we need to institute long-overdue Wall Street reforms. Far too many of my constituents are struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Wall Street executives, who got us into this economic crisis, continue to receive excessive bonuses that they did not earn. Wall Street needs to be held accountable, and empowering consumers has never been more important.

The President also spoke tonight about his commitment to enacting significant health insurance reform that drives down costs, strengthens Medicare, and helps American families afford the care that they need and deserve. As the President made clear health care is a moral and economic issue that affects everyone in this country.

Every day I get phone calls and emails from Sacramentans urging me to act to shield families from medical bankruptcy, to help seniors afford prescription drugs they need, and to stop health-care costs from going through the roof. The price of inaction to middle-class pocketbooks, to Medicare, and to the federal budget is simply too high to let this opportunity to pass us by. The President's speech tonight should serve as the final rallying cry for Congress to act to reform the health insurance system, and I will continue to be on the front lines of this debate doing everything I can to make this vision a reality.