Area members of Congress reacted to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address.
Congressman Chuck Fleischman said, “In President Trump’s State of the Union address, Americans heard that our nation will continue to choose greatness. Under the Trump Administration, Tennesseans have experienced pro-business policies and robust economic growth, benefited from unprecedented regulatory relief for workers and small business owners, observed the resurgence of our military forces, and witnessed a leader who prioritizes the safety and security of our nation.
“This evening, President Trump outlined the path forward as we to continue to rebuild America. While we complete the President’s bold agenda, let us remember that more can be accomplished when we choose freedom over obstruction and unite in our vision for a greater and more prosperous nation.”
Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) said, “Tonight President Trump addressed one of the most pressing issues facing our country: the humanitarian and security crisis at our Southern border. The president again made a strong case for ending this crisis based on facts, evidence and expert advice.
“As a member of the bipartisan Conference Committee on border security, I’m urging Democrats to begin negotiating in good faith. With Speaker Pelosi refusing to comprise, the negotiations can’t succeed.
“But if Democrats are simply willing to put partisanship aside and begin negotiating based on facts and evidence and listen to the experts, I believe there is still time to find a solution before the February 15 deadline. I urge them to help us use this opportunity to secure our nation."
Senator David Perdue (R-GA) said, “Tonight, President Trump laid out a very powerful vision for our country that continues to build on the successes of the last two years. Many Americans are seeing increased paychecks, more opportunities, and brighter futures for their families. The economy is growing at twice the rate it did under President Obama, and more than 5.3 million new jobs have been created. Total unemployment is the lowest in 50 years, while African American, Hispanic, and Asian American unemployment is the lowest ever.
“While much work has been accomplished, we still need bipartisan solutions to address the rising costs of health care, fix our broken immigration system, rebuild and modernize our infrastructure, and negotiate fair trade deals with our partners around the world.
“While we heard a positive message from President Trump, Democrats sat on their hands. There is a stark contrast between the positive results we’ve seen under President Trump and Democrats’ radical policies that have been proven to fail.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said, “President Trump provided a unifying, hopeful vision for the nation tonight, highlighting Administration accomplishments and the booming economy, but also expressing optimism that even greater achievements lie ahead. The President’s policies have been beneficial to American agriculture in the short term, but also have laid the foundation for long-term prosperity. Our trade agreements with other nations are getting stronger, and the strategies the President has employed will lead to new and expanded markets for our products. This was a patriotic speech, reminding Americans of the greatness of this country, with even brighter hopes for the future.”