Scott Statement on the President’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the President's State of the Union Address:

"Thanks to the leadership of this President and the resilience of the American people, our economy has emerged from one of the worst economic recessions since the Great Depression. But, as the President mentioned tonight, even with a growing economy, far too many hardworking American families are still not feeling the benefits of this growth. Wages remain stagnant for most workers, yet continue to grow exponentially for the top one percent. Congress must heed the President's call to refocus our efforts to enact policies that truly benefit the middle-class by expanding opportunity for all.

"One of the most important things this Congress can do to help the middle-class is to end the threat of sequestration, which will return in fiscal year 2016. Sequestration will not only wreak havoc on our nation's military, but it will also greatly limit what we invest in education, job training, health care, advanced research and development, roads, bridges, and public transit. Combined, these draconian spending cuts could erase all the economic gains we have made in the last six years.

"Finally, I commend the President for calling on Congress to consider a resolution authorizing the use of military force against ISIL. It has always been incumbent on Congress to review all the facts, debate the issue and decide whether or not to authorize any sustained military action."

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