This week, President Biden delivered his first State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress. I attended in person, and was disappointed at the President’s rhetoric and lack of commitment to the most pressing issues– the American People need more than pandering. If President Biden has suddenly realized the need to secure our border and support our law enforcement, he should have laid out concrete plans to build the wall—or at the very least enforce the laws already on the books. Actions speak louder than words, and we must continue to work on solutions to address the inflation, supply chain, border, crime, and national security crises impacting families every day.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the State of the Union speech was Biden’s refusal to restore American energy independence. We know that when the world isn’t buying Russian oil, Putin’s profits will be depleted and halt his war financing. As I wrote in a letter sent to Biden on Monday, we must spur domestic oil production and reopen American pipelines, which will not only boost our economy, but make the world less reliant on malign actors.
While the state of our union is in self-imposed crisis due to failed policies, and our national security is at stake, watching the brave and courageous Ukrainians fight for their sovereignty should serve as a reminder of how precious freedom is, and that we must work every day to secure it for future generations. When America is strong, the world is safer.
