Hoyer: Real Bipartisan Cooperation Needed From President to Improve the State of Our Union

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement responding to President Bush's State of the Union address:

"In the beginning of his State of the Union address, President Bush stated, 'We must have the will to face difficult challenges and determined enemies -- and the wisdom to face them together.' I couldn't agree more. Our strength as a nation is wholly dependent on our ability to stand together and work together to achieve our common goals.  

"The new Democratic-led Congress has not only embraced the concept of bipartisanship in its opening hours, but we have demonstrated that we can work together with Republicans to address America's key priorities and pass bipartisan legislation that offers real solutions to the real problems people are facing.

"In our first one hundred hours, we delivered on legislation to increase the minimum wage, reduce college costs, implement recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, allow the government to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors, repeal $14 billion in taxpayer-funded subsidies for the oil industry, and expand life-saving stem cell research. The 100 Hours Agenda was just the start of the new Congress's efforts to bring the focus of the People's House back to the people. The Democratic Congress delivered on our promises to lead this country in a new direction; now the President must do the same.

"I believe that our nation will be stronger if we can take bold leaps, not baby steps, to develop alternative energy solutions to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil and keep our environment clean. President Bush has pledged attention to address the nation's energy problems in every State of the Union, admitting last year that 'America is addicted to oil.' It is my hope that he is now ready to back up his rhetoric with real action on bipartisan-supported proposals to invest in alternative energy and conservation technology.

"Our nation will be stronger if we can take serious action to address the healthcare crisis in the country that has left 46 million uninsured, including approximately 800,000 in the state of Maryland. Many in Congress have long believed that each of our citizens is entitled to access to affordable quality healthcare, yet during the six years President Bush has been in office, our healthcare problem has only worsened.

"Our nation will be stronger if we can provide economic security to all hard-working Americans and work to balance the federal budget. Under this President's watch, a $5.6 trillion projected surplus has been replaced with a $3 trillion deficit. Today, every Marylander carries an individual debt burden of $28,829. The President can prove he is serious about fiscal discipline by supporting the pay-as-you-go provisions that Democrats have embraced.

"And our union will most assuredly be stronger if we can strengthen our national security by changing our course in Iraq. In the days and weeks ahead, Democrats will express our opposition to the current policy on the House Floor, conduct vigorous, effective oversight on the Administration's Iraq policy, and will make the President justify his proposal to deepen our involvement in Iraq.

"The President talked a lot in his speech about cooperation and working through our differences to accomplish great victories for the nation. We have heard him speak about the spirit of bipartisanship in the past with, unfortunately, little follow through. I hope he is ready to back up his rhetoric this time with a real commitment to cooperation with the Congress in pursuit of our common goals. You can be sure I will do my part to represent the Fifth District of Maryland well in this mission."