Congressman John Salazar’s Response To The State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Salazar (CO-3) released  the following statement in response to President Bush's  State of the Union Address:

"For the first time in years, House members are working together to tackle the issues facing mainstream America. By voting to raise the minimum wage, expand funding for stem cell research, make college more affordable and end subsidies for oil companies and invest that money into clean, renewable energy, we are moving our country in a new direction.   

"Making America energy independent is the key to our national and economic security.  Our agricultural community in rural America is the foundation we need to do this.  It provides everything we need from farm crops for ethanol fuel to wind power that creates clean, affordable energy. 

"In Colorado, we have already started moving in that direction with the wind farms in Lamar, production of bio-diesel in Costilla County, and the construction of a large solar facility in Saguache County.  Our agricultural community is laying the ground-work today to make Colorado a leader tomorrow in renewable energy. 

"Strengthening our middle-class families by increasing their salaries to an affordable, living wage is the next step for our country.  While inflation has continued to rise, salaries for our working families have not.  Last week, I voted to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.  Colorado voters led the way on this issue when they voted last November to increase the minimum wage and keep it stable with inflation.     

“The president's health insurance proposal concerns me because I believe it would leave millions of low-income Americans without health coverage. Offering a new tax deduction-in response to a failing health care system- is misguided at best.  Often the reason families go without health insurance is because they can’t afford to pay the premiums in the first place or they have a pre-existing condition that prevents them from getting any coverage at all. 

“There is no easy cure for our country’s healthcare crisis, but Congress can take steps now to start solving this problem.  During the last three weeks, House members voted to lower the cost of prescription drugs for our seniors and to expand funding for stem cell research. After losing my father to Alzheimer's, I know first hand the importance of finding a cure for such a devastating disease.

"A solid education with a bright future is the best gift that any child could receive.  Last week, I voted to cut interest rates on student loans because I want our young people to have the opportunity to create the best future possible. By lowering the cost to go to college, more of our young people, especially those in rural areas, will now have that opportunity.

"I'm disappointed that the president has still not offered a concrete strategy to end the war in Iraq.  At this time, our goal should be to shift American troops from combat to training and to help the Iraqis stabilize their own government. We need to begin phased redeployment of our armed forces in the next four to six months.  But most importantly, we have to remember that when our soldiers come home, they must get the benefits and government services they were promised."