Shaheen Statement on President’s State of the Union Address

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement on President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address:

“President Biden’s address this evening told an important story for the American people – where we started in the depths of COVID, our efforts to get to the end of the tunnel and now, our recovery. The strides we’ve made over the past two years thanks to Democratic policy priorities speak for themselves – 12 million jobs, a 54-year low in the unemployment rate, historic health insurance enrollment numbers and six straight months of reduced inflation. From the American Rescue Plan to the Inflation Reduction Act, Democratic policies to help working families get a leg up are paying dividends for Granite Staters and the American people. In the months and years to come, we will continue to feel that impact through other historic pieces of legislation, including the bipartisan infrastructure law – which I was proud to help negotiate – and the CHIPS and Science Act, which will bolster our domestic manufacturing and enhance our foreign policy priorities on the global stage. But our work is far from over,” said Shaheen.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing crises in our communities, most notably in New Hampshire, the substance use disorder health emergency. This week alone we’ve seen a surge in overdose deaths, with seven lives lost in thirty-six hours in Manchester. Every effort must be made to prevent more Granite Staters and Americans from succumbing to this crisis, which is why stopping the flow of fentanyl has and will continue to be a top concern for me. I’m glad the President invited Doug Griffin to be with him this evening to spotlight the devastating toll this epidemic has taken on our communities and families. I’ve been fortunate to meet with Mr. Griffin a number of times over the years and applaud his advocacy on behalf of his daughter Courtney.

Shaheen concluded, “The President highlighted a number of areas where we can build on the progress Democrats made in the last two years, including an issue that is very close to my heart: lowering the cost of insulin. Like millions of Americans, this is personal for my family and I’ll fight to get my bipartisan bill with Senator Collins over the finish line in Congress so we can expand the cap on insulin prices from Medicare recipients to millions more Americans who need access to this lifesaving drug. From addressing the costs of drug medication, to advancing key national security priorities, to standing by our allies and maintaining our global world order, we have urgent work ahead that demands good-faith cooperation in Congress. I’ll continue to work across the aisle to ensure the safety, health and success of our working families and our nation always come first.”