Congressman Blake Moore's Statement on President Biden's 2024 State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON— U.S. Congressman Blake Moore (R-Utah) released the following statement after President Joe Biden’s 2024 State of the Union address:
“I was expecting President Biden to use tonight’s State of the Union address to find common ground and inspire a shared vision for America. Instead, the President delivered a divisive campaign speech. If we want to find real solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges, we must come together.
I agreed with President Biden’s comments about supporting our servicemembers, finding a solution on Ukraine aid, and bolstering our workforce—issues that both sides of the aisle can agree need to be addressed.
However, I am disappointed President Biden tried to blame Congressional Republicans for his border crisis. The American people know better. It’s to be expected in an election year, but this crisis is his own making, and he must do better.
Rather than wasting time with convenient political posturing, President Biden could and should reinstate the many effective, data-driven border policies from the Trump-Pence Administration and end the most catastrophic border crisis our nation has ever seen. We know that provisions such as “Remain in Mexico” migrant protection protocols for processing asylum claims, Title 42 authority, and ending catch-and-release work. Recognizing the threat this crisis has created for our national security and the safety of our communities, House Republicans swiftly passed H.R. 2, the strongest border security bill in our history, to strengthen our southern border with new technologies, increase the number of Border Patrol agents and provide bonus pay, restart construction of the border wall, end catch-and-release, and require transparency from the Department of Homeland Security. House Republicans have done our part to pass meaningful legislation to secure our border and prevent tragedies like Laken Riley’s murder at the University of Georgia, and it is past time for President Biden to use his position to reverse this crisis, strengthen our national security, and keep our neighborhoods safe.?
On the foreign aid front, above all else, our focus must be on safely returning the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. They must be reunited with their families as soon as possible. I am glad the administration has worked with Israel to develop stronger aid corridors for innocent civilians while Israel continues to fight to defeat Hamas. However, we cannot forget that other regional players have a responsibility to step up as well. Last week, I led a bipartisan letter to Secretary Blinken outlining the major logistical issues within Egypt that are hurting faith-based and humanitarian groups on the ground and preventing them from getting aid into Rafah. It is incumbent on Egypt and regional players to assist in this critical situation, not solely the US. ?
Though we live in a time of divided government and hyper partisanship, I remain confident that we can come together to build meaningful solutions to the many challenges we face. I am also working with my colleagues on the House Ways and Means and Budget committees to reform our broken federal budgeting process, reverse our crippling national debt and deficits, and craft pro-family tax policies that allow Americans to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks. At this critical moment in history, I will do all I can to ensure America remains the greatest nation in the world and leave behind a positive legacy for the next generation.”
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