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Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) provided the following statement in response to the President’s State of the Union Address:  

“We are blessed to live in the greatest nation in the world, yet as we take a moment to reflect on the past year, there is one word that sums up all the economic trends and news headlines: crisis.

“Since the President assumed office, it has been one crisis after the next. Inflation is soaring; folks are paying more and more at the pump each week; supply chain issues have caused significant delays for necessary goods; our southern border remains weak and the laws we have on the books aren’t being enforced; the drug abuse epidemic is taking more lives than ever. The President’s speech tonight glossed over many of these failures and was quick to turn the blame onto the COVID-19 pandemic. But the American people are not fooled. My constituents share with me how this Administration’s policies and decisions over the past year have hurt them, their families, their businesses, and their communities. These policies have made the American people less secure and safe at home and abroad. We cannot forget that it was the President who failed to ensure a safe withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“It is disappointing President Biden has continued to turn his back on North American energy. On day one, he shut down the Keystone XL pipeline. This led to increased dependency on foreign oil and cost tens of thousands of hard-working Americans their jobs. More recently, it was President Biden who supported Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline rather than North American energy.

“We still have time - time to pivot and create a better tomorrow. Democrats should join Republicans in our efforts to cut government spending and unleash American energy resources so that we can become energy independent. We must secure our borders and enforce the laws already on the books so that we can keep our communities safe and stop the spread of illegal substances. Russia should no longer be seen or treated as a partner on the global stage, and I am hopeful that the sanctions President Biden imposed represent the start of American action to support Ukraine, not the end.

“The American people deserve better. While I believe it is important to hold this Administration accountable for their failures, I remain focused on finding meaningful solutions that will make life better, safer, and more prosperous for the American people.” 

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