February 7, 2023

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Kris Cook (202) 225-4921

Washington, D.C. – Following the President's State of the Union address, Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06) released the following statement:

“The President’s words did not change reality. Americans continue to wake up to high gas prices, unaffordable groceries, and in some part of the country choosing between buying the food and medicine they need or keeping their homes adequately heated, and an unsecure border,” said Rep. Gary Palmer. “The reality is President Biden’s policies are crushing American households and nothing from his speech indicates he understands their struggles.”

Palmer continued, “It doesn’t have to be this way. My Republican colleagues and I are focused on fixing the problems caused by the Biden administration. We promise to hold our government accountable, to do all we can to lower inflation and rebuild our economy, protect our freedom, and keep our nation safe. I hope the President is willing to work with us to achieve these goals.”

Transcript of the video below:

Hi, I'm Congressman Gary Palmer. Tomorrow, the American people will wake up and gas prices will still be too high. Groceries and household utilities will still be unaffordable for many Americans, and our border will still not be secure. President Biden said nothing tonight that indicates anything will change or that he has any understanding of the struggles of millions of American families.

The reality is Biden's energy policies are crushing American households. There are now over 20 million households behind on their utility bills. Their families, including senior citizens on fixed incomes in some parts of the country who are literally compromising their health and their children's health because they can't afford to adequately heat their homes. Despite millions of job openings, President Biden is spending billions of borrowed dollars on welfare programs that allow able bodied adults to choose not to work.

This has resulted in one of the lowest labor participation rates in decades. Biden's reckless spending, his senseless energy policies and overreaching regulations, and his incomprehensible failure to secure our borders have done enormous harm to Americans and seriously compromised our national security. It doesn't have to be this way. Our national debt stands at nearly $32 trillion. This is fueled by reckless spending coming out of Washington.

10 trillion of that debt has been incurred by President Biden in just two years in office. This must stop. Republicans in Congress are committed to sensibly and responsibly getting spending under control and protecting the future of all Americans. Republicans in the House will work every day to pass legislation to lower the cost of living by reducing energy costs, repealing economy, suffocating regulations, getting people off welfare and back in the workforce, and securing our border.

My Republican colleagues and I are focused on fixing the problems caused by the Biden administration. We promise to hold our government accountable, to do all we can to lower inflation and rebuild our economy, protect our freedom, and keep our nation safe. I hope the President is willing to work with us to achieve these goals.

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