Stupak: Comments on President Obama's speech to Congress

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) issued the following statement following President Barack Obama’s first address to a joint session of Congress tonight, Feb. 24, 2009:

"President Obama clearly laid out the challenges we face as a nation as we work to recover from the current economic crisis. He was honest with the American people about the current state of our economy, the tough choices that lie ahead and the responsibility each of us has to help our country move forward.

"The President spoke a great deal about jobs tonight. While the 11 million unemployed Americans might find the President’s words encouraging, they also need his ideas to work. Working together with President Obama, Congress is working every day to address the economic crisis and the underlying problems in the housing and financial sectors.

"The vision President Obama outlined of a retooled auto industry is vital for Michigan’s economy. As with most ideas in a speech of this scope, I expect more details will be put forward in the coming days. But the fact that this sector of our economy would make such a prominent appearance in the President’s first address to Congress underscores the importance of the auto industry for the health of our entire economy.

"The President spoke tonight of fiscal discipline and his goal to cut our nation’s deficit in half by 2013. I am eager to see more details on his proposal when his first budget is sent to Congress later this week. In some cases, this will mean tough choices and a review of every aspect of federal spending. Congress stands ready to work with the President to accomplish this goal and help ensure our nation’s fiscal future.

"The challenges we face domestically have led many to forget the sacrifices being made every day by the men and women of our armed forces who are fighting in not one but two conflicts on the other side of the world. I was pleased to hear the President speak tonight of his recently-announced plan to provide our troops in Afghanistan the resources they need to complete their mission, and of his plan to drawdown troops in Iraq. I expect to hear more in the coming days of the President’s plan for an orderly withdrawal from Iraq, which will bring our troops home and redirect billions in resources to our needs here at home.

"Some have suggested, even before the President’s address, that his young administration is attempting to tackle too much. But the critical issues facing our country are too important to ignore. The real danger lies in doing too little."

Editor's Note: For a transcript of President Obama's first speech to a joint session of Congress, visit The New York Times Web site.