This evening, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement regarding the President’s 2016 State of the Union address:

“Since taking office, I’ve urged my fellow Members of Congress and the White House to address the issues Granite Staters care about, including increasing college affordability, supporting our workers, standing up for our veterans, keeping our communities safe, and ending the heroin epidemic that is sweeping across our nation and hitting New Hampshire particularly hard. Tonight during his State of the Union Address, the President acknowledged a number of these topics, and I urge him to continue to fight for the priorities that matter to us.

As co-founder of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, last week I held a Special Order on the House floor to share the stories of the thousands of Americans across the country who have suffered as a result of opioid use. I met with senior White House officials and urged President Obama to address the opioid crisis in the State of the Union, and I commend him for highlighting the need to put an end to the epidemic in his speech. However, our work to address opioid use is only just beginning, and the White House, Members of Congress, and state and local officials must all come together immediately to combat opioid use across the nation.

Additionally, I’ve long fought to lower the cost of education for Granite State students and their families. Tonight’s speech underscored the importance of increasing college affordability; America’s competitiveness in the global economy relies on our students’ ability to attain higher education without breaking the bank. What’s more, once our students enter the workforce, we must ensure they are paid fairly for their work; that’s why I have long urged the President to raise the minimum wage and I believe Congress must step up to the plate and get this done for the American people.

As a Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, one of my top priorities in Congress has been to ensure that our veterans have access to the care and services they need when they return home. I’m pleased the President acknowledged their brave service to our country, and I look forward to continuing to fight for their needs in Congress.

Tonight during his speech, the President underscored the great strength of the American spirit. Together, we have the power to achieve the incredible, and our future is bright. It is the duty of the President and all Congressional leaders to fight for the priorities that matter to the American people. Together, we can embrace the ideals our country was founded upon, and together, we can move our country forward.”

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