Pallone Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address:

“We heard directly from President Biden tonight about the historic progress we’ve made to build a better America for everyone. By making health care and prescription drug costs affordable, defending women’s reproductive freedom, rebuilding our infrastructure, and creating good-paying jobs for hardworking Americans, we’re working together to make sure our best days are yet to come.

“I join President Biden in celebrating the historic number of Americans who have signed up for quality, affordable health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace. Tonight, the President also demonstrated Democrats’ commitment to holding Big Pharma accountable and reining in the cost of prescription drugs. As a result, Medicare is now actively negotiating lower drug prices, the price of insulin has been capped at $35 per month, and starting next year seniors’ out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs will be capped at no more than $2,000 a year.

“I look forward to continuing to build on this progress with President Biden, which is why I’ve introduced legislation to increase the number of prescription drug prices negotiated by Medicare each year and to extend inflation rebates to the private health insurance market to protect Americans against unfair price hikes by Big Pharma. 

“President Biden also underscored the need for bold action in response to the climate crisis. Under his leadership, the Inflation Reduction Act became the single-largest investment in climate action in American history. In just over a year, these investments have already created more than 271,000 jobs, proving we can act on climate while creating hundreds of thousands of new, good-paying jobs right here at home.  I share the President’s vision for growing our middle class by investing in American manufacturing, emerging technology, and clean energy, and I look forward to continuing to work together to build a stronger, more sustainable future.

“Consumers should be able to enjoy live music or plan a vacation without fear of hidden junk fees that can unexpectedly break the bank. The Biden Administration is bringing much needed transparency to the live event, car rental, hotel, and banking industries, and I applaud these new actions.

“Finally, I want to echo the President’s unwavering commitment against authoritarian aggression. The United States stands firmly with our allies against Putin’s unprovoked and murderous invasion of Ukraine. It’s far past time for House Republicans to support funding for Ukraine’s defense of its territory and sovereign democracy.

“Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, we’re building an economy that works for everyone and lowering costs for families across the country. I look forward to working with the President and his Administration to build on this progress and ensure we live up to the ideals on which our country was founded.”