Governor Markell Statement on President Obama’s 2016 State of the Union

Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“The President delivered the messages needed for our country to meet the challenges of the 21st century, recognizing that the new economy offers incredible possibilities for all of us if we tap into the talents of all of our people, embrace the promise of new technology, and ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach his or her potential.

“He recognized that this means providing access to high quality education and training from pre-K students through workers who are retooling for new industries. It means engaging with economies around the world, while working together to address the impacts of climate change, and it means removing the barriers to our citizen’s success, including political gridlock. I was pleased to hear he hopes to work with Congress to address the substance abuse epidemic and inequities in our criminal justice system. And I was inspired by his call for the Vice President to lead our country’s efforts to cure cancer. Joe Biden has been fighting for people for four decades, and this mission may be his greatest and most lasting gift to our country.

“While our prosperity certainly requires effectively fighting national security threats from foreign enemies, it also demands that we hold true to our values, as the President said tonight. There is no reason why leaders at the national, state, and local levels cannot rally together around these missions.”

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Governor’s Statement on President Obama’s 2015 State of the Union Address

Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell, who attended tonight’s State of the Union address, issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s remarks:

“As the President made clear again tonight, our country’s future prosperity depends on a strong middle class and a fair opportunity for all those striving for the middle class. To achieve those goals requires that we give our people the skills they need to thrive in today’s economy and that we build a talented workforce to spur growth of key industries.
 
“I’m particularly pleased by the President’s emphasis on access to our community colleges and I’m proud Delaware has shown great leadership in this area for many years by offering our high school graduates free tuition for two years of higher education through our SEED and INSPIRE scholarship. Institutions like Delaware Tech, and the partnerships they build with our businesses, offer outstanding training and retraining for the jobs of our present and future. The President’s agenda, which importantly includes support for students as well as workers transitioning to new careers, would strengthen these efforts.
 
“We can only build an economy that works for everyone if we have the foundation of a strong infrastructure, so it’s vital that the President also continues to reiterate his call for investments in our transportation system to create jobs today, while generating economic development for years to come.
 
“These are not Democratic or Republican issues. Outside of Washington, we know these priorities will mean more economic opportunity and a better quality of life for Delawareans and all Americans. It is incumbent upon Democrats and Republicans to overcome Washington politics and find common ground to act on these issues.”
 
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