February 24: Response to President Obama's Joint Address to Congress

“I agree with President Obama that even though we are facing a longroad of rebuilding and recovery, our nation will emerge stronger thanbefore. The American people are extraordinarily resilient, and we willovercome this challenge.

“If the President is truly looking to reduce our deficits and returnour fiscal house to order, he should include our trade deficits thatcontinue to clock in at hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Wemust focus on opening markets to American goods so that our workerscompete on a level playing field.

"Any long-term plan to strengthen, secure, and stabilize our economymust include comprehensive reform of our trade and tax policies.America should eschew the flawed NAFTA-model of trade in favor of apeople-centered approach, and we should examine how the value-added taxaffects our ability to export. Without a close examination of how ourmarket access is hindered by non-tariff trade barriers in closedmarkets like China, Japan, and Korea, the U.S. will continue tohemorrhage money abroad.

“I am encouraged by the President’s dedication to peace in the MiddleEast and by his approach to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I look with anticipation to further detail in his budget request later this week.

"More than ever, Congress and the Administration must stand on the side of the American people.”

The Congresswoman was joined for the address by Toledo-native LisaRice, who serves as vice president of the National Fair HousingAlliance.