Ernst Applauds President Trump’s State of the Union Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) tonight issued a statement following President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, we heard a message of optimism from President Trump through his vision to continue keeping America safe, keeping America strong, and of course, remaining a proud America.

“Already, under the Trump administration, we have seen tax reform signed into law for the first time in decades, which is helping to grow the economy and putting more money into the pockets of Iowans, while also eliminating an unnecessary tax break for Members of Congress through my SQUEAL Act. In addition, this administration has implemented our efforts to improve access to timely and quality care for our veterans; protected our citizens through Sarah’s Law; improved the readiness and strength of our military; and begun scrapping the Water of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

“But there is a lot more work to be done.

“As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, I was pleased to hear the President discuss keys parts of his administration’s National Security Strategy which preserves peace through strength, protects the American way of life, sets America on a path to defeat any enemy, and prioritizes the need to continue working by, with, and through our allies to maintain global security. I’m also relieved to hear that President Trump will undo the Obama administration’s attempt to close Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The facility has housed many responsible for planning the attacks upon our nation on 9/11, and continues to imprison some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists. President Trump’s decision is an essential step in the right direction toward preserving our safety and security.

“In addition to our national defense, the federal government has an important role to play in developing and maintaining our country’s infrastructure. Having a robust and efficient transportation infrastructure is vital to the economy, and I appreciated hearing from the president on this very issue tonight. As a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I look forward to working with this administration on a path forward to repair and modernize our aging infrastructure.

“Another important topic before Congress is immigration reform and securing our borders. As I have said previously, the framework the president laid out is a good starting point for discussions in Congress. A path forward should be reflective of the legal, economic, and security concerns that are present in the current debate and the unique challenges that DACA recipients face. At the same time, we must also make sure that we are enforcing our laws and strengthening border security. In the time ahead, I look forward to continuing to review these ideas, and working with the administration and my colleagues in Congress to address them.

“We also heard President Trump talk about trade, which plays an important role in Iowa’s economy. Iowans’ strong work ethic and ingenuity place our manufacturers, famers, and service providers in a position to compete in the global market – provided they are operating on a level playing field. I will continue to work with this administration toward trade deals that promote fairness by reducing trade barriers, enhancing transparency, and cutting red tape.

“There has been a great deal of progress over the last year, and I look forward to building on these efforts with the administration on behalf of Iowans throughout 2018.”