Alabama officials react to Biden's first presidential address

Alabama officials react to Biden's first presidential address

By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo by Chip Somodevilla, AP)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, President Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time since his inauguration to discuss the accomplishments of his first 100 days and agenda moving forward. Members of Alabama's congressional delegation were divided by party lines in their responses.

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) who served alongside Biden for 22 years in the Senate stated, "Tonight’s address from President Biden was focused on drastically changing the country, but instead of reaching across the aisle to find ways to work together, this Administration is prioritizing liberal policies and a partisan agenda."

Shelby stressed the need for Democrats and Republicans to "put our differences aside and focus on what we can do to improve our country."

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), whose district encompasses the Southern Torch coverage area, called the items introduced in Biden's address, "a liberal wish list."

"President Biden continues to govern counter to what he promised in his inaugural address when he pledged to not be a partisan President," Aderholt said. "Instead, he is pushing a liberal, wish list, spending frenzy that Franklin Roosevelt could never have dreamed of and sending the American taxpayer the bill...This is not the Joe Biden of old who worked across the aisle, but a new Joe Biden who seems to be a trojan horse for the radical left.” 

Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) stated, "In the first 100 days, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have demonstrated their commitment to delivering on their promise to heal our Nation and Build Back Better."

"Already, President Biden has met this moment with the urgency it requires, signing into law the most robust and ambitious legislative package in a generation to rescue our economy and deliver critical relief to the American people. His efforts have put us on a path toward a better future," Sewell continued. 

In his first address to the nation, Biden pressed Congress to pass several ambitious pieces of legislation, including a $4 trillion infrastructure package, stricter gun control measures, modernization of the energy grid, immigration reform, police reform, and the Equality Act.

“Earlier today, I urged President Biden to use tonight’s Joint Address as a way to get back to the message of unity he sold to the American people. It is clear now [that] the idea of unity is in the Biden Administration’s rearview mirror," said U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). We need to believe in the power of the American people, not the power of the Biden Administration. Tonight’s address should have been a moment to hit reset. It wasn’t, and that is ultimately a disservice to the American people.”

President Biden's full address to Congress can be found here:

(whitehouse.gov)

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