Local and State Leaders React To Biden’s Joint Address to Congress

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA/KECY) - President Joe Biden has moved fast since his January 20 swearing-in, signing a $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill into law less than two months into his term and issuing more executive orders so far than his three predecessors.

Following Wednesday nights address to Congress, many local leaders released statements in reaction to the commander-in-chief's address which marked his 100th day in The Oval Office.

U.S. State Senators Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) both released statements following the address in which they show their support for President Biden's 'continuous work to end the pandemic' as well as efforts to boos economic opportunities in the United States.

Sen. Mark Kelly also showed his support for continued work to end the pandemic, Sen. Kelly also touched on the border crisis happening along the southern border. Kelly mentioned the lack of a plan from the commander-in-chief on what his administration plans to do to tackle the on-going border issue, vowing to 'continue to hold his [Biden's] administration accountable' as the immigration system in the United States is fixed.

“When I talk with Arizonans across the state, they tell me they want Washington working together to beat this virus and get our economy back on track. Thanks to the COVID-19 relief I helped secure for Arizona, our state has ramped up vaccination efforts and provided relief and support for Arizona families, small businesses, and schools. 
“I welcome President Biden’s call for Republicans and Democrats to continue working together on investments in education, infrastructure, and technology like increasing domestic manufacturing of semiconductors to maintain our competitive edge over China and create the jobs of the future in Arizona. 
“While I share President Biden’s urgency in fixing our broken immigration system, what I didn’t hear tonight was a plan to address the immediate crisis at the border, and I will continue holding this administration accountable to deliver the resources and staffing necessary for a humane, orderly process as we work to improve border security, support local economies, and fix our immigration system.”

- U.S. Senator Mark Kelly

Reaction amongst local and state leaders pointed towards one thing: the feeling that the work for the American people is back on track. Arizona District 3 Representative Raul M. Grijalva used the address as a symbol that unity across the aisle can happen under the Biden Administration in an effort to 'work for the people' once again.

U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein also reacted to the address nodding that 'priorites are back to where they need to be'. In a series of Tweets, the U.S. Senator for California made it clear that the speech showed Biden's commitment to 'benefit everyone' and even called the address 'the right speech at the right time.'

Meanwhile, the newly appointed U.S. Senator for California Sen. Alex Padilla praised the historical moment of the night in which Biden addressed both VP Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Nancy Pelosi, a first in which two-women have sat behind the president for his first address to Congress.

Neither California Governor Gavin Newsom nor Arizona Governor Doug Ducey released a statement following the presidents address.