During the State of the Union address this week, it was emphasized how important the choice Americans have in November. President Biden's speech outlined his ambitious plans for his second term, building on the achievements he and Democrats in Congress have already accomplished in his first term. His vision continues to prioritize people over politics by advocating for hardworking Americans across the country, safeguarding our freedoms, and upholding our democracy.
I recently had the chance to speak directly with voters during Super Tuesday as I toured the varied, working-class district I represent in North Texas. From these conversations, it became clear that the people in my district want a reliable leader who can help them address everyday challenges, such as reducing the costs of essential everyday items, fixing our flawed immigration system, and protecting important reproductive rights.
As a leader in the problem-solving New Democrat Coalition, my top priority is to overcome obstacles in Washington and deliver for hardworking Texans and families nationwide. President Biden's State of the Union address highlighted that he and the Democrats have already overcome gridlock to address our nation's most urgent challenges and will continue to work to accomplish these goals. Whether it's helping us recover from the pandemic or enacting significant gun violence prevention legislation, Democrats have listened to our constituents, taken action, and delivered. President Biden's State of the Union address outlined how we will continue to deliver for our constituents. Democrats and President Biden will strive to expand the middle class, uphold Roe v. Wade, enhance community safety, and more.
In contrast, reckless and extreme Republicans seek to create chaos in our nation. They follow a twice-impeached, multiple-time indicted con man who now must divide his time between the courtroom and the campaign trail. Most importantly, we must not forget that Donald Trump incited a lethal insurrection to overturn our democracy and promoted policies that led to the death of millions of fellow Americans during the pandemic. Republicans revere this man, and it's evident that his MAGA extremism has infiltrated every level of the Republican Party.
Under Republican leadership, the U.S. House of Representatives has mirrored Donald Trump's approach, moving from one crisis to another and making this one of the least productive Congresses in recent history. Instead of collaborating with sensible Democrats like President Biden and my colleagues in the New Democrat Coalition to tackle our challenges, they have repeatedly opted for partisan political tactics that harm the American people. For instance, Republicans recently thwarted a broad, bipartisan agreement that could have helped us address our flawed immigration system and restore order at the border. As a lifelong Texan who has visited the border many times, I, like many Americans, believe it's time to confront this challenge, which has confounded both Republican and Democratic-led administrations. Responsible legislators from both sides of the aisle aim to accomplish this, as demonstrated by months of bipartisan negotiations to craft the recent border bill. However, Republicans rejected this bill before even reading it because Donald Trump stated that leaving the border unchanged would benefit his chances of reelection.
We understand that actions like that are not what real leaders do. Real leaders sit down and make the people more important than politics, just like President Biden and congressional Democrats do every day. That's why the New Democrat Coalition released a framework for bipartisan immigration reform after Republicans killed the bill — we will keep fighting to overcome political gridlock and deliver for the American people.
This November, the country has an opportunity to accept the vision that President Biden described in his State of the Union — one that invests in the success of all Americans and protects the essential freedoms and democracy that make our nation great.
Rep. Marc Veasey is the United States Representative for Texas’s 33rd District and serves as a leadership member for the New Democrat Coalition.
