Kunc
The
2014 GOP State Of The Union Response
Transcript
of the GOP response to the 2014 State of the Union as prepared.
What
an honor it is for me to be with you after the President’s State of
the Union.
Tonight
we honor America – a nation that has witnessed the greatest rise of
freedom and opportunity our world has ever seen.
A
nation where we are not defined by our limits, but by our potential.
And a
nation where a girl who worked at the McDonald’s Drive-Thru to help
pay for college can be with you from the United States Capitol.
But
the most important moments right now aren’t happening here.
They’re
not in the Oval Office or in the House Chamber.
They’re
in your homes.
Kissing
your kids goodnight…
Figuring
out how to pay the bills…
Getting
ready for tomorrow’s doctor’s visit…
Waiting
to hear from those you love serving in Afghanistan, or searching for
that big job interview.
After
all, ‘We the People’ have been the foundation of America since
her earliest days – people from all walks of life, and from all
corners of the world – people who come to America because here, no
challenge is too great and no dream too big.
That’s
the genius of America.
Tonight
the President made more promises that sound good, but won’t solve
the problems actually facing Americans.
We
want you to have a better life. The President wants that too.
But
we part ways when it comes to how to make that happen.
So
tonight I’d like to share a more hopeful, Republican vision…
One
that empowers you, not the government…
It’s
one that champions free markets – and trusts people to make their
own decisions, not a government that decides for you.
It
helps working families rise above the limits of poverty and protects
our most vulnerable.
And
it’s one where Washington plays by the same rules that you do.
It’s
a vision that is fair and offers the promise of a better future for
every American.
If
you had told me as a little girl that one-day I would put my hand on
the Bible and be sworn in as the 200th woman to serve in the House of
Representatives, I never would’ve thought it possible.
I
grew up working at my family’s orchard and fruit stand in Kettle
Falls, a small town in Eastern Washington - getting up before dawn
with my brother to pick apples.
My
dad drove a school bus and my mom worked as a part-time bookkeeper.
They
taught me to work hard, help others, and always, always dream for
more.
So,
when I showed my 4H animals at the county fair, my parents used to
say to me, “Cathy, you need to save this money so you can go to
college one day!”
So I
did – I saved, I worked hard, and I became the first in my family
to graduate from college.
The
chance to go from my Washington to this one was unexpected.
I
came to Congress to help empower people, not politicians;
To
grow the working middle class, not the government;
And
to ensure that everyone in this country can find a job.
Because
a job is so much more than just a paycheck –
It
gives us purpose, dignity, and the foundation to build a future.
I was
single when I was elected – but it wasn’t long before I met
Brian, a retired Navy commander, and now we have three beautiful
children, one who was born just eight weeks ago.
Like
all parents, we have high hopes and dreams for our children, but we
also know what it’s like to face challenges.
Three
days after we gave birth to our son, Cole, we got news no parent
expects.
Cole
was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
The
doctors told us he could have endless complications, heart defects,
even early Alzheimer’s.
They
told us all the problems.
But
when we looked at our son, we saw only possibilities.
We
saw a gift from God.
Today
we see a 6-year old boy who dances to Bruce Springsteen; who reads
above grade level; and who is the best big brother in the world.
We
see all the things he can do, not those he can’t.
Cole,
and his sisters, Grace and Brynn, have only made me more determined
to see the potential in every human life – that whether we are born
with an extra twenty-first chromosome or without a dollar to our name
– we are not defined by our limits, but by our potential.
Because
our mission – not only as Republicans, but as Americans, is to once
again to ensure that we are not bound by where we come from, but
empowered by what we can become.
That
is the gap Republicans are working to close.
It’s
the gap we all face: between where you are and where you want to be.
The
President talks a lot about income inequality.
But
the real gap we face today is one of opportunity inequality…
And
with this Administration’s policies, that gap has become far too
wide.
We
see this gap growing every single day.
We
see it in our neighbors who are struggling to find jobs…
A
husband who’s now working just part-time…
A
child who drops out of college because she can’t afford tuition…
Or
parents who are outliving their life’s savings.
Last
month, more Americans stopped looking for a job than found one. Too
many people are falling further and further behind because, right
now, the President’s policies are making people’s lives harder.
Republicans
have plans to close the gap…
Plans
that focus on jobs first without more spending, government bailouts,
and red tape…
Every
day, we’re working to expand our economy, one manufacturing job,
nursing degree and small business at a time.
We
have plans to improve our education and training systems so you have
the choice to determine where your kids go to school…so college is
affordable…and skills training is modernized.
And
yes, it’s time to honor our history of legal immigration. We’re
working on a step-by-step solution to immigration reform by first
securing our borders and making sure America will always attract the
best, brightest, and hardest working from around the world.
And
with too many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, we have
solutions to help you take home more of your pay – through lower
taxes, cheaper energy costs, and affordable health care.
Not
long ago I got a letter from Bette in Spokane, who hoped the
President’s health care law would save her money – but found out
instead that her premiums were going up nearly $700 a month.
No,
we shouldn’t go back to the way things were, but this law is not
working. Republicans believe health care choices should be yours, not
the government’s.
And
that whether you’re a boy with Down syndrome or a woman with breast
cancer … you can find coverage and a doctor who will treat you.
So we
hope the President will join us in a year of real action – by
empowering people – not making their lives harder with
unprecedented spending, higher taxes, and fewer jobs.
As
Republicans, we advance these plans every day because we believe in a
government that trusts people and doesn’t limit where you finish
because of where you started.
That
is what we stand for – for an America that is every bit as
compassionate as it is exceptional.
If
we’re successful…
Years
from now our children will say that we rebuilt the American Dream.
We
built a working middle class that could take in anyone, and a
workforce that could take on the world.
Whether
you’re a girl in Kettle Falls or a boy from Brooklyn, our children
should be able to say that we closed the gap.
Our
plan is one that dreams big for everyone and turns its back on no
one.
The
President said many things tonight.
But
now, we ask him to listen – to you – for the true state of the
union lies in your heart and in your home.
Tomorrow,
I’ll watch my son Cole get on the school bus; others will wait in
the doctor’s office or interview for that first job.
Some
of us will celebrate new beginnings…
Others
will face great challenges…
But
all of us will wake up and do what is uniquely American…
We
will look forward to the boundless potential that lies ahead.
We
will give thanks to the brave men and women who have answered
America’s call to freedom, like Sgt. Jacob Hess from Spokane, who
recently gave his life to protect all of ours.
So,
tonight, I simply offer a prayer…
A
prayer for Sgt. Hess’s family, your family, and for our larger
American family.
That,
with the guidance of God, we may prove worthy of His blessings of
life … liberty … and the pursuit of happiness.
For
when we embrace these gifts, we are each doing our part to form a
more perfect union.
May
God guide you and our President, and may God continue to bless the
United States of America.
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