Arizona Democratic Reaction to President Biden’s Speech to Congress and the Biden/Harris Administration’s First Hundred Days

Reaction among leading Arizona Democrats to President Joe Biden’s first address to Congress and the first hundred days of the Biden/Harris Administration has been near unanimity in praising the new team’s performance and legislative proposals.

Gallego, Romero, and Hoffman speak at a Press Event Reacting to the Speech and First Hundred Days.

The Arizona Democratic Party organized a press event where Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, and Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman conveyed their views of the President’s speech and the first hundred days of the Biden/Harris Administration.

All three leaders were overjoyed with Biden’s address and the programs he offered.

Mayor Romero may have said it best when she said “I am hopeful for once in a long time that we are moving the county in the right direction.”

All praised the programs in the American Rescue Plan, the American Jobs Plan, and the American Families Plan.

Mayor Gallego saluted the Biden/Harris Administration for addressing the Coronavirus, being a great partner to cities, expanding health care, and his proposals to help children, saying “thanks to Joe Biden, it is a great time to be a kid.”

She said she is looking “forward to infrastructure” and it has been an “incredibly remarkable 100 days and I’m looking forward to more.”

Mayor Romero called Biden “a unifying voice” and praised the American Jobs Plan, saying:

“We are very excited that President Biden wants to invest in climate resiliency. Tuscon is looking forward to helping create the green jobs of the future like creating electric vehicle grids. We need the infrastructure of the Twenty-First Century, not the Nineteenth one.”

The Tucson Mayor, responding to a question from this writer, said she favored an increase in user fees like the gas tax (which has not been raised since the Clinton/Gore Administration) to fund crucial infrastructure investments like the installation of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the country if necessary. 

She and the others also liked the proposals to fund two years of quality pre-school and the first two years of college, saying “how exciting it is to have the first two years of college for free and not go into debt.”

Superintendent Hoffman thanked the Biden Administration for the funds for schools in the American Rescue Plan, saying they provided a “critical lifeline for our schools and families that help support our underfunded schools” and “will help students and teachers recover from the pandemic.”

She also complimented the education proposals in the American Jobs and Families Plan like school building construction, helping hire and mentor qualified and diversified teachers, addressing the teacher shortage with college scholarships, and expanding free preschool and college opportunities, saying these are the “kinds of policies I am championing in Arizona.”

Superintendent Hoffman did remind the audience that the federal funds received in the previous relief packages and in a passed American Jobs and American Families plan would be supplemental (temporary) and it was necessary for the state to fully fund all of Arizona’s public schools.

Responding to a question from another reporter, all three women leaders were jubilant at seeing Biden speak with both Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi presiding in back of him.

Mayor Gallego said it was “witnessing history” and she “had goosebumps” seeing that scene.

Mayor Romero said “that was one of my favorite parts from last night. I want my daughter who is 11 to see women in leadership as normal.”

Superintendent Hoffman commented “I hope this reflects a shift at the national stage” with Harris only being the first to be in that position and later a Woman President speaking at the House podium.

Congressional Democrats and Pro-Children Activists offer their Assessment as well.

Most of Arizona’s Congressional Democrats also offered their impressions of the President’s Address and first hundred days of the Biden/Harris Administration.

Senator Kyrsten Sinema issued a statement that read:

“I welcome President Biden’s continued focus on ending the pandemic – and his commitment to ensuring America wins the global competition with foreign competitors such as China. Protecting jobs and expanding economic opportunities for everyday Americans are goals that unite all Americans. That’s why I successfully worked to pass legislation boosting American manufacturing of semiconductors – to support Arizona jobs and American national security. I’ll continue working across the aisle to advance those policies, because bipartisan cooperation is the best way to achieve lasting results for our nation, from delivering for our veterans to renewing the Violence Against Women Act. Setting aside partisan dysfunction and rigidity, and beginning to work again through compromise and common sense, will help mend some of the divisions in our country while addressing America’s urgent challenges. I’ll continue to uphold the Arizona values of finding common ground and using common sense as I work with colleagues in both parties to get things done for Arizona.”

Arizona Congressional District Two Representative Ann Kirkpatrick gave a detailed summary of Biden’s presentation, stating:

“Tonight, President Biden gave a dose of hope, not only to Congress but to millions of Americans. Our country has been devastated by a deadly pandemic — over the last year, families have struggled, children have fallen behind in school, businesses have had to close — but now that we are working alongside the Biden Administration, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

“The American Rescue Plan, which I voted to pass in March, delivered over 220 million COVID shots in 100 days. In Pima County, vaccination rates increased by 90% after the passage of the Plan. It is providing much-needed rental assistance, nutrition assistance, small business lifelines, and so much more. I’m seeing the effects of my vote far and wide within AZ-02, and could not be happier that we were able to secure such sweeping relief for Arizonans.

“And our work isn’t going to stop here — Democrats are poised to pass other critical, landmark legislation to better the lives of Americans, such as the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. I stand excited and ready to ensure these pieces of legislation make it past the finish line.

“Of course, we are facing immense challenges in our nation, as well: racial divisions, the situation at our border, gun violence — we have quite a bit of work to do. But I am cautiously optimistic that we can get it done. Like the President said, we can accomplish anything we put our minds to if we do so together. Together, we can pass the U.S. Citizenship Act to fulfill our promise to Dreamers, write the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act into law, and put a stop to rampant gun violence once and for all.

“President Biden has laid out an ambitious, transformative vision for us — and now Congress must act. We must continue to challenge the status quo and always put those we serve at the forefront — this is how we will build back better.”

Arizona Congressional District Four Representative Raul Grijalva also commented on the President’s address to Congress, particularly the American Families Plan, writing:

“The American Families Plan is the type of ambitious legislation we need to rebuild America’s middle class and ensure that the investments we make today set us up for a brighter future. For decades, tax policies benefitting the wealthy have starved investments in the middle class, exacerbated income inequality, and kept the American Dream out of reach for millions of Americans. We know that when our families succeed, our whole country succeeds. I’m pleased President Biden understands affordable healthcare, education, and childcare are critical to safeguarding and strengthening the middle class.”

“President Biden’s joint address tonight made the case that government can work for the people again. From immigration and infrastructure to the climate crisis and racial justice, we must harness every tool at our disposal and embrace the bold policy solutions that this moment merits.”

Arizona Congressional District One Representative Tom O’Halleran, a member of the Problem’s Solvers Caucus, emphasized finding common ground in his remarks, relaying:

“Tonight, on the eve of his 100th day in office, President Biden spoke to American families about the important, ongoing work needed to vaccinate our communities, rebuild our economies, and invest in the future of a nation turning the corner on this global pandemic. In these past 100 days, we have already seen change come to fruition: nearly one-third of all American adults are now fully vaccinated.

“I look forward to working with the president to bring good-paying jobs, affordable health care, and quality education to our long-overlooked rural and tribal communities. Arizona families want real results, not platitudes or messaging bills. And I know the president agrees with me on this—due to his efforts, families, businesses, and schools across the First District have already benefitted from new resources secured under his American Rescue Plan.

“While we won’t always agree on every policy issue, I am committed to finding common ground—with his administration and with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress—to bring about an era of new hope and tangible, positive change for Arizona families.”

 

David Lujan of the Arizona Children’s Action Alliance commented on the merits of the American Jobs and Families Plans, noting:

“There is no better investment in our future than investing in our children and families through paid family leave, child care, universal preK, and health care for all. The American Families Plan and American Jobs Plan will create a more equitable economy. Now it is time for Arizona’s congressional delegation to come together and pass these landmark plans that will benefit all Arizonans.”

Senator Mark Kelly, while praising President Biden’s speech in Congress and his domestic agenda did offer a critique of the situation at the southern border, writing:

“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.”