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After President Bush addressed the nation during a joint session of Congress, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) released the following statement:

“I believe the President gave an earnest speech that addressed the many challenges that confront our nation. I was pleased to see that the President focused his speech on both the prominent foreign and domestic challenges America currently faces.

“The domestic policy initiatives he addressed must be dealt with head on if we wish to grow our economy and secure America for future generations. I agree that we must move forward on energy independence by exploring energy alternatives as well as increasing domestic production within our own boundaries in an environmentally sensitive way. In addition I applaud his focusing on fiscal restraint and spending reform. We spend too much money at the federal level and absolutely have to set priorities consistent with our Constitutional duties.

“Health care is one of the most serious issues we face domestically today. I believe the President’s plan to make basic, private health insurance available and affordable for more Americans must be a priority. Additionally, Congress must continue to allow the President to exercise his Constitutional right to nominate judges and prevent gridlock in the nomination process.

“I disagree with the President’s proposed ‘comprehensive immigration reform.’ We should close the borders and end illegal entry into the United States now. This is not the time to allow illegal aliens any form of amnesty or path to citizenship. The first step must be to secure our borders now and enforce current laws.

“We must pursue foreign policy initiatives that make our nation safer and more secure. Failure in Iraq is not an option. Congress has an obligation to oversee the President’s initiatives and hold President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki accountable for progress in the Iraqi war. This war is the definitive ideological struggle of our time, and the United States must work with allies and nations in the Middle East to strive for stability. If we expect true success, we must also neutralize the detrimental effect of Iran and Syria who are escalating the level of violence in Iraq. To leave without victory would lead to ethnic violence and provide a haven for terrorists to plan further attacks on us on our own soil.

“To make this nation safer and more prepared for the growing threat of nuclear proliferation by rogue nations such as Iran and North Korea, we must strengthen our military to make certain we are prepared for any threat we may face.

“Last year the Democrats promised that this would be the most bipartisan Congress ever. The President has pledged himself to work in a bipartisan manner to meet the challenges of our nation. I call on my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to fulfill their promises to allow open debate on ideas that will help find the best solutions for the American people.”

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