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Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) released the following statement in reaction to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night:

“What we heard tonight from the President was a call for cooperation to increase economic opportunity for all Americans. Both parties in Congress must renew focus on policies that help the private sector create jobs, promote a well-educated workforce, and revitalize American innovation.

“Our country is healthiest when we work together to build the economy from the middle out, and we can only do that when each New Yorker – each American – knows that they will be rewarded for a hard day’s work in the same manner as anyone else.

“Boosting small business and sending more dollars through our economy is critical during a fragile recovery, and we can do that by increasing the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance, and ensuring women receive the same pay for the same job as their male counterparts.

“Globally, our nation’s future and economy are at a crossroads. We can only compete in future worldwide markets when we encourage innovation, reward hard work, and prioritize education so the next generation of Americans are better off than we are today. Those are the priorities President Obama laid out today, and I hope Congress follows suits with action and legislation in the months to come.”

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