Takai Attends President Obama's Final SOTU

Press Release

Today, Congressman Mark Takai attended President Obama's final State of the Union Address. In his speech, the President highlighted several key initiatives he hopes to work on during his last year in office, and for the nation to continue on in those to come.

"I am pleased to see the President address the issues of growing our nation's economy, ensuring a strong defense and national security, and investing in alternative energy, which are some of the most pressing issues our country and Hawaii face," Takai said. "He in particular, also discussed the importance of funding cancer and medical research, which is an issue near and dear to my heart," Takai added.

President Obama began his speech by surveying the improvements in our economy since he has taken office, and how we can continue to ensure a strong and competitive economic edge in the continually globalizing marketplace all while giving everyone a fair shot at security.

"I applaud President Obama for the work he has done to improve the economy so far, but we still have a lot of work to do. We need to create an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. We need to create an opportunity economy," Takai said.

The President also addressed growing concerns on homeland security and America's involvement in conflict abroad. Takai said, "Americans are anxious about terrorism at home and abroad. We need to make sure our military has the resources to defeat ISIL, and to determine a strategy, Congress must bring an AUMF to the floor to have the voice of the American people heard. We cannot engage in another Middle East conflict with no clear end, under a law enacted 14 years ago. We need clarity and a comprehensive strategy to protect our homeland and resources, detail our overseas strategy, and take care of our troops when they come home," Takai added.

The President underscored the importance of ensuring all Americans have access to higher education. "And we have to make college affordable for every American," Obama said. "Because no hardworking student should be stuck in the red. We've already reduced student loan payments to ten percent of a borrower's income. Now, we've actually got to cut the cost of college. Providing two years of community college at no cost for every responsible student is one of the best ways to do that, and I'm going to keep fighting to get that started this year," Obama concluded.

Takai will soon introduce legislation that will further streamline the student loan repayment process. These include one to codify student loan repayment programs, and one that would make for-profit colleges that went belly-up reimburse students whose degrees now are useless.

Calling on America's spirit of innovation, Obama pleaded with Congress to take action to support scientific research. "But we can do so much more. Last year, Vice President Biden said that with a new moonshot, America can cure cancer," Obama said. "Last month, he worked with this Congress to give scientists at the National Institutes of Health the strongest resources they've had in over a decade. Tonight, I'm announcing a new national effort to get it done. And because he's gone to the mat for all of us, on so many issues over the past forty years, I'm putting Joe in charge of Mission Control. For the loved ones we've all lost, for the family we can still save, let's make America the country that cures cancer once and for all," Obama added.

Takai, who has been a career-long advocate for cancer research and advocacy, and is a member of the House Cancer Caucus and the House Deadliest Cancer Caucus, was also instrumental in securing these funds. Takai met numerous times with Congressional leadership on the matter. Takai was recently treated at NIH for his pancreas cancer.

"As a cancer patient, I appreciate the President's commitment to funding research and medical innovation. And I am not alone; there are so many like me suffering from the same disease. I truly believe that the line in the President's speech about increasing resources for cancer research at NIH received that loudest applause all night," Takai said.

"The President is right that Congress has left a lot undone. We need to take action on immigration reform, gun violence prevention, and climate change. I was pleased to see President Obama place a strong focus on creating renewable energies, especially since Hawaii's the first state to set a goal of producing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. An all of the above approach to our energy needs is not only important for the aina, but it helps our wallets too," Takai said.

"As the President said "politics doesn't mean we have to agree on everything." It is expected that we argue "over the size and shape of government, over commerce and foreign relations, over the meaning of liberty and imperatives of security.' I look forward to rising above the rancor, and bitter partisan divide to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle this year to get meaningful legislation passed that makes a difference in the lives of ordinary Americans," Takai concluded.

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