Langevin Statement on State of the Union Address

Statement

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address:

"President Obama's State of the Union address this evening went back to the core concept of the American dream. The President believes, as do I, that every American should be able to thrive in this country with hard work and the right opportunities. His initiatives for raising the minimum wage, making college more affordable and reviving high-tech manufacturing are opportunity creators -- the kind of forward-thinking action that will strengthen our middle class and help Rhode Island families to achieve success. I applaud the President for promising to take executive action to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 for those working on new federal contracts, and I am committed to working with him to make that increase universal through the Harkin-Miller bill. A higher minimum wage will lead to greater productivity and efficiency, and most importantly, it will pull hardworking Americans out of poverty and allow them to break into the middle class. A strong middle class is an important component for a healthy economy, and that's exactly what our focus should be in the coming year.

"I was so proud to be joined tonight by Davide Dukcevich, owner of Daniele, Inc., whose family is a true example of how the American dream can and should work. His grandparents, Croatian refugees, fled to Italy, where they supported their family by selling handmade meats. Davide's father brought the business to America, which he saw as a land of opportunity, and that commitment has been reaffirmed by Davide and his brother, who have grown their business exponentially. Daniele's award-winning products are sold around the world, and the company, which employs more than 300 Rhode Islanders, is currently undergoing a $50 million expansion project. Davide's vision isn't limited to his own successful business. He believes Rhode Island has the potential to become a "Culinary Valley' -- a food destination with an interconnected network of food-related industries that support one another. He believes that Rhode Island businesses are stronger when they work together. Davide's foresight and leadership has inspired me to join the cause, and starting on February 17, I will embark on a Food Week tour that will allow me to hear from restaurants, food manufacturers and other industry professionals about what tools they need to thrive and grow in the Ocean State. It is a growing movement, and the kind of outside-the-box thinking that could be a game-changed in our state's economy.

"It has been a frustrating time in Congress, but tonight's address was about optimism and action, which is exactly what we need to move this country forward. Just as Davide has taken action to seek out new opportunities back home in Rhode Island, I aim to follow that example and take action on issues important to Rhode Islanders in 2014, including closing the skills gap. As co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, I will advocate for job and skills training programs that make young people aware of -- and prepared for -- all the options available to them. If we want to grow manufacturing and strengthen infrastructure in order to support a vibrant economy, we need a skilled workforce capable of filling these positions. Let us go forward this year with the hope of rewarding hard work, creating new opportunities for the future and ensuring that the American dream is within reach for every person in the United States."

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