WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s first joint address to U.S. Congress tonight.

“Tonight, President Obama laid out his plan to turn our economy around and help rebuild Ohio’s middle class. After nearly a decade of wrong-headed policies, Ohio’s unemployment is above the national average, health care and food costs are soaring, and a college education is becoming out of reach for too many young people.

I applaud the president for his swift action in passing an economic recovery package designed to create or save jobs for 133,000 Ohioans. He is following this with a bold plan to address the housing crisis – a crisis that has devastated Ohio communities in every corner of the state. But President Obama’s plan doesn’t just provide short-term relief—he’s combined it with a long-term plan for economic growth to help ensure that middle class families thrive, that we create new industry and new jobs, and that our nation remains globally competitive.

The president’s plan to invest in green energy is welcome news – especially for the Buckeye State. Ohio has world-class green energy research capabilities, a skilled and talented workforce, and a tradition of manufacturing innovation. With the right federal investment, Ohio will lead the way in green energy development and in establishing a green-energy supply line. It’s time to put Ohioans back to work. 

President Obama knows that Ohio is a bellwether for our economy and our middle class. I was pleased to hear about his plans to help our nation’s auto industry re-tool in a 21st century economy.

We have a responsibility to address our nation’s challenges and to implement solutions that will put our nation on a new and lasting course for success. Middle class families in Ohio – and across the nation – expect no less. Tonight showed that our nation, finally, is on the right path.”

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