Upton Comments on President's Address to Congress

Upton Comments on President's Address to Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, made the following statement in response to the President's State of the Union Address to Congress:

"Innovation is a great American trait, a defining characteristic that can be seen in our entrepreneurial spirit and our ground-breaking industries and advancements.  Fostering innovation is a laudable national goal that knows no party boundaries.  As we pursue the policies of the future, we must follow the path defined by the desires of the American people.  All they want is an opportunity for work, less government intrusion in their daily lives, and for the federal government to stop spending money it does not have.

"Innovation is not measured in federal dollars spent or government mandates imposed.  Energy independence is not achieved through government dependence.  Congress spent tens of billions of dollars on the federal government’s favored energy sources in the stimulus, yet America remains dependent on hostile foreign nations to power our lives.  We know the answer is not to hyper-subsidize preferred industries or force consumers and job creators to purchase energy they cannot afford.  That is not how the free market works.

"Government cannot force the people to innovate, but if we can get government out of the way, American ingenuity will emerge every time.  We are home to the world’s best ideas and brightest minds.  We do not need a government takeover of health care to achieve affordable, patient-centered reforms.  We do not need a national energy tax to harness the power of all our resources to achieve energy independence.  This Republican Congress proudly embraces the ideals and opportunity of American entrepreneurship, and we will look to our core principles as we pursue policies that create jobs, reduce spending, and shrink the size and scope of the federal government in order to expand individual freedom."