Bonamici Applauds President’s Focus on Supporting Working Families, Transcending Differences
WASHINGTON, DC [01/12/16] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s 2016 State of the Union Address. You can download photos of Congresswoman Bonamici with her guest Salma Ahmad, a Washington County resident and the President of the Islamic Society of Greater Portland, here.
“There are many opportunities to build bridges in Congress, and I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make a difference in the lives of Oregonians and the American people,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Too many families are struggling to make ends meet. Congress should be working together to make high-quality child care available and affordable for families, ensure that wages keep pace with the cost of living, allow workers to save for a secure retirement, and provide paid leave so families can welcome a new child or care for an ailing parent. These reasonable policies support working families and grow the economy. I applaud the President for his leadership on these issues, and I’m confident that we can meet any challenge that comes before us if we heed his call to come together and find common ground.
“Particularly, I would like to also acknowledge the President’s remarks on America’s diversity. He’s right; our diversity makes us stronger. As President Obama said tonight, ‘When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid is bullied, that doesn’t make us safer…It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world.’
“By building bridges between people of diverse faiths, we can transcend our differences and be an example of religious freedom and tolerance for the rest of the world. Salma Ahmad, my guest tonight, works to promote understanding of the Muslim faith in Oregon, and has made our community a more welcoming and peaceful place in which to live. Salma continues to inspire me, and it was an honor to have her in the nation’s capital for this historic event.”