WASHINGTON, DC – House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) released the following statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech:

“President Biden shouldn’t be lecturing Americans about the state of the union; he should be listening to them. If he took a break from handing out billions in green welfare for the wealthy and big corporations or hiring 87,000 new IRS agents to target working families, Americans would tell him the state of our union is under attack from an inflation crisis, a debt crisis, an energy crisis, skyrocketing interest rates, and threats to our critical supply chains.

“Republicans have been listening to the American people who have seen firsthand the failure of President Biden’s so-called solutions, and won’t be convinced otherwise by tonight’s speech. In fact, at our first hearing this Congress, held in a West Virginia lumber mill, the Ways and Means Committee heard from working Americans about the real state of the American economy. Their stories painted a picture that was the total opposite of President Biden’s Washington spin. We heard how American families and small businesses are struggling to make it under the Democrat agenda that is built by and for the special interests in Washington.

“President Biden’s rhetoric shows Democrats are out of touch with the reality facing Americans today. Democrats increased government spending by $10 trillion in just two years of complete one-party control, and actually put seniors’ Social Security and Medicare benefits at risk, while misleading the American people about Republicans’ commitment to protect these vital programs. Rather than downplaying Democrats’ failures, President Biden should join with Republicans in listening to what working families have to say about what will improve their lives and livelihoods.”