WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Republicans have responded favorably to President Donald Trump’s first address before joint houses of Congress Tuesday night.
The president veered away from the darker tones of his inaugural speech and the caustic nature of other recent remarks. While sticking with familiar themes of immigration and tax reform, he struck a more conciliatory stance.
“I am here tonight to deliver a message of unity and strength, and it is a message deeply delivered from my heart,” he said, in the opening of his hour-long speech.
This sat well with the Kansas delegation.
“Tonight, President Trump showed the country what a strong, patriotic leader looks like,” said Congressman Roger Marshall, R-Kan. “The vision he laid out is one that will lift all Americans, and one that shows our allies and enemies alike that America is back in the leadership business.”
The Great Bend native said Congress is ready to act on healthcare, opening markets for Kansas exports and fixing our broken tax system. “We couldn’t be more excited to put our shared vision with the President into action.”
“I appreciated hearing the president acknowledge the recent attack in Olathe and condemn the hatred that fueled this senseless act,” said Senator Jerry Moran, R-Kan. “This tragedy – motivated by prejudice and xenophobia – that took a Kansan’s life will not be tolerated.”
He was referring to the shooting of Alok Madasani and Srinivas Kuchibhotla, both 32, and Ian Grillot, 24, at a bar in Olathe last Friday. Madasani and Kuchibhotla, originally from India, worked at Garmin, the technology company that makes GPS devices. Kuchibhotla died.
Adam Purinton, 51, was charged with one count of premeditated first-degree murder and two counts of attempted premeditated first-degree murder.
Moran also liked Trump’s pro-business remarks. “With a new congress and administration, we have a real opportunity to make changes in our federal government that will improve the everyday lives of Kansans and Americans. It was good to hear the president’s commitment to establishing an environment for businesses to thrive and hire more Americans. I want Americans to have better jobs and more take home pay.”
Moran said he has expressed to the administration a number of priorities that are too important to Kansans to compromise on. “For example, we will not rest until Kansas veterans indicate that they are experiencing the kind of lasting change that’s needed at the VA and that they are receiving the benefits and respect they deserve.”
He also said he will continue pushing for increased access to export markets for the state’s farmers, ranchers and manufacturers.
Other key issues are working to better secure our country from threats at home and abroad and the national debt “so our children and grandchildren don’t inherit an impossible financial burden.”
Moran said the president “must join with congress to accomplish the important work Americans expect us to do.”
In the 24 hours before his address, Trump blamed former President Barack Obama for town hall protests and security leaks, called House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi “incompetent” and said his generals, not the commander in chief, were responsible for a military raid in Yemen that killed a Navy SEAL.
But, in his speech, these incidents were set aside. Trump called on Washington to “work past the differences of party.”
