Florida congressmen reacted to President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening.
In the address, Trump spoke of new beginnings, signaling the country was on a "new chapter of American greatness."
Trump called for health care reform, spoke about military spending and urged congressmen to join together in bipartisan harmony.
Here's what Florida leaders are saying about Trump's speech:
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla.
“The President’s Joint Address tonight called for unity, laying out an optimistic and forward-looking vision of America. One message was clear: We can keep our promises and do right by the American people if we work together. I look forward to working with the Administration, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress, to improve care for our nation’s Veterans, support our men and women in uniform, secure our borders, invest in medical research, fix our infrastructure, and much more.”
U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla.
President Trump’s speech was as predictable as it was disturbing. Building up our military by gutting the safety net and our diplomatic efforts throughout the world makes us less safe, not more. Repealing the ACA will have a devastating impact on the millions who will lose their healthcare, seniors whose prescriptions will cost more, and everyone who gets their insurance at work when their policies lose protections against insurance company abuses. An immigration plan that builds a wall, creates a deportation force, and demonizes immigrants ignores our history as a country of immigrants as it tears families apart. Finally, I appreciate the President’s condemnation of the anti-Semitic attacks targeting Jewish institutions, but one speech is not enough. I expect him to follow actions with words by preparing a comprehensive government response to this epidemic of hate."
U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, D-Fla.
“We heard a lot from President Trump tonight, but the numbers speak for themselves. Forty days after his inauguration, we still have yet to see President Trump and the Republican Congress lift a finger to create jobs or help hard-working Americans.
“Instead, we have a leader who is alienating Americans instead of bringing people together. Trump and his administration are in a hurry to repeal the Affordable Care Act even if it makes America sick again and leaves 30 million people without life-saving health insurance. That is unacceptable.
“Our country deserves better than a bunch of broken promises from our President. Now is the time for all of us in Congress to roll up our sleeves and figure out a way to work together in order to improve our economy, create more jobs, and do right by the people who sent us here to bring civility back to our government.”
Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia
“Tonight, after eight long years, the American people heard from a leader with a bold and optimistic message emphasizing putting America first. President Trump’s speech was not only inspirational, it was a tribute to our commitment on how working together can renew the American spirit. He laid out a visionary plan and challenged Congress, as well as ourselves, to dream big and deliver for the American people because the best days of our nation are yet to come.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla.
“Tonight, I was glad to hear a vision of bipartisanship to try to bridge differences that exist. While we may not agree on every issue, I do believe there is more that unites us than divides us, by far.
“I share a desire with all Americans to make our communities and our country safer. As a 12-year Army veteran injured fighting for a country I love, I know as well as any that our enemies in the Middle East literally want to destroy our way of life. Ensuring our military has the resources needed to protect our country and that our veterans have the resources they need when they return home are absolutely critical priorities in the President’s budget request.
“I also share a desire with all Americans to leave the next generation in a better place than we are now. For far too long, Washington has avoided the responsibility to set and live by a budget—a responsibility that families and small businesses are forced to take on every year. Tax-more, spend-more policies have seriously jeopardized our children’s future by driving our country deep into debt. We must work together, with Members on both sides of the aisle, to restore fiscal sanity in Washington—asking government to do more with less instead of asking the American people to do with less...
“I’m committed to working with anyone who shares this positive vision for our country and who wants to make Washington work for the American people again. Together, we must put people before politics.”
U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.
"I am disappointed the President did not use this opportunity to offer a concrete plan to unify the country and Congress to grow the middle class, strengthen education, make health care more accessible and affordable, and safeguard our nation. However, I am optimistic there are opportunities for the President and Congress to work together. I am especially pleased to hear that the President wants to make childcare accessible and affordable, ensure parents obtain family leave, invest in women’s health, and rebuild our infrastructure. Earlier this month, some of my congressional colleagues and I requested a meeting with the President to discuss ways to improve our nation’s aging infrastructure. If the President is serious about this issue, he will find a willing partner in me and many of my fellow Members of Congress. I continue to be concerned about the President’s undisciplined approach to national security, which undermines rather than enhances our safety. I also did not see a realistic plan to replace the Affordable Care Act—only a politically-motivated effort to eliminate health care coverage for millions of Americans and send our health care system into chaos. Right now, the American public is calling for unity, cooperation, and results. I stand ready and willing to work with the White House and both parties in Congress to put good public policy above partisan politics on issues where we can find common ground. I encourage the President to do the same."
Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla.
“In his speech tonight, the President outlined a bold Republican agenda that the American people voted for in November. I look forward to working with my party and the President to rebuild and reinvest in our crumbling infrastructure, fix our broken health care system, and make it easier for American companies to do business here. After eight long years of serving in Congress under President Obama, I am optimistic about this important opportunity for Republicans to prove to the American people that they come first and we can get the job done.”
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
"For the first time since I've been in the Senate, Republicans are poised to enact real, meaningful and lasting reforms to protect Americans, rebuild our military, grow our economy, boost workers' paychecks, replace ObamaCare with a better system, and remove the roadblocks to prosperity created by bureaucrats in Washington. The president has partners in both the House and Senate to pursue this bold agenda, and I was encouraged to see him make his case to the American people and urge Democrats to stop standing in the way of progress.
"I was especially pleased the president highlighted tax reforms and replacing Obamacare as top priorities, and Im hopeful that in the coming months, we'll be able to work together and put in place a simpler, fairer tax code that is both pro-growth and pro-family. Fixing our broken immigration system is crucial for our security and economic future, and I'm hopeful we can work in a bipartisan way to take the first necessary step in this process, which is securing our border and improving interior enforcement.
"As we work towards these goals, I'm sure there will be disagreements, but I'm more excited than ever about serving in the Senate at this moment in our nation's history and the opportunity to improve the lives of all Americans."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
