Press Releases

Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:

“Tonight, the President delivered a powerful vision to restore fairness and opportunity in America. His call for a renewed focus on jobs and wages should not only guide Congress’s agenda in 2014 but also Florida’s agenda.

Right now, there are two Floridas. While one is thriving, the other is struggling to survive. The agenda that President Obama laid out—raising the minimum wage, closing the skills gap, boosting manufacturing, creating opportunities for youth through mentoring and educational investments—is a path to real prosperity for all Floridians and all Americans.

It won’t take much to end America’s unemployment crisis and get people working again. There are proven bipartisan proposals—like those included in the State of the Union—that could end the jobs crisis right now. But we need political will to act. I’ve been in Congress for more than 1,100 days now, and the Republican leadership has yet to bring a single serious jobs bill to the floor for a vote. It’s time to come together and compromise to pass a jobs bill for the sake of the American people.

This week I’m announcing the establishment of a Full Employment Caucus in Congress to advocate for proven and comprehensive solutions to the jobs crisis. This is not only about rebuilding the economy but also restoring basic dignity for millions of unemployed Americans. I urge my Republican colleagues to join me in seeking to finally end the effects of the Great Recession. Let’s make 2014 a year of action.”

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Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson is a second-term Congresswoman from Florida representing parts of Northern Miami-Dade and Southeast Broward counties. A former state legislator and school principal, she is the founder of the 5000 Role Models for Excellence Project, a mentoring program for young males at risk of dropping out of school. Along with Congressman Bill Posey, Congresswoman Corrine Brown, and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, Congresswoman Wilson serves as founding Co-Chair of the Florida Ports Caucus, a bipartisan taskforce that coordinates federal action in support of Florida’s harbors and waterways.