Washington, D.C. —  “This year’s State of the Union comes at time of great challenge – but also great opportunity. I was glad the President reached out to members of both parties to solve problems and not pass them on to future generations. I hope both parties will unite behind the common goal of strengthening Social Security. It is our responsibility to fix Social Security now, so future generations will have a secure retirement.

“We must also stay united in the War on Terror. This weekend, I will go to Iraq to see first-hand the progress we’ve made and the challenges ahead. I share the President’s deep appreciation of our troops’ sacrifice. Congress has a duty to do everything possible to help our troops bring freedom and stability to Iraq.

“The President addressed several issues that have a special impact on South Dakota. The President’s push for an energy policy that encourages renewable fuels will strengthen South Dakota’s economy and America’s energy security. The Senate cannot allow partisan gridlock to again stop important energy legislation.”

Click here to listen to Senator John Thune praise the goals set by President Bush in his State of the Union address. Length: 57 seconds