Congressman Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, made the following statement on Tuesday night after President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress:

“Tonight, President Trump stood before the American people and elected officials representing all corners of our country, promising to be the president for all people living in this great country. Out of all his campaign promises, this is the one he cannot fail to deliver on.

I am hearing from and talking to people across Washington’s Eighth District every day. I’ve heard their sincere hopes and I’ve heard their genuine fears. I can see it in their eyes and feel it in their voices. There are deep divisions in our country, and those divisions are driven by passion and concern. We have seen it in the rifts between law enforcement and community. We have seen it in protests within our cities, on our TVs, and across the dinner table at family meals.

Bridging the divide begins and ends with rebuilding trust between one another. While we may never agree on all policy proposals, we must look for areas where we can find common ground and remind ourselves that in the end, we are all on the same team.

I am confident Congress and the White House can begin working toward uniting the country by treating one another with civility and respect and implementing policy solutions that better the lives of all Americans.

Families in Washington’s Eighth Congressional District deserve affordable, accessible, and personalized health care. American families deserve a simpler, fairer tax code that allows them to bring home more of their hard-earned dollars. They deserve an economy where determination and sweat can lead to boundless opportunities. And, they deserve to live in neighborhoods where they know their loved ones are safe. These are human desires that are blind to class, color, and geography.

As we work toward these goals, I remain willing to work with all sides, but will also be ready to speak out when I feel Congress or the Administration are taking the country in the wrong direction.

When I was first sworn into office in 2005, I swore to protect the U.S. Constitution. That is a promise I have not forgotten and one I hold dear. The President took that same oath when he was inaugurated this past January. He must look to this document as a guide to his platform and a check on his executive authority.

During this new Congress and Administration we will continue to face challenges, but these challenges are also opportunities. I look forward – with optimism and energy – to working with the constituents of Washington’s Eighth District, Congress, and the Administration to find solutions that unite us as a country and better the lives of our families.”