Payne, Jr. Reaction to the State of the Union

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) released the following statement after President Obama delivered his State of the Union address:

“I applaud President Obama for calling on us to uphold the values of our nation and to work together, as engaged citizens, to ensure that every American has an opportunity to reach their full potential.

“We should start by immediately advancing common-sense legislation to reduce the epidemic of gun violence in New Jersey and throughout our entire nation. Safety and security is fundamental to the ability of families to pursue better opportunity and to succeed. Gun violence erodes that safety. Congress must build on the president’s progress and pass gun safety legislation, like my Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act. My bill would create a voluntary federal gun buyback program to keep guns out of the wrong hands and make our communities safer for children, families, and businesses.

“We must continue the urgent work of building a stronger future for all Americans. That means investing in small businesses and creating well-paying jobs; expanding access to quality health care; opening doors to affordable education; and strengthening our national security. The challenges we face can be met, and the opportunities we face can be seized, when we come together with a shared purpose.”

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