Mayor Adams' Statement on President Biden's 2023 State of the Union Address

February 7, 2023

NEW YORK– New York City Mayor Eric Adams tonight released the following statement on President Joseph Biden’s 2023 State of the Union address:

“I was honored to be at the State of the Union as a guest of U.S. Representative Espaillat tonight to hear directly from President Biden about the progress we have made as a country and the work we still must do on behalf of New Yorkers and all other Americans.

“This president’s focus on working people is exactly what the nation needs, and his focus on helping Americans care for their children, provide for their families, and put money in their wallets will resonate from coast to coast. The agenda he laid out goes hand-in-hand with what we are doing in New York City — this is a blue-collar president, I’m a blue-collar mayor, and we’re both pursuing a blue-collar agenda for working people in New York and across the rest of the nation.

“The president is right that we must do something on the gun violence epidemic that affects this entire nation. While shootings in New York City are down, guns are still far too accessible across the country. We all can and should agree that simple bipartisan efforts, like enhanced background checks and red flag laws, must be passed immediately.

“The use of opioids, particularly fentanyl, is a public health crisis that requires a federal response, and I’m glad President Biden will launch a major surge to stop the production, sale, and trafficking of fentanyl. This overdose crisis is a national emergency and must be treated as such.

“Finally, I agree with the president that we need Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform, something that democrats like U.S. Senate Majority Leader Schumer, U.S. House Democratic Leader Jeffries, and the New York City congressional delegation have been trying to do for decades. As I’ve repeatedly said, the asylum seeker crisis is a national problem that needs a national solution, in the short-, medium-, and long-term. New York and other cities across the country are struggling with this crisis. We need help and we need it now.

“I look forward to a continued partnership with the Biden-Harris administration to deliver greater public safety for all New Yorkers, continued growth for our economy, and a comprehensive immigration policy for our country.”

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