Washington, D.C.— Tonight, President Joe Biden delivered his third State of the Union address. Earlier this week in advance of the speech, American mayors released a new video highlighting the strength of the nation’s cities and the importance of a strong local-federal partnership. Following the address, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Reno (NV) Mayor Hillary Schieve released the following statement:
“American mayors welcome the optimistic spirit projected by the president tonight. Our cities have made remarkable progress in recent years, and that would not have been possible without a strong partnership between mayors and the president. We share an understanding that federal policy is more effective when it takes into consideration the needs at a local level. The success of this partnership and the strength of American cities today is a story we should not overlook. We are safer, stronger, healthier, and more unified.
“We are eager to build on the progress we’ve made to address issues like housing, women’s health and reproductive rights, climate change, gun violence, immigration, as well as the cost of living. Mayors also welcome the president’s commitment to protecting democracy, which we know will be tested during the 2024 election by interference at home and abroad. And I remain grateful to the president for highlighting the importance of mental health, an issue mayors have made a top priority and one we continue to work on closely with the administration.
“Tonight, the president laid out a clear roadmap to make people in American cities better off, and as we have always done, we are eager to partner with federal officials to continue getting things done for those we serve.”
You can watch the video produced by USCM here.