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Senate. Katie Britt attends a lunch with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, DC on February 27.
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, the youngest Republican woman elected to the U.S. Senate, criticized President Joe Biden and his administration on the border, the U.S. economy, and crime and security issues as she delivered the GOP's disavowal of Biden's State of the Union. address.
“Now, the American dream has become a nightmare for many families,” the senator said in his remarks Thursday evening from his kitchen table in Alabama. “The real, unchanging position of our union begins and ends with this — our families are hurting, and our country can do better.”
GOP leaders say the 42-year-old Britt is a leading voice among a new generation of Republican lawmakers in an effort to differentiate between the Alabama senator and Biden. Senior President 81. Republicans often point to the president's age and argue that Biden should not seek a second term, although at 77 Trump is only a few years younger.
“Right now, our commander is not in command. The free world deserves more than a boring and depleted leader,” Britt said. “America deserves leaders who recognize that secure borders, stable prices, safe streets and a strong defense are indeed the cornerstones of a great nation.”
In his speech, Britt focused heavily on immigration and the border, calling Biden's border policies “ignorant” and “disgraceful.” Referring to Lagan Riley, Britt said, “Tonight, President Biden finally named him, but he refused to take responsibility for his own actions.”
Riley He was found dead last month After jogging near a lake on the University of Georgia campus. Police say she was killed by a man An illegal crosser. According to Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson, the 22-year-old died of blunt force trauma to the head.
On the economy, Britt portrayed Biden as out of touch and isolated from the average American's concerns about affordability and cost of living.
“Let's be honest, it's been a minute since Joe Biden has been pumping gas, driving a carpool or pushing a grocery cart,” Britt said. “Meanwhile, the rest of us are watching our dollar, and we know it won't go that far.”
“President Biden doesn't get it — he's out of touch. Under his administration, families are worse off, our communities are less safe and our country is less safe,” he added.
Britt was first elected in 2022, becoming the first woman elected to the Senate from Alabama. with Trump's endorsementHe succeeds retiring Republican Sen. Richard Shelby, who previously served as chief of staff.
Biden delivered the annual presidential remarks before a joint session of Congress on Thursday evening. Opponents' responses to presidential speeches have been an annual tradition since the Reagan era. According to the Senate's website.
Britt's state has been at the center of national headlines recently after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month Frozen embryos are babies And those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death—an action found to be in violation on IVF and spurred several GOP lawmakers They distance themselves From the end.
Britt said in his remarks that Republicans are “the party of hard-working parents and families, and we want to give you and your children opportunities to thrive, and we want families to thrive.” That is why we strongly support nationwide access to experimental fertilization. We want to help loving moms and dads bring precious lives into this world.
CNN reports that some providers in the state have restarted A day after the state's governor signed a new bill aimed at protecting IVF patients and providers from legal liability imposed on them by a state Supreme Court ruling, some in vitro fertilization services on Thursday.
The White House has pushed back against the denial speech, criticizing Britain for not supporting a major bipartisan border deal and a foreign aid package and IVF access issue in the Senate.
“Last month, Senator Britt voted against President Biden, the Border Patrol Union and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — instead, with fentanyl smugglers — by opposing the toughest bipartisan border deal in modern history,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said. Britt said he “sides with Vladimir Putin and the regime in Tehran against one of our most pressing national security interests”.
Roe v. Bates specifically criticized Republicans for the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Hunt, “because a radical Supreme Court decision overturned Roe v. Hunt and set American women back nearly 50 years — with the support of Senator Britt — cutting off women across Alabama from IVF treatment and their dreams of raising their families.” ”
In contrast, he said, the president's comments “express a vision for a future in which our core liberties are restored, the middle class is at the heart of our economy, and our nation is more secure.”
This story and topic have been updated with additional improvements.
CNN's Haley Talbot, Kaitlan Collins, Lauren Mascarenhas and Isabel Rosales contributed to this report.
