Here’s how Pa. politicians reacted to Biden’s Congressional address

(*This developing story will be updated)

President Joe Biden spoke to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, where he touted his administration’s accomplishments during its first 100 days, and its response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Biden also laid out parts of his $1.5 trillion proposed American Families Plan for members of Congress.

Here’s how politicians across the commonwealth reacted.

Gov. Tom Wolf: 

“The American Families Plan will break down barriers to success for low- and middle-income families. It will make crucial investments in the American people and pave the way for a sustained and equitable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“My administration has made major investments in education in Pennsylvania, and this plan will build on our successes to help ensure that every student has access to a high-quality, affordable education – one that will set them up for success in life and in the workforce. The American Families Plan invests in pre-K and community college and seeks to make college more affordable for low- and middle-income students.

“The American Families Plan also calls for major investments that will help families thrive, including through providing high-quality child care at a price families can actually afford, establishing a paid family and medical leave program so all workers have access to sick days and paid leave, and improving access to healthy, nutritious food for children and families.

“Much like my budget plan for Pennsylvania this year, the American Families Plan makes these crucial investments at the same time that it extends and expands tax cuts for low- and middle-income individuals and families, by implementing tax reform to close existing loopholes and ensure that the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share.

“Thank you, President Biden, for putting the needs of working individuals and families first with the American Families Plan. This plan invests in a better future for American families, and will make a big difference for Pennsylvanians.”

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman: 

Damn right. This is exactly what I’ve been saying for years.

Let’s transition to clean energy, uphold the union way of life, + create thousands of good-paying jobs here. https://t.co/5Ne7cE2pul

— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) April 29, 2021

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.:

“Over nearly 100 days, President Biden and Vice President Harris have worked to get the COVID-19 public health emergency under control, pass historic rescue legislation to provide relief for working families and lay out a vision for what ‘building back better’ is all about. During his address to a joint session of Congress, President Biden demonstrated that he and Democrats in Congress aren’t done making progress for working families and children. In addition to continuing our work to defeat COVID-19, Congress has an obligation pass the American Jobs Plan in order to rebuild our roads and bridges, invest in high-speed broadband for all Americans and ensure that seniors, individuals with disabilities and workers benefit from a historic investment in home and community-based services, especially to help the more than 16,000 Pennsylvanians on waiting lists. We must also pass the American Families Plan in order to provide economic security and opportunity to all working families. It includes a priority that I have worked on since I began serving in the U.S. Senate- investments in early learning and universal Pre-K. Early learning investments are essential to giving children a strong, smart start to their lives. When a child learns more earlier in life, they earn more later in our workforce. Together, these plans are what will allow our country to build back better. In just 100 days, the Biden-Harris Administration and Democrats in Congress have laid a foundation for change that will transform the lives of our families and children. It’s time to keep going.”

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-2nd District:

“This is the most successful First 100 Days of any president in my lifetime. As the President stated this evening, we must now seize this opportunity to build on the historic progress of the first 100 days and make once in a generation investments to create jobs, improve public health, and transform our infrastructure. I look forward to using my positions on the House Budget Committee and the Ways & Means Committee to get the American Families Plan across the finish line and to the President’s desk for his signature.”

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, D-3rd District:

1/ I applaud @POTUS Biden’s #AmericanFamiliesPlan, including:
✅ Free community college for 2 years per student
✅ $225 billion in child-care funding
✅ $225 billion for paid family and medical leave;

— Congressman Dwight Evans (@RepDwightEvans) April 29, 2021

U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th District:

.@POTUS: In the first 100 days his administration has gotten vaccines to nearly 40,000 pharmacies. @SkippackP is thankful to be one of those 40,000 pharmacies to receive vaccines for our community.

Vaccines have provided our community with a “dose of hope.”

— Dr. @mayankgamin

— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@RepDean) April 29, 2021

U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-5th District:

The American Families Plan invests in:
✅ Our kids
✅ Our families
✅ Our economic future

We need this ambitious, once-in-a-generation investment to rebuild the middle class. This is how we #BuildBackBetter

— Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (@RepMGS) April 29, 2021

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th District: 

Tonight, President Joe Biden addressed the nation at a historic time as we continue to battle this pandemic. Great progress has been made in our fight – all adult Americans are eligible for a vaccine, businesses and schools are opening safely and our economy is rebounding. /1 pic.twitter.com/FhTqurRx9U

— Chrissy Houlahan (@RepHoulahan) April 29, 2021

 U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th District:

Yes Mr. President. #PROActNow

— Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) April 29, 2021

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8th District:

“Democrats in Congress have worked with this administration to deliver on the key promise we made to the American people 100 days ago – that we would do more to beat this pandemic and ensure everyone’s economic well-being. And since we passed the American Rescue Plan, we are seeing real progress on getting shots in arms, money in pockets, kids back in school and people back in jobs. Now that help is here, we are on a path to recovery, but our work in Congress is only just beginning.

“President Biden this evening presented a vision for our nation where we don’t just return to pre-pandemic normal, but usher in a new era where the United States truly is the land of opportunity for all. Millions of American working families have struggled for years with economic, child care and education challenges, and the pandemic has only made them worse. We now have an opportunity to create good paying jobs, support families and give children a strong foundation for success in life in every part of the country. Together, the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan frameworks will guide us as we continue our mission to Build Back Better as one nation.”

U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-12th District: 

“In his first 100 days as president, Joe Biden has demonstrated he cares more about appeasing the far left than working to benefit and unite our country. With the slimmest majority in modern political history, President Biden and the Democrats have spent trillions of taxpayer dollars, eliminated good-paying energy jobs, and created a crisis at our southern border—opening it to human traffickers and illegal drugs. His latest multi-trillion-dollar spending plan, announced tonight, would bankrupt our kids, our families, and our nation’s economic future.

“The Republican vision for America is predicated on the idea that Americans should keep more of their own money and make more of their own choices. What our nation needs now more than ever is a government willing to get out of the way and allow its people to reclaim control of their lives.”

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-13th District: 

“At his inauguration, President Joe Biden promised unity – but for nearly 100 days, he has governed as a radical liberal. Tonight, we heard more of the same as President Biden outlined his socialist plans to raise taxes, burden families, unravel our Constitutional rights, and hinder America’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Right now, we should be focused on eradicating the virus, creating jobs, defending the American people from foreign threats, and equipping Americans for success in the 21st century. Instead, President Biden is intent on killing family-sustaining jobs, ignoring his own border crisis, expanding big-government programs, and propelling the liberals’ radical agenda. It is deeds – not words – that define our leaders. If President Biden truly values unity and progress, then he should dispense with delusional wish lists and work alongside Republicans to deliver meaningful results for the American people.”

U.S. Rep Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-15th District: 

Tonight, the American people will hear two visions for the United States. I am looking forward to @SenatorTimScott message of hope and opportunity in our great nation!

— Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (@CongressmanGT) April 28, 2021

 U.S. Rep Mike Kelly, R-16th District: 

“Joe Biden ran on unifying the American people, but his actions have spoken far louder than his words. The first 100 days of his presidency can only be characterized by a failure to secure our southern border, attacks on America’s energy industry, disrespect for law enforcement, calls for massive new taxes, and record spending on the left’s socialist priorities.”

U.S. Rep Mike Doyle, D-18th District: 

.@JoeBiden: “There’s no reason the blades for wind turbines can’t be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing.”

He’s right!

— Mike Doyle (@USRepMikeDoyle) April 29, 2021