Senate Democrats Highlight Accomplishments and Priorities with Guests at the State of the Union

DPCC Chairwoman Stabenow Leads Effort to Uplift People Whose Lives Have Improved Because of the Work of President Biden and Democrats

Democrats Also Highlight People Impacted by Dangerous, Republican-led Attacks on Reproductive Freedom, Reaffirm Commitment to Protecting these Freedoms

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats will highlight people across America as their guests for President Biden’s State of the Union today. This year, Senate Democrats will tell the stories of Americans whose lives have improved because of their work to lower health care costs, create new jobs, support veterans, invest in our nation’s infrastructure, and more. They will also highlight their commitment to Democratic priorities including protecting reproductive freedom. 

The country is seeing the most robust economic turnaround in a generation. Wages are up, unemployment is down, and nearly 15 million new jobs have been created. This success is because Senate Democrats spent the past three years putting the American people first. This State of the Union, Democrats will be highlighting how the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the PACT Act, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and more have transformed the lives of Americans and put our country on the right track. Instead of working with Democrats, Republicans are planning to continue their assault on reproductive freedom, protect tax cheats, cut Medicare and Social Security, and increase costs for Americans. 

“The State of the Union is an opportunity to tell the stories of Americans whose lives have improved because of what Democrats accomplished these past years—and there’s so much to highlight! From capping the cost of insulin, to bringing jobs home, to helping our veterans get the care they need, so many lives have been transformed because of the work we have done,” said Senator Stabenow. 

“When President Biden comes before the Congress to deliver his State of the Union, Americans will hear a clear theme: America’s economy is growing, inflation is slowing, and Democrats’ agenda is delivering. Sometimes it can take a while for the effects of an ambitious agenda to take root, but today, the evidence shows the work President Biden and Democrats put in over the past few years is beginning to pay off in a big way for our country. And Americans are beginning to take notice,” said Leader Schumer. 

Senator Debbie Stabenow will be highlighting her work to reduce hunger in Michigan and nationwide as well as create jobs with her guest Dan Carmody, CEO of Eastern Market Partnership.

Following the recent radical right wing Alabama Supreme Court decision jeopardizing IVF access and causing fertility clinics to shut down, Leader Schumer will be highlighting Hudson Valley resident Kate Farley, who is 37 weeks pregnant thanks to IVF. Due to a genetic abnormality, IVF was the only option for Kate and her husband to get pregnant and avoid suffering from multiple miscarriages, but with fertility treatments, she is getting ready to welcome her second child.

Senator Patty Murray will be highlighting Democrats’ work to protect reproductive rights from Republican-led attacks with her guest Kayla Smith. Facing a dangerous, doomed pregnancy and unable to get desperately-needed abortion care in Idaho, Kayla Smith traveled to Washington state for lifesaving abortion care at UW Medical Center and now resides in Washington state.

Senator Tammy Duckworth will be highlighting her continuing efforts to protect access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with her guest Dr. Amanda Adeleye, Illinois reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Dr. Adeleye is the Medical Director of CCRM Fertility’s Chicago-area center, where she specializes in reproductive endocrinology and fertility.

Senator Brian Schatz invited Olivia Manayan, MD MPH, an OBGYN chief resident at the University of Hawai‘i who will next year begin her specialization in complex family planning – focusing on abortion training, complex contraception, and reproductive justice.

Senator Cory Booker will be highlighting Democrats’ commitment to protecting reproductive freedom, including IVF. He will be joined by Roshni Kamta, a Jersey City native whose breast cancer diagnosis at 22 years old led her to freeze her eggs and inspired her advocacy for wider access to fertility treatments on behalf of breast cancer patients and women of color in healthcare.

Senator Tim Kaine’s guest is Elizabeth Carr, who was the first person in the United States born via in-vitro fertilization (IVF). She was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1981. Carr’s attendance at the State of the Union follows a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that has already led to restricted access to IVF in Alabama. The ruling sparked a push by federal lawmakers to pass the Access to Family Building Act, legislation cosponsored by Kaine to protect access to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology services.

Senator Tina Smith’s guest is Tammi Kromenaker, the Clinic Director of the Red River Women’s Clinic in Moorhead, Minnesota. The Red River Women’s Clinic spent nearly 25 years in Fargo, where it was North Dakota’s sole abortion provider for most of that time. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in 2022, the Republican Governor of North Dakota enacted one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country. To continue serving patients in desperate need of care, Kromenaker moved the clinic to the neighboring city of Moorhead in Minnesota, where abortion rights are protected under state law. Since coming to the Senate, Senator Smith has championed the right of Americans to make their own reproductive health decisions.

Senator Amy Klobuchar’s State of the Union guest will be Ann Bussey, a senior from Minnesota’s Iron Range. Bussey has focused on lowering drug prices and expanding broadband access and was awarded the Minnesota Department of Health Rural Health Hero Award in November 2023.

Senator Mark R. Warner will be accompanied by Robert Miller, owner of Small Country Campground in Louisa County, Virginia. Thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law, which brought high-speed internet to Louisa County, Mr. Miller has been able to fully bring his family-run campground into the 21st century, switching from a spotty landline to a reliable internet-based phone system, and benefiting from a faster and more responsive online reservation system. Access to high-speed internet has also enabled the campground to offer free WiFi across 80 acres of property, attracting remote workers, bringing in more business, and improving the overall guest experience.

Senator Dick Durbin will be joined by Dr. Zaher Sahloul. A resident of Chicago, Dr. Sahloul, who currently serves as a critical care specialist, an associate professor, and the president of MedGlobal, has an extensive resume and a long history offering humanitarian and medical aid to war-torn areas.

Senator Michael Bennet will be joined by Marina Dubrova, President of Ukrainians of Colorado, a non-profit organization that provides emergency relief, including medical supplies and aid, to orphanages and schools, and has been instrumental in helping refugees from Ukraine find housing and employment in Colorado. Their work has become more critical since Russia’s 2022 illegal invasion of Ukraine. Over the past two years, Bennet has staunchly supported the Ukrainian people in their fight to defend their democracy against Russian aggression and has worked in Congress to pass bipartisan legislation to provide Ukraine with much-needed weapons and ammunition.

Senator Elizabeth Warren will be highlighting President Biden's fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) with her guest, Benadette Manning. Benadette is a parent and former Boston Public School teacher who got her student debt canceled because of Biden’s work to reform PSLF.

Senator Gary Peters will be joined by United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 1 Director LaShawn English. Peters and English will highlight the UAW’s success in securing record contracts for UAW workers and supporting unionization efforts across the country.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto will be joined by Melenie Zavala, member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Las Vegas Local 357 and 2022 Apprentice of the Year. Through legislation including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, Senator Cortez Masto and the Biden-Harris administration have delivered historic investments to create good-paying, union jobs and support Nevadans like Melenie who are building exciting careers with organized labor.

Senator Ed Markey will be joined by Lou Antonellis, business manager of IBEW Local 103. Throughout his career, Antonellis has fought for good-paying jobs, quality health care, and secure benefits for union members and their families. At IBEW Local 103, he has helped position Massachusetts to be at the forefront of creating green union jobs and transitioning to sustainable practices in the construction sector.

Senator Jacky Rosen will be highlighting the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act with her guest, Brian Sandoval, former Nevada Governor and current President of the University of Nevada, Reno. The University was recently designated as one of 31 Tech Hubs around the nation through a program authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.

Senator Maggie Hassan’s guest is Hampton Police Chief and Hampton Deputy Director of Emergency Management, Alex Reno. Chief Reno’s leadership has been integral to recovery efforts on the Seacoast after devastating back-to-back winter storms in January. Climate change continues to heavily impact New Hampshire and the Seacoast has experienced severe flooding from several recent storms which damaged residences, roadways, and infrastructure. Senator Hassan has supported efforts to improve coastal resiliency and directly negotiated nearly $1 billion in critical funding for coastal resiliency in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Senator Mazie Hirono will be joined by Kelly Maluo-Pearson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui. For more than 35 years, Maluo-Pearson has worked to support keiki and their families on Maui. Following the devastating wildfires on Maui last year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui has been instrumental in providing services to youth on the island, offering additional afterschool support for students, providing youth development services to displaced families, distributing supplies, supporting families through financial assistance, and helping hundreds of children with replacing lost resources for team sports and group activities.

Senator Sherrod Brown will be joined by Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn. Senator Brown and Sheriff Wasylyshyn are working together to ensure that law enforcement have the tools and support they need to keep communities safe and address the fentanyl crisis devastating Ohio communities.

Senator Tammy Baldwin will be highlighting her work to combat the opioid and fentanyl epidemic with Waukesha Chief of Police Daniel Thompson as her guest. Senator Baldwin is fighting to address this epidemic by expanding prevention and recovery resources, curbing the illicit drug supply chain, and keeping fentanyl from coming into our country.

Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock will be highlighting the moral urgency to finally close the health care gap and expand Medicaid in Georgia and in the nine other non-expansion states with his guest, Heather Payne. Senator Reverend Warnock has long championed efforts to expand affordable health care access, starting with his advocacy to close the health care coverage gap in Georgia. Payne is one of the over 640,000 Georgians in the health care coverage gap.

Senator Chris Coons will be joined by Dr. Joan Coker, a Delaware-based otolaryngologist who has long worked to improve health care access for minority and traditionally underserved communities throughout the First State. During the pandemic, she emphasized vaccine equity for underserved patient populations and partnered with HBCUs like Delaware State University to ensure a safe learning environment for returning students.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will be joined by tennis legend and equal rights advocate Billie Jean King who has been a groundbreaking leader throughout her life and career in advancing equal rights for women in athletics, education and society at large. In honor of her lifetime of achievement, Gillibrand has introduced bipartisan legislation to award Billie Jean King the Congressional Gold Medal.

Senator Martin Heinrich’s guest is Tatiana Del Toro-Frank, Community School Coordinator at MacArthur Elementary School in Las Cruces, N.M. Heinrich will be highlighting Del Toro-Frank’s work to bolster New Mexico students’ education, health, and well-being, and also underscore the work that still lies ahead to expand access to early childhood education and increase funding for full-service community schools.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will be highlighting the climate components of Democrats’ historic Inflation Reduction Act with his guest Frank Carini, co-founder and senior reporter of ecoRI News. Whitehouse is leading the work in Congress to advance smart solutions to address climate change, position Rhode Island as a leader in the clean energy economy, clean up the oceans, and hold the fossil fuel industry accountable. 

Senator Richard Blumenthal will be accompanied by Shayan Raghoo, a New Britain High School junior who participated in a roundtable at New Britain High School with the Senator on the Kids Online Safety Act. This Blumenthal-led comprehensive, bipartisan legislation would empower young people and parents with the tools and safeguards they need to protect themselves online and would hold Big Tech accountable for harms to kids.

Senator Alex Padilla’s guest is Dr. Denisse Rojas Marquez, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient. Dr. Rojas Marquez is an emergency room resident physician at Boston Medical Center and the co-founder of Pre-Health Dreamers (PHD), a national organization that serves over 1,000 young immigrants pursuing careers in health care.

Senator Jon Ossoff will be joined by Pedro Cherry, 2024 Chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Ossoff is working with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and business leaders to advance Georgia’s economic development and highlight Federal infrastructure and manufacturing policies that are fueling business investment and job creation statewide.

Senator Ben Ray Luján will be joined by Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. Cordova is a leading RECA advocate and cancer survivor. Luján has been leading the effort to pass the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) in Congress for years.

Senator Jeff Merkley will be joined by Reverend Mark Knutson, whose leadership in Oregon is centered on empathy and speaking up to make the world a more peaceful, safe place for all.

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