Sen. Rosen and Brian Sandoval Represent NV at State of the Union

On Thursday evening, President Joe Biden delivered a speech on the current state of the nation and presented his plans to steer the country forward during this election year.

The Biden campaign hosted 7 State of the Union Watch Parties across the state in urban, suburban, and rural areas. In Northern Nevada there were three watch parties held in Reno, Minden, and Carson City. 

Senator Jacky Rosen announced that Brian Sandoval, the former Republican Governor of Nevada and current President of the University of Nevada, was her guest at the State of the Union Address.

The University is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. It was recently designated as one of 31 Tech Hubs nationwide through a program authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which Senator Rosen helped pass.

"Because of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, the bipartisan work we did, we were able to work together and get the University of Nevada Reno designated as the center of one of these innovative tech hubs for the lithium movement. This is going to be 50 thousand jobs," said (D-NV) Senator Jacky Rosen. 

The University of Nevada has been designated as a Tech Hub, recognizing its potential to become a global leader in lithium and a home to every part of the lithium supply chain. Senator Rosen played a vital role in securing this designation and has been working closely with President Sandoval to push for funding for the University's Lithium Loop Tech Hub. Recently, Senator Rosen, along with members of Nevada's congressional delegation, sent a letter to the Department of Commerce, officially supporting the University's application for funding.

"I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here in Washington, D.C. And, yes, indeed, the University of Nevada is privileged and honored to be one of only 31 tech and innovation hubs in the United States of America focused on lithium. It's a really important area of research on our campus," said UNR President Brian Sandoval. 

Nevada Political Leaders React to the State of the Union:

We contacted Republican Congressman Mark Amodei, who gave us the following statement.

You don't need to be a Republican or a Democrat to know we're not in a good spot when it comes to border security, energy security, the economy, inflation, foreign relations – you name it. For three years now, the Biden Administration has failed to properly address the compounding crises facing our country, not to mention the disasters of the Administration's own making. I have no interest in hearing President Biden's alternative universe thoughts - (R-NV) U.S. Representative Mark Amodei

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At the Washoe County Democratic Party headquarters, former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Kate Marshall touted the Biden Administration's accomplishments in Nevada, including helping seniors.

"About 143 thousand seniors in Nevada have seen medical care prices go down because of the $2,000-a-year cap. We've had 66 thousand seniors in Nevada who no longer have to pay more than 35 bucks for their insulin," said (D) Former Lt. Governor Kate Marshall.

According to the White House, the Biden Administration has created 285,000 jobs in Nevada and invested $3.3 billion in over 200 specific Nevada infrastructure projects through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

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Washoe County Republican Party Chairman Bruce Parks provided us with the following statement:

We look forward to the president's State of the Union address. In that address our fervent hope is that he discusses the crisis at the southern border, our economy is hurting every American, and the foreign policy that has made America appear to be weak with our allies - Washoe County Republican Party Chairman Bruce Parks.

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Captain Sam Brown issued us the following statement to 2 News Nevada shortly after President Biden's speech:

“No matter how many times out-of-touch Joe Biden tries to sell us on the lie that things are better, we know the truth: gas and energy prices are through the roof; our southern border is open and overrun with cartel drugs, violence, and human trafficking; working families can’t afford to buy homes; and crime is out control. Nevadans are going broke paying the high price of Bidenomics while America faces some of its gravest national security threats, but Jacky Rosen’s reaction is to sit back and applaud. Joe Biden and Jacky Rosen are hurting Nevadans, not helping us. As Nevada’s next U.S. Senator, I won’t sit back – I’ll get to work right away to save America and help Nevada’s families and small businesses recover and thrive.” - Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Sam Brown