I was honored to attend President Biden’s State of the Union address with two-time FIFA World Cup champion, Olympic gold medalist, and NWSL champion Kelley O’Hara as my guest. Kelley is a fierce defender on both Gotham FC and for women’s equality in sports. As Gotham FC comes to NJ-11, I am thankful for her leadership in this fight and look forward to working together to support female athletes and bolster Title IX. 

The State of the Union is a time to take stock in where our country stands and where we’re going. Some of the greatest challenges our country faces lie ahead of us. If we are to overcome the polarization and ugliness that permeate our politics, we all must answer the call to put country before self. 

I have done just that since I first stepped foot in the Naval Academy in Annapolis at 18 years old. A commitment to service drove me to join the military, to keep guns off the street as a federal prosecutor, and to run for Congress.

Our country is made stronger when we all answer the call to serve -- to join the military, to volunteer in our community, to vote, or even just to listen to and respect one another.

Recently, we asked this team about the issues at the top of their minds going into the State of the Union, and some of the responses we heard most frequently were climate change, gun violence, and Medicare and Social Security.

As a mother and representative for New Jersey’s 11th district, those are also things I care a great deal about and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to address them in Congress.

While the State of the Union has come and gone, I still want to hear about the issues that are most important to you, so we’re keeping our survey open for another 24 hours.

I have hope when I think about the future. If our greatest challenges lie ahead, then so do our greatest triumphs.

Thank you for all you do,

Mikie