WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's maiden address to the Congress was criticised by Indian-American lawmakers. They said it lacked specificity and offered only unrealistic plans on issues like immigration and Obamacare.
Congresswoman Pramila Jaypal claimed that the Prez's "rhetoric did not match reality," and that he uses "repeated falsehoods" about immigrants to justify the logic behind his "inhumane and barbaric" executive orders. "Tonight, the President's rhetoric did not match reality. He said things that sounded good, but they were the opposite of his actions and rhetoric of the past," she said after the speech. "He repeated falsehoods about immigrants to justify the logic behind his inhumane and barbaric executive orders that have thrown our immigration system into complete and utter chaos. Instead of offering specifics and a plan to expand healthcare for all, President Trump, once again, called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act leaving millions without health insurance."
The first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives, Jayapal said Trump talked about tax relief for the middle class, but the Trump tax plan is nothing more than a big tax break for the rich. "He mentioned reducing poverty, but in fact his budget blueprint would decimate the very social safety net programmes that help people climb out of poverty."
Three-term Indian American Congressman Ami Bera said that national security is not a partisan issue. "Defeating ISIS and keeping communities safe is our priority on Foreign Affairs," she tweeted. She also spoke about Trump's move to build a wall along the Mexico Border. She said his proposal to repeal Obamacare without a replacement would kick 20 million people off their health insurance.
California Senator Kamala Harris, the first Indian-American Senator tweeted, "To blame all Muslims for terrorists' actions and suggest we block immigrants based on religion is Islamophobia. Plain and simple." She also said, "We will fight for them. We are stronger together. We need pathways to citizenship, not un-American & unrealistic plans to break up families."
