Congresswoman McClain Delaney Will Not Attend State of the Union, Citing Trump’s Attacks on Maryland’s Working Families

FREDERICK, MD–Today, Congresswoman April McClain Delaney announced that she will not attend the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24. Instead, she will join fellow members of Congress at the "People’s State of the Union" event on the National Mall that evening.

Congresswoman McClain Delaney’s statement:

“I have determined that my presence at the State of the Union would not meaningfully serve my constituents in Maryland’s Sixth District. The President’s destructive and lawless actions over the past year have harmed Marylanders–making life less affordable, undermining food security and their access to healthcare, and devastating family farms and small businesses across our region.

"These actions include:

• Illegal mass firings that targeted federal workers and disrupted lifesaving research and essential services at agencies across Western Maryland, including NIH, NIST, National Cancer Institute, USDA, NASA, NOAA and Fort Detrick.
• Reckless trade wars that decimated our agriculture export markets and fueled a 56% increase in family farm bankruptcies due to capricious tariffs.
• Political retribution through the denial of FEMA emergency funds to Allegany County after last year’s historic flooding, though granting it for neighboring West Virginia communities.
• False and inflammatory online attacks against Governor Moore and Team Maryland lawmakers, including threats to critical infrastructure funding and services vital to residents.
• Medicare and Affordable Care Act funding cuts that jeopardize rural health care patients and providers.
• Cruel and lawless ICE arrests, harassments, and detentions of U.S. citizens and immigrants (irrespective of their legal status) and advancing plans in secret for a massive detention warehouse in Washington County.
• Advancing the SAVE America Act, which would make voting harder for everyone, especially for women, seniors, military families, and rural Americans.

“I will continue fighting their destructive policies at every turn. At the same time, I am working with local and state leaders to restore trust, solve problems, and advance practical solutions that improve affordability and strengthen our communities. While traveling in my district this week, I released my ‘Costs Down, Opportunity Up’ affordability agenda which aims to lower prices, expand opportunity, advance Medicare for All, build more homes, and ensure everyone pays their fair share. I look forward to talking about my agenda alongside my Congressional colleagues at the People’s State of the Union.”

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For updates, follow Rep. McClain Delaney at @RepAprilDelaney.

Congresswoman April McClain Delaney was elected in 2024 to serve Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties. In Congress, McClain Delaney is focused on improving US competitiveness and innovation, protecting our natural environment and championing policies that represent the values and priorities of Maryland’s 6th District.