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Washington, DC – This evening President George W. Bush presented his final State of the Union Address, where he detailed his vision for the future of our Nation, while focusing on a few main issues in particular. Tonight, Congressman for All Alaska Don Young issued the following statements regarding the President’s address:

"President Bush addressed the need for using new technology to change the way America generates power. The President is right on target. We need to work to develop alternate means of energy and work to develop our energy resources at home, so we aren’t so reliant on foreign fuel sources. We have the technology at hand to step up our domestic production of oil, while being sensitive to our environmental needs. The Outer Continental lease sale 193 is estimated to contain 15 billion barrels of oil and 77 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, for a combined total of 27.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent. It’s time we start using our God given resources in this country, and stop paying our enemies for theirs."

"Conducting a war is a very difficult thing to do and in order to maintain a secure United States, and work towards a secure, democratic Iraq, we must mobilize as a Nation, and make sacrifices at every level. Last year, in his State of the Union, the President announced a troop surge. And one year later, I am pleased to see that the surge is working! Although there is still more work to be done, we are making great progress, we are improving security, and we are cutting down on the cycle of violence."

"Our Nation’s veterans and their families are an incredibly special group of people. They are people whose love of their country is so great that they are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to defend it. Without them, we are nothing and with them, we have everything. I have consistently supported our veterans, and will continue to do so. The President is absolutely right when he says we need to keep our promise to those who defend America’s freedom."

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