Washington, DC - Congressman Edolphus Towns, 10th Congressional District, New York, is expressing disappointment in President Bush's State of the Union Address:

"I am concerned that the President did not see fit to address the issue of not making his tax cuts permanent for the wealthiest of Americans; he did not address finding a way to assist with the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast states; and there was no mention of making a college education more affordable and accessible."

"President Bush mentioned that Congress should renew the "No Child Left Behind Act."  However, he neglected to mention anything about fully funding NCLB."

"This President contends that the economy is growing and unemployment is low, but it was only yesterday that the Pfizer Corporation announced they were laying off 10,000 people, 600 of whom reside in the borough of Brooklyn."

"There was one bright spot in this address.  As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I was pleased to hear that he is considering other forms of energy and beginning the process of weaning this country off of oil," said Congressman Towns.

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