WASHINGTON, D. C. - Congressman Chris Murphy released the following statement after President Obama's State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday night.

"President Obama came into the House chamber tonight, saw Republicans and Democrats sitting side by side, and chose to play the role of a uniter. In order to win the future, we've got to be hungry for the next great ideas to put people to work. Connecticut workers are leading the way when it comes to innovation, in fuel cell technology and defense innovation."

Murphy said that to make economic progress here we've got to stop sending jobs overseas. He said the best way to do that is close loopholes in our Buy American Laws.

"I would have liked to have heard the President talk more about how to promote American manufacturing in ways other than trade agreements," Murphy said.

"I'm pleasantly surprised that President Obama dedicated so much of his speech to education. The achievement gap in Connecticut's schools is the largest in the nation, and it is crippling our future economic growth - fixing it will be part of the cure our economy so desperately needs."

Congressman John Larson expressed similar statements in his statement released following the State of the Union Address.

"President Obama has called on Congress and our nation to move forward an agenda centered on out-educating, out-building, and out-performing the rest of the world. He said 'this is our time' and I couldn't agree more. We must build upon our successes and prepare our nation for a stronger foundation," said Larson. "It is time for us to create jobs and grow our economy here at home. It's time for us to work together so our concerns are that of the ironworker in East Hartford, the teacher in Bristol, and the small business owner in Torrington."