Editor’s note: This commentary is by Deb Billado, chairwoman of the Vermont GOP.

On Feb. 4th, President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address before Congress. The important speech highlighted the truly monumental progress our nation has made over the last few years in a number of key areas.

Since 2017, the United States has created 7 million new jobs, shattering expectations and leading to a record-number of job openings. The unemployment rate is at its lowest in decades, while unemployment rates for women, minorities, veterans, disabled Americans and youth are among the lowest in U.S. history. Over the same period, 3.5 million people have joined the workforce — a stark contrast to the 300,000 who left it under President Barack Obama. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have left food stamps and welfare as the number of jobs has skyrocketed. Median household income is higher than ever and the stock market is soaring as well.

Deborah Billado, chair of the Vermont GOP

In short, our American economy is red hot.

Thanks to the tax cuts in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the creation of Opportunity Zones to help struggling Americans, the fresh start criminal justice reforms, major regulatory rollbacks, and a new trade deal that puts America first, we’ve been able to achieve tremendous economic prosperity for millions.

On the foreign stage, we’ve gained back the respect our nation once had. Alliances with crucial partners have been strengthened as America has sought to protect human rights in areas like Venezuela. ISIS leaders have been wiped out, and NATO participants are now contributing their fair-share toward defense around the globe.

And it’s about to get even better.

The president’s proposed fiscal year 2021 budget achieves common-sense savings throughout the federal government, while investing in areas crucial to our nation’s future. Notably, it includes:

• Rolling back unsustainable spending in bloated departments;
• A path to lead us to an end to the federal deficit, with $4.4 trillion in deficit reduction efforts over the next decade;
• Reforms to Medicaid and food stamps that cut waste and fraud while protecting the truly needy;
• A major infrastructure investment plan to upgrade our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges;
• More resources going towards our veterans;
• Additional funds to restore key natural resources; and
• A rebuilding of the American military to secure our national defense.

Together these crucial reforms will build on the success of the last several years, and make our nation even more prosperous and secure. You can read the president’s full budget summary here.