Rep. Mike Kelly statement on President Biden's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address tonight, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement:
"When it comes to everything from the border and crime, to the cost-of-living and the economy, to the green energy agenda, tonight we heard President Biden show just how out-of-touch he really is with the American people," Rep. Kelly said. "Additionally, while the President called on Congress to further aid Ukraine, he failed to mention plans to safely return home Americans who remain imprisoned in Russia, including Butler County native Marc Fogel. In a divided government, Republicans and Democrats must work together. I encourage the President to join House Republicans to pass commonsense legislation that would secure the border, cut spending, and build a better future for all Americans."
During Thursday night's speech, Rep. Kelly was joined by his special guest, Laura Crago, of Butler County. Laura is a Digital Producer and Host of the Butler Eagle's "Alter Eagle" podcast, which addresses treatments and stigma surrounding mental health and addiction in Butler County and across the United States.
"I've known the Crago family for years, and the one thing I've learned about Laura personally is her passion for helping others," Rep. Kelly said. "As a parent of someone who battles addiction, I know firsthand what families nationwide live with and how important it is to address this topic. In Congress, I prioritize mental health legislation because I know how critical this issue really is. When I sat down with Laura in January to discuss these issues for her new podcast, I knew right away that she deserves to highlight this issue on the national level."
BACKGROUND on Laura Crago & The Alter Eagle
The Alter Eagle is a podcast hosted by the Butler Eagle, the daily newspaper serving Butler County. In its first season, The Alter Eagle is highlighting the issues of mental health and addiction. Rep. Kelly joined Laura Crago to discuss these topics. You can hear his episode here.
Laura Crago graduated from Butler High School in 1998. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting with a Communications minor from Clarion University in 2002. Laura then went off to begin her performing career, first in JUBILEE at Bally's Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, then to New York City where she assisted a Rockette Summer Intensive at Radio City Music Hall and started studying voiceover and improv.
While living in California she did not forget her hometown and as a cyclist road her bike from Santa Monica to the Brooklyn Bridge all to raise money to benefit Butler County Habitat for Humanity in memory of her father, Wilbur Crago. Committed to her voiceover work, Laura started her own podcast in 2019 in Boston. She moved back to Butler in 2022 and started working for the Butler Eagle in October 2023 as the Podcast Producer and Host of Alter Eagle.