Central New York Republican Rep. John Katko said President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night struck a bipartisan tone, was presidential and not combative. Katko said it was encouraging that Trump talked about issues that Katko said are important to all Americans, like infrastructure and the opioid epidemic. On immigration reform, Katko admitted it is a difficult subject, but he said Democrats and Republicans are beginning to coalesce around Trump’s main points, which includes a path to citizenship for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA.
"He threw an awful big olive branch out there when he talked about citizenship for DACA children, instead of just giving them a resident alien status," Katko said. "That was a very big concession that a lot of conservatives didn't like. But I think that's a signal that he's willing to reach common ground."
Earlier Wednesday, Katko was onboard a train with other congressional Republicans that hit a truck, killing at least one person and seriously injuring another. Katko said he was safe and other members of Congress were not injured.
