Printer-friendly version
By Miriam Raftery; Jonathan Goetz contributed to this report
“My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment...What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at — both at home and overseas at the very same time.” -- President Joe Biden
March 9, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a powerful State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden announced his intent to “both wake up Congress and alert the American people” about threats to our democracy at home and abroad. He likened the global threat to 1941, when President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress with a warning while Hitler on the march and war raged in Europe. Biden warned of Russia’s threats to the free world, as well as threats to freedoms in the U.S.
In addition, Biden touted historic economic gains, plans for a mortgage tax credit, a goal to cut more prescription drug costs, and a goal to further reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals earning over $400,000 whose taxes were cut by the Trump administration. He called on Congress to pass aid to Ukraine and a bipartisan border security and immigration reform bill, also announcing emergency orders for the military to build a pier to bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.
ECONOMY REBOUNDING
“Before I came into office, our country was hit by the worst pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a century,” Biden recalled. Then the President touted a rebounding economy on his watch, with historic gains:
- Unemployment at a 50-year low
- Inflation has dropped from 9% to 3%--the lowest in the world, and trending lower
- A record 15 million new jobs in 3 years
- Federal deficit cut by over $1 trillion, with plans to cut trillions more
- The racial wealth gap is the lowest in 20 years
- 800,000 new manufacturing jobs created
- A shift from importing products and exporting American jobs to now creating American jobs and exporting American products
- A record 16 million small businesses started since Biden took office
- 46,000 infrastructure projects approved for communities across the U.S. as a result of Biden’s infrastructure law, modernizing roads, bridges, transit and more.
- $650 invested in green energy to combat climate change, creating jobs
- Record investments in tribal communities.
“America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities,” said the President, ”to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one behind.”
RUSSIA’S THREAT TO WORLD PEACE
“If anyone in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure, you, he will not,” Biden said of Russia’s president. “If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk, Europe at risk, the free world at risk—emboldening others who wish to do us harm.
He chided Republican leadership in Congress for refusing to allow a vote on funding for weapons to aid Ukraine and sharply criticized his predecessor, Donald Trump, for vowing to urge Putin to “do whatever the hell you want” instead of defending America’s NATO allies. “It’s dangerous. It’s unacceptable,” said Biden.
DOMESTIC THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under attack here at home, as they are today,” said Biden.
The President denounced insurrectionists who stormed the capitol on Jan. 6, 2020; he also criticized former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, for refusing to accept the will of voters, instead supporting efforts to block the peaceful transfer of power. “You can’t love America only when you win,” he said. “Political violence has no place in America.”
He noted that the Supreme Court has weakened the Voting Rights Act and urged Congress to enact the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
DEFICIT REDUCTION AND TAXES
The Trump administration enacted a $2 trillion tax cut for wealthy people and corporations, adding “more to the national debt than in any presidential term in American history,” said Biden, calling this unfair.
Biden has cut the deficit already by over $1 trillion. His bipartisan budget recently signed should cut another $1 trillion over the next decade.
In addition, Biden announced his proposal to raise taxes on those earning over $400,000 and impose a minimum 25% tax on billionaires, a proposal he says would cut the federal deficit by another $3 trillion---though it’s unlikely that this would be enacted unless control of the House flips from Republican to Democratic control.
Biden’s Child Tax Credit passed during the pandemic cut childhood poverty in half, but expires this year. The President wants to renew this tax credit
He also called for ending some tax breaks for big oil and pharmaceutical companies.
MIDDLE EAST WAR
Biden called the Oct. 7 massacre of Jewish civilians by Hamas and the subsequent deaths of Gaza civilians after Israel declared war “gut wrenching.”
While reiterating Israel’s right to retaliate against Hamas and that hostages must be freed, Biden said Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and make protecting innocent lives “a priority.”
To ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the U.S. has begun air-dropping food and humanitarian supplies. During the speech, Biden announced, “Tonight I’m directing the U.S. military o lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier” on the Gaza coast to receive large ships carrying food, water, medicine and shelter for Gazans.
Long term, Biden said,”The only real solution is a two-state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel and the only American president to visit Israel during wartime.” He also called for a cease fire of at least six-weeks.
Biden noted that to help prevent the Middle East crisis from expanding, he has created a coalition of over a dozen countries to defend international shipping in the Red Sea, containing a threat posed by Iran, and ordered air strikes to degrade Houthi capabilities and protect American servicemembers.
HEALTHCARE COSTS
A Biden-backed bill passed without a single Republican vote slashed the cost of insulin for seniors from $400 a month to $35 a month. Next up, Biden says he aims to cap insulin costs at $35 a month for every American.
He cut Medicare costs to taxpayers y $160 billion without cutting benefits, by giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for some of the most expensive prescription drugs, just as the Veterans Administration already does.
“Now it’s time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 drugs over the next decade,” the President pledged. “This will not only save lives, it will save taxpayers another $200 billion. He added that he also wants to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for all Americans, protect and expand the Affordable Care Act, which Republicans seek to repeal.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Biden derided the “chaos” that has resulted since the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and reminded voters that Trump has “bragged” about causing this by appointing three conservative justices who voted to let states restrict abortion and reproductive freedom for women.
He introduced Kate Cox, a woman who had a life-threatening pregnancy and a fetus with a fatal condition, but had to leave Texas for life-saving care since the state banned abortion.
“There are state laws banning the right to choose, criminalizing doctors,and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well as to get the care they need,” said Biden, who noted that many members of Congress and Trump “are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom.”
He noted that the Supreme Court wrote,”Women are not without electoral or political party,” then observed, “No kidding! Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America!” citing ballot box victories in several states where reproductive freedom measures were on the ballot in 2022 and 2023.
MORTGAGE RELIEF AND HOUSING INCENTIVES
While most economic indicators have improved during the Biden administration, mortgage rates remain high, though forecasts indicate the Federal Reserve will likely begin lowering rates in the coming months.
“If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will come down as well. But I’m not waiting,” Biden said.
“I want to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next two years, as mortgage rates come down, to put toward their mortgage when they buy a first home or trade up for a little more space. My administration is also eliminating title insurance fees for federally backed mortgages” to save $1,000 or more when homeowners refinance homes.
Biden said his administration has cut red tape to help builders get federal financing, helping to build a record 1.7 million housing units nationwide so far. He urged Congress to also pass his plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring rents down.
SOCIAL SECURITY
“Most of my Republican friends want to put Social Security on the chopping block,” Biden pointed out, pledging to block such efforts. “We have two ways to go on Social Security. Republicans will cut Social Security and give more tax cuts to the wealthy. I will protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share.”
BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION
A bipartisan border security and immigration bill that both parties had agreed upon in Congress was blocked by Republican leaders after Trump asked them not to bring it up for a vote as he wants border security to wait until he could potentially take office if he wins the November election.
Biden urged Trump instead to join him in calling for passage of what he called “the toughest set of border security reforms we’ve ever seen.” The bill is endorsed by the Border Patrol and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The bill would: also ease backlogs of those awaiting hearings in immigration courts. Specifically, it would:
- hire 15,000 more border security officers and agents;
- hire 100 more immigration judges to tackle a backlog of 2 million cases;
- Add 4,300 more asylum officers and policies to resolve cases in 6 months, instead of years;
- Add 100 more high-=tech drug detection machines to detect fentanyl smuggling;
- Give the president emergency authority to shut the border temporarily when the number of migrants at the border is overwhelming.
“This bill would save lives and bring order to the border,” Biden said, adding that he will not separate families or demonize immigrants as Trump has done.
Biden has previously sought to have comprehensive immigration reforms including protection for young immigrants, or Dreamers, but that measure could not win approval of Congress.
EDUCATION
“To remain the strongest economy in the world, we need the best education system in the world,” Biden said.
He aims to expand tutoring, provide preschool access to 3- and 4-year old children, and make college more affordable, among other goals.
Biden also cut student debt for nearly 4 million people including those in public service such as nurses and firefighters.
CLIMATE CHANGE
“I’m taking the most significant action on climate ever in the history of the world,” Biden claimed, touting policies to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030 while creating “tens of thousands of clean-energy jobs” such as building a half million electric vehicle charging stations.
Biden also called for cleanup of pollution, environmental justice, increased conservation, and tripling the number of young people working in the Climate Action Corps that his administration created.
CRIME
“Now, through my American Rescue Plan which every Republican voted against, I’ve made the largest investment in public safety ever,” Biden said.
It’s yielded results, according to the President. “Last year, the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history, and violent crime fell to one of the lowest levels in more than 50 years.”
In the future, he wants to help communities invest in more community police officers, mental health workers, and community violence intervention, as well as tools to crack down on retail crime, gun crime, and carjacking.
Introducing a child whose sister was murdered at their school in Uvalde, Texas, Biden also renewed his call for Congress to ban assault weapons and approve universal background checks for gun purchases.
MILITARY
Biden voiced support for military members and the importance of caring for returning veterans.
“That’s why I signed the PACT Act, one of the most significant laws ever, helping millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins and who now are battling more than 100 cancers,” he said.
He also pledged not to send “boots on the ground” to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, while voicing strong support for weapons to aid Ukraine and humanitarian relief in Gaza.
AGE
The President’s vigorous delivery of his speech belied rumors of age-related issues. At times, he addressed hecklers in the audience, fighting back with facts and humor.
When hecklers in the audience shouted “No” to his statement that the Border Patrol’s union endorsed his border bill, Biden fired back, “Look at the facts. I know you can read!”
Biden noted that he was born during World War II when America stood for freedom in the world.
“In my career, I’ve been told I’m too young and I’m too old. Whether young or old, “I’ve always known what endures...The very idea of America, that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.”
While acknowledging that America has a way to go to fully live up to this ideology, Biden stated, “The issue facing our nation isn’t how old we are. It’s how old our ideas are. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are among the oldest of ideas. But you can’t lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back.”
He added, “To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future of what America can and should be. Tonight you’ve heard mine.
CONCLUSIONS
“America is rising,” President Biden concluded, noted that the GDP (gross domestic product” has risen since he took office and the trade deficit with China has dropped to the lowest point in decades.
He spoke to American resilience, rather than American pessimism. “When Americans get knocked down, we get back up. We keep going.”
Biden said, “I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect other freedoms, not take them away. I see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and the wealthy finally have to pay their fair share in taxes. I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis...Above all, I see a future for all Americans.”
Comments
"Vigorous" State of the Union