President Joe Biden delivered his fourth and final State of the Union address on Thursday night, outlining his achievements and challenges in his first term and making a case for his re-election in November.
Biden spoke to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber, where he was greeted by a sea of white-clad Democrats wearing pins that read “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom”. The president praised the House for passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade and protect abortion rights from state restrictions. He urged the Senate to follow suit and send the bill to his desk.
“I will not let anyone take away your right to control your own body,” Biden said, drawing applause from his party and silence from the Republicans.
Biden also addressed the foreign policy challenges facing his administration, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the rising tensions with Russia and China. He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and announced that he would increase the security assistance to the country by $500 million. He also called on Congress to pass the national security funding bill that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel.
Biden denounced the recent cyberattacks and election interference by Russia, and warned President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. would respond with “swift and decisive action” if he continued to violate international norms and human rights. He also criticized China’s economic and military aggression, and vowed to defend the interests and values of the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We are not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs,” Biden said. “But we will stand up for our friends and partners, and we will compete and cooperate with China when it is in our interest.”
Biden also spoke about the domestic issues that affect the lives of millions of Americans, such as the economy, health care, immigration, climate change, and gun violence. He touted his administration’s efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed more than 800,000 lives in the U.S. He said that more than 90% of Americans were vaccinated, and that the country was on track to end the pandemic by the end of the year.
He also highlighted his economic achievements, such as creating more than 20 million jobs, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and passing the American Families Plan, which provides universal pre-K, free community college, paid family leave, and child tax credits. He said that his policies have lowered the cost of living, reduced poverty, and boosted the middle class.
“We have made historic progress in the last four years, but we are not done yet,” Biden said. “We have more work to do to make sure that every American has a fair shot at the American dream.”
Biden also acknowledged the challenges and divisions that still plague the nation, such as the immigration crisis at the southern border, the threat of climate change, and the rise of extremism and violence. He called on Congress to pass the immigration reform bill that would provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, the infrastructure bill that would invest in clean energy and transportation, and the background check bill that would prevent gun sales to criminals and terrorists.
He also condemned the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol, which he called “the darkest day in our democracy”. He said that the attack was orchestrated by former President Donald Trump, who refused to accept the results of the 2020 election and incited his supporters to overturn the will of the people. He said that Trump was a danger to the nation and the world, and urged Americans to reject his lies and divisiveness.
“We cannot let him or anyone else undermine our democracy,” Biden said. “We must defend it with all our might, because it is the soul of our nation and the hope of the world.”
Biden ended his speech by appealing to the spirit of unity and optimism that he said defines America. He said that despite the challenges and differences, Americans share a common destiny and a common purpose. He said that he was confident that the country would overcome its problems and emerge stronger and better than before.
“America is not a place, it is an idea,” Biden said. “It is the idea that we are all created equal, that we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that we can govern ourselves, and that we can make the world a better place. That is the idea that has inspired generations of Americans, and that is the idea that will guide us into the future.”