President Biden Makes Pitch For Second Term In State Of The Union Address

President Joe Biden made his case to the American people for a second term during his State of the Union address in front of a joint session of Congress on Thursday (March 7).

Biden focused his address on the war between Russia and Ukraine, abortion rights, and the economy.

"What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at both home and overseas," Biden said at the start of his speech before speaking about the war between Russia and Ukraine.

He called on Congress to provide money to aid Ukraine's efforts to fight back against the Russian invasion.

"If anybody in this room thinks [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you he will not," Biden said.

He also took a shot at former President Donald Trump, whom he refused to mention by name, recalling his comments in which he said he'd "encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries that don't pay their fair share.

"I think it's outrageous, it's dangerous, and it's unacceptable," Biden said of Trump's comments.

Biden then pivoted to the riot at the U.S. Capital on January 6, 2021, and the efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

"My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies," Biden said.

President Biden then spoke about abortion rights, highlighting several of his guests, including Kate Cox, who was forced to leave Texas to have an abortion amid a legal challenge to the state's strict abortion law.

"Her doctors told Kate that her own life and her ability to have children in the future were at risk if she didn't act," he said. "Because Texas law banned abortion, Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get the care she needed."

Biden then said he would support a federal law to codify Roe v. Wade.

"If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you, I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again," Biden vowed.

Biden then pivoted to the economy and touted his achievements, including low unemployment and historic job growth.

"I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now our economy is the envy of the world," Biden said. "Fifteen million new jobs in just three years – that's a record. Unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses, and each one is an act of hope."

Biden touted the bipartisan infrastructure law that he helped pass.

"Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 46,000 new projects have been announced across your communities – modernizing our roads and bridges, ports and airports, and public transit systems. Removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of getting brain damage. Providing affordable high-speed internet for every American no matter where you live," Biden said. "Urban, suburban, and rural communities — in red states and blue."

Biden also trumpeted his success in lowering the cost of prescription medications.

"Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month. And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it," Biden promised.

"For years, people have talked about it, but I finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs just like the VA does for our veterans," Biden added. "That's not just saving seniors money. It's saving taxpayers money, cutting the federal deficit by $160 Billion because Medicare will no longer have to pay exorbitant prices to Big Pharma."

Biden also called out the tax cuts passed by the Trump administration.

"The last administration enacted a $2 Trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the very wealthy and the biggest corporations and exploded the federal deficit. They added more to the national debt than in any presidential term in American history. For folks at home, does anybody really think the tax code is fair? Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion in tax breaks? I sure don't. I'm going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair," Biden said.

He said he would raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans but promised that people earning less than $400,000 a year would not "pay an additional penny in federal taxes."

"There are 1,000 billionaires in America. You know what the average federal tax rate for these billionaires is? 8.2 percent. That's far less than the vast majority of Americans pay. No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker, a nurse," Biden said. "That's why I've proposed a minimum tax of 25% for billionaires."

President Biden also addressed the issue at the southern border and urged Congress to pass a recently negotiated bipartisan border security bill.

"That bipartisan deal would hire 1,500 more border security agents and officers. One hundred more immigration judges to help tackle a backload of two million cases. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years. One hundred more high-tech drug detection machines to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles from smuggling fentanyl into America," Biden said. "This bill would save lives and bring order to the border."

Biden then spoke about crime and touted that the "murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history, and violent crime fell to one of the lowest levels in more than 50 years."

"But we have more to do. Help cities and towns invest in more community police officers, more mental health workers, and more community violence intervention. Give communities the tools to crack down on gun crime, retail crime, and carjacking," Biden said.

He then shifted to gun violence and boasted about signing "the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years." He then called on Congress to go further and pass additional legislation.

"I'm demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Pass universal background checks," Biden told members of Congress.

Biden then spoke about the war between Israel and Gaza and urged both sides to reach a cease-fire and an eventual truce.

"Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, 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 in wartime. There is no other path that guarantees Israel's security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees Palestinians can live with peace and dignity," Biden said.

Biden wrapped up his speech by contrasting himself with Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

"Again and again, I've seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation. Between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy."

"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. 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 and our country from gun violence. Above all, I see a future for all Americans," Biden said.