Staff Reporter: President Biden is delivering the address before a joint session of Congress, the first such address of his presidency. Mr. Biden kicked off his remarks noting it’s the first time in history there are two women flanking the president.
Mr. Biden said he inherited the pandemic, an economic crisis and the “worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”
“Now—after just 100 days—I can report to the nation: America is on the move again,” Mr. Biden said. “Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.”
Mr. Biden is also expected to endorse ongoing bipartisan talks on police reform, renew his call to ban assault weapons and talk about revamping the nation’s immigration system.
Ahead of the speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr. Biden was “feeling good” and was resting his voice.
A White House official confirmed on Wednesday that following the speech before the joint session, Mr. Biden will meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on May 12.
While having the hallmarks of a State of the Union address, the speech before a joint session of Congress in a president’s first term is not referred to as a State of the Union because it is more forward-looking than that address is.
There will be other differences between this address before the joint session and a traditional one. Instead of the normal 1,600 attendees that include all 435 members of Congress, all the Supreme Court justices, Cabinet members and guests, there are only 200 people attending. The speech is invite-only, with Democrats holding a lottery for who will attend.
There also was no designated survivor established by the White House, since most members of the Cabinet will be watching from their home or their offices. Vice President Kamala Harris, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Patrick Leahy and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are all expected to attend, so the person highest in the line of succession who will not be there is Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
For the first time, the White House is offering an American Sign Language interpretation for the speech. CBSN will stream the ASL interpretation here. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina will deliver the GOP rebuttal.
“We have to prove that democracy still works,” Biden says in closing
President Biden wrapped his speech by saying autocrats and skeptical nations look at America and think it’s too divisive to succeed.
“They look at the images of the mob that assaulted this Capitol as proof that the sun is setting on American democracy,” the president said, referencing the assault on the nation’s Capitol on January 6.
America has to “prove that democracy still works,” he said.
He said those autocrats are wrong. And America needs to prove it by coming together and leading, he said. It’s time Americans remembered that here, “We the People are the government.”
Mr. Biden said he reminds other world leaders of one thing in conversation: “It’s never ever ever ever been a good bet to bet against America, and it still isn’t.”
Biden calls for Congress to pass immigration reform bill
Mr. Biden called on Congress to pass his immigration reform proposal in response to the increased criticism from Republicans amid the influx of migrants crossing the border.
“If you believe we need a secure border – pass it,” Mr. Biden said. “If you believe in a pathway to citizenship – pass it.”
Mr. Biden’s proposal would allow millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to apply for legal status, increase aid to Central America, refocus border control measures and expand legal immigration. House Democrats have introduced a bill based on this framework, but it has yet to pass in Congress. The House did pass two immigration reform bills last month that would legalize certain subsects of the illegal immigrants in the country.
“If you don’t like my plan, let’s at least pass what we all agree on. Congress needs to pass legislation this year to finally secure citizenship for Dreamers,” Mr. Biden said, referring to migrants who came to the country as children.
He also said that the “root causes” of migration, such as gang violence and political instability, must be addressed.”The country supports immigration reform. We should act,” Mr. Biden said.
Biden says gun safety reforms “shouldn’t be a red or blue issue”
Mr. Biden called on Congress to pass his immigration reform proposal in response to the increased criticism from Republicans amid the influx of migrants crossing the border.
“If you believe we need a secure border – pass it,” Mr. Biden said. “If you believe in a pathway to citizenship – pass it.”
Mr. Biden’s proposal would allow millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to apply for legal status, increase aid to Central America, refocus border control measures and expand legal immigration. House Democrats have introduced a bill based on this framework, but it has yet to pass in Congress. The House did pass two immigration reform bills last month that would legalize certain subsects of the illegal immigrants in the country.
“If you don’t like my plan, let’s at least pass what we all agree on. Congress needs to pass legislation this year to finally secure citizenship for Dreamers,” Mr. Biden said, referring to migrants who came to the country as children.
He also said that the “root causes” of migration, such as gang violence and political instability, must be addressed. “The country supports immigration reform. We should act,” Mr. Biden said.
Biden calls on Congress to pass comprehensive police reform
Mr. Biden addressed police brutality and racial violence against Black Americans, saying that the country “must come together to heal the soul of this nation.” He referenced George Floyd, a Black man who was killed last year after a police officer pinned his knee on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes. The officer was found guilty of murder last week.
“It was nearly a year ago before her father’s funeral, when I spoke with Gianna Floyd, George Floyd’s young daughter,” Mr. Biden said, referring to Gianna Floyd’s comment that her father changed the world. “After the conviction of George Floyd’s murderer, we can see how right she was – if we have the courage to act.”
The president said that the time had come to address “the knee of injustice on the neck of Black America” by passing a police reform bill.
“We have to come together to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the people they serve, to root out systemic racism in our criminal justice system, and to enact police reform in George Floyd’s name that passed the House already,” Mr. Biden said, referring to a reform bill approved by the House last month.
However, that legislation has stalled in the Senate, as Republicans oppose a provision that would overhaul qualified immunity, making it easier to bring litigation against law enforcement officers. Mr. Biden referenced ongoing discussions between Republican Senator Tim Scott and Democratic Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Karen Bass on potential legislation.
“We need to work together to find a consensus. Let’s get it done next month, by the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death,” Mr. Biden said.
Biden says America will lead “with our allies”
President Biden said he’s made it clear to other world leaders in his conversations with them that America is back.
“I’ve made it known. I’ve made it known that America’s back,” he said, repeating a message he’s said often before.
Their most common response, he said, is, “but for how long?” It’s important that the U.S. show unity, and that the United States will lead not just alone, but “with our allies.” That’s why it’s important for the U.S to lead on climate, he said.
Mr. Biden said that in his conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he says the U.S. welcomes the competition, but will absolutely defend its interests. Mr. Biden said he also told Xi the U.S. will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific to prevent conflict.
“And, I told him what I’ve said to many world leaders – that America won’t back away from our commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms. I pointed out to him, no responsible American president can remain silent when basic human rights are violated. An American president has to represent the essence of our country stands for,” he said. “America is an idea. The most unique idea in history. We are created, all of us equal. It’s who we are. And we cannot walk away from that principle.”
Mr. Biden said he also made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. won’t seek escalation, but won’t tolerate aggression. “He understands, we will respond,” Mr. Biden said of Putin.
The U.S. will also work closely with allies to address threats posed by Iran and North Korea, he said.
And American leadership means ending the forever war in Afghanistan, Mr. Biden said, to applause.
Mr. Biden said the U.S. delivered justice to Osama Bin Laden, and after 20 years of valor and sacrifice, “it’s time to bring those troops home.”
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