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Death and Violence Has Become So Ubiquitous in Art Life and Media That America Has Become Numb

Written By Thursday, May 5, 2022 Add Comment Edit

President Biden'due south State of the Union Address

Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President, and our First Lady and 2nd Admirer, members of Congress and the Cabinet, Justices of the Supreme Court, my beau Americans: Last year, COVID-19 kept us apart. This twelvemonth, we're finally together again.

Tonight — tonight nosotros meet as Democrats, Republicans, and independents, but, most chiefly, every bit Americans with a duty to one another, to America, to the American people, and to the Constitution, and an unwavering resolve that freedom will ever triumph over tyranny.

6 — give thanks yous. Half-dozen days ago, Russia's Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the gratis world, thinking he could get in curve to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated. He thought he could roll into Ukraine and the world would roll over. Instead, he met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people.

Ukraine

From President Zelenskyy to every Ukrainian, their fearlessness, their courage, their determination literally inspires the globe. Groups of citizens blocking tanks with their bodies. Everyone from students to retirees, to teachers turned soldiers defending their homeland.

And in this struggle — President Zelenskyy said in his speech to the European Parliament, "Lite will win over darkness."

The Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States is here this evening sitting with the Offset Lady. Let each of us, if you're able to stand, stand and send an unmistakable signal to the world and Ukraine. Thank you. Cheers, thank you, thank you.

She's brilliant, she's potent, and she's resolved.

Yes. Nosotros, the The states of America, stand with the Ukrainian people.

Throughout our history, we've learned this lesson: When dictators do non pay a cost for their aggression, they cause more chaos; they continue moving; and the costs, the threats to the America — and America, to the world keeps ascension.

That'due south why the NATO Alliance was created: to secure peace and stability in Europe after Earth War Ii.

The United States is a member, along with 29 other nations. It matters. American affairs matters. American resolve matters.

Putin'southward latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and totally unprovoked. He rejected repeated efforts at diplomacy.

He idea the West and NATO wouldn't reply. He thought he could divide united states of america at domicile, in this chamber, in this nation. He idea he could divide us in Europe likewise.

But Putin was wrong. Nosotros are gear up. We are united. And that'south what we did: We stayed united.

Nosotros prepared extensively and carefully. Nosotros spent months edifice coalitions of other freedom-loving nations in Europe and the Americas to — from America to the Asian and African continents to confront Putin.

Like many of you, I spent countless hours unifying our European Allies.

Nosotros shared with the world, in advance, what we knew Putin was planning and precisely how he would try to falsely and justify his aggression.

We countered Russia's lies with the truth. And now — now that he'southward acted, the free earth is holding him answerable, along with 27 members of the European Union — including France, Germany, Italian republic — every bit well equally countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, Nippon, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. Even Switzerland are inflicting pain on Russia and supporting the people of Ukraine.

Putin is now isolated from the world more than than he has ever been.

Together. Together. Together, along with our Allies, we are correct at present enforcing powerful economic sanctions. We're cutting off Russia'southward largest banks from the international financial organization; preventing Russian federation's Primal Bank from defending the Russian ruble, making Putin's $630 billion war fund worthless. We're choking Russian federation's access, we're choking Russia's access to technology that will sap its economic forcefulness and weaken its war machine for years to come up.

Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who've bilked billions of dollars off this violent authorities: No more than.

The The states — I mean it. The United States Department of Justice is assembling a dedicated task forcefulness to go after the crimes of the Russian oligarchs.

We're joining with European Allies to find and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. Nosotros're coming for your ill-begotten gains.

Russian Oligarchs

And, tonight, I'm announcing that we will join our Allies in closing off American air space to all Russian flights, farther isolating Russian federation and adding an additional squeeze on their economy.

He has no thought what's coming.

The ruble has already lost 30 per centum of its value, the Russian stock market has lost forty percent of its value, and trading remains suspended.

The Russian economy is reeling, and Putin alone is the 1 to blame.

Together with our Allies, we're providing support to the Ukrainians in their fight for freedom: military assistance, economic assistance, humanitarian assistance. We're giving more than than a billion dollars in straight assistance to Ukraine. And we'll keep to help the Ukrainian people equally they defend their state and aid ease their suffering.

Aid to Ukraine

But allow me be clear: Our forces are not engaged and volition not engage in the disharmonize with Russian forces in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight in Ukraine but to defend our NATO Allies in the event that Putin decides to continue moving due west.

For that purpose, we have mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, ship deployments to protect NATO countries, including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

And equally I've made crystal articulate, the United States and our Allies will defend every inch of territory that is NATO territory with the total force of our collective ability — every single inch.

And we're clear-eyed. The Ukrainians are fighting back with pure courage. But the side by side few days, weeks, and months will be hard on them.

Putin has unleashed violence and chaos. But while he may make gains on the battlefield, he will pay a standing high toll over the long run.

And a pound of Ukrainian people — the proud, proud people — pound for pound, gear up to fight with every inch of (inaudible) they have. They've known 30 years of independence — have repeatedly shown that they will not tolerate anyone who tries to accept their country backwards.

To all Americans, I'll be honest with you, as I've ever promised I would exist. A Russian dictator infa- — invading a foreign land has costs around the earth. And I'm taking robust action to make certain the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economic system and that we use every tool at our disposal to protect American businesses and consumers.

Tonight, I can announce the United States has worked with xxx other countries to release 60 million barrels of oil from reserves around the globe. America will lead that endeavour, releasing 30 million barrels of our own Strategic Petroleum Reserve. And we stand fix to do more if necessary, united with our Allies.

These steps will help blunt gas prices here at home. But I know news about what's happening can seem alarming to all Americans. But I want you to know: We're going to be okay. Nosotros're going to be okay.

When the history of this era is written, Putin'due south war on Ukraine will have left Russian federation weaker and the rest of the earth stronger.

Putin's War

While it shouldn't and while it shouldn't have taken something so terrible for people effectually the earth to see what'due south at pale, at present everyone sees it conspicuously.

Nosotros come across the unity among leaders of nations, a more unified Europe, a more than unified West.

We see unity among the people who are gathering in cities in large crowds around the world, even in Russia, to demonstrate their support for the people of Ukraine.

In the battle between commonwealth and autocracies, democracies are rising to the moment and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security.

This is the real test, and it's going to take fourth dimension. So, allow u.s.a. go on to draw inspiration from the iron will of the Ukrainian people.

To our fellow Ukrainian Americans who forged a deep bond that connects our 2 nations: We stand with you. Nosotros stand with you.

Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of Ukrainian people. He'll never — he'll never extinguish their love of freedom. And he volition never, never weaken the resolve of the free world.

We run into tonight in an America that has lived through ii of the hardest years this nation has ever faced. The pandemic has been punishing. And so many families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep upwardly with the ascension cost of food, gas, housing, and so much more.

I understand, like many of you lot did. My dad had to get out his dwelling in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to find work. So, like many of you, I grew upwards in a family when the price of nutrient went up, it was felt throughout the family unit; information technology had an impact.

That's why one of the beginning things I did equally President was fight to pass the American Rescue Program, because people were hurting. We needed to act and nosotros did.

American Rescue Plan

American Rescue Plan

Few pieces of legislation accept done more at a critical moment in our history to lift us out of a crisis. Information technology fueled our efforts to vaccinate the nation and combat COVID-xix. It delivered immediate economic relief to tens of millions of Americans. It helped put food on the table. Recall those long lines of cars waiting for hours just to get a box of nutrient put in their trunk? It cut the cost of healthcare insurance. And as my dad used to say, it gave the people "just a little bit of breathing room."

And unlike the $2 trillion tax cut passed in the previous administration that benefitted the height 1 percent of Americans, the American Rescue Plan helped working people and left no ane behind. And, folks — and information technology worked. Information technology worked.

It worked and created jobs — lots of jobs. In fact, our economic system created over 6.5 million new jobs just terminal year, more than jobs in one year than e'er before in the history of the Us of America.

Economic Progress Study

Economic Progress Report

The economy grew at a rate of 5.7 concluding year — the strongest growth rate in 40 years and the first step in bringing fundamental change to our economy that hasn't worked for working people in this nation for too long.

For the past 40 years, nosotros were told that taxation breaks for those at the top and benefits would trickle down and anybody would — would benefit.

But that trickle-down theory led to a weaker economic growth, lower wages, bigger deficits, and a widening gap between the top and everyone else in the — in virtually a century.

Look, Vice President Harris and I ran for office — and I realize we have fundamental disagreements on this — but ran for office with a new economical vision for America: invest in America; educate Americans; grow the workforce; build the economy from the lesser up and the middle out, not from the top downwardly. Because nosotros know when the center class grows — when the middle form grows, the poor go way upwardly and the wealthy do very well.

America used to accept the best roads, bridges, and airports on World. And at present our infrastructure is ranked 13th in the world. Nosotros won't be able to compete for the jobs of the 21st century if we don't fix it.

That'due south why information technology was so important to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And I thank my Republican friends who joined to invest and rebuild America — the unmarried biggest investment in history.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

It was a bipartisan effort, and I want to thank the members of both parties who worked to brand information technology happen. We're washed talking near infrastructure weeks. We're now talking near an infrastructure decade.

And look, it's going to — it's going to transform America to put usa on a path to win the economical competition of the 21st century that nosotros face up with the residuum of the earth, particularly China.

I've told Xi Jinping: It's never been a good bet to bet against the American people.

We'll create good jobs for millions of Americans — modernizing roads, airports, ports, waterways — all beyond America. And we'll do it to withstand the devastating effects of climate crisis and promote environmental justice.

We'll build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations; begin to replace the poisonous atomic number 82 pipes, so every child, every American has clean water to drinkable at dwelling and at schoolhouse.

We're going to provide — provide affordable high-speed Internet for every American — rural, suburban, urban, and Tribal communities. Four thou projects have already been appear. Many of y'all take appear them in your districts.

And tonight, I'chiliad announcing that, this twelvemonth, nosotros will start fixing over 65,000 miles of highway and 1,500 bridges in disrepair.

Highways

Repairs Begin on 65k Highways

And, folks, when we use taxpayers' dollars to rebuild America, nosotros're going to practise it by buying American. Purchase American products. Support American jobs.

The federal government spends virtually $600 billion a year to go on this country safe and secure. At that place'due south been a law on the books for well-nigh a century to make sure taxpayers' dollars support American jobs and businesses. Every administration — Democrat and Republican — says they'll practise it, just we're actually doing information technology.

We'll buy America to make sure every — everything from the deck of an aircraft carrier to the steel on highway guardrails is made in America from outset to end. All of it. All of it.

But, folks, to compete for the jobs of the future, we also need to level the playing field with China and other competitors. That's why information technology's so important to pass the bipartisan Innovation Deed sitting in Congress that volition make record investments in emerging technologies and American manufacturing.

Bipartisan Innovation Act

We used to invest almost two pct of our GDP in research and development. Nosotros don't now. Can't — China is.

Allow me give you one example why it'due south and then important to pass.

If you travel 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, you lot'll find a thousand empty acres of country. It won't await like much. But if you stop and look closely, you'll encounter a "field of dreams" — the ground on which America's future will be built.

That'south where Intel, the American visitor that helped build Silicon Valley, is going to build a $20 billion semiconductor "mega site." Up to eight country-of-the-art factories in i place. Ten thousand new jobs. And in those factories, the boilerplate job — near $135 — $135,000 a year.

Some of the most sophisticated manufacturing in the world to brand computer chips the size of a fingertip that power the earth and everyday lives, from smartphones, technology that — the Internet — technology that'south yet to exist invented.

But that's only the get-go.

Intel'due south CEO, Pat Gelsinger, who is here this evening — and I don't know where Pat is. Pat? In that location you go, Pat. Stand upwards. Pat came to see me, and he told me they're ready to increase their investment from $twenty billion to $100 billion.

That would be the biggest investment in manufacturing in American history. And all they're waiting for is for yous to pass this neb.

And then, permit's not wait whatever longer. Send it to my desk, I'll sign it, and we volition actually accept off in a big way.

And, folks, Intel is non alone. There'south something happening in America. Just look around, and you'll see an amazing story — the rebirth of pride that comes from stamping products "Fabricated in America," the revitalization of American manufacturing.

Companies are choosing to build new factories here when just a few years agone, they would have gone overseas. That's what is happening.

Ford is investing $11 billion in electrical vehicles, creating 11,000 jobs beyond the country.

GM is making the largest investment in its history — $7 billion to build electric vehicles, creating four,000 jobs in Michigan.

All told, 369,000 new manufacturing jobs were created in America last year alone.

Folks, powered past people I've met — like JoJo Burgess from generations of union steelworkers in Pittsburgh, who's here with u.s.a. tonight. Where are you, JoJo? There you go. Thanks, buddy.

Equally Ohio — as Ohio Sherrod Brown says, "It'south time to bury the label 'Rust Belt.'" It'due south time to meet the — the — what used to be called the Rust Belt become the — the home of a significant resurgence of manufacturing.

And with all the bright spots in our economic system — record task growth, college wages — too many families are struggling to keep up with their bills.

Inflation is robbing them of gains they thought otherwise they would be able to feel.

I get it. That's why my top priority is getting prices under control.

Inflation

I go it. That's why my height priority is getting prices under control.

Wait, our economy roared back faster than near anyone predicted, only the pandemic meant that businesses had a difficult time hiring plenty people because of the pandemic to keep up production in their factories. So, y'all didn't accept people making those beams that went into buildings because they were out — the factory was airtight.

The pandemic besides disrupted the global supply chain. Factories close. When that happens, it takes longer to make goods and go them to the warehouses, to the stores, and go — prices become up.

Look at cars terminal year. One tertiary of all the aggrandizement was because of motorcar sales. At that place weren't plenty semiconductors to brand all the cars that people wanted to buy.

And guess what? Prices of automobiles went mode up, peculiarly used vehicles as well.

And and then, we take a selection.

One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and brand Americans poorer.

I think I take a ameliorate idea to fight inflation: Lower your costs, not your wages.

And, folks, that means brand more cars and semiconductors in America, more infrastructure and innovation in America, more than goods moving faster and cheaper in America, more jobs where yous can earn a good living in America.

Instead of relying on strange supply chains, let's make information technology in America.

Look, economists phone call this increasing the productive capacity of our economy.

I call information technology building a improve America.

Building a Meliorate America

My program to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit. Seventeen Nobel laureates in economics said my program volition ease long-term inflationary pressures. Top business organization leaders and, I believe, most Americans support the plan.

And hither's the plan.

First, cut the price of prescription drugs. We pay more than for the same drug produced by the same company in America than any other state in the world.

Only await at insulin. 1 in ten Americans has diabetes. In Virginia, I met a thirteen-twelvemonth-old boy — the handsome young man standing upwards there, Joshua Davis. He and his dad both have Blazon 1 diabetes, which means they need insulin every single day.

Insulin costs about $10 a vial to make. That's what it costs the — the pharmaceutical company. But drug companies charge families like Joshua and his dad upwards to 30 times that amount.

I spoke with Joshua's mom. Imagine what it'south similar to expect at your child who needs insulin to stay salubrious and accept no idea how in God's proper noun y'all're going to be able to pay for it — what it does to your family, only what it does to your nobility, your ability to look your child in the eye, to be the parent you wait yourself to exist. I really mean it. Retrieve nearly that. That'southward what I think almost.

You know, yesterday — Joshua is here this evening, but yesterday was his birthday. Happy birthday, buddy, past the way.

For Joshua and 200,000 other young people with Type 1 diabetes, let's cap the toll of insulin at $35 a calendar month so anybody can afford it. And drug companies volition practise very, very well — their turn a profit margin.

Cost of Insulin

And while we're at information technology — I know we have dandy disagreements on this flooring with this — let'south let Medicare negotiate the price of prescription drugs. They already set the price for VA drugs.

Look, the American Rescue Programme is helping millions of families on Affordable Intendance Deed plans to save them $2,400 a year on their health premiums. Allow'southward close the coverage gap and make those savings permanent.

And 2d, allow'southward cut energy costs for families an average of $500 a year by combatting climate change.

Let's provide an investment and tax credit to weatherize your dwelling and your business organisation to exist energy efficient and get a tax credit for it; double America's clean energy production in solar, air current, and and so much more; lower the cost of electric vehicles, saving another $eighty a month that you've non going to have to pay at the pump.

Free energy Efficiency

Folks — tertiary — the tertiary thing we can practice to modify the standard of living for hardworking folks is cut the price of childcare. Cut the cost of childcare.

Folks, if yous alive in a major city in America, you can pay up to $fourteen,000 a yr for childcare per child.

I was a unmarried dad for five years, raising two kids. I had a lot of help, though. I had a mom, a dad, a blood brother, and sister that really helped.

But middle-class and working folks shouldn't have to pay more than than 7 percent of their income to intendance for their young children.

My plan would cut the cost of childcare in half for most families and help parents, including millions of women who left the workforce during the pandemic considering they couldn't afford childcare to be able to get back to work, generating economical growth.

Toll of Child Care

Only my plan doesn't end at that place. It likewise includes home and long-term care, more affordable housing, pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds. All of these volition lower costs to families.

And under my programme, nobody — let me say this once more — nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in new taxes. Not a single penny.

I may be wrong, merely my guess is, if we took a hugger-mugger ballot in this floor, that we'd all hold that the nowadays tax system own't fair. Nosotros have to set up information technology.

I'm non looking to punish anybody, merely let'southward make corporations and wealthy Americans start paying their fair share.

Look, concluding year — like Chris Coons and Tom Carper and my distinguished congresswoman — nosotros come up from the land of corporate America. There are more corporations incorporated in Delaware than every other state in America combined. And I still won 36 years in a row. The betoken is: Even they understand they should pay just a off-white share.

Last year, 55 of the Fortune 500 companies earned $40 billion in profit and paid zero in federal taxes.

No, look, it's not fair. That'due south why I proposed a 15 per centum minimum tax rate for corporations.

Nosotros've got — and that's why in the G7 and other meetings overseas we were able to put together — I was able to exist somewhat helpful — 130 countries to agree on a global minimum tax rate — so companies can't get out of paying their taxes at home past shipping jobs and factories overseas. It'll heighten billions of dollars.

And that's why I've proposed endmost loopholes for the very wealthy who don't pay — who pay a lower tax rate than a instructor and a firefighter.

And then that's my plan. Simply we accept — we'll go into more particular later.

I'm going to grow — we volition grow the economy, lower the costs to families.

So, what are we waiting for? Let'due south get this done. We all know nosotros've got to brand changes.

Folks, and while you lot're at it, confirm my nominees for the Federal Reserve which plays a disquisitional role in fighting inflation.

My plan volition not only lower costs and give families a fair shot, it will lower the arrears.

The previous administration not only ballooned the deficit with those revenue enhancement cuts for the very wealthy and corporations, it undermined the watchdogs — the job of those to keep pandemic relief funds from being wasted. Remember we had those debates nearly whether or not those watchdogs should exist able to see, every day, how much money was being spent, where information technology — was it going to the correct place?

In my administration, the watchdogs are dorsum. And nosotros're going after the criminals who stole billions of relief money meant for small business concern and millions of Americans.

Pandemic Fraud

And this night, I'thou announcing that the Justice Department will soon proper noun a chief prosecutor for pandemic fraud.

And, wait I retrieve nosotros all concord — thank you — past the finish of this twelvemonth, the deficit will exist down to less than half what it was before I took office — the simply President ever to cut the deficit by more than $i trillion in a unmarried yr.

Lowering your costs likewise meant enervating more than competition. I'm a backer, just capitalism without competition is not capitalism. Commercialism without competition is exploitation. It drives up prices.

When corporations take to compete, their profits go up and your prices go up — when they don't have to compete.

Small businesses and family unit farmers and ranchers — I demand not tell some of my Republican friends from those states — approximate what? Yous got 4 bones meatpacking facilities. That'south it. You play with them or yous don't get to play at all. And you pay a hell of a lot more — a hell of a lot more because there's only four.

See what'southward happening with ocean carriers moving appurtenances in and out of America. During the pandemic, nigh half a dozen or less foreign-endemic companies raised prices by equally much equally ane,000 per centum and fabricated tape profits.

This night, I'm announcing a crackdown on those companies overcharging American businesses and consumers.

Folks and as Wall Street firms take over more nursing homes, quality in those homes has gone downwards and costs have gone upwardly. That ends on my watch.

Medicare is going to fix college standards for nursing homes and make sure your loved ones get the care they deserve and that they look, and they volition look at that closely.

We're also going to cut costs to continue the economy going strong and giving workers a off-white shot; provide more preparation and apprenticeships; rent them based on skills, non only their degrees.

Let's laissez passer the Paycheck Fairness Deed and paid leave raise the minimum wage to $fifteen an hour; and extend the Child Revenue enhancement Credit so no one has to raise a family in poverty.

Paycheck Fairness Act

Let's increment Pell Grants; increase our historic support for HBCUs; and invest in what Jill, our Beginning Lady, who teaches full-fourth dimension, calls America'southward best-kept hugger-mugger: community colleges.

Look, let's pass the PRO Deed. When a bulk of workers want to form a union, they shouldn't be able to be stopped.

When we invest in our workers and we build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out, together nosotros can practice something nosotros haven't done in a long time: build a better America.

For more two years, COVID has impacted every conclusion in our lives and the life of this nation. And I know you're tired, frustrated, and exhausted. That doesn't even count the close to a million people who sit at a dining room table or a kitchen table and look at an empty chair because they lost somebody.

Just I also know this: Considering of the progress we've made, because of your resilience and the tools that nosotros have been provided by this Congress, tonight I can say nosotros're moving forward safely, back to a norm- — more normal routines.

We've reached a new moment in the fight against COVID-19 where astringent cases are downwards to a level non seen since July of last yr.

Just a few days ago, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new mask guidelines. Nether the new guidelines, most Americans in near of the country can at present get mask gratuitous.

And based on projections — and based on projections, more of the country will reach a point across — that indicate across the next couple of weeks.

And thanks to the progress nosotros've made in the past yr, COVID-19 no longer need control our lives. I know some are talking about "living with COVID-xix." But this night, I say that we never will merely have living with COVID-19; we'll continue to gainsay the virus every bit we practise other diseases.

And because this virus mutates and spreads, we take to stay on guard. And hither are four common sense steps equally nosotros move forward safely, in my view:

COVID-19

First, stay protected with vaccines and treatments. We know how incredibly effective vaccines are. If you're vaccinated and boosted, you lot take the highest degree of protection, and we'll never give up on vaccinating more Americans.

Now, I know parents with kids under five are eager to encounter their vaccines authorized for their children. Scientists are working hard to become that washed, and nosotros'll be gear up with enough of vaccines if and when they exercise.

We're already — we are also ready with anti-viral treatments. If you get COVID-19, the Pfizer pill reduces your chances of ending upwards in the hospital past 90 pct.

I've ordered more pills than anyone in the globe has. Pfizer is working overtime to get us a million pills this month and more than double that next month.

And now we're launching the "Test to Treat" initiative so people can get tested at a pharmacy and, if they evidence positive, receive the antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.

And folks if you're immunocompromised or accept some other vulnerability, we accept treatments and free high-quality masks.

We're leaving no one behind or ignoring anyone'due south needs equally we move forrad.

On testing, we've made hundreds of millions of tests available, and you lot can order them for costless to your doorstep.

And nosotros've already ordered complimentary tests. If you already ordered free tests, tonight I'm announcing you can lodge another group of tests. COVID — get to COVIDTests.gov, starting side by side week, and you tin can go more than tests.

Covid Tests

Order More Free Covid Tests On covidtests.gov

2nd, nosotros must prepare for new variants.

Over the by — nosotros've gotten much amend at detecting new variants. If necessary, we'll exist able to deploy new vaccines within 100 days instead of possibly months or years. And if Congress provides the funds we demand, we'll accept new stockpiles of tests, masks, pills ready if needed.

I can't hope a new variant won't come, but I ca- — I tin can promise you nosotros'll do everything inside our power to exist ready if it does.

3rd, we can cease the shutdown of schools and businesses. We have the tools we need.

It'south time for America to go dorsum to work and fill our cracking downtowns again with people. People working from home can experience prophylactic and begin to return to their offices.

Nosotros're doing that hither in the federal government. The vast majority of federal workers will once once again piece of work in person.

Our schools are open. Let'south go on it that way. Our kids need to be in schoolhouse.

With 75 percent of developed Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77 percent, about Americans can remove their masks and stay in the classroom and move forrad safely.

We accomplished this because we provided free vaccines, treatments, tests, and masks. Of class, continuing this costs money, and then information technology volition not surprise you lot I'll be back to see y'all all. And re- — I'm going to soon transport a request to Congress.

The vast majority of Americans have used these tools and may desire to again — we may need them again. Then I expect Congress — and I hope y'all'll pass that quickly.

4th, we'll continue vaccinating the earth. We've sent 475 million vaccine doses to 112 countries — more than any nation on Earth. We won't stop, considering you tin't build a wall high plenty to keep out a —

A vaccine — the vaccine tin stop the spread of these diseases.

You know, we've lost so much in COVID-nineteen. Fourth dimension with one another. The worst of all, the much loss of life.

Let's use this moment to reset. So, stop looking at COVID every bit a partisan dividing line. Encounter it for what it is: a God-atrocious disease.

Let's stop sending — seeing each other every bit enemies and starting time seeing each other for who we are: fellow Americans.

Covid-19 Reset

Wait nosotros can't change how divided we've been. That was a long time in coming. But we can change how to move forwards on COVID-19 and other issues that we must confront together.

I recently visited New York City Police Department days after the funerals of Officer Wilbert Mora and his partner, Officer Jason Rivera.

They were responding to a 911 telephone call when a man shot and killed them with a stolen gun.

Officer Mora was 27 years old. Officer Rivera was 22 years old. Both Dominican Americans who grew upwardly in the same streets that they later chose to patrol every bit police officers.

I spoke with their families, and I told them that we are forever in debt for their sacrifices and nosotros'll carry on their mission to restore the trust and safety in every customs information technology deserves.

Like some of you that take been around for a while — I've worked with you on these issues for a long time. I know what works: Investing in crime prevention and community policing — cops who walk the beat, who know the neighborhood, and who can restore trust and safety.

Crime Prevention

Let's not abandon our streets or choose between rubber and equal justice. Let's come together and protect our communities, restore trust, and concur law enforcement answerable.

That'south why the Justice Department has required body cameras, banned chokeholds, and restricted no-knock warrants for its officers.

That'south why the American Rescue Plan that you lot all provided $350 billion that cities, states, and counties can use to hire more police, invest in more proven strategies like community violence pause, trusted messengers breaking the wheel of violence and trauma and giving immature people some hope.

We should all concord the answer is not to defund the police force.

It'southward to fund the police. Fund them. Fund them. Fund them with the resources and training — resources and training they need to protect our communities.

I ask Democrats and Republicans alike to pass my budget and proceed our neighborhoods rubber.

And nosotros'll do everything in my power to crack down on gun trafficking of ghost guns that you can buy online, assemble at habitation — no serial numbers, tin't be traced.

I ask Congress to pass proven measures to reduce gun violence. Laissez passer universal background checks. Why should anyone on the terrorist list be able to purchase a weapon. Why? Why?

And, folks, ban assault weapons with loftier-capacity magazines that concur upward to 100 rounds. You recollect the deer are wearing Kevlar vests?

Look, repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the simply industry in America that tin't be sued — the but i. Imagine had we washed that with the tobacco manufactures.

These laws don't borrow on the Second Amendment; they save lives.

Gun Violence

The most central right in America is the right to vote and have information technology counted. And look, it's under assault.

In state after state, new laws have been passed non only to suppress the vote — we've been in that location earlier — but to subvert the entire election. We can't let this happen.

This night, I telephone call on the Senate to pass — pass the Freedom to Vote Act. Pass the John Lewis Act — Voting Rights Act. And while you're at it, laissez passer the Disclose Act so Americans know who is funding our elections.

Expect, tonight, I'd — I'd similar to honor someone who has dedicated his life to serve this country: Justice Breyer — an Army veteran, Ramble scholar, retiring Justice of the United States Supreme Courtroom.

Justice Breyer, thank you for your service. Thank yous, thanks, thank you. I mean it. Get upwardly. Stand — let me run into you. Give thanks you.

And we all know — no matter what your ideology, we all know one of the nigh serious constitutional responsibilities a President has is nominating someone to serve on the U.s. Supreme Court.

Every bit I did four days ago, I've nominated a Excursion Courtroom of Appeals — Ketanji Brown Jackson. Ane of our nation'due south tiptop legal minds who volition proceed in just Brey- — Justice Breyer'due south legacy of excellence. A former top litigator in private do, a former federal public defender from a family of public-schoolhouse educators and constabulary officers — she's a consensus architect.

Since she's been nominated, she'southward received a broad range of support, including the Fraternal Order of Law and former judges appointed past Democrats and Republicans.

Gauge Ketanji Chocolate-brown Jackson

Since she'due south been nominated, she's received a broad range of back up, including the Fraternal Gild of Police and erstwhile judges appointed past Democrats and Republicans.

Folks, if we are to accelerate liberty and justice, we need to secure our edge and fix the immigration system.

And as you might guess, I think we can do both. At our border, we've installed new technology, like cutting-border scanners, to meliorate detect drug smuggling.

We've set up joint patrols with Mexico and Guatemala to grab more than man traffickers.

We're putting in place dedicated clearing judges in pregnant larger number so families fleeing persecution and violence can have their cases — cases heard faster — and those who aren't legitimately hither can be sent back.

We're screening — we're securing commitments and supporting partners in Due south and Central America to host more than refugees and secure their own borders.

We tin can practice all this while keeping lit the torch of liberty that has led the generation of immigrants to this land — my forebearers and many of yours.

Provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers — those with temporary status, farmworkers, essential workers. To revise our laws so businesses take workers they demand and families don't wait decades to reunite.

It'due south not only the right affair to do, it'south economically smart affair to practice. That'due south why the immigration reform is supported by everyone from labor unions to religious leaders to the U.S. Bedroom of Commerce. Let's get information technology done one time and for all.

Folks, advancing freedom and justice as well requires protecting the rights of women. The ramble correct affirmed by Roe v. Wade, standing precedent for one-half a century, is under attack equally never before.

If you want to go forrad not backwards, we must protect admission to healthcare; preserve a woman's right to choose — and continue to advance maternal healthcare for all Americans.

Roe v. Wade

And folks, for our LGBTQ+ Americans, permit's finally get the bipartisan Equality Human action to my desk. The onslaught of state laws targeting transgender Americans and their families — information technology's just wrong.

Every bit I said last twelvemonth, especially to our younger transgender Americans, I'll always have your back as your President and so you tin exist yourself and achieve your God-given potential.

Bipartisan Equality Act

Folks equally I've merely demonstrated, while it often appears we do non concord and that — nosotros — we do agree on a lot more things than we acknowledge.

I signed 80 bipartisan bills into law final year, from preventing government shutdowns, to protecting Asian Americans from still-too-mutual hate crimes, to reforming military machine justice. And we'll before long be strengthening the Violence Against Women Human activity that I first wrote 3 decades ago.

And it's important — it's important for us to prove — to bear witness the nation that nosotros tin come together and practice large things.

So tonight, I'm offering a "Unity Agenda for the Nation": four big things we tin can exercise together, in my view.

Unity Agenda

President Biden's Unity Agenda

Offset, beat the opioid epidemic. There's so much we can do: increase funding for prevention, treatment, damage reduction, and recovery; get rid of outdated rules and stop doctors and — that cease doctors from prescribing treatments; stop the flow of illicit drugs by working with state and local law enforcement to become later the traffickers.

And if you're suffering from addiction, you know — y'all should know you're not lone. I believe in recovery, and I gloat the 23 million — 23 million Americans in recovery.

Second, let'southward take on mental wellness — especially among our children, whose lives and education have been turned upside down.

The American Rescue Plan gave schools money to hire teachers and help students make up for lost learning. I urge every parent to make sure your school — your school does just that. They have the money.

We can all play a part. Sign up to exist a tutor or a mentor.

Children were also struggling before the pandemic: bullying, violence, trauma, and the harms of social media.

As Frances Haugen, who is here tonight with us, has shown, we must hold social media platforms answerable for the national experiment they're conducting on our children for profit. Folks — thank you. Thank you for the courage you lot showed.

It's time to strengthen privacy protections; ban targeted advert to children; demand tech companies finish collecting personal information on our children.

Social Media Platforms

Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable

And let's get all Americans the mental health services they need — more people can turn for help and total parity between concrete and mental healthcare if we treat information technology that way in our insurance.

Wait, the third piece of that agenda is back up our veterans. Veterans are the courage and the spine of this state. They're the all-time of us.

I've always believed that we have a sacred obligation to equip those nosotros transport to war and intendance for those and their family when they come domicile.

My administration is providing aid and chore preparation and housing, and now helping lower-income veterans become VA care debt free.

And our troops in Iraq have faced — and Afghanistan — accept faced many dangers. One existence stationed at bases, breathing in toxic smoke from burn pits. Many of you have been in that location. I've been in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan over 40 times. These burn pits that incinerate waste — the wastes of war, medical and chancy material, jet fuel, and so much more.

And they come up home — many of the world's fittest and best trained warriors in the globe — never the aforementioned: headaches, numbness, dizziness, a cancer that would put them in a flag-draped coffin. I know.

One of those — 1 of those soldiers was my son, Major Beau Biden. I don't know for sure if the burn down pit that he lived nearly — that his hooch was near in Iraq and, earlier than that, in Kosovo is the crusade of his brain cancer and the affliction of and so many other troops. Only I'm committed to observe out everything we can.

Committed to armed forces families like Danielle Robinson from Ohio, the widow of Sergeant Kickoff Class Heath Robinson. He was born a soldier. Army National Guard. Combat medic in Kosovo and Iraq. Stationed near Baghdad, only yards from burn pits the size of football game fields.

Danielle is here with the states tonight. They loved going to Ohio State football games. And he loved edifice Legos with their daughter. Merely cancer from prolonged exposure to burn pits ravaged Heath's lungs and body.

Danielle says Heath was a fighter to the very end. He didn't know how to stop fighting, and neither did she.

Through her pain, she found purpose to demand that we do better. Tonight, Danielle, nosotros are going to practise amend.

The VA — the VA is pioneering new ways of linking toxic exposures to disease, already helping more veterans get benefits. And this night, I'm announcing we're expanding eligibility to veterans suffering from nine respiratory cancers.

Veterans

I'm also calling on Congress to laissez passer a police to make sure veterans devastated by toxic exposure in Iraq and Transitional islamic state of afghanistan finally become the benefits and the comprehensive healthcare they deserve.

And fourth and last, let's end cancer equally we know it. This is personal. This is personal to me and to Jill and to Kamala and and then many of yous. So many of you accept lost someone you love — husband, wife, son, daughter, mom, dad.

Cancer is the number-two cause of expiry in America, 2nd only to eye disease.

Last month, I announced the plan to supercharge the Cancer Moonshot that President Obama asked me to lead vi years ago.

Cancer Moonshot

Our goal is to cut cancer decease rates past at least 50 percent over the next 25 years. And I recall nosotros tin can do better than that: plough cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases, more support for patients and families.

To go there, I call on Congress to fund what I chosen ARPA-H: Advanced — Advanced Enquiry Projects Agency for Health. Patterned after DARPA in the Defence Department, projects that led — in DARPA — to the Internet, GPS, and so much more that make our forces more safer and be able to wage war more — with more clarity.

ARPA-H will have a singular purpose to drive breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes, and more.

A Unity Agenda for the nation. We tin can do these things. It's within our power. And I don't encounter a partisan edge to any ane of those four things.

My swain Americans — this evening we've gathered in a sacred space: the citadel of democracy. In this Capitol, generation after generation of Americans have debated great questions amid great strife and accept washed dandy things.

We accept fought for freedom, expanded liberty, defeated totalitarianism and terror. We built the strongest, freest, and most prosperous nation the earth has ever known.

Now is the hour: our moment of responsibleness, our examination of resolve and conscience of history itself. It is in this moment that our character of this generation is formed, our purpose is constitute, our time to come is forged.

Well, I know this nation. We'll come across the examination, protect freedom and liberty, expand fairness and opportunity. And we volition save democracy.

Equally hard as those times have been, I'grand more optimistic almost America today than I've been my whole life because I see the hereafter that's within our grasp, because I know there is only nix beyond our camas- — our capacity.

We're the only nation on Globe that has always turned every crunch we've faced into an opportunity, the simply nation that can be defined by a single word: possibilities.

Then, on this night, on our 245th yr as a nation, I've come up to report on the country of the nation — the state of the matrimony. And my report is this: The State of the Matrimony is strong considering you, the American people, are strong.

We are stronger today — we are stronger today than we were a year agone. And we'll exist stronger a year from at present than nosotros are today.

The State of the Union

This is our moment to see and overcome the challenges of our time. And nosotros volition, as i people, one America — the Us of America.

God anoint you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you. Go become 'em.

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Source: https://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2022/

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