President Biden's State of the Union Address

--- MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET . [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] --- MR. SPEAKER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] --- FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS ! FOUR MORE YEARS ! [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] -- PRESIDENT BIDEN: GOOD EVENING. [ APPLAUSE ] GOOD EVENING

. IF I WERE SMART, I'D GO HOME NOW. [ LAUGHTER ] [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] MR. SPEAKER, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, MY FELLOW AMERICANS, IN JANUARY 19 41 FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT CAME TO THIS CHAMBER TO SPEAK TO THE NATION AND HE SAID, I ADDRESS YOU AT THE MOMENT UNPRECEDENTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNION. HITLER WAS ON THE MARCH, WAR WAS RAGING IN EUROPE , PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S PURPOSE WAS TO WAKE UP CONGRESS AND ALERT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THIS WAS NO ORDINARY TIME. FREEDOM AND DE

NSE WERE UNDER ASSAULT IN THE WORLD. TONIGHT I COME TO THIS SAME CHAMBER TO ADDRESS THE NATION. NOW IT'S WE WHO FACE UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNION AND, YES, MY PURPOSE TONIGHT IS TO WAKE UP THE CONGRESS AND WAKE UP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THIS IS NO ORDINARY MOMENT EITHER. NOT SINCE PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND THE CIVIL WAR HAS FREEDOM OF DEMOCRACY BEEN UNDER ASSAULT. WHAT MAKES THE MOMENT RARE IS THE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK BOTH AT HOME AND OVERSEAS AT THE SAME TIME.

OVERSEAS, PUTIN'S RUSSIA IS ON THE MARCH, INVADING UKRAINE AND SOWING CHAOS THROUGHOUT EUROPE AND BEYOND. IF ANYONE IN THIS ROOM CITIZENS PUTIN WILL STOP AT UKRAINE, I ASSURE YOU HE WILL NOT. [ APPLAUSE ] BUT UKRAINE -- [ APPLAUSE ] UKRAINE CAN STOP PUTIN . UKRAINE CAN STOP PUTIN, IF WE STAND WITH UKRAINE AND PROVIDE THE WEAPONS THAT IT NEEDS TO DEFEND ITSELF . [ APPLAUSE ] THAT IS ALL, THAT IS ALL UKRAINE IS ASKING. THEY ARE NOT ASKING FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS. IN FACT, THERE ARE NO AMERICAN SO

LDIERS AT WAR IN UKRAINE AND I'M DETERMINED TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. BUT NOW ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE IS BEING BLOCKED BY THOSE WHO WANT TO WALK AWAY FROM OUR WORLD LEADERSHIP. IT WASN'T LONG AGO WHEN A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT NAMED RONALD REAGAN THUNDERED, MR. GORBACHEV TEAR DOWN THIS WALL . NOW -- [ APPLAUSE ] NOW MY PREDECESSOR, A FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT TELLS PUTIN, QUOTE, DO WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANT. THAT'S A QUOTE. A FORMER PRESIDENT ACTUALLY SAID THAT, BOWING DOWN TO A RUSSIAN LEADER. I

THINK IT'S OUTRAGEOUS, IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. [ APPLAUSE ] AMERICA IS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF NATO , THE MILITARY ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONS CREATED AFTER WORLD WAR II TO PREVENT WAR AND KEEP THE PEACE, AND TODAY WE'VE MADE NATO STRONGER THAN EVER. WE WELCOMED FINLAND TO THE ALLIANCE LAST YEAR. [ APPLAUSE ] AND JUST THIS MORNING SWEDEN OFFICIALLY JOINED AND THEIR MINISTER IS HERE TONIGHT. STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] WELCOME. WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THEY KNOW

HOW TO FIGHT. MR. PRIME MINISTER, WELCOME TO NATO, THE STRONGEST MILITARY ALLIANCE THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN. I SAY THIS TO CONGRESS, WE HAVE TO STAND UP TO PUTIN , SEND ME THE BIPARTISAN NATIONAL SECURITY BILL . HISTORY IS LITERALLY WATCHING. HISTORY IS WATCHING. THE UNITED STATES WALKS AWAY, IT WILL PUT UKRAINE AT RISK. EUROPE IS AT RISK. THE FREE WORLD WILL BE AT RISK, EMBOLDENING OTHERS TO DO WHAT THEY WISH AND DO US HARM . MY MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT PUTIN IS SIMPLE, WE WILL NOT WALK AWAY.

[ APPLAUSE ] WE WILL NOT BOW DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ] I WILL NOT BOW DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ] IN A LITERAL SENSE HISTORY IS WATCHING, HISTORY IS WATCHING. JUST LIKE HISTORY WATCHED THREE YEARS AGO ON JANUARY 6TH WHEN IN INSURRECTIONISTS STORMED, WE ALL SAW WITH OUR OWN EYES THE INSURRECTIONISTS WERE NOT PATRIOTS. THEY CAME TO STOP THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. JANUARY 6 LIES ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION AND THE PLOT TO STEAL THE ELECTION POSED A GREAT GRAVEST THREAT TO THE U.S. DEMOCRACY SINCE THE CIVIL W

AR, BUT THEY FAILED . [ APPLAUSE ] AMERICA STOOD STRONG AND DEMOCRACY PREVAILED. AND LET'S BE HONEST, THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY MUST BE DEFENDED. MY PREDECESSOR AND SOME OF YOU HERE SEEK TO BURY THE TRUTH ABOUT JANUARY 6TH. I WILL NOT DO THAT. THIS IS A MOMENT TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND THE VERY LIES , THERE'S A SIMPLE TRUTH, YOU CAN'T LOVE YOUR COUNTRY ONLY WHEN YOU WIN. [ APPLAUSE ] AS I'VE DONE EVER SINCE BEING ELECTED TO OFFICE , I ASK ALL OF YOU WITHOUT REGARD TO PARTY TO JOIN TOGETHER AND

DEFEND DEMOCRACY. REMEMBER THE OATH OF OFFICE, DEFENDING AGAINST ALL THREATS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. [ APPLAUSE ] RESPECT, RESPECT FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS, RESTORE TRUST IN OUR INSTITUTIONS AND MAKE CLEAR POLITICAL VIOLENCE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO PLACE, NO PLACE IN AMERICA, ZERO PLACE. [ APPLAUSE ] AGAIN , IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT HYPERBOLE TO SUGGEST HISTORY IS WATCHING. WE'RE WATCHING. YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL READ ABOUT THIS DAY AND WHAT WE DO. HISTORY IS WATCHING ANOTHER ASSAULT ON FREEDOM

. JOINING US IS A SOCIAL WORKER FROM BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. 14 MONTHS AGO, 14 MONTHS AGO SHE AND HER HUSBAND WELCOMED A BABY GIRL THANKS TO THE MIRACLE OF IVF . SHE SCHEDULED TREATMENTS TO HAVE THAT SECOND CHILD. THE ALABAMA SUPREME COURT SHUT DOWN TREATMENTS ACROSS THE STATE. UNLEASHED BY A SUPREME COURT DECISION WHEN THEY OVERTURNED ROE VS. WADE. UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN . TONIGHT LET'S STAND UP TO FAMILIES LIKE HERS . GUARANTY IT NATIONWIDE . [ APPLAUSE ] LIKE MOST AMERICA

NS, I BELIEVE ROE VS. WADE GOT IT RIGHT. I THINK VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE LEADER, DEFENDING REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM . [ APPLAUSE ] BY PREDECESSOR WAS DETERMINED TO SEE ROE VS. WADE OVERTURNED. HE'S THE REASON IT WAS OVERTURNED AND HE BRAGS ABOUT IT . LOOK AT THE CHAOS AS A RESULT OF IT. JOIN US AS KATE COX, A WIFE AND MOTHER FROM DALLAS, SHE'S BECOME PREGNANT AGAIN AND HAD A FETUS WITH A FATAL CONDITION. HER DOCTOR TOLD HER OWN LIFE AND ABILITY TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE F

UTURE WERE AT RISK IF SHE DIDN'T ACT BECAUSE TEXAS LAW BANNED HER ABILITY TO ACT, KATE AND HER HUSBAND HAD TO LEAVE THE STATE TO GET WHAT SHE NEEDED. IT'S HAPPENING IN TOO MANY OTHER STATES. OUR STATE LAW IS BANNING THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE, CRIMINALIZING DOCTORS, FORCING SURVIVORS OF RAPE AND INCEST TO LEAVE THEIR STATES TO GET THE TREATMENT THEY NEED. MANY OF YOU IN THIS CHAMBER AND MY PREDECESSOR ARE PROMISING TO PASS A NATIONAL BAN ON REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM. MY GOD, WHAT FREEDOM ELSE WOULD YO

U TAKE AWAY? THE SUPREME COURT MAJORITY WROTE THE FOLLOWING AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT JUSTICES, WOMEN ARE NOT WITHOUT ELECTORAL POWER. EXCUSE ME, ELECTORAL OR POLITICAL POWER. YOU'RE ABOUT TO REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH. [ APPLAUSE ] THOSE BRAGGING WITH OVERTURNING ROE VS. WADE HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT THE POWER OF WOMEN, BUT THEY FOUND OUT WHEN REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM WAS ON THE BALLOT. WE WON IN 2022 AND WE'LL WIN AGAIN IN 2024. [ APPLAUSE ] IF YOU THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SEND ME TO CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE R

IGHT TO CHOOSE, I PROMISE YOU, I'LL RESTORE ROE VS. WADE AS THE LAW OF THE LAND AGAIN. [ APPLAUSE ] FOLKS, AMERICA CANNOT GO BACK. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE WAY FORWARD, IS I KNOW HOW FAR WE'VE COME. FOUR YEARS AGO NEXT WEEK BEFORE I CAME TO OFFICE, THE COUNTRY WAS HIT BY THE WORST PANDEMIC AND THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS IN THE CENTURY. REMEMBER THE FEAR, RECORD LOSSES, REMEMBER THE SPIKE IN CRIME AND THE MURDER RATE, RAGING VIRUS THAT TOOK MORE THAN ONE MILLION AMERICAN

LIVES OF LOVED ONES, MILLIONS LEFT BEHIND . MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OF ISOLATION AND LONELINESS. THE PRESIDENT, MY PREDECESSOR FAILED THE MOST BASIC PRESIDENTIAL DUTY HE OWES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE DUTY TO CARE. I THINK THAT'S UNFORGIVABLE. I CAME TO OFFICE DETERMINED TO GET US THROUGH ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PERIODS IN THE NATION'S HISTORY. WE HAVE. IT DOESN'T MAKE NEWS IN 1,000 CITIES AND TOWNS, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WRITING THE GREATEST COMEBACK STORY NEVER TOLD. [ APPLAUSE ] SO LET'S TEL

L THE STORY HERE . TELL IT HERE AND NOW. AMERICA'S COMEBACK IS BUILDING THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN POSSIBILITIES, BUILDING AN ECONOMY FROM THE MIDDLE OUT AND BOTTOM UP, NOT THE TOP DOWN. INVESTING IN ALL AMERICA, IN ALL AMERICANS, MAKING SURE EVERYONE HAS A FAIR SHOT. WE LEAVE NO ONE, NO ONE BEHIND. THE PANDEMIC NO LONGER CONTROLS OUR LIVES. THE VACCINE THAT SAVED US FROM COVID ARE NOW BEING USED TO BEAT CANCER, TURNING SETBACK INTO COMEBACK. THAT'S WHAT AMERICA DOES. THAT'S WHAT AMERICA DOES. [

APPLAUSE ] FOLKS, I'M HEARING OF THE ECONOMY IS ON THE BRINK. NOW IT'S THE ENVY OF THE WORLD. 15 MILLION NEW JOBS IN JUST THREE YEARS. A RECORD, A RECORD. [ APPLAUSE ] UNEMPLOYMENT AT 50 YEAR LOWS , RECORD 16 MILLION AMERICANS ARE STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES AND EACH ONE SEASON A LITERAL ACT OF HOPE. HISTORIC JOB GROWTH , 800,000 MANUFACTURING JOBS IN AMERICA AND COUNTING. WHERE IS IT WRITTEN WE CAN'T BE THE MANUFACTURING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD. WE ARE AND WE WILL. [ APPLAUSE ] MORE PEOPLE HAVE

TO HAVE INSURANCE TODAY. MORE PEOPLE HAVE INSURANCE TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE. THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IS AS SMALL AS ITS BEEN IN 20 YEARS. WAGES KEEP GOING, INFLATION HAS DROPPED FROM 9% TO 3%, THE LOWEST IN THE WORLD AND TRENDING LOWER. [ APPLAUSE ] THE LANDING IS AND WILL BE SOFT. AND NOW INSTEAD OF IMPORT PENTAGON FOREIGN POLITICS AND EXPORTING AMERICAN JOBS, WE'RE CREATE CAN GO AMERICAN JOBS RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA WHERE THEY BELONG. [ APPLAUSE ] AND IT TAKES TIME BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A

RE BEGINNING TO FEEL IT. CONSUMER STUDIES SHOW CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS SOARING. BY AMERICA HAS BEEN THE LAW OF THE LAND SINCE THE 1930s. PAST ADMINISTRATIONS INCLUDING MY PREDECESSOR , INCLUDING SOME DEMOCRATS AS WELL IN THE PAST FAILED TO BUY AMERICAN. NOT ANYMORE. ON MY WATCH FEDERAL PROJECTS THAT YOU FUND LIKE HELPING BUILD AMERICAN ROADS, BRIDGES AND HIGHWAYS WILL BE MADE WITH AMERICAN PRODUCTS AND BUILT BY AMERICAN WORKERS. [ APPLAUSE ] CREATING GOOD-PAYING AMERICAN JOBS . [ APPLAUSE ] AN

D THANKS TO OUR CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT THE UNITED STATES IS INVESTING MORE IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THAN EVER BEFORE. DURING THE PANDEMIC A SHORTAGE OF SEMI CONDUCTORS , CHIPS, THAT DROVE UP THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING FROM CELL PHONES TO AUTOMOBILES AND, BY THE WAY, WE INVENTED THOSE CHIPS RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA. INSTEAD OF HAVING TO IMPORT THEM, PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE NOW INVESTING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BUILD NEW CHIP FACTORIES HERE IN AMERICA, CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS. MANY OF T

HOSE JOBS PAYING $100,000 A YEAR AND DON'T REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE. [ APPLAUSE ] IN FACT, MY POLICIES HAVE ATTRACTED $ 650 BILLION IN PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT, IN CLEAN ENERGY, ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF JOBS HERE IN AMERICA. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THANKS TO OUR BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW , 46,000 NEW PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED ALL ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES. BY THE WAY, I NOTICED SOME OF YOU STRONGLY VOTED AGAINST IT. THEY ARE CHEERING ON THAT MONEY COMING IN. [ AP

PLAUSE ] I'M WITH YA. I'M WITH YA . IF ANY OF YOU DON'T WANT THAT MONEY IN YOUR DISTRICT, JUST LET ME KNOW. MODERNIZE THE ROADS, BRIDGES, PARTS AND AIN'TS, PUBLIC TRANSIT SYSTEMS, REMOVING POISONOUS LEAD PIPES SO EVERY CHILD CAN DRINK CLEAN WATER WITHOUT RISK OF BRAIN DAMAGE. [ APPLAUSE ] PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HIGH SPEED INTERNET FOR EVERY AMERICAN NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, URBAN, SUBURBAN, RURAL COMMUNITIES, IN RED STATES AND BLUE STATES. RECORD INVESTMENTS IN TRAVEL COMMUNITIES BECAUSE

OF MY INVESTMENT IN FAMILY FARMS. BECAUSE I PINE VESTED IN FAMILY FARMS BECAUSE OF MY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT THIS THAN ANYBODY I KNOW, THEY ARE ABLE TO STAY INSTEAD OF HAVING TO LEAVE TO MAKE A LIVING. GREAT COMEBACK STORIES IN BELVEDERE, ILLINOIS, HOME TO AN AUTO PLANT FOR NEARLY 60 YEARS. BEFORE I CAME TO OFFICE THE PLANT WAS ON ITS WAY TO SHUTTING DOWN. THOUSANDS OF WORKERS FEARED FOR THEIR LIVELIHOODS, HOPE WAS FADING. WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO OFFICE AND WE RAISED THE

BELVEDERE REPEATEDLY KNOWING UNIONS WOULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. UAW WORKED LIKE HELL TO KEEP THE PLANT OPEN AND GET THESE JOBS BACK AND TOGETHER WE SUCCEEDED . INSTEAD OF AUTO FACTORIES SHUTTING DOWN , STATE OF THE ART BATTERY FACTORIES ARE BEING BUILT. [ APPLAUSE ] FOLKS, THE FOLKS AT BELVEDERE I SAY, INSTEAD OF YOUR TOWN BEING LEFT BEHIND, YOUR COMMUNITY 'S MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. INSTEAD OF WATCHING AUTO JOBS IN THE FUTURE GO OVERSEAS, 4,000 UNION JOBS WITH HIGHER WAGES ARE BUILDING TH

E FUTURE IN BELVEDERE RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA. [ APPLAUSE ] HERE TONIGHT IS UAW PRESIDENT. SEAN, WHERE ARE YOU? STAND UP. [ APPLAUSE ] AND DON SIMMS, A THIRD GENERATION WORKER , UAW WORKER AT BELVEDERE. SEAN, I WAS PROUD TO BE THE FIRST PRESIDENT TO STAND ON THE PICKET LINE. TODAY DAWN HAS A GREAT JOB, PROVIDING FOR HER FAMILY AND PRIDE AND DIGNITY AS WELL. WALL STREET DIDN'T BUILD AMERICA. THEY ARE NOT BAD GUYS. THEY DIDN'T BUILD AMERICA THOUGH. UNIONS BUILT THE MIDDLE CLASS . [ APPLAUSE ] I

SAY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, WHEN AMERICA GETS KNOCKED DOWN, WE GET BACK UP. WE KEEP GOING. THAT'S AMERICA. THAT'S WHO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU AMERICA'S COMING BACK. IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER. IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU THAT TONIGHT WE CAN PROUDLY SAY THE STATE OF OUR UNION IS STRONG AND GETTING STRONGER. --- FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! -- PRESIDENT BIDEN: TONIGHT, TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF POSSIBILITIES T

HAT WE CAN BUILD TOGETHER, A FUTURE WHERE THE DAYS OF TRICKLE DOWN ECONIMICS ARE OVER AND THE WEALTHY AND BIG CORPORATIONS NO LONGER GET ALL THE TAX BREAKS. I UNDERSTAND CORPORATIONS. I COME FROM A STATE THAT HAS MORE CORPORATIONS INVESTED THAN ANY ONE OF OUR STATES COMBINED AND I REPRESENTED IT FOR 36 YEARS. I'M NOT ANTI-CORPORATION. WHEN I GREW UP IN A HOME WHERE TRICKLE DOWN ECONIMICS DIDN'T PUT MUCH ON MY DAD'S KITCHEN TABLE . THAT'S WHY I AM DETERMINED TO TURN THINGS AROUND SO THE MIDD

LE CLASS DOES WELL. WHEN THEY DO WELL, THEY ALL DO WELL. THERE'S MORE TO DO TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FEELING THE BENEFITS OF ALL WE'RE DOING . MARINES PAY MORE FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IT'S WRONG AND I'M ENDING IT. [ APPLAUSE ] THE LAW THAT I PRO POSE AND SIGN, NOT ONE OF YOU REPUBLICAN BUDDIES VOTED FOR IT. WE FINALLY BEAT BIG PHARMA. INSTEAD OF PAYING $400 A MONTH OR THEREABOUTS FOR INSULIN FOR DIABETES, IT ONLY COSTS $10 TO MAKE AND WE PAY 35 AND THEY STILL MAKE A HEA

LTHY PROFIT. [ APPLAUSE ] WHAT TO DO NEXT? I WANT TO CAP THE COST AT INSULIN AT $35 A MONTH FOR EVERY AMERICAN WHO NEEDS IT, EVERY ONE. [ APPLAUSE ] FOR YEARS PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT BUT FINALLY WE GOT IT DONE, GAVE MEDICARE THE POWER OF NEGOTIATE LOWER PRICES AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, JUST LIKE THE V.A. IS ABLE TO DO FOR VETERANS. THAT'S NOT JUST SAVING SENIORS MONEY. IT'S SAVING TAXPAYERS MONEY. WE CUT THE FEDERAL DEFICIT BY $160 BILLION . [ APPLAUSE ] BECAUSE MEDICARE WILL NO LONGER H

AVE TO PAY THOSE EXORBITANT PRICES TO BIG PHARMA. THIS YEAR MEDICARE'S NEGOTIATING LOWER PRICES FOR SOME OF THE MOST COSTLIEST DRUGS ON THE MARKET THAT TREAT EVERYTHING FROM HEART DISEASE. [ APPLAUSE ] THEY ARE MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, GUYS . AND THEY WILL STILL BE EXTREMELY PROFITABLE. NOT ONLY SAVE LIVES, IT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS ANOTHER $200 BILLION . STARTING NEXT YEAR, THE SAME LAW CAPS TOTAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR SENIORS ON MEDICARE AT $2,000 A YEAR, EVEN FOR EXPENSIVE CANCER DRUGS

THAT COST 10, 12, $ 15,000. I WANT TO CAP PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS AT $2,000 A YEAR FOR EVERYONE. [ APPLAUSE ] FOLKS, I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE FOR SAYING THAT BUT ANYONE WANT TO GET IN AIR FORCE ONE AND FLY TO TORONTO, BERLIN, MOSCOW, EXCUSE ME, WELL, EVEN MOSCOW PROBABLY . AND BRING YOUR PRESCRIPTION WITH YOU AND I PROMISE YOU, I'LL GET IT FOR YOU FOR 40% THE COST YOU'RE PAYING NOW , SAME COMPANY, SAME DRUG, SAME PLACE . FOLKS, THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT , GOOD OLD OBAMACARE, IT'S STILL A BI

G DEAL . [ APPLAUSE ] OVER 100 MILLION OF YOU CAN NO LONGER BE DENIED HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION. MY PREDECESSOR, MANY IN THIS CHAMBER WANT TO TAKE THOSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AWAY BY REPEALING THE INFRASTRUCTURE . I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN. [ APPLAUSE ] WE STOPPED YOU 50 TIMES BEFORE AND WILL STOP YOU AGAIN . IN FACT, I AM NOT ONLY PROTECTING IT. I'M EXPANDING IT. THE ENACTED TAX CREDITS OF $800 PER PERSON PER YEAR REDUCE HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR MILLIONS OF WORKI

NG FAMILIES. THAT TAX CREDIT EXPIRES NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO MAKE THAT SAVINGS PERMANENT. [ APPLAUSE ] TO STATE THE OBVIOUS, WOMEN ARE MORE THAN HALF OUR POPULATION. RESEARCH AND WOMEN'S HEALTH HAS ALWAYS BEEN UNDER FUNDED. THAT'S WHY WE'RE LAUNCHING THE FIRST EVER WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE ON WOMEN'S RESEARCH LED BY JILL WHO WILL IS DOING AN INCREDIBLE JOB AT FIRST LADY . [ APPLAUSE ] PASS MY PLAN FOR $12 BILLION TO TRANSFER WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH AND BENEFIT MILLIONS OF LIVES ALL ACROSS AMERICA.

I KNOW THE COST OF HOUSING IS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU. INFLATION KEEPS COMING DOWN, MORTGAGE RATES WILL COME DOWN AS WELL AND THE FED ACKNOWLEDGES THAT BUT I'M NOT WAITING. I WANT TO PROVIDE AN YOU'LL TAX CREDIT THAT WILL GIVE AMERICANS $400 A MONTH FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS AS MORTGAGE RATES COME DOWN TO PUT TOWARDS THEIR MORTGAGES WHEN THEY BUY THEIR FIRST HOME OR TRADE UP FOR A LITTLE MORE SPACE. [ APPLAUSE ] AND MY ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO ELIMINATING TITLE INSURANCE ON FEDERALLY-BACKED MORTGA

GES. WHEN YOU REFINANCE YOUR HOME, YOU CAN SAVE $1,000 OR MORE AS A CONSEQUENCE. FOR MILLIONS OF RENTERS, WE'RE CRACKING DOWN ON BIG LANDLORDS WHO USE -- WHO BREAK ANTI-TRUST LAWS BY PRICE FIXING AND DRIVING UP RENTS. WE'VE CUT RED TAPE SO BUILDERS CAN GET FEDERAL FINANCING WHICH IS HELPING BUILD A RECORD $1. 7 NEW HOUSING UNITS NATIONWIDE . [ APPLAUSE ] NOW PASS AND BUILD, RENOVATE TWO MILLION ALFORDABLE HOMES AND BRING THOSE RENTS DOWN. [ APPLAUSE ] REMAIN THE STRONGEST ECONOMY IN THE WOR

LD, WE NEED TO HAVE THE BEST EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE WORLD. [ APPLAUSE ] AND LIKE I SUSPECT ALL OF YOU, WANT TO GIVE A CHILD, EVERY CHILD, A GOOD START BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL FOR THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS. I THINK I POINTED OUT LAST YEAR -- [ APPLAUSE ] I THINK I POINTED OUT LAST YEAR THAT CHILDREN COMING FROM BROKEN HOMES WHERE THERE'S NO BOOKS, NOT READ TO, NOT SPOKEN TO VERY OFTEN, START SCHOOL , KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE HAVING HEARD A MILLION FEWER WORDS SPOKEN. STUDIES SHOW

THAT CHILDREN WHO GO TO PRESCHOOL ARE 50% MORE LIKELY TO FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, GO ON TO EARN A TWO AND FOUR YEAR DEGREE NO MATTER WHAT THEIR BACKGROUND IS. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THAT YEAR AND A HALF AGO THE LEADERS OF THE BUSINESS ROUND TABLE. THEY WERE MAD -- THEY WERE DISCUSSING WHY I WANTED TO SPEND MONEY ON EDUCATION. I POINTED OUT TO THEM AS EVENT I MET WITH OVER, I THINK IT WAS 182 OF THOSE FOLKS, DON'T HOLD ME TO THE EXACT NUMBER, AND I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY NEED MOST, THE CEOs AND YOU'VE H

AD THE SAME EXPERIENCE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, THEY SAY A BETTER EDUCATED WORK FORCE. I LOOKED AT THEM. I SAY I CAME FROM DELAWARE. DUPONT USED TO BE THE EIGHTH LARGEST CORPORATION IN THE WORLD AND EVERY NEW ENTERPRISE THEY BOUGHT, THEY EDUCATED THE WORK FORCE TO THAT ENTERPRISE BUT NONE OF YOU DO THAT ANYMORE . WHY ARE YOU ANGRY WITH ME PROVIDING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BEST EDUCATED WORK FORCE IN THE WORLD ? THEY ALL LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. I WANT TO EXPAND HI

GH-QUALITY TUTORING AND SUMMER LEARNING TO SEE THAT EVERY CHILD LEARNS TO READ BY THIRD GRADE. [ APPLAUSE ] I'M ALSO CONNECTING LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HIGH SCHOOLS SO STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND A PATH TO GOOD PAYING JOBS WHETHER OR NOT THEY GO TO COLLEGE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COLLEGE IS MORE AFFORD ABLE, PLUS INCREASING THE PELL GRANTS TO WORK IN MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES AND INCREASE RECORD INVESTMENTS IN HBCU . I WAS TOLD I COULDN'T UNIVERSALLY JUST CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH WE DEAL

T WITH STUDENT LOANS. I FIXED TWO STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS THAT ALREADY EXISTED TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF STUDENT DEBT FOR NEARLY FOUR MILLION AMERICANS INCLUDING NURSES, FIREFIGHTERS AND OTHERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE. [ APPLAUSE ] THE PUBLIC EDUCATOR IN MINNESOTA WHO IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT. KEENAN, WHERE ARE YOU? THANK YOU. HE'S EDUCATED HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS SO THEY CAN GO TO COLLEGE. NOW HE'S ABLE TO HELP GET HIS OWN DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE. [ APPLAUSE ] AND FOLKS, LOOK , DEBT RELIEF IS GOOD FOR THE

ECONOMY BECAUSE FOLKS ARE NOW ABLE TO BUY A HOME, START A BUSINESS, START A FAMILY. WHILE WE'RE AT IT, I WANT TO GIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS A RAISE. [ APPLAUSE ] BY THE WAY, THE FIRST COUPLE WE CUT THE DEFICIT. LET ME SPEAK TO FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS FOR ALL AMERICANS. I'VE BEEN DELIVERING REAL RESULTS IN FISCAL RESPONSIBLE WAYS. WE'VE ALREADY CUT THE FEDERAL DEFICIT OVER $1 TRILLION . I SIGNED THE BIPARTISAN DEAL. IT'S MY GOAL TO CUT THE FEDERAL DEFICIT ANOTHER THREE TRILLION BY MAKING BIG C

ORPORATIONS AND THE WEALTHY FINALLY PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE. [ APPLAUSE ] LOOK, I'M A CAPITALIST. YOU WANT TO MAKE MILLIONS OF BUCKS, THAT'S GREAT. JUST PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE IN TAXES . [ APPLAUSE ] A FAIR TAX CODE, IT'S HOW WE INVEST AND MAKE THIS COUNTRY GREAT, HEALTH CARE, DEFENSE AND SO MUCH MORE. BUT HERE'S THE DEAL, THE LAST ADMINISTRATION ENACTED A 2 TRILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT OVERWHELMINGLY BENEFITING THE 1%, THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS AND EXPLODED THE FEDERAL DEFICIT . THEY ADDED MORE TO

THE NATIONAL DEBT THAN ANY PRESIDENTIAL TERM IN AMERICAN HISTORY. CHECK THE NUMBERS. FOLKS, AT HOME, DOES ANYBODY REALLY THINK THE TAX CODE IS FAIR? ≫ NO! -- PRESIDENT BIDEN: DO YOU REALLY THINK THE WEALTHY AND BIG CORPORATIONS NEED ANOTHER $2 TRILLION TAX BREAK? ≫ NO! -- PRESIDENT BIDEN: I SURE DON'T. I'M GOING TO KEEP FIGHTING LIKE HELL TO MAKE IT FAIR. UNDER MY PLAN NOBODY EARNING LESS THAN $400,000 WILL PAY AN ADDITIONAL PENNY IN TAXES. NOT ONE PENNY. AND THEY HAVEN'T YET. [ APPLAUSE ] I

N FACT, THE CHILD TAX CREDIT I PASSED DURING THE PANDEMIC CUT TAXES FOR MILLIONS OF WORKING FAMILIES AND CUT CHILD POVERTY IN HALF. [ APPLAUSE ] RESTORE THAT CHILD TAX CREDIT . NO CHILD SHOULD GO HUNGRY IN THIS COUNTRY . [ APPLAUSE ] THE WAY TO MAKE THE TAX CODE FAIR, MAKE BIG CORPORATIONS OF THE VERY WEALTHY BEGIN TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. REMEMBER IN 2020, 55 OF THE BIGGEST COMPANIES IN AMERICA MADE $40 BILLION AND PAID ZERO IN FEDERAL INCOME TAX, ZERO . NOT ANYMORE. THANKS TO THE LAW I WR

OTE AND SIGNED BIG COMPANIES HAVE TO PAY A MINIMUM OF 50% BUT THAT'S STILL LESS THAN WORKING PEOPLE PAY IN FEDERAL TAXES. IT'S TIME TO RAISE CORPORATE MINIMUM TAX TO AT LEAST 21%. [ APPLAUSE ] SO EVERY BIG CORPORATION FINALLY BEGINS TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. I ALSO WANT TO END TAX BREAKS FOR BIG PHARMA, BIG COMPANIES, A MILLION DOLLARS THAT CAN BE DEDUCTED. THEY CAN PAY 20 MILLION IF THEY WANT. END IT NOW. THERE ARE 1,000 BILLIONAIRES IN AMERICA. YOU KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE FEDERAL TAX IS FOR

THOSE BILLIONAIRES? NO. THEY ARE MAKING GREAT SACRIFICES, 8. 2%. THAT'S FAR LESS THAN THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS PAY. NO BILLIONAIRE SHOULD PAY A LOWER FEDERAL TAX RATE THAN A TEACHER, SANITATION WORKER OR A NURSE . [ APPLAUSE ] I PRO POSE, MINIMUM TAX FOR BILLIONAIRES AT 25%, JUST 25%. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT WOULD RAISE, THAT WOULD RAISE $500 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. AND IMAGINE WHAT THAT COULD DO FOR AMERICA. IMAGINE A FUTURE WITH AFFORDABLE CHILD CARE, MILLIONS OF FAMILIES CAN GE

T, THEY NEED TO GO TO WORK TO HELP GROW THE ECONOMY. IMAGINE A FUTURE WITH PAID LEAVE BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WORKING AND TAKING CARE OF A SICK FAMILY MEMBER. IMAGINE, IMAGINE THE FUTURE OF HOME CARE AND ELDER CARE AND PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SO THEY CAN STAY IN THEIR HOMES AND FAMILY CARE GIVERS CAN FINALLY GET THE PAY THEY DESERVE. TONIGHT LET'S ALL AGREE ONCE AGAIN TO STAND UP FOR SENIORS. MANY OF MY FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE WANT TO PUT SOCIAL

SECURITY ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK . ANYBODY HERE TRIES TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY OR MEDICARE OR RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE, I WILL STOP YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] THE WORKING PEOPLE, THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY PAY MORE INTO SOCIAL SECURITY THAN MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES DO. IT'S NOT FAIR. WE HAVE TWO WAYS TO GO, REPUBLICANS CAN CUT SOCIAL SECURITY AND GIVE MORE TAX BREAKS TO THE WEALTHY. THAT'S THE PROPOSAL. OH, NO. YOU GUYS DON'T WANT ANOTHER $ 2 TRILLION TAX CUT? I KIND OF THOUGHT THAT'

S WHAT YOUR PLAN WAS. [ LAUGHTER ] WELL, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO CUT ANOTHER $2 TRILLION FOR THE SUPER WEALTHY, THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR. I'LL PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MAKE THE WEALTHY PAY THEIR SHARE. [ APPLAUSE ] LOOK , TOO MANY CORPORATIONS RAISE PRICES TO PAD THEIR PROFITS, CHARGING MORE AND MORE FOR LESS AND LESS. THAT'S CRACKING DOWN ON CORPORATIONS THAT ENGAGE IN PRICE GAUGING AND DECEPTIVE PRYINGS. THE SNACK COMPANIES THINK YOU WON'T NOTICE IF THEY CHANGE THE SIZE OF T

HE BAG AND PUT A LEGAL OF A LOT FEWER -- SAME SIZE BAG, PUT FEWER CHIPS IN IT. NO, I'M NOT JOKING. IT'S CALLED SHRINK FLATION. PASS THE BILL AND STOP THIS. I REALLY MEAN IT. [ APPLAUSE ] YOU PROBABLY ALL SAW THAT COMMERCIAL ON SNICKERS BARS. YOU GET CHARGED THE SAME AMOUNT, YOU GET, I DON'T KNOW, ABOUT 10 % FEWER SNICKERS IN IT. LOOK, I'M ALSO GETTING RID OF JUNK FEES, THOSE HIDDEN FEES AT THE END OF YOUR BILL THERE WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE. MY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED WE'RE CUTTING CREDIT CARD

LATE FEES FROM $32 TO $8. [ APPLAUSE ] BANKS AND CREDIT CARD COMPANIES ARE ALLOWED TO CHARGE WHAT IT COSTS THEM TO INSTIGATE THE COLLECTION AND THAT'S MORE A HELL OF A LOT LIKE $8 THAN 30 SOMETHING DOLLARS. THEY DON'T LIKE IT. CREDIT CARD COMPANIES DON'T LIKE IT BUT I'M SAVING AMERICAN FAMILIES $20 BILLION A YEAR WITH ALL THE JUNK FEES . [ APPLAUSE ] FOLKS AT HOME, THAT'S WHY THE BANKS ARE SO MAD IS $20 BILLION IN PROFIT, I'M NOT STOPPING THERE. MY ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED RULES TO MAKE CABL

E, ON-LINE TICKET SELLERS TELL YOU THE TOTAL PRICE UP FRONT SO THERE ARE NO SURPRISES. IT MATTERS. [ APPLAUSE ] IT MATTERS. SO DOES THIS. IN NOVEMBER MY TEAM BEGAN SERIOUS NEGOTIATION OF A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS. THE RESULT WAS A BIPARTISAN BILL FOR THE TOUGHEST SET OF BORDER SECURITY REFORMS WE'VE EVER SEEN. YOU DON'T THINK SO? OH, YOU DON'T LIKE THAT BILL, THAT CONSERVATIVES GOT TOGETHER AND SAID IT WAS A GOOD BILL. I'LL BE DARNED. THAT'S AMAZING. WOULD HIRE 11,500 MORE SECURITY AGE

NTS AND OFFICERS , 100 MORE IMMIGRATION JUDGES, HELP TACKLE THE BACK LOAD OF TWO MILLION CASES , MORE ASIMILAR LUMP OFFICERS SO THEY CAN RESOLVE CASES IN SIX MONTHS INSTEAD OF SIX YEARS NOW. [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] WHAT DO YOU GET ? 200 MORE HIGH-TECH DRUG DETECTION MACHINES TO SCREEN AND STOP VEHICLES SMUGGLING FENTANYL INTO AMERICA THAT'S KILLING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. [ APPLAUSE ] IT WILL ALSO GIVE ME AND ANY NEW PRESIDENT EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN THE BORDER WHEN THE

NUMBER OF MIGRANTS AT THE BOARDER OVERWHELMING . BORDER PATROL UNION ENDORSED THIS BY. LOOK AT THE FACTS. I KNOW -- [ APPLAUSE ] I KNOW YOU KNOW HOW TO READ. [ APPLAUSE ] I BELIEVE THAT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD ENDORSE THE BILL AS WELL. THE MAJORITY RIGHT NOW. BUT UNFORTUNATELY POLITICS HAS DERAILED THIS BILL SO FAR. I'M TOLD MY PREDECESSOR CALLED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN THE SENATE TO DEMAND THEY BOUGHT THE BILL . HE FEELS POLITICAL WIN, POLITICAL

WIN FOR ME AND POLITICAL LOSS FOR HIM. IT'S NOT ABOUT HIM. IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. I'D BE A WINNER -- [ UNAUDIBLE FROM THE CROWD ] -- PRESIDENT BIDEN: LINCOLN RILEY, AN INNOCENT YOUNG WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED BY AN ILLEGAL, THAT'S RIGHT, BUT HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED BY ILLEGALS. TO HER PARENTS MY SAY -- I SAY MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU, HAVING LOST CHILDREN MYSELF. I UNDERSTAND. LOOK, IF WE CHANGE THE DYNAMIC AT THE BORDER, PEOPLE PAY THESE SMUGGLERS 8,000 BUCKS TO GET BY THE BORD

ER. THEY KNOW IT'S SIX TO EIGHT YEARS BEFORE THEY HAVE A HEARING AND IT'S WORTH TAKING THE CHANCE WITH THE 8,000 , BUT, IF IT'S ONLY SIX WEEKS, THE IDEA IS IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT PEOPLE WILL PAY THAT MONEY AND COME ALL THAT WAY KNOWING THAT THEY WILL BE KICKED OUT QUICKLY . FOLKS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST MY REPUBLICAN FRIENDS OWE IT TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, GET THIS BILL DONE. WE NEED TO ACT NOW. [ APPLAUSE ] AND IF MY PREDECESSOR IS WATCHING, INSTEAD OF PRESSURING MEMBERS OF CONG

RESS TO BLOCK THE BILL, JOIN ME IN TELLING THE CONGRESS TO PASS IT. WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER BUT APPARENTLY THAT'S WHAT HE WILL NOT DO. I WILL NOT DEMONIZE IMMIGRANTS SAYING THEY ARE POISONING THE BLOOD OF OUR COUNTRY. I WILL NOT SEPARATE FAMILIES . I WILL NOT BAN PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH. UNLIKE MY PREDECESSOR ON MY FIRST DAY IN OFFICE , I INTRODUCED A COMPREHENSIVE BILL TO LOOK AT IT AND ALL THESE AND MORE, SECURE THE BORDER, PROVIDE A PATHWAY FOR CITIZENSHIP TO DREAMERS AND SO MUCH M

ORE. UNLIKE MY PREDECESSOR, I KNOW WHO WE ARE AS AMERICANS. WE'RE THE ONLY NATION IN THE WORLD WITH THE HEART AND SOUL THAT DRAWS FROM OLD AND NEW, HOME TO NATIVE AMERICANS AND ANCESTORS WHO HE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS YEARS. HOME, SOME CAME IN CHAINS, SOME CAME LIKE MY ANCESTRAL FAMILY IN IRELAND , SOME CAME TO ESCAPE PERSECUTION, THAT'S AMERICA AND WE ALL COME FROM SOMEWHERE BUT WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. [ APPLAUSE ] LOOK, FOLKS, A SIMPLE CHOICE. WE CAN FIGHT WHILE FIXING THE BORD

ER OR WE CAN FIX IT. I'M READY TO FIX IT. SEND ME THE BORDER BILL NOW . TRANSFORMATIONAL MOMENT IN HISTORY HAPPENED 58, 59 YEARS AGO TODAY IN SELMA, ALABAMA. HUNDREDS OF FOOT SOLDIERS FOR JUSTICE MARCHED ACROSS THE EDMUND PETTIS BRIDGE TO CLAIM THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE. THEY WERE BEATEN, THEY WERE BLOODIED AND LEFT FOR DEAD. OUR LATE FRIEND AND FORMER COLLEAGUE JOHN LEWIS WAS ON THAT MARCH. [ APPLAUSE ] BUT JOINING US TONIGHT ARE OUR MARCHES BOTH IN THE GALLERY AND ON THE FLOOR, INCLU

DING BETTY MA ESIKES , SHE SAME PRAYERS ON THAT BLOODY SUNDAY. FIVE MONTHS LATER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT WAS PASSED AND SIGNED INTO LAW. [ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ] BUT 59 YEARS LATER THERE WERE FORCES TAKING US BACK IN TIME . VOTER SUPPRESSION, ELECTION SUB VERSION, UNLIMITED DARK MONEY, EXTREME JERRYMANDERING. JOHN LEWIS WAS A GREAT FRIEND TO MANY OF US HERE, BUT IF YOU TRULY WANT TO HONOR HIM AND ALL THE HEROES THAT MARCHED WITH HIM THEN IT'S TIME T

O DO MORE THAN TALK. PASS THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT, THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHT ACT. [ APPLAUSE ] AND STOP, STOP DENYING CORE VALUE OF AMERICA. OUR DIVERSITY ACROSS AMERICAN LIFE, BANNING BOOKS IS WRONG. INSTEAD OF ERASING HISTORY, LET'S MAKE HISTORY . I WANT TO PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, PASS THE EQUALITY ACT . DID I MENTION TRANSGENDER AMERICANS, I HAVE YOUR BACK. PASS THE PRO ACT FOR WORKERS' RIGHTS. [ APPLAUSE ] RAISE THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE BECAUSE EVERY WORKER HAS A RIGHT TO A DECENT LI

VING. [ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE ALSO MAKING HISTORY BY CONFRONTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS, NOT DENYING IT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF YOU THINK THERE'S NO LONGER A CLIMATE CRISIS. THE ALEAST I HOPE YOU DON'T -- AT LEAST I HOPE YOU DON'T. I'M TAKING THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTION EVER ON CLIMATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. I'M CUTTING OUR CARBON EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030, CREATING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CLEAN ENERGY WORKS LIKE IBEW BY WORKERS WORKERS INSTALLING CLEAN ENERGY. SMOTHERED BY THE LEGACY OF POLLUTION.

AND PATTERNED AFTER THE PEACE CORPS TO PUT 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK . I'LL TRIPLE THAT NUMBER IN A DECADE. [ APPLAUSE ] ALL AMERICANS DESERVE THE FREEDOM TO BE SAFE AND AMERICA'S SAFER TODAY THAN WHEN I TOOK OFFICE. THE YEAR BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE MURDER RATES WENT UP 30 %, 30% THEY WENT UP . THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN HISTORY. IT WAS THEN THROUGH MY AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WHICH EVERY AMERICAN VOTER VOTED AGAINST I MIGHT ADD, WE MADE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER. VIOLENT CRIME FELL TO ONE OF ITS

LOWEST LEVELS OF MORE THAN 50 YEARS BUT WE HAVE MORE TO DO, INVEST IN MORE POLICE OFFICERS, MORE MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS, MORE COMMUNITY, GIVE COMMUNITIES THE ABILITY TO CRACK DOWN ON GUN CRIME, RETAIL CRIMES AND CARJACKERS BY TAKING EXECUTIVE ACTION ON POLICE REFORM AND THE LAW OF THE LAND, DIRECTING MY CABINET TO REVIEW THE FEDERAL CLASSIFICATION OF MARIJUANA EXPUGN EXPUNGING MILLIONS OF RECORDS BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD BE CONVICTED FOR HAVING IT ON THEIR RECORD. TAKING ON CRIMES OF DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE. I'M WRAPPING UP THE FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT THAT I PROUDLY VOTE WHEN I WAS A SENATOR SO WE CAN FINALLY END THE SCOURGE AGAINST WOMEN IN AMERICA. [ APPLAUSE ] OTHER KINDS OF VIOLENCE I WANT TO STOP . WITH US TONIGHT IS JASMINE, WHOSE NINE-YEAR-OLD SISTER JACKIE WAS MURDERED WITH 21 CLASSMATES AND TYMPS IN UVALDE -- TEACHERS IN UVALDE, TEXAS . WE HEARD THEIR MESSAGE SO EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AND THIS CHAMBER COULD HEAR THE SAME MESSAGE, THE CON STRAINT

REFRAIN, THEY SAID DO SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING. I DID DO SOMETHING BUT ESTABLISHING THE FIRST EVER OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT LEADING THE CHARGE. [ APPLAUSE ] MEANWHILE MY PREDECESSOR TOLD THE NRA HE 'S PROUD HE DID NOTHING ON GUNS WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT. AFTER ANOTHER SHOOTING IN IOWA RECENTLY, HE SAID WHEN ASKED WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, HE SAID JUST GET OVER IT. THAT WAS HIS QUOTE, JUST GET OVER IT. I SAY STOP IT. STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT . [

APPLAUSE ] I'M PROUD TO BEAT THE NRA WHEN I SIGNED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GUN LAW IN 30 YEARS. WE NOW MUST BEAT THE NRA AGAIN. I'M PROPOSING A BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND HIGH- CAPACITY MAGAZINES, PASS UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. [ APPLAUSE ] NONE OF THIS, NONE OF THIS, I TAUGHT THE SECOND AMENDMENT FOR 12 YEARS, NONE OF THIS VIOLATES THE SECOND AMENDMENT OR VILIFIES RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS. AS WE MANAGE CHALLENGES AT HOME, WE HAVE ALSO THE MIDWEST PI KNOW THE PAST FIVE MONTHS HAVE BEEN GUT W

RENCHING. THIS CRISIS BEGAN ON OCTOBER 7TH WITH THE MASSACRE BY A TERRORIST GROUP CALLED HAMAS, AS YOU ALL KNOW. 1,200 INNOCENT PEOPLE, WOMEN AND GIRLS, MEN AND BOYS, SLAUGHTERED AFTER ENDURING SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THE DEADLIEST DAY FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE SINCE THE HOLOCAUST AND 250 HOSTAGES TAKEN. HERE IN THIS CHAMBER TONIGHT ARE FAMILIES WHOSE LOVED ONES ARE STILL BEING HELD BY HAMAS. I PLEDGE TO ALL OF THE FAMILIES AND WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE BRING EVERY ONE OF YOUR LOVED ONES HOME . [ APPLAUS

E ] I WILL ALSO WORK AROUND THE CLOCK TO BRING HOME KEVIN AND PAUL, AMERICANS UNJUSTLY DETAINED BY THE RUSSIANS AND OTHERS AROUND THE WORLD . ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO GO AFTER HAMAS. HAMAS ENTERED THIS CONFLICT BY TAKING HOSTAGES, BY RELEASING THE HOSTAGES, LAYING DOWN ARMS AND SURGEON REND HE GO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR OCTOBER 7TH. ISRAEL HAS AN ADDED BURDEN BECAUSE HAMAS HIDES AND OPERATES AMONG THE CIVILIAN POPULATION LIKE COWARDS, UNDER HOSPITALS, DAY CARE CENTERS AND ALL THE LIKE. ALSO HAS

A FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY THOUGH TO PROTECT INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN GAZA. [ APPLAUSE ] THIS WAR HAS TAKEN A GREATER TOLL ON INNOCENT CIVILIANS THAN ALL PREVIOUS WARS IN GAZA COMBINED , MORE THAN 30,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED MOST OF WHOM ARE NOT HAMAS. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ALSO ORPHANED. HOMES DESTROYED, CITIES IN RUIN, FAMILIES WITHOUT FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE. IT'S HEART BREAKING. I'VE BEEN WORKING NON-STOP TO ESTABLISH IMMEDIATE CEASE- FIRE THAT

ARE WILL LAST FOR SIX WEEKS TO GET ALL THE PRISONERS RELEASED, ALL THE HOSTAGES RELEASED. WE GET THE HOSTAGES HOME AND EASE THE INTOLERABLE AND HAVE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND BUILD TOWARD AN ENDURING, SOMETHING MORE ENDURING. THE UNITED STATES LEADING INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO GET MORE INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM GAZAA. TONIGHT I'M DIRECTING THE U.S. MILITARY TO LEAD IN AN EMERGENCY MISSION TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY PIER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THAT CAN RECEIVE LARGE SHIPMENTS CARRYING FO

OD, WATER, MEDICINE TO TEMPORARY SHELTERS. NO U.S. BOOTS WILL BE ON THE GROUND. TEMPORARY PIER WILL ENABLE A MASSIVE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE GETTING INTO GAZA EVERY DAY . [ APPLAUSE ] AND ISRAEL MUST DO ITS PART. ISRAEL MUST ALLOW MORE AID INTO GAZA AND ENSURE HUMANITARIAN WORKERS AREN'T CAUGHT IN THE CROSS FIRE . THEY ARE ANNOUNCING THEY ARE GOING TO -- A CROSSING IN NORTHERN GAZA. TO ISRAEL I SAY THIS, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE CANNOT BE A SECONDARY CONSIDERATION OR

A BARGAINING CHIP. PROTECTING AND SAVING INNOCENT LIVES HAS TO BE PRIORITY. AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION TO THE SITUATION IS A TWO STATE SOLUTION OVER TIME . [ APPLAUSE ] AND I SAY THIS, AS A LIFELONG SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL MY ENTIRE CAREER, NO ONE HAS A STRONGER -- THAN I DO. I'M THE ONLY AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT ISRAEL IN WAR TIME BUT THERE'S NO OTHER PATH THAT GUARANTIES ISRAEL SECURITY AND DEMOCRACY. THERE'S NO OTHER PATH THAT GUARANTIES THAT PALESTINIANS CAN LIVE

WITH PEACE AND DIGNITY. THERE'S NO OTHER PATH THAT GUARANTIES PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND ALL OF ITS NEIGHBORS INCLUDING SAUDI ARABIA WITH WHOM I'M TALKING. CREATING STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST MEANS CONTAINING THE THREAT POSED BY IRAN. THAT'S WHY I BILLED A COALITION OF MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTRIES TO DEFEND INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING AND FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION IN THE RED SEA. I'M ORDERED STRIKES TO DEFEND U.S. FORCES IN THE REGION. AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF I WILL NOT HESITATE TO DIRECT FURTHER MEA

SURES FOR PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL. [ APPLAUSE ] FOR YEARS I'VE HEARD MANY OF MY REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC FRIENDS SAY THAT CHINA IS ON THE RISE AND AMERICA'S FALLING BEHIND . THEY'VE GOT IT BACKWARDS. I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR OVER FOUR YEARS , EVEN WHEN I WASN'T PRESIDENT, AMERICA'S RISING. WE HAVE THE BEST ECONOMY IN THE WORLD, AND SINCE I'VE COME TOP OFFICE, OUR TRADE DEFICIT WITH CHINA IS DOWN TO THE LOWEST POINT IN OVER A DECADE AND WE'RE STANDING UP AGAINST CHINA'S UN

FAIR ECONOMIC PRACTICES. WE'RE STANDING UP FOR PEACE AND STABILITY ACROSS THE TAIWAN STRAITS. I'VE REVITALIZED OUR PARTNERSHIP AND ALLIANCE WITH THE PACIFIC , INDIA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, SOUTH CAROLINA, PACIFIC HIGHLANDS. I'VE MADE SURE THE MOST ADVANCED AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES CAN'T BE USED IN CHINA, NOT ALLOWING TO TRADE THEM THERE. FRANKLY ALL THIS TOUGH TALK ON CHINA, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO MY PREDECESSOR TO DO ANY OF THAT . I WANT COMPETITION WITH CHINA, NOT CONFLICT. SO WE'RE IN A STRONGER P

OSITION TO WIN THE CONFLICT THAN ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER THAN ANY TIME AS WELL. HERE AT HOME I SIGNED OVER 400 BIPARTISAN BILLS. THERE'S MORE TO PASS MY UNITY AGENDA. STRENGTH AND PENALTIES ON TENT SIGNAL -- FENTANYL TRAFFICKING . PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ON-LINE. [ APPLAUSE ] HARNESS THE PROMISE OF AI TO PROTECT US FROM PERIL. BAN AI VOICE IMPERSONATIONS AND MORE AND KEEP OUR TRULY SACRED OBLIGATION TO TRAIN AND EQUIP THOSE WE SEND INTO HARM'S WAY AND CARE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES WHE

N THEY COME HOME AND WHEN THEY DON'T . [ APPLAUSE ] THAT'S WHY SUPPORT AND HELP I SIGNED THE PACT ACT, ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LAWS EVER HELPING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS EXPOSED TO TOXINS WHO NOW ARE BATTLING MORE THAN 100 DIFFERENT CANCERS . MANY OF THEM DON'T COME HOME BUT WE OWE THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES SUPPORT. WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES TO KEEP SUPPORTING OUR NEW HEALTH RESEARCH AGENCY CALLED ARPA-H AND REMIND US THAT WE CAN DO BIG THINGS LIKENED CANCER AS WE KNOW IT AND WE WILL. [ APPLAU

SE ] LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS -- [ APPLAUSE ] YAY! I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE LINDSEY BUT I HAVE TO SAY A FEW MORE THINGS. I KNOW IT MAY NOT LIKE LIKE IT BUT I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE. WHEN YOU GET TO BE MY AGE CERTAIN THINGS BECOME CLEARER THAN EVER. I KNOW THE AMERICAN STORY. 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 F

UTURE. MY LIFETIME HAS TAUGHT ME TO EMBRACE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, A FUTURE BASED ON CORE VALUES, A DEFINED AMERICA, HONEST, DECENCY , DIGNITY, EQUALITY, TO RESPECT EVERYONE, TO GIVE EVERYONE A FAIR SHOT, TO GIVE HATE NO SAFE HARBOR. OTHER PEOPLE MY AGE SEE IT DIFFERENTLY. THE AMERICAN STORY OF RESENTMENT, REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION, THAT'S NOT ME. I WAS BORN AMID WORLD WAR II WHEN AMERICA STOOD FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE WORLD. I GREW UP IN SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE AMONG WORKING CLAS

S PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY. I WATCHED IN HORROR AS TWO OF MY HEROES LIKE MANY OF YOU DID, DR. KING AND BOBBY KENNEDY, WERE ASSASSINATED AND THEIR LEGACY 'S IN INSPIRED ME TO PURSUE A CAREER IN SERVICE . I LEFT A LAW FIRM FOR PUBLIC SERVICE BECAUSE MY CITY WAS THE ONLY CITY WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD AFTER DR. KING WAS ASSASSINATED. I BECAME A COUNTY COUNCILMAN ALSO BY ACCIDENT . AND VICE PRESIDENT TO OUR FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT AND NOW PRESIDENT TO THE FIRST WOMAN VICE PRESIDENT. [ APPLAU

SE ] I'VE BEEN TOLD I WAS TOO YOUNG . THEY WOULDN'T LET ME ON THE SENATE ELEVATORS FOR VOTES SOMETIMES. NOT A JOKE. I'VE BEEN TOLD I'M TOO OLD. WHETHER YOUNG OR OLD, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN, I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHAT ENDURES. I'VE KNOWN OUR NORTH STAR. THE VERY IDEA OF AMERICANS, THAT WE'RE ALL CREATED EQUAL , DESERVES TO BE TREATED EQUALLY THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES . WE'VE NEVER FULLY LIVED UP TO THAT IDEA. WE'VE NEVER WALKED AWAY FROM IT EITHER AND I WON'T WALK AWAY FROM IT NOW. I'M OPTIMISTIC. [

APPLAUSE ] I REALLY AM, I'M OPTIMISTIC, NANCY . MY FELLOW AMERICANS, THE ISSUE FACING OUR NATION ISN'T HOW OLD WE ARE, IT'S HOW OLD ARE OUR IDEAS. HATE, ANGER, REVENGE, RITE REI RETRIBUTION ARE THE OLDEST OF IDEAS . YOU NEED AMERICA, THE LAND OF POSSIBILITIES, YOU NEED A VISION FOR THE FUTURE AND WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE. TONIGHT YOU'VE HEARD MINE. I SEE A FUTURE WHERE DEFENDING DEMOCRACY, YOU DON'T DIMINISH IT. I SEE A FUTURE WHERE WE WE STORE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS

, NOT TAKE THEM AWAY . I SEE A FUTURE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS FINALLY HAS A FAIR SHOT AND THE WEALTHY 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. I SEE A COUNTRY FOR ALL AMERICANS AND I'LL ALWAYS BE PRESIDENT FOR ALL AMERICANS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN AMERICA. I BELIEVE IN YOU THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. YOU'RE THE REASON WE'VE NEVER BEEN MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTU

RE THAN I AM NOW. SO LET'S BUILD THE FUTURE TOGETHER. LET'S REMEMBER WHO WE ARE. WE'RE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [ APPLAUSE ] AND THERE IS NOTHING, NOTHING BEYOND OUR CAPACITY WHEN WE ACT TOGETHER. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS . THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. [ APPLAUSE ]