[ ]  Your bedtime reading. Tony! Thank you. Looking for Jill. Good evening. Good evening. If I were smart, I'd go home now. [ ] Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: In January 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this Chamber to speak to the Nation. And he said, "I address you at a 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 democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight I come to the same Chamber to address the Nation. Now it's we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at—both at home and overseas at the very same time. Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you: He will not. But Ukraine—[ ]. Ukraine can stop Putin. Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons that it needs to defend itself. That is all—that is all—Ukraine is asking. They're not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers 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—[ ]. Now my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, quote, "Do whatever the hell you want."  Boo!  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. America is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II prevent—to prevent war and keep the peace. And today we've made NATO stronger than ever. We welcomed Finland to the alliance last year. And just this morning Sweden officially joined, and their Minister is here tonight. Come here, stand up. Welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. 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 a bipartisan national security bill. History is literally watching. History is watching. If 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 to do us harm. My message to President Putin, who I've known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. In a literal sense, history is watching. History is watching, just like history watched 3 years ago on January 6, when insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger to the throat of American democracy. Many of you were here on that darkest of days. We all saw with our own eyes, the insurrectionists were not patriots. They had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power, to overturn the will of the people. January 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election posed a great—gravest threat to U.S. democracy since the Civil War. But they failed. America stood—[ ]. America stood strong, and democracy prevailed. We must be honest: The threat to democracy must be defended [defeated; White House correction]. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here's the simple truth: You can't love your country only when you win. 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 your oath of office to defend against all threats foreign and domestic. 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. Again, it's not hyperbole to suggest history is watching. They're watching. Your children and grandchildren will read about this day and what we do. History is watching another assault on freedom. Joining us tonight is Latorya Beasley, a social worker from Birmingham, Alabama. Fourteen months ago—fourteen months ago, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to the miracle of IVF. She scheduled treatments to have that second child, but the Alabama Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the State, unleashed by a Supreme Court decision overturning   v.  . She was told her dream would have to wait. What her family had gone through should never have happened. Unless Congress acts, it could happen again. So tonight let's stand up for families like hers. To my friends across the aisle, don't keep this waiting any longer. Guarantee the right to IVF. Guarantee it nationwide. Like most Americans, I believe   v.   got it right. I thank Vice President Harris for being an incredible leader defending reproductive freedom and so much more. [ ] Thank you. My predecessor came to office determined to see   v.   overturned. He's the reason it was overturned, and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Joining us tonight is Kate Cox, a wife and mother from Dallas. She'd become pregnant again and had a fetus with a fatal condition. Her doctor told Kate that her own life and her ability to have future in the—children in the future 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. What her family had gone through should have never happened as well. But it's happening to too many others. There are State laws 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.  Boo!  My God, what freedom else would you take away? Look, its decision to overturn   v.  , 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 you were right about that. Clearly—[ ]. Clearly, those bragging about overturning   v.   have no clue about the power of women. But they found out. When reproductive freedom was on the ballot, we won in 2022 and 2023. And we'll win again in 2024. If you—if you, the American people—send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you I will restore   v.   as the law of the land again. Folks, America cannot go back. I am here tonight to show what I believe is the way forward, because 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 a century. Remember the fear, record losses? Remember the spikes in crime and the murder rate? A raging virus that took more than 1 million American lives of loved ones, millions left behind. A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness. A President, my predecessor, failed in the most basic Presidential duty that he owes to American people: the duty to care.  Lies!  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 new, but in a—news—in a thousand cities and towns, the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. So let's tell the story here—tell it here and now. America's comeback is building a future of American possibilities; building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down; investing in all of America, in all Americans to make every—sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one—no one—behind. The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccine that saved us from COVID is—are now being used to beat cancer. Turning setback into comeback—that's what America does. That's what America does. Folks, I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now, our economy is literally the envy of the world: 15 million new jobs in just 3 years—a record, a record; unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses, and each one is a literal act of hope, with historic job growth and small-business growth for Black and Hispanics and Asian Americans. Eight hundred thousand new 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. More people have health insurance today—[ ]. More people have health insurance today than ever before. The racial wealth gap is the smallest it's been in 20 years. Wages keep going up. Inflation keeps coming down. Inflation has dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent, the lowest in the world and tending [trending; White House correction] lower. The landing is and will be soft. And now, instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we're exporting American products and creating American jobs, right here in America, where they belong. And it takes time, but the American people are beginning to feel it. Consumer studies show consumer confidence is soaring. "Buy 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, creating good-paying American jobs. And 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 semiconductors, 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. Well, instead of having to import them, instead of—private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in America, creating tens of thousands of jobs, many of those jobs paying $100,000 a year and don't require a college degree. 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. And thanks—[ ]. And thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, 46,000 new projects have been announced all across your communities. And by the way, I noticed some of you who've strongly voted against it are there cheering on that money coming in. [ ] And I like it. I'm with you. I'm with you. And if any of you don't want that money in your district, just let me know. [ ] Modernizing our roads and bridges, ports and airports, public transit systems; removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of brain damage; providing affordable—affordable—high-speed internet for every American, no matter where you live—urban, suburban, or rural communities in red States and blue States; record investments in Tribal communities. Because of my investment in family farms—[ ]—because I invested in family farms—led by my Secretary of Agriculture, who knows more about this than anybody I know—we're better able to stay in the family for the—those farms so their—and their children and grandchildren won't have to leave home to make a living. It's transformative. The great comeback story is Belvidere, 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. Then, I was elected to office, and we raised the Belvidere repeatedly with auto companies, knowing unions would make all the difference. The UAW worked like hell to keep the plant open and get these jobs back. And together, we succeeded. Instead of auto factories shutting down, auto factories are reopening, and a new state-of-the-art battery factory is being built to power those cars there at the same—[ ]. Folks—[ ]. To the folks of Belvidere, I say: Instead of your town being left behind, your community is moving forward again. Because instead of watching auto jobs of the future go overseas, 4,000 union jobs with higher wages are building a future in Belvidere right here in America. Here tonight is UAW President Shawn Fain, a great friend and a great labor leader. Shawn, where are you? Stand up. And Dawn—and Dawn Simms, a third-generation worker—UAW worker at Belvidere. Shawn, I was proud to be the first President to stand in the picket line. And today, Dawn has a good job in her hometown, providing stability for her family and pride and dignity as well. Showing once again, Wall Street didn't build America. They're not bad guys. They didn't build it, though. The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class. I say to the American people: When America gets knocked down, we get back up. We keep going. That's America. That's you, the American people. It's because of you America is 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!  Tonight—tonight, I want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together, a future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the wealthy and the biggest corporations no longer get the—all the tax breaks. And by the way, I understand corporations. I come from a State that has more corporations invested—[ ]—than every one of your States in the State—the United States combined. And I represented it for 36 years. I'm not anticorporation. But I grew up in a home where trickle-down economics didn't put much on my dad's kitchen table. That's why I determined to turn things around so the middle class does well. When they do well, the poor have a way up and the wealthy still do very well. We all do well. And there's more to do to make sure you're feeling the benefits of all we're doing. Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere in the world. It's wrong, and I'm ending it. With a law that I proposed and signed—and not one of your Republican buddies work—voted for it—we finally beat Big Pharma. Instead of paying $400 a month or thereabouts for insulin with diabetes—and it only costs 10 bucks to make—they only get paid $35 a month now and still make a healthy profit. And I want to—and what to do next, I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it—everyone. For years, people have talked about it. But finally, we got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs, just like the VA 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, because Medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to Big Pharma. This year, Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis. It's now time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade. They're making a lot of money, guys. And they'll still be extremely profitable. It will 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 $200—at $2,000 a year, even for expensive cancer drugs that cost $10-, $12-, $15,000. Now I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for everyone. Folks, I'm going to get in trouble for saying that, but any of you want to get in Air Force One with me and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow—I mean, excuse me. [ ] Well, even Moscow, probably. [ ] And bring your prescription with you, and I promise you, I'll get it for you for 40-percent the cost you're paying now. Same company, same drug, same place. Folks, the Affordable Care Act—the old "Obamacare"—is still a very big deal. [ ] Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition. But my predecessor and many in this Chamber want to take the—that prescription drug away by repealing Affordable Care Act.  Boo!  I'm not going to let that happen. We stopped you 50 times before, and we'll stop you again. In fact, I'm not only protecting it, I'm expanding it. The—we enacted tax credits of $800 per person per year [to; White House correction] reduce health care costs for millions of working families. That tax credit expires next year. I want to make that savings permanent. To state the obvious: Women are more than half of our population, but research on women's health has always been underfunded. That's why we're launching the first ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, led by Jill—doing an incredible job as First Lady—to pass my plan for $12 billion to transform women's health research and benefit millions of lives all across America. I know the cost of housing is so important to you. If 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 annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next 2 years as mortgage rates come down to put toward their mortgages when they buy their first home or trade up for a little more space. Just for 2 years. And my administration is also eliminating title insurance [fees; White House correction] on federally backed mortgages. 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 antitrust law—using antitrust—who break antitrust laws—by price-fixing and driving up rents. We've cut redtape so builders can get federally financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million new house—housing units nationwide. Now pass—[ ]—now pass [my plan; White House correction] and build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring those rents down. To remain the strongest economy in the world, we need to have the best education system in the world. And I, like I suspect all of you, want to give a child—every child a good start by providing access to preschool for 3- and 4-years-old. You know, I think I pointed out last year—[ ]. I think I pointed out last year that children coming from broken homes where there's no books, they're not read to, not spoken to very often start school—kindergarten or first grade hearing—having heard a million fewer words spoken. Well, studies show that children who go to preschool are nearly 50-percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a 2- and 4-year degree no matter what their background is. I met a year and a half ago with the leaders of the Business Roundtable. They were mad that I was ever—angry—I—well, they were discussing—[ ]—why I wanted to spend money on education. I pointed out to them: As Vice President, I met with over eight—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 had the same experience on both sides of the aisle. They say, "A better educated workforce," right? So I looked at them. And I say: "I come from Delaware. DuPont used to be the eighth largest corporation in the world. And every new enterprise they bought, they educated the workforce to that enterprise. But none of you do that anymore. Why are you angry with me providing you the opportunity for the best educated workforce in the world?" And they all looked at me and said, "I think you're right." I want to expand high-quality tutoring and summer learning to see that every child learns to read by third grade. I'm also connecting local businesses and high schools so students get hands-on experience and a path to a good-paying job whether or not they go to college. And I want to make sure that college is more affordable. Let's continue increasing the Pell grants to working and middle class families and increase record investments in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic institutions. When I was told I couldn't universally just change the way in which we did—dealt with student loans, I fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million Americans, including nurses, firefighters, and others in public service. Like Keenan Jones, a public educator in Minnesota, who's here with us tonight. Keenan, where are you? Keenan, thank you. He's educated hundreds of students so they can go to college. Now he's able to help, after debt forgiveness, get his own daughter to college. And, folks, look, such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home, start a business, start a family. And while we're at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise. And by the way, the first couple of years, we cut the deficit. Now let me speak to the question of fundamental fairness for all Americans. I've been delivering real results in fiscally responsible ways. We've already cut the Federal deficit—[ ]. We've already cut the Federal deficit over $1 trillion. I signed a bipartisan deal to cut another trillion dollars in the next decade. It's my goal to cut the Federal deficit another $3 trillion by making big corporations and the very wealthy finally beginning to pay their fair share. Look, I'm a capitalist. If you want to make or can make a million or millions of bucks, that's great. Just pay your fair share in taxes. A fair Tax Code is how we invest in things that make this country great: health care, education, defense, and so much more. But here's the deal. The last administration enacted a $2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefit the top 1 percent—the very wealthy——  Boo! ——and 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!  Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax break?  No!  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 a year will pay an additional penny in Federal taxes—nobody—not one penny. And they haven't yet. In fact, the child tax credit I passed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions of working families and cut child poverty in half. Restore that child tax credit. No child should go hungry in this country. The way to make the Tax Code fair is to make big corporations and 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.  Boo! . Not anymore. Thanks to the law I wrote and we signed, big companies now have to pay a minimum of 15 percent. But that's still less than working people pay in Federal taxes. It's time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21 percent so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share. I also want to end tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, private jets, massive executive pay when it was only supposed to be a million—a million dollars that could be deducted. They can pay them $20 million if they want, but deduct a million. End it now. You know, there are 1,000 billionaires in America. You know what the average Federal tax is for those billionaires?  Zero!  No. [ ] They're making great sacrifices—8.2 percent.  Boo!  That's far less than the vast majority of Americans pay. No billionaire should pay a lower Federal tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker, or a nurse. I proposed a minimum tax for billionaires of 25 percent—just 25 percent. You know what that would raise? That would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years. And imagine what that could do for America. Imagine a future with affordable childcare, millions of families can get what 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 their sick family member. Imagine—imagine—a future with home care and eldercare, and people's living with disabilities so they can stay in their homes and family caregivers 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. If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age, I will stop you. 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. I will——  [ ]  That's the proposal. Oh, no? You guys don't want another $2 trillion tax cut?  Liar!  I kind of thought that's what your plan was. [ ] Well, that's good to hear. You're not going to cut another $2 trillion for the superwealthy? That's good to hear. I'll protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share. Look——  Joe! Joe! Joe! ——too many corporations raise prices to pad their profits, charging more and more for less and less. That's why we're cracking down on corporations that engage in price gouging and deceptive pricing, from food to health care to housing. In fact, the snack companies think you won't notice if they change the size of the bag and put a hell of a lot fewer—[ ]—same size bag—put fewer chips in it. No, I'm not joking. It's called "shrink-flation." Pass Bobby Casey's bill, and stop this. I really mean it. You probably all saw that commercial on Snickers bars. [ ] And you get—you get charged the same amount, and you've got about, I don't know, 10-percent fewer Snickers in it. [ ] Look, I'm also getting rid of junk fees, those hidden fees at the end of your bill that are there without your knowledge. My administration announced we're cutting credit card late fees from $32 to $8. 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-some dollars. But they don't like it. The credit card companies don't like it, but I'm saving American families $20 billion a year with all of the junk fees I'm eliminating. Folks at home, that's why the banks are so mad. It's $20 billion in profit. I'm not stopping there. My administration has proposed rules to make cable, travel, utilities, and online ticket sellers tell you the total price up front so there are no surprises. It matters. It matters. And so does this. In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators. The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we've ever seen.  Boo!  Oh, you don't think so?  Boo!  Oh, you don't like that bill—huh?—that conservatives got together and said was a good bill? I'll be darned. That's amazing. That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges to help tackle the backload of 2 million cases, 4,300 more asylum officers, and new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of 6 years now. What are you against? One hundred more high-tech drug detection machines to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl into America that's killing thousands of children. This bill would save lives and bring order to the border. It would also give me and any new President new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the number of migrants at the border is overwhelming. The Border Patrol union has endorsed this bill. [ ] The Federal Chamber of Commerce has—yes, yes. You're saying "no." Look at the facts. [ ] I know—[ ]. I know you know how to read. I believe that given the opportunity—for—a majority in the House and Senate would endorse the bill as well—a majority right now.  Yes!  But unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far. I'm told my predecessor called Members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill. He feels political win—he viewed it as a—it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. It's not about him. It's not about me. I'd be a winner—not really. I——  What about Laken Riley? [ ]  Boo! . Say her name! [ ]  Lanken—Lanken [Laken; White House correction] Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed. . By an illegal!  By an illegal. That's right. But how many of thousands of people are being killed by legals? [ ] To her parents, I say: My heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand. But look, if we change the dynamic at the border—people pay people—people pay these smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border because they know if they get by—if they get by and let into the country, it's 6 to 8 years before they have a hearing. And it's worth the—taking the chance of the $8,000. [ ] But—but—if it's only 6 months—6 weeks, the idea is it's highly unlikely that people will pay that money and come all that way knowing that they'll be—able to be kicked out quickly. Folks, I would respectfully suggest to my friend in—my Republican friends owe it to the American people. Get this bill done. We need to act now.  Get it done! Get it done! Get it done!  Build the wall.  And if my predecessor is watching: Instead of paying [playing; White House correction] politics and pressuring Members of Congress to block the bill, join me in telling the Congress to pass it. We can do it together. But that's what he apparently—here's what he will not do. I will not demonize immigrants, saying they are "poison in 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 fix our immigration system. Take a look at it. It has all these and more: secure the border, provide a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers," and so much more. But, unlike my predecessor, I know who we are as Americans. We're the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that draws from old and new. Home to Native Americans whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years. Home to people of every place—from every place on Earth. They came freely. Some came in chains. Some came when famine struck, like my ancestral family in Ireland. Some to flee persecution, to chase dreams that are impossible anywhere but here in America. That's America. And we all come from somewhere, but we're all Americans. Look, folks, we have a simple choice: We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I'm ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now.  Fix it! Fix it! Fix it!  A transformational history—moment in history happened 58—59 years ago today in Selma, Alabama. Hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, named after the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, 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. We miss him. But joining us tonight are other marchers, both in the gallery and on the floor, including Bettie Mae Fikes, known as the "Voice of Selma." The daughter of gospel singers and preachers, she sang songs of prayer and protest on that Bloody Sunday to help shake the Nation's conscience. Five months later, the Voting Rights Act passed and was signed into law. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But 59 years later, there are forces taking us back in time: voter suppression, election subversion, unlimited dark money, extreme gerrymandering. John Lewis was a great friend to many of us here. But if you truly want to honor him and all the heroes who marched with him, then it's time to do more than talk. Pass the Freedom To Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Right [Rights; White House correction] Act. And stop—stop denying another core value of America: our diversity across American life. Banning books, it's wrong. Instead of erasing history, let's make history. I want to protect fundamental rights. Pass the Equality Act. And my message to transgender Americans is, I have your back. Pass the PRO Act for workers' rights. Raise the Federal minimum wage, because every worker has the right to a decent living more than eight—7 bucks an hour. 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. 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 jobs, like the IBEW workers building and installing 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations; conserving 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030; and taking action on environmental justice—fenceline communities smothered by the legacy of pollution. And patterned after the Peace Corps and AmericaCorps [AmeriCorps; White House correction], I launched the Climate Corps to put 20,000 young people to work in the forefront of our clean energy future. I'll triple that number in a decade. To state the obvious, all Americans deserve the freedom to be safe. And America is safer today than when I took office. The year before I took office, murder rates went up 30 percent. . Remember Abbey Gate!  Thirty percent, they went up—— . United States Marines! Kareem Mae'Lee Nikoui! ——the biggest increase in history.  [ ]  It was then, through no—through my American Rescue Plan—which every American [Republican; White House correction] voted against, I might add—we made the largest investment in public safety ever. Last year, the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history. Violent crime fell to one of its lowest levels in more than 50 years. But we have more to do. We have to help cities invest in more community police officers, more mental health workers, more community violence intervention. Give communities the tools to crack down on gun crime, retail crime, and carjacking. Keep building trust, as I've been doing, by taking executive action on police reform and calling for it to be the law of the land. Directing my Cabinet to review the Federal classification of marijuana and expunging thousands of convictions for the mere possession, because no one should be jailed for simply using or have it on their record. Take on crimes of domestic violence. I'm ramping up the Federal enforcement of the Violence Against Women Act that I proudly wrote when I was a Senator so we can finally—finally end the scourge against women in America. There are other kinds of violence I want to stop. With us tonight is Jazmin whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers in her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Very soon after that happened, Jill and I went to Uvalde for a couple days. We spent hours and hours with each of the families. We heard their message so everyone in this room, in this Chamber could hear the same message. The constant refrain—and I was there for hours, meeting with every family. They said, "Do something." "Do something." Well, I did do something by establishing the first ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House, that the Vice President is leading the charge. Thank you for doing it. Meanwhile—[ ]. Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA he's proud he did nothing on guns when he was President.  Boo!  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. I'm proud we beat the NRA when I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years because of this Congress. We now must beat the NRA again. I'm demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Pass universal background checks. 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. [ ] You know, as we manage challenges at home, we're also managing crises abroad, including in the Middle East. I know the last 5 months have been gut-wrenching for so many people: for the Israeli people, for the Palestinian people, and so many here in America. This crisis began on October 7 with a massacre by a terrorist group called Hamas, as you all know. One thousand two hundred innocent people—women and girls, men and boys—slaughtered after enduring sexual violence. The deadliest day of the—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 the families that we will not rest until we bring every one of your loved ones home. We also—we will also work around the clock to bring home Evan and Paul, Americans being unjustly detained by the Russians—and others around the world. Israel has a right to go after Hamas. Hamas ended this conflict by releasing the hostages, laying down arms—could end it by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7. But Israel has a—excuse me. Israel has a added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards, under hospitals, daycare centers, and all the like. Israel also has a fundamental responsibility, though, to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. 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——  Says who? ——most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands of innocents—women and children. Girls and boys also orphaned. Nearly 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displacement. Homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water, medicine. It's heartbreaking. I've been working nonstop to establish an immediate cease-fire that would last for 6 weeks to get all the prisoners released—all the hostages released and to get the hostages home and ease the intolerable and—humanitarian crisis and build toward an enduring—a more—something more enduring. The United States has been leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Tonight I'm directing the U.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. No U.S. boots will be on the ground. A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. And Israel must do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure humanitarian workers aren't caught in the crossfire. And they're announcing they're going to—they're going to have a crossing in Northern Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time. And I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel, my entire career. No one has a stronger record with Israel than I do. I challenge any of you here. I'm the only American President to visit Israel in wartime. But there is no other path that guarantees Israel's security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees that Palestinians can live in peace with—with peace and dignity. And there is no other path that guarantees peace between Israel and all of its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, with whom I'm talking. Creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran. That's why I built a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. I've ordered strikes to degrade the Houthi capability and defend U.S. forces in the region. As Commander in Chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and our military personnel. For years, I've heard many of my Republican and Democratic friends say that China is on the rise and America is falling behind. They've got it backwards. I've been saying it for over 4 years, even when I wasn't President. America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. And since I've come to office, our GTB [GDP; White House correction] is up, our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest point in over a decade. And we're standing up against China's unfair economic practices. We're standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. I've revitalized our partnership and alliance in the Pacific: India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Pacific Islands. I've made sure that the most advanced American technologies can't be used in China—not allowing to trade them there. Frankly, for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that. I want competition with China, not conflict. And we're in a stronger position to win the conflict [competition; White House correction] of the 21st century against China than anyone else for that matter—than at any time as well. Here at home, I've signed over 400 bipartisan bills. But there's more to pass my unity agenda. Strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking.  Boo! You don't want to do that, huh? [ ] Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. Harness—[ ]. 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 when they come home and when they don't. That's why, with the strong support and help of Denis and the VA, I signed the PACT Act, one of the most significant laws ever, helping millions of veterans 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. And we owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new health research agency called ARPA-H—and remind us—to remind us that we can do big things, like end cancer as we know it. And we will. Let me close with this. [ ] Yay! [ ] I know you don't want to hear anymore, Lindsey, but I've got to say a few more things. [ ] I know I may not look 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 future. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America—honesty, decency, dignity, and equality—to respect everyone; to give everyone a fair shot; to give hate no safe harbor. Now, 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 Claymont, Delaware, among working class 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 legacies inspired me to pursue a career of service. I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in America occupied by the National Guard after Dr. King was assassinated because of the riots. And I became a county councilman almost by accident. I got elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running, at age 29. Then Vice President to our first Black President. Now a President to the first woman Vice President. In my career, I've been told I was too young. [ ] By the way, they didn't let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes. They—not a joke. [ ] And I've been told I am 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 America is that we're all created equal—deserves to be treated equally throughout our lives. We've never fully lived up to that idea, but we've never walked away from it either. And I won't walk away from it now. I'm optimistic. I really am. I'm optimistic, Nancy.  Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!  My fellow Americans, the issue facing our Nation isn't how old we are, it's how old are our ideas. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas. But you can't lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead 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 [we're; White House correction] defending democracy, you don't diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms, not take them away. I see a future where the middle class has—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 will 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 future than I am now. So let's build the future together. Let's remember who we are. We are the United States of America. 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.
[ ] Your bedtime reading. Tony! Thank you. Looking for Jill. Good evening. Good evening. If I were smart, I would go home now. [ ] Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: In January 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this Chamber to speak to the Nation. And he said, "I address you at a 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 democracy were under assault in the world. Tonight I come to the same Chamber to address the Nation. Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union. And yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either. Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today. What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at—both at home and overseas at the very same time. Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond. If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you: He will not. But Ukraine—[ ]. Ukraine can stop Putin. Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons that it needs to defend itself. That is all—that is all—Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers. In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine, and I am 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 was not long ago when a Republican President named Ronald Reagan thundered, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." Now—[ ]. Now my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, quote, "Do whatever the hell you want." Boo! That is a quote. A former President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader. I think it is outrageous, it is dangerous, and it is unacceptable. America is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II prevent—to prevent war and keep the peace. And today we have made NATO stronger than ever. We welcomed Finland to the alliance last year. And just this morning Sweden officially joined, and their Minister is here tonight. Come here, stand up. Welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. 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 a bipartisan national security bill. History is literally watching. History is watching. If 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 to do us harm. My message to President Putin, who I have known for a long time, is simple: We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. In a literal sense, history is watching. History is watching, just like history watched 3 years ago on January 6, when insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger to the throat of American democracy. Many of you were here on that darkest of days. We all saw with our own eyes, the insurrectionists were not patriots. They had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power, to overturn the will of the people. January 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election posed a great—gravest threat to YOU.S. democracy since the Civil War. But they failed. America stood—[ ]. America stood strong, and democracy prevailed. We must be honest: The threat to democracy must be defended [defeated; White House correction]. My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not do that. This is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies. Here is the simple truth: You cannot love your country only when you win. As I have done ever since being elected to office, I ask all of you, without regard to party, to join together and defend democracy. Remember your oath of office to defend against all threats foreign and domestic. 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. Again, it is not hyperbole to suggest history is watching. They are watching. Your children and grandchildren will read about this day and what we do. History is watching another assault on freedom. Joining us tonight is Latorya Beasley, a social worker from Birmingham, Alabama. Fourteen months ago—fourteen months ago, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to the miracle of IVF. She scheduled treatments to have that second child, but the Alabama Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the State, unleashed by a Supreme Court decision overturning v. . She was told her dream would have to wait. What her family had gone through should never have happened. Unless Congress acts, it could happen again. So tonight let us stand up for families like hers. To my friends across the aisle, do not keep this waiting any longer. Guarantee the right to IVF. Guarantee it nationwide. Like most Americans, I believe v. got it right. I thank Vice President Harris for being an incredible leader defending reproductive freedom and so much more. [ ] Thank you. My predecessor came to office determined to see v. overturned. He is the reason it was overturned, and he brags about it. Look at the chaos that has resulted. Joining us tonight is Kate Cox, a wife and mother from Dallas. She would become pregnant again and had a fetus with a fatal condition. Her doctor told Kate that her own life and her ability to have future in the—children in the future were at risk if she did not act. Because Texas law banned her ability to act, Kate and her husband had to leave the State to get what she needed. What her family had gone through should have never happened as well. But it is happening to too many others. There are State laws 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. Boo! My God, what freedom else would you take away? Look, its decision to overturn v. , 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 are about to realize just how much you were right about that. Clearly—[ ]. Clearly, those bragging about overturning v. have no clue about the power of women. But they found out. When reproductive freedom was on the ballot, we won in 2022 and 2023. And we will win again in 2024. If you—if you, the American people—send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you I will restore v. as the law of the land again. Folks, America cannot go back. I am here tonight to show what I believe is the way forward, because I know how far we have 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 a century. Remember the fear, record losses? Remember the spikes in crime and the murder rate? A raging virus that took more than 1 million American lives of loved ones, millions left behind. A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness. A President, my predecessor, failed in the most basic Presidential duty that he owes to American people: the duty to care. Lies! I think that is unforgivable. I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in the Nation's history. We have. It does not make new, but in a—news—in a thousand cities and towns, the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told. So let us tell the story here—tell it here and now. America's comeback is building a future of American possibilities; building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down; investing in all of America, in all Americans to make every—sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one—no one—behind. The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccine that saved us from COVID is—are now being used to beat cancer. Turning setback into comeback—that is what America does. That is what America does. Folks, I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now, our economy is literally the envy of the world: 15 million new jobs in just 3 years—a record, a record; unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses, and each one is a literal act of hope, with historic job growth and small-business growth for Black and Hispanics and Asian Americans. Eight hundred thousand new manufacturing jobs in America and counting. Where is it written we cannot be the manufacturing capital of the world? We are, and we will. More people have health insurance today—[ ]. More people have health insurance today than ever before. The racial wealth gap is the smallest it is been in 20 years. Wages keep going up. Inflation keeps coming down. Inflation has dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent, the lowest in the world and tending [trending; White House correction] lower. The landing is and will be soft. And now, instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we are exporting American products and creating American jobs, right here in America, where they belong. And it takes time, but the American people are beginning to feel it. Consumer studies show consumer confidence is soaring. "Buy 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, creating good-paying American jobs. And 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 semiconductors, 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. Well, instead of having to import them, instead of—private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in America, creating tens of thousands of jobs, many of those jobs paying $100,000 a year and do not require a college degree. 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. And thanks—[ ]. And thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law, 46,000 new projects have been announced all across your communities. And by the way, I noticed some of you who have strongly voted against it are there cheering on that money coming in. [ ] And I like it. I am with you. I am with you. And if any of you do not want that money in your district, just let me know. [ ] Modernizing our roads and bridges, ports and airports, public transit systems; removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of brain damage; providing affordable—affordable—high-speed internet for every American, no matter where you live—urban, suburban, or rural communities in red States and blue States; record investments in Tribal communities. Because of my investment in family farms—[ ]—because I invested in family farms—led by my Secretary of Agriculture, who knows more about this than anybody I know—we are better able to stay in the family for the—those farms so their—and their children and grandchildren will not have to leave home to make a living. It is transformative. The great comeback story is Belvidere, 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. Then, I was elected to office, and we raised the Belvidere repeatedly with auto companies, knowing unions would make all the difference. The UAW worked like hell to keep the plant open and get these jobs back. And together, we succeeded. Instead of auto factories shutting down, auto factories are reopening, and a new state-of-the-art battery factory is being built to power those cars there at the same—[ ]. Folks—[ ]. To the folks of Belvidere, I say: Instead of your town being left behind, your community is moving forward again. Because instead of watching auto jobs of the future go overseas, 4,000 union jobs with higher wages are building a future in Belvidere right here in America. Here tonight is UAW President Shawn Fain, a great friend and a great labor leader. Shawn, where are you? Stand up. And Dawn—and Dawn Simms, a third-generation worker—UAW worker at Belvidere. Shawn, I was proud to be the first President to stand in the picket line. And today, Dawn has a good job in her hometown, providing stability for her family and pride and dignity as well. Showing once again, Wall Street did not build America. They are not bad guys. They did not build it, though. The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class. I say to the American people: When America gets knocked down, we get back up. We keep going. That is America. That is you, the American people. It is because of you America is coming back. It is because of you our future is brighter. It is 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! Tonight—tonight, I want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together, a future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the wealthy and the biggest corporations no longer get the—all the tax breaks. And by the way, I understand corporations. I come from a State that has more corporations invested—[ ]—than every one of your States in the State—the United States combined. And I represented it for 36 years. I am not anticorporation. But I grew up in a home where trickle-down economics did not put much on my dad's kitchen table. That is why I determined to turn things around so the middle class does well. When they do well, the poor have a way up and the wealthy still do very well. We all do well. And there is more to do to make sure you are feeling the benefits of all we are doing. Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere in the world. It is wrong, and I am ending it. With a law that I proposed and signed—and not one of your Republican buddies work—voted for it—we finally beat Big Pharma. Instead of paying $400 a month or thereabouts for insulin with diabetes—and it only costs 10 bucks to make—they only get paid $35 a month now and still make a healthy profit. And I want to—and what to do next, I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it—everyone. For years, people have talked about it. But finally, we got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs, just like the VA is able to do for veterans. That is not just saving seniors money. It is saving taxpayers money. We cut the Federal deficit by $160 billion, because Medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to Big Pharma. This year, Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis. It is now time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade. They are making a lot of money, guys. And they will still be extremely profitable. It will 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 $200—at $2,000 a year, even for expensive cancer drugs that cost $10-, $12-, $15,000. Now I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for everyone. Folks, I am going to get in trouble for saying that, but any of you want to get in Air Force One with me and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow—I mean, excuse me. [ ] Well, even Moscow, probably. [ ] And bring your prescription with you, and I promise you, I will get it for you for 40-percent the cost you are paying now. Same company, same drug, same place. Folks, the Affordable Care Act—the old "Obamacare"—is still a very big deal. [ ] Over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition. But my predecessor and many in this Chamber want to take the—that prescription drug away by repealing Affordable Care Act. Boo! I am not going to let that happen. We stopped you 50 times before, and we will stop you again. In fact, I am not only protecting it, I am expanding it. The—we enacted tax credits of $800 per person per year [to; White House correction] reduce health care costs for millions of working families. That tax credit expires next year. I want to make that savings permanent. To state the obvious: Women are more than half of our population, but research on women's health has always been underfunded. That is why we are launching the first ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, led by Jill—doing an incredible job as First Lady—to pass my plan for $12 billion to transform women's health research and benefit millions of lives all across America. I know the cost of housing is so important to you. If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will come down as well, and the Fed acknowledges that. But I am not waiting. I want to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next 2 years as mortgage rates come down to put toward their mortgages when they buy their first home or trade up for a little more space. Just for 2 years. And my administration is also eliminating title insurance [fees; White House correction] on federally backed mortgages. When you refinance your home, you can save $1,000 or more as a consequence. For millions of renters, we are cracking down on big landlords who use antitrust law—using antitrust—who break antitrust laws—by price-fixing and driving up rents. We have cut redtape so builders can get federally financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million new house—housing units nationwide. Now pass—[ ]—now pass [my plan; White House correction] and build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring those rents down. To remain the strongest economy in the world, we need to have the best education system in the world. And I, like I suspect all of you, want to give a child—every child a good start by providing access to preschool for 3- and 4-years-old. You know, I think I pointed out last year—[ ]. I think I pointed out last year that children coming from broken homes where there is no books, they are not read to, not spoken to very often start school—kindergarten or first grade hearing—having heard a million fewer words spoken. Well, studies show that children who go to preschool are nearly 50-percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a 2- and 4-year degree no matter what their background is. I met a year and a half ago with the leaders of the Business Roundtable. They were mad that I was ever—angry—I—well, they were discussing—[ ]—why I wanted to spend money on education. I pointed out to them: As Vice President, I met with over eight—I think it was 182 of those folks—do not hold me to the exact number—and I asked them what they need most—the CEOs. And you have had the same experience on both sides of the aisle. They say, "A better educated workforce," right? So I looked at them. And I say: "I come from Delaware. DuPont used to be the eighth largest corporation in the world. And every new enterprise they bought, they educated the workforce to that enterprise. But none of you do that anymore. Why are you angry with me providing you the opportunity for the best educated workforce in the world?" And they all looked at me and said, "I think you are right." I want to expand high-quality tutoring and summer learning to see that every child learns to read by third grade. I am also connecting local businesses and high schools so students get hands-on experience and a path to a good-paying job whether or not they go to college. And I want to make sure that college is more affordable. Let us continue increasing the Pell grants to working and middle class families and increase record investments in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic institutions. When I was told I could not universally just change the way in which we did—dealt with student loans, I fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million Americans, including nurses, firefighters, and others in public service. Like Keenan Jones, a public educator in Minnesota, who is here with us tonight. Keenan, where are you? Keenan, thank you. He is educated hundreds of students so they can go to college. Now he is able to help, after debt forgiveness, get his own daughter to college. And, folks, look, such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home, start a business, start a family. And while we are at it, I want to give public school teachers a raise. And by the way, the first couple of years, we cut the deficit. Now let me speak to the question of fundamental fairness for all Americans. I have been delivering real results in fiscally responsible ways. We have already cut the Federal deficit—[ ]. We have already cut the Federal deficit over $1 trillion. I signed a bipartisan deal to cut another trillion dollars in the next decade. It is my goal to cut the Federal deficit another $3 trillion by making big corporations and the very wealthy finally beginning to pay their fair share. Look, I am a capitalist. If you want to make or can make a million or millions of bucks, that is great. Just pay your fair share in taxes. A fair Tax Code is how we invest in things that make this country great: health care, education, defense, and so much more. But here is the deal. The last administration enacted a $2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefit the top 1 percent—the very wealthy—— Boo! ——and 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! Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax break? No! I sure do not. I am going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair. Under my plan, nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in Federal taxes—nobody—not one penny. And they have not yet. In fact, the child tax credit I passed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions of working families and cut child poverty in half. Restore that child tax credit. No child should go hungry in this country. The way to make the Tax Code fair is to make big corporations and 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. Boo! . Not anymore. Thanks to the law I wrote and we signed, big companies now have to pay a minimum of 15 percent. But that is still less than working people pay in Federal taxes. It is time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21 percent so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share. I also want to end tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, private jets, massive executive pay when it was only supposed to be a million—a million dollars that could be deducted. They can pay them $20 million if they want, but deduct a million. End it now. You know, there are 1,000 billionaires in America. You know what the average Federal tax is for those billionaires? Zero! No. [ ] They are making great sacrifices—8.2 percent. Boo! That is far less than the vast majority of Americans pay. No billionaire should pay a lower Federal tax rate than a teacher, a sanitation worker, or a nurse. I proposed a minimum tax for billionaires of 25 percent—just 25 percent. You know what that would raise? That would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years. And imagine what that could do for America. Imagine a future with affordable childcare, millions of families can get what 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 their sick family member. Imagine—imagine—a future with home care and eldercare, and people's living with disabilities so they can stay in their homes and family caregivers can finally get the pay they deserve. Tonight let us 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. If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age, I will stop you. The working people—[ ]. The working people who built this country pay more into Social Security than millionaires and billionaires do. It is not fair. We have two ways to go. Republicans can cut Social Security and give more tax breaks to the wealthy. I will—— [ ] That is the proposal. Oh, no? You guys do not want another $2 trillion tax cut? Liar! I kind of thought that is what your plan was. [ ] Well, that is good to hear. You are not going to cut another $2 trillion for the superwealthy? That is good to hear. I will protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair share. Look—— Joe! Joe! Joe! ——too many corporations raise prices to pad their profits, charging more and more for less and less. That is why we are cracking down on corporations that engage in price gouging and deceptive pricing, from food to health care to housing. In fact, the snack companies think you will not notice if they change the size of the bag and put a hell of a lot fewer—[ ]—same size bag—put fewer chips in it. No, I am not joking. It is called "shrink-flation." Pass Bobby Casey's bill, and stop this. I really mean it. You probably all saw that commercial on Snickers bars. [ ] And you get—you get charged the same amount, and you have got about, I do not know, 10-percent fewer Snickers in it. [ ] Look, I am also getting rid of junk fees, those hidden fees at the end of your bill that are there without your knowledge. My administration announced we are cutting credit card late fees from $32 to $8. Banks and credit card companies are allowed to charge what it costs them to instigate the collection. And that is more—a hell of a lot like $8 than 30-some dollars. But they do not like it. The credit card companies do not like it, but I am saving American families $20 billion a year with all of the junk fees I am eliminating. Folks at home, that is why the banks are so mad. It is $20 billion in profit. I am not stopping there. My administration has proposed rules to make cable, travel, utilities, and online ticket sellers tell you the total price up front so there are no surprises. It matters. It matters. And so does this. In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of Senators. The result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we have ever seen. Boo! Oh, you do not think so? Boo! Oh, you do not like that bill—huh?—that conservatives got together and said was a good bill? I will be darned. That is amazing. That bipartisan bill would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more immigration judges to help tackle the backload of 2 million cases, 4,300 more asylum officers, and new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of 6 years now. What are you against? One hundred more high-tech drug detection machines to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl into America that is killing thousands of children. This bill would save lives and bring order to the border. It would also give me and any new President new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the number of migrants at the border is overwhelming. The Border Patrol union has endorsed this bill. [ ] The Federal Chamber of Commerce has—yes, yes. You are saying "no." Look at the facts. [ ] I know—[ ]. I know you know how to read. I believe that given the opportunity—for—a majority in the House and Senate would endorse the bill as well—a majority right now. Yes! But unfortunately, politics has derailed this bill so far. I am told my predecessor called Members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill. He feels political win—he viewed it as a—it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. It is not about him. It is not about me. I would be a winner—not really. I—— What about Laken Riley? [ ] Boo! . Say her name! [ ] Lanken—Lanken [Laken; White House correction] Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed. . By an illegal! By an illegal. That is right. But how many of thousands of people are being killed by legals? [ ] To her parents, I say: My heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand. But look, if we change the dynamic at the border—people pay people—people pay these smugglers 8,000 bucks to get across the border because they know if they get by—if they get by and let into the country, it is 6 to 8 years before they have a hearing. And it is worth the—taking the chance of the $8,000. [ ] But—but—if it is only 6 months—6 weeks, the idea is it is highly unlikely that people will pay that money and come all that way knowing that they will be—able to be kicked out quickly. Folks, I would respectfully suggest to my friend in—my Republican friends owe it to the American people. Get this bill done. We need to act now. Get it done! Get it done! Get it done! Build the wall. And if my predecessor is watching: Instead of paying [playing; White House correction] politics and pressuring Members of Congress to block the bill, join me in telling the Congress to pass it. We can do it together. But that is what he apparently—here is what he will not do. I will not demonize immigrants, saying they are "poison in 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 fix our immigration system. Take a look at it. It has all these and more: secure the border, provide a pathway to citizenship for "Dreamers," and so much more. But, unlike my predecessor, I know who we are as Americans. We are the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that draws from old and new. Home to Native Americans whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years. Home to people of every place—from every place on Earth. They came freely. Some came in chains. Some came when famine struck, like my ancestral family in Ireland. Some to flee persecution, to chase dreams that are impossible anywhere but here in America. That is America. And we all come from somewhere, but we are all Americans. Look, folks, we have a simple choice: We can fight about fixing the border, or we can fix it. I am ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now. Fix it! Fix it! Fix it! A transformational history—moment in history happened 58—59 years ago today in Selma, Alabama. Hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, named after the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, 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. We miss him. But joining us tonight are other marchers, both in the gallery and on the floor, including Bettie Mae Fikes, known as the "Voice of Selma." The daughter of gospel singers and preachers, she sang songs of prayer and protest on that Bloody Sunday to help shake the Nation's conscience. Five months later, the Voting Rights Act passed and was signed into law. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But 59 years later, there are forces taking us back in time: voter suppression, election subversion, unlimited dark money, extreme gerrymandering. John Lewis was a great friend to many of us here. But if you truly want to honor him and all the heroes who marched with him, then it is time to do more than talk. Pass the Freedom To Vote Act, the John Lewis Voting Right [Rights; White House correction] Act. And stop—stop denying another core value of America: our diversity across American life. Banning books, it is wrong. Instead of erasing history, let us make history. I want to protect fundamental rights. Pass the Equality Act. And my message to transgender Americans is, I have your back. Pass the PRO Act for workers' rights. Raise the Federal minimum wage, because every worker has the right to a decent living more than eight—7 bucks an hour. We are also making history by confronting the climate crisis, not denying it. I do not think any of you think there is no longer a climate crisis. At least, I hope you do not. [ ] I am taking the most significant action ever on climate in the history of the world. I am cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030, creating tens of thousands of clean energy jobs, like the IBEW workers building and installing 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations; conserving 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030; and taking action on environmental justice—fenceline communities smothered by the legacy of pollution. And patterned after the Peace Corps and AmericaCorps [AmeriCorps; White House correction], I launched the Climate Corps to put 20,000 young people to work in the forefront of our clean energy future. I will triple that number in a decade. To state the obvious, all Americans deserve the freedom to be safe. And America is safer today than when I took office. The year before I took office, murder rates went up 30 percent. . Remember Abbey Gate! Thirty percent, they went up—— . United States Marines! Kareem Mae'Lee Nikoui! ——the biggest increase in history. [ ] It was then, through no—through my American Rescue Plan—which every American [Republican; White House correction] voted against, I might add—we made the largest investment in public safety ever. Last year, the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history. Violent crime fell to one of its lowest levels in more than 50 years. But we have more to do. We have to help cities invest in more community police officers, more mental health workers, more community violence intervention. Give communities the tools to crack down on gun crime, retail crime, and carjacking. Keep building trust, as I have been doing, by taking executive action on police reform and calling for it to be the law of the land. Directing my Cabinet to review the Federal classification of marijuana and expunging thousands of convictions for the mere possession, because no one should be jailed for simply using or have it on their record. Take on crimes of domestic violence. I am ramping up the Federal enforcement of the Violence Against Women Act that I proudly wrote when I was a Senator so we can finally—finally end the scourge against women in America. There are other kinds of violence I want to stop. With us tonight is Jazmin whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers in her elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Very soon after that happened, Jill and I went to Uvalde for a couple days. We spent hours and hours with each of the families. We heard their message so everyone in this room, in this Chamber could hear the same message. The constant refrain—and I was there for hours, meeting with every family. They said, "Do something." "Do something." Well, I did do something by establishing the first ever Office of Gun Violence Prevention in the White House, that the Vice President is leading the charge. Thank you for doing it. Meanwhile—[ ]. Meanwhile, my predecessor told the NRA he is proud he did nothing on guns when he was President. Boo! 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. I am proud we beat the NRA when I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years because of this Congress. We now must beat the NRA again. I am demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Pass universal background checks. 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. [ ] You know, as we manage challenges at home, we are also managing crises abroad, including in the Middle East. I know the last 5 months have been gut-wrenching for so many people: for the Israeli people, for the Palestinian people, and so many here in America. This crisis began on October 7 with a massacre by a terrorist group called Hamas, as you all know. One thousand two hundred innocent people—women and girls, men and boys—slaughtered after enduring sexual violence. The deadliest day of the—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 the families that we will not rest until we bring every one of your loved ones home. We also—we will also work around the clock to bring home Evan and Paul, Americans being unjustly detained by the Russians—and others around the world. Israel has a right to go after Hamas. Hamas ended this conflict by releasing the hostages, laying down arms—could end it by releasing the hostages, laying down arms, and surrendering those responsible for October 7. But Israel has a—excuse me. Israel has a added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards, under hospitals, daycare centers, and all the like. Israel also has a fundamental responsibility, though, to protect innocent civilians in Gaza. 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—— Says who? ——most of whom are not Hamas. Thousands and thousands of innocents—women and children. Girls and boys also orphaned. Nearly 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displacement. Homes destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water, medicine. It is heartbreaking. I have been working nonstop to establish an immediate cease-fire that would last for 6 weeks to get all the prisoners released—all the hostages released and to get the hostages home and ease the intolerable and—humanitarian crisis and build toward an enduring—a more—something more enduring. The United States has been leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Tonight I am directing the YOU.S. military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean on the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine, and temporary shelters. No YOU.S. boots will be on the ground. A temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day. And Israel must do its part. Israel must allow more aid into Gaza and ensure humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire. And they are announcing they are going to—they are going to have a crossing in Northern Gaza. To the leadership of Israel, I say this: Humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip. Protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority. As we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time. And I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel, my entire career. No one has a stronger record with Israel than I do. I challenge any of you here. I am the only American President to visit Israel in wartime. But there is no other path that guarantees Israel's security and democracy. There is no other path that guarantees that Palestinians can live in peace with—with peace and dignity. And there is no other path that guarantees peace between Israel and all of its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, with whom I am talking. Creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran. That is why I built a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. I have ordered strikes to degrade the Houthi capability and defend YOU.S. forces in the region. As Commander in Chief, I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and our military personnel. For years, I have heard many of my Republican and Democratic friends say that China is on the rise and America is falling behind. They have got it backwards. I have been saying it for over 4 years, even when I was not President. America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. And since I have come to office, our GTB [GDP; White House correction] is up, our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest point in over a decade. And we are standing up against China's unfair economic practices. We are standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. I have revitalized our partnership and alliance in the Pacific: India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Pacific Islands. I have made sure that the most advanced American technologies cannot be used in China—not allowing to trade them there. Frankly, for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that. I want competition with China, not conflict. And we are in a stronger position to win the conflict [competition; White House correction] of the 21st century against China than anyone else for that matter—than at any time as well. Here at home, I have signed over 400 bipartisan bills. But there is more to pass my unity agenda. Strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking. Boo! You do not want to do that, huh? [ ] Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. Harness—[ ]. 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 when they come home and when they do not. That is why, with the strong support and help of Denis and the VA, I signed the PACT Act, one of the most significant laws ever, helping millions of veterans exposed to toxins who now are battling more than 100 different cancers. Many of them do not come home, but we owe them and their families support. And we owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new health research agency called ARPA-H—and remind us—to remind us that we can do big things, like end cancer as we know it. And we will. Let me close with this. [ ] Yay! [ ] I know you do not want to hear anymore, Lindsey, but I have got to say a few more things. [ ] I know I may not look like it, but I have 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 have seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our Nation, between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future. My lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on core values that have defined America—honesty, decency, dignity, and equality—to respect everyone; to give everyone a fair shot; to give hate no safe harbor. Now, other people my age see it differently. [ ] The American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution. That is 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 Claymont, Delaware, among working class 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 legacies inspired me to pursue a career of service. I left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in America occupied by the National Guard after Dr. King was assassinated because of the riots. And I became a county councilman almost by accident. I got elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running, at age 29. Then Vice President to our first Black President. Now a President to the first woman Vice President. In my career, I have been told I was too young. [ ] By the way, they did not let me on the Senate elevators for votes sometimes. They—not a joke. [ ] And I have been told I am too old. [ ] Whether young or old, I have always been known—I have always known what endures. I have known our North Star. The very idea of America is that we are all created equal—deserves to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never walked away from it either. And I will not walk away from it now. I am optimistic. I really am. I am optimistic, Nancy. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! My fellow Americans, the issue facing our Nation is not how old we are, it is how old are our ideas. Hate, anger, revenge, retribution are the oldest of ideas. But you cannot lead America with ancient ideas that only take us back. To lead America, the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done. Tonight you have heard mine. I see a future where [we are; White House correction] defending democracy, you do not diminish it. I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms, not take them away. I see a future where the middle class has—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 will always be President for all Americans because I believe in America. I believe in you, the American people. You are the reason we have never been more optimistic about our future than I am now. So let us build the future together. Let us remember who we are. We are the United States of America. 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.
your bedtime reading tony thank you looking for jill good evening good evening if i were smart i would go home now speaker madam vice president members of congress my fellow americans in january 1941 franklin roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation and he said i address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the union hitler was on the march war was raging in europe president roosevelt purpose was to wake up congress and alert the american people that this was no ordinary time freedom and democracy were under assault in the world tonight i come to the same chamber to address the nation now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the union and yes my purpose tonight is to wake up the congress and alert the american people that this is no ordinary moment either not since president lincoln and the civil war have freedom and democracy been under assault at home as they are today what makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at home and overseas at the very same time overseas putin of russia is on the march invading ukraine and sowing chaos throughout europe and beyond if anybody in this room thinks putin will stop at ukraine i assure you he will not but ukraine can stop putin ukraine can stop putin if we stand with ukraine and provide the weapons that it needs to defend itself that is is is asking they are not asking for american soldiers in fact there are no american soldiers at war in ukraine and i am 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 was not long ago when a republican president named ronald reagan thundered gorbachev tear down this wall now my predecessor a former republican president tells putin quote do whatever the hell you want boo that is a quote a former president actually said that bowing down to a russian leader i think it is outrageous it is dangerous and it is unacceptable america is a founding member of nato the military alliance of democratic nations created after world war ii prevent war and keep the peace and today we have made nato stronger than ever we welcomed finland to the alliance last year and just this morning sweden officially joined and their minister is here tonight come here stand up welcome welcome welcome welcome and they know how to fight 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 a bipartisan national security bill history is literally watching history is watching if 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 to do us harm my message to president putin who i have known for a long time is simple we will not walk away we will not bow down i will not bow down in a literal sense history is watching history is watching just like history watched 3 years ago on january 6 when insurrectionists stormed this very capitol and placed a dagger to the throat of american democracy many of you were here on that darkest of days we all saw with our own eyes the insurrectionists were not patriots they had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power to overturn the will of the people january 6 lies about the 2020 election and the plots to steal the election posed a threat to democracy since the civil war but they failed america america stood strong and democracy prevailed we must be honest the threat to democracy must be defended defeated white house correction my predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about january 6 i will not do that this is a moment to speak the truth and to bury the lies here is the simple truth you can not love your country only when you win as i have done ever since being elected to office i ask all of you without regard to party to join together and defend democracy remember your oath of office to defend against all threats foreign and domestic and fair elections restore trust in our institutions and make clear political violence has absolutely no america zero place again it is not hyperbole to suggest history is watching they are watching your children and grandchildren will read about this day and what we do history is watching another assault on freedom joining us tonight is latorya beasley a social worker from birmingham alabama fourteen months months ago she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to the miracle of ivf she scheduled treatments to have that second child but the alabama supreme court shut down ivf treatments across the state unleashed by a supreme court decision overturning she was told her dream would have to wait what her family had gone through should never have happened unless congress acts it could happen again so tonight let us stand up for families like hers to my friends across the aisle do not keep this waiting any longer guarantee the right to ivf guarantee it nationwide like most americans i believe got it right i thank vice president harris for being an incredible leader defending reproductive freedom and so much more thank you my predecessor came to office determined to see overturned he is the reason it was overturned and he brags about it look at the chaos that has resulted joining us tonight is kate cox a wife and mother from dallas she would become pregnant again and had a fetus with a fatal condition her doctor told kate that her own life and her ability to have future in in the future were at risk if she did not act because texas law banned her ability to act kate and her husband had to leave the state to get what she needed what her family had gone through should have never happened as well but it is happening to too many others there are state laws 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 boo my god what freedom else would you take away look its decision to overturn the supreme court majority wrote the with all due respect women are not without electoral power electoral or political power you are about to realize just how much you were right about that clearly those bragging about overturning have no clue about the power of women but they found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot we won in 2022 and 2023 and we will win again in 2024 if you the american me a congress that supports the right to choose i promise you i will restore as the law of the land again folks america can not go back i am here tonight to show what i believe is the way forward because i know how far we have 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 a century remember the fear record losses remember the spikes in crime and the murder rate a raging virus that took more than 1 million american lives of loved ones millions left behind a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness a president my predecessor failed in the most basic presidential duty that he owes to american people the duty to care lies i think that is unforgivable i came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in the nation history we have it does not make new but in a thousand cities and towns the american people are writing the greatest comeback story never told so let us tell the story it here and now america comeback is building a future of american possibilities building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up not the top down investing in all of america in all americans to make everyone has a fair shot and we leave no the pandemic no longer controls our lives the vaccine that saved us from covid now being used to beat cancer turning setback into is what america does that is what america does folks i inherited an economy that was on the brink now our economy is literally the envy of the world 15 million new jobs in just 3 record a record unemployment at lows a record 16 million americans are starting small businesses and each one is a literal act of hope with historic job growth and growth for black and hispanics and asian americans eight hundred thousand new manufacturing jobs in america and counting where is it written we can not be the manufacturing capital of the world we are and we will more people have health insurance more people have health insurance today than ever before the racial wealth gap is the smallest it is been in 20 years wages keep going up inflation keeps coming down inflation has dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent the lowest in the world and tending trending white house correction lower the landing is and will be soft and now instead of importing foreign products and exporting american jobs we are exporting american products and creating american jobs right here in america where they belong and it takes time but the american people are beginning to feel it consumer studies show consumer confidence is soaring buy america has been the law of the land since the 1930s past administrations including my some democrats as well in the to buy american not anymore on my watch federal projects that you helping build american roads bridges and be made with american products and built by american workers creating american jobs and 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 semiconductors chips that drove up the price of everything from cell phones to by the way we invented those chips right here in america well instead of having to import them instead companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in america creating tens of thousands of jobs many of those jobs paying a year and do not require a college degree in fact my policies have attracted 650 billion in investment in clean energy advanced manufacturing creating tens of thousands of jobs here in america and and thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law new projects have been announced all across your communities and by the way i noticed some of you who have strongly voted against it are there cheering on that money coming in and i like it i am with you i am with you and if any of you do not want that money in your district just let me know modernizing our roads and bridges ports and airports public transit systems removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of brain damage providing internet for every american no matter where you suburban or rural communities in red states and blue states record investments in tribal communities because of my investment in family i invested in family by my secretary of agriculture who knows more about this than anybody i are better able to stay in the family for farms so their children and grandchildren will not have to leave home to make a living it is transformative the great comeback story is belvidere 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 then i was elected to office and we raised the belvidere repeatedly with auto companies knowing unions would make all the difference the uaw worked like hell to keep the plant open and get these jobs back and together we succeeded instead of auto factories shutting down auto factories are reopening and a new battery factory is being built to power those cars there at the to the folks of belvidere i say instead of your town being left behind your community is moving forward again because instead of watching auto jobs of the future go overseas union jobs with higher wages are building a future in belvidere right here in america here tonight is uaw president shawn fain a great friend and a great labor leader shawn where are you stand up and dawn simms a worker at belvidere shawn i was proud to be the first president to stand in the picket line and today dawn has a good job in her hometown providing stability for her family and pride and dignity as well showing once again wall street did not build america they are not bad guys they did not build it though the middle class built the country and unions built the middle class i say to the american people when america gets knocked down we get back up we keep going that is america that is you the american people it is because of you america is coming back it is because of you our future is brighter it is 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 i want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together a future where the days of economics are over and the wealthy and the biggest corporations no longer get the tax breaks and by the way i understand corporations i come from a state that has more corporations every one of your states in the united states combined and i represented it for 36 years i am not anticorporation but i grew up in a home where economics did not put much on my dad kitchen table that is why i determined to turn things around so the middle class does well when they do well the poor have a way up and the wealthy still do very well we all do well and there is more to do to make sure you are feeling the benefits of all we are doing americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere in the world it is wrong and i am ending it with a law that i proposed and not one of your republican buddies for finally beat big pharma instead of paying 400 a month or thereabouts for insulin with it only costs 10 bucks to only get paid 35 a month now and still make a healthy profit and i want what to do next i want to cap the cost of insulin at 35 a month for every american who needs for years people have talked about it but finally we got it done and gave medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs just like the va is able to do for veterans that is not just saving seniors money it is saving taxpayers money we cut the federal deficit by 160 billion because medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to big pharma this year medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis it is now time to go further and give medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 different drugs over the next decade they are making a lot of money guys and they will still be extremely profitable it will 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 a year even for expensive cancer drugs that cost now i want to cap prescription drug costs at a year for everyone folks i am going to get in trouble for saying that but any of you want to get in air force one with me and fly to toronto berlin mean excuse me well even moscow probably and bring your prescription with you and i promise you i will get it for you for the cost you are paying now same company same drug same place folks the affordable care old obamacare still a very big deal over 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition but my predecessor and many in this chamber want to take prescription drug away by repealing affordable care act boo i am not going to let that happen we stopped you 50 times before and we will stop you again in fact i am not only protecting it i am expanding it enacted tax credits of 800 per person per year to white house correction reduce health care costs for millions of working families that tax credit expires next year i want to make that savings permanent to state the obvious women are more than half of our population but research on women health has always been underfunded that is why we are launching the first ever white house initiative on women health research led by an incredible job as first pass my plan for 12 billion to transform women health research and benefit millions of lives all across america i know the cost of housing is so important to you if inflation keeps coming down mortgage rates will come down as well and the fed acknowledges that but i am not waiting i want to provide an annual tax credit that will give americans 400 a month for the next 2 years as mortgage rates come down to put toward their mortgages when they buy their first home or trade up for a little more space just for 2 years and my administration is also eliminating title insurance fees white house correction on federally backed mortgages when you refinance your home you can save or more as a consequence for millions of renters we are cracking down on big landlords who use antitrust break antitrust and driving up rents we have cut redtape so builders can get federally financing which is already helping build a record million new units nationwide now pass my plan white house correction and build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and bring those rents down to remain the strongest economy in the world we need to have the best education system in the world and i like i suspect all of you want to give a child a good start by providing access to preschool for and you know i think i pointed out last i think i pointed out last year that children coming from broken homes where there is no books they are not read to not spoken to very often start or first grade heard a million fewer words spoken well studies show that children who go to preschool are nearly more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a and degree no matter what their background is i met a year and a half ago with the leaders of the business roundtable they were mad that i was they were i wanted to spend money on education i pointed out to them as vice president i met with over think it was 182 of those not hold me to the exact i asked them what they need ceos and you have had the same experience on both sides of the aisle they say a better educated workforce right so i looked at them and i say i come from delaware dupont used to be the eighth largest corporation in the world and every new enterprise they bought they educated the workforce to that enterprise but none of you do that anymore why are you angry with me providing you the opportunity for the best educated workforce in the world and they all looked at me and said i think you are right i want to expand tutoring and summer learning to see that every child learns to read by third grade i am also connecting local businesses and high schools so students get experience and a path to a job whether or not they go to college and i want to make sure that college is more affordable let us continue increasing the pell grants to working and middle class families and increase record investments in hbcus and institutions including hispanic institutions when i was told i could not universally just change the way in which we with student loans i fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million americans including nurses firefighters and others in public service like keenan jones a public educator in minnesota who is here with us tonight keenan where are you keenan thank you he is educated hundreds of students so they can go to college now he is able to help after debt forgiveness get his own daughter to college and folks look such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a home start a business start a family and while we are at it i want to give public school teachers a raise and by the way the first couple of years we cut the deficit now let me speak to the question of fundamental fairness for all americans i have been delivering real results in fiscally responsible ways we have already cut the federal we have already cut the federal deficit over 1 trillion i signed a bipartisan deal to cut another trillion dollars in the next decade it is my goal to cut the federal deficit another 3 trillion by making big corporations and the very wealthy finally beginning to pay their fair share look i am a capitalist if you want to make or can make a million or millions of bucks that is great just pay your fair share in taxes a fair tax code is how we invest in things that make this country great health care education defense and so much more but here is the deal the last administration enacted a 2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefit the top 1 very boo the biggest 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 do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another 2 trillion tax break no i sure do not i am going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair under my plan nobody earning less than a year will pay an additional penny in federal one penny and they have not yet in fact the child tax credit i passed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions of working families and cut child poverty in half restore that child tax credit no child should go hungry in this country the way to make the tax code fair is to make big corporations and 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 boo not anymore thanks to the law i wrote and we signed big companies now have to pay a minimum of 15 percent but that is still less than working people pay in federal taxes it is time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21 percent so every big corporation finally begins to pay their fair share i also want to end tax breaks for big pharma big oil private jets massive executive pay when it was only supposed to be a million dollars that could be deducted they can pay them 20 million if they want but deduct a million end it now you know there are billionaires in america you know what the average federal tax is for those billionaires zero no they are making great percent boo that is far less than the vast majority of americans pay no billionaire should pay a lower federal tax rate than a teacher a sanitation worker or a nurse i proposed a minimum tax for billionaires of 25 25 percent you know what that would raise that would raise 500 billion over the next 10 years and imagine what that could do for america imagine a future with affordable childcare millions of families can get what 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 their sick family member future with home care and eldercare and people living with disabilities so they can stay in their homes and family caregivers can finally get the pay they deserve tonight let us 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 if anyone here tries to cut social security or medicare or raise the retirement age i will stop you the working the working people who built this country pay more into social security than millionaires and billionaires do it is not fair we have two ways to go republicans can cut social security and give more tax breaks to the wealthy i that is the proposal oh no you guys do not want another 2 trillion tax cut liar i kind of thought that is what your plan was well that is good to hear you are not going to cut another 2 trillion for the superwealthy that is good to hear i will protect and strengthen social security and make the wealthy pay their fair share joe joe joe many corporations raise prices to pad their profits charging more and more for less and less that is why we are cracking down on corporations that engage in price gouging and deceptive pricing from food to health care to housing in fact the snack companies think you will not notice if they change the size of the bag and put a hell of a lot size fewer chips in it no i am not joking it is called pass bobby casey bill and stop this i really mean it you probably all saw that commercial on snickers bars and you get charged the same amount and you have got about i do not know fewer snickers in it look i am also getting rid of junk fees those hidden fees at the end of your bill that are there without your knowledge my administration announced we are cutting credit card late fees from 32 to 8 banks and credit card companies are allowed to charge what it costs them to instigate the collection and that is hell of a lot like 8 than dollars but they do not like it the credit card companies do not like it but i am saving american families 20 billion a year with all of the junk fees i am eliminating folks at home that is why the banks are so mad it is 20 billion in profit i am not stopping there my administration has proposed rules to make cable travel utilities and online ticket sellers tell you the total price up front so there are no surprises it matters it matters and so does this in november my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators the result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we have ever seen boo oh you do not think so boo oh you do not like that conservatives got together and said was a good bill i will be darned that is amazing that bipartisan bill would hire more security agents and officers 100 more immigration judges to help tackle the backload of 2 million cases more asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of 6 years now what are you against one hundred more drug detection machines to significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl into america that is killing thousands of children this bill would save lives and bring order to the border it would also give me and any new president new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the number of migrants at the border is overwhelming the border patrol union has endorsed this bill the federal chamber of commerce yes you are saying no look at the facts i i know you know how to read i believe that given the majority in the house and senate would endorse the bill as majority right now yes but unfortunately politics has derailed this bill so far i am told my predecessor called members of congress in the senate to demand they block the bill he feels political viewed it as would be a political win for me and a political loser for him it is not about him it is not about me i would be a really what about laken riley boo say her name laken white house correction riley an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal by an illegal that is right but how many of thousands of people are being killed by legals to her parents i say my heart goes out to you having lost children myself i understand but look if we change the dynamic at the pay pay these smugglers bucks to get across the border because they know if they get they get by and let into the country it is 6 to 8 years before they have a hearing and it is worth the chance of the it is only 6 weeks the idea is it is highly unlikely that people will pay that money and come all that way knowing that they will to be kicked out quickly folks i would respectfully suggest to my friend republican friends owe it to the american people get this bill done we need to act now get it done get it done get it done build the wall and if my predecessor is watching instead of paying playing white house correction politics and pressuring members of congress to block the bill join me in telling the congress to pass it we can do it together but that is what he is what he will not do i will not demonize immigrants saying they are poison in 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 fix our immigration system take a look at it it has all these and more secure the border provide a pathway to citizenship for dreamers and so much more but unlike my predecessor i know who we are as americans we are the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that draws from old and new home to native americans whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years home to people of every every place on earth they came freely some came in chains some came when famine struck like my ancestral family in ireland some to flee persecution to chase dreams that are impossible anywhere but here in america that is america and we all come from somewhere but we are all americans look folks we have a simple choice we can fight about fixing the border or we can fix it i am ready to fix it send me the border bill now fix it fix it fix it a transformational in history happened years ago today in selma alabama hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the edmund pettus bridge named after the grand dragon of the ku klux klan 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 we miss him but joining us tonight are other marchers both in the gallery and on the floor including bettie mae fikes known as the voice of selma the daughter of gospel singers and preachers she sang songs of prayer and protest on that bloody sunday to help shake the nation conscience five months later the voting rights act passed and was signed into law thank you thank you thank you thank you but 59 years later there are forces taking us back in time voter suppression election subversion unlimited dark money extreme gerrymandering john lewis was a great friend to many of us here but if you truly want to honor him and all the heroes who marched with him then it is time to do more than talk pass the freedom to vote act the john lewis voting right rights white house correction act and denying another core value of america our diversity across american life banning books it is wrong instead of erasing history let us make history i want to protect fundamental rights pass the equality act and my message to transgender americans is i have your back pass the pro act for workers rights raise the federal minimum wage because every worker has the right to a decent living more than bucks an hour we are also making history by confronting the climate crisis not denying it i do not think any of you think there is no longer a climate crisis at least i hope you do not i am taking the most significant action ever on climate in the history of the world i am cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030 creating tens of thousands of clean energy jobs like the ibew workers building and installing electric vehicle charging stations conserving 30 percent of america lands and waters by 2030 and taking action on environmental communities smothered by the legacy of pollution and patterned after the peace corps and americacorps americorps white house correction i launched the climate corps to put young people to work in the forefront of our clean energy future i will triple that number in a decade to state the obvious all americans deserve the freedom to be safe and america is safer today than when i took office the year before i took office murder rates went up 30 percent remember abbey gate thirty percent they went united states marines kareem nikoui biggest increase in history it was then through my american rescue every american republican white house correction voted against i might made the largest investment in public safety ever last year the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in history violent crime fell to one of its lowest levels in more than 50 years but we have more to do we have to help cities invest in more community police officers more mental health workers more community violence intervention give communities the tools to crack down on gun crime retail crime and carjacking keep building trust as i have been doing by taking executive action on police reform and calling for it to be the law of the land directing my cabinet to review the federal classification of marijuana and expunging thousands of convictions for the mere possession because no one should be jailed for simply using or have it on their record take on crimes of domestic violence i am ramping up the federal enforcement of the violence against women act that i proudly wrote when i was a senator so we can end the scourge against women in america there are other kinds of violence i want to stop with us tonight is jazmin whose sister jackie was murdered with 21 classmates and teachers in her elementary school in uvalde texas very soon after that happened jill and i went to uvalde for a couple days we spent hours and hours with each of the families we heard their message so everyone in this room in this chamber could hear the same message the constant i was there for hours meeting with every family they said do something do something well i did do something by establishing the first ever office of gun violence prevention in the white house that the vice president is leading the charge thank you for doing it meanwhile my predecessor told the nra he is proud he did nothing on guns when he was president boo after another shooting in iowa recently he 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 i am proud we beat the nra when i signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years because of this congress we now must beat the nra again i am demanding a ban on assault weapons and magazines pass universal background checks none of of taught the second amendment for 12 years none of this violates the second amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners you know as we manage challenges at home we are also managing crises abroad including in the middle east i know the last 5 months have been for so many people for the israeli people for the palestinian people and so many here in america this crisis began on october 7 with a massacre by a terrorist group called hamas as you all know one thousand two hundred innocent and girls men and after enduring sexual violence the deadliest day of 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 the families that we will not rest until we bring every one of your loved ones home we will also work around the clock to bring home evan and paul americans being unjustly detained by the others around the world israel has a right to go after hamas hamas ended this conflict by releasing the hostages laying down end it by releasing the hostages laying down arms and surrendering those responsible for october 7 but israel has me israel has a added burden because hamas hides and operates among the civilian population like cowards under hospitals daycare centers and all the like israel also has a fundamental responsibility though to protect innocent civilians in gaza this war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in gaza combined more than palestinians have been says who of whom are not hamas thousands and thousands of and children girls and boys also orphaned nearly 2 million more palestinians under bombardment or displacement homes destroyed neighborhoods in rubble cities in ruin families without food water medicine it is heartbreaking i have been working nonstop to establish an immediate that would last for 6 weeks to get all the prisoners the hostages released and to get the hostages home and ease the intolerable crisis and build toward an more enduring the united states has been leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance into gaza tonight i am directing the military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary pier in the mediterranean on the coast of gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food water medicine and temporary shelters no boots will be on the ground a temporary pier will enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into gaza every day and israel must do its part israel must allow more aid into gaza and ensure humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire and they are announcing they are going are going to have a crossing in northern gaza to the leadership of israel i say this humanitarian assistance can not be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip protecting and saving innocent lives has to be a priority as we look to the future the only real solution to the situation is a solution over time and i say this as a lifelong supporter of israel my entire career no one has a stronger record with israel than i do i challenge any of you here i am the only american president to visit israel in wartime but there is no other path that guarantees israel security and democracy there is no other path that guarantees that palestinians can live in peace peace and dignity and there is no other path that guarantees peace between israel and all of its neighbors including saudi arabia with whom i am talking creating stability in the middle east also means containing the threat posed by iran that is why i built a coalition of more than a dozen countries to defend international shipping and freedom of navigation in the red sea i have ordered strikes to degrade the houthi capability and defend forces in the region as commander in chief i will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and our military personnel for years i have heard many of my republican and democratic friends say that china is on the rise and america is falling behind they have got it backwards i have been saying it for over 4 years even when i was not president america is rising we have the best economy in the world and since i have come to office our gtb gdp white house correction is up our trade deficit with china is down to the lowest point in over a decade and we are standing up against china unfair economic practices we are standing up for peace and stability across the taiwan straits i have revitalized our partnership and alliance in the pacific india australia japan south korea the pacific islands i have made sure that the most advanced american technologies can not be used in allowing to trade them there frankly for all his tough talk on china it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that i want competition with china not conflict and we are in a stronger position to win the conflict competition white house correction of the 21st century against china than anyone else for that at any time as well here at home i have signed over 400 bipartisan bills but there is more to pass my unity agenda strengthen penalties on fentanyl trafficking boo you do not want to do that huh pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online 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 way and care for them and their families when they come home and when they do not that is why with the strong support and help of denis and the va i signed the pact act one of the most significant laws ever helping millions of veterans exposed to toxins who now are battling more than 100 different cancers many of them do not come home but we owe them and their families support and we owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new health research agency called remind remind us that we can do big things like end cancer as we know it and we will let me close with this yay i know you do not want to hear anymore lindsey but i have got to say a few more things i know i may not look like it but i have 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 have seen the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our nation between those who want to pull america back to the past and those who want to move america into the future my lifetime has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy a future based on core values that have defined decency dignity and respect everyone to give everyone a fair shot to give hate no safe harbor now other people my age see it differently the american story of resentment revenge and retribution that is 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 claymont delaware among working class people who built this country i watched in horror as two of my many of you king and bobby kennedy were assassinated and their legacies inspired me to pursue a career of service i left a law firm and became a public defender because my city of wilmington was the only city in america occupied by the national guard after king was assassinated because of the riots and i became a county councilman almost by accident i got elected to the united states senate when i had no intention of running at age 29 then vice president to our first black president now a president to the first woman vice president in my career i have been told i was too young by the way they did not let me on the senate elevators for votes sometimes a joke and i have been told i am too old whether young or old i have always been have always known what endures i have known our north star the very idea of america is that we are all created to be treated equally throughout our lives we have never fully lived up to that idea but we have never walked away from it either and i will not walk away from it now i am optimistic i really am i am optimistic nancy four more years four more years four more years my fellow americans the issue facing our nation is not how old we are it is how old are our ideas hate anger revenge retribution are the oldest of ideas but you can not lead america with ancient ideas that only take us back to lead america the land of possibilities you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done tonight you have heard mine i see a future where we are white house correction defending democracy you do not diminish it i see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms not take them away i see a future where the middle class 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 will always be president for all americans because i believe in america i believe in you the american people you are the reason we have never been more optimistic about our future than i am now so let us build the future together let us remember who we are we are the united states of america and there is our capacity when we act together god bless you all and may god protect our troops thank you thank you thank you
bedtime reading tony thank looking jill good evening good evening smart would go home speaker madam vice president members congress fellow americans january 1941 franklin roosevelt came chamber speak nation said address moment unprecedented history union hitler march war raging europe president roosevelt purpose wake congress alert american people ordinary time freedom democracy assault world tonight come chamber address nation face unprecedented moment history union yes purpose tonight wake congress alert american people ordinary moment either since president lincoln civil war freedom democracy assault home today makes moment rare freedom democracy attack home overseas time overseas putin russia march invading ukraine sowing chaos throughout europe beyond anybody room thinks putin stop ukraine assure ukraine stop putin ukraine stop putin stand ukraine provide weapons needs defend asking asking american soldiers fact american soldiers war ukraine determined keep way assistance ukraine blocked want walk away world leadership long ago republican president named ronald reagan thundered gorbachev tear wall predecessor former republican president tells putin quote whatever hell want boo quote former president actually said bowing russian leader think outrageous dangerous unacceptable america founding member nato military alliance democratic nations created world war ii prevent war keep peace today made nato stronger ever welcomed finland alliance last year morning sweden officially joined minister tonight come stand welcome welcome welcome welcome know fight prime minister welcome nato strongest military alliance world ever seen say congress stand putin send bipartisan national security bill history literally watching history watching united states walks away put ukraine risk europe risk free world risk emboldening others wish us harm message president putin known long time simple walk away bow bow literal sense history watching history watching like history watched 3 years ago january 6 insurrectionists stormed capitol placed dagger throat american democracy many darkest days saw eyes insurrectionists patriots come stop peaceful transfer power overturn people january 6 lies 2020 election plots steal election posed threat democracy since civil war failed america america stood strong democracy prevailed must honest threat democracy must defended defeated white house correction predecessor seek bury truth january 6 moment speak truth bury lies simple truth love country win done ever since elected office ask without regard party join together defend democracy remember oath office defend threats foreign domestic fair elections restore trust institutions make clear political violence absolutely america zero place hyperbole suggest history watching watching children grandchildren read day history watching another assault freedom joining us tonight latorya beasley social worker birmingham alabama fourteen months months ago husband welcomed baby girl thanks miracle ivf scheduled treatments second child alabama supreme court shut ivf treatments across state unleashed supreme court decision overturning told dream would wait family gone never happened unless congress acts could happen tonight let us stand families like friends across aisle keep waiting longer guarantee right ivf guarantee nationwide like americans believe got right thank vice president harris incredible leader defending reproductive freedom much thank predecessor came office determined see overturned reason overturned brags look chaos resulted joining us tonight kate cox wife mother dallas would become pregnant fetus fatal condition doctor told kate life ability future future risk act texas law banned ability act kate husband leave state get needed family gone never happened well happening many others state laws banning freedom choose criminalizing doctors forcing survivors rape incest leave states get treatment need many chamber predecessor promising pass national ban reproductive freedom boo god freedom else would take away look decision overturn supreme court majority wrote due respect women without electoral power electoral political power realize much right clearly bragging overturning clue power women found reproductive freedom ballot 2022 2023 win 2024 american congress supports right choose promise restore law land folks america go back tonight show believe way forward know far come four years ago next week came office country hit worst pandemic worst economic crisis century remember fear record losses remember spikes crime murder rate raging virus took 1 million american lives loved ones millions left behind mental health crisis isolation loneliness president predecessor failed basic presidential duty owes american people duty care lies think unforgivable came office determined get us one toughest periods nation history make new thousand cities towns american people writing greatest comeback story never told let us tell story america comeback building future american possibilities building economy middle bottom top investing america americans make everyone fair shot leave pandemic longer controls lives vaccine saved us covid used beat cancer turning setback america america folks inherited economy brink economy literally envy world 15 million new jobs 3 record record unemployment lows record 16 million americans starting small businesses one literal act hope historic job growth growth black hispanics asian americans eight hundred thousand new manufacturing jobs america counting written manufacturing capital world people health insurance people health insurance today ever racial wealth gap smallest 20 years wages keep going inflation keeps coming inflation dropped 9 percent 3 percent lowest world tending trending white house correction lower landing soft instead importing foreign products exporting american jobs exporting american products creating american jobs right america belong takes time american people beginning feel consumer studies show consumer confidence soaring buy america law land since 1930s past administrations including democrats well buy american anymore watch federal projects helping build american roads bridges made american products built american workers creating american jobs thanks chips science act united states investing research development ever pandemic shortage semiconductors chips drove price everything cell phones way invented chips right america well instead import instead companies investing billions dollars build new chip factories america creating tens thousands jobs many jobs paying year require college degree fact policies attracted 650 billion investment clean energy advanced manufacturing creating tens thousands jobs america thanks bipartisan infrastructure law new projects announced across communities way noticed strongly voted cheering money coming like want money district let know modernizing roads bridges ports airports public transit systems removing poisonous lead pipes every child drink clean water without risk brain damage providing internet every american matter suburban rural communities red states blue states record investments tribal communities investment family invested family secretary agriculture knows anybody better able stay family farms children grandchildren leave home make living transformative great comeback story belvidere illinois home auto plant nearly 60 years came office plant way shutting thousands workers feared livelihoods hope fading elected office raised belvidere repeatedly auto companies knowing unions would make difference uaw worked like hell keep plant open get jobs back together succeeded instead auto factories shutting auto factories reopening new battery factory built power cars folks belvidere say instead town left behind community moving forward instead watching auto jobs future go overseas union jobs higher wages building future belvidere right america tonight uaw president shawn fain great friend great labor leader shawn stand dawn simms worker belvidere shawn proud first president stand picket line today dawn good job hometown providing stability family pride dignity well showing wall street build america bad guys build though middle class built country unions built middle class say american people america gets knocked get back keep going america american people america coming back future brighter tonight proudly say state union strong getting stronger four years four years four years want talk future possibilities build together future days economics wealthy biggest corporations longer get tax breaks way understand corporations come state corporations every one states united states combined represented 36 years anticorporation grew home economics put much dad kitchen table determined turn things around middle class well well poor way wealthy still well well make sure feeling benefits americans pay prescription drugs anywhere world wrong ending law proposed one republican buddies finally beat big pharma instead paying 400 month thereabouts insulin costs 10 bucks get paid 35 month still make healthy profit want next want cap cost insulin 35 month every american needs years people talked finally got done gave medicare power negotiate lower prices prescription drugs like va able veterans saving seniors money saving taxpayers money cut federal deficit 160 billion medicare longer pay exorbitant prices big pharma year medicare negotiating lower prices costliest drugs market treat everything heart disease arthritis time go give medicare power negotiate lower prices 500 different drugs next decade making lot money guys still extremely profitable save lives save taxpayers another 200 billion starting next year law caps total prescription drug costs seniors medicare year even expensive cancer drugs cost want cap prescription drug costs year everyone folks going get trouble saying want get air force one fly toronto berlin mean excuse well even moscow probably bring prescription promise get cost paying company drug place folks affordable care old obamacare still big deal 100 million longer denied health insurance preexisting condition predecessor many chamber want take prescription drug away repealing affordable care act boo going let happen stopped 50 times stop fact protecting expanding enacted tax credits 800 per person per year white house correction reduce health care costs millions working families tax credit expires next year want make savings permanent state obvious women half population research women health always underfunded launching first ever white house initiative women health research led incredible job first pass plan 12 billion transform women health research benefit millions lives across america know cost housing important inflation keeps coming mortgage rates come well fed acknowledges waiting want provide annual tax credit give americans 400 month next 2 years mortgage rates come put toward mortgages buy first home trade little space 2 years administration also eliminating title insurance fees white house correction federally backed mortgages refinance home save consequence millions renters cracking big landlords use antitrust break antitrust driving rents cut redtape builders get federally financing already helping build record million new units nationwide pass plan white house correction build renovate 2 million affordable homes bring rents remain strongest economy world need best education system world like suspect want give child good start providing access preschool know think pointed last think pointed last year children coming broken homes books read spoken often start first grade heard million fewer words spoken well studies show children go preschool nearly likely finish high school go earn degree matter background met year half ago leaders business roundtable mad wanted spend money education pointed vice president met think 182 hold exact asked need ceos experience sides aisle say better educated workforce right looked say come delaware dupont used eighth largest corporation world every new enterprise bought educated workforce enterprise none anymore angry providing opportunity best educated workforce world looked said think right want expand tutoring summer learning see every child learns read third grade also connecting local businesses high schools students get experience path job whether go college want make sure college affordable let us continue increasing pell grants working middle class families increase record investments hbcus institutions including hispanic institutions told could universally change way student loans fixed two student loan programs already existed reduce burden student debt nearly 4 million americans including nurses firefighters others public service like keenan jones public educator minnesota us tonight keenan keenan thank educated hundreds students go college able help debt forgiveness get daughter college folks look relief good economy folks able buy home start business start family want give public school teachers raise way first couple years cut deficit let speak question fundamental fairness americans delivering real results fiscally responsible ways already cut federal already cut federal deficit 1 trillion signed bipartisan deal cut another trillion dollars next decade goal cut federal deficit another 3 trillion making big corporations wealthy finally beginning pay fair share look capitalist want make make million millions bucks great pay fair share taxes fair tax code invest things make country great health care education defense much deal last administration enacted 2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefit top 1 boo biggest exploded federal deficit added national debt presidential term american history check numbers folks home anybody really think tax code fair really think wealthy big corporations need another 2 trillion tax break sure going keep fighting like hell make fair plan nobody earning less year pay additional penny federal one penny yet fact child tax credit passed pandemic cut taxes millions working families cut child poverty half restore child tax credit child go hungry country way make tax code fair make big corporations wealthy begin pay fair share remember 2020 55 biggest companies america made 40 billion paid zero federal income tax zero boo anymore thanks law wrote signed big companies pay minimum 15 percent still less working people pay federal taxes time raise corporate minimum tax least 21 percent every big corporation finally begins pay fair share also want end tax breaks big pharma big oil private jets massive executive pay supposed million dollars could deducted pay 20 million want deduct million end know billionaires america know average federal tax billionaires zero making great percent boo far less vast majority americans pay billionaire pay lower federal tax rate teacher sanitation worker nurse proposed minimum tax billionaires 25 25 percent know would raise would raise 500 billion next 10 years imagine could america imagine future affordable childcare millions families get need go work help grow economy imagine future paid leave one choose working taking care sick family member future home care eldercare people living disabilities stay homes family caregivers finally get pay deserve tonight let us agree stand seniors many friends side aisle want put social security chopping block anyone tries cut social security medicare raise retirement age stop working working people built country pay social security millionaires billionaires fair two ways go republicans cut social security give tax breaks wealthy proposal oh guys want another 2 trillion tax cut liar kind thought plan well good hear going cut another 2 trillion superwealthy good hear protect strengthen social security make wealthy pay fair share joe joe joe many corporations raise prices pad profits charging less less cracking corporations engage price gouging deceptive pricing food health care housing fact snack companies think notice change size bag put hell lot size fewer chips joking called pass bobby casey bill stop really mean probably saw commercial snickers bars get charged amount got know fewer snickers look also getting rid junk fees hidden fees end bill without knowledge administration announced cutting credit card late fees 32 8 banks credit card companies allowed charge costs instigate collection hell lot like 8 dollars like credit card companies like saving american families 20 billion year junk fees eliminating folks home banks mad 20 billion profit stopping administration proposed rules make cable travel utilities online ticket sellers tell total price front surprises matters matters november team began serious negotiations bipartisan group senators result bipartisan bill toughest set border security reforms ever seen boo oh think boo oh like conservatives got together said good bill darned amazing bipartisan bill would hire security agents officers 100 immigration judges help tackle backload 2 million cases asylum officers new policies resolve cases 6 months instead 6 years one hundred drug detection machines significantly increase ability screen stop vehicles smuggling fentanyl america killing thousands children bill would save lives bring order border would also give new president new emergency authority temporarily shut border number migrants border overwhelming border patrol union endorsed bill federal chamber commerce yes saying look facts know know read believe given majority house senate would endorse bill majority right yes unfortunately politics derailed bill far told predecessor called members congress senate demand block bill feels political viewed would political win political loser would really laken riley boo say name laken white house correction riley innocent young woman killed illegal illegal right many thousands people killed legals parents say heart goes lost children understand look change dynamic pay pay smugglers bucks get across border know get get let country 6 8 years hearing worth chance 6 weeks idea highly unlikely people pay money come way knowing kicked quickly folks would respectfully suggest friend republican friends owe american people get bill done need act get done get done get done build wall predecessor watching instead paying playing white house correction politics pressuring members congress block bill join telling congress pass together demonize immigrants saying poison blood country separate families ban people faith unlike predecessor first day office introduced comprehensive bill fix immigration system take look secure border provide pathway citizenship dreamers much unlike predecessor know americans nation world heart soul draws old new home native americans whose ancestors thousands years home people every every place earth came freely came chains came famine struck like ancestral family ireland flee persecution chase dreams impossible anywhere america america come somewhere americans look folks simple choice fight fixing border fix ready fix send border bill fix fix fix transformational history happened years ago today selma alabama hundreds foot soldiers justice marched across edmund pettus bridge named grand dragon ku klux klan claim fundamental right vote beaten bloodied left dead late friend former colleague john lewis march miss joining us tonight marchers gallery floor including bettie mae fikes known voice selma daughter gospel singers preachers sang songs prayer protest bloody sunday help shake nation conscience five months later voting rights act passed signed law thank thank thank thank 59 years later forces taking us back time voter suppression election subversion unlimited dark money extreme gerrymandering john lewis great friend many us truly want honor heroes marched time talk pass freedom vote act john lewis voting right rights white house correction act denying another core value america diversity across american life banning books wrong instead erasing history let us make history want protect fundamental rights pass equality act message transgender americans back pass pro act workers rights raise federal minimum wage every worker right decent living bucks hour also making history confronting climate crisis denying think think longer climate crisis least hope taking significant action ever climate history world cutting carbon emissions half 2030 creating tens thousands clean energy jobs like ibew workers building installing electric vehicle charging stations conserving 30 percent america lands waters 2030 taking action environmental communities smothered legacy pollution patterned peace corps americacorps americorps white house correction launched climate corps put young people work forefront clean energy future triple number decade state obvious americans deserve freedom safe america safer today took office year took office murder rates went 30 percent remember abbey gate thirty percent went united states marines kareem nikoui biggest increase history american rescue every american republican white house correction voted might made largest investment public safety ever last year murder rate saw sharpest decrease history violent crime fell one lowest levels 50 years help cities invest community police officers mental health workers community violence intervention give communities tools crack gun crime retail crime carjacking keep building trust taking executive action police reform calling law land directing cabinet review federal classification marijuana expunging thousands convictions mere possession one jailed simply using record take crimes domestic violence ramping federal enforcement violence women act proudly wrote senator end scourge women america kinds violence want stop us tonight jazmin whose sister jackie murdered 21 classmates teachers elementary school uvalde texas soon happened jill went uvalde couple days spent hours hours families heard message everyone room chamber could hear message constant hours meeting every family said something something well something establishing first ever office gun violence prevention white house vice president leading charge thank meanwhile predecessor told nra proud nothing guns president boo another shooting iowa recently asked said get quote get say stop stop stop stop proud beat nra signed significant gun safety law nearly 30 years congress must beat nra demanding ban assault weapons magazines pass universal background checks none taught second amendment 12 years none violates second amendment vilifies responsible gun owners know manage challenges home also managing crises abroad including middle east know last 5 months many people israeli people palestinian people many america crisis began october 7 massacre terrorist group called hamas know one thousand two hundred innocent girls men enduring sexual violence deadliest day jewish people since holocaust 250 hostages taken chamber tonight families whose loved ones still held hamas pledge families rest bring every one loved ones home also work around clock bring home evan paul americans unjustly detained others around world israel right go hamas hamas ended conflict releasing hostages laying end releasing hostages laying arms surrendering responsible october 7 israel israel added burden hamas hides operates among civilian population like cowards hospitals daycare centers like israel also fundamental responsibility though protect innocent civilians gaza war taken greater toll innocent civilians previous wars gaza combined palestinians says hamas thousands thousands children girls boys also orphaned nearly 2 million palestinians bombardment displacement homes destroyed neighborhoods rubble cities ruin families without food water medicine heartbreaking working nonstop establish immediate would last 6 weeks get prisoners hostages released get hostages home ease intolerable crisis build toward enduring united states leading international efforts get humanitarian assistance gaza tonight directing military lead emergency mission establish temporary pier mediterranean coast gaza receive large shipments carrying food water medicine temporary shelters boots ground temporary pier enable massive increase amount humanitarian assistance getting gaza every day israel must part israel must allow aid gaza ensure humanitarian workers caught crossfire announcing going going crossing northern gaza leadership israel say humanitarian assistance secondary consideration bargaining chip protecting saving innocent lives priority look future real solution situation solution time say lifelong supporter israel entire career one stronger record israel challenge american president visit israel wartime path guarantees israel security democracy path guarantees palestinians live peace peace dignity path guarantees peace israel neighbors including saudi arabia talking creating stability middle east also means containing threat posed iran built coalition dozen countries defend international shipping freedom navigation red sea ordered strikes degrade houthi capability defend forces region commander chief hesitate direct measures protect people military personnel years heard many republican democratic friends say china rise america falling behind got backwards saying 4 years even president america rising best economy world since come office gtb gdp white house correction trade deficit china lowest point decade standing china unfair economic practices standing peace stability across taiwan straits revitalized partnership alliance pacific india australia japan south korea pacific islands made sure advanced american technologies used allowing trade frankly tough talk china never occurred predecessor want competition china conflict stronger position win conflict competition white house correction 21st century china anyone else time well home signed 400 bipartisan bills pass unity agenda strengthen penalties fentanyl trafficking boo want huh pass bipartisan privacy legislation protect children online harness promise ai protect us peril ban ai voice impersonations keep truly sacred obligation train equip send harm way care families come home strong support help denis va signed pact act one significant laws ever helping millions veterans exposed toxins battling 100 different cancers many come home owe families support owe keep supporting new health research agency called remind remind us big things like end cancer know let close yay know want hear anymore lindsey got say things know may look like around get age certain things become clearer ever know american story seen contest competing forces battle soul nation want pull america back past want move america future lifetime taught embrace freedom democracy future based core values defined decency dignity respect everyone give everyone fair shot give hate safe harbor people age see differently american story resentment revenge retribution born amid world war ii america stood freedom world grew scranton pennsylvania claymont delaware among working class people built country watched horror two many king bobby kennedy assassinated legacies inspired pursue career service left law firm became public defender city wilmington city america occupied national guard king assassinated riots became county councilman almost accident got elected united states senate intention running age 29 vice president first black president president first woman vice president career told young way let senate elevators votes sometimes joke told old whether young old always always known endures known north star idea america created treated equally throughout lives never fully lived idea never walked away either walk away optimistic really optimistic nancy four years four years four years fellow americans issue facing nation old old ideas hate anger revenge retribution oldest ideas lead america ancient ideas take us back lead america land possibilities need vision future done tonight heard mine see future white house correction defending democracy diminish see future restore right choose protect freedoms take away see future middle class fair shot wealthy pay fair share taxes see future save planet climate crisis country gun violence see future americans see country americans always president americans believe america believe american people reason never optimistic future let us build future together let us remember united states america capacity act together god bless may god protect troops thank thank thank
bedtime read tony thank look jill good evening good evening smart would go home speaker madam vice president member congress fellow american january 1941 franklin roosevelt come chamber speak nation say address moment unprecedented history union hitler march war rag europe president roosevelt purpose wake congress alert american people ordinary time freedom democracy assault world tonight come chamber address nation face unprecedented moment history union yes purpose tonight wake congress alert american people ordinary moment either since president lincoln civil war freedom democracy assault home today make moment rare freedom democracy attack home overseas time overseas putin russia march invade ukraine sowing chaos throughout europe beyond anybody room think putin stop ukraine assure ukraine stop putin ukraine stop putin stand ukraine provide weapon need defend ask ask american soldier fact american soldier war ukraine determine keep way assistance ukraine block want walk away world leadership long ago republican president name ronald reagan thunder gorbachev tear wall predecessor former republican president tell putin quote whatever hell want boo quote former president actually say bowing russian leader think outrageous dangerous unacceptable america found member nato military alliance democratic nation create world war ii prevent war keep peace today make nato strong ever welcome finland alliance last year morning sweden officially join minister tonight come stand welcome welcome welcome welcome know fight prime minister welcome nato strong military alliance world ever see say congress stand putin send bipartisan national security bill history literally watch history watch united state walk away put ukraine risk europe risk free world risk embolden others wish u harm message president putin know long time simple walk away bow bow literal sense history watch history watch like history watch 3 year ago january 6 insurrectionist storm capitol place dagger throat american democracy many darkest day saw eyes insurrectionist patriots come stop peaceful transfer power overturn people january 6 lie 2020 election plot steal election pose threat democracy since civil war fail america america stand strong democracy prevail must honest threat democracy must defend defeated white house correction predecessor seek bury truth january 6 moment speak truth bury lie simple truth love country win do ever since elect office ask without regard party join together defend democracy remember oath office defend threat foreign domestic fair election restore trust institution make clear political violence absolutely america zero place hyperbole suggest history watch watch child grandchild read day history watch another assault freedom join u tonight latorya beasley social worker birmingham alabama fourteen month month ago husband welcome baby girl thanks miracle ivf schedule treatment second child alabama supreme court shut ivf treatment across state unleashed supreme court decision overturn told dream would wait family go never happen unless congress act could happen tonight let u stand family like friend across aisle keep wait long guarantee right ivf guarantee nationwide like american believe get right thank vice president harris incredible leader defend reproductive freedom much thank predecessor come office determine see overturned reason overturn brag look chaos result join u tonight kate cox wife mother dallas would become pregnant fetus fatal condition doctor tell kate life ability future future risk act texas law ban ability act kate husband leave state get need family go never happen well happen many others state law ban freedom choose criminalize doctor force survivor rape incest leave state get treatment need many chamber predecessor promise pass national ban reproductive freedom boo god freedom else would take away look decision overturn supreme court majority write due respect woman without electoral power electoral political power realize much right clearly brag overturn clue power woman find reproductive freedom ballot 2022 2023 win 2024 american congress support right choose promise restore law land folk america go back tonight show believe way forward know far come four year ago next week come office country hit bad pandemic bad economic crisis century remember fear record loss remember spike crime murder rate rag virus take 1 million american life love one million leave behind mental health crisis isolation loneliness president predecessor fail basic presidential duty owes american people duty care lie think unforgivable come office determine get u one tough period nation history make new thousand city towns american people write great comeback story never tell let u tell story america comeback building future american possibility build economy middle bottom top investing america american make everyone fair shot leave pandemic longer control live vaccine save u covid used beat cancer turn setback america america folk inherit economy brink economy literally envy world 15 million new job 3 record record unemployment low record 16 million american start small business one literal act hope historic job growth growth black hispanic asian american eight hundred thousand new manufacture job america count write manufacture capital world people health insurance people health insurance today ever racial wealth gap small 20 year wag keep go inflation keep come inflation drop 9 percent 3 percent low world tend trend white house correction lower land soft instead import foreign product export american job export american product create american job right america belong take time american people begin feel consumer study show consumer confidence soar buy america law land since 1930s past administration include democrat well buy american anymore watch federal project help build american road bridge make american product build american worker create american job thanks chip science act united state invest research development ever pandemic shortage semiconductor chip drive price everything cell phone way invent chip right america well instead import instead company invest billion dollar build new chip factory america create ten thousand job many job pay year require college degree fact policy attract 650 billion investment clean energy advance manufacture create ten thousand job america thanks bipartisan infrastructure law new project announce across community way notice strongly vote cheer money come like want money district let know modernize road bridge port airport public transit system remove poisonous lead pipe every child drink clean water without risk brain damage provide internet every american matter suburban rural community red state blue state record investment tribal community investment family invest family secretary agriculture know anybody well able stay family farm child grandchild leave home make live transformative great comeback story belvidere illinois home auto plant nearly 60 year come office plant way shut thousand worker fear livelihood hope fade elect office raise belvidere repeatedly auto company know union would make difference uaw work like hell keep plant open get job back together succeed instead auto factory shut auto factory reopen new battery factory build power car folk belvidere say instead town leave behind community move forward instead watch auto job future go overseas union job higher wage build future belvidere right america tonight uaw president shawn fain great friend great labor leader shawn stand dawn simms worker belvidere shawn proud first president stand picket line today dawn good job hometown provide stability family pride dignity well show wall street build america bad guy build though middle class build country union build middle class say american people america get knock get back keep go america american people america come back future brighter tonight proudly say state union strong get strong four year four year four year want talk future possibility build together future day economics wealthy big corporation longer get tax break way understand corporation come state corporation every one state united state combine represent 36 year anticorporation grow home economics put much dad kitchen table determine turn thing around middle class well well poor way wealthy still well well make sure feel benefit american pay prescription drug anywhere world wrong end law propose one republican buddy finally beat big pharma instead pay 400 month thereabouts insulin cost 10 buck get pay 35 month still make healthy profit want next want cap cost insulin 35 month every american need year people talk finally get do give medicare power negotiate low price prescription drug like va able veteran save senior money save taxpayer money cut federal deficit 160 billion medicare longer pay exorbitant price big pharma year medicare negotiate low price costliest drug market treat everything heart disease arthritis time go give medicare power negotiate low price 500 different drug next decade making lot money guy still extremely profitable save life save taxpayer another 200 billion start next year law cap total prescription drug cost senior medicare year even expensive cancer drug cost want cap prescription drug cost year everyone folk go get trouble say want get air force one fly toronto berlin mean excuse well even moscow probably bring prescription promise get cost pay company drug place folk affordable care old obamacare still big deal 100 million long deny health insurance preexist condition predecessor many chamber want take prescription drug away repeal affordable care act boo go let happen stop 50 time stop fact protect expand enact tax credit 800 per person per year white house correction reduce health care cost million work family tax credit expire next year want make saving permanent state obvious woman half population research woman health always underfunded launch first ever white house initiative woman health research lead incredible job first pas plan 12 billion transform woman health research benefit million live across america know cost housing important inflation keep come mortgage rate come well feed acknowledges wait want provide annual tax credit give american 400 month next 2 year mortgage rate come put toward mortgage buy first home trade little space 2 year administration also eliminate title insurance fee white house correction federally back mortgage refinance home save consequence million renter crack big landlord use antitrust break antitrust drive rent cut redtape builder get federally finance already help build record million new unit nationwide pas plan white house correction build renovate 2 million affordable home bring rent remain strong economy world need best education system world like suspect want give child good start provide access preschool know think point last think point last year child come break home book read spoken often start first grade heard million few word speak well study show child go preschool nearly likely finish high school go earn degree matter background meet year half ago leader business roundtable mad want spend money education point vice president meet think 182 hold exact ask need ceo experience side aisle say well educate workforce right look say come delaware dupont use eighth large corporation world every new enterprise buy educate workforce enterprise none anymore angry provide opportunity best educate workforce world look say think right want expand tutor summer learn see every child learn read third grade also connect local business high school student get experience path job whether go college want make sure college affordable let u continue increase pell grant work middle class family increase record investment hbcus institution include hispanic institution tell could universally change way student loan fix two student loan program already exist reduce burden student debt nearly 4 million american include nurse firefighter others public service like keenan jones public educator minnesota u tonight keenan keenan thank educate hundred student go college able help debt forgiveness get daughter college folk look relief good economy folk able buy home start business start family want give public school teacher raise way first couple year cut deficit let speak question fundamental fairness american deliver real result fiscally responsible way already cut federal already cut federal deficit 1 trillion sign bipartisan deal cut another trillion dollar next decade goal cut federal deficit another 3 trillion make big corporation wealthy finally begin pay fair share look capitalist want make make million million buck great pay fair share tax fair tax code invest thing make country great health care education defense much deal last administration enact 2 trillion tax cut overwhelmingly benefit top 1 boo big explode federal deficit add national debt presidential term american history check number folks home anybody really think tax code fair really think wealthy big corporation need another 2 trillion tax break sure go keep fight like hell make fair plan nobody earn less year pay additional penny federal one penny yet fact child tax credit pass pandemic cut tax million work family cut child poverty half restore child tax credit child go hungry country way make tax code fair make big corporation wealthy begin pay fair share remember 2020 55 big company america make 40 billion pay zero federal income tax zero boo anymore thanks law write sign big company pay minimum 15 percent still less working people pay federal tax time raise corporate minimum tax least 21 percent every big corporation finally begin pay fair share also want end tax break big pharma big oil private jet massive executive pay suppose million dollar could deduct pay 20 million want deduct million end know billionaires america know average federal tax billionaire zero make great percent boo far less vast majority american pay billionaire pay lower federal tax rate teacher sanitation worker nurse propose minimum tax billionaires 25 25 percent know would raise would raise 500 billion next 10 year imagine could america imagine future affordable childcare million family get need go work help grow economy imagine future pay leave one choose work take care sick family member future home care eldercare people live disability stay home family caregiver finally get pay deserve tonight let u agree stand senior many friend side aisle want put social security chop block anyone try cut social security medicare raise retirement age stop work work people built country pay social security millionaire billionaires fair two way go republicans cut social security give tax break wealthy proposal oh guy want another 2 trillion tax cut liar kind think plan well good hear go cut another 2 trillion superwealthy good hear protect strengthen social security make wealthy pay fair share joe joe joe many corporation raise price pad profit charge less less cracking corporation engage price gouge deceptive pricing food health care housing fact snack company think notice change size bag put hell lot size few chip joke call pas bobby casey bill stop really mean probably saw commercial snicker bar get charge amount get know few snicker look also get rid junk fee hide fee end bill without knowledge administration announce cut credit card late fee 32 8 bank credit card company allow charge cost instigate collection hell lot like 8 dollar like credit card company like save american family 20 billion year junk fee eliminate folk home bank mad 20 billion profit stop administration propose rule make cable travel utility online ticket seller tell total price front surprise matter matter november team begin serious negotiation bipartisan group senator result bipartisan bill tough set border security reform ever see boo oh think boo oh like conservative get together say good bill darn amazing bipartisan bill would hire security agent officer 100 immigration judge help tackle backload 2 million case asylum officer new policy resolve case 6 month instead 6 year one hundred drug detection machine significantly increase ability screen stop vehicle smuggle fentanyl america kill thousand child bill would save life bring order border would also give new president new emergency authority temporarily shut border number migrant border overwhelm border patrol union endorse bill federal chamber commerce yes say look fact know know read believe give majority house senate would endorse bill majority right yes unfortunately politics derail bill far tell predecessor call member congress senate demand block bill feel political viewed would political win political loser would really laken riley boo say name laken white house correction riley innocent young woman kill illegal illegal right many thousand people kill legals parent say heart go lose child understand look change dynamic pay pay smuggler buck get across border know get get let country 6 8 year hear worth chance 6 week idea highly unlikely people pay money come way know kick quickly folk would respectfully suggest friend republican friend owe american people get bill do need act get do get do get do build wall predecessor watch instead pay play white house correction politics pressure member congress block bill join tell congress pas together demonize immigrant say poison blood country separate family ban people faith unlike predecessor first day office introduce comprehensive bill fix immigration system take look secure border provide pathway citizenship dreamer much unlike predecessor know american nation world heart soul draw old new home native american whose ancestor thousand year home people every every place earth come freely come chain come famine struck like ancestral family ireland flee persecution chase dream impossible anywhere america america come somewhere american look folk simple choice fight fix border fix ready fix send border bill fix fix fix transformational history happen year ago today selma alabama hundred foot soldier justice march across edmund pettus bridge name grand dragon ku klux klan claim fundamental right vote beat bloodied left dead late friend former colleague john lewis march miss join u tonight marcher gallery floor include bettie mae fikes know voice selma daughter gospel singer preacher sing song prayer protest bloody sunday help shake nation conscience five month later vote right act pass signed law thank thank thank thank 59 year later force take u back time voter suppression election subversion unlimited dark money extreme gerrymander john lewis great friend many u truly want honor hero march time talk pas freedom vote act john lewis vote right right white house correction act deny another core value america diversity across american life ban book wrong instead erase history let u make history want protect fundamental right pass equality act message transgender americans back pass pro act worker right raise federal minimum wage every worker right decent live buck hour also make history confront climate crisis deny think think long climate crisis least hope take significant action ever climate history world cut carbon emission half 2030 create ten thousand clean energy job like ibew worker build instal electric vehicle charge station conserve 30 percent america land water 2030 take action environmental community smother legacy pollution pattern peace corp americacorps americorps white house correction launch climate corp put young people work forefront clean energy future triple number decade state obvious american deserve freedom safe america safer today take office year take office murder rate go 30 percent remember abbey gate thirty percent go united state marine kareem nikoui big increase history american rescue every american republican white house correction vote might make large investment public safety ever last year murder rate saw sharp decrease history violent crime fell one lowest level 50 year help city invest community police officer mental health worker community violence intervention give community tool crack gun crime retail crime carjack keep building trust take executive action police reform call law land direct cabinet review federal classification marijuana expunge thousand conviction mere possession one jail simply use record take crime domestic violence ramp federal enforcement violence woman act proudly write senator end scourge woman america kind violence want stop u tonight jazmin whose sister jackie murder 21 classmate teacher elementary school uvalde texas soon happen jill go uvalde couple day spend hour hour family hear message everyone room chamber could hear message constant hour meet every family say something something well something establish first ever office gun violence prevention white house vice president lead charge thank meanwhile predecessor tell nra proud nothing gun president boo another shoot iowa recently ask say get quote get say stop stop stop stop proud beat nra sign significant gun safety law nearly 30 year congress must beat nra demand ban assault weapon magazine pass universal background check none teach second amendment 12 year none violate second amendment vilifies responsible gun owner know manage challenge home also manage crisis abroad include middle east know last 5 month many people israeli people palestinian people many america crisis begin october 7 massacre terrorist group call hamas know one thousand two hundred innocent girl men endure sexual violence deadly day jewish people since holocaust 250 hostage take chamber tonight family whose loved one still hold hamas pledge family rest bring every one love one home also work around clock bring home evan paul americans unjustly detain others around world israel right go hamas hamas end conflict releasing hostage lay end releasing hostage lay arm surrender responsible october 7 israel israel add burden hamas hide operate among civilian population like coward hospital daycare center like israel also fundamental responsibility though protect innocent civilian gaza war take great toll innocent civilian previous war gaza combine palestinian say hamas thousand thousand child girl boy also orphan nearly 2 million palestinian bombardment displacement home destroy neighborhood rubble city ruin family without food water medicine heartbreaking work nonstop establish immediate would last 6 week get prisoner hostage release get hostages home ease intolerable crisis build toward endure united state lead international effort get humanitarian assistance gaza tonight direct military lead emergency mission establish temporary pier mediterranean coast gaza receive large shipment carry food water medicine temporary shelter boot ground temporary pier enable massive increase amount humanitarian assistance get gaza every day israel must part israel must allow aid gaza ensure humanitarian worker catch crossfire announce go go cross northern gaza leadership israel say humanitarian assistance secondary consideration bargain chip protect save innocent life priority look future real solution situation solution time say lifelong supporter israel entire career one strong record israel challenge american president visit israel wartime path guarantee israel security democracy path guarantee palestinians live peace peace dignity path guarantee peace israel neighbor include saudi arabia talk create stability middle east also mean contain threat pose iran build coalition dozen country defend international shipping freedom navigation red sea order strike degrade houthi capability defend force region commander chief hesitate direct measure protect people military personnel year heard many republican democratic friend say china rise america fall behind get backwards say 4 year even president america rise best economy world since come office gtb gdp white house correction trade deficit china low point decade stand china unfair economic practice stand peace stability across taiwan strait revitalize partnership alliance pacific india australia japan south korea pacific island make sure advanced american technology use allow trade frankly tough talk china never occur predecessor want competition china conflict strong position win conflict competition white house correction 21st century china anyone else time well home sign 400 bipartisan bill pass unity agenda strengthen penalty fentanyl traffic boo want huh pas bipartisan privacy legislation protect child online harness promise ai protect u peril ban ai voice impersonation keep truly sacred obligation train equip send harm way care family come home strong support help denis va sign pact act one significant law ever help million veteran expose toxin battle 100 different cancer many come home owe family support owe keep support new health research agency call remind remind u big thing like end cancer know let close yay know want hear anymore lindsey got say thing know may look like around get age certain thing become clear ever know american story see contest compete force battle soul nation want pull america back past want move america future lifetime taught embrace freedom democracy future base core value define decency dignity respect everyone give everyone fair shot give hate safe harbor people age see differently american story resentment revenge retribution bear amid world war ii america stand freedom world grow scranton pennsylvania claymont delaware among work class people build country watch horror two many king bobby kennedy assassinate legacy inspire pursue career service leave law firm become public defender city wilmington city america occupy national guard king assassinate riot become county councilman almost accident get elect united state senate intention run age 29 vice president first black president president first woman vice president career tell young way let senate elevator vote sometimes joke tell old whether young old always always know endures know north star idea america create treat equally throughout life never fully live idea never walk away either walk away optimistic really optimistic nancy four year four year four year fellow american issue face nation old old idea hate anger revenge retribution old idea lead america ancient idea take u back lead america land possibility need vision future do tonight heard mine see future white house correction defend democracy diminish see future restore right choose protect freedom take away see future middle class fair shoot wealthy pay fair share tax see future save planet climate crisis country gun violence see future american see country american always president american believe america believe american people reason never optimistic future let u build future together let u remember united state america capacity act together god bless may god protect troop thank thank thank