President Biden State of the Union | summary: Republican response, reactions, Ukraine, Build Back Better, mid-terms, Iran
President Biden 2022 State of the Union
The feud between Elon Musk and President Biden continue
The feud between Elon Musk and President Biden continue
What topics did President Biden touch on in his speach?
Republicans have now responded to President Biden's first State of the Union address. Biden opened the speech by focusing on the situation in Ukraine and announcing that US airspace would be closed to Russian aircraft. The President also sent additional warnings to Vladimir Putin that further sanctions could be coming to "inflict pain" on him. While Biden spoke to the fact that sanctions were being designed to avoid inflicting financial pain on the US people and business, the details remain unclear.
After focusing on the situation in eastern Europe, he pivoted to domestic issues, touting the bipartisan effort to pass a trillion dollar infrastructure package. He continued to call on Congress to pass various elements of the Build Back Better bill including the extension of the child tax credit, universal pre-K, and paid family leave. He also advocated that Congress increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour. However, this has not been an aspect of the President's agenda he has fought hard for; he did not push back after the Senate parliamentarian rule that the American Rescue Plan could not include a provision for that type of increase. Biden does see increasing wages as critical to ending the inflation crisis, as he sees it as the company's responsibility to attract and hire workers in the US to reduce our dependency on global supply chains.
Then, President Biden spoke about the pandemic, noting that Congress was able to gather together after two years. Few masks were seen in the chamber, another sign that the pandemic situation is taking a turn. Biden also detailed how within the coming weeks most areas of the country will meet the CDC requirements to remove mask requirements.
The President ended by focusing on his "Unity Agenda" which contains four key points. 1. Beat the opioid epidemic -- "if you are suffering from addition, you should know that you are not alone." 2. Take on mental health -- "We must hold social media companies accountable for the experiments they are conducting on our children for profit." 3. Support our veterans -- "veterans are the backbone and spine of this country." 4. End cancer as we know it -- "Our goal is to cut cancer deaths by 50 percent in the next 25 years."
Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs responds to SOTU
“I appreciated the attention President Biden gave to the unique issues veterans and their families face during his State of the Union Address this evening. If we want to get things done for the men and women who have served, we owe it to them to work together in a bipartisan way. I hope that my House Democrat colleagues will soon heed that call, I have long said that I support any Administration’s authority to designate certain conditions for a presumption of entitlement to service connection, and help veterans impacted by toxic exposure. These actions only further inform our work on sending good toxic exposure legislation to the President’s desk. I am eager to continue to work with our House and Senate colleagues, and Secretary McDonough, to achieve exactly that.”
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser responds to Biden's SOTU
"Parents matter, they have a right to know and have a say in what their children are taught.
"Americans are tied of a political class trying to remark this country"
American Rescue Plan and stimulus blamed for inflation.
Reynolds critiques Biden on many of the foreign policy choices he has made during his presidency.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds begins her response, by slamming Biden for increasing inflation.
Biden's speech was a bit shorter than his 2021 joint address to Congress
Who will deliver the Republican response?
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will deliver the Republican response to Presidnet Biden's first State of the Union address.
BEGINNING SOON: Republican response from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds
"The State of the Union is strong."
"I see the future within our grasp"
"We have built the freest and most prosperous country."
Unity Agenda
1. Beat the opioid epidemic -- "if you are suffering from addition, you should know that you are not alone."
2. Take on mental health -- "We must hold social media companies accountable for the experiments they are conducting on our children for profit."
3. Support our veterans -- "veterans are the backbone and spine of this country."
The VA will cover treatments for nine more respiratory cancers.
4. End cancer as we know it -- "Our goal is to cut cancer deaths by 50 percent in the next 25 years."
Biden signed 80 bipartisan bills last year
Message to transgender kids: "I will always have your back, so that you can be yourself, and reach your god given potential."
Immigrantion Reform: "Let's get it done once and for all!"
"Provide a pathway to citizenship for dreams, farm workers, essential workers."
Biden begins to talk about immigration... a few "Bulld the Wall" cheers are heard in the chamber
Biden provides a bit of personal history of his Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson
Justice Breyer receives standing ovation
Biden takes time to honor Justice Breyer: "Thank you for your service."
Call to the Senate: "Pass the Freedom to Vote Act, Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!"
"Why should anyone on the terrorist list be able to purchase a weapon?"
"The answer is not to defund the police, but to fund the police."
American Rescue Plan allocated more money for states and cities to hire more police and to implment other "proven" strategies that "break the cycle of violence and trauma."
Biden speaks of two police officers killed in the line of duty in New York City.
"We will continue to vaccinate the world."
"You can't build a wall high enough to keep out a virus."
Americans will be able to order a new round of tests next week
The President had a pretty resounding slip of the tongue while talking about his support for Ukraine over the ongoing Russian invasion. Read more.
"Covid-19 no longer need control our lives!"
CDC issued a new mask guidelines. Under the new guidelines most of the country can go mask free.
"Let's pass the PRO Act!"
"Raise the minimum wage to $15 and extend the child tax credit so no one has to raise a family and poverty!"
"I am a capitalist." Biden insists that more competition in the market is needed to prevent exploitation under the capitalist economic system.
Justice Department to announce the position of Chief Prosecuter for Pandemic Fraud.
"Confirm my nominees for the Federal Reserve!"
130 countries now agree on a global minimum tax rate of at least 15 percent for transnational corporations.
Biden reaffirms his commitment to ensuring that no one who makes under $400,000 will see their taxes increase
Biden: Families should not have to pay more than seven percent of their income in childcare costs. Most families would see the amount they pay for childcare cut in half.
"Let's cut the cost of childcare."
Biden: "Let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies."
Biden urges Congress to pass legislation to bring down the price of pharmaceutical companies.
Insulin costs $10 to make, but pharmaceutical companies can charge 30 times that to those who depend on the medication to supply.
"Instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let's make it in America."
Biden touts speed of economic recovery, tying inflation to layoffs and global supply chain issues.
Message to companies: "Lower your costs, not your wages."
Biden transitions to how his administration plans to address inflation
Ford and GM are investing in the electric vehicle market, creating thousands of jobs.
Biden urges Congress to pass the bipartisan innovation plan that ensures that two percent of the GDP is invested in innovative technologies to make the United States more competitive this century.
This year: thousands of miles of highway and bridges will be invested in
Affordable high speed internet access will be available to all Americans thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
Biden thanks "Republican friends" for their help in passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill.
6.5 million jobs were created in 2021, the most added in any year.
Biden slams Trump tax cuts and receives "boos" from Republicans
"The American Rescue Plan helped the American people and left no one behind."
Much of US aid sent to Ukraine has taken the form of military assisstance
President Biden will tap into strategic oil reserves to keep supply up and stunt price increases.
Biden says actions are being taken to ensure that the US economy is not impacted by the sanctions that have been imposed.
"Ukrainians are fighting back with pure courage."
Biden makes it clear the the United States has no plans to get involved in a war against Russia but does stand ready to protect NATO allies.
Military assistance, economic assistance, and humanitarian assistance is being sent to Ukraine. More than a billion dollars has or will be sent in the coming weeks.
BREAKING: Biden: The US will close its airspace to Russian aircraft.
Message to Russian oligarchs and corrupt leaders: "No more!"
"Putin is now isolated from the world, more than he has ever been."
President Biden details efforts taken by the United States to coordinate the response to Putin's action.
President Biden begins State of the Union talking about the situation in Ukraine. Noting that the Ukrainian ambassador the Ukraine is in the chamber, they received a standing ovation.
"Freedom will always triumph over tyranny." -President Biden
President Biden begins to make his way to the podium, shaking hands along the way to some cheers and applause from some in the chamber.
Are masks being worn at the State of the Union?
Some people in the audience may choose to wear a mask but they are not required since the mask mandate has been lifted in Washington DC. President Biden has entered without a mask on.
Supreme Court Justices arrive to State of the Union address
White House releases preview of Biden's State of the Union speech
Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos. They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.
That’s why the NATO Alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War 2. The United States is a member along with 29 other nations.
It matters. American diplomacy matters.
Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked. He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home.
Putin was wrong. We were ready.
We have a choice. One way to fight inflation is to drive down wages and make Americans poorer. I have a better plan to fight inflation.
Lower your costs, not your wages. Make more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains – let’s make it in America.
Economists call it “increasing the productive capacity of our economy.” I call it building a better America.
My plan to fight inflation will lower your costs and lower the deficit.
Today, Tuesday 1 March 2022, is the date set for the State of the Union address. When U.S. President Joe Biden took office a year ago he did not deliver an official address, although did speak the country in an attempt to unify the very divided nation, so this is his first. And what a time to do it. After guiding the country through the pandemic, President Biden is now facing a historic geopolitical conflict.
The Independent releases the rules of a drinking game for the 2022 State of the Union address
The Independent has released rules for a State of the Union style drinking game...saying that it is one way to exercise your "civic duty." Some of the chosen phrases include "Inflation," "Russia," and "C'mon."
All you need to know about the State of the Union designated survivor
US President Joe Biden is to give first State of the Union address on Tuesday, with foreign policy is set to play a bigger role in his speech than previously expected.
Biden, who took office in January 2021, gave a joint address to Congress last April, but that wasn’t considered a State of the Union speech. Read our full coverage for more details on how to watch the speech.
Ukraine's ambassador to the US will be present at the SOTU
President Biden has extended in invite to Oskana Markarova to be a guest at the 2022 State of the Union. Each year the President invites various guests who sit with the first lady during the speech.
Biden likely to announce the closing of US airspace to Russian plans during 2022 SOTU
Just hours before President Biden is scheduled to make his first State of the Union address, the AP is reporting that the US will announce that it will close US airspace to Russian plans. This move was taken by the European Union just a few days ago.
What is President Biden expected to dicuss during his State of the Union address?
Does the country approve of the job being done by President Biden?
With regard to Ukraine it seems that many in the country oppose the way the President has handled the situation.
However, what this new data from Quinipiac does not tell us is why. Overall the level of disapproval stood at 52 percent, but this does not meant that some of those people would vote against him in am election. Without a comparison to another canidate, the implications of polls like this are difficult to understand.
When will the speech begin?
President Biden will begin his address at 9 PM ET.
Hello and Welcome to AS USA's live coverage of President Biden's 2022 State of the Union address. This will be a historic address as the world's eyes are turned towards eastern Europe. President Biden is expedcted to provide an update on the Russia-Ukranian war as well as what his adminstration is planning here at home.