2021 Joe Biden speech to a joint session of Congress
Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, addressed a joint session of the United States Congress on April 28, 2021, the eve of his 100th day in office. It was his first public address before a joint session.[1] Similar to a State of the Union Address, it was delivered before the 117th United States Congress in the Chamber of the House of Representatives in the United States Capitol. Presiding over this joint session was the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, accompanied by Kamala Harris, the vice president in her capacity as the president of the Senate—the first time two women and two Californians presided over an address to Congress, seated on the rostrum behind the president.[2]
Date
April 28, 2021
9:00 p.m. EDT
1 hour, 5 minutes
House Chamber, United States Capitol
Unofficial State of the Union Address
Speech[edit]
Biden's address centered on his plans to expand the size and scope of the federal government to create blue-collar jobs, raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, reduce economic inequality, and invest in early childhood education, community colleges, infrastructure, research, and technology in the fight against climate change.[10] He cited the COVID-19 economic recovery and vaccination campaign as successes during his first 100 days in office.
Biden used the word "jobs" 43 times during the speech.[10] He proposed the American Families Plan, a US$1.8 trillion package that includes new spending on child care, education, and paid leave.[11] He asserted that autocratic adversaries, such as Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, see political divisiveness among Americans as "proof that the sun is setting on American democracy" and that America is "too riven by hostility to effectively govern."[10] On racial justice, he declared that Congress should pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, to eliminate systemic racism in housing, education and public health.[10] Biden declared that the "forever war in Afghanistan" will end with the withdrawal of U.S. forces.[10]
Response[edit]
Working Families Party[edit]
Rep. Jamaal Bowman delivered the progressive response to Biden's joint address to Congress.[13]