President Biden’s Address to Congress

 Says, “America is back, and here to stay.”

Ahead of his first one-hundred days in office, President Biden addressed Congress, and Americans, in a live television broadcast Wednesday night where he lauded the actions of his administration and admonished Americans, and both parties, “to work together.”

Short of mentioning the stock market, U.S. border crisis, and U.S. homelessness, Biden addressed a host of issues that still plague America but also offered what his administration wants to do, in-the-now, to move the country forward on the issues.

President Biden addressed climate change, education, police reform, taxes, China, infrastructure, health care, vaccine roll outs, Afghanistan. All the topics that, for years, have been addressed by previous presidential administrations.

Here are a few highlights from the speech.

Infrastructure.

The president said his American Jobs Plan would also “replace 100% of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines so every American, so every child – can turn on the faucet and be certain to drink clean water.”

We know states like Flint, MI still cannot the drink the water because of the presence of lead found after a governmental decision caused horrific consequences for its residents.

It is expected that both sides are for of rebuilding the country’s broken, aged infrastructure.

Speaking on MSNBC earlier Thursday after, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said she is looking forward to working with Biden on the issue.

The president is expected to travel to Philadelphia to speak at an AMTRAK train station to tout his infrastructure plan. (Biden was a regular AMTRAK work commuter from Philly to D.C.)

--- TRENDING:  Gillibrand’s unicorn.

Climate change.

The administration’s web site states that the United States faced 22 extreme weather and climate-related disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each – a cumulative price tag of nearly $100 billion. 

Biden said his American Jobs Plan (“the largest jobs plan since World War II”) would combat climate change because it would provide the kinds of ‘made-in-America jobs that would build “more energy efficient buildings and homes”; allow electrical workers to install charging stations “along our highways; and would “lead the world in the production of electric vehicles and batteries.”

Read: The Causes of Climate Change

Hate and police reform.

The country is reeling with hate and violence. Violence by police against African Americans has skyrocketed. Within the last month, more than seven police involved shootings of African Americans have surfaced, due to video from people filming the incident and the victims themselves. The world watch in astonishment, anger and disbelief as a police officer kneeled on a citizen’s neck for nearly ten minutes.

Asians have experienced violence because of the Corona virus, believed to have originated in China.

--- Agree, or no?: Vice President Harris on Tim Scott’s, “America is not racist” comment.

Last week, both the House and Senate unanimously (sweepingly, and without fan fair) passed an anti-Asian hate crime bill.

 

In similar fashion, the House proposed, last year, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that would hold police accountable for their use of excessive force, profiling, and murder of U.S. citizens.

Said Biden, “We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black America.”

More talks on the bill are expected to be held this week. (Opinion: People are tired of talking and want reform).

“Now is the time to make real progress”, said Biden.

(NOTE: African Americans, who have long been recipients of hate, violence and discrimination for nearly 500 years, still await their turn to become a protected class.)

LGTBQ Equality.

The president is also expected to sign a bill that would protect LGTBQ individuals from crimes of hate and discrimination.

“I also hope Congress can get to my desk the Equality Act to protect the rights of LGBTQ Americans”, said Biden.

In President Obama-like fashion, Biden spoke directly to the LGBTQ community letting them know they have is support.

“To all the transgender Americans watching at home – especially the young people who are so brave – I want you to know that your president has your back”, said the president.

--- Related: And then there was radical opposition.

Vaccine Distribution.

More than 200 million vaccine doses have been administered, according to the administration – to include seniors.

“We’re marshalling every federal resource. We’ve gotten the vaccine to nearly 40,000 pharmacies and over 700 community health centers”, said the president.

The administration has made vaccination sites easy to get to.

“Today, 90% of Americans now live within 5 miles of a vaccination site.”

What about the other 10%, one might ask?

The administration says they are “setting up community vaccination sites and are deploying mobile units into hard-to-reach areas.”

Biden wants to show that government is working for America.

“We have to prove democracy still works”, said Biden.  “That our government still works – and can deliver for the people.”

Said Biden said he wants Americans to all do their part to “guarantee justice and fairness”.

“That’s all I’m asking. That we all do our part”, he said.

“Doing nothing is not an option”, said the president.