By Blace Carpenter and Alexa Cheaney
President Joe Biden delivered an energetic and feisty State of the Union speech on March 7, touching on several topics such as a cease-fire and humanitarian aid for the conflict in Gaza, his support to make abortion a constitutional right, his age and his goals to help aid all socioeconomic classes.
Biden opened his address with a reference to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State of the Union address during World War II and drew comparisons to today’s current events, saying, “Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation. Now it’s we who face unprecedented moments in the history of the union…”
Calling out Russian President Vladimir Putin for his continuous attacks on Ukraine, Biden said, “We won’t walk away.” While Biden never mentioned former president Donald Trump by name, he used this opportunity to call out his “predecessor” and the comment he made during a campaign rally in South Carolina back in February.
“Now my predecessor, a former president, tells Putin quote, ‘Do whatever the hell you want,’” said Biden.
The president also brought up the attack on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021, and the “January 6 lies” that far right-wing supporters spread about the 2020 election.
This address was Biden’s last opportunity to speak in front of Congress before the election and he used his speech to show what he wants to accomplish before the election and what he would do if elected for a second term. Biden centered abortion in his speech, showing his unwavering support for reproductive rights and pledged that his administration would fight for it nationwide. Many female members of the Democratic party could be seen in the chamber wearing white in support of the cause as well.
“Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. May god what freedom else would you take away?” Biden said.
He also showed support to his Vice President Kamala Harris and her fight for reproductive rights. Harris met with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and others in Grand Rapids on Feb. 22 as part of her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour.
During his address, Biden promised the American people that he would restore Roe V. Wade as long as he had a Congress that would do so.
In response to the housing crisis currently troubling many Americans, Biden said he is cracking down on landlords violating antitrust laws, and talked about how builders receiving federal financing are now able to build a record number of new housing units.
“For millions of renters, we’re cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents,” said Biden. “I’ve cut red tape so more builders can get federal financing, which is already helping build a record 1.7 million housing units nationwide.”
To further help aid families with the cost of living, Biden also spoke on making college more affordable and creating a viable path for those who do not pursue a post-secondary education.
“I’m also connecting local businesses and high schools so students get hands-on experience and a path to good paying jobs, whether or not they go to college,” the president said. “But I want to make sure that college is more affordable. Let’s continue increasing the Pell grants to middle-class families and increase record investments.”
Biden shared plans of reform at the K-12 level as well, saying that he plans to provide preschool education to 3 and 4-year-olds, as well as expand high-quality tutoring and summer learning programs with the goal that all children will be able to read by the third grade.
Earlier in the week on March 3, Vice President Harris called for an immediate and temporary cease-fire in Gaza, before the president had publicly spoken on the matter. However, during his State of the Union address, Biden announced that the United States would establish a pier on the coast of Gaza to provide humanitarian aid.
“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,” Biden said.
The president also specified that no American soldiers would be on the ground in Gaza.
The border was the final and one of the most major portions of the address. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene had heckled Biden during his previous State of the Union and made an effort to do so again. After Biden spoke about the bi-partisan bill about foreign aid with border changes that Republicans blocked last month, Greene shouted about the case of Laken Reily, a 22-year-old who was killed by a Venezuelan migrant who had entered the country illegally, asking that Biden to “say her name.”
In response, Biden paused his speech and held out a pin stating, “Say her name” referring to Reily. While Biden mispronounced her name saying “Lincoln,” he said his heart goes out to the family and that he understands the loss of a child. In rebuttal to Greene’s point, he asked how many people are being killed by “legals” and told Republicans to pass the border bill and argued that it would help reduce illegal crossing.
The topic of the border was also brought up in and emotional rebuttal delivered by Republican representative Kate Britt, of Alabama. Britt delivered her unconventional speech from a kitchen setting and opened up by calling Biden “out of touch” and claimed many families were suffering under his presidency.
“Under his administration, families are worse off — our communities are less safe, and our country is less secure,” the 42-year-old representative said. “I just wish he understood what real families are facing around kitchen tables just like this one.”
Britts’s comments were very much in line with other Republican leaders when it comes to reproductive rights and border security. When talking about the Laken Reily case and grim details about cartels and sex trafficking, Britts said, “That could’ve been my daughter…It could’ve been yours.”
While Trump praised Britts speech stating in a post on his social media site, Truth Social, that “Katie Britt was a GREAT contrast to an Angry, and obviously very Disturbed, ‘President,’” other Republicans were reportedly shocked by her rebuttal to the State of the Union address.
President Biden ended his address poking fun at his age, which many people are concerned about when it comes to him running for a second term.
“I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while,” said the 81-year-old president “And when you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever.”
