Full Transcript of Bidenʼs State of the Union Speech

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/08/us/politics/state-of-the-union-transcript-biden.html

1/26

In an address that previewed the issues his campaign will focus on in the

November election, President Biden made the case for a second term.

By The New York Times

March 8, 2024 Updated 10:19 a.m. ET

President Biden delivered his annual State of the Union address on Thursday to a

joint session of Congress. The following is a transcript of his remarks, as recorded by

The New York Times.

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 in 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

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.

Full Transcript of Bidenʼs State of the Union

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3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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2/26

What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack

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 they need 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. 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. 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 to 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. 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 what they wish to do us harm.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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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 three years ago on Jan. 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.

Jan. 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. My predecessor

and some of you here seek to bury the truth about Jan. 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 and

defend against all threats foreign and domestic.

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, it’s not hyperbole to suggest history is watching. We’re watching.

Your children, your grandchildren will read about this day and what we do.

History is watching another assault on freedom.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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Joining us tonight is Latorya Beasley, a social worker from Birmingham, Ala.

Fourteen months, 14 months ago, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl

thanks to the miracle of I.V.F.

She scheduled treatments to have that second child, but the Alabama Supreme

Court shut down I.V.F. treatments across the state, unleashed by a Supreme Court

decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

She was told her dream would have to wait. What her family got 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 I.V.F. Guarantee it nationwide.

Like most Americans, I believe Roe v. Wade got it right. I thank Vice President

Harris for being an incredible leader, defending reproductive freedom and so much

more.

But my predecessor came to office determined to see Roe v. Wade 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 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 the what she needed. What her family got 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. My God, what freedom else would you take away?

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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5/26

Look, in its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote

the following, and with all due respect justices, “Women are not without electoral,

electoral power” — excuse me — “electoral or political power.” You’re about to

realize just how much you got right about that.

Clearly, clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade 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 people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose,

I promise you, I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.

Folks, America cannot go back. I am here tonight to show what I believe 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, raging virus that took more than one million American lives of loved ones,

millions left behind, a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness.

A president, my predecessor, failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to

American people: the duty to care. 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, 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

America, in all Americans, to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no

one, no one behind.

The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccines that saved us from Covid

are now being used to beat cancer.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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6/26

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. Fifteen million new jobs in just three 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, Hispanic and Asian

Americans, 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in America and counting.

Where is it written that we can’t be the manufacturing capital of the world? We are.

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 trending lower. The landing is

and will be soft.

And now instead of importing, 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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7/26

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 prices for

everything from cellphones to automobiles. And by the way, we invented those

chips right here in America.

Well instead of having to import them, 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 to our bipartisan infrastructure law, 46,000 new projects have been

announced all across your communities. And by the way, I notice, some of you

strongly voted against it are there cheering on that money coming on. I’m with

you. I’m with you. If any of you don’t want that money in your district, just let me

know.

Modernize 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 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 of my investment 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 those farms, and their children

and grandchildren won’t have to leave home to make a living.

It’s transformative.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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8/26

A great comeback story is Belvidere, Ill., 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 U.A.W. 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

reopening. 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 the future in

Belvidere, right here in America.

Here tonight is U.A.W. President Shawn Fain, a great friend and a great labor

leader. Shawn, where are you? Stand up. And Dawn Simms, a third generation

worker, U.A.W. worker in Belvidere.

Shawn, I was proud to be the first president to stand in a picket line, and today,

Dawn has a 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 this 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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9/26

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

biggest corporations no longer get 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 United States combined.

And I represented it for 36 years. I’m not anti-corporation, 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 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 — not one of you Republican buddies voted

for it — we finally beat Big Pharma. Instead of paying $400 a month or thereabouts

for insulin with diabetes, it’ll only costs ten bucks to make — they only get pay 35 a

month now and still make a healthy profit. And now 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 V.A.’s 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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10/26

They are making a lot of money, guys. And they are still going to be extremely

profitable. That will not only save lives; it will save taxpayers another $200 billion.

Starting next year, that same law caps total prescription drug costs for seniors on

Medicare at $2,000 a year, even for expensive cancer drugs that can cost $10,000,

$12,000, $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 this, but maybe you want to get into Air Force

One with me and fly to Toronto, Berlin, Moscow — I mean, excuse me — well even

in Moscow, probably. And bring your prescription with you, and I promise you I’ll

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 pre-

existing conditions. But my predecessor, and many in this chamber, want to take

those prescription drugs away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. 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.

I enacted tax credits that save $800 per person per year, reduce health care cost 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.

Pass my plan for $12 billion to transform women’s health research and benefit

millions of lives across America.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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11/26

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 two years as mortgage rates come down, to put toward their mortgage

when they buy a first home or trade up for a little more space. That’s for two years.

And my administration is also eliminating title insurance 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

laws — who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents. We’ve cut

red tape so builders can get federally financing, which is already helping build a

record 1.7 million new housing units nationwide.

Now pass and build and renovate two 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’d, like I’d 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, 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 two- or four-year degree no matter

what their background is.

I met a year and a half ago with the leaders of a business round table. They were

mad that I — they were angry — well, they were discussing why I wanted to spend

money on education.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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12/26

I pointed out to them as vice president. I met with over — I think it was 182 of those

folks. Don’t hold me to the exact number. And I asked them what they need the

most, the C.E.O.s. And you have had the same experience on the both sides of the

aisle: They said a better educated work force.

So I looked at them, and I say, I come from Delaware. DuPont used to be eighth-

largest corporation in the world. And every new enterprise they bought, they

educated the work force to that enterprise. But none of you do that anymore. Why

are you angry with me, providing you the opportunity for the best-educated work

force in the world? They all looked at me and said, I think you’re right.

I want to expand high-quality tutoring and summer learning time and see to it 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 Pell Grants to working- and middle-class families and

increase record investments in H.B.C.U.s and minority-serving institutions,

including Hispanic institutions.

When I was told I couldn’t universally just change the way in which we dealt with

student loans, I fixed two student loan programs that already existed to reduce the

burden of student debt for nearly four million Americans, including nurses,

firefighters and others in public service like Keenan Jones, a public educator in

Minnesota. 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.

Folks, look. Such relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to buy a

home, start a business, start a family. While we’re at it, I want to give public-school

teachers a raise.

By the way, for the first couple of years, we cut the deficit.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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13/26

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 by over a trillion dollars.

I signed a bipartisan deal that will cut another trillion dollars over the next decade.

It’s my goal to cut the federal deficit $3 trillion more 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, you 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 the things and 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 benefited the top 1 percent — the very wealthy and the biggest

corporations — and exploded the federal deficit.

They added more to the national debt than in any presidential term in American

history. Check the numbers. For folks at home, does anybody really think the tax

code is fair?

Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax

break? 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 in profits and paid zero in federal income taxes. Zero. Not

anymore.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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14/26

Thanks to the law I wrote and 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 the tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, private jets and massive

executive pay. They can pay 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 these billionaires? They are making great sacrifices: 8.2 percent.

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 propose 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.

Imagine what that could do for America. Imagine a future with affordable child

care. Millions of families can get — 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 a sick family member.

Imagine a future of home care and elder care and peoples 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 who built this country pay more into Social Security than

millionaires and billionaires do. It’s not fair.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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15/26

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? 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 super wealthy?

That’s good to hear.

I will protect and strengthen Social Security and make the wealthy pay their fair

share. Look, 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 shrinkflation.

Pass Bobby Casey’s bill and stop this. I really mean it.

You probably all saw that commercial on Snickers bars. You get charged the same

amount and you 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 would cost them to

instigate the collection. And that’s more, a hell of a lot, like $8 than 30-some dollars.

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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

Biden’s 2024 State of the Union Address: Read the Full Transcript - The New York Times

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16/26

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. Oh, you don’t think so? 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 deal would hire 1,500 more security agents and officers, 100 more

immigration judges to help tackle the backload of two million cases, 4,300 more

asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in six months instead of

six 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 — yeah, yeah, you’re saying. Look at the facts. 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. But unfortunately, politics have

derailed this bill so far.

I’m told my predecessor called members of Congress and the Senate to demand

they block the bill. He feels, political win — he viewed 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.

Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, that’s right.

But how many 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.

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But look, if we change the dynamic at the border — 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 six to eight years before they have a hearing. And it’s

worth the taking a chance for the $8,000.

But if it’s only six 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 my Republican friends owe it to the American

people: Get this bill done. We need to act now.

And if my predecessor is watching instead of playing 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 — he apparently hears 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 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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A transformational moment in history happened 58, 59 years ago today in Selma,

Ala. 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.

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 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: I have your

back.

Pass the PRO Act for workers’ rights! Raise the federal minimum wage because

every worker has a right to a decent living, more than seven bucks an hour!

We are 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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I am cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030. Creating tens of thousands of

clean-energy jobs, like the I.B.E.W. workers building and installing 500,000 electric

vehicle charging stations. Conserving 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by

2030.

I’m taking action on environmental justice, fence-line communities smothered by

the legacy of pollution.

And patterned after the Peace Corps and America Corps, 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, 30 percent they

went up, the biggest increase in history. It was then.

Through my American Rescue Plan, which every American 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.

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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

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 and 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.

Meanwhile, my predecessor told the N.R.A. he’s proud he did nothing on guns

when he was president. Oof. After another shooting in Iowa recently, he said when

asked what to do about it, he said, “Just get over it.” There’s his quote. “Just get

over it.”

I say stop it. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

I’m proud we beat the N.R.A. when I signed the most significant gun safety law in

nearly 30 years because of this Congress. We now must beat the N.R.A. 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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I know the last five 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 Oct. 7 with a massacre by the terrorist group called Hamas, as

you all know.

Twelve hundred innocent people, women and girls, men and boys slaughtered,

after enduring sexual violence. The deadliest day for the Jewish people since the

Holocaust. And 250 hostages taken.

Here in this chamber tonight are American 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 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 Oct. 7.

But Israel has an added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the

civilian population like cowards, under hospitals, day care 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, most of whom are

not Hamas.

Thousands and thousands of innocents, women and children. Girls and boys also

orphaned.

Nearly two million more Palestinians under bombardment or displacement. Homes

destroyed, neighborhoods in rubble, cities in ruin. Families without food, water,

medicine. It’s heartbreaking.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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I’ve been working nonstop to establish an immediate cease-fire that would last for

six weeks to get all the prisoners released — all the hostages released. It would get

the hostages home, and ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis, and build toward

an enduring, 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. They’re announcing they’re

going to have a crossing to 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 Palestinians can live 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

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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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 four 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 G.T.P. 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 partnerships and alliance in the Pacific. India. Australia. Japan.

South Korea. 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. We’re in a stronger position to win the

conflict of the 21st century against China than anyone else for that matter. Than

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. You don’t want to do that, huh?

Pass bipartisan privacy legislation to protect our children online. Harness, harness

the promise of A.I. to protect us from peril. Ban A.I. voice impersonations and

more.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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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 from the V.A., 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. We

owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new health research agency called

ARPA-H and remind us, 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 any more, Lindsey, but I

got to say a few more things.

I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around awhile. When you get to my age,

certain things become clearer than ever before.

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, 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, Penn. and Claymont, Del., 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.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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I left a law firm, 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.

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 president to our 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 elevator for votes sometimes, 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 are 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.

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 defending democracy, you don’t diminish it. I see a future

where we restore the right to choose and protect other freedoms, not take them

away.

I see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and the wealthy have to

pay their fair share in taxes.

3/8/24, 6:43 PM

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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 a 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.