WASHINGTON | Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.
Biden declared that he and all members of Congress, whatever their political differences, are joined “with an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.” He asked the lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered.
It was a notable show of unity after a long year of bitter acrimony between Biden’s Democratic coalition and the Republican opposition.
Biden’s 62-minute speech, which was split between attention to war abroad and worries at home — reflected the same balancing act he now faces in his presidency. He must marshal allied resolve against Russia’s aggression while tending to inflation, COVID-19 fatigue and sagging approval ratings heading into the midterm elections.
COLORADO COMMENT
DEMOCRATIC GOV. JARED POLIS: “Coloradans have a partner in the White House who has real plans to save people money by reducing childcare costs and reducing insulin costs for diabetics. And I am thrilled to see President Biden prioritizing these issues in his State of the Union…I stand with President Biden in defense of democracy and freedom at home and with our allies abroad — Colorado is doing its part to welcome refugees and strongly penalize Putin’s extreme aggression.”
Colorado GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown: “Joe Biden’s first year has been a failure. Unfortunately, Americans see the results of the Biden agenda everyday when we go to the grocery store or fill up our car with fuel. This Administration has failed to project American power abroad, undermined parents & small businesses across the country, and created policies that have resulted in a 40 year high inflation rate.”
Congressperson Diana DeGette, D-Denver: “President Biden portrayed precisely the type of leadership we need at this pivotal moment. Now it’s time for all of us to come together to build a better America and make the vision he laid out this evening a reality.”
Congressperson Lauren Boebert, R-Rifle: “Every word you heard from Joe Biden was a lie. We expected bad, but the state of the union is worse than we ever could’ve imagined.”
State Sen. Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora: “When woman succeed, we all succeed. A great way to start Women’s History Month: two women sit behind US President Joe Biden for his first State of the Union address.”
Congressperson Ed Perlmutter, D-Jefferson County: “President Biden has faced unprecedented challenges at home and abroad since taking office, yet he leads with a singular focus: to keep Americans safe and healthy and ensure a strong economic recovery and a bright future for all. President Biden’s experience and leadership continues to be invaluable in the face of these challenges, including now as the United States, with our allies and partners, defend democracy and support Ukraine and its people against an unjustified attack from Russia.
Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colorado: Despite real progress in the last year, this remains a challenging moment for the country. Inflation strains Coloradans’ hard-earned paychecks at home, and abroad, Putin’s lawless war against Ukraine threatens the global order that has kept Americans safe. As President Biden said, this is a moment for Americans to come together, stand up for democracy, and strengthen our economy to drive opportunity to all. Now is the time for Congress to support the people of Ukraine and punish Russia’s aggression, cut costs for working families, and do everything we can to help America return to normal so businesses can stay open and students can stay in school.”
Congressperson Jason Crow, D-Centennial: In speaking about Ukraine, Crow said, “He made a strong and compelling case as to why American leadership and American engagement in the world matters….and tying what we’re seeing going on in Ukraine right now into the broader battle for democracy, freedom and rule of law around the world and at home.”
On bipartisanship: “It’s not a talking point, (he) understands just the reality of legislating and leading in this environment. And he offered many olive branches tonight to the other side in very unifying bipartisan terms. And I think that was a theme and an approach that really stuck out to me, certainly, and the others in the chamber. With the exception of Miss Boebert, of course…We’ve known for a very long time that Lauren Boebert doesn’t know what she’s doing, and is not interested in legislating or even knowing the issues or facts…”
Biden highlighted the bravery of Ukrainian defenders and the commitment of a newly reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and cripple Russia’s economy through sanctions. He warned of costs to the American economy, as well, but warned ominously that without consequences, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression wouldn’t be contained to Ukraine.
“Throughout our history we’ve learned this lesson – when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,” Biden said. “They keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.”
As Biden spoke, Russian forces were escalating their attacks in Ukraine, having bombarded the central square of country’s second-biggest city and Kyiv’s main TV tower, killing at least five people. The Babi Yar Holocaust memorial was also damaged.
Biden announced that the U.S. is following Canada and the European Union in banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. He also said the Justice Department was launching a task force to go after crimes of Russian oligarchs, whom he called “corrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime.”
“We are coming for your ill-begotten gains,” he said, pledging that the U.S. and European allies were coming after their yachts, luxury apartments and private jets.
“Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people,” Biden said. “He will never extinguish their love of freedom. He will never weaken the resolve of the free world.”
Even before the Russian invasion sent energy costs skyrocketing, prices for American families had been rising, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hurt families and the country’s economy.
Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.
“Too many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,” Biden said. “Inflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel. I get it. That’s why my top priority is getting prices under control.”
Biden entered the House chamber without a mask, in a reflection of the declining coronavirus case counts and new federal guidance meant to nudge the public back to pre-pandemic activities. But the Capitol was newly fenced due to security concerns after last year’s insurrection.
Set against disquiet at home and danger abroad, the White House had conceived Tuesday night’s speech as an opportunity to highlight the improving coronavirus outlook, rebrand Biden’s domestic policy priorities and show a path to lower costs for families grappling with soaring inflation. But it took on new significance with last week’s Russian invasion of Ukraine and nuclear saber-rattling by Putin.
As is customary, one Cabinet secretary, in this case Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, was kept in a secure location during the address, ready to take over the government in the event of a catastrophe.
In an interview with CNN and Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he urged Biden to deliver a strong and “useful” message about Russia’s invasion. In a show of unity, Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova joined first lady Jill Biden in the gallery.
In a rare discordant moment, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado yelled out that Biden was to blame for the 13 service members who were killed during last August’s chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“You put them in. Thirteen of them,” Boebert yelled as Biden mentioned his late son Beau, a veteran who died from brain cancer and served near toxic military burn pits, used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan. Biden is pursuing legislation to help veterans suffering exposure and other injuries.
Rising energy prices as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine risk exacerbating inflation in the U.S., which is already at the highest level in 40 years, eating into people’s earnings and threatening the economic recovery from the pandemic. And while the crisis in Eastern Europe may have helped to cool partisan tensions in Washington, it didn’t erase the political and cultural discord that is casting doubt on Biden’s ability to deliver.
A February AP-NORC poll found that more people disapproved than approved of how Biden is handling his job, 55% to 44%. That’s down from a 60% favorable rating last July.
Ahead of the speech, White House officials acknowledged the mood of the country was “sour,” citing the lingering pandemic and inflation. Biden, used his remarks to highlight the progress from a year ago — with the majority of the U.S. population now vaccinated and millions more people at work — but also acknowledged that the job is not yet done, a recognition of American discontent.
“I have come to report on the state of the union,” Biden said. “And my report is this: The state of the union is strong—because you, the American people, are strong. We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, selected to give the Republican response, said Biden’s address came as a blast from the past with rising inflation, rising crime and a resurgent Russia making it feel more like the 1980s than today.
“Even before taking the oath of office, the president said that he wanted to – quote -make America respected around the world again, and to unite us here. He’s failed on both fronts,” she said.
At least a half dozen lawmakers, including Reps. Jamie Raskin and Pete Aguilar, both members of the committee investigating last year’s Capitol riot, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., had tested positive for COVID-19 and were not expected at the Capitol for the speech.
“Tonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines,” Biden said, outlining his administration’s plans to continue to combat COVID-19 and saying “It’s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again.” He announced that people will be able to order another round of free tests from the government and that his administration was launching a “test to treat” initiative to provide free antiviral pills at pharmacies to those who test positive for the virus.
Where his speech to Congress last year saw the rollout of a massive social spending package, Biden this year largely repackaged past proposals in search of achievable measures he hopes can win bipartisan support in a bitterly divided Congress before the elections.
The president also highlighted investments in everything from internet broadband access to bridge construction from November’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law as an example of government reaching consensus and delivering change for the nation.
He also appealed to lawmakers to compromise on rival competitiveness bills that have passed the House and Senate, both meant to revitalize high-tech American manufacturing and supply chains in the face of growing geopolitical threats from China.
“Instead of relying on foreign supply chains – let’s make it in America,” Biden said.
As part of his pitch to voters, he also put a new emphasis on how proposals like extending the child tax credit and bringing down child care costs could bring relief to families as prices rise. He was said his climate change proposals would cut costs for lower- and middle-income families and create new jobs.
Biden called for lowering health care costs, pitching his plan to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, as well as an extension of more generous health insurance subsidies now temporarily available through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces where 14.5 million people get coverage.
He proposed initiatives on mental health that dovetail with growing bipartisan interest in Congress amid evidence that the pandemic has damaged the national psyche, and discussed new ways to improve access to health benefits for veterans sickened by exposure to the burning of waste during their service.
Biden also appealed for action on voting rights, which has failed to win GOP support. And as gun violence rises, he returned to calls to ban assault weapons, a blunt request he hadn’t made in months. He called to “fund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.”
In addition, Biden led Congress in a bipartisan tribute to retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and highlighted the biography of federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, his nominee be the first Black woman on the high court to replace him.
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Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Fatima Hussein, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Jason Dearen in New York contributed to this report.
I feel that Rep. Boebert disgraced Colorado today. I don’t agree with a lot of her politics, but I was willing to give her a chance. I felt like the media might be hard on her because she is a woman and has a working class background. I can see today that I was wrong.
Rep. Boebert yelled through an hour long speech in which the President of the United States discussed bringing jobs back to the United States. She yelled at the father of a veteran who became sick in combat. She yelled as he promised to make things like insulin affordable.
I don’t know what values she claims to support, but her conduct speaks volumes.
It’s a given that republicans thought the speech was terrible and that Democrats thought it was wonderful. Getting past the obvious. . .
I would say it was a pretty-good speech, though maybe a little long, but certainly not the best. I did not notice any signs of “dementia,” though there were a few instances in which the President struggled to over come his stuttering issue. (A person is not demented just because he’s old.) Why was there booing when the President mentioned his son, Bo’s, death from cancer and his military service? I also noticed one woman looking at her phone instead of paying attention to the speaker. Very rude. If someone did not want to be there, why didn’t she just stay home? Are members of the House and the Senate required to attend? Shouldn’t phones be left outside or turned off? And yelling out at the speaker is just boorish. We seem to have lost all sense of decorum. When people see their elected representatives do these things, they figure it’s OK for them to do likewise.
The rebuttal speech was inappropriate. Instead of rebutting anything that the President said in his speech (which is the purpose of the rebuttal), the speaker launched into a litany of criticisms of the President, which criticisms we are all keenly aware of.
I am not a big fan of State-of-the-Union speeches in general, as they sound so much like campaign speeches to me. And we seem to be in a constant election cycle these days, which does nothing but keep everyone on edge.