President Biden Declares America is “Rising Anew” in First Joint Address to Congress

President Biden details his vision for the nation, focusing on the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan

Source: "Vice President Joe Biden visit to Israel March 2016" by U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is licensed under CC BY 2.0

On the eve of his 100th day in office, President Joe Biden delivered the first joint address to Congress of his presidency, reflecting on the challenges and achievements of his first months in office while calling on lawmakers to act on his ambitious multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure and social welfare agenda. In a country still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and a year of racial reckoning, Biden outlined an optimistic vision for the future of America and declared to a nation and Congress divided that “America is rising anew.”

“After just 100 days — I can report to the nation: America is on the move again,” Biden said during his speech. “Turning peril into possibility. Crisis into opportunity. Setback into strength.”

The president spoke before just a fraction of the usual audience — only 200 attendees instead of the typical 1,600 — due to pandemic and security-related restrictions, which further served as a “reminder of the extraordinary times we’re in,” according to Biden. In the hour-plus speech, Biden highlighted the progress the country has made in the vaccination and economic recovery effort after passing the massive American Rescue Plan earlier this year and doubling the administration’s goal of 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots in 100 days.

“In our first 100 days together, we have acted to restore people’s faith in our democracy to deliver,” Biden said.

Before beginning his address, Biden recognized a history-making moment — sitting behind him, for the first time, were two women: Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA. The chamber erupted in the first ovation of the night as Biden marked the major first for female representation in government. 

“Madame Speaker. Madame Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium, and it’s about time,” Biden said. 

Much of the speech was a call to action on a new initiative including more than $4 trillion in spending — the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan — both key aspects of what he called “a blue-collar blueprint to build America.” Biden pitched these packages, which he claims would position the U.S. to lead in infrastructure, education and innovation while creating millions of good-paying jobs, as a “once-in-a-generation investment in America.” Biden thoroughly laid out his proposed American Families Plan, which has already been criticized as a liberal “wish-list” by Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC., who delivered the GOP rebuttal to Biden’s address. The expansive plan would invest in universal preschool, two free years of community college, paid family and sick leave, and other child care and health care programs, and would be paid for through an increase in taxes on corporations and the wealthiest 1% of Americans. 

Biden also used his address to speak on the need to root out systemic racism and unify behind the principles of equity and justice for all, urging the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act by the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death in late May. While the bill faces pushback from congressional Republicans with alternate suggestions on policing reforms, the president firmly emphasized the need to find a consensus and make real progress after the nation has seen “the knee of injustice on the neck of Black America.” Biden also called on Congress to act on other pieces of legislation, namely the Equality Act for LGBTQ Americans, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, the Violence Against Women Act, the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, among others. He also detailed the need for comprehensive action to “protect the American people from the epidemic of gun violence.”

Biden concluded the address by underscoring the need to prove the strength and durability of American democracy in the face of domestic and international challenges. Noting how foreign adversaries saw the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol as “proof that the sun is setting on American democracy,” the president offered the vaccination effort, job creation and stimulus payments as evidence that the government is meeting the challenges of the age and will continue to “deliver for the people.” Ending on an optimistic note, Biden reflected on the resiliency of the American people and championed the power of unity:

“There is nothing––nothing––beyond our capacity, nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”