On April 28, 2021, President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. This highly anticipated speech outlined his administration’s accomplishments and plans for the future.
As the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden has been in office for just over 100 days. In this article, we will take a closer look at who Joe Biden is and the key takeaways from his State of the Union address.
Who is Joe Biden?
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was born on November 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and Syracuse Law School and has been involved in politics for over 50 years.
Biden served as a senator from Delaware for 36 years before becoming the 47th Vice President of the United States under President Barack Obama. In 2020, he ran for President and won against incumbent President Donald Trump.
Key Takeaways from Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address
1. COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Efforts
In his address, President Biden highlighted the progress made in the fight against COVID-19. He stated that the United States has administered over 200 million COVID-19 vaccine shots in his first 100 days in office, surpassing his initial goal of 100 million shots.
He also announced that all adults in the United States are now eligible to receive the vaccine, and encouraged everyone to get vaccinated to help end the pandemic.
2. American Jobs Plan
President Biden introduced his American Jobs Plan, a $2 trillion infrastructure and jobs proposal aimed at creating millions of new jobs and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure. This plan includes investments in transportation, clean energy, and broadband internet, as well as funding for research and development.
Biden emphasized that this plan will not only create jobs but also address climate change and promote racial and gender equity.
3. American Families Plan
The American Families Plan is another major proposal introduced by President Biden in his address. This plan aims to invest in education, childcare, and healthcare, with a focus on helping working families and children.
Biden stated that this plan will provide universal preschool for all three and four-year-olds, two years of free community college, and expanded access to affordable healthcare.
4. Gun Control and Police Reform
In light of recent mass shootings and the ongoing issue of police brutality, President Biden called on Congress to pass gun control legislation and police reform. He urged lawmakers to take action to prevent gun violence and address systemic racism in law enforcement.
Biden also called for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which aims to protect women from domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.
5. Foreign Policy and National Security
In his address, President Biden also touched on foreign policy and national security. He highlighted his administration’s efforts to end the war in Afghanistan and stated that all U.S. troops will be withdrawn from the country by September 11, 2021.
Biden also addressed the ongoing tensions with Russia and China, stating that the United States will stand up to their aggressive actions and protect American interests.
Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump
Throughout his address, President Biden made several references to his predecessor, Donald Trump. He highlighted the differences in their approaches to issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and immigration.
Biden also emphasized the importance of unity and working together, stating that “we have to prove democracy still works” and that “we can do big things, important things.”
Joe Biden Text to Speech
One unique aspect of President Biden’s State of the Union address was the use of text-to-speech technology. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional joint session of Congress was limited in attendance, and many members of Congress watched the speech remotely.
To ensure that everyone could hear the address, the White House provided a live stream with closed captioning and a text-to-speech option. This allowed viewers to choose between listening to the speech or reading it in real-time.
Conclusion
In his first State of the Union address, President Joe Biden outlined his administration’s accomplishments and plans for the future. From COVID-19 response and vaccination efforts to major proposals for infrastructure, education, and healthcare, Biden’s address covered a wide range of topics.
As the country continues to navigate through the challenges of the pandemic and other pressing issues, it will be interesting to see how President Biden’s plans and policies unfold.
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