[House Document 118-94]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress, 2d Session----------------------HOUSE DOCUMENT 118-94

======================================================================
    
      PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

                               __________

                                MESSAGE

                                  from

                     THEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES

                              transmitting
 
       THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS BEFORE A JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    March 8, 2024.--Message and accompanying papers referred to the 
        Committee on Homeland Security and ordered to be printed
To the Congress of the United States:
    Good evening. Mr. Speaker. Madam Vice President. Members of 
Congress. My Fellow Americans.
    In January 1941--President Franklin Roosevelt came to this 
chamber to speak to the Nation. He said--``I address you at 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 the Congress and alert the American 
people that this was no ordinary moment. Freedom and democracy 
were under assault in the world.
    Tonight--I come to the same chamber to address the Nation. 
Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of 
the Union. And yes--my purpose tonight is to both wake up this 
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 here at home as they are 
today. 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 can stop Putin--if we stand with Ukraine. And 
provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all 
Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers. 
In fact--there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And 
I am determined to keep it that way.
    But now--assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those 
who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world. It 
wasn't that long ago when a Republican President--Ronald 
Reagan--thundered--``Mr. Gorbachev--tear down this wall''.
    Now--my predecessor--a former Republican President--tells 
Putin--``Do whatever the hell you want.'' A former American 
President actually said that--bowing down--to a Russian leader. 
It's outrageous, It's dangerous. It's unacceptable.
    America is a founding member of NATO--the military alliance 
of democratic nations--created after World War II to prevent 
war and keep the peace.
    Today--I've made NATO stronger than ever. We welcomed 
Finland to the Alliance last year. And just this morning--
Sweden officially joined NATO--and their Prime Minister--is 
here tonight.
    Mr. Prime Minister--welcome to NATO--the strongest military 
alliance the world has ever known.
    I say this to Congress--we must stand up to Putin. Send me 
the Bipartisan National Security Bill. History is watching. If 
the United States walks away now--it will put Ukraine at risk. 
Europe at risk. The free world at risk--emboldening others who 
wish to do us harm.
    My message to President Putin is simple. We will not walk 
away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down. History is 
watching.
    Just like history watched 3 years ago on January 6th. 
Insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger 
at the throat of American democracy. Many of you were here on 
that darkest of days. We all saw with our own eyes these 
insurrectionists were not patriots. They had come to stop the 
peaceful transfer of power and to overturn the will of the 
people.
    January 6th--the lies about the 2020 election--and the 
plots to steal the election--pose the gravest threat to our 
democracy since the Civil War.
    But they failed. America stood strong--and democracy 
prevailed. But we must be honest--the threat remains--and 
democracy must be defended.
    My predecessor and some of you here--seek to bury the truth 
of January 6th. I will not do that. This is a moment--to speak 
the truth and bury the lies. And here's the simplest truth. You 
can't love your country--only when you win,
    As I've done ever since being elected to office--I ask you 
all--without regard to party--to join together--and defend our 
democracy! Remember--your oath of office--to defend against all 
threats--foreign and domestic. Respect free and fair elections! 
Restore trust in our institutions! And make clear--political 
violence--has no place in America! History is watching.
    And history is watching another assault on freedom. Joining 
us tonight--is Latorya Beasley--a social worker from 
Birmingham, Alabama. 14 months ago tonight--she and her husband 
welcomed a baby girl--thanks to the miracle of IVF. She 
scheduled treatments to have a second child. But the Alabama 
Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the State 
unleashed by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. 
Wade. She was told her dream would have to wait. What her 
family has gone through should never have happened. And unless 
the 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 families waiting any 
longer. Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide!
    Like most Americans--I believe--Roe v. Wade got it right. 
And 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. In fact--he brags 
about it. Look at the chaos.
    Joining us tonight is Kate Cox--a wife and mother from 
Dallas. When she became pregnant again the fetus had a fatal 
condition. Her doctors told Kate that her own life--and her 
ability to have children in the future--were at risk. Because 
Texas law banned abortion--Kate and her husband had to leave 
the State to get the care she needed. What her family has gone 
through should never have happened as well.
    But it is happening to so many others. There are State laws 
banning abortion--criminalizing doctors--and forcing survivors 
of rape and incest to leave their States as well.
    Many of you in this chamber--and my predecessor--are 
promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. My 
God--what freedoms will you take next?
    In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade--the Supreme Court 
majority wrote--``Women are not without electoral or political 
power.'' No kidding. Clearly those bragging about overturning 
Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America.
    They found out though--when reproductive freedom was on the 
ballot and won--in 2022--2023--and they will find out again--in 
2024. If Americans 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!
    America--cannot go back. I am here tonight--to show the way 
forward. Because I know how far we've come. Four years ago next 
week--before I came to office--our country was hit by the worst 
pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a century. Remember 
the fear. Record job losses. A record spike in murder. A raging 
virus that would take more than 1 million American lives and 
leave millions of loved ones behind. A mental health crisis of 
isolation and loneliness. A President--my predecessor--who 
failed the most basic duty any President owes the American 
people--the duty to care. That is unforgivable.
    I came to office determined to get us through one of the 
toughest periods in our Nation's history. And we have. It 
doesn't make the news--but in thousands of cities and towns--
the American people are writing the greatest comeback story 
never told. So let's tell that story 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 of America--in 
all Americans--to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we 
leave no one behind!
    The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccines 
that saved us from COVID are now being used to help beat 
cancer. Turning setback into comeback. That's America!
    I inherited an economy that was on the brink--now our 
economy is the envy of the world! 15 million new jobs in just 3 
years--that's a record. Unemployment at 50-year lows. A record 
16 million Americans are starting small businesses and each one 
is an 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. 
More people have health insurance than ever before. The racial 
wealth gap is the smallest it's been in 20 years. Wages keep 
going up and inflation keeps coming down! Inflation has dropped 
from 9 percent to 3 percent--the lowest in the world!
    And now--instead of importing foreign products and 
exporting American jobs--we're exporting American products and 
creating American jobs--Right here in America. Where they 
belong! And the American people are beginning to feel it.
    Buy American has been the law of the land since the 1930s. 
Past administrations--including my predecessor--failed to Buy 
American. Not. Any. More. On my watch--Federal projects like 
helping to build American roads--bridges--and highways--will be 
made with American products--built by American workers--
creating good-paying American jobs!
    Thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act--the United States is 
investing more in research and development than ever before. 
During the pandemic--a shortage of semiconductor chips drove up 
prices for everything--from cell phones to automobiles. Well--
instead of having to import semiconductor chips--which America 
invented I might add--private companies are now investing 
billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in 
America! Creating tens of thousands of jobs--many of them 
paying over $100,000 a year and don't require a college degree.
    In fact--my policies have attracted $650 billion of private 
sector investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing--
creating tens of thousands of jobs here in America!
    Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law--46,000 new 
projects have been announced across your communities--
modernizing our roads and bridges--ports and airports--and 
public transit systems. Removing poisonous lead pipes--so every 
child can drink clean water without risk of getting brain 
damage.
    Providing affordable--high speed Internet for every 
American--no matter where you live. Urban--suburban--and rural 
communities--in red States--and blue. Record investments in 
tribal communities.
    Because of my investments--family farms are better able to 
stay in the family--and children and grandchildren won't have 
to leave home to make a living. It's transformative.
    A great comeback story--is Belvidere, Illinois. 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 Belvidere repeatedly--with the 
auto company--knowing unions make all the difference.
    The UAW worked like hell to keep the plant open and get 
those jobs back. And together--we succeeded! Instead of an auto 
factory shutting down an auto factory is re-opening--and a new 
state-of-the art battery factory is being built to power those 
cars. Instead of a town being left behind--it's a community 
moving forward again! Because instead of watching auto jobs of 
the future go overseas--4,000 union workers--with higher 
wages--will be building that future--here in America!
    Here tonight--is UAW President Shawn Fain--a great friend 
and a great labor leader. And Dawn Simms--a third generation 
UAW worker in Belvidere. Shawn--I was proud to be the first 
President in American history to walk a picket line. And 
today--Dawn has a job in her hometown providing stability for 
her family and pride and dignity. Showing once again Wall 
Street didn't build this country! The middle class built this 
country! And unions built the middle class!
    When Americans get 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! And it's because of you--That tonight--we 
can proudly say--the State of our Union is strong and getting 
stronger!
    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 breaks.
    I grew up in a home where not a lot trickled down on my 
dad's kitchen table. That's why I'm determined to turn things 
around so the middle class does well--the poor have a way up--
and the wealthy still does 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 
else. It's wrong and I'm ending it. With a law I proposed and 
signed and not one Republican voted for--we finally beat Big 
Pharma!
    Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin--seniors with 
diabetes only have to pay $35 a month! And now--I want to cap 
the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs 
it!
    For years--people have talked about it--but I finally got 
it done--and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices 
for prescription drugs--just like the VA does for our veterans. 
That's not just saving seniors money. It's saving taxpayers 
money--cutting the Federal deficit by $160 billion--because 
Medicare will no longer have to pay 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. Now it's time to go further and 
give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for 500 drugs 
over the next decade. 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 
a year. Now--I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a 
year--for everyone!
    Folks--the Affordable Care Act is still a very big deal. 
Over one hundred 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 that 
protection away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. I won't 
let that happen! We stopped you 50 times before--and we will 
stop you again!
    In fact--I am protecting it and expanding it. I enacted tax 
credits--that save $800 per person--per year--reducing health 
care premiums for millions of working families. Those tax 
credits expire next year. I want to make those savings 
permanent!
    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--who is 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!
    I know the cost of housing is so important to you. If 
inflation keeps coming down--mortgage rates--will come down as 
well. But I'm not waiting. I want to provide an annual tax 
credit that will give Americans $400 a month--for the next 2 
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.
    My Administration is also eliminating title insurance fees 
for federally backed mortgages. When you refinance your home--
this can save you $1,000 or more. For millions of renters--
we're cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws 
by price-fixing and driving up rents. 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. 
Now pass my plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable 
homes--and bring those rents down!
    To remain the strongest economy in the world--we need the 
best education system in the world. I want to give every child 
a good start by providing access to pre-school for 3- and 4-
year-olds. Studies show that children who go to pre-school are 
nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on 
to earn a 2- or 4-year degree no matter their background. 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 
college more affordable. Let's continue increasing Pell Grants 
for working- and middle-class families and increase our record 
investments in HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions.
    I fixed student loan programs--to reduce the burden of 
student debt for nearly 4 million Americans--including nurses--
firefighters--and others in public service--like Keenan Jones--
a public-school educator in Minnesota--who's here with us 
tonight. He's educated hundreds of students so they can go to 
college--now he can help his own daughter pay for college. Such 
relief is good for the economy because folks are now able to 
buy a home--start a business--even start a family. While we're 
at it--I want to give public school teachers a raise!
    Now--let me speak to a question of fundamental fairness for 
all Americans. I've been delivering real results in a fiscally 
responsible way. I've already cut the Federal deficit by over 
one trillion dollars. I signed a bipartisan budget deal that 
will cut another trillion dollars over the next decade.
    And now--it's my goal to cut the Federal deficit $3 
trillion more by making big corporations and the very wealthy 
finally pay their fair share. Look--I'm a capitalist. If you 
want to make a million bucks--great! Just pay your fair share 
in taxes. A fair tax code is how we invest in the things that 
make a country great--health care--education--defense--and 
more.
    But here's the deal. The last administration enacted a $2 
trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits 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. 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 in tax 
breaks? 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 will pay 
an additional penny in Federal taxes. Nobody. Not one penny. 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 the Child Tax Credit--because 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 finally pay their share. In 
2020--55 of the biggest companies in America made $40 billion 
in profits and paid zero in Federal income taxes. Not anymore!
    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! End it now!
    There are 1,000 billionaires in America. You know what the 
average Federal tax rate for these billionaires is? 8.2 
percent! That's far less than the vast majority of Americans 
pay.
    No billionaire should pay a lower tax rate than a teacher--
a sanitation worker--a nurse! That's why I've proposed a 
minimum tax of 25 percent for billionaires. Just 25 percent. 
That would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years.
    Imagine what that could do for America. Imagine a future 
with affordable child care--so millions of families can get the 
care they need and still go to work and help grow the economy.
    Imagine a future with paid leave--because no one should 
have to choose between working and taking care of yourself or a 
sick family member.
    Imagine a future with home care and elder care--so seniors 
and people living with disabilities can stay in their homes--
and family caregivers get paid what they deserve!
    Tonight--let's all agree once again to stand up for 
seniors! Many of my Republican friends 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 them!
    Working people who built this country pay more into Social 
Security than millionaires and billionaires do. It's not fair. 
We have two ways to go on Social Security. Republicans will cut 
Social Security and give more tax cuts to the wealthy. I will 
protect and strengthen Social Security--and make the wealthy 
pay their fair share!
    Too many corporations raise their prices to pad their 
profits--charging you more and more for less and less. That's 
why we're cracking down on corporations that engage in price 
gouging or deceptive pricing from food to health care to 
housing.
    In fact--snack companies think you won't notice when they 
charge you just as much for the same size bag--but with fewer 
chips in it. Pass Senator Bob Casey's bill to put a stop to 
shrink-flation!
    I'm also getting rid of junk fees--those hidden fees added 
at the end of your bills without your knowledge. My 
Administration just announced--we're cutting credit card late 
fees from $32 to just $8. The banks and credit card companies 
don't like it. Why? I'm saving American families $20 billion a 
year with all of the junk fees I'm eliminating.
    And I'm not stopping there. My Administration has proposed 
rules to make cable--travel--utilities--and online ticket 
sellers tell you the total price upfront--so there are no 
surprises. It matters. 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 in this country.
    That bipartisan deal would hire 1,500 more border security 
agents and officers. 100 more immigration judges to help tackle 
a backload of 2 million cases. 4,300 more asylum officers--and 
new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of 6 
years. 100 more high-tech drug detection machines to 
significantly increase the ability to screen and stop vehicles 
from smuggling fentanyl into America.
    This bill would save lives. And bring order to the border. 
It would also give me--as President--new emergency authority to 
temporarily shut down the border when the number of migrants at 
the border is overwhelming.
    The Border Patrol Union endorsed the bill. The Chamber of 
Commerce endorsed the bill. I believe that given the 
opportunity--a majority of the House and Senate would endorse 
it as well.
    But unfortunately--politics have derailed it so far. I'm 
told my predecessor called Republicans in Congress and demanded 
they block the bill. He feels it would be a political win for 
me--and a political loser for him.
    It's not about him or me. It'd be a winner for America! My 
Republican friends--you owe it to the American people to get 
this bill done. We need to act. And if my predecessor is 
watching--instead of playing politics and pressuring Members of 
Congress to block this bill--join me in telling Congress to 
pass it!
    We can do it together. But here's what I will not do. I 
will not demonize immigrants--saying they ``poison the blood of 
our country''--as he said in his own words. I will not separate 
families. I will not ban people from America because of their 
faith.
    Unlike my predecessor--on my first day in office I 
introduced a comprehensive plan to fix our immigration system--
secure the border--and provide a pathway to citizenship for 
DREAMERS--and so much more. Because--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. Some came freely. Some chained by 
force. Some when famine struck--like my ancestral family in 
Ireland. Some to flee persecution. Some to chase dreams that 
are impossible anywhere but here in America.
    That's America--where we all come from somewhere--but we 
are all Americans. We can fight about the border--or we can fix 
it. I'm ready to fix it. Send me the border bill now!
    A transformational moment in our history happened 59 years 
ago today--in Selma, Alabama. Hundreds of foot soldiers for 
justice marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge--named after a 
Grand Dragon of the KKK--to claim their fundamental right to 
vote.
    They were beaten--bloodied--and left for dead. Our late 
friend and former colleague John Lewis was at the march. We 
miss him. Joining us tonight are other marchers who were 
there--including Bettie Mae Fikes--known as the--``Voice of 
Selma''. A 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 was signed into law.
    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 for more than just talk. Pass and send me 
the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!
    And 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 other fundamental rights! Pass the 
Equality Act--and my message to transgender Americans--I have 
your back! Pass the PRO Act for workers' rights! And raise the 
Federal minimum wage--because every worker has the right to 
earn a decent living!
    We are also making history by confronting the climate 
crisis--not denying it. I'm taking the most significant action 
on climate ever in the history of the world.
    I am cutting our carbon emissions in half by 2030. Creating 
tens of thousands of clean-energy jobs--like the IBEW workers 
building and installing 500,000 electric vehicle charging 
stations. Conserving 30 percent of America's lands and waters 
by 2030. Taking historic action on environmental justice for 
fence-line communities smothered by the legacy of pollution.
    And--patterned after the Peace Corps and Ameri Corps--I've 
launched a Climate Cops to put 20,000 young people to work at 
the forefront of our clean energy future. I'll triple that 
number this decade.
    All Americans deserve the freedom to be safe. And America 
is safer today than when I took office. The year before I took 
office--murders went up 30 percent nationwide--the biggest 
increase in history.
    That was then. Now--through my American Rescue Plan--which 
every Republican voted against--I've made the largest 
investment in public safety ever.
    Last year--the murder rate saw the sharpest decrease in 
history. And violent crime fell to one of the lowest levels in 
more than 50 years.
    But we have more to do. Help cities and towns invest in 
more community police officers--more mental health workers--and 
more community violence intervention. Give communities the 
tools to crack down on gun crime--retail crime--and carjacking. 
Keep building public 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 17 
convictions for mere possession--because no one should be 
jailed just for using or possessing marijuana!
    To take on domestic violence--I am ramping up Federal 
enforcement of the Violence Against Women Act that I proudly 
wrote--so we can finally end the scourge of violence against 
women in America!
    And there's another kind of violence I want to stop. With 
us tonight is Jazmin--whose 9-year-old sister Jackie was 
murdered with 21 classmates and teachers at her elementary 
school in Uvalde, Texas.
    Soon after it happened, Jill and I went to Uvalde and spent 
hours with the families. We heard their message--and so should 
everyone in this chamber--do something.
    I did do something by establishing the first-ever Office of 
Gun Violence Prevention in the White House that Vice President 
Harris is leading. Meanwhile--my predecessor told the NRA he's 
proud he did nothing on guns when he was President. After 
another school shooting in Iowa--he said we should just ``get 
over it.''
    I say we must stop it. I'm proud we beat the NRA when I 
signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years! 
Now we must beat the NRA again! I'm demanding a ban on assault 
weapons and high-capacity magazines! Pass universal background 
checks! None of this violates the Second Amendment--or vilifies 
responsible gun owners.
    As we manage challenges at home--we're also managing crises 
abroad--including in the Middle East. I know the last 5 months 
have been gut-wrenching for so many people--for the Israeli 
people--the Palestinian people--and so many here in America.
    This crisis began on October 7th with a massacre by the 
terrorist group Hamas. 1,200 innocent people--women and girls--
men and boys--slaughtered--many enduring sexual violence. The 
deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. 250 
hostages.
    Here in the 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 their loved ones 
home. We will also work around the clock to bring home Evan and 
Paul--Americans being unjustly detained all around the world.
    Israel has a right to go after Hamas. Hamas could end this 
conflict today by releasing the hostages--laying down arms--and 
surrendering those responsible for October 7th. Israel has an 
added burden because Hamas hides and operates among the 
civilian population. But Israel also has a fundamental 
responsibility 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 are innocent women and children. 
Children also orphaned. Nearly 2 million more Palestinians 
under bombardment or displaced. Homes destroyed--neighborhoods 
in rubble--cities in ruin. Families without food, water, 
medicine. It's heartbreaking.
    We've been working non-stop to establish an immediate 
ceasefire that would last for at least 6 weeks. It would get 
the hostages home--ease the intolerable humanitarian crisis--
and build toward something more enduring.
    The United States has been leading international efforts to 
get more humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Tonight--I'm 
directing the United States military to lead an emergency 
mission to establish a temporary pier in the Mediterranean--on 
the Gaza coast--that can receive large ships carrying food--
water--medicine--and temporary shelters. No U.S. boots will be 
on the ground. This temporary pier would enable a massive 
increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into 
Gaza every day.
    But Israel must also do its part. Israel must allow more 
aid into Gaza--and ensure that humanitarian workers aren't 
caught in the cross fire. 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 is a two-
state solution. I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel--
and the only American President to visit Israel in wartime.
    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. There is no other 
path that guarantees peace between Israel and all of its Arab 
neighbors--including Saudi Arabia.
    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 strikes 
to degrade Houthi capabilities and defend United States Forces 
in the region. As Commander in Chief--I will not hesitate to 
direct further measures to protect our people and military 
personnel.
    For years--all I've heard from my Republican friends--and 
so many others--is that China's on the rise--and America is 
falling behind. They've got it backward. America is rising. We 
have the best economy in the world. Since I've come to office--
our GDP is up. And our trade deficit with China is down to the 
lowest point in over a decade.
    We're standing against China's unfair economic practices. 
And standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan 
Strait. I've revitalized our partnerships and alliances in the 
Pacific. I've made sure that the most advanced American 
technologies can't be used in China's weapons.
    Frankly--for all his tough talk on China--it never occurred 
to my predecessor to do that. We want competition with China--
but not conflict. And we're in a stronger position to win the 
competition for the 21st Century against China or anyone else 
for that matter.
    Here at home--I've signed over 400 bipartisan bills. But 
there's more to do to pass my Unity Agenda. Strengthen 
penalties on fentanyl trafficking. Pass bipartisan privacy 
legislation to protect our children online--harness the promise 
of A.I. and protect us from its peril--ban A.I. voice 
impersonation--and more!
    And keep our one 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 I 
signed the PACT Act--one of the most significant laws ever--
helping millions of veterans who were exposed to toxins and who 
now are battling more than 100 cancers. Many of them didn't 
come home. We owe them and their families.
    And we owe it to ourselves to keep supporting our new 
health research agency called ARPA-H--and remind us that we can 
do big things like end cancer as we know it!
    Let me close with this. I know I may not look like it--but 
I've been around a while. And 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 the 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--some other people my age see a different story. An 
American story of resentment--revenge--and retribution.
    That's not me. I was born amid World War II--when America 
stood for freedom in the world. I grew up in Scranton, 
Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, among working people who 
built this country.
    I watched in horror as two of my heroes--Dr. King and Bobby 
Kennedy--were assassinated--and their legacies inspired me to 
pursue a career in service. A public defender--county 
councilman--elected United States Senator at 29--then Vice 
President to our first Black President--now President with our 
first woman Vice President.
    In my career--I've been told I'm too young--and I'm too 
old. Whether young or old--I've always known what endures. Our 
North Star. The very idea of America--that we are all created 
equal and deserve 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.
    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 among 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 of what America can and should be. 
Tonight--you've heard mine.
    I see a future where we defend democracy--not 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 finally have to pay their fair share in 
taxes.
    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 I've never been more 
optimistic about our future!
    So let's build that future together! Let's remember who we 
are! We are the United States of America. There is nothing 
beyond our capacity when we act together!
    May God bless you all.
    May God protect our troops.
                                             Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  
    The White House, March 7, 2024.

                                  [all]