[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 41 (Thursday, March 7, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2272-S2277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

                                 ______
                                 

   REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE UNION DELIVERED TO A JOINT SESSION OF 
                    CONGRESS ON MARCH 7, 2024--PM 41

  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the President of the United States which was ordered to lie on the 
table:

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

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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--posed 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

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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 trickledown 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

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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 busines--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

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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 Corps 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 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

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with China--but not conflict. And we are in a stronger position to win 
the competition for the 2lst 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.

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