President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday, touting his accomplishments over the past two years as well as touching on a variety of political issues and making pitches for new policies to implement.
“Folks, the story of America is a story of progress and resilience, of always moving forward, of never ever giving up,” Biden said in his speech to members of Congress and others in attendance at the U.S. Capitol.
“Two years ago, the economy was reeling. I stand here tonight after we’ve created, with the help of many people in this room, 12 million new jobs — more jobs created in two years than any president has created in four years, because of you all, because of the American people.”
Biden said the federal government should make promoting American industry a priority.
“Folks, I know I’ve been criticized for saying this but I’m not changing my view. We’re going to make sure the supply chain for America begins in America,” he said, adding that things are already improving in sectors such as manufacturing.
“Where is it written that America can’t lead the world in manufacturing? I don’t know where that’s written. For too many decades we imported projects [sic] and exported jobs. Now, thanks to what you’ve all done, we’re exporting American products and creating American jobs.”
He proposed stronger rules for requiring that U.S. government infrastructure projects use American-made materials.
“Buy American has been the law since 1933, but for too long past administrations, Democrat and Republican, have fought to get around it. Not anymore. Tonight I’m announcing new standards to require all construction materials used in federal infrastructure projects to be made in America.”
Biden also promoted his agenda on issues such as gun control.
“Ban assault weapons now. Ban them now, once and for all,” he said.
Another area he touched on was education.
“Restoring the dignity of work means making education an affordable ticket to the middle class. You know, when we made public education — 12 years of it — universal in the last century, we became the best educated, best paid nation in the world, but the rest of the world has caught up,” Biden said.
“Folks, we all know 12 years of education is not enough to win the economic competition of the 21st century. If we want to have the best educated work force, let’s finish the job by providing access to pre-school for three and four years old,” he added.
“Let’s give public school teachers a raise. We’re making progress by reducing student debt and increasing Pell grants for working- and middle-class families. Let’s finish the job and connect students to career opportunities starting in high school, provide access to two years of community college — the best career training in America in addition to being the pathway to a four-year degree. Let’s offer every American the path to a good career whether they go to college or not.”
While Biden’s speech largely focused on his accomplishments and presented his presidency in a positive light, he also acknowledged problems facing the country, such as the opioid epidemic, as well as inflation — which Biden framed as a worldwide problem.
“Inflation has been a global problem because the pandemic disrupted our supply chains and Putin’s unfair and brutal war in Ukraine disrupted energy supplies as well as food supplies, blocking all that grain in Ukraine,” he said.
“Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year,” Biden said. “So let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production and the sale and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border.”
Following Biden’s speech, Kansas congressmen including Sen. Jerry Moran, Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Jake LaTurner weighed in with criticisms of the address, also bringing up issues including inflation and the opioid crisis.
“The American people need look no further than their grocery receipts and bank accounts to understand the grave state of our union. President Biden’s policies have contributed to high inflation, driven up prices by more than 13 percent over the past two years and stifled American energy production — leading to higher energy bills and high gas prices,” Moran said in a statement.
“The President recognized we have a serious fentanyl crisis here in our nation as thousands of people lose their lives to drug overdose. I support President Biden’s plans to increase screenings at points of entry along our border, but that will do nothing to stop the drugs that are being brought into the country through the unsecured points along our border. I recently visited the southern border, and it was clear that the administration’s policies over the past two years have exacerbated the crisis at the border.”
Marshall also issued a response touching on some of the same issues as Moran, as well as some others.
“Like many of you I waited with some unease to see how President Biden would approach this year’s State of the Union address given the unique and challenging issues facing our country: a looming recession, a war in Ukraine, an increasingly brazen China, an open southern border, and out of control federal spending causing record inflation, to name just a few,” Marshall said.
“America is a great nation, more than capable of addressing all of these problems. But as I sat there listening as President Biden painted a rosy picture of the current situation America’s facing, I will admit I was frustrated, frustrated at his lack of grip and understanding of what everyday, hardworking American families are going through, at his lack of urgency, and most importantly, at his lack of accountability.”
LaTurner similarly criticized Biden on a wide range of issues following the speech.
“For the past two years under one-party Democrat rule in Washington, Kansas families and small businesses have paid the price for President Biden's failed agenda. Prices are rising faster than paychecks, fentanyl is flowing across our wide-open southern border, energy costs are soaring, and the President's lack of strength on the world stage continues to threaten our national security,” LaTurner said in a statement.
“President Biden ignored the pressing issues facing our communities tonight and instead used this speech as an opportunity to applaud his administration's reckless policies and woke initiatives. Americans want real solutions, and House Republicans will continue to deliver.”
