President Joe Biden delivers 2024 State of the Union address to Congress

thank you, good evening, good evening, if I were smart, I would go home now, Mr. President, Madam Vice President, members of Congress, my fellow Americans, in January of 1941, Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation and he said : "I am

address

ing you at an unprecedented time in the history of the Union. Hitler was in March, the war was raging in Europe, President Roosevelt's purpose was to wake up Congress and alert the American people that this was not just any moment. freedom and democracy were under attack in the world tonight I come to this very chamber to

address

the nation now we are the ones facing an unprecedented moment in the history of the

union

and yes, my purpose tonight is to wake up Congress and warn to the American people that this is not just any moment, nor since President Lincoln and the Civil War, freedom and democracy have been as low in the country as they are today, making our moment a rare one. is that freedom and democracy are under attack both at home and abroad, at the same time that Russia's Putin abroad is on the march invading Ukraine and sewing. chaos all over Europe and beyond if anyone in this room thinks that Putin will stop in Ukraine I assure you he will not, but Ukraine Ukraine can stop Putin Ukraine can stop Putin if we support Ukraine and provide it with the weapons it needs to defend themselves, that's all that's all Ukraine is asking for, they are not asking for American soldiers, in fact there is no American soldiers' war in Ukraine and I am determined to keep it that way, but now assistance to Ukraine is being blocked by those who want get away from our world. leadership was not long ago when a republican

president

named Ronald Reagan thundered Mr.

Gorbachev tear down this wall now now my predecessor a former republican

president

tells Putin quote do whatever you want that's a quote a former president actually said bow before a Russian Leader, I think it is scandalous, it is dangerous and unacceptable. The United States is a founding member of NATO, the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II, prevents war and maintains peace, and today we have made NATO stronger than ever. Welcome to Finland. the alliance last year and this morning Sweden officially joined and its ministers here tonight stand up welcome welcome welcome and they know how to fight Mr Prime Minister welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever seen.

I say this to Congress. I have to take on Putin send me a bipartisan national security bill history is literally watching history is watching if the United States walks away it will put Ukraine at risk Europe is at risk the free world will be at risk and force others to do what who wish to harm us my message to President Putin, whom I have known for a long time, is simple, we will not leave, we will not bow, I will not bow in a literal sense, history is watching, history is watching, just as history is looking three years ago, on January 6, when the insurrection stormed this same capital and placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy, many of you are here.

I am the darkest day that we all saw with our own eyes. The insurgents were not patriots. They had come. to stop the peaceful transfer of power to Stern, the will of the people, the January 6 lies about the 2020 election, and the plots to steal the election posed the gravest threat to American democracy since the Civil War, but they failed. America stood firm and democracy prevailed we must be honest the threat to democracy must be defended my predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth about January 6th. I won't do it. This is the time to tell the truth and bury the lies.

Here is the simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win, as I have done since I was elected to office. I ask everyone, regardless of party, to unite and defend democracy. remember your oath of office. defend against all threats, internal and external respect. respect free and fair elections restore trust in our institutions and make clear that political violence has absolutely no place in America, zero place again, it is not hyperbole to suggest that history is watching or watching its children and grandchildren you will read about this day and what to make history is to witness another assault on freedom join us in the light is L to Beasley a social worker from Birmingham Alabama 14 months ago 14 months ago she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thank you to the miracle of IVF scheduled treatments to have that second child but the Alabama Supreme Court suspended IVF treatments throughout the

state

.

Unshackled by the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roie Wade, she was told her dream would have to wait. What her family had gone through should never have happened unless Congress acted. It could happen again, so tonight, let's stand firm. for families like hers to my friends on the other side of the aisle don't keep us waiting any longer guarantee the right to ABS guarantee it nationwide like the majority of Americans I think we did well I thank Vice President Harris for being a leader incredible that he defends reproductive freedom and many more thanks, my predecessor came to office determined to see roie annulled, he is the reason it was annulled and he boasts about it.

Look at the chaos that has resulted. Joining us tonight is Kate Cox, wife and mother from Dallas, has become pregnant again. and she had a fetus in a fatal condition, her doctor told Kate that her own life and her ability to have children in the future were at risk if she did not act because Texas law prohibited the ability of her to act of her. Kate and her husband had to leave. for the

state

to get what it needed, what her family went through should never have happened, but is happening in many others, there are state laws that prohibit freedom of choice, criminalize doctors, and force survivors of rape and incest to leave their states to receive treatment.

They need many of you in this chamber and my predecessor is promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom. My God, what more freedom would they take away from me? Look, it's a decision to overturn Roie Wade. The majority of the Supreme Court wrote the following and with all due respect. Judges, women do not lack electoral power. Excuse me, electoral or political power. You're about to realize how much it is. We won the vote in 2022 and 2020 and we will win again in

2024

if you, if you, the American people, send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you that I will restore Roie Wade as the law of the land again, friends , the United States cannot. return I am here tonight to show what I believe and the way forward because I know how far we came four years ago, next week, before I took office, the country was hit by the worst pandemic and the worst economic crisis of the century . fear record losses remember spikes, crime and murder devastating virus that took more than 1 million American lives of loved ones Millions left behind a mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness a president my predecessor failed in his duty most basic presidential that the American people owe the duty to care I think it's inexcusable.

I came into office determined to help us get through one of the most difficult periods in the nation's history. It's not new news, but in a thousand cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story ever told, so let's tell the story here, tell it here and now. The return of America is to build the future of American possibilities. Build an economy from the middle out and from the bottom up, not from the top. Invest in all of America, in all Americans, to make sure everyone has a fair shot we leave no one behind the pandemic no longer controls Our Lives the vaccines that saved us from Co are now being used to defeat cancer turning setback into comeback that's what America does that's what America does friends my legacy economy is on the brink now our economy is literally the envy of the world 15 million new jobs in just three years a record high unemployment record with a record load of 50e 16 million Americans are starting small businesses and each one is a literal act of hope with historic employment growth and small business growth for Blacks, Hispanics and Asian Americans 800,000 new manufacturing jobs in United States and action, where is it written?

We cannot be the manufacturing capital of the world that we are and will be. Today, more people have health insurance. More people have health insurance today more than ever the racial wealth gap is small as it has been in 20 years wages continue to rise inflation continues to fall inflation has fallen from 9% to 3% the lowest in the world and trending downward The landing is and will be soft and now instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we are exporting American products and creating American jobs right here in America where they belong and it takes time, but the American people are starting to feel it.

Consumer studies show disadvantages in trust. Flying across the United States has been the law of the land since the 1930s. Past administrations, including my predecessor, including some Democrats, also in the past have failed to buy off Americans. No longer under my supervision. Federal projects you fund, such as helping build American highways. Bridges and roads will be made with American products and built by American workers creating good-paying American jobs and thanks to our Chips and Science Act, the United States is investing more than ever in research and development during the pandemic, a shortage of semiconductor chips that raised the price of everything. from cell phones to cars and by the way, we invented those chips here in America, instead of having to import them, we private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in America, creating tens of thousands of jobs.

Of those jobs pay $100,000 a year and don't require a college degree, in fact, my policies have attracted $650 billion in private sector investments in clean energy. Advanced manufacturing creating tens of thousands of jobs here in the United States and thanks to our bipartisan infrastructure law. 46,000 new projects have been announced across your communities, and by the way, I noticed that some of you voted strongly against it or are applauding the money coming in. I like it. I'm with you. I'm with you if any of you aren't. I don't want that money in your district, just let me know modernize Brides roads, ports and airports, public transportation systems, eliminate poisonous lead pipes so all children can drink clean water without risk of brain damage, provide affordable high-speed Internet access for all.

American, no matter where you live, Urban, Suburban or rural communities in red states and blue states, record investments in tribal communities because of my investment in Family Farm because I invested in Family Farm led by my Agriculture sector knows more about this than no one I know. We are better able to stay in the family because those farms and their children and grandchildren have to leave home to make a living. It is transformative. The big comeback story is Bader Illinois, home to an auto plant for nearly 60 years before I arrived. come into office, the plant was on track to close thousands of workers feared for their livelihoods.

Hope was fading, so I was elected to office and we repeatedly complained to the auto companies knowing that the

union

s would make a difference, so the UAW worked like hell. keep the plan open and get these jobs back and together we did it instead of Auto Factory closing the car factories and reopening the new state of the art battery factories being built to power those cars there at the same time the people of belador I say instead of your city being left behind, your community is moving forward again because I'm sitting back and watching Auto JB's jobs of the future go overseas. 4,000 higher paying union jobs are building the future in Bader, here in America, here tonight is UAW President Shan Fain, a great Friend and great union leader Shawn, where are you standing? and Dawn and Don are third-generation, UAW workers in Bader Shan.

He was proud to be the first president to be part of the picket line and today Dawn has a good job on her. hometown that provides stability for his family and pride and dignity, as well as proving once again that Wall Street did not build America, they are not bad, they are notThey built, although the middle class built the country and the unions built the middle class. the American people when America is knocked down we rise up we keep going that's what America is like that's you the American people it's because of you America is coming back it's because of you our future is brighter it's because of you that tonight we can say with pride the state of our Union is strong and getting stronger tonight I want to talk about the future of the possibilities that we can build together a future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the rich and the largest corporations can no longer afford tax exemptions. and by the way, I understand corporations.

I come from a state that has more corporations invested than each of its states in the United States combined and represented for 36 years. I'm not against corporations, but I grew up in a home where trickle-down economics didn't put much on my dad's kitchen table, so I decided to change things so that the middle class does well when they do well. the very high level poor and the rich are still doing very well, we are all doing well and there is more to do. do to make sure you are feeling the benefits of everything we are doing.

Americans pay more for prescription drugs anywhere in the world. It is wrong and I will end it with a law that I propose and sign, none of you Republican friends work. we voted for it, we finally beat big pharma instead of paying $400 a month or so for insulin for diabetics and it only cost 10 dollars so now they only pay them 35 a month and still make a healthy profit, and I want but what to do next. I want to limit the cost of isolation to $35 a month for every American who needs it. For years, people have talked about it. but we finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices on prescription drugs, just like the VA does with veterans.

That's not just saving money for seniors, but also saving taxpayers. We cut federal deposits by $160 billion because Medicare will no longer have to pay those exorbitant prices to Big Pharma this year Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the most expensive drugs on the market to treat everything from heart disease to arthritis. Now is the time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices. for 500 different drugs over the next decade are making a lot of money and will continue to be extremely profitable not only will they save lives but will save taxpayers another two $100 billion starting next year the same law limits the total cost of prescription drugs for people seniors with Medicare at 2 200 for $2000 a year even for expensive cancer drugs that cost 10 12 $15 000 I want a prescription drug cost cap of $2000 a year for everyone folks, I'm going to get in trouble for saying that but anyone who wants to get an Air Force woman and fly to Toronto Berlin Moscow I mean excuse me and well even Moscow probably and bring your prescription and I promise I will get it for you for 40% of the cost you are paying right now company right now medicine In the same place, folks, the Affordable Care Act, the old Obamacare, is still a big problem.

More than 100 million of you can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition, but my predecessor and many in this chamber want to eliminate prescription drugs by repealing the Affordable Care Act. I'm not going to let that happen, so We stopped it 50 times and we will stop it again, in fact, I am not only protecting it, I am expanding it by reducing the enacted tax credits of $800 per person per year. health care costs for millions of working families that tax credit expires next year I want those savings to be permanent you state that it is obvious that women make up more than half of our population, but research on women's health has always underfunded, which is why we are launching the first White House Initiative on Women's Health Research led by Jill who did an incredible job as first lady to approve my billion-dollar plan to transfer health research of women and benefit millions of lives across the United States.

I know the cost of housing is very important to you if inflation continues. Reducing mortgage rates will also go down and the FED recognizes this, but I'm not waiting. I want to provide an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month for the next two years as mortgage rates drop to put toward their mortgages when they buy their first home or trade in a little more space for just two years and my Administration is also eliminating title insurance on federally backed mortgages. When you refinance your home, you can save $1,000 or more for millions of renters.

We are cracking down on large landlords who violate antitrust laws by fixing prices and raising rents. We've cut red tape so builders can get federal funding that's already helping build a record 1.7 million new homes. Nationally, now approve, approve and build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and reduce those rents to remain the strongest economy in the world, we need to have the best education system in the world and I suspect all of you want to give a child. a good start for all children by providing access to preschool for three and four year olds. I think I pointed that out last year.

I think I pointed out last year that children who come from broken homes where there are no books are not red types and are not talked to much. They often start school in kindergarten or first grade hearing that they have heard a million fewer words, pronounced correctly. Studies show that children who attend preschool are almost 50% more likely to finish high school and earn a two- and four-year degree regardless of their background. I met a year and a half ago with the leaders of the Business Roundtable, they were angry because I was angry, well, they were arguing why I wanted to spend money on education.

I appointed them as vice president. I met with more than eight. I think it was 182 of those people, they won't give me the exact number and I asked them what CEOs need most and you've had the same experience on both sides. They say a better educated workforce, so I looked at them. and I say I come from Delaware, Pont used to be the 8th largest corporation in the world and every new company they bought they educated the workforce for that company, but none of you do that anymore, why are you mad that I give you the opportunity of the best-educated workforce in the world all looked at me and said I think you're right I want to expand high-quality tutoring and, in short, we are learning to see all children learn to read by third grade.

I'm also connecting local businesses and high schools so students can get hands-on experience on the path to a high-paying job, whether they go to college or not, and I want to make sure college is more affordable. Let's continue to increase pel subsidies to work in middle class families and increase record investments. at HBCUs and at a minority-serving institution, including a Hispanic institution, and I was told I couldn't universally change the way we handle student loans. Fixed two existing student loan programs to reduce student debt burden by nearly $4 million. Americans, including nurses, firefighters, and others in public service like Keenan Jones, the Minnesota public educator who is here with us tonight.

Keenan, where are you? Kenan, thank you, he has educated hundreds of students so they can go to college and now he can help after death. own daughter to college and people see that the relief is good for the economy because people can now buy a house, start a business, start a family while we're at it. By the way, I want to give public school teachers, the first couple, a raise. For years we cut the deficit, now let me speak to the issue of fundamental justice for all Americans. I've been getting real results in a fiscally responsible way.

We have already cut the federal deficit. We have already cut the federal budget by more than a trillion dollars. Firm. the bipartisan agreement to cut another trillion dollars in the next decade it is my goal to cut the federal office another three trillion by making the big corporations very rich and finally start paying their fair share look, I'm a capitalist, will you or can you do a million or millions of dollars that's great just pay your fair share in taxes a fair tax code is how we spend things to make this country great healthcare, education, defense and much more but here's the deal : The last administration overwhelmingly enacted a $2 trillion tax cut.

They benefited the top 1%, the very rich and the largest corporation and exploited the federal deficit, adding more to the national debt than any presidential term in American history. Check the numbers. Friends at home, does anyone really think the tax code is fair? Do you really believe? The rich and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax break. I sure don't. I'm going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair according to my plan. No one making less than $400,000 a year will pay an extra cent in federal taxes. Nobody, not a cent. In fact, they still haven't The child tax credit I passed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions of working families and cut child poverty in half restore that child tax credit no child should go hungry in this country the way To make the tax code fair is to make the large corporations, the very rich start paying their fair share, remember that in 2020, 55 of the largest companies in the United States made 40 invoices and paid zero in federal income taxes. income, zero no longer thanks to the law I wrote when we signed. pay a minimum of 15%, but that's still less than workers pay federal taxes.

It's time to raise the minimum corporate tax to at least 21% so that all large corporations finally start paying their fair share. I also want to end tax breaks for big farmers, big oil. private checks massive payments to executives when it's only supposed to be a million per million dollars that could be deducted, they can pay 20 million if they want, but deduct a million and be done with it now, you know there's one, the billionaires in America already know What is the federal average? the tax is for those billionaires no, they are making great sacrifices 88.2% that is much less than what the vast majority of Americans pay no billionaire should pay a lower federal tax rate than a teacher, a healthcare worker or a nurse I propose a minimum tax on billionaires of 25% just 25% you know what that would raise that would raise $500 billion over the next 10 years and imagine what that could do for America imagine a future with affordable child care that millions of Families can earn they need to go to work to help the economy grow imagine a future with paid employment because no one should have to choose between working and caring for their family imagine imagine the future of home care and care for the elderly and people who live with disabilities so they can stay in their homes and their family caregivers can finally get the pay they deserve tonight, let's agree once again to stand up for seniors, many of my friends on the other side want to put Social Security in on the chopping block if anyone here tries to cut Social Security Medicare or increase retirement. age, I will stop them, the workers, the workers who built this country, pay more to Social Security than the millionaires and billionaires, it is not fair, we have two paths to go.

Republicans can cut Social Security and give more tax breaks to the rich, that's what I'll do. the proposal oh no, you don't want another $2 trillion tax cut. I thought that was his plan. Well, it's good to know that they're not going to cut another $2 trillion for the super wealth, good to hear. protect and strengthen Social Security and make the rich pay their fair share. Many corporations raise prices to increase their profits by charging more and more for less and less. That's why we're cracking down on corporations that engage in price gouging and misleading food pricing. from healthcare to housing, in fact, snack companies believe you won't giveIt counts if they change the size of the bag and put much fewer bags of the same size, they put fewer chips in it, no, I'm not kidding, it's called Shing.

Pass inflation to Bobby Casey's Bill and stop this. I'm serious. Everyone probably saw that commercial on Snickers bars, they charge them the same amount and they got, I don't know, 10% less Snickers in it. Look, I'm also receiving. Get rid of junk charges, those hidden charges at the bottom of your bill that are there without your knowledge. My administration announced that we are reducing credit card late payment fees from $32 to $8. The banks and credit card companies can charge what it cost them to instigate the collection and that's more like $8 and 3 some dollars the credit card companies don't like it but I'm saving the American families $0 billion a year with all the junk fees I'm eliminating People at home, that's why the banks are so angry, that's 20 billion dollars in profits.

I won't stop there. My administration proposed rules for public cable ride services, online ticket sellers to tell you the total price in advance so there are no surprises, it matters, it matters and this is also done in November my team began serious negotiation with a bipartisan group of senators the result was a bipartisan bill with the toughest set of border security reforms we have ever seen oh you don't believe it oh you don't like that bill huh conservatives got together and said It was a good bill. I admit, it is incredible that the bipartisan party hires 1,500 more agents and security officers. 100 more immigration judges will help address the burden of 2 million pending cases. 4,300 more asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in 6 months instead of six years now, what are you against 100 more high-tech drug detection machines to significantly increase the ability to detect and stop vehicles that they smuggle fentanyl into the United States and that they are killing thousands of children?

This bill would save lives and the Border Order also gives me and any new president new emergency authority to temporarily close the border when the number of immigrants at the border is overwhelming. The border patrol. The Union has supported this bill. The federal Chamber of Commerce is yeah, yeah, you're saying look. to the facts, I know, I know that you know how to read. I think giving the opportunity to get a majority in the House and Senate would support the bill and the majority at this time, but unfortunately politics has derailed this bill so far, I'm told.

My predecessor called members of the House and Senate to demand that they block the bill. he feels that the political victory was a political victory for me and a political loser for him. It's not about him, it's not about me. I would be a winner, wouldn't I? Lincoln Lincoln Riley, an innocent young woman who was murdered by an illegal, that's right, but how many thousands of people were murdered by legal people? To his parents. I say my heart goes out to you for losing children. I understand, but look if we change the dynamic. at the border people pay people people pay these smugglers $8,000 to cross the border because they know that if they manage to get ahead and let them into the country, it will be six to eight years before they get a hearing and it's worth the It's worth taking the risk of the $8,000, but if it's only six months and 6 weeks, the idea is highly unlikely that people will pay that money and get there knowing they'll be able to get kicked out quickly.

Friends, I would respectfully say suggest my referee. Republican friend thanks to the American people getting this bill passed, we must act now and if my predecessor is watching instead of paying politicians and pressuring members of Congress to block the bill, join me to tell Congress to pass it, we can do it together, but that's what you apparently heard. is what he will not do I will not demonize immigrants saying they are poison in the blood of our country I will not separate families I will not ban people because of their faith unlike my predecessor on my first day in office I presented the project comprehensive bill to fix our immigration system, check it out, as all of this and the more secure border provides a path to Citi for dreamers and much more, but unlike my presser, I know who we are as Americans, we are the only nation in the world with a heart and soul that comes from the old and new home of the Native Americans, their ancestors have been here for thousands of years, home to people from all PL from all places on Earth, They came freely, some came in chains, some came when famine struck, like my ancestral family in Ireland some flee persecution to pursue dreams that are impossible Anywhere but here in America that is America and we all come from somewhere but we are all Americans look friends, we have a simple choice: we can fight to fix the border or we can fix it.

I'm ready to fix it send me the border bill now a transformative moment in history occurred 58 59 years ago today in Selma, Alabama, hundreds of foot soldiers for justice marched across the Edmond p its bridge named after the Great Dragon from the Kucos clan to claim your fundamental right to vote. They beat them, bloodied them and left them for dead. Our late friend and former colleague John Lewis was at that march. We miss him, but tonight he will be joining us at our other marches both in the gallery and on the floor, including Betty May Fikes. Known as the voice of Selma, the daughter of gospel singers and preachers, she sang songs of prayer and protest that Bloody Sunday to help shake the conscience of the nation.

Five months later, the Voting Rights Act was passed and he signed into law. Thank you thank you thank you. you, but 59 years later, your forces have taken us back in time voter suppression electoral subversion unlimited dark money EXT Jerry command John Lewis is a great friend to many of us here, but if you really want to honor him and all the heroes March with him then it's time to do more than talk, approve the freedom to vote, act like John Lewis by voting right now and stop denying another fundamental value of America, our diversity in American life.

Banning books is wrong instead of erasing history. Let's make history. I want to protect the fundamentals. rights approve the equality law and the message of transgender Americans I have your back approve the pro law for workers' rights increase the federal minimum wage because every worker has the right to a decent life more than seven dollars an hour we are also making history by facing the climate crisis without denying it I don't think any of you think that there is no longer a climate crisis at least I hope not. I am taking the most significant action on climate in the history of the world. cut our carbon emissions in half by 2030 create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs like ibw's work is to build and install 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations conserve 30% of US lands and waters by 2030 take measures on environmental justice gated communities stifled by the legacy of pollution and pattern after Peace Corp and America Corp.

I launched the Climate Corp to put 20,000 young people to work at the forefront of our clean energy future. I will triple that number in a decade to state the obvious: all Americans deserve freedom. to be safe and America is safer today than when I took office the year before I took office, murder rates increased by 30% 30% increased the largest increase in history was then by not through my plan American Rescue Fund in which all Americans voted against. I'm angry because we made the biggest investment in public safety last year. The homicide rate experienced the largest decline in history.

Violent crime fell to one of its lowest levels in more than 50 years, but we have more to do, we have to help cities invest. in more community police more mental health workers more community violence that V give communities the tool to combat gun crime, retail crime and vehicle theft continue to build trust as they have been doing by taking action executives on police reform and ask that it be the law of the land by ordering my cabinet to review the federal classification of marijuana by eliminating thousands of convictions for mere possession because no one should be imprisoned simply for using it or having it on their record taking on crimes and violence Domestic I am increasing the federal violence against women law enforcement law that I proudly wrote when I was a senator so we can finally end the scourge against women in America.

There are other types of violence that I want to stop with us tonight is Jasmine, whose nine-year-old sister Jackie. She was murdered along with 21 classmates and teachers at an elementary school in Uvaldi, Texas, very shortly after that happened. Jill and I went to Uvaldi for a couple of days, spent hours and hours with each of the families, heard her message, so everyone in this room in this chamber. I could hear the same message, the constant refrain, and I was there for hours meeting with each family, they said: do something, do something right. I did something by establishing the first gun violence prevention office in the White House, which the vice president is leading. position, thanks for doing it in the meantime, my predecessor told the NRA that he is proud that he did nothing about guns when he was president after another shooting in Iowa recently, he said that when asked what to do about it, he said that just get over it, there's your date.

Get over it, I say, stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it. I'm proud that we beat the NRA when I signed the most important gun safety law in nearly 30 years thanks to this Congress, now we must beat the NRA again. I'm demanding a ban. on assault weapons and high-capacity magazine passes Universal background checks none of this none of this I taught the Second Amendment for 12 years none of this violates the Second Amendment or vilifies responsible gun owners, you know, as we run the challenges at home, we are also managing the crisis abroad, including the Middle East.

I know the last five months have been heartbreaking for many people, for the Israeli people, for the Palestinian people, and for many here in the United States. This crisis began on October 7 with a massacre perpetrated by a terrorist group. called Hamas, as you all know, 1,200 innocent people, women, girls, men and boys massacred after suffering sexual violence, the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust and 250 hostages taken here in this chamber tonight, our families whose loved ones are still detained. By Hamas I promise all families that we will not rest until we bring all your loved ones home.

We will also work around the clock to bring Evan and Paul home. Americans are being unfairly detained by the Russians and others around the world. Israel has the right to act after Hamas Hamas ended this conflict by releasing the hostages, handing over the weapons, it could end it by releasing the hostages, handing over the weapons and handing over those responsible for October 7, but Israel has an excuse. Israel has an additional burden because it is hiding. and operates among the civilian population like cowards under hospitals, daycare centers and all that. Israel also has a fundamental responsibility, although protecting innocent civilians in Gaza this war has exacted a greater toll on the innocent villains than in all previous wars in Gaza, in total more than 30,000 Palestinians. most of whom are not Hamas have been killed thousands and thousands of innocent women and children girls and boys were also orphaned almost 2 million more Palestinians under bombardment or displacement houses neighborhoods destroyed in rubble cities in ruins families without food water medicine it is heartbreaking I have been working non-stop to establish an immediate ceasefire that would last 6 weeks to release all prisoners, release all hostages so that the hostages return home and alleviate the NCD situation tolerable in a humanitarian crisis and built towards a America's longest lasting and longest lasting.

States have been leading international efforts to obtain more humanitarian assistance for Gaza. Tonight I am ordering the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a temporary dock in the Mediterranean off the coast of Gaza that can receive large shipments carrying food, water, medicine and temporary supplies. shelters there will be no American boots on the ground a temporary pair will allow a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance coming to Gaza every day and Israel must do its part Israel must allow more aid in the god to ensureSo that humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire they are announcing that they are going to have a crossing in northern Gaza for the Israeli leadership.

I say that this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or the baran ship that protects and saves innocent lives has to be. a priority as we look to the future, the only real solution to the situation is a two-state solution over time and I say this as a lifelong supporter of Israel for my entire career, no one has a better record solid with Israel than me. any of you here I am the only American wartime president of Israel, but there is no other path that guarantees Israel's security and democracy, there is no other path that guarantees that Palestinians can live in peace with PO with peace and dignity and there is no other path that guarantees peace between Israel and all its neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, who I am talking about, creating stability in the Middle East also means containing the threat posed by Iran, which is why I build a coalition of more than a dozen of countries to defend international maritime transport and freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.

I have ordered strikes to degrade the Houthis' capabilities and defend U.S. forces in the region as commander in chief. I will not hesitate to take additional measures to protect our people and our military personnel for years to come. I've heard many of my Republican and Democratic friends say that China is rising and the United States is falling behind. They have understood it backwards. I've been saying it for over four years, even when I wasn't president. The rise of the United States, we have the best economy. in the world and since I took office R GTP has increased our trade deficit China has dropped to the lowest point in more than a decade and we oppose China's unfair economic practices, we defend peace and stability throughout the Strait of Taiwan I have revitalized our partnership and Alliance in the Pacific India Australia Japan South Korea Pacific Islands I have made sure that the most advanced American technologies cannot be used in China and I do not allow them to be marketed there frankly because of all this harsh talk about China, to my predecessor never thought to do any of that.

I want competition with China, not conflict, and we are in a stronger position to win the 21st century conflict against China than anyone else than at any other time. well, here at home I have signed over 400 bipartisan bills, but there are more to pass my Unity agenda strengthen penalties against fentanyl trafficking, you don't want to do that, uh, pass bipartisan provacy that claims to protect our children online harness the promise of AI to protect us from Danger, ban AI voice impersonations and more, and uphold our truly sacred obligation to train and equip those we send to Harm's Way and care for them and their families when they return to home and when not, that's why the song supports and With the help of Dennis, VA, I signed the PCT Act, one of the most important laws to ever help millions of toxin-exposed veterans who are now fighting more than 100 different types of cancer.

Many of them do not return home, but we owe them and their families support. We owe it to ourselves to continue supporting our new health research agency called ARP and remind ourselves that we can do great things like cancer as we know it and let me close with this, hey, I know you don't want to listen. More Lindsay, but I have to say a few more things. I know it may not seem like it, but I've been here for a while. When you get to my age, certain things become clearer than ever. I know American history over and over again.

I have seen the contest between competing forces and the battle for the soul of our nation between those who want to move America back to the past, those who want to move America into the future. My life has taught me to embrace freedom and democracy, a future based on the fundamental values ​​that defined America honesty decency dignity equality respect everyone give everyone fair treatment give hate there is no safe harbor now other people of my age they see it differently the American story of resentment revenge and retribution that's not me I was born in the middle of the world World War II, when the United States defended the freedom of the world.

I grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in Claymont, Delaware, among working-class people who built this country. I watched in horror as two of my heroes, like many of you, Dr. King and Bobby Cunn, were murdered and their legacy inspired me to pursue a career in service. I left the law firm and became a public defender because my city of Wilmington was the only city in America occupied by the National Guard after the assassination of Dr. King due to the riots and I became a county councilman almost by Accident I went elected to the United States Senate when I had no intention of running at age 29, then vice president, our first black president, now president, and the first female vice president in my career.

By the way, they told me I was too young. let me get on the Senate elevators to vote sometimes it's no joke and I've been told I'm too old, whether young or old. They have always known me. I always knew what lasts. I met our North Star, the idea itself. of America is that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never lived up to that idea, but we haven't moved away from it either, and I won't walk away from it now. I am optimistic. I really am. I am optimistic.

New York, my fellow Americans, the problem facing our nation. It's not about how old we are, it's about how old our ideas are, hate, anger, revenge, retribution, they are the oldest ideas, but you can't lead America with old ideas that only make us go back, you lead America into the land of possibilities, you need a vision for the future and what can and should be done tonight you've heard mine I see a future where we defend democracy don't belittle it I see a future where we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms, not take them away I see a future for the middle class finally getting a fair chance and the rich having 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. a country for all Americans and I will always be president for all Americans because I believe in America, I believe in you, the American people, you are the reason we have never been more optimistic about our future than I am now, so let's build the future. together let us remember who we are we are the United States of America and there is nothing beyond our ability and we act together God bless you all and may God protect our troops thank you thank you thank you