Speeches and Remarks

Grand Hyatt Washington
Washington, D.C.

(March 16, 2024)

10:32 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. (Applause.) Thank you, thank you. I think I should sit down. (Laughter.)

Good evening.

AUDIENCE: Good evening.

THE PRESIDENT: It’s great to be here at the Gridiron dinner, though it’s six hours past my bedtime. (Laughter.)

What I love about the Gridiron are the opportunities for young people, like Dan Balz and Al Hunt. (Laughter.) But it was tough to see Mitch McConnell announce he’s stepping down as GOP leader. I hate to see a friend give up in his prime. (Laughter.)

Look, it’s been a long night. So, I’ll keep my remarks just a few minutes less than my State of the Union. (Laughter.) Kamala will stand up 83 times, because even the press has to admit: I crushed it. (Laughter and applause.) Granted, your expectations were so low, I just had to show up and remember who the president is. (Laughter.) That’s the press, always underestimating me.

But Kamala and I and the members of the administration here tonight are proud — proud of our accomplishments on behalf of the American people: record job growth, wages rising, rigging the Super Bowl for Taylor Swift. (Laughter.)

There have been some bright spots in the media. I heard Wordle website is actually doing news now. You get that? (Laughter.) The New York Ti- — anyway — (laughter).

We know not everyone is feeling the progress we’re making. We’re committed to helping the little guy. Ron DeSantis, though, won’t take our calls. (Laughter and applause.)

Our big plan to cancel student debt doesn’t apply to everyone. Just yesterday, a defeated-looking man came up to me and said, “I’m being crushed by debt. I’m completely wiped out.” I said, “Sorry, Donald, I can’t help you.” (Laughter and applause.)

But we’re lucky to have great partners, including Governor Whitmer of Michigan. She did a great job tonight. (Applause.) Gretchen and I both joined the picket line of UAW workers.

A strong union can make a corporation quiver, at least that’s what Jeff Bezos has been telling me at dinner. (Laughter and applause.) Jeff is a big supporter of journalism. He’s the richest man in the world, and that’s even with owning The Washington Post. (Laughter.)

Believe it or not, Republican Governor Cox of Utah is a good friend. He also did a great job tonight — a really great job tonight. (Applause.) He’s smart, he’s civil, he’s willing to stand up to extremists — or, as we call that, he’s a good Democrat. (Laughter.) God bless you, man. I hope I don’t get you in too much trouble. (Laughter.)

I heard House Republicans were going to do a skit tonight, but they couldn’t get a speaker. (Laughter.)

And the biggest joke of the night: an impeachment inquiry. Imagine believing something so baseless that has a zero chance of succeeding. But Republicans would rather fail at impeachment than succeed at anything else. (Laughter.)

They want a secure border — bor- — border, but they block it. We had the strongest border bill ever that we’ve c- — come up with. They take credit for one of the biggest infrastructure laws, but voted against it. And I’m the one confused? (Laughter and applause.)

Hell, my good friend, the Taoiseach of Ireland, is here tonight to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow. He took one look at Congress, and he asked for another Guinness. (Laughter.)

Of course, the big news this week is two candidates clinched their parties’ nomination for president. One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other is me. (Laughter and applause.)

Look, I’m running against the same guy that I beat in 2020. But don’t tell him. He thinks he’s running against Barack Obama. (Laughter.) That’s what he said.

And another big difference between us: I know what I value most. I’m Jill Biden’s husband, and I know her name. (Laughter and applause.)

In the coming months, Kamala and I will be making the case how Americans are better off than four years ago, how we got so much through the pandemic, turned around the economy, reestablished America’s leadership in the world. All without encouraging the American people to inject bleach. (Laughter.) All without destroying the economy, embarrassing us around the world, or — or itching for insurrection.

Look, I wish these were jokes, but they’re not. As I said in my State of the Union Address, we live in an unprecedented moment in democracy, an unpre- — and an unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack.

Putin is on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says to him, “Do whatever the hell you want.” A former American president actually said that.

Joining us tonight is the prime minister of Estonia and the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States. I say — (applause) — I say to Putin and told him in person we will not — we will not bow down. They will not bow down, and I will not bow down. Period. (Applause.)

Here at home, our basic freedom is under assault — the freedom to vote, the freedom to choose, and so much more.

The lies about the 2020 election, the plots to overturn it, to embrace the January 6th insurrectionists pose the gravest threat to our democracy since the American Civil War.

In 2020, they failed. But you all know the threat remains, a poison cours- — coursing through the veins of our democracy. Disinformation everywhere. There’s a toxic cycle of anger and conspiracy. Massive — massive changes in the media industry, with pursue, with pursue, with pursue. Pursuing what? Pursuing heat and pursuing — instead of light.

All the while, the other guy calls you the free press. Well, he calls you the enemy of the people, even as many of you risk your lives to do your job and sometimes even give your lives to do your jobs.

I made clear we’re doing everything we can to bring Evan and Austin home and all Americans wrongly detained around the world. (Applause.) And we’ll not give up.

Folks, every single one of us has a role to play in making sure American democracy endures. This year, you, the free press, have a bigger role than ever.

Let me state the obvious. You’re not the enemy of the people. You are a pillar of any free society. And I may not always agree with your coverage or admire it, but I do admire your courage.

Good journalism holds a mirror up to a country for us to reflect the good, the bad, the truth about who we are.

This is not hyperbole: We need you. We need you. Democracy is at risk, and the American people need to know. In fractured times, they need a context and a perspective. They need substance to match the enormity of the task.

As a result, the choices you make really matter. And each story you make makes democracy stronger.

I know it’s possible because I know the American story. We’re a great nation. We’re good people, defined by core values of honesty, decency, dignity, light over darkness, courage over fear, and truth over lies.

These are also the bedrock principles of good journalism.

So, tonight, I’d like to toast the free press and toast to the American people and the enduring causes of democracy and freedom.

May God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

Thank you. (Applause.)

10:41 P.M. EDT

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Via Teleconference
(March 15, 2024)

THE PRESIDENT:  Can you all hear me?  Happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend.  It’s a little premature.  It’s not until Sunday.
 
But I just want to say it’s great to so many friends out there who have been with me from the beginning.  Looks like Bobby Grady, Kathleen Kennedy, a whole —  all so many of you.  And I really mean it.  You guys brought me the dance in 2020.  And I’m proud and willing to do it again. 
 
I’m speaking to you not only as the President but as the great-great grandson of the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth.
 
My — my proud — I’m the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden — (laughs) — she’s looking down right now — speaking from the White House, designed by, I might add, an Irish architect.
 
Look, my grandfather Ambrose Finnegan used to say, for real, “Joey, if you’re lucky enough to be Irish, you’re lucky enough.”  Well, all of us Irish Americans are lucky we have ancestors who came to these shores.  It’s a — it was a precious gift — the belief that America was a place of possibilities.
 
I used to hear the stories from my grandfather about his father and his grandfather when they came. 
 
As I made clear at the State of the Union, we’re still in the battle for the soul of America — and that’s not hyperbole — between forces who want to pull America back and those who want to move us into the future.  Those who — it’s a real battle between the old ideas of hate, anger, revenge, and retribution and the core American values that brought our ancestors here: honesty, decency, dignity, equality.
 
Irish Americans have always stepped up in — in that fight (inaudible).  For real.  That’s who we are.  We’re the only people in the world who are nostalgic about the future, I’ve said — and I mean it.  A future where we defend democracy not diminish it, expand freedom not restrict it.  I know ea- — I know each one of us can do this.  I know we can do this.
 
I want to thank you for your support and your friendship.  To borrow a line from Yeats, he said, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.”  You’ve been an incredible friend to me.  And I really mean it.  And I — I’m (inaudible) the Irish of it — we never give up.  We know what the (inaudible) look like.  We know what (inaudible) out there.  We know and we just never stop.
 
We can’t stop now.  There’s so much — there’s so much at stake.  The guy I’m running against a second time you helped me beat the first time is a guy who doesn’t share our values, and this is all about values.  It’s who we are as Americans.  We are a nation of values and dignity. 
 
You’ve heard me say many times: My dad used to say, “Your job is about a lot more than your — a paycheck.  It’s about your dignity.  It’s about respect.  It’s about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, ‘It’s going to be okay, honey.’”  That’s what we’re all about.  That’s what we’re all about.  
 
And I just left the Taoiseach from Ireland and the Speaker Johnson.  I met with all the folks at — who are Irish Americans (inaudible) in the Congress and the Senate and they have — and — anyway —
 
I — I’m not — I’m not supposed to be talking this long here.  But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your friendship and your commitment.  And you know we never give up.  We’re not going to give up.  We must win this race for the sake of our ancestors and the sake of our (inaudible). 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’re doing.  May God bless you.  And may God protect our troops.  Thank you. 

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Roosevelt Room

2:01 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I thank you, Fat Joe, for — for being here and — and taking the time but really for your voice on so many critical issues.  In addition to you the gift of your artistry, I thank you for being here.

Governor Beshear, thank you.  I said earlier to the group at the table that you have been an extraordinary leader in many ways, not only for the people of Kentucky but nationally.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR:  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And, on this issue, I would like to just publicly applaud and thank you for being so forward-leaning around having the courage to challenge certain traditions and critically evaluate whether what we have been doing is smart and what can we do to be smarter.  And your leadership, I think, is inspirational to a lot of others.  So, thank you for that.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR:  Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I will say that I believe that the promise of America includes equal justice under the law.  And for too many, our criminal justice system has failed to live up to that core principle.  And I say that with full knowledge of how this system has worked, including my experience as a prosecutor. 

The President and I have addressed inequities through implementation of long-overdue criminal justice reforms.  For example, we have, at the federal level, banned chokeholds; we have restricted no-knock warrants; and created the first-ever database to track misconduct by law enforcement. 

This is critically important, that last piece.  The first pieces may be obvious.  But, as we know, all too often we have seen examples of where a police officer has been found to have committed misconduct in one region but then can move to another region and that record does not follow that individual.  And then, of course, the same behavior repeats itself.  So, the fact that we have made a commitment to having that kind of database is really very significant in the push toward ensuring that we have justice in the criminal justice system. 

We have also been focused on reentry — some of the work that I started back when I was DA San Francisco in 2005 — looking at what we must do to appreciate the fact that folks who have been held accountable through the criminal justice system should also have an opportunity — once they have done their time, have paid their due — to have the ability to reenter and be productive and do what they aspire to do, which is to help support their families and live a productive life. 

To that end, there are a few things that we have done that are very significant.  One is we have now and recently announced making Small Business Administration loans available to previously incarcerated individuals.  That is significant because, before now, they were prohibited from being eligible for Small Business Administration loans. 

And I have personally met many people who were formerly incarcerated who are hardworking, who are intelligent, who are innovative and want an ability to be able to contribute to the economy of their community, need access to capital, could not have qualified for these loans, and now will be eligible. 

We have also expanded Pell Grants for individuals who are currently incarcerated.  We know that there are many people who while incarcerated attempt to upgrade their education with an anticipation that, when they are released, they will be able to put it to good use.  But they are not necessarily able to afford the online courses that would help them do that.  So, the extension of Pell Grants to those who are currently incarcerated will facilitate more people being able to aspire and actually follow through on their dreams of — of getting an education. 

We have also, through the Health and Human Services Department, expanded our ability and responsibility to get information to those who are currently incarcerated but soon should be released about the benefits that they are eligible for when they get out — in particular, through Medicaid.  Because we know that there is a moment between release and reentering the community where we want to make sure these individuals have all the resources they need within a short period of time of release so that they can hit the ground running to live a productive life and reenter their communities. 

We have also, through our administration, through Joe Biden’s leadership, we have addressed inequities in federal drug policy, and that’s the subject of today’s meeting.

Historically, there has been — there are many examples, frankly, of disparities that follow racial lines in the criminal justice system.  One well-known example is the disparity around sentencing for crack versus powder cocaine. 

And what we know is that the disparity is such that it’s almost 100 to 1 in terms of the kinds of sentences that people would be committed to for crack cocaine as opposed to powder cocaine.  And, historically, we know that certain communities would use crack cocaine versus powder cocaine because crack cocaine was just cheaper.

We have also addressed what we need to do around clemency and to shorten some of the excessive crack cocaine sentences.  Joe Biden has been very clear about his intention and actually practice to do that, again, acknowledging the disparities that have existed and what we have the ability to do to correct some of those going forward.

We have gra- — gathered today, however, to address specifically the injustices that we have seen in federal marijuana policy.  I have said many times: I believe — I think we all at this table believe — nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed.  And what we need to do is recognize that far too many people have been sent to jail for simple marijuana possession. 

And the impact is such that, in particular, Black Americans and Latinos are four times more likely — four times more likely to be arrested — arrested for marijuana possession, and the disparity is even larger when you talk about the subset of Black men and Latino men.

So, this is an issue that must be addressed.  It is work that, again, I have done over the years.  It is work that we are also doing as an administration.

First, I will tell you that we have pardoned tens of thousands of people with federal convictions for simple marijuana possession.  And today, we are joined by some of the pardon recipients so that we can have a conversation about what this has meant for them as a model and inspiration for what we must do for many others who are not at this table.

And their stories, I will tell you, are proof of the importance of pardons and what it means in the life of an individual in terms of allowing them a second chance and an ability to reenter their community in a productive way.

Second, we have issued a call to action for states to pardon these types of offenses — in particular, on possession.  That is why I have asked the governor of Kentucky to be here — excuse me — (clears throat) — Governor Beshear, who has basically pardoned and — and has addressed the convictions of people in Kentucky with simple marijuana possession convictions, and they can now apply for pardons.

So, he’s going to talk with us about that as a model for what other states can and should do.  And I challenge other states to follow his lead.

Third, we have directed the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice to reassess how marijuana is classified under the federal drug schedule.  And I cannot emphasize enough that they need to get to it as quickly as possible, and we need to have a resolution based on their findings and their assessment.

But this issue is — is stark when one considers the fact that, on the schedule currently, marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin.  Marijuana is considered as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than fentanyl, which is absurd, not to mention patently unfair.

So, I’m sure DEA is working as quickly as possible and will continue to do so, and we look forward to the product of their work.

And with that, I will conclude by saying that the work that we have achieved thus far is important, but there still is much more to do.  And I thank the participants who are at this table.  And, Governor, again, I want to thank you for your leadership and Fat Joe for moderating our discussion today.

And with that, I thank the press. 

Have a good afternoon.  (Applause.)

END                       2:11 P.M. EDT

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Oval Office

10:52 A.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, Taoiseach, welcome back to the Oval Office.  It’s good to have you back.  And — and I want to thank you again for the reception I had last — when I was last in Ireland.  As a matter of fact, my family wasn’t sure we wanted to come home.  It was so nice. 

Look, it’s great to see you again, a great chance to return some of the hospitality that you provided me when I was in Ireland last.  And I know there are all kinds of Irish — old Irish sayings, but my Grandfather Finnegan used to say, “May the hinge of our friendship never go rusty.”  He had all these sayings, you know.  The Irish in America sometimes think they’re more Irish than the Irish.

But — and I don’t think we’re going to let it go rusty.  We’re vital to each other’s economies.  We’re good friends.  And we’re — and today celebrates 100 years —

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  That’s right.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  — 100 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and America.  And as far as that friendship goes, it keeps increasing and not diminishing, and I would argue it’s stronger than ever. 

Together, we’re deepening our economic partnership.  There are 300,000 — helped create 300,000 jobs across both our nations. 

And we’re working together to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza.  And we both know that a whole lot more has to be done. 

And we’re standing together to support Ukraine in the face of Putin’s onslaught, the savagery with which he’s attacking Ukrainians.  And I want to thank you, Leo, for Ireland’s unwavering assistance to Ukraine, including millions of vital humanitarian aid that you provide — millions of dollars. 

And I’m urging our Congress to do its part to get back in the game of — we were able to find another $300 million, but we — we have a $6 billion package — a $60 billion package.  And we’re really working — so, when we’re up in the Hill, I’d ask you to lobby them for me. 

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  I will.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  That was a joke, guys.  (Laughter.)  That was a joke.

But I’m urging them to — Congress to pass the bipartisan legislation now that includes a significant amount of humanitarian aid, including to Ukraine and Gaza. 

And as I said in Belfast last year, we remain committed to protecting the peace and progress in Northern Ireland since the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.  And like you, I’m glad to see Northern Ireland’s Executive and Assembly are up and running.  And I think that’s, from my perspective, a very positive step forward. 

So, Leo, thank you, again, for being here.  And as we begin the next century of our partnership and friendship, I’ve never been more optimistic because, you know, united by history, heritage, and hope, I think there’s not a damn thing we can’t do together.  So, welcome. 

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  Thank you.  Thank you so much. 

Well, thank you very much, Mr. President.  And thanks for giving us so much time over these next few days.  And very keen to talk about four — four main things while — while we’re together. 

Since we last met, back in New York briefly in September at the U.N., and since your visits to Ireland last year, it’s really good to see the institutions in Northern Ireland up and running.  It just makes such a difference to have the Good Friday Agreement properly functioning. 

So, the — as you know, the Deputy First Minister and First Minister are here.  The Executive and Assembly are operating.  We’ll have our North South Ministerial Council meeting next month and the British-Irish Council in June.  So, really good to see the promise of that agreement — that Good Friday Agreement being fulfilled again, which is such — such a positive change since the last time we met. 

As you mentioned, we’ve — celebrating 100 years of diplomatic relations.  The U.S is one of the first countries to recognize Irish independence.  And it’s become such a strong relationship since then. 

I’m very keen to talk about that a bit more, and also the strength of our economic relationship now, which increasingly goes — goes both ways.  There’s now 100,000 Americans working in firms that are Irish-owned here in — here in the U.S.  And we’re one of the top 10 investors in the U.S. now.  So, great to be able to repay some of that interest.

Obviously, keen to talk about the situation in — in Gaza as well.  You know, my — my view that we need to have a ceasefire as soon as possible to get food and medicine in —

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  And I agree.

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  — to get the hostages out.  And we need to talk about how we can make that happen and move towards a two-state solution, which I think is the only — the only way we’ll have lasting peace and security. 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  I agree.

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  And then, on Ukraine — just really want to thank you and America for your leadership on Ukraine.  We’re very worried about the situation there.  And we don’t think that if Putin is successful in Ukraine he’ll stop there.  And we really need your continued support and leadership on Ukraine and look forward to speaking to the congressional leaders about that as well later on. 

And we’ll have a European Council meeting next week of the — of the 27 EU prime ministers, so they’re going to be very keen to know what — what I — what I learned here in Washington. 

And that’s a — that’s a fight we’ve got to win.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, you can tell them that the President of the United States is strongly committed to making sure we provide that aid.

Well, thank you very much.  We’ll get a chance to bring in our delegations. 

And thank you all for being here, folks. 

Q    Do you have any comment, sir, on Senator Schumer’s speech on Israel yesterday?

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Senator Schumer contacted my staff — my senior staff — he was going to make that speech.  And he — I’m not going to exa- — elaborate on the speech.  He made a good speech, and I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans.

Q    Mr. President, can there be a ceasefire before the end of Ramadan?  Mr. President, can there be a ceasefire before the end of Ramadan?

(Cross-talk.)

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  (Inaudible.)

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Will you go back to Ireland?

THE PRESIDENT:  I always want to — I always want to go back to Ireland.

10:59 A.M. EDT

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U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.

1:35 P.M. EDT
 
SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Well, thank — thank you all.  I know it’s been a great time of fellowship and enjoyment.  It’s been very loud in here.  That’s a good sign.  That’s a good sign.  Not great acoustics, but great fellowship.
 
This lunch is a special event, as we noted earlier because it’s a time when we come together here in Washington each year.  And what’s unique about it, what important, I think, is that we look past our political differences for this moment in time and we remember the importance of peacemaking and we celebrate the important friendship between our two countries: the United States and Ireland.
 
And today, we all welcome continued efforts to promote and preserve the Good Friday Agreement and promises of a bright future for all the friends of Ireland.
 
And certainly, at this time, in many ways, our hearts are heavy, in spite of the fun fellowship, because stability is being threatened in Europe and in the Middle East.  And our allies and friends, such as Israel and Taiwan, continue to fight for their very right to exist.
 
And I know everyone is this room is committed to the same things.  We know that we all must stand for national sovereignty and work for peace.

And this is an important time for all of us to encourage a productive dialogue and mutual respect.  And even when we may disagree on matters of politics and policy, which is inevitable, we should all appreciate traditions like this — an occasion for thoughtful discourse where we can thoughtfully move beyond was Yeats called “polite” but “meaningless words.”
 
When we do that, it restores trust among the people and it renews faith in our institutions.  And I think all of us know that we need that desperately right now.
 
So — so, today, I’m happy that we’re able to showcase the Irish spirit of charity and humor and friendship that flows through your children and through my children and all the children and all of the friends of Ireland.
 
So, I have the distinct pleasure now of introducing our Commander-in-Chief and someone who is known everywhere as America’s most famous Irishman, President Joe Biden.  (Applause.)
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you all very much.  Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
Well, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.  I was telling the Speaker at dinner when a good friend of mine and many of you, a former senator from Oregon, Senator Smith, came to me when I was vice president and said, “You know, I’ve checked it out.  You’re able to accept this gift.”  I said, “What’s the gift?”  He said, “Well, the single most significant compilation of historical records and family records are held by the Mormon church.”  And he said, “We want to do — we want to do a background for you.  We want to check your genealogy for you.”
 
And they ended up showing up five months later with six volumes.  And one of them pointed out that, on one side of the family, the ones that came from County Louth, they started off in New Orleans.  And I’ve warned them.  They could have stayed; I would have been a bit of trouble.  (Laughter.)
 
Folks, look, Mr. Speaker and — and I want to — I want you to know that diplomat Shane Leslie once wrote, “Every St. Patrick’s Day — every St. Patrick’s Day, every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to.”  So — (laughter) — so, thank you for allowing me to find you.  Mom, it’s okay.  (Laughter.) 
 
Look, you know, I’m glad I found all of you, because no matter how much we debate, no matter how much we disagree, we always have been able to come together as friends of Ireland.  And, you know, the friendship goes back centuries. 
 
But today is an important period, an important milestone: nearly 100 years of diplomatic relations, Taoiseach, and (inaudible) 100 years of Ireland and the United States. 
 
So, Mr. Speaker, thank you for hosting us today.  It’s a tradition I’ve always enjoyed.
 
And, Taoiseach, thank you for joining us again. 
 
And I’d also like to extend the 100,000 welcomes to all leaders who are involved in the Ireland and Northern Ireland agreements that they’ve now — put it together.  And I think — I — I just wonder whether my mother would have ever thought that would happen.  (Laughs.)  But it has happened, and it’s great. 
 
You know, it’s great to come together once again.
 
To all Irish Americans, Democrats and Republican members here, I’m glad to be united on this issue.  We begin the next century of a real partnership.  And it has been partnership, but it’s really increasing now. 
 
And finally, to all that wish they were Irish, I’m glad you’re here too.  (Laughter.)  My grandfather used to say that being Irish is — is enough.  (Laughs.)  At any rate, I won’t go into that.  (Laughter.)
 
Well, I stand here as a proud descendant of the Finnegans and the Blewitts.  The Finnegans are from the County Mayo, which I just was there not long ago.  And the Finnegans are from County Louth.  And this pride is part of my soul, as I’m sure that all of you who are Irish ancestry feel the same way. 
 
In fact, as many of you know, when I served on Capitol Hill, my colleagues used to kid me because I always quoted Irish poets.  They thought I quoted Irish poets, Rev, because I was Irish.  I don’t do it for that reason.  Because they’re the best poets in the world, that’s why I quote them.  (Laughter.) 
 
Steny, it’s true.  (Laughter.)
 
And, you know, I really — today, there’s one poem in particular that comes to mind.  It was written by my great-grandfather Edward Francis Blewitt, who was only the second Catholic elected to the state senate in the state of Pennsylvania, back in 1906.  And he wrote a book of poems, a hundred poems, and — about his — he referred to it as his Ireland. 
 
One, he called “The Worker.”  And here’s what he said: “No barrier is too thick or strong to stay the onward march each day.  A goal they seek, a goal they find.  Hardship to them is but real play.” 
 
And I think, together, Ireland and America are always marching forward toward a better world, toward a better life, and one of greater liberty, greater dignity, and greater equity and outcomes of opportunity and possibilities for everybody — possibilities. 
 
I was with Xi Jinping a couple of years ago on the Tibetan Plateau, and he asked me could I define America.  And I said — this was recorded by him, as well.  I said, “Yes, in one word.”  He said, “What’s that?”  I said, “Possibilities.”
 
Think about it.  What defines us as Americans?  We think anything is possible.  Anything is possible if we do it together.
 
Well, together, Ireland and America have always moved onward for a better future, one of greater liberty, greater dignity, greater equality, opportunity, and possibility.  And even when those barriers seem so thick and so strong, even — even when we face sorrow, setbacks, and division and darkness, together, we’ve always persevered — Ireland and the United States.  We’ve always held out hope that arises that we’ve not yet seen. 
 
You know, I often say that the Irish are the only people in the world who are nostalgic about tomorrow.  (Laughter.)  Think about it.  That’s an original quote, unfortunately. 
 
But they — that’s — that’s (inaudible) who we are.  And I often say that because wherever — wherever there is a yearning for freedom, wherever there is a call for progress, people around the world, they can always count on Ireland and the United States to be on their side, not just for hope but to help — to help them in their march forward.  We see this in our — in our support of Ukraine and the people in the face of Putin’s vicious onslaught against Ukraine. 
 
Taoiseach, we — we had a meeting earlier today.  I told you that I’m deeply grateful for Ireland’s unwavering humanitarian aid to people of not only Ukraine but also Gaza.  I’m committed to continue to do our part.  I’m confident the vast majority — and excuse me for saying this, but I think the vast majority of members of Congress are willing to do their part and continue to urge every member in this room to stand up to Vladimir Putin.  He’s a thug — a thug.  (Applause.)
 
And I urge you to send me the national security bill now.  The bill includes funding for Ukraine and Israel and, maybe equally important, humanitarian assistance to Gaza.  They badly, badly need it.  And it sends a clear message that America stands up for freedom and we bow down to no one — to no one in the world.
 
You know, I said in Belfast last year, where we marked the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, I’m also committed to protecting peace and progress in Northern Ireland.  We all know — we all know that we feel — I assume all of us feel the same way.  That includes Northern Ireland’s newest leaders, Minister O’Neill, and your Deputy First Minister — are you guys here? (Applause.)  Stand up.  Thank you.  (Applause/_
 
As a friend of mine from Claymont, Delaware, would say, “Who woulda thunk it?”  (Laughter.)
 
Thankfully, you’re here.
 
And, look, to both of you, for — thank you for reminding us what possibilities are as we work across the aisle and rise above longstanding disagreements.
 
Let me close with this.  I think we stand at an inflection point not only in American history but in world history where the decisions we make now are going to determine what the next three, four, five, six decades are going to look like.  And I believe history is watching.  I think history is watching.
 
Today, let us resolve to march forward with each other and all those who — all those who seek a better future.  Like our ancestors, remember no barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States to get through.  There’s nothing, nothing our nations can’t do together when we work together.  And I mean that from the bottom of my heart.  I’m confident there’s not a thing we can’t do if we work together.  And I say the same thing.  Remember this is the United States of America.  There is nothing — nothing, nothing, nothing — beyond our capacity when we work together.
 
So, my prayer today is we continue and we increase our working together.  Thank you all for having me.  (Applause.)
 
SPEAKER JOHNSON:  Thank you for your remarks, Mr. President. 
 
And our next guest, though he is now leading the country and I believe he is the youngest to ever hold his office, he started out — you may not know this — as an intern in these very halls more than two decades ago.  And while this is my first time having the pleasure to meet him in person, he’s no stranger to this lunch either.  He’s been in leadership for quite some time.  And he’s done a few of these.
 
Will you please join me in welcoming our guest of honor from the Republic of Ireland, the Taoiseach.  (Applause.)
 
TAOISEACH VARADKAR: (Speaks Irish.)  (No translation provided.)  Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, members of Congress, First Minister, Deputy First Minister, esteemed friends and colleagues, it is a honor and a privilege to be back among friends here in Washington, D.C., today.  And thank you, Mr. Speaker, for continuing the tradition of hosting this lunch today.  We are very appreciative. 
 
I believe that Ireland is perhaps the only country in the world that can get away with turning our national holiday into an international week of events or, in some places, a whole month.  (Laughter.)
 
We’re also unique in having a national holiday where the head of government and all the senior ministers leave the country to celebrate it around the world — (laughter)– with our diaspora and our friends and our allies. 
 
St. Patrick’s Day is more than our national holiday.  It is an international moment.  It’s when we get to share our story with the world — a story of faith in the future, no matter what the obstacles; hope in our ability to work together for the greater good, out of charity towards those who are experiencing suffering. 
 
As the President acknowledged, since we last gathered here last year, the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement have returned.  And it’s hugely significant that we’re joined here today by the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly, two women from different political traditions who are showing what can be achieved working together, holding jointly a co-equal office as heads of government of Northern Ireland.  It is so good to have both of you here today.  (Applause.)
 
And it’s really good to see colleagues here as well, ministers and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, including the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Poots.  Also, to see members of the House of Commons here too and members of Dáil Éireann and Oireachtas here, too, as well.  So very much seeing all three strands of the Good Friday Agreement, the totality of relationships — Northern Ireland, North South, and East West — all represented here today, which makes us a very special moment. 
 
And I want, on behalf of all of us, to thank the United States and members from both sides of the aisle and, indeed, beyond politics for what you’ve done to help make Ireland and Northern Ireland a place where young people can dream of coming times brighter than their grandparents could ever have dared imagine. 
 
So, thank you for your role in giving us back our future.  We’ll forever remember the steadfast work of so many members of Congress — Democrat and Republican — as well as successive administrations over the years who have made this possible. 
 
Throughout the entirety of the peace process, the Friends of Ireland Caucus have been our resolute friends.  And on behalf of the Irish people, thank you for your commitment to Ireland.  Our country is so grateful for your friendship, for your leadership, and for your enduring support.  So, thank you so much.
 
Mr. Speaker, someday soon, we would really like to welcome you to Ireland.  So, consider this the official invitation.  We’d love to — love — love to show you around. 
 
And, of course, last year, we had the pleasure of showing President Biden around the country.  Although he knows it so well, I don’t think he needed a tour guide.  But it was a wonderful opportunity for him to reconnect with relatives and friends and also to make new ones. 
 
Mr. Speaker, today, as we run into St. Patrick’s Day, I’m thinking very much of the prayer of St. Patrick, which was alluded to earlier.  As we face the most complicated and difficult circumstances in the world, problems that have no easy answers, which demand that we do our best to repel the forces of darkness, to defend our values, and to shield the innocent — I’m thinking of St. Patrick’s prayer today for strength and protection against every cruel and merciless power. 
 
When I reflect on the war being waged by Russia against Ukraine, the light of democracy, the rule of international law, and liberty itself are under attack from a relentless adversary who would extinguish them.  Ukraine must not fall.  And together, we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.  (Applause.)
 
I’m also thinking of St. Patrick’s prayer today when he prayed for the wisdom to guide us, when I reflect on the catastrophe that’s unfolding in the Middle East — the savage attacks of October 7th in Israel, and the terrible violence and loss of human life in Gaza which has followed and continues.  And we very much want that to end. 
 
These are global challenges that demand our courage, our empathy, and our action.  And we pray for the wisdom of St. Patrick in facing them.
 
Mr. Speaker, over a hundred years ago, Ireland and the U.S. established diplomatic relations — the oldest republic welcoming the newest member of the international community.  And since then, it’s a relationship that has grown on respect, friendship, and shared kinship. 
 
So, thank you so much for helping us in those 100 years to take our place among the nations of the world.  We look forward to working with America for the next hundred years, a second century of friendship and alliance. 
 
(Speaks Irish.)  (No translation provided.)
 
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and thank you very much.  (Applause.)
 
1:53 P.M. EDT

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Vice President’s Residence
United States Naval Observatory
Washington, D.C.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Good morning, everyone.  Good morning, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day. 

So, Doug and I are very honored to once again host the Taoiseach and Mr. Barrett back at the Vice President’s Residence.  I — I don’t think that we told you both, but Doug and I decided after our last visit here that you would be our new “couples friend.”  (Laughter.)

And as you know, Taoiseach, nearly 1 in 10 Americans proudly claim Irish ancestry.  And St. Patrick’s Day, then, is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the culture and the connection between Ireland and the United States. 

And I am proud, then, to continue this breakfast tradition here the Vice President’s Residence and to host you again and your spouse to celebrate. 

And this year, we celebrate 100 years — 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland.  And as we know, the Irish people have been a part of American history and the American story since the very beginning, way beyond those 100 years. 

In 1776, three signatories to the Declaration of Independence were Irish born. 

Then, in the 19th century, Frederick Douglass found refuge in Ireland when he fled slavery.  And I recall having extensive conversations about that.  The historians among us will know that Frederick Douglass, when he went to Ireland, famously said it was the first time he fully felt like a man, because of the kinship and the dignity then that he received in Ireland. 

And America has, of course, served as a place of hope for millions of Irish immigrants and their descendants, including those who have held the highest offices in our land.  And currently, of course, that is our President Joe Biden.

Throughout the past century, our nations have stood together, united by shared commitments to freedom and opportunity. 

And, Taoiseach, I want to thank you, in particular, for your leadership and your partnership.  Early on in your career, you worked to strengthen the ties between the Irish diaspora and the Emerald Isle.  And you have been courageous in the fight for women’s reproductive freedom. 

You have also been a global leader.  And last month, you became the first Taoiseach to attend the Munich Security Conference, joining me and dozens of other global leaders.  And you have made clear that you intend that Ireland will play a positive role on the world stage, given the security challenges that we all face. 

We are proud to work with you to support the people of Ukraine in their fight for democracy and independence.  Under your leadership, Ireland has hosted one of the highest per capita populations of Ukrainian refugees — a testament to the generosity and the compassion of the Irish people.  And I commend you for leading by example when you hosted in your own home a refugee from Kyiv, who left days after the invasion began. 

Regarding the conflict in the Middle East — triggered, of course, by Hamas’s brutal terrorist attack — Ireland has been a leader in providing food, water, and medicine to the people of Gaza. 

And when it comes to human rights, Ireland made history in 2015 when it became the first nation in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by referendum. 

On a personal note, Taoiseach, you have been an extraordinary role model for the people all around the world as one of the only openly LGBT leaders in history.  And you so graciously talked last year here about the work that you and I have done to support and fight for the rights of the LGBT community.  And to see you and Mr. Barrett on the world stage is important for so many reasons, as our long march for progress continues on. 

So, as we look to the next century of partnership, I am confident that the bonds between the people of our nations will only grow stronger.  And I’m confident that our work together will continue to advance the cause of freedom and opportunity.

So, I offer a toast to the next 100 years, Taoiseach.  Cheers, cheers, cheers. 

(Vice President Harris offers a toast.)

And, Taoiseach, the floor is yours.

We’re fitting a lot of folks in here.  (Laughter.)

TAOISEACH VARADKAR:  Thank you.  Thank you so much, Vice President Harris, Second Gentleman Emhoff, distinguished guests, friend.  (Speaks Irish.)  (No translation provided.) 

Thank you so much, Madam Vice President, for once again inviting me and Matt to your beautiful home.  This act of friendship and hospitality, I believe, goes back to when President Biden was vice president and lived here.  And it celebrates, I think, the wonderful relationship between our two countries now and forever. 

Madam Vice President, to update the words of one of your distinguished predecessors: The President of the United States has 332 million bosses; the Vice President has 332 million plus one.  (Laughter.)  And I think, in some ways, it’s the hardest job, but one that can have an extraordinary impact. 

And I know a little bit what it’s like myself, as somebody who went from Taoiseach, prime minister of the country, to Tánaiste, the deputy prime minister, before returning to the top job at the end of the last year.  And I’m not going to lie, I know which one I prefer.  (Laughter.)  And I do even find it a little bit easier, even when it’s harder. 

But I know that the best vice presidents have been able to show enormous leadership and vision in the role, trailblazers who’ve spoken from the heart. 

President Biden, when he served as vice president, showed enormous courage and leadership in 2012, when he spoke out in favor of marriage equality, helping to encourage the administration and the country along the road to greater equality.  I remember that interview really well.  And it was a very significant intervention at the time. 

And I believe you, Madam Vice President, showed great courage and leadership in recent weeks, when you spoke publicly in favor of a ceasefire in Gaza.  I’m sure it can’t have been easy, but it was the right thing to do, and your words echoed all over the world. 

Like you, we call for the unconditional and immediate release of all of the hostages, a very significant increase in humanitarian aid — food, medicine, sanitation, electricity — and an end to the fighting by both sides, Israel and Hamas.  And we support the work of the United States in trying to bring that about. 

There is a terrible humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza — a very human tragedy, which I think will haunt us all for years to come. 

In Ireland, we know how quickly atrocities can lead to calls for vengeance, creating new cycles of hatred and bitterness.  But we also know that the cycle can be broken, and that new hope can replace old hatreds. 

The United States helped us to find peace.  And now th- — let us work together to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East for Israel, Palestine, and its Arab neighbors. 

We know from our own story that finding peace can be a long and painful process, and it takes time to build trust and build relationships.  American politicians on both sides of the aisle helped to encourage and nurture these relationships in Northern Ireland over many decades.  And we thank you all so much for that. 

Today, Northern Ireland looks very different.  We have a first minister and deputy first minister from different traditions working together for greater good.  And in recent months, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly — the elected representatives of the people of Northern Ireland — came together to elect a new speaker and a new executive.  Now, politicians in Northern Ireland from across the community are making decisions to improve the lives for all who live there.  So, it’s great to see that the Good Friday Agreement is working again. 

Today, the U.S. is our partner in building a better future for all young people, and we sincerely thank you for it.

(Speaks Irish.)  (No translation provided.)

Thank you again for the very warm welcome, for your very kind hospitality here this morning, and a very happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all. 

(Speaks Irish.)  (No translation provided.)  (Applause.)

END

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Wisconsin Coordinated Campaign Headquarters
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(March 13, 2024)

4:19 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, folks.  (Applause.)  Well, it’s good to be here with the power in the state.  Gwen Moore runs my whole life, runs everything.  (Laughter.)  And your county executive and your mayor.  You got a hell of a crew.

And I tell you — but thank you so much.  You know, the thing about this campaign and particularly here in — in Mil- — in Milwaukee specifically, but Wisconsin generally and several other states, it’s going to get down to knocking on doors, the old-fashioned way.  No, it really is.  And it gets down to just making contact with people.

Secondly, you opened up — you got 44 headquarters in this state — 44.  And this is going to be the next President one of these days.  (Laughter and applause.)

(The President addresses a child in the audience.)  When you become president and they say, “Joe Biden is out in the waiting room,” promise me you won’t say, “Joe who?”  (Laughter and applause.)  Okay?

Folks, look, we’ve got a lot to do.  And there’s an awful lot at stake in this campaign.  I need not tell you all.  You all understand it fully.

One of the things that is — that I like about this campaign, particularly here in this state, is — by the way, this is the first time headquarters has been here in Milwaukee.  Well, there’s a reason for that.  (Applause.)  There’s a reason for that.  Because if it wasn’t, I’d be afraid of going back with Gwen.  You know — (laughter).

But all kidding aside, look, this is about ordinary people.  I grew up in a neighborhood that was not poor but middle class — technically, lower-middle class — you know, a three-bedroom house with four kids and a grandpop living with us.

And, you know, wh- — it was decent, but, you know, there wasn’t anything left over at the end of the month.  And so, what I started to do was — my dad used to say — that trickle-down economic program had been going on for years, not a whole hell of a lot trickled down on my dad’s kitchen table.  (Laughter.) 

And so, we decided to make a completely different approach to how we were going to govern the country.  And one of those was to make sure that we invested in people, we built them from the middle out and the bottom up.  When that occurs, the wealthy still do very well.  But it’s about time they start paying their fair share of taxes.  (Applause.)

And today, I just came from announcing a $36 million project to reconnect this city in a way that it should never have been separated in the first place.

The reason I know that, my city — the city of Wilmington, Delaware, where I grew up — is a situation where we have I-95, not I- — what’s that — I-50 —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Ninety-four.

THE PRESIDENT:  –50 — -94 here.

And I’m President of the United States; I’m in charge of this program.  They haven’t funded Delaware yet.  I’m like what the hell’s going on here?  (Laughter.)

But we have, you know, over $3 billion to do this across the country.  It’s about bringing people together.

You know, we’ve — I have a very different view than — as you know, than the opposition here, the guys I’m running against.  I don’t think we’re a dying nation; I think we’re a growing nation.  I don’t think we’re behind.  No, I really mean it.  (Applause.)

And I’ve been doing it a long time.  But, you know, it’s never — I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s prospects — never, never, never. 

And so, but they all — it’s — and I know it sounds like hyperbole, but it’s all in your hands and you — folks like you all across the country, because this is how I won the first time I ever ran, and this is how we’re going to win again.

A lot of you helped me in 2020, and we made sure he was a loser — he is a loser.  (Laughter.)  And we’re going to make sure that happens again, right?  (Applause.)

And, by the way, we are — we are a country of immigrants.  We’re — they are not “vermin.”  (Applause.)  And, look, you know, the fact of the matter is, all of us are immigrants — every one of us except the Native Americans here.  And the fact of the matter is that we — it’s what built this country. 

That’s why we’re the most unique country in the world, the most powerful nation in the world, the most connected nation in the world.  And we’ve got to take advantage of it, not walk away from it. 

Any rate.  A lot more to talk about, but I want to — just came to say thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, history is watching.  History is watching.  This young man is going to be reading about what we do and don’t do.  Now, I don’t mean me personally — what we do as a generation now.  We have a chance to really turn this country in the right direction, move in directions that are —

You know, we have the most vibrant economy in the world.  We got a lot more to do — a lot more to do.  We’re investing in healthcare.  We’re investing in all the things that matter, all the things that your senator from this state, Johnson, says if back to — if we win, he’s going to try to eliminate — eliminate.

So, we ju- — this is really important — really important, not because of me but because of all of you and all we can do.

So, “No one should be jailed…”  By the way, I’m taking care of that.  No one is going to be jailed.  (Laughter.)  No one should be jailed for just using and possessing marijuana and it staying on their record.  (Applause.)

And, by the way — and, by the way, the fact of the matter is that stays on their record all — the whole time just for smoking marijuana.  Now, if you’re out selling it, if you’re out growing, it’s a different deal.  But if you’re just using, it should be wiped off your record.  Because you have that on your record, you have to — “Have you ever been arrested or do you have a felony on your record?”  You have to put yes.

Not anymore.  Not anymore.

Anyway, we got to do everything from gun violence to deal with choice.  You know, our freedoms are at stake.  They really are at stake — not a joke — the right to choose, the right to be able to determine whether you’re going to get to vote, how we vote.

There’s so much more we can do.  But I’m talking too much.  I just want to talk to you each individually.

Thank you all very, very much.  (Applause.)

4:26 P.M. CDT

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Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(March 13, 2024)

3:36 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)  Good to see you all.

Gov, as my father would say, “Excuse my back.”  I apologize.  (Laughter.) 

Hello, Milwaukee!  (Applause.)

Thank you, Ray, for that introduction and for sharing your family’s story with so many of us.

Your grandfather served our nation in uniform, and he started a family business only to see it demolished and the community disconnected because of a new highway.  But he never gave up and neither have you, nor have the people of this community, and I want to thank you.  (Applause.)

Governor Evers, my good friend — thank you, Gov, you’re the best.  And I want to thank you for your partnership across the board for getting us through COVID, rebuilding the economy, and so much more.

And the same goes for a great senator, Tammy Baldwin, and your incredible congresswoman, Gwen Moore.  (Applause.)  Is your son here?

REPRESENTATIVE MOORE:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Well, she represents her hometown with such incredibly integrity and tenacity.  (Applause.)

Mayor Johnson, you’re one of the most impressive young mayors I’ve met, and I’ve met all of them, I think.  (Laughter.)  No, I really mean it.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  I don’t know where you’re sitting.  There you are.  Stand up, Mr. Mayor.

I tell — I warn anybody: Don’t run for mayor.  They know where you live and they think you can solve all your [their] problems.  (Laughter.)

Thank you for your passport to the city and your leadership in this project I’m here to talk about.

Look, to communities everywhere and at this Boys & Girls Club — and, by the way, I’ve been a gigantic supporter of Boys & — it’s the biggest in the country.  But when I was a senator, I provided a lot of money where — during the crime sprees were going on — for Boys & Girls Clubs.  What you do is you build confidence, you build spirit, you build a sense of belonging.  And it really matters.

And this project is for you — a future you really deserve.

Look, the story of Bronzeville here in Milwaukee is one that we see all across the country.

Our interstate highway system, laid out in the ‘50s, was a groundbreaking connection.  Our nation, coast to coast — that was the purpose of it.  But it transformed the way people live, work, and travel.

But instead of connecting communities, it divided them.  These highways actually tore them apart.

I come from a city — Wilmington, Delaware — where if you’re ever — the same thing happened.  We’re in a situation where I-95 is four lanes going through a community that was all African American, and it just split it.  And it’s now about 50, 60, maybe 70 yards wide.  And I’m — I’m President, and I can’t get that done yet.  Why’d you guys get it first?  I don’t know.  (Laughter.)

No, but all kidding aside.  The same thing happened here and many cities across the country.

There were also cities all across America where highways used to be and they — along — you know, redlining — along with redlining, they disconnected entire communities from opportunities, sometimes in an effort to reinforce segregation.

That’s what happened here in Milwaukee.

More than a hundred years ago, Bronzeville was the home of a thriving hub of Black culture and commerce — homes and apartments owned by Black families; Black small businesses, from hotels to jazz clubs to restaurants like Ray’s grandfather’s.

In the middle of the 20th century, tens of thousands of Black Americans migrated from the South to Milwaukee and other cities in the North to get good-paying manufacturing jobs.

But by the ‘60s, the so-called “urban renewal” swept this country.  The construction of I-94 and I-43 tore down roughly 17,000 homes and 1,000 businesses, ripping through neighborhoods and nearby roads.

Here on Sixth Street, the road was widened, displacing residents and businesses, all so the people outside the neighborhood could get downtown.

Today, Sixth Street is a wide road without pr- — without a protected bike path — bike lanes or bus lanes, with limited access to the greenspace.  Speeding and reckless driving, resulting in a crashes five times that of the city’s average.  All of this looking people — locking people out of opportunities and leaving them more isolated from the social and economic life of the rest of the city.

Congresswoman Moore told me: When she was a child, she lived a short walk from the public library — a safe place to read and learn, where libraries who were giving cake — the librarian would give cake to children when they showed up to read.  That’s true, isn’t it?

REPRESENTATIVE MOORE:  That’s true.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  But then the new plans disrupted the walk and made the library inaccessible.

Sadly, too many communities across America have faced a loss of wealth, prosperity, and possibilities that still reverberate today.

Imagine all those homes and mom-and-pop stores that could have been posted and passed down from family to family, and financial security and generational wealth would have resulted.

Imagine what they conti- — what they contributed then and what they could’ve contributed all these years and what that would’ve meant for all of Milwaukee and all the communities across the country.

For generations, Black, brown, and Native American, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians communities weren’t fully included in our democracy or our economy.  But — yet, by pure courage, heart, and grit, they never gave up.  They pursued the full promise of America.

Today, we’re recognizing that history to make new history.

I’m here to announce a first-of-its-kind investment — $3.3 billion — $3.3 billion and 132 projects in 42 states that are going to help right historic wrongs — (applause) — and, in the process, delivering environmental justice by reconnecting disadvantaged communities and neighborhoods to new opportunities for future — future prosperity and many possibilities.

These investments advance my Justice40 Initiative to deliver at least 40 percent — 40 percent of all the — all the benefits from clean transit, clean energy, and climate investments to disadvantaged communities.  That’s a commitment I made and we’re keeping.

Here in Milwaukee, it will mean $36 million in new federal funding to rebuild Sixth Street.  (Applause.)

It will mean wider sidewalks for children walking to school, safer bike lanes for residents and visitors, dedicated bus lanes to get work — to get to work faster, new — new trees to provide shade, and modern infrastructure to prevent sewage from flowing into the Milwaukee River and the Lake Michigan.

These are life-changing improvements.  They’re also going to make it easier for historic Black communities in the north and Latino communities in the south to access jobs, school, and entertainment, opportunities in the city and central hub, from watching the Milwaukee Bucks play to attending Milwaukee Area Technical College.

And if I didn’t mention the Technical College, I’d go home and sleep alone, because my wife is a full-time teacher at a community college.  (Laughter and applause.)

You all think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)

And we’re going to ensure that good-paying construction jobs created in this project go to members of the community, benefitting the very same project.  (Applause.)

And with the help of your congressional delegation, especially Senator Tammy Baldwin, who worked so hard for these funds, we’re making sure that the construction materials for this project are made in America.  (Applause.)

And — and if I can digress — digress for one second.  Look, you know, I — I’ve been very involved for a while.  I know I don’t — I look like I just arrived, but I’m — (laughter). 

But all kidding aside, I didn’t realize, even though I was deeply involved initially in the Civil Rights Movement — it got me involved to run for the first place.  I didn’t realize that back in — when they — in Roosevelt’s term, when they were going to the fights whether unions could organize, they added a provision to the law that not many presidents paid attention to. 

And it says that if the Congress appropriates money for the president to spend on a public project or any project, that he must use an American worker and he must use American material. 

Folks, very few — very few lived by that.  Very few presidents did that. But not anymore.  That’s why we’re creating jobs.  (Applause.)

Look, folks, you have lived and — and felt the decisions made decades ago.

Today — today, we’re making decisions to transform your lives decades to come, and we’re doing it all across America.

Let’s be clear: This groundbreaking investment comes from two historic laws that I signed with the support of Tammy and Gwen: my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the most significant law modernizing our roads, bridges, and so much more in generations — the most consequential investment — (applause); and another law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which is the most significant investment in fighting climate change and advance the environment ever in history anywhere in the world.  That’s not hyperbole.  (Applause.)

And — and they’re — they’re already making a difference.

Look, let me give you just one example.  Back in December, I was in Milwaukee and met with a plumber named Rashawn, who owns —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  Is he here?  (Laughter.)

All right — who owns his own small business, HERO Plumbing, that’s removing hundreds of pipes — lead pipes — so children and families in this community can turn on the faucet, clean water comes out without the risk of brain damage.

Well, it was supposed to take the city 60 years to eliminate all these pipes, to do this work.  Because of the infrastructure law I signed, we’re now getting it done — all of it done — every lead pipe in this city, we’re — within 10 years, gone.  (Applause.)

I was proud to have Rashawn as a guest at the State of the Union Address last week.

And, folks, we’re on our way to delivering clean water to every American.  We’re on the way to delivering affordable high-speed Internet to every American at low cost.

The communities too often left behind, we’re — we’re rebuilding.  We’re rebuilding the roads.  We’re filling in the cracks in the sidewalks.  We’re creating spaces to live and work and play safely and to breathe clean air and to shop at a nearby grocery, stocked with fresh and healthy food.

We’re taking on housing discrimination, increasing access to homeownership, and building more homes and apartments to bring the cost of rent down (inaudible).  (Applause.)

Everything we’re doing is connecting people with opportunity, not disconnecting people from opportunity.  And we’re seeing progress.

Through my American Rescue Plan, we put $1,400 checks in people’s pockets to get them through the pandemic.  We invested nearly $80 million in Wisconsin for the State Small Business Credit Initiative, helping countless small businesses grow.  In Milwaukee, small business applications are up 70 percent compared to before the pandemic.

Small businesses make up half of our economy.  We always talk to big corporations.  It’s true; they’re gigantic.  But if you add up all the small business in America, they make up half of all the gross domestic product, providing good-paying jobs and opportunities.

And they’re — and everyone who applies for a small business — a new loan is an act of hope. 

And the share of Black and Latino Americans employed in Milwaukee in 2022 was the highest in more than a decade.

And, folks — (applause) — wages are rising faster than prices.

And now we have among the lowest inflation rates of any country in America [the world], and still — we’re still fighting to lower it even further.

We’re fighting to lower healthcare costs, education costs to give just a little more breathing room, as my dad would say, to ordinary families like the one I grew up in.

But let’s be clear: My predecessor and ally — and his allies in Congress, including your senator, Ron Johnson, who voted a- —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, he voted against the infrastructure law that funds this project.  They want to undo everything I just talked about.

My predecessor talked about “Infrastructure Week” for four years.  He didn’t get a single thing done — not one. 

Ron Johnson and every Republican in Congress voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which is helping fund these projects, and he want us to repeal it.

Look, folks, with your help, we cut Black and Latino child poverty in half because of the Child Tax Credit through my American Rescue Plan.  (Applause.)

Led by your senator, Ron Johnson, every single Republican in Congress voted against that as well — every single one.

I signed a law to beat Big Pharma by giving Medicare the power to price prescription drugs and lower drug prices for seniors significantly.  Every Republican voted against it as well.

And, by the way, guess what?  It lowered the federal deficit by $160 billion.  (Applause.)

It didn’t just save money for seniors — it didn’t just save money for seniors; it meant Medicare didn’t have to pay out those exorbitant costs.  For example, those of you — you — everybody knows somebody who needs insulin for diabetes.  Well, guess what?  Just lowering the price to $35 — it only costs 10 bucks to make, by the way — instead of 400 bucks a month saved the government all that money.

And now they’re trying to cut Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security.  Wisconsin’s very own senator, Ron Johnson, called Social Security — now, get this one; I’m amazed — he called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme.” 

No, I’m serious.  Think about it.  Did you ever think you’d hear anybody say that?  A Ponzi scheme?  Give me a break.  (Laughter.)

You know, just this week Donald Trump said cuts to Social Security and Medicare are on the table.  When asked if he’d change his position, he said, quote, “There’s a lot we can do in terms of cutting.  Tremendous amount of things we can do,” end of quote.

I want to assure you, I will never allow it to happen.  (Applause.) 

I won’t cut Social Security.  I will not cut Medicare.

Instead of cutting Social Security and Medicare to give tax breaks to the super wealthy, I’m going to protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare to make the wealthy begin pay their fair share.  (Applause.)

Look, folks, let me close with this.  Four years ago this week, I came into office.  Our country was hit by the worst pandemic and economic crisis in a century.  Remember the fear and anxiety everybody felt?  Record job losses, a raging virus that would take more than 1 million American lives.  And for every life lost, there expect- — there was estimated eight close family behind — eight — children, mother, father, uncles, aunts.  A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness.

A president, my predecessor, who failed the most basic duty any president owes to the American people: the duty to care — just to care.  (Applause.)  And in my view, that’s unforgivable.

I came to office determined to uphold the duty that gets us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history.  And we have.

And now we’re building a future of America full of possibilities; building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down — that top-down stuff, not a whole lot landed on my dad’s kitchen table growing up; investing in all America and all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot, where we leave nobody behind.

Look, our plan is working, and America is coming back.  That’s America.  That’s what this project is all about — the projects for jobs and justice, prosperity, and unlimited possibilities.

And that’s why, I swear to God, I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future than I am today.  Not because I’m president; because we’re at one of those inflection points in history.  We really are. 

Things are going to change, no matter who’s president, in a big way.  They’re either going to change much for the better or much worse. 

All we have to do, folks, is remember who in God’s name we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  No — we’re the only major country in the world that’s come out of every crisis stronger than we went in — stronger than we went in. 

There is nothing beyond our capacity.  I mean it sincerely.  Think about it.  There’s nothing beyond America’s capacity if we do it together.  And that’s what we’re going to do.

May God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

3:54 P.M. CDT

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East Room
(March 12, 2024)

3:42 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, gentlemen, welcome.  Great to have you back in Washington, and good seeing you all again.  And, Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, it’s an honor to welcome you to a historic anniversary.  It’s kind of interesting.  Twenty-five years ago today, on this very day, Poland joined NATO.  And some of you may remember, I was very involved in that happening.   

And I — during that ceremony, the former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, made this following statement — she said, “When we stand together, no force on Earth is more powerful.”  “When we stand together, no force on Earth is more powerful.” 

I believed that then, and I believe it now. And we see it in Polish American troops serving side by side in NATO and the eastern flank, including in Poland.  And we see it in our commitment to strengthen NATO’s collective defenses.

And I want to pause here and note that Poland is spending nearly 4 percent of its gross domestic product on defense — much of it purchasing American we- — American weapons systems and — and aircraft — and has doubled the NATO commitment: 4 percent.

We also see it in our support for Ukraine in the force [face] of Putin’s vicious onslaught against Ukraine in a way that is just border- — I won’t even describe it. 

I want to thank you both for Poland’s unwavering security and humanitarian assistance, including welcoming about 1 million Ukrainian refugees.  As my mother would say, “God love you.  You’re doing God’s work.”  You really are.  It’s incredible what you’re doing — what the Polish people are doing.

Today, the United States is announcing an emergency package for Ukraine using cost-savings from previously approved Pentagon contracts.  The package includes munitions and rounds to help Ukraine hold the line against Russia’s brutal attacks for the ne- — next couple of weeks, which I have the authority to do be- — without an- — asking Congress for some more money right now.  But I’ve asked them for a lot more money. 

And so, we’re — but it’s not nearly enough what we’re — I’m announcing today. 

Congress must pass the bipartisan national security bill now, which includes urgent funding for Ukraine.  We must act before it literally is too late — before it’s too late.  Because as Poland remembers, Russia won’t stop at Ukraine.  Putin will keep going, putting Europe, the United States, and the entire free world at risk, in my view. 

So, thank you both, again, for being here at this critical time.  And with that, Mr. President, I hand it over to you.  The floor is yours. 

PRESIDENT DUDA:  Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, exactly 25 years ago, on the 12th of March 1999, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary joined the strongest Alliance in the world.  The dream of many generations of Poles came true. 

There is no better place to celebrate this special anniversary than the White House.  Courageous decisions were made right here in the capital of the United States by both Democrats and Republicans.

NATO expanded to the east.  Poland joined the free world, the West, where it has always belonged.  And for those courageous decisions and for their unwavering support, I would like to thank all the Americans who contributed to them. 

I express these thanks to you, Mr. President, bearing in mind that, at the time, you were one of the leaders of the support in the U.S. Senate for Poland’s accession to NATO.  I thank you on behalf of millions of Poles. 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT DUDA:  During these 25 years, we have shown that we are a reliable and proven Ally, even when our soldiers fought side by side with American soldiers in Iraq and in Afghanistan. 

Poland knows, like a few other countries in the world, that security comes at the price.  That is why we spent more than 4 percent of our GDP on maintaining and modernizing our armed forces.  This is the highest percentage in the Alliance. 

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine clearly demonstrated that the United States is and should remain the security leader.  But other Allies must take more responsibility for the security of the Alliance as a whole.  That is why I believe it’s necessary for all NATO countries to increase their defense spending from 2 to 3 percent of GDP.  Two percent was good 10 years ago.  Now 3 percent is required in response to the full-scale war launched by Russia right beyond NATO’s eastern border. 

We Poles believe in America.  We believe that Poland and Europe need more America — militarily, politically, and economically — more American spirit in thinking and acting. 

I have had the opportunity to discuss this point with Mr. President on many occasions, also when we received you twice in Poland.  A year ago, when we met in Warsaw, I announced that — that when Poland would chair the Council of European Union in the first half of 2025, our top priority would be to deepen cooperation between the United States and the EU. 

We are working consistently in this direction in Poland.  That is why we are buying the most advanced American weapons in the world: Abrams tanks, F-35 fighter jets, Apache helicopters, or HIMARS missile launchers. 

Close cooperation with the U.S. also applies to other important areas, such as energy.  Work is already well advanced on the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant, which we are building with American companies. 

Tomorrow, in Georgia, I will have the opportunity to visit such a modern nuclear power plant.  We attach great importance to further American investments in Poland.  I hope that our joint visit with the Prime Minister will contribute to deepening bilateral economic relations.  We invite new American companies to come to Poland. 

Today’s visit sent an important message — one that confirms the strategic nature of Polish-American relations, which we want to develop further. 

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Thank you very much. 

Mr. Prime Minister. 

PRIME MINISTER TUSK:  Mr. President, I would like to thank you not only for inviting us for the anniversary of Poland’s membership in NATO but, first of all, for the fact that you never forgot why NATO was established.  Because some did forget. 

So, let me recall the opening words of the Washington Treaty.  And I quote, “The parties to this treaty are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.” 

Thank you, Mr. President, for your permanent fight for those principles.  And we also remember, as the President said — remember also your engagement, your efforts 25 years ago.  You were then a senator in this — NATO’s enlargement process.  Thank you. 

And, you know, I want you to know that your campaign four years ago was really inspirational for me and for so many Poles.  And we were encouraged — and you know for what — after your fight, after — after your victory.  Thank you for your determination.  It was something really important for — not only for the United States. 

Today, I would like to pass on to you, on behalf of Poles, just one message: Our country is now a stable democracy, predictable for our Allies, on which the security of the whole region hugely depends. 

When we Poles started on our road to the West, Pope John Paul II said, “There can be no just Europe without an independent Poland.”  And today, I would say there can be no safe Europe without a strong Poland. 

And, of course, I would say also that — that there can be no just Europe without a free and independent Ukraine. 

We are here today with President Duda also to reaffirm that Poland is and will be a solid and lasting pillar of the transatlantic community, no matter who wins the elections in our country.  We treat our obligation seriously — more than anyone else in Europe. 

And we hope that none of our NATO partners will undermine the most important obligation of all, which is Article 5 of the treaty. 

There are still great challenges ahead of us.  So, let us stand firm, Mr. President, and always together.  Thank you. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank — thank you again.

(Cross-talk.)

Thank you, again, for being here.  And America’s commitment to Poland is ironclad.  We mean what we say that, you know, an attack on — on a single inch of soil of a NATO partner is an attack on all of us.  And that’s what keeps us all safe, in my view. 

And I look forward to our conversation and working together the years ahead.  And as Secretary Albright said, we stand together as Allies.  When we do that, no force on Earth is more powerful. 

So, thank you.  And we’ll get down to business in a second here.  Thank you. 

3:54 P.M. EDT 

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Manchester Field Office
Manchester, New Hampshire
(March 11, 2024)

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, personally, thank you.  Thank you.  And you — you got a good little training with a, you know, United States senator.  (Laughter.)

Hey, folks, thanks an awful lot.  I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. 

Look, it stunned me, the write-in campaign you all did.  No, it really did.  I was very careful not to be here — (laughter) — sir.

But really, I was stunned.  And I was really pleased.

By the way, the national Black organizations and Hispanic organizations just endorsed me, as well as — (applause) — AARP.  They had a meeting down in Atlanta, Georgia.  (Pronounced in a Southern accent.)  (Laughter.)  Yeah, they did.

Anyway.  But thank you very, very much.  Look, I — I’m optimistic, not just about winning, but I’m — I’m optimistic about the country.  I think the country is just wondering — look, people have really been banged around for a while now. 

And we’ve — with the help of your delegation — and that’s not hyperbole; that’s a fact — with the help of your delegation, we got things passed that no one thought we could get passed, from the — from the — everything from the infrastructure bill to veterans bills, all — all the stuff we got passed, and much of it without a single, solitary Republican vote — not one.

And — and it’s — but we knew it’s going to take a little time for people to begin to see the benefits of it because it’s just a big, big country and there’s a lot —

Hi, how are you?  (Laughter.)  How doing?  (Laughter.)

I’ll keep going.  Don’t stop because of me.  (Laughter.)

What’s your name?

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Rosie.

THE PRESIDENT:  Rosie, my name is Joe.  Is this your big brother?  Is he okay? 

Hey, man, you know what my dad used to say?  “You’ve got one job: Keep the boys away from your sister.”  (Laughter.)

That’ll — but all kidding aside.  Look, I think we have enormous opportunities — enormous opportunities.  The country is ready to get up and go.  And everything from what we’ve been able to do in a general sense — you know, 15 million new jobs, that’s good, but it doesn’t — it doesn’t really connect you to people, even though they’re benefitting from it; inflation down from 9 percent to 3 percent; eight hundred thou- — eight hundred thousand manufacturing jobs. 

But my dad used to have an expression.  He’d say, “Joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck.  It’s about your integrity.  It’s about your dignity.  It’s about being able to be — look your kid in the eye and say, ‘Honey, it’s going to be okay.’”

And one of the main things I try to do — and I’m going to continue to do, God willing, if we get reelected — is finish the job by continuing to focus on the middle class, because when the middle class does well, the poor have a way up, and the wealthy still do very well.  They still do very well. 

But they got to start paying their fair share.  (Applause.)

And I drive my staff crazy because I say: How can we be the finest nation or the greatest nation in the world if we have a second-rate education system?  How can we be the finest nation in the world if we don’t invest in research and development?  How can we be the finest nation without the best education system?  I mean, just — just across the board.  Healthcare system — how can we do that?

And, you know, I think the American people get it.  If you take a look at — I know the press is here, and they’re all wonderful people.  (Laughter.)  I don’t know why they don’t like me a lot more than Trump, but they — (laughter) — the way he — the way he talks about you guys.  But any rate. 

That’s a joke.  I’m kidding.  I shouldn’t even be kidding with you.  (Laughter.)  Shouldn’t even be — I’ll pay a price for having said that.  (Laughter.)

But, look, you know, everything we’ve done, if you take a look at it — and none — none of the polling matters much more now.  It’s way out.  But, number two, polling has kind of changed a lot too.  It’s not nearly as accurate.  It’s not nearly as capable as it was before because you got to make six zillion calls to get one person on their cell phone, et cetera.

But one of the things is that there’s three things I want to do.  One, I want to restore the soul of this country.  When I ran the first time, I meant it.  (Applause.)

Well, and that sounds like — that sounds like hyperbole, but I just mean basic dignity, basic — just — just basic sense of dignity and just treating people with respect. 

I mean, we’ve — I’ve been ar- — I know I don’t look it, but I’ve been around a long while.  (Laughter.)  But all kidding aside, think about it.  I’ve doubt whether those of you who have been around half the time I’ve been around thought it would ever get to this point in the way we treat one another in politics.  It’s just not healthy.

I — I — the reason Barack asked me to be his vice president was because of my background in foreign policy, and I had spent a lot of — an awful lot of time traveling the world and knew almost every major world leader and know them all now as well. 

And they’re wondering about us, wh- — they’re wondering about whether we — we are the same country we are — have advertised ourselves to be since the end of World War Two.  There’s a lot at stake.  And it’s about protecting us, not just them.

So, when I talk about — everybody wonders why I talk in the middle of a campaign about — about dealing with making sure that Ukraine is — is taken care of.  Well, you know, the message that the President says when he says to Putin, “Come on, if we — if they don’t pay their dues, you just come in and do whatever the hell you want.”  You know, you have — I mean, there’s things that — anyway.

The same thing with regard to dealing with the border.  The border — I — the first bill I ever introduced as a — as the President of the United States was essentially what got passed this time out, led by Republican- — by the conservative Republicans, who they’re vilifying now for having worked out this deal. 

But, look, what we need is we need — is we need to just — an orderly process at the border, not to keep — they’re not vermin.  They’re not scum.  They’re not people who are all criminals coming.  It’s just — (applause). 

And — and, you know, it’s — I think the American people get it, but the way it’s being run now is just not — well, I’m going on too long.

But, look, healthcare is critically important.  I’ve been fighting from the time I was a kid in the Senate to take on — to take on the Big Pharma companies.  The idea that it costs $10 to make insulin, $13 to package it all told, and they’re selling it for 400 bucks is crazy.  It’s a rip-off.

If you got on Air Force One with me, flew out of here, and I flew you to Toronto, to Berlin, to — to Rome, to any place in the world and you brought your prescription with you — whatever it is, for whatever product — you’re going to pay 40 to 60 percent less in any country you land in for — made by the same company. 

So, it’s just about being fair.  And the process is it also cuts the deficit. 

What we did so far, just reducing the cost of insulin from an average of somewhere around 400 bucks a month to 35 bucks a month — (applause) — well, it’s not — it doesn’t just help — it doesn’t just help the patient.  It saved the country $160 billion — $160 billion they’re paying out less because Medicare didn’t have to pay it.

And the same way with — regarding the Affordable Care Act.  You know, 800 bucks, if you ha- — you have thousands of people here in your state qualifying for it, over — well over 100,000 across the country doing it — more than that, quite frankly — significant more.

And the end result of it is that if you didn’t have that Affordable Care Act and you had a preexisting condition, you couldn’t afford any insurance.  So, it’s just about basic fairness, just basic decency. 

By the way — I’ll stop talking and I’ll take questions, if you want me to.  But one of the things that I found interesting is Trump keeps talking about the deficit.  Well, he raised the deficit more in four years than any president in American history. 

We’ve cut it.  We’ve cut — we’ve done all this, and we cut the deficit.  (Applause.)

But it’s just about — you know, we’ve never lived up to “We hold these truths to be self-evident, all men and women are created equal, endowed by their Creator,” et cetera.  We’ve never fully lived up to it, but we’ve never walked away from it.

This guy wants to walk away from it.  Listen to what he’s saying.  Listen to what he wants to do.

While I was down in Georgia working on healthcare and making sure that we had the support of all the minority organizations in the country that we support so strongly, he was with Viktor Orbán, who talked about democracy being a problem, and telling him how much he understood him and agreed with him.  Come on.  I mean —

So, this is not who we are.  We got to make sure that — that we communicate that.  I’m going to be working like the devil.  And I’m looking forward to doing more and more of these events than the big events because this is how I used to campaign. 

You’ve campaigned with me before.  (Laughter.) 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  A few times.

THE PRESIDENT:  A few times. 

But really, it’s about — it’s just getting to look people in the eye, get their feelings.  They tell you the truth when you’re talking to them.  Anyway.

END

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At The Urban Institute
As Prepared for Delivery

It is a pleasure to join you at the Urban Institute, which has been at the forefront of research on housing for decades. 

During the State of the Union Address, President Biden proposed the boldest housing plan in a generation – a plan that would lower housing costs for renters and homebuyers and expand access to quality, affordable housing.  The President called on Congress to support the construction of 2 million additional homes, lower costs for renters, and unlock the housing market for first time homebuyers and families seeking to trade up or downsize. And he announced new administrative actions to lower closing costs and make rental markets fairer. The President’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget included a historic $185 billion investment in housing, in mandatory funding, to give working families a fair shot, while reducing the deficit by asking the wealthy to pay their fair share.

The Challenge of Housing Affordability

In communities across the country, too many Americans face high housing costs. It is important to understand how today’s housing challenges came to pass.

America used to build a lot more housing, and housing costs were lower as a result. For much of the four decades preceding the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), housing construction was high, housing costs and wages grew at similar rates, and fewer families faced housing cost burdens that strained their budgets. But residential construction collapsed during the GFC, with completions falling from a peak of 2 million units in 2006 to just 585,000 in 2011. And housing construction never fully recovered after that.

Over the same decade, the most populous generation in American history was aging into the housing market. With demand outstripping supply, construction over that decade skewed to higher value units rather than the starter homes needed for first-time homebuyers and workforce housing. For example, just 5 percent of all newly completed units in 2022 had asking rents that were affordable to a household with a median renter income.

The combination of a missing decade of homebuilding after the GFC and historically high demand led to unsustainable growth in rental and for-sale home prices that prevented many Americans from building savings and wealth. On top of that, the pandemic changed patterns of demand, in effect exporting the housing crisis from the coasts and large urban centers to the rest of the country.

We are beginning to dig ourselves out of this supply shortfall. Actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to enable more builders to get access to federal financing have contributed to a record high 1.7 million units under construction right now. But the chronic underbuilding of housing over the past decade and a half means that we must build even more housing to meet demand and lower housing costs.

That is why President Biden laid out an ambitious set of budget proposals that would build and preserve 2 million additional homes over the next decade. But we also need to take action to unlock the housing market now, which is why the President is proposing bold actions to help homebuyers and renters in the near-term.

Unlocking the Housing Market

In today’s market, too many households that want to buy their first home are locked-out by high costs, while many homeowners looking to right-size their housing needs are locked-in because the rate they’d get on a new mortgage is higher than the rate on their current mortgage.

To expand access for would be homebuyers that are locked out of the market, the President called on Congress to pass a mortgage relief credit that would provide first-time homebuyers with up to $10,000.  This amounts to around $400 per month for two years– the equivalent of reducing the mortgage rate by 1.5 percentage points for two years on the median home. The mortgage relief credit would help more than 3.5 million middle-class families purchase their first home over the next two years. These tax credits would serve as a bridge, as rates are projected to continue to fall with inflation and as our supply investments come online. The President’s Budget also includes a first generation down payment assistance program, which would provide households without intergenerational wealth with $25,000 on average to afford their down payment and achieve homeownership.

The President’s proposal would couple a buyers’ tax credit with a sellers’ tax credit to unlock the existing inventory of starter homes. Approximately 90% of homeowners with mortgages have a rate below 6%, prompting many homeowners who would like to move to stay put. To unlock starter home inventory and allow middle-class families to move up the housing ladder and empty nesters to right size, the President is calling on Congress to provide a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to middle-class families who sell their starter home to another owner-occupant. The sellers mortgage relief credit is estimated to help nearly 3 million families, and provide a much-needed boost to the inventory at the bottom of the market, where inventory has been most limited and home price appreciation has been most acute.

We are not waiting for Congress to act. The President last week announced a new effort to lower closing costs for new home purchases and for refinancing. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has approved a pilot program to save households an average of $750 by no longer requiring them to purchase lender’s title insurance when they are refinancing their mortgage. Reducing closing costs on refinancing will enable more households to refinance as rates continue to fall, unlocking substantial savings for homeowners over the duration of their mortgage. In addition, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will pursue rulemaking and guidance to increase competition on the closing costs imposed by lenders, which can add thousands of dollars in closing costs for homebuyers.

Promoting a Fair and Affordable Rental Market

As part of our Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights, we are also taking action now to promote a fair and affordable rental market – including for the lowest-income households whose incomes are not sufficient to afford market rents.

The Administration has already secured rental assistance for over 100,000 additional low-income households through the Housing Choice Voucher program – guaranteeing them affordable rents. The President’s Budget proposes expanding rental assistance to hundreds of thousands of additional households. And the Administration recently proposed to cap annual rent increases in Low Income Housing Tax Credit units to between 5 and 10 percent annually, which, if finalized, would prevent unmanageably large single-year rent increases for 2 million households.

We are taking actions to improve fairness and competition in the rental market more broadly. Last fall, the FTC proposed a rule banning misleading and hidden fees across the economy, including in housing rental agreements, and is currently working to finalize that rule. We are going after rental junk fees, from rental application fees to surprise “convenience fees.” Many renters report fees for payment by mail, on-line, and in-person.  One renter reported that the true cost for a unit listed for $1,100 in South Carolina could be as high as $1,800 once all fees are taken into account.

And we are working to ensure that renter protections evolve with changing market dynamics among housing providers. The President earlier this month established an Unfair Pricing Strike Force to leverage investigative and enforcement authorities to address unfair and predatory practices across the economy, including in the housing market. For example, in recent filings in cases against multiple property management companies, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission have made clear that inflated rents caused by algorithmic use of sensitive nonpublic pricing and supply information violate antitrust laws.

“Build, Build, Build.”

Long-term, durable action is required to build our way out of the decades long housing supply shortfall. As the President put it yesterday, “The bottom line is we have to build, build, build.” The President’s plan, if passed by Congress, would produce or preserve over 2 million additional homes – helping to close the housing supply shortfall and improve housing affordability for American families.

There is a gap between how much it costs to build new housing and how much households on the lower end of the income spectrum can afford to pay—which is why tax credits have been a critical support for private construction in the affordable housing market for nearly four decades. The centerpiece of the President’s Plan is an expansion of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) that would produce or preserve 1.2 million affordable units over the next decade. The President’s plan represents the largest increase in LIHTC resources since 2000, which will help to address the shortage of affordable housing.LIHTC accounts for nearly all new federally-funded affordable rental housing.  In fact, LIHTC has been instrumental in the construction of one-quarter of all multifamily units since its creation.

And we could get started right away if the Senate passes the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act passed by the House, which would create or preserve more than 200,000 affordable rental units through improvements in LIHTC.

The President also called on Congress to pass the bipartisan Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit, which would lead to the construction or preservation of over 400,000 starter homes in communities throughout the country.  In many communities, low property values and high construction costs mean that it costs more to build single-family homes than the developer could earn, even though increasing the supply of affordable for sale homes would bring important value to the community overall. 

While tax credits are a proven way to boost supply, it is also vital to support the efforts of governors, county executives, and mayors who are pioneering new approaches that can be scaled. That’s why the President is proposing a new $20 billion Innovation Fund for Housing Expansion to help communities expand their housing supply, including in amenity-rich neighborhoods that promote the Administration’s fair housing goals. These competitive grants would support cities, states, and tribes to make significant investments in housing supply, through removing barriers to new development, providing low-interest loans and other financing to support affordable multifamily production, supporting mixed-income public development and community land trusts, and building starter homes.

This fund reflects the lessons we learned from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds in the American Rescue Plan. States, cities, and tribes committed over $18 billion to housing initiatives, with about one-third, or $6 billion, of these funds going towards housing production and preservation. These investments will support more than 20,000 units of affordable housing and counting. For example, New Hampshire used its allocation to support a $100 million initiative to provide grants to help developers fill funding gaps for affordable housing projects and to help local governments update land use regulations.

These legislative proposals build on actions the Administration is taking through our Housing Supply Action Plan. In fact, just last month, HUD and Treasury extended the Federal Finance Bank risk share program, which will lead to the production or preservation of 38,000 units over the next decade. In the months ahead, we will take further action– from supporting communities in identifying and removing barriers to housing production to promoting the use of federal resources for conversions from office to residential and transit-oriented development.

Closing

Housing is a top priority for communities across the country—rural, urban, and suburban.  President Biden has a bold plan to meet the needs of renters and aspiring homeowners, unlock today’s housing market, and build housing to meet tomorrow’s needs.  It lowers housing costs, increases access to affordable housing, and enables working families to build wealth and savings. We look forward to working in partnership with all of you to meet this vital shared goal.

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Joint Base Andrews
Prince George’s County, Maryland
(March 11, 2024)

Q    Have you scheduled your “come to Jesus” meeting with Bibi Netanyahu?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No.
 
Q    Do you plan to, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  We’ll see what happens.
 
Q    Mr. President, when is a border executive action coming?  An executive action on the border?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m counting on the border action happening by itself, the — passing it.
 
Q    But Congress can’t come to an agreement. 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, they haven’t —

Q    How can —
    
THE PRESIDENT:  — yet.
 
Q    — you help them?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  They haven’t yet.
 
Q    Mr. President —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m — I’m helping them.
 
Q    Mr. President, do you plan to address the Israeli parliament?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, not at this moment. 
 
Q    Would you do it remotely, or do you have something in the works? 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Anything else?
 
Q    On Poland, Mr. President.  Would you support increasing U.S. troops at the Polish border?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  There — there’s no need for more troops at the Pol- — there’s no need for more troops at the Polish border.
 
Q    Do you know what you mi- —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  But I’m meeting — I’m meeting with the Prime Mini- — I’m meeting with the Polish leader tomor- —
 
Is it tomorrow?
 
Q    Do you know what you might talk about with him tomorrow?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yeah, but I’ll talk to him about it.  Okay?
 
Thank you.
 

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Fairmont San Francisco Hotel
San Francisco, California

2:07 P.M. PDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.

Is this on?  It is on?  Now it’s on.

Good afternoon, everyone.  It is good to be home, and it’s good to be with so many friends.  I lost my voice somewhere along the five states that I’ve been in the last five days.  (Laughter.)  But I intend to find it again, so don’t worry.  Otherwise, all is good.

Sheldon — where is he?  There you are.  Thank you.  And Adrienne, thank you both and all of you for hosting us today and for the support.

You know, I was talking with the group and the host — and, again, I thank you all — outside.  You know, there is so much about this movement, the environmental movement, that we proudly and rightly call our own in terms of those of us who are in the Bay Area — live in the Bay Area, were born in the Bay Area. 

And the work that you all, then, are doing as a group and as individuals really is reflective of a movement that was borne out of a sense of urgency, a sense of understanding about what is at stake, but a movement that has really grown in an incredible way, that has incorporated all of the beauty of — of what we do in terms of a commitment to innovation; what we do in terms of rejecting the notions and the false choices that suggest that if we are going to be kind to our climate, that somehow that is contrary to strengthening our economy.

The work that you all are doing has been about innovation, about a commitment to our climate, and it has been about job creation and strengthening economies and creating new economies.  I am so excited about the clean energy economy and the work that is happening right here in the Bay area and around our country that is spurring and encouraging and — and, in some way, inciting innovation around the world.

I’ve been traveling a lot, both within our country and — and internationally.  Most recently, I was in Munich presenting at the Munich Security Conference.  But I’ll recall for you the last Munich Security Conference in `23. 

And after I gave a presentation that was mostly about our concern about what Ru- — Russia has been doing in Ukraine, I was on the stage taking questions.  And it was shortly after we passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which we’ve talked about it and you all helped pass. 

And there among our allies — because, of course, the Munich Security Conference is really about NATO and our commitment to a military alliance and our commitment to our allies around the world.  But there on the stage in Munich at the Munich Security Conference, I was asked questions about the Inflation Reduction Act in a way that suggested that what we were doing as the United States of America was somehow contrary to our commitment to our partnerships around the world when we invest in American businesses and when we invest in a clean energy economy.

And I said, then — and I didn’t have to do it again this year because it became clear.  And I said, then: No, our commitment is about investing in our workforce, investing in innovation, investing in the businesses that will do this work, understanding and knowing and intending that it will benefit the entire world, both because of what you are modeling in terms of how these businesses work and can create opportunity and innovate and imagine what can be unburdened by what has been, but also what we are doing in terms of a commitment to innovation that we are then sharing with the world in a way that they can replicate and use to then build on that to create the next thing.

It’s very exciting what is happening in our country in a way that is not only, again, about strengthening communities but also what we are doing as a model for the world.  So, I’m very excited about what’s happening.

And we, of course, have an election coming up.  (Laughter.)   And on this subject and so many others, I will tell you, there is a big, big difference in terms of how we think and approach this issue of addressing our climate, investing in our economies in a way that we create a thriving clean energy economy.  There’s a big difference.

Sadly, with the Inflation Reduction Act — sadly, not one Republican in Congress voted for it, because this has somehow become a partisan issue.  When we look at where we are in terms of the contrast on issues about what we should do in terms of an investment in a way that we call out what historically has happened in terms of greenwashing, in terms of denial, in terms of delay, in smart and aggressive public policy on these issues, there’s a big difference.

And so, when we think about this election on this and so many others, I challenge people always, you know, throw up the split screen.  Because on the one hand, with our administration, the Biden-Harris administration, we are committed to and have shown our commitment to investing in what we know is actually for the best interest of our children and our grandchildren yet to come and is in the best interest of growing economies and is in the best interest of upskilling the workforce and training the workforce.

And on the other hand, you have a situation where there has been denial and delay and greenwashing on so many of these issues in terms of how we actually get the job done.  So, I am thankful to all of you for the support that you are giving our reelection and the work that we are doing.

I also have to say that, as many of you know, we are also fighting on such a fundamental level for our democracy.  You know, there is right now in our country a f- — an agenda, I believe, that is about a full-on attack on hard-won freedoms and rights. 

And I do believe, in this election, that each of us are being called upon to make a decision that is an answer to the question: What kind of country do we want to live in?  Do we want to live in a country that is guided by foundational principles that include the importance of freedom and liberty and justice and equality, or not? 

Many of this is at stake.  I was in Selma, Alabama, recently commemorating — commemorating Bloody Sunday, which was a day 59 years ago when a group of young civil rights leaders were trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge to stand up and march for the right of people to have the freedom to have access to the ballot box, the freedom to vote.

In our country right now, there is a full-on attack against the freedom to vote.  In states like Georgia, do you know they’ve passed a law that make it illegal to give people food and water if they are standing in line to vote?  I was with a group of pastors recently, and I looked at them and I said, “What happened to ‘love thy neighbor’?”  (Laughter.)

We look at what is happening in terms of our young people.  And, you know, I have to tell you — I’ll confess — I love Gen Z.  I love Gen Z.  I really do.  (Laughter.)  I know it’s a difficult issue for some of us — (laughter) — but I do.  And here’s why: Because when I look at them — and I just did a college tour last fall, and I met over 15,000 college-age students.  I actually did colleges and universities, and I did trade schools. 

And here’s the thing about that generation.  And it’s quite humbling, because, you know, if somebody is 18 today, you know what year they were born?  2006.  (Laughter.)  Think about that.  (Laughs.)  Think about that.

But theirs is a lived experience to only know the climate crisis.  They’ve only known the climate crisis.  They have coined a term “climate anxiety” to describe the anxiety they feel that causes them to question whether they should have children, whether they should ever aspire to buy a home for fear that some extreme weather will take it out.  It’s a lived experience for them, this issue. 

It’s a lived experience that from kindergarten to 12th grade — I would ask them when I would go to the schools — thousands of kids came.  I’d ask them, “Raise your hand if, at any time between kindergarten and 12th grade, you had to endure an active shooter drill.”  Almost every hand went up. 

It’s a lived experience for them that they are afraid of gun violence and want so desperately that we’d just do reasonable things, like pass an assault weapons ban, background checks, red flag laws. 

It’s a lived experience for them that during — you know, parents, it’s difficult to hear this — but during the height of their reproductive years, that they saw the highest court in our land take a fundamental right from the people of America, from the women of America — the right to just make decisions about your own body and not have the government tell you what to do.

And I say all that to say, then, that there is a very real split screen in terms of where we are on so many of these fundamental issues and the other side. 

The very likely nominee, the former President of the United States, on the last issue that I mentioned — not to mention the earlier issues — you know, he has said he is proud of the fact that he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo Roe v. Wade.  He said he is proud of doing that.

Think about it.  Proud of the fact that laws have been proposed and passed that criminalize healthcare providers — literally, in Texas, provide prison for life for a doctor or a nurse who administers care.  Proud of the fact that people of this generation have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers.

So, the split screen is real on so many issues.  And then, just recently, on the issue of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.  You know how many people in our country are seniors who live a whole, productive life and put money into Social Security, and now you’re saying, “Oh, it could be on the table for cuts”?  Medicare and Medicaid?

The split screen on this, we have just allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices for seniors so that finally their medication could be capped at $2,000 a year.  You know how many of our seniors that I have met in my travels over the years who either would try and get on a bus to go to Canada to buy their mes- — medication or make real decisions about whether they will either fill a doctor’s prescription or fill their refrigerator?

So, I say there’s so much at stake in this election.  And what you all are doing to support what I think is about standing for our democracy is very real. 

And I’ll en- — I’ll end with one point, which is: I think there’s a certain perversion that is happening right now to suggest that the measure of the sign of strength of a leader is based on who you beat down instead of what I think you all know, because I know your work — measured based on who you lift up.

And so, these are very real issues that we are being presented with in this election.  And ultimately, again, I’ll say: This is a moment where it is incumbent on each of us to decide what kind of country do we want to live in.

And with that, again, I thank you all, because I think I have an an- — a knowledge about your answer to that question.  (Laughter.)

Thank you.  (Applause.)

END

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YMCA Allard Center
Goffstown, New Hampshire

2:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)

Good to see you all.  Good to see you all.  Thank you.

By the way, Bowdoin College — good college.  I’ve spoken there.

Thanks, Rose.  Thanks for that introduction. 

And please have a seat — take a seat, if you have one.  Because I said that once early in my career, and they said, “We have no seats.  Biden didn’t even know they were standing.”  (Laughter.)

Anyway, thanks for that introduction, Rose, and for your — your courage.  Twenty-two years old, born with cystic fibrosis — a tough chronic disease that’s made even tougher — and she’s not exaggerating — by the high cost of medicines and, particularly, certain drugs that are needed. 

You know, Rose, you’re not alone.  I’m — I’m thinking about millions of Americans out there who are lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering: What if it happens?  What if it happens to me?  How am I going to pay for it?  How will I do it?  The mothers, the fathers wondering if their children come down with a chronic disease, how are they going to deal with it.

Not a joke.  You’re going to have to sell the house.  You’re going to have to mortgage.  What are you going to have to do?  It’s consequential.  Can you afford the medical bills? 

Look, folks, as I said in my State of the Union, I’m — I’m doing everything I can to lower the healthcare cost to provide peac- — people with peace of mind — not at the expense of doctors or medicine or hospitals or the drug companies but just to make it fair. 

Look, and we’re so lucky to have a great congressional delegation, including two of the — without hyperbole, two of the best senators in the United States Senate I’ve ever served with.  (Applause.)  Maggie Hassan.  Stand up, Maggie.  (Applause.) 

And Jeanne Shaheen couldn’t make it today, but she — she’s a dear, dear friend and a great ally and — but she sent somebody who if I have to be in a fight, I want them in my corner.  (Laughter.)  Stand up, pal.  (Applause.)  Billy — Billy Shaheen.  

Look, I’m here in New Hampshire to talk about the budget I released today that would — would, I think, help in a big way. 

As you just heard Rose — many — heard her say, many Americans pay prescription drugs — more money than anywhere in the country.  I can — if I got you on Air Force One with me and flew you to Toronto, to — to Berlin, to — to London, to Rome, anyplace in the — in the world, with the same prescription you might have for whatever you need, no matter what it is, and you — we could — by the same company, you could get it in all those cities.  And guess what?  It’d cost you between 40 to 60 percent less.  That’s a fact.  That’s not hyperbole; that’s a fact.

And it’s wrong.  And guess what?  I’ve been trying for years and years as a U.S. senator to end it, and I’m ending it now.  (Applause.)

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, a law I proposed and signed — not one Republican, I might add, voted for it — we finally beat Big Pharma.  Capped total prescription drugs costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year, even for expensive drugs, maximum. 

Right now, for example, it’s al- — this is already passed.  I got it passed already — we got it passed.  That beginning in the — next year, at the end of this c- — this term, what’s going to happen is the cost for all these prescription drugs for seniors, including cancer drugs that cost 10-, 12-, 15,000 bucks a year, will not have to pay more than $2,000 a year, period.  (Applause.)

And working with Maggie and Jeanne, I want to cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for Rose and for everyone, not just seniors.  It could be transformational.

But that’s not all.  Instead of paying as much as 400 bucks a month for insulin for seniors with diabetes, you now only have to pay 35 bucks a month.  You know why we did that?  I’ve been fighting that a long time too.  I bet every one of you know somebody who needs insulin for diabetes — yourself or somebody else.

Well, it costs as much as 400 a month.  You know how much it costs to make that?  Ten dollars — T-E-N — ten.  Ten dollars.  And the guy who came up with the — with it, he didn’t want to patent it because he wanted to make sure everybody had access to it.

So, if you add everything, including the cost of packaging it, it’s 13 bucks.  They’re still making three times more than they would ordinarily.  They’re not getting cheated.  They’re just going to pay what other people pay around the world.

And now, with Jeanne’s leadership and Maggie’s partnership, that’s not the entire — and the entire delegation that’s here, I want to cap the cost of insulin at 35 bucks for every American — every American.  (Applause.)

When I first got it passed, it included all Americans.  When we got it reauthorized, the oth- — the other team wouldn’t do — said only for seniors. 

Look, for years, people talked about — talked about this, but we finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prescription costs, just like the VA has been able to do for veterans for a long, long time.  It’s not just saving seniors money; it’s saving every taxpayer money.  It’s cutting the federal deficit. 

Just what we’ve just done so far cut the federal deficit over time by $160 billion.  That’s $160 billion Medicare does not have to pay out because they’re paying a rational price for the drug, not just the exorbitant price from before.

Look, this year, Medicare is negotiating lower prices for some of the costliest drugs on the market that treat everything from heart disease to arthritis.  That’s in the law that we’ve already passed.  Now, it’s time to go further and give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for even more drugs over the next decade. 

Folks, if we’re able to do that, we’ll not only save lives, we’re going to save taxpayers another estimated $200 billion — $200 billion taxpayers will not have to pay the drug companies for exorbitant prices that aren’t warranted.  (Applause.)

And, folks, with Maggie and your delegation’s help, I’ve already cut the federal deficit by $1 trillion; signed a bipartisan budget to deal to cut another trillion dollars over the next decade, if they stick with the deal.  And now, it’s my goal to cut the federal debt even more by making big corporations and the very wealthy begin to p- — pay their fair share.

I’m not anti-corporation.  I come fr- — I used to re- — represented the state of Delaware.  More corporations are incorporated in Delaware than every other state in America combined — combined.  (Applause.)  But guess what?  But I’m a capitalist, man.  Make all the money you want, just begin to pay your fair share of taxes.  (Applause.)

You may remember that big fight I had not long ago — and the reason why I was able to cut the deficit already by $7 billion in the first year — and that was because we found out that — we wanted to make sure that — there were 50 corpor- — 50 corporations that made $40 billion in 2021, didn’t pay a penny in taxes.  I did an awful thing: I convinced us all to raise it to 15 percent.  Isn’t that awful?  (Laughter.)  And it paid for everything that we’ve paid for and we’ve done so far, and still cut the deficit.

Look, a fair tax code is how we invest in the things that make this country great — from healthcare, education, defense, and so much more — research, development. 

But here’s the deal.  The last administration enacted a $2 trillion tax cut — $2 trillion tax cut the benefits the very wealthy and the top 1 percent, the biggest corporations, and it exploded the federal deficit.

The last administration added more to the national debt than any presidential term in American history.  Debt.  You know, you turn on the TV and you think he’s telling the truth?  (Laughter.)  Debt.

Does anybody here think the tax code is fair?  Raise your hand.  Well, I don’t think so either.  I think if I — I don’t want to get — I’ll get in trouble with the press, but I bet they wouldn’t even raise their hand.  (Laughter.)

Do you really think the wealthy and big corporations need another $2 trillion tax breaks?  Because that’s what he wants to do.  His tax cut is about to expire, and he wants to add another $2 trillion tax cut.

Well, I’m going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair. Under my plan, as I said, I ran for President and I promised nobody — nobody will, as long as I’m president, will earn — who earns less than $400,000 — that’s a lot more than I ever made — will pay an additional penny in federal taxes.  Nobody.  Not a single cent.  Nobody will pay a single penny more, and they haven’t thus far.

Folks, it’s about fundamental fairness. 

Here’s another example.  You know, folks, Obamacare, it became known as the Affordable Care Act — and by the way, it’s still a very big deal.  (Applause.)  Over 100 million of Americans can no longer be denied health insurance because of preexisting condition.  But my predecessor and many Republicans want to take that away — take that protection away by repealing the Affordable Care Act. 

I’m not going to let it happen.  We stopped them, literally, 50 times — 50 — 5-0 — times in the last administration.  And we’re going to stop them again.  (Applause.) 

Folks, we all miss someone who cast the deciding vote to protect the Affordable Care Act last — not — not long ago — my buddy John McCain — passed away.  My predecessor — friend — he — that’s how he ended his career, voting “no” so we couldn’t — they couldn’t cut it.

John loved New Hampshire, and he still drives my predecessor crazy.  You know, John is long gone, but that’s John.  (Laughter.)  As my mother would say, “God love him.” 

Folks, working with your delegation, I’m — I’m protecting and expanding the Affordable Care Act.  A recordbreaking 21 million Americans have signed up for healthcare under the ACA, including 65,000 folks right here in New Hampshire. 

I enacted tax credits that save, on average, $800 per person per year, reducing healthcare premiums for millions of working families on the Affordable Care Act.  But those tax credits expire next year, and I’m calling on Congress to make and expand the Affordable Care Act tax credits and make them permanent — make them permanent.  (Applause.)

Many of my Republican friends want to put Social Security and Medicare back on the chocking blop [chopping] block again.  If anyone tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age again, I will stop them. 

Work- — (applause) — working people built this country.  They pay more into Social Security than millionaires and billionaires do.  It’s not fair. 

Folks, we have two ways to go at Social Security and Medicare.  Republicans will cut Social Security and Medicare to give us more tax cuts for the wealthy.  Even this morning, Donald Trump said cuts to Social Security and Medicare are on the table again.  When asked if he changed his position, he said, quote, “There is a lot you can do in terms of cutting.  Tremendous amount of things you can cut.”  Let me be precise: “Tremendous amount of things you can do,” not “cut.”   He said, “I will…” — and — but the bottom line is, he’s still at it.  

I’m never going to allow that to happen.  I won’t cut Social Security.  I won’t cut Medicare.  (Applause.)  Instead of cutting Medicare and Medica- — give tax breaks to the wealthy, I will protect and strengthen Social Security and Medicare and make the wealthy begin to pay their fair share.  In fact, my budget plan would preserve Medicare benefits and this Medicare Trust Fund. 

Because Maggie’s leadership — because of it, I’m also cracking down on surprise medical bills. 

Here’s the deal.  Do you ho- — do — you know, you go out there and you do your homework; you choose a hospital, if you need a hospital, based on what your insurance company will cover.  And then, when you get the bill, there’s a surprise charge because the hospital assigned a anesthesiologist or a doc that isn’t in your — under your control, in your — in your insurance.  That surprise bill can add up to thousands of dollars — thousands. 

Thanks to Maggie, we ended that surprise billing, and we’re protecting 1 million Americans — (applause) — every single month from those surprise bills. 

Folks, look, my budget also cracks down on what’s called “facility fees” for telemedicine.  You get charged an extra fee if you’re in a rural area and you have a virtual visit where neither you nor your doctor is actually in the facility.  That’s just another junk fee.  It’s wrong.  We got to end it.

These surprise medical bills, junk fees add up to hundreds of dollars for ordinary families like the one I grew up in, and it makes a difference.  Although, it does generate $20 billion in profit.  That’s what it does.

Let me close with this.  Four years ago this week, before I came to office, our country was hit with the biggest, worst pandemic and economic crisis in a century.  Remember the anxiety and the fear, record job losses, a raging virus that would take more than 1 million American lives and leave millions of loved ones behind? 

It was estimated for every one who died left behind eight significant people — mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle — an empty chair at the table. 

A mental health crisis that resulted from isolation and loneliness. 

A President, my predecessor, who failed the most basic of any duty a president owes the American people: a duty to care.  I believe that’s unforgivable. 

I came to office determined to uphold that duty of — to care and get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history. 

And we have, building a future of American possibilities; building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not just the top down.  When the middle grows, the bottom has a chance, the poor have an opportunity, and the wealthy still do very well.  They still do very well.  Investing in all America, in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot, we leave nobody behind — nobody.

Our plan is working, and America is coming back.

Four years later, the pandemic no longer controls our lives.  The vaccines that saved us from COVID are now being used to beat — help beat cancer.

Turning setback into a comeback, that’s the American story.  And I believe we’re moving into a future where healthcare is a right, not a privilege, in America.  That’s why — (applause) — that’s why I’ve never been more optimistic about our future. 

We just have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  There is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together — nothing.  Seriously.  Not a joke.

We’re the only country that’s ever come out of every crisis stronger than we went in — stronger than when we went in. 

And, folks, give you one little example.  You know, I may not get it done, but if you give me a Congress, I will.  (Laughter.)  No, I’m serious.  I may not get it done, but here’s the deal.  If you — you know how much — we have a thousand billionaires in America.  That’s not a bad thing, per se.  You know what their average tax rate is?  8.2 percent taxes.  Anybody want to trade their — their tax rate?  (Laughter.)  No, I’m serious.

If we just charge them — I had a tax code, they’re charging them 25 percent — not the highest rate — 25 percent.  You know how much that would raise over the next 10 years?  Four hundred billion dollars.  Four hundred billion dollars a year.

Imagine what we could do, from cutting the deficit to providing for child care, to providing healthcare, to continue to provide our military with all they need.

So, folks, look, this is not beyond our capacity.  We just have to listen.  We got to tell people what we want to do and hope that they’ve figured out that — what is going on with the last guy if it gets repeated.  Because if he gets elected, he’s publicly stated he’d repeal — try to repeal every single thing we’ve done so far — 15 million new jobs, 800,000 manufacturing jobs, they go on and on. 

But people still need help.  They still need help, those pe- — folks sitting at the kitchen table.  They still need some help on the day-to-day things.  And we’re going to work on those as well.

But any rate, I’m taking too much of your time.  You’re very gracious.  Thank you all very much for being here. 

And as my mother would say, God bless you all.  Thank you.  And God protect our troops.  Thank you.

2:22 P.M. EDT

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Marriot Marquis
Washington, D.C.

10:56 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)

Well, thank you, Mr. Mayor, although I didn’t realize that guy is PhD.  He’s a — this guy is a pretty smart guy.  (Applause.)

Please, have a seat, if you have one.  (Laughter and applause.)  It’s so great to see you all. 

The mayor mentioned I started off at the county council.  That’s where I learned early on that if you want to get something done locally, send it directly to the local officials.   (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Don’t have to go through — you don’t have to pass go.  You don’t have to go to state legislatures to compete for the money.

Folks, I only ran for the Senate because local government was too hard.  (Laughter.)  You all think I’m kidding.  (Laughter.)  They know where you live; they think you can solve every problem, even if you don’t have the authority to do it; and they hold you accountable for everything.  So, God love you, as my mother would say.  (Laughter and applause.) 

Thank you, all, for being here.  And congratulations to the National League of Cities — 100 years.  (Applause.) 

Now, I want to make it clear: I’ve been a strong supporter here, but I wasn’t — I wasn’t at the first meeting.  (Laughter.)  I wasn’t, swear to God.  (Applause.)  I’ve been around a while, but — (laughs).

You first came together on a college campus in Kansas at a time of transformation in America.  Cities and towns were growing fast, our economy was changing and was pushed to transparency and reform and efficiency — a big push.  And you helped one another deliver for — that folks — for folks ever since that time. 

Because — I mean, look, think about it.  All kidding aside.  People come to you first in your communities.  They knock on your door.  They expect you to be able to —

You know, asking, “Is my neighborhood safe?  Will — can — will the bus be on time?  Are you going to have it running so I can get to work on time?  Are my kids going to have the good fortune of being able to stay in their hometown and make a living?” 

You do what matters.  You do what matters to people. 

You know, my dad used to say, “A job is about a lot more than a paycheck.  It’s about your — it’s about your dignity.  It’s about your ability to look your kid in the eye and say, ‘Everything is going to be okay.’” 

And they look to you first.

That’s why I’ve filled my administration with so many former local officials, like Councilman Tom Perez, who you just heard through — here speak in a minute.  (Applause.)  And he runs the show for me in the — in the White House.  Former Mayor Steve Benjamin.  Secretaries Buttigieg, Fudge, Vilsack.  (Applause.)

We know what you all do and what a measure of success isn’t how many partisan points you score.  It’s a basic thing we’ve all got involved in the first place for: Can you fix the problem?  Can we fix the problem?  Can we be responsive?

We’re here for one reason: to deliver to families and communities for the country.  We’ve been a — you’ve been essential partners in delivering historic results for the American people. 

When I ran — I know it sounded silly — I said I promised to be a President for all Americans, whether they voted for me or not.  And we’re making that real progress in red communities and blue communities.  In fact, there are more investments going to red communities than blue communities. 

It’s about politics in many people’s minds, but not mine.  It’s about investing in all of America and all Americans so everyone has a fair shot — (applause) — and leaving nobody behind.

When I came to office, the pandemic was raging.  Our economy was reeling.  Communities everywhere faced devastating budget cuts.  But we turned things around. 

Three years ago today, I signed the American Rescue Plan.  (Applause.)  Instead of just helping a few big cities, we — it provided $350 billion to state and local governments for you to decide how it’ll be spent — (applause) — money that went directly to every single town in America so you could decide how best to spend it without having to go through the statehouse or a governor. 

We trusted you, and that trust has been well placed because you’ve done a hell of a job.  (Applause.)

You used those funds to vaccinate your communities, to keep essential services going, put cops on the beat.  You put teachers in the classroom.  You kept small businesses on their feet and families in their homes.

Then, I proposed and signed the most significant investment in our nation’s infrastructure in generations.  Forty-seven thousand new projects announced so far across communities, modernizing American roads, bridges, ports, airports, public transit, and more; creating jobs now and jobs for the next decade. 

We went through — remember we had “Infrastrucure Week” for four years?  (Laughter.)  And now you’re going to have “Infrastructure Week” for 10 years.  The only difference being there’s going to something every week.  (Applause.)

Look, I’ve stood with mayors out where you’re rebuilding.  The Blatnik Bridge in Wisconsin and Minnesota — a billion-dollar operation.  (Applause.)  The Brent Spence Bridge in Kentucky and Ohio.  (Applause.)  By the way, not only changing the economy for those communities and all up and down the coast — up and down the country, but it’s doing something else: It’s generating good — really good jobs, and it’s bringing communities back together.

I’m working with many of you in replacing every poisonous lead pipe in America for every child can drink clean water — (applause) — without risking brain damage.

In January, I was in Raleigh, North Carolina, where we’re investing $3 billion to connect the entire state for affordable high-speed Internet to end — by the end of the decade.  And we’re doing it in all 50 states.  It’s critical for children to be able to do their homework, small businesses to be able to sell their products, folks to have access to telemedicine when they’re driving — without driving to see their doctors if they live in the countryside.

We’ve also — we’ve already saved 23 million families $75 a month on Internet bills.  Congress needs to reauthorize that program now, by the way.  I need your help.  (Applause.)

We’re also taking the most significant action to fight climate change ever.  You know, I mentioned when we talked — well, I won’t — don’t get me started on all that.  (Laughter.)  I feel pretty passionate about it.

Look, I visited many of your towns as we work together to respond, rebuild, and increase reliance and — resilience.  But the resilience is the important part.  We can’t build back to what it was; we’ve got to build back better in everything we’re doing.  For real.  The climate is already changing things.  (Applause.)

Resilience to extreme weather.  Revitalization of fence-line communities smothered by the legacy of pollution.  We’re also promoting clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and other industries — the future — a future that’s made in America. 

You know, there used to be a — there’s a law that I didn’t even realize and my — most didn’t realize, that — back in the `30s, when they were talking about whether the unions could exist and so on and so forth.  There was a lot of legislation in the Roosevelt administration. 

One law that got passed was any money sent to the president to spend on a federal project should be spent with American products and American workers.  (Applause.)

Well, here’s what happened: A lot of folks — both parties didn’t pay much attention to that.  But not anymore.  We build American, we buy American, and we are American.  (Applause.)

Folks, thanks, in part, to the CHIPS and Science Act, the United States is investing more money in research and development than ever before. 

During the pandemic, a shortage of semiconductor chips about the size of the tip of your little finger drove prices up for everything from cell phones to automobiles.  Well, instead of having to import semiconductors — which America invented, I might add — private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in America.  (Applause.) 

And we’re creating tens of thousands of jobs.  Many of them pay over $100,000 a year and do not require a college degree.  (Applause.)  

Folks, in all, my policies have attracted $650 billion in private sector investments from companies that are buil- — bringing jobs back to America, back to communities where they belong.

For the longest time, both parties sent jobs overseas because the labor was cheaper and imported the products.  Now, we’re sending product overseas and importing — and we’re bringing the jobs back here.  (Applause.)

Look, folks, in thousands of cities and towns, we’re seeing a great comeback story.  Nearly 15 million new jobs created so far.  That’s a record. 

Growth is strong.  Wages are rising.  Inflation is down.

Individuals have fi– had filed to start an additional 16 million new businesses since I took office.  Each — each application to do that is an act of hope.

And along the way, we reduced the federal deficit, I might add.  It hasn’t gone up.  It’s gone down under us.  (Applause.)  We cut it by a trillion dollars already — another trillion over the next decade.  And that’s my goal: to cut by $3 trillion by making the wealthy and big corporations finally begin to pay their fair share.  (Applause.)

Folks, look, I’m a capitalist.  If you can a billion bucks, wonderful.  Just pay your fair share, man, not 8.2 percent.  (Applause.)

If you paid 25 percent, we’d have $500 billion more over the next 10 years to cut the deficit, to provide child care, to do all the things we need to do.  But there’s more to do.

Look, for example, I know the cost of housing is critical to families nationwide.  If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates are going to continue to come down as well.  But I’m not waiting. 

For those seeking to buy their first home or trade up for a little more space, I’ve proposed a tax cut that will provide $400 a month for the next two years, because every family — (applause) — every family deserves a place to call home and a place to — to have your American Dreams come true.

Look, millions of renters are also out there in trouble.  We’re also cracking down on those landlords who break the antitrust laws by price-fixing those r- — rents.  (Applause.)  Landlords should be competing to give folks the best deal, not conspiring to charge them higher rent.  (Applause.) 

We also cut red tape so more builders can get federal financing, which is already helping construct a record 1.7 million new housing units nationwide — (applause) — because of you. 

And the federal budget that I’m releasing today has a plan for 2 million more affordable homes, including housing — a housing innovation fund to help communities like yours build housing, renovate housing, and convert empty office space and hotels into housing.  Housing for renters, for owners, for middle-class families, and folks — folks struggling just to get by. 

Look, and we — we realize many of you are dealing with homeless encampments in your cities and towns.  Well, we’re providing $8 billion to allow you to provide alternatives, to move unhoused people off the street, getting them into homes.  (Applause.)

The bottom line is we have to build, build, build.  That’s how we bring housing costs down for good. 

Folks, at the same time, Americans deserve the freedom to be safe from crime.  And America is safer today than when I took office.

Starting with the American Rescue Plan, I made the biggest investment in public safety effort.  And you used it well. 

You, all of you, have done a tremendous job in your communities putting those resources to work, using federal money to hire more officers for effective, accountable community policing; expanding violence intervention programs that help prevent crime.

Folks, you don’t always hear about it, but today’s violent crime rates are down nationwide in nearly every major category — (applause) — to one of the lowest levels in over 50 years.  But there’s more to do, but we’re making American progress — serious progress. 

Look, there’s another piece of unfinished business: the border — the federal border we keep talking about. 

In November, my team began serious negotiations with a bipartisan group of senators led by a serious conservative Republican senator as well as Democrats.  The result was a compromise bill with the toughest border security reforms this country has ever seen. 

That bipartisan deal would hire 1,500 more border security agents and officers; 1,000 — 100 more immigration judges to help tackle a backlog of 2 million cases that are just waiting to be heard; 4,300 more asylum officers and new policies so they can resolve cases in six months instead of six years; 100 more high-tech drug detection machines to significantly increase our ability to stop fentanyl from being smuggled into America.  (Applause.)  And by the way, no one questions those numbers.

This bill would save lives and bring order to the border.  It has the funds that many of our cities badly need as well.  It would also give me, as President, new emergency authority — or any other president — to temporarily shut down the border when the number of immigrants is overwhelming and to g- — regain control of the border.

The Border Patrol union endorsed it.  The federal Chamber of C- — the national Chamber of Commerce endorsed it.  And I believe, given an opportunity, the House and Senate have the votes to pass it if they just bring it to the floor and vote on it.  (Applause.)  But up to now, politics has intervened.

Folks, we have to end the games.  We have to deal.  This deal is about a win for America, your cities and towns.

You all face the issue every single day.  So, it matters to you, your community, to tell your members in Congress to show up, show a little spine, and pass the bipartisan border security bill.  (Applause.)

They tell me I’m your last speaker.  I’ve already kept you too long, but here’s a go.  Let me close with this. 

Last week, I delivered my State of the Union Address, where I said — (applause) — where I stated what I believed to be the — the empirical truth: The state of the Union is strong and getting stronger.  That’s what I see. 

As I travel the country — as I travel the country, folks often tell me how, back in 2020, they were down.  They’d lost their business.  They’d lost faith in the system. 

And then, the laws we passed, the work we’ve done together got them back on their feet, creating new jobs, new businesses, a new cycle of hope.  We’ve got a long way to go in terms of re- — and by the way, public confidence in the economy is coming back. 

So, when you see shovels in the ground, people going to work, I hope you feel what we do and you feel it with a sense of pride.  Pride in your hometowns.  Pride in making a comeback.  Pride in America.  Pride in knowing we can get big things done when we work together.  (Applause.)

Folks, as I said, I’ve been around a few days — (laughter) — but I’ve never been more optimistic about our future.  I mean that sincerely.

We just have to remember who in God’s name we are.  We are the United States of America, for God’s sake.  (Applause.)  There is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity — and I mean nothing beyond our capacity when we work together, like you all do.

So, let’s work together.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

Really, thank you.  You’ve been great.  You know how to do the job.  (Applause.)  

11:13 A.M. EDT

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Pullman Yards
Atlanta, Georgia
(March 9, 2024)

5:42 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Atlanta!  (Applause.)  I’m Joe Biden.  I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.) 
 
And, Desera, thank you for your introduction.  And when you’re President of the United States and I — they say, “Joe Biden is out in the waiting room,” don’t say “Joe who?”  Okay?  (Laughter.)
 
Mayor Andre Dickenson — Dickens — I just add another syllable to your name.  (Laughter.)  Thank you for the passport into the city, Mr. Mayor.  (Applause.)
 
And Reverend Senator Warnock, thank you for your leadership.  (Applause.)  And thank you for the honor — giving me the honor to speak at your congregation at Ebenezer Baptist Church. 
 
Look, Senator Ossoff — you’re the best, Jon.  You’re doing a hell of a job.  And he’s always, always there, and he votes his conscience, and he’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes.  (Applause.)
 
To the many members of the House of Representatives here and all other elected officials, thank you for your service. 
 
And to former Atlanta mayor and former member of my team in the White House, Keisha Lance Bottoms, thank you.  (Applause.)  Keisha — I said to her a moment ago — I said, “We miss you.”  And her husband said, “So did I.  I got her.”  (Laughter.)
 
     And, Governor Wes Moore, thank you for coming down from Maryland, man.  (Applause.)  He’s the best, man.  He can play.  (Laughter.)  
 
And all of you here today, you know, you’re the reason why we’re going to win.  (Applause.)  By the way, that’s not hyperbole.  You’re the reason we’re going to win. 
 
Donald Trump has a different constituency.  Here’s a guy who’s kicking off his general election campaign on the road up with Marjorie Taylor Greene. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  It can tell you a lot about a person who he keeps company with.  (Laughter.)  And yesterday, he was hosting at his club, Viktor Orbán — 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  — who says he doesn’t think democracy works.  Called him a “fantastic leader.”  Seriously.  (Laughter.)  He’s been sucking up to win him — (laughs) — anyway —  (inaudible) dictators and authorian — authoritarian thugs all around the world. 
 
He said the North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un wrote him a — quote, “wrote him a beautiful letter.”  (Laughter.) 
 
He bragged about calling Xi Jinping a “king.”  He called Putin and he said, “Do whatever the hell you want to our Allies.” 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m not making these — I’m not making these quotes up.  When he says he wants to be a dictator, I believe him. 
 
But I don’t want to get carried away here.  (Laughs.)  Before I begin, I want to say thank you —
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  What are you going to do, Genocide Joe?  Tens of thousands of Palestinians (inaudible).
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Whoa, whoa, whoa —
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Look, thank you.  Look, I don’t resent — I don’t resent — I don’t resent his passion.  There’s a lot of Palestinians who are being unfairly victimized. 
 
But, folks, look —
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Free, free Palestine!  Free, free Palestine!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  — before I begin, I want to say thank you to all those outstanding Black, Latinos, AAPI organizations supporting Kamala and me.  (Applause.)  
 
In 2020 and 2022, especially here in Georgia, but all across the country, you called your neighbors, you texted your friends, you knocked on doors, and you never stop.  And you’re with us all the way.  (Applause.)  And we’re here to say a simple thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)
 
And here tonight, because you really want to do it again, because you are going to win this primary for us on Tuesday.  And because we’re going to win in November.  (Applause.)
 
So, I mean this: Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I really mean it. 
 
Three years ago, you helped the Democratic ticket and won Georgia a presidential election for the first time in 30 years.  (Applause.)  On Thursday, when I gave my State of the Union Address, I talked about how far we’ve come since the 2020 election.  I also talked about how much is at stake. 
 
Folks, it’s not hyperbole to suggest our freedoms are literally on the ballot this November.  Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to take our freedoms away. 
 
And, by the way, not all Republicans.  This ain’t — this ain’t your father’s Republican Party.  These guys are different. 
 
But guess what?  We’re not going to let them take them away.  (Applause.)
 
Thursday night marked 59 years since hundreds of foot soldiers for justice in Selma, Alabama, marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge named after the Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan to claim their fundamental right to vote.  They were beaten, they are bloodied, they were left for dead, but they were unbowed.
 
Our late friend, son of — son of Georgia, John Lewis, was there.  (Applause.)  And what happened five months later?  We passed — the Voting Rights Act was signed into law.  But nearly six decades after that, the same forces are back — led by Donald Trump — taking us back in time, suppressing the vote, subverting elections. 

That’s why we have to stand up again.  (Applause.)  We know what to do.  And my message to Georgia voters and to voters all across this country is: Send me a Congress that will pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.  (Applause.)  
 
The same forces that want to deny the right to vote try to deny other core values of American diversity as well: banning books, erasing history.  Instead of celebrating the contribution of immigrants to our country, to our economy, and our communities, Donald Trump calls them “vermin,” “poison” in the blooding of — poisoning the blood of America. 
 
No one should ever doubt where my heart is.  Unlike Donald Trump, on my first day in office as President, I introduced a comprehensive — a comprehensive plan to fix our immigration system, secure our border, provide a pathway for citizenship for DREAMers and their families — farmworkers, essential workers who helped us through the pandemic and are part of the fabric of our community. 
 
Because unlike Donald Trump, I know who we are as Americans.  (Applause.)  It’s why I promised to have an administration that looks like America.  (Applause.)  The most diverse Cabinet and administration in American history led by a [historic] Vice President. 
 
A court that represents all the people.  Sixty-five percent of the judges I’ve appointed are women.  (Applause.)  Sixty-five percent are people of color.  (Applause.)  I’ve appointed more Black women to the circuit courts than every other president in American history combined — (applause) — and the first African American woman to the Supreme Court.  (Applause.)
 
Look, in my State of the Union Address, I talked about the social worker in Alabama.  She scheduled an IVF treatment for her second child.  But the Supreme Court of Alabama shut down IVF treatments across the state, unleashed by the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
 THE PRESIDENT:  What her family has gone through should never have happened.  And folks — folks, you know why this happened.  Well, I tell you why: Donald Trump.  He came to office determined to see o- — Roe v. Wade overturned.  In fact, he brags about it. 
 
Well, he got his wish.  And states are passing bans that criminalize doctors, forcing rape and incest victims to leave their states to get help.  And now MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump want to pass a national ban on the right to choose.
 
Well, hear me loud and clear: not on my watch.  (Applause.)  In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote, and I quote, “Women are not without electoral or political power.”  As I said in the State of the Union, “They ain’t seen nothing yet.”  (Applause.)
 
But they’re about to see — they’re about to see it, just like we saw it on the ballot in 2022 and 2023.  And they’ll find out again in 2024.  (Applause.)
 
I’m deadly earnest about this.  Look, I want — I want to thank Vice President Harris for leading the way on this issue and so many others.  (Applause.) 
 
And, Georgia, I have a message for you: Send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, and I promise you I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.  (Applause.)
 
Folks, I inherited an economy that was on the brink.  But since I took office, we’ve created 15 million new jobs in just three years.  (Applause.)  That’s a record in American history. 
 
Eight hundred new manufacturing jobs.  I said, “Where’s it written that we can’t be the manufacturing capital of the world?”  (Applause.)  

Unemployment hit a 50-year low — (applause) — so far.  And under Donald Trump, Black and Latino unemployment skyrocketed.  Under my administration, we have record low Black and Latino un- — unemployment.  (Applause.) 
    
Donald Trump, Asian American unemployment nearly doubled.  Now — now the employment rate of Asian Americans is the highest it’s been since 2008.  (Applause.)
 
Look, we’ve cut Black child poverty in half, cut Latino poverty by a record as well.  We’re seeing the fastest rate of new Latino businesses all over this decade.  And the next 30 years, it’s going to even be bigger. 
 
Look, folks, more people have health insurance than ever before.  (Applause.)  The racial wealth gap is a smallest it’s been in 20 years.  (Applause.)  Wages are back up; inflation is coming down.  Inflation has dropped from 9 to 3 percent.  (Applause.)
 
We’ve already accomplished a lot.  So, now let’s talk about the future we can build together.  (Applause.)  It’s about the future. 
 
For example, Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else in the world.  It’s wrong.  But I’m ending it.  (Applause.)  The law I propose that we signed, no — not one Republican voted for it, I might add — we finally beat Big Pharma.  (Applause.) 
 
For example, instead of paying $400 a month for insulin that saves seniors lives, they now only pay $35.  Do you know how much it costs to make it?  It costs $10.  It costs $10 to make it.  (Applause.) 
 
But I didn’t stop there.  We capped insulin at 35 bucks a month, and I want to do it for every single American.  (Applause.) 
 
I finally beat Big Pharma and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for all prescription drugs, like the VA does.  But guess what?  It just doesn’t save seniors money; it’s saving the taxpayers $160 billion — (applause) — that one thing.  Seriously.  
 
Cutting the federal deficit — these guys talk about the de- — I don’t want to get into that.  I’ll get carried — (laughter).
 
Now it’s time to go further and no- — negotiate lower drug prices for every drug.  Look, that will save taxpayers, if we do that, another $200 billion because Medicare doesn’t have to pay the bill. 
 
Beginning in January of next year, it’s already the law we passed.  We capped prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at total $2,000 a year, no matter how much they cost.  (Applause.)  Because you — as some of you know, unfortunately, you’ve experienced it.  These cancer drugs can cost $10-, $12-, $15,000 a year.  Now let’s cap prescription drug costs to $2,000 a year for every American — (applause) — all Americans. 
 
And, folks, the Affordable Care Act is still a very big deal.  (Applause.)  It used to be called “Obamacare.”  (Applause.)  Over 100 Americans — 100 million Americans can no longer be denied health insurance because of a preexisting condition because of that law.  (Applause.)  And not only that, we’ve lowered the cost of insurance by $800 a year for so many families — and on top of it. 
 
Donald Trump wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  That would mean ripping health insurance away from 3 million Black Americans, 4 million Latinos, and a million Asian Americans. 
 
I’ve got news for Donald Trump: not on my watch.  (Laughter and applause.)  And if Trump and the Republicans try to cut Social Security again, I will stop them.  (Applause.) 
 
Look, I’m also working to bring down the cost of housing.  That’s why I want to pri- — I want to provide an annual tax credit for the next two years of $400 a month, over the next two years, as rates come down, to put toward mortgages.  If they’re pur- — buying your first home or you need to trade up a little for more space.  That’s what’s going to happen.  (Applause.)  And the interest rates will be down.
 
We’re cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price fixing and driving up rents.  Now Congress needs to pass my plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable houses and apartments — (applause) — and bring those rents down. 
 
Look, we’re also removing all poisonous lead pipes in the — millions of them in America so every child can turn on a water fountain at school or at home without risking getting brain damage, because that’s what’s happening. 
 
Look, and I’m making college more affordable.  (Applause.)  It was hard for me and my — my brothers and sisters to get through college because it was tough.  And the — and the tuitions weren’t even anywhere near what they are today. 
 
By fixing the student loan program, like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, I’ve reduced the burden of student debt for nearly 4 million Americans — (applause) — including teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public servants. 
 
Donald Trump swears that if he gets elected, he’s going to stop it.  Well, let me tell you something: He won’t stop me.  (Applause.)
 
So, let’s continue to increase Pell Grants for working-class and middle-class families, increase our record investment in HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.  (Applause.) 
 
We already contributed over $7 billion to HBCUs.  And you know why?  Because they’re just as bright, just as capable as — though they don’t have the endowments.  And so, they can’t — they can’t — they don’t have the laboratories to train for the new high-tech jobs.  But now they will.  And now they do.  (Applause.)
 
Look, we’re building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.  Donald Trump did just the opposite.  He — he enacted a $2 trillion tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited the top one half of 1 percent and the biggest corporations and exploded the federal deficit.  He added more to the national debt in the four years he was there than any presidential term in history — 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  — so — by the way.  Give me a break about reducing the debt.  Come on.
 
Folks, how many of you think the tax code is fair?  Raise your hand.
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I sure don’t.  And I’m going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair.  Under my plan, nobody earning less than $400,000 a year will pay an additional penny in federal tax.  Nobody.  Not — not one penny.  (Applause.)  But big corporations and the very wealthy will finally begin to pay their fair share.  
 
In 2020, the 55 largest corpora- — of the five — Fortune 500, 55 of those companies made $40 billion in profits, and they didn’t pay a single penny in tax.  Zero. 
 
AUDIENCE:  Booo —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Not anymore.  Thanks to the law I wrote and signed, big companies have to pay a minimum of 15 percent.  (Applause.)  But 15 percent is still less than working people pay in federal taxes.  It’s time to raise the corporate minimum tax to at least 21 percent — (applause) — so every billion-dollar corporation begins to finally begin to pay their fair share. 
 
Look, folks, there are one thousand billionaires in America — one thousand.  Look, I’m a — I’m a capitalist.  If you make a billion dollars, fine, if you do it fairly.  But guess what?  Pay your fair share of federal taxes.  (Applause.)  Do you know how much they pay?  You know what the rate is they pay in federal taxes?  8.2 percent.
 
Raise your hand if you’d trade for that?  You’d all take 8.2 percent, wouldn’t you? 
 
It’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.  (Applause.) 
 
That’s why I proposed a minimum tax of 25 percent for billionaires — 25 — just 25 percent.  You know how much money that would raise?  Five hundred billion dollars over the next 10 years.  (Applause.)  Imagine what that could do for America and our — for our future — from lowering the deficit to childcare, home care, paid leave so many other countries have — and still lower the deficit. 
 
Look, folks, let me close with this.  You’re all standing.  I’m keeping you too long.  I know —
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I know the American story.  It’s a con- — thank you.
 
AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Folks, look, I know the American story.  It’s a contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of this nation, between those who want to pull America backwards and those who want to move America into the future. 
 
My lifetime has taught me to embrace the future of freedom and democracy.  And Trump and I have a very different value set, if it isn’t obvious already.  Mine is based on core values that defined America.  And the rest of the world looks at us that way: decency, honesty, fairness, equality. 
 
But we all know Donald Trump sees a different America — an American story of resentment, revenge, and retribution.  That’s not me.  That’s not you.  (Applause.) 
 
We see a future where we define democracy and defend it, not diminish it.  We see a future where we defend the basic freedoms, not take them away.  We see a future — we see a future where we reward work, not just wealth, where the wealthy pay their fair share.  And we see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence.
 
And, folks, I mean this.  As I’ve traveled the world — I’ve been in most countries around the world.  I know the vast majority of the world leaders because I’ve been around a day or two.  (Laughter.)  I know I don’t look it.  (Laughter.)
 
But we see a future — I see a future that must remain the beacon of the world.  Above all, we see a country for all Americans, a future for all Americans, a presidency for all Americans.  So, join me.  Get out the vote.  (Applause.) 
 
Vote!  Vote!  Vote!
 
AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote! 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Vote! 
 
From the bottom of my heart, I believe in America.  I believe in you, the American people.  We just have to remember who we are, for God’s sake.  We are the United States of America.  (Applause.)  There is simply nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.  So, let’s do that.  Get out to vote. 
 
And God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
 
(The President picks up a pin thrown onto the stage.)  “Regulate guns, not women.”  (Applause.) 
 
6:04 P.M. EST

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South Mountain Community Center
Phoenix, Arizona

4:38 P.M. MST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  (Applause.)

Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Oh, it’s good to be back in Arizona.  Good af- —

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!  

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We will get four more years, won’t we?  (Laughs.) 

I want to thank President Florez for her incredible work.  And, of course, the words I — I just said to her — I thank her for stepping up to serve at this moment in the history of our country, because these truly are challenging times. 

And for all the leaders who are here, the courage that you show every day to do this work is extraordinary.  And you do this work on behalf of people we may never meet and people who may never know our names.  But because of your advocacy and your fight, they will forever be benefited. 

So, I thank everyone here for your leadership.  And all the extraordinary leaders are here, including Secretary Becerra, who is here.

Your mayor, Kate Gallego — (applause) — I have to tell you, she’s so wonderful.  She met me on the tarmac as I landed on Air Force Two, and she’s been talking with me about all the work — all the good work that she is doing here.  I thank you, Mayor.

Congressman Greg Stanton is here — (applause) — a powerful voice for this city and, in particular, on the issue of public transit and water infrastructure.  And, by the way, today is his birthday.  (Applause.)  Yes.  Okay.  So, we all wished him a happy birthday. 

And, of course, my dear friend Ruben Gallego wanted to be here today, the congressman.  He — I saw him last night in Washington at the President’s State of the Union.  I’ve known him for a while.  And I have to say that the congressman, he is a tireless fighter for the people and the families of Arizona. 

So, we are thinking of him.  And he has been a true leader — a national leader to the President and me in terms of his advice and friendship. 

I also want to thank all the organizers in Arizona who are collecting signatures — (applause) — to uphold one of our nation’s highest ideals.  Thank you, all.  This makes a huge difference. 

And, of course, you are fighting for the ideal of freedom — freedom — freedom.  It is fundamental to the promise of America: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of assembly, and the freedom to vote. 

And in America, freedom is not to be given.  It is not to be bestowed.  It is ours by right. 

And that, of course, includes the freedom to make decisions about one’s own body — not the government telling people what to do.  (Applause.) 

So, 51 years ago, in the case of Roe v. Wade, the United States Supreme Court recognized the fundamental constitutional right to reproductive freedom.  However, almost two years ago, the highest court in our land — the court of Thurgood and RBG — took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America.  And now we must speak of Roe in the past tense.

In states across our nation, extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women — laws that threaten doctors and nurses with prison time, even for life, simply for providing healthcare.  Laws like those in Arizona that make no exception even for rape or incest. 

Now, as many of you know, I started my career as a prosecutor specializing in crimes of violence against women and children.  What you may not know is why. 

So, when I was in high school, my best friend, I learned, was being molested by her stepfather.  And so, I said to her, “Look, you’ve got to come stay with us.”  I called my mother, and my mother said, “Absolutely.  She has come stay with us.”  And she did. 

So, the idea that someone who survives a crime of violence to their body, a violation of their body, would then be told they don’t have the authority to make a decision about what happens to their body next — that is immoral.  That is immoral.  (Applause.)

And today, of course, in some states, extremists even attack the freedom to use IVF treatment — women and couples denied the ability to fulfill their dream of having a child. 

And please let us consider the irony.  On the one hand, these extremists tell women they do not have the freedom to end an unwanted pregnancy.  And on the other hand, these extremists tell women they don’t have the freedom to start a family. 

Let us all agree: One does not have to abandon —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE:  MVP!  MVP!  MVP! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let us all agree — let us all agree: One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body.  (Applause.)

And this is, in fact, a healthcare crisis.  There is nothing hypothetical about this moment.  Today in America, one in three women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban — one in three women of reproductive age. 

And that number is even higher for Latinas.  Forty percent of Latinas live in a state where abortion is banned, including right here in Arizona, where extremist legislators passed an abortion ban with no exception for rape or incest. 

And right now, other extremists, as you have heard and know, are in court trying to bring back a law from 1864 that would completely ban abortion in Arizona — 1864.  Understand: 1864, before women had the right to vote, before women could own property, before Arizona was even admitted as a state.

Look, these extremists, they’re trying to take women back to the 1800s.  But we’re not going to let them.  (Applause.)  We’re not going to let them.  We are not going to let them.

And let us understand the impact of laws like these, since Roe was overturned, have created a horrific reality that women in our country are facing every single day.  It is not without harm to real people that this has happened. 

You know, I’ve met women who had miscarriages in toilets because they were refused care.  I met a woman who went to the emergency room during a miscarriage and was turned away repeatedly because the doctors there were afraid they might be put in jail for giving her care.  And it was only when she developed sepsis that they administered care. 

And consider that the majority of women in America are mothers — who have abortions, the majority are mothers.  So, if she lives in a state with an abortion ban and needs to travel to receive care, God help her if she does not have paid leave or affordable childcare or the savings necessary to buy a bus, train, or plane ticket to get where she can receive support and help. 

And, by the way, these extremists say they’re motivated by the health and well-being of women and children while they are silent on the issue of maternal mortality — (applause) — that, in connection with childbirth, women in America die at a higher rate than any women in a wealthy nation around the world. 

The issue of maternal mortality — and they’ve been silent on that, and, all of a sudden, they are the great defenders of women and children.  Consider, on the issue of maternal mortality, that Black women are three times as likely to die in connection with pregnancy, Native women twice as likely, rural women one and a half times as likely. 

And the top 10 states with the highest rates of maternal mortality all have abortion bans, including Arizona.  The hypocrisy abounds. 

And the reality, in real time, across our country is that for every story we hear, there are so many that we do not.  Today, an untold number of women are silently suffering.  Women who are being subjected to profound judgment, women who are being made to feel as though they did something wrong, as though they should be embarrassed, as though they are alone. 

So, to these women, I say: We see you, and we are here with you, and we are always going to stand by you.  You are not alone.  (Applause.) 

And in this healthcare crisis, then, please do understand who is to blame.  The former President, Donald Trump, handpicked three members of the United States Supreme Court because he intended for them to overturn Roe.  He intended for them to take your freedoms, and he brags about it. 

He said that for years, they were, quote, trying to get rid of Roe v. Wade, trying to have it “terminated.”  And then he said, quote, “And I did it, and I’m proud to have done it.”  He is proud. 

Proud that women across our nation are suffering?  Proud that doctors and nurses could be thrown in prison for administering care?  Proud that young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?  How dare he?  (Applause.)  

So, let us understand: The former President is the architect of this healthcare crisis.  And the extremists are not done.  In the United States Congress, extremists tried to pass a national abortion ban to outlaw abortion in every single state. 

But what they need to know is that if Congress passes a national abortion ban, President Joe Biden will veto it.  (Applause.)

Because here’s the deal.  We trust women.  (Applause.)  We trust women to know what is in their own best interest.  And women trust us to fight to protect their most fundamental freedoms.  And it’s going to take all of us.  It is going to take all of us. 

Joe Biden and I are fighting in court to protect women’s access to medication and emergency care.  We have worked to make sure medical records stay between a doctor and her — and his or her patient.  We have protected the right of women to travel between states for abortion care.  And we are fighting for access to free contraception. 

But here’s the bottom line.  As President Biden made clear last night in the State of the Union, to truly protect reproductive freedoms, we must restore the protections of Roe.  What the United States Supreme Court took, Congress can put back in place. 

So, we must have a majority of members in Congress who simply agree — regardless of their personal beliefs for themselves or their family, who just simply agree that the government should not be making these personal decisions for other people.  (Applause.)  That’s the bottom line. 

And when Congress passes a law that restores reproductive freedoms and the reproductive freedoms of Roe, Joe Biden will sign it into law.  (Applause.)

So, in conclusion, I will repeat: It is going to take all of us.  It is going to take all of us to get there.  And momentum is on our side.  (Applause.)

Since Roe was overturned, every time repro- — reproductive freedom has been on the ballot — every time — `22, `23 — every time reproductive freedom has been on the ballot, the people of America have voted for freedom.  (Applause.) 

From Kansas to California to Kentucky, in Michigan, Montana, Vermont, and Ohio — (applause) — the people of America voted for freedom by overwhelming margins. 

And, by the way, that also makes a different point, which is this is not a partisan issue.  It is not a partisan issue.  In red states and blue, tens of millions of Americans marched to the polls, and the voice, then, of the people has been heard, and it will be heard. 

So, in conclusion, I ask today: Arizona, are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.) 

Do we trust women?  (Applause.) 

Do we believe in reproductive freedom?  (Applause.) 

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.) 

Are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.) 

And when we fight, we win.  (Applause.) 

     God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.

     Thank you, all.  Thank you.  

                               END                 4:54 P.M. MST

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Strath Haven Middle School
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

5:51 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  I think I should go home now.  (Laughter and applause.)

Hello, Delco!  (Applause.)

I’m Joe Biden.  I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.)

And thanks to the elected officials here today, including someone — I keep telling her I think we’re related.  We come from the — our families come from the same county in Ireland.  Representative Scanlon, where is she?  (Applause.)  There you are.  You’re doing a hell of a job representing this district.  (Applause.)

If you’re tired, you probably watched my address last night.  (Laughter and applause.) 

I got my usual warm reception from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.  (Laughter.) 

In my address, I spoke about how far we’ve come since we took office.  I talked about how much is at stake. 

Folks, our freedoms really are on the ballot this November.  Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are trying to take away our freedoms.  That’s not an exaggeration.

Well, guess what?  We will not let him.  (Applause.)  We will not let him.

Last night, at the U.S. Capitol, the same building where our freedoms came under assault in July the 6th — Ja- — excuse me, January the 6th, we talked about another [a mother in] Alabama.  Fourteen months ago, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to another Alabaman — 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 U.S. 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, folks, do you know why it happened?  I’ll tell you why.  One reason: Donald Trump.

He came to office determined to overturn Roe v. Wade.  In fact, he’s bragged about it repeatedly that he’s the reason it got overturned.  He got his wish.

And states are passing bans, criminalizing doctors, forcing rape and incest victims to leave their state to get care. 

And now, MAGA Republicans and Donald Trump want to pass a national ban on the right to choose, period. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, take it seriously, folks.  Because it’s — that’s what they’re do- — heading for.

Hear me loud and clear: This will not happen on my watch.  (Applause.)  The decision — the decision to over- —

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you. 

The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote, “Women are not without electoral power or political power.”  Clearly, these bragging — (laughter) — anyway.  (Laughter.)

Those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America.  (Applause.)  No clue.

They found out when reproductive freedom was on the ballot in 2022 and 2023, and they’ll find out again in 2024.  (Applause.)

I mean this from the bottom my heart when I say I thank Vice President Harris for leading on this issue and so many others.  (Applause.) 

You know — and, Pennsylvania, I have a message for you: Send me the Congress that I — can support this right, and I promise you, if we take back Congress, we — we will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.  (Applause.)

Look, I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history.  And we have.  I inherited an economy that was — was on the brink.  Excuse me.  Now our economy is the envy of the world.  Fifteen million new jobs in just three years — that’s a record in American history.  (Applause.)

Unemployment hit a 50-year low.  Eight hundred thousand new manufacturing jobs and counting.  (Applause.)

As I said when I started, where is it written that we can’t be the manufacturing capital of the world again?  Wages are up and inflation is coming down.  Inflation has dropped from 9 percent to 3 percent.  (Applause.)

We made so much progress.  So, now let’s talk about the future we can build, because we have more to do.

Look, the future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the wealthy and the biggest corporations begin to pay their fair share, God love them.  (Applause.)

For example, Americans pay more — as a pharmacist can tell us, a doc can tell us — for prescription drugs than anywhere else in the world.  It’s wrong.  And I’ve been fighting the pharmaceutical industry since I was in the Senate for over 30 years.  But guess what?  We’re ending it.  (Applause.)

And the law I proposed and signed, no one — not one Republican voted for it, but we finally beat Big Pharma.  Instead of paying $400 a month, for example, on insulin for seniors, they only have to pay 35 bucks.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, it only costs $10 to make.  They’re still paying thir- — they’re still getting a big profit.

But, look, I’m not stopping there.  Let’s cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it, not just seniors.  (Applause.)

I finally beat Big Pharma.  And now we’re giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, just like the VA does for our military.  This doesn’t just save seniors money; it’s saving taxpayers billions of dollars, cutting the deficit.

Now it’s time to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for even more drugs.  You know, it’s going to save the taxpayers another $200 billion.  It already saved $160 billion off your taxes because the Medicare doesn’t have to pay that bill.

Folks, starting next year — (applause) — the bill I got passed, we’re capping the total prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year, even for expensive cancer drugs that cost $10-, $12-, $14-, $15,000 a year.  (Applause.)

And my goal next year: Let’s do that for all of America — (applause) — all of America.  Let’s cap prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year for everyone.

And, folks, the Affordable Care Act is still a very big deal.  (Applause.)

Over 100 million Americans can no longer be denied health insurance because of preexisting conditions.  (Applause.)  But Donald Trump has announced he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and his Republican colleagues tried 49 other times in the last — since Obamacare was passed.  But it’s not going to happen on my watch.  (Applause.)

Look, I’m also working to bring down the cost of housing.  I’m proposing an annual tax credit that will give Americans $400 a month over the next two years to put toward their mortgage if they are buying for the first home or if, in fact, they’re moving into a larger place because they’re afraid they’re going to lose the mortgage rate they have.  (Applause.)  

But guess what?  I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll bet you — I’ll bet you those rates come down more because I bet you that that little outfit that sets interest rates is going to come down.  (Laughter.)  It’s going to come down.  (Applause.)

And, folks, we’re cracking down on big landlords who break antitrust laws by price-fixing and driving up rents.  Now Congress needs to pass my plan to build and renovate 2 million affordable homes and apartments and bring those rents down.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, a lot of my Republican friends: That’s costing a lot of money and raising the deficit.  Guess what?  We cut the deficit.  (Applause.)  It cut the deficit $1 trillion.

The last guy ballooned the deficit. 

We passed a budget deal that will cut another trillion dollars over the next decade.  They kept trying to get out of it, but they finally agreed.

And now it’s my goal to cut the federal deficit by $3 billion more — $3 trillion more by making big corporations and the very wealthy — and I’m a capitalist, by the way.  You can go make a million bucks; you make a billion, good for you.  But pay your taxes.  (Applause.)

We have a thousand billionaires in America — a thousand.  Guess how much they’re — what their tax rate is?  8.3 percent.  Anybody want to trade your tax rate with them?  (Applause.)

I’m ser- — thi- — think about that.  8.3 percent — a billionaire.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I pay more than that.

THE PRESIDENT:  Donald Trump — you sure in hell do.  (Laughter.)

Look, Donald Trump ena- — enacted a $2 trillion tax cut when he was president, overwhelmingly benefiting the very wealthy, and exploded the federal deficit — exploded it.  We cut the deficit.  And we [he] added more to the national debt than any president in his term in all of history — and under Donald Trump.

These guys talk about — oh.  (Laughter.)

Too many corporations raise their prices and pad their profits, charging you more and more for less and less.  That’s why we’re cracking down on corporations engaged in price gouging and deceptive pricing. 

Looks like companies that — that you wouldn’t notice — they thought you wouldn’t notice.  But, you know, if you’re — they give you the same sized bag of potato chips with about 20 percent fewer potato chips in it.  (Laughter.)  No, by the way, that’s not a joke.

Some of you may have seen, there was a TV thing on how Snickers bars — same exact price with a — don’t hold me to the exact number — but, like, 20 percent less bar.  (Laughter.)  No, I’m serious.

Congress needs to sign Bobby Casey’s bill to stop shrinkflation — (applause) — stop it.

These are — in the family I grew up in, these are kitchen table issues.

I’m also getting junk fees for those hidden fees added to the end of your bills without your knowledge.  My administration just announced we’re cutting credit card late fees from $32 to $8.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, I’m not being arbitrary.  The law says they can charge for late fee what it costs them to collect it.  It does not cost anywhere near $32, but they make, over time — over that period, billions of dollars.  Literally, it stunned me.

You got 450,000 people paying those late fees.  And they charge — that’s what we’re — they end up paying over $2 billion.

The banks and credit card companies don’t like it.  Why?  I’m saving American families $20 billion a year with those junk fees by eliminating them — (applause) — $20 billion.

And, by the way, I grew up in — I grew up in Scranton and Claymont, Delaware.  Those are the two places I grew up.  (Applause.)  And you know what?  That made a difference in my household, if you had to pay an extra 50 bucks a month, 100 bucks a month for things.  That wasn’t fair.  It matters, and so does this.

Folks, does anybody think the tax code is fair?

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I — I mean it.  I’m serious.  I don’t.  And I’m going to keep fighting like hell to make it fair.  (Applause.)

Under my plan, nobody making less than $400,000 a year, which I’ve never made — (laughter) — until I became President — (laughter) — will pay one penny in additional tax — nobody — not one penny.  (Applause.)

But big corporations — big corporations will finally have to begin to pay their fair share.

No, really, this is just fairness.  It’s about fairness and decency.  This is not a — we’re not making this stuff up. 

In 2020, 50 — you may remember, this was a big fight I had with the Republicans.  In 2020, 55 of the largest corporations in America made $40 billion in profit and paid zero in federal taxes.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I was determined to change that.  And guess what?  Not anymore. 

Thanks to the law I wrote and signed, big companies now have to pay a minimum of 15 percent.  It’s only 15 percent.  It’s still less than working people pay in federal taxes. 

This time, we’re going to raise the minimum tax to corporations to at least 21 percent.  (Applause.)  And so, every billion-dollar corporation finally begins to pay their fair share.

Look, I want to end tax breaks for Big Pharma, Big Oil, corporate jets, massive executive pay that gets deducted. 

Look, as I said, there are a thousand billionaires in America and their federal tax rate is 8.2 percent.  I said 3 before.  That’s far less than the vast majority of you pay. 

No billionaire should pay a lower tax than a teacher or a sanitation worker or a nurse.  (Applause.) 

That’s why I proposed not the highest tax, the minimum tax of 25 percent for billionaires — just 25.  (Applause.)  And guess what?  Do you know how much money that would raise over the next 10 years?  Five hundred billion dollars.  (Applause.)

And imagine what that could do for America and for our future.  It could cut the deficit, it could provide for childcare, it could pro- — I mean, so much that we need to do and not raise the deficit.

Well, let’s invest in — and let’s continue to invest in the future by confronting the climate crisis, not denying it.  I don’t know — (applause) — e- —

Since I’ve been President, I’ve gone with the — with all the folks from my administration.  I have flown over those wildfires out West and in the Northwest, in the Southwest.  I’ve — literally in a helicopter, all of them.  And guess what?  It’s burned down more timber and more housing than comprises the entire state of Maryland. 

We’re taking the most significant action on climate ever in the history of the world.  They said I couldn’t get it passed.  We got $369 billion passed for climate change — (applause) — and still cut the deficit.

And America is safe — America is safer today than when I took office.  The year before I took office, murder rates went up to 30 percent nationwide, the biggest increase in American history under the last guy.  And now, through the American Rescue Plan — which every Republican voted against, I might add — I made the largest investment in public safety ever.

Last year, murder rates saw the sharpest decrease in history.  Violent crime led — fell to one of the lowest levels more than — in more than 50 years.  I’m ramping up federal enforcement to Violence — for the Violence Against Women Act, which I proudly wrote, so we can finally end the scourge of violence against women.  (Applause.)

These guys fought taking away guns from domestic abusers.
I mean, I don’t know where they —

We beat the NRA when I proposed and signed the most significant gun safety law in 30 years.  Now we have to beat NRA again.  (Applause.)

I’m demanding a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.  (Applause.)  I did it once. 

And pass universal background checks.  (Applause.)  Repeal the immunity that protects gun manufacturers. 

Look, imagine if — imagine if tobacco had the same limitations — companies — that gun manufacturers.  The only major corporation in America — industry in America that you cannot sue is gun manufacturers.  Think about that.  Imagine if that had been the case with tobacco, how many more people would be dying of cancer.

Look, there’s a lot more to say.  But I’m keeping you standing too long.  I know — (laughs) — I know — I know — (applause).

AUDIENCE:  Four more years!  Four more years!  Four more years!

THE PRESIDENT:  Look, I was watching on television last night about two in the morning, after we got back to the house — (laughter) — the house — the White House.  (Laughter.)  Still think of — hard to think of it as home.  (Laughs.)

I — I had the TV on.  And there was a Fox News commentator saying, “You know, Biden is changing from trickle-down economics to build from the middle out and the bottom up.  It’s going to ruin America.” 

Ruin America?  We have the strongest economy in the world right now. 

And like I said — (applause) — well, like I said — and I mean this sincerely, and I’ve believed it my whole career and finally got it done: If we focus on the middle class, first of all — first of all, they’re the — they’re the heart and soul and sinew of the country.  If you focus on them and give them an even chance, the poor have a way up and the wealthy still do very, very well — still do very well. 

As I said, I’m a capitalist.  But capitalism, when it turns to engaged in unco- — noncompetition, it ends up being just stealing.

Let me close with this.  I know you’re thinking that I couldn’t have been around very long.  (Laughter.)  When you get to be my age, certain things become clearer than ever before.
I know the American story.  I’ve seen it again and again, in contests between competing forces for the battle for the soul of this nation.

Some of you may remember when I ran in 2020, I got criticized by the press for saying I was running for three reasons: one, to restore the soul of America; two, to build the middle class so we can begin to grow again and everybody have an even chance; and, three, to unite the country.  They’re still my goals.  They’re still my goals.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  That’s why you’re my President, Joe!  (Applause.) 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you.

Because the soul of the country is who we are.  Look, you know, did you ever think — those of you who are over 40 — (laughter) — did you ever think we’d be in a situation where we talk to each other like we talk these days?  Where you see things that we see that, no matter how tense things were — and they’re really tough in other parts of our history — when you ride down the street, and there’s a Trump banner with a “F- you” on it and a little — and a six-year-old kid putting up his middle finger. 

Did you ever se- — no, I’m serious.  Did you every think you’d hear people talk the way they do?

Look, it demeans — it demeans who we are.  That’s not who Amer- — that’s not America.

Those between — tho- — look, those of us who want to pull America back at the past and those who want to move into the future.

My lifetime has taught me to embrace the future — I mean it sincerely — freedom, democracy, a future based on the core values that have defined America: honesty, decency, fairness, equality, just treating people just fairly.  No, I really mean it.  We don’t always live up, but that — there — that — that’s the American creed.

Donald Trump sees the story differently.  He sees a story of resentment, revenge, retribution. 

I’ve been working like hell to unite Europe, NATO, and make sure Ukraine doesn’t get crushed by this dictator in Russia.  (Applause.)  But, you know, the fact is that you have a president who literally has invited Putin to do what it wants — do what the hell it wants if it could come into Ukraine.

He thinks Putin is a strong — basically he’s a decent guy.  You know who he’s meeting with today in — down in Mar-a-Lago?

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Orbán.

THE PRESIDENT:  Orbán of Hungary, who has stated flatly he doesn’t think democracy works; he’s looking for dictatorship.  The only member of NATO — that’s who he’s meeting with.

I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it.  (Applause.) 

I see a future where we defend our freedoms, not take them away.  (Applause.)

I see a future where the middle class has a fair shot and the wealthy pay their fair share.  (Applause.)

I see a future where the planet moves from the climate crisis and our country away from the gun violence that we have so much of.  (Applause.) 

I see a future where America remains the beacon of the world. 

I’ve been doing foreign policy since I was a kid in the Senate.  I was chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.  And I’ve gone now — I spent over almost 200 hours with the leaders of Europe, the heads of state.  I know them all.  I’ve known them well. 

And guess what?  You know what every one of them says to me, virtually — except Orbán — (laughter) — I’m serious — as we leave these meetings?

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  Four more years? 

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, indirectly.  They grab my arm, and they pull me aside.  I’m serious.  They pull me aside and say,  “You’ve got to — he can’t win again” — (laughter) — “because my democ-” — meaning their country — “my democracy is at stake.”  (Applause.)  “My democracy is at stake.”

Folks, above all, I see a country for all Americans, a future for all of Americans, a presidency for all Americans.  Because I believe in America.  I believe in you, the American people. 

We just have to remember who in the hell we are.  We are the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And there’s nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to be here.  (Applause.)

Thank you.

(The First Lady joins the President on stage.)

By the way — by the way, you know, she talked about how she fell in love with me. 

THE FIRST LADY:   Oh, no.  No.

THE PRESIDENT:  I had to ask this woman five times to marry me — (laughter) — five. 

And finally, the fifth time, I was down in South Africa trying to see Nelson Mandela when I was a senator.  I came back to her apartment in Wilmington, Delaware, when I got off the plane.  I knocked on the door and said, “Jill, you’ve got my Irish up.  I’m asking you one more time.”  (Laughter.)  “Only one more time.  Not when, but will you marry me?”

And she goes like this: “Okay.”  (Laughter and applause.) 

I tell you what, she did it.  I married a Philly girl.  (Applause.)

6:18 P.M. EST

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Private Residence
Rose Valley, Pennsylvania

5:08 P.M. EST

Q What did you hear in there, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me?

Q What did you hear in there? What did —

THE PRESIDENT: I heard about what —

Q — you hear from these folks?

THE PRESIDENT: — this is like the family I grew up in with how close they were.

The older brother went to school with s- — my son Hunter back in Delaware. And we were talking about the school that he went to — they went to and family connections.

And it was just nice. It was nice to be here.

Q Why did you want to come here?

THE PRESIDENT: Because I wanted to meet with people like I grew up with — (laughs) — like the family that I — although this is a little more uptown than where I grew up.

But it’s a beautiful, beautiful family.

Q Will there be a ceasefire by Ramadan?

THE PRESIDENT: It’s looking tough, but —

Q Are you concerned about violence in East Jerusalem without one?

THE PRESIDENT: I sure am.

5:09 P.M. EST

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Joint Base Andrews
Prince George’s County, Maryland

2:47 P.M. EST
 
Q    Mr. President, will you commit to a debate with former President Trump?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  It depends on his behavior.
 
Q    Mr. President —
 
Q    Do you regret using the word “illegal” to describe immigrants last night, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I probably — I don’t re- — technically not supposed to be here. 
 
Q    Well, why did — why did Mr. Netanyahu need a “come to Jesus” meeting?  What are you hoping to achieve?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I didn’t say that in the speech.
 
Q    After the speech.
 
Q    But what about after the speech?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You guys are eavesdropping on things. 
 
Q    But are — does that show your level of frustration with him on humanitarian aid?  Does he need to be doing more?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, he does. 
 
Q    Have you seen Senator Britt’s rebuttal, sir?

THE PRESIDENT:  I just saw a little bit on television. 
 
Q    What did you think?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I thought she was a very talented woman.  I — I didn’t quite understand the connections she was making.
 
Q    Mr. President, do you still support banning TikTok?  Would you sign that bill?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  If they pass it, I’ll sign it. 
 
Q    Mr. President, who is going to provide security for the port you’re planning to build to offer aid to Gaza?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  The Israelis.
 
Q    Is it going to be the I — IDF?  Okay.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.
 
Q    Are you concerned that Trump is meeting with Viktor Orbán?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’ve got to go.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thanks, everybody.
 
Q    Are you concerned that Trump is meeting with Viktor Orbán and continues to do so?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  If I’m not, you should be.
 
2:49 P.M. EST

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