State of the Union 2022 - Boebert doubles down on heckle as veteran’s widow calls for her removal
As it happened: Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to Congress
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Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden has woken up an encouraging reception for his first State of the Union address, which snap polling says met with the approval of more than two-thirds of Americans – a rare bit of good news for a president whose ratings remain underwater.
Mr Biden at times received bipartisan standing applause in the House chamber last night, especially during his remarks on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Putin’s war was premeditated and unprovoked,” the president said. “He rejected efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and Nato wouldn’t respond. And, he thought he could divide us here at home. Putin was wrong. We were ready.”
However, progressives have given a lukewarm reception to the domestic elements of Mr Biden’s speech, in which he promised to “fund the police” while declining to go as far as some wanted on key issues like immigration.
Speaking on MSNBC, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that “there’s some themes that are left a little bit to be desired for key constituencies in the Democratic base, but the president’s goal was very clear on really projecting a theme of unity and I think he’s still stuck to that.”
Meanwhile, the White House has hit back at heckling from far-right Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, with Press Secretary Jen Psaki remarking that their shouting at the president “says a lot more about them” than it does about the substance of his speech.
Biden talks about revising and fixing the immigration system and the border.
There are chants of “Build the Wall” from the Republican side of the House.
“For LGBTQ+ Americans, let’s finally get the bipartisan Equality Act to my desk. As I said last year — especially to our younger transgender Americans — I will always have your back as your president so you can be yourself and reach your God-given potential.”
Biden says there is much we can do to beat the opioid crisis.
- Increase funding for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery
- Eliminate outdated rules that stop doctors from prescribing treatments
- Stop the flow of illicit drugs.
Biden: “If you’re suffering from addiction, you should know you’re not alone. I believe in recovery and I celebrate the 23 million Americans in recovery.”
“We must hold social media platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit,” Biden says, before gesturing to Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, who is attending in-person.
Biden announces new support for vets exposed to burn pits: “Tonight, I’m announcing we’re expanding eligibility to veterans suffering from nine respiratory cancers.
The Biden Unity Agenda for Congress
1. Beat the opioid epidemic
2. Take on the mental health crisis
3. Support our veterans (housing, job training, care debt free, expanding eligibility to veterans suffering from nine respiratory cancers)
4. End cancer as we know it
“We are the only nation on Earth that has always turned every crisis we have faced into an opportunity.”
“We built the strongest, freest, and most prosperous nation the world has ever known. Now is the hour. Our moment of responsibility. Our test of resolve and conscience, of history itself. It is in this moment that our character and generation is formed.”
“On this night, in our 245th year as a nation, I have come to report on the State of the Union,” Biden says. “And my report is this: the State of the Union is strong—because you, the American people, are strong.”
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