I am in the Capitol now, preparing for coverage.
(Security is very tight tonight.)
Story will update.
(Security is very tight tonight.)
Story will update.
https://twitter.com/CourthouseNews/status/1387514469631340548
At tonight's address, President Biden will not only unveil his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan (check my article for more on that) but he will also call on Congress to lower Rx drug prices and imbue Medicare w/the power to negotiate its own drug prices.
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In excerpts released early this evening from the White House, the president is expected to say that the U.S. is has turned "peril into possibility" and that America is "on the move again."
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South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, (R) will deliver the Republican rebuttal to President's Biden speech tonight. In it, Scott is expected to laud Trump's legacy and say the success w/vaccines today is thanks to Trump. He'll add that Biden inherited a tide that had already turned.
This is a much smaller affair than normal because of the pandemic. Just 200 guests attending and the entire Capitol complex effectively shut down to biz as usual after 5PM when anyone without a ticket to the address - lawmakers included! - were escorted out before POTUS arrives.
I've walked around the Capitol quite a bit this afternoon and I'll be seated in a press gallery adjacent to the president tonight. Joint addresses of the past have been a buzzy affair. This is a big deal in D.C. But it is mostly quiet and mostly empty with a heavy police presence
Sometimes I remember that I started covering the national beat just a few months before Trump was elected and I wonder, honestly, what would it be like to cover a presidency in relatively normal circumstances. Or maybe just like, no pandemic.
.@SpeakerPelosi is now in the chamber. #JointAddress
And away we go, Vice President Kamala Harris has entered the chamber. Wearing a light tan suit, black heels, a black mask, she is flanked by senators who came across from their side of the Capitol to the House.
Spotted from my vantage up high, Senator Bernie Sanders chatting with Rep. Nydia Velazquez, shaking her hand, then chatting pleasantly w/Rep. Maxine Waters. Sen. Ron Wyden engrossed in conversation with Rep. Joe Neguse.
Sen Joe Manchin, D-WV, has a birdseye view tonight, seated up high in the gallery of the House floor. Interestingly (or not) he is seated in the middle section of the gallery. But he is sitting far closer to the Republican side of the chamber.
President Biden is en route to the Capitol.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has arrived at President Biden's #JointAddress to Congress. Donning his black robes, he is sitting in the first row, closest to the dais.
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Nice to witness Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff wave to Vice President Kamala Harris moments ago.
First Lady Jill Biden arrives, she receives plenty of applause. She waves and appears to blow a kiss to the crowd. She's looking very sharp in a black dress and is seated with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Members of the president's cabinet have entered, including Defense Secy Lloyd Austin.
Typically applause is thunderous here during the joint address. And that is because this chamber is usually packed to the gills. But Covid has made this an exclusive event w/ far fewer people. (Lawmakers clapping quite vigorously to make up for that though)
Members of the House and Senate escort committees enter the chamber. A humorous moment unfolded with Steny Hoyer. He walked into the chamber first and it took a moment for people to realize. Someone clapped for him and he jokingly put his hands up as if to say, "Yeah! Thanks!"
Couldn't hear it from up here! But some clarity for that moment of levity:
https://twitter.com/bresreports/status/1387572982952902657?s=20
President Biden has entered the chamber to significant applause w/cheers of "Joe!" echoing. The First Lady is looking on, clapping and Joe points to lawmakers and fist bumps Patrick Leahy and Chuck Schumer and Chief Justice John Roberts.
He side hugs Bernie.
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He side hugs Bernie.
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Speaker Pelosi begins by introducing President @JoeBiden. More applause goes up the chamber, lawmakers are standing. Biden offers his thanks multiple times to more applause and whistling
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"It's good to be almost home, down the hall," the former senator and now President Joe Biden says.
Big welcome for Vice President Kamala Harris. It is a historic night. It is the first time the two people sitting behind the president during this address are women.
While the setting tonight is familiar, this gathering is just a little bit different. It's a reminder of the extraordinary times we're in, President @JoeBiden says. Tonight he's come to talk about crisis & opportunity.
Rebuilding the nation, revitalizing our democracy, winning the future for America is tonight's theme, Biden says.
But after just 100 days, America is on the move again, he adds.
All Democrats stand and clap.
Republicans in the chamber remain seated but clap.
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But after just 100 days, America is on the move again, he adds.
All Democrats stand and clap.
Republicans in the chamber remain seated but clap.
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Together we passed the American Rescue Plan, one of the most consequential rescue packages in American history. Democrats stand and applaud, Republicans do not applaud at all, to my eye. But many R's applaud when Biden says US has administered 200M doses of vax
There's also many bipartisan shows of support when Biden calls on all adults to get vaccinated.
(Agreement!)
(Agreement!)
Biden: We can't let our guard down. Our progress these past 200 days against one of the greatest pandemics in history has been one of the greatest logistical challenges we've ever seen. But in 1st 100 days, D's, R's kept their commitment & sent rescue checks to 85% of Americans
Biden heralds the American Rescue Plan, which he says is on track to cut childhood hunger in half. This gets a standing ovation from D's. R's are largely stoic. This is mostly typical. When Trump was in office, R's hooted, hollered, whistled, clapped. D's response was more tepid
Biden calls on Congress to take on his infrastructure plan. There's a clear and present danger to our children's health, he says, when today, up to 10M homes and over 400K schools/daycare centers have pipes w/lead in them.
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Biden: "The American Jobs Plan creates jobs replacing 100% of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines so every American, so every child – can turn on the faucet and be certain to drink clean water."
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For too long we've failed to use a very important word when we're discussing the #ClimateCrisis: Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. - Biden
"There’s no reason the blades for wind turbines can’t be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing," Biden says. "American tax dollars are going to be used to buy American products made in America that create American jobs. The way it should be."
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Biden speaks directly to those who are apprehensive about bevy of infrastructure jobs his admin has promised to create. "I know some of you at home are wondering whether these jobs are for you. You feel left behind and forgotten in an economy that’s rapidly changing."
He notes: Nearly 90% of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan do not require a college degree. 75% do not require an associate’s degree.
"The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to build America," the president says.
"The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to build America," the president says.
The NIH – should create a similar Advanced Research Projects Agency for health, Biden says. They could develop breakthroughs – to prevent, detect, and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer.
"Let's end cancer as we know it, it's within our power to do it."
"Let's end cancer as we know it, it's within our power to do it."
Biden: "I will not impose any tax increases on people making less than $400K a year. It is time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1% of Americans to pay their fair share."
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Biden says: pay gap between CEOs and workers is largest in history.
The pandemic has only made things worse. 20M Americans lost their jobs. At same time, roughly 650 US billionaires saw their net worth go up by $1T.
Biden: "Trickle down economics has never worked."
The pandemic has only made things worse. 20M Americans lost their jobs. At same time, roughly 650 US billionaires saw their net worth go up by $1T.
Biden: "Trickle down economics has never worked."
Biden also reflects tonight on systemic racism. "We must enact police reform in George Floyd's name," he says, noting that Rs and Ds do have differences to these solutions but he says:
"Lets get it done next month by the first anniversary of George Floyd's death."
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"Lets get it done next month by the first anniversary of George Floyd's death."
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Biden calls for the closure of the "boyfriend loophole" in nations gun laws. It is estimated 50% of women are shot & killer by an intimate partner each month im America.
"Lets pass the Violence Against Women Act, he says. Lets save some lives.
"Lets pass the Violence Against Women Act, he says. Lets save some lives.
Standing ovation from Ds in chamber as Biden calls for banning ghost guns, or guns w. no serial #s.
Rs largely idle in chamber.
Rs largely idle in chamber.
On immigration: Biden says we have to look at the root causes of those fleeing to the US border. Will renew US aid nations beneath the southern US border. Calls for protections for dreamers, and pathways to citizenship for farmers.
Biden calls for passage of HR 1, The John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Huge applause from Ds.
Biden: We have stared into the abyss of insurrection and autocracy, of pandemic and pain, and we the people did not flinch.
Story up soon @CourthouseNews
Spotted on the floor, President Biden chatting intimately with D senators and House reps after remarks. A double first bump was shared with Maxine Waters.
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