President Joe Biden on tuesday, he called for a number of new energy initiatives in his address on the state of the union, ideas that will appeal to his party’s progressive wing but may be difficult for some moderates to swallow.
Biden says his proposals will “reduce energy costs for families by an average of $ 500 a year by combating climate change. ‘
One of the key moderate voices Biden will need, Senator Joe Manchin, delivered his speech in republican on the side of the aisle to Senator Mitt Romney. Manchin really stood up and applauded his colleague Democratsbeing sometimes the only person standing in the sea of Republicans.
The West Virginia senator was making a two-party gesture, his spokesman said.
Senator Joe Manchin, a key moderate Democrat vote for President Joe Biden, sat with Republicans during a speech on the state of the Union
Manchin did rise up and applaud with his fellow Democrats, sometimes the only one standing in the sea of Republicans.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (right) sat with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (left) during a speech on the state of the Union as a gesture of bipartisanship, his office said.
“Senator Manchin sat down with his fellow Senator Romney to remind the American people and the world that bipartisanship is working and alive and well in the US Senate,” his spokesman told NBC News.
And Romney said that the two sat together “only as a demonstration of solidarity between the two parties, bipartisanship, we have worked together for the last few years and plan to continue to do so.”
Biden had several climate and energy provisions in his bill to build better, his social welfare legislation, which died when Manchin refused to support him, citing concerns about his spending.
The president is trying to boost his domestic agenda.
Manchin has supported some clean energy programs in the past, but not those that discriminate against coal and gas, two major industries in his home state.
Biden did not go into detail when talking about his proposals.
“Let’s provide investments and tax credits to strengthen your homes and businesses to be energy efficient and get a tax credit for that; doubling America’s clean energy production in solar, wind and more; “Reduce the cost of electric vehicles, saving another $ 80 a month that you won’t have to pay for the pump,” Biden said in a speech on the state of the Union.
“UNITY AGENDA”
Biden sought support from Republicans and Democrats on a variety of issues his administration called the “unity agenda”: including ending the opioid epidemic, improving mental health and supporting veterans, and ending cancer.
Biden insisted on defeating the opioid epidemic and addressing mental health issues, especially among children “whose lives and education are upside down.”
He named Francis Haugen, a former Facebook employee, who revealed what the company may have known about the damage caused by its social media platform. She was a guest in the lodge of First Lady Jill Biden.
She testified before the Securities and Exchange Commission and Congress. And she warned in October that Facebook had research showing that its Instagram platform was turning children into addicts and hooligans.
“We need to hold social media platforms responsible for the national experiment they’re running on our children for profit,” Biden said. “It’s time to step up privacy protections, ban targeted advertising for children, ask technology companies to stop collecting personal information about our children.”
He added: “And let’s provide all Americans with the mental health services they need. More people to turn to for help and full equality between physical and mental health care. “
Francis Haugen, a former Facebook employee who revealed what the company may have known about the damage caused by its social media platform, was a guest of Jill Biden during the State of the Union address.
Biden added that he is committed to helping veterans and providing job and housing training assistance, as well as helping lower-income veterinarians receive care from the Ministry of Debt-Free Veterans Affairs.
“I also call on Congress: Pass a law to ensure that veterans devastated by toxic exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan finally get the benefits and overall health they deserve,” he said.
NOMINATION FOR SUPREME COURT
Biden also re-introduced his Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to Congress. The Senate must confirm it.
He described Jackson as a “consensus maker” and one of the “best legal minds” in the country.
He also paid tribute to retired Judge Stephen Brier, who blushed visibly and grabbed his cheeks during the presidential tribute.
United States Chief Justice John Roberts and Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan applauded retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Brier (sitting) while President Joe Biden paid tribute to him during a speech on the state of the Union
“Tonight I would like to honor someone who has dedicated his life to serving this country: Judge Stephen Brier, a veteran of the military, a constitutional scholar and a retired judge of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Brier, thank you for your service, “Biden said.
Brier put his hand on his heart as his colleagues in the Supreme Court and members of Congress applauded him.
RIGHT TO VOTE
Biden called on the Senate to pass a package of bills on the right to vote, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives but is stalled in the upper house.
“The most fundamental right in America is the right to vote – and to be counted. And it’s under attack, “he said. “New laws have been passed state after state not only to suppress the vote, but also to undermine entire elections.”
He called on the Senate to pass bills – the Freedom of Vote Act, the John Lewis Promoting Voting Act and the Disclosure Act – “so Americans can know who is funding our election.”
COSTS OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES
Biden also urged Congress to pass legislation to reduce the cost of prescription drugs, specifically mentioning the high cost of insulin.
Insulin is a drug that many Americans are familiar with because 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes. This is something Biden has been referring to over and over again when arguing for cheaper drugs.
Biden introduced 13-year-old Joshua Davis, who has diabetes and has spoken to Biden before at events over the cost of prescription drugs. Davis and his mother sat in Jill Biden’s box.
Jill Biden addresses 13-year-old Joshua Davis when President Biden mentions him during the State of the Union Address
The second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, pats Joshua
The president said insulin production costs $ 10 per vial, but pharmaceutical companies charge up to 30 times more.
“For Joshua and 200,000 other young people with type 1 diabetes, let’s limit the price of insulin to $ 35 a month so everyone can afford it,” he said.
He also noted that Monday is Joshua’s birthday and wished him a happy return.