State Joe Biden pronounced his first State of the Union discourse in the evening of March, 1st.
The State of the Union is an annual message delivered by the U.S. President near the beginning of each calendar year. It covers a variety of internal topics.
This year, two themes (apart from the traditional ones) stood up: The Russia’s invasion to Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. In more than an hour and a half, Biden also spoke about inflation, taxes, the return of the “made in America”, his stance on technology, job creation and the need for unity between Americans, among other stuff.
El Sol Latino brings for its audience four of the most important aspects of Biden’s first State of the Union speech. By the way, there wasn’t a single mention about Latinos or Latino community.
The miscalculation of Vladimir Putin
Around 16 % of Biden’s speech referred to the current war in Ukraine.
According to the U.S. President, Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world with the attack on Ukraine, but he badly miscalculated. “He met with a wall of strength he never anticipated or imagined. He met the Ukrainian people.”
Biden reiterated the economic sanctions for Putin and Russian oligarchs. “We are cutting off Russia’s largest banks from the international financial system, preventing Russia’s central bank from defending the Russian ruble, making Putin’s $630 billion war fund worthless.”
He also announced the closing off the American airspace to all Russian flights, just like several Europe countries did, and the giving of more than $1 billion in direct assistance to Ukraine.
Additionally, Biden stated that the United States won’t engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine, but they will defend their NATO allies if Putin decides to keep moving west.
It might interest you: Local leaders condemn attacks on Ukraine
COVID-19 pandemic
“Thanks to the progress we have made in the past year, COVID-19 no longer need control of our lives”, said the President. He insisted on the importance of staying protected with vaccines and treatments. “If you’re vaccinated and boosted, you have the highest degree of protection.”
Biden claimed that U.S. must prepare for new variants. On the other hand, he believes that America must end the shutdown of schools and businesses. “With 75 % of adult Americans fully vaccinated and hospitalizations down by 77 %, most Americans can remove their masks and stay in the classroom, and move forward safely.”
Fighting costs and inflation
The annual U.S. inflation rate is the highest since February 1982, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Biden presented a plan to fight inflation and lower costs for Americans.
First, cut the cost of prescription drugs. “We pay more for the same drug produced by the same company in America than any other country in the world”. Second, cut energy costs for families an average of $500 a year by combating climate change. Third, cut the cost of child care. “Middle-class and working folks shouldn’t have to pay more than 7 % of their income to care for their young children.”
He intends that Americans who earn less than $400,000 a year won’t pay new taxes. “Not a single penny”.
A plan for Unity
Biden delivered a unity agenda for the Americans, consisting of four points. First, beat the opioid epidemic; second, mental health care, especially for children; third, the support of veterans; and fourth, the battle to end cancer “as we know it”,
After heart disease, Cancer is the second cause of death in America, claimed Biden.
In the final minutes of his State of the Union discourse, the President urged citizens to protect democracy and liberty.
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