Biden will boast about the 12 million jobs he's created trends now
President Joe Biden will tout his economic plan when he speaks to the nation on Tuesday night, according to excerpts released by the White House, and he will call on Republicans to work with him, saying voters don't want 'fighting for the sake of fighting.'
'To my Republican friends, if we could work together in the last Congress, there is no reason we can’t work together in this new Congress,' he will say in his State of the Union Address.
'The people sent us a clear message, fighting for the sake of fighting, power for the sake of power, conflict for the sake of conflict, gets us nowhere. And that’s always been my vision for the country: to restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America: the middle class, to unite the country. We’ve been sent here to finish the job!
In his remarks, Biden will focus on values as he contrasts his stance on taxing the rich and reforming policing with Republicans' approach in a speech that will be watched for hints of his re-election message.
And part of that message will be the president touting his economic record, where he will emphasize the 12 million jobs created during his administration.
'Amid the economic upheaval of the past four decades too many people have been left behind or treated like they’re invisible,' he will say.
'Jobs are coming back, pride is coming back because of the choices we made in the last two years. This is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America and make a real difference in your lives.'
He will tout the progress made since the COVID pandemic.
'Two years ago our economy was reeling. As I stand here tonight, we have created a record 12 million new jobs – more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years. Two years ago, COVID had shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much. Today, COVID no longer controls our lives. And two years ago, our democracy faced its greatest threat since the Civil War. Today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken,' he will say.
Television crews set up inside Statuary Hall in the Capitol
The U.S. Capitol is seen through security fencing erected before President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress during the annual State of the Union address
Workers move extra chairs into the House Chamber for the speech
GOP leaders, meanwhile, issued a blunt warning to their lawmakers on Tuesday to behave themselves while the president speaks, reminding them that cameras and microphones will be on during the entire event.
Biden will give his annual address for the first time since Republicans took control of the House. Speaker Kevin McCarthy will join Vice President Kamala Harris in sitting behind the president during the speech. Biden's remarks begin at 9 p.m. Eastern.
'I want to talk to the American people and let them know the state of affairs — what's going on, what I'm looking forward to working on from this point on, what we've done,' Biden told reporters on Monday when asked about his speech.
The president's address will be composed of two contrasting elements: his 'unity agenda' that the administration hopes will attract bipartisan support. It focuses on issues they feel like they can work with Republicans on: tackling the illegal drug problem; ending smoking; helping veterans and cancer patients; and providing more access to mental health care.
President Joe Biden discusses his State of the Union address with his adviser Anita Dunn
But Biden will also push ideas that show how he and Republicans differ. He'll call on Congress to raise taxes on the wealthy, give more federal aid to those in need and guarantee protections to Social Security and Medicare.
McCarthy, who will gavel the House to order for the first time as speaker, warned his GOP conference members to behave, making it clear he wanted no shenanigans on the House floor.
The lawmakers were reminded that boom
