On Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 9:00 p.m. ET, President Joe Biden will deliver his second State of the Union address, which will be broadcast live online and on major broadcast television. This will mark the president’s first State of the Union address since Republicans took control of the House of Representatives.
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During the address, the president will have an opportunity to discuss the vital issues affecting all of America. He is expected to remark on the economic recovery following the COVID-19 recession, the fight to safeguard American democracy, and the need to enhance public safety and fight crime.
To learn more about likely key topics in this year’s State of the Union address, the Center for American Progress has put together a guide on these crucial issue areas.
1. Investing in the U.S.
President Biden and Congress have passed the most consequential and progressive economic policies since President Lyndon B. Johnson more than 50 years ago. These changes will supercharge the transition to a clean energy economy and ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed economically, strengthening the United States for decades to come.
Read the following CAP pieces to learn more:
- “The Top 5 Actions the Biden Administration Has Taken to Strengthen the U.S. Economy” examines key actions the Biden administration has taken to create jobs, put downward pressure on prices to help consumers facing inflationary pressures, and fortify domestic supply chains.
- With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, President Biden has signed into law three key pillars to modernize the U.S. economy and boost American manufacturing. “How Biden’s American-Style Industrial Policy Will Create Quality Jobs” explains how these laws represent a new vision for U.S. industrial strategy that puts American workers first.
- “Top 11 Benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act” looks at the Biden administration’s historic, overwhelmingly popular investments and policy changes to save Americans money by cutting health care and energy costs while positioning the United States to be a clean energy giant in the fight to combat climate change.
- “The CHIPS and Science Act Will Boost Competitiveness and Promote Inclusive Growth” examines how the law provides incentives to realign and deliver key economic benefits to regional economies, help spur growth, boost research and development, lower the cost of everyday goods, and create a more inclusive economy.
- “How the Inflation Reduction Act Will Save Households Money in 2023” describes the numerous financial incentives for purchasing climate-friendly technologies, which cut pollution, create high-paying clean energy jobs, and save families money.
2. Fighting to safeguard democracy
As America heads toward the November 2024 election, the United States continues to face critical threats to its democratic system. Politicians who fraudulently claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen may seek to subvert the will of voters in future elections. Unregulated digital platforms are contributing to disinformation, polarization, and radicalization in our society. And a radical Supreme Court majority has been attacking and rolling back long-held rights, precedents, and freedoms, with more to come.
America’s democracy depends on safeguarding future elections from political interference, laying the groundwork for long-term reform of our courts, and creating accountability for tech companies when they threaten our democracy or profit from harm to their users, especially vulnerable children.
Read the following CAP pieces to learn more:
3. Safe and just communities
Every single person has the right to feel safe from crime and violence in their community. But the regression to tough-on-crime policies will not achieve that result. Rather, it reinforces the overpolicing and mass incarceration of communities of color while eroding public trust in the system’s ability to administer justice.
Instead, real and lasting safety requires a commitment to accountability, preventing crime before it happens, and strengthening gun laws that keep communities safe. Investments in community safety solutions and strong violence prevention efforts are critical for ensuring the safety of all Americans.
Read the following CAP pieces to learn more:
Conclusion
As President Biden addresses the nation, he has an opportunity to declare the state of our union is strong by showing the expansive measures his administration has taken to grow the economy, defend democracy and the rights and freedoms of all, and enhance public safety, while also discussing what steps must come next. The president should make clear that while MAGA extremism continues to pose a threat to progress, policymakers can continue to move the country forward if they prioritize the issues Americans care about most, instead of political stunts and excessive partisanship.
The authors would like to thank their colleagues at the Center for American Progress, including Mara Rudman, Julia Cusick, Colin Seeberger, Rebecca Rosenberg, Nick Wilson, and Hannah Malus, for all their insightful comments and suggestions on this column.