Members of Congress have shared their expectations for President Joe Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address, with Republican and Democrat lawmakers having differing priorities. As the highly anticipated speech approaches, lawmakers from both parties have weighed in on the issues they believe Biden should address during his address.
Republicans have emphasized the need for Biden to address the ongoing crisis at the southern border and rising costs. However, many Republicans expressed skepticism that Biden would actually address these issues. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin expressed hope that Biden would use his authority to secure the border but admitted that he did not expect the president to do so. Similarly, Representative Bruce Westerman of Arkansas stated that Biden should address his failures but acknowledged that the content of the speech would ultimately depend on his speechwriters. Westerman also criticized Biden’s actions, attributing the increased cost of food and energy to them.
Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee echoed the concerns about the border crisis and anticipated that Biden would likely blame Republicans if he mentioned it during the speech. Burchett expressed his desire for Biden to acknowledge the crisis and address the hardships faced by many Americans.
On the other hand, Democrats believe that Biden should focus on highlighting his first-term accomplishments. Representative Seth Magaziner of Rhode Island emphasized the need for Biden to discuss his achievements, including the infrastructure bill, negotiations with drug companies to lower prescription drug prices for Medicare, and the passage of the Pact Act for veterans. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan also called for Biden to highlight his efforts in bringing manufacturing back to the United States. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut expressed his hope that Biden would support the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act in his address.
Representative Glenn Ivey of Maryland urged Biden to highlight the positive impact of his administration’s actions on the American people and outline future plans.
President Biden is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7. As the anticipation builds, lawmakers from both parties have made their expectations known, with Republicans emphasizing the need to address the border crisis and rising costs, while Democrats highlight Biden’s first-term accomplishments and future plans.
Aubrie Spady is a Production Assistant for Digital.
