As is customary, President Joe Biden gave the annual State of the Union speech in front of a joint session of Congress.
Historically, the House Chamber, not the Senate Chamber, holds the special occasion speech, and it did once again earlier this month.
After being introduced by new Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Biden entered the chamber and shook hands as he walked down the main aisle.
Sitting behind him as he delivered his speech are traditionally the Vice President (Kamala Harris) and Speaker of the House (Kevin McCarthy).
To review the entire transcript of Biden’s speech, click this link on Rev.com
Here are some excerpts:
President Joe Biden (05:30):
Mr. Speaker, thank you. You can smile, it’s okay. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you, please, Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, our first Lady and second gentleman, good to see you guys up there, members of Congress. By the way, chief Justice, I may need a court order. She gets to go to the game next week, I have to stay home. Got to work something out here.
Members of the cabinet, leaders of our military, chief Justice, associate Justice, and retired justice, the Supreme Court, and to you, my fellow Americans, I start tonight by congratulating 118th Congress and the News Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy. Speaker, I don’t want to ruin your reputation, but I look forward to working with you.
And I want to congratulate the new leader of the House Democrats, the first African American minority leader in history, Hakeem Jeffries. You won us by the fact I campaigned for him. Congratulations to the longest serving leader in the history of the United States Senate, Mitch McConnell, where are you Mitch? And congratulations to Chuck Schumer, another term is Senate minority leader.
Only this time you have a slightly bigger majority, Mr. leader, and you’re the majority leader, about that much bigger. Well, I tell you what? I want to give special recognition to someone who I think is going to be considered the greatest speaker in the history of the House of Representative Nancy Pelosi.
(08:23)
Folks, the story of America is a story of progress and resilience of always moving forward, of never ever giving up, is a story unique among all nations. We’re the only country that has emerged from every crisis we’ve ever entered stronger than we got into it. Look folks, that’s what we’re doing again.
Two years ago, the economy is reeling. I stand here tonight after we’ve created with the help of many people in this room 12 million new jobs, more jobs created in two years than any president’s created in four years because of you all because of the American people.
Two years ago, COVID had shut down our businesses were closed, our schools were robbed of so much. And today, COVID no longer controls our lives. And two years ago, democracy faced its greatest threats in the Civil War. And today, though bruised our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken.
To read and watch the entire interview, click here to go to Rev.com
Stay tuned to Breaking News Politics for all the latest updates on this developing story