{"id":41918,"date":"2022-03-02T03:56:04","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T10:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/biden-vows-to-check-russian-aggression-fight-inflation\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:04:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:04:17","slug":"biden-vows-to-check-russian-aggression-fight-inflation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/biden-vows-to-check-russian-aggression-fight-inflation\/","title":{"rendered":"Biden vows to check Russian aggression, fight inflation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"President
President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol Tuesday in Washington. (Saul Loeb, Pool via AP)<\/span>Saul Loeb<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden vowed in his first State of the Union address Tuesday night to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, <\/a>tame soaring U.S. inflation and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus.<\/p>\n

Biden declared that he and all members of Congress, whatever their political differences, are joined \u201cwith an unwavering resolve that freedom will always triumph over tyranny.\u201d He asked the lawmakers crowding the House chamber to stand and salute the Ukrainians as he began his speech. They stood and cheered.<\/p>\n

It was a notable show of unity after a long year of bitter acrimony between Biden\u2019s Democratic coalition and the Republican opposition.<\/p>\n

Biden\u2019s 62-minute speech \u2013 split between attention to war abroad and worries at home \u2013 reflected the same balancing act he now faces in his presidency. He must marshal allied resolve against Russia\u2019s aggression while tending to inflation, COVID-19 fatigue and sagging approval ratings heading into the midterm elections.<\/p>\n

Biden highlighted the bravery of Ukrainian defenders and the commitment of a newly reinvigorated Western alliance that has worked to rearm the Ukrainian military and cripple Russia\u2019s economy through sanctions. He warned of costs to the American economy, as well, but warned ominously that without consequences, Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s aggression wouldn\u2019t be contained to Ukraine.<\/p>\n

\u201cThroughout our history we\u2019ve learned this lesson \u2013 when dictators do not pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos,\u201d Biden said. \u201cThey keep moving. And, the costs and threats to America and the world keep rising.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ukraine
Ukraine Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, responds as President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)<\/span>J. Scott Applewhite<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

As Biden spoke, Russian forces were escalating their attacks in Ukraine, having bombarded the central square of country\u2019s second-biggest city and Kyiv\u2019s main TV tower, killing at least five people. The Babi Yar Holocaust memorial was also damaged.<\/p>\n

Biden announced that the U.S. is following Canada and the European Union in banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. He also said the Justice Department was launching a task force to go after crimes of Russian oligarchs, whom he called \u201ccorrupt leaders who have bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are coming for your ill-begotten gains,\u201d he said, pledging that the U.S. and European allies were coming after their yachts, luxury apartments and private jets.<\/p>\n

\u201cPutin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he will never gain the hearts and souls of the Ukrainian people,\u201d Biden said. \u201cHe will never extinguish their love of freedom. He will never weaken the resolve of the free world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even before the Russian invasion sent energy costs skyrocketing, prices for American families had been rising, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hurt families and the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

Biden outlined plans to address inflation by reinvesting in American manufacturing capacity, speeding supply chains and reducing the burden of childcare and eldercare on workers.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many families are struggling to keep up with the bills,\u201d Biden said. \u201cInflation is robbing them of the gains they might otherwise feel. I get it. That\u2019s why my top priority is getting prices under control.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"President
President Joe Biden presents copies of his speech to Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California, as he arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol. (Saul Loeb, Pool via AP)<\/span>Saul Loeb<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Biden entered the House chamber without a mask, in a reflection of the declining coronavirus case counts and new federal guidance meant to nudge the public back to pre-pandemic activities. But the Capitol was newly fenced due to security concerns after last year\u2019s insurrection.<\/p>\n

Set against disquiet at home and danger abroad, the White House had conceived Tuesday night\u2019s speech as an opportunity to highlight the improving coronavirus outlook, rebrand Biden\u2019s domestic policy priorities and show a path to lower costs for families grappling with soaring inflation<\/a>. But it took on new significance with last week\u2019s Russian invasion of Ukraine and nuclear saber-rattling by Putin.<\/p>\n

As is customary, one Cabinet secretary, in this case Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, was kept in a secure location during the address, ready to take over the government in the event of a catastrophe.<\/p>\n

In an interview with CNN and Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he urged Biden to deliver a strong and \u201cuseful\u201d message about Russia\u2019s invasion. Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.S. Oksana Markarova joined first lady Jill Biden in the gallery.<\/p>\n

Rising energy prices<\/a> as a result of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine risk exacerbating inflation in the U.S., which is already at the highest level in 40 years, eating into people\u2019s earnings and threatening the economic recovery from the pandemic. And while the crisis in Eastern Europe may have helped to cool partisan tensions in Washington, it didn\u2019t erase the political and cultural discord that is casting doubt on Biden\u2019s ability to deliver.<\/p>\n

A February AP-NORC poll found that more people disapproved than approved of how Biden is handling his job, 55% to 44%. That\u2019s down from a 60% favorable rating last July.<\/p>\n

\"President
President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol Tuesday in Washington. (Win McNamee, Pool via AP)<\/span>Win McNamee<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Ahead of the speech, White House officials acknowledged the mood of the country was \u201csour,\u201d citing the lingering pandemic and inflation. Biden, used his remarks to highlight the progress from a year ago \u2013 with the majority of the U.S. population now vaccinated and millions more people at work \u2013 but also acknowledged that the job is not yet done, a recognition of American discontent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have come to report on the state of the union,\u201d Biden said. \u201cAnd my report is this: The state of the union is strong\u2013because you, the American people, are strong. We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Biden spoke, House Republicans said the word \u201ccrisis\u201d describes the state of the union under Biden and Democrats \u2013 from an energy policy that lets Russia sell oil abroad to challenges at home over jobs and immigration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to push the president to do the right thing,\u201d said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.<\/p>\n

At least a half dozen lawmakers, including Reps. Jamie Raskin and Pete Aguilar, both members of the committee investigating last year\u2019s Capitol riot, and Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., had tested positive for COVID-19 and were not expected at the Capitol for the speech.<\/p>\n

\u201cTonight I can say we are moving forward safely, back to more normal routines,\u201d Biden said, outlining his administration\u2019s plans to continue to combat COVID-19 and saying \u201cIt\u2019s time for Americans to get back to work and fill our great downtowns again.\u201d He announced that people will be able to order another round of free tests from the government and that his administration was launching a \u201ctest to treat\u201d initiative to provide free antiviral pills at pharmacies to those who test positive for the virus.<\/p>\n

\"House
House speaker Nancy Pelosi talks with Vice President Kamala Harris in the chamber of the House of Representatives before the State of the Union address by President Joe Biden to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol. (Shawn Thew\/Pool via AP)<\/span>Shawn Thew<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Where his speech to Congress last year saw the rollout of a massive social spending package, Biden this year largely repackaged past proposals in search of achievable measures he hopes can win bipartisan support in a bitterly divided Congress before the elections.<\/p>\n

The president also highlighted investments in everything from internet broadband access to bridge construction from November\u2019s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law<\/a> as an example of government reaching consensus and delivering change for the nation.<\/p>\n

He also appealed to lawmakers to compromise on rival competitiveness bills that have passed the House and Senate, both meant to revitalize high-tech American manufacturing and supply chains in the face of growing geopolitical threats from China.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstead of relying on foreign supply chains \u2013 let\u2019s make it in America,\u201d Biden said.<\/p>\n

As part of his pitch to voters, he also put a new emphasis on how proposals like extending the child tax credit and bringing down child care costs could bring relief to families as prices rise. He was said his climate change proposals would cut costs for lower- and middle-income families and create new jobs.<\/p>\n

Biden called for lowering health care costs, pitching his plan to authorize Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, as well as an extension of more generous health insurance subsidies now temporarily available through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces where 14.5 million people get coverage.<\/p>\n

He proposed initiatives on mental health that dovetail with growing bipartisan interest in Congress amid evidence that the pandemic has damaged the national psyche, and discussed new ways to improve access to health benefits for veterans sickened by exposure to the burning of waste during their service.<\/p>\n

Biden also appealed for action on voting rights, which has failed to win GOP support. And as gun violence rises, he returned to calls to ban assault weapons, a blunt request he hadn\u2019t made in months. He called to \u201cfund the police with the resources and training they need to protect our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition, Biden led Congress in a bipartisan tribute to retiring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and pressed the Senate to confirm federal judge Ketanji Brown Jackson<\/a> to be the first Black woman on the high court to replace him. He nominated her last week.<\/p>\n

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Fatima Hussein, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Lisa Mascaro in Washington and Jason Dearen in New York contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Ukraine
Ukraine Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, gets a hug from first lady Jill Biden during President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Patrick Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, applauds at front right. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)<\/span>J. Scott Applewhite<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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