Transcript - Speech: Joe Biden Holds a Political Rally in Duluth, Georgia - April 29, 2021 | Factba.se

Joe Biden

00:00:00 - 00:00:29 ()

Hello, Georgia, and the other county back there. I love you. A lot of folks out here tonight. Well, I'm ready to go home because she never says that to me at home. Now, this is worth the trip hearing that. I am Jill's husband. It's obvious to everybody. I've never been introduced as she's my wife. I'm her husband, and, uh, you know, uh, I'm proud to be.

Joe Biden

00:00:29 - 00:00:56 ()

You know, uh, I want to thank Long Tan, Tran, uh, for being with us tonight. His story is a story is a story of a, of an entire generation. But it's a story that goes back many generations. Not just in South Vietnam and in Asia writ large, but all over the world. And America, it's the reason why we're strong.

Joe Biden

00:00:56 - 00:01:32 ()

We are the most diverse democracy in the world. And we do, there's not a single thing, I mean this from the bottom of my heart, there's not a single thing we can't do when we do it together. So, thank you all. And I want to thank my friend, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and thanks to the democratic members of Congress, Senators Ossoff and Warnock, Representative Bishop, an old friend, Hank Johnson, and Lucy McBath, and look, I want to make sure Representative Williams is here.

Joe Biden

00:01:32 - 00:01:59 ()

I thought I saw her a moment ago. There you are. Okay. And, and Representative Carolyn Bordeaux? You know, we need to work and help them keep their seats. It's important. We won the first round, but there's more coming up. And my good friend and DNC Chair, Jamie Harrison from South Carolina. And Stacy Abrams can be anything she wants to be, from whatever she's chooses, to president.

Joe Biden

00:01:59 - 00:02:48 ()

I want to thank you, Stacy, for empowering the people to vote and to make their voices heard. You've been amazing. And most of all, I want to thank you, the people of Georgia. [Audience members chant "End detentions now"] We'll give you a microphone. [Audience members continue chanting] All right. [Audience members chant "Communities not cages"] Folks. [Audience members continue chanting] Geor -- [Audience members continue chanting] Georgia was, uh, 100 days ago today, when I was inaugurated on the steps of the United States capitol to be your president, and I was looking forward to coming back and seeing these guys.

Unidentified

00:02:48 - 00:02:58 ()

I voted for you. I voted for you. [Inaudible] a detention center. Close all the detention centers now, please.

Joe Biden

00:02:58 - 00:03:48 ()

I agree with you. I'm working on it, man. Give me another five days. [Audience members chant "End detention now"] Folks -- [Audience members continue chanting] You all know what they're talking about. There should be no private prisons period. None. Period. That's what, they're talking about it. Private detention centers. They should not exist. And we are working to close all of them. [Crosstalk] So, folks, look. [Crosstalk] Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. Okay. Let him go. No, no, no, no.

Unidentified

00:03:48 - 00:03:48 ()

End detention now.

Joe Biden

00:03:48 - 00:03:51 ()

I promise you, the only thing that's going to keep me from doing that is you keep moving.

Unidentified

00:03:51 - 00:03:54 ()

I voted for you. Please.

Joe Biden

00:03:54 - 00:03:55 ()

Unidentified

00:03:55 - 00:03:57 ()

We voted for you, too.

Joe Biden

00:03:57 - 00:03:58 ()

Unidentified

00:03:58 - 00:03:59 ()

Our families are dying.

Joe Biden

00:03:59 - 00:04:00 ()

Unidentified

00:04:00 - 00:04:01 ()

Our families are dying.

Joe Biden

00:04:01 - 00:04:07 ()

Look, it's been 100 days since I first sat at my desk in the Oval Office.

Unidentified

00:04:07 - 00:04:08 ()

Our families are dying.

Joe Biden

00:04:08 - 00:04:32 ()

And I went to work for you and the American people. I want to thank you. I want to thank the American people because I think we've gotten a lot done. I promised even before I was sworn in that I would get my first 100 days, 100 million COVID vaccine shots in people's arms. We've lost over 50,000 Americans.

Joe Biden

00:04:32 - 00:05:02 ()

But we delivered over 220 million COVID shots in the first 100 days. We vastly expanded access. We got 100 million doses of vaccines, enough for every single American, and we've done it by getting vaccines to some 40,000 pharmacies across the country, 700 community centers, and now, now everyone over the age of 16 is now eligible to get vaccinate right away, so please do it.

Joe Biden

00:05:02 - 00:05:29 ()

Get vaccinate now. Now, now, now. And we promised to deliver emergency relief to the millions of Americans who are in financial distress, and I might add, through no fault of their own. So we got out $1,400 checks to the American people, and we kept that promise. 85% of the households in America have gotten those checks.

Joe Biden

00:05:29 - 00:05:54 ()

We've already sent out more than 160 million checks out the door, and I wanna stop here and give thanks to both your Senators, Senators Ossoff and Warnock, for making it happen, because those two votes, had we not come back and you elected them, those two votes made the difference. It passed by a single vote.

Joe Biden

00:05:54 - 00:06:14 ()

And that means we owe a special thanks to the people of Georgia. Because of you, the rest of the world... Because of your two Senators, the rest of America was able to get the help they got so far. The American Rescue Plan would not have passed. So much that we've gotten done, like getting checks to people probably would not have happened.

Joe Biden

00:06:14 - 00:06:36 ()

So, if you ever wonder if elections make a difference, just remember what you did here in Georgia when you elected Ossoff and Warnock. You began to change the environment. And look, because of you, we passed one of the most consequential rescue bills in American history. So what'd it do? You know, what did you do?

Joe Biden

00:06:36 - 00:06:58 ()

Wha -- what did you do with your vote here in Georgia? Well, you changed America. You began to change America. And you're helping us prove that democracy, democracy can still deliver for the people. Look, I wanna thank you for all of that. All America wants to thank you, because here's what we mean by delivering for the people.

Joe Biden

00:06:58 - 00:07:34 ()

We created in the first 100 days 1,300,000 new jobs. 1,300,000 jobs in 100 days. That's more ju -- new jobs in the first 100 days of any president in history. Folks, because of you. And we're here, just a few more things that we did. We provided food and nutrition assistance for children and families so they don't go hungry, rental assistance to keep people from being evicted from their homes, loans to small businesses like Long's to keep people... to keep them open and people employed.

Joe Biden

00:07:34 - 00:08:05 ()

And we made Georgia eligible to expand Medicaid, which means another 500,000 Georgians can be covered. Excuse me. Folks, healthcare should be a right, not a privilege in America. And here's the thing I'm most proud of. We are on track to cut child poverty in half this year by having passed the child tax credit, in half.

Joe Biden

00:08:05 - 00:08:30 ()

But as much as we've done, we got a lot more to do. That's why I propose the American Jobs Plan. It is, uh... it's a once-in-a-generation investment in America. It's the biggest jobs plan in this country since World War II. And here's what it does. It creates jobs rebuilding and modernizing our roads, our highways, our bridges, our ports, our airports.

Joe Biden

00:08:30 - 00:08:58 ()

It will provide clean drinking water for every American, for 10 million homes in America. And there are 40 -- 400,000 schools and daycare centers that have lead pipes, where drinking the water is a danger. We're gonna replace 100% of those nation's lead pipes and service lines, so every child can, eh, have a turn at the faucet and know what they're drinking is clean water.

Joe Biden

00:08:58 - 00:09:21 ()

Folks, we're gonna provide reliable, high-speed internet everywhere in America, including rural America. 15% of Georgia households do not have internet at all. We're gonna change that, and those infrastructure projects are gonna create millions of good-paying jobs just installing them. We also know that two million women, two million women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic.

Joe Biden

00:09:21 - 00:09:46 ()

Two million, because too often they have to choose between whether or not they can get care for their child and their family or go to work. In the 21st century, infrastructure isn't just steel and concrete. It's people. And it's time we start paying people who come to our homes and care for people that love them and gonna take care of them.

Joe Biden

00:09:46 - 00:10:24 ()

And folks, you know, when a lot of people talk about climate, they forget to mention the most important word. I made a promise when I was down here running that I would, in fact, immediately rejoin the Paris Climate Accord on day one, which we did, and that I would have in the first 100 days, a climate summit here in America, inviting all the world's emitters, including the biggest nations in the world, and they came. Everyone from Russia to China to the European Union, to India, all of them.

Joe Biden

00:10:24 - 00:10:52 ()

And you know, what came across? Every single one of those countries, whether they're gonna meet their obligations or not, is finally understanding that taking care of saving the planet is gonna create millions of good-paying jobs, millions of good-paying jobs. We're gonna put engineers and construction workers, electricians, electrical workers building efficient buildings and homes.

Joe Biden

00:10:52 - 00:11:15 ()

We're gonna install 500,000 charging stations along the highways we're gonna rebuild. And there's no reason why the blades for windmill turbines can't be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing. There's no reason. There's no reason that we're... American workers can't lead the world in the production of electric vehicles and the batteries that propel them.

Joe Biden

00:11:15 - 00:11:48 ()

We can do what we need to do in saving the planet, and yet create millions of good-paying jobs. Folks, and with all the investments in the American Jobs Plan, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna buy American. Let me explain what that means. You know, there is not a violation of any trade agreement. Every tax dollar that we, in fact, get for construction of anything is gonna go to be used to buy American products, made in America, that create American jobs.

Joe Biden

00:11:48 - 00:12:10 ()

That's the way it should be, because look, folks, Wall Street didn't build this country. You did. The middle class did, and unions built the middle class. And here's one final thing I wanna mention about the American Jobs Plan. We got 500 -- We got a $5 billion investment in that plan for community violence intervention.

Joe Biden

00:12:10 - 00:12:31 ()

There's a lot of work we have to do. And a lot of work we have to do. And I want you to know who's responsible for that, Marikeisha Bottoms, Keisha Lance Bottoms. But folks, we not only have to invest in America. We need to invest in our families. We need to invest in things our families care about and need the most.

Joe Biden

00:12:31 - 00:12:55 ()

That's why the American Family Plan does four things, and we pay for it all. One, without raising the deficit, it adds four years more guaranteed public education in America. If we were building on our education system to start today, like we did in the last century, did anybody think we'd say 12 years of education is enough to compete and win the competition of the 21st century?

Joe Biden

00:12:55 - 00:13:16 ()

I don't think so. So, when we did that last century, it made America the best-educated and best-prepared nation in the world. But the rest of the world has caught up to us now. So my plan provides a universal preschool for every three and four year old in America, everyone. That's a game changer. It's a game changer.

Joe Biden

00:13:16 - 00:13:40 ()

And it also provides two years of free community college. That's a game changer as well. Jill is a community college professor, still teaching. She constantly says, "Joe, community colleges could change the lives of students. As she'd always say, "Look, any country that out-educates us is going to out-compete us." She'll be leading one of these efforts as well.

Joe Biden

00:13:40 - 00:14:07 ()

Though, one more thing. We've got some great historical black universities and colleges in Georgia. And we're gonna be investing in them and increa -- investing in them and increasing Pell Grants. They don't have, they don't have the back -- the... all the, the money that is... comes from the large universities, but their students are as competent to anything in the future as anyone else. But here's the deal.

Joe Biden

00:14:07 - 00:14:30 ()

We're gonna provide up to $47 billion over 10 years to increase their capacity, to do everything, but deal with, you know, cyber security, all those things where the jobs of the future are. Second thing we're gonna do, provide quality, affordable childcare. You know, I know. I was a single dad for five years.

Joe Biden

00:14:30 - 00:14:48 ()

When my wife and daughter got killed right after I got elected to the United States Senate as a 29-year-old kid, uh, what happened was, uh, I was lucky. I had a daughter. I had, uh, two boys survive, and my daughter and wife were killed, but my two boys survived, and fortunately for me, I had an incredible family.

Joe Biden

00:14:48 - 00:15:09 ()

My sister, my brother, and my mother and father, they basically moved in and helped me raise my kids, 'cause although I was a Senator, I was listed as a poor Senator in history, but... not history, but in, uh, the years I was there. I couldn't afford the cost of daycare. I couldn't afford the cost of childcare, but I had them.

Joe Biden

00:15:09 - 00:15:35 ()

I don't know how I would've done it without them. So I understand how important childcare can be. Under my plan, most folks won't pay more than 7% of their income for childcare as a max, and the folks who need it the most and can't afford it all won't have to spend a dime. That's important. And Amer -- Third thing is American Family Plan will finally provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave.

Joe Biden

00:15:35 - 00:16:00 ()

No one, no one should have to choose between a job and a paycheck or taking care of themselves, a loved one, a parent, or a spouse, or a child. And fourth, American Family Plan puts money directly into the pocket of millions of families. The American Rescue Plan we passed, we passed a child credit. We're gonna expand that child credit to families for another five years.

Joe Biden

00:16:00 - 00:16:25 ()

Families with two kids, that will mean that, as much as $7,200 will go into their pockets every year. Georgia, this is a tax cut for more than two million families in Georgia. We're cutting taxes for people by a tax credit. And we're gonna lift more than 170,000 children out of poverty right here in America, and cut child poverty in... this year, in half.

Joe Biden

00:16:25 - 00:16:57 ()

Folks, so how are we gonna pay for all this? Well, with tax cuts for the middle class and working class families, how are we gonna pay for that? Well, it's real simple. It's about time the very wealthy and corporations start paying their fair share. It's about time. As simple as that. And folks, I'm not gonna bore you with the details, but I promise you, no one making under $400,000 a year is gonna pay a single additional penny in taxes.

Joe Biden

00:16:57 - 00:17:20 ()

No one. As I said last night, the middle class and working people in this country are already paying enough in taxes. It's time for the richest 1% of Americans and corporate America to start to do their part. Let me just give you a simple fact. Last year, for example, 55 of our largest corporations in America paid $0 in federal tax, zero.

Joe Biden

00:17:20 - 00:17:50 ()

And they made $40 billion. Not a penny in tax. Folks, if in fact, we had a minimum book tax for corporations for the Fortune... just the Fortune 500 companies, just a minimum tax of 15%, I bet all you'd sign up for 15% tax right now. If in fact it was just 15%, we'd raise $230 billion. Pay for all of this.

Joe Biden

00:17:50 - 00:18:18 ()

So folks, I'm not trying to punish anyone, but we're got to make corporations making 40 billion paying zero, is just not right. Something's seriously wrong here. Georgia, I think a lot of you know I ran for president saying we had to heal the soul of this nation. And that's what we have to do. And the conviction of George Floyd's murderer is now our opportunity to make some real progress to restore the soul of this country.

Joe Biden

00:18:18 - 00:18:48 ()

We can do it. We can enact rational police reform. We can root out systemic racism in our criminal justice system. And with real plans I outlined today, we have a real chance to deliver real equity across the board, to everyone, black, white, Latino, Asian American. Good jobs, good schools, affordable housing, clean air, clean water. Look, being able to generate wealth and pass it down through generations is how most folks got there.

Joe Biden

00:18:48 - 00:19:08 ()

But it means, y -- h -- h -- how did most of the middle class folks you know who are Caucasian or white, how'd they make it? Well, they were able to get enough money to buy a home, and they built equity in that home, and they built equity in that home, and they passed it on. And they passed it on, and that's how you build wealth.

Joe Biden

00:19:08 - 00:19:33 ()

Well, we're gonna make sure that African Americans, as well as make sure that Latinos and Asian Americans are able to build that kind of wealth. Look, when the Vice President and I were in Atlanta last month, we met with leaders of the Afr -- of the Asian American community in Georgia, following the mass shootings here in Atlanta.

Joe Biden

00:19:33 - 00:20:01 ()

It was a raw and powerful meeting and a very emotional moment. And some criticized me for speaking out nationally about that hate crime. Some criticized me for saying how ugly and sinister it was. Well, since then, because of the two senators you sent, among others, the United States Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from the vicious hate crimes we've seen too often, too long.

Joe Biden

00:20:01 - 00:20:29 ()

And it passed 94 to 1. So don't tell me we can't make progress. It's a first step, and we have a lot more to do. You know -- that's right. If we are too truly hear -- heal the soul of America, we need to project that sacred right, and protect it to vote. You know in this state of Dr. King and John Lewis, you know how precious and how precarious the right to vote is.

Joe Biden

00:20:29 - 00:21:03 ()

In November, and then again in January, your vote changed the world, not just north of -- the world. But instead of celebrating that, it's being attacked. More people voted for president in 2020 than any time in American history, ever, and they did it in the middle of a pandemic, and what -- you've seen what's happened here in Georgia with your state's laws?

Joe Biden

00:21:03 - 00:21:26 ()

It's just wrong. Wrong, and it's why we have to pass the voting rights protection laws coming through the Congress right now. H.R. 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act both should be passed now. So folks, it's only been 100 days, but I have to tell you: I've never been more optimistic about the future in America.

Joe Biden

00:21:26 - 00:21:47 ()

America is on the move again. We're choosing hope over fear, truth over lies, light over darkness, and we're working. We're working again. We're dreaming again. We're discovering again, and we're leading the world again, and you're proving democracy can deliver for the people. We just need to remember who we are.

Joe Biden

00:21:47 - 00:22:05 ()

We are the United States of America and there's nothing, nothing, nothing we cannot do if we do it together. So let's stay together. God bless you all and may God protect our troops. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Georgia.