President Joe Biden today called on working people across America to vote in the midterm elections on Nov. 8 to protect the victories we have achieved over the past two years and so much more.
Speaking at the headquarters of the National Education Association (NEA) in Washington, D.C., Biden said our nation is “at an inflection point” and “what we do in the next several years” will define our country for generations to come.
“There is a lot at stake here,” he added.
Now is a good time to register to vote on Nov. 8 or check your voter registration status by going to afscme.org/register.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders and staff from AFSCME headquarters attended the speech.
Naming some of his administration’s historic accomplishments, Biden said more needs to be done to protect basic rights, including the right to vote, as well as earned benefits such as Social Security and Medicare.
He talked about the American Rescue Plan, which passed Congress with help from AFSCME members and brought the economy back from the brink, and about the Inflation Reduction Act, which will lower prescription drug costs, reduce the deficit and do so much more. He got big cheers from the crowd when he mentioned his plan for student debt relief, which will lower loan balances for millions of borrowers – “a game changer” for many Americans, he said.
Biden praised his administration’s track record on the economy, pointing out that 10 million jobs have been created since he became president. He also said more than 220 million Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19 since he took office.
With energy prices coming down, things are getting better, Biden said, adding that the Inflation Reduction Act contains the biggest investment ever to fight climate change.
Biden criticized Republicans for their empty words and for promoting The Big Lie – the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from them.
“It’s either they win or they were cheated, and that’s not a democracy,” he said. “You can’t love your country only when you win.”
NEA President Becky Pringle praised Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their support of labor unions and urged working people to come out in big numbers on Election Day.
“We need to elect candidates who stand with us for working families, and against any attempt to diminish organized labor,” she said.