Every year the President of the United States delivers a message to a joint session of the United States Congress at the beginning of the year, the State of the Union (SOTU). SOTU addresses include reports of the nation’s budget, economy, news, achievements, future plans, and legislative proposals. 

On Feb. 7, the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, delivered his SOTU address in Washington D.C. Biden addresses topics regarding foreign entities, debt, siding with parties, and the economy, there are a few key takeaways from his SOTU address.

Biden addresses China threatening U.S. sovereignty in regards to an alleged Chinese balloon spotted earlier in the year. Biden made it clear that if China threatened U.S. sovereignty, they would take action to protect the country. 

With both political parties in attendance, Biden called for cooperation between Democratic and Republican parties. He took the opportunity to press Republicans over cooperation as negotiations over increasing the debt ceiling “continue to stall.”

The president commented on crime and brutality in the United States. He called for reform, stating that police officers needed more training resources and accountability. He struck middle ground by also mentioning that the U.S. needed greater community resources- more first responders and professionals to address the growing mental health and substance abuse challenges; more resources to reduce crime; community intervention programs; investments for housing, education, and job training. 

Biden called for a major campaign to stop the growing dependence of prescription drugs with the sale and trafficking of fentanyl. He addressed the statistics of fentanyl, and the staggering number of Americans killed each year from fentanyl. 

Education issues in America were addressed. The president called to expand access to preschool and raise teacher salary, while making a passing reference to student loan forgiveness. 

While there is a lot to unpack from Biden’s hour and a half address, President Biden’s full State of the Union address can be found on www.whitehouse.gov.