Watch the coverage as President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress.
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READ: Biden to the nation and world: ‘America is rising anew’
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist release statement:
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II released the following statements after President Biden delivered his first address as president before a joint session of Congress.
Tonight, as he approaches his 100th day in office on Friday, President Biden spoke to the American people about the promises he’s delivered on and outlined his plans to help us build back better from the pandemic.
His agenda makes game-changing investments in the fundamental, kitchen-table issues that I ran on—schools, small businesses, families, infrastructure—and towards our future. Thanks to the administration’s competent leadership at every level, we have put over 230 million shots in arms, delivered checks to millions of Michigan’s working families, and had meaningful conversations about policies and solutions instead of lurching from distraction to disaster. I am proud to have a partner in the White House, and I look forward to pairing the federal dollars available to us with state resources to create jobs, invest in our kids and schools, build up roads and bridges, and expand job training programs. Looking ahead, I urge Congress to pass the American Jobs and Families Plans so we can work together to create tens of millions of good-paying jobs, build up our infrastructure, and give families childcare, pre-K, and paid leave. Let’s get it done.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
In this short amount of time, the Biden-Harris administration has made it clear that, even in the face of unprecedented challenges, our nation will build back better and set a path toward generational success as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.
This administration is recognizing the shortcomings of the systems in place—systems that often leave communities of color underserved and disconnected from opportunity. I am encouraged to see that President Biden shares Governor Whitmer’s and my values regarding the importance of access to safer affordable childcare. As a father of three young children, I understand just how critical this is for Michigan families. The American Families Plan will provide economic security by equitably ensuring that everyone can contribute to our economy while caring for their loved ones. Clear, conscientious leadership has returned to the Oval Office with Biden-Harris administration, and I am confident that future policies and plans will be put in place that will protect, uplift, and inspire all Americans.
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist
A closer look at Biden’s $1.8T for families and education (AP)
President Joe Biden’s administration wants to make a $1.8 trillion down payment on the future of children, families and higher education, saying it would produce lasting benefits for the economy. Paying for it would be $1.5 trillion of tax hikes over the next decade on the wealthiest households.
A closer look at where the money is going and where it’s coming from:
Initiatives
- $200 billion to provide free preschool to all 3- and 4-year-olds. The administration estimates that 5 million children would benefit and an average family would save $13,000.
- $109 billion to offer two years of free community college to all Americans. Eligible for the program would also be young immigrants living in the U.S. illegally who were brought to the country as children to remain here.
- Increase the maximum Pell Grant award by $1,400 per eligible student. Pell Grants are financial aid for low-income students, and the increase would help to reduce the dependence on education loans.
- $46 billion for historically Black colleges and universities as well as tribal colleges and universities. This would include $39 billion to provides two years of subsidized tuition for students from families earning less than $125,000 a year.
- $9 billion for scholarships and training for teachers.
- $225 billion to subsidize child care for families and support child care workers. Families earning 1.5 times their state median income would pay a maximum of 7% of their income for all children under age 5.
- $225 billion to create a national family and medical leave program. The program would provide workers up to $4,000 a month, with a minimum of two-thirds of average weekly wages replaced, rising to 80% for the lowest-wage workers.
- $45 billion to improve school meals and offer food benefits to children during the summer.
- Peg the length and amount of unemployment benefits to underlying economic conditions, creating an automated response to a downturn.
- $200 billion to make temporary reductions in health insurance premiums for the Affordable Care Act plans permanent.
- Extend through 2025 an enhanced child tax credit that could be paid out monthly. Eligible families would receive $3,600 annually per child for children under age 6. The payment would be $3,000 per child for children ages 6 to 17.
- Permanently increase tax credits for child care. The credits would cover as much as half of a family’s spending on care for children under age 13, up to a total of $4,000 for one child or $8,000 for two or more children.
- Make the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit permanent for childless workers.
- Allow the IRS to regulate paid tax preparers.
Funding sources
Biden’s plan would cover these proposed expenses by:
- Increasing IRS enforcement funding to audit wealthier taxpayers and mandate that financial institutions report earnings from investments and business activity in ways similar to wages. This could raise $700 billion over 10 years.
- Raising the top tax rate on the wealthiest Americans from 37% to 39.6%. The rate had been 39.6% before the 2017 tax cuts.
- Taxpayers earning $1 million or more a year, the top 0.3%, would no longer pay a 20% rate on income from capital gains such as the sale of a stock or other asset. They would pay 39.6% instead.