Bay Area lawmakers make history in President’s speech to Congress – NBC Bay Area

President Joe Biden outlined plans for the return to normalcy during his first address to Congress on Wednesday. He also outlined some key political issues he insists on that could have big implications for Silicon Valley – while letting Bay Area lawmakers make history.

“Now, after 100 days, I can tell the nation that America is on the move again,” the president said.

And for the first time in history, there were two women standing behind a president during a speech to Congress – Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, both from the Bay Area. .

The President addressed the achievements of COVID-19, saying 90% of the United States lives within five miles of a vaccination site.

He added he was pushing Congress to pass his new $ 1.8 trillion plan for American families that would guarantee free pre-K for all 3- and 4-year-olds and two-year-olds in free community college. .

Quoting the first lady – on her importance.

“If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times, ‘Joe, any country that beats us, is going to beat us. She will be deeply involved in this effort, ”Biden said.

To pay, he would raise 10-year taxes on the rich, with a promise not to raise taxes for anyone earning less than $ 400,000.

“It’s time for corporate America and the richest 1% of Americans to pay their fair share. Just their fair share, ”he said.

The president also spoke about the state of racial justice, urging Congress to pass a federal police law named George Floyd.

“We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of black America. Now we have the opportunity to make real progress,” he said.

East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee was in attendance.

“President Biden spoke tonight of the poor, he spoke of low income people, and spoke of the struggle for working men and women, spoke of well paying union jobs, and he covered a lot of territory that I think progressives can be happy about, ”she said.

And in the Republican response, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott argues that America should thank its predecessor for the COVID response.

“This administration inherited a tide that had already turned, the coronavirus is on the run thanks to the distortion operation and the Trump administration our country is inundated with safe and effective vaccines,” he said.