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Washington (AP) - In his first address as US President in front of both chambers of congress, Joe Biden conjured an American fresh start after the era of his predecessor Donald Trump.
“After 100 days of rescue and renewal, America is ready to take off. We're working again. Dream again. Discover again. Lead the world again, ”said Biden on Wednesday (local time) in the Capitol. The Democrat promoted his billion dollar plans with which he wants to bring about profound change in the country. Biden promised a future in which the state would serve the people, open up opportunities for them and guarantee “fairness and justice”.
Biden will be in office for 100 days on Thursday.
The 78-year-old Democrat replaced Republican Trump in the White House on January 20.
The first speech by a newly elected US president at a joint session of the House and Senate in the US Capitol is traditionally not referred to as a State of the Union address, which is otherwise annually.
For the first time in US history, two women sat behind the president on Wednesday: Kamala Harris, the country's first female vice president, and House spokeswoman Nancy Pelosi.
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Because of the corona pandemic, Biden's audience was significantly smaller than in a normal year.
Usually the audience sits tightly packed in the stands in the House of Representatives - this year, according to Pelosi, only 200 attended instead of 1,600 people.
Biden used his address to call on congressmen from both parties to support his administration's far-reaching plans. He described a billion dollar infrastructure package proposed by him as the biggest boost for the labor market since the Second World War. The more than $ 2 trillion (around 1.7 trillion euros) program will create millions of new jobs and massive growth over the next eight years, promised Biden. The plan will help America prevail in the economic competition of the 21st century.
Biden's plans to support families and promote education are also far-reaching.
He wants to significantly expand social benefits, which are scarce in the USA - the costs are expected to amount to around 1.8 trillion US dollars over a decade.
Both the family plan and the infrastructure package are to be financed with tax increases.
"Nobody should have to choose between a job and a paycheck or caring for themselves and a loved one - a parent, spouse or child -" said Biden.
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His proposals require the approval of Congress - and the country is still deeply divided internally.
With some plans, Biden could meet with rejection even from individual moderate Democrats in the Senate.
He also called for non-partisan cooperation in the fight against the “gun violence epidemic” in the USA.
The president also called on the parties to coordinate in order to counter structural racism.
"We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of black America," said Biden, referring to the killing of the African American George Floyd, who was brutally arrested in the US city of Minneapolis last year.
A now convicted white ex-cop knelt on Floyd's neck for minutes.
With regard to his corona policy, Biden drew a positive interim balance and urged the Americans to get vaccinated.
"Go get vaccinated, America!" Said Biden.
There are enough vaccine doses available.
"The last 100 days in one of the worst pandemics in history have been one of the greatest logistical achievements this country has ever seen," Biden continued.
But the epidemic has not yet been defeated and the USA must remain vigilant.
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As President, he took over a country in the midst of a crisis: the United States had experienced the worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and, with the storming of the Capitol in January, the worst attack on democracy since the American Civil War.
Although the focus was on Biden's domestic political agenda, he also addressed the challenges posed by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Biden called on his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to comply with global trade rules, and he also vowed to defend American interests. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin warned Biden of further escalation amid mounting tensions between the two countries. Moscow's actions have consequences, said Biden. Regarding the recently imposed US punitive measures, he said: "I have responded directly and appropriately to Russia's interference in our elections and cyber attacks on our government and companies."
In competition with the autocracies of the world, the USA must, according to Biden, demonstrate the strength of democracy.
“We have to prove that democracy still works,” he said - and made it clear that he sees his government on the right track.
«We vaccinate the country.
We create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
We deliver real results that people can see and feel in their own lives. "
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210429-99-395961 / 2