Biden Calls for Support of American Jobs and Businesses in SOTU Address

President Joe Biden delivered his first State of the Union (SOTU) address March 1 as the crisis in Ukraine develops and businesses and workers continue to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"We meet tonight in an America that has lived through two of the hardest years this nation has ever faced," Biden said to members of the U.S. Congress and invited guests. "The pandemic has been punishing, and so many families are living paycheck to paycheck."

Biden promoted the Paycheck Fairness Act, paid leave, a $15 minimum wage and an extension of the child tax credit. He also backed skills-based hiring, more training and apprenticeship programs, support for historically Black colleges and universities, and investment in community colleges.

The president also highlighted what he considers to be key accomplishments during his administration, including enacting the American Rescue Plan and bipartisan infrastructure legislation, noted The Wall Street Journal.

We've gathered articles from SHRM Online and other trusted media outlets on the workplace-related plans the president described in his SOTU address.

Military Assistance to Ukraine

Biden began his speech by addressing the crisis in Ukraine. To applause from people on both sides of the aisle, he noted that the U.S. stands with the Ukrainian people and is joining allies to enforce economic sanctions against Russia. "In the battle between democracies and autocracies, democracies are rising to the moment and the world is clearly choosing the side of peace and security," he said.

Biden said U.S. armed forces will not engage with Russian forces in Ukraine but will go to Europe to protect NATO allies. As military forces are deployed, employers should be prepared. Employees who take time off for military service or training have certain job protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and USERRA may provide more-expansive rights than other employment laws.

(SHRM Online)

Lowering Costs, Not Wages

In the SOTU address, Biden touted many "bright spots in the economy" and said 2021 brought the strongest U.S. economic growth rate in 40 years. He also noted that the pandemic disrupted supply chains and created other issues that caused inflation to rise. To fight inflation, the president called on businesses to lower costs, not wages. "That means making more cars and semiconductors in America. More infrastructure and innovation in America. More goods moving faster and cheaper in America. More jobs where you can earn a good living in America. And, instead of relying on foreign supply chains, let's make it in America."

Biden said his plan to fight inflation will lower costs and the deficit. His plan includes cutting the cost of prescription drugs, energy, child care, preschool, home care, long-term care and housing. 

(The White House)

COVID-19-Related Plans

Biden announced a new program that will allow people who test positive for COVID-19 to immediately receive free treatment. "We're launching the Test to Treat initiative so people can get tested at a pharmacy and, if they're positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot, at no cost," he said. "I cannot promise a new variant won't come. But I can promise you we'll do everything within our power to be ready if it does."

Many Democratic and Republican attendees went mask-free at the event. On March 1, the White House lifted its onsite masking requirements for fully vaccinated people after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new metrics.

The updated guidelines will allow certain communities to ease their indoor masking requirements. Employers may have continuing obligations under state and local laws, but many localities are also relaxing their pandemic-related safety rules.

(Reuters) and (SHRM Online)

Immigration Reform

Biden also called on lawmakers to pass immigration reform that would allow a path to citizenship for farmworkers, essential workers, those with temporary status and Dreamers—undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. "Revise our laws so businesses have workers they need and families don't wait decades to reunite," he said.

When Biden took office in January 2021, he unveiled a legislative proposal that would create a pathway to citizenship for the roughly 10 million to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. The proposal would also attempt to clear the employment-based visa backlog, eliminate per-country visa caps for green cards, codify work authorization for the spouses of H-1B visa holders, incentivize higher wages for H-1B workers so as not to displace U.S. workers and encourage ways to improve the employment verification process.

(SHRM Online)

Response Notes Inflation and Crime Rates

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivered the Republican response to the SOTU address from the Iowa State Capitol. "Instead of moving America forward, it feels like President Biden and his party have sent us back in time to the late '70s and early '80s when runaway inflation was hammering families, a violent crime wave was crashing on our cities and the Soviet army was trying to redraw the world map," she said. Reynolds added that "Republicans may not have the White House, but we're doing what we can to fill the leadership vacuum."

(Des Moines Register)