No matter what the haters, Fox News talking heads, and right-wingers say, the facts speak for themselves: President Joe Biden did a bang-up job in 2022.
Let’s take a look at some of the facts:
The Inflation Reduction Act
Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act in August to bring down costs, reduce the deficit, and take aggressive action on climate change. The Act will invest approximately $300 billion in Deficit Reduction and $369 billion in Energy Security and Climate Change programs over the next ten years. The best part is that large corporations and billionaires will finally pay their fair share in taxes in order to help finance this Act.
Infrastructure Law
Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help create thousands of jobs, providing billions in funding to repair roads, bridges, upgrade airports and ports of entry, and will expand broadband internet access to all Americans, and invest in public transit systems. This law also seeks to strengthen supply chains and encourage businesses to bring good-paying manufacturing jobs back onto US soil.
Job Growth
Although employment gains in 2022 were not as robust as in 2021, monthly job growth averaged 392,000 compared with 562,000 per month in 2021.
Combating Climate Change and Reducing Emissions
The President has made fighting the climate crisis a top priority. By rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and his administration has committed to decreasing U.S. emissions to half of 2005 levels by 2030.
Averted a Rail Strike
The freight rail strike was averted heading into the 2022 holiday season after Congress intervened at the President’s request.
Combating COVID-19
The Biden-Harris Administration mobilized the largest free vaccination program in US history and expedited the development of COVID-19 treatments. Prior to Biden’s presidency, there was no comprehensive plan to get Americans vaccinated, but now over three-quarters of American adults are fully vaccinated, which was less than 1% before Biden took office.
Health Care Expansion
President Biden took steps to strengthen the Affordable Care Act by expanding eligibility rules and extending the open enrollment period.
American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan has allowed a record 14.5 million Americans to sign up for health coverage through the ACA, including 5.8 million new enrollees, making health care coverage more affordable, saving families on ACA plans saving an average of $2,400 yearly on their premiums.
Judicial Nominees
President Biden made good on his promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court when he nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman, and public defender to serve on the nation’s highest court. His administration has also worked to diversify the federal judicial system (of the judges confirmed in the President’s first year, 80% were women and 53% were people of color).
Violence Against Women Act
After the Violence Against Women Act expired under the Trump administration, the President pushed through two years of GOP obstruction and signed legislation in March 2022 to reinstate and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act.
The PACT Act
In August President Biden signed the PACT Act, the largest single bill to address toxic burn pit exposure to service men and women.
Gun Violence
Democrats and Republicans joined together in June to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, putting an end to 30 years of federal inaction on gun violence. In addition to closing loopholes in gun laws, the Biden administration has moved decisively to combat gun violence by issuing executive orders and signing a significant gun violence reduction legislation to pass Congress in 30 years.
Restored America’s Reputation
Let’s face it, confidence in U.S. leadership under the former guy fell to historic lows, and since taking office, President Biden has worked to revitalize our alliances and restore America’s position of leadership on the global stage.
The War in Ukraine
When Putin invaded Ukraine, Biden rallied our allies across the globe to ensure that Russia pays a steep economic price for his unjustified act of war.
The CHIPS and Science Act
Last August the President signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act that will fast-track semiconductor manufacturing in the United States, helping us to compete with China by bringing manufacturing jobs back to the US as well as making investments in technological research and development.
Biden has been busy, and he’s not done yet.