Washington, DC—Following tonight’s address by President Biden to a joint session of Congress, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:

“Tonight, President Biden powerfully demonstrated once again why the American people voted overwhelmingly to put him and Vice President Kamala Harris in office. The American Families Plan is a dramatic step forward toward ensuring that all Americans, including historically marginalized communities, have the opportunity to fulfill their dreams and create better lives for themselves and their families. We also welcome the president’s commitment to repairing our broken immigration system and ensuring a future for immigrant families who have built lives here and are deeply woven into the fabric of our communities, including his commitment to DREAMers. We applaud the focus on ending police violence and reimagining public safety that the president emphasized tonight, including his support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, an important first step. While he did not specifically address his commitment to filling the federal bench with diverse nominees who have demonstrated their dedication to justice and equality under the law, we expect that he will continue to nominate stellar nominees like Ketanji Brown Jackson and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who had their confirmation hearings today. Finally, we applaud the president for committing forcefully and unequivocally to the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which are urgently needed to restore our democracy. Now, Congress must act to make them a reality.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.