If you are out there canvassing, someone might ask you, “What have the Democrats accomplished, really?” You can feel secure in responding, “A lot!” Here’s some of the highlights of what the Dems have done in the last year and a half.
Economy
Unemployment rate down to 3.9 percent, lowest rate since 1969
8.3 million jobs created
Wages paid by private businesses saw an increase of 2.4 percent from Jan to Oct last year and disposable income rose by 3 percent
Buy American Order – encouraging the purchase of American-made products
Moratorium on student loans which deeply affects the lowest income Americans
Revamped the PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) which encourages people to work in lower-paying public sector jobs
Release of strategic oil reserves to keep oil prices down; now trying to make nice with Saudi Arabia to increase oil production (not my favorite thing he’s doing for sure but it will help the economy – I would prefer if we pivot to renewables instead of continuing with fossil fuels)
Deficit reduced by $350 billion (with projections of another $500 billion to 1 trillion in further reductions by end of September)
Inflation reduction act passed – creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces deficit spending, makes corporations pay more of their fair share of taxes.
Pandemic
Rejoined World Health Organization
1.9 trillion COVID relief, including $20 billion for the vaccination program and $350 billion into local relief efforts – legislation also tackled child poverty and nutritional issues
Free COVID tests
Requiring federal employees including military to get vaccinated
Getting 72 percent of adult Americans fully vaccinated
Running PSA campaigns around vaccination
Climate
Re-entered Paris Climate Accord
Agreement to reverse deforestation and pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030
Ordered all government agencies to halt the financing of new international carbon-intensive fossil fuel projects and work towards clean energy use
Zero-emission vehicles mandated for the federal fleet (will create 1 million new jobs for Americans)
550,000 charging stations to be built for EV vehicles
Large-scale offshore wind projects
Inflation reduction act makes largest investment in clean energy ever in history and creates millions of clean-energy jobs; incentives for individuals and businesses to create/purchase clean energy vehicles and appliances
Infrastructure
Passed bipartisan 1.2 trillion infrastructure package – including expanding internet to those who don’t have it, clean energy, and safe drinking water
Eased supply chain issues
Working with Taiwan to increase microchip supplies
Human Life
Passed the gun safety act
Passed Hate Crimes Act
Halted federal executions (which DT had reinstated after it had been paused for 17 years) – doesn’t affect states though
Diversity in his cabinet and in the WH staff
Overturned previous administration’s ban on openly trans members of the military
Increased children’s access to free lunches
Lowest child poverty rate ever
Food insecurity in American households dropped 32 percent
Inflation Reduction Act lowers costs on prescription drug prices for seniors and lowers health insurance costs for lower income Americans
Health care and benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
Judicial
Appointed 41 federal judges (73 nominated) – 80 percent are women and 53 percent are people of color – this is often where Supreme Court Justices come from (highest appointment rate since Reagan)
Foreign Policy
Strengthening the QUAD (US, India, Australia, Japan)
Anticipated war in Ukraine, warned Russia, and got 30 countries to work together to oppose Russian aggression
Support of Ukraine without getting us into WWIII & world sanctions on Russia
Strengthening of NATO
End of 20-year war in Afghanistan
Executed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri
Sources:
- https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-biggest-achievements-first-year-president-1670763
- https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/01/20/joe-biden-first-year-inauguration/9201642654129/
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/biden-2021-was-year-big-accomplishments-big-disappointments-n1286092
- https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/good-things-biden-leslie-marshall
- https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/01/politics/joe-biden-counter-terrorism/index.html
- https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/13/politics/burn-pit-legislation-congress/index.html
- MoveOn Political Action email – “Dems just delivered huge climate & health care wins”