Illinois lawmakers react to Biden speech | State & Regional | thesouthern.com – The Southern

Illinois lawmakers react to Biden speech President Biden is preparing to give his first address to a joint session of Congress.Alex Miller gives us a look at what to expect: The Biden White House team says he’s planning to deliver his address to Congress as if it were going to be a packed crowd, but

Illinois lawmakers react to Biden speech

President Biden is preparing to give his first address to a joint session of Congress.Alex Miller gives us a look at what to expect: The Biden White House team says he’s planning to deliver his address to Congress as if it were going to be a packed crowd, but the reality is, it won’t be. Just about 200 members of Congress will be in the room that normally seats 1,100.They’ll be on both levels and socially distanced. No guests are going.We’re expecting more Democrats than Republicans, but decisions on tickets are being made by leadership. President Biden will unveil his American Families Plan, which will touch on a host of issues from health care to child care to education.We’re hearing the speech is about 5,000 words, though they are still putting the finishing touches on it. That could mean it may be just under an hour, but we won’t have the normal stand up-sit down-long applause that we typically see. It will be the first time two women are sitting behind a president. Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be flanked behind President Biden as he delivers his speech. But he won’t be looking into a crowd of Supreme Court Justices or Cabinet members. Just the chief justice and a few Cabinet members will be in attendance. Stay with us for live coverage with the major takeaways and no partisan spin.It all starts at 7 Eastern on Newsy Tonight with Chance Seales.

This story will be updated as new comments are made.

“I was pleased that the President called for comprehensive improvements to our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Rebuilding our water infrastructure must be at the heart of those efforts because we will have missed a huge opportunity to improve American lives if we only fix our roads, but fail to repair and upgrade the pipes beneath them. I also believe the president’s call to action on nationwide police reform is one we must heed. We cannot let ourselves accept that, in 2021, in the United States of America, Black men and women are still publicly executed without judge or jury in too many tragic and preventable police-involved deaths. We can and must do more to provide justice and ensure accountability within our law enforcement agencies.”

— U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

“Once again, tonight we heard a speech of lofty goals and calls for unity from President Biden. I agree with President Biden that we need to invest in infrastructure and support working families following the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans are eager to work with Democrats and the Biden Administration to help families, but we know that throwing trillions of dollars at government programs rife with mandates from Washington and raising taxes on job-creators won’t grow our economy or create good-paying jobs.”

— U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria

“This new Administration has done far more in its First 100 Days than just tackle the pandemic and help families and small businesses. President Biden is preparing our nation to be competitive in the 21st century—so that Americans will continue to lead the world and the economic recovery. This doesn’t happen automatically, we have to put in the work. I’m proud to support him in this effort.”

— U.S. Dick Durbin, D-Ill.