If you are like me, you may find it frustrating that friends, family, and others within your personal community struggle with seeing a meaningful difference between electing a President Biden or a President Trump in 2024.  This happened to me recently over Easter dinner in conversation with my Uncle Frank.  Given the existential nature of the upcoming election, it is important that we address this misconception.  But should we respond to this on an emotional or factual level?

My answer is both, but for today, let’s focus on the facts and the need to have these readily available for some constructive engagement within our personal communities, such as my conversation with Uncle Frank.

Joe Biden has a record of legislative achievement that exceeds any president since LBJ.  Moreover, slim majorities in both the House and Senate mean that his legislative success has generally required a bipartisan approach in working across the aisle.  So, let’s emphasize his accomplishments and defer any questions on what still needs to be accomplished until after the election and all that can be delivered with a second term President Biden and Democratic control of both Houses of Congress.

Here are some of the key legislative accomplishments/efforts of the Biden Administration:

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  Trump failed to ‘build the wall’ or invest in infrastructure.  Biden delivered some $550 billion in new federal infrastructure investment over a five-year period to enhance America’s infrastructurein roads and bridges; clean water access; broadband expansion to narrow the digital divide for education, work, healthcare, and communication; energy systems for more secure grids and systems; and resilience from natural disasters and the impact of climate change.

• The Inflation Reduction Act, which included investments in clean energy, allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices, and capped out-of-pocket pharmacy costs.

• The CHIPS Act (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) delivers major benefits to the U.S.economy, job creation, national security, supply chain resilience, and technology leadership. To date it has sparked $300 billion in private investment across the U.S. in both “red” & “blue” States.

• The $1.9 trillion Covid relief deal provided economic assistance during the pandemic.  Moreover, it supported the professional rollout of Covid vaccines which resulted in 72% of American adults being fully vaccinated, contributing to public health and economic recovery.

• Gun Violence Reduction Legislation:  This bipartisan agreement addresses critical aspects of gun safety, background checks, domestic violence, and mental health, marking a significant step forward in the ongoing debate over gun safety in the U.S.

• The bipartisan Border Security Package negotiated with Republican Senator James Langford was viewed by Republicans as the most conservative approach to addressing immigration at our southern border ever agreed with the Democrats.  It was the solution advocated and requested by both House and Senate Republicans to improve our border security.  President Biden was committed to signing this law.  Sadly, Donald Trump preferred to keep immigration and border chaos as an election issue rather than see legislation pass to help solve the border issues.   He had Speaker Johnson and the House Republicans kill this bill.

From a non-legislative perspective here are some major accomplishments:

• Preservation of democracy in America:  A President Trump states that he will be a dictator on day one.  He will weaponize the Justice Department, the FCC, and all departments and agencies in his administration.  A President Biden will preserve our freedoms in the U.S. to live in a democracy.

• Protection of reproductive rights and global freedoms:  The Biden administration has led the fights in the courts to protect these basic freedoms.

• Economic recovery: Biden has been good for the economy.The unemployment rate in the U.S. improved from 13.2% in May 2020 to 3.9% as of February 2024.  The U.S. has enjoyed the strongest post-Covid recovery of any major country in the world.

• Federal judges appointed and confirmed:  As of March 22, 2024, the United States Senate had confirmed 190 Article III judges nominated by President Biden.

• Global engagement:  The Biden Administration had restored global confidence in the U.S., expanded NATO, rebuilt our global alliances, and has led the global support for Ukraine.

Clearly this is just a high-level, partial list of achievements from the Biden Administration.  Each topic can be discussed at a granular level which will be needed for a more nuanced dialog.  For now, please use this list in conversation among your local community and social networks.  This is a record of meaningful accomplishments, which impact all Americans.  We as Democrats should be proud in messaging this record of achievement.  Thanks for helping to get this positive message out.  Each vote in November is important and we can all help in re-electing President Biden.

I will be engaging Uncle Frank with several of these talking points.

Robert Kahn