President Biden will give his third State of the Union address on March 7, likely his final speech before Congress ahead of the 2024 presidential election this fall.
It falls as Biden is in the thick of primary election season, just two days after Super Tuesday. And it is later than usual, given the House’s battle for a Speaker, the congressional calendar and looming government shutdown deadlines.
Here’s what to know about this year’s installment of the tradition.
What is the State of the Union?
The State of the Union is a speech given by the president every year to members of both the House and Senate. The president will report on the state of the country and outline his policy priorities for the coming year.
The speech fulfills a mandate in the Constitution that the president update Congress on the state of the nation.
When is the State of the Union address?
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) sent Biden an invitation in early January, saying it was his “solemn duty” to invite Biden to address the Joint Session of Congress.
Biden accepted the invitation in a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Looking forward to it, Mr. Speaker,” his post said.
Biden will speak to both chambers of Congress at 9 p.m. EST on March 7.
The Hill will carry the State of the Union address live.
Sen. Katie Britt will speak for Republicans
The party not in the White House typically will deliver remarks in response to the annual speech.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) will deliver the Republican response to Biden’s address. In a post Thursday, Britt said she is grateful for the opportunity to “speak directly with my fellow Americans” and have a “candid conversation about the future of our nation.”
There have been calls for Johnson to cancel Biden’s address. Former House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) said Republicans should use the president’s speech as an opportunity to ramp up pressure on Biden as the battle over the country’s southern border continues in Congress.
Biden will likely face a disgruntled crowd, as House Republicans have rejected bipartisan border legislation that he backed. He recently urged a group of governors to apply pressure to their state’s representatives to pass the critical border security deal.
Who will be the prominent guests?
First lady Jill Biden has invited Kate Cox, a Texas woman who fled the state for abortion care, to attend the State of the Union address this year.
Cox was more than 20 weeks pregnant with a fetus that had been diagnosed with a chromosomal anomaly that leads to miscarriage, stillbirth or death of the infant. She sued for the right to terminate a nonviable pregnancy and left the state to get abortion care.
Cox’s invitation comes as the Biden campaign focuses heavily on reproductive rights as part of its reelection effort.
Other guests will be announced as the address nears.
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