Silver Spring, MD – Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) International President John Costa released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
“President Biden has made our nation stronger. Since taking office, he has made historic progress by building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. For President Biden this has meant investing in all of America and leaving no one behind.
“President Biden has lowered costs for American families while fighting corporate price gouging. Instead of giveaways to the wealthy and big corporations, President Biden has lowered healthcare and prescription drug prices, banned hidden junk fees, and cracked down on unfair pricing. He has defended the Affordable Care Act and fought back against attacks on Social Security and Medicare and attempts to raise the retirement age.
“In his State of the Union, President Biden outlined a bold vision for America. As the first President to stand on a picket line, his commitment to creating good-paying union jobs is precisely the leadership our nation needs at this pivotal moment. He understands that the working class built this country. We applaud President Biden’s unwavering support for working families, including raising the federal minimum wage, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and ensuring that every American has the opportunity to retire with dignity.
“President Biden also outlined how he successfully fought for the bipartisan Infrastructure bill, a historic investment into our nation’s infrastructure, which the ATU helped to pass. This legislation poured billions of dollars into public transit and created critical new safety measures that will help protect our members from the rising epidemic of attacks and violence on our transit systems. Also, by prioritizing investments in education, job training, and workforce development, President Biden is laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and equitable future.
“There is a clear contrast between President Biden and the competing visions for our country. As President Biden says, this is a battle for the soul of our nation. President Biden’s agenda of freedom includes the freedom to choose, the freedom to vote, the freedom to join a union, and more. We cannot go backward. We must finish the job and achieve even more for the American people. As the largest transit union in North America, we stand ready to work with President Biden and Congress to turn this vision into a reality. Together, we can ensure every worker can thrive in the 21st century economy.
“We thank President Biden for his leadership, prioritizing the needs of working families and championing the values we hold dear. In 2020, our Union took a bold step as one of the first unions to endorse Joe Biden early. He has the vigor and vision to continue to lead this country and has more than earned a second term as President.”