President Biden flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the State of the Union. Photo by Ike Hayman.
President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress on March 1, 2022. Photo by Ike Hayman.
President Biden discussed a variety of topics, including the economy, health care, and global affairs. Photo by Ike Hayman.
President Joe Biden spoke before a joint session of Congress.
President Joseph Biden delivered his first State of the Union Address before a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) presided over the House chamber as Supreme Court Justices, Cabinet officials, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other government officials joined Members of the House and Senate for the address.
President Biden began his remarks with a hopeful look towards the future, reminding viewers that "thanks to the progress we have made in the past year, COVID-19 no longer need control our lives."
In his speech, President Biden discussed a variety of topics, including the unrest in eastern Europe, the economy, child care, health care, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The State of the Union is strong, because you, the American people, are strong," the President said as he concluded his speech. "We are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we will be stronger a year from now than we are today."
While this is the second time President Biden has addressed a joint session of Congress, it is only his first State of the Union Address. When a president addresses a joint session of Congress, it is often referred to as a State of the Union speech. However, there typically is no State of the Union address by a new president in their first year in office.
The State of the Union Address meets the requirement stipulated in Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The address is traditionally given annually, although the Constitution does not define “from time to time.”
Find out more about the history of the State of the Union Address from the House Historian’s website.