Joe Biden will appear before Congress in plenary today for the first time after nearly 100 days as President

United States President Joe Biden will speak to Congress for the first time this Wednesday in a speech in which he seeks to express his desire for reform, especially in tax matters after the start of the mandate marked by a strong change of steering.

On the eve of the symbolic barrier of 100 days in power, the tenant of the White House will expose his project of “American families”, which according to the government is a “historic investment” in education and childhood.

This announcement is eagerly awaited as announcements are expected on how it will finance its ambitious projects., especially with a tax hike for the richest 0.3%.

Several media outlets hypothesize that the tax rate could double, from 20% to 39.6%.

The speech will also mark the start of a bitter debate in Congress, because although his $ 1.9 trillion relief plan for an economy heavily burdened by the pandemic has managed to gain approval, the debate on its gigantic infrastructure plan and its educational reform generate more divisions.

In the solemn gallery of the hemicycle, the Democratic president is likely to highlight the “impressive” progress the country has made in the fight against covid-19, in the words he himself used on Tuesday to describe the rapid vaccination campaign.

Biden continues to promote social plans to deal with the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. As reported by the local portal Axios, the president will ask Congress to approve a $ 1.8 billion plan to cover spending on health, child care and education.

To pay for this package, according to what is indicated by people familiar with the matter, the president will propose increase taxes on the investment income of the richest people.

As transcended, Biden to pledge not to raise taxes on households earning less than $ 400,000, it does not plan to increase the rate, nor to reduce wealth tax exemptions, in accordance with the provisions of Bloomberg News. During his campaign, Biden had proposed reducing the estate exemption to $ 3.5 million. However, Republicans fiercely opposed it, calling it a “death tax,” which successfully punishes people for passing their wealth on to their children. They also argue that it hurts small business owners.

The current exemption of $ 11.7 million is one of the highest in recent history. Twenty years ago, it was only $ 675,000.

On the other hand, about 96 million people, or about 30% of the population have completed their immunization schedules and on Tuesday, the health authority recommended that those already vaccinated – that is, they have developed antibodies after being inoculated – they do not need to wear a mask in open areas unless they are in a large event.

“The president has been working on this speech for several weeks,” said Jen Psaki, White House spokeswoman, who pledged the speech would also cover the diplomatic field.

The spokeswoman also indicated that Biden will speak of his determination that the United States “find its place in the world” and that he will address relations with China.

Presidential speeches on Capitol Hill are marked with pomp and solemnity and are a very important tradition in American politics., but this year, the ceremony which begins at 9:00 p.m. (01:00 GMT Thursday), takes place in a particular environment, marked by the pandemic.

Instead of the 1,600 people who usually attend the event, capacity has been limited to 200. And lawmakers have been urged to come up with a guest list, but “virtual.”

As representative of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, its chairman will be the sole assistant, the head of diplomacy, Antony Blinken, also got a quota and Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin, but the rest of the government will have to watch the speech on television.

With the pandemic, it will not be necessary to choose the “designated survivor” a tradition that a cabinet member has been in hiding, so if the building comes under attack there may be continuity of government.

Another novelty, but unrelated to the pandemic, will be that Biden will be escorted by two women, the leader of the House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, and by Kamala Harris, who with Biden’s coming to power in January became the first woman to become vice-president.

The atmosphere should be much more relaxed than the last speech of a US president in Congress, the State of the Union report by Republican Donald Trump in February 2020.

Before the ceremony begins, Trump blatantly avoided shaking hands with Pelosi, and when he finished speaking, the Democratic caucus leader evidently tore up the paper containing the speech..

So far, Joe Biden has spent 100 days projecting the image of a presidency without drama or scandal, removed from the turmoil of the Trump era.

With information from Bloomberg, AFP

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