All eyes were on Green River College on Friday, April 22, as staff and students alike frenzily prepared for the well-anticipated visit from the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden. The patriotic banners were steamed, the press elbowed one another for just the right shot, and students were ushered to their seats, all awaiting just a glimpse of the leader of the free world.
Biden finally arrived at the small auditorium nearly 45 minutes behind schedule, after finishing a speech on forest protection and environmentalism in Seward Park with Gov. Jay Inslee. Before taking to the stage, Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and Rep. Kim Schrier spoke to the crowd about the topic of Biden's address: "Lowering Costs for American Families."
Murray on childcare and healthcare
Senator Sen. Murray discussed lowering the costs of childcare and healthcare for the American people and informed those in attendance that doing so would improve the lives of the poor and working-class and boost the economy, bettering the lives of all Americans. She explained that the high cost of childcare "is not just a problem for [the working class], it's a problem for our small businesses who can't fill their positions, it's one less link in our supply chain to get things moving along, and ultimately, it is just one more strain on our economy."
Murray praised President Biden for supporting recent legislation she has introduced to Congress that will lower the cost of childcare by thousands of dollars a year and increase the wages of those who work in childcare. "And, by the way, that plan is fully paid for by making sure that the very wealthiest pay their fair share," she said to a roar of applause.
Murray then brought up the second part of the plan to lower costs for American families: lowering the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs. "For years now, drug costs have been skyrocketing," Murray continued. "I have heard from so many people here in our state, from Seattle to Spokane, who work hard, play by the rules, [and] save their money, but they still have to make impossible choices to afford the lifesaving medicine that they need. And that's the thing, lifesaving medicine doesn't save any lives if people can't afford it."
"Now, I'm gonna keep fighting for all of this," Murray reassured the Washington families in attendance. "I know President Biden will as well, which is why I am so grateful to have him here with us today and in the White House fighting to help us bring down costs on everything from prescription drugs to childcare and bring some relief to our families here in Washington state."
Schrier talks insulin prices
Rep. Schrier, from Washington's 8th District, also noting that increases in drug prices have had deadly consequences for those dependent on insulin. "The cost of insulin has skyrocketed," Schrier said, noting that as a type 1 diabetic herself, she has seen firsthand the effects inflation has had on others with her condition. "This tiny two-teaspoon bottle that I use used to cost $40. Now it costs over $300. And most of us need more than one bottle per month," she said as the crowd gasped.
"And here's the thing," Schrier continued, "when people can't afford insulin, they try to make that bottle last as long as it possibly can, so they ration their insulin, taking just enough to stay alive but not enough to keep them healthy, and that is dangerous — not just dangerous, that is sometimes deadly. And no one should ever have to make that choice."
Washington state recently passed a new law that will cap insulin prices at $35 a month for 2023, inspiring the rest of the state and the country to follow suit. Rep. Schrier introduced a similar bill in Congress in 2019.
Hopeful words from Gov. Inslee
"I want to share with you and with the President some of the good work we are doing here in the state of Washington," Gov. Inslee said, following the congresswomen on stage. "We are leading the country in the ability to keep healthcare costs down in a variety of ways. I am proud that our state is the first to limit insulin costs to $35. I am proud of that," he gushed, referencing Sen. Schrier.
The governor spoke with an air of optimism and hope, first addressing the importance of the presidential visit coinciding with Earth Day. "What a great Earth Day in the state of Washington to have a president of the United States who understands that one of the best ways to afford healthcare costs is to prevent our kids from getting asthma," Inslee began. "And this is a president who is fighting climate change so our kids don't have to breathe pollution. That's a great president, and we are so happy with him being here."
"We just met up at Seward Park, among the old-growth trees, where he laid out a comprehensive strategy... to prevent our kids from having to breathe pollution," Inslee continued. "He has done some incredible stuff fighting climate change, and now won't it be great if Congress sends him another bill so he can continue this effort?"
He wrapped up his speech by recognizing Washington's work to lower the costs of childcare and prescription medication and leading the country's efforts to create lower costs for American families.
President Biden was finally introduced by Sammamish high school student Juliana Graceffo, who has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was 4. Graceffo explained the importance of insulin, showing the crowd her pump, and detailed all the work she has done as a youth advocate lobbying congressmembers in DC to lower the costs of the lifesaving drug.
Biden strolled onto the stage amid a fanfare of patriotic tunes blasting from the auditorium speakers. With Graceffo proudly standing at his side, he thanked her, the Washington congresswomen, and Gov. Inslee for their warm welcome and nonstop dedication to the people of Washington.
Increasing Pell grants for community college students
Biden began his address by bringing up his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, who he noted is the only First Lady to continue working full-time. Dr. Biden is currently working at Delaware Technical Community College and has provided her husband with a firsthand look at the need for more affordable higher education opportunities, especially for those seeking nontraditional routes to a college degree.
"They're coming back because they want to better their lives," he said of his wife's students, most of whom are returning to school after taking years off to work or start a family. "The average age of my wife's students is 28," he continued, "and the cost — no matter how the states try to control it —still matters. ...I didn't do all I wanted to do, but I signed a new budget bill that increases the Pell grants by $400 a year. But we have to do more," he said as the crowd applauded.
Lowering the cost of childcare
As Biden prepared to introduce his second talking point, he praised Washington's congressional delegation. He also gave a special shout-out to Sen. Murray for her work passing the Recovery Act, which helped reduce child poverty in America by 40%. He elicited cheers from the audience as he praised Murray for her tireless work providing for America's children.
"She talked about it earlier, about the cost of childcare," Biden said. "I was a single dad for five years when my wife and daughter were killed in an automobile accident, and I commuted every day, 270 miles a day, from Delaware to Washington DC, on Amtrak. Everyone thought I did it because I just wanted to be home. That's true, but I also did it because I couldn't possibly afford childcare," he explained to an utterly silent room.
"I was a United States senator, and I [gained] a distinction for 36 years as the poorest man in the Senate, but I was making a lot of money as a senator, from my perspective. I didn't think I should be making any more money other than my salary," he explained. "And I could not possibly afford [childcare], even back in 1972 and '73... That's why I went home every single night. Over a hundred thousand miles over the course of my career.
"We can do all that Patty and I talked about, and not one person in America making less than $400,000 a year will see a single solitary increase in their taxes, not one. Not a single increase," he said, referencing Sen. Murray's childcare plan, which was proposed to Congress in September 2021 as a part of the Build Back Better bill.
"And folks, you know, I'm sometimes called a lot by my interesting Republican friends... Democrats are all socialists," he said with a chuckle. "And I'm far from it." Despite Republicans often referring to Biden as a "socialist," the president has never advocated for nationalizing industries. His politics tend to fall into the moderate camp, as far as Democrats go.
"I think that if you can make a billion dollars, a million dollars, a hundred million dollars, you should be able to do it," Biden continued. "But pay your fair share," he whispered into the microphone as the room erupted in cheers and whistles.
He continued to explain that 40 of the top Fortune 500 companies got away with paying $0 in taxes in the last fiscal year. "It's not right, it's just not fair. All they gotta do is just pay a fair share," he repeated.
By fairly taxing the wealthiest in the country, Biden plans to allocate funds to help families access modern necessities, such as the internet. "If we're going to outcompete the rest of the world, we're going to have to have access to information," he told the crowd. "Think about it. During the pandemic, how many of you parents had to drive your kids into a McDonald's parking lot to get any internet to be able to do their homework? Not a joke. This is the United States of America, for God's sake, the United States of America."
He explained that his plan will bring high-speed internet access to all parts of the country — rural, urban, and suburban.
Making healthcare accessible
Biden then continued, addressing financial issues in the healthcare industry. He noted that the country is still undergoing a nursing shortage due to COVID-19 burnout and the fact that nurses are not paid enough. "I think [nursing] is the single most underrated profession in the United States of America, I mean it," he said, praising those in attendance who were studying to receive their degree in the field.
After another applause break, Biden was ready to tackle the main focus of his address. "Folks, we're all laser-focused on lowering the costs for you and your families across the board, and I think we can do that as long as we lower the cost of healthcare... and prescription drugs," he said.
He recalled his fight as vice president to help bring the Affordable Care Act to the American people 12 years ago, inspired by "the idea that American healthcare should be a right, not a privilege." He boasted of the lasting impact of Obamacare, which extended coverage to millions of Americans and withstood four years of the Trump administration attempting to tear it down.
Inspired by the determination of President Obama and the passage of the ACA, Biden formulated the American Rescue Plan to address the national health and economic crisis that awaited him when he took office in 2021, and to help build on the ACA.
"Within the first months of my administration, we passed the landmark American Rescue Plan. Not only did that help us get COVID-19 under control and get the economy back on track, but it also got millions of people more insured under the Affordable Care Act. It made it easier for people to sign up for coverage in the middle of the pandemic."
He admitted that while the ACA has been beneficial to the American people, it is not without flaws, but that, unlike the previous administration, he is working to improve them. Having noticed holes in the ACA that disproportionately affect working mothers, the administration is working to increase coverage. "With this change, it is estimated that 200,000 previously uninsured Americans will gain coverage, and nearly one million Americans will see their coverage become more affordable," he said as the crowd roared its approval.
Despite Biden's efforts to improve the ACA, Republicans are still coming after affordable healthcare, and have vowed to repeal the law if they gain power in the next election. "Pay close attention," Biden warned. "If they have their way, that means a hundred million Americans with preexisting conditions once again denied healthcare, denied health programs. A high [percent], that's a fact, will be denied healthcare coverage by their insurance companies. That's what the law was before Obamacare. Tens of millions of Americans will lose their coverage, including young persons who will no longer be able to be covered by their parents' plans but to age 26. Premiums are going to go through the roof. There's a lot at stake.
"I've got a better idea: instead of destroying the Affordable Care Act, let's keep building on it," Biden said, urging Americans support the American Rescue Plan, which would help those who are currently out of ACA coverage. The plan will also allow ACA insurance to negotiate drug prices, making prescription medications more affordable in the United States.
Fighting prescription drug inflation
The inflation of prescription drug costs is an issue unique to America, Biden explained. "The anticancer drug treatment for leukemia and lymphoma costs $14,000 a month in the United States. Some of you may know that. The same exact drug, the same exact company, same distribution, costs $6,000, not $14,000, in France," he said. "Same company. American company. Same exact amount. It's unconscionable."
The impact this has on the American people is disastrous. "Today, one in four Americans needing prescription drugs struggle to afford them. Nearly 30% of people need essential drugs that they're supposed to take, and 30% skip their doses because they want to extend the life of the drug they need. Many others use over-the-counter drugs instead, cut pills in half because they can't afford them, and others simply cannot fill prescriptions at all. For God's sake, this is the United States of America! What are we doing?"
Biden's passion continued to rise as he brought the room back to the topic of insulin. "Look, do you know what we're talking about? Do you know how much it costs to make that... insulin? $10. T-E-N. $10. A condition that affects millions of Americans, including a congresswoman, but some have to pay hundreds of dollars a month, some even over a thousand," he said, noting that the average cost of insulin is $683 a month.
"Imagine what it's like if you don't have insurance and you don't have the cash, to look at your child, knowing what they need, and knowing there's not a damn thing you can do about it," he continued, his voice shaking. "Not wanting your child to be put in jeopardy, you're deprived of your dignity. How do you look at your child and deal with it? There is no excuse, none!
"We're not asking drug companies to do anything they can't afford. You think it doesn't affect you — it does. Everyone has less money in their pocket today because of the high cost of healthcare. Over the past decade, healthcare costs have gone up 50%!" he exclaimed.
"A major reason for that increase is the cost of drugs.... Folks, we may not agree on everything, [but] it's safe to say... whatever our background, where we live, [we] agree that prescription drugs are outrageously expensive."
With the energy in the room at a high, Biden outlined his next proposition: a national cap on insulin, following Washington state's lead, at $35 a month.
He also called for drug companies to be held accountable for their contribution to nationwide inflation. "When drug companies increase their prices faster than the rate of inflation, they should have to face a steep tax," he stated.
His final proposition was for a cap on out-of-pocket medical costs for seniors. "If you're on Medicare, you won't have to spend more than $2,000 out of pocket, which is a lot of money, and that's more than $175 a month, no matter how many prescription drugs you take. Medicare will take care of the rest."
"I see a future within our grasp"
Biden closed out his address by reminding the voters present of all his latest victories, including reducing the deficit by $350 billion and creating 7.9 million "good-paying jobs" for Americans. "When I took office, [we saw] the fastest decline in unemployment at the start of any presidency ever recorded," he added.
Before leaving the stage, Biden took a moment to praise the American people and provide a message of hope. "I'm more optimistic about America today than I've been in my whole life and whole career, because I see a future within our grasp," he said to enthusiastic cheers.
"We're the only nation on earth — think about this now — we're the only nation on earth that has always come out of every crisis we've ever met stronger than we went in it. No other nation in the world can say that. It's because of you. Because of the ingenuity and determination of the American people. We've looked at the opportunity, and we've seized it. That's exactly what we're doing today."
As the president took his leave, the room erupted in applause.