Out of the belly of oppression came historically lack colleges, i am a Senior Communications major here at the Texas Southern university. I welcome you all to my historical and beautiful campus of Texas Southern. When i was choosing which president ial candidate to support, one thing was very important me. Their vocal support of hbcus like my own. Hbcus are a crucial part of africanamerican culture across the nation. Hbcus have an incredible impact, create skilled workers, serve as economic hubs for the areas that surround our campuses aened beyond. Some of the nations brightest and most influential minds came out of hbcus. Joe biden has made it clear not just through his campaigns but through decades of Public Service that he puts hbcus at the top of his priority list. Ive met him personally. I know with him a promise isnt just words. It has a meaning. When he said he wants to fight to get Adequate Funding for hbcus like this one, he means it. When he launched the program hbcu students for biden that im part of, its because he deeply cares about us. We saw in South Carolina the power that voters of color have. We have the power. [cheers and applause]. We have the power to swing this entire race toward a candidate that can beat donald trump in the fall. [cheers and applause] we have that power in South Carolina and we most definitely have that power here in texas. You cant say houston without including c. S. U. , the heart and soul of houston. T. S. U. , the heart and soul of houston. We are a fearless generation. Here in houston, here in texas we work hard and we go big. Big dreams, big plan, big moves, big results. So friends, family, and my t. S. U. Tigers join me tomorrow in voting for joe biden an please help me give a big help me give a big t. S. U. Welcome to the 46th president of the United States, joe biden. Joe biden thank you, thank you, thank you. Let me start off by thanking Sheila Jackson lee for the escort into town. Thank you very much. Great to be back at Texas Southern university. Dont jump, i need you. Dont jump. As my mother would say, god love you all. Thank you for coming out today. You know, i had such a great time meeting with some of you outstanding studentbacks in september, i warned you i was coming back and im back. m back. One of the finest of americas historically black universities and colleges, ive got to tell ou, im from delaware. Delaware State University. I have to tell you i always tell the truth, youre the second best. Delaware State University is the best. Theyre the ones that brought me to the dance. Theyre the ones, thats where i got started. Thats why i got look im very proud to support our hbcus and minorityserving institutions. As president , everybody kind of forgets now because you become so significant. Everybody kind of forgets why hbcus came along in the first place. You werent allowed to go to any other university. Werent allowed to go to public institutions. As a consequence of that you dont have the significant endowments of the university other universities have. So i promise you as president of the United States of america im going to fund hbcus by 70 billion over the next 10 years. Swear to god. [applause] because if you lack the endowments youre not able to compete for some of the significant multimillion, Million Dollar and in several cases billion dollar contracts the federal government puts out for everything from geoposition, lightweight metals and a whole range of things. This will put you in position to compete. One thing you know, everybody now knows, you can do anything anybody else in the nation can do and you can do it as well or better. You just have to have the wherewithal to compete. So folks [applause] as i said, i want to thank Sheila Jackson lee again. One thing you learn when you go to the United States senate as i did, i got there im about 800 years older that Sheila Jackson lee but when you get there a little bit earlier she came and i tell you what she not only took the place by storm, she filled up a vacuum. I learned a long timing too time ago, dont argue with her, just say yes. Yes, yes, yes. You are something else. I love you. Thank you. And she not only fights for texas, she fights for everything thats right. She doesnt back down. She knows why shes in it. When i when i got elected to the United States senate, 29yearold kid, i wasnt old enough to be sworn in after i won when the democratic candidate for president won by 33 of the vote, i won by ,000 votes statewide, new candidates said, whats your secret . I said ill tell you what the secret is. Have you figured out whats worth losing over . Have you figured out whats worth losing over . Sheila jackson lee has never wondered about whats worth losing over. She knows why she got involved. Just like you know shes not only just like garcia, the first latina to represent houston in congress. She knows why shes involved. Shes on the side of working families here in houston, standing up for the vulnerable, from her very first day as a legal aid lawyer. I understand that. I used to be a public defender when i was a kid, when i got out of school. Houston is in good hands with such leadership and visionary leaders as you have fighting for you and the combination of the one who has been there and has great power in the congress, the one who is amassing power for the same reason they know why theyre involved. And they know why theyre involved. You know, just a few days ago, the pundits declared my campaign dead. But then along came South Carolina. [applause] South Carolina had something to say about it. As i stand here today because of minority communities, i am very much alive because of you. [applause] we not only won in South Carolina, we won every single solitary Election District because of the Africanamerican Community primarily in South Carolina we ended up increasing the turnout 150,000 more people an even voted in 2008 when barack and i ran. So now, tomorrow, texas is going to speak. [applause] as my grandpa would say well, thank you. Thank you, thank you. And you know, i think were going to do well here in texas. With the help of all of you. And you know, when we do, well be on our way to defeating donald trump. [applause] look. I want you to know, im here heart and soul. With everything ive got. To earn each and every vote here. I take nothing for granted. Nothing at all. But im asking you im asking you, im asking you for your votes, im asking you for your support because ive got to earn it. Look. My message to everyone who has been knocked down, counted out, left behind, this is your campaign. We need you. We want you. And theres a place for you in our campaign. So join us. Go to joebiden. Com. Sign up. Volunteer. Contribute if you can. But we need you very badly. Every vote matters tomorrow. That you tant vote is then back Sheila Jackson lee as the nominee without any question. Thats the most significant. Tomorrow is super tuesday. I want to thank you all im rushing ahead, arent i . I want to speak directly to democrats here in texas and all across the country. You know, the moment you choose a path forward has arrived for our party. Maybe sooner than when people anticipated. Maybe sooner than people guessed it would occur or wanted it to occur but its here. The decision, the decision democrats make tomorrow and the next few weeks will determine what we stand for, what we believe, and where were going to go and how well get there. If democrats want a nominee to beat donald trump, keep a majority in the house of representatives, and elect the u. S. Senate cheers and applause] and the state legislature here and around the country, then join us. The democrats want a nominee who will build on obamacare, not scrap it, then join us. By the way, i was asked a question today on one of the news programs. People are now worried and the coronavirus. Im happy to talk about that later but heres the deal. They gave me an example that in fact one man got tested, went in to get tested, he was doing the right thing because he had a cold, had been in another country, then he got a bill for 3,000. Under obamacare which theyre trying to wipe out all tests are free. Free, free, free. All vaccines will be free to deal with these crises. You and if you want someone who will take on the n. R. A. And the gun manufacturers, im your guy. [cheers and applause] you want someone who is going to stand up for the middle class and the working poor, look, were going tonight ones to do it. Because heres the deal. Were not going to raise taxes on anybody in terms of working folks. And i make this promise and i can keep it. That we are going to provide all that is needed and were not going to have to do what others are proposing to get things done, have to raise significant taxes on middle class folks and working class folks. You know, if the democrats want a nominee who is a democrat [cheers and applause] a lifelong democrat, a proud democrat, and obamabiden emocrat, then join us. Look, we can win big or lose big. Thats the choice thats upon us now. We need to build on a coalition of legacy of the most successful president in any of our lifetimes, barack obama. [cheers and applause] and well do this by bringing americans together regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, disability or economic station. Democrats, republican, independents of every stripe, look, we did it, we won in South Carolina. Like i, god willing, will win in texas tomorrow. Like well do all across america. The country is hungry. Hungry, hungry to be united. Look, win big or lose big, thats the choice. Most americans dont want a promise of a republiclusion, they want a guarantee of results on the things that affect them. [cheers and applause] they want to give all americans access to real opportunity. Affordable, Available Health care for everyone. An environment with clean air and clean water and an Education System that fronts schools, pays for our teachers, makes Community College free, deals with the overwhelming debt. The average person graduating from an hbcu this year will raduate 29,000 in debt. We can deal with that. Im going to speak to that in a second. Were a nation, but we have to stand up to and beat the n. R. A. And reform our criminal Justice System like youve been working on a long time. Mobilize the world against climate change. A nation where we live by the values that embraces immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers. Does not slam the door on those fleeing persecution, violence and oppression. Does not seek to make people seeking asylum have to stay in another country to do it. Weve never, ever get children out of cages. Reunite families. [cheers and applause] i mean it. A nation that provides a pathway to citizenship for 11 Million People who are enriching our communities every day. We are better for it, not worse ff for it. Look, we need an economy that rewards work, not just wealth, like it does today. My dad used to have an expression, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. A job is about your dignity, respect, your place in the community. And i really mean this, after he , took him and died three years to get to the point where we were able to move to delaware and get a three bedroom house with four kids and a grandpop living with us. My lord, i wonder how my parents lived with those thin walls, looking back on it. Anyway. This is about all our families. Its about all our communities. The way i look at everything, and i mean this, im criticized for it occasionally. I look at everything through the prism of how it affects you, but your family and the community, all our communities. Thats why im a democrat. Thats what got me involved in the first place. [applause] you know, folks, talk is cheap. False promises are deceptive. And talk of revolution isnt changing anyones life. We need real results and we need them now. Ive done that my whole career. And ill do it as president. So this isnt an election to spend all our time in the battle of the soul for the democratic party. Were in the battle for the soul of this country. We really are. Thats what got me involved in this election. In the first place. From the time i was a kid, i goved involved in the civil rights i got involved in the civil rights movement. Coming home, by the way, my state, most of you dont know, my state is the eighth largest black population in america. We have an awful lot in common. We were a slave state. We are just like a lot of states in the south. Except we were one of those border states. Delaware, maryland, they were all could not figure out how to get on the other side, thank god. So, when i was a kid, i worked with what was called the east side. I got deeply involved. I spent my time in the black church on sunday, i must admit to you, after going to mass earlier in the morning. [laughter] mom, i really did. Not a joke. But wed sit there and wed organize. And wed draw some hope from what was going on. When i came home, i went away to law school because we had no law school in delaware at the time. When i came home, dr. King i have two political heroes. Dr. King and bobby kennedy. And, folks, both were assassinated the last semester i was in school in law school. When i came home and i had a job with a fancy law firm, good law firm, decent people. But my city, wilmington, delaware, was the only city in American History since the civil war occupied by the military, for 10 months, standing on the east corner withdrawn bayonets, as my professor would say, you can google it. No exaggeration. And what happened . I found myself in a position where i talked about all this time about being involved in the community. And after i got admitted to the bar in january, i realized i couldnt stay in that law firm. I couldnt quit and became a public defender. Because, and i used to interview my clients down what they called the northeast corridor, amtrak corridor, that goes from all the way up the coast, particularly the high speed rail that goes from washington to new york, and used to interview my compliants down there aid thought things would never clients down there and i thought things would never get better. Never get better. I thought blacks and whites would never be talking together again because the city was over 60 africanamerican. Well, here i was literally 40 years to the month standing on that same platform at that same train station, it hit me. I was waiting for a black man to come 26 miles from philadelphia on a train to pick me up and take me a total of 147 miles south to washington, d. C. , to be sworn in as president and Vice President of the United States of america. [cheers and applause] so i called my three children, grown children. I called them up where i was standing and my son who was a war hero, attorney general of the state of delaware then, i said, and i called my son hunter up. Bo is my soul, hunter is my heart. E did the world troop food program, u. S. A. And my daughter is a social worker. And rant largest criminal Justice Reform system in the state. I called them up and said, look, i said, look at the east side over here. Its rebuilt. Look over at third street bridge. Its rebuilt. And i said, dont tell me things cant change. Im about to be picked up by this man and we all celebrated. I thought i knew an awful lot about how to deal with hate in this i thought could you defeat hate. But i was wrong. The happened was, in 2017, charlottesville, close your eyes and picture those folks coming out of the field with their vains bulging, carry veins bulling, carrying torches, nazi banners. David duke saying, this is why we elected him. Accompanied by White Supremacists and a young woman was killed and the president was asked to comment. He said something no american president has ever said. He said, quote, there were very fine people on both sides. By the way, its more than a boo, its a reality. No president has said that. Thats when i decided that i was going to run. Thats why i got in this race. I wrote an article in atlantic magazine saying, were in the battle for the soul of the country. And i meant it. By the way [applause] its only gotten worse for him since then. The way he mocks people with disabilities. The way he talks down to people. The way he treats minorities like were subhuman. The way he deals with us and separates us, the way he embraces dictators around the world an pokes his finger in the eye of our allies. Look, his view of women is not even a view. No, i really mean it. It is i shouldnt get going. [laughter] but, folks, were at a very perilous moment. Because we can, god willing, with the right nominee, turn your childrens view of history into, well, four years of barack obama four years after barack obama, having this guy as president was an aberration, a historical aberration. But if we give him eight years, he will fundamentally alter the nature of who we are and thats a fact. Hell change the nature of who we are. And winning means uniting america. I know a lot of my colleagues think we have to look at the other side as the enemy. If we do that, we can never get anything done. Not sewing more distinguish than anger. [applause] not only the words of president s matter. Not only means fighting, but healing. Healing this country. We have to beat donald trump and the republican party. But we cant become like them. We cant become like them. We have to heal our division, re pair our democracy. And above all, its time for america to get back up on its feet and once again fight for the proposition that we hold these truths to be selfevident. Sounds corny. Not a joke. Hink about it. All men and women created by you know the thing. You know how we talk about it. We the people. Folks, indo youed by our creator with certain indiana alienable rights. Week never lived up to. That Thomas Jefferson who wrote the words never lived up to it. But weve never, ever before walked away from it. Never. And i believe with every fiber in my being thats who we still are. We have always moved forward. Weve always increased the apper tour of inclusion more and more. And we have a chance now, a few days ago i did a town meeting in charleston, South Carolina, you might have seen it on cnn. I spoke with the reverend anthony thompson. Whose wife, maya, was studying the words of the bible with eight of her parishioners at Mother Emanuel Church when a white supremacist entering the church 4 1 2 years ago. And gunned them all down. It was a weekly routine, reading scripture, finding purpose in faith and god and each other. And in an instant, hates vengeance pierced their faith and lost forever. But whats remarkable about reverend thompson and the families of the emanuel nine is that through their pain and grief, they did something totally remarkable. They forgave the killer. They forgave the killer. I was there. They forgave the killer. And in their forgiveness, change that had been fought for for over 100 years in South Carolina began to occur. The Confederate Flag came down. Real change began to take place. Because they talked about healing. That sunday i came back to mother emanuel quietly, no press, no anybody. Just to see to it. Because we, i just lost our son six weeks earlier. And my family needed to be healed. So we came back and we worshiped because what its all about, its about healing, its about being reminded. Many of you have been through similar things that ive been through. Some of you worse than ive been through. But what do you need . You need purpose in your life. Purpose, reminded that those you lost are still part of you. Bo was my soul. Like when i lost my wife and daughter and my two kids were not [indiscernible] with every day of every season thats passed, reverend thompson and other members of the congregation have gotten up and fought for purpose. Purpose of their lives. A purpose worthy of their loved ones. Worthy of the blessings to live in this remarkable country of ours. And theyre the reason, theyre the reason im in this race. Youre the reason New York Times this race. People like you that have fought here today, all around the country, to deal with the crises youve faced in your lives. The days of Donald Trumps divisiveness, i promise you, will soon be over. Cheers and applause] we can and we must build a more perfect union. Because the American People have seen the alternative. So lets get back up. Were decent, were brave, were resilient people. We can believe again. Were better than this moment and were better than this president. So get up and lets take back this country. [cheers and applause] were the United States of america. Theres nothing we cannot do if we do it together. God bless you all and may god protect our troops. Lets take it back now now, now, now [cheers and applause] thank you. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] u. S. House returning in about 15 minutes for votes and speeches. Earlier today, the chamber worked on four bills, including one that provides protections against debt collector harassment of military service members. Tomorrow in the house, debate on foreign affairsrelated bills, including one that condemns all forms of