Attacks on democracy and how it allowed the first black president in u. S. History. Before the speech President Biden was given an honorary doctorate degree from the universitys president. Outstanding service of 36 years of democratic senator from delaware beginning at the tender age of 29. On the Senate Judiciary committee for 16 years [inaudible] that provides unprecedented resources and has led to a critical conversation on crime for the country. The health, education, opportunity, environment and welfare is the 47th Vice President in the Obama Administration and now as the leader of the free world is marked the end of the stellar success that youve demonstrated. Making good on another of your Campaign Promises and achieving what your predecessors could not. You signedne into law the histoc 1 trilliondollar bipartisan infrastructure bill providing sorely needed funds to keep america moving forward. [applause]ri you are truly walking the walk. The American Bar Association reported more than any other officeholder youve secured the [inaudible] [applause] [cheering] black, latino or Asian Americans with justice jackson. [applause] [cheering] you continue to deliver. The battle for the soul of the nation for the middle class, the backbone of our country and of course to act as one america. A native you grew up in delaware graduated from the university of delaware before serving on the council. Your wife a long educator has been by your side through tragedy and triumph. [applause] Howard University is honored and pleased to name you as we salute in our highest esteem your record with justice, and empowerment and humanities throughoutut the world. We commend your magnificent life of leadership andd contribution. For the historic occasion of our 155th commencement swearing upon you the degree. Congratulations and godspeed. [applause] thank you, mr. President for that introduction. Thank you for the incredible Honorary Degree and for the invitation. [applause] [cheering] remember [inaudible] promise me you will not say joe who. [laughter] the distinguished faculty and staff thank you for having me and parents, family, class of 23, congratulations and by the way we will get to giving you your degrees. I promisee thats coming. You are here through the heart ache, blood, sweat and tears and everything thats come before and everything yet to come you are here at a new moment of hope and possibilities. Graduates, before we began, its mentioned many times, it tomorrow is mothers day. Stand for your mothers and grandmothers. [applause] [cheering] where i come from, moms rule. [cheering] my friend, and he is my friend mr. Clyburn the thing i admire most about you is your absolute integrity i just followed you were a latin american guy [inaudible] weve got to talk. [laughter] all kidding aside thank you for being a Strong Partner and supporting democracies across thehe hemisphere. Imi also honored doctor tony allen president of my home state delaware state university. Ne[cheering] you all think im kidding. Not a joke. In 223156 years ago by an act of congress pounded on a hilltop always promoting excellence and serviceov a proving ground for future leaders of science, medicine, education, business, entertainment, public service. Trailblazing intellectuals, lawyers, doctors. The real heu. [applause] [cheering] you realize thats going to cost rme at home. Theres provided in this university. Proudly there on the hilltop there she stands sending forth her rays of light. It matters. We are looking at one of the most consequential moments in history with fundamental questions. Let me take you back to january, 2009. I stood in delaware carrying my folder waiting to pick up barack obama. [applause] [cheering] the first black man elected president of the United States. I was there to join him on the way to the historic inauguration inin washington. A moment of extraordinary hope but also as i stood there and this is the truth i couldnt help but think about another day that i d stood there. It wasnt more than your age id just gotten out of law school, gone to work for a big firm for my state. Doctor king was assassinated and my city was burned to the ground, there were drawn bayonets for 10 miles. [inaudible] they were arrested on each side following the assassination. A 2009 while waiting for barack obama i saw living history at the same time i was reliving it. A vivid demonstration when it comes to race in america, hope doesnt travel alone. Its shadowed by fear, by violence and hate. The election i had hoped the fear of violence and hate after no longer being Vice President i became a professor at the university off pennsylvania but 2017 in Charlottesville Virginia crazed neonazis carrying banners from the woods in the fields, chanting something i never thought i would see in america. Companies like the White Supremacists from dark rooms and remote fields and of the the any ofny the internet confronting americans of all backgrounds standing in their way and to the bright light of day and a young woman was killed. What did you hear . A famous quote when asked about what happened. Very fine people on both sides. Thats when i knew, and im not joking thats when i knew i had to stay engaged and get back into public life. [applause][a i say it forea the journey i dot have to tell you the progress towards justicen also means ferocious pushback on the oldest most sinister forces. Thats because hate never goes away. I thought when i graduated we could defeat hate but it never goes away. It hides under the rocks and given oxygen it comes out from under the rug. Thats why we know silence is complicity and cannot remain silent. We have to listen to the soul of the nation andnd it is still a battle forll the soul of the nation. Not an idea, not religion. But an idea. The sacred proposition. That were all created equal. An image of god, deserved to be treated equally. We never fully lived up to that promise, we never before fully walked away from it. We know that American History has not always been a fairytale, a push and pull for over 240 years, between the best of us, the american idea that were all created equal anda the worst of us, the reality that racism has long torn us apart, a battle, never really over. On the best days, enough of us have the guts and hearts tod stand up for the best in us, to choose love over hate. Unity for every disunion. Progress over retreat. Stand up against the poison ofai white supremacy. As most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy. [applause] im not saying this because im. I say wherever i go. Stand up for truth over lies, lies told for power and profit. To confront the on going assault to subvert our election. Suppress our right to vote, that assault came as you cast your first ballots in 20 and 22. Record turn outs. You delivered historic progress. I made itel clear that america, americans of all backgrounds have an obligation to call out split political violence. As was mentioned bomb threats at this very university. And universities across the country. To put democracy on the ballot, reject political extremism and violence. Protect fundamental v rights and freedom for women to choose, for transgender children to be free. For affordable healthcare and housing. For the right to raise your family, to stand with leaders of your generation and give voice to the people, demanding action on gun violence, to be expelled from state legislative bodies. To stand against the books banned. And black history erased. Im serious, think about it. To stand up for the best in us. Today i come here to howard to continue the work to redeem the soul of this nation, it is here where i see the future, im not that is not hyperbole, we can resolve this on going question about who we are as a nation. That puts strength of our diversity at the center of americans lives, the future that celebrates and learns from history, for all americans, i see you leading, im not again, exaggerating, you will be leading us. Lets be clear, there are those who dont see you. Dont want this future. There are those who demonize and pit people against one another, there are those who will do anything and everything no matter how desperatee or immoral to hold on to power, that snefer an that is never an easy battle, i know. The most sinister believe they will deliver americas future, but they are wrong, we will determine americas future, you will determine americas future. That is not hyperbole. No graduating class gates to choose the world under which they graduate, every class, up on pain has been written by others. Few classes, once in every several generations, enters a point in our history it has a chance to change the trajectory of the country. You face that point today. I know you will meet the moment, i just think about, the many ways you already have with your voices and votes, i was able to fulfill my commitment to put the first black woman on Supreme Court of the United States of america. By the way, she is better than the rest. She is one bright woman. Because ofof you, more black women have been appointed to federal Appellate Courts than any other president in American History combined. By the way, i mean it i mean it. Because ofi you, because of you. You turned out. You spoke up. You knew, you showed up when the votes counted. You made people say, wait a minute. What price will i pay if i dont. You feel the promise and peril of climate change. Because of you were making the biggest investment ever in w history of the world in climate change. Me dont ever think youroe voice doesnt matter, im keeping my promise that no one should be in jail because of using and possessing marijuana. Their record should be expunged. [applause] those on pel grants, 70 of black College Students receive pel grants. Many of you the savings would be significant and wiping out. This newga Republican Party is dead set against the it to stop you from getting student debt relief, same opposition that received relief loans to keep their businesses afloat during the pandemic. Members of Congress Worth thousands and millions of dollars, most of which is never paid back. Yet, theyd say, it is okay for them but not for you. It outrageous. Reduce your student Debt Service Payments when you graduate, to ensure no one with an under graduate loan today or future will have to pay more than 5 of discretionary income. Republican officials fighting that as well. Ill always keep fighting for you, and many others will and many in Republican Party willhe fight for you. We also know there their there is more to do, because of your power. We took the most significant law in gun violence and passed it we will not give up, i got the assault weapon ban passed well pass it again, we must pass it [applause] there is more to do on Police Reform and public safety. Tighter security [inaudible] turn the interior light on, put both hands on the wheel, dont reach for your license, what in the hell is going on, think about it i ask all parents, of minority parents what they would say and do. I know you are frustrated. There is so many elected officials that refuse to pass a law that would do something. Kamala and i stood next to the family of george floyd, and civil rights leaders and Law Enforcement officials to sign the executive order i cameme up with requires key elements of george floyd to be applied to federal Law Enforcement. Bans chokeholds, and police misconduct. Well keep equal justice. We have to be just. It has to be a reality, you leading the way, this and so much more. That is why kamala and i are committed to investing in you and hbcus. Help produce 40 of black engineers, 50 of black lawyers. Ac [applause] 70 of black doctors and dentists,. [applause] 80 of black judges. Every day, with staff at of level of white house and the administration. I decided when i was elected, i promised that my administration would look like america. We all know that down have the same endowments andni funding as other collecting and universities. That is why i asked we invested 6 billion in hbcus, the new research and Development Labs and prepare student for jobs in future, in high income fields, and health care. And biochemistry, standing here, i think the last time i came to howard, was in my finalrd years adVice President. To host the moon shot on campus, you are leading the way, you are the scientists, doctors, advocates who will bring and do big things. Even curing some cancers. You are the diplomats and global citizens, makes democracy work for people in the world. Lawyers defending your rights, artists shaping our culture. Fearless journalists, this is real, this is what you are doing. Pursuing the truth. Challenging convention. You are the leaders of tomorrow, it is coming you on quickly. You, i see a future we can move away from the narrow and crammed view of the promise of america to zero sum game, if you succeed i fail, if you get ahead i fall behind, if i cant hole you down, i cant lift myself up, instead of what it should be, if you do well, we all do well. That is what i see. That is what i see in america. More americans are future of possibilities for allri americans. Look, a no matter the future what is holds my hope is each of you find a sweet stop between happiness, success and ambition, a good life, a life of purpose. Here is the thing. You dont know where or what fate will bring you or when. You just have to keep going. You have to keep the faith. Get up. Andge if you can find balance between ambition, happiness and success that good life of purpose, family, and as you know here at howard, of excellent, there is no quit in you. There is no quit in america. So let me close with this. In or lives, the lives of of the nation. We know that fear can shadow hope. But also true that hope can defeat fear. And january 2021, i stood at u. S. Capitol to be inaugurated as president of the United States, days before on that very spot a violent insurrection took place, a dagger at throat of democracy for first time in our history, an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power in this country, they failed. Our democracy held, hope prevailed this time, i was standing with a black woman, about to take a two mile procession down pennsylvania avenue, as president and vicece president of the United States of america. And who was marching alongside her, Howard University t marching band, in lockstep and solidarity. You were. [cheers and applause] i give you my word, class of 2023, you are the reason im optimistic about the future, if give my word, i really mean it you are part of the most f gifted, talented best educated generation in American History, that say fact, your generation that will answer the questions for america. Who are we. What to we strain for. What do you believe. What do we believe. What do we want to be. Im not saying you have to share this burden on your own, task at hand again is the work for all of us, im saying, you represent the best of us. That is the gods truth. Your generation will not be ignored or shunned. Keep standing for truth and right. And send your rays of light, congratulations, god bless you, and may god protect our troops. [cheers and applause] campaign 2024 is your front row seat to president ial election, watch coverage of candidates on the campaign trail with announcement announcements, meet and greets, speeches and events to make up your own mind, campaign 2024 on the cspan network. Our free mobile video app. Or any time online. At cspan. Org. Your unfiltered view of politics. President biden is set to meet with congressional leader at house tomorrow. To continue to negotiate on raising the debt limit. The second time in seven days that same group will be following last weeks oval office meeting, house and Congressional Staff have reportedly been working behind the scenes to find common ground, as republicans continue to push for spending cuts in any increase to the debt ceiling. Today, treasury secretary janet yellen sent a letter to congressional leader warning that u. S. Is remains. Cspan will follow the debt limit talks as the day unfolds and bring you updates or public statements from those directly involved. Cspan your unfiltered view of government. Funded by these Television Companies and more, including charter communications. Proud to be recognized as one of the best internet providers, were just getting started, building 100 thousand miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it moaftz. Most. Along with the other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. My brain of Congress Carla Hayden testified about a new visitorric per yen created at library in time, she responded to questions about how u. S. Copy write office, housed under the library of congress will be used to protect copy writed works amid growing use of artificial intelligence. Senate hearing is about an hour