defending against authoritarianism, addressing and fighting corruption crucially, and promoting respect for human rights. the summit takes place in the context of democracies in decline worldwide. the stockholm-based international institute for democracy found that more than a quarter of world s population lives in democratically backsliding companies. this time for the first time, the united states was added to that last. president biden spoke about renewing the struggle to protect democracy here and abroad. here in the united states, we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort. american democracy is an ongoing struggle to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions and recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our idea. democracy doesn t happen by accident. we have to renew it with each