Biden's State of the Union Will Highlight Second-Term Agenda, Says Chief of Staff

“Lowering costs, continuing to make people’s lives better by investing in childcare, eldercare, paid family and medical leave, continued progress on student debt,” Zients said, listing a few. “But I think importantly, the president is also going to call for restoring Roe v. Wade and giving women freedom over their health care. And he’ll talk about protecting, not taking away, freedoms in other areas, as well as voting rights.”

But Zients also acknowledged that restoring Roe is one of many objectives the president can’t accomplish without Congress.

In a period marked by congressional instability, infighting and partisanship, Republican lawmakers have blocked foreign aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as a would-be landmark border security bill — in part because of Trump’s vocal opposition (which Biden has suggested is an effort to boost his reelection odds).

Zients acknowledged that “it’s going to be difficult” for Congress to move forward on major issues and said Biden would use his address to urge lawmakers to act urgently.

National polls underscore Americans’ widespread lack of enthusiasm for either candidate but also show Trump with a narrow lead over Biden in their anticipated 2024 matchup.

It’s against this backdrop that Biden will assume the podium at the U.S. Capitol to make his case — both to voters at home and lawmakers in the room.

Support for Ukraine is a ‘no-brainer’

Zients said Congress must act urgently on several major issues, including passing the $118 billion national security supplemental agreement — which includes funding for Israel and Ukraine — and approving resources and policies to manage the border.

The supplemental passed in the Senate on a bipartisan basis with 70 votes and is awaiting further action by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who said last month that “the House will have to continue to work on its own will on these important matters.”

Zients stressed the urgency behind the bill, arguing that Russia’s invasion has put Ukraine as well as Europe at large “at risk” and that U.S. support is critical.

“I’ll let the speaker speak for himself, but what I do know is the need is urgent and there’s bipartisan support in the House, and if it’s brought to the floor, it’ll be passed into law,” Zients said. “And I believe that’s what needs to happen. And you’re going to hear the president push Congress to do just that in the State of the Union.”

More than two years into Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. support for additional military aid has dwindled — especially among Republican voters and lawmakers — but remains a key priority for Biden and the Democratic Party.

Zients said Biden, his team and many members of the House and Senate are “working every angle” to get Ukraine the resources it needs. He said help from other allies is no substitute for the military resources the U.S. is “uniquely positioned” to provide to its own economic benefit.

“Look, this is a no-brainer,” Zients added. “We need to defend democracy here at home and we need to create jobs here at home. And we need to lead the world as we always have.”

Biden can’t act alone at the border

Immigration has become a top issue in the 2024 race, with both Biden and Trump making dueling visits to Texas border communities last week to outline their competing visions for how to manage the influx of migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

Zients accused some Republicans of prioritizing chaos over order at the border and said the Biden administration can’t “manage the border in an orderly way” without help from Congress.