In 2022, President Joe Biden achieved a remarkable series of accomplishments that reshaped the American landscape. From healthcare reforms to economic growth and global diplomacy, his administration tackled numerous challenges head-on. We highlight the top 10 achievements of President Biden that made a significant impact in the past year.
1. Lowered Prescription Drug Costs
Biden successfully broke the drug lobbyist blockade that had prevented the U.S. government from being able to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, lowering overall costs. Furthermore, one of the key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, is a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses for Medicare Part D beneficiaries. This cap means that seniors will no longer have to pay more than $2,000 per year for their prescription drugs. Together these achievements have resulted in cheaper prescription drugs, and a much lower burden for seniors on fixed income.
2. More People Are Working Than At Any Point in American History
Thanks to President Biden’s economic plan, we witnessed an unprecedented surge in job growth during 2021 and 2022. Under his leadership, an astounding 11 million jobs were generated, which included the addition of 750,000 manufacturing positions. These remarkable strides have led to the unemployment rate plummeting to its lowest point in half a century. Moreover, President Biden’s tenure has seen an unprecedented wave of new small businesses, with historically low unemployment rates for both Black and Hispanic Americans, along with a record-setting decrease in unemployment among people with disabilities.
3. Rallied the World to Support Ukraine in Response to Putin’s Aggression
Since the commencement of Putin’s unwarranted and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Biden has galvanized the international community to respond decisively, confront autocracy, and champion democracy. President Biden has tirelessly collaborated with allies and partners to back the Ukrainian people, orchestrate and enforce unparalleled economic consequences on Russia, and garner strong bipartisan backing domestically to provide crucial weaponry and economic as well as humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
4. The First Meaningful Gun Violence Reduction Legislation in 30 Years
In June 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. This was the most significant gun violence prevention legislation enacted in the United States in nearly 30 years. The law includes a number of important provisions, such as expanded background checks for gun buyers under the age of 21, funding for mental health programs and school security, and funding to encourage states to implement red flag laws.
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act also closes the “boyfriend loophole,” which allowed people convicted of domestic abuse against their dating partners to own guns. This loophole was responsible for a number of high-profile shootings, and closing it is an important step forward in protecting victims of domestic violence.
President Biden’s actions on gun violence have been praised by gun control advocates and criticized by gun rights advocates. However, there is no doubt that he is taking this issue seriously and is committed to taking action to reduce gun violence.
5. President Biden Signs Historic Legislation, Unleashing Manufacturing Boom in America
As a result of historic legislation, the President has signed into law, there is a manufacturing boom taking hold across America: in two years, companies have announced nearly $300 billion in manufacturing investments in the United States. These investments are ensuring the technologies of the future are made in America, and bringing back supply chains from overseas. And they are creating good-paying jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a four-year degree.
6. Successful Counterterrorism Missions Against the Leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS
At President Biden’s direction, the United States took key leaders of ISIS and Al Qaeda off the battlefield, demonstrating our resolve and ability to defend the American people against those who seek to do us harm and in ways that do not require risking the lives of thousands of Americans on the ground. These successful missions have sent a powerful message to all terrorists who threaten America and our interests around the world that the United States is committed to being relentless in these efforts.
Biden ordered the drone strike that took out bin Laden’s right-hand man and successor. He also took out Islamic State leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi in northwest Syria and resumed full ground operations alongside our Kurdish partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which has kept a check on the Islamic State in the region.
7. Lowering Costs of Families’ Everyday Expenses
The Inflation Reduction Act is a historic legislative achievement that lowers costs for families, combats the climate crisis, reduces the deficit, and finally makes the largest corporations pay their fair share. For the first time, Medicare is able to negotiate the price of certain high-cost drugs, a month’s supply of insulin for seniors is capped at $35, Medicare beneficiaries pay $0 out of pocket for recommended adult vaccines, and seniors’ out of pocket expenses at the pharmacy will be capped at $2,000 a year. And thanks to the President’s actions, including a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, gas prices are down more than $1.60 from their summer 2022 peak.
8. Historic Expansion of Benefits and Services for Toxic Exposed Veterans
President Biden signed into law the PACT Act – the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years. This law also enables the Department of Veterans Affairs to move more quickly in the future to determine if illnesses are related to military service, and it offers critical support to survivors who were harmed by exposures. And, the law authorized 31 new clinical sites and provides VA several tools and resources to ensure effective implementation of the law.
9. The Unemployment Rate Fell to 3.5% – Lowest Level in 50 Years
In August 2022, the unemployment rate reached the lowest it’s been in more than 50 years: 3.5%. More people are working than at any point in American history. That’s millions of families with the dignity and peace of mind that a paycheck provides. And, it’s the result of my economic plan to build the economy from the bottom up and middle out. The Administration is making significant progress for working families.
10. Deficit Reduction – The Largest Decline in American History
President Biden cut the deficit by more than $1.7 trillion during his first two years in office—the largest decline in American history. And the reforms he signed into law to take on Big Pharma, lower prescription drug costs, and make the wealthy and large corporations pay their fair share will reduce the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars more over the coming decade.
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