Rep. Joyce Beatty expects 'strong message' in President Biden's State of the Union address

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — President Joe Biden will deliver his first State of the Union address as the nation continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and while Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty said she expects to hear a strong message from the president.

"I think tonight we'll hear a strong message from President Biden. I think he will speak to the American people about our democracy," Beatty said.

She said she expects Biden will discuss the pandemic, how the nation will come out of it, and the continued violence in Ukraine.

"I think he will bring hope but yet he will be honest about the global pandemic and what we've had to work through, but I think his message will be strong because he's delivered so much. Whether it be the child tax credit, whether it's the bipartisan infrastructure bill. I think people will be able to resonate with his message but he's the president, he will have to speak directly into the cameras about the devastation of what's happening in Ukraine, and I think he will talk about the crippling sanctions that he is putting forth," Beatty said.

As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, the United States and European Union have levied sanctions on Russia's biggest banks and its elite, frozen the assets of the country's Central Bank located outside the country, and excluded its financial institutions from the SWIFT bank messaging system.

"I think he has been stellar. He has a strong team. Just over the past week, I have watched Republican and Democrat retired generals say how much they're in support of the sanctions and the work that he's done," Beatty said.

Americans are feeling the effects of the pandemic, the Russian invasion, and sanctions against Russia in their wallets. Beatty said she expects Biden to honestly address rising prices at home and across the globe.

"We have to protect our allies and we also have a responsibility to protect those who are here at home. Driving up to a gas station, seeing higher prices, seeing the way the economy is, I think we have to share with them that is why democrats especially voted for the PPP – to put money back into businesses. That's why we voted to give checks to childcare, that's why we voted to give additional dollars to families who are in need. This is global. This is all over the world that we are seeing how devastating this pandemic is and what it costs. He has a track record that he is moving the needle," she said.

Biden is set to deliver his first State of the Union Address Tuesday at 9 p.m.

This article was originally published by Fox 28 on March 1, 2022