By Nancy S. Jecker
President Joe Biden was “fine,” according to White House Communications Director Ben LaBolt, after tripping over a sandbag at a U.S. Air Force graduation ceremony on June 1, 2023.
But his fall was caught on live camera – and people on social media speculated about what was behind it.
Biden, approaching his 81st birthday in November 2023, is the oldest serving U.S. president. He shares the distinction of old age with a growing number of politicians, including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who, at age 90, is the oldest person in the Senate and has served as senator since 1992.
Some people – from fellow Democrats to The New York Times editorial board – have questioned whether Feinstein can fulfill the duties of her job, citing incidents in which she stumbled over words. Feinstein began reading prepared remarks during a Senate appropriations hearing vote on July 27, 2023, until her democratic colleague, Sen. Patty Murray, whispered to her, “Just say aye.”’
Feinstein was also absent for prolonged periods with various illnesses, including shingles and encephalitis from February through May 2023. She later told journalists that she “hasn’t been gone” and simply worked from home during her illness.
In July 2023, 81-year-old Sen. Mitch McConnell trailed off and froze mid-sentence while speaking at a lectern to the press. Aides ushered him off camera. McConnell later said, “I’m fine,” when journalists questioned him about the incident.
Such incidents prompt the question: Can politicians be too old to serve in office? Should society make retiring at a certain age mandatory for elected officials who run the country – like presidents and senators?
I am a philosopher and bioethicist who studies ethics related to individual and societal aging, and these questions are at the forefront of what I think about. Whatever view one takes on the ethics of age limits for politicians, voting remains the primary way to put one’s views into practice.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Minuimum age requirements
Requirements for U.S. presidential candidates haven’t changed since 1789, when the Constitution was written. In that era, the average life expectancy was about 34 years – but varied greatly for people who were slaves or free.
Today, the life span for the average American is 79 years. But it tends to be much higher for people like politicians, who are relatively wealthy and receive good health care.
In the U.S., a person needs to be 35 years old or older in order to be president. A person must be at least 25 years old in order to serve in the House of Representatives, while the minimum age rises slightly to 30 years old for serving in the Senate.
A question of maximum age limits
The U.S. banned age discrimination in workplaces in 1967.
Should politicians who lead the country be an exception to this law?
A 2022 YouGov poll reported that 58% of Americans want a maximum age for politicians. Those who support age limits usually say that politicians holding office should be no more than 70 years old. That would make 71% of current U.S. senators ineligible to hold office. It is unclear how age limits like that could be implemented.
Increasingly, people everywhere will be forced to confront questions about whether a person can be too old to hold public office. People are living longer lives in the U.S., but the same is true across the world.
Ethical arguments for age limits
Considering age limits for high-ranking politicians poses certain ethical questions that do not have a clear answer.
Staying in office despite health problems can threaten public safety. An American president holds immense power – including the ability to launch nuclear weapons. Members of Congress are responsible for making laws, declaring war and controlling taxes and spending.
Defenders of mandatory retirement say older people have had their turn.
Yet, if giving everyone a fair turn is the goal, why not cap the number of years worked? Like age limits, however, capping years would disproportionately affect older workers – and some say that’s unjustly discriminatory.
Even without age cutoffs, age could still be a way to flag other relevant factors, like health.
As people age, they face heightened risk of chronic disease and of having multiple chronic conditions. Chronic health problems can interfere with daily functioning and put older politicians at higher risk of performing poorly on the job –- for example, falling.
Testing health – or, even better, job performance – is another option. Testing workers of all ages at regular intervals avoids ageist stereotypes.
Biden undergoes an annual health screening and has been deemed “fit for duty.” Should Feinstein and McConnell be held to the same standard? That raises the thorny question, what if physicians disagree about a politician’s health and ability to remain in office?
Ethical arguments against age limits
Health checks differ from compulsory retirement.
In rich Western countries, people do not retire because they can no longer work –retirement is not correlated with an actual reduction in physical or intellectual capabilities.
Instead, people’s health tends to decline after retiring.
Those who oppose compulsory retirement, myself included, say that mandating retirement generates ageism, or negative stereotypes based on age.
Experts have shown that older people are diverse, and they separate biological aging – like physical wear and tear on the body – from chronological aging.
In addition to stereotyping older people, forced retirement violates principles of equality. People equally able to perform a job deserve equal chances to continue to work, independent of factors unrelated to job performance, such as age, race or gender identity.
Supporters of age-based retirement, meanwhile, say that this policy treats people equally over time, since all young people eventually become old. Yet others disagree, insisting that the point of equality is creating a community of equals, and discriminating against older adults falls short.
The people decide
People supporting a maximum age limit for the president and members of Congress have launched online signature campaigns on Change.org. But these efforts would require a constitutional amendment and have not gained major traction.
Two Republican senators also introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 2023 that would allow senators to serve only two six-year terms and Congress members to serve three two-year terms. Congress has voted down previous proposals to set term limits.
At the state level, 16 states limit terms for legislators – but not necessarily because of age concerns. Direct age limits are under consideration in South Dakota, which will vote in 2024 on a ballot measure to amend the state’s constitution and establish an upper age limit of 80 years for congressional candidates.
Since the government sets age minimums for Congress and the presidency, should there be maximum limits, too? This question remains open. In a democracy, we the people decide by voting.
Nancy S. Jecker is Professor of Bioethics and Humanities at the School of Medicine at the University of Washington.
The Conversation arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse and recognition of the vital role that academic experts could play in the public arena. Information has always been essential to democracy. It’s a societal good, like clean water. But many now find it difficult to put their trust in the media and experts who have spent years researching a topic. Instead, they listen to those who have the loudest voices. Those uninformed views are amplified by social media networks that reward those who spark outrage instead of insight or thoughtful discussion. The Conversation seeks to be part of the solution to this problem, to raise up the voices of true experts and to make their knowledge available to everyone. The Conversation publishes nightly at 9 p.m. on FlaglerLive.
Marti G says
If the President of the United States has a term limit if 8 years, surely our Congress should be the same. It has become a “good old boys/women club”. No wonder nothing gets accomplished. How 😢 sad. Wake up people!!!
jake says
If there were term limits, we wouldn’t have Joe.
JimboXYZ says
Age Limits are a slippery slope. It’s bad enough corporations age discriminate against quite a few starting as early as their 50’s. It goes hand in hand with limiting someone’s income & opportunities in life. The examples given are politicians that make huge salaries that won’t ever give up power, control & whatever else. But what happens when it’s the co-worker that starts to approach age 55 & when social security age is 65 & now even later for that age of benefits ? It’s almost as thought they are forcing lower income in some attempt to force labor into taking less than 100% of that Social Security monthly. Get rid of any of the up to 30% penalties for retiring early. It’s not an early retirement when it was forced. And that age discrimination goes on far more often than anyone cares to talk about. And then imagine being anyone that gets racially or gender discrimination. Examples, imagine being the wrong, race or gender for Affirmative action or the equality thing for a 30-40 year career and then having the trifecta of discrimination for age. As people get older, they are bled dry on reduced lower & fixed incomes. Imagine being that victim of Biden-Harris. So if laws are in place to to protect elderly labor, it’s a pity it ends up protecting the likes of Biden or even Pelosi. Those are 2 examples of the fraud & abuse for lawmakers. Not everyone gets a Biden or Pelosi paycheck to retire on. It all comes down to abuses in & of the system of inequalities.
Thomas Hutson says
Jimbo XYZ,
I was with you up until the time you ragged on just Biden, Harris and Pelosi. Why did you leave out Ronnie when we all know Nancy ran the office the last year of his Presidency? Age by itself is not the issue. I am an NPA and 78 years old and am completely competent. We also need to throw in our Supreme court justices in the mix . And don’t leave out Senator McConnell.
DaleL says
Mr. Trump is 77; let us include him in the conversation among the potential “too old to serve”.
As to JimboXYZ’s claim of fraud and abuse, neither Mrs. Pelosi or Mr. Joe Biden has been charged with any crimes. The MAGA cabal is proficient with innuendo and allegations, but seriously lacking in truth and facts. It seems to me that the majority of politicians charged and convicted of fraud and abuses in office lately have been Republicans. Wikipedia has a list of those convicted since 2017 and they are all Republicans. At the State level, there is the Texas AG, a Republican. It seems that the party of “Law and Order” has a problem with law and order.
Back to the subject, I just don’t know. However, I wonder how our elderly officeholders can really represent a population that is much younger than they are.
Bill C says
@Hutson not only was Nancy Reagan making Presidential decisions for her Alzheimer’s afflicted husband, she made her decisions only after consulting her astrologer, on whom she was dependent. You could say the astrologer was running the country in the last year of the Reagan presidency.
Atwp says
Are you saying the Republicans are o.k. at any age. The Dems are all screwed up. You appear to be blind in one eye. Look at Trump and the frozen Mitch.
Skibum says
Airline pilots have a maximum age limit before they are required to retire, and nobody seems to mind that. It should be obvious to everyone that despite an older person’s many years of experience in their chosen field of work that age usually starts to have more of a profound effect on their mind, their ability to think and make proper decisions, etc. Our U.S. Congress is looking more like the largest geriatric facility in the country and all of us taxpayers are paying for the care and feeding of these octogenarian lawmakers who should have retired long ago but are still there only because there is no formal means other than an election loss to force them see the tea leaves and step down. YES, there should be a maximum retirement age for all members of both houses of Congress, and we are seeing the result of not having it every time we see McConnel and Feinstein’s latest medical issue affecting their ability to function. If not for all of their taxpayer funded aides, including leading them around or having to push them in wheelchairs, or telling them which button to push and how to answer when taking votes on the floor of the U.S. Senate, it would have already become blatantly obvious that neither of them should continue in their positions. Unfortunately, our political system gives this body the power to make their own rules and I don’t believe any of them are willing to make the needed changes that will cut some of them out of receiving their life long taxpayer funded positions.
Laurel says
Skibum: You are one of the last commenters here that I would expect that response to come from. So, to you, I am of little worth. “Liberals” are something else. I see why the Democrats have problems.
Skibum says
No, Laurel, I surely do not think that you are of little worth. Nor do I think my father-in-law who is about to turn 86 years old, and who I love to death, is of little worth at his age. But he is definitely in decline as is normal for his age. He is also a retired firefighter, and I would not want to see him or any other person his age still fighting fires. At some point in all of our lives, nature is going to catch up to us. And when the signs are there telling me that I need to slow down and rethink what I am doing, I hope I will be open to listening and doing what is best for my health. The signs are obviously there for both senators McConnel and Feinstein, but they have shown, up to this point, no interest in listening to their bodies while they diminish their very obvious declines in both physical and mental health, and that is a detriment to their ability to continue to serve in the positions they hold. In any other occupation, they would most likely already be either looking for the door or asked to leave if they are not up to the task, but our Congress has given themselves so much power, including the power to be completely ineffective, or absent, yet still continue to be there in spirit only for months at a time while collecting our taxpayer provided salary. Is that fair for the country?
Laurel says
Skibum: Who decides then? Younger candidates? Nikki Haley stated that maybe even test everyone over 50. Sully Sullenberger landed a passenger jet in the Hudson, saving all 155 passengers aboard, at age 58. That’s competence and experience. Maybe Haley would have preferred to be on a jet with a 35 year old pilot.
Don’t the American people get to decide who stays and who goes? It’s called a vote. You may not like Feinstein or McConnell, but their constituents knew how old they were when they voted them in.
Should we set one age for everyone, no matter how clever or competent they may be? Yes nature catches up with us, but for some more than others. You should not set a limit on skin being light enough, or too dark. You should not set a limit by religion. You should not set a limit by gender. You should not set limits on gay or straight. But you thinks it’s a okay to set a limit on age, without regard for those who are effected.
Skibum says
I love your points of view and passionate arguments, and you are swaying my viewpoint on this issue, but I have to ask the question that keeps pounding in my head. If we are to rely solely on voters to make smart decisions and not elect unqualified or “over the hill” people to public office, how in the world do we, on one hand hold those same, supposed bright and responsible voters up as the perfect safeguards against the election of someone who will be ineffective due to their advanced age, when we have seen time and time again boneheaded voters elect some of the most disgusting and corrupt people to office, i.e. Trump? Isn’t it possible, and appropriate, to demand other qualifying factors for those running for elected office, or should we just throw the dice and hope for the best? I’m not sure of the answers, but I know we as a country need to have this important discussion.
Laurel says
Skibum: Okay, you set the age limit. Should it be 50, 60, 70, 80? Let’s pick 70, the latest age for collecting the largest Social Security check. So, if the age limit is set for 70, and let’s say it’s for a four year term, do we kick out the politician in the middle of his/her term when he/she turns 70? Or, would it be that the person could not run for office at age 66.5 as that person would turn 70 during the four year term? So any age you pick, the questions here still remain.
Now, lets talk term limits. Let’s set the term for each position at four years, just for argument’s sake. My favorite politician is Pete Buttigieg. He is, by far, one of the absolute smartest fellows to come down the pike. He is a young man, which seems to be what is preferred, age wise. One term, and he’s done with that job. One term and he’s done with another job. By being young, he’ll be done before wisdom, and experience kicks in that wonderful mind. Too bad, got many more who can replace him? Is wisdom and experience so much less important than being 47? Wait, if the age is set at 50…
What drives me nuts about Democrats is they do not understand that Joe Biden has been in politics all his life. He is not showing decline, the way Republican want us to believe (they also want us to believe Trump is 6’3″ and 215 lbs). What is hair raising Presidential decisions for us, is another day for Joe. He has been in training for this for a long time.
Charles says
Hey Washington get with the times, TERM LIMITS is a must and the means Supreme Court Judges also.
Bill C says
According to Harvard School of Public Health: ” April 13, 2023 – U.S. life expectancy has declined to 76.4 years, the shortest it’s been in nearly two decades, according to December data from the CDC.” The story states 79 years.
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/whats-behind-shocking-u-s-life-expectancy-decline-and-what-to-do-about-it/
Beach Cat says
So falling off a bicycle requires one to consider retiring anyone? My son rides 30 miles on his bike. He has fallen. Eventually, everyone has a fall from bike riding. Stumbling? My daughter is a long distance runner. She has fallen from stumbling over a crack in the sidewalk, breaking her wrist. While walking I recently stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk breaking my hand. Shall we compare due to age? If you exercise, stuff happens. If you are an 81 year old president, each stumble or mistake is scrutinized as an aging event. Until President Biden exhibits events such as those like McConnell and Feinstein, lay off. Yes, they should retire. So should have RBG.
ASF says
Because “Ageism” is a real problem and it’s a dangerous precedent to set.
Linda says
Did anyone see the video of Bruce Springsteen falling up the stairs? Physical fitness does not carry the same weight as mental fitness. Mental fitness should be tested at a certain age in politics for anyone in office.
Laurel says
My friend just send me a split picture of Mick Jagger and Mitch McConnell. Mick looks slim, smiling big and ready to party, while McConnell looks like a deer in the headlights. The caption states “Mick Jagger is 80. Mitch McConnell is 81. The benefits of a life of sex, drugs, and rock-‘n-roll should not be ignored.”
Well, ageism is the last acceptable bigotry. Many other societies consider their elders important as they are the most knowledgeable. I think that to fire someone simply for their age, or have an age limit, is pure, selfish ignorance. This is one of the ways Democrats shoot themselves in the foot. They hem and haw over Biden’s age, even though he is doing what they voted him in for. There are no guarantees. Kennedy was assassinated at age 46. The Vice President took over. That’s why we have Vice Presidents! Scared of a female, of Asian, African American decent for President? More bigotry.
The chance for us to keep our democracy, and keep out the Heritage Foundation’s vision of white, *Christian* nationalism, which will rid us of our freedom, liberties and Constitution, is to back Biden. If Biden isn’t your favorite candidate, he still beats Trump on any given day, and beats fascism. After that, pick someone new. Biden’s been at this so long, that stuff that would turn us on our heads is just daily stuff for him.
Now, if you want to test politicians for stupid, that’s a great idea. Let’s start with Green, Bobart, Santos, Jordan, Cruz…
Sherry says
Why isn’t trump’s picture right up there with the others?
Before the “usual suspects” post their FOX “talking point” that elections are enough to set restrictions. . . I’ll point out that “IF” elections weren’t controlled by money, the electoral college and gerrymandering maybe that would be a good point. As it is, the Supreme Court is “appointed for life”. . . so NO, elections have no control there. Congressional representatives hold on to their seats and hold on to that massive power often at the request/demand of their political party. Therefore other viable candidates are simply not made available. . . because it takes massive amounts of MONEY to even launch a political campaign, much less stay the course to win one.
Look, mandatory retirement age of 80 or even 75 for all elected offices and the Supreme Court would provide leaders of our country who are mentally more at the “TOP” of their game. Wouldn’t we all be better off with leaders who are both physically AND mentally healthy?
In addition, many of those who stay in office for such long periods (over 20 years) are more likely to become “corrupt” and “out of touch” with our ever changing society/culture/country/world.
Of course term limits and mandatory retirement age should be implemented. . . BUT those who decide such things are the very ones who are abusing the current system= “The Fox Guarding The Hen House”!!!
Sherry says
BTW. . . I am just over 75 myself. . . I am as sharp as ever, and more “wise” each and every day. Therefore, my prior post is not from an “ageist” perspective. It’s the wonderful WISE person who knows when to bow out.
The point is that I’m now “wise” enough to know absolutely that my perception of the world. . . with its deteriorating environment and resulting population migration, intraglobal political relationships, the current workings of society and culture, the legal and economic challenges of our nation, effects of our mental health/gun/drug crisis, etc. etc. . . . is at least two generations removed from the reality of what is going on “TODAY”.
We need political representatives who can personally relate to our quickly evolving, extremely complex, world in order to help create a healthy and successful “FUTURE” for ALL the people of our nation, and our planet. Leaders who will . . . Make The “Future” of America Great!
We do not need a “Rerun” of the PAST!
Laurel says
Sherry: “Look, mandatory retirement age of 80 or even 75 for all elected offices and the Supreme Court would provide leaders of our country who are mentally more at the “TOP” of their game. Wouldn’t we all be better off with leaders who are both physically AND mentally healthy?”
Sounds ageist to me.
A 40 year old can’t have health or mental issues?
Bang! There goes the other foot…
Sherry says
So sorry Laurel,
While I absolutely admire you and agree with 99% of your positions. . . it appears we’ll need to agree to disagree on this one.
Of course, there are those who are mentally ill at all ages, however the general risk factor is higher in older people.
As we age our bodies begin to physically deteriorate, and that includes our brains.
This from the National Library of Medicine:
The effects of ageing on the brain and cognition are widespread and have multiple aetiologies. Ageing has its effects on the molecules, cells, vasculature, gross morphology, and cognition. As we age our brains shrink in volume, particularly in the frontal cortex. As our vasculature ages and our blood pressure rises the possibility of stroke and ischaemia increases and our white matter develops lesions. Memory decline also occurs with ageing and brain activation becomes more bilateral for memory tasks. This may be an attempt to compensate and recruit additional networks or because specific areas are no longer easily accessed. Genetics, neurotransmitters, hormones, and experience all have a part to play in brain ageing.
While there are many, many people who remain “competent” well into their 80’s, and even 90’s. It is still my position that we deserve political leaders who are at the “Top of Their Game” . . . not merely “competent”.
However, as I noted before, we are often NOT presented with the “best” . . . most intelligent, best educated, most honest, most ethical, most compassionate candidates for political office. This is because our elections are fundamentally corrupt. The election process (especially since the Citizens United decision) is now a machine that is driven by MONEY! Millions that are poured like oil into that machine by “billionaire donors”, by agenda driven “lobbyist”, and yes, even by well meaning grandmas, at 10 bucks a pop.
It’s that “political machine” whose political parties “gerrymander” voting districts to skew the electoral college counts. . . often watering down the value of the votes by people of color. It’s those “political machines” that chooses which candidate to financially support according to its particular political agenda. Make no mistake, without that MONETARY support the best potential leader in the country stands “zero” chance of being elected.
Therefore, it remains my strongly held opinion that although I am certainly “competent” in my middle 70’s. . . we all deserve BETTER leaders.
That means that massive political reform is needed. Not only term limits and mandatory retirement, but perhaps even more importantly, reforms that STOP our elections from being BOUGHT and PAID FOR!
* STOP Financial Lobbying
* LIMIT Election Activities to 6 Months Before Election Day
* REQUIRE Each Candidate to Spend the Same Amount of $
* ELIMINATE The Electoral College
* TERM LIMITS
* Mandatory Retirement Age- Including The Supreme Court
You are wonderful, Laurel! Have a fabulous weekend!
Peace! Joy! Love!
Laurel says
Sherry: That’s still ageism. There are many who believe white men are smarter than black men. Should that be legislated? There are many people who believe men are smarter than women. Should that be legislated? There are many who believe gays are inferior to straights. Should that be legislated? But you believe age should legislated. Okay, I’ll agree to disagree.
On my opinion on age and term limits, please refer to my last (today’s, 9/2) reply to Skibum.
Laurel says
P.S. enjoy Trump.
Sherry says
Dear Laurel,
You seem to be so terribly upset by a discussion of something (mandatory retirement age) we “thinking people” all know will not even be considered in our lifetimes, anyway. I’ve only been speaking from intellectual “theory”.
If you for one moment think I prefer horrific trump to wonderful President Biden, I can only surmise that you have not been following my postings as I faithfully follow yours.
trump is nothing short of a dangerous criminal monster! He is unfit for any office for hundreds of reasons. . . including his psychopathic mental state!
I’ll leave you with this “theoretical” question, which need not be answered . . . is it ageist that we have “minimum” ages to vote, to drink, to hold certain public offices, to drive a car, etc.? Our youngest generations are already challenging those age limits.
Our culture and society is evolving every rapidly, these discussions are a vital part of that evolution. Hopefully, we can continue them in a way that does not have the reasonable people among us at odds with one another.
You have my sincere apology, Laurel, for any small part I may have played in taking the joy out of your weekend. . . or any day, for that matter. It was never my intention.
Laurel says
Sherry: No joy removed, and I am not “terribly upset.” I’m not that easy!
I know you have no love for Trump, but if Democrats keep suggesting Biden is too old, there should be other Democrats running for President, and the Trump Party ignores Trump’s age, Trump may just win.
Now, here are some people “…at the top of their game”: MT Green age 49. Lauren Bobart age 36. George Santos age 35. Vivek Ramaswamy age 38. Ron DeSantis age 44.
I rest my case. Good night and good luck!
Atwp says
Jimbo don’t forget about frozen Mitch and lying Trump. I think you are blind in one eye, you name some Dems and not the Repubs, get out of fantasy world and face reality. The Republicans are old non thinkers too.
Ban the GOP says
Thanks to Citizens United corporations control who gets nominations and funding and dont even have to report their contributions, have to remove the right wing scum in the stolen supreme court to make any progress towards a livable future. Old people have all the money and thats what people really care about money. Profits over people.
Laurel says
Ban: Where’s my money?
Foresee says
What’s all the fuss about? Simply use the Trump test- Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV! He amazed them with his brilliance.
https://www.yahoo.com/video/president-trump-cognitive-test-biden-person-man-woman-camera-tv-165846772.html
jake says
We definitely need term limits, it’s obvious the people of America are too stupid to elect competent leaders.
Sherry says
President Biden has assembled a highly qualified, experienced team that has already accomplished much more for the citizens of the USA than too many are willing acknowledge. Unfortunately for all of us, you will not see this on FOX:
1. Passed the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package to increase investment in the national network of bridges and roads, airports, public transport and national broadband internet, as well as waterways and energy systems.
2. Helped get more than 500 million life-saving COVID-19 vaccinations in the arms of Americans through the American Rescue Plan.
3. Stopped a 30-year streak of federal inaction on gun violence by signing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that created enhanced background checks, closed the “boyfriend” loophole and provided funds for youth mental health.
4. Made a $369 billion investment in climate change, the largest in American history, through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
5. Ended the longest war in American history by pulling the troops out of Afghanistan.
6. Provided $10,000 to $20,000 in college debt relief to Americans with loans who make under $125,000 a year.
7. Cut child poverty in half through the American Rescue Plan.
8. Capped prescription drug prices at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare through the Inflation Reduction Act.
9. Passed the COVID-19 relief deal that provided payments of up to $1,400 to many struggling U.S. citizens while supporting renters and increasing unemployment benefits.
10. Achieved historically low unemployment rates after the pandemic caused them to skyrocket.
11. Imposed a 15% minimum corporate tax on some of the largest corporations in the country, ensuring that they pay their fair share, as part of the historic Inflation Reduction Act.
12. Recommitted America to the global fight against climate change by rejoining the Paris Agreement.
13. Strengthened the NATO alliance in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion by endorsing the inclusion of world military powers Sweden and Finland.
14. Authorized the assassination of the Al Qaeda terrorist Ayman al-Zawahiri, who became head of the organization after the death of Osama bin Laden.
15. Gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices through the Inflation Reduction Act while also reducing government health spending.
16. Held Vladimir Putin accountable for his invasion of Ukraine by imposing stiff economic sanctions.
17. Boosted the budget of the Internal Revenue Service by nearly $80 billion to reduce tax evasion and increase revenue.
18. Created more jobs in one year (6.6 million) than any other president in U.S. history.
19. Reduced healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act by $800 a year as part of the American Rescue Plan.
20. Signed the PACT Act to address service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxins.
21. Signed the CHIPS and Science Act to strengthen American manufacturing and innovation.
22. Reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act through 2027.
23. Halted all federal executions after the previous administration reinstated them after a 17-year freeze.
Sherry says
* Do you want to save our democratic Republic? VOTE Democratic! VOTE for President Biden!
* Do you want a President who is dedicated to “your” best interest instead of his? VOTE Democratic! VOTE for President Biden!
* Do you want a President who has not been impeached or criminally indicted? VOTE Democratic! VOTE for President Biden!
* Do you want a President of Good Moral Character? VOTE Democratic! VOTE for President Biden!
* Do you want a President that abides by our constitution? VOTE Democratic! VOTE for President Biden!