VOA60 20210504

 

VOA60 20210503

 

VOA60 World PM for May 3, 2021     Bangladesh: A speedboat carrying around 30 passengers overturned after hitting a sand-laden cargo boat in a Bangladeshi river Monday, leaving at least 26 people dead, an official said.   Nepal: Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli on Monday asked international communities for aid as the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the Himalayan nation. On Monday, the Health Ministry reported 7,137 new infections.   India: The Indian capital, New Delhi, is running out of crematoriums for COVID-19 victims, exacerbating a dire second wave of infections that has left hospitals and morgues overflowing.   Iran: The Iranian government on Monday denied media reports suggesting a prisoner swap deal had been reached with the United States, in parallel with nuclear talks involving the two arch-rivals.   Germany: German police have uncovered one of the world's largest underground websites for child pornography with more than 400,000 users and arrested four people connected to the platform, prosecutors said on Monday.

PM Thế giới VOA60 cho ngày 3 tháng 2021 năm 2021   Bangladesh: Một chiếc thuyền cao tốc chở khoảng 30 hành khách bị lật sau khi đâm một chiếc thuyền chở hàng bằng cát-laden trên sông Bangladeshi vào thứ Hai, khiến ít nhất 26 người chết, một quan chức nòi.   Nepal: Thủ tướng K.P. Sharma Oli hôm thứ Hai đã yêu cầu các cộng đồng quốc tế hỗ trợ vì đại dịch COVID-19 đã gây ảnh hưởng đến quốc gia Himalaya. Hôm thứ Hai, Bộ Y tế báo cáo 7,137 ca nhiễm mới.   Ấn Độ: Thủ đô Ấn Độ, New Delhi, sắp hết hỏa táng cho các nạn nhân COVID-19, bỏ qua làn sóng lây nhiễm thứ hai khiến các bệnh viện và nhà xác tràn ngập.   Iran: Chính phủ Iran hôm thứ Hai đã từ chối các báo cáo truyền thông đề nghị một thỏa thuận hoán đổi tù nhân đã được đạt được với Hoa Kỳ, song song với các cuộc nói chuyện hạt nhân liên quan đến hai đối thủ vòm.   Đức: Cảnh sát Đức đã phát hiện một trong những trang web ngầm lớn nhất thế giới về phim khiêu dâm trẻ em với hơn 400,000 người dùng và bắt giữ bốn người liên hệ với nền tảng, các công tố viên cho biết vào thứ Hai.

Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 22: 'Rác cần trân quý' (P2)

 

Tóm lược (Summary)​

Sue tries to teach Anna how to turn trash into treasure. But Anna doesn't seem to know what treasure is. And she makes a big mess.

Sue cố gắng chỉ Anna cách biến rác trở thành một kho báu. Nhưng Anna có vẻ như không biết kho báu là gì. Và cô ấy đang tạo ra một mớ hỗn độn.

Hội thoại (Conversation)

Sue: Welcome to class, Anna. I can’t wait to see your trash!

Sue: Oh, okay. Alright, it’s a -- it’s a net with a … oh, it’s got a hole in it. Tell me about that.

Anna: This net said to me, “Anna, I used to catch stuff. I don’t anymore. So, use me, Anna.” That’s what it said. It said, “Use me, Anna.”

Sue: Okay. So...it’s a plastic helmet.

Anna: This plastic helmet said, “Anna. Hey, Anna, find me a head.”

Sue: Okay, um...and a broken toy.

Anna: This broken toy … this broken toy said to me – it said, “Anna, help me find fun.” “Help me, Anna” is what it said.

Sue: Anna, this stuff is not saying anything to you or me or anyone. It’s what we like to call in the business … garbage.

Anna: But you said to bring in trash.

Sue: Sometimes trash is treasure. Sometimes it's just trash.

Sue: Anna, don’t worry. Next week, I could teach you decoupage.

Anna: Decoupage. Decoupage. That’s fun to say.

Sue: All you need to bring is a clean shoe box. A box that held shoes.

Anna: I got it. I got it! See you next week!

Prof. Bot: Ut oh. It looks like Anna doesn’t know the difference between treasure and trash. She thinks those things are telling her something!

Prof. Bot: The words tell and say have similar meanings. But we use them in different ways.

Prof Bot: Tell means “to inform or instruct someone with words” and is almost always followed by an indirect object. For example, Sue says, “Tell me about that.”

Prof. Bot: The word me is the indirect object and tells us who is being told.

Prof. Bot: Say means “to express something with words” and focuses more on the words used. For example, Anna says, “That’s what it said. It said, ‘Use me, Anna.’”

Prof. Bot: Listen for when Anna and Sue use tell and say.

Sue: Anna, welcome to Decoupage class. Decoupage is just gluing pretty pictures onto stuff.

(Sue gets a phone call.)

Sue: Anna, I’ve got to talk to this person. I’ll be right back. Don’t start without me.

Anna: Got it.

(Sue leaves to take her phone call. Anna gets glue everywhere. She becomes covered with glue and paper.)

Anna: Okay. I can fix this.

Sue: Anna, what happened? I told you to wait for me!

Anna: Actually, you told me not to start without you, which I didn’t. Your glue is really sticky.

Sue: Next week, let’s try lamp making. There’s – there’s no glue. Here's a flier.

Anna: Thanks. See you next week.

Sue: Anna, you did really well this week. I think lamp making might be your thing!

Anna: Thanks, Sue. I did everything you told me to do.

Sue: Remember: I said to read the instructions really carefully. Where are those instructions?

Anna: Let’s just plug it in!

(Anna plugs in the lamp and, suddenly, the city loses electricity.)

Anna: So, what class will you be teaching next week?

Prof. Bot: Too bad Anna didn’t follow instructions! Visit our website for more on tell and say!

Anna tells Sue why she brought in a net with a hole in it.

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

actually – adv. used to stress that a statement is true especially when it differs in some way from what might have been thought or expected
command – n. an order given to a person to do something
decoupage – n. the art of decorating an object by gluing pictures onto it
electricity – n. a form of energy that is carried through wires and is used to operate machines, lights, etc.
flier – n. a piece of paper that has something printed on it, such as an advertisement
focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific
garbage – n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown out
glue – n. substance used to stick things tightly together
helmet – n. a hard hat that is worn to protect your head
hole - n. an opening in or through something
net – n. a device that is used for catching or holding things or
paper – n. the material that is used in the form of thin sheets for writing or printing on, wrapping things, etc.
picture – n. a painting, drawing, or photograph of someone or something
plastic – n. a light, strong substance that can be made into different shapes and that is used for making many common products
plug – n. a part at the end of an electric cord that has two or three metal pins that connect the cord to a source of electricity
sticky – adj. covered in a substance that things stick to
stuff – n. materials, supplies, or equipment
thing – n. an object whose name is not known or stated

Thực hành (Practice)

Now, you try it!

First, read more about tell and say below. Then, practice using those words in the Comments section. Write about what happens in Lesson 22! You can find some examples below. Try making at least one sentence with tell and one with say.

So sánh giữa Tell và Say (Tell | Say)

TELL means “to inform or instruct someone with words.” We use an indirect object (personal pronoun) with tell to say who is receiving the information.

Tell is only used without an indirect object in a few expressions, such as: tell the time, tell the difference and tell the truth.

When we report a command or instruction, we usually also use the verb tell. When we do this, we use an infinitive verb after the indirect object.

Command (in Direct Speech)	Reported Speech
“Read the instructions carefully.”	She told Anna to read the instructions carefully.

Use tell:

• In reported speech
• Sometimes in direct speech*
• With a personal pronoun

Examples:

• Sue told Anna that she liked her lamp.
• She told her to read the instructions carefully.
• Anna told her that the broken toys wanted help.
• Sue told me, “So…it’s a plastic helmet.” (wrong)

SAY means "to express something with words." When we use say, we do not focus on who is receiving the information. So, we do not use an indirect object (personal pronoun).

Use say:

• In direct speech
• In reported speech
• Without a personal pronoun

Examples:

• Anna said the glue was very sticky.
• Sue said that she had to take a call.
• She said, “Don’t start without me.”
• Anna said me, “Got it.” (wrong)
  

Sue tells Anna not to start without her.

When to Use	Tell	Say
In reported speech	Yes	Yes
In direct speech	Less common	Yes
With an indirect object	Yes	No

*The verb Tell is sometimes used with direct speech, but this is less common than say. However, it can be common in some types of writing, such as in news reports.

Tự kiểm tra (Test Yourself)

How well do you know the grammar from Level 2? Test yourself!

In Lesson 22, you will see examples of reported speech and other grammar that you have learned in Level 2. Look for sentences in Lesson 22 with:

• Reported speech
• Past habitual
• Prepositions
• Passive voice

Then, write those sentences in the Comments section. For example: But you said to bring in trash (reported speech).

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.​

Quiz - Lesson 22: Trash to Treasure, Part 2

Start the Quiz to find out

Start Quiz

Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 21: 'Rác cần trân quý' (P1)

 

Tóm lược (Summary)

Anna wants to get Pete a gift for his birthday. So, she visits a store called Tanglewood Works and tries to learn the difference between trash and treasure...

Anna muốn chuẩn bị một món quà cho sinh nhật của Pete. Vì vậy cô đã tới một cửa hàng có tên Tanglewood Works và cố tìm hiểu sự khác biệt giữa 'rác' và 'kho báu.'

Hội thoại (Conversation)

Anna: (on phone, to Pete) Got it. Pete, I promise. I won’t tell anyone. (to herself) Bye. He is so strange.

Ashley: Hey, Anna!

Anna: Hi, Ashley!

Ashley: Are you talking to yourself again?

Anna: No, not this time. I was talking to Pete.

Ashley: How’s he doing?

Anna: Good. He has a birthday coming up! But he told me not to tell anyone.

Ashley: Why?

Anna: Well, from the way he was speaking, I don’t think he likes cake or presents or fun.

Ashley: That sounds like Pete.

Anna: Well, I don’t care. I’m getting him a present. Do you know where I can buy something unique?

Ashley: I do -- Tanglewood Works. You will definitely find something unique there.

Anna: Great. I’ll go this weekend. Now, speaking of Pete’s birthday, what else should I do? I know. I’ll rent him a clown!

Ashley: Yeah, he’ll never speak to you again.

Professor Bot: Did you hear Ashley and Anna using the words talk and speak?

Talk and speak both mean “to say words.” And, many times, you can use either word without losing any meaning. But there are some differences in when we use these words.

The word talk is usually used:

• for conversations between two or more people
• and informal situations, such as between friends or family

For example, Ashley asks Anna: “Are you talking to yourself again?”

Speak is usually used:

• for one-way communication, such as presentations
• formal situations, such as a boss speaking with her workers
• to talk about language ability
• and in polite requests

Keep watching, and listen for the words talk and speak.

(Anna goes to Tanglewood Works.)

Sue: Hey there. Welcome to Tanglewood Works! I’m Sue. How can I help you today?

Anna: Hi Sue, I’m Anna. A friend told me about your store. She said, “Anna, this place is really unique!”

Sue: We are! Here at Tanglewood Works, we focus on things that are handmade, reclaimed and recycled.

Anna: Wow! That is really good for the environment.

Sue: It’s good for you too. Local artists made all of these one-of-a-kind pieces. And I paint most of the furniture.

Anna: Can I look around?

Sue: Oh, please do.

(Anna walks around the store.)

Sue: So, Anna, do you like to make things?

Anna: Me? Oh, no. Every time I try to make something, something goes wrong.

(She knocks down many things.)

Anna: Oh, sorry. Sorry.

Sue: It’s okay. Anna, everybody can make something.

Anna: Sue, this piece is very interesting!

Sue: You know, when I found these pieces, they were broken and in a dumpster. But they spoke to me. And they said, “Save me, Sue! Save me!”

Anna: Sue, what do you mean they “spoke” to you?

Sue: When I see something special that someone has thrown away, I can almost hear it talk.

Anna: It’s not saying anything!

Sue: Anna, it’s not easy to see the treasure in trash.

Anna: Or hear it talk.

Sue: But you can learn. In fact, I teach private classes. And one is called Turning Trash to Treasure.

Sue: Next week, bring in some trash and we’ll turn it into treasure. Just remember – pick some trash that “speaks” to you.

Anna: Got it! I’ll see you next week!

Professor Bot: Will Anna find trash that “speaks” to her? What will it say? We’ll find out next week!

Anna tries to find trash that "speaks" to her.

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

ability - n. the power or skill of doing something
cake – n. a sweet baked food made from a mixture of flour, sugar, and other ingredients (such as eggs and butter)
communication – n. the act or process of using words to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings,
conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people
definitely – adv. in a way that is certain or clear
dumpster – n. a large trash container
furniture – n. chairs, tables, beds, et cetera that are used to make a room ready for use
focus – v. to direct your attention or effort at something specific
handmade – adj. made with your hands or by using hand tools
environment – n. the natural world
local – adj. located or living nearby
one-of-a-kind – adj. used to say that something is the only one of its kind
polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people
present – n. gift
presentation – n. an activity in which someone shows, describes, or explains something to a group of people
private – adj. for the use of a single person or group
reclaimed – adj. describes getting (a usable thing) from materials that have been used before
recycled – adj. describes something new that was made from something used before
request – n. an act of politely or formally asking for something
situation – n. the facts, conditions and events that affect someone or something at a particular time and in a particular place
strange – adj. different from what is usual, normal, or expected
trash – n. things that are no longer useful or wanted and that have been thrown away
treasure – n. something that is very special, important or valuable
unique – adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else

Practice (Thực hành)

Now, you try it!

First, read more about talk and speak below. Then, practice using those words in the Comments section. Try making one sentence with talk and one with speak.

You can write about:

• a conversation with a friend
• a conversation with a group
• someone’s language skills
• a professor at a national event
• a manager and his/her workers
• or anything else you choose

In each sentence, be sure to use the correct word: talk or speak!

So sánh giữa Talk và Speak (Talk | Speak)

Talk and speak both mean “to say words.” But there are some differences in the ways we use each word.

Talk is less formal than speak. It is usually used for informal conversations between two or more people.

• He wants to talk to you.
• They talked for three hours.
• Let’s talk about ideas for the show.
• I can’t talk right now. I’ll call you later.

Speak is usually used for communication in more serious or formal situations. It is also used in polite requests and to talk about language ability.

• She spoke on the news about world hunger.
• May I speak to the manager?
• Which languages do you speak?
• I speak French and Haitian Creole.

Tự kiểm tra (Test Yourself)

Test yourself on what you've learned so far!

Lesson 21 has grammar from many lessons in Level 2. See how much you can find! Look for sentences in Lesson 21 with:

• Indirect questions
• Reported speech
• Reflexive pronouns
• Adverb clauses
• Present perfect
• Prepositions

Then, write those sentences in the Comments section. For example:

Sue says, “You know, when I found these pieces, they were broken and in a dumpster.” (Adverb clause: “when I found these pieces”)

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.​

Quiz - Lesson 21: Trash to Treasure, Part 1

Start the Quiz to find out

Start Quiz

Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 20: Lái thử xe

 

Tóm lược (Summary)

Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news story about the Washington Car Show. Anna is having a lot of fun -- maybe too much fun...

Anna, Penelope và Rick đang làm một bản tin về Triển lãm Xe hơi Washington. Anna đang rất vui vẻ ở sự kiện này - mà có lẽ hơi vui quá...

Hội thoại (Conversation)

Anna: (to Penelope) That’s a great idea. (to Rick) Rick, I think we should use this as the opening shot.

Penelope: Anna, did Ms. Weaver give us instructions for covering the car show?

Anna: She did. She said that we need to show lots of cars. She said we need to interview people. And she also said that we should have fun.

Penelope: Those were her exact words?

Anna: Yeah. She said, “Have fun, Anna!” And she is the boss.

Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you - are you ready? OK. Hello, I'm Anna Matteo. Welcome to the Washington Car Show!

Anna: People all over town are saying that if you like cars, this is the place to be! So, let's see what people are talking about. (at Rick) How was that? Okay? Is that Good?

Professor Bot: Anna, Penelope and Rick are making a news story about the Washington Car Show. Ms. Weaver gave them instructions.

We often need to tell others what someone else said.

There are two ways to do this. One is to use the person’s exact words and use quotation marks. We call this "direct speech."

For example, Ms. Weaver had said, “You need to show lots of cars.”

The other way is to talk about what someone said. We call this "reported speech."

Anna tells Penelope: She said that we need to show lots of cars.

In this sentence, "she," is the subject, “said” is the reporting verb, “that” is the conjunction and “we need to show lots of cars” is the reporting clause.

Keep watching, and listen for sentences where Anna talks about what someone else said!

Anna: This car show has many styles of vehicles. There are utility vehicles, classic cars, trucks, sports cars, and everyday vehicles.

Penelope: Okay, I think we got good interviews.

Anna: Me too! People had very different opinions. But they all said they loved cars.

Penelope: Anna, look -- a robot!

Anna: A robot!

Penelope: A robot!

Anna: Rick, we have to use the robot in the show!

(They walk over to the robot. Anna begins to dance like a robot.)

Robot: What is your first name?

Anna: Anna! Anna!

Robot: Anna, you know, what an effort. What an effort to robot dance. How about a round of applause for Anna! I’ve never seen anyone try so hard.

Anna: Penelope, did you hear that? Hank the Robot said that he has never seen anyone dance like me.

Penelope: Uh, I think many people here are saying that, Anna.

Anna: That was fun. You know what someone told me? You can test drive a Jaguar at this car show.

Penelope: Now, that sounds fun.

Anna: Let’s go.

Penelope: Okay.

Anna: This course is smooth. So you can drive faster.

Anna: He said...that I can’t drive, unfortunately.

(They begin the test drive. Kurt, the stunt driver, does the driving.)

Anna: Oh my gosh…reverse.

Anna: That was great. This is awesome.

Kurt: Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?

Anna: I’m ready.

Kurt: Here we go!

Anna: That’s awesome.

Anna: That was...That was awesome! I just want to go one more time. I promise. That’s it. Just one more time.

Anna: This course is bumpy and uneven. I was told that I could drive this course. So I am.

Anna: (to Rick) Okay, Rick, are you rolling? Awesome. Okay, this course is uneven. But I think the ride will be smooth.

Anna: Ooh. This hill is really steep.

Anna: Oh my gosh. I can’t tell you how much fun this is.

Anna: Penelope, that was so much fun! I think I need to go again.

Penelope: Uh, Anna, I think we have enough test drive video.

Anna: Ms. Weaver said to get a lot. So, I think I should go again. (to Rick) Rick, I’m going to go again. Until next time!

Penelope: But I want to get lunch, Anna!

Professor Bot: Penelope said she wants to go to lunch. But I don’t think that’s going to happen soon. Visit our website for more!

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

bumpy – adj. having or covered with bumps
classic car – n. an older car, usually of a style that is no longer being manufactured
course – n. the path or direction that something or someone moves along
cover – v. to report news about something
effort – n. energy used to do something
everyday – adv. used or seen everyday
exact – adj. full or completely correct or accurate
hill – n. a usually rounded area of land that is higher than the land around it but that is not as high as a mountain
opinion – n. a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something
roll – v. to operate something, such as a movie camera
round of applause – expression. an outburst of clapping among a group or audience
shot – n. a part of a movie or a television show that is filmed by one camera without stopping​
smooth – adj. having a flat, even surface
sports car – n. a low-built car designed for performance at high speeds
steep – adj. rising or falling sharply
stunt driver - n. a trained driver who drives vehicles for dangerous scenes in films and on television
test drive - v. an act of driving a motor vehicle that one is considering buying in order to determine its quality.
uneven – adj. not level, flat or smooth
unfortunately – adv. a word used to say that something is bad or disappointing
utility vehicle – n. a powerful vehicle with four-wheel drive that can be driven over rough ground (also called sport utility vehicle or SUV)
vehicle – n. a machine that is used to carry people or goods from one place to another

Practice (Thực hành)

Now, you try it! First, read about reported speech below. Then try changing a few of these sentences into reported speech:

Anna asked, "Rick, are you ready?"
Hank said, "I've never seen anyone try so hard."
Kurt asked, "Are you ready to go on the rollercoaster?"
Anna said, "This hill is really steep."
Penelope said, "I think we have enough test drive video."
Anna said, "I think I should go again."

Write your sentences in the Comments section and we will try to respond to you.

Anna tells Penelope what Ms. Weaver had said before the car show.

​

Reported Speech (Câu gián tiếp)​

We often need to tell others what someone else said. We can do this in two ways. One is to say the person’s exact words and use quotation marks. We call this “direct speech.” The other is to talk about what someone else said. We call this “reported speech.”

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“You need to show lots of cars.”	She said (that) we need show lots of cars.

Reported speech contains a subject, reporting verb, conjunction and reporting clause. (The word “that” is optional.)

Subject noun or pronoun	Reporting Verb	Conjunction	Reporting Clause
She	said	(that)	we need to show lots of cars.

Using Reported Speech

To use reported speech, choose a reporting verb, such as say, tell or ask. Usually, the verb in direct speech moves one tense back in time in reported speech.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“I drive my car every day.”	She said (that) she drove her car every day.
“I am driving my car.	She said (that) she was driving her car.
“I have driven my car.”	She said (that) she had driven her car.
“I will drive my car.”	She said (that) she would drive her car.

If the speaker is reporting something that was just said, the reporting clause is often in present tense. This is also common for general facts.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“You need to show lots of cars.”	She said (that) we need to show lots of cars.
“The sky is blue.”	She said (that) the sky is blue.

The modals might, should, would, could and ought to do not change in reported speech. However, can, must and have to do change.

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“I can/could drive my car.”	She said (that) she could drive her car.
“I may/might drive my car.”	She said (that) she might drive her car.
“I must drive my car.”	She said (that) she had to drive her car.
“I have to drive my car.”	She said (that) she had to drive her car.
“I should drive my car.”	She said (that) she should drive her car.
“I ought to drive my car.”	She said (that) she ought to drive her car.

Change the point of view. For example, the subject “I” becomes “he” or “she” and the subject “we” becomes “they.”

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“I have two tickets to the Car Show.”	He said (that) he had two tickets to the Car Show.
“We want to dance like Hank the Robot.”	They said (that) they wanted to dance like Hank the Robot.

Use if or whether to report a “yes or no” question. And use the reporting verb “ask.”

Direct Speech	Reported Speech
“Do you like the Washington Car Show?”	She asked if/whether I liked the Washington Car Show.

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.​

Quiz - Lesson 20: The Test Drive

Start the Quiz to find out

Start Quiz

Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 18: Em bé 'bột' - Phần 2

 

Tóm lược (Summary)​

Anna and Pete complete their parenting experiment. But which one did a better job? And who will win the extra day of vacation?

Anna và Pete hoàn thành cuộc thử nghiệm làm cha mẹ của họ. Nhưng ai là người làm tốt hơn? Và ai sẽ thắng được phần thưởng là ngày nghỉ phép nhỉ?

Hội thoại (Conversation)

Professor Bot: In Part 1 of this two-part lesson, Ms. Weaver gave Anna and Pete an assignment. Ms. Weaver instructed them to do everything by themselves.

“Themselves” is a reflexive pronoun.

In today’s lesson, Ms. Weaver will look at Pete’s and Anna’s research. First, let’s see Pete’s experiment.

(Pete throws the bag of flour on his chair and throws many other things on his flour baby. Next, we see him outside enjoying ice-cream without his flour baby.)

Ms. Weaver: Okay, Pete, let me see your research first.

(Pete hands her a big binder filled with research.)

Ms. Weaver: That’s a heavy binder. And you and your Baby look great.

Pete: Thanks, Ms. Weaver. We feel great!

Ms. Weaver: Anna. Anna, you’re next. Anna? Anna wake up!

(She wakes up but is very confused.)

Anna: I'm here, Baby! I’m here! I’m here! Here's your bottle.

(She accidentally squirts her bottle and milk goes everywhere.)

Ms. Weaver: Anna, you and your baby look awful. What happened?

Anna: Well, I took her everywhere. Everywhere. And I fed her every three hours. So, I haven’t slept since … what day is it?

Ms. Weaver: It’s Friday. What happened there?

(Ms. Weaver points to a large bandage on Anna’s flour baby.)

Anna: Oh, that. Oh, that. I was making myself a salad and had a little accident with a knife. I put my flour baby in front of me. And then I accidentally stabbed it. But I gave it First Aid!

Ms. Weaver: Is that a burn?

Anna: Yes. Yes it is. While I was making myself dinner, I put Baby next to me. I accidentally knocked her into the sink. So I put her in the microwave to dry. That’s when she caught fire.

(Pete smiles, thinking he’s won.)

Professor Bot: Okay. So, we use a reflexive pronoun when it refers to the subject of a sentence or clause.

But we DON’T use a reflexive pronoun with prepositions of place.

Anna uses examples of both in one sentence: While I was making myself dinner, I put Baby next to me.

We use a reflexive pronoun in the first part of the sentence. “Myself” refers to the subject “I.”

But in the second part of the sentence, we don’t use a reflexive pronoun in the prepositional phrase. We use the pronoun “me.” Why? “next to” is a preposition of place.

(Back in the meeting room, we’re about to learn who won the parenting experiment. Pete is smiling, thinking he won.)

Ms. Weaver: Anna, Anna, you should be very proud of yourself.

Pete: Proud? She stabbed and burned her baby!! And she only did one page of research…and it’s covered in milk. Ew.

Ms. Weaver: Yes, Pete. But she followed instructions.

Pete: Hey, I did ...

Ms. Weaver: Please, Pete. Anna, I think your baby has lost some weight. Is there something else you want to share?

Anna: Yes. I’d like to share … these! I made them myself this morning.

Pete: You baked your baby? You should be ashamed of yourself!

Anna: I baked them at the end of the experiment, Pete. At that point, this was just a bag of flour.

Pete: It was always just a bag of flour!!

Ms. Weaver: Pete, will you listen to yourself?! You sound crazy.

Pete: I sound crazy! This whole experiment was crazy!! She was the one who carried around and fed it and ...

(Anna puts a cookie into his mouth. He chews it and begins to smile.)

Pete: Mmm. That is good.

(They all agree and eat the cookies.)

Professor Bot: So, what have we learned? We’ve learned when to use reflexive pronouns and when not to.

Go to our website for more information! You can practice using reflexive pronouns in our comments section.

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

accidentally – adj. happening in a way that is not planned or intended
ashamed – adj. feeling shame or guilt
bake – v. to make food, such as bread and cake, by preparing a dough, batter, etc., and cooking it in an oven using dry heat
bandage – n. a covering, such as a strip of cloth, that protects or supports part of the body that has been hurt
binder – n. a cover for holding together sheets of paper
bottle – n. a glass or plastic container that has a narrow neck and usually has no handle
burn – n. an injury caused by fire, heat or acid
burn – v. to destroy or damage something by fire or heat
cookie – n. a sweet baked food that is usually small, flat, and round and is made from flour and sugar
dry – v. to remove water or moisture from something or someone
First Aid – n. emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person
knife – n. a usually sharp blade attached to a handle that is used for cutting
knock – v. to touch or hit someone or something in a way that is not planned or intended
microwave – n. an oven in which food is cooked or heated quickly by very short waves of electromagnetic energy
squirt – v. to suddenly force a liquid out through a small opening
stab – v. to wound someone or something with a pointed object, such as a knife

Practice (Thực hành)

In last week's lesson, Professor Bot taught you when to use reflexive pronouns. This week, he teaches you when not to use them.

Now, you try it!

Use the Comments section below and tell us about a time when you did something yourself, or a person or people you know did something by himself, herself or themselves.

For example:

After the holiday dinner, I washed all of the dishes myself. ("I" is the subject and "myself" is the reflexive pronoun.)

Subjects and their reflexive pronouns:

I…myself
You…yourself
He…himself
Her…herself
One…oneself
It…itself
We…ourselves
You…yourselves
They…themselves

Remember, do NOT use reflexive pronouns:

After prepositions of place:

Ex: I put Baby next to myself. (wrong)
I put Baby next to me. (right)

Ex: I put my flour baby in front of myself (wrong)
I put my flour baby in front of me. (right)

After these verbs: meet, feel, relax, concentrate:

Ex: They will meet themselves at The Studio next Friday. (wrong)
They will meet at The Studio next Friday. (right)

After verbs that describe things we normally do for ourselves, such as dress, shave and wash​:

Ex: Anna got dressed herself for a day with her new flour baby. (wrong)
Anna got dressed for a day with her new flour baby. (right)

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.

Quiz - Lesson 18: Flour Baby, Part 2

Start the Quiz to find out

Start Quiz

Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 17: Em bé 'bột' - Phần 1

 

Tóm lược (Summary)

Ms. Weaver gives Anna and Pete a new assignment: make a show about single parents. But first, she wants them to try out parenting for themselves...

Ms. Weaver giao cho Anna và Pete một nhiệm vụ mới: sản xuất một chương trình về cha mẹ đơn thân. Nhưng trước tiên, bà muốn họ tự mình thử làm cha mẹ trước.

Hội thoại (Conversation)

Ms. Weaver: Anna, Pete, I have a new assignment for you -- a show on single parents! What is it like for a mother or a father to raise a child by herself or himself?

Anna: We can interview single parents. They can share their experiences themselves.

Ms. Weaver: Yes, but you need to experience parenthood yourselves.

Anna: Ourselves?

Peter: Yeah, how do we do that? We’re not parents.

Ms. Weaver: I asked myself the same question. I said, "Caty, how are they gonna do that?" Then an idea came to me. I will give you the babies!

Professor Bot: You may be asking yourself the same thing that I’m asking myself: what is Ms. Weaver talking about!? I am sure we will find out shortly.

This lesson teaches reflexive pronouns.

Reflexive pronouns refer back to the subject of a sentence or clause. We use them when the subject and the object are the same person or thing.

For example, Ms. Weaver says, “I asked myself the same question.”

“I” is the subject and “myself” refers back to it. Here, she would not use the pronoun “me.” You need to use the reflexive pronoun “myself.”

Reflexive pronouns are easy to find: they end in “self” or “selves.” I have a feeling we are going to see a lot of reflexive pronouns. Listen for them!

(Pete and Anna continue their meeting with Ms. Weaver. She puts two bags of flour on the table. Pete and Anna still look confused.)

Ms. Weaver: Here are your babies!

Pete: Those are bags of flour.

Ms. Weaver: No, Pete, for the next six days, this is your baby. Here are your instructions. Do not leave your babies alone. A baby cannot take care of itself. And you two must do everything by yourselves.

We will meet next Friday. Oh, and the person who does the best research will get an extra day of vacation. Help yourself to a baby.

Anna: Pete, look, my baby is organic and whole grain. Your baby is ordinary.

(Pete pushes her flour baby off desk.)

Anna: (to Pete) Monster! (to Caty) This is a great idea, Ms. Weaver!

(Pete and Anna are now outside.)

Pete: This is a terrible idea.

Anna: Speak for yourself, Pete! We need to throw ourselves into the research! I’m starting right now!

(She leaves but forgets her Flour Baby.)

Pete: Hey Anna, you forgot your baby!

(She turns and looks at Pete.)

Anna: Come to mama!

(The bag of flour flies at her. She catches it.)

Anna: Good girl! Good girl!

Professor Bot: Singular reflexive pronouns end in “self.” Plural ones end in “selves.”

Anna says, “We need to throw ourselves into the research!” The subject “we” is plural. So, we must use the plural reflexive pronoun “ourselves.”

(The parenting research begins. Anna tries to open a baby stroller but can’t. A man walking by helps her. She pushes Flour Baby in the stroller but it falls out. On another day, she jogs with it. After several days, she is tired!)

Anna: This is hard! I hope Pete is not doing well. I really need that vacation day!

Professor Bot: We will all see how Pete is doing in the next episode. We’ll also learn when not to use reflexive pronouns.

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

experience – n. the process of doing and seeing things and of having things happen to you
gonna – informal. In casual conversation, most Americans change “going to” to “gonna.”
instructions – n. statements that describe how to do something
ordinary – adj. normal or usual
monster – n. an extremely cruel or evil person
parenthood – n. the state of being a mother or father
refer – v. to have a direct connection or relationship to something
single – adj. not married or not having a serious romantic relationship with someone
speak for yourself - expression. something you say to someone to say that the opinion that they have just expressed is not the same as your opinion
stroller - n. a small carriage with four wheels that a baby or small child can ride in while someone pushes it​
terrible – adj. very shocking and upsetting
throw (reflexive pronoun) into – expression. to begin to do something with great energy and determination

Practice (Thực hành)

Now, practice the grammar you just learned!

Use the Comments section below to tell us about taking care of a baby (real or not), or maybe an animal. You can talk about yourself, or maybe a friend or family member/s. What happened? How did it go?

Using Reflexive Pronouns

We use reflexive pronouns when the subject and object of the sentence or clause are the same person or thing.

Ex: I asked myself the same question.

Subjects and their reflexive pronouns:

I…myself
You…yourself
He…himself
Her…herself
One…oneself
It…itself
We…ourselves
You…yourselves
They…themselves

A reflexive pronoun can be a direct object, indirect object or an object of the preposition.

Direct Object:
Ex: A baby cannot take care of itself.

Indirect Object:
Ex: I asked myself the same question.

Object of the Preposition:
Ex: Anna and Pete are experiencing parenthood for themselves.

To show emphasis:

Sometimes, we use reflexive pronouns simply to emphasize the person or thing in the sentence or clause. In this case, the reflexive pronoun often appears at the end of the sentence:

Ex: Anna took care of the baby herself.

We do NOT use reflexive pronouns:

After prepositions of place

Ex: Anna found the flour baby in the kitchen herself. (wrong)
Anna found the flour baby in the kitchen. (right)

After these verbs: meet, feel, relax, concentrate

Ex: They will meet themselves at The Studio next Friday. (wrong)
They will meet at The Studio next Friday. (right)

After verbs that describe things we normally do for ourselves, such as dress, shave and wash​

Ex: Anna got dressed herself for a day with her new flour baby. (wrong)
Anna got dressed for a day with her new flour baby. (right)

Don't miss the next episode when we'll talk more about when not to use reflexive pronouns!

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.

Quiz - Lesson 17: Flour Baby, Part 1

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Tiếng Anh cơ bản 2 tập 29: Nơi nào có khói...

 

Tóm lược (Summary)​

Anna becomes a fire safety monitor. But will she do a good job? And when will she use her skills?

Anna trở thành một giám sát viên an toàn cháy nổ. Nhưng liệu cô có làm tốt công việc này không? Và khi nào cô sẽ sử dụng được kỹ năng của mình?

Hội thoại (Conversation)

PENELOPE: Hey, Anna. What are you reading?

ANNA: I’m reading about fire safety. Ms. Weaver named me fire safety monitor.

PENELOPE: But the only time we have a fire emergency is when someone burns a piece of toast.

ANNA: That is true. But fire safety is very serious – very serious. If there is a fire emergency, I have to help everyone out of the building.

PENELOPE: Well then, if I were you, I’d learn as much as possible.

ANNA: You’re right. And I know just who to call!

PROF. BOT: Hmm, I wonder where Anna’s going. Today we are reviewing conditionals and learning helpful language for emergencies.

PROF. BOT: If Anna studies hard, she’ll be a great fire safety monitor! That’s a conditional. It uses “if” to show that something is true only when something else is true.

PROF. BOT: Let’s find out where Anna is going. And if you want to learn fire emergency language, keep watching!

(Two firefighters welcome Anna to their firehouse.)

ANNA: Hi, Firefighter Jones.

FIREFIGHTER JONES: Hey, how are you, Anna?

ANNA: I’m well, thanks. How are you? Hi, Firefighter Hatcher.

FIREFIGHTER HATCHER: Hi, Anna. How are you?

ANNA: I’m well, thanks.

FF H: Welcome to our firehouse.

ANNA: Thank you.

FF H: Come on in.

ANNA: Thanks.

FF H: This is where the firefighters eat. This is where we rest. This is where we exercise. This is where the firetrucks are parked and maintained.

ANNA: This place is beautiful.

FF H: You know, the firehouse is a firefighter’s second home.

ANNA: Firefighter Jones, Firefighter Hatcher: Can you tell me some ways to prepare for a fire emergency?

FF H: Sure, Anna. There’s one really important thing you can do: Install a fire alarm. Test it monthly and make sure the batteries are fully charged.

ANNA: Let’s talk about those emergency exits.

FF J: In your home, office and schools, know where your emergency exits are located.

ANNA: What about fire extinguishers?

FF J: Everyone should know how to use a fire extinguisher. Have one handy and practice using it.

ANNA: What if we need to get out?

FF J: You should have an evacuation plan. And practice getting out safely with fire drills.

ANNA: If I am in a building and it’s on fire, should I use the elevator?

FF H: No. Always use the stairs.

ANNA: What other safety tips should I know?

FF J: Stay low. Smoke rises. The air is clearer close to the ground.

ANNA: Stay low. Anything else?

FF H: If you touch a door and it’s hot, don’t open it. There might be a fire on the other side.

ANNA: What do I do if my clothes catch on fire?

FF H: Do not run. If you run, the fire will burn faster. You must stop, drop and roll.

ANNA: Thanks so much! I’ve learned a lot. And I can’t wait to share this information with others.

FF H: Thanks for coming, Anna.

FF J: It’s been a pleasure meeting you.

(Anna is back at the office talking to Penelope.)

PENELOPE: So, Anna, how was the visit to the fire station?

ANNA: I learned a lot! And firefighters have a very difficult job.

PENELOPE: Do you smell smoke?

ANNA: No. So, like I was saying, I learned how to …

PENELOPE: Anna, I smell smoke.

ANNA: If you smell smoke, call the fire department!

(Anna begins to evacuate her coworkers.)

ANNA: If you smell smoke, get out of the building. Come on people, we have a fire emergency! Leave your things and evacuate calmly and quickly. Very good. Very good.

ANNA: We have a fire emergency. No, take the stairs Let’s get out. Let’s get out safely.

(Anna and coworkers stand outside of the building.)

ANNA: We got out in less than 6 minutes! Good job, people! Wait. Where’s Pete?

PENELOPE: I know where he is. I’ll go get him.

ANNA: No! Never go back into a burning building! The fire department is coming. Stay calm, Pete. Help is on the way! Help is on the way!

Anna takes her job as fire safety monitor very seriously. She visits a local fire station.

Từ ngữ mới (New Words)

alarm – n. a device that makes a loud sound as a warning or signal
catch on fire – v. to begin to burn
clearer – adj. not blocked by anything (comparative form of clear)
close – adj. near in space
door – n. a movable piece of wood, glass, or metal that swings or slides open and shut so that people can enter or leave a room, building or vehicle
emergency – n. an unexpected and usually dangerous situation that calls for immediate action
evacuation – n. the action of leaving or removing someone from a dangerous place
exit – n. something, such as a door, that is used as a way to leave a place
fire drill – n. an activity in which people practice leaving a place quickly so that they will know what to do if there is a fire
fire department –​ n. an organization for preventing and putting out fires​
fire extinguisher – n. a metal container filled with chemicals that is used to put out a fire
fire department -- the department of a local authority in charge of preventing and fighting fires
firehouse – n. a building in which the members of a fire department and the equipment used to put out fires are located
fire station – n. another word for firehouse
handy – adj. near or close
install – v. to make a machine or service ready to be used in a certain place
low – adv. at or to a low place or level
open – v. to move a door or window so that an opening is no longer covered
maintain – v. to keep something in good condition by making repairs or correcting problems
monitor – n. a person who has the job of checking or watching some activity or behavior
rise – v. to move upward
safety – n. freedom from harm or danger
smoke – n. the cloud of black, gray, or white gases and dust that is produced by burning something
stay – v. to continue to be in a specified state, condition, or position
touch – v. to put your hand, fingers, et cetera on something or someone

Câu điều kiện (Conditionals)

Let’s review! You’ll remember conditionals from Lessons 12 and Lesson 13. Conditionals show that something is true only when something else is true.

TYPE 1 conditionals have a real event, and a result that probably will happen.

Sentence Form	Examples
If + present tense verb ... will-future verb.	“If you run, the fire will burn faster.”
If + present tense verb … modal + simple verb.	“If you are in a building that is on fire, you must not use the elevator.”
If + present tense verb … simple verb without subject (imperative)	“If you smell smoke, call the fire department!”

TYPE 2 conditionals have an improbable event and its probable result. These conditionals are not based on real situations.

Sentence Form	Examples
If + past tense verb ...would + simple verb.	“If I were you, I’d want to learn as much as possible.”
If + past tense verb…would + present continuous.	If people didn’t burn toast, the fire alarm would not be ringing so often.

Ngôn ngữ Khẩn cấp (Emergency Language)

Today, you learned important language to use for fire emergencies. Study and remember them. How many can you remember?

Helpful Language	Helpful Phrases
emergency exit/s evacuation plan firefighter fire extinguisher fire truck firehouse fire station fire department fire drill/s catch fire / catch on fire	Install fire alarms. I smell smoke. Do you smell smoke? There’s a fire! Call the fire department! The building is on fire! Stop, drop and roll.

Giờ đến lượt bạn (Now, You Try It)

Test yourself on what you learned!

• What do we call a person who fights fires?
• What's the name of the place where this person lives and works?
• What are some things you can do to prepare for a fire?
• What do we call practicing safely leaving a building?
• If you smell smoke, what should you do?
• If you see a fire, what are some things you might say?
• If your clothes catch on fire, what do you do?

Write your answers in the comments section below.

Bài kiểm tra Nghe (Listening Quiz)

See how well you understand this lesson by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer.​

​

Quiz - Lesson 29: Where There's Smoke...

Start the Quiz to find out

Sta

Everyday Grammar: Grammar for the New Year

 

Text of President Joe Biden's First Address to Congress

 

President Joe Biden speaks to a joint session of Congress Wednesday, April 28, 2021, in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP)



https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/04/29/remarks-by-president-biden-in-address-to-a-joint-session-of-congress/

BRIEFING ROOM

Remarks by President Biden in Address to a Joint Session of Congress

APRIL 29, 2021 • SPEECHES AND REMARKS

U.S. Capitol
(April 28, 2021)

 **See correction below, marked by an asterisk.

9:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  Good to be back.  And Mitch and Chuck will understand it’s good to be almost home, down the hall.  Anyway, thank you all.

Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President — (applause) — no President has ever said those words from this podium.  No President has ever said those words, and it’s about time.  (Applause.)

First Lady — (applause) — I’m her husband; Second Gentleman; Chief Justice; members of the United States Congress and the Cabinet; distinguished guests; my fellow Americans: While the setting tonight is familiar, this gathering is just a little bit different — a reminder of the extraordinary times we’re in.

Throughout our history, Presidents have come to this chamber to speak to Congress, to the nation, and to the world to declare war, to celebrate peace, to announce new plans and possibilities.

Tonight, I come to talk about crisis and opportunity, about rebuilding the nation, revitalizing our democracy, and winning the future for America.

I stand here tonight, one day shy of the 100th day
of my administration — 100 days since I took the oath of office and lifted my hand off our family Bible and inherited a nation — we all did — that was in crisis.

The worst pandemic in a century.  The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  The worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.

Now, after just 100 days, I can report to the nation: America is on the move again — (applause) — turning peril into possibility, crisis to opportunity, setbacks into strength.

We all know life can knock us down.  But in America, we never, ever, ever stay down.  Americans always get up.  Today, that’s what we’re doing: America is rising anew, choosing hope over fear, truth over lies, and light over darkness.

After 100 days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff, in my view.  We’re working again, dreaming again, discovering again, and leading the world again.

We have shown each other and the world that there’s no quit in America — none.

One hundred days ago, America’s house was on fire.  We had to act.  And thanks to the extraordinary leadership of Speaker Pelosi; Malor- — Majority Leader Schumer; and the overwhelming support of the American people — Democrats, independents, and Republicans — we did act.

Together we passed the American Rescue Plan — one of the most consequential rescue packages in American history.  We’re already seeing the results.  (Applause.)   We’re already seeing the results. 

After I promised we’d get 100 million COVID-19 vaccine shots into people’s arms in 100 days, we will have provided over 220 million COVID shots in those 100 days.  (Applause.)

Thanks to all the help of all of you, we’re marshalling — with your help, everyone’s help — we’re marshalling every federal resource.  We’ve gotten vaccines to nearly 40,000
pharmacies and over 700 Community Health Centers where the poorest of the poor can be reached.  We’re setting up community vaccination sites, developing mobile units to get to hard-to-reach communities.

Today, 90 percent of Americans now live within five miles of a vaccination site.  Everyone over the age of 16 — everyone
is now eligible to get vaccinated right now, right away.  (Applause.)  Go get vaccinated, America.  Go and get the vaccination.  They’re available.  You’re eligible now.

When I was sworn in on January 20th, less than 1 percent of the seniors in America were fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  One hundred days later, 70 percent of seniors in America over 65 are protected — fully protected.  

Senior deaths from COVID-19 are down 80 percent since January — down 80 percent because of all of you.  And more than half of all the adults in America have gotten at least one shot.

At a mass vaccination center in Glendale, Arizona, I asked a nurse — I said, “What’s it like?”  She looked at me and she said, “It’s like every shot is giving a dose of hope” — was the phrase.  “A dose of hope.”

A dose of hope for an educator in Florida who has a child suffering from an autoimmune disease — wrote to me, said she’s worried — that she was worrying about bringing the virus home.  She said she then got vaccinated at a — at a large site, in her car.  She said she sat in her car, when she got vaccinated, and just cried — cried out of joy and cried out of relief.

Parents see the smiles on their kids’ faces, for those who are able to go back to school because the teachers and school bus drivers and cafeteria workers have been vaccinated.

Grandparents hugging their children and grandchildren instead of pressing hands against a window to say goodbye.

It means everything.  Those things mean everything.

You know, there’s still — you all know it; you know it better than any group of Americans — there’s still more work to do to beat this virus.  We can’t let our guard down.

But tonight I can say it: Because of you, the American people, our progress these past 100 days against one of the worst pandemics in history has been one of the greatest logistical achievements — logistical achievements this country has ever seen.

What else have we done in those first 100 days?

We kept our commitment — Democrats and Republicans — of sending $1,400 rescue checks to 85 percent of American households.  We’ve already sent more than one — 160 million checks out the door.  It’s making the difference.  You all know it when you go home.  For many people, it’s making all the difference in the world.

A single mom in Texas who wrote to me, she said she couldn’t work, but she said the relief check put food on the table and saved her and her son from eviction from their apartment.

A grandmother in Virginia who told me she immediately took her granddaughter to the eye doctor — something she said she put off for months because she didn’t have the money. 

One of the defining images, at least from my perspective, of this crisis has been cars lined up — cars lined up for miles.  And not — not people who just barely ever start those cars — nice cars lined up for miles, waiting for a box of food to be put in their trunk.

I don’t know about you, but I didn’t ever think I’d see that in America.  And all of this is through no fault of their own.  No fault of their own these people are in this position.

That’s why the Rescue Plan is delivering food and nutrition assistance to millions of Americans facing hunger, and hunger is down sharply already. 

We’re also providing rental assistance — you all know this, but the American people, I want to make sure they understand — keeping people from being evicted from their homes, providing loans to small businesses to reopen and keep their employees on the job.

During these 100 days, an additional 800,000 Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act when I established the special sign-up period to do that — 800,000 in that period.

We’re making one of the largest one-time ever investments — ever — in improving healthcare for veterans.  Critical investments to address the opioid crisis.  And, maybe most importantly, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we’re on track to cut child poverty in America in half this year.  (Applause.)

And in the process, while this was all going on, the economy created more than 1,300,000 new jobs in 100 days — more jobs in the first — (applause) — more jobs in the first 100 days than any President on record.

The International Monetary Fund — (applause) — the International Monetary Fund is now estimating our economy will grow at a rate of more than 6 percent this year.  That will be the fastest pace of economic growth in this country in nearly four decades.

America is moving — moving forward — but we can’t stop now.  We’re in competition with China and other countries to win the 21st Century.  We’re at a great inflection point in history.

We have to do more than just build back better — I mean “build back.”  We have to build back better.  We have to compete more strenuously than we have.

Throughout our history, if you think about it, public investment and infrastructure has literally transformed America — our attitudes, as well as our opportunities.

The transcontinental railroad, the interstate highways united two oceans and brought a totally new age of progress to the United States of America.

Universal public schools and college aid opened wide the doors of opportunity.

Scientific breakthroughs took us to the Moon — now we’re on Mars; discovering vaccines; gave us the Internet and so much more.

These are the investments we made together as one country, and investments that only the government was in a position to make.  Time and again, they propel us into the future.

That’s why I proposed the American Jobs Plan — a once-in-a-generation investment in America itself.  This is the largest jobs plan since World War Two.

It creates jobs to upgrade our transportation infrastructure; jobs modernizing our roads, bridges, highways; jobs building ports and airports, rail corridors, transit lines. 

It’s clean water.  And, today, up to 10 million homes in America and more than 400,000 schools and childcare centers have pipes with lead in them, including in drinking water — a clear and present danger to our children’s health.

The American Jobs Plan creates jobs replacing 100 percent of the nation’s lead pipes and service lines so every American can drink clean water.  (Applause.)

And in the process, it will create thousands and thousands of good-paying jobs.  It creates jobs connecting every American with high-speed Internet, including 35 percent of the rural America that still doesn’t have it.

This is going to help our kids and our businesses succeed in the 21st-century economy.

And I am asking the Vice President to lead this effort, if she would —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Of course.

THE PRESIDENT:  — because I know it will get done.  (Applause.)

It creates jobs, building a modern power grid.  Our grids are vulnerable to storms, hacks, catastrophic failures — with tragic results, as we saw in Texas and elsewhere during the winter storms.

The American Jobs Plan will create jobs that will lay thousands of miles of transmission lines needed to build a resilient and fully clean grid.  We can do that.  (Applause.)

Look, the American Jobs Plan will help millions of people get back to their jobs and back to their careers.

Two million women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic — two million.  And too often because they couldn’t get the care they needed to care for their child or care for an elderly parent who needs help.

Eight hundred thousand families are on a Medicare waiting list right now to get homecare for their aging parent or loved one with a disability.  If you think it’s not important, check out in your own district.

Democrat or Republican — Democrat or Republican voters, their great concern — almost as much as their children — is taking care of an elderly loved one who can’t be left alone.  Medicaid contemplated it, but this plan is going to help those families and create jobs for our caregivers with better wages and better benefits, continuing a cycle of growth.

For too long, we’ve failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: “jobs.”  Jobs.  Jobs.  (Applause.) 

For me, when I think “climate change,” I think “jobs.”

The American Jobs Plan will put engineers and construction workers to work building more energy-efficient buildings and homes.  Electrical workers — IBEW members — installing 500,000 charging stations along our highways so we can own — (applause) — so we can own the electric car market.  (Applause.)

Farmers — farmers planting cover crops so they can reduce the carbon dioxide in the air and get paid for doing it.  (Applause.)

Look, but think about it: There is simply no reason why the blades for wind turbines can’t be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing.  No reason.  None.  No reason.  (Applause.)

So, folks, there’s no reason why American — American workers can’t lead the world in the production of electric vehicles and batteries.  I mean, there is no reason.  We have this capacity.  (Applause.)  We have the brightest, best-trained people in the world.

The American Jobs Plan is going to create millions of good-paying jobs — jobs Americans can raise a family on — as my dad would then say, “with a little breathing room.”

And all the investments in the American Jobs Plan will be guided by one principle: Buy American.  (Applause.)  Buy American.

And I might note, parenthetically — (applause) — that does not — that does not violate any trade agreement.  It’s been the law since the ’30s: Buy American. 

American tax dollars are going to be used to buy American products made in America to create American jobs.  That’s the way it’s supposed to be and it will be in this administration.  (Applause.)

And I made it clear to all my Cabinet people.  Their ability to give exemptions has been exstrenuously [sic] limited.  It will be American products.

Now I know some of you at home are wondering whether these jobs are for you.  So many of you — so many of the folks I grew up with feel left behind, forgotten in an economy that’s so rapidly changing.  It’s frightening. 

I want to speak directly to you.  Because if you think about it, that’s what people are most worried about: “Can I fit in?”

Independent experts estimate the American Jobs Plan will add millions of jobs and trillions of dollars to economic growth in the years to come.  It is a — it is an eight-year program.  These are good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced.

Nearly 90 percent of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan do not require a college degree; 75 percent don’t require an associate’s degree.

The American Jobs Plan is a blue-collar blueprint to build America.  That’s what it is.  (Applause.)

And it recognizes something I’ve always said in this chamber and the other.  Good guys and women on Wall Street, but Wall Street didn’t build this country.  The middle class built the country, and unions built the middle class.  (Applause.)

So that’s why I’m calling on Congress to pass the Protect the Right to Organize Act — the PRO Act — and send it to my desk so we can support the right to unionize.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, while you’re thinking about sending things to my desk — (laughs) — let’s raise the minimum wage to $15.  (Applause.)

No one — no one working 40 hours a week — no one working 40 hours a week should live below the poverty line.

We need to ensure greater equity and opportunity for women.  And while we’re doing this, let’s get the Paycheck Fairness Act to my desk as well — equal pay.  It’s been much too long.  And if you’re wondering whether it’s too long, look behind me.  (Applause.)

And finally, the American Jobs Plan will be the biggest increase in nondefense research and development on record.  We will see more technological change — and some of you know more about this than I do — we’ll see more technological change in the next 10 years than we saw in the last 50.  That’s how rapidly artificial intelligence and so much more is changing.

And we’re falling behind the competition with the rest of the world.

Decades ago, we used to invest 2 percent of our gross domestic product in America — 2 percent of our gross domestic product — in research and development. 

Today, Mr. Secretary, that’s less than 1 percent.  China and other countries are closing in fast.  We have to develop and dominate the products and technologies of the future:
advanced batteries, biotechnology, computer chips, clean energy.

The Secretary of Defense can tell you — and those of you on — who work on national security issues know — the Defense Department has an agency called DARPA — the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency.  The people who set up before I came here — and that’s been a long time ago — to develop breakthroughs that enhance our national security -– that’s their only job.  And it’s a semi-separate agency; it’s under the Defense Department.  It’s led to everything from the discovery of the Internet to GPS and so much more that has enhanced our security.

The National Institute of Health — the NIH –- I believe, should create a similar Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.  (Applause.)

And that would — here’s what it would do.  It would have a singular purpose: to develop breakthroughs to prevent, detect, and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer.

I’ll still never forget when we passed the cancer proposal the last year I was Vice President — almost $9 million going to NIH.  And if you excuse the point of personal privilege, I’ll never forget you standing and mentioning — saying you’d name it after my deceased son.  It meant a lot.

But so many of us have deceased sons, daughters, and relatives who died of cancer.  I can think of no more worthy investment.  I know of nothing that is more bipartisan.  So, let’s end cancer as we know it.  (Applause.)  It’s within our power.  (Applause.)  It’s within our power to do it.  (Applause.)

Investments in jobs and infrastructure, like the ones we’re talking about, have often had bipartisan support in the past.  Vice President Harris and I met regularly in the Oval Office with Democrats and Republicans to discuss the Jobs Plan.  And I applaud a group of Republican senators who just put forward their own proposal.

So, let’s get to work.  I wanted to lay out, before the Congress, my plan before we got into the deep discussions.  I’d like to meet with those who have ideas that are different — they think are better.  I welcome those ideas. 

But the rest of the world is not waiting for us.  I just want to be clear: From my perspective, doing nothing is not an option.  (Applause.)

Look, we can’t be so busy competing with one another that we forget the competition that we have with the rest of the world to win the 21st century.

Secretary Blinken can tell you, I spent a lot of time with President Xi — traveled over 17,000 miles with him; spent, they tell me, over 24 hours in private discussions with him.  When he called to congratulate me, we had a two-hour discussion.  He’s deadly earnest about becoming the most significant, consequential nation in the world.  He and others — autocrats — think that democracy can’t compete in the 21st century with autocracies because it takes too long to get consensus. 

To win that competition for the future, in my view, we also need to make a once-in-a-generation investment in our families and our children.  That’s why I’ve introduced the American Families Plan tonight, which addresses four of the biggest challenges facing American families and, in turn, America.

First is access to a good education.  When this nation made 12 years of public education universal in the last century, it made us the best-educated, best-prepared nation in the world.  It’s, I believe, the overwhelming reason that propelled us to where we got in the 21st — in the 20th century. 

But the world has caught up, or catching up.  They are not waiting.  I would say, parenthetically: If we were sitting down, put a bipartisan committee together and said, “Okay, we’re going to decide what we do in terms of government providing for free education,” I wonder whether we’d think, as we did in the 20th century, that 12 years is enough in the 21st century.  I doubt it.  Twelve years is no longer enough today to compete with the rest of the world in the 21st Century.

That’s why my American Families Plan guarantees four additional years of public education for every person in America, starting as early as we can.

The great universities of this country have conducted studies over the last 10 years.  It shows that adding two years of universal high-quality preschool for every three-year-old and four-year-old, no matter what background they come from, it puts them in the position to be able to compete all the way through 12 years.  It increases exponentially their prospect of graduating and going on beyond graduation.

The research shows when a young child goes to school — not daycare — they are far more likely to graduate from high school and go to college or something after high school.

When you add two years of free community college on top of that, you begin to change the dynamic.  (Applause.)  We can do that.  (Applause.) 

And we’ll increase Pell Grants and invest in Historical Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Minority-Serving Institutions.  The reason is: They don’t have the endowments, but their students are just as capable of learning about cybersecurity, just as capable of learning about metallurgy — all the things that are going on that provide those jobs of the future.

Jill was  a community college professor who teaches today as First Lady.  She has long said — (applause).  She has long — (applause).  If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times: “Joe, any country that out-educates us is going to outcompete us.”  She’ll be deeply involved in leading this effort.  Thank you, Jill.

Second thing we need: American Families Plan will provide access to quality, affordable childcare.  We guarantee — (applause).  And I’m proposing a legislation to guarantee that low- and middle-income families will pay no more than 7 percent of their income for high-quality care for children up to the age of 5.  The most hard-pressed working families won’t have to spend a dime.

Third, the American Families Plan will finally provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave  and medical leave — family and medical leave.  We’re one of the few industrial countries in the world — (applause). 

No one should have to choose between a job and paycheck or taking care of themselves and their loved ones –- a parent, a spouse, or child.

And fourth, the American Family Plan puts directly into the pockets of millions of Americans.  In March, we expanded a tax credit for every child in a family.  Up to a $3,000 per child if they’re under [over]* six years of age — I mean, excuse me — under — over six years of age, and $3,600 for children over [under]* six years of age.

With two parents, two kids, that’s $7,200 in the pockets that’s going to help to take care of your family.  And that will help more than 65 million children and help cut childcare [child] poverty in half.  (Applause.)  And we can afford it. 

So we did that in the rec- — in the — in the last piece of legislation we passed. But let’s extend that Child Care Tax Credit at least through the end of 2025.  (Applause.)  

The American Rescue Plan lowered healthcare premiums for 9 million Americans who buy their coverage under the Affordable Care Act.  I know that’s really popular on this side of the aisle.  (Laughter.)  But let’s make that provision permanent so their premiums don’t go back up.  (Applause.)  

In addition to my Families Plan, I’m going to work with Congress to address, this year, other critical priorities for American families. 

The Affordable Care Act has been a lifeline for millions of Americans, protecting people with preexisting conditions, protecting women’s health.  And the pandemic has demonstrated how badly — how badly it’s needed.  Let’s lower deductibles for working families on the Affordable Care — in the Affordable Care Act.  (Applause.)  And let’s lower prescription drug costs.  (Applause.) 

We know how to do this.  The last President had that as an objective.  We all know how outrageously expensive drugs are in America. 

In fact, we pay the highest prescription drug prices of anywhere in the world right here in America — nearly three times — for the same drug, nearly three times what other countries pay.  We have to change that, and we can. 

Let’s do what we’ve always talked about for all the years I was down here in this — in this body — in Congress.  Let’s give Medicare the power to save hundreds of billions of dollars by negotiating lower drug prescription prices.  (Applause.)

And, by the way, that won’t just — that won’t just help people on Medicare; it will lower prescription drug costs for everyone. 

And the money we save, which is billions of dollars, can go to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and expand Medicare coverage benefits without costing taxpayers an additional penny.  It’s within our power to do it; let’s do it now.  (Applause.)

We’ve talked about it long enough.  Democrats and Republicans, let’s get it done this year.  This is all about a simple premise: Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege in America.  (Applause.) 

So, how do we pay for my Jobs and Family Plan?  I made it clear, we can do it without increasing the deficits.  Let’s start with what I will not do: I will not impose any tax increase on people making less than $400,000.  It’s — but it’s time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans to just begin to pay their fair share.  (Applause.)  Just their fair share. 

Sometimes I have arguments with my friends in the Democratic Party.  I think you should be able to become a billionaire and a millionaire, but pay your fair share.

A recent study shows that 55 of the nation’s biggest corporations paid zero federal tax last year.  Those 55 corporations made in excess of $40 billion in profit.  A lot of companies also evade taxes through tax havens in Switzerland and Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.  And they benefit from tax loopholes and deductions for offshoring jobs and shifting profits overseas.  It’s not right. 

We’re going to reform corporate taxes so they pay their fair share and help pay for the public investments their businesses will benefit from as well.  (Applause.)

We’re going to reward work, not just wealth.  We take the top tax bracket for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans — those making over $400,000 or more — back up to where it was when George W. Bush was President when he started: 39.6 percent.  That’s where it was when George W. was President. 

We’re going to get rid of the loopholes that allow Americans who make more than a million dollars a year and pay a lower tax rate on their capital gains than Americans who receive a paycheck.   We’re only going to affect three tenths of 1 percent of all Americans by that action.  Three tenths of 1 percent. 

And the IRS is going to crack down on millionaires and billionaires who cheat on their taxes.  It’s estimated to be billions of dollars by think tanks that are left, right, and center. 

I’m not looking to punish anybody.  But I will not add a tax burden — an additional tax burden to the middle class in this country.  They’re already paying enough.  I believe what I propose is fair — (applause) — fiscally responsible, and it raises revenue to pay for the plans I have proposed, and will create millions of jobs that will grow the economy and enhance our financial standing in the country.

When you hear someone say that they don’t want to raise taxes on the wealthiest 1 percent or corporate America, ask them: “Whose taxes you want to raise instead?  Whose are you going to cut?” 

Look, the big tax cut of 2017 — remember, it was supposed to pay for itself — that was how it was sold — and generate vast economic growth.  Instead, it added $2 trillion to the deficit.  It was a huge windfall for corporate America and those at the very top.  

Instead of using the tax saving to raise wages and invest in research and development, it poured billions of dollars into the pockets of CEOs.  In fact, the pay gap between CEOs and their workers is now among the largest in history. 

According to one study, CEOs make 320 times what the average worker in their corporation makes.  It used to be in the — below a hundred. 

The pandemic has only made things worse.  Twenty million Americans lost their job in the pandemic — working- and middle-class Americans.  At the same time, roughly 650 billionaires in America saw their net worth increase by more than $1 trillion — in the same exact period.  Let me say it again: 650 people increased their wealth by more than $1 trillion during this pandemic.  And they’re now worth more than $4 trillion. 

My fellow Americans, trickle-down — trickle-down economics has never worked and it’s time to grow the economy from the bottom and the middle out. (Applause.) 

You know, there’s a broad consensus of economists — left, right, center — and they agree what I’m proposing will help create millions of jobs and generate historic economic growth.  These are among the highest-value investments we can make as a nation. 

I’ve often said: Our greatest strength is the power of our example, not just the example of our power.  

In my conversations with world leaders — and I’ve spoken to over 38, 40 of them now — I’ve made it known — I’ve made it known that America is back.  And you know what they say?  The comment that I hear most of all from them is they say, “We see America is back but for how long?  But for how long?”

My fellow Americans, we have to show not just that we’re back, but that we’re back to stay and that we aren’t going to go it alone.  (Applause.)  We’re going to do it by leading with our allies.  (Applause.)   

No one nation can deal with all the crises of our time — from terrorism, to nuclear proliferation, mass migration, cybersecurity, climate change, as well as experi- — what we’re experiencing now with pandemics. 

There’s no wall high enough to keep any virus out.  And our own vaccine supply — as it grows to meet our needs; and we’re meeting them — will become an arsenal of vaccines for other countries, just as America was the arsenal of democracy for the world — (applause) — and in consequence, influenced the world.  (Applause.)  

But every American will have access before that occur- — every American will have access to be fully covered by COVID-19 — from the vaccines we have.

Look, the climate crisis is not our fight alone; it’s a global fight.  The United States accounts, as all of you know, less than 15 percent of carbon emissions.  The rest of the world accounts for 85 percent.  That’s why I kept my commitment to rejoin the Paris Accord — because if we do everything perfectly, it’s not going to ultimately matter.

I kept my commitment to convene a climate summit right here in America with all of the major economies of the world — China, Russia, India, the European Union — and I said I’d do it in my first 100 days.

I want to be very blunt about it: I had — my attempt was to make sure that the world could see there was a consensus, that we are at an inflection point in history.  And consensus — the consensus is: If we act to save the planet, we can create millions of jobs and economic growth and opportunity to raise the standard of living to almost everyone around the world.

If you’ve watched any of it — and you were all busy; I’m sure you didn’t have much time — that’s what virtually every nation said, even the ones that aren’t doing their fair share.

The investments I’ve proposed tonight also advance the foreign policy, in my view, that benefits the middle class.  That means making sure every nation plays by the same rules in the global economy, including China.

In my discussions — in my discussions with President Xi, I told him, “We welcome the competition.  We’re not looking for conflict.”  But I made absolutely clear that we will defend America’s interests across the board.  America will stand up to unfair trade practices that undercut American workers and American industries, like subsidies from state — to state-owned operations and enterprises and the theft of American technology and intellectual property.

I also told President Xi that we’ll maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific, just as we do with NATO in Europe — not to start a conflict, but to prevent one.  (Applause.) 

I told him what I’ve said to many world leaders: that America will not back away from our commitments — our commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms and to our alliances.

And I pointed out to him: No responsible American President could remain silent when basic human rights are being so blatantly violated.  An American President — President has to represent the essence of what our country stands for.  America is an idea — the most unique idea in history: We are created, all of us, equal.  It’s who we are, and we cannot walk away from that principle and, in fact, say we’re dealing with the American idea.

With regard to Russia, I know it concerns some of you, but I made very clear to Putin that we’re not going to seek esca- — ecala- — exc- — excuse me — escalation, but their actions will have consequence if they turn out to be true.  And they turned out to be true, so I responded directly and proportionally to Russia’s interference in our elections and the cyberattacks on our government and our business.  They did both of these things, and I told them we would respond, and we have.

But we can also cooperate when it’s in our mutual interest.  We did it when we extended the New START Treaty on nuclear arms, and we’re working to do it on climate change.  But he understands we will respond.

On Iran and North Korea — nuclear programs that present serious threats to American security and the security of the world — we’re going to be working closely with our allies to address the threats posed by both of these countries through di- — through diplomacy, as well as stern deterrence.

And American leadership means ending the forever war in Afghanistan.  (Applause.)  We have — (applause) — we have, without hyperbole, the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.  I’m the first President in 40 years who knows what it means to have a son serving in a warzone. 

Today we have servicemembers serving in the same warzone as their parents did.  We have servicemembers in Afghanistan who were not yet born on 9/11.

The War in Afghanistan, as we remember the debates here, were never meant to be multi-generational undertakings of nation-building.  We went to Afghanistan to get terrorists — the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 — and we said we would follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell to do it.  If you’ve been to the upper Kunar Valley, you’ve kind of seen the gates of hell.  And we delivered justice to bin Laden.  We degraded the terrorist threat of al Qaeda in Afghanistan.  And after 20 years of value — valor and sacrifice, it’s time to bring those troops home.  (Applause.) 

Look, even as we do, we will maintain an over-the-horizon capacity to suppress future threats to the homeland.  And make no mistake: In 20 years, terrorists has — terrorism has metastasized.  The threat has evolved way beyond Afghanistan.  And those of you in the intelligence committees, the foreign relations committee, the defense committees, you know well: We have to remain vigilant against the threats to the United States wherever they come from.  Al Qaeda and ISIS are in Yemen, Syria, Somalia, other places in Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. 

And we won’t ignore what our intelligence agencies have determined to be the most lethal terrorist threat to the homeland today: White supremacy is terrorism.  We’re not going to ignore that either.

My fellow Americans, look, we have to come together to heal the soul of this nation.  It was nearly a year ago, before her father’s funeral, when I spoke with Gianna Floyd, George Floyd’s young daughter.  She’s a little tyke, so I was kneeling down to talk to her so I could look her in the eye.  And she looked at me and she said, “My daddy changed the world.”  Well, after the conviction of George Floyd’s murderer, we can see how right she was if — if we have the courage to act as a Congress. 

We’ve all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black Americans.  Now is our opportunity to make some real progress.  The vast majority of men and women wearing the uniform and a badge serve our communities, and they serve them honorably.  I know them.  I know they want — (applause) — I know they want to help meet this moment as well.

My fellow Americans, we have to come together to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the people they serve, to root out systemic racism in our criminal justice system, and to enact police reform in George Floyd’s name that passed the House already. 

I know Republicans have their own ideas and are engaged in the very productive discussions with Democrats in the Senate.  We need to work together to find a consensus.  But let’s get it done next month, by the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death.  (Applause.) 

The country supports this reform, and Congress should act — should act.  We have a giant opportunity to bend to the arc of the moral universe towards justice — real justice.  And with the plans outlined tonight, we have a real chance to root out systemic racism that plagues America and American lives in other ways; a chance to deliver real equity — good jobs, good schools, affordable housing, clean air, clean water, being able to generate wealth and pass it down two generations because you have an access to purchase a house.  Real opportunities in the lives of more Americans — Black, white, Latino, Asian Americans, Native Americans.

Look, I also want to thank the United States Senate for voting 94 to 1 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  (Applause.)  You acted decisively.  (Applause.)  And you can see on television the viciousness of the hate crimes we’ve seen over the past year — this past year and for too long.  I urge the House to do the same and send that legislation to my desk, which I will gladly, anxiously sign.

I also hope Congress can get to my desk the Equality Act to protect LGBTQ Americans.  (Applause.)  To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially young people who are so brave, I want you to know your President has your back.

Another thing: Let’s authorize the Violence Against Women Act, which has been law for 27 years.  (Applause.)  Twenty-seven years ago, I wrote it.  It’ll close the — the act that has to be authorized now will close the “boyfriend” loophole to keep guns out of the hands of abusers.  The court order said, “This is an abuser.  You can’t own a gun.”  It’s to close that loophole that existed. 

You know, it’s estimated that 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner every month in America — 50 a month.  Let’s pass it and save some lives.  (Applause.)

And I need not — I need not tell anyone this, but gun violence is becoming an epidemic in America.

The flag at the White House was still flying at half-mast for the 8 victims in the mass shooting in Georgia when 10 more lives were taken in a mass shooting in Colorado.

And in the week in between those two events, 250 other Americans were shot dead in the streets of America — 250 shot dead.

I know how hard it is to make progress on this issue.  In the ’90s, we passed universal background checks, a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that hold 100 rounds that can be fired off in seconds.  We beat the NRA.  Mass shootings and gun violence declined.  Check out the report in over 10 years.  But in the early twe- — 2000s, the law expired, and we’ve seen daily bloodshed since.  I’m not saying if the law continued, we wouldn’t see bloodshed.  

More than two weeks ago in the Rose Garden, surrounded by some of the bravest people I know — the survivors and families who lost loved ones to gun violence — I laid out several of the Department of Justice a- — actions that are being taken to — impact on this epidemic. 

One of them is banning so-called “ghost guns.”  These are homemade guns built from a kit that includes directions on how to finish the firearm.  The parts have no serial numbers, so they show up at crime scenes and they can’t be traced.  The buyers of these ghost gun kits aren’t required to pass any background check.  Anyone, from a criminal or terrorist, could buy this kit and within 30 minutes have a weapon that’s lethal.  But no more.

And I will do everything in my power to protect the American people from this epidemic of gun violence, but it’s time for Congress to act as well.  (Applause.)

Look, I don’t want to become confrontational but we need more Senate Republicans to join the overwhelming majority of Democrat colleagues and close the loopholes requiring a background check on purchases of guns.  We need a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.  And don’t tell me it can’t be done.  We did it before, and it worked.

Talk to most responsible gun owners and hunters. They’ll tell you there’s no possible justification for having 100 rounds in a weapon.  What do you think — deer are wearing Kevlar vests?  (Laughter.)  They’ll tell you that there are too many people today who are able to buy a gun but shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

These kinds of reasonable reforms have overwhelming support from the American people, including many gun owners.  The country supports reform and is — and Congress should act.

This shouldn’t be a red or blue issue.  And no amendment to the Constitution is absolute.  You can’t yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater.  From the very beginning, there were certain guns, weapons, that could not be owned by Americans.  Certain people could not own those weapons ever. 

We’re not changing the Constitution; we’re being reasonable.  I think this is not a Democrat or Republican issue; I think it’s an American issue.

And here’s what else we can do: Immigration has always been essential to America.  Let’s end our exhausting war over immigration.  For more than 30 years, politicians have talked about immigration reform, and we’ve done nothing about it.  It’s time to fix it.

On day one of my presidency, I kept my commitment and sent a comprehensive immigration bill to the United States Congress.  If you believe we need to secure the border, pass it, because it has a lot of money for high-tech border security.  If you believe in a pathway to citizenship, pass it so over 11 million undocumented folks — the vast majority are here overstaying visas.  Pass it.  We can actually — if you actually want to solve a problem, I’ve sent a bill to take a close look at it. 

We have to — also have to get at the root problem of why people are fleeing, particularly to — to our southern border from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador: the violence, the corruption, the gangs, and the political instability, hunger, hurricanes, earthquakes, natural disasters.


When I was President, my President — when I was Vice President, the President asked me to focus on providing the help needed to address the root causes of migration.  And it helped keep people in their own countries instead of being forced to leave.  The plan was working, but the last administration decided it was not worth it.

I’m restoring the program and asked Vice President Harris to lead our diplomatic effort to take care of this.  I have absolute confidence she’ll get the job done.  (Applause.)

Now, look, if you don’t like my plan, let’s at least pass what we all agree on.  Congress needs to pass legislation this year to finally secure protection for DREAMers — the young people who have only known America as their home.  (Applause.) 

And permanent protection for immigrants who are here on temporary protected status who came from countries beset by manmade and natural-made violence and disaster.  (Applause.)

As well as a pathway to citizenship for farmworkers who put food on our tables.  (Applause.) 

Look, immigrants have done so much for America during this pandemic and throughout our history.  The country supports immigration reform.  We should act.  Let’s argue over it, let’s debate it, but let’s act.  (Applause.)

And if we truly want to restore the soul of America, we need to protect the sacred right to vote.  Most people — (applause).  

More people voted in the last presidential election than any time in American history, in the middle of the worst pandemic ever.  It should be celebrated.  Instead, it’s being attacked.

Congress should pass H.R. 1 and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and send it to my desk right away.  (Applause.)  The country supports it.  The Congress should act now.  (Applause.)

Look, in closing, as we gather here tonight, the images of a violent mob assaulting this Capitol, desecrating our democracy, remain vivid in all our minds.

Lives were put at risk — many of your lives.  Lives were lost.  Extraordinary courage was summoned.  The insurrection was an existential crisis –- a test of whether our democracy could survive.  And it did.

But the struggle is far from over.  The question of whether our democracy will long endure is both ancient and urgent, as old as our Republic — still vital today. 

Can our democracy deliver on its promise that all of us, created equal in the image of God, have a chance to lead lives of dignity, respect, and possibility?

Can our democracy deliver the most — to the most pressing needs of our people? 

Can our democracy overcome the lies, anger, hate, and fears that have pulled us apart?

America’s adversaries –- the autocrats of the world –- are betting we can’t.  And I promise you, they’re betting we can’t.  They believe we’re too full of anger and division and rage.

They look at the images of the mob that assaulted the Capitol as proof that the sun is setting on American democracy.  But they are wrong.  You know it; I know it.  But we have to prove them wrong.

We have to prove democracy still works — that our government still works and we can deliver for our people.

In our first 100 days together, we have acted to restore the people’s faith in democracy to deliver.  We’re vaccinating the nation.  We’re creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs.  We’re delivering real results to people; they can see it and feel it in their own lives.

Opening doors of opportunity, guaranteeing some more fairness and justice — that’s the essence of America.  That’s democracy in action.

Our Constitution opens with the words — as trite as it sounds — “We the People”.  Well, it’s time to remember that “We the People” are the government — you and I.  Not some force in a distant capital.  Not some powerful force that we have no control over.  It’s us.  It’s “We the People.”

In another era when our democracy was tested, Franklin Roosevelt reminded us, “In America, we do our part.”  We all do our part.  That’s all I’m asking: that we do our part, all of us.

If we do that, we will meet the center challenge of the age by proving that democracy is durable and strong.  Autocrats will not win the future.  We will.  America will.  And the future belongs to America.

As I stand here tonight before you, in a new and vital hour of life and democracy of our nation, and I can say with absolute confidence: I have never been more confident or optimistic about America — not because I’m President, because what’s happening with the American people.

We have stared into the abyss of insurrection and autocracy, pandemic and pain, and “We the People” did not flinch.

At the very moment our adversaries were certain we would pull apart and fail, we came together.  We united.

With light and hope, we summoned a new strength, new resolve to position us to win the competition of the 21st century, on our way to a union more perfect, more prosperous, and more just, as one people, one nation, and one America.

Folks, as I told every world leader I’ve ever met with over the years, it’s never ever, ever been a good bet to bet against America, and it still isn’t.  (Applause.)

We are the United States of America.  (Applause.)  There is not a single thing — nothing — nothing beyond our capacity.  We can do whatever we set our mind to do if we do it together.  (Applause.)  So let’s begin to get together.  (Applause.)

God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.  Thank you for your patience.  (Applause.)

10:12 P.M. EDT

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