Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) said Tuesday that she expects President Joe Biden to talk about transgender youth and police accountability during his annual State of the Union address Tuesday night.
Jayapal, mother of a transgender daughter, said with the parents of Tyre Nichols and Michael Brown at the speech, she expects the president to talk about police accountability, attacks on trans youth, and codifying abortion rights.
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“We have accomplished a lot, but it is our job to recognize that we are not done, we still have a lot more we need to accomplish,” Jayapal told CBS News.
“In that, I think we will hear the president talk about police accountability, with Tyre Nichols parents in the room, and Michael Brown’s parents in the room,” she added.
Jayapal added, “I think we will hear him talk about the attacks on trans youth. I’m the mom of a trans kid, and I know how that’s been so painful to hear from the other side. And I think we will hear him talk about the need to codify abortion rights.”
Jayapal said all of the topics are large projects that Democrats have already made progress on, but she noted that more work was necessary. However, she also touted Democratic achievements such as capping the amount seniors pay for insulin to $35.
“I think it takes a while for these things to trickle down, and the reality is that people are coming out of a really tough several years,” Jayapal said. “The COVID crisis was an emergency. It was the biggest economic crisis we have seen since the Great Depression, and it was tough on people.”
The Washington congresswoman will be joined at the State of the Union by Brittany Williams, an executive board member of the Service Employees International Union 775.
Williams is a single mother of two who has devoted her life to caring for elderly and disabled adults, according to Jayapal.
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“Over the pandemic, it became abundantly clear just how important quality caregiving is to people across this country. I am in awe of the work that Brittany and other caregivers do to ensure that seniors and those who live with chronic illnesses and disabilities have the opportunity to live at home with dignity,” Jayapal said in a press statement. “I am honored that Brittany will be joining me for President Biden’s address. And I will continue the fight to invest in caregiving and deliver higher wages and better protections for her and millions of other caregivers.”
Biden’s speech is expected to start at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday.
