Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib to deliver response to Biden’s State of the Union address

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) will deliver a response to President Biden’s State of the Union address next week on behalf of the progressive Working Families Party group, in a rare instance of a formal response by a member of the president’s own party.

Tlaib’s speech, first reported by Politico, is expected to be a call for her fellow Democrats — particularly its members who have blocked Biden’s sweeping climate and social spending proposals, formerly known as the “Build Back Better” plan — to act with greater urgency while they hold the majority in the House and Senate.

“I am especially excited to elevate the voices of the working-class residents in my district and across the nation,” Tlaib said in a statement. “It should not be this hard to deliver on health care, climate, housing, child care, safety, voting rights, clean water and so much more. … Our communities deserve for us to act now.”

Tlaib will note that “Republicans and a handful of corporate Democrats are standing in the way of Biden’s agenda” but is not planning to call any members of Congress out by name, according to a person familiar with the remarks who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss them in advance. The speech is intended to show that progressives support and will continue to fight for Biden’s agenda, the person said.