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Speaking at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State
University in Greensboro, Biden promoted his efforts to
strengthen U.S. supply chains, accelerate American production of
semiconductors and ease dependence on foreign makers.
But he spent a considerable amount of his speech talking about
his handling of the economy, a factor in a dip in his job
approval rating that could spell trouble for Democrats in
November congressional midterm elections.
Biden said job growth had accelerated in his first year in
office, including 365,000 new manufacturing jobs, and that the
unemployment rate had dropped sharply.
Dogging Biden, however, are persistent increases in prices
across the board.
"I know that we're still facing the challenge of high prices and
inflation," said Biden. "Putin's invasion of Ukraine has driven
up gas prices all over the world." He said food prices have been
impacted as well by a drop in exports of Ukraine wheat.
Biden called on Congress to give final approval to the
Bipartisan Innovation Act to boost spending for emerging
technologies and American manufacturing and to compete with
China.
White House officials say Biden wants Congress to pass the
legislation as soon as possible, and is heartened that lawmakers
from both the House of Representatives and the Senate have begun
working to iron out differences between each chamber's version
of the legislation, the official said.
"Congress needs to get this bill on my desk as quickly as
possible. Our economic strength is on the line and national
security as well is on the line," Biden said.
Biden spoke after watching a four-legged robot named Spot march
around a room at the university, an example of the research
going on at the school. The robotic dog was said to be able to
maneuver through complex environments to conduct remote
missions.
Biden's visit to a historically Black university in a
competitive election state comes as a November Senate race there
is expected to be among those that decide whether Biden's
Democratic Party retains their narrow control of Congress.
The president's popularity has slipped, with his public approval
standing near all-time lows at 41%, according to a Reuters/Ipsos
opinion poll this week.
(Writing by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Trevor
Hunnicutt; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Aurora Ellis)
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