Members of Congress expect President Joe Biden to highlight issues of reproductive rights, the Israel-Hamas conflict and the housing crisis during his State of the Union address on Thursday.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., told theGrio, that he hopes President Biden calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., told theGrio, that he wants the president to take it a step further and use his platform to “end the siege that’s happening in Gaza and address the starvation of children in the region.”
The death toll in Gaza has exceeded 30,000, mostly including women and children, and for months congressional members and activists have demanded that Biden-Harris put pressure on the Israeli government to cease military operations in the region.
As a result of the ongoing conflict, Palestinians are facing a hunger crisis and many children are dying from starvation. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner published an article that stated Israel “has been intentionally starving the Palestinian people in Gaza since 8 October.”
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa. told theGrio that the rest of the world is looking at the U.S.’ response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. “They’re looking to see leadership…and a call for a ceasefire,” she said
On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., held a press conference to demand President Biden also address the housing crisis during his State of the Union address.
“Housing costs are so extreme,” said Waters. “Families are paying more than 30 to 50 percent of their paychecks on housing.”
“A record 600,000 are experiencing homelessness and millions more are on the verge of homelessness,” she added.
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna told theGrio that in addition to addressing the housing crisis, he hopes the president will announce a “working-class agenda that is committed to ending Wall Street buying up houses and committed to building…
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