# Joe Biden in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | September 2, 2024 Auto-transcribed by https://aliceapp.ai on Tuesday, 03 Sep 2024. Synced media and text playback available on this page: https://aliceapp.ai/recordings/PWk3JMxv4YrApIBCQbDqhuREgH18jN_y * Words : 2,952 * Duration : 00:23:28 * Recorded on : Unknown date * Uploaded on : 2024-09-03 17:52:34 UTC * Last update : * At : Unknown location * Using : Uploaded to aliceapp.ai ## Speakers: * Joe Biden - 43.53% * Joe Biden - 56.47% ---------------------------- Joe Biden [00:00:01] Well, I've celebrated many labor days in. [00:00:05] Pittsburgh and it's always good to be back with so many great friends. [00:00:14] Many who, uh, flew with me on. [00:00:16] Air Force one today represent the unit that's been with me since the beginning of my career. They're not that old, but they, uh. [00:00:26] Since I was a 29 year old kid. I want to thank Liz Shuler, the AFL CIO and Kenny at the IBW for that strong endorsement. By the way, we have an expression in Delaware, IBW. When I ran for president, they're the. [00:00:46] Ones that brung me to the dance. Starting off not a joke. [00:00:50] And Dave McCall, the steel workers. Dave, in 1972, still workers of the first union, endorsed a 29 year old kid named Joe Biden who wasn't old. [00:01:06] Enough to be senator when he got elected. It mattered. [00:01:11] A guy named Huey Carcella was the district president because we used to have. [00:01:16] One of the largest labor forces in Claymont, Delaware and north, over 4000 workers. And it was. Anyway, it all went south. But Huey went to the national president iwable. And he said he wanted me to get endorsed. Everybody thought it was crazy. I literally wasn't old enough to be sworn in the day I got elected. But guess what? President Abel stuck with me and they got stuck with me for the rest of my career. [00:01:56] Eric Dean to the iron workers. Tim Driscoll, a bricklayer. April the SeIU, Lee Saunders Rashman, a great friend. Roy Lee and Jimmy Williams of the painters allied trades. And his dad. [00:02:18] His dad is a really good Mandeh. [00:02:20] Mike Coleman, a sheet metal worker. We also got some of the best elected officials in America. Governor Josh Shapiro is doing an incredible job. The great lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. [00:02:40] And. [00:02:41] One of America's best warriors, Ed Ganey. [00:02:44] Ed, you're doing a hell of a. [00:02:45] Job, sir, in the motto county executive, I think is the hardest job in american politics. [00:02:53] Everybody knows where you live and they. [00:02:55] Think you can solve all the problems. You don't have enough money. [00:02:58] But I tell you one thing, I'm the first president ever. I used to be a county official when I was 26 years old and it always bothered me that the federal government would send money to the state to be distributed to the county. What the hell is the state going to send to the county for? All the state reps need the money. But guess what? Under my administration to go straight to this county. [00:03:28] One of my best friends, my name is Joe Biden, I'm from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Bobby Casey's been a great friend. [00:03:43] His dad was a great friend. And by the way, we grew up three blocks from one another. [00:03:49] Three blocks. [00:03:50] And, uh, they still worry about us by showing up. Guess what? I was on north Washington Avenue. He was in Adams. Guess what they renamed North Washington Avenue down where I live. Biden way. [00:04:07] Bobby, I will make sure we get reelected again. [00:04:13] And while we couldn't be here, I want to thank his partner in the senate, John Fetterman. [00:04:21] If you're in a foxhole, you want Fetterman in there with you. He couldn't be here today. But guess what he sent the best part of the family. [00:04:32] Giselle. She's here. [00:04:39] Let me just say, it means so. [00:04:40] Much to be with a true friend. A true friend. The vice president and the next great president of the United States of America. [00:05:00] Look, folks. [00:05:03] I come from two neighborhoods where it's not hard to say the word union. But you know what the fact of the matter is? An awful lot of politicians have trouble saying unions. I trouble working people. Guess what? I'm not one of them. Nina's common law. We know the simple truth. [00:05:20] Wall street did not build America. The middle class built America. And unions built the middle class. That's a fact, by the way. That is not a slogan. That's a fact. I asked the treasury department to do a study, and it shows that when unions do well, all workers in America do better. That's a fact. That's a fact. The biggest reason why our economy is strongest economy in the world today, without. [00:06:02] Question, because of unions. You know. [00:06:10] My dad, like many of. [00:06:11] His generation going into world War two, wasn't able to go to college. My dad was a really well read guy, and he was always engaged. And he'd come home from work before he'd go back and close up the shop. And, uh, for dinner. And a dinner is a place where we had, uh, discussions and, incidentally, ate. You know, my dad taught me. My dad would say this all the time. Remember, Joey, a job. And I give you my word of this, a jobs is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about the community. It's about your place in the community. And it's about being able to lick your kidney eye and say, honey, it's going to be okay. And meaning. [00:06:51] That's why. That's why Tom and I are so proud. So proud of the greatest job creation. [00:07:04] Record of any president in a single term in american history. [00:07:15] 16 million new jobs so far. 800,000 manufacturing jobs eight years ago. How many times did you hear about. [00:07:30] We can no longer be the manufacturing. [00:07:32] Capital world where the hell is that written? We are the greatest manufacturing city in. [00:07:38] The world state, in the world city world. We're going to remain that way. [00:07:45] Now, I'll tell you something. [00:07:46] Kamal and I are damn proud that. [00:07:49] We protected the pensions of over 1 million workers and retirees. Remember all those years of promise? We're going to do something about it. Well, damn it, we finally did with the Butch Lewis act. Over 52 2000 workers and retirees across. [00:08:13] Pennsylvania loaned or benefited from that. [00:08:15] Not only did we store the full amount, we got them their back pay as well. We made them whole again. As I once said to Barack, that's a big deal. [00:08:34] Uh, long story. [00:08:38] Yes, sir. [00:08:38] Liz and Kenny describe another big deal. Union workers are rebuilding american infrastructure and building new factories here in America. They told me we couldn't get any extended thing done in infrastructure. A trillion, $200 billion we got done. [00:08:57] Remember, Trump, for four years, promised every month, infrastructure week. [00:09:04] For four years, he promised that he. [00:09:06] Didn'T build a damn thing. [00:09:09] Nothing. [00:09:10] I mean, not nothing. Thanks to our infrastructure law, Pennsylvania so far has received $17 billion. $17 billion over 2000 projects, from clean water to affordable high speed Internet for every Pennsylvanian. The projects that include $858 million to. [00:09:42] Expand the Montgomery lock, better to accommodate bigger barges to get millions of tons of goods and shelves faster, more reliable to create thousands of union jobs. [00:10:00] I was working on the Great Lakes. [00:10:01] And I got a call from Bobbitt, from Senator Casey. He's been no bigger champion than Casey. You know what I call them? I call them the Casey locks. Not, uh, Goldilocks, the Casey locks. [00:10:16] Bobby's also a champion of Pennsylvania's energy communities. [00:10:20] We passed what's called the Casey credit available to 45 Pennsylvania counties where energy jobs, such as coal work. Coal mining had, uh, been before, disappeared before we came to office. That Casey credit provides major incentives for companies to build new battery factories, wind turbines, and more to create high paying jobs in those coal and, uh, natural gas communities. [00:10:42] And on top of that, there's over $4 billion. And private companies have committed to invest. [00:10:50] In clean energy, advanced manufacturing here in Pennsylvania. [00:10:53] $4 billion. And guess what? With your support, I signed an executive order to make sure large federal construction projects all use project labor agreements. Folks at home who may be watching this and tell them, know what a. [00:11:24] Project labor agreement is. It's when contractors, subcontractors, and unions put in place before construction begins what the rules are before it begins. [00:11:34] These agreements make sure construction is top notch, on time, on task, and by the way, on budget. There's another big deal. Buy American. That's been the law since 1930. [00:11:55] I gotta admit, I've been around. I'm only 40, but I've been around a long time. But I, quite frankly, until ten years ago, wasn't aware, you know, back in the thirties, when they were trying to make sure unions could organize and business couldn't interfere, the law was passed that said, every penny the president gets from the Senate, the House and Congress to spend on a project, he should hire an american worker and use an american product. [00:12:22] But past administration, seriously, past administration, including my predecessor, failed to buy America. [00:12:33] They shipped jobs overseas where labor was cheaper and brought home the product that was more expensive. [00:12:39] But not anymore. Federal projects build american roads, bridges, highways, and they'll be made with american products by american workers. That's why. That's why we're creating all these. I'm serious. It's simple and basic. That's why we're creating so many good paying jobs. In fact, we're requiring those kinds of projects to pay Davis Baker prevailing wages. So there are jobs that can raise a family arm. Many of those jobs don't require a college degree. In fact, we expanded registered apprenticeships. Remember, all the hell I got for doing that, we got for doing that? Well, guess what resulted in hiring over. [00:13:25] 1 million apprentices since we came to office. [00:13:31] And lots of folks don't realize getting an apprenticeship is like getting a college degree. Why, you have to train for four or five years to get that. And some of the best workers in the world arrive where we are. [00:13:46] You know. [00:13:53] When you're in Pittsburgh, you're standing with steelworkers. [00:13:57] Let's be clear. I believe in american steel companies. American owned and operated steel companies. [00:14:09] A simple reason. It's not hyperbole. American steel workers are the best steel workers in the world. [00:14:16] And I made it clear last time I was in Pittsburgh. United States Steel, an iconic american company for more than a century, is going to remain an american company. Remember, as a young senator, why the National Labor Relations board was sometimes so anti labor? It was set up to help labor, to be pro labor. Well, guess what? That's why one of the most significant things we've done, Kamala and I, is appointed National Labor Reserve Board, relations board that actually believes in unions and believes in recognizing. It's a big deal. It's a big deal. [00:15:07] Remember, we have short memories. I'm all for forgiveness. I'm not for this Trump appointed union busters on that board. No, that's a fact. But it's real. It affects people's lives. We're gonna let that son of a. [00:15:23] Gun do that again. [00:15:26] Folks made a lot of progress, and Kamala and I are gonna build on. [00:15:30] That progress, and she's gonna build on it. I'll be on the sidelines, but I'll do everything I can to help. [00:15:36] But look, I'm not joking when I say this is not a joke. [00:15:42] When I said this when I was running 2020, a lot of people didn't believe me. You did, but didn't believe me. It's all at risk because of Donald Trump. Literally, with a stroke of the pen, he can get rid of a lot of this. And do you think this guy gives a damn about your pensions? [00:15:57] No, I'm serious. [00:15:58] Do you think he loses even an instant of sleep over it? [00:16:03] Do you think he cares about all the work you do every day and how hard it is? Do you think he cares about good paying jobs for hardworking people who built this economy? [00:16:12] Hell. Hell, he regards picket lines. He'd rather cross one than walk one. [00:16:22] But I have no problem walking the picket line. Never had neither. Nor does Kamala. [00:16:36] We'll always walk outside alongside you. Union workers built this country. [00:16:41] And again, that's not hyperbole. That's a fact. These are facts. [00:16:45] These are not campaign slogans. Let me close with this. Five years ago, I began my campaign for president right here in Pittsburgh. I said one of the reasons I was running was to rebuild the backbone and spine of America, the middle class and working class folks. Not a joke. Think about it. Think about it. Well, five years later, we've done just that. [00:17:18] I'm back in Pittsburgh on Labor Day, uh, again with a simple message. As you look at this election, I spelt my whole career believing in unions. [00:17:29] I'm not joking when I say that I'm honored to be considered the most pro union president ever. By the way, remember all the talk? Biden got elected. He's going to do a planned economy, we're going to collapse, and there's going to be all this caving in. Interest rates are going to go through the ceiling. Come on, Mandy. [00:17:53] I'm here to tell you it's about increasing the strength of your unions, what this is all about. If you care about hardworking people, just give them a fair shot. Everyone in America deserves a fair shot. No guarantee, a fair shot. If you care about the dignity of work, you care about the dignity of work. [00:18:14] And, I mean, it matters. [00:18:15] The dignity of work. The way you're treated, the decency. [00:18:18] I remember when my great grandfather was one of the only the second Catholic elected statewide to the state senate here in Pennsylvania. And I remember they talked about when he, when they were running against him in 1906, they said, guess what? They said. He's Amalie Maguire. You know what Amaliegwire was? Well, those of you don't. Amalie Maguire, uh, back in the. In the old days, when we irish in the Catholic, and then the poles and others that were catholic, when they came to the United States, America began in the 1840s and late 1840s, they made their way down into Pennsylvania, a lot of them. And there's a tear in this, in the coal mines. Those guys who got there last ended up being the last people in the coal mines. But a lot of the English owned the coal mines. And what they did was they'd really beat the hell out of the, uh, the mostly catholic population was in the mines. Not a joke. Not a joke. But there was a group that called the Molly Maguires. And the Molly Maguires, if they find out the foreman who was taking advantage of an individual, and they literally kill him. Not a joke. And they bring him, hm, body up and put him on the doorstep of his family. Kind of crude, but I gotta admit, they accused my great grandfather being a model where he wasn't. But we were so damn disappointed. That's a joke. That's a joke. [00:19:47] Look. [00:19:50] It'S about the dignity of work. It's about how you're treated. And when I met with the IBW, when I, uh, started off this last campaign, first I said, there's two things that are asking of me. And I said, two things I'm asking of you. One, you've got to open up your unions to more women and two. [00:20:19] To more minorities. You've done both that. And guess what? Instead of having support of 30% of the american leaders, now we're 65% of the american leaders support the american union movement. It really is all about the dignity of work. [00:20:41] Uh, then there's all. If you care about the dignity of work, there's only one person you have a rational choice with this time, and that's Kamala Harris. Let me tell you about this woman. [00:21:13] I know her. I trust her. Not a joke. I trust her. Number two, the first decision I made. [00:21:22] The nominee's nominee in 2020, was selecting her as my vice president. [00:21:28] And by the way. [00:21:31] It was the. [00:21:32] Single best decision I made as president. [00:21:34] Of the United States of America. [00:21:42] I was watching something sent to me. [00:21:44] When they asked Barack, they said, Barack picked me as vice president because he knew I could be president. I know she'll be a good president. [00:21:52] I know it. I've watched her. When all the experts, foreign and domestic. [00:21:58] Policy, would give us advice, then we'd sit alone in a room. And she has a backbone like a ramrod. [00:22:09] She has the moral compass of a saint. [00:22:11] This woman knows what she's doing. [00:22:14] Folks, I promise you, if you elect Kamala Harris as president will be the. [00:22:19] Best decision you will have ever made. [00:22:24] Kamala, at least as I do. The unions are the spine of this economy. She'll be historic pro union president. So, folks, we got one more job to do together. Let me ask you, are you ready to fight? Are you ready to win? Are you ready to let Kamal Harris, our next president of the United States of America? And in the process, are you ready to make Donald Trump a loser again? Ken, I've never been more optimistic about America than you have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. There is nothing. Nothing. I mean this in the bottom of my heart. There is nothing beyond our capacity, nothing when we do it together. And that means elect my friend, our great vice president of. President of the United States, Kamala Harris.