Credits: The Texas Tribune
In his first public appearance since announcing he would not seek reelection, President Joe Biden addressed the Lyndon B. Johnson Library in Austin, marking the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. During his speech, Biden advocated for significant reforms to the Supreme Court, highlighting concerns about recent rulings that he believes jeopardize civil rights.
“We do not celebrate these laws as part of our past but as critical components of our future,” Biden asserted. “We can and must strengthen the guardrails of our democracy. We must remind ourselves who we are: we are the United States of America.”
The President outlined his reform agenda, which includes:
– Proposing a constitutional amendment to remove presidential immunity for crimes committed in office.
– Implementing term limits of 18 years for Supreme Court justices.
– Establishing a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court.
Biden emphasized the urgency of these reforms, stating, “Based on my experience, I am certain we need these reforms to restore trust in the courts and preserve the checks and balances vital to our democracy.”
He expressed hope that these changes would make America “fundamentally more fair, fundamentally more just, and most importantly, fundamentally more consistent with our founding principles.”
The event also featured a partial reading of the Civil Rights Act by actor Bryan Cranston, known for his Tony Award-winning role as President Lyndon B. Johnson on Broadway.
