First of all, the sweeping $1.9T Covid Relief Bill which provided pandemic response, unemployment benefits, stimulus checks, aid to state and local governments, housing assistance, school support, expanded ACA subsidies, FEMA support, and a host of other things. What it also did was prevent a recession or even a possible depression. Some say it juiced the economy too much and fueled inflation, but even if that’s so it is better than the alternative of 10% unemployment. Millions lost their jobs during the pandemic but today unemployment is 3.5% and a very strong job market for workers.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, an accomplishment that had eluded the previous four presidents. The nation needed this so badly for decades and it finally got done. It will fix and build bridges and roads, expand nation’s broadband, invest in water and energy systems. Ensure safe travel, as well as the efficient transport of goods and produce across the country. Build a nationwide network of charging stations for America’s electric cars, and many other things.
The first bipartisan gun control legislation in a generation. It didn’t go anywhere near far enough but the fact it passed was amazing in and of itself.
The Chips and Science Act to invest in American chip makers and a wide range of science R&D. Critics will call this an industrial policy and they are right, but national security outweighs the free market here. Capitalism brought us a situation where 90% of the chips in the world were made in Taiwan. Fuck “efficiency” if it threatens our national security.
A bipartisan bill that finally fixed finances of USPS.
And now we are the the cusp of a another huge bill that will invest hundreds of billions fighting climate change, raising taxes on people making over $10M/year, creating a 15% minimum Corporate tax, beefing up the IRS, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and extending ACA enhanced subsidies, all while reducing the deficit by $300B.
We are also one senate vote away from protecting our democracy by fixing the archaic electoral law that Trump tried to exploit in his attack on our democracy. We’re close to passing the Violence Against Women act, and LGBT marriage protections.
Internationally, NATO has not been stronger or more united in many decades. Trump would have SUPPORTED Putin’s attack on Ukraine and the alliance would have possible fallen apart. Respect for American leadership is vastly greater than under Trump.
Biden has been far from perfect and his poll numbers have never recovered from the disastrous Afghan pullout, but the man has proven he can get things done in a slow, plodding no drama way. This will be his legacy.