State of the Union

As attacks on our right to vote continue, the Biden Administration and Congress must continue to prioritize access to the ballot box.

• At this very moment, states have introduced hundreds of measures to restrict the right to vote. Our democracy must meet these challenges by adopting reforms that promote safe and accessible elections. 
• In February 2024, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)  was reintroduced in the US Senate.

The Biden Administration and Congress must do everything in their power to pass JLVRAA, which would restore critical protections for voting rights and protect democracy.

Every American deserves to be paid a living wage, and technological advances have the power to help, or harm Black workers. 

• The needs of workers must be prioritized with an appropriate regulatory framework for technology.

• From Detroit to the Directors Chair, we have witnessed the resurgence of a Labor Movement that is fed up with a lack of equitable compensation for their hard work. 
• The failure to enact a living, minimum wage nationwide, coupled with threats posed by the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence (AI), is creating a perfect storm to dismantle our workforce as we know it.
• The NAACP is proud to continue standing in solidarity with our fellow advocates in the labor movement. As we continue to engage in conversations with corporations and Congressional members, one thing is clear - swift, decisive action is needed.

The Biden Administration must continue to center the needs of everyday American workers, and take further action in combating the harm posed by the advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

We must reform policing and curb new technologies that will perpetuate the persistent threat of violence Black communities are forced to endure.  

• No badge should be a shield from accountability. We urge the administration to take action and support legislation to end qualified immunity and develop a national database to remove officers engaged in a pattern of misconduct from our communities. Policing must become more transparent and include more community engagement to rebuild trust in our communities.
• The NAACP continues to support the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in addition to mandatory, enhanced training to eliminate bias and promote de-escalation tactics. 
• The NAACP strongly believes that any use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in criminal justice must be tested to ensure that technologies are race-neutral and do not over-index on the identification of Black Americans and other people of color. 

The Biden Administration must take action now to stem these disparities, particularly those created by predictive policing technologies.

Politicians must take their hands off our healthcare and ensure that every American has access to the quality, life-saving care they deserve.

• Since pandemic-era protections ended and the Medicaid Unwinding crisis began, over 10 million people have lost their Medicaid health coverage, with communities of color bearing the brunt of the impact. 
• Healthcare is a fundamental human right, and the medicaid services that 10 million people are now without will continue to impact the disabled and vulnerable, pregnant people, and children.
• While this issue lives within the halls of Governor's mansions, the federal government has the power to provide incentives for, and urge these state leaders to take the actions necessary to pause unwinding, and create an automated renewal process.

The Biden Administration must use every executive power to end the Medicaid crisis and take steps to ensure equitable health outcomes for all. 

America has a history of racism that has created structural disadvantages. We need every politician to accept our history, and work together to remedy the wrongs of the past.

• Right now, state and local governments across the nation are attempting to rewrite American history, removing both the contributions, and tribulations of Black America.
• Simultaneously, these oppressive forces are working to ban books and remove diversity standards that provide young Black Americans with the representation they deserve. 
• Embracing equitable education looks like canceling student debt, fighting back against anti-Black policies, and devising pathways towards affordable educational opportunities for all.

The Biden Administration must continue to frame their policy decisions through an equitable lens in order to truly embrace Black life and progress in the United States.