OPINION: Joe Biden recognizes Ohio’s potential

“U.S. President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 2022.” Photo by Saul Loeb.

Julianna Rittenberg is a freshman studying political science and an opinion writer for The New Political.

Please note that these views and opinions do not reflect those of The New Political.

Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address was held on March 1, and he mentioned Ohio and the region’s potential several times.

Biden first referenced the Innovation Act, a bipartisan bill he hopes will pass. The act would increase funding for science and technology programs and strategies, allow for job creation and support economic and national security and domestic manufacturing.

“If you travel 20 miles east of Columbus, Ohio, you’ll find a thousand empty acres of land. It won’t look like much. But if you stop and look closely, you’ll see a ‘field of dreams’ — the ground on which America’s future will be built,” Biden said. 

Intel Corporation is set to build a new mega-site of up to eight factories in one place. This will bring thousands of new jobs to Ohio.

Biden also referenced Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, who has frequently called for the term “Rust Belt” to be no longer used. 

The term has been used to describe the region of Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and parts of Illinois, Wisconsin and New York, where the economy was dependent on manufacturing jobs that have since been pulled out or declined in numbers. The term is hated by many people in the region who see the potential of the area that others do not. The region is diverse and deserves more than a coined phrase created by politicians. 

Biden stated that what once was the Rust Belt will be known as a place of innovation and manufacturing as long as the Innovation Act is passed.

The final reference to Ohio was during the section of the speech on veterans. Biden introduced Ohioan Danielle Robinson, the widow of a soldier who died of cancer after prolonged exposure to burn pits during his service. The death is similar to how Beau Biden, President Biden’s son, died. 

Robinson is fighting for better benefits for veterans, many who are suffering from illnesses related to toxic exposure have been denied VA benefits, as they do not have proof the two are related issues.

Biden believes toxic exposure led to his son’s death and is making this a main focus of his next year in office. 

Biden ended his speech stating that the American people are strong and resilient.

“We are stronger today — we are stronger today than we were a year ago. And we’ll be stronger a year from now than we are today,” he said.

Ohioans are regular midwest Americans going through everyday life and trying their best to succeed. They are people who have seen manufacturing pulled out of their state, leaving many without jobs. Americans who serve their country then do not get the benefits promised to them because there is no “proof” of related injury. 

Ohio has potential. We have the ability to be great, to be innovators and world-changers.

In his speech March 1, President Biden recognized that potential and called on the rest of the country to see it, recognize it and work to harness it.