Remarks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention – Aug. 19, 2024

Good evening. I'm Joyce Beatty and I'm proud to represent Ohio in Congress. I was born in the Buckeye state and I've never left.

Now, JD Vance likes to talk about how he's from Ohio, but as soon as he could he ran away to Yale and Silicon Valley, cozying up with billionaires while trashing our communities. JD has been our senator for 18 months and what has he done for hardworking Americans? Nothing. He's been busy writing the forward to the book from the Project 2025 guy, while JD and Donald Trump have been sharing conspiracy theories from the darkest corners of our internet.

Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have been busy expanding access to the internet, while the other guys have been criticizing women without children. Joe and Kamala have been expanding the child tax credit, and let me just tell you, cutting the poverty rate for our children. Kamala and Joe Biden have been also at the same time reducing the price of health care for our seniors and yes, securing a cap of $35 on insulin.

And as JD and Trump—they want to take us back to the past. Kamala and Joe have been bringing the jobs of the future to America today with the CHIPS Act, a $280 billion investment. And that's not just a big number. It means new semiconductor plants and thousands of good-paying jobs.

You see, I worked with Kamala to pass it and I saw her leadership style up close—a rare combination of brilliance, legal expertise, and patience.

You see, it's simple. JD and Trump like to talk about states like Ohio, but Kamala and Joe actually get stuff done for us. And so does our next vice president and my good friend, Gov. Tim Walz.

America, are you ready to build on our progress? Are you ready to turn out for leaders who know that action speaks louder than words? Are you ready to vote for Kamala Harris? Are you ready to put people over politics once and for all?

Well, the era of joy and freedom is up on us. And now, it is on us to go seize it!

Thank you! God bless you!

PBS NewsHour. “WATCH: Rep. Joyce Beatty speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention | Night 1.” YouTube video, 4:18. Aug. 19, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcMMo6mgoU0