Statement on Biden’s Address on the “Battle for the Soul of the Nation”

Tonight, President Biden will be speaking at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, one of the nation's most potent symbols of the founding ideals of American democracy. This comes at a time when 67 percent of Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, feel that our democracy is in danger of collapse.

On January 6, the United States came the closest it has been to constitutional failure since the Civil War. The ensuing chaos contributed to both anxiety in our society and instability in our economy. Uncertainty is the enemy of a thriving private sector. Business for America believes that Americans share a bottom-line economic interest in protecting the democratic institutions upon which our republic relies, and a central way to combat anti-democratic forces is to show that democracy and governing can work.

While Biden’s speech tonight will be a call for “unity, hope, and optimism,” we must take practical, concrete steps to address the systemic root issues that undermine our democratic institutions. Common-sense, bipartisan legislation such as the Electoral Count Reform Act and the Civics Secures Democracy Act are just two solutions that can be adopted in the U.S. Congress this year. Business for America is mobilizing the business community to support these pieces of legislation, and we are actively working to identify other areas of collective action to protect our democracy.

Business for America’s founder Sarah Bonk said, “Our network of civic-minded business leaders includes Democrats and Republicans, Independents and third-party supporters. While we have different ideas about the best direction for our country, we are united in our commitment to protect our system of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.”

The current level of discord and hyper-partisanship in the U.S. impedes progress on core issues that matter to business, such as trade, immigration, infrastructure, workforce development, health care, racial equity, and climate. Business leaders understand that widespread skepticism about the integrity of the election system reduces confidence in our civic institutions, creates unrest in the workplace, and damages the very fabric of our society. All of this contributes to an unpredictable environment within which to conduct business.

We must continually strive to protect the democratic institutions that are foundational to our economic success and personal liberty. Business for America calls on every American business to join us in taking action to protect and promote our constitutional democracy and laws upon which it depends.