Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is the senior United States Senator from Delaware. He is both the Democratic vice presidential nominee for the November 2008 election and a candidate for re-election in the U.S. Senate.
Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and lived there for ten years prior to moving to Delaware. He became an attorney in 1969 and was elected to a county council in 1970. Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1972, and became the fifth-youngest senator in U.S. history. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002, and has served for the sixth-longest period among current senators.
Biden is a long-time member and current chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. His strong advocacy helped bring about U.S. military assistance and intervention during the Bosnian War. He initially supported the Iraq War, but later proposed resolutions to alter U.S. strategy there. He has served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, dealing with issues related to drug policy, crime prevention, and civil liberties, and led creation of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and Violence Against Women Act. He chaired the Judiciary Committee during the contentious U.S. Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas.
Biden unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008, both times dropping out early in the process. Barack Obama selected Biden to be the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 U.S. election.
Invest $75 billion using tax credits and direct spending, targeting working families, seniors, homeowners and the unemployed. Put $45 billion in reserve for the future, should the economy continue to deteriorate. Provide both a $250 tax cut for working families and a temporary $250 Social Security bonus to seniors. Boost unemployment insurance.
Cut taxes for the middle-class and increase taxes for the rich. Restore the top two income tax rates to 36% and 39.6%. Eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 per year and capital gains taxes on small businesses. Introduce a tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. Make the child and dependent care tax credit refundable, and allow low-income families to receive up to a 50% credit for child care expenses. Limit estate tax exemptions to $3.5 million.
Create a $10 billion fund to help prevent foreclosures, and eliminate some taxes and fees for families facing foreclosure on their homes. Create a 10% mortgage credit for homeowners who do not itemize tax relief. Guarantee loan refinancing for troubled homeowners who are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Provide tax credits to 10 million middle class homeowners struggling with mortgage payments.
Amend NAFTA to provide greater protection for U.S. labor. Opposed to the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Pressure the WTO to enforce trade agreements and punish unfair government subsidies to foreign exporters and nontariff barriers on U.S. exports. Eliminate tax breaks for companies that are operating offshore. Reward Companies that Support American Workers.
Provide universal health insurance for children and an income-based subsidy for people who are not eligible for employer or government insurance. Require employers - exempting small businesses - that do not provide insurance to employees to contribute a margin of payroll towards the national plan. Invest $10 billion a year for five years into electronic health information systems. Repeal the ban preventing government from negotiating with drug companies.
Implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Provide greater assistance to local and state first responders and increase funding for interoperable communications systems. Establish grant program to support more state and local intelligence analysts. Increase capacity to share intelligence across all levels of government. Close Guantanamo Bay prison at in Cuba. Rescind the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which authorized trial by military commissions for detainees at the prison.
Opposes U.S. military operations in Iraq, and advocates the removal of U.S. troops within 16 months. Maintain a residual force to target al Qaeda, protect U.S. military and diplomatic personnel and support Iraqi security forces. Commit $2 billion toward supporting displaced Iraqis. Negotiate a compact to secure Iraq's borders, obstruct meddling from neighboring countries, isolate al Qaeda, support reconciliation among Iraqi sectarian groups and finance reconstruction and development.
Opposes Senate Resolution declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization. Will use diplomacy as the primary option to address difference with Iran, and plans to meet with leaders of Iran during first year of presidency. Does not rule out military action if diplomacy fails.
Send at least two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan and seek greater contributions from NATO allies. Provide training for Afghan security forces and the Afghan judiciary. Spend an additional $1 billion in non-military assistance every year, with safeguards to prevent corruption. Support Pakistan's policy to secure the countries' shared border and crack down on terrorist camps. Combat narcotics trafficking by offering alternative livelihoods to poppy farmers.
Defends Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and an undivided Jerusalem. Supports a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Supports U.S. efforts to provide aid directly to Palestinians, bypassing the Hamas-led government. Opposes the Iranian nuclear program, and any military strategies or expeditions that threaten Israel.
