'Democracy needs champions:' Biden kicks off first 'Summit for Democracy' at White House

US President Joe Biden on Thursday took the next step in his plans to promote democracy against rising autocracies when he convened a virtual"Summit for Democracy," which hosted more than 100 participants representing governments, civil society and private-sector leaders.

The virtual gathering of leaders is focused on combating corruption, defending against authoritarianism and promoting human rights. It's part of a broader theme Biden has frequently reinforced throughout his time in office -- that the global competition of the 21st century is one defined by democracies versus autocracies and America has a responsibility in ensuring democracies prevail.

"With his final words, as he was dying, to our nation last year he reminded our country: 'Democracy is not a state, it's an act,'" Biden said. White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday that the focus of the summit will be"on what the President has called 'the challenge of our time' -- reversing the ongoing global democratic recession and ensuring that democracies deliver for their people."

Ahead of the summit, the White House highlighted provisions in Biden's social safety net bill, which has yet to be passed by the Senate. The administration says many of the provisions will"make critical investments in American democracy," such as expanding access to broadband, establishing a Civilian Climate Corps, investing in civic infrastructure and providing tax credits for local newsrooms.

When asked on Wednesday whether the President would use the summit to address what he's doing to uphold democracy in the US -- including in regard to the January 6 insurrection and the struggle to get voting rights legislation passed -- Jean-Pierre said,"I don't want to get ahead of what the President is going to say tomorrow. But ... all the things that you just mentioned ...

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