President Biden was the one scheduled speaker in the course of the president's annual State of the Union deal with, and whereas some lawmakers had been vocal all through Mr. Biden's speech, many silent statements whereas within the viewers. Some wore crayon pins and plenty of displayed Ukrainian flags – listed below are a few of the symbols noticed within the Home chamber.
Crayon pins
A number of Democrats had been noticed carrying pins on their lapels formed like crayons. Sen. Patty Murray defined the importance of the pin on Twitter: "Did you see the crayon I am carrying to #SOTU at the moment?" she wrote. "Nice—now that I've your consideration, I wish to speak about how baby care is a severe and pressing financial disaster. Baby care needs to be a high precedence this Congress."
A number of different Democratic lawmakers – together with Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island – additionally donned the pins.
Murray, who spearheaded the trouble to put on the crayon pins, has lengthy led the cost for reasonably priced childcare, not too long ago heading the struggle to enhance the Division of Schooling's Baby Care Entry Means Dad and mom in Faculty Program (CCAMPIS), which helps low-income households with childcare companies at faculties.
Blue and yellow for Ukraine
Many lawmakers sported Ukrainian flag pendants or blue and yellow ribbons – displaying help for the nation that has been battling Russian assaults for practically a yr. Senate Minority Chief Mitch McConnell of Kentucky wore a blue and yellow striped tie.
Inexperienced "118" pins
A number of members of Congress had been seen carrying little, spherical, inexperienced pins with the quantity 118 on the backside. These look like pins representing the 118th Congress, which started on January 3, 2023.
1870 buttons
Some members of Congress wore spherical buttons that learn "1870" to "stand in opposition to police brutality, Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey mentioned in a video posted to Twitter.
"In 1870, police killed an unarmed Black man. Final yr, the variety of police killings reached a document excessive," she wrote. "Police reform can't wait any longer. Our communities deserve higher."
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus wore the pins to advocate for police reform.
Different lawmakers may very well be seen displaying help for insurance policies and laws – like Democratic Rep. Danny Okay. Davis of Illinois, who wore a pin that learn "ERA YES" to help the Equal Rights Modification that may assure equal rights no matter gender.