--- description: The former Vice President is using his perch at the University of Delaware to address problems facing American workers. title: Joe Biden's Newest Project May Fuel 2020 Campaign Speculation image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3edbd0559de3ce6b/6988de39656a3f26ffbd1bd3/gettyimages-687918666.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Joe Biden's Newest Project May Fuel 2020 Campaign Speculation ## Video: Joe Biden Urges Cornell Graduates to Stop 'Living in Your Screens' [Watch (HLS stream): Joe Biden Urges Cornell Graduates to Stop 'Living in Your Screens'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/XbEV5OOr.m3u8) (0:52)  _Published 2017-05-27. Speaking a day ahead of the students' official graduation, Biden pleaded for more empathy among the younger generation as they prepare to enter the workforce._ by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 18, 2017 2:37 PM CUT  Former Vice President Joseph Biden speaks at the Harvard College Class of 2017 Class Day Exercises at Harvard University on May 24, 2017 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Former Vice President Joseph Biden speaks at the Harvard College Class of 2017 Class Day Exercises at Harvard University on May 24, 2017 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.Paul Marotta—Getty Images by [Maya Rhodan](/author/maya-rhodan/) ## Maya Rhodan Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Sep 18, 2017 2:37 PM CUT Former Vice President Joe Biden is [launching a new initiative](https://www.sppa.udel.edu/bideninstitute/research-policy/biden-institute-blog/Let%E2%80%99s-Choose-a-Future-That-Puts-Work-First "undefined") to address issues facing American workers, ranging from education to health care to retirement. Biden said Monday that the Biden Institute at the University of Delaware is seeking ways to “transform” the American educational system so that it reaches people early, provides ample opportunity in a way that’s affordable, and gives people a chance to train and retrain for future jobs. Biden’s initiative will also look for solutions for groups that are most acutely impacted by changes to the job market, as well as protections for workplace benefits and civil rights. “Our children and grandchildren deserve the promise we’ve had: the skills to get ahead, the chance to earn a paycheck, and a steady job that rewards hard work,” Biden [wrote.](https://www.sppa.udel.edu/bideninstitute/research-policy/biden-institute-blog/Let%E2%80%99s-Choose-a-Future-That-Puts-Work-First "undefined") “And here’s one thing I know for sure: it is within our power to provide the future they deserve.” The former vice president and potential [2020 presidential contender](http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/01/politics/joe-biden-2020/index.html "undefined") is kicking off his new initiative by speaking to CEOs from across the country in Washington and hosting a panel discussion for leaders across business, labor, non-profit organizations, and government in Delaware. Biden’s new effort comes [amid a larger push by the Democratic Party](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/opinion/chuck-schumer-employment-democrats.html?%5Fr=0 "undefined") to focus on the needs of American workers. Many observers have said that Democrats lost the 2016 election in part because they failed to adequately address middle class Americans’ economic worries. For their part, [Democrats said in July](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/opinion/chuck-schumer-employment-democrats.html?%5Fr=0 "undefined") that they were looking to spend the next several months crafting policies that would increase pay, reduce expenses, and “provide workers with the tools they need for the 21st-century economy.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/"},"headline":"Joe Biden's Newest Project May Fuel 2020 Campaign Speculation","datePublished":"2017-09-18T14:37:38.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T17:28:22.479Z","description":"\"Our children and grandchildren deserve the promise we've had\"","url":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/","keywords":["democrats","Joe Biden","Work","elections","2020 Election"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3edbd0559de3ce6b/6988de39656a3f26ffbd1bd3/gettyimages-687918666.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Maya Rhodan","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/maya-rhodan/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3edbd0559de3ce6b/6988de39656a3f26ffbd1bd3/gettyimages-687918666.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Joe Biden Speaks At Harvard University Class Day","caption":"Joe Biden Speaks At Harvard University Class Day","creditText":"Paul Marotta—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/","name":"Joe Biden's Newest Project May Fuel 2020 Campaign Speculation"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Joe Biden Urges Cornell Graduates to Stop 'Living in Your Screens'","description":"Speaking a day ahead of the students' official graduation, Biden pleaded for more empathy among the younger generation as they prepare to enter the workforce.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/XbEV5OOr/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2017-05-27T22:43:59.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/XbEV5OOr.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/","duration":"PT52S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4946175/joe-biden-institute-workers-2020-president/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```