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Statement from President Joe Biden on the Contract Between the International Association of Machinists and Boeing

Statements and Releases - 49 min 56 sec ago

I congratulate the International Association of Machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that reflects the hard work and sacrifices of 33,000 Machinist workers. This contract provides a 38% wage increase over four years, improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace. This contract is also important for Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector. And it was achieved with the support of my economic team, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

Over the last four years, we’ve shown collective bargaining works. Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers—and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Contract Between the International Association of Machinists and Boeing appeared first on The White House.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Contract Between the International Association of Machinists and Boeing

Whitehouse.gov Feed - 49 min 56 sec ago

I congratulate the International Association of Machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that reflects the hard work and sacrifices of 33,000 Machinist workers. This contract provides a 38% wage increase over four years, improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace. This contract is also important for Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector. And it was achieved with the support of my economic team, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

Over the last four years, we’ve shown collective bargaining works. Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers—and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

###

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Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones

Statements and Releases - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 17:36

Quincy Jones was a trailblazer.
 
He lived his life unapologetically, using his gifts to lift others up. He broke down barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not for praise but because he knew the power of our shared potential.
 
For more than half a century, as a composer, arranger, record and movie producer, Quincy Jones created art that brought joy to millions of people. As an activist, Quincy Jones championed civil and human rights. He brought together artists who wanted to unite their voices to drive change. As a role model, in particular for young people of color in the music industry, Quincy Jones offered inspiration and mentorship. 
 
I was honored to call Quincy a friend. I will always remember his generosity of spirit, his selfless support, and his deep kindness. Our world has lost a giant. But in his melodies, and in the lives he touched, Quincy’s legacy will live on forever.
 
Today, Doug and I are praying for the Jones family and all those who loved him.  
 

# # #

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 17:36

Quincy Jones was a trailblazer.
 
He lived his life unapologetically, using his gifts to lift others up. He broke down barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not for praise but because he knew the power of our shared potential.
 
For more than half a century, as a composer, arranger, record and movie producer, Quincy Jones created art that brought joy to millions of people. As an activist, Quincy Jones championed civil and human rights. He brought together artists who wanted to unite their voices to drive change. As a role model, in particular for young people of color in the music industry, Quincy Jones offered inspiration and mentorship. 
 
I was honored to call Quincy a friend. I will always remember his generosity of spirit, his selfless support, and his deep kindness. Our world has lost a giant. But in his melodies, and in the lives he touched, Quincy’s legacy will live on forever.
 
Today, Doug and I are praying for the Jones family and all those who loved him.  
 

# # #

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones

Statements and Releases - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 17:30

Quincy Jones was a musical genius who transformed the soul of America – one beat, one rhythm, and one rhyme at a time.

Growing up as a child facing segregation and poverty, he found music to be a refuge. As a teenager, he trained with some of the greatest musicians ever.

Over the next seven decades, he became a producer, composer, instrumentalist, executive, and so much more, discovering some of our most iconic artists and shaping the most memorable records and scores in history.

His God-given talent earned him countless awards and honors in music, film, and television. He was one of few Americans to earn an EGOT and received 28 Grammy Awards – among the most of all time.

In only a way he could, Quincy Jones solidified Black culture as American culture.

He was a great unifier, who believed deeply in the healing power of music to restore hope and uplift those suffering from hunger, poverty, and violence, in America and the continent of Africa.

Jill and I send our love to his entire family and everyone whose spirit was elevated by his extraordinary contributions.

May God bless Quincy Jones.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 17:30

Quincy Jones was a musical genius who transformed the soul of America – one beat, one rhythm, and one rhyme at a time.

Growing up as a child facing segregation and poverty, he found music to be a refuge. As a teenager, he trained with some of the greatest musicians ever.

Over the next seven decades, he became a producer, composer, instrumentalist, executive, and so much more, discovering some of our most iconic artists and shaping the most memorable records and scores in history.

His God-given talent earned him countless awards and honors in music, film, and television. He was one of few Americans to earn an EGOT and received 28 Grammy Awards – among the most of all time.

In only a way he could, Quincy Jones solidified Black culture as American culture.

He was a great unifier, who believed deeply in the healing power of music to restore hope and uplift those suffering from hunger, poverty, and violence, in America and the continent of Africa.

Jill and I send our love to his entire family and everyone whose spirit was elevated by his extraordinary contributions.

May God bless Quincy Jones.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Scranton, PA

Speeches and Remarks - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 16:03

Montage Mountain Resort
Scranton, Pennsylvania

1:52 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Scranton!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody! 

Can we hear it for Glen?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Glen.

Hi, Scranton.  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  It is so good to be with everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

Are we ready to do this? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: We- — we’re ready to get out the vote? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re ready to win?

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Okay.  So, first, let me thank Glen.  I was — I was telling him when we were just hanging out backstage, so when I — my first office that I ran for was district attorney, and the Carpenters were the first union to endorse me.  (Applause.)  And — and I — and I’ve always — I mean, even before, but always — I will always and always have stood with labor. 

And so, I’m very proud to stand with you, Glen, with your members, with all the members of labor, as we do this together.  (Applause.) 

And as he pointed out, there’s a huge difference between me and the other guy, which everybody here knows, which is why you are here to help us get out the vote.  (Applause.) 

But I thought I would share with you — so, I was — when I was coming in, someone reminded me of — of a story I’ve shared, which is when I first ran for office as DA.  So, I — I started out at six points in the polls, right?  So, you kn- — for anyone who knows, that’s 6 out of 100.  (Laughter.)  No one thought we could win.  And I used to campaign with my ironing board.  (Laughter.)  Okay.  You are wondering, “Now, what is she talking about?”  (Laughter.)

So, I would grab my ironing board, a roll of duct tape, my pois- — my posters and my flyers, and I’d put them all in my car, and I’d drive to the local grocery stores.  And I’d pull out my ironing board and my duct tape and my posters and my flyers, and I’d walk to the front of the grocery store outside, and I’d stand up my ironing board, because, you see, an ironing board makes a really great standing desk.  (Laughter.)

And I’d use the duct tape to tape my posters on the outside of the thing, and I’d put my flyers on top of the ironing board.  And I would require people to talk to me as they walked in and out of the grocery store.  (Laughter.)

And I will tell you, that is how I love to campaign.  I don’t do it as much anymore, obviously.  But what you all are signing up to do today and what you’ve been doing, like, let’s enjoy it.  You know, and I know you do.  I can feel the mood in here.  Because it’s the best of who we are as a democracy. 

And I think we’ve kind of — (applause) — right?

And that’s what our campaign has been about.  We are a people-driven campaign, and we love the people.  And we see, in the face of a stranger, a neighbor — right? — and that’s the spirit of what we are doing. 

And over these last — you know, this whole era of this other guy, you know, it —  but it — what it’s done with all that talk that’s been about trying to have us point fingers at each other and divide each other, it makes people feel alone.  It makes them feel like there’s nobody standing with them. 

And so, the way I have always been thinking about our campaign and these next 24 hours is as we are getting out the vote, as we are canvassing, let’s be intentional about building community — about building community, about building coalitions, about reminding people we all have so much more in common than what separates us.  There is power in that.  There is power in that.  (Applause.)  And there’s lasting power in that, right?

It’s about the win, and it is about more.  It is about more.  It is about just strengthening our country and reminding each other we are all in this together.  We rise and fall together.  And that is the strength of who we are and everyone here. 

That’s the strength of Bob Casey.  We’ve got to get him back in the United States Senate.  (Applause.) 

That’s the strength of Mayor Cognetti and all that she has been doing.  Right?  (Applause.)

It’s about leadership that is the kind of leadership that we want.  Right?  They are leaders, we are leaders who understand that the measure of our strength is not based on who we beat down.  It’s based on who we lift up.  Right?  (Applause.)  And so, that’s what we’re going to do.  

And so, over these next 24 hours, I know everyone is here, including our youngest leaders — I see you over there.  I know you’re not ready to vote because you look like you’re about eight, but — (laughs) — but you tell the adults in your life why it’s important they vote.  Okay?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

But over these next 24 hours, let’s — let’s enjoy this moment to knock on a neighbor’s door and in their face, even if we’ve not met them, know that we have a lot that we care about in common and that we are optimistic about the future of our country, that we love our country, and that that’s what this fight is about, and about the promise of America — and the promise of America being represented by everybody who is here.  

So, I thank you all for the time that you have taken out of your busy lives.  There are a number of things that each one of you could be doing right now and — but you’re here, and we’re all here together, under this one roof, as a community of people who care and who are dedicated to the hard work that it requires.  

You know, I — I like to say that you — you know, when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And that’s what we’re doing.  And that’s what we’re doing.  We love our country, and we are fighting for the best of who we are.  And —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I love you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  I love you.

So —

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote. 

AUDIENCE:  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.   Let’s win. (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

All right, let’s get to work.  Twenty-four hours to go.  And I — I so — I — I’m so grateful for everyone here.  I — I just — I’ll end with this point.  You know, I have the — I have the privilege, I have the blessing of being able to travel around our country.  And I’m telling you guys, we’re good.  We’re good.  We’re good.  (Applause.)  We really are.  

I mean, every — I s- — I go into rooms with people who s- — again, seemingly have nothing in common and have everything in common — rooms of people of all kinds of different backgrounds, of ages coming together in this sense of just the — the collective.  We’re good.

And so, we’re going to keep doing this work with the optimism that it requires to be strong.  Everyone here knows, in the context of your family, in your life, when you believe something is possible, you put in the hard work, and you know it’s good work — hard work is good work, it’s joyful work — and we get the job done.  

Let’s get this done.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END                 2:00 P.M. EDT

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Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Scranton, PA

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 16:03

Montage Mountain Resort
Scranton, Pennsylvania

1:52 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Scranton!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody! 

Can we hear it for Glen?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Glen.

Hi, Scranton.  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  It is so good to be with everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

Are we ready to do this? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: We- — we’re ready to get out the vote? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re ready to win?

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Okay.  So, first, let me thank Glen.  I was — I was telling him when we were just hanging out backstage, so when I — my first office that I ran for was district attorney, and the Carpenters were the first union to endorse me.  (Applause.)  And — and I — and I’ve always — I mean, even before, but always — I will always and always have stood with labor. 

And so, I’m very proud to stand with you, Glen, with your members, with all the members of labor, as we do this together.  (Applause.) 

And as he pointed out, there’s a huge difference between me and the other guy, which everybody here knows, which is why you are here to help us get out the vote.  (Applause.) 

But I thought I would share with you — so, I was — when I was coming in, someone reminded me of — of a story I’ve shared, which is when I first ran for office as DA.  So, I — I started out at six points in the polls, right?  So, you kn- — for anyone who knows, that’s 6 out of 100.  (Laughter.)  No one thought we could win.  And I used to campaign with my ironing board.  (Laughter.)  Okay.  You are wondering, “Now, what is she talking about?”  (Laughter.)

So, I would grab my ironing board, a roll of duct tape, my pois- — my posters and my flyers, and I’d put them all in my car, and I’d drive to the local grocery stores.  And I’d pull out my ironing board and my duct tape and my posters and my flyers, and I’d walk to the front of the grocery store outside, and I’d stand up my ironing board, because, you see, an ironing board makes a really great standing desk.  (Laughter.)

And I’d use the duct tape to tape my posters on the outside of the thing, and I’d put my flyers on top of the ironing board.  And I would require people to talk to me as they walked in and out of the grocery store.  (Laughter.)

And I will tell you, that is how I love to campaign.  I don’t do it as much anymore, obviously.  But what you all are signing up to do today and what you’ve been doing, like, let’s enjoy it.  You know, and I know you do.  I can feel the mood in here.  Because it’s the best of who we are as a democracy. 

And I think we’ve kind of — (applause) — right?

And that’s what our campaign has been about.  We are a people-driven campaign, and we love the people.  And we see, in the face of a stranger, a neighbor — right? — and that’s the spirit of what we are doing. 

And over these last — you know, this whole era of this other guy, you know, it —  but it — what it’s done with all that talk that’s been about trying to have us point fingers at each other and divide each other, it makes people feel alone.  It makes them feel like there’s nobody standing with them. 

And so, the way I have always been thinking about our campaign and these next 24 hours is as we are getting out the vote, as we are canvassing, let’s be intentional about building community — about building community, about building coalitions, about reminding people we all have so much more in common than what separates us.  There is power in that.  There is power in that.  (Applause.)  And there’s lasting power in that, right?

It’s about the win, and it is about more.  It is about more.  It is about just strengthening our country and reminding each other we are all in this together.  We rise and fall together.  And that is the strength of who we are and everyone here. 

That’s the strength of Bob Casey.  We’ve got to get him back in the United States Senate.  (Applause.) 

That’s the strength of Mayor Cognetti and all that she has been doing.  Right?  (Applause.)

It’s about leadership that is the kind of leadership that we want.  Right?  They are leaders, we are leaders who understand that the measure of our strength is not based on who we beat down.  It’s based on who we lift up.  Right?  (Applause.)  And so, that’s what we’re going to do.  

And so, over these next 24 hours, I know everyone is here, including our youngest leaders — I see you over there.  I know you’re not ready to vote because you look like you’re about eight, but — (laughs) — but you tell the adults in your life why it’s important they vote.  Okay?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

But over these next 24 hours, let’s — let’s enjoy this moment to knock on a neighbor’s door and in their face, even if we’ve not met them, know that we have a lot that we care about in common and that we are optimistic about the future of our country, that we love our country, and that that’s what this fight is about, and about the promise of America — and the promise of America being represented by everybody who is here.  

So, I thank you all for the time that you have taken out of your busy lives.  There are a number of things that each one of you could be doing right now and — but you’re here, and we’re all here together, under this one roof, as a community of people who care and who are dedicated to the hard work that it requires.  

You know, I — I like to say that you — you know, when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And that’s what we’re doing.  And that’s what we’re doing.  We love our country, and we are fighting for the best of who we are.  And —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I love you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  I love you.

So —

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote. 

AUDIENCE:  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.   Let’s win. (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

All right, let’s get to work.  Twenty-four hours to go.  And I — I so — I — I’m so grateful for everyone here.  I — I just — I’ll end with this point.  You know, I have the — I have the privilege, I have the blessing of being able to travel around our country.  And I’m telling you guys, we’re good.  We’re good.  We’re good.  (Applause.)  We really are.  

I mean, every — I s- — I go into rooms with people who s- — again, seemingly have nothing in common and have everything in common — rooms of people of all kinds of different backgrounds, of ages coming together in this sense of just the — the collective.  We’re good.

And so, we’re going to keep doing this work with the optimism that it requires to be strong.  Everyone here knows, in the context of your family, in your life, when you believe something is possible, you put in the hard work, and you know it’s good work — hard work is good work, it’s joyful work — and we get the job done.  

Let’s get this done.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END                 2:00 P.M. EDT

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Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections

Statements and Releases - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 08:15

I congratulate Maia Sandu on her historic reelection as the President of Moldova. 

On Sunday, the Moldovan people went to the polls and voted in favor of President Sandu’s vision for a secure, prosperous, and democratic Moldova. President Sandu’s reelection comes just two weeks after the Moldovan people passed a constitutional referendum in support of membership in the European Union. 

For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and election processes. But Russia failed. The Moldovan people have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future, and they have chosen to pursue a path aligned with Europe and democracies everywhere.

###

The post Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections appeared first on The White House.

Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 08:15

I congratulate Maia Sandu on her historic reelection as the President of Moldova. 

On Sunday, the Moldovan people went to the polls and voted in favor of President Sandu’s vision for a secure, prosperous, and democratic Moldova. President Sandu’s reelection comes just two weeks after the Moldovan people passed a constitutional referendum in support of membership in the European Union. 

For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and election processes. But Russia failed. The Moldovan people have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future, and they have chosen to pursue a path aligned with Europe and democracies everywhere.

###

The post Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections appeared first on The White House.

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit

Statements and Releases - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 08:00

The United States has deep economic ties to the Western Hemisphere. Through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the Biden-Harris Administration’s premier economic initiative for the region, the United States is strengthening and expanding our efforts to enhance regional competitiveness by focusing on the drivers of bottom-up and middle-out economic growth that will create good-quality jobs and more resilient supply chains.

The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (known as the Americas Partnership or APEP) launched at the Summit of the Americas in 2022, includes member countries that represent90 percent of the hemisphere’s GDP and nearly two-thirds of its people.

At the inaugural Leaders’ Summit on November 3, 2023, President Biden and leaders of the eleven other Americas Partnership countries—Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay—deepened our shared commitment to ahemisphere that is among the most dynamic economic regions in the world.  During the past year, Ministers from the TradeForeign Affairs, and Finance tracks have met to set goals and develop priority workstreams to intensify regional economic cooperation.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen all hosted their Americas Partnership ministerial counterparts to drive inclusive sustainable growth and strengthen critical supply chains in semiconductors, medical supplies, and clean energy and critical minerals. 

One year on, the initiative is delivering concrete results to improve the lives of people throughout the region while creating economic opportunities within the hemisphere. As National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the Brookings Institutionthis year, “we’re working to make the Western Hemisphere a globally competitive supply chain hub for semiconductors, clean energy, and more.”

Since its launch, the Americas Partnership is: 

Driving investment and expanded entrepreneurship by leading efforts to train an inclusive and diverse cohort of entrepreneurs and connect them with financing opportunities. 

  • The Americas Partnership Investor Network was launched at a July 2024 White House meeting hosted by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. As part of the Network, a diverse group of angel and venture capital investors pledged to collectively invest more than $1 billion in early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.  The Inter-American Development Bank’s innovation and venture arm, IDB Lab, contributed $300,000 toward implementation of this Investor Network by the Uruguay Innovation Hub and Endeavor, creating new opportunities for the region’s next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs.  
  • The inaugural cohort of 46 impact enterprises from Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama graduated from USAID’s CATALYZE Americas Partnership Accelerator program, with the next cohort of 119 impact enterprises from Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay in the training pipeline.  The program’s work across 10 target countries has mobilized the first $1.5 million of the investment goal of at least $20 million in two years.
  • Canada’s AcelerarMe Program is providing training and mentoring to businesswomen in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Mexico, executed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  The program aims to graduate an estimated 450 entrepreneurs by 2026.  Already, two active cohorts have completed the majority ofthe training and four new cohorts will begin training in January 2025.
  • In 2024, Americas Partnership countries supported Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Americas Partnership SME Inclusive Trade Inventory, including programs which assist micro-SMEs, that are owned and led by women, Indigenous persons, minorities, and those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.  This fall, Americas Partnership governments held a Best Practices Exchange to strengthen knowledge-sharing among APEP countries. 

Advancing economic competitiveness and supply chain resilience for Americas Partnership economies.

  • The Department of State has driven inclusive and sustainable growth by providing up to $7 million to the IDB’s Biodiversity and Natural Capital Facility.  This Fund for Nature is supporting Americas Partnership member countries with technical cooperation to mainstream climate, biodiversity, natural capital, and nature-based solutions into economic development plans and investments.  
  • To bolster semiconductor production capabilities across the Western Hemisphere, the Department of State, in collaboration with the IDB, unveiled the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative.  This groundbreaking initiative, supported through the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, is enhancing semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging capabilities in key Americas Partnership countries, beginning with Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.  Under the initiative, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic signed MOUs with Arizona State and Purdue Universities to expand their skilled semiconductor workforce. 
  • The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and IDB Invest have supported almost $2 billion worth of projects in APEP member countries over the past year.  In addition, DFC and IDB Invest launched the Americas Partnership Platform to facilitate co-investments, and added a $30 million technical assistance facility to support new and existing projects under the Platform.
  • The Inter-American Development Bank delivered a “Phase I” report to Americas Partnership members in June 2024 to evaluate and enhance members’ competitiveness in the three priority supply chain sectors (semiconductors, medical supplies, and critical minerals).  This report highlighted the scale of the nearshoring opportunity in our region, while identifying areas where targeted policy innovations and infrastructure improvements will attract additional investment.  In the next stage, the IDB is engaging policymakers and other stakeholders throughout the region to develop concrete, country-specific policy recommendations in a set of “Phase II” reports. 
  • Americas Partnership countries launched the Americas Partnership Clean Hydrogen Working Group, co-led by Chile, Uruguay, and the United States.  Backed by the Department of State’s Power Sector Program, the Working Group seeks to ensure the Western Hemisphere is a global leader in clean hydrogen development and deployment as countries seek to meet their national clean energy and climate goals. 
  • APEP countries have led a wide range of initiatives on key member priorities.  For example, Ecuador and Peru have joined forces to promote sustainable food production.  The Dominican Republic has led an effort to promote transparency and integrity in the public sector.  Chile is spearheadingexpanded cooperation in civil and commercial space affairs. Supported by agencies like the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Americas Partnership countries are also aiming to improve regulatory systems and market access for essential medical products across the region.

In the year since the November 3, 2023 Leaders’ Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked together with the members of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the hemispheric vision of economic prosperity for all of our citizens.

The post FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit appeared first on The White House.

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Mon, 11/04/2024 - 08:00

The United States has deep economic ties to the Western Hemisphere. Through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the Biden-Harris Administration’s premier economic initiative for the region, the United States is strengthening and expanding our efforts to enhance regional competitiveness by focusing on the drivers of bottom-up and middle-out economic growth that will create good-quality jobs and more resilient supply chains.

The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (known as the Americas Partnership or APEP) launched at the Summit of the Americas in 2022, includes member countries that represent90 percent of the hemisphere’s GDP and nearly two-thirds of its people.

At the inaugural Leaders’ Summit on November 3, 2023, President Biden and leaders of the eleven other Americas Partnership countries—Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay—deepened our shared commitment to ahemisphere that is among the most dynamic economic regions in the world.  During the past year, Ministers from the TradeForeign Affairs, and Finance tracks have met to set goals and develop priority workstreams to intensify regional economic cooperation.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen all hosted their Americas Partnership ministerial counterparts to drive inclusive sustainable growth and strengthen critical supply chains in semiconductors, medical supplies, and clean energy and critical minerals. 

One year on, the initiative is delivering concrete results to improve the lives of people throughout the region while creating economic opportunities within the hemisphere. As National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the Brookings Institutionthis year, “we’re working to make the Western Hemisphere a globally competitive supply chain hub for semiconductors, clean energy, and more.”

Since its launch, the Americas Partnership is: 

Driving investment and expanded entrepreneurship by leading efforts to train an inclusive and diverse cohort of entrepreneurs and connect them with financing opportunities. 

  • The Americas Partnership Investor Network was launched at a July 2024 White House meeting hosted by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. As part of the Network, a diverse group of angel and venture capital investors pledged to collectively invest more than $1 billion in early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.  The Inter-American Development Bank’s innovation and venture arm, IDB Lab, contributed $300,000 toward implementation of this Investor Network by the Uruguay Innovation Hub and Endeavor, creating new opportunities for the region’s next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs.  
  • The inaugural cohort of 46 impact enterprises from Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama graduated from USAID’s CATALYZE Americas Partnership Accelerator program, with the next cohort of 119 impact enterprises from Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay in the training pipeline.  The program’s work across 10 target countries has mobilized the first $1.5 million of the investment goal of at least $20 million in two years.
  • Canada’s AcelerarMe Program is providing training and mentoring to businesswomen in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Mexico, executed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  The program aims to graduate an estimated 450 entrepreneurs by 2026.  Already, two active cohorts have completed the majority ofthe training and four new cohorts will begin training in January 2025.
  • In 2024, Americas Partnership countries supported Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Americas Partnership SME Inclusive Trade Inventory, including programs which assist micro-SMEs, that are owned and led by women, Indigenous persons, minorities, and those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.  This fall, Americas Partnership governments held a Best Practices Exchange to strengthen knowledge-sharing among APEP countries. 

Advancing economic competitiveness and supply chain resilience for Americas Partnership economies.

  • The Department of State has driven inclusive and sustainable growth by providing up to $7 million to the IDB’s Biodiversity and Natural Capital Facility.  This Fund for Nature is supporting Americas Partnership member countries with technical cooperation to mainstream climate, biodiversity, natural capital, and nature-based solutions into economic development plans and investments.  
  • To bolster semiconductor production capabilities across the Western Hemisphere, the Department of State, in collaboration with the IDB, unveiled the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative.  This groundbreaking initiative, supported through the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, is enhancing semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging capabilities in key Americas Partnership countries, beginning with Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.  Under the initiative, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic signed MOUs with Arizona State and Purdue Universities to expand their skilled semiconductor workforce. 
  • The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and IDB Invest have supported almost $2 billion worth of projects in APEP member countries over the past year.  In addition, DFC and IDB Invest launched the Americas Partnership Platform to facilitate co-investments, and added a $30 million technical assistance facility to support new and existing projects under the Platform.
  • The Inter-American Development Bank delivered a “Phase I” report to Americas Partnership members in June 2024 to evaluate and enhance members’ competitiveness in the three priority supply chain sectors (semiconductors, medical supplies, and critical minerals).  This report highlighted the scale of the nearshoring opportunity in our region, while identifying areas where targeted policy innovations and infrastructure improvements will attract additional investment.  In the next stage, the IDB is engaging policymakers and other stakeholders throughout the region to develop concrete, country-specific policy recommendations in a set of “Phase II” reports. 
  • Americas Partnership countries launched the Americas Partnership Clean Hydrogen Working Group, co-led by Chile, Uruguay, and the United States.  Backed by the Department of State’s Power Sector Program, the Working Group seeks to ensure the Western Hemisphere is a global leader in clean hydrogen development and deployment as countries seek to meet their national clean energy and climate goals. 
  • APEP countries have led a wide range of initiatives on key member priorities.  For example, Ecuador and Peru have joined forces to promote sustainable food production.  The Dominican Republic has led an effort to promote transparency and integrity in the public sector.  Chile is spearheadingexpanded cooperation in civil and commercial space affairs. Supported by agencies like the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Americas Partnership countries are also aiming to improve regulatory systems and market access for essential medical products across the region.

In the year since the November 3, 2023 Leaders’ Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked together with the members of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the hemispheric vision of economic prosperity for all of our citizens.

The post FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris on a Campaign Call with Win With Black Women

Speeches and Remarks - Sun, 11/03/2024 - 23:59

Via Teleconference

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can you hear me?

     MS. MOORE:  Yes, we can hear you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Minyon?

     MS. MOORE:  Yes, ma’am.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi — thank — (laughs).  Good evening, everyone.  Good evening. 

Yes, I am on the tarmac.  I just landed back from East Lansing, Michigan, in Detroit.  Yesterday, I was in five states.  Tomorrow, I’m heading to Pennsylvania.  I’ll be in Pittsburgh.  I’ll be in Philly and Allentown. 

And two days to go.  And I just wanted to get on the call to thank everybody for just all the — everything: for the work; the prayers, the prayers, the prayers; for the friendship; for the sisterhood. 

Jotaka, I thank you for all you’ve been doing to organize.  Minyon, I just thank you for just being my sister and — and my dear, dear close friend.

And, everyone, thank you.  Win With Black Women — this coalition has been in my corner for the last four years and, just four months ago, immediately jumped into action with this weekly call to be the first group to organize tens of thousands of Black women in support of our brand new campaign. 

And I just — I’m so thankful, because you were the catalyst.  When others saw how the leaders on this call organize and — and empower and mobilize, then they, too, said, “Hey, we should do it.”  And — and I know that the leaders here, including and starting with Jotaka, helped other groups to organize to replicate what Win With Black Women has been doing for years now. 

And I just thank everyone.  I thank everyone for building a coalition that has been hard at work to support our campaign — many of those coalition members who are also on this call. 

And at the heart of our coalition-building is our core understanding that we all have so much more in common than what separates us, that we are all in this together, and that we can have an impact on people’s lives, that we know it is our calling.  We are driven by our faith to know that we must live a life of service in some way, whether it be because we choose to be in public office or in other ways.

But it is about lifting people up and reminding them that we are a community of people who care and have so much to be optimistic about. 

So, I thank everyone on this call for being such a part of this people-powered movement. 

And two days away from the election, I know people on this call have been out knocking on doors and calling folks and texting, and we have such momentum.  I’m telling you.  I just left East Lansing, and I was up at — at Michigan State, and these young people are just energized. 

And there were people from every generation of life, every walk of life, coming together under one roof, around a common purpose, and that is about dedicating ourselves to a new generation of leadership, and it’s about the future of our country and doing it with optimism. 

So, I thank you all.  We have more work to do.  And I know everyone here has probably voted early, but I do need your help to make sure that all our family and friends get to the polls.  And let’s mobilize our Facebook groups, our family group chats, and everyone we know. 

And I’ll just close by saying again: I’m so thankful and grateful to everybody here and for this incredible sisterhood.  And we will get this done, we will win, and it will be because we know what’s at stake, we love our country, and we know how to fight for all that is good and important for the future. 

 So, I thank you, everybody.  Minyon, again, thank you for the introduction.  And, everybody, be well.  I’ll see you out there.  Thank you.

                             END

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris on a Campaign Call with Win With Black Women appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Detroit, MI

Speeches and Remarks - Sun, 11/03/2024 - 23:59

Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ
Detroit, Michigan

1:29 P.M. EST

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Hi.  Good afternoon, everyone. 

     Q    Good afternoon.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Well, we’re back in Michigan and started the day in a really wonderful, joyful way.  And yesterday, of course, we were in five states.  And today, I will be spending the rest of the day here on the ground in Michigan, talking with voters and reminding them of the stakes and reminding them of the power they possess to actually determine the outcome of this election and the direction of our country. 

So, I’m very much looking forward to today and the next 48 hours.

Any questions?

     AIDE:  Todd, Detroit Free Press.

     Q    Vice President, do you have any closing argument for Arab American voters and voters in the Muslim community as to why they should vote for you in this election?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  Absolutely.  Well, first of all, I’m honored to have the support of many Arab American leaders who represent the interests and the — the concerns, also, of the Arab American community.  But I also know well enough to know it is not a monolith.  There are many issues that are the issues that all Americans face and then, of course, some that are specific to what is happening in Gaza. 

And on the subject of Gaza, I have been very clear: The level of death of innocent Palestinians is unconscionable.  We need to end the war, and we need to get the hostages out.  And as president of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that end and a two-state solution where Palestinians will have the right to self-determination and security and — and stability in the region. 

But again, the issues are as varied as they are for any voter.  It includes that, but it is also about bringing down the cost of living.  It is about supporting small businesses in the community.  It is about bringing down the cost of housing, groceries, extending the Child Tax Credit. 

These are issues that resonate in that community, as well as every other community.  And I will continue to speak to members of that community and to ask for their vote, which I hope I earn. 

     AIDE:  Alex.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

Alex?  Alex who?

     Q    Me?

     AIDE:  Yeah, (inaudible).

     Q    I’m Lauren.  (Laughs.)

     AIDE:  Sorry. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  There we go.

     AIDE:  You have the same last name as someone else.  (Laughter.)

     Q    Oh.  (Laughs.)

     AIDE:  Keep going.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know what, it’s 48 hours out.  Everyone is a little tired.  Who was with us last night?  (Laughs.) You’re right.  A few sleep deprived.

     Q    I guess —
    
     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Please.

     Q    — simply, how are you feeling?  And have you submitted your ballot?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I am feeling great.  I am looking forward to these next 48 hours to continue to talk with the voters and — and talk about the stakes and — and talk about the future of our country, which I think is bright when we are working with the same spirit of building community, building coalitions, and building the strength of our economy and our country.

I have.  I actually just filled out my mail-in ballot.  So, I have voted.

     AIDE:  Darlene.

     Q    Madam Vice President, have you returned the ballot to California?  And how did you vote on Prop 36?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I have — my ballot is on its way to California, and I’m going to trust the system that it will arrive there.  And I am not going to talk about the vote on that because, honestly, it’s the Sunday before the election, and I don’t intend to create an endorsement one way or another around it, so — but I did vote. 
    
     AIDE:  Nandita.

     Q    Thank you.  Madam Vice President, Donald Trump prematurely declared victory in 2020.  Just his comments in the past weeks and days seem to suggest, you know, that he’s thinking about it.  How will you and your campaign respond if he does the same thing again?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, here we are on the Sunday before the election.  And I would ask, in particular, people who have not yet voted to not fall for his tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that if they vote, their vote won’t matter; suggesting to people that somehow the integrity of our voting system is not intact so that they don’t vote. 

And again, I think that it is a tactic.  It is meant to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country.  We did in 2020.  He lost.  And the systems that are in place for this election in 2024 have integrity.  They are good systems. 

And the vote of the people will determine the outcome of this election.  And everyone must know that their vote is their power to determine the outcome of the election, and their vote will count.  It does matter. 

     AIDE:  Thank you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  All right.  Thank you all.

                        END                     1:34 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Detroit, MI appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris on a Campaign Call with Win With Black Women

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Sun, 11/03/2024 - 23:59

Via Teleconference

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can you hear me?

     MS. MOORE:  Yes, we can hear you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Minyon?

     MS. MOORE:  Yes, ma’am.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi — thank — (laughs).  Good evening, everyone.  Good evening. 

Yes, I am on the tarmac.  I just landed back from East Lansing, Michigan, in Detroit.  Yesterday, I was in five states.  Tomorrow, I’m heading to Pennsylvania.  I’ll be in Pittsburgh.  I’ll be in Philly and Allentown. 

And two days to go.  And I just wanted to get on the call to thank everybody for just all the — everything: for the work; the prayers, the prayers, the prayers; for the friendship; for the sisterhood. 

Jotaka, I thank you for all you’ve been doing to organize.  Minyon, I just thank you for just being my sister and — and my dear, dear close friend.

And, everyone, thank you.  Win With Black Women — this coalition has been in my corner for the last four years and, just four months ago, immediately jumped into action with this weekly call to be the first group to organize tens of thousands of Black women in support of our brand new campaign. 

And I just — I’m so thankful, because you were the catalyst.  When others saw how the leaders on this call organize and — and empower and mobilize, then they, too, said, “Hey, we should do it.”  And — and I know that the leaders here, including and starting with Jotaka, helped other groups to organize to replicate what Win With Black Women has been doing for years now. 

And I just thank everyone.  I thank everyone for building a coalition that has been hard at work to support our campaign — many of those coalition members who are also on this call. 

And at the heart of our coalition-building is our core understanding that we all have so much more in common than what separates us, that we are all in this together, and that we can have an impact on people’s lives, that we know it is our calling.  We are driven by our faith to know that we must live a life of service in some way, whether it be because we choose to be in public office or in other ways.

But it is about lifting people up and reminding them that we are a community of people who care and have so much to be optimistic about. 

So, I thank everyone on this call for being such a part of this people-powered movement. 

And two days away from the election, I know people on this call have been out knocking on doors and calling folks and texting, and we have such momentum.  I’m telling you.  I just left East Lansing, and I was up at — at Michigan State, and these young people are just energized. 

And there were people from every generation of life, every walk of life, coming together under one roof, around a common purpose, and that is about dedicating ourselves to a new generation of leadership, and it’s about the future of our country and doing it with optimism. 

So, I thank you all.  We have more work to do.  And I know everyone here has probably voted early, but I do need your help to make sure that all our family and friends get to the polls.  And let’s mobilize our Facebook groups, our family group chats, and everyone we know. 

And I’ll just close by saying again: I’m so thankful and grateful to everybody here and for this incredible sisterhood.  And we will get this done, we will win, and it will be because we know what’s at stake, we love our country, and we know how to fight for all that is good and important for the future. 

 So, I thank you, everybody.  Minyon, again, thank you for the introduction.  And, everybody, be well.  I’ll see you out there.  Thank you.

                             END

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris on a Campaign Call with Win With Black Women appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Detroit, MI

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Sun, 11/03/2024 - 23:59

Greater Emmanuel Institutional Church of God in Christ
Detroit, Michigan

1:29 P.M. EST

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Hi.  Good afternoon, everyone. 

     Q    Good afternoon.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Well, we’re back in Michigan and started the day in a really wonderful, joyful way.  And yesterday, of course, we were in five states.  And today, I will be spending the rest of the day here on the ground in Michigan, talking with voters and reminding them of the stakes and reminding them of the power they possess to actually determine the outcome of this election and the direction of our country. 

So, I’m very much looking forward to today and the next 48 hours.

Any questions?

     AIDE:  Todd, Detroit Free Press.

     Q    Vice President, do you have any closing argument for Arab American voters and voters in the Muslim community as to why they should vote for you in this election?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.  Absolutely.  Well, first of all, I’m honored to have the support of many Arab American leaders who represent the interests and the — the concerns, also, of the Arab American community.  But I also know well enough to know it is not a monolith.  There are many issues that are the issues that all Americans face and then, of course, some that are specific to what is happening in Gaza. 

And on the subject of Gaza, I have been very clear: The level of death of innocent Palestinians is unconscionable.  We need to end the war, and we need to get the hostages out.  And as president of the United States, I will do everything in my power to achieve that end and a two-state solution where Palestinians will have the right to self-determination and security and — and stability in the region. 

But again, the issues are as varied as they are for any voter.  It includes that, but it is also about bringing down the cost of living.  It is about supporting small businesses in the community.  It is about bringing down the cost of housing, groceries, extending the Child Tax Credit. 

These are issues that resonate in that community, as well as every other community.  And I will continue to speak to members of that community and to ask for their vote, which I hope I earn. 

     AIDE:  Alex.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

Alex?  Alex who?

     Q    Me?

     AIDE:  Yeah, (inaudible).

     Q    I’m Lauren.  (Laughs.)

     AIDE:  Sorry. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  There we go.

     AIDE:  You have the same last name as someone else.  (Laughter.)

     Q    Oh.  (Laughs.)

     AIDE:  Keep going.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know what, it’s 48 hours out.  Everyone is a little tired.  Who was with us last night?  (Laughs.) You’re right.  A few sleep deprived.

     Q    I guess —
    
     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Please.

     Q    — simply, how are you feeling?  And have you submitted your ballot?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I am feeling great.  I am looking forward to these next 48 hours to continue to talk with the voters and — and talk about the stakes and — and talk about the future of our country, which I think is bright when we are working with the same spirit of building community, building coalitions, and building the strength of our economy and our country.

I have.  I actually just filled out my mail-in ballot.  So, I have voted.

     AIDE:  Darlene.

     Q    Madam Vice President, have you returned the ballot to California?  And how did you vote on Prop 36?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I have — my ballot is on its way to California, and I’m going to trust the system that it will arrive there.  And I am not going to talk about the vote on that because, honestly, it’s the Sunday before the election, and I don’t intend to create an endorsement one way or another around it, so — but I did vote. 
    
     AIDE:  Nandita.

     Q    Thank you.  Madam Vice President, Donald Trump prematurely declared victory in 2020.  Just his comments in the past weeks and days seem to suggest, you know, that he’s thinking about it.  How will you and your campaign respond if he does the same thing again?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, here we are on the Sunday before the election.  And I would ask, in particular, people who have not yet voted to not fall for his tactic, which I think includes suggesting to people that if they vote, their vote won’t matter; suggesting to people that somehow the integrity of our voting system is not intact so that they don’t vote. 

And again, I think that it is a tactic.  It is meant to distract from the fact that we have and support free and fair elections in our country.  We did in 2020.  He lost.  And the systems that are in place for this election in 2024 have integrity.  They are good systems. 

And the vote of the people will determine the outcome of this election.  And everyone must know that their vote is their power to determine the outcome of the election, and their vote will count.  It does matter. 

     AIDE:  Thank you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  All right.  Thank you all.

                        END                     1:34 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Detroit, MI appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Atlanta, GA

Speeches and Remarks - Sat, 11/02/2024 - 23:59

Atlanta Civic Center
Atlanta, Georgia

1:41 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Georgia!  (Applause.)  Oh, it’s good to be back.

Can we hear for Justin?  (Applause.)

All right, Atlanta.  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to win?  (Applause.) 

Oh, it’s good to be back.  It’s good to be back and to be with so many leaders.  And I want to thank everyone here for, out of your busy lives, taking time to be here to have this conversation.  I thank you so very much.  (Applause.)  Everyone who is here, I thank you.

And I want to thank Senators Ossoff and Warnock.  (Applause.)  There’s Senator Warnock. 

Representatives Williams, McBath, Johnson — (applause) — they’re all here. 

Mayor Dickens.  (Applause.) 

Victoria Monét.  (Applause.)

Monica.  (Applause.)

Spike.  (Applause.)

And let’s give it up for Pastor Troy and 2 Chainz.  (Applause.)

All right, Georgia.  So, we have three days left — three days — in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we still have work to do.  We still have work to do. 

But here’s the thing.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  And make no mistake, we will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And, Georgia, we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump, who spends full time trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We’re done.  We’re done with that.  We are exhausted with that.  Enough of that.  (Applause.)  Enough.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back, and one of the reasons is because we do know the contrast.  And we know who he is, but, Atlanta, that’s not who we are.  That’s not who we are. 

And it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

And, Georgia, you know me: I’m not afraid of tough fights, evidently.  (Laughs.)  For decades, I was a prosecutor.  I was the top law enforcement officer of the biggest state.  And I won fights against the big banks who ripped off homeowners, against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students, against predators who abused women and children, against cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings.  (Applause.)  I won those fights. 

And I pledge to you, if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)

And, look, we know who Donald Trump is.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and — because we know this is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  This is someone who is increasingly unstable —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — obsessed with revenge —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — consumed with grievance —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and the man is out for unchecked power.

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And in less than 90 days, it’s either going To be him or me in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here’s the thing — so, help spread the word, because part of it is to help people imagine —  you can imagine in your mind that th- — the Oval Office, right? You can picture it.  We’ve seen it on TV.  So, just imagine, if he is elected, on day one, Donald Trump would walk in that Oval Office with his enemies list — stewing over an enemy’s list. 

When I am elected, I will walk in on your behalf with my to-do list — (applause) — my to-do list. 

And at the top of my list is bringing down the cost of living for you — (applause) — and that will be my focus every single day as president.

I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans.  (Applause.)  I will enact the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)

We need a medic over here, please.  We need a medic over here.  If everyone can just part a little bit so we can let somebody through.  Okay? 

Okay.  All right.  See, this is what we do.  We look out for each other, right?  (Applause.)  That’s how we roll.  That’s how we roll.  And that’s what leadership looks like: everybody here.  (Applause.)

And among the things also on my to-do list is to fight to make sure that hardworking Americans can actually afford a place to live.  Affordable housing: one of the highest priorities.  (Applause.)

My priorities include knowing that if you are caring for an elderly parent, we need to cover the cost of home care with Medicare — (applause) — which we will do, because I’ve been there.  I took care of my mother when she was sick.  I know what that is — what that work is.  It is about trying to cook something someone feels like eating.  It is about trying to help them put on their clothes.  It’s about trying to put a smile on their face or make them laugh from time to time. 

It’s hard work, and it’s work that is about dignity.  And it is not right that the current situation is such that you’d either have to spend down your savings to qualify for Medicaid or quit your job to be able to take care of a family member, especially if you are in the sandwich generation, which means taking care of your children while you’re taking care of your parent.  (Applause.)

A lot of what motivates me in my work is it’s about dignity — the dignity of all people, that all people deserve that dignity to be able to not just get by but get ahead — (applause) — which is why my plan will also lower the cost of childcare.  (Applause.)

We will cut taxes for small businesses.  (Applause.)  Do we have any small businesses in the house?  (Applause.)  Oh, I love our small businesses.  You all are the backbone of America’s economy. 

We will lower health care costs, because I believe health care should be a right and not just the privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

On the other hand, Donald Trump’s answer to the financial pressures you face are the same as they were the last time: another trillion dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and the biggest corporations.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, he would pay for it with a 20 percent national sales tax on everything you buy that is imported. 

And it looks like we need a medic over there.  It’s hot out here, Atlanta. 

Let’s make sure we — again, everyone just try and part the way so someone can come through to help. 

All right, we’re good. 

So, talking about Trump’s plan — because, you know, economists have compared what he’s talking about to what I’m talking about, and they have indicated my plan will strengthen America’s economy.  His will weaken it, including the part about his “Trump sales tax” that would cost the average American family over 4,000 more dollars a year.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of that, Donald Trump still is trying to get rid of — and still wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — which would throw millions of Americans off health care and take us back to the time insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was?

Well, we are not —

AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We are not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  And ours is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And we remember how we got here.  When he was president, Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention they would undo the rights under Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.  And, Atlanta, now, in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, including Georgia and every state in the south except Virginia —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — many with no exceptions for rape and incest, which is immoral.

And, look, Donald Trump is not done.  He will ban abortion nationwide.  He wants to restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and force — get this — force states to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

Just google Project 2025.  Look it up for yourself.

And let us agree, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government shouldn’t tell her what to do — (applause) — not the government.  Not the government. 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly sign it into law.

So, Georgia, I am here to ask for your vote.  (Applause.)  I am here to ask for your vote.  And here — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.)

I pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make.  I pledge to you to listen to experts and to listen to people who disagree with me, because unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  He wants to put them in jail.  I will give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That’s what real leaders do.  (Applause.)  That’s what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)  

And I pledge to you to always put country above party and self, and I pledge to you to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.) 

So, that is my pledge to you, Atlanta.  And let me ask, anybody here already voted?  (Applause.)  Oh, wow.  My — oh, my goodness.  Well, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  All right.

So — okay, but there’s more to do.  So, now, please just talk to your friends and your neighbors and your coworkers and your classmates and your family and share your perspective on why this election is so important.  Let them know why you decided to take this time out of your life, with your obligations, to be here together.  And encourage them, please, to make their voices heard. 

And for those who haven’t voted yet, let me just be clear, no judgment.  No judgment.  But you still have time.  (Laughs.)  So, please take a moment to think about right now what your plan will be for when and where you vote. 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.  Polls are open here in Georgia from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Remember to bring your photo ID.  Go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need.  And, everyone, please help me spread the word on all of that — (applause) — because we need everyone in Georgia to vote.  You will make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will make the difference. 

So, look, it all comes down to this.  We are all here together from all different kinds of walks of life.  We are all here together for one reason that we share in common — one of the most important reasons.  We are here because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.  And we know that when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America.  That’s what this is about. 

And I will tell you, I have always believed in our nation’s promise, because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to the marches when I was in a stroller.  And there were people there from — Atlanta knows the story.  There were people there from all walks of life, coming together to fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to give her daughters the same chances our country gave her.  I was blessed growing up to have family by blood and to have family by love — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community, of compassion, of faith. 

I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stop believing that in our country anything is possible.  (Applause.)

I have lived the promise of America.  And today, I see the promise of America in everyone who is here right now — (applause) — in all of you, in all of us.  We are the promise of America.  (Applause.)  We are the promise of America. 

It is in the fathers, in the mothers, in the grandparents who work hard every day for our children’s future.  It is the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom and the men who support them.  (Applause.)  In Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution above party.  (Applause.)

I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the very first time.  (Applause.)  Raise your hand.  Where are you?  I love Gen Z.  I love Gen Z.  (Applause.)  Oh.  Because, see, this generation, you are rightly impatient for change.  You are rightly impatient for change.  You are determined to live free from gun violence and tackle the climate crisis and shape the world you inherit. 

For this generation, none of these issues we’re talking about are theoretical or political.  It is a lived experience for you.  And I see your power, and I am so proud of you.

And to everyone, can we hear it for our first-time voters?  (Applause.)  That’s right.  That’s right.

So, Atlanta, we have three days to get this thing done — (applause) — and no one can sit on the sidelines.  Let’s spend the next three days knowing that when we look back on these three days, we will have no regrets about what we could have done.  So, let’s knock on doors.  Let’s text.  Let’s call voters.  Let’s reach out to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers and your play cousins.  Let’s reach out.  (Laughs.)

And as we do, let us please also be intentional in how we build community.  Let us be intentional in knowing that these last years of this Trump era, yes, they have been exhausting, but they have not been in the best interest of the strength of our nation.  This whole idea that we be pointing fingers at each other, the idea that we have nothing in common when we know the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us. 

So, let’s be intentional about building community and building coalitions.  There is power in that, and it will strengthen our country.  (Applause.)

And let’s remind everybody that your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, Georgia, today, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.) 

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)                                END                2:02 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Atlanta, GA appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Atlanta, GA

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Sat, 11/02/2024 - 23:59

Atlanta Civic Center
Atlanta, Georgia

1:41 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Georgia!  (Applause.)  Oh, it’s good to be back.

Can we hear for Justin?  (Applause.)

All right, Atlanta.  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to win?  (Applause.) 

Oh, it’s good to be back.  It’s good to be back and to be with so many leaders.  And I want to thank everyone here for, out of your busy lives, taking time to be here to have this conversation.  I thank you so very much.  (Applause.)  Everyone who is here, I thank you.

And I want to thank Senators Ossoff and Warnock.  (Applause.)  There’s Senator Warnock. 

Representatives Williams, McBath, Johnson — (applause) — they’re all here. 

Mayor Dickens.  (Applause.) 

Victoria Monét.  (Applause.)

Monica.  (Applause.)

Spike.  (Applause.)

And let’s give it up for Pastor Troy and 2 Chainz.  (Applause.)

All right, Georgia.  So, we have three days left — three days — in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we still have work to do.  We still have work to do. 

But here’s the thing.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  And make no mistake, we will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And, Georgia, we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump, who spends full time trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We’re done.  We’re done with that.  We are exhausted with that.  Enough of that.  (Applause.)  Enough.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back, and one of the reasons is because we do know the contrast.  And we know who he is, but, Atlanta, that’s not who we are.  That’s not who we are. 

And it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

And, Georgia, you know me: I’m not afraid of tough fights, evidently.  (Laughs.)  For decades, I was a prosecutor.  I was the top law enforcement officer of the biggest state.  And I won fights against the big banks who ripped off homeowners, against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students, against predators who abused women and children, against cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings.  (Applause.)  I won those fights. 

And I pledge to you, if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)

And, look, we know who Donald Trump is.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and — because we know this is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  This is someone who is increasingly unstable —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — obsessed with revenge —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — consumed with grievance —

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and the man is out for unchecked power.

AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And in less than 90 days, it’s either going To be him or me in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here’s the thing — so, help spread the word, because part of it is to help people imagine —  you can imagine in your mind that th- — the Oval Office, right? You can picture it.  We’ve seen it on TV.  So, just imagine, if he is elected, on day one, Donald Trump would walk in that Oval Office with his enemies list — stewing over an enemy’s list. 

When I am elected, I will walk in on your behalf with my to-do list — (applause) — my to-do list. 

And at the top of my list is bringing down the cost of living for you — (applause) — and that will be my focus every single day as president.

I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans.  (Applause.)  I will enact the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)

We need a medic over here, please.  We need a medic over here.  If everyone can just part a little bit so we can let somebody through.  Okay? 

Okay.  All right.  See, this is what we do.  We look out for each other, right?  (Applause.)  That’s how we roll.  That’s how we roll.  And that’s what leadership looks like: everybody here.  (Applause.)

And among the things also on my to-do list is to fight to make sure that hardworking Americans can actually afford a place to live.  Affordable housing: one of the highest priorities.  (Applause.)

My priorities include knowing that if you are caring for an elderly parent, we need to cover the cost of home care with Medicare — (applause) — which we will do, because I’ve been there.  I took care of my mother when she was sick.  I know what that is — what that work is.  It is about trying to cook something someone feels like eating.  It is about trying to help them put on their clothes.  It’s about trying to put a smile on their face or make them laugh from time to time. 

It’s hard work, and it’s work that is about dignity.  And it is not right that the current situation is such that you’d either have to spend down your savings to qualify for Medicaid or quit your job to be able to take care of a family member, especially if you are in the sandwich generation, which means taking care of your children while you’re taking care of your parent.  (Applause.)

A lot of what motivates me in my work is it’s about dignity — the dignity of all people, that all people deserve that dignity to be able to not just get by but get ahead — (applause) — which is why my plan will also lower the cost of childcare.  (Applause.)

We will cut taxes for small businesses.  (Applause.)  Do we have any small businesses in the house?  (Applause.)  Oh, I love our small businesses.  You all are the backbone of America’s economy. 

We will lower health care costs, because I believe health care should be a right and not just the privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

On the other hand, Donald Trump’s answer to the financial pressures you face are the same as they were the last time: another trillion dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and the biggest corporations.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, he would pay for it with a 20 percent national sales tax on everything you buy that is imported. 

And it looks like we need a medic over there.  It’s hot out here, Atlanta. 

Let’s make sure we — again, everyone just try and part the way so someone can come through to help. 

All right, we’re good. 

So, talking about Trump’s plan — because, you know, economists have compared what he’s talking about to what I’m talking about, and they have indicated my plan will strengthen America’s economy.  His will weaken it, including the part about his “Trump sales tax” that would cost the average American family over 4,000 more dollars a year.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of that, Donald Trump still is trying to get rid of — and still wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — which would throw millions of Americans off health care and take us back to the time insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was?

Well, we are not —

AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We are not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  And ours is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And we remember how we got here.  When he was president, Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention they would undo the rights under Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.  And, Atlanta, now, in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, including Georgia and every state in the south except Virginia —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — many with no exceptions for rape and incest, which is immoral.

And, look, Donald Trump is not done.  He will ban abortion nationwide.  He wants to restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and force — get this — force states to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

Just google Project 2025.  Look it up for yourself.

And let us agree, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government shouldn’t tell her what to do — (applause) — not the government.  Not the government. 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly sign it into law.

So, Georgia, I am here to ask for your vote.  (Applause.)  I am here to ask for your vote.  And here — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.)

I pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make.  I pledge to you to listen to experts and to listen to people who disagree with me, because unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  He wants to put them in jail.  I will give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That’s what real leaders do.  (Applause.)  That’s what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)  

And I pledge to you to always put country above party and self, and I pledge to you to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.) 

So, that is my pledge to you, Atlanta.  And let me ask, anybody here already voted?  (Applause.)  Oh, wow.  My — oh, my goodness.  Well, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  Thank you.  All right.

So — okay, but there’s more to do.  So, now, please just talk to your friends and your neighbors and your coworkers and your classmates and your family and share your perspective on why this election is so important.  Let them know why you decided to take this time out of your life, with your obligations, to be here together.  And encourage them, please, to make their voices heard. 

And for those who haven’t voted yet, let me just be clear, no judgment.  No judgment.  But you still have time.  (Laughs.)  So, please take a moment to think about right now what your plan will be for when and where you vote. 

Election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.  Polls are open here in Georgia from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Remember to bring your photo ID.  Go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need.  And, everyone, please help me spread the word on all of that — (applause) — because we need everyone in Georgia to vote.  You will make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will make the difference. 

So, look, it all comes down to this.  We are all here together from all different kinds of walks of life.  We are all here together for one reason that we share in common — one of the most important reasons.  We are here because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.  And we know that when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America.  That’s what this is about. 

And I will tell you, I have always believed in our nation’s promise, because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to the marches when I was in a stroller.  And there were people there from — Atlanta knows the story.  There were people there from all walks of life, coming together to fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to give her daughters the same chances our country gave her.  I was blessed growing up to have family by blood and to have family by love — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community, of compassion, of faith. 

I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stop believing that in our country anything is possible.  (Applause.)

I have lived the promise of America.  And today, I see the promise of America in everyone who is here right now — (applause) — in all of you, in all of us.  We are the promise of America.  (Applause.)  We are the promise of America. 

It is in the fathers, in the mothers, in the grandparents who work hard every day for our children’s future.  It is the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom and the men who support them.  (Applause.)  In Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution above party.  (Applause.)

I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the very first time.  (Applause.)  Raise your hand.  Where are you?  I love Gen Z.  I love Gen Z.  (Applause.)  Oh.  Because, see, this generation, you are rightly impatient for change.  You are rightly impatient for change.  You are determined to live free from gun violence and tackle the climate crisis and shape the world you inherit. 

For this generation, none of these issues we’re talking about are theoretical or political.  It is a lived experience for you.  And I see your power, and I am so proud of you.

And to everyone, can we hear it for our first-time voters?  (Applause.)  That’s right.  That’s right.

So, Atlanta, we have three days to get this thing done — (applause) — and no one can sit on the sidelines.  Let’s spend the next three days knowing that when we look back on these three days, we will have no regrets about what we could have done.  So, let’s knock on doors.  Let’s text.  Let’s call voters.  Let’s reach out to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers and your play cousins.  Let’s reach out.  (Laughs.)

And as we do, let us please also be intentional in how we build community.  Let us be intentional in knowing that these last years of this Trump era, yes, they have been exhausting, but they have not been in the best interest of the strength of our nation.  This whole idea that we be pointing fingers at each other, the idea that we have nothing in common when we know the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us. 

So, let’s be intentional about building community and building coalitions.  There is power in that, and it will strengthen our country.  (Applause.)

And let’s remind everybody that your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, Georgia, today, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.) 

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)                                END                2:02 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Atlanta, GA appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Milwaukee, WI

Speeches and Remarks - Sat, 11/02/2024 - 23:59

Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi.  Good morning, everyone.

     Q    Good morning.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Well, it’s good to be back in Milwaukee.  We had a wonderful evening last night.  People are enthusiastic, and the road to the White House definitely runs through Milwaukee, and I’m honored to have the support of people here. 

I’m going to continue to remind people: Go to IWillVote.com to know where you vote and — and how you can vote, in terms of in-person and all of those other details that are very important to exercising the power of your vote in this very critical and important election. 

I also want to speak to the comments that have been recently made by the speaker of the House.  It is just further evidence of everything that I’ve actually been talking about for months now, about Trump’s intention to implement Project 2025.

We have talked repeatedly — and the American people know what’s in it.  We’ve talked repeatedly about their intention to get rid of the Affordable Care Act; now to get rid of the CHIPS Act. 

And let’s talk about manufacturing, which is a critical issue for many of the states that will make the difference in this election.  Donald Trump, when he was president, lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs.  We have created over 700[,000] new manufacturing jobs. 

It is my plan and intention to continue to invest in American manufacturing, the work being done by American workers, upholding and lifting up good union jobs, which are good-paying jobs, and doing the work of investing in American industries, including our industries of the future. 

That is the way we are going to win the competition with China for the 21st century, and that is the kind of leadership that America deserves in their president. 

     Q    Madam President, one on — Madam President —

     AIDE:  Mary.  Mary.

     Q    Oh, sorry.

     Q    What’s your message to Milwaukee voters who are saying, you know, Trump might be better for the economy, and we’re hearing that from — including Black men voters who are skeptical that things are just too expensive for them?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, let me make it very clear that I intend to earn the vote of everyone, and I don’t take anyone’s vote for granted, and my highest priority as president will be to bring down the cost because, to that point, look, I know the cost of groceries is too high still, everyone knows it.  And so, my plan includes what we’re going to do in terms of taking on corporate price gouging and having the first-ever national ban on corporate price gouging on groceries. 

My plan includes addressing the issue of affordable housing, including for first-time homebuyers, giving them a $25,000 down payment assistance so they can just get their foot in the door. 

My plan includes addressing the needs of parents — in particular, young parents — which is why I will expand the Child Tax Credit to $6,000 for the first year of their child’s life, which helps pay for everything from child care to a crib and a car seat. 

My plan includes what we’re going to do to invest in our small businesses, including increasing tax breaks for small businesses. 

And overall, my plan, which is about building an opportunity economy, has been reviewed by leading economists in our country, from Goldman Sachs to 32 Nobel laureates, all whom have said that my economic plan actually will strengthen America’s economy.  They’ve reviewed Donald Trump’s plan and have determined he will weaken America’s economy, he will ignite inflation, and he will bring on a recession by the middle of next year. 

     AIDE:  Akayla.

Q    Hi, Madam Vice President.  On the comments from the speaker, he walked back initially saying that they would repeal the CHIPS Act, but he still wants to impose changes to the bill.  Are you concerned about Republicans seeking any changes to the CHIPS Act?


THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, let’s be clear why he walked it back: Because it’s not popular, and their agenda is not popular. 

And that’s why people are showing up by the thousands — tens of thousands to talk about an agenda that actually is focused on lifting them up.  That’s why I have the support of, yes, Democrats and independents and Republicans, because they want a president of the United States who stops playing politics with their lives. 

They want a president of the United States who invest in affordable health care regardless of who they vote for. 

They want a president of the United States who invests in American manufacturing and American workers. 

And that’s the work I will do, and that is the work I’m committed to do, and I’m very proud to have the support of many leaders from every party who understand that that’s the kind of leadership that we need moving forward.


AIDE:  Asma.

Q    Thank you.  Madam Vice President, I wanted to ask you about your day-one agenda.  I know you said the other day — you talked about having an executive order that would eliminate college degrees for certain federal jobs. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    Can you tell us about some other day-one priorities?

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Absolutely.  Well, it — obviously —

Q    (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — there’s more than one.

 Q    Yes.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And one of them is going to be to submit, basically, a package of proposals that are about bringing down costs. 

So, for example, housing.  What we need to do in terms of creating a tax benefit for folks who want homeownership, what we’re going to do to create a $25,000 down payment assistance plan, what we’re going to do for small businesses.  All of that will require a lot of work. 

And day one is also me getting on the phone with members of the Republican Party, with leaders, with the private sector.  A lot of my plan includes working with the private sector. 

My plan includes cutting through red tape on the issue of housing.  Again, that includes working with local and state leaders to cut through the red tape, as well as creating incentives for the private-sector builders and developers to actually build new housing so we can increase supply and bring down the cost. 

     AIDE:  Charles.

     Q    Madam President, thank you —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Vice President.

     Q    — for making this —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Three days.

     Q    Vice President.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But I appreciate that.

     Q    That will go viral, I’m sure.

     Tomorrow, faith leaders in Milwaukee and across the state will be praying about this election —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    — and encouraging people to get out and vote. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    I think, last week, I heard you say, “God’s power works through us.” 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    What does your faith tell you about who God wants to win this election and lead our divided country?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  My faith and my belief in God tells me that we all must think about our lives through our ability to do good works, and through those works, to lift people up, to help the needy, to help the poor, to help the elderly.  And my plan for my presidency is informed with that spirit and that approach.  And I do believe that people understand that that really is the sign of a real leader, which is not defining one’s strength based on who you beat down, but defining the strength of a leader based on who you lift up. 

     AIDE:  Thank you.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.

                               END

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Milwaukee, WI appeared first on The White House.

Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Milwaukee, WI

Whitehouse.gov Feed - Sat, 11/02/2024 - 23:59

Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi.  Good morning, everyone.

     Q    Good morning.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Well, it’s good to be back in Milwaukee.  We had a wonderful evening last night.  People are enthusiastic, and the road to the White House definitely runs through Milwaukee, and I’m honored to have the support of people here. 

I’m going to continue to remind people: Go to IWillVote.com to know where you vote and — and how you can vote, in terms of in-person and all of those other details that are very important to exercising the power of your vote in this very critical and important election. 

I also want to speak to the comments that have been recently made by the speaker of the House.  It is just further evidence of everything that I’ve actually been talking about for months now, about Trump’s intention to implement Project 2025.

We have talked repeatedly — and the American people know what’s in it.  We’ve talked repeatedly about their intention to get rid of the Affordable Care Act; now to get rid of the CHIPS Act. 

And let’s talk about manufacturing, which is a critical issue for many of the states that will make the difference in this election.  Donald Trump, when he was president, lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs.  We have created over 700[,000] new manufacturing jobs. 

It is my plan and intention to continue to invest in American manufacturing, the work being done by American workers, upholding and lifting up good union jobs, which are good-paying jobs, and doing the work of investing in American industries, including our industries of the future. 

That is the way we are going to win the competition with China for the 21st century, and that is the kind of leadership that America deserves in their president. 

     Q    Madam President, one on — Madam President —

     AIDE:  Mary.  Mary.

     Q    Oh, sorry.

     Q    What’s your message to Milwaukee voters who are saying, you know, Trump might be better for the economy, and we’re hearing that from — including Black men voters who are skeptical that things are just too expensive for them?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, let me make it very clear that I intend to earn the vote of everyone, and I don’t take anyone’s vote for granted, and my highest priority as president will be to bring down the cost because, to that point, look, I know the cost of groceries is too high still, everyone knows it.  And so, my plan includes what we’re going to do in terms of taking on corporate price gouging and having the first-ever national ban on corporate price gouging on groceries. 

My plan includes addressing the issue of affordable housing, including for first-time homebuyers, giving them a $25,000 down payment assistance so they can just get their foot in the door. 

My plan includes addressing the needs of parents — in particular, young parents — which is why I will expand the Child Tax Credit to $6,000 for the first year of their child’s life, which helps pay for everything from child care to a crib and a car seat. 

My plan includes what we’re going to do to invest in our small businesses, including increasing tax breaks for small businesses. 

And overall, my plan, which is about building an opportunity economy, has been reviewed by leading economists in our country, from Goldman Sachs to 32 Nobel laureates, all whom have said that my economic plan actually will strengthen America’s economy.  They’ve reviewed Donald Trump’s plan and have determined he will weaken America’s economy, he will ignite inflation, and he will bring on a recession by the middle of next year. 

     AIDE:  Akayla.

Q    Hi, Madam Vice President.  On the comments from the speaker, he walked back initially saying that they would repeal the CHIPS Act, but he still wants to impose changes to the bill.  Are you concerned about Republicans seeking any changes to the CHIPS Act?


THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, let’s be clear why he walked it back: Because it’s not popular, and their agenda is not popular. 

And that’s why people are showing up by the thousands — tens of thousands to talk about an agenda that actually is focused on lifting them up.  That’s why I have the support of, yes, Democrats and independents and Republicans, because they want a president of the United States who stops playing politics with their lives. 

They want a president of the United States who invest in affordable health care regardless of who they vote for. 

They want a president of the United States who invests in American manufacturing and American workers. 

And that’s the work I will do, and that is the work I’m committed to do, and I’m very proud to have the support of many leaders from every party who understand that that’s the kind of leadership that we need moving forward.


AIDE:  Asma.

Q    Thank you.  Madam Vice President, I wanted to ask you about your day-one agenda.  I know you said the other day — you talked about having an executive order that would eliminate college degrees for certain federal jobs. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

Q    Can you tell us about some other day-one priorities?

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Absolutely.  Well, it — obviously —

Q    (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — there’s more than one.

 Q    Yes.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And one of them is going to be to submit, basically, a package of proposals that are about bringing down costs. 

So, for example, housing.  What we need to do in terms of creating a tax benefit for folks who want homeownership, what we’re going to do to create a $25,000 down payment assistance plan, what we’re going to do for small businesses.  All of that will require a lot of work. 

And day one is also me getting on the phone with members of the Republican Party, with leaders, with the private sector.  A lot of my plan includes working with the private sector. 

My plan includes cutting through red tape on the issue of housing.  Again, that includes working with local and state leaders to cut through the red tape, as well as creating incentives for the private-sector builders and developers to actually build new housing so we can increase supply and bring down the cost. 

     AIDE:  Charles.

     Q    Madam President, thank you —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Vice President.

     Q    — for making this —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Three days.

     Q    Vice President.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But I appreciate that.

     Q    That will go viral, I’m sure.

     Tomorrow, faith leaders in Milwaukee and across the state will be praying about this election —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    — and encouraging people to get out and vote. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    I think, last week, I heard you say, “God’s power works through us.” 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.

     Q    What does your faith tell you about who God wants to win this election and lead our divided country?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  My faith and my belief in God tells me that we all must think about our lives through our ability to do good works, and through those works, to lift people up, to help the needy, to help the poor, to help the elderly.  And my plan for my presidency is informed with that spirit and that approach.  And I do believe that people understand that that really is the sign of a real leader, which is not defining one’s strength based on who you beat down, but defining the strength of a leader based on who you lift up. 

     AIDE:  Thank you.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.

                               END

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Milwaukee, WI appeared first on The White House.

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