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Today, Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President Kristine Lucius and Heath Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Carole Johnson convened counselors from the Maternal Mental Health Hotline — a toll-free, confidential hotline that is available 24/7 to respond to the mental health needs of pregnant women, new moms, their families, and the communities that support them. 

As the White House marks the two-year anniversary of Vice President Harris announcing the White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, this roundtable offered an opportunity to hear directly from 10 of the Hotline counselors about the ways they provide real-time support, encouragement, information, and referrals to those in need. These counselors are licensed mental health clinicians, certified peer specialists, and health care professionals who are trained in perinatal mental health practices. Since being launched on Mother’s Day two years ago, the Hotline has answered more than 40,000 calls and texts. The Hotline offers bilingual counselors in English and Spanish, as well as interpreters who support over 60 additional languages.

During today’s conversation, White House officials emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to support women during pregnancy and during the postpartum period. This is especially important because mental health conditions — including depression, suicide, substance use disorder, depression, suicide, and birth-related PTSD — are the leading causes of pregnancy-related death. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 75% of women with these conditions go untreated, and yet they are almost entirely preventable. 

Counselors shared that the top three reasons callers contact the Hotline are feeling overwhelmed, depression, and anxiety. The counselors also spoke about providing a safe space for callers, greeting callers with compassion and respect, and reinforcing that “it’s okay to not be okay.” One participant added that the Hotline is “more than a hotline; it’s a lifeline.”

The Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-TLC-MAMA) was launched as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government effort to combat maternal mortality and morbidity. Led by Vice President Harris, the effort has focused on reducing disparities in maternal health outcomes and improving the overall experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for all women in the United States. 

Vice President Harris has consistently led on improving outcomes for women and families throughout her career. While serving in the U.S. Senate, she introduced several landmark bills to address maternal health, including the Maternal CARE Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. She has built on this work since being sworn in as Vice President. Two years ago, she called on states to expand Medicaid’s postpartum coverage from two months to a full year. To date, 46 states have done so, benefiting women throughout the country.

The Vice President will continue to use her platform to raise public awareness about the maternal health crisis, including maternal mental health, and promote resources available to address it.

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President Biden was briefed today by senior White House staff on artificial intelligence (AI). The President and his team discussed national security issues related to AI and AI research and development to achieve a better future for all. The President also evaluated the progress in implementing his Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy AI. The President, Vice President, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration continue taking action to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of AI.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.  He commended Jordan’s extraordinary humanitarian response in Gaza under His Majesty’s leadership, which has been critical in addressing the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza.  The President updated King Abdullah on his ongoing efforts to secure a hostage release and ceasefire deal, and preparations for a surge in humanitarian assistance during a ceasefire period.  The two leaders discussed the situation in the West Bank and the President’s efforts to enhance the viability of the Palestinian Authority through encouragement of reforms and ensuring the PA has the revenues it needs to deliver for the Palestinian people.  The President finally thanked His Majesty for his friendship, and affirmed unwavering U.S. support for Jordan as a partner and ally in the promotion of a more stable, prosperous, and integrated Middle East region. 

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On Thursday, July 25, the White House welcomed small business owners and leaders of local business organizations from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah for a discussion with senior officials on the Biden-Harris Administration’s actions to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up. More than 40 individuals representing small businesses, local chambers of commerce, and economic and community development organizations met with senior officials from the White House, Treasury Department, and Small Business Administration to discuss how the Administration is investing in local communities, expanding access to capital, and helping small businesses in the region adapt to climate change through incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris, more than 1.2 million jobs have been created and more than $161 billion has been invested by the private sector in the states represented in Thursday’s meeting. The Administration’s efforts to support entrepreneurs and communities have powered a small business boom, with more than 18 million new business applications filed since the President and Vice President took office, including more than 1.3 million in these five states alone.

Thursday’s meeting was the third in a series of White House Regional Business Briefings, following a convening of Mid-Atlantic business leaders in March and an convening of Midwest business leaders in May. Additional meetings are planned for this fall.

Administration participants included:

• Isabel Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the Small Business Administration
• Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
• John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy
• Jackson Spivey, Senior Advisor for the White House Office of Public Engagement

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani on August 1, 2024 in Nouakchott.

The Honorable Alice P. Albright, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable David Reimer, Charge d’Affaires ad interim, United States Embassy Nouakchott

The Honorable Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Energy Resources, United States Department of State

The Honorable Carol Moseley Braun, Chairman, United States African Development Foundation

The Honorable Nora Todd, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for International Economics and Labor, National Security Council, The White House

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Today, President Biden signed a proclamation marking the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, and state and local government services. For the more than 70 million Americans living with a disability, the ADA is a source of inclusion, participation, respect, and dignity. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Americans with disabilities have seen historic increases in employment and earnings, while the Administration has taken significant steps to protect civil rights and promote full participation in society. The nation has made significant progress since the law was signed, but there is more work to do to live up to the promise of the ADA.
 
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic action to protect the rights of people with disabilities and deliver on the promise of the ADA.
 
Protecting Civil Rights

• Access to Government Services. The Administration is working to ensure full participation of people with disabilities in civic life. This spring DOJ issued a final rule under Title II of the ADA to ensure the accessibility of web content and mobile applications by state and local governments. This rule is ensuring that people with disabilities can access critical local services, like transit information and voter registration. In December, the Office of Management and Budget issued a government-wide policy to agencies to improve the federal government’s digital accessibility. This month, the General Services Administration issued a final rule to improve the accessibility of federal buildings.
• Access to Health Care. This spring, HHS issued two final rules protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities in health care and human services programs under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. These rules ensure that all people have access to health care and human services that are safe, accessible, and free from discrimination for people with disabilities. In particular, the Section 504 rule makes it clear that medical treatment decisions may not be based on biases or stereotypes or a belief that the life of a person with a disability has less value than the life of a person without a disability.
• Dignity in Air Travel. In 2022, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued the first-ever Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights. Since then, DOT has delivered on these promises, including:
  • A final rule in August 2023 to increase the size and accessibility of lavatories on single-aisle aircraft, promoting freedom to travel for people with disabilities.
  • A proposed rule in February 2024 that would require airlines to provide prompt, safe, and dignified assistance to passengers with disabilities. The rule would protect travelers through new standards for airline response when wheelchairs are damaged and protect travelers and workers with new training standards for those who assist passengers with disabilities and handle wheelchairs.
• Accessible Transit. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the All Stations Accessibility Program, which has funded accessibility improvements at 111 rail stations across 11 states and will award $1.75 billion through FY26.

Promoting Community Living

• Home and Community-Based Services.  President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is helping deliver a $37 billion investment in home and community-based services (HCBS), which states are using to reduce their waiting lists and improve wages for direct care workers. In 2023, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, directing more than 50 agency actions, including to expand HCBS for veterans with disabilities, improve pay for direct support workers, and ensure access to HCBS. In April, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued final rules to expand and improve HCBS access, support family caregivers, and improve wages and job quality for care workers.
• Olmstead Enforcement.  Last month, HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) marked the 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C. HHS and DOJ have recently engaged in Olmstead enforcement actions to improve community integration for people with disabilities, including findings in Utah and Rhode Island. DOJ and HHS found that the states were violating the ADA by relying on segregated settings for employment, day services, and mental health care, and outlined steps the states could take to improve their services. 

Strengthening Economic Security

• Fair Wages. Since the President took office, median household income for disabled Americans has risen by over $10,000. On July 21, 2022, the U.S. AbilityOne Commission issued a final rule ensuring that workers on federal contracts within the AbilityOne Program are paid at least the full minimum wage. The Department of Labor (DOL) is conducting a comprehensive review of the Section 14(c) program, which allows employers to pay subminimum wages to certain workers with disabilities.
• Competitive Integrated Employment.  Since the President took office, Americans with disabilities have seen a historic high in employment, records in low unemployment and high labor force participation, and the number of people with disabilities in registered apprenticeships has nearly tripled, from less than 2,500 at the end of FY20 to more than 6,800 today. The Administration has taken a multi-pronged, whole-of-government approach to advancing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2022, DOL issued a national plan to increase competitive integrated employment and eight federal agencies collaborated on guidance on how to leverage federal resources to promote employment. The Disability Innovation Fund, from the Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration, has invested $435 million to promote competitive integrated employment. 
• Employment Opportunity.  Since the beginning of the Administration, employment of people with disabilities in the federal government has increased 20%. The Vocational Rehabilitation program, which helps people with disabilities prepare for and obtain employment, has shown a 15 percentage point increase in those obtaining a credential and an $850 increase in median quarterly earnings after exiting the program, compared to 2020.
• Social Security. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is working to better serve Americans with disabilities. SSA is improving customer service by moving more services online and streamlining the disability application process, as well as improving program equality and reducing burden through new rules simplifying policies for Supplemental Security Income recipients who get help from family and friends.   

Improving Access to Health Care

• Addressing Long COVID.  As tasked by the President in his Memorandum on Addressing the Long-Term Effects of COVID-19, HHS established the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice, which is coordinating a whole-of-government response to the long-term impacts of COVID-19 and responding to the needs of those living with Long COVID. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) RECOVER initiative has enrolled nearly 30,000 people to help us understand Long COVID and develop treatments.
• Prescription Drug Savings. The President’s Inflation Reduction Act is helping the 7.6 million disabled Medicare beneficiaries under age 65 access $0 vaccines, insulin for $35 a month per prescription, and could save thousands with the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs starting in 2025.
• Recognizing Health Disparities. On September 26, 2023, NIH announced the designation of people with disabilities as a health disparities population, which will unlock research funding into disability health disparities throughout NIH.

Improving Access to Education and Supportive Services

• Historic Investments in Students with Disabilities.  President Biden has increased annual funding by $1.4 billion for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants that support special education services for PreK-12 students since he came into office. The President has also continued to call for increased IDEA investment in each budget he has sent to Congress.
• Expanding School-based Services. Under the President’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the Department of Education (ED) and HHS are working together to help schools leverage Medicaid funding to increase access to mental health and disability services in schools. On June 25, 2024, CMS announced that 18 states will receive funding to implement, expand or enhance school-based services programs.
• Leveraging Technology. In 2024, ED released the National Educational Technology Plan with strategies for closing gaps in access to technology in education. The Office of Special Education Programs released a companion Myths and Facts Surrounding Assistive Technology Devices and Services to increase understanding of IDEA’s assistive technology requirements among parents and educators.

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Today, the Biden-Harris Administration released the Implementation Roadmap for the U.S. Government’s May 2023 National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). The roadmap sustains and reinforces the U.S. Government’s commitment to standards development led by the private sector and enhanced by partnerships with public institutions and calls for robust engagement in the standardization of critical and emerging technologies (CETs) to protect U.S. national and economic security. 
 
Standards are essential to commerce and to the safe, reliable, and interoperable functioning of a broad array of essential products and services. Standards help ensure that technologies and parts from many suppliers work together seamlessly, and facilitate efficient operation of services and manufacturing while facilitating a competitive marketplace for goods and services. Standards provide industries and innovators with a common language that facilitates trade, simplifies transactions, accelerates innovation, and enables people to work across disciplines and borders toward common goals.
 
Critical and emerging technologies have been designated by the Administration as potentially significant to U.S. national security, including economic security and the defense of democratic values. Recognizing the strategic value of CETs, our competitors abroad are seeking to influence international standards development to their own advantage, placing at risk leadership opportunities for U.S. innovators and industry and access to quality products and services that benefit all.
 
The Implementation Roadmap recommends steps the U.S. Government should take to realize the objectives of the USG NSSCET. The roadmap is organized around eight lines of effort for the U.S. Government, with an understanding that success will require extensive and sustained coordination with the U.S. private sector and like-minded allies. The Implementation Roadmap is based on information collected through a Request for Information, stakeholder engagements, consultations, and formal recommendations from federal advisory committees including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.
 
The U.S. Government is committed to supporting and upholding private sector-led standards development processes that are:

• Built on transparency;
• Strengthen long-standing public private partnerships; 
• And, reflect the U.S. commitment to free and fair market competition in which the best technologies come to market.

Approach

The United States is committed to a private sector-led standards system that is inclusive, diverse, and draws on robust research and innovation. Through clear actions and effective diplomacy, the Departments of Commerce and State, together with the Office of the United States Trade Representative, will continue to work with private sector leadership including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to engage international partners with an aim to promote this approach globally.

The ANSI administers and coordinates the private sector-led U.S. voluntary standards and conformity assessment system, while the NIST coordinates Federal Government engagement in standards activities. The USG NSSCET complements the United States Standards Strategy (USSS) published by the ANSI and supports, complements, and further communicates U.S. Government priorities for CET standards development.  Through SDOs, the U.S. private sector leads standardization activities globally to respond to market demand, with substantial contributions from the U.S. Government, academia, industry, and civil society groups. Industry associations, consortia, and other private sector groups work together within this system to develop standards to solve specific challenges and respond to national priorities.

We also call upon standards stakeholders, including representatives of industry, start-ups, small- and medium-sized enterprises, the academic community, and civil society organizations to work with U.S. Government officials and ANSI on creative solutions to lower barriers, incentivize greater participation, and protect the integrity of international standards development through robust investment and engagement. Building on increased investment in Research and Development (R&D) through initiatives like the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the 21st Century Cures Act, the Implementation Roadmap focuses on short-term actions and long-term sustained outcomes that promote global trade, interoperability in manufacturing, and U.S. competitiveness and innovation through CET standardization.

In the short-term, the U.S. Government will take immediate action to include but not limited to:

• Identifying opportunities to increase U.S. Government pre-standardization R&D and standards participation efforts;
• Tracking and evaluating current U.S. Government CET standards education grants and programs that promote, foster, and remove barriers to U.S. stakeholder participation in national and international standards activities, and;
• Tracking and evaluating current U.S. Government technology cooperation agreements and international mechanisms for standards-related communication and cooperation.

For long-term sustained implementation outcomes, the U.S. Government will take steps to:

• Enhance standards coordination across the federal government;
• Enhance standards coordination with the private sector;
• Enhance standards policy coordination between the U.S. Government and foreign governments;
• Recognize and incentivize federal agency engagement in standardization;
• Provide strong and sustained funding for CET R&D and pre-standardization coordination;
• Engage academia as a critical partner to the private sector in standards development efforts;
• Enhance educational efforts in standards;
• Develop and sustain communications about standards, and;
• Remove barriers to participation in standardization.

A Whole-of-Government Effort

Many U.S. Government organizations are demonstrating their commitment to implementation through their actions and partnerships. These efforts signal a broad emphasis across the government aimed at strengthening U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and national and economic security via standards-related policies and actions. Examples include: 

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) coordinates Federal agency implementation of standards and conformity-assessment-related National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act provisions.  In addition, NIST provides technical expertise to standards development efforts across the entire science and technology enterprise, including for critical and emerging technologies. For example: NIST’s experience in contributing to trust in new technologies in general, and in AI research in particular, is why it was among the federal agencies chosen to help fulfill President Biden’s Executive Order (EO) on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (14110). The deliverables include A Plan for Global Engagement on AI Standards, which recognizes the importance of technical standards in shaping the development and use of artificial intelligence.

NIST will establish and operate a Standardization Center of Excellence as a public-private partnership focusing on four key areas: Pre-standardization engagement, workforce capacity building, an information and data sharing hub, and a collaborative pilot program in CETs.

The CHIPS and Science Act appropriated $50 billion to the Department of Commerce’s CHIPS for America program both to support semiconductor research and development (R&D) and to expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity in the United States. A key element in achieving these CHIPS R&D goals is to accelerate the private sector-led development and deployment by industry of effective technical standards.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is partnering with foreign partners to forge alliances and collaborate toward enhanced efficiencies in standards essential patent licensing markets. So far, the USPTO signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office to this effect on June 3, 2024. It has also partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization on dispute resolution efforts related to standards essential patents.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) continues to administer the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund, a $1.5 billion grant program funded by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which aims to catalyze research, development, and adoption of open, interoperable, standards-based next-generation wireless networks. NTIA coordinates extensively with the private sector, U.S. Department of State, and other agency partners to represent the United States at the International Telecommunication Union.

The International Trade Administration (ITA) leverages multilateral and bilateral fora, dialogues, and partnerships such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the U.S.-E.U. Trade and Technology Council to engage like-minded nations in promoting the use of international standards and best practices for the development of standards for emerging technologies. Additionally, ITA employs Digital, Standards, and Intellectual Property Attachés in key foreign markets to increase U.S. exports by helping U.S. companies access the global marketplace and navigate foreign regulatory issues.  These Attachés play a critical role in ensuring that U.S. companies remain competitive globally and that foreign markets have access to the high-quality products and services that U.S. industries provide. 

The Department of State launched a project to support an international standards development process grounded in transparency, private sector leadership and public sector support, and diverse stakeholder engagement. The project will also enhance like-minded nations’ representation and expand the number of countries that are aligned with U.S. Government vision, thus creating greater leadership in international standards governance by the United States. In addition, this project will assist participant countries in adopting international standards for domestic policies and laws.


The Department of Defense (DoD) engages with ANSI and the private sector in collaborative standards activities such as the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). In the context of the North Atlantic Trade Agreement (NATO) and other multinational organizations, the DoD experts routinely engage with personnel from over 70 countries on standardization matters related to national defense requirements, including participation in Standards Developing Organizations (SDO) activities, development of standardization policy and implementing standards to support defense capability and interoperability requirements.

The Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) has many engagements across a diverse and complex spectrum of regulatory and technical standardization activities including within CETs such as automation/autonomy and complementary Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT).  U.S DOT  will continue to support advancement of standards benefitting safe, efficient, and interoperable transportation in cooperation with public and private sector stakeholder communities. For example, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program supports both private and public sector stakeholder participation in standards activities via multiple SDOs including SAE International, IEEE, the Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE), ISO and others, including facilitating multi-SDO cooperation on multiple topics, including the Connected Transportation Interoperability (CTI) family of standards.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has a long history of leadership in international standardization efforts to accelerate the adoption of transformative science and technology solutions to energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges. Technical experts at DOE and its 17 National Laboratories provide critical input to new standards in areas ranging from hydrogen and energy storage, to biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing (HPC). DOE’s experts work alongside participants from all over the world toward standards that are consistent with U.S. values and informed by the latest scientific and technological advancements. DOE’s continued investments support the USG NSSCET through research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) and participation and workforce. DOE recognizes that standardization can accelerate the adoption of transformative science and technology solutions that are key to the success of its mission.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) revised its Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) governing submission, review, and oversight of all proposals and awards to now explicitly encourage researchers’ “participation in national and/or international standards development efforts” as an example of the broader impacts of the funding agency’s investments in the nation’s research and innovation ecosystem. Relatedly, through the “CHIPS and Science Act of 2022,” NSF’s new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships is charged with investing in new pathways for translating research results to practice, and is considering steps toward one such pathway that would enable researchers to mature their technological and related innovations to inform standards development.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) engages with domestic and international government partners, the private sector, academia, and non-government organizations to further public safety standards activities in groups such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Technical and policy experts at the FBI serve as members, consultants, and in leadership roles in the Standards Development Organizations (SDO) and regularly contribute public safety perspectives across a broad range of activities from emergency and law enforcement communications networks to stemming the flow of counterfeit devices to tackling domain name system (DNS) abuse.

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Martin Indyk dedicated his life to the pursuit of peace. 

Raised in Australia, Martin made Aliyah in 1973, moving to Israel and volunteering on a kibbutz. He chose to devote his career to the work of building peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, inspired by the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War. His commitment to peace was rooted in witnessing that conflict and realizing that Israel’s existence is fragile, peace is the only path to lasting security, and the United States must be a part of that endeavor.

As a member of President Clinton’s National Security Council and two-time U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Martin played an essential role in the Oslo Accords and the follow-on negotiations – the closest that Israelis and Palestinians have ever come to making peace. He was also America’s Ambassador to Israel on that fateful day in 1995 when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. Martin rushed to the hospital to console Rabin’s wife Leah – representing the American people’s empathy and grief at a pivotal moment.

He and I worked together during the Obama-Biden Administration, when Martin served as Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations – the last time the two parties engaged seriously on final status negotiations. More recently, he has been a voice of clarity and conviction since the horrific October 7thattack by Hamas and during the war in Gaza. His legacy lives on in the many officials across my Administration who were mentored by Martin and learned firsthand from his vast knowledge, integrity, and heart. His unshakeable optimism and commitment to peace is as important today as it’s ever been.

Jill and I are holding Martin’s family in our thoughts – especially his beloved wife Gahl, his children Jacob and Sarah, stepchildren Christopher and Caroline, brother and sister, and five grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing. 

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Nine months ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI).

This Executive Order built on the voluntary commitments he and Vice President Harris received from 15 leading U.S. AI companies last year. Today, the administration announced that Apple has signed onto the voluntary commitments, further cementing these commitments as cornerstones of responsible AI innovation.

In addition, federal agencies reported that they completed all of the 270-day actions in the Executive Order on schedule, following their on-time completion of every other task required to date. Agencies also progressed on other work directed for longer timeframes.

Following the Executive Order and a series of calls to action made by Vice President Harris as part of her major policy speech before the Global Summit on AI Safety, agencies all across government have acted boldly. They have taken steps to mitigate AI’s safety and security risks, protect Americans’ privacy, advance equity and civil rights, stand up for consumers and workers, promote innovation and competition, advance American leadership around the world, and more. Actions that agencies reported today as complete include the following:

Managing Risks to Safety and Security:
Over 270 days, the Executive Order directed agencies to take sweeping action to address AI’s safety and security risks, including by releasing vital safety guidance and building capacity to test and evaluate AI. To protect safety and security, agencies have:

1. Released for public comment new technical guidelines from the AI Safety Institute (AISI) for leading AI developers in managing the evaluation of misuse of dual-use foundation models. AISI’s guidelines detail how leading AI developers can help prevent increasingly capable AI systems from being misused to harm individuals, public safety, and national security, as well as how developers can increase transparency about their products.
   
2. Published final frameworks on managing generative AI risks and securely developing generative AI systems and dual-use foundation models. These documents by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will provide additional guidance that builds on NIST’s AI Risk Management Framework, which offered individuals, organizations, and society a framework to manage AI risks and has been widely adopted both in the U.S. and globally. NIST also submitted a report to the White House outlining tools and techniques to reduce the risks from synthetic content.
   
3. Developed and expanded AI testbeds and model evaluation tools at the Department of Energy (DOE). DOE, in coordination with interagency partners, is using its testbeds to evaluate AI model safety and security, especially for risks that AI models might pose to critical infrastructure, energy security, and national security. DOE’s testbeds are also being used to explore novel AI hardware and software systems, including privacy-enhancing technologies that improve AI trustworthiness. The National Science Foundation (NSF) also launched an initiative to help fund researchers outside the federal government design and plan AI-ready testbeds.
   
4. Reported results of piloting AI to protect vital government software. The Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported findings from their AI pilots to address vulnerabilities in government networks used, respectively, for national security purposes and for civilian government. These steps build on previous work to advance such pilots within 180 days of the Executive Order.
   
5. Issued a call to action from the Gender Policy Council and Office of Science and Technology Policy to combat image-based sexual abuse, including synthetic content generated by AI. Image-based sexual abuse has emerged as one of the fastest growing harmful uses of AI to-date, and the call to action invites technology companies and other industry stakeholders to curb it. This call flowed from Vice President Harris’s remarks in London before the AI Safety Summit, which underscored that deepfake image-based sexual abuse is an urgent threat that demands global action.

Bringing AI Talent into Government
Last year, the Executive Order launched a government-wide AI Talent Surge that is bringing hundreds of AI and AI-enabling professionals into government. Hired individuals are working on critical AI missions, such as informing efforts to use AI for permitting, advising on AI investments across the federal government, and writing policy for the use of AI in government.

1. To increase AI capacity across the federal government for both national security and non-national security missions, the AI Talent Surge has made over 200 hires to-date, including through the Presidential Innovation Fellows AI cohort and the DHS AI Corps.
   
2. Building on the AI Talent Surge 6-month report, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy announced new commitments from across the technology ecosystem, including nearly $100 million in funding, to bolster the broader public interest technology ecosystem and build infrastructure for bringing technologists into government service.

Advancing Responsible AI Innovation
President Biden’s Executive Order directed further actions to seize AI’s promise and deepen the U.S. lead in AI innovation while ensuring AI’s responsible development and use across our economy and society. Within 270 days, agencies have:

1. Prepared and will soon release a report on the potential benefits, risks, and implications of dual-use foundation models for which the model weights are widely available, including related policy recommendations. The Department of Commerce’s report draws on extensive outreach to experts and stakeholders, including hundreds of public comments submitted on this topic.
   
2. Awarded over 80 research teams’ access to computational and other AI resources through the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) pilot—a national infrastructure led by NSF, in partnership with DOE, NIH, and other governmental and nongovernmental partners, that makes available resources to support the nation’s AI research and education community. Supported projects will tackle deepfake detection, advance AI safety, enable next-generation medical diagnoses and further other critical AI priorities.
3. Released a guide for designing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI tools for use in education. The Department of Education’s guide discusses how developers of educational technologies can design AI that benefits students and teachers while advancing equity, civil rights, trust, and transparency. This work builds on the Department’s 2023 report outlining recommendations for the use of AI in teaching and learning.
   
4. Published guidance on evaluating the eligibility of patent claims involving inventions related to AI technology, as well as other emerging technologies. The guidance by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will guide those inventing in the AI space to protect their AI inventions and assist patent examiners reviewing applications for patents on AI inventions.
5. Issued a report on federal research and development (R&D) to advance trustworthy AI over the past four years. The report by the National Science and Technology Council examines an annual federal AI R&D budget of nearly $3 billion.
   
6. Launched a $23 million initiative to promote the use of privacy-enhancing technologies to solve real-world problems, including related to AI. Working with industry and agency partners, NSF will invest through its new Privacy-preserving Data Sharing in Practice program in efforts to apply, mature, and scale privacy-enhancing technologies for specific use cases and establish testbeds to accelerate their adoption.
   
7. Announced millions of dollars in further investments to advance responsible AI development and use throughout our society. These include $30 million invested through NSF’s Experiential Learning in Emerging and Novel Technologies program—which supports inclusive experiential learning in fields like AI—and $10 million through NSF’s ExpandAI program, which helps build capacity in AI research at minority-serving institutions while fostering the development of a diverse, AI-ready workforce.

Advancing U.S. Leadership Abroad
President Biden’s Executive Order emphasized that the United States lead global efforts to unlock AI’s potential and meet its challenges. To advance U.S. leadership on AI, agencies have:

1. Issued a comprehensive plan for U.S. engagement on global AI standards. The plan, developed by the NIST, incorporates broad public and private-sector input, identifies objectives and priority areas for AI standards work, and lays out actions for U.S. stakeholders including U.S. agencies. NIST and others agencies will report on priority actions in 180 days. 
   
2. Developed guidance for managing risks to human rights posed by AI. The Department of State’s “Risk Management Profile for AI and Human Rights”—developed in close coordination with NIST and the U.S. Agency for International Development—recommends actions based on the NIST AI Risk Management Framework to governments, the private sector, and civil society worldwide, to identify and manage risks to human rights arising from the design, development, deployment, and use of AI. 
3. Launched a global network of AI Safety Institutes and other government-backed scientific offices to advance AI safety at a technical level. This network will accelerate critical information exchange and drive toward common or compatible safety evaluations and policies.
   
4. Launched a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution. The unanimously adopted resolution, with more than 100 co-sponsors, lays out a common vision for countries around the world to promote the safe and secure use of AI to address global challenges.
   
5. Expanded global support for the U.S.-led Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy.  Fifty-five nations now endorse the political declaration, which outlines a set of norms for the responsible development, deployment, and use of military AI capabilities.

The Table below summarizes many of the activities that federal agencies have completed in response to the Executive Order:

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Joint Base Andrews

Prince George’s County, Maryland

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, many of you have been asking me about the debate.  And I’ll tell you, I’m ready to debate Donald Trump. 

I have agreed to the previously agreed upon September 10th debate.  He agreed to that previously.  Now it appears he’s backpedaling. 

But I’m ready.  And I think the voters deserve to see the split screen that exists in this race on a debate stage.

And so, I’m ready.  Let’s go.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

SUBJECT:       Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Lebanese Nationals

Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel.  While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States.

Pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct the foreign relations of the United States, I have determined that it is in the foreign policy interest of the United States to defer for 18 months the removal of any Lebanese national subject to the conditions and exceptions provided below.

Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to defer for 18 months the removal of any Lebanese national who is present in the United States on the date of this memorandum, except for those:

(1)  who have voluntarily returned to Lebanon after the date of this memorandum;

(2)  who have not continuously resided in the United States since the date of this memorandum;

(3)  who are inadmissible under section 212(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)) or deportable under section 237(a)(4) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1227(a)(4));

(4)  who have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States, or who meet any of the criteria set forth in section 208(b)(2)(A) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A));

(5)  who are subject to extradition;

(6)  whose presence in the United States the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined is not in the interest of the United States or presents a danger to public safety; or

(7)  whose presence in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable grounds to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

I further direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate measures to authorize employment for noncitizens whose removal has been deferred, as provided by this memorandum, for the duration of such deferral, and to consider suspending regulatory requirements with respect to F-1 nonimmigrant students who are Lebanese nationals as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be appropriate.

The Secretary of Homeland Security is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today’s report shows we are making real progress fighting inflation. Over the last year, inflation has come down to 2.5% at a time when the economy has grown 3.1%, we’ve created 2.6 million new jobs, and wages are rising faster than prices. The agenda that Vice President Harris and I are fighting for has helped us come back strong from the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression and deliver for working families.

We’re going to keep building on this progress to lower costs for all Americans by expanding on our success capping prescription drug costs and building more homes to lower rents. Congressional Republicans have a different plan, one that would “reignite” inflation by giving more massive tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy while raising costs for working families by taxing all imports. While they fight for special interests, the Vice President and I will keep fighting to rebuild the middle class.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to honor the passing of General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng of Vietnam.  The delegation will visit Hanoi, Vietnam on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

The Honorable Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Marc E. Knapper, United States Ambassador to Socialist Republic of Vietnam

The Honorable Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State

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Yesterday, the Department of Justice arrested Ismael Zambada Garcia (AKA “El Mayo”) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, two of the most notorious leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the deadliest enterprises in the world. They are being charged for leading the Cartel’s deadly drug manufacturing and trafficking networks. I commend the work of our law enforcement officials who made this arrest for their ongoing work to bring Sinaloa Cartel leaders to justice. 

Too many of our citizens have lost their lives to the scourge of fentanyl. Too many families have been broken and are suffering because of this destructive drug. My Administration will continue doing everything we can to hold deadly drug traffickers to account and to save American lives.

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Vice President’s Ceremonial Office
Eisenhower Executive Office Building

6:20 P.M. EDT

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Good afternoon, everybody.

     Q    Good afternoon.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  So, I just had a frank and constructive meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.  I told him that I will always ensure that Israel is able to defend itself, including from Iran and Iran-backed militias, such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

     From when I was a young girl collecting funds to plant trees for Israel to my time in the United States Senate and now at the White House, I’ve had an unwavering commitment to the existence of the state of Israel, to its security, and to the people of Israel.

     I’ve said it many times, but it bears repeating: Israel has a right to defend itself, and how it does so matters.

     Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization.  On October 7, Hamas triggered this war when it massacred 1,200 innocent people, including 44 Americans.  Hamas has committed horrific acts of sexual violence and took 250 hostages.

     There are American citizens who remain captive in Gaza: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Edan Alexander, Keith Siegel, Omer Neutra.  And the remains of American citizens Judy Weinstein, Gad Haggai, and Itay Chen are still being held in Gaza.

     I have met with the families of these American hostages multiple times now.  And I’ve told them each time, they are not alone and I stand with them.  And President Biden and I are working every day to bring them home.

     I also expressed with the prime minister my serious concern about the scale of human suffering in Gaza, including the death of far too many innocent civilians.  And I made clear my serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation there, with over 2 million people facing high levels of food insecurity and half a million people facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

     What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating — the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time.  We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies.  We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering.  And I will not be silent.

     Thanks to the leadership of our president, Joe Biden, there is a deal on the table for a ceasefire and a hostage deal.  And it is important that we recall what the deal involves.

     The first phase of the deal would bring about a full ceasefire, including a withdrawal of the Israeli military from population centers in Gaza.  In the second phase, the Israeli military would withdraw from Gaza entirely, and it would lead to a permanent end to the hostilities.

     It is time for this war to end and end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self-determination.

     There has been hopeful movement in the talks to secure an agreement on this deal.  And as I just told Prime Minister Netanyahu, it is time to get this deal done.

     So, to everyone who has been calling for a ceasefire and to everyone who yearns for peace, I see you and I hear you.

     Let’s get the deal done so we can get a ceasefire to end the war.  Let’s bring the hostages home.  And let’s provide much-needed relief to the Palestinian people.

     And ultimately, I remain committed to a path forward that can lead to a two-state solution.  And I know right now it is hard to conceive of that prospect, but a two-state solution is the only path that ensures Israel remains a secure, Jewish, and democratic state and one that ensures Palestinians can finally realize the freedom, security, and prosperity that they rightly deserve.

     And I will close with this, then.  It is important for the American people to remember the war in Gaza is not a binary issue.  However, too often the conversation is binary, when the reality is anything but.

     So, I ask my fellow Americans to help encourage efforts to acknowledge the complexity, the nuance, and the history of the region.

     Let us all condemn terrorism and violence.  Let us all do what we can to prevent the suffering of innocent civilians.  And let us condemn antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate of any kind.  And let us work to unite our country.

     I thank you.

END                 6:26 P.M. EDT

# # #

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Vice President Kamala Harris today met with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel at the White House. The Vice President reiterated her longstanding and unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel and the people of Israel. They discussed the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to ensure Israel can defend itself from threats from Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hamas, Lebanese Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and the importance of combatting the rise in Antisemitism globally. The Vice President again condemned Hamas as a brutal terrorist organization as well as individuals associating with Hamas, noting that pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and must not be tolerated.

The Vice President and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed developments in Gaza and the ongoing negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage release. The Vice President echoed President Biden in expressing the need to close the remaining gaps, finalize the deal as soon as possible, bring the hostages home, and reach a durable end to the war in Gaza.

The Vice President expressed concern regarding civilian casualties and discussed the need to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Vice President also expressed her concern about actions that undermine stability and security in the West Bank, such as extremist settler violence and settlement expansion.

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President Biden met today with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House. The President and the Prime Minister discussed developments in Gaza and the ongoing negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage release deal in detail. President Biden expressed the need to close the remaining gaps, finalize the deal as soon as possible, bring the hostages home, and reach a durable end to the war in Gaza. The President also raised the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the need to remove any obstacles to the flow of aid and restoring basic services for those in need, and the critical importance of protecting civilian lives during military operations. President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. 

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     On National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, we honor the service and sacrifice of the American and Korean service members who fought valiantly in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.  We hold in our hearts the memories of the 36,000 Americans and more than 7,000 Korean Augmentation to the United States Army soldiers who laid down their lives for the sacred cause of freedom.  We recommit to upholding their legacy through our alliance with the Republic of Korea and by securing the future they gave everything for — one of peace, stability, and prosperity.  

     Today, I am thinking of Korean War veterans like Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr., USA (Ret.), whom I awarded the Medal of Honor to in 2021.  Prior to his passing in April, Colonel Puckett was the last living Korean War veteran to have received the Medal of Honor.  His story, though one of uncommon valor, was reflected in the experiences and trials of so many of our Nation’s Korean War veterans — trudging through frozen rice paddies, fighting on the rocky terrain of the Korean Peninsula, and persisting in spite of the fact that the enemy often far outnumbered our troops.  Like I said to Colonel Puckett and his family years ago:  Though the Korean War is sometimes called the “Forgotten War,” the heroes who were there under his command will never forget his bravery, and neither will we.  Our entire Nation owes a debt of gratitude to every Korean War veteran for their service and sacrifice.  As we recognize the service and sacrifice of our Nation’s Korean War veterans, we also remember the thousands of service members who went missing in action during the Korean War — we will never stop working to bring each of them home.   

     Last year, I joined President Yoon of the Republic of Korea to mark the 70th anniversary of our countries’ alliance.  It is an unbreakable bond because it was forged in bravery and the sacrifice of both of our peoples — sanctified by the American and Korean troops who fought and died to defend liberty.  Our Korean War veterans are the reason the alliance stands and remains strong today as two vibrant and innovative democracies.  This alliance is why I was proud to sign the Korean American VALOR Act into law, helping Korean veterans who fought alongside American troops and are now American citizens receive access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care services.

     Our Nation’s Korean War veterans answered the call to duty.  Like every generation before them, these veterans knew that freedom is never guaranteed — one has to fight for it and defend it in the battle between autocracy and democracy, between the greed of a few and the rights of many.  As Colonel Puckett said:  “Our country depends on you, me, what you do every day, and how you live…It depends on us.”  May we all show our gratitude for our service members, who show us every day what it means to put our democracy and our Nation first.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2024, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.  On this day, I encourage all Americans to reflect on the strength, sacrifices, and sense of duty of our Korean War veterans and bestow upon them the high honor they deserve.  I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War veterans.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                        JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Today, we celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), one of our Nation’s most significant civil rights laws to protect people with disabilities from discrimination.  For the more than 70 million Americans living with a disability, the ADA enshrines into law the idea that we all deserve opportunity, inclusion, respect, and dignity.  I am proud to have co-sponsored this landmark legislation years ago, and I am honored to celebrate its lasting legacy today.

     The ADA was a historic triumph against discrimination that opened the doors to opportunity and independence for people with disabilities.  But more work still needs to be done.  Disabled Americans often earn less for the same work as nondisabled people.  Additionally, too often, disabled Americans face obstacles that keep them from voting, prohibit them from getting to and from work and school, or limit their ability to enjoy public spaces. 

     I believe in building an America for all Americans.  That is why, in my first few months in office, I signed an Executive Order establishing a Government-wide commitment to advancing equality and equity in Federal employment, including for people with disabilities.  It brought together the Department of Labor and the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that Federal workplaces are fully accessible to people with disabilities and that the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are built into our policies. 

     At the same time, the Department of Labor is also ensuring our workers are protected by ending unjust employment practices across our economy.  For example, my Administration is helping State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans.  And we are making the Federal Government a model employer when it comes to wages, accommodations, and opportunities to advance for people with disabilities. 

     Further, we are ensuring that every child with a disability, including early learners, receives a rigorous education in a learning environment that supports their development and well-being and leads to promising pathways after high school.  To that end, the Department of Education announced funding to involve parents of children with disabilities as partners in creating equitable and inclusive schools.

     Concurrently, my Administration is also taking action to improve access to health care for disabled Americans.  Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we have lowered health care costs for people with disabilities.  The Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule to bar denials of medical care related to organ donations or lifesaving care for disabled Americans based on their disability alone.  They also launched long COVID clinical trials to study its debilitating health effects and created the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice with a first-of-its-kind initiative in our history.  The United States Access Board has proposed updated medical diagnostic equipment guidelines to ensure people with disabilities can access health care providers and improve accessibility for manual and powered wheelchair users.  Further, the National Institutes of Health made it easier for scientists to get funding for research on health disparities in the disability community by designating people with disabilities a “health disparity population.”  We also launched the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, which is advancing new biomedical science breakthroughs and is opening up new funding for unmet health needs specific to disabled Americans, like biomedicine to prevent, detect, and treat diseases like cancer, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis.

     Meanwhile, we are making public spaces and care more accessible to people with disabilities.  The American Rescue Plan provided $37 billion to enhance, expand, and strengthen home-based services.  That empowers more people with disabilities — including intellectual and developmental disabilities — to live independently at home.  In April, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule that will help ensure access to these critical services.  Further, our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the biggest investment in our history — $1.75 billion — to make transit and rail stations more accessible.  At the same time, we are investing $5 billion to add wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms at airports and other locations.  In addition to issuing a rule that now requires all new single-aisle aircraft over a certain size to have wheelchair-accessible restrooms, the Department of Transportation proposed a new rule to ensure that travelers using wheelchairs can fly safely and with dignity. 

     Everyone in America should be able to share in the benefits of technology.  That is why my Administration has taken action to ensure that we are improving our digital infrastructure for people with disabilities.  The Department of Justice issued standards for State and local governments to make their web content and mobile apps more accessible to Americans with disabilities so they can more easily access local government services, emergency services, voting information, and publicly funded education.  And my Administration is working to make online health services and applications for jobs in the Federal Government more accessible.

     As we celebrate the anniversary of the ADA, we honor the courageous activists who worked so hard to get this historic legislation passed.  We recognize the strength of people with disabilities, who remind us every day that America is stronger when we tap into the talents of all our people.  And we renew our commitment to moving America closer to the promise of equal opportunity for all Americans.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2024, as the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  I encourage Americans to celebrate the 34th year of this defining moment in civil rights law and the essential contributions of individuals with disabilities to our Nation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

3:22 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Good afternoon, everyone.

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I have a couple things at the top.  So, I want to start by addressing the horrific killing of Sonya Massey.

The president and vice president both released statements on their heartbreak for Sonya Massey’s family and loved ones as they face this unthinkable and senseless loss.

They’ve also been clear that all of us as Americans, regar- — regardless of who we are or where we live, should be able to do so without fearing for our lives.

Sonya’s death at the hands of a responding officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways that many Americans do not.  Sonya’s family deserves justice.

President Biden has been clear about his commitment to doing everything he can to make our communities safer, including by advancing effective, accountable policing.

That’s why the president has pushed Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act and signed an executive order to make federal policing the gold standard of effectiveness and accountability.

While we wait for this case to be prosecuted, the president and the vice president are continuing to urge Congress to get the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to his desk so he can sign it.

I also wanted to share the president and the vice president’s deep sadness at the passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

No matter the issue, from delivering racial justice to building an economy for working people, she was unrelenting in her leadership — leadership she demonstrated in her work to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and reintroducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

As the president said in his statement on Saturday, she spoke truth to power and represented the power of the people of her district in Houston with dignity and grace.  Both the president and the vice president shared the honor of working with her during their times in Congress.

We at the White House join the president and the vice president and their families in sending our love and condolences to the congresswoman’s family, her con- — her constituents, and beloved colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Later this evening, after the president’s speech, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Paris, France, to lead the U.S. presidential delegation to the Opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The first lady and the delegation will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games and cheer on Team USA at various events.  The First Lady previously led the U.S. delegation to the opening of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which were held in the summer of 2021 due to COVID-19.

And finally, as you all know and certainly are tracking, what we saw from the president the last couple of days is what we have seen from him over the last several decades: human decency, patriotism, a good man who puts the American people ahead of himself.

As the president said in his letter this past Sunday, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president.  And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”

As a member of his team and as an American, I am proud of this president’s record.  He has accomplished more in nearly one term than most presidents have in two terms. 

The president remains focused on fighting for the American people and building on the historic progress his administration has made. 

He’s focused on growing the middle class instead of delivering big giveaways to corporations and the ultra-wealthy; fighting to lower costs for families instead of raising them by threatening to cut critical programs like Social Security; fighting for a fairer tax system instead of championing a $2 trillion tax bill that overwhelmingly benefitted the ultra-wealthy; making health care more accessible and more affordable instead of working to eliminate the Affordable Care Act; strengthening and growing NATO, not eliminating it; and fighting for reproductive freedom, not working to take it away.

You will hear directly from President Biden when he addresses the nation tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Tonight, the president will discuss his historic decision to put the country above all else and about the inflection point we face as a country in this moment.

This is one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make will — now will determine the future of our nation.  America must choose between moving forward or backward, between hope and hate, between unity and division.

He signed historic, monumental pieces of legislation into law and has worked across party lines to get a lot of them done, from jump-starting a historic economic recovery to the largest investment in clean energy and climate action, gun safety, and more.

The president is proud to have delivered these historic results for the American people, and he is going to use the remainder of his term to build on this progress for the future with the enduring faith he has in our nation. 

And so, therefore, I encourage all Americans to tune in tonight to hear directly from the president.

Zeke.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  The president believes that it’s best for the country that he not be in the Oval Office for another four years.  How can he assure the American people that he is up to be in the Oval Office for the next six months?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, first I would say is that — and I’ve heard these suggestions out there.  This is not an answer to — to you.  This is an answer to the suggestions that I’ve had — I’ve heard about him resigning from office. 

We believe — and any suggestion of that note is ridiculous.  It is not what we believe.  The president — I just laid out what the president has been able to do in almost four years, and it’s been successful.  He’s been able to do more, again, than any president has been able to do in two terms.  He’s been able to do that more in one term.  And he wants to finish the job that he started and delivering more historic results for the American people.

And, look, he didn’t step down from — from campaigning or from running because he didn’t believe he could serve in a second term.  That is not why. 

And what I would say, as I just finished my opening — I would say, “Tune in.”  Tune in to what he has to say tonight, and he will lay out that out for th- — you all and the American people unto — as to why he made that decision.

Q    So, you’re saying he believes that he’s capable of serving another four years, but he just doesn’t believe that he can win another four years?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I will let the president speak for himself.

Q    And, so, today, the president believes that he is capable — fully capable of serving in the office that he currently has now and for the next four and a half years if he — if he wanted to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  If —

Q    — if he wanted to do it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Absolutely.  And let me just quote from what he said on Sunday in his letter.  He said, “it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”

And what — the decision that he made on Sunday was about putting country first, was about his party, and was about the American people.

Again, I would refer you to what he’s going to say tonight.  He will lay that out, speak for himself, and you will hear directly from the Americ- —

Q    And just —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — from the president.  The American people will — certainly will as well.

Q    And just on a different topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Sure.

Q    There’s large protests taking place in Washington, and the White House is now ringed by anti-climb fencing.  The Capitol — there’s some protests around Union Station.  Is the president monitoring these protests?  Does he have a message to the people who are demonstrating right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, it’s basically what we have said for some time.  We respect the right for all American to peacefully protest — peacefully protest.  And, obviously, we will continue to strongly condemn any form of violence as it relates, certainly, to protesting or destruction of property.  We’ve been very, very clear.  But Americans have the right to peacefully protest.

Anything that is related to what’s happening outside of this campus — the fencing, as you just mentioned to me — that’s something for Secret Service to speak to directly.

Q    Is he watching the protests, is what I’m asking?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, the president is — is — you know, he is always kept up to date on what’s going on.  I — you know, right now, he’s certainly having meetings today with — with his senior advisers and other senior staff.  I can’t speak if he’s right now watching the protests.  Obviously, he is kept up — up to date into what’s happening. 

But what I can say right now: We respect everyone’s right to peacefully protest.  We understand that this is a painful moment for many, many communities.  But obviously we’re going to continue to condemn — strongly condemn any form of violence or any destruction of property.  That is something we’ve been consistent on.

Go ahead, Nancy.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  You read the president’s statement where he said that it’s in the country’s interests for him to step aside.  Why is it in the country’s best interests for him to step aside?  Does it have to do with his health or his poll numbers?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It does not have to do — there — it has nothing to do with his health.  Again, the president is going to speak to this directly to the American people tonight in prime time.  I know many of you all will be watching it.  There are specials going on tonight.

He will — I promise you: He will speak to this directly to all of you tonight.  But, in his letter, he talked about the country, he talked about the party, he talked about the moment that we’re in right now. 

It is not about his health.  I can say, no, that’s not the reason.  But he- — hear him out tonight.

Q    And the president denied for weeks and you denied for —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — weeks that he was even thinking of stepping —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — aside.  What changed from all those days that he had that message —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — to Sunday?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, he’s going to address this as well this evening.  Let him speak for himself.

But here’s what I will say.  And I think we gave a little bit of a tick-tock to all of you.  He met with a small group of — of advisers on Saturday evening and — and with his family and was thinking through how to move forward.

Sunday afternoon, he made that decision.  It was a — in a very short period of time, as you can imagine.  And then, at 1:45, he got on the phone with some of his assistants to — assistant to the president, some advisers.  He let them know.  And then, minutes later, a letter went out.

So, it was a — in a very short period of time that the president was able to think about this and make a decision.  But I would say, again, the president is going to address the American people.  You will hear directly from him tonight.

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks.  Can you talk a little more about how he’s feeling after making such an extraordinary decision, like you said, making it —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — quickly?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Did he feel bullied to leave the race?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m going to let the president speak for himself.

Look, these are n- — this — I mean, this obviously is a historic moment, but a decision like this is very personal.  It’s not easy to make.  And I think there are very rare — rare politicians who could look at the situation and make a decision.  Right?

And I think it speaks to how honorable this president is, how selfless this president is that he was able to make this decision and say, “It is not about me.  It is about the American people.  This is about the country.”  And make a — again, a personal, difficult decision.

And so, I think that speaks for itself.  I really do.  I think that speaks for itself.

And in the letter, as you all know, he said that he wanted to address the American people, was going to give remarks about his decision, and now we’ve come to that day where he’s going to speak directly to the American people later tonight.  And he’s going to lay out what it is that he wants to say, what he — he believes the American people want to hear directly from him.

Q    So, just switching gears a little bit to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    — Netanyahu’s remarks on Capitol Hill.  We’ve heard Republicans voicing serious criticism against the vice president for not being there.  Her team insisting that it was a scheduling conflict.  But how do you respond to that?  What does it say about her priorities, the administration’s priorities that she was not there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, let me just first say that the vice president has — has been unwavering in her commitment to security of Israel.  As you know, she’s been a partner with this president for the past four years — not just domes- — domestic issues but obviously also foreign policy issues.  She’s going to meet with the prime minister, Bibi Netanyahu, when he’s here. 

And so, again, has been a critical partner in ensuring that Israel can defend itself and to secure a hostage deal.  As you know, the president — we’ve been talking about that for some time, making sure that we have this hostage deal.  She’s been a partner in that. 

And that’s what I can certainly say — you know, that she continues to be supportive to Israel, making sure that Israel’s security is — is ironclad, as we have been, as the partner — as the president has been.  And she’s going to meet with the prime minister.

Go ahead.

Q    Given the historic nature of Kamala Harris being the top of the ticket, is — does the president have any regrets about the way that he handed this enormous responsibility off in such a, you know, unusual, shortened, kind of truncated fashion, not having her have a normal ascendency to that top position?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, the president has no regrets — has no regrets.

Let’s not forget, the vice president obviously has been vice president for more than [almost] four years.  I do not see anyone who is more qualified to step in in this moment.  Right? 

She was a senator.  She was an attorney general.  She’s been a partner to this president — a critical partner, as I’ve said.  I’ve listed out what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last three and a half, almost four years — an unprecedented record.  She was a partner in that to the president. 

And so, look, this is, again, a decision that this president made.  And — and I think he is proud to have made that decision.  I know so.  You saw it in — in what he has been able to say since Sunday.  He’s going to be on camera later today, obviously, to address the American people from the Oval Office because of this moment and how big this moment is.  He wants to do that.  He wants to make sure that Americans hear directly from him, again, after putting out — out the letter on Sunday.

Q    And if you could distill just into a few kind of bite-sized pieces, what specific policies, actions does the president want to get done in these last few months?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, he certainly wants to build on what we’ve been able to do.  You heard me say this has been a — certainly what he’s been able to accomplish in the four — four years in this first term is more than we have seen in presidents who have done eight — many presidents who have done eight.  And he is going to be known as a consequential president of his time. 

And so, he’s going to continue to build on those successes.  I mean, let’s not forget, if it wasn’t for the American Rescue Plan, we wouldn’t be able to get out of the pandemic, we wouldn’t be able to open up schools, we wouldn’t be able to open up bus- — businesses wouldn’t be able to open up again. 

Thi- — Inflation Reduction Act, which was also a incredibly important piece of legislation if you think about climate change and dealing with that, if you think about — if you think about being able to b- — beat Big Pharma.

You think about the infrastructure legislation, which was done in a bipartisan way.  This president was able to get that done.

CHIPS and Science Act — again, a bipartisan way this president was able to reach across the aisle and get that done.

You think about NATO, making that stronger and bigger.

I mean, there are many ways.  I’m just naming a few things that the president has been able to do.

Look, they — both of them — the president and vice president — are proud to have delivered these re- — historic results, and we’re going to continue to figure out ways on how to build on — on this progress.

So, that’s going to be his focus.  We will have a lot more to share.  I’m not going to call out, name out policies at this time.  But you certainly will hear from this president.  He’s going to run through the finish line.

Q    No concerns about being a lame duck?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We don’t see ourselves as a lame duck president at all — at all in a — in this — in this period of time.  This is a president that has been incredibly successful, and he’s going to do everything that he can to continue to fight for the American people.

I would say, “Stay tuned.  Watch.”

Q    Thank you, Karine.  I have two questions.  One on the vice president and then one on the president’s decision.

First, it’s clear that President Biden and Vice President Harris have met regularly, including their standing lunches, from the outset of the administration.  But I’m — I’m wondering now, since he made his decision, if there are any plans to increase the cadence of this interactions or if he plans to include her in more of his policy-making processes.  How will that relationship and that involvement change?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, what I can say is the president and the vice president speak regularly.  They see each other regularly.  You named some ways of how they’ve been able to do that, to stay in touch and see each other in person.

Look, the president is committed to being president and leading this country forward in the way that he believes that Americans want to see this country moving forward.  And the vice president is going to be — continue to be a critical partner.  Nothing is going to change in that.

But they’re going to continue to engage, interact, and have important conversations as it relates to policies and moving forward.  That’s not going to stop.

And — and just — I’ll leave it there.

Q    And on the timing of his decision.  It’s now been widely reported that when Senator Chuck Schumer went to visit with the president in Rehoboth a week ago Saturday that President Biden said, “I need another week.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look —

Q    What did he need another week for?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, here — I’ll say this.  They had a very good conversation — the president and — and Senator Schumer.  And I’m not going to go into their private conversation.  I’m not going to go into particulars.  But it was a good conversation.

Q    But you said it was a very short timeframe in which the president was —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  To — in making that —

Q    — was advised —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — decision.  Right?

Q    — and made his decision.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  When he started thinking about it and making that decision.  He st- — it started Saturday evening.  And on Sunday afternoon, he made his decision.

Q    But it sounds like he was presented with data a week prior.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m — I’m just not going to get into specifics.  It started Saturday evening.  The next afternoon, which was Sunday afternoon, he made that decision.  A small group of advisers, including family, was with him on Sun- — on Saturday night.  And then, Sunday afternoon, he made the decision.

That’s — that’s how it — it happened.  That’s how it — it — he — he came to — to announcing it.

Q    And on the messaging to us, to the press corps.  It’s been nine days since there has been a briefing.  The president obviously published his letter officially —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — on Sunday withdrawing from the race.  Why go on television to make your first comments about that decision —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — rather than make — make those from the briefing room?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I appreciate that.  We’ve always had a protocol here: When the president is not here, we don’t do a briefing.  That’s just a — the way that we’ve always ha- — it’s always happened.

The interview that I did yesterday was on the books for about two, three weeks.  It was way before — way before the president made his decision.  That’s it.

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Go ahead.

Q    Did the president exit the race because he didn’t think he could defeat Donald Trump in November?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to get into — into specific details of his thoughts.  I would say tune in to- — tonight when he speaks directly to the American people.  You’ll hear what he though- — thinks about this, his decision.  He said in his letter that would — he wanted to address the American people about this decision that he made on Sunday.  I would tune in to that, and you’ll hear directly from him.

Q    And also, similar to some of the questions my colleagues have asked for weeks: People from this podium —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — and other top spokespeople for the president were adamant that there was no way he was dropping out.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Just in terms of credibility moving forward, I’m curious if you guys could just address that question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, I kind of addressed it a couple times of the president’s decision-making.  When we all t- — when — when folks from my team, from folks from this White House said that he wasn’t going to drop out or he was not planning to drop out, that’s where we were.  That’s where we were in that time.  That’s — that is the guidance that we had.

I mean, it’s not —

Q    So, there were questions about you guys not receiving the proper guidance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I — Tyler, on Sa- — on Saturday night, he met with a small group of advisers and his family, and that’s when the decision started.  Sunday, he made the final — Sunday afternoon, he made the final decision.  That’s where we were. 

And we’ve talked about this: This was a dynamic situation.  It was.  This is a historic moment.  You have to — that — that is true.  And it was for this — the president to come to that decision — to come to that decision.

When we told you all that the president — you heard from the president: He’s not going to drop out.  And he actually addressed it himself, not just us.  There were multiple events, multiple opportunities where the president said he’s in it.  So, you heard directly from him multiple times after the debate.

You know, the president, again, met with his — a small group of advisers on Saturday.  Sunday, he made his final decision.  That’s how it worked.  That’s how it happened.

Q    And do you think tonight we’ll get a better sense from him about what went into that decision-making process?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I would tune in to tonight.  I would let the president speak for himself in this moment.

Go ahead.

Q    Given the level of support the vice president has received from lawmakers, other Democrats, donors, the party in general, has the president expressed any sentiment that maybe he should have made his decision sooner and — and given her a longer timeline?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What I will say is this was a difficult decision to make, a personal decision to make.  And the personal — the president made it.  And I will leave it at that.

Q    Has he given any advice at this point to the vice president in her process of picking a running mate?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  They speak regularly.  They speak often.  Obviously, they have spoken a couple of times.  And I’m not going to get into their private discussions.

Go ahead.

Q    Is the vice president or her staff going to be more closely involved in the day-to-day operations of the administration, given that she’s now the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I —

Q    — (inaudible)?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — kind of got this question moments ago.  Nothing more to add where — the vice president has been a critical partner.  She’s been import- — played important role to a lot of decisions that have been made in the past three and half years.  That’s not going to change.  And the president has always obviously appreciated her — her policy savvy, her — her ideas, her thoughts.  And that’s going to continue.

Q    Will she get more of a say now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the president is still president.  You know, he’s still very much commander in chief.  He’s still very much the president of the United States.  And he’s still very much going to lead this country in the way and the direction that he believes is right — is the right way to do it.

So, that doesn’t change.  That’s not going to change.

Q    And just to make sure I understood your answer earlier.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    They have spoken about the VP selection specifically or —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, the VP selection — that is something — obviously, I can’t speak to the campaign’s — the campaign side could speak to.

What I can say is I — I heard the question as giving advice to the vice president in — in any way.  Right?  They’ve spoken many times.  I’m just not going to get into private conversation.

The VP pick, specifically, anything related to that, obviously, the campaign can speak to that more if you want more details.

Q    But — but current Vice President Harris won’t have extra staff in meetings that wouldn’t normally be there for some sort of overlap transition they would make?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I would say that nothing — nothing is going to change.  The president is the president of the United States.  He’s going to continue to lead — you know, lead this administration the way that he sees fit.

They are partners.  They are partners.  They have been.  She’s been, again, a critical partner in some of the big-piece items that we have been able to get done on behalf of — of this country.  Obviously, she’s alw- — she’s going to play a role, as she has done in the past.

Q    Did he watch the prime minister’s speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — that just ended not too — too — too long after I came out here.  I have not talked to the president about this, if he was able to catch some of the prime minister’s speech.  Obviously, they’re going to — as you know, they’re going to be meeting here at the White House.  Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the president is going to be meeting here tomorrow.

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  This was a White House that was operating, obviously, with an eye towards the next six months but also thinking it might have four more years to serve as well.  Can — I know it’s early, but can you talk through whether there has been any sort of new direction about how this White House will operate given that you — you only have this short amount of time left?

Obviously, the president was also balancing a reelection campaign at the same time.  Does this free him up?  Are there considerations being given to what else he might be able to do that he might not have been?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, don’t have any policy announcements to make at this time.  The president is going to continue to do what he has set out to do for the, you know, next several months, even while he was indeed running for reelection, which is pretty consistent: building on the accomplish[ments] that he’s been able to get done.  That’s going to be really important.  He’s going to look at this remainder — remaind- — remainder of his term, and there’s going to be important issues that he wants to get done.

Don’t have anything right now to — to lay out.  But we want to continue to build on those accomplishments.  We’ve gotten a lot of things done.  Whether it’s health care, whether it’s the economy, whether it’s manufacturing — right? — we want to continue to build on that.

And so, the president is determined.  He is determined to get that done.

Q    One of the first major initiatives that the president asked the vice president to lead was to oversee the diplomatic work with Central American countries as it relates to flows of migration.  The House Rules Committee yesterday approved a resolution that will go to evoke a full House strongly condemning the Biden administration and its border czar, the vice president, for failure to secure the border. 

Do you have a response to that?  And how — how would the president characterize the vice president’s accomplishments in terms of what we’re seeing in that portfolio?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, as we speak, you have congressional Republicans — they continue doing their — continue with their month-long blockade of critical resources that we need for the border, whether it’s ICE, Border Patrol.  And this is what they’ve been doing.  This is what they’ve been doing.

Let’s not forget:  The bipartisan — a really tough, important bipartisan piece of legislation — or a deal that came out of the Senate that we were able to get done, and they got in their own way.  They got in their own way because they listened to the former president, because they thought it would help Joe Biden.

So, they continue to block critical resources.  That’s what they have done for the past three and a half years.  The president is looking for ways to fund — to fund security funding to get to the border, right?  And he’s done that in a record way.

And so, we’re going to continue to fight to make sure that the Border Patrol agents get what they need and get more personnel — thousands of new personnel at the border.  That’s what we’re going to do.

The president announced new decisive executive orders to secure the border.  Unlawful crossings have dropped by more than 50 percent.  And that’s the president acting without Congress — by 50 percent.  They are now lower at this point than they were in 2019 and lower than when the former president left office.

And the president is doing that one his own — on his own.  They get in the way; he finds other ways to — to make things happen.  That’s been the story of this administration.

Q    One more question.  Obviously, the Secret Service director resigned yesterday.  I’m also curious if there is any consideration to increasing the security around the vice president now and whether the resources of the Secret Service are affected by that — that decision?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, that’s something for the Secret Service to speak to.  That’s something for the vice president’s campaign to speak to.  I — I don’t have anything to add on that as — as it relates to protection.

Go ahead.

Q    How are you doing with all of this, Karine?  (Laughter.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You care about how I feel?

Q    Are you going to stick around for a potential President Harris administration?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, my goodness.  Let me just get through the day.  Can I just get through today?

Q    I do have some other questions, Karine.  (Laughter.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I think that’s good.  I think we’re good.  I think we’re good.  (Laughter.)

Q    Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  How are you doing?  (Laughter.)  Are you good?

Q    I’m doing okay.  Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I haven’t seen you in a while.

Q    Well, you guys haven’t had a press briefing since President Biden has dropped out of the race, so — (laughter).

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The president hasn’t been here.  He just got here yesterday.  And now I’m here taking your questions.

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  And I’ve taken about three or four at this point from you alone.  (Laughter.)

Q    Well, it — it would seem that people in this White House knew that President Biden was slipping, and it was hidden from the American people.  So, who ordered White House officials to cover up a declining president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I know that that is a narrative that you love and — to —

Q    Well, when he was — in 10 days —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, no, no, wait.  Hold on.

Q    He did a press conference at NATO. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hold on.

Q    “I’m in it.  There’s all these things that I need to finish.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hold on.

Q    And then, 10 days later, “I’m dropping out.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay, w- — okay, you’re asking me, like, two — multiple questions here.  Let me — wait, wait. 

First of all, there’s been no cover-up.  I want to be very clear about that.  I know that’s the narrative that you all want —

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait.  No, no, no.  You can’t in- —

Q    I — well —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.

Q    I’ve been with — I’ve been with President Biden for five years.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Are you going to let me answer the question?

Q    Would you at least admit that the debate was not —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I —

Q    — just a bad night?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — wait.  Can you — can I answer the question?

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Are you sure?

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  To your first question: It is not a cover-up.  I know that is the narrative that you all want.  It is not.

I’m going to say this again, and you’re — you’re going to hear directly from the president.  I hope you listen tonight.  I think it’s going to be incredibly powerful and important.  The Oval Office — presidents, as you know, when they make speeches from the Oval Office, it’s because they’re important moments that they want to directly make sure that the American people hear from them.  And it’s obviously going to be done in prime time.  I would listen to the president.

And then, what I will say is that it is not easy making a decision that the president made on Sunday.  It is just not.  It is not.  And as all you have — you all reported, it is historic.  It is unusual.  This is not the norm.

And making a decision like that for someone who has been in public service for 54 years — U.S. senator for 36, president to — vice president to President Obama for 8, and now a first term as president himself — these are not easy decisions to make.  They’re just not.

And so, the fact that he was able to make that decision in a selfless way, that’s admirable.

Q    One of the decisions he made, President Biden wants Vice President Harris to be the standard-bearer of the party now.  Does she still want to get rid of ICE?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You have seen what this administration has been able to do in the past three and a half years, and they did that with the vice president as a partner in that. 

And Republicans got in the way.  The president went around Republicans and was able to get thousands of personnels at the border.  And now we are seeing a 50 percent drop at the border.  And that’s because of what this president has done.

Q    As a partner, though, she’s been in charge of root causes of migration for years.  She has never spoken to the Border Patrol chief, Jason Owens, or the Border Patr- — Patrol chief before him, Raul Ortiz.  What should that tell us about her leadership style?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  She was supposed to be doing root causes, dealing with diplomacy.

Q    And that does not involve the Border —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait.  Diplomacy — that’s what her job was supposed to be.  Diplo- — diplomatic — that’s the job.

And it — I — I understand that you’re asking these questions, but we should also look at congressional Republicans who got in the way — literally got in the way of everything that this president was trying to do to deal with the border.  They got in the way.  They would say one thing, and then they would change their mind.

They would say, “We want Border Patrol — we want — you know, we want a deal on — on what’s happening at the border,” and then they would walk away from it.  And they did it because of what the former president said.

You guys reported that.  I didn’t — that’s not coming from me.  Some of your colleagues reported that the former president said, “Let’s not move forward with this proposal because it’s going to help Joe Biden.”

I mean, that’s also the reality.  You got to talk about both sides here.

Go ahead.  I — I —

Q    Great. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  This is —

Q    Can you move to the back of the room?

Q    I get — I get — I get that you’re not going to give us —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You got to — I got —

Q    I get that you might hes- —

Q    You control the briefing, not Peter.

Q    Okay.

Q    Come on.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  No, go ahead, Peter.

Q    Fine, one more.

Q    It’s unbelievable.

Q    I get that you don’t probably want to give us —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It’s good to see you too, James.

Q    (Inaudible.)

Q    — a specific name, but were there any names that came forward that surprised you of Democratic officials in the last week who stabbed President Biden in the back? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have anything else to say. 

Go ahead, April.

Q    Karine, really fast.  Two questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    One on Sonya Massey.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    This is something that’s continued to happen.  The president, before he even became president, was really pushing after the George Floyd death — police-involved death.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    What is the lesson learned, I guess, if you will?  He couldn’t get it through Congress, but he did come up with federal executive orders and efforts.  What is the lesson learned from this moment — that continues to happen — that, I guess, Kamala Harris might have to start dealing with as well if she becomes president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, when you say “lesson learned,” meaning —

Q    How could you have done something differently or what could you have done to maybe change the dynamic?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I think we got to step back a coup- — for a second here.  The president has been able to reach across the aisle and get a lot of things done.  He has.  Gun — gun legislation — the first bipartisan gun legislation that we saw in decades — that was important.

And there is issues that — you know, infrastructure legislation — was able to get that done.  He reached over, across the line and got bipartisan support. 

So, we have seen this president and this vice president be very successful in doing that.  There are some — been some issues that have been a little harder — to your point, police reform.  And what the president did when — was when that wasn’t to get done in a bipartisan way in Congress, he took an executive or- — order to deal with it on the federal — federal law enforcement level.  And that was a step that he was able to take.

And he’s going to continue — it doesn’t stop.  You heard me mention the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act probably twice or three times at the top because it’s important to — to use — to use our platform, to use this podium to continue to call for what we believe is right.

There’s always going to be lessons in how people govern and decisions that we made here, but there has also been a lot of success.  And when action wasn’t happening in Congress, the president took action — the president took action.

Q    So, as you said, you mentioned this at the top —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — emphasizing this heinous death and how it happened, but is this something that the president hopes — I mean, it was one of his passion projects.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, in 2020, for sure.

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Absolutely.

Q    Do you — does the president hope that if Kamala Harris becomes president of the United States that she could champion this and that she could get what he couldn’t —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Absolutely.

Q    — get done?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Absolutely.  For sure.  Absolutely.  This is an important issue for this president.  He’s going to do everything that he can, you know, with the — and with the rest of his term to get this done.  He’s still going to work on this.  It doesn’t stop.

Go ahead, Michael.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  A few days before the president announced his withdrawal from the race, he said that he was going to be rolling out proposals for Supreme Court reform.  Is he still committed to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the president believes that when you hold a high office, you should be held by certain ethics and transparency.  That’s something that the president believes.  And so, he certainly will continue to do everything that he can.

I don’t have any policy announcements to make at this moment, today, in front of you.  But once we will, we certainly will share that.

Q    And just secondly, has the president spoken with former President Obama since making the decision —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No calls to read out.

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you.  I have a foreign policy-related question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    President Biden will be one of the few sitting presidents since the reestablishment of U.S.-China relations not to visit China during his tenure.  Could you please explain the reasoning behind this decision?  Isn’t this a missed opportunity?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, you heard from the national security adviser himself many times, and we’ve talked about our relationship with China.  It’s been very deliberate in its — in our strategy, in our approach to our relationship with China.  Very deliberate.

And, as you’ve heard us say many, many times — again, I mentioned the national security adviser, Jake Sullivan — we are pursuing competition without conflict.  That has been our goal from day one of this administration.

You know, the met — the president, as you know, met in a bilateral fashion with the President Xi just last November, as you know, in California with that goal in mind. 

Again, we want competition without conflict.  So, we have also had a number of Cabinet secretaries — we’ve — we’ve — we’ve spoken to that, whether it is Secretary — is it Secretary Blinken or the Treasury secretary, they’ve had travels to China over the past several years.  And — and many more.

And so, look, we’re going to continue to have these high-level officials travel there, to China, to continue to have those conversations.  But we have been incredibly deliberate with our strategy. 

Again, competition without conflict — that’s how we’re moving forward.

Q    There are still a few months left.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Will there still be opportunity?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Say that last part.  Will there still be —

Q    Be a chance he may go abroad?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t — I don’t have anything to share about foreign travel.  But we have been very deliberate with our strategy, we believe it’s worked, and we’re going to continue to move forward in that fashion.

Go ahead, Danny.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  The president said that he wants to push for a Gaza ceasefire in his last six months in office.  But Prime Minister Netanyahu just gave a pretty uncompromising speech to Congress just a day before he comes here to the White House.  Does the president really believe that Netanyahu sounds like a man who’s likely to go for a peace deal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, let me just say a couple of things.  I do want to give our reaction to — to the prime minister’s speech.  So, we appreciate Prime Minister Netanyahu for thanking President Biden for his unwavering support for Israel in his efforts to secure the release of the hostages. 

President Biden looks forward to meeting the prime minister here tomorrow to discuss developments in Gaza, including negotiations on a ceasefire deal and the humanitarian situation on the ground. 

And my colleagues, in — in the 4 o’clock hour, is going to — at NSC is going to hold a — a press call where they’re going to address additional questions regarding the prime minister’s address and also his visit.  So, I would certainly tune in.  You’ll hear more from — from them directly.

Look, they’re going to meet tomorrow.  The president has always been clear on how — on how he see the future: a two-state solution.  He’s always supported that.  That’s something that he’s going to continue to speak to.

They’re going to have a conversation tomorrow.  The president looks forward to that.  The vice president is also going to have a meeting with the prime minister tomorrow.

And so, I’ll leave it there.  But the — my — the National Security Council is going to be doing a — a press call, so I would certainly refer you to any — any further questions that you may have on the visit.

Q    But you’ve got no sense of whether he does have any confidence this — this is really an achievable goal in his last six months?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I believe that the president is optimistic.  This is a president that believes that anything could happen if you stay focused, if you work hard towards it.  So, he’s going to be optimistic.  The work continues.  And that’s not going to stop him, for sure.

Go ahead, Jared.

Q    Given that you’ve had a lot of questions about the president’s agenda here over the next six months, I’m curious: Does the president believe that some of what he’d like to get through Congress between now and the end of the year is made easier if he’s not a candidate?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t quite understand the question, because he’s not on the — on the —

Q    Does he think that — that it will be easier or harder or the same to — to kind of get some of these things —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, I —

Q    — that he’s been struggling —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I —

Q    — to get through Congress —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I would —

Q    — until now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — well, first of all, this has been — the fact that the president has gotten this much done — right? — the — the historic pieces of legislation —

Q    Well, I’m not talking about what he said —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait.

Q    — he wanted to do.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait.  Hold on.  Let me — you guys got to give me a second to answer — to at least —

Q    My apologies.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — to actually warm up into the — into the answer. 

So, look, the president has gotten a lot done — historic amount of legislation passed — historic pieces of legislation passed.  And that’s — and that’s — that wasn’t done with an easy political climate.  Right?  It’s not.  I mean, I think you could agree with me there. 

And so, look, we’re going to have more to share on what the next several months — the final several months of his term is going to look like.  We will share that.  The president wants to build — continue to build on those historic initiatives that he was able to get done. 

This has not been an easy political climate.  And some of that work, he was — did it in a bipartisan way. 

And when he wasn’t able to get it done in a bipartisan way, he found policy, ways to do that with an executive action.  And we’ve been able to be successful, whether it’s the border — right? — whether it’s trying to get things done on student l- — on the student loan side. 

There’s been ways that the president has been very — still very, very focused on making sure we’re delivering on the initiatives, on the goals that we set out to do in the beginning of this administration. 

That doesn’t stop.  That doesn’t stop.

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  I have two questions: domestic and foreign policy.  On domestic, was there any reason why the president did not endorse the vice president in the first tweet?  It took, like, a while — maybe 15, 20 minutes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, I mean, look, “the first” meaning —

Q    When he — the first tweet was he’s withdrawing from the race, but he did not say clearly that he is endorsing her.

Q    From the letter to the (inaudible) —

Q    To the tweet.

Q    Yeah.

Q    There was a half hour —

Q    It was about 20 minutes.

Q    It was 30 minutes.

(Cross-talk.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Because there was a 30 minutes — 

Q    Thirty minutes, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You’re questioning a 30-minute window?

Q    I’m just asking because he’s — no, I’m not questioning.  I’m just asking if there was a reason.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I mean, that — look, he put out a letter to the American people about a decision that he had made.  That deserved a standalone letter, I believe, right?  A decision — an important, historic decision.  He wanted to do that and speak directly to the American people.  That’s why he did the letter. 

And then, obviously, 30 minutes later, you — you got the endorsement.  That’s not a — that’s not a significant amount —

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  But it’s not a significant amount of time.  I think if you look at the letter, you see that he was truly trying to lay down the decision — a very weighty decision — and he wanted to say that directly to the American people.

Q    Fair enough.  You explained it now.  (Laughter.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I appre- — tha- — thank you for — for approving that answer.  (Laughter.)

Q    My second question, on foreign policy.  Just a follow-up on Danny’s question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    What message does the administration send to the world when we see the White House is barricaded — barricaded in anticipation of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit here, considering that the ICC found a reasonable ground to indict him as a war criminal and 70 percent of Israelis want him to step down?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I can’t speak to Israelis.  That’s — that’s — you know, I’m not going to speak to domestic politics.  I think we’ve been very clear on our feelings about ICC and their recommendation, something that we do not agree on.  We’ve been very clear about that. 

Look, when it comes to what we’re seeing outside — as you said, the barricades and such — that’s something for Secret Service to speak to.  They can speak to why they feel that it’s needed.  That is not for me to speak to. 

But it doesn’t change the fact that we believe in the right for all Americans to peacefully protest.  That is something that we’ve always been very clear about.  It is the right of all Americans to peacefully protest.  And we understand that this is an incredibly painful moment for many communities.  And we respect that. 

And also, in that same vein, we’re going to strongly condemn any type of violence or destruction of property.  That is something that we’ve been very clear about as well.  But peacefully protest — that’s something that we support. 

I can’t speak to — there’s reasons why the Secret Service is deciding to do that.  That is for them — for them to speak to directly.

Okay.  Go ahead, Raquel.

Q    Hi.  Thank you, Karine, very much.

Karine, you were saying how difficult it was, this decision for President Biden.  What is his mood since he took this decision?  And what will be the tone of the address tonight?

Also, why did he decide to do it from the Oval Office?  I wonder if he’s going to do —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — (inaudible) campaigning from —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a coup- — a couple of things.  Look, I — I saw the president not too long ago — a couple hours ago.  He’s determined.  He’s in good spirits. 

He wants to speak directly to the American people tonight.  That is his focus. 

He is doing it from the Oval Office because, as many of you all reported — and we agree with all of you — this is an important moment.  This is a historic moment.  And this decision was a big decision, was an important decision.  And Oval Offices are used for moments that — I would say moments like these that are historic. 

So, he wants to do it from the Oval.  He’s going to do it in prime time.  He’s going to speak directly to the American people.  I would say, again, tune in.  You’ll hear from — what he has to say.  And I think — I think it’s going to be important.  I think it’s going to be important.

Q    Can we expect that he’s going to ask people to vote for Harris from the Oval or doing any kind of campaigning from there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I — it’s going to be a speech.  I believe, we believe that it is going to be important for the American people to hear directly from this president in this moment — in this historic moment. 

And I’m not going to get into details, get into specifics.  I’ve said this many times from here: I’m not going to get ahead of the president. 

This is an oppor- — his opportunity — his opportunity for — to explain that decision and for the American people to — to listen in.  And so —

AIDE:  Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I know.  I’ve got to go.  Go ahead. 

Q    Thanks so much, Karine.  Can you give us any more color about the preparation for the speech?  Who has been helping the president write it?  If he’s been sounding — you know, using anybody as a sounding board —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I —

Q    — (inaudible).

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m — I’m not going to go into details.  Obviously, this is the president — this is a speech that the president is very deeply involved in.  You don’t use the Oval Office often.  Yo- — you use it for incredibly important moments.  And that’s what you’re going to hear tonight.  I’m just not going to get into specifics as to how the president is preparing. 

I will say this: Obviously, his senior advisers are always heavily involved.  And this is a president that’s taking this very seriously, very focused, like he does with any other speech. 

And so, tune in.  Tune in.

Q    And can you say whether or not you’d be willing to have the president’s doctor come to the podium, particularly given that he is — the president does intend to serve out his term and there have been a number of questions about, you know, his fitness for office? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean —

Q    Some of those questions could be settled if, perhaps, there was a — you know, the doctor — if his doctor would come to the podium or if more medical records could be released. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You’ve heard from the president’s doctor, I believe, every day that he had COVID.  He gave his assessment of what was — what was going on, what was happening.  There was a memo that was sent out to all of — to all of you.  Obviously, the memo was given to me and we shared it publicly. 

I don’t have anything else.  We — and you’ve heard me say this many times: There was an extensive medical evaluation that was done — physical that was done in February.  You all have that.  I just don’t have anything else to share from here. 

All right.  Thanks, everybody.  I’ll be back tomorrow.

4:12 P.M. EDT

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