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     On November 14, 1979, by Executive Order 12170, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Iran pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and took related steps to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the situation in Iran.

     Our relations with Iran have not yet normalized, and the process of implementing the agreements with Iran, dated January 19, 1981, is ongoing.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on November 14, 1979, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond November 14, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Iran declared in Executive Order 12170.

     The emergency declared by Executive Order 12170 is distinct from the emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 on March 15, 1995.  This renewal, therefore, is distinct from the emergency renewal of March 12, 2024.

     This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    November 1, 2024.

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The White House Celebrates Día de los Muertos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the fourth year in a row, the White House is displaying a Día de los Muertos ofrenda to honor and celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed. As part of this experience, First Lady Jill Biden welcomed members of the Latino community for a special White House tour and invited guests to add a photo of a loved one to the display. This year’s ofrenda was created in partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute, located in Washington, D.C.  
 
“The First Lady continues to open the ‘People’s House’ wider and wider to communities across the country. Through this Día de los Muertos ofrenda, we hope all who visit the White House in the coming days can take a moment to recognize those we’ve lost and celebrate the rich diversity of our country,” said Vanessa Valdivia, Press Secretary for the First Lady.
 
This is the fourth Día de los Muertos ofrenda display during the Biden-Harris Administration, and the second to be made available to view on the public tour of the White House. In 2023, Dr. Biden displayed the ofrenda along the public tour route of the White House for the first time and invited members of the Latino community to add a photo of a loved one. In 2022, Dr. Biden partnered with the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in Chicago, Illinois to display an ofrenda that was located in the West Garden Room of the White House. In 2021, the President and First Lady debuted the first-ever ofrenda at the White House to mark Día de los Muertos.

Photos of the display are available here and additional content is on the @FLOTUS and @LaCasaBlanca accounts.

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La Casa Blanca celebra el Día de los Muertos 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Por cuarto año consecutivo, la Casa Blanca exhibe al público una ofrenda del Día de los Muertos para honrar y celebrar las vidas de seres queridos que han fallecido. La Primera Dama Jill Biden le dio la bienvenida a los miembros de la comunidad latina a un recorrido especial por la Casa Blanca e invitó al público a agregar una foto de un ser querido a la exhibición. Este año, la ofrenda fue creada en colaboración con el Instituto Cultural de Mexico en Washington, D.C.
 
“La Primera Dama continúa abriendo cada vez más la ‘Casa del Pueblo’ a comunidades de todo el país. Con esta ofrenda del Día de los Muertos, esperamos que todos aquellos que visiten la Casa Blanca en los próximos días puedan tomarse un momento para reconocer a aquellos que hemos perdido y celebrar la inmensa diversidad de nuestro país,” expresó Vanessa Valdivia, Secretaria de Prensa de la Primera Dama.
 
Esta es la cuarta vez que se exhibe una ofrenda del Día de los Muertos durante la administración Biden-Harris, y la segunda vez que está disponible para ser vista durante el recorrido público por la Casa Blanca. En 2022, la Dra. Biden colaboró con el Museo Nacional de Arte Mexicano (NMMA por sus siglas en inglés) en Chicago, Illinois para exhibir una ofrenda ubicada en el West Garden Room de la Casa Blanca. En 2021, el Presidente y la Primera Dama estrenaron la primera ofrenda en la Casa Blanca para conmemorar el Día de los Muertos.
 
Las fotos de la exhibición están disponibles aquí y el contenido adicional está en las cuentas @FLOTUS y @LaCasaBlanca.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:       Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 614(a)(1) of the FAA to determine whether it is important to the security interests of the United States to furnish up to $76 million in assistance to Ukraine without regard to any provision of law within the purview of section 614(a)(1) of the FAA.

You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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In October, unemployment was unchanged at 4.1%, but the devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and new strike activity, lowered job growth. Job growth is expected to rebound in November as our hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts continue. In addition, I want to congratulate the leadership of the Machinists and Boeing for negotiating a new contract proposal that will be voted on by union members. Machinists at Boeing have sacrificed over the years and deserve a strong contract.

America’s economy remains strong, with 16 million jobs created since I took office, including an average 180,000 jobs created each month over the last year—more than the year before the pandemic. We have the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years, our economy has grown more than any presidential term this century, incomes are up $4,000 over prices, and inflation has fallen nearly to its 2% target.

There’s more work to do. We are working every day to lower costs for working families on rent, prescription drugs, health insurance, and child care. Congressional Republicans, however, are proposing a national sales tax that would cost families nearly $4,000 a year, hurt American manufacturing, and cut hundreds of thousands of jobs. They are fighting for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations—we are fighting to grow the middle class.

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The application for the 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program is now open.

Today, Rose Vela, Director of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, announced the opening of the application season for the 2025-2026 White House Fellowship year: “This uniquely non-partisan program has a distinguished legacy that reaches back more than half a century, and we hope that Americans with a passion for leadership and public service will take a look at the website, examine the criteria, and consider applying – or urge others to consider applying.”

Founded in 1964, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships is the Nation’s premier program for leadership and public service. The White House Fellowship offers exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal Government on a strictly non-partisan basis. Selected individuals spend one year in Washington, D.C., working as full-time paid government employees, aiding Cabinet Secretaries, senior White House staff, and other top-ranking government officials.

The program has fostered a remarkable legacy of leadership. Of the nearly 900 alumni in the last half-century, scores have gone on to top positions in the military, business, education, media, and philanthropy. Alumni currently serving in the Administration include Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Deputy Secretary of State Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, and U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte.

The 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program year will begin in August 2025, and conclude in August 2026. All applicants must be United States citizens, and must have completed at least their undergraduate education. With the exception of active-duty military personnel, Federal Government employees are not eligible to apply.

Selection criteria include:

• A record of remarkable early-career professional achievement.
• Evidence of leadership skills and the potential for further growth.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service.
• The skills to succeed at the highest levels of the Federal Government and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Interested individuals may apply at: https://fellows.whitehouse.gov/. The application is available as of November 1, 2024, and will remain open until January 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Any applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

For more information, including details about the Fellowship, its history, and the selection process, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get–involved/fellows/. Any questions regarding the White House Fellows Program can be directed to whitehousefellows@who.eop.gov.

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President Biden travels to Philadelphia to announce over 29,000 union workers and retirees covered by a Pennsylvania-based pension plan will have their benefits protected.

Today President Biden will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to announce that the Biden-Harris Administration has protected more than 1.2 million pensions because of the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) Butch Lewis Act, according to a new report from the Department of Labor. During the visit, President Biden will announce actions to prevent cuts to the earned pension benefits of 29,000 United Food and Commercial (UFCW) workers and retirees, primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan – which zero Republicans voted for – the Biden-Harris Administration has protected the pensions of over 65,000 Pennsylvanians, 80,000 Michiganders, 78,000 New Yorkers, 73,000 Illinoisans, 63,000 Ohioans, 63,000 Californians, 42,000 Floridians, 38,000 Missourians, 36,000 Texans, and many more to date.

The President’s announcement in Philadelphia comes after the Vice President announced the protection of pension benefits of over 22,500 union workers and retirees under the Detroit Carpenters Pension Fund last month.

Last week, President Biden spoke with Pennsylvania residents Roger Custer, a retired Teamster, and his wife, Marsha. Roger’s earned pension benefits were cut by hundreds of dollars per month in 2019, but because of the American Rescue Plan, Roger’s pension benefits were fully restored and protected for decades to come.

Since they took office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have fought hard to protect union workers and ensure a secure retirement for every American.  The ARP’s Butch Lewis Act pension protections – called the Special Financial Assistance program – will provide security for roughly 2 million workers and retirees, ensuring their pensions remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that these workers have earned over the next several decades. Additionally, for retirees who previously suffered cuts to their earned benefits due to their pension plans becoming insolvent, or to avoid future pension plan insolvency, the Butch Lewis Act restores their benefit level and makes them whole for previous losses.

Today’s announcement will save the workers and retirees covered by the UFCW Tristate Pension Fund from an estimated reduction to their earned benefits of 15% on average beginning within four years. Instead, thanks to ARP, the plan will now pay full benefits to workers and retirees into at least the 2050s.

The President also will highlight new data from the Department of Labor’s report showing the historic progress in delivering pension security for union workers and retirees that finds:

• More than 120,000 retirees who otherwise would have continued to suffer or would have seen new reductions in their earned pension benefits have instead received an average of roughly $13,600 each in earned benefits so far that were protected or restored thanks to President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan. The Butch Lewis Act is restoring benefits levels, making retirees whole for previous benefit cuts, and preventing additional cuts that would have resulted from new plan insolvencies suffered through no fault of their own. That includes thousands of Western Pennsylvania Teamster retirees who saw their benefits cut by up to 30% back in 2019.

• Workers and retirees in plans receiving assistance from the Butch Lewis Act had suffered or faced projected average cuts of 41% to their monthly pension benefits, with many facing cuts to earned benefits as large as 70% or more.

• Union workers and retirees across many industries have had their pension benefits protectedto date, including:
  • Nearly 620,000 workers and retirees in Teamster pension plans,
  • More than 152,000 workers and retirees in UFCW pension plans,
  • More than 103,000 workers and retirees in Bakers and Confectionery worker pensions plans,
  • Over 89,000 workers and retirees in United Steelworker pension plans,
  • Tens of thousands of workers and retirees in Communications Worker of America (55,000), Musicians (49,000), and Carpenters (29,000) pension plans, among many more.

The pension protection legislation included in President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan was named after veteran and retired Teamster Butch Lewis (1951-2015) for his role in fighting to protect union retirees’ pensions from harsh benefit cuts through no fault of their own. Ultimately, the Butch Lewis Act is expected to ensure roughly 2 million workers’ and retirees’ pension plans remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that workers have earned through at least 2051, making its inclusion in the ARP the most significant effort to protect the solvency of the multiemployer pension system in 50 years.

Today’s announcement builds on historic actions President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken to support union workers. While the prior Administration rolled back overtime protections and appointed union busters to the National Labor Relations Board, this Administration has expanded overtime protections for millions of workers, appointed worker advocates to the National Labor Relations Board, and also ensured federal dollars are going to create good jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and that federal construction projects are built using a project labor agreement. The Biden Administration has also expanded worker protections and safety, made it easier to organize and collectively bargain, provided funding to increase registered apprenticeship programs, and is making sure the Administration’s historic infrastructure investments are built with American-made construction materials and create good jobs. And, the Administration worked to protect and strengthen Social Security and the retirement plans of hardworking Americans, including by taking action to ensure retirement advisors act in the financial interest of retirement savers. The President also signed SECURE 2.0 into law, which encourages more employers to offer retirement plan benefits to their workers and makes it easier for Americans to save for retirement.

Ensuring that union workers and their families enjoy the retirement security they earned through a lifetime of work is just one of the ways that the Biden-Harris Administration has kept its commitment to workers and delivered on being the most pro-union administration in American history.

States with the most workers and retirees who have had pensions protected under the Biden-Harris Administration, through October 2024:

StateWorkers and retirees protectedMichiganMore than 809,000New YorkMore than 78,000IllinoisMore than 73,000PennsylvaniaMore than 65,000OhioMore than 63,000CaliforniaMore than 63,000FloridaMore than 42,000MissouriMore than 38,000TexasMore than 36,000MassachusettsMore than 35,000IndianaMore than 34,000WisconsinMore than 33,000MarylandMore than 32,000New JerseyMore than 31,000MinnesotaMore than 30,000TennesseeMore than 25,000GeorgiaMore than 24,000North CarolinaMore than 19,000VirginiaMore than 18,000KentuckyMore than 17,000

Source: Department of Labor, “Report on Special Financial Assistance”

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Today is the first day of Open Enrollment for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, which has given millions of Americans the peace of mind that comes with quality health care. I am proud of the work we have done to make the Affordable Care Act more accessible and more affordable than ever – lowering costs by $800 per person per year and getting rid of red tape. As a result of my and Vice President Harris’s efforts, 9 million more Americans have been able to receive coverage, and starting today and running through January 15th, 2025, Americans across the country can join them.

Just this week, prominent Republicans in Congress threatened to undo this progress and undermine the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. Their plan would rip coverage away from over 45 million Americans, eliminate critical protections for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums for women and older adults, and erode Medicaid coverage for millions of children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. We won’t let it happen on our watch.

Vice President Harris and I will always stand up to these attempts to roll back access to health care and drive up costs. We will continue to fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. I encourage Americans to visit HealthCare.gov before January 15th to sign up for or renew your health coverage for 2025.

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     From the energy that powers our homes to the networks that connect us and the systems that protect our health and safety, our critical infrastructure keeps our economy thriving and our communities secure.  This Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to strengthening our country’s critical infrastructure and building an America that is safe and secure for generations to come.

     This year, I signed a National Security Memorandum to secure and enhance the resilience of United States critical infrastructure — updating the policy for the first time in a decade.  This represents the launch of a new era in protecting our infrastructure against all threats and hazards by safeguarding our strong and innovative economy and enhancing our collective resilience to disasters before they happen.  But there is more to do.  Climate change is making natural disasters more frequent, ferocious, and costly — endangering our supply chains, creating more instability for our communities, and straining the critical infrastructure Americans depend on for their livelihoods.  And we need to stay vigilant against adversaries that seek to maliciously target our critical infrastructure, including through cyberattacks.  

     To meet this moment, my Administration made a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure — creating an opportunity to build in resilience to all hazards upfront and by design.  Through my American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, we are investing billions of dollars to secure and bolster our infrastructure.  That includes improving our electric grid so that people can maintain power in any situation, elevating roads and bridges over possible flood zones, funding community resilience programs, and more.  These investments have not only helped to protect Americans — they have benefited our economy, creating jobs and new possibilities for our communities.  At the NATO summit this year, I announced an arrangement with Canada and Finland to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers.  The partnership will advance United States economic and national security interests by strengthening our shipbuilding and industrial capacity while simultaneously opening up new trade routes and pushing back against foreign aggression and bolstering our international alliances.  This year, I also announced a United States Port Security Initiative to reverse our dependence on foreign manufactured port equipment.

     Ensuring our Nation is resilient in the face of threats also means working with other nations around the globe to build better, stronger, and more sustainable infrastructure.  At the G7 Summit in June, I was proud to announce the historic progress we have made with our Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.  This initiative will strengthen United States national and economic security for Americans at home and enable sustainable economic growth for partner countries.  To date, we have mobilized $60 billion to create high-quality global infrastructure.  That comes on top of our work with the European Union and African heads of state to develop the Lobito Corridor as well as our work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to expand regional and global trade markets through the Port of Lobito in Angola.  We continue to pursue opportunities to expand our investments across Africa and around the world, including the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere.  Investments like these create more shared opportunities, prosperity, and security for everyone.

     Across the Nation, America is writing the greatest comeback story we have ever known — people are putting shovels in the ground, founding new businesses, and creating hope for entire communities.  It is more important now than ever before that we remain vigilant against any threats that seek to undermine our collective security and prosperity. 

     During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to safeguarding and strengthening our Nation’s critical infrastructure to save lives and allow our Nation to continue doing what it does best:  creating new possibilities.

     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 November 2024 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation’s infrastructure and to observe this month with appropriate measures to enhance our national security and resilience.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Every child deserves to know the unconditional love of a permanent home.  During National Adoption Month, we honor all the wonderful families that grow through adoption, we remind our foster youth and adoptees that we are right by their side, and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

     More than 100,000 children are in our Nation’s foster care system awaiting the adoption that could offer them familial love, a lasting home, and a stable foundation for them to grow.  That is why I have called on the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable, lowering the cost of adoption and giving families and legal guardians some breathing room.  I have also called on the Congress to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually — a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition.  To further support kinship caregivers, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule last year that requires States to provide them with the same level of financial support that other foster parents receive.  My Administration is also working to eliminate barriers LGBTQI+ families face in the adoption process and ensure LGBTQI+ foster youth grow up in safe and loving environments.  And through the expanded Military Parental Leave Program, we are giving service members more time to spend with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed in their homes for long-term foster care.

     My Administration also remains committed to supporting youth who are aging out of foster care.  Since the beginning of my Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded over $60 million to provide over 4,000 vouchers to foster youth, helping them secure housing as they leave the foster care system.  And my Administration is working to ensure these youth can keep their SNAP benefits without work reporting requirements, easing a difficult transition period.  We have also been working to help foster youth stay in school and graduate, make the successful transition to postsecondary education, train for jobs, pay their bills, and get their lives off to a solid start.

     During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the love shared by adoptive families and professionals across our country.  And we honor the millions of adoptive and kinship families who have welcomed new family members into their loving homes.

     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 November 2024 as National Adoption Month.  I encourage all Americans to honor this month by helping the children and youth in their communities secure their forever homes and find the love and connection that they need to thrive.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those living with lung cancer and their loved ones.  We thank the researchers searching for answers and the medical professionals who are working tirelessly to care for those with lung cancer, and we recommit to ending cancer as we know it.

     Although scientists have made incredible breakthroughs that have improved prevention, detection, and treatment for cancer and saved lives, a lung cancer diagnosis can be terrifying.  This year, nearly 250,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease.  Treatment can be grueling.  Medical bills can cause concerns for the whole family.  And the flood of medical information directed toward patients and their caretakers can be overwhelming.  Too often, people feel lost and left behind, especially those who are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer — such as Black men, rural residents, and women under 50 years old.

     Cancer is personal to many families, including mine, so I made fighting cancer a top priority in my Administration.  The First Lady and I began by reigniting the Biden Cancer Moonshot, aiming to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.  I also secured $4 billion in bipartisan funding and established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to support scientists, innovators, and public health professionals in driving innovation to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

     My Administration is also working around the clock to make cancer treatments more affordable and the treatment process more manageable for families.  We have saved millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums by strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.  Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we are capping total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year, including for cancer drugs, which can cost many times that.  And for the first time ever, families fighting cancer can access patient navigation services that are fully paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance — helping guide families through the diagnosis and treatment process and offering them much-needed support.

     My Administration is also committed to preventing cancer by tackling another driver of cancer deaths in this country:  smoking.  To ensure that Americans who want to quit have the support they need, the Department of Health and Human Services created a Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation, setting goals and strategies to help our communities reduce smoking.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $15 million program that will help increase awareness about smoking and options for services to help people quit.  For anyone looking to quit smoking, you can find resources at BeTobaccoFree.gov or smokefree.gov or by calling 877-44U-QUIT.

     My Administration is expanding early detection and screening services because an early diagnosis of lung cancer can save lives.  Together, Federal agencies, community health centers, and other partners are providing early detection knowledge and support services to underserved communities.  I encourage all Americans to talk to their doctors about lung cancer symptoms.

     During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we strengthen our commitment to standing by all those facing lung cancer and their families, and we ensure they have access to the care they need.  We also rededicate ourselves to spreading awareness about lung cancer and working to end cancer as we know it, in order to save more lives. 

     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 November 2024 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about lung cancer.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness about what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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The Edgewater Hotel
Madison, Wisconsin

10:08 A.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Good morning, everyone.  Happy Halloween.

     Q    Good morning. 

     Q    Good morning.

     Q    Happy Halloween.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And for those of you who are without your children today, thank you for just being on the road.

So, today, we will be leaving Wisconsin, heading west.  And I’ll be, obviously, in three states again today talking with the American people about the stakes of this election and the opportunity that we, the American people, have to chart a new way forward.

I will comment on the former President Donald Trump’s remark about women and — and whether they “like it or not.”  And, listen, it’s just — it actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right, and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.

And this is just the latest on a series of reveals by the former president of how he thinks about women and their agency, whether he has said, as he has, that women should be punished for their choices; whether he has talked about his pride in taking away a fundamental right from women; whether it be how he has actually created a situation in America where now one in three women lives in a Trump abortion ban state and has legal restrictions on the right she rightly should have to make decisions about her own body.

The other point I will refer to about — in the last many hours is the speaker’s comments about the Affordable Care Act.  Look, I’ve been saying throughout this campaign: Be very clear that among the stakes in this election are whether we continue with the Affordable Care Act or not.

It has been a part of Donald Trump’s agenda for a very long time.  He has made dozens of attempts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.  And now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House.

And what that would mean for the American people is that pharma- — that — that insurance companies could go back to a time when they would deny you coverage for health insurance based on preexisting conditions — preexisting conditions, such as you being a survivor of breast cancer, asthma, diabetes.

And what I know is that the American people, regardless of who they’re voting for, know the importance of the Affordable Care Act — of, as it is also called, “Obamacare,” in terms of expanding people’s coverage to health care based on a fundamental principle that I hold deeply: Access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege to those who can afford it.

So, there’s still a lot of work to do.  But each day, I think that there are also indications that we are receiving from my opponent that verify, validate, and reinforce the fact that, one, he is not going to be fighting for women’s reproductive rights.  He does not prioritize the freedom of women and the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives and bodies.  And health care for all Americans is on the line in this election as well.

I’ll take your questions. 

     AIDE:  Tam. 

Q    Oh, yeah.  You know, since the beginning stages of your campaign, you’ve described yourself as an underdog.  That language is gone from your speech now.  Has something changed in how you’re feeling?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, listen, I am putting it all on the field, and it’s going to be a very tight race.  And I — I am running like the underdog, because we are.  Donald Trump has been running for the — the last decade.  I’ve been in this race about three and a half months, and the stakes are so high.

But I’ve been saying for quite some time, regardless of what the polls say, we are going to win.  I do believe that, because I do believe that this is a choice about two very different directions for our country. 

And the choice being offered by Donald Trump is about going backward, about a constant emphasis on degrading the American people in our capacity, versus a track that is about bringing the country together, knowing we have more in common than what separates us. 

And we should have a plan, which I do, to actually get things done, including bringing down the cost of living for people, investing in our small businesses, expanding access to health care, investing in American industries, including the future of American industries and American workers. 

So, there you go. 

AIDE:  Will. 

Q    So, you talked about the — what the former president said being offensive to women.  Wh- — 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I think it’s offensive to everybody, by the way. 

Q    Well, that — that was my question.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    The sort of hypermasculinity that he is talking about, do you — what do you think about it possibly resonating with men and male voters specifically?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You will — you — you’ve been following me, and you will see that in the tens of thousands of people who attend our rallies — which is an opportunity to talk about the issues, talk about the future of our country — right? — there are men, women, young people, people of every race, every background. 

One of the points, I think, that is a point of pride for everyone who attends — and including myself — is that our campaign really is about bringing people together, people of very different and diverse backgrounds, around a common theme that is about love of country, defending the Constitution of the United States, and investing in our future as — and rejecting the notion that we are divided or that that should be acceptable that we would be divided as a nation. 

So, I’m very proud to have the support of — of men, women, young people, people of every background.

AIDE:  Ebony. 

Q    So, we know we have five days until the election.  How are you going to continue to draw the contest with former President Donald Trump, specifically with the undecided voters, as the pool is really shrinking now?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I will continue — as we will do today, as we did yesterday, and so on — to talk with people where they live — so, again, here in Wisconsin, heading to Arizona, heading to Nevada — to talk with people about issues, like how we’re going to deal with price gouging — corporate price gouging as a way to deal with grocery costs; how we’re going to invest in small businesses and expand access to capital; how I will give first-time homeowners a $25,000 down payment assistance if they are a first-time homebuyer to help them get their foot in the door. 

These are the issues that the American people want to talk about, because these are the issues that affect them.  These are the issues they think about when they’re sitting at their kitchen table or when they’re trying to go to sleep at night. 

And what I know is that they want a president of the United States who, as I say, will walk into the Oval Office with a to-do list and not an enemies list. 

And so, that’s what I will continue to do over the course of these next few days to let folks know that I see them, I hear them, and I’m prepared to address their challenges with a plan that is about getting things done.

AIDE:  Thank you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Thank you. 

                             END       10:15 A.M. CDT

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     Each veteran and military family represents a link in a chain of honor that stretches back to our founding days, unwavering in their devotion to their loved ones who served in uniform.  This month, we honor all of our military and veteran families.  They too serve and sacrifice to answer our Nation’s call to duty.  We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.

     I often say that, as a Nation, we have many obligations, but only one is truly sacred:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they come home.

     We are continually working to make sure that our Nation’s veterans and service members have access to the benefits and care they deserve.  I have signed more than 34 bipartisan bills to better support our service members, veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors.  One of those bills, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, was the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans and survivors in nearly 30 years.  To date, more than 1.1 million veterans and over 11,000 survivors are now receiving new service-connected disability benefits, and over 796,000 veterans have newly enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care since the law was enacted.  This law is helping families who lost loved ones to toxic illness gain access to critical resources and services, including monthly benefits, educational assistance, home loans, and more.  Actions outlined in our national strategy to prevent military and veteran suicide are tackling the root causes of the military and veteran suicide crisis, including by better supporting families through the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.  And we are making progress in eliminating homelessness and improving financial security for veteran and military families.  Too often, veteran and military families become the targets of bad actors and scam artists.  My Administration’s Veteran Service Member Family Fraud Evasion initiative is providing easy, one stop access to resources to report fraud and get help from the Federal Government to combat scams.  Additionally, I signed an Executive Order that implemented historic, bipartisan military justice reforms to transform how the military handles sexual assault and domestic violence cases.  And I directed the Department of Defense to review pay and benefits for our service members — an important step toward ensuring their compensation reflects their service and sacrifice.

     Military-connected families sacrifice for our country, answering the call to duty over and over again.  Many military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors struggle to achieve their desired career goals due to unique challenges military-connected families face.  This is why I signed an Executive Order that takes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in history to support the economic security of military families and veterans’ spouses, caregivers, and survivors.  I encouraged Federal agencies to do more to retain military spouses through flexible policies, ensuring they have access to stable jobs throughout their careers.  Last year, I signed an Executive Order that directed more than 50 actions to improve the care economy, which included critical actions to better support military and veteran caregivers and expand access to military child care.  These orders build on the efforts taken by my Administration to improve the quality of life for military families, including initiatives to ease military moves, afford housing, and find child care.  Joining Forces, the First Lady’s initiative, is working to better support military and veteran families — doing everything from making school transitions easier for military children to expanding economic opportunities for military spouses and caregivers.

     This is personal for my family and for me.  We know the pride of seeing your child wear the uniform of the United States.  We know the pain of long deployments far from home.  We know what it is like to pray for the safe return of someone you love.  This month, may we show our immense gratitude for our military and veteran families, whose courage and dedication represent the best of who we are as a Nation.

     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 November 2024 as National Veterans and Military Families Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor veterans and military families with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the history, rich cultures, and vast contributions of Native peoples.  We celebrate the hundreds of Tribal Nations that are ushering in a new era in our Nation-to-Nation relationships.  And we recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and working in partnership with Tribal Nations to bring new prosperity and security to Native peoples.

     Indigenous peoples’ history in the United States is defined by strength, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, right to self-governance, and ways of life.  Native peoples have built and sustained powerful Tribal Nations, and the knowledge they developed still benefits us today.  However, our Nation’s failed policies of the past subjected generations of Native peoples to cruelty, violence, and intimidation.  The forced removal of Native peoples from their homes and ancestral homelands; attempts to assimilate entire generations; and stripping of Indigenous peoples of their identities, cultures, and traditions are some of the darkest chapters of our Nation’s history.  The trauma and turmoil fundamentally altered their communities.  As the first President to visit Indian Country in 10 years, I delivered a national apology for the unspeakable harms caused to Native peoples at Federal Indian Boarding Schools.

     Indigenous peoples have persisted and survived — a testament to their resilience and resolve.  Today, Native communities are leading the way forward and continuing to strengthen the fabric of the United States.  They have long served in the United States military and currently serve in the highest levels of government — including the Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, America’s first Native American Cabinet secretary.  In every field and sector, Native peoples are pushing for progress and contributing to our shared prosperity.  

     Since I came into office, the Federal Government has made record investments in Tribal Nations.  Federal contracts with Native American-owned companies increased by over $8 billion from 2020 to 2023.  My American Rescue Plan made the largest direct Federal investment in Tribal Nations ever, helping vaccinate Tribal communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and keeping the economy going.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made the single biggest investment in Tribal roads, bridges, water, high-speed internet, electricity, irrigation, environmental cleanup, and so much more.  My Inflation Reduction Act made the biggest investment in fighting climate change ever — including funding to help Tribal communities lead in the just transition to clean energy and ease the impact of droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels, which threaten Native lives and precious homelands. 

     My Administration is also working to ensure that Native communities are safe and secure and have the resources they need to thrive.  I signed an Executive Order that improves the Federal response to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples.  When we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act in 2022, we included historic provisions to reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and expand Tribal jurisdiction in cases where outside perpetrators harm members of their Nation.  And for the first time ever, my Administration also secured advance funding for the Indian Health Service so hospitals can plan ahead, order supplies, and hire doctors.  We have provided historic funding to Tribal communities to help fight the behavioral health crisis and taken significant steps to improve maternal health for Native American women, who are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related complications as white women. 

     I have always believed that we must know the good, the bad, and the truth of who we are as a Nation — we must acknowledge our history so that we can begin to remember and heal.  That is why I became the first President to issue a formal apology for the Federal Indian Boarding School era, one of the most horrific chapters in our Nation’s history.  For 150 years, the Federal Government mandated the removal of Native children from their families and Tribes — and as a result, generations of Native children had their childhoods stolen and whole Tribal cultures were erased.  I am proud to formally end the silence surrounding this shameful era and I remain proud that my Administration defended the Indian Child Welfare Act in court, ensuring that our Nation respects Tribal sovereignty and protects Native children by helping Native families stay together and grow up with their languages and cultures.  And we are working to support Native American families and communities as they heal from the Federal Indian Boarding School era through the Department of the Interior’s Road to Healing initiative and by supporting Native language preservation and public safety initiatives.  

     My Administration has also worked with Tribal Nations to preserve, protect, and steward important ancestral Tribal lands and waters.  Through more than 200 co-stewardship and co-management agreements signed under my leadership, we are working side by side with Tribes to make decisions about how to manage the lands that are most precious to them.  And to date, I have protected and conserved more than 45 million acres of our Nation’s lands and waters.  That includes the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, vast offshore waters off California’s coast and the first sanctuary to be proposed by Indigenous communities.  I have also established, expanded, and restored 11 national monuments, many containing sites considered sacred to Tribal Nations — from Bears Ears National Monument, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and Avi Kwa Ame National Monument to Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, and others.  

     During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor the heritage and contributions of Native peoples, and we work tirelessly to build a future grounded in dignity, respect, and partnership.  We remain committed to working with Native communities to write a new and better chapter in American history for Tribal Nations — one that honors the solemn promise the United States made to Tribal Nations, fulfills our Federal trust and treaty obligations, and works together to rebuild Tribal economies and institutions.  

     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 November 2024 as National Native American Heritage Month.  I urge all Americans, as well as their elected representatives at the Federal, State, and local levels, to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.  Also, I urge all Americans to celebrate November 29, 2024, as Native American Heritage Day.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Entrepreneurs embody the essence of America — their ideas and energy have always kept our country on the cutting edge, and their determination and drive uplift communities, create millions of jobs, and keep our Nation moving forward.  This month, we celebrate their unstoppable spirit.

     Supporting entrepreneurs, especially small business owners, has always been key in growing our economy from the middle out and bottom up, giving everyone a fair shot to get ahead.  Many entrepreneurs are at the heart and soul of their communities, running the mom-and-pop shops that are the glue of our neighborhoods.  But when Vice President Harris and I took office, hundreds of thousands of small businesses had been forced to close down due to the pandemic, and millions more were hanging by a thread.  Not only were entrepreneurs’ livelihoods on the line but also their life’s savings and hopes of growing wealth for the next generation. 

     That is why Vice President Harris and I were committed to investing in America’s entrepreneurs and innovators.  My American Rescue Plan provided billions of dollars in capital and support to small businesses.  My CHIPS and Science Act is investing more into research and manufacturing than ever before, building the high-tech industries of the future and the small-business supply chains to support them right here at home while helping them expand their businesses in high-growth, high-wage industries.  And my Inflation Reduction Act is incentivizing manufacturers to help tackle the climate crisis using American suppliers while cutting down on entrepreneurs’ overhead costs like health insurance and energy bills.

     The Biden-Harris Administration is also committed to ensuring every small business and entrepreneur has a fair shot.  This year, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided a record $56 billion through more than 100,000 small business financings — the most in more than 15 years and a 50 percent increase over 2020.  The Federal Government has invested tens of billions of dollars into small disadvantaged businesses.  The SBA is lending tens of billions of dollars to small businesses that would otherwise struggle to access capital.  Since 2020, the number of SBA-backed loans doubled for women-owned businesses, tripled for Black-owned businesses, more than doubled for Latino-owned businesses, and increased by about 70 percent for Asian American-owned businesses.  And my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also made the Minority Business Development Agency permanent to help close the gap for these and other entrepreneurs from underserved and underrepresented communities too long left behind. 

     Today, entrepreneurs across the country have filed nearly 20 million new business applications since Vice President Harris and I took office — each an act of hope and confidence in our economy.  A record number of those businesses are being opened by Black, Latino, and women entrepreneurs.  And 16 million new jobs have been created.

     I have often said that America can be defined in one word:  possibilities.  That is what entrepreneurship is all about.  During National Entrepreneurship Month, we honor every entrepreneur with a vision for something better and the grit to make it real, growing our economy and creating new possibilities for everyone.

     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 November 2024 as National Entrepreneurship Month.  I call upon all Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities and to celebrate November 19, 2024, as National Entrepreneurs’ Day.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s — a leading cause of death in older adults.  During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we honor the courage and resilience of all those facing this devastating disease.  We recommit to supporting every caregiver who pours their heart into helping people with Alzheimer’s face this disease with dignity.  And we strengthen our resolve to do everything we can to prevent, treat, and eliminate Alzheimer’s as we know it.

     Currently, over six million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, which robs people of their memories, clarity, and identity — taking a difficult emotional, financial, and physical toll on people facing the disease and the loved ones standing by their side.  Alzheimer’s also disproportionately impacts African Americans and Latino Americans, who are more likely to develop dementias than people of any other race or ethnicity.  People with Down syndrome also have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

     My Administration has taken steps to drive new breakthroughs toward preventing, detecting, and treating Alzheimer’s.  I secured $4 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, directing funding to researchers and innovators who are pioneering new techniques and technologies to transform the lives of people with Alzheimer’s and improve human health outcomes.  I was also proud to sign the reauthorization of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act, ensuring the Federal Government is doubling down on our commitment to address Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.  The National Institutes of Health is funding new clinical trials that are doing cutting-edge work to improve the lives of people with Alzheimer’s — from pursuing new drugs that could prevent and treat dementia to improving cognition and memory for those who have it.

     My Administration is committed to supporting the caregivers who care for people with Alzheimer’s.  I signed the Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers — the most comprehensive set of executive actions any President has ever taken to improve care for hardworking families while supporting care workers and family caregivers.  In response, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the GUIDE Model, which offers a package of respite services, caregiver support and education, and care management and coordination for people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.  CMS is also continuing to increase access to cognitive care assessments so more people with Alzheimer’s get the resources and care they need.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to increase access to early detection, prevention, and treatment of dementias like Alzheimer’s.

     During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we recommit to improving the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  We honor all the lives we have lost and all those we can still save.  And we uplift the spirit of hope that countless medical professionals, researchers, and caregivers working to help people with Alzheimer’s carry each day.

     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 November 2024 as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.  I call on the people of the United States of America to honor and support those living with Alzheimer’s and the many people who continue extraordinary and tireless efforts to combat this disorder and care for those affected by it.  I encourage all Americans to visit Alzheimers.gov for evidence-based resources and information.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Family caregivers are the backbone of our Nation, making tremendous sacrifices to be there for the people who need and cherish them most.  This month, we honor their selfless love and courage, and we recommit to getting them the support they deserve.  They should know their country has their backs.

     For far too long, the cost of care in this country has been too high.  Today, millions of Americans are part of the so-called sandwich generation, caring for both young kids and aging parents at the same time.  Too many families struggle to afford help, spending their own retirement savings to pay for the care of their loved ones or quitting their own jobs to stay home and provide it themselves.  Most often, it is women who bear the brunt of care work.  And the pay for professional care workers is far too low.    

     In the United States of America, no one should have to choose between caring for a parent who raised them, a child who depends on them, and a paycheck that they need.  That is why I signed the American Rescue Plan, which made the biggest investment in child care ever.  It delivered historic support to over 225,000 child care programs serving as many as 10 million children across the country, helping keep their doors open for millions of working families who rely on them.  It expanded the Child Tax Credit, which helped cut the child poverty rate nearly in half.  Overall, my Administration increased funding for child care by nearly 50 percent while helping States expand and strengthen programs that enable low-income families afford child care as well.  We also required companies seeking significant Federal funding from our CHIPS and Science Act to submit a plan on how they will help employees access affordable child care.  

     We have finalized new rules that strengthen staffing standards in nursing homes to ensure residents can age with dignity.  We have made sure that home care workers get a bigger share of Medicaid payments so more Americans can keep living in their own communities and homes.  And we have worked to increase Medicare resources to promote equitable access to care and caregiver training.  

     But we have to do more to ease the load on America’s 50 million unpaid family caregivers, who too often still shoulder the burden of care all alone.  Through the American Rescue Plan, we devoted $145 million to the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which delivers counseling, training, and short-term relief to family caregivers and other informal care providers.  Furthermore, my Administration released the first-ever National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, which includes new initiatives that directly support family caregivers and strengthen existing programs.  And I signed a historic Executive Order, representing the most comprehensive set of administrative actions ever to increase access to high-quality child care and long-term care and support for caregivers, including military and veteran caregivers.  The Executive Order is working to make sure caregivers get the support they deserve while building the supply of high-quality care so families have options.  My Administration is continuing to work toward lowering the cost of care across the country and providing stronger paid family and medical leave. 

     How we treat our young children, aging parents, and loved ones and how we value those who care for them are fundamental to who we are as a Nation.  During National Family Caregivers Month, we pledge to get every family caregiver in this country the same kind of relief, respect, and support that they give so selflessly to others.

     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 November 2024 as National Family Caregivers Month.  I encourage all Americans to reach out to those who provide care for our Nation’s family members, friends, and neighbors in need to recognize, honor, and thank them.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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     Over 38 million Americans, or 1 in every 10 people, have diabetes.  During National Diabetes Month, we raise awareness about this chronic condition and promote the strategies that can prevent and manage it.  We recommit to making treatment more affordable and accessible.  And we strengthen our resolve to find cures.

     Diabetes takes a physical and financial toll on Americans nationwide, and many Americans must decide between paying for treatments and putting food on the table.  Insulin — a life-saving drug for some people with diabetes — can cost Americans upwards of $300, even though it costs drug companies as little as $10 per vial to make.  Some Americans end up rationing their medication, which can have serious effects on their health and well-being.  While Big Pharma makes record profits, Americans pay exorbitant prices — higher than anywhere else in the world.  It is unacceptable.  No one should have to lie awake at night wondering if they can afford their medical bills or their insulin prescription.

     Since I came into office, I have worked to ensure that health care is a right in this country, not a privilege — and that meant lowering the cost of insulin.  That is why my Administration took on Big Pharma and won.  I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 for people on Medicare.  And the largest manufacturer of insulin in the United States answered my call to lower the cost to $35 per month for everyone.  My Inflation Reduction Act also empowered Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, lowering the costs of medications used to treat common diseases, including drugs that treat diabetes.  Further, that law requires drug companies that raise prices faster than inflation to pay Medicare back the difference, saving seniors up to $618 per dose of medication.  Moreover, beginning in 2025, the Inflation Reduction Act will cap total out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 per year for people on Medicare.  There is still more to do, but this will help ensure Americans — including those with diabetes — have the dignity, security, and peace of mind they deserve.

     My Administration is also working to drive new breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating diabetes while ensuring that Americans have the resources they need to lead healthy lifestyles.  I secured $4 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to make strides in transforming the prevention, detection, and treatment of deadly diseases like diabetes.  We have seen enormous research advances in recent years to develop promising new diabetes drugs, including the first cell therapy for adults with Type 1 diabetes and the first new oral medication for children with Type 2 diabetes in decades.  At the same time, we recognize that the impact of Type 2 diabetes can be greatly decreased through improvements in nutrition and physical activity.  My Administration announced new standards for school meals to improve their nutritional value and give schools the option to require locally produced, unprocessed menu ingredients.  We also held the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, bringing together advocates, health care providers, food companies, and officials from every level of government.  As a part of that conference, we launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities.  In total, we have secured more than $10 billion in bold, new commitments from the public and private sectors to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases like diabetes.

     My Administration also recognizes that tens of millions of Americans have prediabetes and are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 years.  Diabetes increases one’s risk of heart attack, cancer, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and the loss of toes, feet, or legs.  Many of these cases are preventable, and the risk factors are often related to poor nutrition and inadequate physical activity.  To learn more about the risks and how to address prediabetes and help prevent Type 2 diabetes, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program:  cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention. 

     During National Diabetes Month, we celebrate the resilience and courage of all those affected by diabetes.  We thank the dedicated medical professionals, loved ones, and advocates who support this community.  And we recommit to working around the clock to improve care for those affected and get us closer to finding cures.

     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 November 2024 as National Diabetes Month.  I call upon all Americans, school systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, research institutions, and other interested groups to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage this disease.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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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Oval Office

12:06 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Well, Mr. President, welcome.  Welcome to the Oval Office.

PRESIDENT CHRISTODOULIDES:  Thank you very much, Mr. President.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Good to see you.  Good to see you.

It was 10 years ago when I visited Cyprus last, as vice president of the United States.  And — and, as I said, there is no limit to what our nations can achieve if we work together. 

PRESIDENT CHRISTODOULIDES:  Exactly.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  And we’ve been doing that for a long time. 

But I think that’s even more true today.  Today, we stood against Russia’s vicious onslaught against Ukraine.  We launched a strategic dialogue to increase cooperation across a range of issues, from energy security to artificial intelligence.  And we surged humanitarian aid, delivering 8,000 metric tons to Gaza. 

So, Mr. President, Cyprus made all this possible.  I want thank you for your leadership in making that happen. 

And this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the artificial division of the island.  I remember it well.  It was my first year as a U.S. senator.  I remember sitting with (inaudible) — anyway, it’s — it’s a sad day.

PRESIDENT CHRISTODOULIDES:  (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  But as a — it was a sad occasion, but I remain optimistic about the possibility that a u- — reunited Cyprus and bizonal, bicommunal federation is possible.  And the United States ready — stands ready to provide any support we can toward that goal. 

Mr. President, thank you, again, for being here, and I look forward to our conversation.

The floor is yours.

PRESIDENT CHRISTODOULIDES:  Mr. President, it’s a great honor to be at the White House.  Thank you very much for your invitation.

As you very well know, our countries have been — have built a truly strategic partnership and — and our relations — our relations are at a strategic and historical high.

At the bilateral level, we are working closely on defense and security, on energy, law enforcement, technology innovation.  There is a top potential, and there is a clear and strong political will from both countries, following also the first strategic dialogue that took place in Cyprus last week to further enhance our partnership.

Mr. President, at — at the regional level, Cyprus is a predictable and reliable partner of the United States in a region of great geopolitical importance.  We are the member state of the European Union in the region.  We have excellent relations with all of our neighbors.  And we’re working closely with the United States and other partners to face the current challenges, to send much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, to evacuate third-country nationals from — from the region.

With regards to — to Ukraine, Cyprus stands on the right side of history.  And, Mr. President, it could have been different, having in mind that my country is under Turkish occupation the last 50 years.  

And, Mr. President, I count on your support and the support of the United States to resume negotiations and find a solution of the Cyprus problem — solution in line with the U.N. Security Council resolution, solution that is based on our common values and principles: democracy and respect of human rights.

So, Mr. President, once again, thank you very much.  I’m looking forward to our discussions.  Thank you very much.

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  I’m looking forward to it as well.  You’re a good friend.  (Inaudible.)

PRESIDENT CHRISTODOULIDES:  Thanks.  Thank a lot.

12:20 P.M. EDT

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Inflation has now fallen to 2.1%—nearly at its 2% target. While critics said we needed a recession to lower inflation, instead inflation has come down while our economy has grown more than 12% over the course of my Administration—the fastest rate of any presidential term in the 21st century. Incomes are up almost $4,000 after accounting for inflation, and gas prices are down to $3.13 per gallon and below $3 in 21 states.

We have more to do. We will keep fighting to lower costs by building millions of new homes, lowering health insurance premiums, and making child care more affordable. Congressional Republicans are fighting for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, while raising costs on families by nearly $4,000 a year with across-the-board tariffs that would cause inflation to skyrocket. They have a cost-raising agenda—we have a cost-cutting agenda.

###

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Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
Raleigh, North Carolina

1:00 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, North Carolina!  (Applause.)  Hello, everyone.

     Can we hear it for Jennifer?  (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Raleigh, are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

 Oh, it’s good to be back in North Carolina.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  Thank you all and all the incredible leaders who are here.  Thank you all, everyone, for taking time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon.  (Applause.)  I thank you.  I thank you. 

And I want to thank my dear friend, Governor Cooper — Roy Cooper — (applause); Attorney General Josh Stein, who will be your next governor — (applause); Representatives Nickel, Ross, Foushee — (applause); and Mayor Baldwin.  I thank you all and all the leaders who are here.

So, Raleigh, early voting, as Jennifer said, has started.  Here in Wake County, you can vote early now through Saturday, November 2nd.  And we need you to vote early, North Carolina — (applause) — because we have just six days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we have work to do.  (Applause.)

But we like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.) 

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  Yes, we will.  And we will win — we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.) 

And we know we have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump, who has been trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We know that is who he is, but, North Carolina, that is not who we are.  (Applause.)  That is not who we are. 

And it is time for a new chapter where we stop with the pointing fingers at each other.  And instead, let us lock arms with one another, knowing we have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  It is time for a new generation of leadership in America, and I am ready with you.  I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

And, North Carolina, you know, I’ve been here many, many times over the years.  And you know this: I am not afraid of tough fights.  (Applause.) 

For decades as a prosecutor and as the top law enforcement officer of our biggest state, I won fights against big banks that ripped off homeowners — (applause); against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students — (applause); against predators who abused women and children; against cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings.  And if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.) 

And, look, we know who Donald Trump is.  This is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and out for unchecked power. 

In less than 90 days, either he or I will be in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you. 

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here is the thing.  There are many big differences between he and I, but I would say a major contrast is this: If he is elected, on day one, Donald Trump will walk into that office with an enemies list. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list — (applause) — full of priorities about what I will get done for you, the American people.   (Applause.) 

And at the top of my list is bringing down your cost of living.  (Applause.)  That will be my focus every single day as president.  I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans — (applause); enact the first-ever federal ban on price gouging on groceries — (applause); and fight to make sure that hardworking Americans can actually afford a place to live.  (Applause.)

And if you are caring for an elderly parent, my plan will cover the cost of home care under Medicare — (applause) — so that seniors can get the help and care they need to stay in their own homes.  (Applause.)

And my plan will lower the cost of childcare, cut taxes for small businesses, and lower health care costs, because I believe health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

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

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, he will pay for it with a 20 percent Trump national sales tax on everyday basic necessities, which will cost the average American family nearly $4,000 more a year. 

On top of that, you will pay even more if Donald Trump finally gets his way and ends the Affordable Care Act, which will throw — if he were to win — which would throw millions of Americans off their health insurance and take us back to when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions. 

You remember what that was like? 

Well, we are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are not going back.  We’re not going back.

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

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

And we all remember how we got here.  Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade.  They did. 

And now in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, including in North Carolina and every state in the South except Virginia.  Think about that.  Many with no exceptions even for rape and incest, which is immoral.

And Donald Trump — understand, he’s not done.  He would ban abortion nationwide.  He would restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and force states to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Just google Project 2025.  Just google it.  Read the plans yourself. 

And let us agree, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be making that decision for you.  (Applause.)  Not the government. 

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

So, North Carolina, I am asking for your vote.  (Applause.)  I am asking for your vote.

And here is my pledge to you.  As your president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  (Applause.)

I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.) 

And I pledge to you, I will listen to experts. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I will listen to those impacted by the decisions I make and to people who disagree with me. 

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and importantly —

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

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and, Raleigh —

     Q    Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  We’re fighting — hey, everybody. 

     Q    Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay, you know — see, this is the thing, because we know we’re actually fighting for our democracy.  (Applause.)

And unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy.  (Applause.)  He wants to put them in jail.  I’ll give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to be a president for all Americans and to always put country above party and self.

So, North Carolina, it all comes down to this.  We are here together because we love our country.  (Applause.)  That’s why we are here.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism to fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America.  (Applause.)

     And I have — and I have always believed in our nation’s —

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  And like all of us here, I have always believed in our nation’s promise, because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  (Applause.)  My parents — my parents would take me to marches, when I was in a stroller, where people of every walk of life came together to fight for the ideals of freedom and opportunity. 

I’ve lived the promise of America.  (Applause.)  I saw — I saw — I saw how hard my mother worked to give her daughters the same chances our country gave her.  Growing up, I was blessed to have family by blood and family by love — (applause) — who instilled in me the values that have always defined our nation best — values like community, compassion, and faith. 

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

I’ve lived the promise of America, and I see — (applause) — and I see the promise in all of you — in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom — (applause); in the men who support them — (applause); in Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution of the United States before party.

I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  Let me see you.  (Applause.)  I love you guys, because you are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)

You, young leaders — you’ve only known the climate crisis and are leading the charge to protect our planet and our future.  You, young leaders, who grew up with active shooter drills, who are trying to keep our schools safe.  You, who have known fewer rights than your mothers and grandmothers and are standing up to fight for freedom to make your own decisions about your own bodies. 

None of this for you, young leaders, is theoretical.  This is not theoretical for you.  It is not political for you.  For our young leaders, this is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your power, and I am so proud of you.  (Applause.)

Can we applaud all of our first-time voters and young leaders who are here?  (Applause.)  Let’s applaud them.

See?  Our future is bright.  I’m telling you: Our future is bright.  (Applause.)

So, North Carolina, we have six days to get this done — (applause) — and no one can sit on the sidelines.  So, let’s spend the next six days so that when we look back at these six days, we will know we did everything we could.

So, right now, it’s time to go out from here and knock on some doors — (applause) — time to text and call some voters, time to reach out to family and friends and classmates and coworkers and neighbors.

And as we do, let us please be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us please be intentional about building coalitions.  Because through all of that, we strengthen our nation, because we know and will always remember the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)

And we are all in this together.  So, remember, your vote is your voice and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, North Carolina, I then ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

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

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

     And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.  (Applause.)

     God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

                             END                1:18 P.M. EDT

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