Whitehouse.gov Feed

Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak, Michigan

4:31 P.M. EDT

MS. SHRIVER:  Okay.  Here we go.  Sit back.  We’ve got 40 — 40 minutes, and we’re going to move quick.  Okay?

So, I want this to be like a kitchen table.  Like, just think that we’re sitting around the kitchen table and we’re jamming about all kinds of stuff.  That’s the feeling I want to have at this —

     MS. CHENEY:  This is like a Kennedy family kitchen table.

     MS. SHRIVER:  It — yeah.  (Laughter.)

     MS. CHENEY:  Most people don’t have this many, you know?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s good.  That’s good.

MS. SHRIVER:  That’s right.  It’s raucous.  It’s — it’s hot, but it’s fun.  That’s what it’s going to be like. 

So, this is — I was saying before both of you walked out, this is historic — so I hope everybody takes this in for a minute — to have a leader of the Republican Party and the vice president of the United States.  (Applause.) 

So, let me begin with you, Madam Vice President.  Did you ever think in your wildest dreams that you would be running for president alongside Liz Cheney, who would be advocating for you, campaigning for you — a member of a opposing party putting herself on the line for you?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, let me just start by thanking everyone.  Thank you all for taking time out of your busy lives to be here and have this conversation. 

And I think we are all here together because we have many things in common.  First and foremost, we love our country.  We love our country.  (Applause.) 

You know, so, Maria, perhaps not, but — (laughter).

MS. SHRIVER:  Perhaps.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Perhaps not. 

But let me say this.  So, you mentioned, you know, my background.  So, I started my career as a prosecutor, and most of my career has been spent outside of Washington, D.C., not in Washington, D.C.  And for most of my career, let me just tell you, I never once asked a victim of crime, a witness, “Are you a Democrat, or are you a Republican?”  Never.  It never would have even occurred to me to ask that.  What I did ask everyone: “Are you okay?” 

And when I think, then, about what is at stake in this election, I think that’s the biggest question.  And it is a moment where, born out of our love of our country, born out of, for me, having taken the oath of office to the Constitution of the United ta- — States at least six times, I believe what is at stake in this election is so fundamental for us as Americans.  And it is about: Do we take seriously the importance of a president who obeys the oath to be loyal to the Constitution of the United States?  Do we prioritize a president of the United States who cares about rule of law, much less the spirit with which they approach this most powerful position? 

There’s so much about this last era — when I talk about “turn the page,” that’s what I’m referring to, like the last decade — that has been about some powerful forces suggesting that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down instead of what I think most of us believe, regardless of your party affiliation, that the real measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.

And — (applause) — and so, for that reason, I’m not surprised that Liz Cheney and I are on the same stage 15 days before the election.  (Applause.)  You know?

MS. SHRIVER:  Okay.  Well, maybe you’re not surprised, but I’m surprised.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)

MS. SHRIVER:  And I think a lot of people are surprised.  So, I want to know: Are you surprised?  Are you surprised that you’re out here campaigning for a Democrat, campaigning for Kamala Harris, against the party that you’ve been a part of your entire life?

MS. CHENEY:  You know, what I would say, first of all, is we all know — everyone who watched January 6th knows, you know, what Donald Trump is willing to do.  He lost the election, he tried to overturn it and seize power, and then he sat in his dining room and he watched the attack on television.  He watched it.  People pleaded with him to tell the mob to leave, and he wouldn’t.  And he watched law enforcement officers be brutally beaten.  He watched it. 

That’s a depravity that, to me and — and, you know, I think to anyone who’s taken the oath of office, makes someone absolutely unfit ever to be president again.

Now — (applause) — I — I could have just said, you know, I’m going to do everything I can to work against Donald Trump, and there are a lot of Republicans who have said that.

MS. SHRIVER:  Yes.

MS. CHENEY:  I have decided — and I am very proud and I’m honored to have made the decision — to endorse Vice President Harris.  (Applause.) 

And — and I have gotten to spend time with Vice President Harris.  I have had the chance to talk with her about how important it is that we have two strong parties in our country, about the kind of president that I know she’ll be. 

And I think all of us — it doesn’t matter what party you’re in — we all know this is a good and an honorable and a great nation, and we have to have leaders — you might say, “I’m not going to agree on every issue” — but we have to have leaders who take that seriously.  We have to have leaders who are going to be sincere. 

And — and as a mother, I want my children to know that there is someone sitting in the Oval Office that they can look up to, someone who can be a role model.  And I’m incredibly proud and I know that Vice President Harris will be that.  (Applause.)

MS. SHRIVER:  Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and, Maria, let me just add one thing also, because it bears repeating.  I have seen a lot of Republicans go up to Liz Cheney and thank her.  And they may not be doing it publicly — they may not be doing it publicly, because I think she has shown, to your point, extraordinary courage, especially in this environment, post January 6th, where there’s something — an undercurrent that is violent in terms of the language and the tenor. 

And for her to show the courage she has shown is extraordinary.  But she’s — I’ve seen Republicans come up to her and — and I — from my vantage point, she’s actually not alone.  (Applause.)

MS. SHRIVER:  And so, I want to talk about that, because there are a lot of people who are scared.  Scared to vote —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. SHRIVER:  — for you.  Scared about the environment.  Scared to talk about politics. 

How scary was it for you, personally, to make this decision?  What has been the personal cost for you to do so?

MS. CHENEY:  It — it was not — it wasn’t scary at all, in terms of making this decision, because when I look at the — the nature of the threat that Donald Trump poses and — and, look, Donald Trump is doing everything he can to try to get people to forget about what he did — what he did on January 6th. 

And — and when you think about that level of instability, the level of erratic decision-making, the misogyny, that’s not someone that you can entrust with the power of the Oval Office. 

And so, I — I think that we are facing a — a choice in this election.  It’s not about party; it’s about right and wrong. 

And — and I certainly have many Republicans who will say to me, “I can’t be public.”  They do worry about a whole range of things —

MS. SHRIVER:  Right.

MS. CHENEY:  — including violence.  But — but they’ll do the right thing. 

And I would just remind people: If you’re at all concerned, you can vote your conscience and not ever have to say a word to anybody.  (Applause.)  And there will be millions of Republicans who do that on November 5th — vote for Vice President Harris.

MS. SHRIVER:  Yes.

I — I love that you said you weren’t scared at all, because most people will talk today about “I’m afraid to say anything on social media.”  “I’m afraid to speak in my place of worship.”  “I’m aprai- — afraid to speak where I work.”  “I’m afraid.” 

How are you not afraid?

MS. CHENEY:  Well, I think that — that the point you’re making is a really important one.  Think about what’s happened in our country, the level of vicious, vitriolic attack. 

You know, when — when Donald Trump says that his political opponents are the enemy within and when he contemplates deploying force against them, the response that we all have should not be to be so afraid we don’t act.  It should be: Vote him out.  Defeat him.  Defeat him.  Vote for Vice President Harris.  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And, Maria, I’m going to add to that.

MS. SHRIVER:  Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I — I would add to that an additional point, which is — and don’t think it’s a sick sense of humor and relegate it to simply being that.  You know, I’ve said many times, I do believe Donald Trump to be an unserious man, but the consequences of him ever being in the White House again are brutally serious.

And — and take it from the people who know him best: his former chief of staff when he was president; two former Defense secretaries; his national security advisor; and, of course, his vice president, who have all in one way or another used the word that he is “unfit” to be president again and is dangerous. 

Listen to the report that — what his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a general, said about him: that he is “fascist to the core.” 

And these are people who were in his administration, who worked closely with him in the Oval Office and the Situation Room. 

And so, I would caution us also — you know, because some people find it humorous what he says and — and think it’s just silly.  But understand how brutally serious it is.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Lock him up!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, the courts will take care of that.  We’ll take care of November, yes.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  We’ll take care of November. 

But it is brutally serious, because to — to the congresswoman’s point, anyone has — who has openly said, as he has, that he would terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States — never again.  (Applause.)

MS. SHRIVER:  So, Madam Vice President, I wanted to ask you — several people that I talked to in preparation for this — when I asked them, they said, “Well, I — I want to vote for the vice president, but I just don’t feel like I know her.  I don’t know enough about her.  I see the ads, but I don’t have a feel for her.”  What are three things you can tell this audience about you that aren’t in your ads, that people aren’t telling people on the robocalls, that perhaps they just wouldn’t know that might give them a feeling for who you are as a woman?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  How much time do we have?  (Laughter.)

MS. SHRIVER:  We’re at the kitchen table. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I — I have lived a full life.  (Laughter.)

I am a wife.  I am a mother.  I am a sister.  I am a godmother.  I love to cook. 

I started my career as a prosecutor, in large part — there are many reasons but one very fundamental is, when I was young, one of my best friends in high school, I learned, was being molested by her stepfather.  And I told her, when I learned, she had to come live with us.  I talked to my mother about it.  “Of course, she has to come live with us,” and she did.  And I decided I wanted to take on a career and a life that was about protecting the most vulnerable. 

I served as attorney general of California two terms.  I was the — the top law enforcement officer of the biggest state in the country.  And doing that work, it included prosecuting transnational criminal organizations for the trafficking of guns, drugs, and human beings.  I did the work of taking on the big banks during the foreclosure crisis and delivered $20 billion for homeowners who had been targeted with predatory lending practices.  (Applause.)  I took on the big pharmaceutical companies on behalf of consumers.

As vice president of the United States, my priorities have been many, including, to your point, the work that you and I have done over the years focusing on women’s health.  One of my priorities is — has been maternal mortality. 

But I — I have only had one client in my career: the people.  And my belief is that there is great nobility in public service if one understands that they hold the office in the public trust.  It is not about personal power.  It is about what you can do that lifts up the condition of people. 

And there is so much about how I think about my responsibility, and I am here to ask for your vote — is that I do — I intend to be a president for all Americans, understanding that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us. 

And this era that was kind of initiated by Donald Trump has not only been exhausting, it has been harmful to us as a nation.  The notion that a president of the United States would encourage Americans to point fingers at each other, that — that there would be a suggestion that we are a divided country, that — instead of knowing we have so much more in common than what separates us.

I have, as vice president, met over 150 world leaders: presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings.  My most recent overseas trips as vice president — which were relatively close to, then, the election — our allies have expressed real concern. 

I’ve shared this before, but, you know, when we walk in a room representing the United States of America, we should walk in that room, especially leaders, chin up, shoulders back, knowing that we have the self-appointed and earned authority to talk about the importance of democracy and rule of law. 

But the thing about being a role model — it’s all role models who are here — people watch what you do to see if it matches up to what you say.  People around the world are watching this election, I promise you.  And my — one fear I have is I hope and I pray that we, the American people, understand not only what is at stake for us in this election but how much we mean to the rest of the world. 

     There is so much at stake in this election.

     MS. SHRIVER:  Liz Cheney, tell us real quick — I want to get to our first question.  But you’ve been traveling with the vice president.  You’ve been working with her.  You’ve been spending human time with her.  Tell the audience what you see that perhaps, you know, the camera doesn’t get or the ads don’t get so that they can get a sense of her that you have. 

     MS. CHENEY:  Well, I — I think that what I can tell you is that what the vice president is saying about wanting to be a president for all Americans, caring deeply about this country, those are things that — that come across very, very clearly and very directly. 

     And — and, look, I — I’m a conservative.  The very first campaign I ever volunteered in was for President Gerald Ford in 1976, and — and ever since then, I have been voting for Republicans.  I’ve never voted for a Democrat.  And —

     MS. SHRIVER:  Wow.

     MS. CHENEY:  And so, the — the fact that — that I — I believe so strongly that in this election — in this election, we need to elect the person who is the responsible adult — (laughter and applause) — and — and we need —

     And — and there is a lot — both parties do it.  There is a lot of vilification that goes on.

     MS. SHRIVER:  Yeah.

     MS. CHENEY:  And — and I think it’s really important for people to — to think very carefully about the power that we’re going to invest in the president of the United States and what it would mean to — to give that power to Donald Trump. 

     Don’t take my word for who he is.  Listen to him every day.  Look at what he did.  Remember that the people, as the vice president said, who are opposing him are the people who know him best, the people who worked most closely with him. 

     And so, I would just say I — I know that the vice president has had the range of experience, has — as vice president, as senator, as attorney general of California.  She is supremely qualified to be president of the United States.  I think there — there — sometimes there are some men who suggest that she’s not.  But if you look at her qualifications, there’s no question.  And that she’s somebody that I know I can count on who will put the good of this country first, there’s just no question.  (Applause.)

     MS. SHRIVER:  Okay.  I want to go — I want to go over here to Cecelia.  Cecelia Borland, can you stand up?  You have a question.

     Cecelia grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, which was a Republican stronghold as she grew up.  She now lives with her husband.  They’re raising two children in Berkley, Michigan, and she’s here with a question for the vice president.

     Q    Thank you both for coming to Michigan today for this important event.  I’d like to start by saying, personally, thank you, Representative Cheney, for — to you and your father for exemplifying putting country over party.  (Applause.) 

     And, Madam Vice President, I hope you had a wonderful birthday yesterday. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughter.)  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

     Q    From the shootings at Oxford High School to my alma mater, Michigan State University, to an attack at a kid’s splash pad this summer just a few miles away from here, the issue of gun violence hits very close to home for our community. 

     Just yesterday, I learned from our school district that my preschooler will be going through his first active shooter drill.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

     Q    As a gun violence survivor and mother of two young children, the issue of gun violence and the safety of my children in their schools and in our community is my top priority.

     Madam Vice President, if you are elected president and there is a Republican majority in Congress, how will you work with them to make impactful and immediate progress around gun violence, especially in our children’s schools?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.  Thank you —

     MS. SHRIVER:  Thank you.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — Cecelia.  And thank you and — for your courage to speak up about this.

     So — well, we have done it, actually, in the last four years.  We had a bipartisan group of — of folks in Congress who came together for the Safer Communities Act, which is the first meaningful piece of gun safety legislation in 30 years.  And so, it’s a good step, and it really does tell us that we have a will within the United States Congress to work in a bipartisan way.  And — and then-Congresswoman Cheney was one of those Republicans that actually voted for it. 

     I — this is how I think of the issue.  And it is through the — the lens of many experiences, including act- — I’m so sorry about your kids going through active shooter drills.  It’s — our kids did.  It’s traumatic that our children — you know, growing up, I’ll speak for myself, we had fire drills.  Right?

     Our children are now learning how to keep themselves safe if there’s an active shooter at their school. 

     I did a tour last year of — of colleges — with college-aged kids, so I also did some trade schools.  And I would ask the room — the auditorium would be packed — college-age kids — and I’d ask them, “Raise your hand if at any point between kindergarten and 12th grade you had to endure an active shooter drill.”  Almost every hand went up. 

     Our kids are growing up where they are learning that they may be unsafe in the classroom where they should be absorbing the wonders of the world. 

     One kid said to me, “Yeah” — we were talking about this — and said to me, “Yeah, that’s why I don’t like going to fifth period.”  I said, “Why, sweetheart?  Why don’t you like going to fifth period?”  “Because in that classroom, there’s no closet,” in which to hide. 

     So, we — when we think of this issue, we must also consider the trauma that is the trauma of — the direct trauma for those who have been directly affected by gun violence, including that to our kids who are in schools across our country doing this — not to mention their teachers, who want to teach and not also have to worry about will they be able to physically protect a child from a bullet.

     Here’s how I think about it in terms of the macro point.  We have been pushing, as a country, I think, a false choice that suggests you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away.  And that’s a false choice. 

     I’m in favor of the Second Amendment.  I have talked about the fact both Tim Walz and I are gun owners.  I also believe we need reasonable gun safety laws, assault weapons bans, red flag laws, universal background checks.  (Applause.)  And — and reports say that the majority of NRA members agree on, for example, universal background checks. 

     What is a universal background check?  It’s just common sense.  Here’s what it is: You just might want to know before someone can buy a lethal weapon whether they’ve been found by a court to be a danger to themselves or others.  You just might want to know.  It’s common sense.  (Applause.)  We need commonsense gun safety laws. 

     And I will continue — I’ve done it throughout my career — work with all of our colleagues across the aisle.  And I know that we can make progress. 

     But this is not — I’m not trying to take anybody’s guns away from them.  But we need reasonable gun safety laws.

     MS. SHRIVER:  Okay.  I want to come back to the issue of public safety in a minute.  But first we want to go to Martin.  Thank you, Cecelia, very much.  Martin Howrylak.  He’s a former Republican member of the Michigan House of Representatives, and he’s here with a question about national security.

     Q    Well, thank both of you for being here this afternoon.  I really appreciate your coming to the state of Michigan to — to be here.  I would like to ask: What can the U.S. do politically, economically, or militarily to deter Russia from continuing its war on the independent nation of Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening our own U.S. security interests?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Martin. 

     MS. SHRIVER:  Go ahead.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I was actually in Munich at the Munich Security Conference delivering a speech when I first met with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, and it was just days before Russia invaded. 

     I’ve now met with President Zelenskyy, I think, seven times, because the United States has rightly taken a position as a leader — a global leader on international rules and norms — that we must stand in support of one of the most important international rules and norms, which is the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, the importance of standing strong in opposition to the notion that, in this case, Russia would attempt to change borders by force, to invade another nation — a sovereign nation by force. 

     And sadly, there is a huge difference between my opponent and me on this very fundamental issue. 

     Back to the conversation about — there was a time when we used to — there was a phrase that I’ll paraphrase that, basically, politics ends at the — at the sea line, at the — at the — you know, at the — the boundaries of our country, that there are certain things — in particular, the matters of national security — where it’s not about partisanship; it’s about where should America stand in terms of supporting our allies and standing for certain principles.

     I’ll — I’ll give you, as a — as a point of reference for me in terms of how I feel about this, on the partisan issue.  

     I — for the four years that I was in the United States Senate, my favorite committee was the Senate Intelligence Committee.  And I served on that committee, and we would meet in a room that’s called a SCIF.  And it’s — it’s basically a — (laughs) — it’s a very secure room.  No press, with all due respect, is allowed in.  No cameras.  Everyone has to leave their cell phone outside. 

     It’s a bipartisan committee, and we would go in that room and receive classified information from America’s intelligence community, sometimes our military leaders, about hot spots around the world and threats to our national security.  And when we went in that room — and this is why it was my favorite committee — people would take off their suit jacket, roll up their sleeves, have a cup of coffee on the table.  And we weren’t Democrats or Republicans; we were Americans. 

     And that is so important on a number of issues we are discussing this afternoon but, in particular, on national security. 

     My opponent, however, has made it a thing of his to admire dictators and autocrats around the world.  He exchanged love letters with Kim Jong Un.  Remember that?  He has openly praised the president of Russia. 

     Most recently, the report is, in the height of COVID — remember everyone was scrambling to get their hands on COVID tests?  Remember when Americans were dying by the hundreds every day?  And Donald Trump secretly sent COVID tests to the president of Russia for his personal use. 

     He has said — Donald Trump — “I will solve the matter of Ukraine and Russia in a day.”  Read through and understand what he is saying.  He would surrender.  He would have Ukraine surrender its fight against an aggressor violating its sovereignty. 

     If Donald Trump were president, Vladimir Putin will be sitting in Kyiv.  And understand what that would mean for America and our standing around the world. 

     But thankfully, there has been bipartisan support — and to your point of what — where you stand — on this very fundamental issue.  But this is a — this is a very vivid example of what is at stake in this election.  Because Donald Trump has been very clear: He would give away the shop.  He has been manipulated and is so clearly able to be manipulated by favor and flattery, including from dictators and autocrats around the world. 

     And America knows that that is not how we stand.  That is not how we fight.  We fight in favor of our strength and our role as a leader in bringing the Allies together and standing for foundational and fundamental principles.

     MS. SHRIVER:  Congressman Cheney — (applause) — I know, kind of, the issue of national security is one of the big reasons you’re here and supporting the vice president.  Can you expand on that answer and add your thoughts to it?

     MS. CHENEY:  Yeah.  You know, I think that if — if you look at where the Republican Party is today, there’s been a really dangerous embrace of isolationism, a dangerous embrace of tyrants. 

     The president, you know, even just today, he heaps praise on the world’s most evil people while he attacks, you know, with venom, his political opponents here at home. 

     And, you know, the — the reality is that since the end of World War II, America has led.  And we’ve led — and that has been necessary to defend our freedom.  And we can’t do it by ourselves, though.  We need our allies. 

     And when Donald Trump says that he’s going to withdraw from NATO, when he invites Vladimir Putin to invade NATO, when he suggests that it is Zelenskyy’s fault that Ukraine was invaded, I mean that is — that i- —

     For anybody who is a Republican who is thinking that, you know, they might vote for Donald Trump because of national security policy, I ask you, please, please study his national security policy.  Not only is it not Republican, it’s dangerous.  And without allies, America will find our very freedom and security challenged and threatened. 

     And one final point on this: Don’t think that Congress can stop him. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

     MS. CHENEY:  People say, “Well, you know what, he can’t really do the worst, you know, because Congress will step in.”  All he has to do is what he’s doing — is say, “I won’t fulfill our NATO treaty obligations,” and — and NATO begins to unravel. 

     So, it is — it is an incredibly dangerous thing to think about a foreign policy, a national security policy led by somebody who is — is as unstable as Donald Trump is.  And it’s a risk we just simply can’t take as a nation. 

     MS. SHRIVER:  Thank you.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I’m going to add for emphasis that — let’s also be clear about on the subject, specifically of Ukraine, Donald Trump’s approach would be to surrender.  Understand what that would mean.  That is signaling to the president of Russia he can get away with what he has done. 

Understand — look at the map — Poland would be next.  NATO, our Allies, are — the reason that they have been so thankful for the position of strength we have taken in bringing the Allies together is because they are fully aware of and remember — to the congresswoman’s point — World War II.  Remember, this — this concept of isolation — we were once there as a nation, and then Pearl Harbor happened. 

Let’s remember recent history.  Europe remembers it well.  We — then when we got attacked, Pearl Harbor, we jumped in, and it is because America jumped in that we were ultimately able to win that war, and it should be a constant reminder to us — we have to remember history — that isolationism, which is exactly what Donald Trump is pushing — pull out of NATO, abandon our friends — isolationism is not insulation.  It is not insulation.  It will not insulate us from harm in terms of our national security. 

So, I say that to emphasize a point that the congresswoman made, and the other point I’d make is also check out where he’s been on how he thinks about America’s military and service members.  One of the great, great American heroes, a prisoner of war, John McCain.  Remember how he talked about John McCain?  He said he didn’t like him because he got caught. 

You look — he’s called members of our military “suckers” and “losers.”  And then look at how some of the highest-ranking members of our military, including what I mentioned earlier, the chairman — the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a dedicated member, leader in our mil- — in America’s military, how he has assessed Donald Trump — fascism “to his core.”

So, there we are.

MS. SHRIVER:  There are your talking points for the kitchen table.  (Applause.)

Our final question is from Courtney.  Courtney, can you stand?  Courtney is — Courtney Gabbara Agrusa is a wife, a mom, an attorney, and she’s a proud Chaldean, and she is here with a question.  Courtney.

Q    Thank you so much.  Good evening, Madam Vice President Harris and Representative Cheney.  My name is Courtney Gabbara Agrusa, and I am a first-generation Chaldean American.  Chaldeans are Indigenous Iraqis who are Catholic, and we are predominantly in the metro Detroit area.  Chaldeans are a very close-knit community, but the recent political climate has really begun to divide us. 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    While I know that you have discussed several bipartisan proposals over the course of your campaign, what would you say to people like myself who are part of these traditionally conservative communities who want to move forward, but are feeling the pref- — the pressures of the political divide?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  And I’ve actually met with — with members and leaders in the Chaldean community, and thank you for being here. 

You know, I think that there is something at stake that is about core values, as well as what is at stake in terms of the risk and the danger.  And I would offer you an example of what I think would be an important issue that would affect the Chaldean community and all Americans, for example, the issue of — of how we think about health care in America. 

So, I know enough about the culture and to know that it is reflective of who we are as Americans in general.  We respect our elders; we take care of them.  So, I will share with you a specific proposal that is an extension of how I think about things. 

I — actually a personal story, I took care of my mother when she was sick.  And for anyone taking care of or who has taken care of an elder relative, you know what that is.  It’s about trying to cook something they feel like eating.  It is trying to find clothes that don’t irritate their skin or help them put on a sweater.  It’s about trying to figure out something you can say that will bring a smile to their face or make them laugh.  It’s about dignity. 

And we now have, in particular in our country, a lot of people doing that and also raising young kids.  We call them the sandwich generation, right in the middle.  It’s a lot.  And the way the system currently works — well, God willing, you may have enough resources, you can hire somebody to come in and help. 

If not, you may have to spend down all of your savings to be able to qualify for Medicaid or you may have to quit your job to be able to do what you need to do to take care of your children and take care of your relative — your older relative.  That’s just not right, and it’s not fair. 

So, part of my proposal and the plan is that we’re going to now reconfigure so that Medicare covers home health care for our seniors, right?  It’s about dignity.  (Applause.)

So, in addition to everything that we’ve discussed already about national security, what is at stake — something like this, because I absolutely do believe America is ready for a new generation of leadership that is taking on issues clear-eyed about what is going on that affects everybody — it doesn’t matter their political party; issues that are fundamentally about dignity, also about economic issues; and taking it on in a way that we relieve the American people of the burdens that get in the way of productivity and a certain quality of life.  And this is one example of that. 

I believe we need to have an economy that I call an opportunity economy, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive — not just get by but get ahead. 

And this is one example I would offer under the broader point, which is about, let’s move forward, taking on problems from a commonsense approach that is about just practical work. 

Look, I am a capitalist.  I am a pragmatic capitalist.  I will work as I have with the private sector.  I believe we have to invest in America’s economy and in America’s industry and America’s entrepreneurs, and we can, at the same time, take care of those that are the most in need of just a little support to be able to not just get by but get ahead.

MS. SHRIVER:  Thank you, Courtney. 

Liz, I just want to — we have two minutes left — (applause) — and when you hear the phrase a “new way forward,” when you hear “country over party,” what does that mean to you? 

We’re two weeks out, what does a new way forward mean for families like everybody here, for your children, my children, everybody’s children, young men?

MS. CHENEY:  Yeah, I —

MS. SHRIVER:  What is it like?

MS. CHENEY:  I think that, you know, we’re — we’re at a moment now where, when you think about America and — and the beacon of hope that we have been for so many years for so many communities, also how tremendously enriched we have been by communities — immigrants who want to come here and build a life, all of that depends upon fundamentally defending the rule of law, fundamentally defending our Constitution.  That’s — that’s what makes all of our opportunity and our freedom possible.

And — and at the same time that we’re that beacon for the world, you know, it’s also because — because we’re a good nation —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. CHENEY:  — and because you know when — when you — when you look at who our leader is going to be, what — what Donald Trump represents is — is, in many ways, just cruel and — and not — not the kind of dignity and — and the kind of person that we all want to be able to look up to. 

But — but what I would say is that if people are uncertain, if people are thinking, “Well, you know, I’m a conservative, I don’t know that I can support Vice President Harris,” I would say I don’t know if anybody is more conservative than I am.  (Laughter.)  And — and I understand the most conservative value there is is to defend the Constitution.  And if we don’t come together to do that then — (applause) —

And so, just to — to finish that, I would say, to me, a new way forward is this: It’s what you’re seeing up here.  It’s having a president who will listen, having a president who will say, “I’m not, you know, necessarily sure I agree with you on this issue or that issue, but let’s talk about it.”

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. CHENEY:  “Why do you want, you know, that policy?  Why do you believe that?”  Someone who is willing to honor and respect all perspectives and points of views.  And there’s only one candidate in this race who does that, and that’s Vice President Harris.  (Applause.)

MS. SHRIVER:  In fact, a lot of polling of undecided voters who call themselves “the exhausted majority” said, I just want leaders who listen —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. SHRIVER:  — to one another.  I just want leaders who speak respectfully to one another.  I want to see decency.  I want to see people I can look up to.  And, unfortunately, that’s considered a new way forward as the — as Representative Cheney —

MS. CHENEY:  Yeah, let’s do that.  Let’s do that. 

MS. SHRIVER:  Yeah, let’s do that.

MS. CHENEY:  Yeah, let’s do that. 

MS. SHRIVER:  Let’s make that a way forward. 

The final word, Madam Vice President.  You know, everybody I talked to says, you know, “I have to turn off the news.  I can’t read anything.  I’m meditating.  I’m doing yoga.  I’m doing — I’m so anxious.  I just don’t even know.  I’m eating gummies.”  All kinds of things, you know?  (Laughter.) 

What are you doing?  What are you doing —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Not eating gummies.  (Laughter and applause.)

MS. SHRIVER:  Okay, we got that clear.  But how do you — I mean, how do you handle this — the anxiety, the stress, the turmoil?  Everybody is freaked out.  I — I talked to the gentleman up there, and he’s like, “I’m so scared.” 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

MS. SHRIVER:  A woman was like, “I’m so anxious.  I can’t sleep.”  Do you sleep?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know, I wake up in the middle of the night usually these days, to be honest with you, but I work out every morning.  I — I think that’s really important to just kind of — you know, mind, body, and spirit. 

But let me — let me just say this —

MS. SHRIVER:  No, say more about that.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we — but I —

MS. SHRIVER:  Say more.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — but — I will.  I work out.  I try to eat well.  You know, I love my family, and I make sure that I talk to the kids and my husband every day.  We’ve been — Doug and I’ve been kind of tr- — you know, traveling.  We’re trying to cover a lot of ground, so we’re not with each other every day these days, but my family grounds me in every way. 

But let me, if I can just speak to the — what people are feeling.  You — we cannot despair.  We cannot despair.  You know, the nature of a democracy is such that I think there’s a duality. 

On the one hand, there’s an incredible strength when our democracy is intact, an incredible strength in what it does to protect the freedoms and rights of its people.  Oh, there’s great strength in that.  And it is very fragile.  It is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.  And so, that’s the moment we’re in. 

And I say, do not despair, because in a democracy, as long as we can keep it — in our democracy, the people, every individual has the power to make a decision about what this will be, and that’s — and so let’s not feel powerless.  Let’s not let the som- — and I get it — overwhelming nature of this all make us feel powerless, because then we have been defeated, and that’s not our character as the American people. 

We are not one to be defeated.  We rise to a moment, and we stand on broad shoulders of people who have fought this fight before for our country.  And in many ways, let us look at the challenge then that we are being presented and not be overwhelmed by it.  The baton is now in our hands to fight for — not against, but for — this country we love. 

That’s what we have the power to do.  So, let’s own that — dare I say, be joyful in what we will do in the process of owning that, which is knowing that we can and will build community and coalitions and remind people that we’re all in this together.  Let’s not let the overwhelming nature of this strip us of our strength. 

That’s how I feel about this.  (Applause.)  You know, that’s how I feel about this.  You know?  Yeah.  

MS. SHRIVER:  So, I want to — I want to thank everybody here.  You heard from the vice president, from Congresswoman Cheney, do not despair.  I think you got a great glimpse into who this woman is, who this woman is, what brings them together, why they’re here, why they want to earn your vote, why they wanted to speak with you today. 

And I want to leave you with this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson that I think speaks to this moment.  It says,

“Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you’re wrong.  There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right.  To map out a course of action and follow it to the end requires great courage.” 

So, I leave you with that.  All of you are courageous people.  Do not despair. 

Thank you so much for spending your time.  Brava.  (Applause.)

                             END                5:18 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris and Liz Cheney at a Campaign Event | Royal Oak, MI appeared first on The White House.

Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak, Michigan

3:59 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Well, we are here in Michigan, just left Pennsylvania.  And then after Michigan, we’ll be on our way to Wisconsin. 

And I will mention a couple of things that have just recently come up — for example, that my opponent, Donald Trump, does not believe we should raise minimum wage.  And I think everyone knows that the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, which means that the person who is working a full day and working full weeks will make $15,000 a year, which is essentially poverty wages. 

So, there is a big difference between Donald Trump and me on a number of issues, including this, where I absolutely believe we must raise minimum wage and that hardworking Americans, whether they’re working at McDonald’s or anywhere else, should have at least the ability to be able to take care of their family and take care of themselves in a way that allows them to actually be able to sustain their needs.

The other issue that has come up recently has been the issue of what we are seeing, again, about Donald Trump just being, frankly, hostile to the whole notion and importance of Social Security.  There are many seniors in our country that Social Security is their only form of income.  And now an independent agency has reviewed Donald Trump’s theory about Social Security and his policies and has indicated that his policy would actually render the Social Security fund empty, essentially, in six years.

Again, if you look at it from minim- — minimum wage to Social Security, Donald Trump clearly does not understand the needs of working people.  With Social Security be- — being rendered insolvent in six years, what that would mean for the seniors of America is catastrophic. 

And then, lastly, on the issue of contraception, I’m very pleased that our administration today announced a rule that would essentially allow folks to get contraception over the counter.  And as we know, my policy is about making sure that Americans have what they need in terms of their reproductive health.  And Donald Trump, you just look at his plan 20- — his Project 2025 would actually restrict access to contraception, which would just contribute to the public health crisis he’s already created.

I’ll take any questions.

AIDE:  We’re going to start with Erica Green at the New York Times.

     Q    Madam President — Vice President, sorry.  Keeps happening.  Could you please speak to your — your messaging today —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sure.

     Q    — particularly as you go through the suburbs?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

     Q    You’re trying to reach swing voters.  Among them are women —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yep.

     Q    — white women who voted for Donald Trump in the last two elections.  Can you talk about your messaging to them and what you’re hoping will break through to them?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, today, I am spending the day with former Congresswoman Liz Cheney.  We are traveling to three states to talk with all Americans about what is at stake in this election, but doing it through the lens of a very important point, that what is at stake in this election is so fundamental that it really does cross partisan lines.

We are talking about whether you will have a president of the United States who takes seriously their duty and their oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  And there is a clear distinction here, which is that I will and he will not, as evidenced by many statements he has made, including his intention to be a dictator on day one, his intention to weaponize the Department of Justice against his political enemies. 

And then you just look at what the people who know him best and worked with him in the Oval Office and the White House have said about him, which is he is unfit to serve and would be dangerous if he were president again.  And he, even by the former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has been called a “fascist to his core.”  I am quoting.

So, what we are talking with folks about today is what I’ve been talking with folks about since I’ve been on the campaign trail these last 70-odd days, which is this is a choice for the American people, and it is a choice between whether we’re going to chart a new way forward that turns the page on the division, the hate, the chaos of Donald Trump. 

But also, and maybe even more fundamentally, do we have a president of the United States who stands behind the seal of the president of the United States taking seriously their oath and their duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States and abide by the rule of law?

And so, I’m out here talking with folks to remind them of what’s at stake.  And I’m very pleased and honored that so many people are showing up to these events to have this conversation, because I think they know, regardless of who they voted for in the last election and the party with which they’re registered to vote, on some issues, we just have to all be Americans and put party aside.

AIDE:  We’re going to go to Colleen at the AP.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi. 

Q    Hi, Madam Vice President.  Do you think that Republican voters — in specific, women voters — will be more likely to vote for you because of the fall of Roe?  And are the Republican votes key to winning the (inaudible) states?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I look at what happened in the midterms and in special elections to guide my thinking about this issue.  And what we saw is, in so-called “red” states and so-called “blue” states, when the issue of the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body is on the ballot, the American people vote for freedom regardless of the party with which they’re registered to vote.

And I do believe it is such a fundamental issue, which is understanding you don’t have to abandon your faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling women what to do with their body.  So, I do believe it is a compelling issue, especially when we consider the fact that, for so many of us, our daughter is going to have fewer rights than their grandmother. 

And America’s strength — one of the attributes of our progress has been the expansion of rights, not the restriction of rights.  And that’s what we’re seeing happen, and it has happened because Donald Trump created this situation when he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.

AIDE:  We have time for one more.  Andrea at Reuters, are you here?

     Q    Yeah.  Hi.  So, Elon Musk is giving away a million dollars a day to voters who sign a petition.  Do you have concerns about that in ter- — in the context of law, you know, the sort of legal framework around elections? 

And secondly, a Reuters investigation has shown something like 300 cases of political violence already in the run-up to the election.  Can you just address what can be done and what the federal government can do to push back against that?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, on the first point, I think people are looking into that.

On the second point —

     Q    When you say “people,” do you mean the U.S. government?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I mean I hear that folks are looking into it, just based on the stuff you all are reporting.  (Laughs.)

On the second point, there should be no place in America where we are seeing political violence.  And, sadly, we have seen, if we just look back to January 6th, when that occurred in a way that was most shocking and brought on because, of course, of Donald Trump, who incited a mob — a violent mob that attacked the United States Capitol, wherein over 140 uniformed law enforcement officers were injured and some were killed and where Donald Trump has still yet to acknowledge the travesty of that day and the political violence that occurred that day.

So, I will say and repeat what I think most people understand: In America, in a democracy, we should have no room for nor should we ever condone any form of political violence.  In a democracy, people will debate, people will disagree, but not resort to violence.  And everyone should speak out about that, including and especially anybody who’s running for president of the United States.

AIDE:  Thank you, Madam Vice President.

     Q    Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Thank you all.

                        END                     4:07 P.M. EDT

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

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thank you to each of the speakers, including the survivors, who preceded me. You are each both humbling and inspiring, and I am deeply grateful to have listened to what you have shared with us.

It is an honor to be here with you at the fourth convening of the Eradicate Hate Global Summit.

Thank you, Brette for your generous words — and thank you for taking on this vital leadership role. 

The Summit has convened thousands of experts and developed multiple innovative approaches – including the “Up End Hate” campaign that empowers young people to prevent violence.  And that is just the most recent example of the impact this solutions-oriented Summit has delivered.    

Sunday, October 27th, will mark the sixth anniversary of the horrific day when a white supremacist who hated Jews and immigrants went to the Tree of Life synagogue here in Pittsburgh and attacked the innocent human beings who were worshipping during morning Shabbat services.

He murdered eleven people that day, robbing the world of their futures. 

For each of them, their loved ones still grieve, and in solidarity we each can say:  May their memories be a blessing.

The phrase is a resonant and powerful one. It invites us all not just to remember those we have lost, but to honor them by continuing to pursue justice and heal our broken world in their names.

Looking at this week’s agenda and each of you in this room, remembering them is indeed proving to be a blessing, by motivating this hard work to translate ideas into action.

In the aftermath of that terrible and tragic day, this community and this city have shown that an act of terror should and can unite us rather than divide us. In the Summit, you have shown the world how you have taken the emotions and prayers that arose and the actions you are undertaking and channeled them into meaningful deeds.

It is in that spirit of moving from hope to action that I come to you today.

I will speak to you about three topics: the threat we face now, the responses we are pursuing to address that threat, and the actions we are taking to reduce that threat in the future.

First, we unfortunately have to acknowledge that current forms of domestic terrorism and hate have fueled a dynamic threat landscape that is even more daunting following the savage Hamas attack on Israel one year ago and its ongoing aftermath.

These threats present a new set of challenges that we must do everything we can to prevent, to disrupt, and to prepare for if they cannot be stopped.  

Indeed, the Biden-Harris Administration’s response to hate and domestic terrorism is outlined in a series of innovative strategies and implementation plans that harness the full force of the Federal government of the United States. 

But critically, they depend on intensive, enduring cooperation with civic, religious, private sector and international partners like you to generate a comprehensive response.

And although it may not feel that way every day, this model is delivering results. I am the first to admit that the challenges are immense, and even growing.  But I also fervently believe that combining our full strengths, we can come together to make a difference. 

The Normalization of Hate and Violence

Let me begin with the threat landscape: As the White House Homeland Security Advisor over the past four years, I have seen firsthand that a fundamental threat to our democracy is the normalization of hate-fueled violence.

Domestic terrorist movements, including racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists, continue to advocate for widespread violence on the premise that it would lead to outcomes they seek, including chaos and societal collapse among other dystopian ends.

These dark minds celebrate attacks in El Paso, Buffalo, Poway, Colorado Springs, Charleston, and yes, just east of here, in Squirrel Hill — as well as numerous attacks abroad that they ascribe to their twisted worldview.

The proliferation of these ideologies online reflects this trend, and its purveyors are reaching a growing number of people, including teenagers and even younger children.

And as this threat has evolved both in the United States and especially online, we have seen its “domestic” dimensions become increasingly global.

Let me give you one example of what I mean.  On September 9th of this year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice arrested and charged two leaders of the Terrorgram Collective in the United States.

These two individuals created a global community of white supremacists to communicate online with like-minded people, disseminate violent propaganda, and encourage physical attacks on minority communities and government officials.

The amplification of hate online has corresponded with a growth in antisemitism and other forms of hate, particularly in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks. 

By just one measure, between October 7th, 2023, and January 30th of this year, the FBI opened over three times more anti-Jewish hate crimes investigations than in the four months prior to the October 7th attacks. I will return to the meaningful outcomes from these investigations in a moment. 

And October 7th has had ramifications beyond the rise in hate. We have observed terrorist groups from across the ideological spectrum seeking to exploit the attack for their own goals. Images and messaging emerging from the conflict are expanding the pool of individuals susceptible to mobilization to violent acts, and causing terrorist groups that previously disdained each other to form common cause.

And these effects are likely to persist long after hostilities cease— and will interact with future flashpoints and activating events, which could drive terrorist attacks against the United States and Israel, as well as against Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and other communities.  

And it is not just terrorist organizations that are of high concern. The behavior of lone actors can have significant ramifications, even when they do not commit mass violence.

For example, in February 2024, a joint investigation between the FBI and Florida authorities led to the arrest of a 17-year-old for swatting—which is the practice of making false reports to 9-1-1 to induce a law enforcement response at a residence or workplace.

Over a two-year span, this particular young person targeted a Florida mosque and hundreds of high schools, historically black colleges and universities, and even the homes of FBI agents.

Swatting distracts and drains valuable law enforcement resources, exposes police to a potentially life-threatening response, and traumatizes citizens, including students and worshippers, who experience these events.

And as if this wasn’t bad enough, it emerged that the young suspect was selling swatting as a service on Telegram— which is another way in which that platform is being exploited for dangerous purposes.

Now, some look at today’s threat landscape and assume the worst, and conclude that there is little if anything that can be done to stop the growth of these threats. 

But I am here today to tell you that, like all of you, we do not see it that way.    

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Strategic Approach

Clearly what I have described is not how we wish our world had evolved. But we have come together here to affirm that we are not powerless in the face of hate and violence.

From day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris have pursued a rigorously calibrated, integrated approach to countering hate and domestic terrorism that is aligned with our values and complements our broader national security interests.

This is built on their core belief that domestic terrorism and hate strike at the very foundation of our democracy.

Indeed, President Biden decided to run for the White House back in 2017 after men with tiki torches emerged from the shadows in Charlottesville spewing the same Antisemitic bile we heard in Germany in the 1930s. 

That’s why, on his first day in office, President Biden directed me to lead a 100-day comprehensive review of U.S. Government efforts to address domestic terrorism.  This resulted in the development and release of the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism in June of 2021.

We went to work immediately on implementing that strategy.  And to complement it, recognizing how critical our partners beyond the Federal government would be to our success, in September of 2022, President Biden hosted the United We Stand Summit to mobilize communities to work with us in advancing an inclusive and bipartisan vision for a more united America and to push back against the growing normalization of hate in our society.

In December of that year, Susan Rice – then the President’s Domestic Policy Advisor – and I launched an initiative to specifically tackle Antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of bias and discrimination.

This led to our releasing, in May 2023, the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism. And we have been working to develop a complementary strategy to address Islamophobia. 

Importantly, our approach not only tackles the threats of today but prepares for emerging and future threats. 

So I want to focus here on three key elements of the strategy: first, our efforts to hold accountable those who engage in hate-fueled violence and hate crimes; second, our efforts to protect vulnerable communities; and third, our efforts to prevent such acts from occurring in the first place.

Accountability Measures

Our Administration has prioritized the use of our legal authorities and tools to expand investigations and prosecutions. 

As a result, from 2020 to 2022, the number of FBI domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism investigations more than doubled to over 2,700. 

In 2022, the Department of Justice also created a specific domestic terrorism unit within its National Security Division to handle these investigations and prosecutions.

And a similar dynamic is occurring in our efforts to address hate crimes. The FBI has published and widely disseminated information about what constitutes a hate crime and how to report them, and reinforced this by conducting over 70 meetings with faith-based organizations since October 7th.

These efforts, combined with the FBI’s tireless work to investigate every lead they receive, have delivered results.  Let me describe a few.  

In November of 2023, a Tampa, Florida, resident was arrested by the FBI for allegedly leaving threatening voicemails at two Jewish organizations in New York.

In January 2024, a Massachusetts man was arrested for threatening to kill members of the Jewish community and bomb places of worship.

And just last month, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against a Pakistani national arrested in Canada who was planning to travel to New York City to attack a Jewish Community Center on the anniversary of October 7th.

Protection Measures

We have also driven efforts to enhance the safety and security of Jewish and other communities targeted for hate and violence. For example, President Biden worked with Congress to secure an additional $400 million for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Nonprofit Security Grant Program in February of this year.

This grant program funds security improvements and training for nonprofits and houses of worship, including campus organizations and community centers.

For example, the same program paid to install cameras and boost other security measures in Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas—actions that the congregation’s Rabbi credited with avoiding loss of life when a terrorist took hostages in the synagogue in January 2022. 

We have also worked in partnership with a wide range of state and local leaders and non-governmental partners to help communities and institutions protect themselves against and prevent hate.

As just one example, this past summer we provided 5,000 campus leaders all across the country with a detailed list of the federal resources available to help them establish safer and more secure learning environments for their students, faculty, and staff.  

We sent Federal experts to campuses, hosted a variety of convenings to discuss challenges and identify solutions, and released updated toolkits to enhance their preparations for the new academic year that began in August.

This effort is ongoing, and the fear and anxiety of those who feel threatened on campuses persists. But it is clear that the resources and toolkits we have shared align with the changes that many campuses have successfully implemented this Fall.  

Prevention

And this brings me to the third element of our response—the actions we are taking now to prevent hate-fueled violence and domestic terrorism in the future, before they occur. 

We know that a complex process brings an individual to pursue targeted violence or terrorism. But we also know that there are behaviors and other signs that people see that are clues that an individual might be trending toward or contemplating an act of targeted violence or terrorism.   

We have elevated the prevention of targeted violence and terrorism as a strategic priority for countering terrorism, antisemitism, and related forms of hate. 

Our goal has been to build a prevention architecture that supports nation-wide state and local efforts to intervene and “offramp” individuals who appear to be moving toward committing acts of targeted violence and terrorism.

At the Federal level, we have surged support to state and local behavioral Threat Assessment and Management, or “TAM” teams as we refer to them.

For example, the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit has embedded specifically trained agents who are called “threat management coordinators” in their field offices and is working to ensure that each of their field offices are participating in the local Threat Assessment and Management teams. Some of these coordinators are here with us today.   

Likewise, the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center recently released a six-step guide for state and local law enforcement about how they can most efficiently establish a TAM team that can assess and intervene with individuals identified as posing a risk of violence.

And there is the DHS Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, which I know is well represented here in the room.  Among their many accomplishments, I want to highlight their work creating and curating the online Prevention Resource Finder, which you can Google at that name—literally a one-stop shop that lists all Federal resources available to help state and local governments prevent acts of targeted violence and terrorism. We recently expanded the website, and it now offers nearly 150 resources.

It’s important to say again here that the Federal government cannot effectively tackle this metastatic challenge alone.

Indeed, all of the evidence shows that prevention is most effective when led by our state and local partners, who are on the ground, embedded in our communities. This is especially true for TAM teams, which often operate at the county or municipal level.

The good news is that we know state and local partners can do this quickly and successfully in partnership with Federal expertise and assistance. Let me give you an example.

In the days and weeks following the appalling May 14th, 2022, domestic terrorist attack at the Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, the state of New York quickly reached out to the Federal Department of Homeland Security and other Federal agencies to explore how to expand existing partnerships and build a statewide prevention effort.

To be clear, this was led by and implemented by the State of New York, but the Federal government offered substantial assistance to the State of New York.

And by 2023, New York had launched a statewide targeted violence prevention strategy that included placing at least one TAM team in every county.

Just two years after the Buffalo attack, New York had established TAM teams in forty-three counties and the City of New York.

In May, New York noted that their TAM teams were collectively intervening in more than one thousand two hundred cases.

And, more important, these TAM teams are saving lives, taking action with respect to certain individuals who were clearly planning acts of targeted violence.  

This is critical, painstaking, lifesaving work, and I am encouraged to see that many more states are responding to our calls to move in this direction.

This is progress, and if we persist, these efforts will reduce violence in our Homeland.  

Closing

In closing, I want to thank each of you for the work you do every day to prevent, to prepare, and to respond to this phenomenon that is tragically impacting so many of our communities and leaving families and neighborhoods devastated. 

Your partnership with us is vital to stopping the normalization of hate-fueled violence that threatens our democracy. 

Again, I want commend the work of this Summit. You are the embodiment of what I have spoken about today.  And there is a real feeling of solidarity in a group like this, and we can and must draw strength from one another.

For a moment, I will take you back to another very dark time in our Nation’s history — the days and weeks after 9/11. Then I had very young children — and to focus them on the positive in a time of terror I would say to them, “look at all the helpers — there are so many people who are helping other people.”

You are the helpers today, the doers, the healers in these times, and your work to scale up prevention efforts – and to mobilize the youth of our country to be a part of the solution to hate – are two of the numerous examples of how the agenda for the coming three days will build a stronger and safer America for all of us, and set an example for the world. 

I salute you for all your commitment, your dedication, and everything you are doing — 

And I will end where I began. While the threats are real and pernicious, we take inspiration from each other and from those we have lost.  

May each of their memories be a blessing – and may our work together light the way to a brighter and more secure future.     

The post Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall for the Eradicate Hate Global Summit | Pittsburgh, PA appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

12:06 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hey, everyone. Thanks for joining. Kirby has a few words here at the top, and then we’ll get started.

MR. KIRBY: Hey, everybody. Hope your week is off to a good start.

Building on the President’s trip to Germany and the solid, constructive discussions he had, not only bilaterally with German leaders, the President and the Chancellor, but also with the leaders of the European Quad on Ukraine, Secretary Austin visited Ukraine today. As I’m sure you saw, he announced that the President signed a new security assistance package, which included more 155 artillery ammunition, as well as 105-millimeter ammunition, HIMARS ammunition, and additional Javelin anti-tank systems.

As the President said as recently as late last month, the United States is going to continue to surge assistance to Ukraine so that it can prevail. Today’s announcement underscores that commitment. It shows our resolve to continue getting Ukraine the support that it needs through January.

Now, yesterday, I would also add, talking about Europe, Moldova held both a presidential election and a national referendum on whether to amend its constitution to support EU membership.

The results today indicate that Moldova has voted in favor of the national referendum on EU membership, which is a historic step forward in Moldova’s European integration. As for the presidential election, President Sandu received more than 42 percent of the vote in the first round, and this will head now to a runoff on November 3rd.

As I warned about last week, Russia has been working actively to undermine Moldova’s election and their European integration. In the past several months, Moscow has dedicated millions of dollars towards these efforts. Now, Russia did not succeed. As the results demonstrate, Moldovan democracy is strong, as is the will and desire of the Moldovan people to advance toward European integration.

The U.S. remains a proud partner of Moldova, and we will continue to stand with them as they endeavor to continue to protect their democracy and, quite frankly, to reach the aspirations of the Moldovan people.

Now, lastly, tomorrow, President Biden will host Prime Minister Robe- — I’m sorry, Robert Golob of the Republic of Slovenia for a conversation in the Oval Office. This is the third Slovenian prime minister to visit the White House and the first since 2006. It comes on the heels of the historic prisoner swap that brought Americans and other human rights activists and political dissidents home from Russian prisons earlier this year.

The two leaders will discuss the full spectrum of pressing issues confronting our two countries, including, of course, ongoing support for Ukraine, energy security and cooperation, and a shared approach to the Western Balkans.

With that, we can take some questions.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our first question will go to Aamer with the AP.

Q Hi. Thank you both. I wanted to ask about these classified documents that went out in the ether, I guess, over — or recently, and that came to light over the weekend. One, were these docs — is it understood whether they were leaked or hacked?

And then secondly on that, how concerned does the episode make the President about the security of classified info, both at the Pentagon and within the intelligence community, particularly since we’re in this moment of the Middle East conflict, the election just weeks away, and a plethora of active foreign interference?

MR. KIRBY: Thanks, Aamer. We’re not exactly sure how these documents found their way into the public domain. I know the Department of Defense is investigating this, and I’m sure that as they work through that, they’ll try to determine the manner in which they did become public. So I’m just not able to answer your question whether it was a leak or a hack at this point. We’ll let the investigation pursue its logical course there.

We’re deeply concerned, and the President remains deeply concerned, about any leakage of classified information into the public domain. That is not supposed to happen, and it’s unacceptable when it does. So he’s deeply concerned about that. And you can rest assured that he will be actively monitoring the progress of the investigative effort to figure out how this happened, and obviously he’ll be very interested in hearing any mitigation measures and recommendations that come as a result of the investigative efforts and how to prevent it from happening again.

Q Is it clear at this point — do you guys believe that — or have any reason to believe that more documents could be forthcoming showing sensitive intelligence?

MR. KIRBY: As we speak today, Aamer, the answer to that question is: No, we don’t have any indication at this point that there’s an expectation that there’ll be additional documents like this finding their way into the public domain.

But — and the “but” here is important — we’re obviously keenly focused on what happened here, learning how it happened, and preventing it from happening again. And in the course of that work, that investigative work, we’re certainly going to keep our antenna up and our eyes open for any potential future disclosures.

But let me just come back to where I started before. At this time, there’s no indication that we have a reason to suspect additional documents of this sort finding its way into the public domain.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Kayla with CNN.

Q Thank you so much. Can you guys hear me?

MR. KIRBY: Yes, ma’am.

Q Okay. Thank you. Admiral, I’m wondering, just on the on the documents question, you know, if there’s been any communication between the U.S. and Israel in the wake of the release of these classified documents, and also, if there’s any expectation by the administration that their release would impact the timing or the scope of any action that Israel would end up taking.

MR. KIRBY: Well, I’ll let the Israelis speak to if, what, how, and when they decide to take additional military action in response to Iran’s October 1st attack. That’s really for them to speak to.

But on your sec- — on your first question, yes, of course, we’ve been in communication with our Israeli counterparts about this public disclosure.

Q And then, on the death of Yahya Sinwar, it’s now been several days, and both the President and Jake Sullivan said last week that that they hoped that it would be seen as an opportunity or an opening for new discussions over a diplomatic resolution. I’m wondering if you could just update us on any conversations regarding a diplomatic outcome in Gaza, and then, in parallel, what you see as the opportunity for any type of ceasefire in Lebanon.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, those are two very different questions.

On Gaza, of course in the wake of Sinwar’s killing, we have had conversations with our Israeli counterparts about what the next steps are here. And we have certainly expressed, as the President did publicly, our strong desire to see what can be done to find a diplomatic path forward here to get the hostages home. That remains a top priority of President Biden. The Israelis understand that that remains a top priority of the President. And again, we’ve had some initial conversations in the wake of Mr. Sinwar’s killing, of course.

I cannot sit here today and tell you that negotiations are about to restart in Doha or Cairo, or anywhere else for that matter. But, yes, we have started to begin to think about it here and had some initial conversations with our Israeli counterparts, as you would expect we would, in the wake of that truly historic news.

On Lebanon, we continue to engage in intensive diplomacy to see what can be done to try to find a path to a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. I think you know — at least, if you don’t know, I guess I’ll tell you — Amos Hochstein is in Beirut, as we speak, to continue those conversations to see what could be in the realm of the possible in terms of trying to find a meaningful ceasefire between those two sides.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Selina with ABC.

Q Hey, John. Thanks so much for doing this. I just wanted to follow up on Kayla’s question a little bit. So, Biden said last Friday that he knows how Israel plans to retaliate to the Iranian attack. So, does the U.S. foresee this disrupting the Israeli operation in any way? And does the President plan to speak with Netanyahu again about this?

MR. KIRBY: I don’t have a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu to preview for you. They’ll speak, as they have and often do, at the appropriate time.

And I’m not going to get any further — I do appreciate the follow up, and I understand it, but I’m certainly not going to get into any public speculation about what an Israeli response could look like if, in fact, they decide to conduct one. That’s truly up to them to decide, and it’s absolutely up to them to speak to it one way or the other, not coming from the United States.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Aurelia with AFP.

Q Hi, and thanks both. I have a question on northern Gaza. Can you update us on the amount of aid that’s going in? Are you satisfied with the steps that the Israelis have taken? Or do you, you know, expect them to take more steps to get more aid into this territory?

MR. KIRBY: Well, the short answer to your question really is: Of course, we want more done. We need to see much more aid getting into Gaza. You mentioned the north. I would note that over the last few days to a week there’s been — more than 120 trucks have made it into northern Gaza, which is a good thing. It’s not enough, but it’s a good thing. We also noted and welcomed the air drops that the UAE conducted over the last couple of days, I think over the weekend. That also was helpful. But much more needs to be done, and we’re going to continue talking to our Israeli counterparts about that.

I mean, for instance, you know, there’s armed gangs at the Kerem Shalom crossing. You know, there’s plenty of trucks that are waiting to get in there, and they’re not able to get in there because of these armed gangs and criminal groups that are stopping it. So we all have to take a turn here and see what we can do to reduce that pressure down at Kerem Shalom so that that aid can get in. More needs to be done. But, yes, we have seen an uptick over the last few days.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to David Sanger with the New York Times.

Q Thanks, John, for doing this. Two quick things for you. The first: Just to follow up on the Iran answers, you’ve said several times now it’s up to the Israelis to decide when and where and how they’re going to strike. But when the President said “yes and yes” at the end of last week to the question of did he know when they were going to strike and where they were going to strike, is it reasonable for us to interpret that statement as saying that he and Prime Minister Netanyahu have come to some agreement, after the President’s quite public statements, about not hitting nuclear and energy sites?

MR. KIRBY: I think, David, I’m going to preserve the conversations that the President has with the Prime Minister and that we’ve had with our Israeli counterparts about this particular topic.

The President was referring to his knowledge of what their intentions were. And —

Q But I shouldn’t confuse that with an approval of what their intentions were?

MR. KIRBY: Israel is a sovereign state. They get to decide for themselves what they’re going to hit and how they’re going to hit it.

Q And I didn’t ask you whether they got to decide or not. I asked you whether the President is now in agreement with them.

MR. KIRBY: I’m just not going to go beyond what the President said, David.

Q Okay. And then, on the — one quick question on Russia. We’re, what, two weeks and a day or two ahead of the election. At this point in 2018 and 2020, the U.S. had issued, through various means, specific warnings to the Russians about non-interference. You may recall at one point they used a channel; it was mostly used for nuclear communications. I think that was 2018, if I remember right. Are you aware of any significant and high-level specific warnings for Russia on election interference in recent times?

MR. KIRBY: I think I would just say two things to that. Number one, we know and we’ve made public what we know about Russia’s attempts to interfere in this election. Now, the ODNI, as you know, David, puts out regular reports out there. We make it public what we’re seeing and what we know they’re trying to do. There’s an awful lot that we do to counter those operations by the Russians. Some of that we talk about, some of that we don’t.

I can tell you that we have made it perfectly clear to the Russians, in numerous ways, how unacceptable we find these activities and how strongly and staunchly we’re going to push back on them. I do not have a specific — an additional specific, as you put it, high-level warning to the Russians, except the only thing I would add is our concerns have been made perfectly clear to Mr. Putin and to the Russian government.

Q Has that been by the President himself? Or you’re only aware of the ones that (inaudible)?

MR. KIRBY: The President has had no direct communications with Vladimir Putin.

Q Great. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Robin Wright with the New Yorker.

Q Thanks so much, John. I have a three-part question. First of all, have you seen any efforts by Iran recently, after the deaths of Nasrallah and Sinwar, to help its allies regroup, rearm, refinance? What has it been doing in the background?

Secondly, there are media reports that Naim Qassem, who is Nasrallah’s deputy, has moved to Tehran. Can you confirm that?

And third, the Iranian foreign minister met over the weekend with Hamas leaders in Istanbul. Do you have thoughts on that? Do you have a sense of what the goal was? Can you give us any insights? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Okay, there’s a lot there.

On your third question about the Istanbul meeting, Robin, I hope you’ll let me take that question and come back to you. I don’t have any insights to share on that. That doesn’t mean that we, at the NSC, don’t. That just means me, Kirby, don’t. So we’ll take that question and try to get you a better answer.

I don’t have anything on Nasrallah’s deputy going to Tehran. Nothing like that. Again, I’ll try to take that question back to the team and have them see if we’ve got a better answer for you than that. But I wouldn’t have any insights or perspectives to share on that at this time, except to say — and this kind of gets to your first question — it wouldn’t come as a shock to any of us to see Hezbollah leadership, at whatever level, staying in communication with Iran, and that would include travel to Tehran, given the incredible support that Hezbollah continues to get from Iran.

Now, you asked, specifically in the wake of his killing, have we seen something demonstrable and tangible. Not that I have to speak to today, except we’ve seen rhetoric out of the mullahs and out of the Supreme Leader, and we certainly have seen no diminution of Iranian desire to continue to support their proxies, whether that is Hezbollah, whether it’s Hamas, whether it’s the militia groups in Iraq and Syria, or, quite frankly, whether it’s the Houthis. There’s been no indication that Iran has changed its calculus and is somehow pulling the plug on the support to these groups.

Now, whether there’s something, again, demonstrable that we’ve seen since his killing, I’d have to go back and ask the question, but I don’t believe that we’ve seen any significant change one way or the other.

Q John, can I just follow up quickly and ask you to take that question to see if Iran is doing anything with Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, the PMF? Is it doing anything in the background, including, you know, urging the PMF to — or Kata’ib Hezbollah to go after Americans? I’m trying to see if there’s anything that the Iranians are doing in response to what’s happened over the last few weeks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, no, I get the question. I’m happy to take it. I will caveat this by telling you that they’re — you know, that some of what we’re seeing — what we see may or may not be suitable for public disclosure, but I’m happy to take the question and come back to you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Anita with VOA.

Q Hello, John. Hope you’re well. Thank you for doing this. Okay, I have a Russia-Ukraine omnibus question, but before I get to it, I just want to check in: Any White House reaction to the death of Turkish cleric Gulen in the U.S.? Does this change anything between Washington and Ankara? Any communications, anything you want to say about that?

MR. KIRBY: Nothing at this time.

Q Okay. Let me move on to Russia-Ukraine. So, what response should we expect from the U.S. and allies amid these reports that Russia has North Korean soldiers working with them in Ukraine? Could this prompt either a surge in military assistance or an easing of the restrictions on Ukrainian use of long-range weapons?

And then, relatedly: As you know, Vladimir Putin is hosting the BRICS Summit this week. BRICS has not had a shortage of membership requests in recent years. What does this mean to you about whether trying to make, you know, Russia a pariah? Has that worked? Is that stance effective anymore? And what message is this sending to China that seems to think it can, you know, do whatever they want and not face any consequences?

MR. KIRBY: Who can do whatever they want and not face consequences? You cut out there.

Q Yeah. Sorry about that. I was asking what message this sends to China that it could continue to, you know, act however it wants but not face any consequences or lose any friends, more accurately.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. Well, I mean, I think — I mean, I’ll work backward here. I don’t think the PRC has ever gotten that message. I mean, we’ve been none too shy about making our concerns known to the PRC, with respect to the fact that Chinese companies have provided components and elements to Russian weapons systems in the defense industrial base. And we’ve sanctioned them. We have had very frank conversations with Chinese leaders, including Jake with his counterpart, and the President and President Xi, about even that level of support to the Russian military. So, I think our message to the PRC has been clear and consistent and remains so.

On the BRICS, you know, I don’t think that you should look at this BRICS conference as some sort of coming-out party for Mr. Putin and for Russia. First of all, the BRICS as an organization isn’t new, and we’ve long said, you know, these countries — every country gets to make sovereign decisions about who they associate with and in what format. And, you know, we don’t view the BRICS arrangement as some sort of, you know, threat. These countries can decide for themselves who they want to associate with and especially how they want to be economically linked with one another.

Russia is increasingly isolated on the world stage. There’s no question about that. Mr. Putin is still having to take radical steps to prop up his currency and to keep his war economy going, and he continues to have to take drastic steps to try to keep an army in the field and to try to achieve even a modicum of success on the battlefield. That includes continuing to get drones and drone technology from Iran, artillery rounds from North Korea, and now these reports about North Korean soldiers deploying to Russia.

So, that’s your first question, and I’ll just — I’ll end with that. We’re obviously continuing to look into those reports, and we’re talking to our allies and partners about what they’re seeing on this as well. If it’s true that the DPRK soldiers are going there to join the war against Ukraine, it would certainly mark a dangerous and highly concerning development. I talked about that last week.

And as I said, we’re consulting allies and partners, and I think we plan to lay out in coming days what we’re seeing on this and lay out a little bit more about the consultations we’re having with partners.

But I also think — and this kind of gets to your second question — we also need to look at this for what it also is, and that is another demonstration of Putin’s growing desperation and his growing isolation that he’s got to reach out to North Korea for potential — potential — as I said, we’re looking into the reports — potential infantry support to his ground operations. There’s no question about it that his forces continue to suffer an extraordinary amount of casualties on the battlefield. As I said last week, you know, the estimate we have now is more than a thousand — actually, more than 1,200 — per day. And that is a truly historic amount of soldiers killed and wounded in this fight, all to accomplish a warped and twisted idea of his about Ukraine’s ability to exist as a sovereign state.

So I come back to what you said — your second question about, you know, what does this say about Russia’s isolation. I think all of this says and proves the point that Mr. Putin is increasingly desperate and increasingly isolated on the world stage.

Q John, I just want to thank you for keeping up with that question. That was very impressive. Thank you very much.

MR. KIRBY: This time I took notes.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our next question will go to Laura Kelly with The Hill.

Q Hi. Thank you so much for taking my question. Speaking to Moldova’s election, you said that Russia did not succeed, although it’s not necessarily viewed as black and white. While Russia was likely pushing for a “no” vote on the referendum, the result of such a slim margin makes it harder for the Moldovan government to put resources toward EU integration, and this is likely in Russia’s favor.

So, in Russian interference efforts ahead of the runoff election are likely to continue, you know, what lessons is the U.S. learning about Russia’s power to sway elections? And is the U.S. doing anything more or different to help the Moldovan government combat Russia election interference?

MR. KIRBY: We’re in touch with the Moldovans every single day, and that includes this day, about the vibrancy, the vitality of their democratic institutions and their electoral process.

And, yes, we know there’s a runoff coming, and we have every expectation that the Russians are going to want to try to affect that runoff. So we’re going to continue to work with the Moldovans in ways, public and non-public, about how they can improve their resiliency to that kind of influence.

And I think I stand by what I said before: Russia was not successful. They did not want to see the Moldovan people strive for or get a referendum that approved EU integration. And that’s what happened. I get that it was a slim margin. I have no doubt in my mind, and none of us here do, that the Russians tried to contribute to the “no” vote. Now, to what degree, I couldn’t quantify how successful they were in terms of the overall percentage of the “no” vote, but we know they were pushing really, really hard to affect it.

Bottom line is it didn’t pass. And what did succeed was a “yes” vote on EU integration, and we think that’s an important step forward, and we think that that absolutely reflects the aspirations of the majority of the Moldovan people.

But nobody is sitting back crowing on this. Nobody is doing touchdown dances here. There’s a runoff coming, and we got to make sure we continue to work with the Moldovans to ensure that that runoff is done in a way that respects and is appropriate to the aspirations of the electorate in Moldova.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Our final question will go to Neria with Israel Channel 13.

Q Hi. Thank you so much, Sam. And thank you, Kirby, for doing that. I wanted to ask — you talked about talking to the Israelis about a possible solution for Gaza the day after Sinwar. Do you think — does the White House consider an international force controlling Gaza for a while until things would settle down?

MR. KIRBY: I’m not going to get ahead of where we are right now, except to say Secretary Blinken has been working on day-after options for months and months now. And I don’t — you know, we haven’t reached any, you know, final options on what a security footprint could look like in Gaza, how it would be comprised, where it would be deployed, who would run it. We just haven’t come to conclusion on those kinds of options.

But clearly, the people of Gaza, when this war is over, should have every right to seek peace and security and a way to go about their lives where they don’t have to worry about those lives being shattered by violence.

And so, there’s going to have to be a security footprint here and a security component to whatever the day after looks like. It’s just that we’re still working our way through that with not only the Israelis, but with our Arab partners. And I would go so far as to say we’re also working that through with Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority as well.

Q Great. Thank you so much.

MR. KIRBY: Yes, ma’am.

MODERATOR: Thank you. And unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today. As always, if we weren’t able to get to your questions, reach out to the press distro, and we’ll get back as soon as we can. Thanks.

12:36 P.M. EDT

The post On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby appeared first on The White House.

1:56 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

Q Hi, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It feels like there’s an echo.

Q Yes, there is.

Q There is.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t know if you guys want to hear me twice. I don’t know if they’re fixing it or not.

Okay. Let’s get going.

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. It does.

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) Okay. Today, the Biden-Harris administration is taking a major step to expand contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, Republican elected officials have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control, defund federal programs that help women excess — access contraception, and repeal the ACA. Congressional Republicans have also repeatedly blocked federal legislation to safeguard the fundamental right to birth control for women in every state. It’s dangerous, and it’s unacceptable.

This new action under our administration would help ensure that millions of women with private health insurance can access the contraception they need, including over-the-counter contraception, at no cost.

At a time when contraception access is under attack, President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law.

Now, the president and the vice president response — their response to the recovery efforts continue to deliver for the people of North Carolina, Florida, and all communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Over 5,500 federal personnel are deployed to North Carolina and Florida.

Today, Administra- — Administrator Deanne Criswell is in North Carolina with Governor Roy Cooper and state officials to continue surveying damage and ensure that resources continue to make it to the communities and survivors who need them.

In total, nearly $2 billion in federal assistance has been approved for those affected by recent storms. In North Carolina, the administration has approved more than $300 million in assistance. This includes over $130 million for nearly 90,000 households. Additional, FEMA — additionally, FEMA has approved more than $189 million for debris removal and reimbursement of ener- — of emergency protective measures for the state.

And the administration also announced that the government will create a brand-new program for assistant impact [to assist impacted] communities with their recovery and rebuilding efforts. Additionally, 15 disaster recovery centers are operating in the impacted areas in North Carolina and have served more than 5,700 visitors, and power has been restored to 99 percent of impacted North Carolina customers due to thousands of utility personnel working around the clock.

All of this is thanks to the leadership of the president, the vice president, FEMA, and other administration leaders and the many state and local officials who have helped ensure a robust and well-coordinated response and recovery effort. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to help these communities respond and recover from these disasters.

And now, next, we have the first lady. First Lady Jill Biden is unveiling a new, enhanced educational White House public tour for visitors today at the White House. As a classroom teacher for 40 years, Dr. Biden knows that learning has to be engaging and interactive and that you have to meet students where they are, giving them what they need to spark their curiosity and imagination.

This is the first significant improvement to the tour in decades. And as the first lady said, and I quote, “We’ve added flex- — flexible, versatile, and dynamic tools of learning to the tour; created more pathways in the house to bring people fur- — further into the rooms; expanded the tour to now inc- — to now include the Diplomatic Reception Room; and we’ve included more educational content that visitors can touch, hear, and see up close.”

Get on that tour, folks.

The first lady hopes the tour inspires everyone who visits the White House to learn more about our shared history.

And on the week ahead, the president will be hitting the road this week to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s work to deliver for the American people.

On Tuesday, tomorrow, the president will host a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Robert Golob t- — of the Republic of Slovenia before heading to Concord, New Hampshire, where he will join Senator Bernie Sanders to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s work to lower cost of prescriction [prescription] drugs. During that event, the president is expected to discuss new data on savings for the first year — for the first year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. He will also make a campaign-related stop while he is in the Granite State.

Then the president will travel to Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday and Friday where he will deliver remarks at the Gila River Indian Community and discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s record of delivering for Tribal communities, including keeping his promise to make this historic visit to — his historic vis- — visit to Indian Country as well. This — he will be — this will be the first as president to do this — his first as president to do this.

As always, we will be sharing more information as we get closer, certainly, to Arizona and tomorrow as well.

Okay. Darlene.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And we fix —

Q Apologies. Can you clarify one thing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q You just said the president —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q — after you were talking about New Hampshire, that he’s making a campaign-related stop.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Is that in New Hampshire, or were you talking about Arizona?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That’s going to be in New Hampshire.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep, the Granite State. He’ll be making a campaign-related stop, and certainly the campaign will have more to share on that.

Q And then on the leak of information — classified information about Israel’s plans toward Iran. There was a leak of classified information last year in April. A member of the National Guard had posted a bunch of documents and whatnot online.

Has the Pentagon and the intelligence community done enough since then to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So —

Q — protect —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is —

Q — this material?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — certainly we are aware of — of the reporting. Certainly, we are concerned — very concerned by them. Anything about — about the process and this — and — and how it’s being investigated by the U.S. government, I would have to refer you to the IC, the DOJ, and certainly DOD. I’m not going to get into particulars or specifics from here.

But we are aware of the reports, and we are definitely, and we are definitely very concerned about them.

Q Can you speak to any changes the president might have in mind that he might want to see going forward?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I’m not going to get ahead of it. As I just mentioned, the U.S. government is investigating this and — through the appropriate authorities. So, I’m going to let them d- — move through their process, see exactly what happened. I’m not going to get into it from here.

Q And speaking of classified information, what is the president’s plan for voting in the November 5th election?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, the president certainly looks forward —

Q That was a joke.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh. (Laughter.) So ser- — I’m sorry. I’m so serious today. Very funny, Darlene. Very good joke.

Q That’s okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.)

Q We can move on.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, the president is certainly looking forward to casting his ballot in the upcoming election. When we have more to share about what that looks like, where — you know, where he’s going to be, we certainly will share that.

Go ahead. Go ahead, Weijia.

Q Thank you, Karine. So, we just heard from Kirby that the White House is monitoring the progress of the investigative effort to figure out how this happened, not whether this happened. But just for the sake of clarity, can you confirm that the — the documents in question are authentic and do, in fact, include U.S. classified intelligence?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I appreciate the question. We’re — like I said, we’re certainly aware of the reports. We are very concerned. I’m not going to get into specifics. I’m not going to get into details. That’s something for DO- — DOJ, IC, and DOD to get into it, and certainly they can hopefully answer any questions that you may have on this particular matter.

But, look, as the reports are out there and what they’re — what we are hearing, certainly we are very concerned by them. They are being looked into. It’s being investigated by the appropriate authorities, by the — obviously, the U.S. government here. And so, I’m going to let them speak to it directly.

Q Kirby characterized the concern as stemming from the fact that they were in the public domain. So, I mean —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, it’s true. Any —

Q — as he talked about it —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — the implication was that this was classified information. I’m just asking, yes or no, was it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, look, any time — any time there are leaks like these that end up in the public domain — I just reiterating — reiterating what he said — of course, it is concerning. We have the appropriate authorities who are looking into this on our side of things.

And I’m going to be really mindful. I am not going to get into specifics. Was this, you know, classified? Was this not class- — I can’t get into that from here. That is something IC and DOD and DOJ can get into it on those specifics.

But any time we see any type of classified information that are — that is leaked and that is out there in a public domain, of course we are concerned — of course. But they can speak to their — you know, their — their — the — how authentic, how real — any of those pieces, they can speak to that. I’m not going to speak to that from here.

Q And then just a quick follow-up on Darlene. I know you’re figuring out his Election Day plans, but given the potential for political unrest in the days that follow, will the president be here? Does he plan to be here in Washington in the days that follow the election?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the president is president wherever he is. The number one — obviously, the number one priority of this president is the American people. Obviously, the security of the American people is also a priority of his as well.

And I don’t have — I don’t want to get ahead of where he’s going to be, if he’s going to be here or not. We’ll have more to share as we get closer, certainly, to — to November 5th and what his schedule will — will look like.

But he is, indeed, president wherever he is. And so, his number one priority — his number one priority is the American people.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thanks, Karine. Elon Musk is pledging to give away $1 million every day up until the election to voters in battleground states. Some experts are saying this is clearly illegal vote buying. Does the White House believe what he’s doing is illegal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I’m going to have to refer you to the FEC. I’m not going to comment from it — from here.

Q Can you talk about how the president is reacting to this in terms of does he believe it’s appropriate? Does he agree with what Governor Shapiro is saying about how this needs to be investigated?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I would leave it to Governor Shapiro and the legal authorities to speak to this. I’m just not going to speak to it from here and would have to leave it to FEC.

Q And if you could just talk broadly about what Trump has also said about making Musk the head of a new “government efficiency commission.” Does the White House see that as a conflict of interest, given the fact that Musk’s companies have so many contracts with government agencies —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — and it could potentially give him the power to regulate the agencies that hold sway over his own companies?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, since that’s a campaign-related item there, what they’re planning to do next or what it looks like under — you know, and — and their platform for his campaign, I’m just not going to respond to it from here.

Q Any reaction from the president or White House about Elon’s — Musk’s role at this moment in the political discussion?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I have no response, no — no comment on that at this moment.

Go ahead, Monica.

Q On the apparent leak of classified information. How concerned is the president about the message it sends to allies about the way the U.S. handles some of the most sensitive, top-secret information?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, what I can say is we take this very seriously. And as I’ve said many times already, we are very concerned. That’s — this is why the DOD, this is why IC, this is why DOJ are all looking into this. And so, I would have to refer you to them.

And as I stated many times, it’s being investigated. We need to get to the bottom of it. We need to get answers before I can give you anything further from here. But it’s being investigated by the appropriate authorities. We’re looking into it.

Are we concerned? Yes. Are we very concerned? Yes, we’re very concerned. And so, the appropriate authorities are looking into this.

Q And you just mentioned the president is going to be making a campaign-related stop —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep.

Q — tomorrow in New Hampshire. He has so far only campaigned alongside Vice President Harris in an official campaign event capacity once. We have reporting that we don’t expect to see the two of them together in these final two weeks. What is the reason for that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I would remind folks that he was in Philly — Philadelphia — just last week doing a campaign event — just last week — on his own. And so, would remind folks that he was doing that.

There’s going to be a campaign-related event, as I just mentioned, tomorrow. And there will be more to come. I think they’ll — there will be more to come.

Look, we cannot forget what we have seen this past couple of weeks: two historic hurricanes. Right? Let’s not forget that. The president was able to — because of his leadership and what his administration was able to do, we avoided a port — a port strike. Right? That’s something that he was able to do. And there are just many other, obviously, pressing issues that are not just here domestically but around the world, and the president has led on those issues.

And so, the most important thing that — the president believes that his job is to continue to be there for the American people, deliver for the American people, and that’s what you have seen him do.

Now, he’s going to be out there. I would say stay tuned. There is more to come. I just mentioned New Hampshire. There’s more to come in the upcoming days, and we’ll certainly share — share that with all of you.

Q And then, just finally, former President Trump is in North Carolina today. He was talking about some of the FEMA efforts there. He called the rescue effort, quote, “non-existent.” He repeated some misleading information about where some of the funds have been directed to.

So, how concerned is the White House still about what that might do to not just people taking in this information, again, that’s misleading but to voters specifically in key states where the devastation of the hurricanes has been evident?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I’m glad in your question you said “misleading information,” which is true — misleading information that is being put out there. And — and it’s not just from us. You’ve heard from Republicans and Democrats — right? — in North Carolina who have said — who have — who have made it very clear by pushing these types of conspiracy theories — they are dangerous, they are unhelpful. And it is — it is not — it is not what leadership looks like. I’ll say it there — like that.

And — and it is a time, when you see something like that, these types of hurricanes that have impacted communities the way that they have — both of them, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton — it’s time that you bring a c- — you bring a community together and stand by each other.

And so, you’ve heard from, again, the governors of all of these states — well, in partic- — in particular, certainly, as we’re talking about governor in — in New Ham- — in, sorry, North Carolina, he spoke to this today. And he said, “The Biden-Harris administration has responded quickly and positively to our request. The federal government has been responsive to all — to our call for help.” That’s coming from the governor of North Carolina. We also heard from the mayor of Asheville as well.

And so, we have seen a bipartisan reaction to this, appreciation for what the amdin — for what this administration has been able to do. And the reason we’ve been able to do this work on the ground is because we’ve had a good partnership with local and state officials on the ground. And this type of conspir- — conspiracy theory that’s out there, it is dangerous. To your point in your question, it’s dangerous, it’s unhelpful, and it gets in the way.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Secretary Blinken is headed back to the Middle East today. Does the White House have any hope that this trip will be more successful than past trips, given that this comes after the death of Sinwar?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, a couple of things. I know the State Department — my colleagues over at the State Department spoke to this in greater detail, about the secretary’s trip, which is — starts tomorrow. He’s going to be going throughout the region. He’s going to discuss the importance of ending, certainly, the war in — in Gaza, securing the release of all hostages, alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. And he’s going to underscore the importance of getting that food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid — it’s important to get that delivered to c- — civilians in Gaza. And he’s going to also discuss — continue to have the discussions that we’ve been having for the past several months now about the diplomatic solu- — resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

And so, we’re going to reaffirm — what — what you — what you’re going to see from this trip that the secretary is — is having throughout the region is reaffirming our commitment to what I just laid out to our partners across the region. And we do want to de-escalate the tensions and — and also, obvi- — obviously, provide that lasting stability. And that is the commitment that we — that — that we continue to have.

Look, you’re asking me — I know your question. Your question was do we think this will have an effect. We believe and this president believes when — a diplomatic resolution, diplomatic conversation is certainly key to dealing with issues that we’re seeing across the — across the globe.

Q And does the president have any reaction to former President Trump using this rhetoric about the “enemy from within” and specifically tying it to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff this weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it is — that type of language is un-American. It’s dangerous. I was just asked about misinformation that we’re — that we have been seeing during — certainly before the hurricanes hit and certainly now as it — after the impact and what we’re seeing on the ground and how we’re trying to work with our partners on the ground to make sure we get relief to folks on the ground. And that is — that type of misinformation, conspiracy theories, is only hurtful, and that is not what Americans want to see as a leader. That is not what they want to see as a lea- — leader.

And it’s also disrespectful to our military to ask our military to — to react or to do something in such a political — in a — such a political way. We should respect our men and women. They should be respected. They put their lives on the line for us, and we should respect them. And it’s incredibly disrespectful to them as well.

And so, it’s un-American, it’s dangerous, and it should stop.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Is there any latest understanding from the White House on when Israel is going to respond to Iran’s missile attacks?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I think we’ve been pretty consistent on that. This is something for — that decision, any military operation — operational decision has to — is up to Israel. We’ve been very clear in our commitment — in our commitment to Israel’s security. That is — continues to be ironclad. But that is something for the Israeli government to speak to.

Q And is there any word on what that re- — that response would look like? And is there sort of a red line that the U.S. would not allow?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I — I’m just not going to preview that from here. Us previewing that from here would certainly give a heads-up to the Iranians. It’s something that we’re not going to be doing. But that is — aside from that, that certainly is something for Is- — Israel to speak to.

Go ahead, K- — Kayla.

Q Thank you, Karine. I wanted to ask about the contraception rule that the administration is putting out today. As you mentioned at the top, the president is proposing a rule that would require insurers to cover the cost of over-the-counter contraception. The Congressional Review Act allows lawmakers to overturn federal regulations that are implemented in the final stages of a presidential term. And I mu- — I’m wondering if the White House believes that this type of rule could withstand that threat or if you think that anything that happens in these last few months is potentially subject to congressional reversal.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I’m going to be — I’m not going to — that’s getting into a hypothetical that I’m just not going to do from here.

Look, it’s going through a rulemaking process, as you know. From the moment that the president made this announcement, it’s now in a rulemaking process. We’ll hear back from the public. We feel pretty confident this is going to move forward.

And the reason why — as I stated at the top, why we’re doing this is because of the Dobbs decision. It’s because now we have women out there who don’t have the protections that they need on their own health care because Roe v. Wade, which was law of the land for almost — a constitutional right for almost 50 years were stripped away. And we have made that commitment from this administration, the Biden-Harris commi- — administration, to protect women, to do everything that we can.

Now we’re expanding ACA. Now we’re providing this potential opportunity to give the women — women oppor- — opportunity to make those difficult decisions and to have the — also the availability, obviously, of contraception.

And so, that is — that is our commitment that we have made here. I can’t get into, you know, what Congress is going to do, the hypotheticals from here. What I can — what we can focus on is keeping that commitment that we have made to women and families across the country.

Q And then tomorrow in New Hampshire. CNN is reporting that President Biden will appear with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders tomorrow. It’s an interesting contrast to Vice President Kamala Harris, who today is appearing at a campaign event with Republican Liz Cheney. I’m wondering if you can just talk about the rationale of the president’s to appear with Senator Sanders tomorrow and what message that’s meant to send to the party.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I think if you think about the commitment that both of them have had, the president and Senator Sanders, you are correct. He is going to be traveling when — to the Granite State with Senator Sanders, and they have been partners, right? They have been partners on a lot of these issues, including — including lowering cost for health care. We know that this is an issue that’s incredibly important to Senator Sanders.

So, for us, it makes sense. It makes sense to be doing this event together. They have been partners not just on this but on other important, critical needs of the American people. And this is what you’re going to see.

I’m not — I cannot speak for the vice president’s campaign. She’s doing what she needs to do. I’m going to let her campaign speak to that.

The president is going to continue to go into states and have really important conversation. And let’s not forget, the Inflation Reduction Hact [Act] was incredibly historic in lowering costs on health care, was important in one of the most — most historic pieces of legislation to deal with climate change.

There’s a lot there that we believe that the American people need to continue to hear it — hear from him. And he’s going to have Senator Sanders, which he really looks forward to being in — in the state with him on that issue.

Q So, would you say that — that it’s accurate, as some strategists have argued, that this is an effort by President Biden to embrace the more progressive flank, while Vice President Harris tacks to the center in these final days?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What the president is doing is going out there, speaking directly to the American people, and talking about how he’s delivering for them — how the — Biden-Harris is delivering for — for them, whether it’s lowering costs; climate change; pow- — powering up an economy, continuing to move that economy forward. That’s what you’re seeing from this president. And he’ll — he’s not going to shy away from it.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, thanks. Zooming out from this breach, which I know that you’re not going to discuss the specifics of. But you’ve had, over the last week, private correspondence between the secretaries of State and the Pentagon, the — to Israel; this Air National Guard leak from — from a year ago on Discord; the investigation into Rob Malley. Is there a problem safeguarding sensitive information?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I will say is the president continues to have complete confidence in his — in — in the agencies — right? — whether it’s DOD, I- — IC, or DOJ. And — and he has complete confidence in them. There is a — it — this is being looked into, investigation being done by the appropriate parties. And I’m not going to get into it. I’m not going to get into it.

Q Since —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Are we concerned? We are very concerned. We are. We’ve been very clear about that. And it’s being looked into. And so, I’m not going to — going to go beyond that.

Q Since the Discord leak, has the administration — what has the administration done to further safeguard national secrets?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m not going to get into — into any specifics on that. As it relates to this particular moment of what we’re seeing with the — the reports out there, it’s being looked into. We are very concerned. DOD, IEC — IC, DOJ can speak to that, this particular incident, more broadly — these reports. I just don’t have anything else to share beyond that.

Q And do you know yet if it’s a leak or a hack?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, this is why I’m referring you to IC, DOD, DOJ. They can speak more to this, and I would leave it to them.

Go ahead, Sara.

Q Thanks, Karine. While the president was in Germany, did the issue of authorizing Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles deeper inside Russia come up during his bilateral meetings with the Germans or his meeting with the European Quad? Particularly, given the approval that some NATO Allies have provided, did they urge him to provide support for this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m not going to get into beyond what we’ve been able to share in the readouts. What I can say is that policy has not changed. And we said that. We said that going — I remember saying this at this podium before the president left to go to Berlin, Germany, just last week, and said our — our policy stance on that hasn’t changed, and it wasn’t going to change, and don’t expect any announcements.

So, it still says — stays the same. I don’t have anything to share beyond that, beyond what we’ve shared in — in readouts.

Q And then on a different topic. There’s a report that Israel gave the U.S. a document outlining its conditions for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Lebanon and allow people to return their o- — to their homes on both sides of the border. Can you confirm this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is that many times we get, certainly, views from the Israeli government. We get their views on things and certainly the back-and-forth. I’ve said many times that we have regular conversation with — with our counterparts at — in the Israeli government, but I’m not going to get into diplomatic or private conversations from here.

Go ahead.

Q So, this administration has warned Israel that it could lose access to some U.S. weapon fundings if it doesn’t produce a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid coming into Gaza. Have you seen so far any dramatic improvement in delivering of aid?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here’s what I’ll say to that. We are working to surge humanitarian assistance into Gaza. So, just a couple of things just to update all of you. Over the weekend, we welcomed an airdrop by the UAE of food parcels into central Gaza. We also noted the re- — the resumption of deliveries last week into nor- — northern Gaza as well, including through the vital lifeline from Jordan, with 129 trucks entering northern Gaza last week after an unacceptable slowdown since October 1st, which we’ve talked about just last week.

That number must further increase over the coming week, and we are grateful for Jordan’s leadership in organizing these deliveries. We also call on all parties to wo- — cooperate in dis- — in distributing the many hundreds of truckloads now on the Gaza side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. The — the armed gangs threatening and looting deliveries from this platform are keeping vital supplies away from those in desperate need.

And we, here at t- — in the U.S., as the largest — are the largest contributor to the humanitarian response in Gaza and will continue to support all efforts to surge and safeguard assistance and enable its dis- — distribution into all — all areas of Gaza.

And one of the things, as I just stated earlier, is that the secretary is going to speak about — Secretary Blinken — is how do we continue to upsurge the humanitarian assistant into Gaza. So, that is going to be a priority, part of a — part of his — part of his discussions throughout the region as well.

Go ahead, Jared.

Q The task force — the House task force investigating the Butler, Pennsylvania, attempted assassination came out with an interim report today —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — pretty critical of the Secret Service, especially as it relates to the coordination and communication with local police.

One, does the White House, the president have a reaction to that? And, two, does the president still have full confidence in the current leadership at Secret Service?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the president has deep respect for the Secret Service. And he knows that they — they have an extremely difficult job. He knows that the men and women who are part of the Secret Service put their lives on the line, day in and day out.

And so, we’re going to review the report. I’m not going to comment on the report right now. We’re going to review it. As you just said, it just came out this morning.

So, you know, and — and, I would add, Secret Service has also acknowledged their own shortcomings, and they have taken several steps to enhance the former president’s protection. And so, they’re continuing to do that work.

And the president has also been clear, from his point of view as well, to the Secret Service to make sure that they provide the highest level of protection for the former president. And so, that is what — that is what he’s asked for.

We know that the Secret Service has made — has made some changes — enhancing, certainly, the — the protection of the former president.

And as it relates to the report, we are going to review it.

Q Is President Biden confident in his own protection?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you. I have a question about Cuba. There have been multiple power outages on the island in recent days. So, I was wondering: Is the White House monitoring the situation, particularly for signs of unrest? Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we are closely monitoring the blackouts on the island. And so, we are concerned about the potential humanitarian impacts on the Cuban people.

(A reporter sneezes.)

And so — bless you.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And like we have seen over the past few years, Cuba’s economic condition stemming from long-term mismanagement of its economic policy and resources has certainly increased the hardship of the people in Cuba.

And so — so — and so, certainly, just want to make clear that this is not — the U.S. is not to — is not to blame for the blackouts on the island or the overall energy situation in Cuba.

So, the Cuban — the Cuban government has not requested any assistance at this time, and so we will assess the appropriate next steps if they do request any assistance.

And so, a critical tenet of the Biden-Harris administration policy as it relates to — to — towards Cuba is to always advocate for the support of the Cuban people, and we’ve been always very clear about that. And so, we’ll continue.

Q (Inaudible) a follow-up. And I know —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — this is a hypothetical. But if the Cuban government were to request assistance, would the Biden-Harris administration be willing to provide it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we’re going to — if that were to happen, we’re — certainly would assess the next best steps. I just — they have not. Again, it’s a hypothetical. And so, we’re going to assess what’s the next best step to do.

Oh, go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. The — there’s a recent report about how a number of Senate Democrats that are running for reelection are having ads that show images of President Trump touting their own cooperation with President Trump when he was in office, people like Senator Bob Casey saying that he bucked President Biden on fracking and supported President Trump on trade and tariffs.

Does the president, as the leader of the Democratic Party, have any thoughts about members of his own party talking about how much they’ve worked with President Trump in the past?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No.

Q You all have talked about the former president as a threat to democracy, talked about how much danger he — he would be if elected once again. The fact that other Senate Democrats aren’t having that same message, is that concerning at all?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I’m not going to speak to each individual campaign and what they’re doing in their campaign. That’s a political — certainly a political campaign and a political reaction to however they need — whatever they need to do on the ground, so I’m not going to speak to that.

The president stands by his comments, his fight for democracy. He stands by what he saw on January 6th. He stands by the threat to democracy that we saw on that day — a dark day in our democracy, when you saw 2,000 people go to the Capitol because they were told to by the former president — because they didn’t believe or were told not to believe free and fair elections; while, meanwhile, dozens of Republican judges were able to say, “Hey, yeah, no. This was a free and fair election,” and they didn’t believe that because they were told not to.

And what we saw on that day was horrific. It was horrific, and it was indeed an attack on our democracy. The president has spoken to this many, many times.

And so, that’s who I can speak to. I can speak for the — the president. I — I’m not going to speak for other senators and how they — how they decide to move forward with their campaign.

Go ahead, in the back.

Q Thank you. I wanted to ask about the upcoming presidential transition. When was the last time that Jeff Zients and the group of people working on the transition met with representatives from both campaigns? And can you provide an update on where you are in getting ready to hand off?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don’t have any specifics for you at this time. I’m happy to get more information on where they are with that particular piece. I just don’t have anything to share on that.

As you know, we’ve been — we’ve offered our — our assistance to both — to both campaigns as we — as we move forward to a — a transition at some point, but I just don’t have an update on meetings on the — from here.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Naomi, in the back.

Q Thanks. The president likes to tout his deficit-cutting measures since he’s come into office. But, last week, the Treasury Department actually reported that the deficit grew to $1.8 trillion for fiscal 2024. What’s the White House’s response to that data?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, that’s why we’re — that’s why we’ve done the work that we have done as — especially moving forward with — with his- — these historic piece of legislation that speaks about how we’re — we’re going to deal with the deficit. Right? When we signed the pro- — the president signed, for example, last year, the $1 trillion debt deal that would cut the deficit by a trillion dollars. You saw that in other pieces of legislation that he was able to sign and move — pass through. And that’s why we have shown our commitment to dealing with the deficit.

And what we’re also seeing is what the former administration did. The former administration passed tax cuts for billionaires and — and corporations that had led to where we are currently with this deficit.

And so, the president has done the work and will continue to do the work to try and deal with — with, as you just laid out, the deficit that we’re seeing. And, look, what you’re see- — what we’re trying to do here from this administration is make sure that the economy continues to grow; that jobs are available, continue to grow; that we’re lowering the unemployment rate and lowering costs. That is something that the — this president and this vice president are trying to do.

Meanwhile, Republicans are doing the opposite. They want to continue to give these tax cuts to billionaires and corporations. They want to make it harder for middle-class families. And so, there’s a difference there. There — the contrast could not be more different in what we’re trying to do and what the other side is trying to do.

Q But do you not think this data sort of plays into public perceptions that Democrats are weaker in handling the economy as opposed to Republicans?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But it’s not true. And so, what we’re going to speak to is how we have done the work to turn this economy around. We cannot forget where we were when the president walked into this administration: an economy that was in a downturn, and we saw a situation with the pandemic where there was no strategy. Businesses were closing down. Schools were — majority of schools were closed.

And so, this president has been able to turn that around with the help of the vice president. And so, this is why we’re going to — we’re going to go to New Hampshire tomorrow. We’re going to speak to the Inflation Reduction Act, what the president and the vice president has been able to do to lower costs, because we understand that there’s more work to do. We understand this is — when you think about health care, this is incredibly important.

You heard the announcement that we just made on contraception, making sure that we — expanding the ACA, because that’s important to women. And everything that we’re talking about, Republicans in Congress — majority of them don’t want to see. They’re on the other side of what we’re trying to do.

And so, look, we understand there’s more work to do, and we’re going to continue to push forward.

Go ahead, Jon.

Q Thanks a lot, Karine. I wanted to ask you about the vice president and the difficult position that she’s in, in the sense that she’s running for president and she is currently vice president. And it’s difficult, we’ve seen in interview after interview, for her to separate herself in terms of public positions from President Biden. Does she have a green light that if she wanted to express a differing point of view than the administration on any topic, foreign or domestic, she could do so? Or does — is she required to be a loyal vice president to President Biden?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I disagree. I mean, the interviews that I have seen, you’ve seen a incredibly strong, very clear-eyed vice president in how she sees this country moving forward and saying that, you know, she has been, indeed, a partner with this president and in these successes that we have seen from this administration.

And I would also note — now, this is to the rest of your question — just last week, in Philadelphia, the president spoke to this — spoke to you, asking about loyalty, about her cutting — certainly, cutting her own path. He talked about that. He talked about how, you know, every president has to cut their own path. He talked about how he was loyal to Barack Obama, but then, as a president, he was able to cut his own path forward.

And so, that’s what he — Kamala is going — going to do. This is, in his own words, what he wants to see the vice president do. And she — he sees her as being someone who has been loyal, just like he was loyal to Barack Obama. But she is going to certainly cut her own path.

And so, that’s what we’re seeing from — from this vice president. And he’s very proud to have seen her move forward in — in her — in her campaign. And, you know, I think what you’re seeing is a strong leader, someone who he understood and knew that she would be able to lead on day one.

Q You say you disagree with the premise of my question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, well — well, not —

Q Can — can I just ask you —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — the premise of the question —

Q — something about that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — but you saying that —

Q May I — may I ask you something about that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, no, you — you just said that I disagree with you.

Q No, but I — I just want to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I’m clear- —

Q — clarify.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q Can you think of any issue, foreign policy or domestic policy, in which the vice president has a differing point of view than the president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Here’s what —

Q Any daylight between them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: W- — well, hold on. Here’s what I will say. I will say that they have been critical partners, as I’ve said many times, and it is true. You’ve heard that from both of them. And they are partners in the way that this administration has moved forward on many issues and the issues that they’ve had to really answer to to the American people, because that’s what they both care about, is making sure that we deliver for the American people.

The question, as I heard it — not this one, not this second go-around — the first go-around, the way that you asked the question was she hasn’t been able — she has been having a difficulty, if you will, in answering that question. And I have said to — and I was saying to you, I have not seen that. I’ve seen a president — a vice president, who is running for president, obviously, who has been — who has showed strength, leadership — and that’s what this president has seen as well; he has said this — and — and cares about the American people.

That’s what we have seen. And that’s what many of the American people want to see. They want to see a fighter, and that’s who she is.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. Later today, the president is doing the National Arts and Humanities reception. Can you tell us about that event: Who’s going to be honored? Who’s coming here to the White House today for that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, it’s a good question. We’ll have more to share as we get closer. Obviously, that’s about — in three hours or less. So, we’ll have more information to share about who’s being honored.

And you’re right. The president is looking forward and the — and the first lady are looking forward to honoring the attendees today.

All right. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. So, Tuesday, the countries in BRICS are going to be going to Russia for a meeting. How concerned is the administration that this bloc of countries could undermine U.S. economic or trade strength that we have?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what we’re focused on is on the work- — the — working with partners around the world and to build the broadcast [broadest] and deepest coalitions possible to help achieve our shared goals. That’s what we’re going to be focused on. And, you know, we’re not looking at BRICS as an — evolving into some kind of geopolitical rival. That’s not how we look at it — to the United States or anyone else.

And so, we’re going to continue to work with — with our relationships, our partnerships, whether it’s with Brazil, India, South Africa. And so, we’re going to continue to manage, certainly, those relationships. And — with China, for example. And — and so, that’s going to be our focus right now.

Q One of the newest members of BRICS is the United Arab Emirates.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q And in September — on September 23rd, the administration signed a deal with them to develop new AI technologies. How concerned, then, is the Biden administration that the — what we give to the UAE will then end up in Russia, China, or Iran’s hands through the BRICS agreements?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we’ve worked extensively with UAE on — on advanced technology. That is something that we have done, and we’ve done that for the last two years. And — and so, that partnering is moving forward. And — and we believe it’s moving forward in the right direction.

So, we recognize — and this is why the president did an e- — an executive action, took an executive action on AI — we recognize the potential good — right? — of — of AI and look forward to, certainly, fur- — further- — furthering that and solidifying our collaboration in AI as we try to build the safeguards and protections. Again, that’s why we did the EO, an executive action on it.

Q But the transfer of — of technology — are you concerned about, through the BRICS agreement, that the transfer of technology will happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, again, we’ve worked extensively — really, truly extensively — with the — the UAE. And we are — we’re — I think where we’re headed, the movement, how we’re moving forward, is in a good place. And so, this is — this is a conversation that we’ve had over the last two years.

And so, we’re going to continue to have those conversation. We’re going to continue to work through this. And so, we believe it’s moving in the right direction.

Q Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Thanks, everybody. Thanks, everyone.

Q Thanks, Karine.

2:40 P.M. EDT

The post Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, October 21, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from August 18 to August 19, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Lewis, Oswego, and Suffolk.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Ms. Lai Sun Yee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

###

The post President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves New York Disaster Declaration appeared first on The White House.

Jill and I mourn the tragic loss of two naval aviators, Lieutenant Commander Lyndsay Evans and Lieutenant Serena Wileman, who were killed when their EA-18G Growler aircraft crashed last Tuesday near Mount Rainier, Washington during a routine training mission.  They were among our nation’s finest and had just recently returned to the United States after an extended deployment to the Middle East defending against Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea.  We thank the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and Yakima County Tribal and local authorities for their efforts to locate and recover these two brave and talented young aviators.  We pray for their families, loved ones and squadron-mates, and we will always honor their service and sacrifice.  

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Loss of U.S. Naval Aviators in Washington appeared first on The White House.

East Room

5:50 P.M. EDT

THE FIRST LADY:  Welcome to the White House!

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks, a past recipient of the National Medal of Arts, once said that sometimes it’s easier to stay home — while it’s easier to stay home, “art urges voyages.” 

The artists, scholars, and patrons we’re honoring tonight have given us a gift: They’ve gone on those voyages.  And when they returned, they expressed our shared humanity in new ways, helping us integrate all of our hope, joy, and hard-earned wisdom into the one life we’re given and the one nation we all share.

In paintings and films, in songs and scenes, poetry and history, they’ve uncovered the memories we didn’t know we held onto and the dreams we didn’t dare say out loud.  And they remind us of the transcendent moments of truth and beauty and that they are not out of our reach.  Sometimes, they just require a voyage within ourselves of — toward the people around us.

Joe and I are so grateful to be here tonight with these extraordinary medal recipients.  (Applause.)  Each of you has helped us venture out to see our world with clarity, empathy, and courage. 

Thank you and congratulations.  (Applause.)

Now it is my pleasure to introduce the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, Maria Rosi- — Rosario Jackson. 

Chair Jackson, you’ve empowered so many people to go on creative journeys, and you’ve helped us weave the arts and humanities into every part of our lives.  We are deeply grateful to have you as a champion of this community. 

Thank you.  (Applause.)

(The program continues.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Welcome to the White House, and thank you for making me look good in front of the love of my life and the life of my love — (laughter) — my daughter, Ashley Biden.  Ashley.  (Laughter and applause.)

Welcome to the White House, again, the newest recipients of the National Medal of Arts and Humanities.  And truly inspiring individuals and truly extraordinary group. 

Jill and I just welcomed each of them and their families in the Oval Office, where they received their medals and official citations. 

And just like across the country, in the Oval Office, you see deep impact of the arts, humanities on our national history.  Across from the Resolute Desk is a bust of Dr. King and Robert F. Kennedy.  I can see them from where I sit.  They’re two of my political heroes who often quoted the wisdom of poets and philosophers, artists and advocates. 

Just last week, I delivered a eulogy for Ethel Kennedy, which was a great honor, and — Robert Kennedy’s widow.  She was a hero in her own right who supported the arts and the humanities in advancing the causes of human rights and social justice. 

While the service was a celebration of life at a Catholic church with plenty of prayer and reflection, it was a literal concert.  Stevie Wonder, Sting, Kenny Chesney — (laughter) — St. Martin choir each performed.  It was deeply moving.  Different genres in each voice echoed through the cathedral and reverberated in our hearts.  That’s the power of the arts and humanities in America. 

And today, Jill and I are truly proud to continue that legacy by awarding two of our nation’s highest honors to 39 extraordinary Americans.  Again, congratulations to all of you.  (Applause.)  And to your families as well.  (Laughter and applause.) 

The National Medal of Arts to honor outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support, and availability of the arts in the United States and the National Humanities Medal to honor those who[se] work has depended on the nation’s understanding of humanities and broadened our citizens’ engagement with history, literature, philosophy, and so many other subjects. 

Now, I could spend all day talking about each one of you, and if it weren’t so many, I would.  (Laughter.) 

But just let me just say this.  You have broken barriers.  You’ve blazed new trails.  You redefined culture.   You are the truth-tellers, the bridge-builders, the change-seekers.  And above all, you’re the masters of your craft who have made us a better America with all you’ve done, and it’s a better America.  That’s what you’ve done.  (Applause.)  I mean it. 

Bringing all of our rich and diverse cultures to the masses; showing us the beauty of this land and the people that inhabit this land; bringing new characters to life to influence who we all can be. 

You also help us find meaning and purpose in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary, providing hope, wisdom, and laughter when we need it and we need a way forward, and transporting us through the past and the future to help us make sense of the present, because that’s what it does: make sense of the present.  With absolute courage, you combat racial stereotypes, confront ghosts of history, and speak truth to power. 

As Jill Biden’s husband, I know the power of women in this room.  (Laughter.)  I know — you think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)  All the women in my family are smarter than all the men, and that’s not a joke.  (Laughter.)  You think I’m joking.  I’m not.  I know you don’t think I’m joking. 

I know the power of women in this room to get things done and uplift the next generation of pioneers, proving a woman can do anything a man can do and then some.  And that includes being president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Just saying. 

You know, the artist’s gift is a sixth sense to imagine something no one else can carve, paint, write, sing, dance, or film until they set their visions free — you know, our vision of our nation’s North Star, the idea that we’re all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.  We’re the most unique nation in the world.  We’re the only nation founded on an idea — an idea.  Not a joke.  An idea.  All others are geography and other ethnicities. 

But we never, never, never — we’ve never walked away from the idea that all of us are created equal and deserve to be treated that way throughout our lives.  While we’ve never fully lived up to this idea, we’ve never walked away from it either — away from it either, because of you — I mean this sincerely — because of you, the people in this room, all of you who we honor in this per- — in person today and those whose spirits are with us. 

Folks, let’s take a moment to recognize those honorees who are no longer with us: Anthony Bourdain, Selena, Ruth Asawa.  You know, they were larger than life.  We remember every song, every sculpture, every meal, every moment they shared with us.  We miss them dearly. 

Let me close with this.  I — I’m a — we have a tendency to go on too long here because you’re an incredible group.  (Laughter.)  No, you really are.  You’re an incredible group. 

It’s clear Jill and I, Kamala and Doug, our entire administration believe in the power of the arts and humanities.  And it matters.  It matters now more than ever.  This is a very consequential time for the arts and humanities in America.  Extreme forces are banning books, trying to erase history, spreading misinformation.  But because of you — I mean this — because of you, we keep our books open.  You make history.  We combat lies with truth. 

This administration supports the arts and humanities as essential pieces of America’s might and dynamism, whether it’s helping local venues and theaters get through the pandemic or opening the White House for a range of groundbreaking concerts and exhibits. 

For example, we surprised Elton John while we — with the National Humanities Medal during the concert on the South Lawn.  At the first-ever Juneteenth conference at the White House, we heard the great Jennifer Hudson sing from her soul about the glory that will come. 

And one of the things we’re most proud of is that Jill instilled a new exhibition — installed a new exhibition in the East Wing, featuring artwork from children of military families.  You know, through the eyes of a child, we see the power of the arts and humanities — through the eyes of a child — to inspire and imagine a future — a future worthy of our dreams. 

In fact, 85 years ago, a 10-year-old boy was listening to the radio.  He heard the voice of Marian Anderson standing in the light of the Lincoln Memorial from the shadow of Jim Crow and singing, “My country ‘tis of thee, sweet la- — sweet land of li- — of liberty.”  (Applause.)

Look, folks, showing her pride in America and calling for national unity, her performance is described as a “concert that sparked the Civil Rights Movement.” 

Nearly 25 years later, that 10-year-old boy stood on those same steps.  His name was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  And he  declared a dream during the March on Washington.  He asked Marian Anderson to perform once again, and she did.  She sang, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” 

My fellow Americans, today we honor that legacy, and we remember the power in all your hands — and I mean it sincerely — your hands. 

Look, I’d like to ask the following medal- — medalists to stand, if you’re able, to be recognized.

Let’s recognize the class of 2022 National Medal of Arts recipients.  The class of 2022.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

And, folks, the class of 2022 medal recipients are here and are — you just heard them.

But the class of 2023, please — of the Arts — stand.  (Applause.) 

And, folks, you know, you’re an incredible group of people.  You know, there’s one other thing I want to say to you all, is that, you know the class of 2022 National Medal recipients — Humanities reci- — of the class of 2023 National Medal of Arts recipients.  I’d like to see you guys stand as well.

Did I already have you stand?  (Laughter.) 

2023, come on.  (Applause.)

National humanitarians — look, you guys are something else.  (Laughter.)  Class of 2023 Humanities Medal recipients are something else.  (Applause.) 

Well, I tell you what, there — congratulations, you all. 

Look, you know, there’s a — there’s a symn based — a hymn based on the 22nd Psalm of my church.  It says, “May he raise you up on eagle’s wings and bear you on the breath of dawn and let the light to shine upon you.  Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.” 

We need you.  We need you badly now.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for making us better.  I love you.

Please enjoy the reception.  God bless you all.  (Applause.)  

6:13 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at National Arts and Humanities Reception appeared first on The White House.

People’s Light
Malvern, Pennsylvania

11:54 A.M. EDT

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s get to it.

     MS. LONGWELL:  Let’s do it.  Let’s do it.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning, everyone.

     AUDIENCE:  Good morning.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Happy birthday!

     MS. LONGWELL:  Oh, happy belated birthday.  (Applause.)  Oh, yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  I appreciate that.  Thank you. 

     MS. LONGWELL:  Audience members showing me up — that’s tough.  (Laughter.)

Okay.  So, I’ve got to start with the thing that brings us here today, because I’ve got to say it is unusual for somebody who was as high up in the Republican leadership as Liz Cheney was to be out here campaigning with the Democratic nominee for president. 

And so, maybe — why don’t both of you tell us, but you start: You’ve actually marshaled unprecedented support from Republicans in this election.  Why do you think that is?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Sarah.  Thank you for being here and for your work.  And the congresswoman, thank you. 

I — I have said before and it must be repeated each time: There are moments in the history of our country which challenge us, each of us, to really decide do we stand for those things that we talk about, including, in particular, country over party.  And you have been extraordinarily courageous in the way that you have done that.  And I thank you for that.  (Applause.)

So, you know, I have in my career now — whether it was as the elected district attorney, elected attorney general, and then elected United States senator, and, of course, now vice president — I’ve counted that I have taken the oath of office six times.  And for the elected leaders here, we know it is an oath that one must take sincerely and unequivocally, which is an oath, among other things, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and to understand what those principles represent and what they require of the individual who holds the office and the public trust.

And let’s not undervalue that point as well.  It is not about the individual.  It is not about what is in their personal interests.  It is about what is for and in the spirit of the public good.     

 And this is a moment in this election that presents a real contrast among how I, as one of the two nominees, and my opponent, the former president, think of that duty.  And it is a duty, by the way.  There are certain things in our lives that we have the choice if we feel like it — (laughter) — and then there are certain things that are just fundamentally a duty, like to raise our children.  Things of that nature.  It is a duty to take seriously that oath and do it for the sake of the public good and in the public trust.

And I think that at this moment, with the choice that the American people have in this election in — in two weeks and one day, this election is presenting — for the first time, probably, in certainly recent history — a very clear choice and difference between the two nominees.  And I think that is what, as much as anything, is bringing us, as Americans, together, who are understanding that we cannot, with such fundamental stakes being presented, afford to be mired in ideological differences without really staking our claim to the most fundamental ideals upon which our country stands.

MS. LONGWELL:  Thank you.  And, you know, Congresswoman Cheney, it’s a — sort of the same question to you.  But I got to ask: You know, it’s one thing for Republicans to sign a letter.  You know, we’ve seen that she has — Vice President Harris has been endorsed by 200 Republicans in the national security space, all kinds of people from George W. Bush’s administration.  There’s been a lot of people — they’ll sign letters and maybe they’ll go on T.V., they’ll release a statement.  I was just with Republican Congressman Charlie Dent — former Republican congressman here from the state.  He voted for you in his early voting. 

But you are out here campaigning.  You are out here holding events.  So, talk about why it’s been so important to you to be as involved as you are in getting Vice President Harris elected.

MS. CHENEY:  Well, thank you so much, Sarah, for the question.  And — and it’s an honor to be here today with you, Madam Vice President. 

     You know — (applause) —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

MS. CHENEY:  — for me, every — every single thing in — in my experience and in my background has — has played a part in my decision to endorse Vice President Harris. 

And, you know, that — that begins with the fact that I’m a conservative, and I know that the most conservative of all conservative principles is being faithful to the Constitution.  And you have to choose, in this race, between someone who has been faithful to the Constitution, who will be faithful, and Donald Trump, who it’s not just us predicting how he will act.  We watched what he did after the last election.  We watched what he did on January 6th.

And so, coming to this as someone who’s been a lifelong Republican, a lifelong conservative, also as someone who spent — I spent time working overseas before I was elected to Congress, and I’ve — I’ve spent time working in countries where people aren’t free and where people are struggling for their freedom, and I know how — how quickly democracies can unravel. 

And I know that, as Americans, we can become accustomed to thinking, “Well, we don’t have to worry about that here.”  But I tell you, again, as someone who has seen firsthand how quickly it can happen, that that is what’s on the ballot.  That’s absolutely what’s on the ballot.

I also — I come to this decision as a mother.  I have five children.  And there was a moment right after January 6th when my husband and I were having dinner with our two youngest, our two sons, and I looked across the table at my — my young sons, and I thought to myself, “You know, in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, are they going to grow up in a country where we don’t have to worry about the peaceful transfer of power?  Are they going to grow up in a country where that is guaranteed?”

And — and I believe that every one of us in this election has a duty and an obligation to do what we know is right for the country, and that’s to support Vice President Harris.  So, I’m very honored to be here and to do that.  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

You know, if I can just echo the congresswoman’s point.  So, I’ve now, as vice president, met over 150 world leaders — presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings — many of them multiple times, to the point we’re on a first-name basis.  And the last few times that I’ve seen them in the relative eve of this election, they are very concerned, our allies.  Because, as you know, when we walk in those rooms around the world representing the United States of America, we have traditionally been able to walk in those rooms chin up, shoulders back, with the self-appointed and earned authority to talk about the importance of democracies and rule of law.

But as all the role models here know, as a role model, people watch what you do to see if it lines up with what you say.  People around the world are watching this. 

And I — I tell you, sometimes I do fret a bit about whether we, as Americans, truly understand how important we are to the world.  I hope everyone does really understand that we represent something — imperfect though we certainly are; flawed though we may be — we represent, in terms of our ideals, the — the basis of our Constitution, we represent a gold standard. 

And when we have someone who has been president, who wants to be president again, who is saying he would be dictator on day one, would weaponize our Department of Justice — one of the principles of our democracy is that we say we have a justice system that is blind, that is not punitive against one’s enemies, they are watching.

So, this is about direct impact on the American people, and it most certainly will impact people around the world. 

MS. LONGWELL:  You know, I’m so glad you brought that up.  And I — I — as a follow-up, I would just ask Congressman Cheney too.  We live in a dangerous time.  I mean, I think Americans are watching what’s happening overseas in Ukraine, in Israel.  Republicans — we used to be the party that would be on the side of our democratic allies like Ukraine. 

Talk to me a little bit and all of us about why, from a foreign policy standpoint, you find yourself able to endorse Democrats, who w- — wouldn’t — it didn’t used to be that way.

MS. CHENEY:  Well, it — it’s not just able to endorse them.  But — but if you look at the numbers of the most senior officials who served Donald Trump — his own vice president; national security advisors; his chief of staff; you know, the — the leading generals who served him — who’ve all said he’s unfit, and people really need to stop and think about how completely unprecedented that is.

And the — the idea — when people sort of say, “Well, we might, you know, be tempted, for some reason or another, to vote for Donald Trump” — if the issue is foreign policy, I would just ask everyone: Think about how dangerous and damaging it is to have someone who’s totally erratic — totally erratic, completely unstable — someone who has aligned himself with, who idolizes tyrants.  He idolizes tyrants. 

You know, the — the — again, the choice here, with respect to national security policy, is a man who has proven — he has absolutely proven that he will not stand up, he won’t defend this nation with respect to our own Constitution and rule of law, and Vice President Harris, who has been clear in terms of support for Ukraine, in terms of recognizing and understanding across the board that America cannot maintain our own freedom and security if we walk away from our allies around the world. 

And our adversaries know that they can play Donald Trump.  They absolutely know that they can play him.  And we simply can’t afford to take that risk.

So, as someone who has spent a career on national security issues — again, this was not at all a difficult choice for me — the — the choice here is absolutely clear in terms of the necessity of supporting Vice President Harris.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and if I may emphasize, part of the backbone of our national security is our military.  And let’s please not overlook how someone who wants to be commander in chief and was has talked about our servicemen and women; has talked about an American hero like John McCain, who was a prisoner of war — said he didn’t respect him, didn’t like him because he got caught; has talked about our service members as — as though they are less than the most courageous of us. 

 Those who put on the uniform, who represent the United States of America, who are willing to die for the sake of everything we stand for, and he calls them “suckers” and “losers.”  These things cannot be overlooked. 

And — and I have said many times publicly, and I’ll say it again: In many, many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man, but the consequences of him being president of the United States are brutally serious.  There are things that he says that will be the subject of skits and laughter and jokes, but words have meaning coming from someone who aspires to stand behind the seal of the president of the United States.  These are the things that are at stake.

     MS. LONGWELL:  Couldn’t agree more. 

So, I do want to ask you another question, though, before we go to the audience.  You know, you talk a lot about a new way forward.  You talk about turning the page.  What’s on the next page?  Talk to us about a —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You want a preview.

MS. LONGWELL:  Yeah.  Give me — a spoiler alert.  You know?  (Laughter.)  Just —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.

MS. LONGWELL:  — tell us — tell us what’s — what’s in the rest of the chapter.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, first of all, I will say that it — it is a metaphor that is meant to also describe my intention to embark on a new generation of leadership.  And needless to say, mine will not be a continuation of the Biden administration.  I bring to it my own ideas, my own experiences.

But it is also about moving past what, frankly, I think has been the last decade of — of the American discourse being influenced by Donald Trump in a way that has had the effect of suggesting we, as Americans, should point the finger at one another, in a way that has been using the power of the presidency to demean and to divide us.

I think people are exhausted with that, rightly.  And it, frankly, does not lead to the strength of our nation to tell the American people that we must be suspicious of one another, distrust one another.

You know, yesterday, I — I did a couple of church services, and there’s a — we — many people here know the — the parable of the Good Samaritan.  And there is an essence — a piece of that, in my own words, that really requires us, I think, to see in the face of a — of a stranger, to see a neighbor.  Right?  That spirit.  And I think we need to get back to that.

The spirit of the American people is such that, you know, we are an ambitious people.  We are aspirational.  We have dreams.  And that is productive. 

It is not productive of us to be a nation of people who are pointing fingers at one another, who don’t understand that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.

So, that’s what I mean about turning the page.  And then a new generation of leadership about being ambitious, about all we have yet to do. 

Part of my economic policy — I refer to it as an opportunity economy — is about investing in American industries while leaving none of our traditional, wonderful industries behind; repurposing and retooling the factories that have led to America’s success in industry, while at the same time redefining how we are thinking about which worker has the experience and skill to do the — the job and is qualified and understanding we shouldn’t be falling into a trap that suggests only those with a college degree have the skill or the experience to do the job.  So, let’s look at how we redefine and perhaps even reorder. 

And, in fact, I’m going to start with federal jobs, and then I’m going to challenge the private sector to do the same.  Let’s look at which of those jobs would benefit from a skilled, experienced worker who perhaps went through an apprenticeship program — not a four-year college, but still had a four-year degree, in essence.

     So, these are the kinds of things that are about seeing the opportunity of this moment and investing in it.

     I’ll tell you — and I know this is a controversial topic for many of us — I love Gen Z.  (Laughter.)  Because we have Gen Zs in our lives.  We have kids who are Gen Zs.  It can be complicated, I know.  I love Gen Z.

     These young leaders are so — they’re clear-eyed.  You know, they’ve only known the climate crisis.  They’ve only known active shooter drills.  I mean, we had fire drills.  Not — not our kids, right?

     But they also — they’re — they’re so wonderfully impatient — (laughter) — ri- — no, really, that’s good.  That’s good.  They are ready to get in there.  Let’s invest in them.  Let —

     So, for example, one of my — one piece of my opportunity economy is we got to deal with the reality of where we are right now.  The American dream, for previous generations, was something that people could kind of count on.  Not so much anymore, in terms of homeownership.  We have a housing shortage in America.  We have a supply shortage.

     So, part of my plan is, hey, let’s be clear-eyed about this moment.  Let’s invest in the future.  And as a — a devout public servant, I also know the limitations of government.  I want to work with the private sector.  I have, in my career.  The skills, the breadth, the depth of — of value in those active partnerships benefit us all.

     So, part of my plan for housing is to actively partner with building developers, with homebuilders to create tax credits to increase the supply of housing in America.  My estimate is — I think we can actually do it — by 3 million by the end of my first term.

     Part of my approach that is about a new generation, potentially, of leadership and certainly a different approach: Most of my career was not spent in Washington, D.C.  I say that with pride.  (Laughter.) 

     In that, you know, most of my career was spent as a prosecutor, but I — making decisions that had a direct impact on people’s lives.  You know, I learned at a very young age, as a prosecutor, that the things that I would do with the swipe of my pen could result in someone having their liberty or not.  

     When I was attorney general of California — which is, you know, by estimates, the fifth-largest economy in the world — I was acutely aware the words I spoke could move markets. 

     I like getting things done.  And part of my approach, which is, I think, about a new generation of leadership, is: Let’s cut through the red tape.  Let’s cut through the bureaucracy while still knowing the virtues of the work that we can do in the public sector, be it public education, public health, public safety.

     MS. LONGWELL:  This is a perfect segue into our first audience question, which is going to come from Alexandra Miller from Delaware County.  Main section, right — right there. 

     Hi, Alexandra. 

     Q    Hello.  Hello, Madam Vice President and Representative Cheney.

     MS. CHENEY:  Hi there.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi.

     Q    Thank you for taking my question today.  My name is Alex.  I have a 7-year-old son and a wonderful 72-year-old mother who is suffering from dementia and requires full-time care. 

     My son is in second grade, my mother is in a nursing home, and I work full time.  The costs of childcare and of eldercare are staggering.  But simultaneously, professionals that help care for both our children and our elders are generally underpaid, which makes it difficult for them to support their own families and do the jobs that they need to do. 

     How do you propose to help bridge this gap, making both child- and eldercare more affordable for hardworking families and also retaining and attracting quality talent for this — these essential jobs?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, first of all, you’re dealing with a lot.  You’re dealing with a lot, and I just wish you strength and support.  You are a part of what we call the “sandwich generation,” which are those parents and children who are right in the middle.  They are taking care of their young children and taking care of their parents as they age.  And it’s a lot.

     And so, I actually plan to address this in a substantial way because I actually bring a personal experience to it as well.  I took care of my mother when she was sick, and that work is the work of trying to cook something that they feel like eating — right? — trying to figure out which clothes will not irritate their skin and help them put on a sweater.  It’s about trying to figure out how you can say something that brings a smile to their face or makes them laugh.  It’s about dignity. 

     Meanwhile, you have a second-grader.  You’re trying to teach that kid how to read — (laughter) — spending time with them, reminding them they are special and can be anything. 

     And in the middle of all of that, if you are working or just to have a minute to breathe, it’s a lot.  It’s a lot. 

     So, what — the way that this plays out for many people is — is one of just a couple of ways.  One, if you have the good fortune of having enough extra money, you can hire somebody to come in.  And then, exactly as you said, you — knowing what you just shared with us about yourself — would pay them the value of their work.  Or someone in this position would have to basically spend down all their savings so they could qualify for Medicaid, which means they pretty much have to get rid of everything.  Or they have to quit their job, which means one less income in their household. 

     And this is a matter — this issue, for me, is a matter of dignity — yours, your parents, and the well-being of your child and you being able to do what you naturally want to do, and which — and the thing that we should value in our society, which is someone like you who is taking on the duty and the responsibility of all of that. 

     So, my plan is that instead of those scenarios I just mapped out, we will restructure it so that Medicare covers the cost of in-home health care for your parent so that they can be at home — (applause) — and you can then have the assistance with someone who can help prepare that meal, help them get dressed, and you can still give that baby of yours all the love that they deserve.  And you can have sanity in the process.  And everyone can have dignity. 

     And so, this is — this is my approach, which is let’s just look at this as an — let’s just come at it from common sense, by the way.  It’s just common sense.  And what makes — what is a — a commonsense, practical approach to doing this, because when you are able to be productive, we all benefit, by the way.  When that child is able to have a parent who is able to help them with their reading and remind that child that they are special, we are all going to benefit from that. 

     So, thank you for raising the subject.  (Applause.)  And you take care of yourself.

     MS. LONGWELL:  Okay.  Next we’re going to call on Ashley Scott, speaking of Gen Z — although I guess I shouldn’t assume I know what generation she’s from, but she is a student from Bucks County.  Hi.

     Q    Hi, Vice President Harris and Congresswoman Cheney.  My name is Ashley Scott.  I’m from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and I am Gen Z.  I’m 22 years old.  (Laughter.)

     MS. LONGWELL:  Nailed it.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good for you.  (Laughs.)

     Q    So, thank you for that compliment.  But yeah, my question is about maternal health.  Specifically, in the United States, maternal mortality is devastating.  The rates are terrible.  And I was wondering if you have a plan to combat the crisis.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Ashley, and thank you for being here and your voice.  It’s a big issue.  So, we have the very, I think, shameful distinction of — of any wealthy nation having one of, if not the highest, rate of maternal mortality. 

     And I’ve studied this issue.  I worked on it was on — when I was in the United States Senate and as vice president.  And the fact is that 90 percent of them are preventable, which tells us we can do something about it, right? 

     And it is an issue — so, Black women are three to four times more likely to die in connection with childbirth; Native women are, like, twice as likely; rural women, one and a half times as likely. 

     One of the common threads that you will see in those demographic populations is a lack of appropriate prenatal care and then care during the term of their pregnancy and then postpartum care.  And we know that when that care is available, they are having a healthier and, by the way, happier experience.  And the long-term impact to all of us as a society, much less to that family, is immense. 

     And so, the work that we have been doing and the work I intend to do going forward is to address that, right?  So, for example, in rural America, the — the way that the system has been structured — the health care system has been structured is a lot of those hospitals and clinics have had to close because of the way we — we reimburse based on population size.  And as people are leaving rural America, then the hospitals and the clinics can’t afford the overhead. 

     I’m oversimplifying but just to make the point.  So, we need to address that in terms of how we’re structuring, how we create incentives and — and give the resources to those health care facilities, be they clinics or hospitals. 

     The other piece that we have to do is really just talk more about the issue around also how, in the health care system, we are treating women and are we taking women seriously when they talk about their health care concerns. 

     So, again, personal experience, my mother had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters, my sister and I, and to end breast cancer.  My mother was a breast cancer researcher.  And she was so passionate about women’s health care, and I remember it as a young girl and throughout my life. 

     And we still have a lot of work to do to make sure that when she walks into that clinic, that doctor’s office, that hospital, that when — that she’s taken seriously.  And — and that’s also about what we do in terms of training within the profession.  It’s also about what we do in terms of public education to get information to women so that they know that they are not just complaining and they should not suppress or subordinate what their concerns might be about themselves because they’re taking care of everybody else. 

     So, there’s a lot of work to do.  And, of course, there’s a connection between this and what we need to do since the Dobbs decision came down, when we are looking at — I’ve met with a lot of, in particular, OB-GYNs who are concerned that there are kids going through — excuse me, young people going through their medical school who are now feeling deterred from engaging in reproductive health work. 

     And reproductive health work is vast.  It is not only about abortion; it is about a whole array of care.  And we want to make sure that we’re not creating disincentives for people to go into that very, very important profession. 

     And then we also want to make sure that we are, in the whole issue of reproductive care, not suggesting to women or the people who love them that they should be judged, because there is that also when you’re talking about reproductive care, where women sometimes are made to feel or do feel embarrassed to talk about their needs as it relates to their reproductive health.

     And then, of course, I feel very strongly the government should not be telling any woman what to do with her body.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  And when Congress passes a law reinstating the reproductive freedoms of women, I will gladly and proudly sign it into law, because I strongly believe one does not have to give up or abandon their own faith or beliefs to agree that — not the government telling her what to do.  If she chooses, she will consult with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam, but not the government. 

     We’ve seen too much harm — real harm — happen to women and the people who love them around our country since that decision came down, including women who have died.  And I don’t think that most people who — before the Dobbs decision came down — who had strong opinions about this — I don’t think most people intended that the harm that we’ve seen would have actually happened.

     MS. CHENEY:  Can I add to this just to — because I — I think it’s such an important point.  And I think there are many of us around the country who have been pro-life but who have watched what’s going on in our states since the Dobbs decision and have watched state legislatures put in place laws that are resulting in women not getting the care they need. 

     And so, I think this — this is not an issue that we’re seeing break down across party lines —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.

     MS. CHENEY:  — but I think we’re seeing people come together to say what has happened to women, when women are facing situations where they can’t get the care they need — where in places like Texas, for example, the attorney general is talking about suing — is suing to get access to women’s medical records — that’s not sustainable for us as — as a country, and — and it has to change.  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Yeah.

     MS. LONGWELL:  So, as we come close to time here, I want to ask you both kind of a final question.  You know, I — I watch the — the conversation in the country and the way that the media covers this election, and it’s often about the race: Who’s up in a poll?  Who’s down in a poll?  And I — I don’t always feel like we’re talking about the stakes enough. 

     And Liz Cheney would not be here if she didn’t think that the stakes were very high.  And frankly, the Republicans wouldn’t be so angry at you if they didn’t think you were an effective surrogate as somebody speaking about the stakes.  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Some Republicans.  Some Republicans.

     MS. LONGWELL:  Some Republicans.  Some Republicans.  #NotAllRepublicans.  (Laughter.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Because I’ve seen a lot of Republicans — just I’ve seen it and I know it happens — who thank her constantly. 

     MS. LONGWELL:  I — I know it.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  Yeah.

     MS. LONGWELL:  I know it.

     MS. CHENEY:  They’re going to vote the right way on November 5th. 

     MS. LONGWELL:  That’s right.

     MS. CHENEY:  They might not think public about it, but — but they’ll do what — what they know is right.  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.  I agree.  I agree.  I agree.

     MS. LONGWELL:  But just to close and — and maybe starting with you, Congresswoman, so you can have the last word.  Talk to me and all of us about the stakes.  Many people in the room here are undecided voters.  What’s — what’s kind of the last pitch that you would make about why this election is so important and why you believe they should vote for the vice president here?

     MS. CHENEY:  Well, I think that in this election, and especially here in Pennsylvania, we have the opportunity to tell the whole world who we are.  And we have the chance to say, you know, we’re — we’re going to reject cruelty.  We’re going to reject the kind of vile vitriol that we’ve seen from Donald Trump.  We’re going to reject the misogyny that we’ve seen from Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.  (Applause.) 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Right.

     MS. CHENEY:  And we have the chance in this race to elect somebody who you know is going to defend the rule of law.  You know Vice President Harris is going to defend our Constitution. 

     We have the chance to remind people that we are a good country.  We are a good and honorable people.  We are a great nation. 

     And — and in this race, we have the opportunity to vote for and support somebody you can count on. 

     We’re not always going to agree, but I know Vice President Harris will always do what she believes is right for this country.  She has a sincere heart, and that’s why I’m honored to be here and supporting her in this race.  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I mean, I — exactly.  The — listen, so, in my career as a prosecutor — you’ve heard me say this — I — I never, ever asked a victim or a witness, “Are you a Republican or a Democrat?”  Never.  It wouldn’t have even occurred to me to ask them.  I did, every time, ask, “Are you okay?”

     And I — you know, and I feel very strongly that — for example, in — on the issue of partisanship, yes, we’re going to have disagreements, but I actively invite good ideas from wherever they come.  That’s why I’m going to have a Republican in my Cabinet, by the way — (applause) — because I want good ideas.

     And, by the way, I know it is in our best interest as a nation, in our — the interest of our strength and our future as a nation.  We need a healthy two-party system.  We need a healthy two-party system.  (Applause.)

     We need to be able to have these good, intense debates about issues that are grounded in fact.  (Laughter.)  How about that?

     MS. CHENEY:  Imagine.

.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s start there.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

     Wow.  Can you believe that’s an applause line?  (Laughter.) 

     Oy.  But, you know, it’s — (laughter) — it’s — 

     We have in our grasp in these next 13 days — 13 days, we are — or 15 days, excuse me.  I — I’m just jumping ahead.  (Laughter.)  In these next 15 days, we have in our grasp the ability to determine the course of our country. 

     You know, every election, we’ve said, “This is the one.”  This is the one.  This truly is the one. 

     I mean, to the congresswoman’s point, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff referred to Donald Trump as being “fascist to the core.”  And no one would ever accuse the former chairman of being partisan in any way.  The people who know him best — from the former chief of staff; Defense secretaries, two of them; national security advisor to the former vice president.

     And so, we have in — in our grasp — because we still have a democracy.  As the saying goes, as long as we hold on to it, we still have a democracy, which means in a democracy — and here’s the beauty of it — we each have the power to make a decision about the future of our country through our vote.

     And my request, then, of each of you who have spent time out of your busy lives to be here — and I thank you for that — is please just help us get the word out to your neighbors and friends and family members to just remind them of what is at stake and this conversation. 

     I ask for your vote.  I ask for their votes.  And I promise to be a president for all Americans.  I promise and pledge that.  (Applause.)

     MS. LONGWELL:  All right, everyone.  Congresswoman Cheney and Vice President Kamala Harris.  Thank you so much. 

     Yes, let’s give them another round of applause.  That was wonderful.  (Applause.)

     Thank you so much.

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.

     MS. LONGWELL:  Thank you.  (Applause.)

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris and Liz Cheney at a Campaign Event | Malvern, PA appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Nebraska and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding on July 31, 2024.

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding in the counties of Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, and Saunders.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. Andrew P. Meyer of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

###

The post President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Nebraska Disaster Declaration appeared first on The White House.

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 $64 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.

The post Memorandum on the Delegation of Authority Under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 appeared first on The White House.

The Rose Garden

Have any of you ever walked through a museum and wanted to touch one of the displays?

Have you ever heard a recording from years ago and suddenly it feels like you’re in that room—like the present and the past are coming together?

Have you ever seen a picture of someone famous, and it’s helped you understand that person a little better?

That’s what was on my mind when creating this updated White House tour.

Today, with you, we are unveiling a reimagined White House tour experience.

Thank you for joining me and welcome to the White House!

As a teacher for 40 years, I know that we all learn in different ways.

Some of us learn through hearing something. Some of us through seeing or feeling something.

So, we added dynamic, flexible, and tactile tools of learning that let you follow your curiosity.

Now, you can do all the things that you’ve always wanted to do in a museum.

We made replicas, so that you can feel the features of some of the sculptures’ faces and touch the shining fabric on the furniture in the Blue Room. 

You can now hear President Roosevelt’s fireside chats in the room in which he recorded them—so you can feel as if you are there beside him.

We added screens and information, so you can read about what you see in each of the rooms.

One of my favorite parts of this new tour is walking past those glowing pictures in the Colonnade, going around the corner, and coming to that model of the White House on the wall. 

It changes every couple seconds, so you can see all the renovations that have taken place over the years.

You may not know this, but the White House didn’t always have running water or electricity. So, they had to open up the walls and add it!

That’s what you’ll learn on this tour. The rendering tells you that story: who added each piece of the house and when.

Serving as your First Lady has been an honor.

Being able to bring friends into the house is special—and that’s what we’re doing today—sharing it with all of you.

So many people put months of hard work into this project.

I’m grateful to Paul Buccieri and the History Channel, the National Park Service, the White House curators and Executive Residence Staff, ESI Design, the White House Historical Association, and presidential libraries staff for all their work.

To preserve our history, we must teach it.

We learn from the wisdom of the past and weave it into our future. And, as you walk through this house, I hope you’ll feel the history here. It’s your history—and it lives in each of you, connecting you to those who have walked here before you and to each other.

One of the things that makes this house so special is that it belongs to the American people.

And as your First Lady, it’s been a privilege to share it with all of you and keep opening the doors wider and wider.

Thank you. 

Like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite, the White House is a national park.

And I’m grateful to the National Park Service who work so hard to preserve and protect it for all of you.

They help make sure the White House is a place where you can be inspired and learn.

So, please help me welcome, National Park Service Director, Chuck Sams.

***

Thank you, Alysha.

Teaching isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. And we can all see that you were called to this profession for a reason. I’m so glad you answered that call. 

I’m grateful to everyone here for spending some of your day with us—for being a part of this moment.

And after you leave here, keep telling the world what you learned here. Keep exploring new parts of our history—keep that wisdom with you as you shape the future of our nation. And maybe one day, we’ll see one of your portraits hanging here, watching over the next generation of students.

Thank you. And enjoy the new tour!

###

The post Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the Unveiling of the Reimagined White House Public Tour appeared first on The White House.

New Educational and Engaging Elements Added to the White House Public Tour Route; Aimed at Enhancing Civics Education for Students of All Ages; First Significant Improvement to Tour in Decades

New Expanded Public Tour Will Now Include the Diplomatic Reception Room, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt held his famous fireside chats, and Further Entry Access to Rooms

For photos of the enhanced tour elements, please visit the White House FLICKR page.

Washington, DC – First Lady Jill Biden is unveiling today a new enhanced, educational White House public tour for visitors. A classroom teacher for 40 years, Dr. Biden knows that learning has to be engaging and interactive. The public tour, which accommodates approximately 10,000 visitors per week, is a significant opportunity to educate students of all ages about the living history of the White House. The public tour of the White House has not seen significant improvements in decades, until now.

“I’ve been a classroom teacher for 40 years, and I know learning has to be interactive and engaging. It has to evoke the senses, and you have to meet students where they are, giving them what they need to spark their curiosity and imagination,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “We hope the tour inspires everyone who visits the White House to learn more about our shared history.”

The enhanced White House public tour will now:

• include more educational and engaging elements along the tour route;
• incorporate more story-telling in the tour using technology and digital components;
• provide visitors with more historic context to their tour;
• entreat the senses with compelling and tactile content; and
• present more opportunities for learning about our nation’s history, civics, and the lives of Presidents and first families, past and present.

The enhanced tour elements are supported by The History Channel, in partnership with ESI Design, which is known for its educational improvements to the Liberty Island and Ellis Island museums, which like the White House are also cared for by the National Park Service. The History Channel has previously produced short films for historic sites across the country including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Statue of Liberty, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, and more.

“Preserving our country’s history, investing in education, and engaging the next generation is at the heart of the new expanded White House tour,” said Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A+E Networks Group, which includes The History Channel. “We are honored to join First Lady Jill Biden on this special initiative to enhance the White House tour experience for the American public and visitors from around the globe.”

“More than 10,000 visitors come through these doors each week on the public tour and it’s such an opportunity for students of all ages to learn about our country’s history, civics, and the lives of Presidents and their families,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “When Joe became President, I took a look at the public tour, which I’m told hasn’t seen any significant improvements in decades, and thought there
has to be a way to reimagine this tour experience, add more educational content and story-telling, while also preserving and protecting its history. So, we did.”

The First Lady added: “Throughout the past two years, we’ve been working with the National Park Service, White House Curator’s Office, White House Historical Association, presidential libraries, and The History Channel to enhance and expand the public tour of the White House. We’ve added flexible, versatile, and dynamic tools of learning to the tour; created more pathways in the house to bring people further into the rooms; expanded the tour to now include the Diplomatic Reception Room where President Roosevelt hosted his famous fireside chats; and we’ve included more educational content that visitors can touch, hear, and see up close.”

“The White House, like all national parks, are living classrooms that provide the public with inspirational and educational opportunities to connect with our nation’s shared heritage,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “The National Park Service is honored to support these tour and exhibit enhancements that will elevate the thrill level of walking the halls of the White House and experiencing firsthand the rooms where history has been, and continues to be, made.”

Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association said: “Dr. Biden’s passion for
education inspired this deeper engagement every visitor will now have with the White House. It has been a privilege to work with her and her team to deploy innovative and creative tools to better share the lessons and stories of White House history.”

The following enhancements have been made to the new expanded White House public tour route:

More Educational Story-telling and Civics Education Incorporated Throughout the Public Tour: The enhanced public tour now contains more historic, educational content, and story-telling elements throughout the visitor experience. For example, the Diplomatic Reception Room, used to welcome foreign dignitaries and home to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous fireside chats, will be open to the general public for the first time. One reader rail highlights the room’s panoramic wallpaper, Views of North America, and hosts a recreation of a 1939 Philco radio that plays snippets of various fireside chats given by FDR during his presidency.

Educational, Experiential Signage, and Video Greetings: New signage along the tour route will augment visitors’ educational experience, helping to set expectations for the tour and guiding visitors to more points of interest. The new educational content updates the 18 existing room introduction signs, with an additional six signs to mark new tour elements and critical views. As guests enter the public tour through the East Wing, they will be welcomed by a video message from the First Lady. A video from the President will greet visitors in the East Room, giving further historic context and depth to the tour.

“A Living Timeline” of White House History: Previously, the East Colonnade contained static photo collages, which were arduous to update and lacked key historic context or information. Visitors will now approach the East Colonnade and see a long corridor punctuated by permanent digital displays nestled below archways, embracing the design and feel of the previous collages. The graphic and media displays at each archway will showcase various “eras” of American history, segmented to capture historic moments of the White House and the presidency.

The Living Timeline accommodates various experience modes ranging from Tour Mode, to Residential Mode, and Special Events Mode. These modes ensure the Living Timeline is a versatile tool that can evolve with the White House and moments across history.

Three-Dimensional Architectural Model of the White House: After passing through the East Colonnade, visitors enter into the East Garden Room, where they will be greeted by a new 3D architectural model of White House’s 18-acre complex. Four supporting models depict the White House at key stages in its evolution. The dynamic model takes guests through the architectural history of the White House, beginning in 1792 and encompassing significant architectural milestones. The model is internally illuminated. Lighting cues are choreographed with a supplemental media screen that highlights important milestones pertaining to the architectural history of the White House. Over the course of the experience, visitors gain an appreciation of how the White House has evolved over time.

More Access to White House Rooms: Previously, several rooms on the public tour of the White House were roped off and visitors could only look inside. Now, visitors will be able to go further inside each room and learn more about the room and its history.

Expanded Tour Route to Now Include the Diplomatic Reception Room: Previously, the public tour route on the ground floor of the White House only included the Library, Vermeil Room, and China Room. Now, visitors will get to see the Diplomatic Reception Room, the location of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (FDR) historic “fireside chats” during the Great Depression and World War II. Audio of some of FDR’s fireside chats will play for visitors as they come through the room.

Multi-sensory Reader Rails: Once visitors go further into each room, they will be treated to multi-sensory “reader rails,” full of educational information and tactile, engaging content. These reader rails detail the historic uses of each room and highlight pertinent artifacts. Additionally, these rails offer opportunities for visitors to touch replicas of the materials in various room. This not only provides a new sensory experience for visitors, it also improves the accessibility of the experience for those who are blind or have low vision. The White House Historical Association currently provides an audio guide to the White House tour through their app, the WHExperience, which is available on whitehousehistory.org.

Dynamic Digital Partition Panel: As guests exit the Diplomatic Reception Room, they will see a dynamic digital partition panel on the left, before ascending the stairs to the State Floor. This panel is a versatile large photo frame, presenting educational content and imagery of the White House beyond the areas visible to the public tour.

East Room Welcome Pillar and Reader Rails: Speaking to visitors from the same room where Presidents have so often addressed the nation, a video from the President provides an introduction to the State Floor via a dedicated Welcome Pillar. Supporting reader rails provide educational information about the purpose and history of the East Room, the special items on display, such as the George and Martha Washington portraits featured in the center of the room, and the many momentous events that have happened there.

Additional Educational Content in the State Dining Room: As visitors enter the State Dining Room, they will be surrounded with educational content, with three reader rails. One rail exhibit highlights the history of the room itself, including the numerous State Dinners. Another rail features a quote inscribed on the mantel taken from a letter John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, on his first night at the White House. A tactile replica of the mantel’s inscription is positioned at the center of the rail, inviting visitors to feel the carving and reflect on Adams’ hope for the future. A final rail highlights art and artifacts in the room, such as the famous Lincoln Portrait, which rarely moves from its revered position over the room’s mantel.

Grand Staircase Frame: Positioned near the landing of the Grand Staircase, the Grand Frame serves as a window into special events at the White House, featuring rotating imagery of First Families at the staircase during State Dinners, holidays, or other special occasions.

###

The post First Lady Jill Biden Unveils Enhanced and Expanded White House Tour appeared first on The White House.

Every woman in every state must have reproductive freedom and access to the health care they need. That is why I have fought to lower health care costs and protect the ability of every woman to make her own decisions about her own body.
 
Today, our Administration is proposing the largest expansion of contraception coverage in more than a decade. This new proposed rule will build on our Administration’s work to protect reproductive freedom by providing millions of women with more options for the affordable contraception they need and deserve. That includes coverage for no-cost over-the-counter contraception without a prescription for the first time in our nation’s history. These lower contraception costs would be in addition to the billions of dollars that women have already saved on contraception under the Affordable Care Act which President Biden and I have strengthened since taking office.
 
While we fight to protect and expand health care, extremist so-called leaders are attacking reproductive freedom at every turn. Republicans in Congress have repeatedly blocked legislation to protect the right to contraception across the country. They have also consistently refused to protect access to IVF, and continue to propose national abortion bans.
 
President Biden and I stand with the majority of Americans – Republicans and Democrats alike – who support access to contraception. And we continue to call on Congress to pass federal legislation that restores reproductive freedom nationwide.

# # #

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on New Rulemaking to Expand Access to Contraception appeared first on The White House.

Since Roe v. Wade was overturned more than two years ago, Republican elected officials have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control, defund federal programs that help women access contraception, and repeal the Affordable Care Act. And Congressional Republicans have repeatedly blocked federal legislation to safeguard the fundamental right to birth control for women in every state. It’s unacceptable.

Today, my Administration is taking a major step to expand contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act. This new action would help ensure that millions of women with private health insurance can access the no-cost contraception they need. Vice President Harris and I have worked tirelessly to protect and build on the Affordable Care Act. We lowered costs for Marketplace coverage by an average of $800 per year for millions of Americans, and more Americans than ever before have signed up for health insurance through the law.  

At a time when contraception access is under attack, Vice President Harris and I are resolute in our commitment to expanding access to quality, affordable contraception. We believe that women in every state must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including the right to decide if and when to start or grow their family. We will continue to fight to protect access to reproductive health care and call on Congress to restore reproductive freedom and safeguard the right to contraception once and for all.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on New Action to Significantly Expand Contraception Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act appeared first on The White House.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Proposal for Most Significant Expansion of Contraception Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act in More Than a Decade

President Biden and Vice President Harris have protected and built on the Affordable Care Act. Nearly 50 million people over the past decade have had coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces, and the law has protected more than 100 million people with preexisting medical conditions. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, Affordable Care Act coverage is more affordable than ever with millions of families saving an average of $800 per year on Marketplace coverage.

The Affordable Care Act has also helped millions of women save billions of dollars on contraception—an essential component of reproductive health care that has only become more important since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As part of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ steadfast commitment to reproductive rights, the Biden-Harris Administration has further strengthened contraception access and affordability under the Affordable Care Act, through Medicare and Medicaid, through the Title X Family Planning Program, through federally qualified health centers, and for federal employees, Service members, veterans, and college students.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is proposing a rule that would significantly increase coverage of contraception without cost sharing for 52 million women of reproductive age with private health insurance. Building on the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that most private health plans must cover contraception without cost sharing, today’s proposed rule from the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and the Treasury would:

• Expand coverage of over-the-counter contraception without cost sharing. Under the proposed rule, for the first time, women would be able to obtain over-the-counter (OTC) contraception without a prescription at no additional cost. As a result, more women would be able to access and afford critical OTC medications such as emergency contraception and the first-ever daily oral contraceptive approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use without a prescription that is now widely available across the country.
  
• Make it easier to learn about coverage for OTC contraception. To help ensure that women understand this new benefit, most private health plans would be required to disclose that OTC contraception is covered without cost sharing and without a prescription—and take steps to help women learn more about their contraception coverage.
  
• Strengthen coverage of prescribed contraception without cost sharing. The proposed rule would make it easier for most women with private health insurance to obtain contraception without cost sharing that is prescribed by their health care provider. Health plans would be required to cover every FDA-approved contraceptive drug or drug-led combination product without cost sharing unless the plan also covers a therapeutic equivalent without cost sharing, eliminating barriers that some women continue to face in accessing contraception prescribed by their provider.

This proposed rule, if finalized, would be the most significant expansion of contraception coverage under the Affordable Care Act since 2012, when contraception was first required to be covered. Also today, the Biden-Harris Administration is issuing new guidance to help ensure that patients can access other preventive services, such as cancer screenings, that must be covered without cost sharing under the Affordable Care Act.

The Biden-Harris Administration is issuing this proposed rule at a time when reproductive rights are under attack, and Republican elected officials remain committed to repealing the Affordable Care Act. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, dangerous and extreme abortion bans are putting women’s health and lives at risk and disrupting access to critical health care services, including contraception, as health care providers are forced to close in states across the country. At the same time, Republican elected officials in some states have made clear they want to ban or restrict birth control in addition to abortion, and Republicans in Congress have attacked contraception access nationwide by proposing to defund the Title X Family Planning Program. In contrast, President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that women in every state must have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including the right to decide if and when to start or grow their family.

Today’s announcements build on actions that the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to expand access to affordable contraception, including to implement the President’s Executive Order on Strengthening Access to Affordable, High-Quality Contraception and Family Planning Services from June 2023. The Administration has taken action to:

• Expand contraception coverage and affordability under the Affordable Care Act. The Departments of HHS, Labor, and the Treasury proposed a rule to provide a new pathway under the Affordable Care Act for women to access coverage of contraceptives when their private health coverage is exempt from covering this benefit due to a religious objection. These agencies also issued new guidance to support expanded coverage of a broader range of FDA-approved, cleared, or granted contraceptives at no additional cost under the Affordable Care Act, building on guidance issued after Roe v. Wade was overturned to clarify protections for contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Further, HHS strengthened the standard for inclusion of family planning providers in Marketplace plan provider networks and provided nearly $9 million in grant funding to support state efforts to enhance and expand coverage of, and access to, reproductive and maternal health services, including contraception. And the Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance affirming that high-deductible health plans can cover OTC contraception as preventive care.
  
• Bolster family planning services through Title X clinics. HHS continues to rebuild and grow the Title X Family Planning Program, which has played a critical role in ensuring access to a broad range of high-quality family planning and preventive health services for more than 50 years. During the prior administration, more than 1,000 service sites left the Title X Family Planning Program, leading to a significant decline in people served. The Biden-Harris Administration reversed the policy changes that led to those departures, strengthening the Title X Family Planning Program and helping ensure that the Program remains a critical part of the nation’s health safety net. In 2023, HHS provided about $287 million to nearly 4,000 Title X clinics across the country to provide free or low-cost voluntary, client-centered family planning and related preventive services for 2.8 million women and families—an 80 percent increase since 2020.
  
• Support family planning coverage through the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new guidance to state Medicaid programs and Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP) to help ensure that enrollees can access family planning services. The new guidance outlined existing state obligations under federal law, highlighted strategies to enhance access to contraception, affirmed confidentiality requirements for those seeking family planning services, and shared recommendations on ways to measure quality in delivering family planning services. To help ensure that women with Medicare coverage have access to more covered types of contraception without unnecessary barriers, CMS updated its Medicare Part D formulary clinical review process for plan year 2024 and 2025 to include additional contraceptive types, such as long-acting contraceptives, and is increasing public awareness of contraceptive coverage options under Medicare Part B. The Secretary of HHS also issued a letter to state Medicaid and CHIP programs as well as private health insurers and Medicare plans about their existing obligations to cover contraception for those they serve.
  
• Increase contraception access through federal health centers. Federal health centers continue to be an important source of family planning services: in 2023, health centers provided nearly 3 million contraceptive services visits to patients, a 14 percent increase since 2020. To support health centers in providing high-quality family planning services, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provided updated guidance on existing federal requirements for family planning and related services, which is a required primary health care service under federal law, as well as evidence-based recommendations and resources. HRSA also adopted new data measures for health centers that will help assess whether patients have been screened for contraception needs. Screening and data measures will help enhance the overall delivery of voluntary family planning and related services.
  
• Support contraception access for federal employees and their families. The Office of Personnel Management strengthened access to contraception for federal workers, retirees, and family members by issuing guidance to insurers participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to clarify standards and support expanded coverage of a broader range of FDA-approved, cleared, or granted contraceptives at no additional cost. The Office of Personnel Management also required insurers that participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program to take additional steps to educate enrollees about their contraception benefits and launched a public education campaign to highlight contraception benefits available to federal employees and their families.
  
• Promote contraception access and affordability for Service members and their families and certain dependents of veterans. To improve access to contraception at military hospitals and clinics, the Department of Defense expanded walk-in contraceptive care services for active-duty Service members and other Military Health System beneficiaries and eliminated TRICARE copays for certain contraceptive services. And the Department of Veterans Affairs eliminated out-of-pocket costs for certain types of contraception through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  
• Support access to affordable contraception for college students. To help increase access to contraception for college students, President Biden directed the Secretary of Education to convene institutions of higher education to share best practices and ways to help students understand their options for accessing contraception. In 2023, Vice President Harris joined a Department of Education convening of representatives from 68 colleges and universities across 32 states to discuss promising strategies for protecting and expanding access to contraception for their students. This convening followed Vice President Harris’s multiple conversations about reproductive health access with students on college campuses across the country.
  
• Enhance contraception access through technical assistance and public-private partnership. In June 2023, HHS announced a new five-year public-private partnership to expand access to contraception with Upstream, a national nonprofit organization that provides health centers with free patient-centered, evidence-based training and technical assistance to eliminate provider-level barriers to offering the full range of contraceptive options. To date, HHS has connected Upstream to more than 130 health care clinics, resulting in partnerships that will help Upstream accelerate their national expansion to reach 5 million women of reproductive age every year.
  
• Promote research and data analysis on contraception access. To document the gaps and disparities in contraception access as well as the benefits of comprehensive coverage, HHS convened leading experts to discuss the state of research, data collection, and data analysis on contraception access and family planning services. These convenings helped identify research gaps, opportunities for collaboration, and ways to bolster research efforts for both Federal agencies and external partners.

In addition to strengthening access to affordable contraception, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to implement President Biden’s threeExecutiveOrders and a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to protect access to reproductive health care issued since the Court overturned Roe v. Wade. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken action to protect access to abortion, including FDA-approved medication abortion; defend access to emergency medical care; support the ability to travel for reproductive health care; safeguard the privacy of patients and health care providers; and ensure access to accurate information and legal resources.

The Vice President has led the White House’s efforts to partner with leaders on the frontlines of protecting access to abortion, highlighting the harm of abortion bans to women’s health at more than 100 events in more than 20 states since Roe v. Wade was overturned, and meeting with hundreds of  state legislators, health care providers, and advocates. On what would have been the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Vice President launched a nationwide Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour to continue fighting back against extreme attacks throughout America.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law to ensure that women in every state are able to make their own decisions about reproductive health care.

###

The post FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Rule to Expand Coverage of Affordable Contraception Under the Affordable Care Act appeared first on The White House.

Jennifer Klein, Director, White House Gender Policy Council

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, the Administration is taking bold action to expand coverage of contraception for the 52 million women of reproductive age with private health insurance, marking the most significant expansion of contraception benefits under the Affordable Care Act in more than a decade. Today’s announcement builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s strong record of defending access to reproductive health care and commitment to ensuring that women have the freedom to make deeply personal health care decisions, including if and when to start or grow their family.

Meanwhile, Republican elected officials continue to threaten women’s health, lives, and freedom through extreme abortion bans, some with no exceptions for rape or incest. Women are being denied essential medical care while doctors and nurses are threatened with jail time. Abortion, contraception, and IVF are under attack, while Republicans in Congress refuse to protect nationwide access to this vital reproductive health care. This extreme agenda is out-of-touch with the American people—which is why voters have overwhelmingly chosen to protect reproductive freedom in every state where abortion has been on the ballot.
President Biden and Vice President Harris stand with the vast majority of Americans in supporting a woman’s right to choose, and they will continue the fight against a national abortion ban and call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law once and for all.

Women’s Health and Lives at Risk
From day one, President Biden and Vice President Harris knew that state abortion bans would have devastating consequences for women’s health and lives. Since Roe was overturned, more than 1 in 3 women of reproductive age live in the more than 20 states with dangerous and extreme abortion bans in effect.

• Abortion bans are leaving women without emergency care. Courageous women and their families have shared harrowing stories about being denied urgently needed care because of state abortion bans. Women have died because they did not get the care they needed—or women only received care after developing sepsis or losing more than half of their blood. Some women are suing their states so other women with severe and dangerous pregnancy complications will not be similarly forced to the brink of death before they can receive an abortion.
  
• Abortion bans are worsening maternal mortality. States with abortion bans have higher rates of maternal mortality than states where abortion remains legal. For instance, after a dangerous Texas abortion ban went into effect in 2021, maternal mortality increased by 56% (compared to 11% nationwide). One year after Dobbs, two-thirds of OBGYNs reported that the Court’s decision worsened pregnancy-related mortality and their ability to manage pregnancy-related emergencies. And criminal and civil penalties under state abortion bans are causing doctors to flee abortion ban states, exacerbating the maternal health crisis and creating maternity care deserts that impact entire communities. 
  
• Abortion bans are making it even harder to access contraception and other essential care. Since Roe was overturned, abortion bans have caused dozens of reproductive health care clinics to shutter, jeopardizing access to abortion, contraception, and preventive care that women rely on. In states with abortion bans, there were over 4% fewer filled prescriptions for oral contraception in the first year after Roe was overturned. Some states had far greater declines: Texas, for instance, had a 28% decline in filled prescriptions for oral contraception.
  
• Abortion bans are forcing women to travel hundreds of miles for care. State abortion bans are forcing many women to travel to another state to obtain care that would have been available in their state if Roe were still the law of the land. Women in nearly a quarter of counties in America—especially in the South—have been forced to travel more than 200 miles to get the essential care they need.
  
• Abortion bans are jeopardizing our ability to train the next generation of medical providers. States with abortion bans continue to see a decrease in medical and residency student applications, especially among prospective OBGYNs. Nearly 60% of third- and fourth-year medical students said they were unlikely or very unlikely to apply to a single residency program in a state with abortion restrictions, while nearly 80% said that access to abortion care would influence where they would pursue their residency. And about 1 in 5 OBGYN residents said that the overturning of Roe changed where they had planned to practice medicine, and those who had planned to practice in a state with abortion bans were eight times more likely to change their intended practice location.

Republican Officials’ Extreme Agenda

Despite the devastating impact of state abortion bans, Republican officials continue to push for a nationwide abortion ban to restrict the rights of women in every state, deny access to emergency medical care, and eliminate access to safe and effective, FDA-approved medication abortion.

• Republicans in Congress have proposed four national abortion bans that would deny every woman in America the right to choose, regardless of where she lives. This includes a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest that puts IVF treatment squarely at risk. House Republicans have also attacked contraception access nationwide by repeatedly proposing to defund the Title X Family Planning Program. And Senate Republicans continue to block federal legislation that would safeguard nationwide access to abortion, contraception, and IVF.
  
• Republican elected officials have enacted or enforced abortion bans in more than 20 states. Republican attorneys general have made clear they seek to access women’s medical records—even for out-of-state care—and have tried to discourage women from traveling out-of-state to receive lawful abortion care by threatening those who help them with criminal charges.
  
• Republican elected officials filed more than 350 bills restricting abortion during the 2024 legislative session. In Louisiana, Republican officials classified medications used in abortion and miscarriage management as controlled substances, making it even harder to access these critical medications during an emergency. In Florida, state officials are attempting to undermine support for a reproductive freedom ballot measure, including by threatening TV stations that run ads with criminal charges. And Republican state legislators are proposing legislation that would jeopardize access to IVF.
  
• Republican elected officials want to ban medication abortion nationwide, including in states where abortion remains lawful. They are also fighting to prevent women from receiving the emergency medical care they are entitled to under federal law— including abortion care when necessary to save a woman’s health or life.

No attempt to “rebrand” can change the fact that Republican elected officials have spent decades undermining reproductive freedom. Republican elected officials will not stop pursuing extreme policies until there is a national abortion ban in place.

###

The post Interested Parties Memo: Biden-Harris Administration Expands Coverage of Contraception Under the Affordable Care Act as Republican Elected Officials Continue Attacks on Reproductive Freedom appeared first on The White House.

Divine Faith Ministries International
Jonesboro, Georgia

1:47 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, church.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon. 

Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.  I will be brief, but please have a seat. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are not going back.  No, we are not going back. 

Bishop Battle, I want to thank you for warmly receiving me and so many of us who — who joined you this afternoon — to thank you and the congregation and first lady for all the work that you are doing and for getting folks out to the polls today. 

I was — I’ve been in Georgia.  Today, I was — earlier, we were in fellowship and prayer with my pastor, who — who flew out from — from San Francisco, Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco.  We were all together this morning. 

And I have to say that I do know that we have all been raised in the church to understand “faith” is a verb.  (Laughs.)  It is about what we know and can believe, despite what we see, but it also is something that is going to manifest itself in our actions, our deeds, and our service. 

And I know everyone here today and this afternoon is committed to doing just that, and this is an afternoon that is about faith in action.

And, Pastor, I have to say, there is so much at stake right now.  And when we think about how we have learned and have understood and lived the knowledge that ours is a loving God, and that we understand that for us to do good works, it means to do it in the spirit of understanding that our strength is not based on who we beat down, as some would try and suggest.  Our strength is based on who we lift up. 

And that spirit is very much at stake in these next 16 days, which is: Are we a country that honors, through our faith and our deeds, the importance of kindness; of — of support; of understanding the dignity in each other, the respect that we should have for each other? 

You know, we know, in terms of the parable of the Good Samaritan, that we have learned and should live a life where in the face of a stranger, we see a neighbor.  But that’s not what we see on the other side of this oqua- — equation in this election.  It is constantly about berating people and belittling people and name-calling. 

And I think we of faith, we who believe in our country and love our country, know that we each as individuals and as a community have the power to make decisions through these next 16 days that will be about a statement about what kind of country do we want to live in and is ours a country where the people will speak their word — the power of the people will make the statement that ours is a country that, fueled by our faith, is about doing things that are focused on what’s in the best interest of our children, our families; giving people the resources they need around assistance; helping people pull out of poverty — those who want to work hard, who are working hard, but deserve to be seen and uplifted.  And these are the issues in this election.

I offer as an example — one of the things that I am very focused on is what we need to do to take care of our elders, right?  (Applause.)

So, as a point of personal experience, I will share with you.  When my mother was sick — she passed away from cancer.  And I know this is “Pink Sunday” for many of us.  We’re — we’re acknowledging what we knew t- — need to do to fight breast cancer.

So, my mother, she — she actually did research in breast cancer, okay?  And she was one of the very few who actually — a woman of color who was doing this work. 

But when my mother was sick, I took care of her.  And for anyone who has taken care of an elder in your family — a parent, a grandparent — you know what that is.  It’s about trying to cook something that they’ll feel like eating.  It’s about trying to give them the clothes that won’t irritate their skin, to — to help them to put on a sweater.  It’s about trying to figure out something you can say that brings a smile to their face or gives them a reason to laugh.  It’s about dignity.  It’s about dignity. 

So, part of how I think about what we need to do in the future of our country is really have policies that are about sharing and giving and recognizing dignity, which is why part of my plan is that instead of having you have to either leave your job to take care of an elder in your family or try to pull together the money to afford to bring somebody in or — worse yet — have to reduce all of your savings to qualify for Medicaid — I know what I’m talking about.  (Applause.) 

So, understanding it’s about dignity, part of my plan is that we are going to have Medicare co- — cover the cost of in-home health care for our seniors.  (Applause.)

And I could go on and on on the list of things that are about — from my perspective, and a lot of it my lived experience — about what kinds of policies a president of the United States should be leading and pushing that are rooted in recognizing the dignity in each one of us and the importance of lifting others up, especially those in need.  And as much as anything else, that’s what’s at stake in this election. 

And so, I thank you for all you are willing to do to continue to be leaders in this community, to get folks out to vote.  We have to remou- — we have to remind people the power they have, in spite of those that would try to diminish and make people feel powerless, in spite of those who would try and suggest that, “Oh, if you vote, nothing will happen.”  For sure, if you don’t vote, nothing will happen.  (Applause.)

I mean, recently, I was reminded: Jimmy Carter voted on his 100th birthday.  (Applause.)  Seems to me everybody can vote.  (Laughs.) 

But this work is so important because, in these next 16 days, with your help, I hope that we will continue to work on building back up community.  The church knows best how to do that.  Let’s build back up community. 

Let’s remind each other and perfect strangers we are all in this together.  We have so much more in common than what separates us. 

So, let’s reclaim that spirit for our country as we fight for the future, because we are not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)

And my final point is to thank the great Stevie Wonder, because my — (applause) — you know, if one were to ever have a life dream — you know, people talk about a bucket list.  I think I have just checked off a whole big one — (laughter) — to have Stevie Wonder himself sing me “Happy Birthday.”  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  So, I am truly blessed.

MR. WONDER:  Madam Vice President, I just want to — want to — if they can just say —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh.

MR. WONDER:  (Singing.)  People, keep on voting.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Keep on voting!  People — I’m not going to sing in here.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  (Singing.) People, keep on voting.

MR. WONDER: (Singing.)  ‘Til we reach the higher ground.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  ‘Til we reach the higher ground.  (Laughs.)

MR. WONDER:  Yes!

BISHOP BATTLE:  Amen.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Bishop, I’m going to give you back the mic.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

END                 1:55 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at an Early Vote Event | Jonesboro, GA appeared first on The White House.

New Birth Baptist Church
Stonecrest, Georgia

10:46 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Good morning, church.  (Applause.)  Good morning, New Birth.  Good morning.  (Applause.)

Please — please have a seat.  Good morning.  Good morning, church.  (Applause.)

I’m so honored to be with you.  Thank you.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  And everyone, good Sunday morning. 

Pastor —

AUDIENCE:  Happy birthday!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Okay, it’s Sunday morning.  It’s Sunday morning. 

And — and I — first of all, Pastor Bryant, I want to thank you.  You and I were reminiscing —

(The audience sings Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday”)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)

     (The crowd continues singing.)

Oh, my goodness.  Thank you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Oh, I’m so touched. 

Well, it is my great joy to celebrate my birthday with all of you here, and thank you for those warm and beautiful wishes.

Pastor Bryant, I thank you for your leadership.  You and I have discussed — we first met almost 20 years ago when there was a convening of rising stars in — in the country, and we had conversations back then about how we thought of our role and responsibility to our country and our responsibility and duty as leaders.  And it is so good to be with you this morning to celebrate what you have accomplished with this extraordinary congregation. 

And so, I’m honored to be here with everyone — (applause) — and thank you.  Thank you all, and please have a seat.  Please have a seat.  Thank you. 

So, before I begin, I will address the tragic incident that happened yesterday at Sapelo Island when a dock collapsed during what was to be a joyful celebration of history and culture.  And while we are still gathering information, we know that lives were lost and many were injured. 

And so, my heart, as I know for all of us, goes out to those who were impacted, and I thank all the first responders who acted so quickly.  And, of course, our administration has been in touch with state and local officials to offer any needed support.  And I know, on behalf of all of us here, that we pray for all of those who are affected.  (Applause.)

So, in times like this, we are reminded of the ties that bind us to each other and the importance of community — the importance of community.  And that is what I know New Birth church provides to so many people across Atlanta and beyond.

And so, Pastor Bryant, I thank you for your words and for your vision.  And in this election season, I also thank you for the time you have spent traveling our country to encourage people to register and to vote.  Because you know and we all know your parents, who gave so much and led such an honorable life, and — including, of course, among the leaders upon whose broad shoulders we stand — Congressman John Lewis — they — (applause) — they all knew, and by their example, they taught us that faith and good works go hand in hand. 

And that is especially true when it comes to protecting our sacred right to vote and getting souls to the polls, and I thank everyone for all you are doing in that regard. 

And I am truly honored to be in the presence of so many extraordinary leaders, including my pastor, Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown of Third Baptist Church of San Francisco — (applause) — who you heard from earlier this morning — there he is, there he is — and whose wisdom, Dr. Brown, has guided me and just been a source of comfort and solace for me for so many years.

And I’m especially glad to be here on Pink Sunday.  (Applause.)  As some of you may know, my mother was a breast cancer researcher.  She was one of the very few women — and fewer even women of color — who was engaged in studying breast cancer.  And she had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters — my sister Maya and me — and to end breast cancer.  It was her life’s work.  And so, today, of course, then has personal significance for me, just as I know it does for Pastor Bryant and — and so many of you here. 

And so, to everyone here today who knows what it means to support a loved one through a cancer diagnosis and treatment, and to those of you fighting your own battles, I am holding you close in my heart and in my prayers, and I thank you for your courage and your strength. 

So, all of this is to say it is so good to be here with everyone today and to worship with you.  And on this day, then, I am reminded, with everything that we reflect on, on the parable from the Gospel of Luke.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Preach!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, in the gospel, we are told of a man who traveled from the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.  And while traveling, he was attacked by robbers.  We remember he was beaten.  He was bloodied.  They left him for dead.  He was someone that should just be passed on by, maybe with a glance of pity but not more.

So, one person passed by, sees the man lying in his path, and walks around him, not wanting to be bothered or obstructed on the path that he decided to walk. 

A second man does the same. 

But then a Samaritan walks by.  He sees the man, and he stops.  The Samaritan bandages the stranger’s wounds, he brings him to an inn, gives him shelter and a hot meal, and he saves the man’s life. 

This parable, the parable of the Good Samaritan, teaches us to love thy neighbor as thyself.  (Applause.)

These words are simple.  We know them well.  It is an essential tenet and a pillar of our faith and that of so many others.  However, one must ask: Are all people of faith living those words?  Are all people of faith expressing those words in their actions?  Do we have leaders in place who understand that in the face of a stranger, one should see a neighbor?  (Applause.)

And I’ll tell you, I grew up in a church that took those words to heart.  As a little girl on Sundays, my sister Maya and I would go to 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland, California, where we sang in the children’s choir, we attended Sunday school, and where after church we would go to the basement and eat food prepared by loving hands — and where I first learned the teachings of the Bible. 

And my earliest memories of those teachings are about a loving God — a loving God — (applause) — a God who asks us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the poor and the needy.

And for me, like for so many of us, church is then a place of growth and belonging and community, a place where we are reminded of the incredible power of faith and followship — and fellowship.  And in moments of difficulty and uncertainty, when the way is not clear, it is our faith that then guides us forward — faith in what we often cannot see but we know to be true.  Faith in what we cannot see but know to be true. 

And I say that because in this moment, across our nation, what we do see are some who try to deepen division among us, spread hate, sow fear, and cause chaos.  There are those who suggest that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down instead of what we know, which is the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And this moment in our nation must be about so much more than partisan politics.  It must be about looking inward and being guided by our faith to know what brings hope and what is truly the best expression of our strength in the way that we reach out to each other with kindness and with love and with sincerity in that approach. 

This is a moment that is challenging us of faith to reflect on this moment in the context of our future.  We just applauded the young leaders who are here this morning, and I think so much of this moment in the context of them, our young leaders, and what they have a right to expect and what their faith teaches them, that gives them, rightly, a sense of hope about where they belong, who they are, and what they can be. 

And so, this is a moment that is challenging, I think, our fundamental values and challenging us as Americans and as people of faith.  And as the Good Samaritan reminds us, it is not enough to preach the values of compassion and respect.  We must live them.  (Applause.)

Faith is a verb.  Faith is a verb.  We show it in action, in our deeds and in our service.  Here in Georgia, we’ve seen it playing out in real time in just the last many weeks, where communities have come together in the wake of Hurricane Helene. 

Right here in the Atlanta area, I saw the story of a reporter who was outside covering the storm live on television when he heard some screams, he dropped everything and waded into chest-deep water to rescue a woman trapped in her car, carrying her on his back to safety. 

In a town a few hours from here, one mother and her children lost power for days.  And as soon as it was restored, they started a relief drive, distributing food, water, and supplies, and opened their home to neighbors in need of laundry or a hot shower. 

On a visit recently to Augusta, I met people who themselves had experienced extraordinary loss and devastation, many who did not have electricity or running water.  Yet, every day, they left their homes to go to relief centers to help perfect strangers. 

So, what we have seen here in Georgia and in other states is faith in action, individuals who know their power to shed light in a moment of darkness.

We have seen the Good Samaritans walking among us.  And for that reason, I say, as the scripture tells us, we then must remember that and not be weary.  Let us not be weary in moments like this.  Let us focus on what God shows us about the Good Samaritans walking among us to remind us of the power, the agency, the ability, and, dare I say, the duty that we have to come to another’s aid in moments of need, to love thy neighbor. 

 And what God is showing us is that any of us can do that, no matter who we are.  And I know — and I — and I learned this at a young age.  (Applause.)  And actually, I’ll share with you a quick story. 

So, during my final year of — of law school, I was a summer intern in the DA’s office in Oakland, California, and I was working in the superior courthouse.  And there was this one case that I got, and it was — it involved a drug bust.  And the police had arrested a number of people, including an innocent bystander — a woman who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

And when I got the case, it was a late Friday afternoon, and most folks had gone home for the weekend, and I knew, in all likelihood, the judge would probably not see her case until that following Monday, which would have meant that she would have had to spend the whole weekend in jail. 

Now, this woman had children.  She is a mother.  She had children at home, and I wondered if they even knew that their mother had been arrested, who would take care of them if she could not.  Would Child Protective Services come and take those children?  Everything was on the line for that woman.

So, I rushed to the clerk of the court and asked them to have the case called that day.  And then, when that did not work, I pleaded with them.  Remember, I was not vice president.  I was an intern.  (Laughter.)  So, yes, I pleaded.

And finally, the judge returned to the bench and reviewed her case and, with a pound of his gavel, she was free to go home, and she would go home to see her children and take care of them.  (Applause.) 

And I never did get the chance to meet that woman, but I will never forget that moment.  And I share that story to say that we have all in our lives, from the earliest stages of our lives, had those moments where it has been revealed to us our power.  And we should never let anyone take our power from us — (applause) — or in any way try to convince us we are powerless. 

And so, I say, as we move forward, let us look at where we are and understand the lesson of the Gospel of Luke, because right now, each of us has an opportunity to make a difference.  In this moment, our country is at a crossroads and where we go from here is up to us as Americans and as people of faith. 

And now we ask a question.  We face this question.  What kind of country do we want to live in — a country of chaos, fear, and hate or a country of freedom, compassion, and justice?  (Applause.)

And the great thing about living in a democracy is that we, the people, have the power to answer that question.  So, let us answer not just through our words but through our action and with our votes. 

When we come across our brothers and sisters in need, let us, as the Good Samaritan did, see in the face of a stranger a neighbor.  And let us recognize that when we shine the light in moments of darkness, it will guide our feet into the path of peace. 

And let us remember that while weeping may endure for a night — (applause) — joy cometh in the morning.

Thank you.  May God bless you.  And may God bless the United States of America.  Thank you all very much.  (Applause.) 

 Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

                             END                11:04 A.M. EDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Church Service | Stonecrest, GA appeared first on The White House.

FEMA to hire Community Liaisons across the state to aid in recovery

More than $300 million approved for North Carolina survivors and state recovery efforts

Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across the Southeast and Appalachia, the Biden-Harris Administration continues its robust Federal efforts to help communities recover and rebuild, including in heavily impacted communities in North Carolina. Across the state, the Administration is working alongside state and local officials to continue surging resources and assisting families, business owners, farmers, and other impacted communities receive the support and assistance they need and deserve.

To continue supporting recovery efforts, today the Administration is announcing that the Federal government will create a brand-new program and hire Community Liaisons to assist impacted communities with their recovery and rebuilding efforts. These dedicated Community Liaisons will interface between the people of North Carolina and FEMA to ensure their needs are met and serve as trusted messengers for survivors.

Thus far, the Administration has approved more than $300 million in assistance across the state, including $118 million in individual assistance to more than 87,600 households, and more than $189 million for debris removal and other emergency efforts. In total, across all impacted states in the Southeast and Appalachia, the Administration has approved nearly $2 billion in hurricane recovery assistance.

These new efforts to support North Carolina’s recovery supplement additional resources and funding, including:

• More than 1,500 Federal personnel remain deployed supporting the response and recovery operations. This includes more than 400 Disaster Survivor Assistance Team members, who are visiting neighborhoods to connect with survivors, assess damage, and offer access to Federal resources that support recovery and rebuilding.
• Fourteen Disaster Recovery Centers are operating in impacted areas and have served more than 5,700 visitors. More centers will be opening in the coming days. Survivors can visit Disaster Recovery Centers in the following cities/towns: Asheville, Bakersville, Boone, Brevard, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Marion, Morgantown, Newland, Old Fort, Sparta, Sylva, and Waynesville.
• FEMA is providing temporary hotel stays to more than 2,500 households through Transitional Sheltering Assistance.
• FEMA inspectors have performed more than 21,000 home inspections to help survivors assess damage and apply for financial assistance.
• Active-duty troops and National Guard members remain on the ground in their state capacity to support search-and-rescue operations, route clearance, and commodities distribution across western North Carolina. The Department of Defense is also employing additional capabilities to assist with increasing situational awareness across the remote terrain of Western North Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers continues missions supporting debris removal, temporary emergency power installation, water and wastewater assessments with the Environmental Protection Agency.
• Power has been restored to 99 percent of impacted North Carolina customers due to thousands of utility personnel working around the clock.
• Commodity distribution, mass feeding, and hydration operations continue in areas of western North Carolina. FEMA continues to send commodity shipments and voluntary organizations are supporting feeding operations with bulk food and water deliveries coming in via truck and aircraft. Mobile feeding operations are reaching survivors in heavily impacted areas, including three mass feeding sites in Buncombe, McDowell and Watauga counties.

Additional actions the Administration is taking to protect public health, provide flexibilities to homeowners and taxpayers, support infrastructure recovery, and support workers, farmers, and students in North Carolina can be found here. Additional actions President Biden directed before Helene’s landfall can be found here.

Biden-Harris Administration’s Continuous Commitment to Being on the Ground

Following Hurricane Helene’s devastating impacts across North Carolina, President Biden committed to helping impacted communities recover and rebuild, no matter how long it takes. On October 2, less than one week after landfall, President Biden visited North Carolina to survey the damage, meet with first responders and impacted communities, and receive an operational briefing. As part of that visit, he also directed up to 1,000 active-duty troops to partner with the North Carolina National Guard on the ground at the request of the Governor. Days later, to surge additional resources and capacity at the request of the Governor, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops to move into western North Carolina. On October 5, Vice President Harris also visited North Carolina to survey the damage, receive briefings, and meet with first responders.

The President and Vice President and senior leaders across the Administration have spoken with and coordinated closely with Governor Cooper throughout the response. President Biden talked with Governor Cooper at least twice immediately following Helene’s landfall, and Governor Cooper joined him to survey damage and receive briefings during his visit. They have stayed in close contact in the ensuing weeks.

At the President’s direction, FEMA Administrator Criswell has been on the ground in North Carolina for multiple days and nights to lead the Federal response since Helene’s landfall. She has traveled across the state to meet with survivors and communities, identify resource needs, and continue ensuring a swift and coordinated recovery effort.  She will return again this evening and remain in place to direct additional measures to speed response and recovery.  Many other Administration leaders, including Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Secretary Michael Regan, and Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, have also visited North Carolina to support recovery efforts and others will do so in the coming days and weeks, including Secretary Tom Vilsack on October 25.

###

The post FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Support North Carolina’s Hurricane Recovery appeared first on The White House.