Whitehouse.gov Feed

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:06 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, today is a solemn day and a day of remembrance.

One year ago, on October 7th, Hamas launched a heinous attack against Israel. On a day that was supposed to be a joyous Jewish holiday of singing and dancing, Hamas terr- –terrorists streamed across the border from Gaza into Israel and massacred more than 1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, at a music festival.

They committed horrific acts of sexual violence. In many cases, these terrorists recorded their acts of barbarity and carnage, chilling, documenting the unspeakable atrocities they committed for others to see.

This morning, the president and the first lady lit a yahrzeit candle to remember all those who were massacred by Hamas in what was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

The president and the first lady were joined by Rabbi Aaron Alexander of Adas Israel Congregation for the candle lighting in remembrance of the victims of the October 7th attacks.

The rabbi recited “God Full of Mercy,” a Jewish prayer for the soul of a person who has died. It is recited during bur- — burial services and memorial services.

Rabbi Alexander is a family friend of the Goldberg-Polin family. Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted by Hamas on October 7th and held hostage for almost 11 months until he was murdered by Hamas.

The president also issued a statement mourning those who were killed and recognizing the more than 250 innocents, including 12 Americans, who were taken hostage. The president has met with many of their families and grieved with them. As he said this morning, “They have been through hell.” So many families have lost loved ones on October 7th and will never be the same.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have stood strongly in support of the people of Israel and they made clear again today they fully — they fully co- — they are fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist.

As both the president and the vice president said, we must bring the hostages home that are being — who are being held in Gaza.

President Biden continues to work around the clock to try to reach a ceasefire and hostage release deal that would not only bring the hostages held by Hamas home to their families, but also end the fighting and alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza, many of whom have been living in hellish conditions, and enable a much-needed surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza.

As we reflect on the past year and all that has happened since October 7th, we also mourn the loss of innocent life in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of the conflict that Hamas’ terro- — terrorism has unleashed.

President Biden will never stop working to end the suffering of all people. And he continues the work to build the conditions for a lasting peace in the region so that after this conflict is over, Israelis and Palestinians can live securely, side by side, in a lasting peace with equal measures of safety, opportunity, and dignity.

Now, moving on to the hurricane — Hurricane Helene.

President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to s- — to use every tool available to help communities devastated by Hurricane Helene.

Over the weekend, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops to move into western north Cali- — Car- — Carolina — North Carolina, pardon me, in addition to the 1,000 troops the president previously ordered to deploy to the state. This is on top of the more than 6- — 6,100 National Guardsmen and over 7,000 federal personnel all working together with their state and local counterparts to help people begin their road to rebuilding.

Over the last few days, the administration has contracted — contacted nearly 450 state and local officials across the region to offer further support.

And, to date, the president — the president — this administration has helped thousands of Helene survivors — Helene survivors just — jump-start their recoveries, providing over $210 million in direct financial assistance, with more coming every day. As the president has said, when it comes to this whole-of-government response, we are sparring no — sparing no — no resource here.

Unfortunately, scam artists and bad-faith actors and others who are putting politics over people are promoting misinformation about our efforts, including falsehoods about federal assistance. This is wrong, dangerous, and must stop immediately.

Elected officials at every level and on both side of the aisle have also called for an end to these conspiracy theories.

False information following a disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it the most. Everyone, especially those in positions of power, must do everything they can to encourage survivors to register for assistance, not discourage them by allowing these falsehoods to fester.
 
And finally, the president was briefed yesterday and again today on the potential impacts of Hurricane Milton, which forecasts to become a Category 5 storm and make landform — landfall Wednesday on the western coast of Florida.

As with Helene, FEMA and other federal agencies are actively pre-positioning lifesaving resources in advance of the storm.

And earlier today, the president approved the governor of Florida’s request for an emergency disaster declaration, which unlocks additional federal resources to help the state respond to the storm.

To everyone in the path of Milton: The time to prepare is right now. Visit Ready.gov or — or go download the FEMA — the FEMA app to make a plan today. The time is right now.

Please, please, please listen to local officials. It could save your life.

Now, the Biden-Harris administration is committed to preventing, detecting, and responding to health emergencies globally.

On Sep- — on September 27th, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health announced an outbreak of Marburg virus disease — MVD — and the Biden-Harris administration is working closely with the government of Rwanda to end the outbreak as quickly as possible.

As we have all experienced in recent years, health emergencies are a global issue we must address together.

CDC assesses that the risk of the infection with this virus in the United States is low, and there are currently no confirmed MVD — MVD cases outside of Rwanda.
 
Since learning of this outbreak, the United States has committed to ma- — to making nearly $11 million available to address urgent health needs in Rwanda and surrounding countries, and although there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs against MVD, the United States also contributed investigational vaccine and therapeutic doses, which arrived in Rwanda this weekend, just one week after we learned of the outbreak.

In addition, to keep Americans safe, we are implementing additional precautions for a small, select group of travelers arriving in the United States from Rwanda, including additional health screenings. These measur- — measures will advance ongoing efforts to protect public health and reassure the traveling public that the risk of MVD spreading during air travel is minimized.

And today, we saw the Supreme Court decision and what it means that women in Texas could still be denied critical emergency medical care because of the state’s dangerous and extreme abortion bans. We have been — we have seen and have heard the horrific stories of women being denied the care they need because of these laws.

Also today, in Georgia, the state Supreme Court reinstated an even more extreme abortion ban.

All of these laws were made possible when the former president han- — handicapped [handpicked] three Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade. They are creating chaos and confusion for women and doctors.

The administration has been clear that all patients, including women experiencing pregnancy loss and other pregnancy-related emergency, must be able to access the emergency medical care they need, and that is required by federal law.

The stories we hear of women being denied care they need in emergency situation is completely unacceptable. That’s why the Biden-Harris administration has taken a number of important steps to make it easier for women to file complaints if they are denied this essential care and investigate and enforce federal protections under EMTALA.

But our fight is not over. After the Supreme Court’s order earlier this year, HHS issued a letter reminding hospitals and provider associations of their obligations under EMTALA, including providing abortion care as a necessary, stabilizing treatment.

We will continue to make those obligations clear. We will also continue to fight Republican elected officials’ extreme, extreme agenda. And we will continue to enforce federal law, support hospitals complying with the obligations, and defend the administration’s long-standing view that women have the right to access the emergency medicar- — medical care that they need.

And with that, Aamer. Thank you for your patience, you all.

Q Sure. If I could just follow up on two of your toppers.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q First on the abortion access rulings today. Not much is going to change with the shape of the courts immediately after November. So, what — what other avenues can the administration pursue —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — in the little time that you have left?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As you know, when Roe v. Wade was originally overturned because of the Dobbs decision that was done more than two years ago, the president and the vice president took action. The president, on that same day, made — announced some executive actions that he was moving forward with — obviously, with a whole-of-go- — -of-government approach here.

And so, we’ve taken actions. We’ve taken this very seriously. I don’t have anything to preview — preview to you right this time, at — at this moment, but we’re going to take this very seriously, as we have — as we have for the past two — two years.

And, look, it is important. It is important for people to be very aware of what’s at stake here. It is important for us to continue to voice what we’re seeing here: women being denied care and their lives putting — being put at risk. And so, we’re going to continue to fight.

As you know, there’s EMTALA. There’s other measures that the DOJ is using to protect doctors and also women who are looking for that care that they should be making on — about their own body themselves.

And we’re going to continue to call out these extreme agendas that we’re seeing from — from the other side, from Republicans.

Look, we’re going to — don’t have anything to preview today, but it is important to call this out. It is important to say how dangerous this is and how this is a freedom that has been taken away from women.

Q If I could just follow on the storms.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q What’s the confidence that FEMA is prepared to handle what could be two major disasters at the same time? And can you talk a little bit more about what’s — what they’re doing, specifically —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — with Milton, while they’re still handling Helene?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q And then, finally, there was a report — I believe it was NBC — just as we were coming out, that Governor DeSantis is dodging calls with Vice President Harris and President Biden.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look —

Q Is that an issue? Is —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So —

Q Is politics starting to sink into this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, that’s really for the governor to speak to, right? I — we’ve — I — you’ve heard me mention — I believe in the gaggle last week when we were heading to Florida and Georgia — we invited the governor — right? — to come and survey the damaged areas with the president. Obviously, we were in Florida. We invited the — the governor of Florida to come. It was his decision to — to not — to not attend or not be there with the president.

The president has reached out around Hurricane Helene. He reached out. It is up to the governor. It is really up to the governor.

We know, I can say — and I think you’ve heard this from the FEMA administrator — she has been able to — to speak with the governor. She spoke with him yesterday in regards to Milton, that hurricane coming shortly. And so, we have been in touch with state — state and local officials — we — in order to be able to help the people of Florida who are dealing — who are going to be impacted, who were — who were impacted, certainly, by Helene.

And we’re going to continue to certainly pre-position on the ground. And we’re going to support — we’re going to con- — support the communities with whatever and — whatever they need and when- — whenever. That is our commitment. That is our commitment to the folks who are going to be impacted.

So, we’ve been in touch with state and local officials in Florida, and we’re going to ensure that we meet in advance what their needs are going to be. And FEMA is — and FEMA is on the ground supporting that — supporting that. So, that’s important.

It’s up to the governor. It is up to him. We are doing our part in — in the Biden-Harris administration, working –obviously, FEMA is work- — is on the ground, all-hands-on-deck, whole-of-government, robu- — robust approach here.

And so, again, that’s for Governor DeSantis to speak to.

Q Is it — but is it accurate that the president and the vice president have made outreach efforts —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We — we — I mean — you —

Q — and they have not been answered?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — you have — you — you’ve asked us. We have made outreach and — regarding, certainly, Hurricane Helene. And as I mentioned, the good thing is the FEMA administration — administrator, pardon me, was able to connect with the governor yesterday. I think that’s important.

But, look, we’re going to — we’re going to do the work. We’re going to continue to talk to local and state officials. That is important as well. We’re going to pre-position as this hurricane, Hurricane Milton, is com- — coming — coming towards, as it — as it seems, towards Florida.

Category 5 — that’s nothing to joke about. That is very, very serious. And so, we’re taking this serious, as the president has done many, many times when we’ve seen these types of storms coming — coming our way. So, we’re going to do our job, do our work here.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. We’re learning that DeSantis refused to take a call from Vice President Harris specifically around Hurricane Milton. Can you just talk about that and any communication —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — this —

Q — around this —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: This is —

Q — new hurricane?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, that is something for the governor to speak to himself.

If you have the president and you have the vice president reaching out to offer up assistance, provided to the pe- — your constituents, the people who live in your state, to make sure we are doing everything that we need to do, from federal response, and we’re reaching out, offering our support. That’s for the governor. And the governor — it’s up for — to him if he wants to respond to us or not.

But what we’re doing is we’re working with state and local officials to make sure that we are pre-positioned, to make sure that we are r- — ready to be there for the communities that are going to be impacted. We are doing the job that is needed — that we believe is needed for — to protect the communities and to make sure that they have everything that is needed.

You heard me talk about the declaration. We approved that for Florida. That’s moving forward. And so, we’re taking this very, very seriously. That’s for the governor to speak to. That is.

Q Trump and some of his Republican allies have been spreading misinformation about the federal response to Hurricane Helene. So, what exactly is the White House doing to combat that misinformation? And can you just talk about the impact it’s already having on the ground?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — it’s a great question. Combating misinformation and disinformation is always, always critically important. It is.

You s- — you heard the lay down that I gave at the top. The reason I did that at the top is because we wanted to make clear that things are available to — to the public, folks who are impacted, and that misinformation, disinformation is indeed dangerous. It gets in the way in what we’re trying to do here. It does.

And there has been a lot of falsehoods. And let me just fact-check a couple of things, because it’s really important. It is — again, it is wrong; it is dangerous. And I also called out the — there are important people, people who have power, privilege, who are spreading these — these falsehoods, and they need to stop. They need to stop doing that.

So, disaster relief — this is a falsehood: disaster relief funds used on immigrants illegally in the U.S. The fact is no money is being diverted from response needs. That’s the fact.

Another falsehood: FEMA confiscating Helene survivor property. That’s false. That is not true. The fact is FEMA cannot seize your property or land, period.

Another falsehood that’s out there: FEMA will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery. That is a falsehood. That is not true. The fact is this is an upfront payment for urgent needs like food and medication. Many survivors — many survivors will qualify for more assista- — assistance.

Another falsehood: FEMA, FAA are restricting airspace in North Carolina. That is not true. That’s false. The fact is there are no airspace restrictions in North Carolina.

So, we’re going to continue to combat these. It’s important to combat them. But people of — people who have a microphone and a podium should not continue to spread this falsehood. It is dangerous. It is incredibly dangerous.

Q But is the administration tracking that having an impact on the ground in terms of people being — people not seeking the aid they need because —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That’s a concern.

Q Is that — is that happening?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But — but that’s a concern. That is a concern. And it — you know, people who need help should seek help from the federal government. There is assistance out there. I talked about hundreds of millions of dollars are ready — already being provided to impacted areas.

And now we have Hurricane Milton coming. We can’t have this. We cannot. This needs to stop. This needs to stop.

If you care about your constituents, if you care about the people, if you care about Americans, you shouldn’t do this. You shouldn’t spread these falsehoods. It is dangerous.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Did the president get an update from President Herzog when they spoke this morning about the Iranian response?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, just a couple of things on that. And, look, the president — what you saw the president do is honor and commerme- — commer- — commemorate lives that were lost, as I sted — said at the top. And the president called President Herzog because he believed it was appropriate person for the president to call to express his condolences. It was a meaningful and important conversation.

And so, that’s what they spoke about. It — it was focused on commemorating this incredibly sad day.

Q Okay. So, there was not a detailed conversation about Iran?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t have anything beyond that. It was about offering up his condolences and what — and what the Israeli people must be going through right now.

Q Hama- — Hamas reiterated over the weekend that they see Netanyahu as being the stumbling block to a ceasefire deal. It seemed like the president’s own remarks recently in the briefing room here kind of left open the — the opportunity for taking that analysis away as well. Do — does the president feel like he needs speak with Prime Minister Netanyahu?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As the president said himself, there will be — he’s going to — there will be a call shortly, soon. I don’t have anything to preview for you at this time. As you know — you hear us say this many, many times — they have decades-long relationship. And in those conversations that they do have, it’s very honest; it’s very frank. And that will continue.

I don’t have anything else beyond what the president stated at this podium on Friday or many times before about this particular issue.

Look, we believe the best chance at getting these hostages home is through a ceasefire deal. That’s what the president is directing his team to continue to work on, and that’s going to be our focus.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, just given the projected path and strength of Milton that you were talking about, is any consideration being given to the president perhaps skipping his trip to Germany and Angola?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, the president is monitoring this very, very closely. I just talked about how he’s gotten updates about the hurricane and, obviously, continuing to get updates on what is happening on the ground as af- — after — after the horrible hurricane, Hurricane Helene.

And so, that will continue. I don’t have anything to share about a change in travels or his schedule. And so, certainly, if that — if that were to be, we would cert- — share that with all of you.

Q Is that something that has been discussed at all, the possibility —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I — what I —

Q — of a schedule change?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — can say is that we are monitoring the — the hurricane, Hurricane Milton. As you just — as you just heard me at the top, it’s going to be a Category 5. Our — our job right now is to make sure we make it very, very clear to folks who are on the ground to please listen to local officials, to please be ready and take this very, very seriously.

And FEMA and other federal — federal agencies are preparing or pre-positioning on the ground to offer up assistant and to be ready — to be ready for the — when the hurricane hits. I just don’t have anything to share about any change in schedule.

Q Just a quick question on the Middle East. Is the White House currently doing anything to actively push the Lebanon ceasefire proposal that you all announced a couple weeks ago?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what I can say is that — look, when it comes to — when it comes to the proposal that you just stated, the — the 21-day proposal, what we believe is ultimately — ultimately — and the — the Isr- — the Israelis have said this themselves as well — is that it needs — there needs to be an agreement that allows civilians to safely return to their homes on both sides of the border over the long term.

So, we’re going to be having regular consultations with the Israelis, with the Lebanese, and others regarding the right moment to — to press for such an agreement. But ultimately, that’s where we need to be in order for both sides — both — civilians on both sides to return home.

Q When you say you’re looking for the right moment to make a push for that proposal, are you saying that moment is not now, that you’re not actively pushing for that right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, we are in regular conversations. As I said, we continue to have those discussions with the Israelis and the Lebanese on this particular issue. We believe that we need this. We need to have a space — I mean, you tal- — you heard me speak about this — to have some space, some diplomatic dialogue in order to get there.

And so, you know, that’s what you would need, is a ceasefire, in order to get there. We’re going to have those conversations, and we’re certainly — when the right moment to press for such an agreement, we will do so. But the conversation — those dis- — discussions continue.

Q Okay. But it would be correct to say that the White House is not currently, actively pushing on that proposal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can tell you is we continue those consultations with the Israelis and the Lebanese. That’s what I can share.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Following up on the president’s trip, can you just explain a little bit why the president is taking these trips now when there’s less than a month before the election? What is he trying to accomplish?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, you’ve heard us talk about the importance of this travel. As you — he’s going to be going to Germany, obviously, and also Angola. The president is certainly looking forward to that travel. And I would say that — you know, we — as it relates to — I mean, each of them is very different than — than the other.

But we think it serves as a powerful symbol — a powerful symbol of the U.S.-Germany re- — partnership, as you think about the German piece of this trip, and our close cooperation on the world’s most pressing challenges, and so — and to ensure our people have every opportunity for safety and prosperity.

And what this visit is going to do, it’s going — it’s going to underscore the deep commitment and that transatlantic security resolute support. If you think about Ukraine and the self-defense of Ukraine, that’s going to be a big part of this visit — and continuing that support, continuing to do everything that we can to stop the Russian aggression. And so, that is going to be certainly a big part of that.

Continuing contributions to — to meet the NATO pledge also is going to be a big component of that.

And so, this is important, as we see what’s going on in Ukraine, as we continue to see Russia’s aggression, to have that conversation. You have seen the president’s leadership when it comes to Ukraine and what he’s been able to do to make NATO stronger, to have more than 50 — 50 countries’ support to support Ukraine in their fight against that aggression of Russia. And so, that’s a big part — certainly, it will be a big part of that — of that trip.

And when it comes to Angola, there’s going to be a bilateral meeting that the president will have, and this speaks to the U.S.-Africa relationship that we want to continue, that we want to strengthen. And so, that’s what you’re going to see. They’re very — two important relationships that is very much connected to what this president has done over the three and a half years, if you look at his global leadership. And the president is loo- — very much looking forward to it.

Q But let me put this way.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. Sure.

Q He cou- — he could have taken these trips after the election. I mean, he could have taken them in — in December or January before he leaves office. So, what is so urgent about this moment —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: There’s not —

Q — that he needed to do it in October?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I appreciate that, but there’s not a lot of time. There really isn’t. Three months is going to fly by. There’s not a lot of time. And so, the president wanted to get this done. We had said when it — as it relates to Ang- — Angola and going to the continent, the president had made a commitment and a promise to go to Africa, to continue to show his commitment to that relationship. And that’s what — the president wanted to keep that promise.

And so, three months is not a lot of time. And so, this was the right period of time to go to get that done.

And we’re also going to go to Germany. As I talked about, that NATO — the — the — continuing that NATO pledge, continuing what we’re doing on — for Ukraine as they’re fighting against Russia’s aggression — all of these things are really important to our — yes, to our — to our relationships with those — with those partners but also to what we’re trying to do on behalf of this country, on behalf of Americans.

And so, it’s — three months is not a long time. As you know, that’s going to fly by. That’s going to fly by.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, the other day, the president said that if the Israelis strike back in Iran, they ought to do so in a proportionate fashion. He said that he did not believe they should strike nuclear sites, and then he seemed to suggest he didn’t think they should strike energy sites either. So, what, in the president’s view, would be proportionate?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) I’m not going to get into — (laughs) — I appreciate the question. I’m not going to get into what’s proportionate, not proportionate — get into that back and forth.

What I can say is we are continuing to have discussions with the Israelis about their response, obviously, responding to Iran’s attack — almost 200 missiles — right? — that went flying into Israel — that we were able to, obviously, at the president’s direction, with the military being — the U.S. military aiding in — in the defense of Israel, which the president was really proud to be able to have done that. Our se- — our commitment continues to be very clear on Israel’s security. That’s ironclad.

Those conversations continue. I just don’t have anything to — to add beyond what the president stated.

Q From the best we can tell, the president hasn’t spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu since around August 21st. That’s a long time given the degree of — of high activity the Israeli forces have been involved in. And it would seem to suggest that, at this point, they don’t have a whole lot to say to each other. But tell us why you think they’ve gone that long.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) So, look, I would say this: In the past year, the president and the prime minister have spoken more than a dozen times — in the past year, and they’ve seen each other, as you know. I think you might have been with us at those moments when they’ve seen each other. And — and we have said — the national security advisor has said this, the president said this himself during — especially, as you said, during these past week or so, in these high-stake moments, if you will, the president’s team has been in touch regularly — regularly — practically daily — with the Israelis’ government.

And so, we’ve been in close communication and close contact, and that continues. That has been the case for the past year. And so, that’s certainly going to continue.

And, look, the president is going to say — is going to speak to the prime minister. He has said that. And once we have a — a call to speak to, we will certainly do that.

Go ahead, Jon.

Q Thanks, Karine. When the president came here into the briefing room late last week, he said that he expects the election will be “free and fair,” but he also said, “I don’t know whether it will be peaceful.” What can the administration do — what is the administration doing proactively to prevent that possibility of the election not being peaceful in any way, either leading up to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — November the 5th or in the aftermath?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I’m not going to get into specifics from here. I think the president was asked a question, and he answered it very straightforward and very directly. And I think the president and myself and many others have spoken to what we saw on January 6th of 2021.

And so, obviously, we are — there’s always concerns, but — and — and not only that, you know that Americans care about our democracy. They care. They care about preserving and protecting the democracy. And I think that’s something a — this president has promised to do and will continue to do this in his remaining couple of months of — in this term.

I’m not going to get into specifics here. I think the president, as I said, was asked a question. He answered it directly, but he also said this is going to — I think this is really important — that this — he believes this is going to be a free and fair election. And so, I’m going to leave it there. I’m not going to get into details.

Q Separately — separately, in regards to the relationship or — or lack of a relationship between the governor of Florida and the leadership of this administration, does it make a coordinated response to tropical weather that much more difficult if the governor is not speaking to the vice president or to the president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here’s what I can say. We have been talking to state and local officials on the ground, and I think that’s important — over 15 local officials from communities along the likely path of the storm as we think about Hurricane Milton. And so, we have FEMA on the ground. Administrator Criswell is going to be in Florida — if she’s not there already — assisting, guiding, providing that help. She has spoken — she spoke to the governor yesterday.

And so, look, we’re going to do our job. We’re going to do what we need to do to make sure communities have what they need as this hurricane is coming our way at Category — potentially Category 5. And so, that’s not going to stop the federal assistance. That’s not going to stop the job that this president wants to see his team do. We’re going to have a robust — robust, all-of-government, if you will, federal response to this.

And you have seen that. You have seen that over the last three and a half years. When it comes to these natural disasters, we are going to make sure that we are there for the American people.

And anything else, I would have to leave it to the governor, to his actions, to how he wants to move forward in this. That is for him. That is a question for the governor.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. You used the phrase “incredibly dangerous” a couple times, talking about the misinformation on —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — the hurricane.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It is.

Q And given how widespread it has been over the past few days and how much of an effort FEMA and the administration has made to combat that, how concerned is the president that what we’re seeing now with this storm is perhaps a preview of the misinformation we might have on Election Day or in the days following that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, misinformation, disinformation is a problem across the board, and we have to combat it. It is. It is — it is something — whether it’s the election, whether what we’re seeing currently right now with Hurricane — Hurricane Helene that just came through — and obviously, Milton is on its way, sadly — we have to combat that.

And you’re — and I’m saying they’re dangerous, yes, because they are. They’re critically dangerous to have this misinformation, disinformation. And that’s why, at the top, I called out — you know, you have some powerful people out there who continue to — to spread conspiracy theories.

It is not helpful. It is not helpful to what we’re trying to do as we’re trying to assist Americans on the ground and trying to figure out how the best way to respond, what they ne- — what their needs are. And so, yeah, it’s not — it’s not ideal. It is dangerous, in fact.

And let’s not forget — I do want to say this — when dealing with Hurricane Helene, you heard from Republican governors, Democratic governors say — speak to their response. South Carolina Governor McMaster: Federal assistance has “been superb,” we “were asking for everything we need.” And Virginia Governor Youngkin: incredible — “incredibly appreciative of the rapid response.” Governor of Georgia, Governor Kemp, appreciated the president’s call offering any “other things we need”; thanked the president for giving aid to more counties.

I mean, this is — there’s a bipartisan response to Hurricane Helene, and you see that, you hear that from elected officials on both sides of the aisle. They’re very thankful for what the federal government has done and continues to do. But you have this misinformation, disinformation that wants to tear it apart. And this is a time for communities to come together, for all of us to come together. It doesn’t matter if you have an “R” or a “D” behind your name; it is a time to come together to actually deliver for these impacted communities.

So, yeah, it’s dangerous.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. On the Boeing strike. Boeing is returning to wage talks, and just wanted to see if the White House is participating in any of those conversations, if there’s anything you can share on —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, as we’ve always stated, collective bargaining is something that this president believes in. It has worked. You have seen that work over the past couple of years in — in — under this administration, when we’ve called for it. I don’t have anything to share beyond — beyond that.

We always believe that it is important for both sides to come to the table in good faith and to make sure that the workers — right? — the workers certainly get their fair share.

Q And on the upcoming foreign travel. You — you mentioned that the trip Bi- — that Biden is going to — to Germany and Angola, but you were asked if it was being — you know, talked about maybe being pulled down. Just wanted to clarify that the trip is happening.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don’t have any changes to the president’s schedule. That’s what I’ve said. And the president is looking forward to going on the trip, certainly — certainly. And you all know, you all will be the first to know — one of the first to know if any — if that changes.

Q And do you expect a call with Bibi before the election, or is Biden holding out until — or is the president holding out until after the election?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The president said he was going to call the prime minister. I don’t have anything else to share on timing.

Go ahead, Nadia.

Q Thank you, Karine. I was wondering whether you could comment on remarks that former President Trump made this morning linking migration, crime, and genetics and, more specifically, this sentence, quote, “We’ve got a lot of bad genes in our country right now,” end quote.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Ugh. Well, that type of language is hateful, it’s disgusting, it’s inappropriate and has no place in our country. I just talked about misinformation, disinformation, and how we have seen a bipartisan response when it came to Hurricane Helene and how we’re trying to bring our country together. It is important to bring people together.

And tearing people apart, tearing communities apart is dangerous. And this comes from the same vile statements that we’ve ha- — that we’ve heard about im- — migrants being poisoned — poison the blood. That’s disgusting.

And so, this president, this vice president, we’re going to continue to forcefully reject this kind of vile, disturbing, hateful, hateful speech. It has no place — no place in this country. And we have to respect the rights of all — respect the rights of — of all of us coming together. That’s what we want to see — not tearing communities apart; bringing it together.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. A few questions on China. Could you please share what message President Biden sent to President Xi on China’s National Day in the past weekend? And are they planning to talk by phone very soon? What’s the main purpose of this phone call, gi- — considering the upcoming government transition in the United States?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, to your question, on the National Day, the president certainly conveyed the same message that he has done in the past — the past couple of years, which is congratulating the Chinese people on — on occasion of PRC National Day on October 1st.

As it relates to a call, I just don’t have anything to share with you at this time.

Go ahead.

Q The president wrote a letter to congressional leadership asking them to add additional funding to the disaster relief effort, and I wondered if there was any more conversations behind the scenes happening to bring them back early.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, first, the letter is focused on SBA’s disaster loan program, which is — could soon run out of funding. And so, the president wanted to alert Congress on that. That’s what the letter primarily focused on. And in addition, the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund faces a shortfall at the end of the year.

And so, the president’s letter was urging Congress to — to speed up and provide that funding. And that’s what the president wants to see, and that’s what the president was calling for.

We want Congress to move appropriately, at appropriate speed to get this done. And here’s the thing: In the past, Congress has been able to take quick action even when there is a recess to address urgent problems, so this is nothing new. This is nothing new at all.

And so, the president wanted to be very, very clear about where we are and what the needs are and — and wanted to show — show to Congress by — in this letter the urgency of them acting.

They need to act.

Q Does he believe they should come back early?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As I stated, this is not the first time Congress has been able to take action and to act on — when it comes to urgent problems, urgent matter. They’ve been able to do that during recess.

What we are going to continue to do is lay out the urgency of this getting done. We’re talking about SBA disaster loan program. This is important — important to communities, especially communities that are impacted.

Go ahead, in the back.

Q Thank you. I have questions on two topics. The first one, you mentioned the Supreme Court case regarding emergencies and abortions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q The administration has not done much to enforce its interpretation of that law that hospitals have to provide abortions in medical emergencies, particularly for hospitals that patients have reported that’s not happening. Can you talk about the administration’s efforts to ramp up enforcement in that area in the next couple months?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, I would refer you to HHS. This is under their — their purview. So, I would refer you to them.

Q And on the storms that are coming, and also on Helene. Florida and Georgia both have voter registration deadlines today. Some of the states that are in the path of the storm have them upcoming. Is the administration going to ask the states to extend those deadlines, or are you doing anything to prepare for storm damage to exist around Election Day —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look —

Q — making it difficult for people to go vote?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No. Understand. And I’ve gotten this question multiple times, in var- — in variations. So, look, what we — this is why it’s important to do this type of response that we’re doing. We want to make sure that these — the communities are getting the response, they’re getting the recovery from this disaster, and we want to make sure that their voices can be heard in November.

So, I would certainly refer you to state el- — state election officials, and certainly CISA as well, to speak to that specifically. I just don’t have anything else to share.

But this is why — this is why what we’re trying to do, trying to combat this misinformation, disinformation, workly — working closely with local and state officials to make sure these communities have what they need so that we can get them back on their feet is so critical — is so, so critical.

As it relates to that specific question, I would have to refer you to the state though.

Q Are you seeing misinformation about the storm and voting, or just the storm response —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I am saying —

Q — in general?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — is that misinformation, disinformation — I’m speaking to our response on the ground. Right? We’re trying to get funding on the ground. We’re trying to make sure that people who have been affected can reach out to FEMA, can reach out to federal — federal government asking for assistance. And that is something that’s really important, and that’s the misinformation, disinformation that I’m speaking to.

And so, what our focus is is making sure that that recovery, that response is getting to communities, because we do want to make sure — we want to make sure that communities, they’re able to have their voices heard in November.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Congratulations on the promotion.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

Q You’re not leaving us in the briefing room, are you?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Unless you want me to. Do you want me to leave the briefing room?

Q No, sure don’t.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay.

Q So, the arms dealer that President Biden freed in a prisoner swap, Viktor Bout, is now, according to the Wall Street Journal, selling weapons to the Houthis. Does President Biden think that is a problem?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, a couple of things. I can’t confirm that report today, in — I believe, in the Wall Street Journal.

I do want to put out a couple of facts here that is important to note. Look, securing the release of Americans who are being held hostage and wrongfully detained is a big priority — is a priority for this administration. And I would note that we have been extraordinarily successful in getting that done. It is a top priority to get these Americans, again, wrongfully detained and held hostage.

And so, that is something — and it’s not easy. It is not an easy de- — easy thing to do. It is not — there are some difficult decisions that we have to make. We’ve been very transparent about that — very transparent.

As you’re talking about Viktor Bout, that was in rele- — in — related to Brittney — Brittney’s release. And so, even then, a year and a half ago, we were clear about decisions that have to be made on a number of occasions. And it’s — it’s incredibly difficult. And we’ve been transparent about it. We’ve been very transparent.

So, look, we’re going to continue to do what we can — do everything that we can to bring Americans home who are wrongfully detained and held hostage. And, again, frankly, we have had an extraordinary record of doing just that, and that’s going to be the president’s top priority.

Q And on this issue of funding, the administration has money to send to Lebanon without Congress coming back, but Congress does have to come back to approve money to send to people in North Carolina. Do I have that right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Here’s what I’m going to be very clear about: The president and the vice president has had a — a robust, whole-of-government response to this. Hundreds of millions of dollars — I said it at the top, more than $200 million — that we have directly put towards survivors here for the di- — for disaster help, and that’s because of this president’s commitment to make sure that we are there for communities that are impacted.

We take this very seriously. Again, we take this very seriously. And before — before the hurricane hit, we pre-positioned more — more than 1,500 federal — federal folks on the ground to help.

And so, we have made sure that every state has gotten their storm — requested emergency declaration. They requested it, and we made sure they received it. We’ve taken this very seriously — more than $200 million that we have provided to the impacted areas.

And — but instead, people want to do disinformation, misinformation, which is dangerous — which is dangerous, because then it — what that — when — when folks on the ground hear that, they may not want to ask for the help that they need that is there for them — that is there for them. That’s our focus here.

Q But President Biden is fond of saying, “Show me your budget, and I will tell you what you value.” If he has got money for people in Lebanon right now, without Congress having to come back, what does it say about his values that there is not enough money right now for people —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: His values —

Q — in North Carolina who need it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: His —

Q That’s not misinformation.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Wait. No, that is. Wait, your whole — your whole premise of the question is misinformation, sir.

Q Excuse me.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What you don’t — yes, yes.

Q Which part?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It’s misinformation.

Q Did — is there money —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just — I just mentioned —

Q — to send to Lebanon right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just mentioned — I just mentioned to you that we provided more than $200 million to folks who are impacted in the area, and I just shared with you that people are deciding not to —

Q $157 million is not (inaudible) —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — not — no — but people are deciding not to —

Q 157 million is not (inaudible) —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — no — no, but people are deciding not to —

Q President Biden sent a letter to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — not — wait —

Q — Congress that there’s not enough money to help people in North Carolina —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We’re talking about the SBA disaster loan. Yes.

Q That’s money for people in North Carolina.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And that’s important. And people in North Carolina need that. Con- —

Q The president is the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Wait. This is nothing new.

Q — one saying it’s running out.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Peter, this is nothing new. Congress comes together. They provide money — millions of dollars for disaster relief. We’re asking them to do the job that they have been doing for some time.

Q And I’m reading from a letter that President Biden sent to —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Been doing for some time.

Q — Johnson, McConnell, Schumer, and Jeffries. The president’s letter is not misinformation. Would you agree?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, the way you’re asking me the question is misinformation. There is money that we are allocating to the impacted areas, and there’s money there to help people who truly need it. There are survivors who need the funding — who need the funding, and it’s there.
Q You can’t call a question that you don’t like “misinformation.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I said that —

Q That’s very unfair.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I actually said we have the money available to help survivors of Hurricane Helene and also Hurricane Milton.

Now, we’re — now, there’s going to be a shortfall — right? — because we don’t know how bad it’s — Hurricane Milton is going to be, and so we’re going to need additional funding. We’re going to need additional funding.

Q That’s exactly what I just asked about, and you said it —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No —

Q — was misinformation.

Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What you’re asking me is why Congress needs to come back and do their job. That’s what you’re asking me.

Congress needs to come back and do their job and provide extra assistance, extra funding to Disaster Relief Fund. That’s what Congress needs to do, and we’re going to continue to urge that.

You may not want that, but that’s okay. That’s what this president wants, and that’s what the vice president wants.

Thanks, everybody.

2:55 P.M. EDT

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Vice President’s Residence
U.S. Naval Observatory
Washington, D.C.

4:02 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  In a few moments, Doug and I will plant a tree here on the grounds of the Residence of the Vice President of the United States, and we dedicate this tree to the 1,200 innocent souls, in an act of pure evil on October 7, 2023, who were massacred by Hamas terrorists. 

Forty-six of our fellow Americans were killed in this brutal terrorist attack, including a singer from Missouri who died shielding her son from bullets, an academic and peace activist who studied in Seattle and who was the grandson of Holocaust survivors, and a dancer from California who was killed alongside her fiancé while attending the Nova Music Festival. 

I am devastated by the pain and loss that occurred on October 7, and Doug and I pray for the family and loved ones of all of those who were lost, and may their memories be a blessing. 

Today, I know many Jews will be reciting and reflecting on the Jewish prayer for mourning, the Kaddish.  The words of the prayer are not about death; it is a prayer about our enduring belief in God, even in our darkest moments.  So, as we reflect on the horrors of October 7, let us please be reminded that we cannot lose faith. 

The Jewish philosopher Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote, and I quote, “Religion begins with a consciousness that something is asked of us.”  So, in this moment, on the one-year commemoration of October 7, what it — what is asked of us?  What is asked of us?

First and foremost, I believe that we must never forget.  I will never forget October 7, and the world must never forget. 

What is asked of us: We must work to ensure nothing like the horrors of October 7 can ever happen again.  And on this solemn day, I will restate my pledge to always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself and that I will always work to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish people here and around the world.

What is asked of us: We must reunite the hostages held in Gaza with their families, and I will never stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, including the American citizens, living and deceased: Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judi, Gadi, and Itay.

What is asked of us: We must uphold the commitment to repair the world, an idea that has been passed on throughout generations of the Jewish people and across many faiths.  And to that end, we must work to relieve the immense suffering of innocent Palestinians in Gaza who have experienced so much pain and loss over the year. 

What is asked of us: We must continue to see light amidst the darkness.  As the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said, “A people that can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and still rejoice is a people that cannot be defeated by any force or fear.” 

That is why today we plant a pomegranate tree, which, in Judaism, is a symbol of hope and righteousness.  So, for years to come, this pomegranate tree will stand here, spreading its roots and growing stronger, to remind future vice presidents of the United States, their families, and all who pass through these grounds not only of the horror of October 7th but the strength and the endurance of the Jewish people. 

It will remind us all not to abandon the goal of peace, dignity, and security for all.  And it will remind us all to always have faith. 

Thank you.  And I will now turn it over to the second gentleman, my husband, Doug.

                        END                     4:08 P.M. EDT

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Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact the Western coast of the Florida peninsula this week. As communities across the Southeast – including in Florida – continue their road to recovery and rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is mobilizing additional resources and personnel to prepare for the impacts of this new major storm.

The Federal government is preparing to support affected communities wherever and whenever needed. Preparedness efforts are underway in conjunction with state and local partners. Together we stand ready to respond to any potential impacts on communities.

FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene– including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors.

Today, President Biden quickly approved the Governor of Florida’s request for an emergency declaration. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life-saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue.

President Biden was first briefed yesterday on Hurricane Milton’s potential impacts to the Florida Gulf Coast and the work FEMA is doing to preposition life-saving resources in advance of the storm. He is also receiving another briefing today from Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.

The Administration has been in touch with officials from the State of Florida, as well as more than 15 local officials in cities and counties along the likely path of impact, to ensure needs are met in advance of the storm. FEMA has been coordinating closely with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s team ahead of FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell’s visit to Tampa today. The Administration has also reached out to state officials in South Carolina and Georgia and will continue outreach efforts based on Hurricane Milton’s latest trajectory.

Florida residents are urged to stay alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed.

Pre-landfall actions taken thus far include:

Pre-Positioning Resources and Personnel

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is flying Hurricane Hunters into the current storm to gather data to models and help hone prediction of the storm’s track and timing.

FEMA has pre-staged personnel and resources in Florida and the region, including six FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, five FEMA Urban Search & Rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, four HealthCare System Assessment Teams, two U.S Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) temporary power teams, USACE debris experts, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and wastewater experts, 300 ambulances and 30 High Water Vehicles with ladders from the Department of Defense.

Additionally, FEMA has two incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA currently has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in the pipeline to deploy as needed used to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts with capacity to expand as needed.

Currently, a total of nearly 900 staff are already supporting recovery efforts based out of the Joint Field Office in Tallahassee and operating across the designated counties for hurricanes Helene, Debby and Idalia. This includes over 440 supporting Hurricane Helene recovery, over 300 supporting Hurricane Debby recovery, and over 100 supporting Hurricane Idalia recovery.

Expediting Debris Removal in Florida

Debris remaining from the impacts of Hurricane Helene poses additional threats to lives and livelihoods if another storm occurs. FEMA is supporting the State of Florida to expedite the removal of debris from Hurricane Helene in the Tampa region in advance of Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

FEMA is providing all flexibility available for reimbursement for debris removal activities, to help the State take whatever action is required to speed debris removal before Milton’s landfall. To that end, FEMA is supporting Florida in surging additional resources to the Tampa area to get as much debris picked up as possible. State-run debris management sites are open 24 hours a day, and contracted trucks can deliver debris to those sites around the clock.   
The Governor of Florida has additionally activated 4,000 State active-duty National Guard, many of whom will help with debris removal.

Pre-Landfall Preparations Supplement Ongoing Helene Response

The Administration continues to mobilize a whole-of-government response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. Yesterday, President Biden ordered another 500 active-duty troops with advanced technological assets to move into Western North Carolina and assist with the response and recovery efforts. With a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort – including more than 6,100 National Guards and more than 7,000 Federal personnel – the Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

The Administration has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $210 million in Federal assistance – and there is more to come. Over the last several days, the Administration has contacted nearly 450 state, city, and county officials in impacted States to ensure they have the support and resources they need. To date, FEMA has shipped over 15.6 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, more than 505,000 tarps to the region, and installed 157 generators at critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants.

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The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to preventing, detecting and responding to health emergencies globally. On September 27, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health announced an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) and the Biden-Harris Administration is working closely with the Government of Rwanda to end the MVD outbreak as quickly as possible. As we have all experienced in recent years, health emergencies are a global issue we must address together. CDC assesses that the risk of infection with this virus in the United States is low, and there are currently no confirmed MVD cases outside of Rwanda.

Since learning of this outbreak, the United States has committed to making nearly $11 million available to address urgent health needs in Rwanda and surrounding countries, including support for surveillance and contact tracing, infection prevention and control guidance, and exit screening at Rwanda’s airport and neighboring border crossings. And within days of learning of the MVD outbreak, CDC deployed three senior scientists to Rwanda to support its response. Although there are currently no FDA-approved vaccines or drugs against MVD, the United States contributed hundreds of investigational vaccine doses and a small number of investigational therapeutics doses, which arrived in Rwanda this weekend. The United States has also contributed more than 500 MVD tests and 500 units of personal protective equipment, which have arrived in Rwanda to support response efforts and protect health workers.

In times of crisis, we must work together to quickly save lives. The Government of Rwanda has taken action to contain this outbreak and protect the health and wellbeing of the Rwandan people, and the United States will continue supporting those efforts. We must also continue to build preparedness between crises, which is why the United States has supported global health security work for more than two decades to help build capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats across the world.

Even as we respond to crises abroad, the top priority for the Biden-Harris Administration is protecting the American people. To keep Americans safe, we are implementing additional precautions for a small, select group of travelers arriving in the United States from Rwanda, including additional public health entry screenings. To facilitate these precautions, the United States will finalize plans in the coming week to redirect passengers who were recently in Rwanda to certain U.S. airports for public health entry screening and follow up measures. These measures will advance ongoing efforts to protect public health and reduce the risk of MVD coming into the United States.

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This morning President Biden spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the solemn occasion of the one-year anniversary of the horrific Hamas October 7 terrorist attacks. 

President Biden expressed his deepest condolences to the people of Israel and to the families of the 1,200 innocent people – including 46 Americans – massacred by the terrorist group Hamas on a day of unspeakable brutality. He stressed that the United States will never give up until we bring all of the remaining hostages home safely.

President Biden conveyed his commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist, and reaffirmed his support for Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Iran and all Iranian-backed terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.

The President also expressed deep sadness for the loss of innocent life in Gaza and the ongoing suffering of Palestinian civilians as a result of the war that Hamas unleashed. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, secures Israel, alleviates the suffering of Palestinian civilians, and paves the way for a lasting peace with Hamas never again able to control Gaza or reconstitute its military capabilities. 

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Milton beginning on October 5, 2024, and continuing. 

The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe.

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Desoto, Dixie, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia.

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Nassau, Suwannee, Taylor, and Union.

Mr. John E. Brogan of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

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

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I will never forget the horror of October 7, 2023.  1,200 innocent people, including 46 Americans, were massacred by Hamas terrorists. Women raped on the side of the road. 250 people kidnapped. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. What Hamas did that day was pure evil – it was brutal and sickening. And it has rekindled a deep fear among the Jewish people not just in Israel, but in the United States and around the world.
 
The long, extraordinary arc of Jewish history is full of pogroms and prejudice, slaughter and separation. And now, in our own generation, there is another moment that the world must never forget.
 
I am devastated by the loss and pain of the Israeli people as a result of the heinous October 7 attack. Doug and I pray for the families of the victims and hope they find solace in remembering the lives their loved ones lived.
 
We also pray for the safety of Jewish people all around the world. We all must ensure nothing like the horrors of October 7 ever happen again. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the threat Hamas poses is eliminated, that it is never again able to govern Gaza, that it fails in its mission to annihilate Israel, and that the people of Gaza are free from the grip of Hamas. I will never stop fighting for the release of all the hostages, including the seven American citizens, living and deceased, still held: Omer, Edan, Sagui, Keith, Judy, Gad, and Itay. I will never stop fighting for justice for those who murdered Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other Americans. And I will always ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists like Hamas. My commitment to the security of Israel is unwavering.
 
Hamas’s terrorist attack on October 7 launched a war in Gaza. I am heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year—tens of thousands of lives lost, children fleeing for safety over and over again, mothers and fathers struggling to obtain food, water, and medicine. It is far past time for a hostage and ceasefire deal to end the suffering of innocent people. And I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes.
 
Today, as we mourn the lives lost on October 7, I know many Jews will be reciting and reflecting on the Jewish prayer for mourning – the Kaddish. The words of the Kaddish, however, are not about death. The prayer is about still believing in God and still having faith. I know that is difficult amidst so much trauma and pain. But it is with that spirit that I commemorate this solemn day. We will not forget, and we will not lose faith. And in honor of all those souls we lost on October 7, we must never lose sight of the dream of peace, dignity, and security for all.
 

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The post Statement by Vice President Harris Marking One Year Since the October 7th Attack appeared first on The White House.

On this day last year, the sun rose on what was supposed to be a joyous Jewish holiday. By sunset, October 7 had become the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Today marks one year of mourning for the more than 1,200 innocent people of all ages, including 46 Americans, massacred in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas. One year since Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence.  One year since more than 250 innocents were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. One year for the survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, who will never be the same. And one year of a devastating war. On this solemn anniversary, let us bear witness to the unspeakable brutality of the October 7th attacks but also to the beauty of the lives that were stolen that day.  

The October 7th attack brought to the surface painful memories left by millennia of hatred and violence against the Jewish people. That is why, soon after the attack, I became the first American President to visit Israel in a time of war. I made clear then to the people of Israel: you are not alone. One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist. We support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran. Last week, at my direction, the United States military once again actively assisted in the successful defense of Israel, helping to defeat an Iranian ballistic missile attack.   

Today and every day, I think of the hostages and their families.  I have met the families of the hostages and grieved with them. They have been through hell. My Administration has negotiated for the safe release of more than 100 hostages, including Americans. We will never give up until we bring all of the remaining hostages home safely.  

I also strongly condemn the vicious surge in antisemitism in America and around the world. It is unacceptable. All of us must stand united against antisemitism and against hate in all its forms.  

I believe that history will also remember October 7th as a dark day for the Palestinian people because of the conflict that Hamas unleashed that day. Far too many civilians have suffered far too much during this year of conflict — and tens of thousands have been killed, a human toll made far worse by terrorists hiding and  operating among innocent people. We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel’s security, and ends this war. Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace. We also continue to believe that a diplomatic solution across the Israel-Lebanon border region is the only path to restore lasting calm and allow residents on both sides to return safely to their homes. 

On this day of remembrance, which also falls during the holiest days of the Jewish calendar, we honor the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people and mourn the victims of October 7th. May their memory be a blessing.

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President Biden ordered 500 additional active-duty troops to support on-the-ground efforts; 1,500 troops now mobilized to assist National Guard and Federal personnel

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, the Administration continues to mobilize a robust, intensive, and whole-of-government response to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. As life-saving response efforts continue in heavily impacted areas, the Administration is also working to ensure communities across the Southeast have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

Today, in response to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s request for additional support, President Biden ordered that another 500 active-duty troops move into Western North Carolina. With a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort – including more than 6,100 National Guardsmen and more than 7,000 Federal personnel – the Biden-Harris Administration is mobilizing all relevant resources to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.

The Administration has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $137 million in Federal assistance – with more to come. Over the last several days, the Administration has contacted nearly 450 state, city, and county officials in impacted states to ensure they have the support and resources they need. 

The Administration is committed to ensuring that all communities receive accurate information that is essential to their recovery. The Administration, including FEMA, has been tracking and combatting the significant amount of false information circulating online related to the Federal response – which can discourage people from seeking critical and life-saving assistance. The Administration is actively working to identify and combat this misinformation and disinformation and support survivors in every possible way. 

President Biden and Vice President Harris have traveled throughout the Southeast this week to meet with impacted communities and, during their travels, have reaffirmed that the Administration will be with impacted communities every step of the way, no matter how long it takes, to ensure they have the support and resources they need to recover and rebuild. While there is a long way to go on the road to full recovery and rebuilding, Republican and Democratic leaders from across the country have praised the Administration’s well-coordinated response and surge of resources in the aftermath of Helene’s landfall – including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, and Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer.

Additionally, the Federal government is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Milton in the Gulf of Mexico, which has the potential to have significant impacts along the West coast of the Florida Peninsula by mid-next week. Residents in Florida should remain alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed.

Additional updates on the Federal response include: 

Active-Duty Service Members Delivering Life-Saving Supplies to North Carolinians

In response to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s request for additional support, today President Biden directed another 500 troops move into Western North Carolina. These troops have advanced technological assets to provide greater situational awareness on the ground and will assist with future resource planning across the region. These additional 500 troops supplement the nearly 1,000 soldiers from Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, who have already been mobilized through the Department of Defense and in coordination with FEMA to support the residents and affected counties in Western North Carolina.

In support of the state and North Carolina National Guard, these active-duty troops are focusing their efforts on moving valuable commodities—like food and water—to distribution sites, getting those commodities to survivors in areas that are hard to reach. They are also working on road stabilization and route clearance activities. 

In addition, the Department of Defense is providing rotary wing assets from the Army and Navy for personnel movement and commodity distribution across the affected region. Fixed and rotary wing assets from the Air Force are conducting search and rescue activities.  

The US Army Corps of Engineers has established 12 Emergency Operations Centers across the southeast, with three in North Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers also has emergency power teams conducting assessments in North Carolina and Georgia as well as water/wastewater assessments, bridge and road inspections, and debris removal efforts in North Carolina and Florida.

Over 6,000 National Guard personnel from 18 States are spearheading the response effort across the impacted region, providing critical life-saving and life-sustaining support to the victims of this unprecedented natural disaster.  

Supporting On-The-Ground Response Efforts

The Biden-Harris Administration is actively working alongside state, local and Tribal partners to assess damage and support those affected by the disaster. 

The Federal government has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $137 million in federal assistance. More than 7,000 personnel from across the Federal workforce are deployed, including U.S. Forest Service Saw Teams to help clear debris in remote areas. To date, FEMA has shipped over 14.9 million meals, more than 13.9 million liters of water, more than 505,000 tarps to the region, and installed 157 generators at critical facilities such as hospitals and water treatment plants.

President Biden has approved 100 percent Federal cost share for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. This means that the Federal government will cover 100 percent of the costs associated with things like debris removal, first responders, search and rescue, shelters, and mass feeding.

Disaster survivors in certain areas of Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia can begin their recovery process by applying for federal assistance through FEMA. People with damage to their homes or personal property who live in the designated areas should apply for assistance, which may include upfront funds to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies and other emergency supplies. Funds may also be available to repair storm-related damage to homes and personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay. Homeowners and renters with damage to their home or personal property from previous disasters, whether they received FEMA funds or not, are still eligible to apply for and receive assistance for Hurricane Helene.   

Repairing Roads and Re-Establishing Critical Routes 

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the immediate availability of $100 million in Emergency Relief funds for the North Carolina Department of Transportation to help pay for the costs of immediate emergency work resulting from Hurricane Helene flood damage. The Department also announced $32 million for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. This is in addition to the $2 million announced for use by the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

These funds will allow the states to act more quickly to fund eligible repairs to their damaged facilities. FHWA’s Emergency Relief program provides funding to states, territories, Tribes, and Federal Land Management Agencies for highways and bridges damaged by natural disasters or catastrophic events. These Emergency Relief funds, provided through the “quick release” process, are an initial installment of funds toward restoring this essential transportation link. Additional funds needed to repair damage will be supported by the Emergency Relief program through nationwide funding allocations.

Restoring Power and Critical Communications 

As of this morning, approximately 384,000 customers are without power, down more than 91 percent from the region-wide peak of 4.6 million on September 27. At least 50,000 personnel from 41 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada are responding to power outages in the Southeast and Appalachia.

Additionally, FirstNet, an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration, has been instrumental in providing critical communication support during Hurricane Helene. The FirstNet Response Operations Group deployed 19 SatCOLTs (light trucks with mounted cellular towers) and numerous portable cellular sites to the hardest-hit areas, including North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. So far, FirstNet has provided cell service and internet access to over 75,000 first responders and survivors affected by the storm, while power and connectivity is being restored.

Calling on Congress to Provide More Disaster Assistance to Communities 

President Biden wrote a letter to Congressional leaders calling on them to provide more funding for disaster relief efforts. President Biden warned that most urgently, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program will run out of funding in a matter of weeks and well before the Congress is planning to reconvene. Small businesses and individuals in affected areas depend on disaster loans as a critical lifeline during difficult times. In fact, for individual disaster survivors, SBA loans are often the largest source of Federal disaster recovery funds. Renters and homeowners use these loans to repair and rebuild their homes as well as replace or repair damaged property including their personal vehicles, while businesses use them to cover basic operating expenses. President Biden urged the Congress to restore this funding immediately. SBA is already receiving over 3,000 loan applications a day from people affected by Hurricane Helene.

The President also warned that, while FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund has the resources it requires right now to meet immediate needs, the fund does face a shortfall at the end of the year. Without additional funding, FEMA would be required to forego longer-term recovery activities in favor of meeting urgent needs. He called on the Congress to provide FEMA additional resources to avoid forcing that kind of unnecessary trade-off and to give the communities we serve the certainty of knowing that help will be ongoing, both for the short- and long-term.

Administration’s Ongoing Response Efforts Supplement Significant Pre-Landfall Preparations

The Biden-Harris Administration took significant steps and made extensive preparations prior to Helene making landfall. Two days in advance of Helene making landfall on September 26, the Administration began preparations in coordination with State and local partners. 

On September 24, FEMA stood up their National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) at FEMA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., charged with monitoring the storm’s track and coordinating national-level emergency response teams. FEMA Region V also activated its Regional Response Coordination Center in Atlanta on September 24, gathering personnel to monitor the storm on the ground close to the anticipated impact and begin planning a response and deployed Incident Management Teams to state Emergency Operations Centers in the storm’s path to coordinate and speed Federal support to response operations.

At the President’s direction, 1,500 Federal personnel were deployed to the region, including 14 Urban Search and Rescue teams (940 personnel) to potentially affected states, including eight teams to Florida; two teams to Georgia; and four teams to North Carolina and FEMA setup up an incident support base in coordination with the 42d Air Base Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. 

The Federal government pre-staged in the region:

• More than 2.7 million meals, 1.6 million liters of water, 50,000 tarps, 10,000 cots, and 20,000 blankets to support sheltering needs in impacted communities;
• Tanker trucks with 70,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 40,000 gallons of gasoline to surge to impacted communities once the storm passed to help alleviate any fuel shortages; and;
• Hundreds of ambulances to assist with the movement of any patients out of impacted hospitals or other facilities.

In advance of landfall, President Biden approved five Governors’ Emergency Declaration requests for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina prior to Helene’s landfall. He also immediately approved Emergency Declaration requests that the Governors of Tennessee and Virginia submitted shortly after landfall. These declarations authorized FEMA to reimburse State and local jurisdictions for costs incurred for pre-storm emergency measures including: evacuating and sheltering residents, search and rescue operations, sandbagging, covering costs associated with Emergency Operation Centers, and first responder activation.

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Since before Hurricane Helene made landfall, my Administration has mobilized an intensive Federal response to ensure impacted communities have the resources and support they need. As part of that ongoing commitment, and in response to Governor Cooper’s request for additional support, today I ordered another 500 active-duty troops with advanced technological assets to move into Western North Carolina and assist with the response and recovery efforts. With a total of 1,500 troops now supplementing a robust on-the-ground effort – including more than 6,100 National Guardsmen and more than 7,000 Federal personnel – my Administration is sparing no resource to support families as they begin their road to rebuilding.
 
Additionally, I have been briefed on Tropical Storm Milton as it strengthens across the Gulf of Mexico and the work my Administration is doing to preposition life-saving resources in advance of the storm. I urge all residents in Florida to listen to local officials and make preparations as needed.
 
As these communities brace for potentially yet another catastrophic storm, and as part of my Administration’s solemn obligation to stand with impacted communities as they rebuild their lives, we will continue working hand-in-hand with local and state leaders – regardless of political party and no matter how long it takes.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Hurricane Helene Response appeared first on The White House.

Charlotte Air National Guard Base
Charlotte, North Carolina

4:54 P.M. EDT

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, Governor, I want to thank you — General, Administrator.  I came out to talk with the folks who have been doing God’s work on the ground here in the last several days. 

The work that is happening here and that continues really is the best of what we can do to bring federal, state, and local resources together in a way that is coordinated with one purpose and one purpose only, which is bringing relief, support, and help to the people who are most in need and desperate for help and desperate to be seen and heard.

I just spoke with members of the National Guard to thank them.  They, like so many who are on the ground doing this work — whether it be through FEMA, the governor’s office, state offices — they — many of them who are doing this work have been directly hit themselves.  We are talking about people who are leaders, who are from the communities that have been hardest hit. 

And I think we all have to recognize and thank them for the nobility of their work and their calling, which is to leave their home, to leave their families who may need the kind of resources that they can provide.  But they have taken an oath.  They have taken on a job that says to them they must go and help those who are in need, many who may be strangers to them.

So, I came here to find out what’s going on on the ground, to find out what more we can do in terms of federal aid, such as what we announced today, and the federal support we’re giving to Mecklen- — Mecklenburg County in terms of disaster relief — the work that we are doing, which is $100 million to assist with the rebuilding of Interstate 40.  And also, again, just to thank the folks on the ground for what they are doing every day.

And, again, I want to thank you, Governor, Administrator, General, everyone who is here — Colonel — for all you are doing on behalf of everyone in this region and our nation.  You all are doing extraordinary work, and we are forever grateful to you all.  So, thank you. 

     Thank you all.

                               END                 4:56 P.M. EDT 

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NC National Guard Operations Building
Charlotte, North Carolina

4:01 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Governor.  And I thank you all, everyone here. 

I’ve talked with many of you within, actually, hours and certainly days of Helene hitting this beautiful state.  And I thank you all for the work you’ve been doing around the clock. 

Administrator, you and I have talked many, many times, and your team on the ground, they’re just doing extraordinary work.  But the work that’s happening here that is so positively impacting so many people is really an example of the best we can do when we bring resources together at the federal, state, and local level and tap into the kind of collegiality that produces results.  And this is the work that you all have been doing.

For the folks who are local, I also know what this means for each of you as a leader — to be a leader at a time that your own homes, your families, your friends, people you know, your community has been directly hit. 

For the folks that work in your various divisions and offices, I know that they’ve been showing up at a moment of need for others, even when their own families and their own homes have been directly impacted.  I think that these moments of crisis bring out some of the best of who we can be and who we are. 

 I’ve been seeing and hearing the stories from here in North Carolina about strangers who are helping each other out, giving people assistance in every way that they need, including shelter, food, and friendship and fellowship.  And — and so, I thank everyone for all the work that they’ve been doing — those who are in the room and those who are out there right now, working around the clock. 

And I’m also here because I wanted to make an announcement that yesterday we added Mecklenburg County to the major disaster declaration.  So, that means that we’re going to be getting substantial resources in to help folks and, in particular, to help them now be able to apply for federal assistance for a range of things that will be including home repair; what folks need in terms of generators, or even just compensation for the generators that they’ve had to buy; the kind of shelter that they’ve had to seek, including hotels.

And federal assistance for these issues is, I know, extremely important, because a lot of folks don’t save for these kinds of emergencies, and when they hit, it takes a real drain on their resources and ability to take care of themselves and their family. 

But, again, I thank everybody here.  I’m looking forward to our briefing. 

And — and I will say that also we are looking forward to working with our congressional partners.  And — and, Congresswoman, you’ve been a great leader to work with your colleagues, as you always do, so that we can get Congress to also issue the resources that FEMA will need to be an active and resourced federal partner with all of you on the ground at the state and local level. 

     And with that, let’s start our briefing. 

                               END                 4:04 P.M. EDT

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Senior Advisor to the President and Communications Director Ben LaBolt, and Director of Digital Strategy Christian Tom

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s direction, the Administration has mobilized a robust, intensive, and whole-of-government effort to respond to the impacts of Hurricane Helene. This includes extensive pre-landfall preparations, as well as an immediate surge of additional resources and personnel to impacted communities. More than 6,400 Federal personnel are on the ground, and more than $110 million in Federal assistance has been given to survivors, with more to come. We are sparing no resource as we work to ensure communities across the Southeast have prompt access to Federal resources that will enable them to both purchase essential items and begin their road to recovery and rebuilding.

Unfortunately, as our response and recovery efforts continue, we have seen a large increase in false information circulating online related to the federal response to Hurricane Helene. A number of scam artists, bad-faith actors, and others who want to sow chaos because they think it helps their political interests are promoting disinformation about the recovery effort, including ways to access critical and live-saving resources. This is wrong, dangerous, and it must stop immediately.

Combatting misinformation and disinformation is always important – but it is especially important when responding to disasters like Hurricane Helene. In fact, disinformation after a hurricane or other natural disaster can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when they need it most. It is imperative that we encourage impacted residents to register for FEMA assistance, not discourage it, by allowing falsehoods to spread.

Leaders from across the country, including local, state, and federal elected officials in both parties, are pleading with people to stop sharing “this junk.”

1. CNN: With misinformation swirling in Hurricane Helene’s wake, officials urge residents to ‘stop this conspiracy theory junk’
2. HuffPost: North Carolina Republican Pleads To End Right-Wing Conspiracy Theories About Helene Disaster Recovery
3. The Hill: Tennessee mayor on FEMA attacks post-Helene: ‘Quit spreading those rumors’
4. WVLT: ‘A lot of misinformation’ | Gov. Lee, FEMA address donation rumors

Here are some of the falsehoods being spread online – and the facts we are fighting back with:

FALSEHOOD: Disaster relief funds were used on immigrants in the U.S. illegally.

FACT: No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. None. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.

1. Washington Post: No, Biden didn’t take FEMA relief money to use on migrants — but Trump did
2. NBC News: False claims about FEMA disaster funds and migrants pushed by Trump
3. CNN: ‘This is FALSE’: White House responds to Trump’s FEMA disaster relief claims

FALSEHOOD: FEMA is in the process of confiscating Helene survivor property. If I apply for disaster assistance and my land is deemed unlivable, my property will be seized.

FACT: FEMA cannot seize your property or land. Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority or ownership of your property or land.

1. Verify: No, the government isn’t seizing land in Chimney Rock, N.C., and bulldozing the town

FALSEHOOD: FEMA will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery.

FACT: This is a type of assistance that you may be approved for soon after you apply, called Serious Needs Assistance. It is an upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies. There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive, and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds. $750 is what is immediately available to eligible survivors. In addition, survivors may qualify for more FEMA financial assistance, including to repair storm-related damage to homes and property, find a temporary place to stay, and receive compensation for lost crops and livestock.

• Verify: No, FEMA isn’t giving people impacted by Hurricane Helene just $750

FALSEHOOD: FEMA and the FAA are restricting air space in North Carolina, preventing private citizens from delivery relief.

FACT: There are no airspace restrictions in place in North Carolina as rescue efforts continue because of Hurricane Helene. Pilots looking to come into Asheville or Rutherford airports need to reach out to the airport for permission to land. The FAA is working with local authorities to ensure rescue efforts happen safely.

• Secretary Buttigieg: No one is shutting down the airspace and FAA doesn’t block legitimate rescue and recovery flights.
• NC Aviation: With a 300% increase in traffic over Western NC, Prior Permission Required is now in place at select airports to ensure safe skies and sustainable operations.

The Biden-Harris Administration continues to work via the official White House digital channels to inform the public of the response and recovery efforts to dispel the misinformation being shared, with higher volume on X than other platforms. Updates will continue to be shared about the volume and scope of federal aid being delivered.

The Biden- Harris Administration is also engaging trusted online publishers and influencers to connect with FEMA as a way to meet people where they are and provide them with accurate information. One example of this partnership includes MeidasTouch: Trump lies instantly debunked by FEMA spokesperson. This digital video resulted in reach across both digital and traditional media, including a local Alabama newspaper combatting misinformation.

In addition, the White House will leverage our opt-in SMS messaging platform to share messages to those in affected areas. SMS is a more resilient form of communication where data connectivity might still be recovering, and this is a further example of using all parts of digital communications to reach people who need information and assistance. 

More information on Hurricane Helene falsehoods and facts can be found here: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene/rumor-response

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the Commonwealth of Virginia by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work undertaken in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a result of Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the Commonwealth’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

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Dear Speaker Johnson and Leaders Schumer, McConnell, and Jeffries,

I write to you regarding the needs of the Nation.  As communities across the Southeast devastated by Hurricane Helene assess the extent of the damage, they are expecting their Federal Government to stand behind them in their most urgent time of need.  I have seen firsthand the devastation that Hurricane Helene brought to communities across the Southeast.  During my travels this week to North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia, I met with families, business owners, farmers, local and state officials, and first responders, all of whom shared with me their stories of survival—and resilience.  As leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that everyone in communities ravaged by natural disasters will have the Federal resources they need and deserve to respond to and recover from deadly storms and other natural disasters.  

My Administration will be with those affected until the job is done, and we have a solemn obligation to provide confidence that the Federal Government will stand with them as they rebuild their lives and their communities.  Furthermore, this responsibility extends to the many communities around the Nation that are still rebuilding from previous disasters.

Over the past 10 days, including in the lead up to Hurricane Helene making landfall, my Administration has provided robust and well-coordinated Federal support for the ongoing response and recovery efforts.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Defense, and other Federal partners have quickly mobilized to support impacted citizens and communities in the six States where major disasters have been declared due to Hurricane Helene:  Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.  They are performing critical life-saving and life-sustaining missions and will continue to do so within present funding levels.  As with other catastrophic disasters, it will take some time to assess the full requirements for response and recovery efforts, and I fully expect that the Congress will do its part to provide the funding needed.

While FEMA has the resources needed for the immediate emergency response phase, at least one other agency does not.  Most urgently, the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) disaster loan program will run out of funding in a matter of weeks and well before the Congress is planning to reconvene.  I warned the Congress of this potential shortfall even before Hurricane Helene landed on America’s shores.  I requested more funding for SBA multiple times over the past several months, and most recently, my Administration underscored that request as you prepared a continuing resolution to fund the Government.  Now the need is even more urgent.  Small businesses and individuals in affected areas depend on disaster loans as a critical lifeline during difficult times.  In fact, for individual disaster survivors, SBA loans are often the largest source of Federal disaster recovery funds.  Renters and homeowners use these loans to repair and rebuild their homes as well as replace or repair damaged property including their personal vehicles, while businesses use them to cover basic operating expenses.  The Congress must act to restore this funding.

In addition, while FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund has the resources it requires right now to meet immediate needs, the fund does face a shortfall at the end of the year.  Without additional funding, FEMA would be required to forego longer-term recovery activities in favor of meeting urgent needs.  The Congress should provide FEMA additional resources to avoid forcing that kind of unnecessary trade-off and to give the communities we serve the certainty of knowing that help will be ongoing, both for the short- and long-term.

As the Congress heeds the call to assist the communities across the Nation recovering from Hurricane Helene, it must remember that many other communities are also in urgent need of disaster assistance.  As recently as this summer, my Administration requested that the Congress provide additional disaster assistance to many communities across America.  Many of the programs we requested to receive additional funding would also help response and recovery efforts related to Hurricane Helene.  This includes funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to respond to devastating fires in Maui and tornados in Mississippi, Iowa, and Oklahoma as well as funding for the Department of Transportation to support rebuilding roads and bridges across the Nation, including the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

I urge you to keep faith with those communities and provide the requested additional funding to rebuild housing infrastructure, to support farmers and ranchers with crop losses, to address impacted schools, and to repair damaged Federal highways.  In addition to FEMA’s ongoing support, these are the resources that communities need and deserve to fully respond to and recover from devastating events.

It is critical that Congress ensures that no critical disaster programs, such as the SBA disaster loan program, run out of funding during the Congressional Recess period.  I also urge that after the Congress comes back into session on November 12th, you will act with all appropriate speed and provide comprehensive disaster relief so that the people, families, businesses, and communities affected by Hurricane Helene—as well as those still recovering from past disasters—are not only made whole, but can proceed in a way to make them more resilient in the face of future extreme weather events and other disasters.

My Administration will keep the Congress apprised of efforts to assess the full resource requirements associated with Hurricane Helene, including for long-term rebuilding and resilience efforts, as those estimates become available.  I urge you to assist those impacted by this hurricane and every other disaster since the Congress last passed a comprehensive disaster package in 2022.  We must stand with these communities on their long road to recovery.

Sincerely,

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. made additional disaster assistance available to the State of South Carolina by authorizing an increase in the level of Federal funding for emergency work undertaken in the State of South Carolina as a result of Hurricane Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

Under the President’s order today, Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance has been increased to 100 percent of the total eligible costs for a period of 90 days of the State’s choosing within the first 120 days from the start of the incident period.

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

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists for the San Carlos Apache Tribe ordered federal aid to supplement the Tribal Nation’s efforts in the areas affected by the Watch Fire from July 10 to July 17, 2024.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the Watch Fire.

Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Mr. Benigno Ruiz 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 Tribal Nation and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service. 

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

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On Friday, October 4, 2024, the President signed into law:

H.R. 6513, the “Confirmation Of Congressional Observer Access Act of 2024” or the “COCOA Act of 2024,” which requires States to provide designated congressional election observers with full access to observe all elements of the administration of congressional elections.

Thank you to Representatives Carey, Morelle, and Steil for their leadership.

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     Our Nation’s children deserve every opportunity to reach their biggest dreams — that begins with ensuring our families and children have the resources and support they need to stay healthy and strong.  On Child Health Day, we recommit to supporting families as they help their children to lead healthy lives.

     When we came into office, Vice President Harris and I promised to give families some well-deserved breathing room so that families could care for their children without worrying about how they were going to pay the bills.  That is why my American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, which reduced child poverty by nearly half across the Nation.  That law also made our Nation’s biggest investment in child care ever, keeping businesses open and hundreds of thousands of child care workers employed to care for children.  To lower health insurance costs, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, saving millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  And we strengthened the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program to provide home visits from trained professionals, who can offer prenatal care and postpartum support to new mothers and ensure their children’s health and well-being needs are met.  We launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA to help better support pregnant and postpartum moms.  We also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first time in nearly five decades so that millions more families can afford nutritious foods.  We are working to reduce the amount of sodium in food to help prevent children from experiencing high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke later in life.  At the same time, we are working to secure free and healthy school meals for every child — beginning with setting a goal to deliver free school meals to nine million more children by 2032.

     My Administration is also working to ensure our youth have access to the mental health care they need, making the largest investment in mental health ever.  This includes over $2 billion in funding, including $1 billion through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to help schools across the country train and hire new mental health counselors.  We made it easier for schools to leverage Medicaid to deliver health care, including mental health care, to millions of children and youth.  And we launched 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which anyone can call, text, or chat to be connected to a trained crisis counselor, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

      Americans deserve to live in a safe community, free from the threat of violence — and when it comes to our Nation’s children, one of our most fundamental responsibilities is keeping them safe.  In the United States, firearms are the leading cause of death for children.  It is unacceptable.  Children are exposed to violence and worry about school shootings happening to them, and this exposure and fear can lead to negative consequences for their school life, mental health, and more.  That is why I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years and have announced dozens of gun safety executive actions, including one that will improve the active shooter drills that nearly all students undergo.  I also established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris.  We have made significant progress, but we must do more.  I continue to call on the Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of firearms, enact universal background checks, and end immunity for gun manufacturers. 

     Our Administration is also making historic investments to tackle the climate crisis, which is essential to protecting our children’s futures.  Every child should be able to turn on the faucet at home or school and have access to safe, clean water — that is why, through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are working to replace every lead pipe in America.  My Inflation Reduction Act — the most significant investment in climate ever — is investing in air quality sensors so that we prevent communities from experiencing the harmful effects of pollution.  And we have recommitted to conserving 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 so that generations to come may enjoy them.

     Our children deserve to grow up in a country that cares about their health, happiness, and opportunities for success.  During Child Health Day, may we recommit to supporting our children and families so that they can thrive.  And may we continue to build a future where every child can reach their full potential. 

     The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in October as Child Health Day and has requested that the President issue a proclamation in observance of this day.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 7, 2024, as Child Health Day.  I call upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations, and governments to help ensure that America’s children stay safe and healthy.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Every day that our police officers put on that shield and walk out the door, they put their lives at risk to ensure the rest of us are safe.  During National Community Policing Week, we honor police officers’ service and sacrifice, recommit to supporting them, and reaffirm that community policing practices that advance public trust are the gold standard for law enforcement.

In the first half of this year, according to preliminary data submitted to the FBI, the homicide rate continued to fall at record speed, declining by 22.7 percent, while the violent crime rate fell by 10.3 percent to its lowest level since 1969.  These record decreases follow the historic declines in crime in 2023, including the largest-ever decrease in the homicide rate.  The decreases are in no small part due to the hard work and courageous efforts of law enforcement across America. 

As President, public safety and crime reduction are top priorities for my Administration and me.  Since day one, my Administration has worked with law enforcement, mayors, and community leaders to do what we know works to keep people and communities safe.  Through my American Rescue Plan, we made the largest Federal investment toward public safety in our Nation’s history — delivering more than $15 billion in aid for local and State governments to keep law enforcement on the beat, retain and hire more police officers, pay overtime and bonuses, and expand benefits for disabled first responders.  States, counties, and cities have already invested that funding to make their communities safer, and we added billions more in grants through the Department of Justice to help cities invest in law enforcement and community violence interruption programs. 

I also know that being in law enforcement today is harder than ever — police are expected to respond to so many challenging situations, from drug overdoses and mental health crises to domestic violence, child abandonment, and more.  That is why my Administration has invested in increasing the number of crisis responders who work alongside police officers to respond to non-violent crimes.  We have made more investments in recruiting, retaining, and training officers.  I have called for funding that would put 100,000 more officers on the street who are trained in community policing.  Additionally, we need to invest more in technology and training to solve crimes faster and clear court backlogs, and we need more detectives to solve murders and more deputy United States Marshals to apprehend fugitives.

Police officers deal with unbelievable stress.  Every time an officer responds to a call, executes a warrant, or conducts a traffic stop, there is a tremendous risk:  the fear of ambush, the anxiety of not knowing what is behind that door, and the trauma of bearing witness to the most horrible tragedies imaginable.  That is why I have been laser-focused on providing officers with the mental health and wellness resources they need and deserve.  I also signed extended benefits for families of officers who have tragically died by suicide.

Our police officers are dedicated, honorable, and good people — they build trust with the communities they serve because they know that trust is the foundation of public safety.  Our communities are safer and stronger when our officers have the resources, training, and tools they need to do their jobs and walk the beat, getting to know the neighborhoods and the people they serve.  A lack of trust from the public means less public safety for all of us:  crimes do not get reported, witnesses do not come forward and cases do not get solved, victims suffer while perpetrators roam free, and justice goes undelivered.

When communities trust the police, crimes get solved faster.  That is why when Republicans blocked the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a bill that the Vice President coauthored while in the Senate, we took action.  I signed a historic Executive Order to set the gold standard for law enforcement.  In part, it requires Federal law enforcement agencies to develop best practices that attract, support, and retain officers who are representative of the communities they are sworn to serve.  We have also made historic investments in proven strategies to interrupt and prevent violence in the first place, including using trusted messengers who are trained to disrupt violence.  At the same time, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades and have taken more executive actions to stop the flow of illegal guns than any other administration in history. 

There is more work to be done.  My Safer America Plan calls on the Congress to invest $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention.  The plan would fund 100,000 additional police officers, invest $5 billion in community violence interventions, and enact commonsense gun safety reforms, such as a universal background check requirement and a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

There is no greater responsibility than keeping our families, neighborhoods, and Nation safe. During National Community Policing Week, we reaffirm our commitment to choosing progress over politics when it comes to supporting our law enforcement and ensuring the safety of our communities.  We honor the heroism, bravery, and sacrifice of our police officers.  And may we recommit to upholding one of our Nation’s most fundamental values:  justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6 through October 12, 2024, as National Community Policing Week.  I call upon law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and all Americans to observe this week by recognizing ways to improve public safety, build trust, and strengthen community-police relationships.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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