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On Wednesday, February 7th, the White House and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in coordination with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), convened a roundtable discussion focused on ensuring adequate U.S. manufacturing capacity to build clean transit buses at the scale and pace needed to meet market demand and achieve national climate and equity goals.

The roundtable included approximately 60 representatives from U.S. transit agencies, bus manufacturers, component suppliers, labor unions, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.

President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering historic funding to advance clean transit, which is crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the largest emitting sector, transportation. This historic funding also helps ensure that all communities are able to access good-paying jobs, schools, and health care. The President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests more than $11 billion over five years to support purchasing cleaner, American-made transit buses, training the transit workforce, and upgrading fueling and maintenance infrastructure. To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has funded over 2,900 low- and zero- emission transit buses – enough to more than double the number of zero-emission transit buses on our roadways.

Today, to further build on these goals, FTA released its FY24 Bus Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which makes available more than $1.5 billion in funding through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds are part of FTA’s “Bus and Bus Facilities” and “Low and No Emission Bus” competitive grant programs., which include substantial support for transit agencies to procure and deploy low- or no-emission, American-made buses. During the roundtable, FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez emphasized changes in the NOFO to support these American manufacturers of clean buses, while driving down costs.

FTA also issued a “Dear Colleague” letter highlighting procurement flexibility FTA grantees can take advantage of, allowing more support for the U.S. clean bus industry, clarifying requirements governing federal funding for transit buses, and announcing new steps FTA is taking to help transit agencies transition to low- and zero-emission buses.

In parallel, APTA’s Bus Manufacturing Task Force released new recommendations to bolster competitiveness and stability in the U.S. bus manufacturing sector to help meet market demand, climate goals, and equity objectives for zero-emission buses.

Following discussion of these recommendations at the roundtable held yesterday, major transit agencies (listed below) committed to use their respective authorities to implement the Task Force’s recommendations as fully as possible, particularly focusing on the discretionary bus grants announced Thursday. These agencies are collectively responsible for almost 50% of bus trips taken in the United States.

Transit agencies and U.S. bus manufacturers further committed to collaborate, through APTA, on fast-tracking standardization recommendations within 90 days. In parallel, the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to work with stakeholders on priority topics including testing, charging, cybersecurity, and support for the clean transportation goals of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Speakers

• Natalie Quillian, Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff
• Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor
• Samantha Silverberg, Deputy Assistant to the President for Infrastructure Implementation
• Mary Frances Repko, Deputy National Climate Advisor
• Alex Jacquez, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Development and Industrial Strategy, National Economic Council
• Nuria Fernandez, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration
• Dorval R. Carter, Jr., President, Chicago Transit Authority; Chair, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Task Force on Bus Procurement
• Rich Davey, President, New York City Transit; Vice Chair, APTA Task Force on Bus Procurement
• Stephanie Wiggins, CEO, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority
• Leslie Richards, General Manager, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Derek Maunus, President and CEO, GILLIG
• Dan Raudebaugh, Executive Director, Center for Transportation and the Environment
• Paul Soubry, CEO, New Flyer Industries

Major Transit Agencies Committing to Implement the APTA Bus Manufacturing Task Force Recommendations

• AC Transit
• Akron Metropolitan Regional Transit Authority (METRO RTA)
• Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
• Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)
• Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA)
• King County Metro
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
• New York City Transit (NYC Transit)
• Phoenix Valley Metro
• San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS)
• Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
• Utah Transit Authority (UTA)
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

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The post Readout of White House Roundtable on Clean Bus Manufacturing appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

9:06 A.M. EST

MODERATOR:  Thank you so much.  Good morning, everyone.  And thank you so much for joining us on this call this morning to discuss the bilateral engagements and the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee’s fourth meeting in Mexico, which was led by the White House Homeland Security Advisor, Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall.

As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials, and it will be embargoed until the end of the call.

For your awareness, not for reporting purposes, on the line we have [senior administration official], [senior administration official], [senior administration official] from the Department of Homeland Security.  From Department of Justice, we have [senior administration official].  And from the State Department Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, we have [senior administration official].

And with that, I will turn it to [senior administration official] to give us just brief toplines on the trip’s first day.

Over to you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Good morning.  And thank you, Vanessa. 

On February 6th to 7th, Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall led an interagency delegation to Mexico.  She was accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, and Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Adam Cohen, as well as Tiffany, my colleague, and I accompanied the delegation as well as other representatives from the State Department, the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and of course, our ambassador and members of the embassy team.

The focus of our bilateral engagements was to continue what has been a consistent, constructive, and candid dialogue between our two countries and to strengthen cooperation with Mexican partners on a range of topics, including managing hemispheric migration, countering traffic of illicit drugs and weapons, as well as regional coordination efforts on the same.

On the first day, Dr. Sherwood-Randall and our Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena, which was intended for the president and our Homeland Security Advisor to build — to follow up on the conversations between President Joe Biden and President López Obrador on February 3rd.

I won’t say more than — beyond what was in the readout yesterday, except to say that it was a long and substantive discussion on a range of topics and incredibly productive and constructive from our perspective.

Now, following that meeting, the full interagency delegation then met with counterparts of the Mexican security cabinet to review progress made through our joint efforts and to determine a number of next steps. 

So, on that end, we agreed to two concrete steps: to increase information and data sharing between the United States and Mexico — to increase the already existing relationship we have on information and data sharing to facilitate action against criminal organizations that traffic people, guns, and illicit drugs, including fentanyl, into our communities; and agreed to a specific set of timelines so that we keep ourselves on track, accountable, and delivering for our peoples of the country.

When I mention “specific,” we are, you know, obviously sharing information actively with the Mexicans.  We’ve agreed to basically track the same metrics and really, kind of, measure our own progress against the metrics that we’re setting for ourselves.

I’ll leave it at that so we have more time for questions.  Back to you, Vanessa.

MODERATOR:  Thank you so much one.  At this moment, I’ll turn it over to [senior administration official] to go over day two.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hey, good morning.  Thank you all for joining us.

So, yesterday, Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Rosa Icela Rodríguez hosted White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall and Canada’s Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin in the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to review progress on our commitments and discuss further joint actions to stem the flow of illicit synthetic drugs and firearms trafficking.

By way of background, President Biden, President López Obrador, and Prime Minister Trudeau established the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee in January of last year, during the North American Leaders’ Summit, to guide party actions to address the threat from illicit synthetic drugs, notably fentanyl, in North America.

At the meeting yesterday, we all agreed that this is a shared threat not only for countries in North America but around the globe.  We also agreed we must not wait to act — to continue to act until this becomes an even bigger crisis in our homes, communities, and countries.

We will be issuing a joint communiqué shortly on the meeting, but I’ll take a few minutes just to go over actionable, concrete steps our three countries committed to.

So, first, we committed to increasing collaboration on the control of precursor chemicals and equipment related to illicit drug production. 

Second, we agreed to continuously review our legal framework to identify areas for improvement and to close any identified gaps.

Thirdly, we agreed to further engage the private sector to combat the production of illicit synthetic drugs and highlight legal risks.

Fourth, to strengthen diplomatic efforts to build on the progress of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats and with other countries around the world.

Fifth, to develop and implement a common drug and substances analysis protocol, which will allow toxicologists from all three countries to improve our understanding of regional drug trends.

Sixth, to convene a forum to discuss strategies and their implementation for assisting the long-term recovery of individuals with substance use disorders.

Seven, to expand the scope of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to address firearms trafficking under the auspices of the North American Drug Dialogue.

Eight, to commit to developing a trilateral report that documents cross-border firearm seizures in all three countries to better inform our strategies and actions.

Nine, to commit to increase our use of the ATF’s eTrace Database to allow for more and faster joint investigations into the illicit trafficking of firearms across our shared borders.

And finally, tenth, both Mexico and Canada committed to embed personnel at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center to increase and expedite information sharing on criminals and illicit activities associated with the trafficking of both fentanyl and firearms.

And then, finally, the group committed to meet again sometime in the spring, most likely in Canada.

MODERATOR:  Thank you so much.  With that, I think we’re going to go straight into questions.  I recognize that we started a few moments late, so we’re going to go straight into questions.

Just a friendly reminder to our friends on the line that we will keep questions focused on this trip to Mexico.  You can ask about on bilateral engagements with our Mexican partners and the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee’s fourth meeting with the Mexican and Canadian partners.

Please, I know that there might be questions about ongoing negotiations on the Hill.  We ask kindly that we keep the questions focused on the trip.

With that, Candace, over to you to give our friends on the line the instructions on how to ask questions.  Over.

We’ll go first to Rafael Bernal from the Hill. 

Q    Hi.  Thank you for having this.  A couple of quick questions.  And I don’t mean to be flip about this, but is the joint communiqué going to address democratic decline in Mexico?

And related question: You know, there’s been a lot of allegations of corruption in — and drug-related corruption in President López Obrador’s immediate circle.  That’s made a lot of noise lately.  Does that affect the level of confidence in which you can engage in deals with that government?  And obviously, you know, he’s not doing all the work with his immediate and broader circles.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I can take the first one, and then my colleagues can jump in on the others.

So, thanks, Rafael.  The topic of democratic governance is not in the statement because it was not the focus of the conversation.  We focused strictly on trilateral fentanyl cooperation and a number of other topics, which are the purview of the Homeland Security Advisor.

But we engage in wide-ranging discussions directly with the Mexicans on these topics, so I would not read into its exclusion as something that is deprioritized.  It just wasn’t the subject of the meeting.

MODERATOR:  [Senior administration official], do you want to take the second one?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  This is [senior administration official] from DOJ. 

The Deputy Attorney General had productive conversations with Attorney General Gertz and also members of the Mexican security cabinet.  And the issue that you flagged was never raised because what we were talking about was how we’re going to work going forward on countering fentanyl and firearms trafficking.

MODERATOR:  Thank you very much.  We’ll go to José Díaz from the Reforma.

Q    Thank you so much.  On January 19, President Biden told the U.S. Conference of Mayors that fentanyl flows to the U.S. had slowed down.  Can you provide some metrics to back up that statement?  Because we haven’t gotten any.

And did you address — sorry, did the National [sic] Security Advisor address the complaints by the Mexican president during that meeting regarding these stories and ProPublica and other outlets about his potential involvement — sorry, the potential involvement of drug money in his first presidential campaign?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  [Senior administration official], do you want me to do the second part?  And then somebody can take fentanyl.

Really quickly, just — look, on the second part, we’re not going to get into the details of the internal conversations between the Homeland Security Advisor and the president.

Again, I think the focus of the discussion that we had, either — both in the bilateral meeting and the trilateral fentanyl discussion — was on strengthening already excellent cooperation that we have with the Mexicans on a number of topics, including law enforcement cooperation, migration, and just broader regional efforts to address the root causes of migration.

So we were focused on building on a very strong foundation of cooperation that we built.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi, this is [senior administration official] from State Department.  I can address the first part of the question if you’d like.

MODERATOR:  Please go ahead, [senior administration official].

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Okay, thanks.

What we believe we are seeing is more of a flattening of the numbers of fentanyl, but we are watching them month by month, and we judge it on an annual basis from summer to summer.  So I think we will have a much better idea later this summer.  But we have seen the numbers flatten, I would say, so we are hoping that will lead to a decline.

However, you know, nearing 110,000 drug overdose deaths total, with about 70 percent of those coming from synthetic drugs, including fentanyl — it’s still way too high.  So we have some work to do. 

Over.

MODERATOR:  Thanks, [senior administration official].  Thanks, [senior administration official].

We’ll go next to Colleen Long from the AP.

Q    Hi there.  Thank you for doing the call.  I have two questions.

So, the first one is: You were talking about how to measure success.  I just wondered if you could go into that a little bit more, because I assume it’s more than just, like, you know, fentanyl product seized.  And I know that it’s often really difficult to sort of, like, prove a negative if there are fewer instances of fentanyl — how do you know if you’re succeeding.  So I was kind of curious about, like, how the measurements would work.

And then, I know that you guys can’t necessarily get into this, but I just have to ask if this — you know, how these

efforts to sort of combat fentanyl may or may not be affected by, you know, whatever lack of funding is happening thanks to Congress.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Look, thanks.  On the metrics — and, [senior administration official], you may want to add to this as well.  Look, you’re exactly right that, you know, we’re not — it’s not necessarily effective to measure very, kind of, singular outcomes, metrics.  A lot of the metrics that we are basically discussing with the Mexicans reflect what is incredibly complex and sophisticated cooperation that we have in information sharing, in how we actually approach law enforcement operations, you know, how we actually allocate our investment resources.

And so, a lot of this is really just part of our internal planning process to ensure that, you know, when it comes to whether it’s information sharing at the ports, whether it is information on law enforcement operations in the United States that can benefit Mexico, or the other way around, trying to arrive at common metrics to show that our cooperation is improving.  It also gives us good insights into how we’re disrupting the functioning of transnational criminal organizations, a sense of where the flowing — the trafficking routes are.

So a lot of it is really trying to make sure that when we are engaging as robustly and as actively as we are with the Mexicans, that we’re basically comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges to improve how we can actually adjust to what is, you know, criminal organizations that are evolving and adapting rapidly.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  To add to what [senior administration official] said, that, you know, what the Biden-Harris administration has been really focused on is on saving American lives.  And when we meet with our partners in Canada and Mexico, that’s what we’re focused on doing, is saving the lives of our citizens in all three countries from the scourge of both fentanyl and firearms.

And so, what we’ve been focused on is taking a whole series of actions, both in this context with Mexico and Canada and stopping the flow of fentanyl and firearms, as well as doing things on the public health side, trying to make lifesaving treatments more available to members of the population of the United States, et cetera.  So I think it’s a whole host of actions.

And we have seen some progress on that front by, kind of, the flattening of the curve of the number of individuals in the United States that are dying from overdose deaths.

And so, this is just kind of one piece of everything that we are doing in the U.S. context to try and save American lives, working with our partners in Mexico and Canada, and tackling this shared threat in a global context through things like the global coalition that I mentioned and others, because this really is — the synthetic drug threat really is a global threat.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This is [senior administration official] at State, if I can just add on to what [senior administration official] was saying.

Mexico is actually playing a very active role in the global coalition.  They are the co-chair of the working group on health issues, which is a priority for them, which has been great.  We have worked with them and other countries, and have — to identify emerging threats as well, because while it’s fentanyl right now, it isn’t just fentanyl; it’s a polydrug problem — it’s fentanyl mixed with other drugs.

And together with Mexico and other countries, we have already identified that liquid fentanyl, which is medical grade and not as lethal, is being introduced into the illicit market in the hopes of trying to hook additional people.

So the work that we are doing with Mexico, Canada, and everyone else in the global coalition is already starting to pay dividends just in information sharing and exchanges, but we also will have a lot of projects we’ll work on with them together. 

Mexico has also been very supportive in the multilateral fora.  They participated in an event with the Secretary of State at the U.N. General Assembly.  They have supported us in resolutions, saying that this is a global threat that requires global action, and also in getting additional precursors scheduled at the U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs.

Over.

MODERATOR:  Thank you, [senior administration official].  Super helpful.

We’ll go next to José de Córdoba.  José, if you could remind us which outlet you are from.  Thank you.

Q    Yes, hi.  This is José de Córdoba from the Wall Street Journal.

I have two questions.  Last year, people in the Sinaloa cartel said they were stopping fentanyl trafficking in the areas they control around Culiacan.  Some dealers were killed.  Some labs were shut down.  Is that continuing?  And if so, has the Sinaloa cartel stopped trafficking fentanyl?  And if so, who has taken up the slack?  That’s one question.

The second question is: Does Mexico — the Mexican government accept that there are fentanyl labs operating in Mexico?

MODERATOR:  Perhaps [senior administration official] can start off with the first, or (inaudible), and then [senior administration official] can take the second one.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This is [senior administration official] from DOJ.

So, on the first question about whether Sinaloa has stopped fentanyl production, I’ll say that that topic also did not come up during our meetings with the Mexicans.  We were focused on stopping fentanyl crossing the border from Mexico into the United States and the joint efforts we can take there, wherever the fentanyl is coming from, from whatever drug-trafficking organization is peddling it across the border.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, and I would just underscore what my colleague from DOJ said — is that the focus of the conversation was really on expanding our cooperation to deliver outcomes.  And so, we didn’t — we really actually focused on increasing those areas of collaboration.  And I think that was the focus of the discussion.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hey, this is [senior administration official].  So the one thing I would add to what my colleagues have said is that, you know, regardless of what Sinaloa has said publicly, we know that fentanyl is still continuing to come across our border into the United States.  We’re continuing to see fentanyl that is entering the United States, both in powder and pill format. 

So I think that just emphasizes the need for these meetings and, kind of, for our continued cooperation on these issues.

MODERATOR:  All right, is there — hearing no other comments from our speakers, I’ll go to our last question.

Jesus Esquivel, can you remind us — are you ProPublica?

Q    Hi, good morning.  This is Jesus Esquivel from Proceso Magazine of Mexico.

I have two questions to [senior administration official].  Foreign Minister of Mexico Bárcena said, even though that you say you’re going to talk about the details, that the U.S. government in these meetings — the case of (inaudible) involvement of drug money in the campaign was closed.

And secondly, it was a discussion with regard to the argument of the Mexican government that has been illegal traffic of military weapons from the U.S. and Mexico?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Happy to answer that, Jesus.

Look, so I think what you’re referring to is the press conference the foreign secretary gave after the meetings.  And she was saying that what she said (inaudible) was referring to the — that it’s just not something that — it was not the focus of the discussion, has not impacted the bilateral relationship.  And, in fact, that was really the spirit of the conversations, was building on what has been an excellent foundation that we’ve built since 2021.

And, you know, can you repeat the second part of the question?

Q    If there was any discussion of the argument of the Mexican government that has been illegal traffic of military weapons from the U.S. to Mexico.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, I’ll let DOJ speak to that.  We can step in as well.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi, this is [senior administration official].

So, that topic, we did discuss the trafficking of weapons from the United States to Mexico.  Obviously, it’s a large problem and one that we have an obligation and that we would like to assist both United States citizens and Mexican citizens with stopping.  The idea of trafficking of military weapons into Mexico came up.  We discussed it.  And there’s no evidence that military weapons from the United States are being trafficked into Mexico.

MODERATOR:  All right, I see we have one more question from José from the Wall Street Journal.  We’ll go to José.

Q    Yes, hi.  The president of Mexico has many times said that there are no fentanyl labs operating in Mexico.  I would assume that would have an impact on cooperation between the two countries on how to deal with fentanyl.  What is Mexico’s official position on that now?  What does the U.S. think about it?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Hi, this is [senior administration official].  You know, as to Mexico’s official position, we would, of course, defer to the Mexican government to provide their official position.

What I will say about our cooperation with Mexico is that it is very strong across these issues.  I think the, kind of, series of due-outs that I went over that will be in the joint communiqué today from the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee is good evidence of that. 

And we know that our Mexican colleagues work very hard against this threat on a daily basis, that they have made great sacrifices in this fight — you know, the loss of their soldiers and policemen in this fight.  And we recognize that and appreciate that. 

And we feel that we have a very strong partnership across all aspects of this issue, from trying to shut down the flow of fentanyl across our border to working on firearms to working together on the public health aspect of this threat.

MODERATOR:  All right.  So we’ll have time for one last question.  We’ll go to Teresa Cebrián.  Teresa, would you please remind us what outlet you’re from?

Q    Hi, how are you?  Yes, this is Teresa from PBS NewsHour.

I want to talk about some reporting that fentanyl is primarily trafficked by U.S. citizens.  This is something that Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Bárcena has also said.  I wanted to know if that came up in your conversations and what you’re doing to address that.  Thank you.

MODERATOR:  [Senior administration official] or [senior administration official, either of you want to start off with this one?

We might have lost them.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Let me jump in real quick, Vanessa, just with some toplines on this.  This is [senior administration official].

So, look, I think it’s important to note here that fentanyl trafficking has an entire supply chain.  And we are, you know, focusing on the cooperation on preventing the flow of precursor chemicals, some of which are obviously dual-use.  On that, we’ve made incredible progress with the Mexicans, focusing on the transnational criminal organizations that are trafficking and involve the manufacturing of that — of fentanyl, and then, of course, the trafficking across the border.

There have been some open-source reporting that the majority of the trafficking comes in through points of entry.  That is largely accurate.  And others are saying that primarily U.S. persons coming across the border.  I think it’s important to, I think, note that the criminal supply chain is one that is incredibly long and that we are focusing on actually attacking the transnational criminal networks that are involved in managing that entire supply chain.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  This is [senior administration official]. 

To build off of what [senior administration official] was saying, you know, this really is a — this is not just a threat to North America, this is a global threat.  And this is why we are working not just with our Mexican and Canadian partners, but our global partners through the global coalition, as I mentioned previously. 

And we’ve also been working closely with the PRC.  As you all know, we recently resumed counternarcotics cooperation with the PRC, sent a delegation there just last week.  And Mexico is also engaging with the PRC and has sent a delegation there and is working closely with them on counternarcotics cooperation as well.

MODERATOR:  All right, thank you, everyone.  That’s all the time we have for today.  Thanks for joining us.  The embargo has now lifted.

Again, this call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials.  And we will try to get this joint communiqué on the TFC out as soon as possible and out to you guys. 

Thank you, and have a great day.

9:36 A.M. EST

The post Background Press Call on Bilateral Engagements and the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee’s Fourth Meeting in Mexico appeared first on The White House.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:       Delegation of Authority Under Section 1(j)(4) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956


By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authority vested in the President by section 1(j)(4) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a(j)(4)) to submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives the justification required in conjunction with the renewal of a temporary appointment pursuant to section 1(j)(3) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 2651a(j)(3)).

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

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Memorandum on the Delegation of Authority Under Section 1(j)(4) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 appeared first on The White House.

Private Residence
New York, New York
(February 7, 2024)

2:38 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  He doesn’t want to admit it, but we go back a long way. 
 
MR. LINDEN:  It’s true. 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  And I — it’s means a lot to me.
 
MR. LINDEN:  It means a lot to me, sir. 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Folks, look, this is pretty informal, but the fact of the matter is — I — I think the key word — and I want to thank Kathleen and Dana for all you guys are — all three of you are doing.
 
Look, I look around the room — and some of you have been with me and I’ve been with you for a long time.  And you’ve educated me.  You know, I started off back in 1972 as a 29-year-old kid.  I know I don’t look that old, but — (laughter). 
 
But I was a 29-year-old kid, and we had big problems in terms of the environment.  And people wonder why in God’s name was I talking about the environment.  I mean it sincerely. 
 
And — I’m just going to just walk out here.  Can you all hear me if I’m standing out here?
 
AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Yes.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Okay. 
 
Well, what I — what I realized was that I — when we moved from Scranton, Pennsylvania — a coalmining town — because coal died.  Although my dad wasn’t in the coal business, but that’s — he worked as a salesperson.  And he moved back to where he was raised as a kid: Wilmington, Delaware.  Actually, we were in a place called Claymont, Delaware, which was steel town at the time — 4,500 — it was Worth Steel. 
 
And — and it also — it was right on the border, if you know anything about Delaware, there’s an arch that goes up into Pennsylvania and around the Delaware River.  And that corner where the arch meets the Delaware River in Pennsylvania, there are more oil refineries when I was growing up than there were in Houston. 
 
And the prevailing winds — literally not figuratively, literally — are southwest — I mean southeast.  And so, I grew up, like a lot of other of my friends — we moved there when I was in third grade — suffered from bronchial asthma. 
 
And we had one of the worst environmental records of any state in the nation.  We were — we were listed for a long time as having the worst environment where we — period — in terms of exposure to carcinogenic substances.
 
And — and I — I just couldn’t understand how — like, I’d get in the car — I didn’t plan on saying this, so I apologize I’m taking longer.  But I — I’d get in the car in the morning — we lived in a place called the Philadelphia Pike, which was a four-lane access highway from Wilmington, Delaware, to Philadelphia.  And we lived not far from — we lived not far from a little school I went to, probably the equivalent of a — maybe three quarters of a mile.  And you could walk up the Pike, but it was too dangerous.  My mother didn’t want third and fourth graders — or fir- — a first and third grader, I mean — walking up to the school we went to.  So, she’d drive up in the morning, drop us in the parking lot. 
 
And two things always impressed me.  And I mean this sincerely, and then I’ll stop.  When the first frost came and she turned on the windshield wiper, there would literally be an oil slick on the window.  Not a joke.  We were one of those fence-line communities.  You all are familiar with them in the environmental community.  An oil slick.
 
And a lot of us — a lot of my buddies, a lot of my friends ended up with various lung diseases in the case of many of us.  I don’t know many of my friends who didn’t have bronchial asthma, because of it.
 
But my generic point is this: You know, what you’re doing is changing the world.  What you’re doing.  Not me.  What you’re doing.  You’re the economic, political, and philosophic engine of this change. 
 
There is only one existential threat we face in this world, and that’s the environment.  I mean, it literally is the existential threat.  It’s even more consequential than nuclear power, nuclear war.  That would be horrible and awful and it would just make the environment incredibly worse.  But it’s about the environment. 
 
And so many of you didn’t have to do — none of you had to do what you’ve done.  You’ve taken your — your intellect, you’ve taken your fortunes, you’ve taken your — your interests, and you’ve — and you’ve inspired a lot of people.  I’m not joking about this now when I say this.
 
Twenty years ago, it was a — we couldn’t fill this room this way — although you all were working on it 20 years ago, but it just wasn’t there. 
 
And I’ve — if I hear one more — I used to hear at the beginning when I was running this time out when I was vice president that there’s no environmental problems. 
 
Well, as I traveled — as vice president, I traveled the nation for every major forest fire.  More — more timber has burned to the ground than, in fact — as a consequence of what has happened in the environment — than — than makes up the entire state of Maryland, the square f- — square footage. 
 
I don’t hear many people, even in the business community, saying, “Well, we don’t have a problem with the environment.  We don’t have a problem.”
 
And even when I go around the world, the world is looking to us.  I’ve known every major world leader — because of my job, not because I’m so important — because I’ve just been — I’ve done foreign policy issues.  I was chairman of Foreign Relations Committee for years as well as — that’s why Barack asked me to be vice president: on the foreign policy side. 
 
And so, I literally know every major world leader, every — every — almost every major world leader.  And the major ones, I do know.  And they’re looking to us.  They’re looking to us, both to maintain their energy needs and deal with the environment.  They’re not — they’re not one and the same. 
 
But that’s — so, it’s amazing to me how much the rest of the world looks to us, to the United States, for everything — not to Joe Biden, to the United States of America — because the rest of the world is in a very — in a — in a piece — in a moment of transition like we haven’t seen.  We see it once every six or seven generations. 
 
And there’s a transition going on based on the changes — incredible technological changes that are taking place in the world.
 
And so, I just want to thank you for not only dealing with the environment but for helping us manage our international relations in ways that we — we have been unable to do.   And it’s going to get harder before it gets easier, but it still matters. 
 
Second point I’d like to make, and then I’ll shush up and take your questions.  Second thing I’d like to say is that one of the things that — how can I say this?  One of the things that I think matters is that, all of a sudden — and I mean it in a historical sense, “all of the sudden” — the rest of your colleagues around the — around the country understand what you’ve been doing.  They don’t like it, maybe, but they understand.
 
And I — you know, I — I don’t get any phone calls from DuPont company anymore what we’re doing.  I don’t get — I mean, it’s a realization. 
 
And two things that we’ve done — we, all of us — number one, some of you were upset when I — and I don’t blame you — when I announced in 2020 and I didn’t lay out my detailed plan on the environment until I first talked to labor — not because I needed labor, because I want labor to understand: When I think environmental protection, I think jobs, I think opportunity, I think change. 
 
And you saw what happened when I was able to convince the IBEW to join on.  I’ve become most pro-union, pro-environmental president in (inaudible) history — both, at the same time. 
 
If you had told me or you — I told you 10 years ago that organized labor and the environment would be one and the same and they were going to be on the same page, I think we all would have looked like we were crazy. 
 
But I invited all the major labor unions to the West Wing, to the — excuse me — the yard behind it — the White House.  And they realized that their future lies in being able to have the jobs that are going to produce these fundamental changes that are taking place — everything from the use of hydrogen to — I mean, a whole — and, by the way, even when you guys got started, did you think that cement was a great polluter?  You did.  I didn’t.  I didn’t know that.  I didn’t know that. 
 
So, it’s just you’ve — you’ve provided an opportunity for the public to get educated in a way that it wasn’t before.  And I thank you for that.  I really do. 
 
And I’m flattered that you’d be willing to stick with me, because I’ve made some pretty tough decisions that made a lot of people mad on the environment.  But I think they’re beginning to figure it out. 
 
But our — last comment.  When I got elected when I was 29 years old — and I come from a modest background.  We weren’t poor, but I come from a modest background: a three-bedroom home in — 45 houses — 45 houses — they’re split-levels homes that were in suburbia being built and — with four kids and a grandpop living in a three-bedroom home with us. 
 
So, we weren’t poor, but we were — we were — we were — we had figure out how to get to college, how to borrow money.  My dad was good man. 
 
And the interesting thing is that it took a while for me to figure out that I’m not a big trickle-down guy.  I just want you to be aware, because that does relate to the environment as well.  But the idea of trickle-down economics, not a whole lot trickled onto to my dad’s kitchen table.  He was a very well-read man and never got to go to college.  He got to go to Johns Hopkins but went — World War Two occurred, and he never went.
 
But he’d always say, “You’re going to be a college man, Joe.”  (Laughter.)  And I said, “What the hell difference does that make?” I said, “Dad, they could still get fired as a college man.”  And he said, “But they can’t take your degree away.” 
 
But my — my whole point is that it was a matter of giving people an opportunity.  So, I want to — I want to tell you, because you probably get heat sometimes — (inaudible) the economy overall — is I think the way to grow the economy is from the middle out and the bottom up.  The wealthy still do very well, and we ven- — invest in America. 
 
And one of the things that allowed me to do some of the things you wanted me to do in the environment is there’s a provision in the law that I was unaware of — and I’ve been around a long time — that passed when Roosevelt was President, relating to unions.  The issue was: Are unions legit?  Can they be organized?  Can they be protected, et cetera?
 
It’s a provision that no Democrat or Republican president paid much attention to.  It said that when the President is given money as a consequence of the Congress passing money — passing legislation to build something, do something, he should hire an American and he should invest with American products.
 
That’s one of the reasons why we’re growing.  And that’s one of the reasons why a couple of you were talking about the unions you work with and how they’ve becoming supportive. 
 
Well, all of a sudden, people are realizing — you know, electric vehicles — well, that’s 550,000 charging stations.  That’s a lot of jobs.  It’s a lot of savings of the environment.  So, across the board, I think we’re in the right direction. 
 
And I’ll end by saying there is one existential threat, and it’s Donald Trump.  It’s not about me; it’s about Trump.  He will try to do — undo everything we’ve done.  Make no mistake about it.  Many of you know him better than I do.  But he will try.  
 
And you think that won’t happen, do you see what’s happening today in the United States House of Representatives, the United States Congress?  I — I tell you, I’ve been around — as I said, I served in the Congress for 36 years.  Never thought I’d see something like I’m seeing now. 
 
And even people already who signed up — everything from the environmental issues straight through to the border and (inaudible) — they’re walking away at the last minute because Donald Trump called them and threatened them — threatened retribution if they stick with their position.
 
So, that’s why I’m running, because we cannot let that happen. 
 
We’re on — I’m optimistic, and I think we’re on the verge of some real change because of you. 
 
So, I’m going to hush up and answer questions.  (Applause.)
 
2:50 P.M. EST

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The President and the First Lady look forward to welcoming His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the White House on February 12, 2024. This year, the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations, and the two leaders will discuss how the United States and Jordan can continue to deepen our strong bilateral relationship. President Biden and King Abdullah II will also discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and efforts to produce an enduring end to the crisis. Towards that end, the two leaders will discuss U.S. effort to support the Palestinian people including through enhanced humanitarian assistance into Gaza and a vision for a durable peace to include a two-state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed.

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Jill and I are heartbroken at the loss of five U.S. Marines, whose aircraft crashed while flying from Nevada to California during a routine training mission. As the Department of Defense continues to assess what occurred, we extend our deepest condolences to their families, their squadron, and the U.S. Marine Corps as we grieve the loss of five of our nation’s finest warriors. I am deeply grateful to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, and other federal, state, and local agencies for their professionalism and dedication in supporting search and recovery efforts.
 
Our service members represent the very best of our nation—and these five Marines were no exception. Today, as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and ultimate sacrifice—and reaffirm the sacred obligation we bear to all those who wear the uniform and their families.  

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Partnership with President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition is among new commitments under the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing a new partnership with major sports leagues and players associations to boost physical activity and increase nutrition programming across the country.
 
Fourteen sports leagues and players associations have signed agreements with the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to expand access to physical activity, integrate messaging and education around nutrition, and promote healthy lifestyles to the millions of people who engage in their programs every year.
 
In 2022, President Biden hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, the first in more than 50 years. The President also announced a National Strategy to meet an ambitious goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 – all while closing disparities among the communities that are impacted most.
 
Towards that goal, last year the Biden-Harris Administration launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities as a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all of society to make bold commitments. The historic partnership announced today is one of the new commitments cultivated through the White House Challenge. Additional new commitments will be announced later this month.
 
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, & Nutrition is a federal advisory committee that aims to promote healthy, accessible eating and physical activity for all Americans, regardless of background or ability. In 2022, President Biden appointed chef José Andrés and basketball player Elena Delle Donne to serve as Co-Chairs of the President’s Council followed by a full slate of Council Members in 2023.
 
The following sports leagues and players associations are announcing new commitments today:

• National Football League (NFL): The NFL will build on PLAY60, the NFL’s national youth health and wellness platform, empowering millions of youth to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, and integrate the importance of nutrition into its messaging for these programs.
  
• National Hockey League (NHL): The NHL is committed to expanding access and opportunity for children and families to experience hockey in all forms through financial investments in communities, national advocacy, and strategic programming including NHL/NHLPA Learn to Play, NHL STREET, and the Hockey is for Everyone Coalition.
  
• Major League Baseball (MLB): MLB will bolster its PLAY BALL initiative, a global effort to encourage young people and communities to engage in baseball and softball, with nutrition education and messaging for children. MLB initiated this effort during its World Series PLAY BALL event in October 2023, with PLAY BALL coaches speaking to the participating kids about healthy eating and good nutrition. MLB will continue to share this message in partnership with the President’s Council during future PLAY BALL events.
  
• National Basketball Association (NBA) & Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA): The NBA and WNBA will continue developing programming and events that promote physical activity to all young people and taking action to combat food insecurity – building upon activities at the All-Star Game in Indianapolis this month.
  
• Major League Soccer (MLS): MLS will build on its work on nutrition security for communities by expanding food recovery to every MLS stadium and by surpassing last year’s 400,000 meal donations during community service events. 
  
• PGA Tour: The PGA Tour will promote the physical and nutrition benefits of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans through events with its charitable beneficiaries such as First Tee.
  
• National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL): The NWSL will leverage its 15 teams with players from across the globe to promote healthy eating, physical activity, nutrition messaging through their community events.
  
• Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA): The MLBPA in partnership with its charitable arm, the Players Trust will build on its work with players in coaching and mentoring the next generation on the importance of developing lifelong healthy habits and behaviors that contribute to their positive physical, social, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
  
• National Women’s Soccer League Players Association (NWSLPA): NWSLPA will work with players and other teams to raise awareness among young people about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity.
  
• National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA): NHLPA will add nutrition education and messaging to community initiatives and amplify federal resources such as Move Your Way. The NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams program, which helps children play the sport of hockey by donating equipment to community-based programs, will conduct several events this year with various community partners. 
  
• Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA): MLSPA will build on existing community programming to spotlight nutrition as a facet of performing well on the field and continue to elevate the importance of healthy eating.
  
• United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA): USLPA will partner with the President’s Council to continue promoting nutrition through its initiatives and programming.

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Aboard Air Force One
En Route New York, New York

12:43 P.M. EST
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just have two things at the top.  And then, we don’t have a lot of time.  As you all know, just a short flight. 
 
So, because congressional Republicans are choosing partisan politics over our national security and refusing to pass the bipartisan national security agreement that includes significant border reforms and funding, over the coming weeks ICE will be forced to reduce operations because of budget shortfalls. 
 
Since the beginning of the administration, we have asked Congress for additional funding and resources.  And every time, Congress has provided less than we asked for or, most recently, completely ignored our supplemental request. 
 
Here is what that means: ICE would be forced to reduce its removal operations, its total detention capacity, and more.  When ICE can’t aff- — can’t conduct these operations, our national security and public safety will be harmed. 
 
Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans should be held accountable.  This was their choice.  They have picked partisan politics over our national security. 
 
Yesterday, new analysis showed President Biden’s investment in the IRS will reduce the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars by making the wealthy and the big corporations pay the taxes they owe.  And — and has enacted — the Inflation Reduction Act’s IRS investment would raise over $500 billion over the next decade.  If extended, as the President has proposed, it would raise over $800 billion.
 
These iventmen- — investments are already paying off.  The IRS has already recovered more than half a billion dollars from over 1,600 delinquent millionaires.  And it’s easier for taxpayers to get their — their questions answered on the phone, in person, or online. 
 
Congressional Republicans have made their priorities clear.  They want to increase the debt by letting the wealthy cheat on their taxes and then cut healthcare, education, and other programs hardworking families rely on.  President Biden won’t let them.
 
With that, we have the Admiral, John Kirby, here, who is going to give us an update on the Middle East. 
 
MR. KIRBY:  I actually don’t have a topper for you today, so we can just take whatever is on your mind.
 
Q    On the hostage situation.  The President yesterday said something about the Hamas deal, and he expressed some skepticism about it.  He said something about their — their response was “over the top.”  Is there anything you can do to clarify what he meant by that, like — or anything you could say about what the Hamas response was?
 
MR. KIRBY:  I mean, I’m afraid there’s really not much I can say, J.J.  I mean, as we’ve all said consistently, we don’t want to negotiate this thing in public.  Hamas did come back with a response.  We’re working our way through that.  I don’t want to get ahead.
 
As you know, Secretary Blinken is in the region right now talking to our counterparts in Israel about this.  And in order to make sure we have the maximum chance for success, you know, I think the less said the better.
 
Q    Whe- — could you just give us an update on Secretary Blinken’s meeting with Netanyahu?  Has he discussed the proposal?
 
MR. KIRBY:  I think they’re just coming out of the meeting, so I — I don’t have — I don’t have anything specific for you.  I’d refer you to my counterparts at State.
 
Q    How much of the Hamas offer really reflects the — the proposal that was drawn up by U.S. and Israeli chiefs that was delivered to Hamas last week?  How much of what you have gotten back from them reflects that?
 
MR. KIRBY:  Again, I’m not going to get into the details.  I’m sorry. 
 
Q    It’s been more than a month since that last U.S. assistance package was sent to Ukraine.  Can you give us an assessment of how the Ukrainian army is doing right now in terms of ammunition and supplies?
 
MR. KIRBY:  Well, I talked about this a little bit yesterday in my gaggle.  And I’m certainly going to be careful not to get into the inventory levels of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. 
 
But battlefield commanders are making some really tough decisions right now.  We know that in some units, they are marshalling their ammunition very, very closely because they’re beginning to get worried about running out.  There are marshalling what kind of other longer-range systems that they are using.
 
And the Russians know this.  That’s why they keep flying drones and missiles to — to force the Ukrainians to use air defense capabilities that they know are not being replaced right now. 
 
So, it’s causing some tough decisions on — on the commanders’ part all along that front — from the east down to south.
 
Q    And there’s a city, Avdiivka —
 
MR. KIRBY:  Avdiivka, yeah.
 
Q    I want to make sure I — yes.  Can you talk a little bit about the concerns about what that would mean if that city were to fall?  It would be the first major city taken by the Russians in a (inaudible) — 
 
MR. KIRBY:  Well, don’t forget Bakhmut.
 
Q    Yeah, since — I was going to say “since Bakhmut.”
 
MR. KIRBY:  Don’t forget Bakhmut.
 
Q    Yes.
 
MR. KIRBY:  But Avdiivka — what we think the Russians want it for is a — a stepping-off point, a logistics hub.  And the Ukrainians keep fighting for it.  I mean, it’s — it — they’ve — they’ve swapped territory in and around Avdiivka now for a couple of months. 
 
But we believe the Russians wanted to be able to have a base of operations for that area, the Donbas. 
 
Q    And because the U.S. hasn’t — doesn’t have the ability now to send more assistance, is that city more at risk?
 
MR. KIRBY:  I think there’s risks all along that battlefront — east down to south.  And not just along the battlefront, but there’s risk inside to — in Ukraine because we know the Russians were going after their defense industrial base and other targets — civilian targets as well as military targets.  So, it’s — it’s a risk all along. 
 
Q    On the Tucker Carlson interview with Vladimir Putin, do you have any thoughts on that interview?  And is there any concern in the administration about any disinformation that could emerge from that?
 
MR. KIRBY:  I won’t get ahead of an interview that hasn’t happened yet. 
 
I don’t — I think it’s pretty obvious — it should be very obvious to everybody what Mr. Putin has done in Ukraine and the bogus — completely bogus and — and ridiculous reasons for which he tried to justify it.  I don’t think we need another interview with Vladimir Putin to — to understand his brutality.
 
Q    Do you have anything to tell us about the mis- — about Marines gone missing off California — the search for missing Marines. 
 
MR. KIRBY:  I’m sorry?
 
Q    Do you have anything to tell us about the Marines that have been missing and that they’re looking for off the coast of California?
 
MR. KIRBY:  All — all that we know right now is that the search is ongoing for — for the helicopter and the crew.  Obviously, our — our hopes are of the best here.  But this was a MH-53 — Marine Corps MH-53 — a large helicopter that was on its way from the Creech Air Force Base to San Diego, and that’s really all we know.
 
We’re — we’re watching this closely.  And again, our thoughts are for the best.
 
Q    Can you tell —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We can tell you that the President has been briefed on it.  So, he’s aware.
 
Q    Can you tell us the White House reaction to Schumer’s plan B? 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Do you — do you have any — anything else for the — for the Admiral before we let him —
 
Q    A border question.
 
Q    Just wanted to understand your thoughts on, you know, the kind of proposal in terms of — I mean, it doesn’t really indicate a willingness to negotiate.  How would you characterize the Hamas proposal?
 
MR. KIRBY:  Again, I’m not going to get into that.  I know — I appreciate the question, but we want to have success here.  And the less said about it, the better. 
 
I’ll — I’ll turn it over to Karine.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thanks, Admiral.  I appreciate it. 
 
So, to your question about — I think you were asking me about the Schumer package in — in more — in more — more specifically. 
 
Look, I mean, you heard what I said at the top, right?  We — what we support is making sure that our national — the Americans — American people’s national interests are protected.  That is our focus here. 
 
And, you know, House Republicans — Republicans are making a choice here.  And this is their choice.  And the reason why the President — and you’ve heard me say this; you’ve heard the President say this — the reason why we put forward a national security supplemental is because there was an urgency, a need to make sure that the brave people of Ukraine got — got the — gets the additional help to push back on — on President Putin, to make sure that we keep our promises to Israel, to make sure that we get that really important humanitarian assistance.  Let’s not forget the Indo-Pacific. 
 
So, this is their choice.  This is their choice.  And so, our focus is always going to be our — about our national security interest on behalf of the American people, obviously.
 
Q    It sounds like you’re in favor of something over nothing.  Better to vote on a piece of the package. 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m certainly not going to get ahead of it. 
 
I want to take a step back.  Look, they decided — Republicans decided to choose politics over — over important — important issues — important issues that’s relating to our national security, as — obviously, to deliver meaningful, meaningful changes. 
 
Let’s not forget: What we were requesting in the border — what the border deal — right? — that bipartisan agreement was not just about — was not just about, you know, the challenges at the border and getting those resources, but it was also about meaningful change that we can make to immigration — our immigration system — a broken system that has been broke- — that has obviously been broken for decades now. 
 
So, look, we — the — the Senate worked for a couple of months, Republican and Democrats.  They put forth a — a very — a fair — and you’ve heard me say “tough but fair” — you know, proposal that has been — that has been supported by the Border Patrol union, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and other — and other Republicans as well. 
 
And so, it’s — it’s — you know, it’s their choice.  It is their choice.
 
Q    Does the White House’s support for plan B — this clean supplemental without border policy — indicate that you guys view the border negotiations as done?  Or is there a way to resurrect them?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  There’s still a process that’s happening in the Senate.  We’re going to let that play out.  We’ve been very clear what our focus is on.  The focus is about our national security — protecting the national security on behalf of the American people.  And we’ve been very clear on that. 
 
Republicans have a choice to make.  It’s clear they’re — they’re picking politics over the American people — what — what about — mor- — majority of the American people want to see when you think about the border security plan, the bipartisan agreement that was — that was put together.  And that’s for them to speak to.
 
Q    Does the White House anticipate — does the White House anticipate that Special Counsel Hur is going to release his report on the President’s handling of classified documents?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That’s some- —
 
Q    Have you been given a heads up on that?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That’s something —
 
Q    Have you been given a heads up on that?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That’s something for the Department of Justice and the White House Counsel — my colleagues at the White House Counsel to speak to.
 
Q    Will the President address it after the report is released?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m just not —
 
Q    Will we hear from him on it?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m just not going to get ahead of it.  That’s something the Department of — the — that’s in the Department of Justice hands and my White House Counsel colleagues to speak to.
 
Q    You’ve got senior policy officials going to Michigan, meet with Arab American leaders.  Is it — is this damage control in a key swing state?  I mean, is this political damage control?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we’ve always said — we’ve always said that we are going to — to reach out to different communities and hear directly from them, including the Muslim and Arab American community.  We have done that.  We’ve been consistent on doing that over the past several months with White House officials. 
 
You’ve — you’ve heard the President also — we’ve spoken to the President also meeting with this really — this really important community.  And so, that continues.  You heard me say, and I — you know, I think it was on one of these Air Force One flights — gaggles that — that we were going to have White House officials go to — go to Michigan to continue those conversations. 
 
And so, that’s going to happen sometime in February.  I don’t have anything else to share on that.  But obviously, I — we confirmed that that was going to — going to be the case.  And we continue — we continue to speak to people in — folks — people in the Jewish community, obviously the Arab community and the Muslim community.  We — we believe it’s important to hear from these communities.
 
Q    On — on that.  What’s your message to the protesters that we’re likely going to see today in New York City?  What’s your message to them that are com- — you know, we’ve seen at every stop, they come out.  They’re —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, we’ve been pretty consistent.  You know, we’ve been — we’ve always said, you know, we — we think Americans have — have the right to hear their — to give — make sure their voices are heard in a peaceful way.  We support that.  The President supports that.  You hear the President when — when situations do occur.
 
And that’s where we are.  We think it’s important for folks to make sure their voices are heard.
 
Q    Karine, for tomorrow’s meeting in Michigan, you’re not —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not confirming any meeting.  I just want to make sure that it’s happening —
 
Q    Okay.  We understand the meeting —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — that it’s happening —
 
Q    — that’s happening tomorrow.  Just wanted to understand what specifically, you know, is the administration planning to raise with the Arab American community. 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, let me just be clear: I’m not confirming anything.  We have said that White House officials were going to obviously go to Michigan to continue — this is a continuation of conversations that they’ve been having with the Muslim and Arab communities and other communities, like the Jewish American community as well. 
 
I’m not going to get ahead of what’s going to be said.  Obviously, we’re going to listen and hear what leaders of that community has to say.  We are open to that — having a real, honest dialogue.  I just don’t have anything to confirm on timing and when that’s going to happen.
 
Q    And then one more on the — on the President’s meeting with the Teamsters.  Is there, like, a new date when he’s planning to meet with them?  Or, you know, are you optimistic of an endorsement landing soon? 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I know you’ve asked that question many times, my friend.  So, I’ll say this.  As it relates to any endorsement, that’s something for the campaign to speak to.  Can’t speak for — about that from my perch, obviously, as a federal employee.  The Hatch Act.  I — and I don’t have any meetings to — to read out to you.
 
Q    Was the President watching things last night?  Was he watching what was unfolding on the House — the Mayorkas vote, the Israel vote?  How was he getting briefed or paying attention to that last night?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, first of all, let me just say that, as you know, there was the — there was an event at the White House last night, a Black History Month event.  So, the President obviously spoke at that, attended that.  That happened last evening.  More than 500 people attended to celebrate not just Black History Month but what the President has been able to achieve for the — for Black Americans — the Black American community.
 
Look, you know, I have not spoken to him about this.  I’m sure he’s — he obviously caught — caught and obviously pays close attention to what’s happening.  But I just don’t have anything to say.
 
I will say, on the Mayorkas front, the impeachment — look, you’ve heard — you heard me say this yesterday.  You’ve heard me say this many times before.  It is unfortunate that this is where House Republicans spend their time. 
 
We’ve been talking about this bipartisan agreement.  They — if they really want to fix the issue at the border and the challenges that we’re seeing, if they really want to address immigration, a decades — a dec- — a system that’s been broken for decades, they can join us.  They can actually deal with this issue.
 
Mayorkas actually helped — helped with the negotiations on — on the border neg- — on the border security bipartisan deal.  But they waste — they’re wasting their — they wasted their time.  It is shameful and it is baseless what they — what they’re doing with this impeachment.
 
And so, I’ll just leave it there.
 
Q    Karine, one more question on the border.  You said that Republicans need to be held accountable for this.  The President yesterday said that he’s going to go out in the country and talk about it.  What — how is that going to manifest?  What does that look like?  And does the President plan to go to the border?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, the President was at the border last year.  So, just want to make sure — make that clear. 
 
And so, he got to see for himself what the Border Patrol agents go through — their process.  And he got to see the technology that’s used.  You guys — some of — I’m sure, if you guys on the plane weren’t here, some of your colleagues were there and got to see the President in action and — and really get a sense for himself what happens at the border.  So, don’t have anything to share there. 
 
Look, the President made it very clear.  I — you know, he gave a very strong — strong speech and remarks about what he’s — the politics that are being played around the border, the challenges at the border.
 
Let’s not forget what was — many of the — many of the — of the proposals that was in that agreement — that bipartisan border negotiation agreement had things that Republicans had been talking about for years, things that they wanted to see change. 
 
I mean, when you have the Border Patrol union supporting a piece of legislation, that’s a big deal. 
 
And so, it’s politics that they’re playing.  It’s pure politics.  And so, they have to — you know, they have to be held to account. 
 
Go ahead.  I have to — this will be the last one. 
 
Q    On that.  Is there any plan for the President to convene the Big Four congressional leaders to come into the Oval again to hash out the aid package?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I don’t have any — any — anything to — to preview at this time.  Obviously, you know, early January, he met with congressional leaders — rank and file, obviously, members — to talk about Ukraine and the importance of getting the Ukraine funding, and, of course, the border — border security challenges and — and negotiations came up in that conversation. 
 
I just don’t have anything else to share. 
 
And as you also know, White House officials continue to be in close touch with congressional members.  And that will always be the case.  And the President has long history and relationships with many members in Congress. 
 
But I just don’t have anything to — to reach out.
 
Q    Real quick, any update on the press conference tomorrow?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Stay tuned. 
 
Q    We are.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Stay tuned.  (Laughter.)
 
Q    We are still —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Stay tuned.  And —
 
Q    We are tuned.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The President — the President takes — takes questions pretty regularly, but stay tuned.
 
Q    Well, he could take questions today.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Stay tuned.  Stay tuned. 
 
Well, we have a long day. 
 
Q    Okay.
 
Q    Are you — are you saying that this is the best deal you thought could be reached?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think it was — just think about this:  This was a bipartisan agreement coming from the Senate — Republicans, Democrat — for two months, hatching out how to move forward with a challenge at the border and immigration and also a broken system — the immigration system.  I mean, you know, that’s a — that’s really important. 
 
And we’ve heard from Republicans saying that this isn’t really important.  What — what this deal brings forth, they couldn’t get anything better.  Right?  We’ve heard Republicans speak to how important this piece of — this pie- — this proposal was. 
 
And so, it makes no sense.  The — you know, you have two sides, two fo- — two sides of the aisle coming together — right? — and putting together this agreement that is really, truly going to make a difference w- — on the immigration — part of some — some immigration proposal, some funding — right? — discussion of funding at the border.  And they’re playing politics.  They’re purely playing politics. 
 
So, this would have been, if enacted — if they had moved forward — if they move forward — right? — and they enact this, this would be a fair and tough proposal — piece of legislation that would have obviously come in — come into law.
 
So, that’s where we are. 
 
All right.  Thanks, everybody.
 
Q    Thank you.
 
1:01 P.M. EST
 

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More Than $330 Million in Federal Grants and Disaster Loans Provided to Support Response and Recovery Efforts

FEMA Administrator Criswell, SBA Administrator Guzman to travel to Maui to Meet with State and Local Officials and Discuss Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Six months after the start of the unprecedented wildfires on Maui, Hawaiʻi, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to support survivors and affected communities through a whole-of-government response and recovery effort. Since the onset of this tragedy, the Administration has provided more than $330 million in Federal grants and disaster loans to support response and recovery efforts, while hundreds of personnel from across dozens of Federal departments and agencies continue working with State and local partners on the ground to support Maui as it continues its long-term recovery. To mark the six-month anniversary, FEMA Administrator Criswell and SBA Administrator Guzman will travel to Maui this week to meet with State and local officials and discuss ongoing recovery efforts.

As President Biden made clear during his visit to Maui last August, the Biden-Harris Administration will continue to do everything in its power to help Maui recover and rebuild the way the people of Maui want, while respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions, for as long as it takes.

Here is an update on the Biden-Harris Administration’s coordinated Federal response and recovery efforts:

• More than 445 Federal personnel remain on the ground in Hawaiʻi, 232 of whom are on Maui, assisting residents in their greatest time of need. To ensure the effectiveness of Federal support, President Biden appointed Bob Fenton as his Chief Federal Response Coordinator. Fenton continues to lead the integrated response, recovery and rebuilding effort on Maui in coordination with State and local leadership. 
  
• To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $43.7 million in assistance to 7,013 households.
  
• In the wake of the wildfires, President Biden made additional disaster funding available to the state of Hawaiʻi, unlocking the Federal government’s ability to cover all eligible expenses for debris removal and emergency protective measures on Maui County and assistance for emergency protective measures for Hawaiʻi County. The President authorized the Federal cost share for debris removal to be increased from 75% to 100% for 180 days within the first 270 days of the incident.  The President also authorized the Federal cost share for emergency protective measures to be increased to 100% of the total eligible costs for a 90-day period that the Governor selects within the first 180 days of the incident. 
  
• Through its Direct Lease program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working to find and manage apartments, condominiums, and other suitable living quarters, which can be leased for survivors.  FEMA has secured 1,404 leased properties for survivors. Some 162 households have been placed in temporary homes.
  
• Nearly 700 personnel from the Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard have participated in the coordinated response to the Maui wildfires – from supporting aerial fire suppression and providing strategic air transportation, to assisting with potable water distribution and providing grief counseling and emotional support, to providing additional life-sustaining support.
  
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Honolulu Division continues its months-long effort to assist the Maui Police Department with their efforts to locate and identify victims of the wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii, by helping collect DNA samples from family members. The FBI, in coordination with the Maui Police Department, have reduced the number of unaccounted for missing persons to 3.
   
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to provide public works and engineering support, which includes debris collection and removal; the construction of a temporary elementary school campus for the Lahaina community, which benefits approximately 600 elementary school students; and managing the conceptual design, site preparation, and construction for approximately 400 – 600 temporary housing “pads” or places to put housing units on.  
  
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) remains on the ground on Maui to help restore and maintain safe drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater services.  Arriving within days of the devastating wildfire, EPA personnel swiftly assessed the burn area; installed air monitors to protect the health of first responders; developed and executed first-in-the-nation protocols to safely dispose of electric vehicle and solar energy storage batteries damaged by the wildfires; protected air and water by stabilizing ash; and developed a precedent-setting approach to preserve cultural artifacts that honored the traditions of the native Hawaiians who have called Maui home for centuries. Throughout this initial phase, the agency had more than 300 responders working with Federal, state, local, and community cultural leaders to remove 200 tons of hazardous materials from over 1,400 properties. On November 30, 2023, the agency completed its mission to safely clean up and remove hazardous materials and transitioned work to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the next phase of the recovery process.
  
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved more than $290 million in Federal disaster loans for Hawaiʻi businesses and residents impacted by wildfires. The SBA continues to operate two Disaster Business Recovery Centers for survivors of the Maui wildfires and is part of the multi-agency presence at the Disaster Recovery Centers, assisting small businesses and most non-profits in all five counties. Information and details on the location of the business recovery center and disaster recovery centers are available by calling the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. These Centers provide services to survivors, including homeowners, renters, and small business owners seeking financial assistance. 
  
  SBA is continuing outreach to businesses throughout Hawaiʻi to take advantage of the Physical Damage and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and staff are working with survivors in every major community throughout Maui through local assistance centers and a Center staff outreach campaign. To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, including low-interest disaster loans from SBA, survivors must first register with FEMA.  
  
• The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is working with the Maui local housing agency to help rehouse public housing tenants in the wake of the fires. In addition, HUD is working to connect homeowners on Maui with resources from the Federal Housing Administration to support their relief in the wake of the disaster. HUD has also joined with the Hawaii Division of Financial Institutions, other Federal partners, and mortgage servicers to host a series of mortgage assistance events to connect homeowners on Maui with resources and other support. HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is also available to assist survivors who believe they have experienced housing discrimination.
  
  In August 2023, HUD announced a $1.3 million funding allocation to help communities on Maui in the wake of the wildfires through the department’s new Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing (RUSH) program, a rapid response program to address homelessness by filling in Federal assistance gaps in communities hit by disasters. RUSH funding is available to help communities provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, and other assistance to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. HUD also provided a moratorium on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages and home equity conversion mortgages through May 6, 2024. Homeowners affected by the disaster should contact their mortgage or loan servicer immediately. They can also call the FHA Resource Center at 1-800-304-9320 for additional information and visit the FHA Disaster Relief site to learn more about disaster relief options for FHA homeowners. 
  
  Additionally, HUD also has released regulatory and administrative waivers to help communities accelerate their recovery. This includes funding for housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, homebuyer programs replacing disaster damaged residences, infrastructure improvements and assistance to people at risk of homelessness. HUD has assigned experienced Disaster Technical Assistance providers to support local leaders help communities and families that were experiencing homelessness before the devastating fires and those that may require homeless services because of the fires. 
  
• The Department of the Interior (DOI) continues to work to protect natural and cultural resources on Maui in coordination with Federal and state partners. Immediately after the disastrous fires, DOI deployed a cultural advisor to ensure Federal personnel were properly trained to understand native Hawai’ian culture and build trust between the native Hawai’ian community and the Federal government. DOI personnel have continued to assist with assessment and recovery operations, including any impacts to wildlife habitats, like coral reefs, as well as monitoring the potential for debris-flow and ash sediment run-off. The Department remains in close contact with Native Hawaiian leaders and organizations to coordinate the availability of services, information, and culturally sensitive opportunities for engagement and healing.
  
• The Department of Energy (DOE) is working with State and local partners to implement a $95 million grant provided in August through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to harden Hawaiʻi’s electric grid. This grant is in addition to a $6 million grid resilience formula grant announced in June, also funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In the immediate aftermath of the devastating wildfires, DOE deployed emergency responders to support the Federal response to the wildfires and continues to work closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, and the Hawaiʻi Office of Emergency Management to support Federal long-term recovery efforts.
  
• The U.S. Coast Guard assessed and removed pollution, hazardous materials, and dozens of damaged and sunken vessels, and associated debris, from in and around Lahaina Harbor.
  
• The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has been deployed to assist the Maui recovery since late-August 2023 and has been meeting with State, county, and local stakeholders to identify and develop potential economic recovery and resilience projects for future funding. EDA also participates in the State-supported Maui Economic Recovery Commission, launched in January, to work with State and local partners to provide guidance and recommendations for projects that will support local recovery and to develop economic opportunities to maximize Federal funding and community support.
  
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) deployed responders from ASPR, including experts from their Disaster Mortuary Operations Response and Victim Identification Center teams to assist Maui County with processing and identification of remains as well as Disaster Behavioral Health specialists to help survivors cope with the traumatizing fires. ASPR also deployed a portable morgue unit to assist the Maui coroner and additional personnel to bolster mental health staff and resources available at Lahaina Comprehensive Health Center. In addition, ASPR activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program, a Federal program that assists people in a Federally-identified disaster area who do not have health insurance get the prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment that they need. Secretary Becerra also issued a Public Health Emergency shortly after the President’s disaster declaration, giving CMS health care providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries on the ground. The Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 – is available to provide immediate counseling to anyone affected by the wildfires.
  
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide a total of $15.9 million in emergency funding through the Federal Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program to help mitigate widescale environmental damage. As local sponsors, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) of West Maui and Central Maui will manage the emergency response projects approved under the EWP agreement to stabilize the landscape and help protect communities and ecosystems located downslope of the burn zones in Upcountry Maui. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service deployed a Burned Area Emergency Response team in August to assess the impacts of the fire to watersheds, including the potential for runoff and erosion, and support state and local staff in assessing post-fire watershed conditions and post-fire slope stability issues. The Forest Service is also providing Hawaiʻi with $500,000 to support the management of invasive grasses on Maui using biological control and herbicide treatments.
  
  Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency Hawaii & Pacific Basin continues to offer financial and technical assistance through multiple disaster programs to support farmers and ranchers with recovery and restoration efforts. USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service has taken several actions, including an extension through February 29, 2024 of a waiver for Maui County residents to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits, approval of a Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) through September 2023, and a mass replacement of SNAP benefits in August 2023 for these residents who had lost food due to power outages.
  
• The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created a disaster and emergencies guide to handling finances, including resources to help impacted residents recover, such as tackling housing issues, protecting your finances, dealing with property damage, managing your bills, and asking for help from financial companies like banks, credit cards and other lenders. If residents are having trouble with a financial company, they can submit a complaint online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372).
  
• The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) made available $3 million, the full amount of “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds requested by the Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, to offset costs associated with traffic management services in the wake of the wildfires. Additionally, in the wake of the wildfires, DOT had issued three temporary flight restrictions to help facilitate search and rescue missions and worked with major U.S. airlines that serve Kahului Airport to promote flexible travel policies.
  
• The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a partnership between FEMA and Smithsonian Institution, is working through the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency to ensure that museums and cultural heritage sites are incorporated into FEMA preliminary damage assessments to anticipate needs associated with long-term recovery planning.

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     Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan declared in Executive Order 14064 of February 11, 2022, is to continue in effect beyond February 11, 2024.

     The widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan — including the urgent needs of the people of Afghanistan for food security, livelihoods support, water, sanitation, health, hygiene, and shelter and settlement assistance, among other basic human needs — and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  In addition, the preservation of certain property of Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) held in the United States by United States financial institutions is of the utmost importance to addressing this national emergency and the welfare of the people of Afghanistan.  Various parties, including representatives of victims of terrorism, have asserted legal claims against certain property of DAB or indicated in public court filings an intent to make such claims.  This property is blocked under Executive Order 14064.

     Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14064 with respect to the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
 February 7, 2024.

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Atlanta, GA

Thank you, Maria, for helping bring us together – and for showing the world what’s possible when we invest in women.
 
I’m here today because I heard about the amazing work that’s happening in Atlanta, where universities, entrepreneurs, investors, companies, and city leaders are coming together to drive innovation in women’s health.
 
Even though women are half the population, research on women’s health has always been underfunded.
 
Too many studies have left women out.
 
Too many of the medicine dosages, treatments, medical school textbooks, are based on men and their bodies – and that information doesn’t always apply to women.
 
My husband, President Biden, understands that.
 
That’s why, in late November, we launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
 
We have a clear goal: to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women’s health research.
 
As part of the initiative, Joe has directed federal agencies to look at how they can better advance women’s health research – working with leaders like our new NIH director, Monica Bertagnolli.
 
But the federal government can’t do it alone.
 
We need research at universities to develop breakthroughs. Investors who believe in those ideas. Startups that bring those ideas to the market. Doctors who translate those ideas into treatment plans. And government and advocates who help bring everyone together.
 
Atlanta has been doing this for decades – helping push progress forward in women’s health. And I know this city will remain at the forefront of this work.
 
So, we came here to listen to your insights and your experience – to hear about the work you’re doing and the path you see ahead. 
 
Because this is going to take all of us.
 
Together, we will build a future where women – all women – aren’t just an after-thought, but a first thought, where health care meets the needs of everyone.
 
Thank you.

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     On February 11, 2022, by Executive Order 14064, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan.

     The widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan — including the urgent needs of the people of Afghanistan for food security, livelihoods support, water, sanitation, health, hygiene, and shelter and settlement assistance, among other basic human needs — and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  In addition, the preservation of certain property of Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) held in the United States by United States financial institutions is of the utmost importance to addressing this national emergency and the welfare of the people of Afghanistan.  Various parties, including representatives of victims of terrorism, have asserted legal claims against certain property of DAB or indicated in public court filings an intent to make such claims.  This property is blocked under Executive Order 14064.

     For these reasons, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14064 of February 11, 2022, must continue in effect beyond February 11, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14064 with respect to the widespread humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the potential for a deepening economic collapse in Afghanistan.

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

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
 February 7, 2024.

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     Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the situation in and in relation to Burma declared in Executive Order 14014 of February 10, 2021, is to continue in effect beyond February 10, 2024.

     The situation in and in relation to Burma, and in particular the February 1, 2021 coup, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government of Burma and unjustly arrested and detained government leaders, politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, and religious leaders, thereby rejecting the will of the people of Burma as expressed in elections held in November 2020 and undermining the country’s democratic transition and rule of law, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14014 with respect to Burma.

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
  February 7, 2024.

The post Message to the Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Situation in and in Relation to Burma appeared first on The White House.

     On February 10, 2021, by Executive Order 14014, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in and in relation to Burma.

     The situation in and in relation to Burma, and in particular the February 1, 2021 coup, in which the military overthrew the democratically elected civilian government of Burma and unjustly arrested and detained government leaders, politicians, human rights defenders, journalists, and religious leaders, thereby rejecting the will of the people of Burma as expressed in elections held in November 2020 and undermining the country’s democratic transition and rule of law, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on February 10, 2021, must continue in effect beyond February 10, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14014 with respect to the situation in and in relation to Burma.

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

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 7, 2024.

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Atlanta, GA

Thank you, Valerie. Morehouse School of Medicine is setting an inspiring example of cutting-edge research, patient-centered care, and an education that’s training the next generation of health care providers – and making sure they are representative of the communities they serve. I’m grateful for your work and your leadership. And, your friendship. 
 
Good afternoon. It’s great to be back in Atlanta and an honor to be here with you today.
 
For 15 years, the women in this room have been committed to raising awareness about heart disease – and learning from each other, about one another.
 
If you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell. You know her.
 
She’s the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but doesn’t know why, and can’t find treatment options that work for her.
 
She’s the woman going through menopause, who visits with her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.
 
She’s the woman who dies because her heart disease isn’t recognized, since her symptoms don’t look like a man’s heart attack.
 
That’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?
 
Because women are more likely than men to die after a heart attack. And Black women are more likely to die from heart disease than women of any other race.
 
What you’ve heard today is powerful – the ways in which heart disease is connected to diabetes, hypertension, and pregnancy, and how it’s even connected to our genes based on new research from the Morehouse School of Medicine. 
 
But just knowing this isn’t enough. We have to turn our knowledge into action.
 
And to do that we need to better understand heart disease in women and study it more.
 
Because even though women are half the population, research on women’s health has always been underfunded.
 
Too many medical studies have focused on men and left women out.
 
Too many of the medicine dosages, treatments, medical school textbooks, are based on men and their bodies – and that information doesn’t always apply to women.   
 
That means there are big gaps in research on diseases and conditions that only affect women, that disproportionately affect women, or that affect women and men differently.
 
These gaps are even greater for communities that have historically been excluded from research – especially women of color and women with disabilities.
 
Because of these gaps, we understand far too little about these conditions, and how to help the millions of women who struggle with them.
 
My husband, Joe, understands that this is a problem. And he’s taking action.
 
That’s what he does – he learns about a problem and then he gets to work solving it. He doesn’t waste any time.
 
So, in November, President Biden launched the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. We have a clear goal: to fundamentally change how our nation approaches and funds women’s health research.
 
Joe issued a presidential memorandum asking federal agencies for their recommendations on how to make the policy changes necessary to advance women’s health research. And he’s instructed agencies to address health inequities as part of this initiative.
 
Remarkable work is happening here in Atlanta, where universities, entrepreneurs, investors, companies, and city leaders – and groups like Women with Heart – are coming together to drive innovation in women’s health.
 
We need research at universities to develop breakthroughs.
 
Investors who believe in those ideas. Startups that bring those ideas to the market. Doctors who translate those ideas into treatment plans. And government and advocates who help bring everyone together.
 
Later today, Valerie and I will be speaking with leaders who are pushing that innovation forward – hearing about their insights and experience, and how we can all be part of reaching toward the possibilities ahead. 
 
I know that women in Atlanta have been doing this work for decades.
 
And I’m here because Joe and I want to be your partners in this. And we are proud to join you in this fight.
 
Together, we will build a health care system that puts women – all women – and their lived experiences at its center, where no woman or girl has to hear that “it’s all in your head,” or, “it’s just stress.” Where women aren’t just an after-thought, but a first-thought. Where women don’t just survive, they lead long, healthy, and happy lives.
 
Thank you.

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NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:

     Ernest Gonzalez, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, vice Philip R. Martinez, deceased.

     Leon Schydlower, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, vice Frank Montalvo, retired.

WITHDRAWALS SENT TO THE SENATE:

     Leon Schydlower, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, vice Philip R. Martinez, deceased, which was sent to the Senate on January 10, 2024.

     Ernest Gonzalez, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, vice Frank Montalvo, retired, which was sent to the Senate on January 10, 2024.

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On February 6-7, Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall led an interagency delegation to Mexico to strengthen cooperation with our Mexican partners on a range of topics of vital mutual interest, including managing hemispheric migration and countering the trafficking of illicit drugs and weapons.  Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma, Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo, and Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Adam Cohen accompanied Dr. Sherwood-Randall on this delegation.  

Yesterday, Dr. Sherwood-Randall and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena. Dr. Sherwood-Randall expressed appreciation to President López Obrador for the continued constructive and candid dialogue between our two countries, which was exemplified by last Saturday’s telephone conversation between President Joe Biden and President López Obrador on February 3 and these meetings in Mexico City.  Additionally, the full interagency delegation met with counterparts in the Mexican Security Cabinet.  They discussed the importance of increasing enforcement measures to deter irregular migration, expanding safe and lawful migration pathways, and strengthening cooperation to stem the cross-border flows of illicit drugs and weapons.  The two delegations agreed on specifics steps to achieve shared goals and on timelines for implementation.  They also agreed to increase information and data sharing to facilitate action against the criminal organizations that traffic people, guns, and illicit drugs, including fentanyl, into our communities.  The two delegations reaffirmed the United States and Mexico’s commitment to a united fight against the criminal organizations that prey on vulnerable populations in both countries and jeopardize public health and safety. 

Today, Dr. Sherwood-Randall and the U.S. delegation will participate in the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee with our Mexican and Canadian partners. This committee of high-level officials from the United States, Mexico, and Canada was established in 2023 by President Biden, President López Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to develop and implement aggressive actions to counter the production, smuggling, distribution, and consumption of illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs in North America.

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The President is announcing his intent to nominate four individuals to federal district courts—all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.

These choices also continue to fulfill the President’s promise to ensure that the nation’s courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country—both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds.

This will be President Biden’s forty-fifth round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 219.

The President is also announcing his intent to nominate one individual to serve as U.S. Marshal. This official will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law and was chosen for his devotion to enforcing the law, his professionalism, his experience and credentials, and his dedication to pursuing equal justice for all.

The President has now announced 27 nominees to serve as U.S. Marshals.
 

United States District Court Announcements

1. Judge Sanket J. Bulsara: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Judge Sanket J. Bulsara has been a United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York since 2017. From January 2017 to May 2017, Judge Bulsara served as the Acting General Counsel of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he had been the Deputy General Counsel for Appellate Litigation, Adjudication, and Enforcement since 2015. Prior to that, Judge Bulsara worked at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr L.L.P. as an associate from 2005 to 2008, a counsel from 2009 to 2011, and a partner from 2012 to 2015. For six months between 2007 and 2008 he served as a Special Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office and he worked as an associate at Munger, Tolles & Olson L.L.P. in Los Angeles, California from 2003 to 2004. Judge Bulsara served as a law clerk for Judge John G. Koeltl on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York from 2002 to 2003. He received his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 2002 and his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1998.

2. Judge Dena Michaela Coggins: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

Judge Dena Michaela Coggins is the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Court of the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento, having served in that position since 2023 and as a Superior Court judge since 2021. Judge Coggins was previously an Administrative Law Judge with the State of California’s Office of Administrative Hearings, in the General Jurisdiction Division from 2018 to 2021 and the Special Education Division from 2015 to 2017. Between her positions as an Administrative Law Judge, Judge Coggins served as a supervising attorney and hearing officer at the State of California Victim Compensation Board from 2017 to 2018. From 2013 to 2015 she served as a Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary for the Governor of California. Prior to her state government service, Judge Coggins worked as an associate at Downey Brand L.L.P. from 2012 to 2013 and at Morrison & Foerster L.L.P. from 2007 to 2012. Judge Coggins received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in 2006 and her B.S. from California State University, Sacramento in 2003.

3. Eric Schulte: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

Eric Schulte has been a partner at Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, L.L.P. since 2006.  He was previously an associate at the firm from 2000 to 2005. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Schulte served as a law clerk to the South Dakota Second Judicial Circuit in Sioux Falls. He received his J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1999 and his B.A. from the University of South Dakota in 1994.

4. Judge Camela C. Theeler: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota

Judge Camela Theeler has been a judge for the Second Judicial Circuit of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System since 2018. Judge Theeler previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota from 2012 to 2018. Prior to that, Judge Theeler was a partner at Lynn, Jackson, Shultz & Lebrun, P.C. from 2008 to 2012, and an associate at the firm from 2003 to 2008. She worked as an associate at the Morgan Theeler Law Firm, L.L.P. from 2002 to 2003 and served as a law clerk for the First Judicial Circuit of the South Dakota Unified Judicial System from 2001 to 2002. She received her J.D. from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 2000 and her B.A. from the University of South Dakota in 1998.

United States Marshal Announcement

1. Colonel John E. Richardson: Nominee for United States Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama

Colonel John E. Richardson has been Executive Assistant to the President of Alabama State University since 2017. He was previously Director of Public Safety and Colonel in the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency from 2014 to 2017. Prior to that, Col. Richardson served in the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board Enforcement Division from 1988 to 2014, rising from the rank of Agent to Captain and Assistant Director of the Enforcement Division. Col. Richardson began his career in law enforcement as a Police Officer in Opelika, Alabama from 1985 to 1987.

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Jill and I join the people of Chile in grieving the tragic loss of former President Sebastián Piñera of Chile.

Driven by a sense of passion and purpose, President Piñera was committed to forging a more secure and prosperous future for Chile.  He worked tirelessly to grow Chile’s economy and advocate for his nation on the world stage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he placed the safety of his fellow citizens paramount—helping Chile achieve one of the fastest vaccination rates in the world.  And in the wake of a devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2010, President Piñera’s steadfast leadership not only helped guide Chile through the pain of darkness and loss, but enabled Chile to emerge stronger—an inspiration Chileans can continue to draw from today as they bravely fight and recover from the tragic ongoing wildfires.

I deeply valued my time working with President Piñera over the last decade, where I saw his dedication to his country—and to our partnership—firsthand. The United States will continue the remarkable legacy of cooperation he helped chart, and we send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Cecilia Morel, his family, and all those mourning this grave loss.

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Three years ago, on February 4, 2021, President Biden signed the historic National Security Memorandum on Revitalizing America’s Foreign Policy and National Security Workforce, Institutions, and Partnerships (NSM-3).

Our foreign policy and national security institutions are staffed with more than one million committed professionals and patriots who selflessly serve the Nation and our fellow Americans. A prepared, professional, and diverse workforce is essential to protecting the homeland, advancing America’s interests abroad, and projecting our core values. Ensuring that members of our national security workforce have the necessary tools, training, and support to fully realize their potential is a key priority for the Biden-Harris Administration, and why one of the first directives President Biden issued was NSM-3. 

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration marks the three-year anniversary of NSM-3 by recognizing the tremendous achievements made to revitalize and strengthen this critical workforce.

Over the last year three years, the interagency NSM-3 Working Group has operated with the necessary urgency to meet its tasks and goals. The Principal Deputy National Security Advisor chairs this group, with vice chairs from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Office of Science and Technology Policy as co-chairs, to support implementation by its twelve member agencies. Since the signing of NSM-3, additional agencies with foreign policy workforces, including the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and newly-established offices and White House policy councils, like the Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) and the Gender Policy Council, have joined the effort.

The NSM-3 Working Group has prioritized leveraging, aligning, and integrating their efforts with the continued implementation of other government-wide initiatives with similar goals, including the President’s Management Agenda (PMA), workforce-related Executive Orders (e.g., Executive Order 14035: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce and Executive Order 14100: Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors), Presidential Memoranda, and the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy (NCWES). Many of the initiatives, mentioned in the context of agency accomplishments in this Fact Sheet, are cross-government implementation efforts.

Highlights of actions taken by NSM-3 departments and agencies include the following:

Expanding pathways to recruit and hire, removing barriers, and better retaining and supporting current employees and their families.

• Increasing the number of paid internships across the national security workforce, hundreds of which are broadly accessible through the “Intern Portal” on USAJOBS at https://intern.usajobs.gov/.
  • For example, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is set to double the number of Pathways interns for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 from last fiscal year, resourcing approximately 137 domestic and 10 overseas summer intern positions.
• Expanding scholarship-for-service programs, including the Department of Defense (DOD) Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program, which aims to create a diverse and technically proficient flow of new STEM talent into the DOD. To date, the SMART Program has awarded over 4,700 scholarships.
• Establishing new and expanded paid fellowship programs.
  • For example, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing to launch its second cohort of the DHS Intelligence and Cybersecurity Diversity Fellowship Program, a paid program that aims to help DHS recruit, retain, and reward the best and brightest in the fields of intelligence and cybersecurity. The program is intended for currently enrolled freshmen, sophomores, or juniors at an institution of higher learning, with a particular focus on Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), specifically, Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs).
  • The Department of State established two direct recruitment pathways into the Foreign and Civil Service seeking individuals from all segments of society. The William D. Clarke, Sr. Diplomatic Security Fellowship leads to a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent career in the U.S. Foreign Service and the Colin Powell Leadership Program prepares future civil service leaders. Additionally, the State Department expanded the Pickering and Rangel Fellowships, which are direct recruitment pathways for Foreign Service Generalists, by 50%, accepting 90 fellows annually. The Foreign Affairs IT Fellowship, which leads to IT careers in the Foreign Service, increased by 200% to 15 fellows per year.
  • USAID doubled the number of Donald M. Payne Fellows annually. The Payne Fellowship is a unique pathway to USAID Foreign Service and encourages the application of individuals from historically underrepresented groups in the U.S. Foreign Service as well as those with financial need.

• Expanding our efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce, including hiring Chief Diversity Officers and Senior Advisors on Workplace Safety and Sexual Harassment; creating and implementing agency-specific diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) strategic plans; implementing the Presidential Memorandum on Supporting Access to Leave for Federal Employees; and launching significant new partnerships.
  • DOD funded a new university-affiliated research center with a consortium of HBCUs, led by Howard University, and has partnered with several MSIs to cohost seven successful “Taking the Pentagon to the People” (TTPTTP) program events designed to help advance the development of the nation’s full human capital potential and provide information about DOD employment, contracts, grants, scholarships, and research and development opportunities.
  • The Intelligence Community (IC) developed tools, like the IC DEIA Maturity Model, to increase accountability and measure and track the effectiveness of DEIA programs and initiatives. It also implemented policies to promote a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace, irrespective of gender identity, transgender status, gender expression, and perceived gender through IC Directive 125, Gender Identity and Inclusivity in the Intelligence Community.
  • The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) held an HBCU president’s conference, developed a multi-faceted MSI outreach strategy and participated in 107 outreach events at various MSIs.
  • Departments and agencies have bolstered leadership for employee associations and resource groups—voluntary, employee-led groups focused on support and information sharing about collective interests, backgrounds, or demographics. For example, to better understand and address employee issues, many DHS top leaders are required to engage quarterly with various employee associations.
  • CIA created and staffed the role of Neurodiversity Program Manager, who partners with IC and private sector organizations and participates in outreach events to establish neurodiverse talent pipelines to the agency. The agency appointed its first Chief Wellbeing Officer and improved employee wellbeing programs, support, resources, and services, including expanding workplace flexibility options and enhanced healthcare support through regional health bases. It also launched an outreach campaign to re-hire eligible former agency officers.
  • In November 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) was named “America’s Best Employer for Veterans” by Forbes Magazine.  This designation reflects DOE’s continued commitment to maintaining an engaging and inclusive workplace culture that includes recognizing the critical contributions made by its U.S. Military Veteran employees.
  • USAID has a long-standing relationship with university partners and institutions of higher learning all over the world. The agency prioritizes working via Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with U.S. MSIs who serve underrepresented students and populations such as HBCUs, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Pacific Island Serving Institutions. Beyond hiring and recruitment, MOUs also leverage the innovation happening at these universities. For example USAID’s Acquisition Workforce Certification Fellows Program (AWCFP) leverages a partnership with Fayetteville State University, while Delaware State University supports partnership engagements with USAID/Jamaica to address emerging issues in the Caribbean region.
• Improving methods to attract and retain persons with disabilities by improving physical and electronic accessibility across departments and agencies.

• The Department of State opened its Access Center, which provides tools, resources, and support to employees with disabilities, contributing to the Department’s broader effort of cultivating a culture of inclusion and building a more accessible Department. The Department of State recently reported an increase of 1,000 employees with disabilities from FY 2021 to FY 2023, now comprising 18 percent of its workforce. The increase was due to the growing willingness of employees to self-identify their disability, including non-apparent disabilities, as well as increased hiring under the Schedule A hiring mechanism for persons with disabilities. Careers & the disABLED magazine cited an employee of the Department as an Employee of the Year in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
• CIA officers hired in FY 2022 and FY 2023 include the highest percentage of persons with disabilities since 2007. CIA’s efforts to increase recruitment of persons with disabilities has been augmented by a dedicated Persons with Disability Program Manager, who coordinates and attends recruitment events, and a Talent Broker liaison, who works with applicants on accessibility requests during the hiring process. CIA opened an Accessibility Storefront to provide employees with hands-on access to try accessible technology options and reasonable accommodations equipment.
• USAID joined the Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) through the Department of Labor and prioritized the use and awareness of the Schedule A and Disabled Veteran non-competitive hiring mechanisms. In 2023, the agency opened its first-ever Disability Resource Center which better supports and empowers current and prospective colleagues with disabilities to ensure the workplace is reflective of their needs and lived experiences.

• Expanding the tools available to hiring leads and managers to attract, recruit, and retain diverse talent, including more regularly analyzing data on diversity trends within organizations; expanding sources to better recruit top diverse talent; and creating more robust support mechanisms for existing employees to better retain top talent into the senior ranks.
  • The Department of State established a Retention Unit to lead data collection and analysis on attrition and retention drivers. The data analysis informed several new initiatives to improve employee experience and retain a diverse workforce.
  • The Department of the Treasury established an enterprise recruitment team and is piloting “stay surveys” to better address retention challenges.
  • DOE refined and released targeted hiring goals for Veterans and persons with disabilities to track and report on progress.
  • The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a public-facing Workforce Dashboard that displays key metrics related to hiring, retention, and diversity to track progress towards department goals. Additionally, VA champions employee retention through its Stay in VA (SIVA) initiative; an employee-centered strategy designed to improve employee retention by focusing on the employee experience through direct engagement. SIVA provides regular touchpoints for employees and their supervisors that create a trusting environment with open communication that addresses issues that might otherwise affect retention. Further, VA has established a New Employee Buddy Program that supports onboarding, connects new hires with colleagues, and facilitates acclimatization into the Department.
  • CIA’s recruitment metrics team guides talent acquisition plans, including outreach and engagement strategies.
  • DHS launched “Jump Teams,” comprised of experts from across headquarters and component offices, that deploy to field locations to learn about and help resolve issues in resources, IT, management, facilities and any other areas that may be impacting the ability of employees to accomplish the mission. DHS also conducts quarterly pulse surveys to better understand employee experiences. Supervisors, managers, and leaders receive guidance and learn best practices to address issues raised in the surveys.
  • USAID successfully launched and completed its inaugural DEIA survey with full results received in Spring 2023. Data points from this survey include expanded demographics and identity categories across the entire workforce, including U.S. Direct Hires, Personal Service Contractors, and other staffing mechanisms. The agency made survey data available via a DEIA Survey Dashboard and Operating Unit Snapshots.
  • Responding to feedback from its Foreign Service (FS) workforce of nearly 2,000, USAID overhauled and streamlined FS performance management, assignment and promotions processes and introduced new tools and strategies to increase employee satisfaction and ensure that USAID has a FS workforce that inclusively represents the American people in its work abroad.
• Shortening hiring timelines.
  • Shortening hiring timelines is a Director of National Intelligence (DNI)-stated goal that aims to reduce the median, end-to-end hiring timeline to no more than 180 days. The IC has made progress towards meeting this goal by enhancing virtual recruiting capabilities, utilizing IC-wide hiring authorities to create synergies across IC elements, and focusing on investments in end-to-end processing capabilities that will integrate security, medical, and suitability assessments into the overall hiring process.
  • The Federal government as a whole continued to make progress in reducing security clearance timelines, which can affect broader hiring timelines. thanks to vetting policy and operational reforms achieved through Trusted Workforce 2.0. Top Secret and Secret clearance timelines are averaging 189 days and 78 days, respectively, as of the end of Fiscal Year 2023, down from their peak in 2018. New aspirational targets have been set to further improve end-to-end timeliness: 40 days for Secret (currently 74 days) and 75 days for Top Secret (currently 114 days). These time reductions have been tied to broader workforce hiring improvement strategy goals to transform the job applicant experience, to include a new Personnel Vetting Questionnaire that includes simpler language and helpful explanations, making the background investigation process less daunting for applicants.
  • CIA continued to make significant strides in reducing the application to cleared processing timeline. At the end of FY 2023, CIA reduced the median processing time from application to cleared by 23 percent, and the application to final job offer is now under 180 days. Its transition to an “Invitation to Apply” model in early 2023 has increased interest in agency employment and allows for resumes to stay on file for future consideration as new job opportunities arise.
  • USAID established an onboarding team for the Civil Service, expanded hiring approaches to build a pipeline of candidates for the Foreign Service to quickly fill attrition and hiring targets; and transitioned to virtual platforms for recruitment, hiring, and onboarding. USAID’s Office of Human Capital and Talent Management designed and launched the Navigate tool to quickly onboard all U.S. direct-hire employees. USAID’s Chief Information Office also launched Work-Ready Progress Dashboards to provide an at-a-glance view and traceability of direct-hire candidates going through the onboarding process.
• Streamlining open opportunities for job applicants by creating new branded search pages at STEM.usajobs.gov for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics-related positions across the Federal government, CyberCareers.gov for cyber-related positions, and NatSec.usajobs.gov for opportunities within the national security and foreign policy workforce.
  • The IC launched the first centralized site for IC recruitment at IntelligenceCareers.gov.
  • DOD continued to leverage https://www.DODciviliancareers.com/, to promote the DOD Civilian Employer brand, highlight diverse career and internship/scholarship opportunities, advertise job fairs, and give top talent access to DOD jobs. Through this platform, DOD hosts virtual hiring events to fill critical skills positions, including STEM, cyber, medical, prevention workforce, and skilled trades and labor positions. In addition, DOD uses the site to post an annual consolidated list of DOD scholarships and employment programs.
  • VA promotes employment opportunities on VA Careers, Digital Careers, VA Police, and the VA for Vets websites. To further promote career opportunities in VA, VHA developed Total Reward$ brochures with generalized information that reflects potential monetized value of a full VA compensation package for certain full-time positions.
• Supporting family members overseas.
  • Recognizing the valuable contributions of employee families, the Department of State and USAID provide a variety of programs and services to Foreign Service Eligible Family Members (EFMs) while they are overseas and when returning to the U.S. The Department of State’s Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) hosts a Global Employment Initiative and employs Global Employment Advisors to support EFMs. USAID developed an EFM Employment Registry for those applying for Federal jobs using Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE).
  • CIA opened the Family Engagement Center (FEC) in July 2023 to continue its enhanced support of families going to the field.
• Supporting Military-Connected Families.

• OPM issued guidance to agencies in support of Executive Order 14100, Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors reinforcing the use of flexible work arrangements that support the needs of military-connected families including telework and remote work, administrative leave, and workforce retention tools such as the opportunity to request reassignment and relocation. 
• Also pursuant to EO 14100, DOD and DHS provide consultation, advice, and assistance to military families regarding employment at overseas locations. This includes assistance in navigating complex employment requirements related to Status of Forces Agreements, other agreements with host nations affecting family member employment, and working remotely for U.S. based entities while a service member spouse is stationed overseas. Additionally, DOD and the Department of State are considering work options for spouses when reevaluating or entering into Status of Forces Agreements and other related arrangements with host nations. 
• DOD continues to provide robust career support for military spouses including those that are, or seek to be, employed within the Foreign Policy and National Security Workforce. Its Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program includes several initiatives that support careers for military spouses, including providing expert career coaching, Federal employment support, and more.
• Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETOs) – DETO arrangements help us retain Federal employees who wish to relocate overseas to remain with their spouse or sponsor employed in the national security, defense and foreign policy workforce. The Departments of Defense and State have taken actions to strengthen the DETO program to ensure equitable opportunities for servicemember and foreign service spouses so that resilient and talented civil servants are retained and families may stay together.

• Last year, DOD and the Department of State signed an interim Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to clarify residential security and safety requirements for military and foreign service spouses employed by the Federal government and working overseas through the DETO program, and are working towards a permanent MOA expected in March 2024.
• As directed by the Executive Order on Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors, the State Department is coordinating with Federal agencies across the government to improve awareness about the program, centralize points of contact for DETO at each agency, and set common standards to strengthen the program. These actions will support an increasing number of Federal employees—including, but not limited to, military spouses—to remain in the Federal workforce while teleworking from overseas.

Better recruiting and retaining technical and specialized talent, and improving professional development to close mission critical gaps

• Improving hiring outcomes through pooled hiring and skills-based assessments.

• Pooled hiring is a coordinated, cross-agency approach to strategic talent acquisition where multiple agencies with the same staffing need can run one hiring process for interested candidates. It is a critical tool in enhancing the hiring experience for both candidates and agencies, as pooled actions allow a single application to be reviewed by multiple agencies and a single hiring action to yield many hires.
• OPM’s Hiring Experience Group, which serves as a hub for agency talent teams to improve hiring outcomes through innovation, is helping agencies navigate the deployment of strategic hiring tools designed to support expanded recruiting efforts, increased hiring manager satisfaction, and reduced applicant burden and agency hiring timeframes. Through pooled hiring actions, agencies benefit from access to shared certificates of qualified candidates who have completed rigorous assessments, thereby reducing the need for agencies to post multiple hiring actions for the same position.
• As part of the pooled hiring process, OPM and subject-matter experts from multiple agencies work together to identify the required skills and competencies, develop appropriate assessments with support from subject matter experts, and identify high quality candidates to fill critical needs. This process results in a much higher rate of selection and gives candidates multiple opportunities for similar roles. For example, from a single hiring effort for data analysts at the Department of State, more than 100 selections were made. At DHS, successful selections have been made in the following occupational series: 0201 Human Resources Specialist, 1102 Contract Specialist, 0101 Program Evaluator, and 2210 Information Technology Program Manager positions. In early CY 2024, pooled actions underway include key data and IT management and analyst positions.   
• OPM is also working closely with agencies to best position Federal recruitment strategies to harness private sector tech talent possessing critical skillsets needed to protect, defend, and bolster the nation’s infrastructure.   
• Targeting critical staff through robust use of flexible and scalable hiring and pay authorities focused on mission-critical skill-sets. With options to more agilely identify critical skills that are in high demand or low supply, agencies will be able to design more effective and robust recruitment and retention strategies including skills incentives for highly-skilled workers.

• DHS launched its Cybersecurity Talent Management System that allows for skills-based hiring, market competitive compensation, and specialized career development opportunities. 
• In conjunction with the launch of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, ONCD, OPM and OMB partnered to develop a legislative proposal to support agencies in recruiting, hiring and retaining the cyber workforce. ONCD, OPM, and OMB are leveraging the Federal Cyber Workforce Working Group to socialize the proposal, set cyber workforce development priorities, and share agency leading practices.
• DOE expanded retention incentives for specialized skills, including cyber.
• VA leveraged the expanded Special Salary Rate (SSR) authorities afforded by the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act to authorize an SSR for its technology and cybersecurity personnel in Information Technology Management (2210), Computer Science (1550), and Computer Engineering (0854) occupational series. This is an important step towards closing the growing gap between industry and Federal government salary rates for technology and cybersecurity roles. The SSR represents an average increase of 17 percent in basic pay for VA’s highly skilled technical workforce.
• VA partnered with DOD to hire transitioning military personnel to civilian police occupations within VA while they are still on active duty under the Skillbridge Program. This creates law enforcement-specific career development pathways to provide developmental skills needed to achieve the next level of leadership. VA has also worked with OPM to obtain approval for SSRs to support recruiting and retaining Police Officers, and has authorized a national Critical Skills Incentive strategy to further enhance recruitment and retention.
• VA’s Office of Information Technology helped innovate Federal talent acquisition approaches by actively recruiting laid off tech workers to fill Department vacancies in software development, product management and cybersecurity.
• OPM established the Tech to Gov Initiative, a multipronged strategy that aims to bring laid off tech workers into the public sector to support various IT modernization efforts. This effort consists of government-wide job fairs and a working group of HR, technologists, and hiring managers who work to systemically improve the hiring process for technologists across government. By participating in the job fair and the working group, Federal agencies can leverage special hiring authorities, shared hiring certificates with other Federal agencies and streamline recruitment strategies to ultimately onboard top talent quickly.
• The IC uses existing and new authorities to attract highly-skilled candidates to the IC with in-demand skills. Expanded use of incentives, such as NSA’s STEM/Cyber pay scale, allows elements to be better compete in a fiercely competitive job market.
• The Department of State offers skills incentive pay (SIP) in the amount of up to 15% for eligible IT employees and up to 25% for certain Cyber employees for receiving and utilizing certain certificates or credentials.  As a result, the Department of State is better positioned to retain highly skilled IT and Cyber employees in order to accomplish foreign policy objectives.
• USAID stood up a Crisis Operations Staffing initiative in FY 2023 with the intention to shift up to 350 existing contractor crisis response positions to new time-limited direct hire positions, determined by programmatic agency needs. These positions enable the agency to resource its crisis response bureaus and ensure that the agency can recruit and retain staff in the short- and long-term to prevent or respond to foreign crises and contexts with growing instability.
• Expanding the use of incentives and flexibilities available to recruit, retain, and support employees, at a time of strong national job competition, including childcare subsidies, student loan repayments, and retention bonuses.

• DOD implemented a standardized minimum 50 percent child care discount on the first child of direct-care staff members.
• DOD implemented Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts for active duty servicemembers, allowing them to contribute up to $5,000 per household per year to a pretax account for eligible dependent care services.
• USAID redesigned and is piloting a new, improved version of its Child Care Subsidy Program, which raised the total family income limit to $150,000 to make the program accessible to a wider range of USAID employees.
• The Department of State is piloting an open enrollment of its Child Care Subsidy Program that allows employees to enroll in the program upon the birth or adoption of a child and for foreign service employee’s assumption of a domestic assignment. The Department raised the total family income limit to $170,000 which allowed more employees to receive up to $5,000 per year in childcare subsidy benefits.
• The Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) has over 170 participants at USAID and over 1,000 at the Department of State who each receive up to $10,000 in student loan repayment annually in exchange for a service commitment. The SLRP program is open to career conditional civil service and foreign service employees in over 20 mission critical and STEM positions, and in some of the more challenging overseas posts, and includes Parent Plus loans, which are loans that parents take out for their children’s education.    
• Approximately 40 percent of CIA employees are leveraging a newly expanded Official Time for Health and Wellbeing policy to spend three hours per week for health and wellbeing activities. CIA offers financial incentives to attract and retain employees specialized skill sets, such as foreign language skills. CIA is reviewing the effectiveness of existing incentive pay programs for STEM and foreign language, including a long-term compensation study to assess internal pay equity and external competitiveness with the private sector.

• Bringing together for the first time 25 national security education institutions to create the National Security Educational Consortium, which will work to better provide meaningful learning and career growth opportunities for the national security workforce, particularly for critical skills. As a first effort, the Consortium compiled a shared catalogue of over 7,500 courses across critical skill areas, which can be used to share future resources focused on critical skill development needs.
• Facilitating critical skills development for current and future employees and mission enablers.
  • The Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) continues to lead the National Security Education Program (NSEP)/Boren Scholars and Fellows Program, providing opportunities for U.S. students to study critical foreign languages overseas under the David L. Boren National Security Education Act of 1991. DLNSEO also manages the National Language Service Corps (NLSC), which provides a readily available group of language volunteers with proficiency in over 500 languages and dialects to provide foreign language services to U.S. Federal agencies.
  • The Intelligence Community Centers for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) Program offers grants to academic institutions to enhance the recruitment and retention of an ethnically and culturally diverse IC workforce through curriculum and/or program development (e.g., areas of study including national security, STEM, and less commonly taught foreign languages), faculty development, laboratory equipment or improvements, and faculty research.
  • State issued its first Learning Policy to promote career-long learning with a core curriculum for mid-career employees and 40 hours of annual learning for employees above and beyond mandatory training.  State also is adding dozens of new detail, fellowship and academic programs for employees focused on critical mission priorities.
  • USAID launched its Foreign Service National (FSN) Empowerment initiative to expand opportunities for professional growth and increase retention of its 4700-strong network of local experts serving in its missions worldwide. This includes creating additional senior-level positions that create new pathways for high-performing employees along an expanded career ladder, while boosting mission effectiveness.
  • The VA Office of Information Technology launched an interactive development resource that enables VA employees to explore cyber work roles defined by the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity and the Defense Cyberspace Workforce Framework. Work roles are the guiding principle of the cybersecurity development technical track, which consists of skills-based profiles, day-in-the-life videos, qualification indicators, curated curriculum, on-the-job training, and just-in-time resources, all aligned to the tasks, knowledge, and skills required for each individual role. By exploring role-driven development resources, employees are able to explore career options by role, develop new skills/or refine existing ones, discover alternate career pathways, and access resources, including meaningful learning and development opportunities, necessary for achieving career goals.
  • OPM has established a Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program, designed to spearhead the development of critical cyber skills and to foster environments where employees have ongoing learning and development opportunities. Fourteen Federal agencies submitted approximately 70 rotation assignments across the government. Agencies are actively interviewing candidates with selections forthcoming.
  • OPM tracks agency progress to close hiring and staffing gaps in mission critical occupations (MCO) and DOD, State, and DHS successfully met over 90 percent of their staffing targets for their MCOs, while USAID met over 80 percent.  
• Expanding development and outreach to the Human Resources practitioners who are key to implementing these efforts, including creating new training programs, coursework and guides as well as establishing new communities of practice to encourage the exchange of leading practices and innovative ideas in Federal human resources management.
  • DOD’s Human Resources Functional Community (HRFC) is charged with prioritizing and elevating HR talent through several communities of practice, as well as through the Chief Human Capital Officers Council Elevating HR Working Group; HR technical area credentialing and development programs and training; and central repositories that offer HR practitioners information on available training, best practices, tools, developmental opportunities, and other resources. In coordination with OPM, the HRFC is currently partnering with nine other Federal agencies to pilot a Federal HR career path in support of the President’s Management Agenda within DOD. The HRFC publishes quarterly a newsletter to communicate and socialize DoD-wide HR news, events, initiatives, and best practices to the more than 24,000 HR practitioners supporting the Department.
  • VA established an HR intern program, hiring over 1000 HR professionals into the program in the first year.

Moving forward, we will continue to work to implement these and other NSM-3 actions, with a particular focus on enhancing public outreach; improving hiring, expanding skills-based hiring and maximizing the utilization of hiring authorities and innovations; leveraging expert hiring and talent surge initiatives; improving workforce rotational and detailee experiences, and agency utilization; enhancing training and upskilling in critical occupational areas; and continually improving critical skills recruitment, hiring, development, and retention.
Our country’s future and the strength and safety of our people and communities rely on the success of our national security and foreign policy workforce and the partnerships we build today to educate, support, and motivate the next generation of talented and dedicated Americans to pursue careers in public service.
The President has never been more confident that the U.S. government and the American people are up to this enormous task, and we remain committed to meeting this moment in history with the best the country has to offer.
Additional information about department and agency actions to support NSM-3 can be found at the following:

• Department of the Treasury NSM-3 Page
• Department of State NSM-3 Actions
• Department of Commerce NSM-3 Page
• Department of Defense
• Office of the National Cyber Director Cyber Workforce Page

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