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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
 
SUBJECT: Delegation of Certain Sanctions-Related Authorities Under Public Law 118-50
 

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 order as follows:
 
     Section 1.  Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 3(a), 3(c)(1), and 3(e) of the Stop Harboring Iranian Petroleum Act (Division J of Public Law 118-50) (the “SHIP Act”).
    
(b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3(c)(2) of the SHIP Act.
    
(c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 3(h) and 3(i) of the SHIP Act.
 
     Sec. 2.  Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports Act.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 5(a)(1), 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), and 5(a)(4) of the Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports Act (Division K of Public Law 118-50) (the “Fight CRIME Act”).
 
     (b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 5(a)(5), 5(a)(6), 5(e), and 5(f) of the Fight CRIME Act.
 
     (c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 5(b)(1) of the Fight CRIME Act.
 
(d)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 5(d), 5(h), and 6(c) of the Fight CRIME Act.
 
     Sec. 3.  Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:
 
(i)   the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 2(c)(1)(A) and 2(c)(1)(B) of the Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act (Division L of Public Law 118-50) (the “MAHSA Act”), with respect to sanctions listed in sections 2(c)(2)(A), 2(c)(2)(B), 2(c)(2)(C), 2(c)(2)(D), and 2(c)(2)(E) of the MAHSA Act; and
 
(ii)  the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 2(c)(1)(C) of the MAHSA Act.
 
(b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 2(c)(1)(A) and 2(c)(1)(B) of the MAHSA Act, with respect to sanctions listed in sections 2(c)(2)(C) and 2(c)(2)(F) of the MAHSA Act.
 
(c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 2(d)(5)(A) of the MAHSA Act, and to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 2(d)(5)(B), 2(d)(5)(C), and 2(d)(5)(D) of the MAHSA Act.
 
     Sec. 4.  Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3(a) of the Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act (Division M of Public Law 118-50) (the “Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act”).
 
     (b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3(c) of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
     (c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 3(f), 4(e), and 6 of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
(d)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies as the Secretary of State deems necessary, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 4(a) and 4(c)(1) of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
(e)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Commerce the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 4(c)(3) of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act for which they are responsible under the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Control Reform Act, respectively.
 
(f)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Commerce, commensurate with their respective areas of responsibility and in consultation with the heads of other relevant executive departments and agencies as appropriate, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 4(f)(2) of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
(g)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 4(g) of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
(h)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 3(e), 4(f)(1), and 5 of the Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act.
 
     Sec. 5.  No Technology for Terror Act.  In exercising the functions and authorities described in section 2(d) of the No Technology for Terror Act (Division N of Public Law 118-50), I hereby direct the Secretary of Commerce to consult with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury.
 
     Sec. 6.  Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 5(a) of the Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act (Division O of Public Law 118-50) (the “Countering Use of Human Shields Act”). 
 
     (b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 6(a) and 6(e)(1) of the Countering Use of Human Shields Act.
 
     (c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 6(d) of the Countering Use of Human Shields Act.
    
     Sec. 7.  Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by sections 4(a), 4(b)(1), 4(e), 4(f), and 5 of the Illicit Captagon Trafficking Suppression Act of 2023 (Division P of Public Law 118-50) (the “Captagon Suppression Act”).
 
(b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 4(d)(1) of the Captagon Suppression Act.
 
(c)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 4(d)(2) of the Captagon Suppression Act.
 
     Sec. 8.  Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act of 2024.  (a)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3(a) of the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act of 2024 (Division R of Public Law 118-50) (the “Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act”).
 
     (b)  I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the functions and authorities vested in the President by section 3(a)(3) of the Holding Iranian Leaders Accountable Act.
 
     Sec. 9.  The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
 

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On Friday, September 13, 2024, the President signed into law:

H.R. 1076, the “Preventing the Financing of Illegal Synthetic Drugs Act,” which requires the Government Accountability Office to carry out a study on illicit financing in connection with the trafficking of synthetic drugs; and

Thank you to Representatives De La Cruz, Pettersen, and Ogles, and Senators Cornyn, Cortez Masto, and Rosen for their leadership.

S. 1608, the “Starr–Camargo Bridge Expansion Act,” which provides for the expansion of the Starr–Camargo Bridge near Rio Grande City, Texas.

Thank you to Senators Cornyn, Cruz, and Kelly, and Representative Cuellar for their leadership.

###

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

SUBJECT: Delegation of Authority Under Section 7019(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

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, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, the functions related to a comprehensive, multi-year strategy for the promotion of democracy abroad under section 7019(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Title VII of Division F of Public Law 118-47), and the accompanying Joint Explanatory Statement.
 
The delegation in this memorandum shall apply to any provision of any future public law that is the same or substantially the same as the provision referenced in this memorandum.
 
The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
 

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Good morning. I’m delighted to be here with you at the Soufan Center’s inaugural Global Summit on Terrorism and Political Violence. Thank you for the introduction.

It’s a privilege to speak on the same program with so many of my closest colleagues, including Christy Abizaid and Nick Rasmussen who are tough acts to follow! Each of you has provided extraordinary service in the Biden-Harris Administration and in prior administrations.

The day before yesterday, I accompanied the President and Vice President to Ground Zero, Shanksville, and the Pentagon to commemorate the solemn anniversary of the heinous attacks of September 11th, 2001.  And standing here—in this place, on this day— I want to take a moment to honor and recall the lives of those we lost and the generations of Americans who have served and sacrificed over the last 23 years to ensure we would never again see a day like September 11th.

As you all know, this was the precipitating event for transformation in our national security enterprise and the motivation for so many careers in public service. Indeed, it was the catalyst for the creation of the role of the White House Homeland Security Advisor.

I live in a windowless office in the basement of the West Wing, which my staff and I call the “The Cave,” and it has housed the Homeland Security Advisor since the days immediately following 9/11. During each year of my service in the office, this solemn anniversary has marked an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation and what more we still have to accomplish.

That is what I hope to discuss with you today—starting with how the threat has evolved. 

Evolution of the Threat Abroad and at Home

Since that catastrophic and transformational day, the counterterrorism community has succeeded in significantly hardening American defenses and degrading foreign terrorist groups’ capabilities to attack the American Homeland.

However, the threat we face today is more fluid and quickly evolving than it has ever been. Defining events in recent years—such as the killing of Iranian General Qasim Soleimani, January 6th, 2021, and especially October 7th—have layered atop gradually shifting trendlines to change the character of today’s threat landscape—both abroad and at home.  I’d like to reflect on several of these defining events and trends.

Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack on Israel almost a year ago demonstrates how quickly the terrorism landscape can change and the far-reaching consequences of terrorists’ actions both domestically and internationally.

The Intelligence Community has warned that images and messaging emerging from the conflict are energizing networks and expanding the pool of individuals who are susceptible to mobilization to violent acts, whether as lone actors or as new recruits to terrorist groups from across the ideological spectrum.

Terrorist groups such as ISIS and al-Qaida are exploiting the Israel-Hamas conflict and calling for attacks against the West, including in the U.S. Homeland.

This occurs within the context of an important trend—the weakening of these groups by our counterterrorism pressure that has forced them to decentralize and scatter across the globe. Yet, they remain linked by enabling technologies. This has created vulnerabilities in their networks—introducing communications and logistics challenges. But it has also increased the burden on the global counterterrorism community to detect threats emanating from a wider range of locations where the thrust of our effort has not previously been focused.

This key trend is enabled by another—terrorists’ growing use of encrypted communications platforms.  Although these technologies serve the vital purpose of protecting the privacy of our citizens online and safeguarding journalists, dissidents, and vulnerable people around the world, they also complicate the work of law enforcement in identifying and holding accountable those using these platforms to do us harm.  This tension will become more acute as technologies evolve.

Another defining event—the killing of Soleimani in 2020—has added a new dimension to the Homeland threat landscape.  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, known to most of us as the IRGC, seeks to target former U.S. officials that it deems responsible for Soleimani’s death.  In addition, they continue plotting attacks against dissidents in the United States.  This is a persistent reality that we are confronting and disrupting.

A third trend I will discuss is perhaps the most fundamental threat our nation faces—which is a growing normalization of violence—brought into stark relief in the wake of defining events like January 6th and domestic terrorism attacks in places like El Paso, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Poway, Colorado Springs, and Charleston.

Racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism and anti-government or anti-authority violent extremism are on the rise. Due to the proliferation of these ideologies online, they are reaching a growing number of mostly young people who are influenced to believe that violence is an acceptable response to ideological and political grievances.

And as this threat evolves online, we have seen its “domestic” dimensions become increasingly global. Successful attackers in the Homeland have drawn inspiration from those overseas who espouse the “great replacement theory.”

Earlier this week the FBI and Department of Justice arrested and charged two leaders of the Terrorgram collective in the United States.  These individuals created a global community of white supremacists to communicate online with like-minded individuals, disseminate violent propaganda, and encourage violent attacks on minority communities and government officials.

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Approach

So—in this increasingly interconnected world, where borders matter less, and global communities form and draw oxygen online, we have to tackle both domestic and international threats simultaneously—not as distinct categories, though always with legal authorities and tools. 

Since day one, the Biden-Harris Administration has pursued a rigorously calibrated, integrated approach to countering foreign and domestic terrorism threats that is aligned with our values and complementary to our broader national security interests. We have done this by crafting and implementing strategies that focus our system on addressing the threats of today while being flexible and creative enough to adapt to emerging threats for which there may be no evident precedent.

First, I’ll cover this in the overseas context, and then I’ll describe our work domestically.

Addressing terrorism overseas

Our approach to countering foreign terrorist organizations was codified in the National Security Memorandum to Counter International Terrorism Threats, called NSM-13.  The guiding principles of the policy include: focusing on the most acute threats to the United States; investing in our partnerships; promoting civilian-led, nonlethal approaches wherever possible; and executing the counterterrorism mission in a manner consistent with U.S. values.

I previewed this policy in a speech to the Atlantic Council in September 2021, and today I’ll describe three years later the real progress we have made in realizing its objectives—and also be candid about the unfinished business that we all have to do going forward.

I’ll make three points about the ways in which we have implemented this approach.

First—when necessary to protect the Homeland, the President has directed decisive action to protect Americans from terrorists who seek to harm us at home or elsewhere.

• In February 2022—a ground raid resulted in the death of ISIS’s emir and his deputy in Syria.

• In July 2022, an airstrike removed al-Qa’ida’s overall leader in Afghanistan.    

• In January 2023, a raid resulted in the death of a key operative and facilitator for ISIS’s global network in Somalia.

• And, most recently in late August, an airstrike killed the emir of Hurras al-Din—al Qaida’s associated force in Syria.

These examples represent only a narrow slice of our counterterrorism work. This is by design. We have generally reserved our use of our direct-action capabilities for only those circumstances in which other options are unavailable, the impact is substantial, and the risk of civilian casualties can be minimized.  This issue is of paramount importance to President Biden.

The second dimension of our approach—is the work we do with international partners.  These efforts reach every corner of the globe and represent a much wider share of our counterterrorism efforts than direct action. 

We work with Five Eyes and European partners to prevent and disrupt threats in the West, benefitting from their unique capabilities and accesses to develop a shared intelligence and operational picture.  As just one recent example, the United States shared information with Austrian partners to enable the disruption of a threat to Taylor Swift’s concerts in Vienna.  And we cooperated closely with France and other partners to enable safe Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris for athletes and spectators from around the world. 

This extends well beyond Europe to partners in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

This leads to my third point—We have been agile enough to pursue these threats whenever and wherever they emerge because we have reconceptualized our global counterterrorism footprint to align it with the principal threats we face.

In August 2021, President Biden made the difficult decision to end the war in Afghanistan.  We continue to mourn those who lost their lives over the two decades of our presence and in the terrorist attack on Abbey Gate.  But it is because President Biden understands what it means to ask Americans to put their lives on the line that he was unwilling to send another generation to fight in a war that he believed should have ended long ago.  

This enabled us to redirect our resources to confront the current threats we face, not historic ones.  The Intelligence Community assesses that Al-Qa’ida is weaker today than it was in 2001 or 2021.

In the 36 months since we withdrew, we have continued to implement a whole-of-government approach to ensure that Afghanistan does not once again become a haven for terrorists to freely operate and plot attacks against the United States or our allies. 

Core to this approach is retaining the capability to address threats from over the horizon, most notably exercised with the removal of the world’s most wanted terrorist, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in downtown Kabul 11 months after our withdrawal.  Another component of the over-the-horizon approach is building the counterterrorism law enforcement and military capacity of South and Central Asian partners to address the threat in their neighborhoods. 

Many of you as experts will be tracking this evolution – but for some, it may be novel. The most salient threat emanating from the region today is not from Al Qa’ida, but from ISIS-Khorasan.  In countering it we have mobilized a coordinated international effort to raise awareness of and share information about the threat—including with Russia, Iran—and even the Taliban.  This intelligence sharing has enabled us to catalyze individual and collective action to disrupt the threat ISIS-K poses.

Let me briefly mention several other regions.

In Iraq and Syria, our forces are operating alongside Iraqi and Syrian Kuridsh-led partners to aggressively suppress threats to our interests, prevent ISIS from rebuilding its so-called caliphate, and ensure that the remnants of al-Qa‘ida cannot threaten our Homeland and allies.

In two weeks, I will participate in the 10th Anniversary of the Defeat ISIS Coalition Ministerial in Washington.  Over 90 nations and organizations will be present as we discuss the evolution of operations in Iraq to address the evolving threat, and the work that is still to be done in Syria.

This includes encouraging countries to repatriate their nationals who traveled to Syria to join ISIS and are now being held in prison or living in refugee camps.  Since we began this process, we have assisted nations with bringing home over 12,000 of their citizens from the Syrian desert.

However, the threat remains. The population in these prisons and camps is over 50,000 and provides ISIS with a ready reserve cadre and a breeding ground for its next generation of terrorists.  This threatens to undermine the hard-fought progress we have made against ISIS since dismantling its physical caliphate and must be an area of intensive focus moving forward. 

In Africa, President Biden recommitted to a persistent military presence in Somalia, to provide consistent support to Somali partners who are bravely struggling to resist al-Qa‘ida’s largest and wealthiest affiliate, al-Shabaab. 

Our counterterrorism efforts in Somalia are ongoing, and they underscore the reality that this work is hard, and it requires continuous reassessment.  There are limits to what our partners can achieve, even with U.S. assistance.  Nevertheless, modest investments in carefully chosen partners can pay dividends for the security of our citizens at home and abroad and, over time, help countries to resist further destabilization by terrorist groups.

These commitments must be conditioned on the severity of the threat to the United States and firmly rooted in the consent of our partners. And we must be clear-eyed when those conditions change.

For example, last summer in Niger, an unanticipated and unconstitutional transition of power overthrew a democratically elected government and rapidly upended a counterterrorism partnership we had worked for the last decade to build. Niger had provided relative stability in a tough neighborhood, but pernicious forces eroded trust in its government.

As a result, Sunday, September 15, is the deadline before which we will have withdrawn all U.S. troops from Niger. The Department of Defense is working to establish a more geographically diverse set of counterterrorism relationships Central in West Africa, in order to help vulnerable partners who are facing rapid expansion of ISIS and al-Qa‘ida-aligned groups.

Confronting terrorism at home

Now I want to shift to our work at home. As we have worked to counter the threat overseas, a dynamic global threat environment reverberates here in the United States. This is especially true in the post-October 7th landscape, in which we have seen an increase in domestic hate crimes and credible threats. 

We have met the dynamism of the threat by driving unprecedented cooperation between our intelligence and law enforcement communities to identify and counter specific threats when they have emerged. Just last week, the Department of Justice announced criminal charges against a Pakistani national arrested in Canada who was planning to travel to New York City to attack a Jewish Community Center on the anniversary of October 7th.

Behind each headline about a threat or arrest, there are many dedicated law enforcement and intelligence professionals harnessing the full force of the U.S. counterterrorism enterprise and our partnerships around the world to disrupt and hold accountable those who seek to do us harm.

This spring, as a result of extraordinary cooperation across the U.S. Government, we identified, located, and disrupted eight individuals with potential ties to ISIS.  Our law enforcement professionals took swift and effective action to reduce any possible threat associated with these individuals. This disruption was enabled by cooperation among DOJ, the FBI, DHS, the National Counterterrorism Center, and other elements of the intelligence community. 

My point is that our adversaries are dynamic, which requires us to be even more dynamic. The systems we have built and refined since 9/11 to keep the Homeland safe are working, and we have also continued to innovate based on what we have learned and how the threats are evolving.

Key to that is ensuring that our tools are honed to meet the challenges of today and of tomorrow.

To that end, we worked with Congress to renew and reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—one of the United States’ most vital intelligence collection tools. This gives us essential authority to understand and prevent a wide range of dangerous threats to Americans, while protecting privacy and civil liberties. 

In addition, where we have identified gaps in the authorities required to protect Americans in an evolving threat landscape, we have pushed to close them. For example, recognizing the growing threat from the use of Unmanned Aerial Systems by our adversaries—including terrorists—we have been working since 2022 to persuade our partners on the Hill to pass a legislative proposal to enhance our domestic defenses against the pernicious use of this proliferating capability.

In parallel with those tireless efforts to thwart foreign terrorist groups using all available tools, we have been determined to counter domestic terrorism using different tools that are consistent with our laws and values.  This is built on the President’s core belief that domestic terrorism strikes at the very foundation of our democracy.

On his first day in office, President Biden directed me to lead a 100-day comprehensive review of U.S. Government efforts to address domestic terrorism.  This led to our release of the first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism.

Since the launch of the Strategy in June 2021, we have deepened our understanding of domestic terrorism and taken concrete actions to counter it by increasing information sharing, expanding prevention efforts, enhancing disruption and deterrence, and confronting the long-term drivers.

First—We have made prevention a core element of our strategic approach and prioritized support for state-led efforts to prevent acts of targeted violence and terrorism.  For example, following the tragic terror attack on the Tops Market in Buffalo, the Department of Homeland Security rapidly ramped up support to New York State to build out a statewide prevention capability.  This program has already seen 1,200 requests for assistance, has stopped terror plots well before any harm came to the community, and is serving as a model for others.

Second—We have prioritized domestic terrorism-related investigations and prosecutions at the Federal, state, and local levels.  From 2020 to 2022, the number of FBI domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism investigations more than doubled, with the FBI indicating it has more than 2,700 open investigations on domestic violent extremists.  In support of the strategy, the Department of Justice created a specific domestic terrorism unit within its National Security Division to handle these investigations and prosecutions.

Third—We have also significantly expanded cooperation with foreign partners to identify and address the transnational dimensions of the threat posed by racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists, which have become global in nature and in reach.

And fourth—we have continued to build up efforts to address targeted and hate-fueled violence that so often catalyzes individuals to domestic terrorism.  These actions have proven especially important in the post-October 7th landscape, in which we have faced a substantial rise in hate crimes and violent acts targeting Jewish, Muslim, Arab and other Americans.

In 2022, President Biden hosted the United We Stand Summit that mobilized communities across the country to make commitments towards advancing an inclusive and bipartisan vision for a more united America.

That led to an ongoing effort that I co-lead with the White House Domestic Policy Advisor to craft a whole of society approach to address Antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of bias and discrimination. This effort resulted in the release in May 2023 of the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which we have worked to implement and adapt as threats have evolved. 

Currently, we are finalizing a national strategy to counter Islamophobia and related forms of hate.  This work will continue as we deal with the far-reaching implications of October 7th.

Lessons Learned for the Future

These nearly four years have confirmed that the terrorism threat will persist and that it will not remain static.  Given our zero tolerance for a terror attack at scale in the homeland or against Americans overseas, this is a no fail mission for many across the Federal system and our state and local partners—from the intelligence community, to our operating agencies, to law enforcement at all levels.

We must continue to be resilient, nimble and flexible to respond quickly to emerging trends. We need the resources and tools that support that kind of resilience and agility. And our approaches must be built on the humility to test our assumptions and change course when circumstances require it or our efforts prove inadequate.

The three ingredients to build a sustainable, nimble, and creative approach to counterterrorism are enduring—1) an unwavering commitment to our values; 2) trusted partnerships and convening power to bring the world together to solve the hardest problems; and 3) the talent of dedicated public servants who work 24/7, 365 days a year to keep our nation safe from harm. We must continue to invest in and nurture each dimension, and in doing so we will ensure that America is prepared to tackle the evolving terrorism threat well into the future.

Before I close, I will make one final point that broadens the frame.

In heeding these lessons learned from twenty-three years in the fight against terrorism since 9/11, we have positioned ourselves to tackle new transnational challenges with the same commitment to information sharing; operational disruption; and international partnerships. 

There is no challenge more urgent in the Homeland than countering illicit fentanyl that is driving overdose deaths like a weapon of mass destruction.

In July, President Biden issued a National Security Memorandum that declared fentanyl-related deaths a national security threat.

In practice, this transforms how our government will approach the synthetic opioid epidemic for years to come, breaking down silos between law enforcement and intelligence that were a hallmark of post-9/11 reforms.

We are drawing lessons learned from detecting and disrupting terrorists by pursuing a network-driven approach.

The policy also prioritizes collaboration with the private sector, including express cargo shippers and social media platforms, to stop fentanyl before it gets to our border, just as we have collaborated with the private sector to share information about harmful terrorist content online.

This builds domestically on what the Administration has done globally to elevate this issue on the world stage, using trusted partnerships to deliver life-saving disruption of the fentanyl supply chain.

In the coming weeks, the President will convene a summit of the Global Coalition to Counter Synthetic Drug Threats—just as the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS launched under President Obama’s leadership in 2014.

We know from these experiences that we are stronger and more capable when we come together in acknowledgment of a grave threat, unite the tools and resources across our vast Government, and join forces with partners overseas to tackle it. 

Those of you with decades of expertise in countering terrorism and political violence—who have dedicated your lives to public service and to fighting hate wherever it exists—are essential to our success.  Thank you for what you do, and thank you to the Soufan Center for the opportunity to speak to you today.

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In our country, Latino leaders are striving for the American Dream and helping those around them reach it too.  From those who have been here for generations to those who have recently arrived, Latinos have pushed our great American experiment forward.  They are the community, faith, and union leaders who advocate and stand up for all of us.  They are the first responders, who put themselves in harm’s way to keep the rest of us safe.  And they represent the best of who we are as a Nation — the teachers and doctors, athletes and artists, business leaders, public servants, and so much more.  They embody the possibilities of our Nation and the dreams of those who work every day to build a better future for their children, grandchildren, and beyond.  I am proud to work with incredible Latino leaders, who are dedicated to bettering our Nation every day — like Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Administrator of the Small Business Administration Isabel Guzman, Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez, and White House Director of Political Strategy and Outreach Emmy Ruiz.

My Administration is committed to putting the American Dream within reach of every person, and it is working.  We have created nearly 16 million jobs since we took office and have seen record-low unemployment among Latinos, and Latino entrepreneurs have started new businesses at the fastest rate in over 25 years.  We have more than doubled Small Business Administration loans to Latino-owned businesses.  We have invested a record more than $15 billion in Hispanic-serving colleges and universities, and we approved the cancellation of student debt — a burden that disproportionately falls on Latino borrowers — for almost five million people through various actions.  We also cracked down on bias in the home appraisal process so homes owned by Latinos and those in majority Latino neighborhoods can be valued fairly.  And we are making health care a right, not a privilege — doubling Latino enrollment in coverage under the Affordable Care Act and giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, while capping insulin at $35 per month for people on Medicare, including for the five million Latinos on Medicare.  And across the Federal Government, we are implementing my Administration’s National HIV/AIDS Strategy, prioritizing the expansion of HIV services to reach all Americans — especially Latino gay men, who now represent the highest incidence of new HIV cases in the country.

At the same time, I am working to build an immigration system that is fair, orderly, and humane.  On my first day in office, I sent a comprehensive immigration reform bill to the Congress.  It includes more resources for a strong border and expands permanent visas for families and employers.  It also includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, whose contributions have made this country better and stronger.  While the Congress has failed to take up this legislation, my Administration is taking action to protect and support Dreamers and others.  We issued a rule that will, for the first time, finally provide Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients with access to health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.  Additionally, we proposed a rule that would give Dreamers, among others from underserved backgrounds, the support and resources they need to successfully transition from high school to college — providing access to everything from college campus visits to tutoring and help with financial aid applications.  And I am proud that my Administration has reunited nearly 800 families that were shamefully separated at the border under the prior administration.  My Administration also implemented a process to help the noncitizen spouses of United States citizens who have been here for 10 years or more, along with their children, to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country.  And we have taken steps to help young people who have been educated in the United States, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, receive work visas more quickly.

In the Oval Office, I keep a bust of Cesar Chavez, one of my heroes, who once said:  “Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.”  Together, I know that we will continue to build a future that generations of Latinos can be proud of — one founded on honesty, respect, and faith and where everyone has an opportunity to pursue their talents and ambitions.

In recognition of the achievements of the Hispanic and Latino community, the Congress, by Public Law 100-402, as amended, has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating September 15 through October 15 as “National Hispanic Heritage Month.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2024, as National Hispanic Heritage Month.  I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that celebrate Hispanic heritage and recognize the impact Hispanic peoples have had on our Nation.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Montgomery, Alabama

Thank you, and good afternoon.

I never taught early education.

God bless all those who work with the littlest learners!

But many years ago, I was a reading specialist for high school students. Even though they worked hard and they wanted to learn, many of my students could barely read a sentence. They faced enormous obstacles—all because they didn’t have a strong foundation to build upon.

If we want kids to succeed in school and their careers—if we want to set them on a lifelong path of learning—we need to invest in them from the very beginning.

Throughout Joe’s administration, he has pushed for free, high-quality preschool across America. And he and the Department of Defense have gotten it done for military students.

We’re here today to celebrate something big.

Military kids at Maxwell Air Force Base, and at 80 military schools across the country and abroad, now have access to full-day pre-kindergarten.

Thank you, Colonel Toliver, for the warm welcome to Maxwell.

It’s great to be here with Mayor Reed and Mrs. Reed. Mayor Reed, I appreciate your leadership in Montgomery.

To Charlene Austin and Secretary Austin: thank you for your service to the nation. It was wonderful to tour the school with you and see students learning.

Providing universal pre-k is among the defining issues of our time.

And what’s happening at Maxwell is part of the blueprint for making high-quality preschool available to every three- and four-year old in America.

Now, one of the ways we lift up students is by supporting educators, making sure they have the resources they need and that their voices are heard.

I know that Maxwell is only about a month into this new pre-k program. And implementing anything new takes hard work. That’s why we have to come together to get this right.

I created my White House initiative, Joining Forces, to support military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors.

Over the years, I’ve sat down with hundreds of men and women in uniform—and their loved ones—to listen.

I brought their stories back to Joe. And he got to work. He’s had a great partner in Secretary Austin.

Over the last four years, the Biden Administration has lowered the cost of child care for military families, expanded parental leave, and made it easier for military spouses to keep their jobs when they move.

Making life a little easier for military families is not only the right thing to do. It’s a national security imperative.

To the military families here today: Joe and I know that your commitment to this country never wavers. And you deserve that same devotion from your Commander-in-Chief.

The President and I stand with you—today and for all the days ahead.

The late Frances Hesselbein was a trailblazing leader. For many years, she was the CEO of the Girl Scouts, opening up new education opportunities to young girls.

What you may not know, is she advised many U.S. military officers on what it meant to be a leader.

And she was one of Secretary Austin’s mentors.

They might have looked like an odd pair—Frances was even shorter than I am standing next to Secretary Austin.

It’s one of the things I admire so much about the Secretary—that willingness to seek out fresh perspectives and bring a new depth to everything he does.

Frances loved to say: “To serve is to live.” Well, Secretary Austin, over your four-decade career in the Army and your time as Secretary of Defense, you have lived the truth in those words many times over.

Joe and I are grateful for the way you—and Charlene—always take care of people.

###

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James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:53 P.M. EDT

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

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Happy Friday.

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)  We all feel the same way.  Although, tomorrow is another workday.

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  So, I have a couple things at the top. 

So, yesterday, a North Dakota judge struck down the state’s near-total abortion ban.  The law makes it a felony for doctors and other health care providers to provide women the care that they need.  It is extreme, dangerous, and terrifying and has left North Dakota without any abortion providers.

And that was made possible when the former president handpicked three — three Supreme Court justices to overturn Roe v. Wade.  As a result, more than 20 states have abortion bans currently in effect.

And it’s not stopping at the state level.  Republican elected officials in Congress have proposed four national abortion bans while refusing to protect nationwide access to IVF and contraception. 

President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that women in every state must have the right to make deeply personal decisions about their health.  They continue to call on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade into federal law and fight efforts by Republican elected officials to undermine our fundamental freedoms.

Next, I want to — I wanted to also quickly recognize all of the amazing Team USA athletes who participated in this year’s Paralympics in Paris that le- — that ended this past weekend.  Team USA showed incredible resilience and strength.  This year’s athletes brought home an impressive 105 — including 36 gold — medals. 

From the president on down, we have all been cheering you on here at the White House.  We are so proud of all of you.  As a president — as the first lady said — pardon me — and I quote, our athletes “carry more than just our flag.  They carry our nation’s heart and our hopes with them too.”

And finally, as you all know, the president joined a — a brunch in celebration of Black excellence on the South Lawn this afternoon.  Over the coming days, President Biden will participate in a celebratory engagement centered on the triumphs and legacy of Black Americans and the institutions they have created. 

In addition to today’s brunch in celebration of Black excellence, Presidents — President Biden will deliver remarks at the 2 — 2024 Phoenix Awards dinner on Saturday and address the National HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Monday.  These events will focus on speaking directly to the community about the Biden-Harris administration’s accomplishment for the Black community. 

As — as a proud Black American myself, I — I must say that I am incredibly proud to be working for a president and a vice president who have d- — who has certainly delivered for Black Americans.  His t- — his time in office is marked by significant wins for the Black community, including achieving the lowest Black unemployment rate on record, nominating Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, and investing a historic $16 billion into HBCUs.

We are looking forward to traveling to Philadelphia this coming Monday.

And with that, Darlene.

Q    Hi.  Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hello.

Q    Two questions.  So, the administration had promised to use the full extent of the law to make sure that pregnant patients got emergency care after Roe v. Wade was overturned.  We — the AP is reporting today that none of the hospitals that have denied care to pregnant patients since Roe v. Wade was overturned have been fined.  Do you know why?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I would have to talk to the Department of Justice.  I don’t have — I’m just now learning this reporting that the Associated Press has.  So, I would have to go back to Department of Justice and also refer you to them, as well, to get a better sense of how they’re operating that particular — that particular policy.

But I would have to say, and I said this at the top, we would not be in this position if the former president did not appoint three — three Supreme Court justices with — with one of the — obviously, one of the goals that they were successful at was making sure the Dobbs decision was done, which overturned Roe v. Wade, which was a constitutional right that women had for nearly 50 years. 

And that is why the president had to step in.  That is why the president had to sign an executive order.  That is why we have been very forceful, very clear about what Dobbs decision has done.  And we don’t even have to — it doesn’t have to come from us; we could see what has happened across the states: 21, 22 states that now have abortion bans.  And now that is affecting, as we know, 27 million women who are now affected by this who — who their reproductive freedom has been taken away.  Those — that decision to make those really personal decisions for themselves has been taken away.

But as it relates to that specific question, I would have to refer you to Department of Justice.

Q    And since the — the president mentioned Springfield, Ohio, in his remarks — he did- — he didn’t actually say Springfield, but we knew what he was talking about — is the administration considering any help for Springfield?  They’ve been facing bomb threats.  Some schools were evacuated today.  Is there any —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, as it relates to that, certainly we are aware of the evacuations.  Local police are investigating what is happening on the ground, the situation.  We encourage everyone to please — please follow the — the advice and the direction of the public safety, follow their guidance.

I’m going to be mindful and not speculate on the evacuations, but I — again, to — to your point on what the president said and what we have said from here, from this podium, it is that it is extremely sad and concerning that a community is facing this type of danger and vitriol.  And as the president said today — I think very forcefully — this needs to stop, and there is absolutely no place — absolutely no place in this country, in our — certainly in our prolitical [political] discourse, for this type of vitriolic, smearing, hateful language.

And certainly, as we have done in the past three and a half years, and the president has done throughout his career and the vice president as well, we’re going to continue to call that out and condemn that type of vitriolic behavior. 

We will certainly offer any assistance, if needed, on the ground by the local — the local police.

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Selina.

Q    And just to bounce off the question about Springfield, the Ohio governor said that the federal government needs to give Springfield some help to deal with the influx of migrants.  What’s the president’s reaction to that?  And does the White House have plans to provide some funding to the state?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a couple of things — and I’m glad — I’m actually glad you asked this question, because there are a couple things I do want to lay out that the administration has been able to do. 

Again, this is conspiracy theory, what we’re hearing, that has been debunked by the Ohio — the — the Ohio police department, the Springfield mayor, the city manager.  And so, we have to make sure that we put that out there — that this has been debunked.  And spreading this type of ha- — hateful conspiracy theories is indeed very dangerous.  It’s very dangerous. 

So, since day one, our priority has been ensuring communities across the country have the support they need.  So, we’ve delivered resources to Ohio, as well to cities, states, and non-for-profits across the country. 

Since the spring, DHS has been directly engaged with the city of Springfield and local officials to make sure they have the support they need.  And we want to do more.  We would like to do more. 

That’s why we did the bipartisan proposal with the Senate early — at the end of last year — obviously, early into this year.  And it was stopped.  It was stopped because the former president said that bill — that particular proposal would hurt him and help Joe Biden.  And so, Republicans in Congress stopped that.  It would have given more — it would have given more resources to cities like Springfield, Ohio. 

But I don’t want it to — to miss the point here that the administration has indeed provided more than $1.3 billion in grant funding t- — in jurisdur- — in jurisdiction around — around the country to help — to help with — with the influx and what they’re dealing with.  We want to do more, but we’ve been blocked in doing so.

Q    So, are there any new conversations that the president is trying to start right now for —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wh- —

Q    — further assistance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We want to fix this problem — we want.  We did $1.3 billion.  That’s something that this administration has been able to do.  We want more funding. 

Republicans are getting in the way in Congress.  We were able to put forward, again, a bipartisan deal that would have been the toughest and the fairest law if the president had an opportunity to sign it.  Republicans got in the way. 

Now, if Republicans want to work with us in a good faith — they did.  They actually did, and then they turned their backs on what they wanted, on what they thought — they believed would be the right way to move forward in dealing with the immigration system and dealing with the border challenges.  And they walked away from it. 

And I — we need them to come to the table again.  We need them to actually want to move forward to deal with this issue. 

Q    And just shifting gears to Boeing.  30,000 workers are on strike for the first time in 16 years at Boeing.  And Boeing’s CFO said this is going to impact production, deliveries, operations, and will jeopardize their recovery.  So, how is the president reacting to this?  And what’s his message to those workers?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we’re — administration officials are indeed in touch with Boeing and the machinists.  So, we encourage them to negotiate in good faith, which is something that we say when — when situations get to this level.  And we believe that they need to negotiate, yes, in good faith and work towards an agreement that gives employees benefits and that they deserve.  You know, that — and it would make the count- — and it would make the company stronger as well. 

So, we’re in touch with the parties and, again, continue to n- — to encourage them to negotiate in good faith. 

Go ahead, Weijia.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  First, two points of clarification on Springfield.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Conspiracy theories aside, the governor says that this influx of migrants has caused a significant strain on the health care and public safety system in Springfield.  Does the administration acknowledge that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We — w- —

Q    Or — or have you talked to them about it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we — and I said this in my answer prior.  We’ve been in touch with — with Springfield from — since the spring, we’ve been in touch with them.  DHS has, and we’ve been offering assistance to them.  And — and that is something that we’ve taken very seriously. 

And we have been able during — in 2023, this administration, we’ve been collaborating with states and cities across the country.  And we launched this one-stop clinic — one-stop-shop clinics to — to help eligible noncitizens get work permits and decompress their re- — respective shelter systems. 

And today, those clinics have served more than 37,000 people.  So, that shows how we’ve been working with different jurisdictions across the country.  And we’ve provided, I just mentioned, more than $1.3 billion to address the concerns that — for example, that the governor has, mayors have in — obviously, in cities and towns.

And so, we’ve done that.  We’ll — we want to continue to help, but we also need Congress to get involved.  And that’s why the president took very seriously the negotiations that were happening.  He tried to try to get the toughest, fairest border — border deal, and we were able to do that.  Republicans got in the way. 

But $1.3 billion to help cities across — cities and states across the country is nothing to — to sneeze at.

Q    So, short of a deal, are you saying that currently there is no more federal resources to give to Springfield?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We ne- — we need more federal resources.

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And we have been working with Springfield, Ohio, in particular, since the spring — since the spring.  We need more funding.  We need more. 

And that is why the president and his team got together with Republicans and Democrats in the Senate to come up with this border deal. 

Donald Trump, the former president, told Republicans in Congress to not move forward with it.  They voted against their own bipartisan deal.

Q    And then, turning to tariffs. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    During the debate, the vice president described Trump’s proposed tariffs as a sales tax on middle-class families.  Today, the Biden administration announced new tariffs on about $18 billion worth of Chinese goods that will go into effect in two weeks.  So, can you talk about whether these new tariffs are fundamentally different from what Trump has proposed and how?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, the 301 tariff — the tariffs? 

So, look, we made an announcement this morning, as you just — that went out early this morning.  And I think the president, when he — back in May, when he was announcing that he was going to take action, he said very clearly he was going to do that to protect Americans, workers, and businesses from China’s unfair trade practices.  And that’s something — a commitment that he made and he spoke to back in — in May. 

And the comparison, as you’re asking me — the Trump administration, the last administration, their trade deal with China failed to increase — boost American manufacturing.  And what the president’s economic agenda — what we’ve been trying to do for almost four years now, and we’ve seen some results here — is nearly $1 trillion of new investments here in America, manufacturing investment has hit record highs, and factory construction has doubled to a record high. 

The annual trade deficit with China is the lowest in a decade, and that is because of the president’s economic agenda — lower than any year under the last administration. 

And so, the president is going to take — continue to take action to protect American workers and manufacturing and encourage China to eliminate its unfair practices.

As it goes to the specifics of it, obviously, USTR will have more information on that.  But the president made a commit- — he’s keeping to his commitment.  And if you can see what his economic agenda has actually done — manufacturing, businesses — and how that — how that lines up with China and what China — what it — what China has — how his — how his agenda has affected China’s behavior, and I think that matters. 

Q    I’m sorry.  I should have been more clear. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    How is it not a sales tax on all the goods that people buy every day?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, what we’re trying to do is making sure that we’re protecting American workers and businesses.  That’s what we’re doing.  USTR can certainly get into more details and specifics to your question. 

But our — you know, our commitment — and I think it shows in the president’s economic policy, as I just laid out.  And what — how — how the annual trade deficit with China is the lowest — is the lowest in a decade, lower than any year during the last administration. 

And so, what we’re trying to do is eliminate China’s unfair practices, and we’ve seen the results of that.  That was the commitment that this president made in May, and that’s the commitment that will continue. 

This is about American workers and businesses, and we’re going to certainly continue to deal with China’s unfair trade practices, and that’s what you’re seeing. 

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Just back to the Boeing strike.  Does the White House believe that there is an immediate economic impact from the strike?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we’re in touch with — with officials.  And this is something that, as I said all — as I say all the time when I get asked this question, we’re going to monitor very, very closely.  I don’t have a specific question to you on that — on — on a yes or a no, but this is something that we’re certainly going to monitor. 

What we want to see is all parties to come together in good faith and come up with a deal that helps the workers, the hard work — right? — continues to really respect the hard work that the workers do day in and day out for companies.  But I — but I don’t have any — anything specific.  We’re going to monitor.  We’re going to keep an eye on it.

Q    Not even a general assessment on the economic impact, immediate or otherwise?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  This is something that we’re going to monitor. 

Q    Okay.  And just staying on that topic and stepping back a little bit.  You’ve obviously gotten a number of Boeing-related questions in this job: the door that blew off the plane, a number of compliance issues, there are two astronauts who are literally stuck in space.  What do you think is going on with the company?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I can’t speak for what’s going on inside of a company.  That is for them to — to certainly speak to. 

As it relates to the strike that is currently happening, we’re certainly in touch with Boeing and the machinists.  We want them to come together in good faith.

As it relates to the safety concerns that Americans should have, rightly have, obviously, the Department of Transportation has been on top of that, dealing with — dealing with ways to — to make sure there’s transparency and they deal with those safety issues.  FAA has been on top of that as well.

But I can’t speak to what’s going ins- — going on with Boeing.  That is something for them to speak to. 

Q    Okay.  Just one more on a separate topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Pope Francis today said about the upcoming presidential election that voters here have to choose the lesser of two evils.  He pointed to Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant positions and then the vice president’s support of abortion rights.  Do you know if the president is aware of these comments, if he has had any reaction?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, obviously the pope speaks for himself, and I don’t have any — any more comments from here.  I have not spoken to the president about the pope’s specific comments on the up- — on this coming election.

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  Just to follow up on Boeing.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure. 

Q    So — so, we understand that admin officials, including Julie Su, are in touch with both sides.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    But is there someone specific, like a liaison like Gene Sperling was in the UAW talks, that the White House has appointed for this particular —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I — I don’t have a specific person to point to from the White House.  White House officials, including the Department of Labor, as you just mentioned, the secretary — the acting secretary has been in touch with Boeing and the machinists on this particular matter, but don’t have a poeson — a person to point out to you.  But White House officials here have — have been in touch. 

Q    And — and are the president or the vice president planning to join any of these workers on the picket line?  Have any discussions taken place?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  As you know, the president was the first president to — to go to Michigan and be with UAW workers when they were striking, and he was very proud to do that.  Has been named the — the most pro- — pro-union president ever, and so he’s proud to — to hold that title.  I don’t have — or acknowledgement.  I just don’t have anything to share on either of their schedules. 

Q    Has the president spoken to the union?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have a — a call to speak to at this time. 

Q    And — and one quick one on the U.S. Steel-Nippon Steel deal.  The Washington Post was reporting that the White House may push a decision on the deal until after the election.  We did say — we did see some pushback from the White House saying that there was no timeline around this.  But is there any other — is there any clarity you can offer on what the reporting was?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we’ve been very clear.  The president has been very clear.  He wants to make sure that — and it is vital that U.S. Steel is to remain an American steel company and — that is domestically owned and, obviously, operated. 

The president told our steelworkers, as — he has their backs, and he meant that.  You remember when he was — on Labor Day, he was in Pennsylvania and said that.  The vice president said that as well — or made that very clear in her remarks as well.

And — and so, we have not received any recommendations from CFIUS.  There’s a process.  CFIUS has to make a recommendation, has to be transmitted to the president.  The president then makes a decision.  That has not occurred.  That has not happened.  CFIUS is independent, and they’re going to make those decision. 

I believe, last week, the White House provided a statement that we have not received any recommendations.  So, that continues to be the case.  And so, don’t have any- — anything.

And I — and I — and so, I just don’t have anything to share if this is imminent on — on a decision.  They are — they are independent. 

Q    Would the White House recommend that CFIUS expedite the review process?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It’s their process.

Q    I mean, CFIUS — CFIUS has been looking at the deal for a while now.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  For some time, I know.

Q    Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And it’s — it’s their process.  They are independent.  And the process is they make the decision, their recommendation; it’s transmitted to us; and the president, obviously, makes a decision. 

But that has not occurred, and they ha- — we have to allow them to have the space to make that decision.

Q    So, you’re saying that the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  To — the process to play through. 

Q    So — so, you’re saying the proc- — saying that this — the decision, it could land only after the election?  Is that accurate —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I —

Q    — or not?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What I’m saying to you — how the process works.  We have not received any recommendations yet from CFIUS; therefore, it could not be im- — imminent if we have not received any recommendations.  That’s all I’m saying. 

Go ahead.  Go ahead.

Q    Hey.  Thanks, Karine.  Former President Trump this afternoon said, if elected, he would do, quote, “large deportations from Springfield, Ohio,” and would send them to Venezuela.  These Haitian migrants are in Ohio legally and, of course, aren’t from Venezuela.  Does the White House have a reaction to this pledge of the former president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m — obv- — obviously, he was speaking as a candidate, and that is the upcoming elections. 

But I will say more broadly, if Republicans were serious about fixing what is happening at the border — the border challenges, which majority of Americans care about — if they were serious about it and they truly cared about this issue, they truly cared about fixing an immigration system that has been broken for decades, they would get back to the table — or they don’t even have to.  There’s a deal.  There is a border deal — a bipartisan border deal.  They can vote on it.  And we would have the toughest, fairest deal that we’ve seen in some time coming out of Congress that would become law because the president would sign it, because he was — his team was part of, certainly, deliberating on that deal. 

If they were very serious about it, they would move that deal forward and help — help us make it into law.  And it would deal with issues that cities like Springfield, Ohio, are dealing with right now. 

Q    But doesn’t the — I mean, the White House opposes any mass deportation of Haitian migrants from Springfield, right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I mean —

Q    That’s what I was —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Is that the question?

Q    My question is that, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  The ques- —

Q    I mean, that’s what he —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Obviously.  Obviously, yes. 

But also, if they really wanted to deal with — I mean, I think the — the real, I think, core of the question is: Okay, there’s legislation out there.  There’s a policy.  There’s a bipartisan legislation that would deal with issues that they have concerns about at the border and actually deal with an immigration system. 

Obviously, we do not — we do not support mass deportation of a community that is not — is not part of a country that they came from.  That doesn’t make any sense.  That is not something that we would support.

But there’s a deal out there.  There’s a deal — a bipartisan deal.  They keep getting in the way.  They’re voting against their own deal.  That doesn’t make any sense.  Where’s sense — where’s the sense in that?  Where’s the sense in that?

Go ahead.

Q    The president spoke about the issue affecting Springfield today.  Why today?  And — and he did reference the former president directly.  Is his message intended for Donald Trump?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think the — what the president said speaks for itself.  I think he was very clear.  He saw it as an opportunity.  He had 1,200 people celebrating Black excellence, and he saw it as an opportunity. 

We keep hearing from the Republicans who keep lifting this up, even though it’s been debunked — this hateful smear.  It’s been debunked by the Springfield mayor.  It’s been debunked by the city manager.  It’s been debunked by the Ohio department — police department.  And we hear Republicans — national Republicans continue to spread that hateful conspiracy theory. 

And so, the president took an opportunity to address it head on.  I think his words and what he said very powerfully — -fully landed very well, and people got the message.

Q    And in the meeting with the prime minister today, do you — how much do you think their — what will the approach be concerning threats that Putin has made about expanding his concerns to the west if weapons are made available for Ukraine to go deeper into Russia?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  His comments about NATO and the U.S. more specifically — look, that kind of rhetoric certainly is dangerous and — but it’s not new.  It’s not new for Russia.  Matter of fact, it has been the mainstay of Russian propaganda throughout this war that they’ve had.  This is their war that they’ve had in Ukraine.  This is their aggression.  This is what they have done.  This is what Mr. Putin has done, to be more specific.  And it — and that’s how it started. 

And this war can end.  This war — the war that we’re seeing in Ura- — in Ukraine, the aggression from Russia, can — can er- — can end today — can end today.  Russia can move their troops out of Ukraine, and it can end. 

So, that type — again, that type of rhetoric is incredibly dangerous, but it’s not new.  It’s certainly not new.

Q    Should we expect any announcement about the president’s support for munitions being used inside Russia?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I wouldn’t expect any big announcement today.  Look, the president certainly is looking forward to meeting with the prime minister.  It is — he believes it’s an important conversation that they’re going to have and a varied conversation, a wide range of conversation about Indo-Pacific; Ukraine, obviously; the Middle East.  And so, I would just leave it for there — there.  And our policy certainly hasn’t changed.

Go ahead, Jacqui.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  What is the holdup on a decision allowing Ukraine to use long-range missiles inside Russia?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to go — I — I got this question yesterday.  I’m not going to deliberate here.  I’m not going to get into specifics from here.

I — as I said to Kelly O, I would not expect there to be any announcements on this coming out of this meeting.  That’s not something that I would expect.  There’s been no policy change.  But I — what I can continue to make sure that you all know and you see it for yourself is that the president is committed to make sure that Ukraine has what its needs to defend itself against Russia’s aggression, to defend — to defend and fight for their democracy. 

Q    One —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to get in- — I’m not going to deliberate from here.

Q    One of the bigger criticisms of this administration has been that on everything that’s ultimately given to Ukraine, the answer was first a no — on ATACMS, on HIMARS, on Patriots, on fighter jets — and that if this had just been given to them on day one, maybe there wouldn’t be the funding fatigue that Congress now has to grapple with the next time they need help, and that the aid that you guys promote has been slow-walked in the form of a decision to use it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Let me just — let’s step back for a second.  This president — what this president has been able to do in the past two years — really, in his whole — his entire administration — is fix the reputation of this country that was — that was tainted by the last president.  We have to remember how we started, where we started, and what this president has been able to do. 

People thought NATO was going to be weaker.  The president made NATO stronger.  We have two more — two more countries that are now members of NATO.  That’s because of this president’s — this president’s leadership. 

We have 50-plus countries who are now backing Ukraine and continue to do so because of this president’s leadership.  Ukraine is fighting for their sovereignty; they’re fighting for their freedom and against Mr. Putin, who decided that he wanted to invade.  The president has been very clear how important it is — how important it is — is to stand with Ukraine in this time.

We’re talking about democracy.  We’re talking about freedom.  And if anything, this president’s actions and what he’s been able to do has shown just that, because it’s not just about, you know, Ukraine and NATO and Europe; it’s also about our national security as well.  It’s all connected.  And the president is always going to do what is important for the — for the American people.  And I think that is what you’ve seen, and that is what the president is going to focus on and continue to do. 

Q    I just remember sitting here, you know, a couple of years ago, splitting hairs with Jen Psaki over whether drones are offensive or defensive weapons.  I mean, this has been a struggle of this administration that has been a topic of criticism. 

And now, you know — for instance, this week, in the debate, the vice president was promoting what this administration has done in terms of giving Ukraine what it needs, but the — there’s plenty of criticism outside of that to say that it’s also effectively blocking a victory by slow-walking these decisions. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think if you were to ask those 50 nations, if you were to ask NATO leaders, if you were to ask President Zelenskyy itself — himself their thoughts on the president’s leadership, I don’t think they would have the words that you just said to me.  I think they would say that the president has been a leader during this time and has had their backs.  And I think that’s what the president has shown.

As it relates to what Ukraine needs to continue to defend themselves, we are in regular touch.  My colleagues here at NSC, at State, at Department of Defense are in regular touch with the Ukrainians on their needs and what they — what they need to continue to fight against this aggression.  So, I’ll leave it there. 

Go ahead.

Q    Can I just circle back to the U.S. Steel thing that Nandita raised?  Putting aside the timing piece of it —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — a lot of the question right now is essentially whether the president is reconsidering his position or not –right? — separate from the timing of what his decision will be.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    He said in the past that U.S. Steel should be U.S.-run and U.S.-owned. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, and I said it at the top —

Q    Right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — earlier —

Q    Right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — moments ago.

Q    And, quote, “guaranteed.”  So, I guess, my — the core question is —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And he said he has their backs.  He said that on — on Labor Day.

Q    But does he still plan on killing this deal?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — we have to see the recommendation from CFIUS.  That is the process.  The president is waiting to see what CFIUS recommends.  That hasn’t happened.  There is a process.  They’re going through their process.  I know that it has been some time, but they’re independent.  They’re going to go as slow as — as fast as they choose. 

And so, we’re going to let that process happen.  We are — the president is not going to say any more than what he has said until CFIUS transmits their recommendation, and it hasn’t happened yet.  And so, not going to get ahead of that. 

And what I will say — and this is — I know you didn’t ask me about the timeline, but we put a statement last week saying that it happened — it hasn’t happened yet; so, therefore, it cannot be imminent. 

Q    Well, we’ve reported that the existing CFIUS ta- — timeline is September 23rd.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I —

Q    So, that’s not too far away from now. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, and I — I’m just not going to — I’m not going to get into it from here about a timeline, their deadline.  We’re — I’m just saying to you: We have not received their recommendation.  And so —

Q    Does —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — Joe Biden’s previous statements on this U.S. Steel remaining domestically owned and run guaranteed still stand?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Still stand.  I literally mentioned it in a question that I received from one of your colleagues, and I said his position continues.  It is vital.  It is vital for U.S. Steel to remain American steel company that is domestically and — and certainly owned and operated.  That stands. 

He said that on Labor Day, which was not too long ago, when he was in Pennsylvania.  He said to the steelworkers, he has that — their back, and that stands. 

As far as — as far as CFIUS, they have — they haven’t made their recommendation.  It has not transmitted over yet, so the president — I can’t say anything until that happens.

Q    And very quickly with respect to the meeting this afternoon.  We’ve reported that the Europe — or European countries believe that Iran has begun providing ballistic missiles to Russia to be used in attacks on Ukraine.  Can you speak to whether the U.S. also believes that those shipments have begun, or is it unclear?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I would refer you to NSC.  I believe they did a — a gaggle earlier today.  So, I refer you to their — those comments. 

Q    All right.  Thank you. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Thank you. 

Go ahead.

Q    I just want to go back to the long-range missile.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Just one more.  It’s just that, I mean, considering the tone of the Russian president, the fact that you would take this as a direct participation of NATO members, and considering Article 5 of NATO charter, how — what type of — of conversation has the president had with —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — his colleagues — Canadian prime minister, for instance, one of them —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — just to — to have everybody ready for a potential attack on a NATO country?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I’m — I’m not going to get ahead of any conversations.  What I can say, our — certainly, our policy has not changed.  I don’t want to speak to hypotheticals here.  I just am not going to go into “What if this happens, then what?”  I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. 

What I can say: This is incredibly dangerous type of rhetoric that we’re hearing from — from Russia.  Not unusual.  This is the — this is the type of propaganda that we’ve heard from Russia throughout this war.  But — and when asked, we’re going to be very clear about that. 

And then, when also asked, we’re going to also be very clear that this war can end.  Mr. Putin can end his aggression that we have seen in Ukraine.  It is his war that he started.  He can end it, pull the troops out — pull his troops out.  He could end it. 

Yeah.

Q    No new conversations with leaders — NATO leaders —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have any —

Q    — on —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t —

Q    — the gravity of the comments? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have any new conversations to — to share.  As I’ve said, this is not new for Russia.  We have seen this throughout the war, making this type of dangerous comments, dangerous rhetoric.  Not new.  And there is a way to fix this.  This is for Russia to end its war. 

Q    A personal question, actually, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah. 

Q    Because I was listening to you this morning — well, at noon — and you refer to yourself as a proud Haitian American. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  That’s not — that’s not new.

Q    That’s not new, no.  But do you — do you take this personally when a com- — the community is a target of attack, as it is at the moment in Spr- — Springfield?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I take it personally when any community, any vulnerable community, is attacked — not just — not just a community that I belong to, and proudly belong to, but any community — any vulnerable community that is attacked wrongfully so in a hateful way. 

I — one of the things that I’m proud about in being part of this administration is that we condemn that type of stuff.  We condemn that type of hateful language.  That’s what I’m — that’s what I’m going to continue to do, and I get to do that on behalf of President Biden, who also condemns that type of hateful rhetoric, as you have heard him today and many times before when a vulnerable community is attacked. 

That’s not what national leaders should be.  Political leaders should not be attacking vulnerable communities.  That’s not who we should be.  And if they’re going to fall for conspiracy theories online, maybe they shouldn’t be our leaders.  Maybe they shouldn’t be.

But it is on all of us.  It doesn’t matter if you’re a Haitian American.  It doesn’t matter if you’re Jewish American.  It doesn’t matter if you’re M- — it doesn’t — Muslim American.  All of us should come together.  When we hear that type of hateful rhetoric, we should come together and have each other’s backs and call it out, because it’s not okay.  It is dangerous.  It is dangerous.  It puts people’s lives at risk,

and this president is going to continue to stand up and speak against it.

Q    Are there any invulnerable communities?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Patsy.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  One last try on the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It’s — it’s not funny.  I — I know you want to make —

Q    I’m just asking a question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — e- —

Q    You’re talking about “vulnerable communities.”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait — wait a minute.  Hold on.

Q    You’re making a distinction.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hold on.  Wait.  Hold on.

It’s not funny.

Q    I didn’t make a joke.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait — no, y- — it is not —

Q    I asked a question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait.  I’m answering.  Let me answer.  If you stop —

Q    Are there any invulnerable communities?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Not everybody wants to hear the sound of your voice, sir.  Give me a second, and I will tell you my answer. 

It’s not funny. 

Patsy.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  Following up on — one last try on the long-range —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, sure.

Q    — weapons.  Can you just give us a sense of what might be the president’s biggest concern at this point?  Is it the risk of escalation with a nuclear power?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m — I’m not going to get into hypotheticals here.  We’re going to call it out.  W- — oh, you mean, like, with — with —

Q    With Russia.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — with Russia making the comments about NATO and U.S.?

Q    I mean, we’ve been trying to get you to give us more details on what’s the holdup on providing long-range missiles —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, I see.

Q    — missiles to Ukraine. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I see.  I — I don’t have anything else to share.  Our policy has not changed.  We are going to be in regular touch with the Ukrainian people as they continue to fight this — a fight against this aggression from Russia.  No change in policy.  I just don’t have anything to add. 

The president has been a leader when it comes to giving Ukraine the support that they need.  Fifty-plus countries, that is important to note.  Making NATO stronger, that is important to note.  And that is because of this president’s leadership.

I just don’t have anything else to share behind that. 

Q    And can we stay on Russia, Karine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    The — the State Department just announced new sanctions on Russian state media RT laying out its disinformation campaign operations to destabilize various governments, including the government in Argentina; creating tensions between neighboring countries.  Does the administration have a specific strategy to try to stop RT’s efforts in the Western Hemisphere or other places in the world?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I’m going to let, certainly, the State Department and the Department of Justice speak to their announcement.  You heard from the State Department today.  You heard from the Department of Justice last week.  We are taking this very seriously.  They are taking it very seriously.  I’m not going to get into what’s next.  Certainly, they will make announcements on their own if they feel that there’s more to share. 

Q    Can I just indulge with a response that RT has given out on social media saying RT “lives rent free in the State Department’s head.”  “We’re running out of popcorn, but we’ll be here live, laughing hard.”  I mean, kind of mocking the administration’s steps on sanctioning them at this point.  Do you have a response?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So — so, let’s not forget, last week, the Department of Justice — and I just mentioned the Tr- — the Treasur- — the Treasury and State — they took some actions to disrupt Russia’s covert information operations to undermine our democratic institution in the homeland.  We do not laugh at that.  That is very serious, and we take that very seriously. 

And State’s announcement today make it clear that the U.S. — and want to be clear — is not only targeting RT’s covert operations.  We learned that, in fact — in fact, RT covert influence efforts extended to places like Europe and Africa.  That’s what we learned. 

Anything more than that, I would have to refer you to the State Department and the Treasury to speak to that, as they made that announcement t- — today.  Just don’t have anything else, but we take this very seriously.

AIDE:  Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.

Q    Karine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.  Trinity?

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I was — I told — I was told you were going to be in the briefing room today.  Howard University?

Q    Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.  Nice to see you. 

Q    Nice to see you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Want to say a little bit about yourself?

Q    Yeah.  Hi, everyone.  I’m Trinity Webster-Bass.  I’m a senior honors broadcast journalism major, Afro-American studies minor attending Howard University.  And I had the pleasure of meeting Karine at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, from which I won a scholarship.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Congratulations again.

Q    Thank you.  Thank you. 

I just wanted to go back to the event held today on the South Lawn.  Why was it important for the Biden administration to hold this event today?  And are future events coming of the same nature?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I — I want to start off by quoting what the president said — and I think it’s important

today — when he was addressing the crowd on the South Lawn: “We recognize that this nation would not exist without the blood, sweat, and tears, without the determination, dreams, and contributions of Black Americans.”  And he felt that it was fitting to do this on the same week of the Congressional Black Caucus week.  It was a really special event.  I think you felt that out there if you participated. 

And so, he wanted to host this brunch for a couple of reasons: to show his personal gratitude to the community and celebrate their progress — the progress we’ve made under the Biden-Harris administration — you heard him talk about that in his remarks — and — and wanted to make sure that we didn’t forget, that we continue to speak to why Afri- — Black Americans and African American history is really part of American history.  And that is something that we cannot forget.

Go ahead.

Q    Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m going to take one last one.  Go ahead, Karen.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Big political news earlier this week when Taylor Swift endorsed the vice president.  (Laughter.)  I’m not going to ask you about the endorsement —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)

Q    — because you’re not going to answer that.  But the voting registration site that she drove people to from her post, in that first 24 hours, there were more than 400,000 visitors from that link. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Is the president aware of that traffic and — and the interest in the registration?  And does he think that that kind of influence can make a difference in driving turnout, getting people to get more engaged in elections?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I think it’s important for people to exercise their sacred right to vote.  And that is something that the pers- — the president finds it incredibly important to continue to do and to protect that right to vote. 

I do want to say — as it relates to Taylor Swift, what I can say is there are a lot of Swifties here in the White House.  And so, I can say that.  I hear that a lot.  (Laughs.)

But, look, one of the things that he did is, very early on in his administration, he signed an executive order to do everything that we can from the feder- — federal level to make it easier for Americans to vote.  And so, that is what you saw. 

The link that you mentioned, obviously, is a way to make it easier for Americans to register, certainly, to vote. 

It is a sacred right.  Many people have fought for that right to vote, and it is certainly our — part of our democracy.  And so, it’s incredibly important. 

I have not spoken to the president beyond — beyond an en- — the endorsement that occurred.  I have not asked him about — specific about the — the link and — and the amount of people have — who have gone on it to — to register.  I think that’s great. 

It’s important — outside of this election, I think it’s important for people to be able to register and vote.  That’s why this administration has done everything that we can to give people that opportunity and protect that right.

All right.  Thanks, everybody. 

(Cross-talk.)

Thanks, everyone. 

3:37 P.M. EDT 

The post Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, September 13, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

11:39 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  Thanks, everyone, for joining the gaggle and for your patience and flexibility with us as we work through today’s glitch.

Kirby has a few words here at the top, and then we’ll take as many questions as we can. 

MR. KIRBY:  Hey, everybody.  As you know, later today, the President is going to be hosting Prime Minister Starmer here at the White House for a discussion about a range of foreign policy issues, which will no doubt include Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, events in the Middle East, a series of challenges across the Indo-Pacific, our deepening economic ties with the United Kingdom, and other areas of shared interest between our two countries. 

The second bilateral conversation between President Biden and the Prime Minister.  I think you all remember they had a chance to speak during the NATO Summit back in July.  And the President, of course, looks forward to continuing to strengthen our close ties to this very important ally and partner. 

We will, of course, provide a readout at the end of the meeting, which you’ll get as soon as we can get cleared for you.

And with that, we can take some questions.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our first question will go to Lara with the Wall Street Journal.

Q    Hi.  Thanks for doing this.  Can you hear me?

MODERATOR:  Yes, we can.  Yep.

Q    Excellent.  So, there’s been a lot of reporting that the coalition, the Western coalition, is going to lift a ban on Ukraine using long-range weapons in Ukraine [sic].  I’m wondering if you can give us a little bit of context of why this is now being seriously considered.

MR. KIRBY:  I would not expect there to be any announcements on this coming out of the meeting today.  There’s been no change to our policy, Lara, with respect to the long-range strike capability inside Russia, and I’d leave it at that.

(Technical difficulties.)

Q    Hello?  Hello?

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question will go to Josh with the AP.

(Technical difficulties.)

Hey, everyone.  Sorry about that, but we’re back. 

Josh, we no longer see you.  Apologies.  But if you hop back on, we’ll try to get back to you. 

So our next question will go to Danny with AFP.

Q    Hi there.  Sorry, there were some audio difficulties there.  I didn’t really hear the answer to the first question, but my question was basically the same.  You know, what do you really expect to come out of this?  Are you looking at — will the President be looking at approving just the use of British and French missiles with U.S. technology or navigational aid?  Or is there a decision possible for the use of U.S. missiles in the future?  Thanks.

MR. KIRBY:  What I said was — look, I can’t speak for the British or the French one way or another.  What I said was I wouldn’t be looking for an announcement today about long-range strike capabilities inside Russia, certainly anything — certainly by the United States. 

(Background noise.)

I can’t — somebody — okay.

So, there’s no change to our policy with respect to that.  And again, I wouldn’t expect to see a change to that policy today.

MODERATOR:  Danny, we muted you just so you know, but can you confirm to us if you were able to hear the topper?

Okay, we can’t hear you, so going to Josh, who we missed in the beginning.

Josh, you should be able to unmute yourself.  And also, can you confirm that you were able to hear the topper?

Q    I could hear the topper, but at some point during the first question, we couldn’t hear. 

Thanks again so much for doing this.  On the pictures of the North Korean uranium facility, how long has the federal government known about that facility?  And how worried are you about it?

MR. KIRBY:  I’m not really able to get into an intelligence analysis one way or the other here.  I would simply say that we continue to monitor North Korean progression in their — both in their nuclear ambitions as well as their ballistic missile technology and program.  And that is exactly why — or one of the reasons why President Biden has worked so hard to revitalize our network of alliances and partnerships in the region. 

It is also why he has devoted more, in particular, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance assets, prioritizing those for the area around — on and around the Korean Peninsula. 

And it is why we continue, in a diplomatic sense, to make clear to Pyongyang that we are willing to sit down without preconditions and talk about the denuclearization of the Peninsula.

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

Q    Hey, guys.  Thank you for doing this, as always.  John, I wonder if I could push you a little bit on the issue of the long-range strike capabilities with, kind of, two questions.

One, while you don’t — while I’m not asking you to speak for the French or the British, they have clearly indicated their increased willingness to allow that to happen.  And I wonder if, from the U.S.’s perspective, the U.S. needs to give, either because of legal or political reasons, their blessing for that, or is that something that they can proceed with on their own, without the U.S.? 

And then secondly, back earlier this week, when the President was asked a couple of questions as he got on Marine One, he was asked, you know, will you lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons by Ukraine, and his answer was, “We’re working that out right now,” which definitely suggests at least a shift in the discussions.  And I wonder if you could talk about what the — you know, kind of what the, you know, place — where those discussions are now, and if, in your view, they are closer to some sort of resolution than they have been.

MR. KIRBY:  We are in constant contact with our allies and partners, and particularly the Brits and the French, as you indicate, about all manner of ways in which we can continue to support Ukraine.  Of course, these are sovereign countries, and they have to decide what that support looks like in ways that they find amenable to them and to their population, and we respect that. 

But there are constant conversations between us about what they’re doing, what we’re doing, what together we’re willing to do to support Ukraine.  And I have no doubt that today’s discussion will include exactly that — about, you know, supporting Ukraine. 

And I — all I can do to answer your second question is to go back to how I answered it before: There is no change to our view on the provision of long-range strike capabilities for Ukraine to use inside Russia, and I wouldn’t expect any sort of major announcement in that regard coming out of the discussions, certainly not from our side.  I also leave it to the Prime Minister to decide what he wants to talk about. 

But there’s just no change to our policy right now with respect to that capability, for all the reasons that we said we weren’t in support of it before.

Q    And just one last thing, John.  On the first question, some people have suggested to me that there are perhaps, in the British and French missiles, that there are American components or that the missiles use American capabilities.  So, from a legal perspective, do they need the U.S.’s permission to allow those to be used, given the current — where the U.S. currently stands?  Or can they make that decision without the U.S.’s permission?

MR. KIRBY:  I would just say that we continue to talk with both those countries and other allied countries about the kinds of capabilities that are being provided to Ukraine.  And I’m going to leave it at that.

Q    Okay, thank you. 

MR. KIRBY:  Yep.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question will go to Felicia with the Financial Times.

Q    Thanks, John.  Two questions.  One, should we expect you to at any point say publicly whether you would change — or that you’ve changed the policy?  Because I know there are other moments where you’ve changed the policy first and then acknowledged it later.  You said no major announcements today, but would you announce it at some point if you do make a change? That’s one.

And then, separate — secondly, do you consider it to be a separate discussion, granting permission to the Brits and the French to use SCALP and Storm Shadow, as opposed to the U.S. granting permission on ATACMS?  Or is it all one decision?

MR. KIRBY:  I’m not going to get into a hypothetical one way or another about what we will or won’t say at any given moment.  We haven’t — I just don’t think it’s helpful to get into hypotheticals about that. 

On your second question, I go back to what I said to Michael.  We have and will continue to have meaningful conversations with our allies — in the context of the Ramstein group and, in cases like today, bilaterally — about what we’re all doing to support Ukraine, about what can be done, what should be done, the pros and the cons.  And that will be a part of today’s discussion.

Because we have never — not since the beginning of this war have we ever looked at the support to Ukraine as some sort of unilateral effort or in the sense that what we’re doing, what the United States is doing — and, yes, we’re leading the world in supporting Ukraine — is somehow divorced from the efforts that other countries are doing.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s quite the opposite.  I mean, in many cases, there’s capabilities that exist in other countries that either we don’t have our ability to get our hands on or they simply can — some of the things are just more valuable to the Ukrainians at any given moment. 

And our allies and our partners sometimes have complementary capabilities, such as anti-tank missile systems.  The Brits have an excellent anti-tank missile that has proven very, very effective on the battlefield. 

So, it’s all part of an integrated discussion that we have had since the beginning of this war, and that will continue.  It will continue today in the context of a bilateral discussion with the British.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question will go to Robbie with Politico.

Q    Hey, can you hear me?

MODERATOR:  We can, yep.

Q    Thanks.  So, Putin publicly said that Western weapons striking deeper into Russia would, quote, “change the very essence of the conflict.”  So my question is — and I realize there’s no announcement today, so no need to repeat that — but is this prospect of long-range strike weapons, in your view, the red line that Russia has said — that you actually believe constitutes a red line in Russia’s eyes? 

Do you take Putin at his words that strikes into Russian territory by U.S.- or British- or French-made missiles would actually expand the war?

MR. KIRBY:  It’s hard to take anything coming out of Putin’s face at his word.  But this is not rhetoric that we haven’t heard from him before, so there’s really not a lot new there.

Q    So, in other words, you know, in the deliberations about this long-range strike, threats from Putin are not a big factor for you guys in your deliberations on this?

MR. KIRBY:  Well, you didn’t let me finish the answer, so let me try —

Q    Okay.

MR. KIRBY:  I never said, nor have I — would we ever say that we don’t take Mr. Putin’s threats seriously.  When he starts brandishing the nuclear sword, for instance, yeah, we take that seriously, and we constantly monitor that kind of activity.  He obviously has proven capable of aggression.  He has obviously proven capable of escalation over the last, now, going on three years. 

So, yeah, we take these comments seriously, but it is not something that we haven’t heard before.  So, we take note of it.  Got it.  We have our own calculus for what we decide to provide to Ukraine and what not.  And I think I’d leave it there.

I would only offer one more thought, and that is: If Mr. Putin is so concerned about the safety and security of Russian sites and cities, the easiest way to alleviate those concerns is to get his troops the hell out of Ukraine and the war.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question will go to Nadia.

Q    Thank you, Sam.  Hi, John.  There’s reports that U.S. officials are worried about the rhetoric coming from Israeli officials that they might go to war in Lebanon.  Can you tell us more about Mr. Hochstein’s visit to Israel?  And is this in the same light that it could be an escalation between the two countries? 

And I have another question.  I don’t know if you have an answer for it, but there’s some reports indicating that South Africa has actually informed the Biden administration that it will sue them over what they call the support for genocide.  Is this any confirmation that you received this message?  And are you legally protected from anything that’s similar to this in the future, from South Africa or any other country?

MR. KIRBY:  I’ll take your question on South Africa, and we’ll get back to you.

On your first question, Amos’s travels are very much a continuation of the diplomacy that he’s been conducting now for many months to try to prevent a second front from opening up in the north there, all part and parcel of this administration and this team’s efforts to prevent an escalation and a widening of this conflict.

Q    That’s it?  Any more details?

MR. KIRBY:  Nope. 

Q    Okay.

MODERATOR:  Sorry, Nadia, cut you off there.  You should be able to unmute yourself again. 

Q    That’s okay.  I accepted his answer, but since there’s no more details, that’s fine.  Thank you.

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

Q    Hi, Sam.  Hi, Kirby.  Thank you so much for doing this again.  I was wondering if you have any news about the hostages deal.  I do understand that Hamas sent the response, and that might change and shift a little bit the way the U.S. administration sees the entire situation, and they might have new conversations next week to talk about the deal.  Can you elaborate on that?

MR. KIRBY:  I would argue that we’re still in discussions with Qatar, Egypt, and, of course, the Israelis about trying to find a way through here to get some final text that everybody can agree to.  

I don’t have additional or more formal discussions, such as next week, to speak to.  But I can assure you that we’ve been actively having discussions, obviously remotely, this week, throughout the whole week, to see if we can’t find a way forward.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Our next question will go to Fraser with France 24.

Q    Thanks, Sam.  And thank you, Admiral.  British sources tell me that they asked this meeting with the President because they think there’s progress to be made on a host of issues whilst Biden is still in office.  Why did the President think it was important to have these discussions with the UK this late into his tenure?

MR. KIRBY:  There’s always time and space to have meaningful discussions, particularly about key foreign policy issues, with your allies and partners.  This has nothing to do with the amount of time the President is in office and everything to do with a range of issues that are so important to the two of us.  I mentioned a bunch of them at the top.  I won’t repeat the list for you, but there’s an awful lot on the agenda to speak to. 

This is a new British government.  They are a key ally and a partner, and so it just seems to follow logic that the two leaders would want to have another opportunity to have a discussion. 

So, we welcome this chance to have a longer and more substantive discussion with the Prime Minister and his team today, specifically on foreign policy issues.  And it’s a perfect follow-up to the briefer meeting that they had back in July.

Q    Is the President also — does the President also have (inaudible) legacy as well, however, with this meeting?

MR. KIRBY:  President Biden is not worrying right now about his legacy.  He’s worrying about protecting the national security interests of the United States. 

Q    Thank you, Admiral.

MR. KIRBY:  Yeah. 

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  And we have time for one more question.  We’ll go to Celia with Voice of America.

Q    Thank you so much for doing this.  I want to go to Venezuela.  We know that the sanctions were announced.  What is the next step after the sanctions were announced?  The government of Maduro, of course, condemned them.  Is there possibility or is in the works to go back to the Qatar talks?

And how you see the relationship between Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, as well as China, in the middle of this crisis?  Do you believe that Maduro will get closer to them as sanctions get stronger against his government?  Thank you.

MR. KIRBY:  Mr. Maduro has got choices and decisions that only he can make.  We’ve made it very clear to Mr. Maduro that the first decision he needs to make is to release all the election data and the results so that the whole world can see how that election unfolded and how and to what degree the Venezuelan people’s will was actually met here and seriously considered and reflected in those votes. 

We issued sanctions.  We’re not going to take anything else off the table going forward.  Again, there’s — the first decision before Mr. Maduro and, quite frankly, the most important decision right now for him is whether or not he’s going to do the right thing by the Venezuelan people.  He has to make that choice, and if he doesn’t, we’ll have to make some additional choices of our own.

As for who he’s cozying up to and trying to partner with, I mean, he can speak to that.  We’re focused on making sure that the Venezuelan people’s aspirations are met.  We’re making sure that democratic institutions and democracies is upholded to the best that it possibly can be.  And obviously, when it comes to this or any other hemisphere, we’re focused on making sure we can meet our security commitments and preserve our national security interests, and that certainly includes in the Western Hemisphere.

MODERATOR:  Thank you.  Again, that is all the time we have today.  Thank you all for your patience and getting on the Zoom and then our little glitch here at the beginning.  We’ll be sure to send an Otter around so folks have the earlier audio.

If we weren’t able to get to get to you, as always, reach out to our press distro.  If not, have a great weekend.  Thanks.

12:01 P.M. EDT

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12:42 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  And welcome — (applause) — welcome to the first-ever White House brunch to — in celebration of Black excellence.  (Applause.) 

AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  Marsai, thank you for that introduction.  You just shared something that so many of us can relate to.  My dad taught me — and I mean this.  My sister was here earlier today.  Our dad taught us that family is the beginning, the middle, and the end.  It’s everything. 

And thank you an- — to all the participants of Saint Augustine Choir — Gospel Choir.  Are they still here?  Give them a round of applause.  (Applause.)  They’ve been with me — they’ve been with me since I was vice president. 

Trell Thomas, thank you for creating space for fellowship and community, kid.  (Applause.) 

Grammy Award-winning singer Monica, who will perform shortly, I might add. 

And I want to thank you for our renowned Chef Kwame and the amazing food you’re eating — or get to — I hope you got to eat it or will eat it.  (Applause.) 

And thank you, Shalanda and Karine, who are part of the most diverse administration in American history that taps into the full talents of our nation.  (Applause.) 

I made a commitment: My administration would look like America, and it does.  (Applause.) 

I want to today take a moment to say something like — so many Americans, like Karine, as you pointed out, a proud Haitian American — a community that’s under attack in our country right now.  It’s simply wrong.  There’s no place in America.  This has to stop, what he’s doing.  It has to stop.  (Applause.)

And thank you all for being here on this historic day. 

Today, we recognize that this nation would not exist — and this is literal — without the blood, sweat, and tears, without the determination, dreams, and contributions of Black Americans.  (Applause.)  That’s a fact.  This place wouldn’t exist.

It’s a fitting event during this fantastic Congressional Black Caucus week.  All the members of the Black Caucus that are here today, stand up.  I want to see you all.  Come on.  (Applause.)  They’re the best.

I wanted to host this lunch for a few reasons.  First, to show my personal gratitude.  Growing up, I’d walk into the kitchen at my grandpop’s house in Scranton, and he and the adults would be having the conversation about what’s going on in the neighborhood, what’s going on in the world.  And they’d let me sit down.

I got involved in public life because of civil rights when I moved from Scranton to Delaware, which was segregated by law.  Throughout my career, I’d attend morning mass at my Catholic church and then attend Sunday services at an AME church in Wilmington, planning the desegregation efforts in my state that had been segregated by law. 

You know, I’d be home for our own Sunday dinners.  Those conversations, those sermons shaped who I became. 

The bottom line is the Black community has always had my back, and I’ve always had yours.  (Applause.) 

So, thank you for all you’ve taught me.  Thank you for all the love you’ve extended to me. 

I also wanted to host this brunch because we have progress to celebrate.  Together, we’re making the most significant investments in Black America in all of American history.  We’ve centered racial equity as the center of everything we do. 

With your help, in just three and half years, we’ve created over 2 million new Black jobs for Black Am- — Black Americans and Black — (laughter and applause).  By the way, the next Black job to be filled is as president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Oh, I — watch me.

We have the lowest Black unemployment rate on record.  More Black Americans have health care than at any time.  There’s a historic $16 billion to HBCUs.  Everybody said: Why am I doing that?  Anyone at an HBCU is qualified to do anything we need to be done in America, but you don’t have the endowments, they don’t have the laboratories, they don’t have all the thi- — now they do.

More than 4 million people received student debt relief under my plan — a significant number of whom are Black borrowers.  The racial wealth gap is the smallest in 20 years.  We’re removing poisonous lead pipes in every American — every American — pipe in America — lead pipes so people can drink clean water without brain damage.  We’re delivering high-speed affordable Internet to every American, which today is as essential as electricity was when FDR delivered it in his term. 

On this very lawn, in front of the White House built by enslaved people, we hosted the first-ever Juneteenth concert after I made Juneteenth a federal holiday.  (Applause.) 

And on this lawn, we celebrated the first Black woman appointed to the United States Supreme Court — the best decision I made — Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.  (Applause.) 

And, today, we honor a long line of patriots throughout our history — throughout our history who have made the promise of America real for all Americans.  All of you — all of you has pushed us forward to be the country that we say we are.  We say we are a country th- — ju- — values freedom, justice, equality, and dignity for all. 

Today, we honor this simple truth: Black history is American history.  Black excellence is American excellence.  (Applause.)

And, folks, we don’t erase history, like others are trying to.  We make history.  (Applause.) 

I know it because I’ve seen it.  I’ve been vice president to the first Black president in American history, a president to the first Black vice president — and, God willing, to the first female Black president in American history.  (Applause.)  

Kamala wanted to be here today, but she’s traveling and she couldn’t be here.  But she’s always there with us, and we’ll always be there for her. 

On this day we celebrate Black excellence, let us remember: History is in our hands.  It’s literally in our hands.  The power to drive positive change is in our hands.  The future is in our hands.  It really is.

That’s — if you go to my Oval Office, you’ll see I have a whole wall on both sides of Frederick Douglass about — paintings of Frederick Douglass.  He said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”  Well, Lord knows we’ve been struggling.  But there’s been progress.  And there’s excellence, and that’s all of you.

We just have to remember who we are.  We keep forgetting.  We’re the United States of America.  There is nothing beyond our capacity — nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.  (Applause.)

I’m sorry I can’t stay longer, but I’m hosting a second consequential event today at the White House.  The great — the prime minister of Great Britain asked if he could come and see me.  He’s on his way here, and I’m going to be seeing him shortly.  So, I’m not going to be able to stick around with you a long time.

But I want to say God bless you all.  We’re changing America for all Americans — not just Black Americans, for all Americans, for Hispanic Americans — for all Americans.

Folks, this is who we are.  Let’s remember.  I get so tired of the other guy talking about we’re a “failing nation.”

We are the greatest nation in the history of the world.  (Applause.)  That’s a fact.  And you’re making it greater, and there’s nothing going to stop us.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

I’m this way.  I’m here?  All right. 

Thanks, everybody.  Enjoy the day.  (Applause.)

12:51 P.M. EDT

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South Lawn
(September 12, 2024)

6:14 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  My name is Joe Biden.  (Laughter.)  I’m Jill Biden’s husband — (applause) — and Ashley Biden’s dad. 

Thank you, Ruth, Nicole, and Kyle for sharing your stories.  Your courage literally inspires the nation, and we stand with you.  The entire nation stands with you.

You know, my daughter, Ashley — the love of my life and the life of my love — she is — she — and — and anyway, I don’t get — anyway.  (Laughter).  I get emotional when I talk about her. 

And thank you, Ada, and your beautiful poetry. 

It’s also an honor to see so many friends, brave survivors, and devoted advocates. 

And thank you to the bipartisan members of Congress who have worked tirelessly — and I mean tirelessly — to ensure and expand what we’re doing here today, as well as the — (applause) —

The reason I put these glasses on, the sun is shining that way, and I want to see you all over there.  (Laughter.)

As well as the late Dianne Feinstein and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee — (applause) — who we miss very much. 

It wasn’t too long ago that we as a country didn’t want to talk about violence against women as a national epidemic, let alone do something the government had to address.  Society often looked away. 

In so many — so many places, violence against women wasn’t a crime; it was referred to as a “family affair.”  We were told addressing it would cause disintegration of the family.  That’s what I got accused of: “Biden was disintegrating the family.”  Not a joke.  That was a full-blown campaign.

And that shelters — this is the one that really angered me — shelters that we were putting in place were nothing more than “indoctrination centers” — indoctrin- —

Few police — few police departments had special victims units.  And there was no national hotline to call — none.

There was a background — that was the background when I first wrote the Violence Against Women Act in 1990.  My goal was to do more than change the law: to change the culture of America — (applause) — I mean it; to provide more protection and support for survivors; and to create accountability for perpetrators.  

The way I looked at it — I come from — I was raised by a dad — a gentle, decent man.  He taught my siblings and me that the greatest abuse of power — the greatest abuse of power was to abuse power.  And the cardinal sin that a man could do was raise his hand to a woman or a child. 

So, I believed that the only way we could change the culture was by shining a light on that culture and speaking its name.  We started holding public hearings, despite senators saying it was — I was — it was too salacious for the public to see.  That was one of the arguments.  “You may be right, Joe, but it’s too salacious for the public to see.  They won’t understand.” 

We had to let America know what was going on.  Americans, at our core, are basic, decent people, and I believed that if they could see the truth, we could begin to change things.  And that’s what happened.  (Applause.)

The Violence Against Women Act broke the dam of congressional and cultural resistance, brought this hidden epidemic out of the shadows, and began to shift the legal and social burdens away from the survivors onto the perpetrators where they belonged.  (Applause.)

For example, the new law created the first-ever national hotline for survivors to get help.  (Applause.)  It supported shelters, rape crisis centers, housing, legal assistance for women and children all across America.  And the law helped train police officers and advocates and prosecutors and judges and court personnel to make our entire system — entire system more fair and responsible to the needs of survivors. 

And over the last 30 years, every time we’ve reauthorized that law — when I was senator, when I was vice president, when I was president — we’ve strengthened it.  We’ve broadened the law’s domestic violence protections — (applause) — to including dating violence and to better support survivors of stalking and sexual assault.  We expanded services to protect immigrants, communities of color, rural communities, Tribal lands, LGBTQ survivors.

And to create a new program to end the backlog of rape kits, instead of prevention programs in every state, we secured historic funding to increase so much more. 

Since we passed VAWA, according to the Department of Justice, between 1993 and 2022, annual rates of domestic violence have dropped by almost 70 percent — (applause) — while rape and sexual assaults have declined by more than 55 percent.  (Applause.) 

And our first-ever Domestic Violence Hotline has received over 7 million calls since 1996.  (Applause.)  It matters.  It saves lives, being able to pick up that phone and call.  I remember the first time I listened in.  “I can hear him.  I can see him.  He’s coming.  Please, send somebody.  Please, please, please.”

You know, but there’s always more to do.  Let me just say, the first and best decision I made when I was the nominee in 2020 was selecting Kamala Harris as vice president — (applause) — not a political statement; it’s a factual statement — a former district attorney, attorney general, U.S. senator, who has prosecuted and stood up to sexual violence offenders her entire career. 

You can’t say that about my predecessor. 

Kamala and I have also taken steps beyond this law to address violence against women.  We know that during the pandemic — and you know it as well — domestic violence increased. 

That’s why, through our American Rescue Plan, I directed $1 billion in supplemental funding to ensure survivors trapped in bad situations could get the port [support], including safe housing. 

We also passed the most significant gun safety law in 30 years that narrowed — (applause) — that narrowed the so-called “boyfriend loophole” to include dating partners convicted of abuse who say they could not own a firearm.  What a fight that was, but we won it.  (Applause.)

I signed a bipartisan bill to end what’s known as forced arbitration.  Remember that?  We hire you.  If, in fact, you — anything happened, you — where you — it has to go to arbitration and not — you can’t go to court.  It prevented survivors of abuse and harassment in the workplace from getting their day in court.  We ended that.  (Applause.)

It was amazing, the people who opposed us doing that.  That just stunned me.

And to keep college students safe, we sent the — we strengthened the protections under Title IX that my predecessor then weakened.  (Applause.)  And building on the work we started when I was vice president, when I launched the “It’s On Us” program that Kyle mentioned earlier, we’re increasing funding — increasing funding to prevent campus assault — sexual assault.  (Applause.)  It’s important.

And we’ve created reforms that fundamentally shift how the military investigates and prosecutes sexual assault and domestic violence, including — (applause) — including independent prosecutors who now report outside the military officer command structure.  (Applause.) 

And I want to thank Kir- — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Jackie Speier.  Is Jackie here?  I know Kirsten couldn’t be here.  And, Jackie, if you’re here, stand up, because you deserve special recognition.  I don’t see you, but you may be out there.  (Laughter.)  Jackie’s leadership on this has made a big difference. 

For the first time in nearly a decade, the rates of sexual assault and harassment within the active-duty military forces are down, finally — down.  (Applause.) 

Kamala and I also continue to stand with women and girls worldwide who are facing violence and demand basic human rights.  I also signed the historic presidential memorandum to punish individuals around the globe who use rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war and terror.  (Applause.)

And we continue to condemn Russia for its widespread violent sexual assaults in Ukraine — (applause) — just as we condemn the terrorist group Hamas and its appalling, despicable acts of rape, mutilation, sexual violence in Israel on October 7th and against hostages in captivity.  (Applause.)

Silence and denial can hide much, but it can erase nothing — nothing.  Some injuries are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they can’t be buried, no matter how hard people try. 

And today, I’m proud to announce a new significant actions:  a record of nearly $700 million in grants this year alone to more than 40 VA- — VAWA-funded programs in states, Tribal communities, and across the country — $700 million.  (Applause.)

We’re also issuing new policies to expand housing protections for survivors, give law enforcement more tools to remove guns from domestic abusers, and we are — (applause) — we are tackling the next frontier of gender-based violence and abuse: deep-fake images and videos generated by artificial intelligence.  (Applause.)

Back in 2022, we established civil protections for those who — whose imine- — whose intimate images are shared without their consent.  It’s now a crime.

Today, in response to my call to action, we have received new commitments from leading technology companies to combat the creation of exploitive deep-fake images and to stop distributing and making money off this kind of sexual abuse, which they’re doing now.  (Applause.)

Folks, but the fact is we know our work never stops.  To any survivor who is struggling, I want you to know you’re not alone.  Doug [Jill] and I, Kamala and Doug, and our entire administration and entire community have your back. 

For example, Kamala and I will continue to defend reproductive freedom in America.  (Applause.)  My predecessor is proud that he put justices on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.  As a result, Republicans are criminalizing doctors, denying IVF treatment, turning women away from emergency room, and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states to get care.  It is outrageous.  (Applause.) 

In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court majority wrote, and I quote, “Women are not without electoral or political power.”  End of quote.  No kidding.  (Laughter.)   No kidding.  (Applause.) 

Talk about out of touch.  (Laughter.)  Clearly, the Supreme Court and my predecessors have no clue about the power of women in America. 

Let me close with this.  The Violence Against Women Act is my proudest legislative accomplishment in all the years I’ve served as senator, vice president, and president.  (Applause.)  I mean that from the bottom of my heart.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank —

And I’m so proud, so grateful for the heroes — the heroes I’ve met along the way, standing up here on these Capitol steps, who are here today and across the country: women and men who run shelters and rape crisis centers; fighters and allies who stand up to industry titans to expose the truth; survivors who speak up for them- — themselves and empower those suffering in silence. 

You’ve changed the nation.  You’ve turned your pain into purpose.  (Applause.)  And your bravery and your spirit are unbreakable.  And because of you — and this is not hyperbole — because of you, we’re a better nation than we were 30 years ago.  (Applause.)

By the way, my daughter is a social worker in Philadelphia, providing housing for abused women and those coming out of prison.  She was going to be here today, but she’s ill.  She was going to introduce me. 

I want to thank her and all like her.  You all are the reason why — and I mean this from the bottom of my heart.  I hear about what a terrible nat- — I’m an — optimistic about our nation.  I’ve never been more optimistic about our future.  (Applause.)  I really haven’t.

We just have — we have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And there is nothing — nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together. 

We’re the only nation in the world that’s come out of every crisis stronger than we went in.  And we’re going to continue to fight and end all this scourge that we had to deal with.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

  6:29 P.M. EDT

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3:17 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hey.  Good afternoon, everybody.

Q    Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.  Okay.

So, for over 30 years, combat- — combatting gender-based violence has been the cornerstone of President Biden’s career.

When Joe Biden was growing up, his father used to say to him that the cardinal sin was abuse of power, and that includes a man raising his hand to a woman or a child. 

When he was a young man and serving as a U.S. senator, he saw how society looked away from violence against women.  Few police departments had special victims unit.  Many states had laws on the books that protected the abusers rather than the victims.  More often than not, marital rape wasn’t considered a crime.  There was no national hotline to call.  Women’s shelters were referred to as “indoctrination centers.” 

All of this was completely unacceptable to Joe Biden.  It’s why, in 1990, then-Senator Biden wrote the landmark legislation, the Violence Against Women Act — VAWA — to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.   

But we knew that wasn’t enough.  So, as chairman — or he knew that wasn’t enough.  So, as chairman of the — of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he held public hearings on violence against women, where courageous survivors shared stories of horrific, horrific violence.  And his committee published groundbreaking reports on the impact of violence against women, documenting this tragedy in a way that policymakers could not ignore.

It took years of building awareness, legislative expertise, and perseverance — perseverance by Senator Biden — by then-Senator Biden.  In 1994, VAWA passed Congress.  For decades, he has worked across the aisle to strengthen it.  As president, he continued to expand his signature legislation, using every legislative and administrative avenue to address gender-based violence during his presidency.

And today, to keep building on his proudest legislative achievement, Joe Biden is announcing new actions to combat gender-based violence: a total of more than $690 million in new funds to support survivors of gender-based violence; guidance on new protections to meet the housing needs of survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking; a new National Resource Center on Cybercrimes Against Individuals to help law enforcement and community-based organizations prevent, enfor- — enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes; new private-sector commitments to take on the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images and cybercrimes against individuals; and new actions to support law enforcement in removing guns from domestic abusers.

The president is proud that between 1993 and 2022, annual domestic violence rates dropped by 67 percent and the rate of rapes and sexual assault declined by 56 percent.  It is one of the reasons why Joe Biden calls it his “proudest legislative achievement.” 

But he knows there is more work to do, so it is why, today, his new actions are so, so important.  As the president said, and I quote, “Today, as we mark three decades since we passed into law the Violence Against Women Act, we celebrate our progress while recommitting to the work ahead.”

Also, the president and his senior team are closely monitoring the impacts of Francine as it moves through the sou- — to the southern U- — United States.  FEMA Administrator Criswell is currently in Louisiana.  She will meet with state and local officials, survey damages, and provide an update on our response efforts. 

Before Francine made landfall, the president approved La- — Governor Landry’s — of Louisiana’s request for an emergency declaration, which unlocked federal assistance to help support lifesaving and life-sustaining efforts. 

Over 700 federal personnel, including 128 Urban Search and Rescue personnel, are in Louisiana and ready to support any emergency response requests from the state.  FEMA has also pre-positioned more than 750,000 meals, 1.2 million liters of water to support the needs of survivors. 

We continue to encourage those who are in the path of Francine to stay alert, visit Ready.gov for tips on how to stay safe, and follow the recommendations of state and local officials.  The Biden-Harris administration stands ready to provide additional support to impacted areas as necessary. 

And as I’m sure you guys al- — already has — have heard this, but over the course of — of this administration and during his time as vice president, President Biden’s approach to foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere has been based on his belief that democracy is fundamentally vital for sustained economic prosperity and security.  Now, Venezuela is no exception, and the blatant electoral fraud following the July 28th presidential elections must continue to be condemned and those obstructing democracy held accountable.

And that is why, to that end, today, we took two important actions to hold Nicolás Maduro and his cronies accountable for their blatant electoral fraud, obstruction of a competitive and inclusive election, and violation of the civil — of the civil and human rights of the people.  

First, the Department of Treasury sanctioned 16 Maduro-affiliated officials.  Second, the Department of State imposed new visa restrictions on a significant number of Maduro-aligned officials who have undermined the electoral process in Venezuela and are responsible for acts of repression.

To date, the U.S. government has sanctioned over 140 current or former Venezuelan officials and taken steps to impose visa restrictions on nearly 2,000 individuals. 

The Unite- — the United States does not stand alone here in expressing our concerns with Maduro’s anti-democratic actions.  This morning, at the U.N. headquarters in New York, we stood beside Panama and more than 50 other countries from across the region and globe to express our continued commitment to Venezuelan-led democratic norms, as well as our deep concern with the politically motivated warrant issued by Venezuelan authorities [for] Edmundo González Urrutia.

The United States will continue to work with our international partners to encourage Venezuelan-led constructive and inclusive dialogue to restore democratic norms, ensure Maduro and his representatives are held accountable for their actions, and support the people’s aspirations for democracy and a more prosperous future.

In the meantime, we cannot stand by while Maduro and his representatives blatantly commit electoral fraud and use violent, indiscriminate repression to silence opposition to Maduro’s rule, hence our actions today.

At the beginning of this administration, President Biden made the decision to take the Quad to the leader level, and next weekend, President Biden will host the fourth in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit in Wilmington, Delaware. 

The president looks forward to welcoming prime minister of Australia, prime minister of India, and the prime minister of Japan.

This will be President Biden’s first time hosting foreign leaders in Wilmington as president, a reflection of his deep personal relationships with each of the Quad leaders and the importance of the Quad to all of our countries.

The Biden-Harris administration has made elevating and institutionalizing the Quad a top priority, and this Leaders Kummi- — Summit will focus on bolstering the strategic convergence among our countries, advancing our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and delivering concrete benefits for our partners in the Indo-Pacific in key areas. 

We will have more — more of the Wilmington-specific — -based details in days ahead of this particular Quad Summit that’s happening next weekend.

And lastly — this is a fun thing for all of us here — I wanted to take a moment to congratulate — we’re going — about to embarrass her wholeheartedly, and I’m really happy about that because she should be; she’s such a great person — and celebrate Kelly Scully. 

While Kelly has been supporting our team and working with many of you on health care and education stories — and she’s not leaving — (laughter) — but she’s also been working on her own story on love.

Q    Awww.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Awww.  (Laughter.)  I didn’t know how I was going to deliver that one, but — (laughter).

Anyway, Kelly and her fiancé, Joe, who is here in the back of the room — Kelly does not know this — hi, Joe.

Q    She thought she was here for VAWA.

MS. SCULLY:  I did.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)  She thought she was here for VAWA. 

They will tie the knot just outside of Florence, Italy, next week.  None of us were invited.  (Laughter.)  Maybe she invited you guys.  (Laughter.)

But I’m so proud that Kelly was able to — to find love.  And she is the fourth — the fourth spokesperson in the Biden-Harris press office to get married during his term.  So, maybe I should take some credit for that.  I don’t know.  But maybe — probably not. 

But, anyway, Kelly, you are indispensable member — (laughter) — of our team.  There’s a lot of, like, internal jokes happening.

MS. SCULLY:  Subtext.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, subtext here happening.

And so, we could not be happier for you and Joe.  Hi, Joe.

MR. GRANZOTTO:  Hi, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.

Please join us in wishing them, in all seriousness, a lifetime of love and happiness.  And we can’t wait to have you back, Kelly.  And congratulations to you, Jo- — Joe.  I was about to call you something else.  Joe.  (Laughter.) 

All right, guys.  (Applause.)

Thank you for — for being here.  I know you were — had a busy day.  So, thank you for stopping by, Joe.

MR. GRANZOTTO:  Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Are you fully embarrassed?

MS. SCULLY:  No.  (Laughs.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No?  Oh, you want more? 

MS. SCULLY:  Thank you, guys.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You want more embarrassment?

MS. SCULLY:  Yes.  Another one.  (Laughter.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.  Let’s get to it.  I know it’s late. 

Colleen.

Q    Yes.  Hi.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Hi.

Q    Okay.  So, a couple things.  Can you tell us how the president thought the debate went?  Where did he watch it?  How did he consume the details of the debate?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  So, as you know, he was in New York ahead of September 11th, so he watched it at — at the hotel in New York.  And I’m going to be careful.  I’m going to give you an answer, but I’m going to be careful because it is a 220 — 2024 campaign.  So, just have to say that at — at the top.

But what the president saw directly for himself is a — he saw a commanding, optimistic performance from the leader who he’s been working with for the past three and a half years side by side.  And he heard a powerful case for shared values that they have and shared policy goals that they have — standing up for our rights against dangerous abortion and IVF bans, tax cuts and lower costs for families to keep us on this strong economic growth trajectory instead of MAGAnomics.  You hear me talk about this — the $4,000 increase in taxes and cuts for working people.

He saw — he also saw her again demonstrate her commitment to keeping us more secure and safe not just here but obviously around the world.  And he saw someone who — someone who continues — continues to put the American people first.  And she did — she did it in an optimistic way — an osimis- –optimistic and — and dominant and powerful way.

And I think you saw — you saw his — (aide sneezes) — his tweet — bless you — that he put out — that his team put out that night.  And so, he’s very, very proud of her.

Q    On September 11th, did the president — the president and the — and Donald Trump were together, you know, standing near each other.  Did they have any conversations?  Did they speak about anything?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have any conversations to read out.  I think you saw everything was pretty much being recorded in real time.  Outside of what you — you saw yourselves by looking at the video, I don’t have anything else to — to add.

Q    Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    One other thing.  I’m sorry.  Really quick.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, go — go ahead.  Go ahead.

Q    On the Wilmington summit.  I just wondered if you could share anything about, you know, is — is the president going to have the leaders to his house for a barbecue or — (laughter) — you know, what are the plans for how he’s going to entertain the leaders while he’s there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, we did say it was personal.  Right?

Q    Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Politics is personal.  And he believes politics and — and, obviously, in this case, foreign policy is personal.  I don’t have anything else to — to share beyond what I gave at the top of the briefing here. 

But he’s looking forward to doing this.  It is the first time hosting foreign leaders in Wilmington —

Q    Uh-huh.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — as I just said at the top.  And I think it’s going to be an opportunity for him to reflect, certainly, on his deep personal relationships that he’s had with each of the Quad leaders.  And we’ll have — certainly, we’ll have more soon to share.

Q    Okay.  Thanks.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Weijia.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  There is a woman named Laura Loomer who recently tweeted that if the vice president wins the election, “the White House will smell like curry,” and “White House speeches will be facilitated via a call center,” among other things.

She recently traveled with the former president, and I wonder if President Biden has read these remarks and his response. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Let me tell you our — our response from here.  It is repugnant, these types of comments.  It is un-American to say these types of things.  Exactly the kind of hateful and divisive rhetorc- — rhetoric that we should denounce and we should not — should not be part of the fabric of this country. 

It doesn’t matter what your pol- — political views are.  You should stand and condemn — and condemn these types of just repugnant, repugnant words. 

No leader should ever associate with someone who spreads this kind of ugliness, this kind of racist poison — that’s what this is — and who continues to fan these types of dangerous and insulting conspiracy theories, like the false notion — like the false notion that the tragic 9/11 attacks were an inside job. 

We were all with — you all saw leaders and family members tell their stories yesterday, especially on — at Ground Zero in New York City.  We all, I’m sure — many of us have personal stories of that day, 9/11 of 2021 [2001].  And more than 2,000 lives were lost — 2,000.

And to say that — that it’s an inside job — and to spread that is insulting — insulting.  And we should not — no leader should be connected to that or spreading that. 

And as the — President Biden has always said, it’s our duty — it is our duty as Americans to give hate no — no safe harbor and to bring the country together around our shared values and to recognize and appreciate the unique strength that our diversity gives us as a nation.  He says this all the time: Di- — our diversity is our strength, and that’s what we should be following. 

Q    On a related note.  During the debate, Trump spread false claims and lies about immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio.  The city manager disputed those false claims.  And today, city hall was evacuated after a bomb threat was sent to city agencies and media outlets.  Does President Biden believe Trump’s words and rhetoric contributed to those threats today?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I — I want to be super mindful.  We’re aware of the reports of a bombing threat, as you just stated, in Springfield, Ohio, at city hall.  Local police, obviously, is investigating the situation, and we encourage everyone to — to follow the public safety guidance. 

I don’t want to speculate from here the source of the bomb threat, but I do want to take a step back.  I think it’s important that all of us take a step back here and — and just lean on the facts here.  The Springfield, Ohio, police department has debunked this very bizarre and very hateful smear that’s out there. 

It is — what is happening here is an attempt to tear apart communities and disrespect — let’s not forget — also disrespecting law enforcement.  And that is the opposite of what our country deserves.  It is undignified and an insult to all of us as Americans — not just one community but to all of us as Americans.  And it is spreading filth that makes the lives of the communities that are being smeared here — it puts their lives in danger.

And — and it is just — it is just hate speech.  That’s what it is.  And some of your news — some of the news organizations here have reported that some Haitians — Haitians American — Haitian immigrants are fearing — fearing for their safety right now because of result of conspiracy theory.  This is what this is. 

So, instead of leaders trying to bring us together around our shared values, which is something that the president believes and sh- — and says all the time, as I just stated — and, you know, the president and the vice president, that’s what they want to see.  They want to see us come together in our shared values in a respectful way. 

And I — I will say one more thing, and I — and I think if you guys could hear me out for one second, like, maybe we should not have leaders who fall for fake Internet conspiracy theories.  We should think about that.  Maybe we should not have leaders who do that.  Our country deserves better. 

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.

Q    A follow-up there?

Q    Any message from the White House specifically to the residents in Springfield, Ohio?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Because of the — of the — of the bomb threat or —

Q    And all that’s been going on on social media —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — the conversation around it, how the city manager has had to reply.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Well, we certainly appreciate the Springfield, Ohio, department police debunking this — this, again, very bizarre, hateful — hateful smear.  And — and that is something that we appreciate. 

We should continue to come together as a country.  We should not be tearing our communities apart.  I do not — I’m sure that the community is dealing with a lot of incoming on this.  It’s unfortunate. 

And certainly not — I can’t speak to d- — the bomb threats and get behind that.  There’s an investigation that the local police are — are looking into.  But we appreciate, certainly, the Ohio police department coming out right away in Springfield and saying, “This is false; this is not true,” debunking — debunking this hateful — very hateful smear. 

Q    I wanted to ask you actually about another one from the debate.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Former President Trump refused to say plainly whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war.  Has the White House fielded any calls from allies about this — what this could mean if he wins, a change in U.S. policy?  Has it impacted any of the White House’s work —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — with counterparts in Ukraine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, here’s what I’m going to say.  Look, I — I’m not going to answer specifically to what — what happened at the debate. 

What I will say is President Biden is president right now, and you have seen what he has done over the last three — more than three and a half years.  And he’s always made sure that when it comes to foreign policy, we have diplomatic conversations; we try to rebuild those relationships that were pretty much soured by the last administration.  We saw what the last administration did to our relationships across the globe. 

And as it relates to Ukraine, and the — the a- — the — the war that they’re fighting because of Russia’s aggression, you’ve seen the president’s commitment — continued commitment to making sure that Ukraine has everything that they need to fight for their democracy, to fight for their free- — freedom.  And that’s going to be continued — obviously, the president’s commitment and the vice president’s commitment as well.  They’ve done this as partners over the past two years — more than two years now. 

And so, that is what matters right now in this moment.  The signal that we’re sending has been very clear to Ukrainian — the brave people of Ukraine, to our allies and partners: that we are standing behind them and continue to do just that. 

Q    Is there any update to give on the negotiations in Doha?  There was a new statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu that definitely suggested things were not going well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, what I will say is that we are going to continue to work on this agreement.  This is an agreement that will bring hostages out of Gaza.  That’s what we want to see. 

And obviously, as you know, some of those hostages include American hostages, and we are going to continue to do that under the terms of the — of the deal that’s now on the table.  That’s what we’re focusing on.  As you know, and we say this all the time, we’re just not going to nego- — negotiate in public. 

Go ahead.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  The president has both the Wilmington summit and the meeting tomorrow with the British prime minister.  I’m wondering if we can anticipate a press conference at either or both since —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — traditionally, both would be kind of forums that we’d get to hear from the president.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I don’t have anything to share on the — on the Quad Summit, as far as a — a press conference component.  I believe there is not one scheduled for tomorrow.  But I can say that, you know, the president obviously is going to continue to — to take questions from all of you.  And I just don’t have anything to share beyond — beyond tomorrow at this time.

Q    And then there was a meeting today at the White House with leading AI companies.  I’m wondering if you could give a readout of —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — of what was discussed but also if there were any agreements or plans headed forward for what the companies and the administration want to do together.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we are going to have a readout — if it hasn’t gone out yet, it will go out shortly — of that particular meeting that happened this morning, as you just stated. 

It included White House officials from a- — from across the campus.  Jeff Zients, Lael Brainard, Jake Sullivan, Bruce Reed, and secretaries of Commerce and Energy were all there.  And we’ll have a full — full readout, hopefully momentarily, that should hit your inboxes. 

And so, I think what you can — what you can take from this particular meeting is the continued commitment from the president and the vice president to deepen our U.S. leadership as it relates to AI and by ensuring the data centers are built in the United States, while ensuring the technology is developed responsibly. 

And so — and so, that’s the — the — that’s the — that — that is part of what was discussed in the meetings today.  And we’re talking about, you know, AI companies, hyperscalers, utility companies.  And all of this was to talk about, again, the data center development of AI. 

The meeting focused on accelerating public-private collaboration in advance of U.S. leadership in a — in — in advancing U.S. leadership in AI and how to meet the workforce, permitting, and infrastructure needs associated with technology.

The le- — the industry leaders, so you have this — and, again, it’ll be a more fulsome readout that’ll go out to all of you — was Anthropic, OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and a few others.  And this has been the president’s commitment — the Biden-Harris commitment in trying to make sure that we get ahead of this — this really important technology and make sure that we continue to show our — our leadership. 

As you know, this is something that we’ve been focused on for more than a year, since July of 2023.

Go ahead, Monica.

Q    Karine, what we saw yesterday with the president briefly wearing a MAGA hat — since the pool wasn’t in the room for that, can you share a little bit more about how that happened and just what kind of message you think it sent?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, a couple of things for — for those — like you said, the pool was not in the room, so I just want to make sure I — I lay this out so folks get the context of what happened. 

So, we were — the president was in Shanksville Fire Station, one of the locations, obviously, of — on where the plane was taken down on September 11th of 2000 — 2001.  So, the president gave an impromptu remarks about bipartisan unity.  That’s what he was talking about.  And — and he talked about it in the moment of September 11th — it was — that’s what we experienced after 9/11 — and said that we needed to go back to that bipartisan unity as a country. 

And so, he made those remarks — impromptu remarks to some of the folks who were there on that day.  And he offered a — a presidential hat to a man who was wearing a Trump cap.  He was wearing a Trump hat, and he offered it to him as a gesture.  And in return, the man said that, in the same spirit, the president should put on his Trump cap.  And so, the president did very briefly.  And that’s what happened. 

It was — it was truly a back-and-forth about unity and the president remembering a moment in time after a horrific incident on that day and how the country did come together.  It didn’t r- — it didn’t matter what political party you were part of.  It didn’t matter.  We came together as a country because we lost so many souls — thousands of souls — more than 2,000 that day.  That’s what you saw. 

Q    Did the president and vice president have an opportunity to talk about the debate yesterday throughout their travels?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to — obviously, they saw each other, spent some time with each other.  I’m just going to — not going to get into their private conversation. 

As I said, he — he’s very proud of her.  He continues — what you saw — I’m going to be mindful — what you saw on Tuesday was what he has said: The best decision that he made — and has said this many times — was when he was in 2020 and selecting his running mate, was selecting her. 

And he looks forward to continuing to work side by side in the next several months of this and — several months of this — his tenure.

Q    And just finally, is there anything you can preview on UNGA?  Specifically, President Zelenskyy said he does expect to meet with President Biden, he hopes, there.  Is that something you can confirm?  And what should we expect from his time in New York?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, at this time, I can’t confirm any — any details or specifics of — of UNGA week.  And as we get closer, we’ll have more to share.  We’ll have more to share. 

Hi. 

Q    Thanks, Karine.  Boeing workers are voting on a new labor contract today.  Does the president support Boeing workers going on strike after management’s proposed contract did not meet workers’ demands for a 40 percent pay rise?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah, so I’ve said many times here when we get these types of questions is that we support — this president pru- — pru- — supports collective bargaining and believe it is the best way for American workers and employers to come to an agreement for — that works for all parties and do it in a good faith way. 

And so, that’s what we believe.  That’s what this administration believes.  And so, we are going to encourage both parties to negotiate in that way — in good faith — and reaching a strong contract. 

And so, we’ve said this many times when we get to — when we hear companies and unions in these types of disputes.  And just leave it there.

Q    When was the last time a member of the administration spoke to the negotiators in this situation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I will say that the administration are definitely in touch with the parties, which is not unusual — something that we have done many times before.  And, again, we continue to believe that the collective bargaining is the best way to reach a — a solution here for all parties involved, as long as it’s done in — in good faith.

Q    If I could add one more.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    Dozens of state and local election officials raised concerns this week about the postal service’s ability to get ballots delivered on time.  Can you elaborate on what the administration is doing to ensure that the USPS is going to be able to get ballots delivered?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I would refer you to the USPS on this one.  Obviously, the president thinks it’s incredibly important.  He’s — you know, voting is — is a sacred right, and — and it should be something that — Americans are able to do that and capable and able to — to make sure they’re able to access that important, sacred right.  That’s one of the reasons why, very early on in his administration, he signed an executive order to make it — to make it easier for people to — to be able to cast their — their votes.

I would refer to — to the U.S. Postal Service on specifics on that.

Okay.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  The White House has maintained that the vice president has had a seat at the table and a voice in all major decisions that President Biden has made during his term.  At the debate on Tuesday, she distanced herself from the president, saying, “I am not Joe Biden.  What I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country.” 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And I would remind you that the president also said in — many times — well, I’ll point you to the Oval Office address — that he was handing — passing the torch over — right? — to a new generation.  And he was proud to do that.  He did it in a incredibly patriotic way, in a — in a selfless way.  And that’s what he was doing.  And he said it himself. 

Look, what I will say is that all you have to do is look at what the president and the vice president has done together, and that is something that she continues to support — what we did to turn the economy around, what we did to make sure that we lower cost when it comes to — whether it’s health care, whether it’s energy costs.  She was the deciding vote on — on the Inflation Reduction Act.  That mattered.  That is mat- — you know, now Medicare is able to — to — you know, to be able to negotiate with Big Pharma.  We beat Big Pharma.

And so, she was able to lay out her — her agenda, what the president supports.  We believe they have a shared agenda.  That’s what we heard.  That’s what we saw from this vice president.  And — and I’m, again, going to be really — be really mindful on saying too much, going too much into the debate.  But I can speak to the —

Q    But you do believe that she shares responsibility for the agenda of this administration?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Yes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  But I mean — yes, they are partners in this.  They — she is a critical partner in what we have been able to do over the last four years.  But we cannot forget — we cannot forget what they inherited going in.  Right?  We can’t forget an economy that was in a tailspin. COVID was taking over.  More than 3,000 people were dying each day.  There was no comprehensive plan on how to deal with COVID.

This president and this vice president got to work and put shots in arms and checks in pockets.  That matters.

Q    And on the optics of the last couple of days, President Biden has made a personal decision, when he has encountered former President Trump, not to share a handshake with him, which Vice President Harris did twice in the span of 24 hours.  Does he agree with that decision?  Does he believe that that was —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  She is her own person.  The vice president is her own person.  She’s — is allowed to do what she feels is the best thing to do.  I — I cannot speak for how she engages with the former president.  She is her own person.

And the president has his reasons.  I’ll leave it there.

Q    And then, quickly, just a clarification on the president’s comments on Ukraine.  He said earlier this week, when asked about the possibility to change the policy for Ukraine to use long-range weapons into Russia, he said, “We’re working on it.”  A U.S. official later clarified that there was no change in policy.  Can you say what exactly is being worked on?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I’m not going to get into the policy del- — deliberations here in public.  What I can say is basically what I said in answering another c- — one of your colleague’s questions about Ukraine specifically, obviously, which is that we want to make sure — our focus is making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself, to win back their territory — their sovereign territory, to win that back.

And so, that’s what our focus is, and that’s what we’re going to continue to do.  We have co- — we have shown and this president has shown and continues to show a tremendous amount of support for Ukraine.  His leadership has been very clear — clear and out front — making sure that NATO is stronger, adding two more NATO members.  That was because of the president’s le- — leadership.  More than 50 countries he was able to bring together to support Ukraine as they continue to bravely fight for their freedom. 

And that’s our commitment.  I’m not going to get into policy deliberations from here.

Go ahead, Fraser.  

Q    Thanks, Karine.  I want —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I know last time I — I think I called you Michael.  I —

Q    I’ll forgive you.  Don’t worry about it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I apologize.

Q    It’s fine.  Water under the bridge.  And —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thank you.  Oh, you’re so kind.  Thank you.

Q    Anytime.  I want to continue asking about Ukraine, if possible.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    Putin today said — about these alleged plans to change the — the idea about long-range missiles, he said that it would mean that NATO countries, the U.S./European countries are at war with Russia.  How concerned is the U.S. about that statement?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to get into hypotheticals.  I’m not going to get into inter- — internal policy deliberations from here.  I will say what you’ve heard from my NSC colleagues at this podium, you’ve heard from this president: This war can end today if Mr. Putin will end the war that he started.  It is his aggression.  It is his war that he started.  He can end it.  He could end it.  I’m going to leave it there.

Q    But his forces have also reclaimed part of the Kursk region that the Ukrainian forces took in the last couple of weeks.  What’s the White House’s reaction to the Russian advances back into the Kursk region?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We are going to do everything that we can so that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself.  That is our commitment.  I think you have seen this, a — a very much focused, a tremendous amount of support from this administration and also from our partners and allies in doing just that.  And that’s what you could expect to see.

Q    Thanks, Karine. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.  Go ahead.

Q    Thank you so much, Karine.  Following up on Springfield, you said that these fake —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  On th- — on Springfield?

Q    Springfield, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yep.  Ohio.

Q    These fake stories — yeah — about — about migrants — put lives in danger.  So, how concerned are you about a potential rise in threats or even hate crimes targeting migrants? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, when you have national leaders spewing hateful or lifting up hateful rhetoric and bizarre smear that has been debunked, as I just stated when I answered this question moments ago, that is dangerous.  That is — yes, we are concerned.  It is dangerous.

I mean, you all have reported how communities, specifically Haitian communities, are fearing for their life because of how this is being lifted up.  And this is about tearing communities apart.  And we deserve more.  Our country deserves more than that.

So, there is a concern.  Anytime you see this type of rhetoric, this hateful rhetoric, these types of smears, yes, it could lead to dangerous scenarios.  And that’s why, if you are a national leader in this country, if you’re a leader of any kind, you should condemn — condemn this type of rhetoric.  You should condemn it. 

We deserve more.  And, again, this is — I talk about our shared values.  That’s what the president wants.  He wants to be able to — so that people get together around our shared values.  And that is what matters, and that is what is important for our country. 

Go ahead, Jacqui.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  One more on the Trump hat.  What did the president do with it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All right.

Q    Did he keep it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I have no idea.

Q    Is he, like, saving it for the — a Christmas present for his least favorite staffer or something? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, wow.  (Laughter.)

Q    I’m just ki- — I —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, you’ve thought about that one.

Q    (Laughs.)  I’m just curious.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Least favorite staffer. 

Q    I mean, did he t- — did he walk out with a- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t know.  Maybe it’s on my desk right now. 

I genu- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t know.

Q    (Laughs.)  Okay.  All right.  On a he- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Laughs.)

Q    On a heavier note about the economy.  There’s a —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Sure.

Q    — a new analysis by the Republicans who are on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee.  They looked at seven battleground states.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay.

Q    And according to their analysis, the average household is paying, for the same basket of goods and services, on average, about $1,000 more per month compared to January 2021, and the numbers are pretty stark.  In places like Nevada and Arizona, it’s almost $1,200 a month; Georgia, it’s $1,075 a month; North Carolina, $1,017.  Has President Biden’s policies positioned the vice president poorly in these states to win this election?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I’m not going to get into the election.  I’m just not.  I’m not going to get into her path to victory and what it does for — it’s just not something that I’m going to speak to from here.  What I can speak to is where we are now.  Inflation — core inflation has gone down — that is important to note — because of the work that they’ve been able to do.  You see cra- — gas prices going down almost 50 percent.  That’s important.  You see wages are rising faster than prices are.  Nearly 16 million jobs created. 

And what I will say — so, we have done the work to see progress — progress in fighting inflation and lowering costs.  And — but we do understand — we’re not — I hear the numbers that you’re telling me.  We u- — do understand that there is more work to be done.  There is.  There’s more work to be done. 

And that’s why we’re going to do what we can to lower costs by investing in record energy production, for example; building 3 million new homes; capping prescription drugs; cutting taxes for the middle class — the middle class.  This is a president that talks about building — building an economy from the bottom up, the middle out, and not leaving anybody behind. 

And we have to talk about what congressional Republicans are trying to do: raise — raise costs by nearly $4,000 for the middle class.  That’s what they’re doing.

Q    Well, isn’t —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  They’re cut — they want to cut Social Security and Medicare while giving breaks to billionaires and corporations.  That is such an unpopular thing to do, and they continue to want to push that forward.  They won’t stop talking about it. 

They want to —

Q    (Inaudible) —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Oh, oh.

Q    — on cutting Social Security and Medicare.  I mean, we went through all of that during the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yes, we did.  We — we we-

Q    Yeah, we — this was a couple —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  In the midterms, we went through all of it. 

Q    Right, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  There were — we saw flyers and — and plans from leaders of the Senate — of the Senate — Senate Republicans.  We saw that.  We saw the back-and-forth with the president at two —

Q    Well —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — at two State of the Unions, where, certainly, he pushed back on that and made them say that’s not what they wanted to do, but that’s what they were saying they wanted to do.  They wanted to cut Social Security and Medicare. 

They’ve been very clear.  This is — this is not just the last three and a half years.  This has been for some time now.  And they want to get rid of the Inflation Reduction Act that none of them, by the way, voted for, that beats Big Pharma.  They want to get rid of that. 

That’s going to lower cost for Americans.  We’re talking about important drugs — cancer drugs, diabetes.  We’re talking about capping insulin at 35 bucks a month for —

Q    But this — this administration, though —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — seniors that pay more than 400 bucks —

Q    I mean, you had Lael Brainard —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — a month.  

Q    — say that we’ve turned the page on inflation, but American families aren’t feeling that, to the point where the vice president didn’t even directly answer the question in the debate, “Do you believe that Americans feel” —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We have made —

Q    — “they’re better off than four years ago?”

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, we have —

Q    She dodged it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We have made progress in fighting inflation.  That is something that we have seen from the numbers, from the data, that is a true in — in truth, right?  I believe that the VP highlighted on how we are better off, on how on — off now, as — as well as her plans to build on that progress.  That is something that she talked about: How are we going to build on that progress? 

And, you know, I said this moments ago.  We got — we can’t forget what this administration inherited: an economy that was in a tailspin.  That’s what we inherited.  It was paralyzed because the former president did nothing — did nothing during one of the once-in-a-century pandemic.  He did nothing.  Donald Trump did nothing. 

We took action on no- — on — and now our economy is stronger than ever.  We’re out — outcompeting China.  That’s something that we did.  Let’s not forget, when we took over, violent crime was at — at — was — was — we saw a violent crime, murder at its highest in the former president’s last year, and now it’s at a 50-year low because of the work that we did. 

And it started with the American Rescue Plan.  Again, no Republicans voted for it.  They didn’t wa- — want to vote for something that had money for local — local communities, local police enforcement to actually have the funding they needed to get more police officers. 

Q    Why couldn’t the vice president —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  They didn’t vote it. 

Q    — just say “yes” to that question?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You’re going to have to speak directly to her team.  What I saw is she laid out how to build on the progress that we’ve made.  That’s what we saw.  That’s what she’s talking about.  That’s what she talks about, building on the progress that we have made.  We had to fix — we had to fix what the Trump administration did. 

Go ahead.

Q    Thank you, Karine.  Israel’s U.N. mission said today that the six UNRWA work- — workers that were killed at the IDF strike yesterday at the U.N. school and shelter were members of Hamas.  The U.S. — the U.N. is neither confirming or denying this.  I was hoping you could give us the U.S. position on whether they are indeed Hamas members.  Has Israel shared any evidence that they are members of Hamas?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, what I can say is obviously we’re aware of the IDF strike in Gaza, and we are indeed concerned about — there are reports of civilian casualties, so we are concerned about that.  We are in touch with our Israeli counterparts to get more information in what happened. 

As you just said, IDF said they were targeting Hamas officials, including those who were directly involved with the horrific attacks that we saw on October 7th.  And so, we’ve been clear that, you know, Israel has a right and responsibility to go after Hamas.  But we also have been clear that Israel must do this in a way that there is precaution, in a way that we protect — do everything that they do to protect more civilian lives. 

And so, this is especially the case in declared humanitarian zones in Gaza, and that is something that we want to see.  And so, we’re having, certainly, conversations about that. 

We mourn — we mourn — And you hear us say this all the time — every Palestinian civilian lost in this conflict, including children.  And far — far too many — far too many lives continue — have been lost and continue to be killed and wounded. 

And so, we’re having —

Q    Will you cut (inaudible) short? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — we’re having those — those converta- — conversations with our Israeli counterparts. 

Q    Okay.  So, but you don’t — you don’t have a position (inaudible) — 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not — I — I’m —

Q    Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have a —

Q    Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I know the question about — you’re asking me about — specifically about Hamas leaders, officials.  I’m not going to speak to that. 

What I can say is we’re in direct conversation —

Q    Just — 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — with our Israeli counter- — counterparts.

Q    And moving on.  Still on the Middle East.  Is the administration involved in bringing the remains of Turkish American Aysenur Eygi, who was killed by IDF in the West Bank —  is the administration involved in bringing her remains back to Turkey?  And how do you respond to Turkish anger, both from the government and the citizens, to President Biden calling the shooting, quote, “an accident.” 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, let me just say that what the family and her loved ones — Aysen- — Aysenur’s loved ones are going through right now is unimaginable, and I can’t imagine the pain that they’re going through with losing a child, a loved one.  And — and their loss has certainly been on the president’s mind.

And so, you saw the president release a statement on her — on her death.  And the president said, there must be a “full accountability.”  Her killing was indeed an outrage.  And — and, you know, just to reiterate what I said moments ago, Israel must do more.  They must do more to make sure that incidents like these never happen again.

And, again, the pain of losing a child is something that I can — certainly that we can’t even imagine.

Q    But is the U.S. helping Turkey?  Sorry.  Is the U.S. helping —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  The Turk- —

Q    — to bring the remains?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I don’t have anything to share with you on that.  I would refer you to the State Department specifically on that question. 

Q    And just one last one.  At the Quad Summit in Delaware later this month, President Biden will be meeting with Prime Minister Kishida of Japan.  What would his message be on U.S. Steel acquisition by Nippon Steel? 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I don’t have anything as it relates to Nippon Steel.  I don’t have anything to share on that. 

CFIUS, obviously, is going through their process.  When they share their — their end-of-the-process report that they do that — they’ll do that to the pres- — for the president, then the president will make, obviously, a decision. 

I just don’t have anything to share.  There’s — there’s no news to be made at this time, and the process continues. 

Q    Can I follow up on the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Sure. 

Q    — same question?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Nadia.

Q    Thanks.  The statement that the president released yesterday described the killing of Aysenur as a “tragic error.”  I’m just wondering how the White House came to this conclusion, considering that she was shot by a sniper in — through a bullet in the head as execution style. 

The Washington Post did an investigation.  It showed that she was shot 20 minutes after the clashes ended and she — there was — all the protesters had moved from the main road.  So, how did you came to this conclusion it was an error?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Can I — and I want to say, like her — her killing was — was an outrage and should have never have happened.  It should have never happened.  That’s what the president believes.  It should have never have happened. 

I’m aware — to answer your question — I’m aware of the analysis — the various analysis that are out there and have been published — aware of it.  And as we have said, we’re going to continue to stay in close touch with the Israeli and the Palestinian authorities regarding the circumsta- — -stances that led to Aysenur’s death.  We’re going to continue to have those conversation. 

And the president has been clear — he has been clear as well that there needs to be full accountability as well.  We need to see full accountability here.

Q    But in all the previous incidents — whether it’s Palestinian civilians or even Israelis — hostages who were carrying white flag and shot by the IDF or American citizens, whether it’s Shireen Abu Akleh or Aysenur or others — is the White House satisfied that Israel ever came to you and they found actually the people who did it responsible and they held accountable?  Are you satisfied with all this investigation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I’m not going to go into every investigation.  I’m not — I’m just —

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  No, I hear you, but I just am not going to do that. 

This should have never happened.  This — this awful, awful killing should have never happened.  It’s an outrage. 

And just to what the president was referring to — and we’ve said this — is that the initial findings — the initial fili- — findings that were released by IDF, and it was also briefed — they also briefed the U.S. government on this.

And so, look, the president also said there must be full accountability to what happened, and that’s what we want to see. 

Q    Karine, three Red Cross —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, go ahead.

Q    — workers were killed in Ukraine today —

(Cross-talk.)

Q    Do you have a re- —

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

Q    Thanks, Karine.  I just wondered, why has the president not spoken with her — members of her family —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — who have said that they’ve been interested in hearing from him. 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.  Yes, I — I — we’re aware of that.  U.S. officials have been in touch with the family members, and so we are working on additional calls.  I don’t have anything to share outside of that. 

Q    Is — are those with the president?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We are —

Q    I mean, is he going —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We are working on —

Q    Is he planning —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We are working on additional calls, and I just don’t have to share beyo- — have anything else to share beyond that. 

Q    Karine, three Red Cross workers —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Karen.  Go ahead, Karen.

Q    Thanks, Karine.

Q    Can I — okay.

Q    January 6th is going to be designated a national special security event by DHS and the Secret Service, which makes the counting, certification of electoral votes the highest security designation the federal government makes available.  We’ve heard the president —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — give many speeches —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — talking very passionately about what happened on January 6th back in 2021.  But what does it say now that something that is a routine part of the election process is now getting this level of a security designation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So — and you’re right.  This president has spoken very passionately about January 6 and what happened on that day and how it was a attack on our democracy.  He has shared his views, and he’s also said the importance of making sure that never happens again.  He has said that many times, again, in a — in passionate and powerful way.

I would h- — as it relates to this designation, this is something that DHS and Secret Service, they can speak specifically to this designation.  They made this designation.  So don’t want to get ahead of them.

But you’re right.  The president has spoken powerfully about this.  He’s been very clear that this cannot happen again.  And we know — look at 2022 — the elections from ‘22 — 2022.  We know that Am- — Americans care about their democracy.  They care about their freedoms.  And that’s where majority of Americans are. 

But I — I’m not going to get into specifics of the — of what we heard from DHS and the Secret Service today.

Go ahead, Gerren.

Q    Karine, the Red Cross —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Gerren.

Q    — workers killed —

Q    U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield announced the U.S.’s backing of two permanent African seats on the U.N. Security Council.  What more can the White House share about the importance of this and what insight and leadership Africa can provide to advancing international peace and security?  And how likely does the administration believe that this can — this resolution can be voted on at the General Assembly?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, just to take a step back, two years ago, at UNGA, the president was able to announce a U.S. — the U.S. commitment to e- — to expand on the council with permanent representation for countries from Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as countries we’ve long supported for permanent seats.  And so, he did that two years ago. 

And what you saw today, to your point and your question, you saw the U.N. Ambassador — the U.S.-U.N. Ambassador announce that — our support for two permanent seats for African countries.  And that’s something that African leaders called for.  And certainly — and obviously — this is something that the president supported.

So, it shows, I believe, our commitment — the U.S.’s commitment to supporting reforms to the Security Council.  I think that’s how you should see this and view this.  And by doing that, it makes the Security Council more effective, representa- — you have representation — and more credible.

And so, any specifics beyond that, I would have to refer you to the State Department.  But this is a commitment that you saw from this president two years ago, coming — at the — at UNGA back then.

Q    And one other question.  The venture capital firm the Fearless Fund closed its grant program for Black-women-owned businesses to settle a lawsuit that claimed that the grant was discriminatory.  Doing so avoided it going to the Supreme Court that could have ruled in having implications for race-based initiatives across the — in the private sector.  Does the White House have any reaction to this decision, this lawsuit decision?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, anything specific to the litigation — it’s an ongoing litigation — I would have to refer to Department of Justice.

But I will say, and this is something I think I said moments ago and the president has said — I’m just repeating what the president has said mom- — many, many times during this administration — that di- — diversity is our greatest strength, and that is important. 

You see that in the policies that the Biden-Harris has moved forward.  You’ve seen that, whether it is schools or our militaries or our businesses, even in government.  This is the most diverse presidential administration in history because the president and the vice president believes in that.  They believe in making sure that when you talk about policy, you’re talking about all the communities and you’re bringing them together, and no community is left behind.

This is an ongoing litigation that I can’t speak to.  That’s something for DOJ to speak to.

I know I have to — I have to get going.

Q    Karine, the three red cross workers killed —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    — in Ukraine today.  Can you address that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Ed. 

Q    Yeah, thanks.

Q    Or, I mean —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Go ahead, Ed.

Q    Thanks, Karine.  I want to ask you about the new census data that came out.  It shows that childhood poverty went to 13.7 percent.  That’s more than double childhood poverty in 2021.  So, why aren’t things getting better with all the programs and the money that’s been spent or signed into law under the Biden-Harris administration?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, Ed, I’m — I am really glad that you — that you brought this up.  If you think about the first year — and I kind of spoke about this a little bit in the past, you know, 40 minutes or so being at the podium — is that — what we were able to do because of the American Rescue Plan is that we were able to cut child poverty by nearly half, and that’s a record low.  And — and that’s because we were able to expand on the Child Tax Credit.

And, again, the American Rescue Plan, not one Republican voted for that plan.  Not one.  Not one.  Especially what was — if you think about — just think back what was going on during that time.  And they didn’t — decided not to vote for it.  Econ- — again, economy was in a tailspin.

And — and to this day, Republicans have refused — they continue to refuse — repeatedly blocked — repeatedly blocked our attempts to restore that expanded Child Tax Credit.

Again, you’re talking about poverty.  That’s what it was able to do.  And what it did is lift millions of children out of poverty. 

And this just happened as recently as last month.  Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill to expand the child tax cut so we can build on what we were able to do the first year.  Republicans are getting in the way.  They are.  They’re getting in the way.

Q    But we had $904 billion in non-defense spending in 2024, and you’re telling me that the — only the Child Tax Credit is the way to fix child poverty?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We saw what passing the American Rescue Plan, which expanded the Child Tax Credit within — it was a provision.  It was part of the American Rescue Plan.  And because we were able to expand the Child Tax Credit, the data showed that — that the poverty — child poverty was cut down by nearly half.

And one of the ways — obviously, when you see that, what you want to do is continue to expand the Child Tax Credit.  That’s what Democrats wanted to do.  That’s what Republic- — that Republicans don’t want to do.  That’s what the president wanted to do.

If you see something that works, as a legislator, don’t you want to continue it?  Don’t you want to continue something that works?  They got in the way.

So, if you’re talking about child tax — child poverty, we know — we know how to deal with it, and they refuse to — they refuse to move forward with it.  They refused to move with the legislation that they just blocked just last month.

Q    On another subject.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.

Q    The Treasury monthly statement came out today, and it showed that we still have a deficit — we’re going to have a deficit of $1.9 trillion this year.

You know, the focus on the president and the vice president has been raising taxes — they want to tax — raise taxes on corporations and others — and spending on programs.  What’s the plan for the debt?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we got to step back here for a second. 

The last administration increased — they increased the debt by a record $8 trillion.  I hope you wrote about that.  They didn’t sign a single law to reduce the deficit.  I hope you wrote about that.  The president — President Biden, the current president — signed a — $1 trillion of deficit reduction into law.

He’s taking action to deal with our deficit.  Eight trillion-dollar deficit in the last administration.  I really hope you wrote about that.  And his budget would lower the deficit by another tri- — $3 trillion by making millionaires and — and biggest corporations pay their fair share, Ed, to your question.  That’s what it would do.  Cutting spending on special interests.  That’s what he wants to do.

Republicans want to — again, they want to increase the deficit by expa- — ex- — expanding the tax — the Trump tax cut, which would cost $5 trillion.  That’s what they want to do. 

Q    (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, I really hope you wrote about, in the past, what the Trump administration did when it came to the deficit —

Q    But we still —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — and what we’ve had to — what we’ve had to deal with and fix.

Q    But we still have deficit spending —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And every question that you ask me —

Q    Well — (laughs) —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, there’s some irony. 

Q    But we still have de- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Every question that you ask me —

Q    But we’re here.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  — is something that we’re trying to fix and Republicans get in the way of. 

Q    So, we’re here —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Literally every question that you ask me.

Q    — I’m talking about the debt — the — the actual amount.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I — I — (laughs) —

Q    Deficit spending is still deficit spending.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I —

Q    How do we reduce the debt?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And I’m telling you what the president has done.  One trillion dollars is not a small number in trying to — in signing a legislation to deal with the deficit.

Now, $8 trillion, a record number in debt, that’s what the Trump administration did.

I’ll see you guys tomorrow.  Thank you.

Q    Karine, is the —

Q    Thank you. 

Q    Thanks, Karine.

Q    Is the president aware of the Red — Red Cross workers being killed?

4:15 P.M. EDT

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

Over the past four years, President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken action to ensure the promise of America reaches every community—including Black communities. These actions have delivered historic results, enabling more Black Americans to access a quality education, obtain a good-paying job, start a business, and buy a home—driving significant gains in wealth. From growing economic and educational opportunities to improving health outcomes, from enhancing public trust and public safety to advancing equity, civil rights, and racial justice, the Biden-Harris Administration has demonstrated its deep commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for all and investing in the future of Black Americans.

Securing Economic Mobility, Educational Opportunity, and the American Dream for Black Communities

President Biden and Vice President Harris believe that the promise of America—the American Dream—is that everyone should have a fair shot at getting ahead. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, we have made progress:

• Achieved the lowest Black unemployment rate on record and created 2.4 million jobs for Black workers as of August 2024
• Lifted 400,000 Black children out of poverty by increased SNAP benefits through updating the Thrifty Food Plan, and continuing to call on Congress to restore the full expanded Child Tax Credit—which, during the COVID-19 pandemic, cut Black child poverty in half benefitting 600,000 and brought racial poverty disparities to a record low
• Grew Black American business ownership at the fastest rate in over three decades
• Tripled the number of SBA-backed loans to Black-owned businesses
• Awarded a record $10 billion in federal contracts to Black-owned small businesses in Fiscal Year 2023
• Invested a record of more than $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Secured a $900 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award—the largest increase in the past 10 years—and $23 million in first-ever funding to the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to increase the number of teachers of color and multilingual educators across the country
• Approved the cancellation of almost $170 billion in student loan debt for nearly 5 million borrowers, including a significant number of Black borrowers who are disproportionately burdened by student debt 
• Took on racial bias in home appraisals and closed the Black-white home misevaluation gap by 40%
• Reduced mortgage insurance premiums for FHA loans, saving 76,000 Black households an average of $900/year
• Cut costs for high-speed internet to 5.5 million Black households with the Affordable Connectivity Program
• Distributed $2.2 billion in financial assistance to over 43,000 farmers who experienced discrimination
• Led a historically equitable economic recovery—Black wealth, even after adjusting for inflation, is up 60% relative to pre-pandemic levels—the largest increase on record

Ending Health Disparities

President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to keeping health care costs down for individuals and families and improving access to health care to address disparities in Black communities. To improve health outcomes for the Black community, the Biden-Harris Administration has:

• Ensured more Black Americans have health care than ever before by lowering premium costs by an average of $800 for millions of Americans, increasing Black enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage by 95%, or over 1.7 million people since 2020
• Lowered monthly premiums for health insurance, capped the cost of insulin at $35 and all out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,000 for people on Medicare, and announced new negotiated prices for the first ten prescription drugs for Medicare price negotiation—expected to save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs in the first year of the program alone

• Made sickle cell disease the first focus of the new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services models, aimed to lower the high cost of drugs, promote accessibility to drug therapies, and improve patient care
• Expanded Medicaid postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months in 46 states and Washington, D.C., covering 700,000 more women in the year after childbirth
• Secured an additional $1.5 billion for Head Start
• Delivered $1 billion to help meet the mental health needs of young people by preparing and hiring a projected 14,000 additional mental health professionals to serve America’s schools

Making Communities Safer and Strengthening America’s Commitment to Justice

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to using every available federal lever to advance effective, accountable policing, build trust, and improve public safety so that the promise of equal justice under the law is a reality for all. To enhance equal justice and public safety for all communities, including the Black community, the President has:

• Signed an Executive Order on police reform when Congressional Republicans would not pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act; restricted the use of force, banned chokeholds, restricted the use of no-knock warrants and created the first-ever national database of federal law enforcement misconduct
• Created the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
• U.S. Surgeon General named gun violence a public health crisis and issued a public health advisory on how to reduce violence.
• Signed into the law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the most significant gun violence reduction legislation enacted in nearly 30 years, and taken more meaningful executive action than any other president to make our schools, churches, grocery stores, and communities safer
• Secured $400 million in funding dedicated specifically for community violence interventions that invests in evidence-informed strategies to prevent violence
• Cracked down on the source of illegal firearms by making it illegal to manufacture “ghost gun” kits, enacting the first-ever federal gun trafficking law, taking a “zero tolerance” approach to rogue gun dealers, and regulating the number one source of guns involved in gun trafficking investigations – unlicensed sellers.
• Pardoned thousands of Americans under federal and D.C. law for simple possession of marijuana
• Helped bring violent crime to its lowest level in 50 years—lower than during any year of the previous administration

Restoring the Soul of Our Nation

President Biden believes that advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our government and requires sustained leadership and partnership with all communities. To make the promise of America real for Black communities, the President has:

• Signed two Executive Orders directing the federal government to address inequality
• Protected Black history as American history
• Signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the first new federal holiday since MLK Day
• Designated Springfield 1908 Race Riot and Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monuments
• Signed the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act to classify lynching for the first time as a federal hate crime
• Worked to protect the sacred right to vote through executive actions and continued calls for legislation
• Appointed the first Black woman to the Supreme Court, more Black women to federal circuit courts than all previous presidents combined, and more Black judges in a single term than any other president

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   For more than 180 years, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have delivered a quality education to Black students across our Nation.  Over 100 HBCUs serve as engines of economic opportunity and make America more prosperous and equitable.  Although they make up less than 3 percent of all postsecondary institutions in the United States, HBCUs account for 8 percent of Black undergraduate enrollment and 13 percent of all bachelor’s degrees earned by Black students.  During National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, we celebrate the incredible legacy of these institutions, we honor the quality education, economic mobility, and opportunity they bring to so many students —- particularly students from low-income backgrounds and those who are the first in their families to go to college — and we recommit to supporting and investing in their success.

     HBCUs are centers of academic excellence, shaping the dreamers and doers who push our Nation forward.  Within my Administration, I have seen firsthand just how an HBCU education shapes leaders and alumni — including Vice President Kamala Harris and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan.  Eighty percent of our Nation’s Black judges, 50 percent of all Black lawyers, and nearly 40 percent of Congressional Black Caucus members went to an HCBU.  HBCUs produce 40 percent of all Black engineers and 70 percent of Black doctors.  Some of our Nation’s greatest visionaries, scholars, artists, athletes, and leaders of every sector have credited their success to their time at an HBCU.  And HBCUs educate twice as many Pell Grant-eligible students as other institutions.

     I have always supported our Nation’s HBCUs, which tap into the full talent and diversity of our country.  HBCUs are incredible institutions, but they unfairly face historic funding gaps and do not have the same endowments as other universities.  My Administration has delivered record investments in HBCUs — totaling more than $16 billion.  That funding has helped support students, student-veterans, and staff; improve campus infrastructure; expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) research programs; and so much more.  My Administration also secured first-time funding for the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Grant Program, providing more than $23 million in grants to HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions to prepare our next generation of teachers and increase the diversity of the profession.

     Additionally, I re-established the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs to ensure they have greater access to Federal funding opportunities.  Furthermore, as Americans, we have to ensure that hate and hate-fueled violence are given no safe harbor in this country.  When more than one-third of our country’s HBCUs were targeted by dozens of bomb threats in 2022, my Administration worked to quickly expand the accessibility of a broad spectrum of Federal security services, resources, and expertise to support them.  We also deployed over $2.4 million in Project School Emergency Response to Violence grants that have helped restore safe learning environments and investments in mental health and well-being for students.  I strongly condemn any threats made by domestic extremists on HBCUs, and I will continue to do everything I can to protect all Americans from the threat of violence.  

     My Administration is also working to make sure college is more affordable for every American.  We secured a $900 increase to the maximum Pell Grant award — the largest increase in over a decade — putting funding directly in students’ hands.  And we are working on relieving the crushing burden of student loan debt.  To date, nearly 5 million Americans have received student loan debt relief, totaling almost $170 billion through various actions taken by my Administration.  We also fixed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) so that public servants get the relief they are entitled to under the law.  My Administration has already provided relief to 947,000 borrowers through PSLF.  Before I took office, only 7,000 public servants had received debt relief through this program.  And earlier this year, I announced new plans that would provide debt relief for more than 30 million Americans when combined with everything my Administration has done so far.

     This year, as I delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College, I felt honored to stand alongside these incredible students, whose legacies will surely lift our Nation up.  These students, like so many others before them, launched their boundless futures at an HBCU.  During National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, may we celebrate these critical institutions for all the doors of opportunity they open.  May we honor their dedication to seeing their students thrive.  And may we recommit to supporting HBCUs, which continue to prove that the American Dream is big enough for everyone to succeed.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15 through September 21, 2024, as National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week.  I call upon educators, students, public officials, professional organizations, corporations, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the countless contributions these institutions and their alumni have made to our country.

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

 
                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     America’s farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers work around the clock to nourish our Nation and power our economy, allowing us to feed our communities and compete in markets worldwide.  They also steward lands and provide meaningful jobs in our rural and Tribal communities.  During National Farm Safety and Health Week, we recognize the incredible contributions of everyone working on farms, and we recommit to improving their safety and well-being. 

     Our Nation’s farms are a source of prosperity, but working on them can be exhausting and hazardous.  The agriculture sector is one of America’s most dangerous industries.  Climate change and intensifying extreme heat puts the lives of agricultural workers at risk and decrease productivity and profits.  Uncertainty in the industry heightens stress and takes a toll on our farmworkers’ mental health.  And unfortunately, many rural communities lack accessible health care, as nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed in the past 20 years.

    I believe health care should be a right, not a privilege.  To that end, my Administration is investing in rural health care services, training the next generation of rural health care providers, and expanding mental health resources in rural communities.  We established the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation to make it easier for struggling hospitals to stay open and help ensure that rural communities have access to emergency services.  With $500 million from my American Rescue Plan and $65 billion from my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making it easier for people in rural areas to access health care, including telehealth services and affordable mental health care.  We launched 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — so that anyone dealing with a crisis can connect to trained counselors by phone, text, or chat.  We also finalized a rule that strengthens mental health parity by requiring health insurers to cover mental health care just as they do physical health care.  And we added more than 140 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the Nation, which provide mental health and crisis services to anyone in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

     I have maintained my commitment to be the most pro-labor and pro-worker President in history by making sure our workers are safe and secure.  Under my leadership and the leadership of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Department of Labor proposed the Nation’s first-ever Federal safety standard for excessive heat in the workplace, which would require employers to implement rest breaks, provide access to shade and water, and develop a plan to respond to heat illness.  The Department of Labor also finalized a Farmworker Protection Rule to strengthen protections for temporary agricultural workers to ensure all farmworkers in the United States are treated fairly and have safe work environments.

     My Administration is providing farms with the resources they need to grow and thrive.  Through the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program, the Department of Agriculture awarded $50 million from my American Rescue Plan to agricultural employers, many of which were small and mid-sized farms, helping ensure they can hire and retain the workers they need to be competitive while improving labor standards for workers.  We are working to extend crop insurance coverage to give financial security to farmers who practice double cropping.  We have made $900 million available to boost fertilizer production for farms, and I signed an Executive Order to increase competition and make sure that family farms are on a level playing field with corporate farms. 

     During National Farm Safety and Health Week, we honor farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers for putting food on our tables, powering our economy, and supporting our communities.  And we recommit to ensuring they have the resources they need to continue this work and live full, healthy lives. 

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15 through September 21, 2024, as National Farm Safety and Health Week.  I call upon the people of the United States — including America’s farmers; ranchers; and agriculture-related institutions, organizations, and businesses — to reaffirm a dedication to farm safety and health.  I also urge all Americans to express appreciation and gratitude to our farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers for their tireless service to our Nation.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Thirty years ago today, the Violence Against Women Act was signed, becoming the first comprehensive federal law to focus on preventing and addressing violence against women and to provide justice and support for survivors. Written and championed by President Biden when he served in the Senate, this landmark legislation has transformed the way government upholds its duty to protect the women and girls of our nation. We would not be where we are today without his work and the tireless efforts of advocates, allies, and the brave survivors who have shared their stories and determination to ensure others do not have to experience what they did or face it alone.
 
As someone who has spent my entire career fighting for the health, safety, and wellbeing of women and girls, I have seen the impact of the Violence Against Women Act up close. As a courtroom prosecutor, I specialized in crimes against women and children. As District Attorney of San Francisco, I made it a priority to prosecute more sexual assault and domestic violence cases and secure higher conviction rates. My office also provided survivors with access to mental health counseling and job training to help get them back on their feet and regain control over their own lives.
 
As Attorney General of California, I led efforts to provide resources and support for victims of crimes while overseeing the second largest Department of Justice in our Nation. I also tackled a long-standing backlog of untested rape kits – a backlog that was an obstacle to justice for survivors and ensuring that perpetrators could not continue to victimize their communities. Additionally, I prosecuted the first case in the country against an operator of a cyber exploitation website. Then, as a United States Senator, I led legislation to make these acts a federal crime and also supported a wide range of legislation that expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and trafficking.
 
President Biden and I have continued to prioritize this urgent work in the White House. We fought to successfully reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, strengthening the law to expand protections for LGBTQI+ survivors, survivors living on Tribal lands and in Alaska Native villages, and women and girls across our nation. I also joined the President in launching a federal task force to tackle online harassment and image-based abuse. And as the person overseeing the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, I am proud to say that we finally addressed the boyfriend loophole to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
 
As we reflect on the lifechanging progress we have made over the last 30 years, we recommit to the critical work ahead. Together, alongside survivors, advocates, and allies, President Biden and I will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that every woman throughout America has the freedom to live safe from violence and hate. 
 

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Administration Also Urges Congressional Action on De Minimis Reform

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking new actions to enforce our laws and protect American consumers, workers, and businesses by addressing the significant increased abuse of the de minimis exemption, in particular China-founded e-commerce platforms, and strengthening efforts to target and block shipments that violate U.S. laws.
 
Over the last ten years, the number of shipments entering the United States claiming the de minimis exemption has increased significantly, from approximately 140 million a year to over one billion a year. This exponential increase in de minimis shipments makes it more challenging to enforce U.S. trade laws, health and safety requirements, intellectual property rights, consumer protection rules, and to block illicit synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and synthetic drug raw materials and machinery from entering the country.
 
The majority of shipments entering the United States claiming the de minimis exemption originate from several China-founded e-commerce platforms, putting American consumers at risk, undercutting American workers and businesses, and resulting in the importation of huge volumes of low-value products such as textiles and apparel into the U.S. market duty-free. A shipment is eligible for the de minimis exemption if the aggregate fair retail value of the articles imported is $800 or less. De minimis shipments enter the United States with less information than other imports and are not subject to duties and taxes.   
 
The growing volume of de minimis shipments makes it increasingly difficult to target and block illegal or unsafe shipments. Foreign corporate giants who exploit the de minimis exemption do so for a variety of reasons.  Some companies exploit the de minimis to conceal shipments of illegal and dangerous products and avoid compliance with U.S. health and safety and consumer protection laws. Other foreign entities use it to circumvent U.S. trade enforcement actions intended to level the playing field for American workers, retailers, and manufacturers.
 
With today’s announcement, the Administration is using executive authority to stop the abuse of the de minimis exemption. The Administration also calls on Congress to pass legislation this year to reform the de minimis exemption comprehensively to further protect American consumers, workers, and businesses.
 
Administration Action Intended to Reduce De Minimis Import Volumes
New Rulemaking to Reduce De Minimis Volume and Strengthen Trade Enforcement: The Administration intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would exclude from the de minimis exemption all shipments containing products covered by tariffs imposed under Sections 201 or 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, or Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. 
 

• Section 301 tariffs currently cover approximately 40% of U.S. imports, including 70% of textile and apparel imports from China. Some e-commerce platforms and other foreign sellers circumvent these tariffs by shipping items from China to the United States claiming the de minimis exemption. If finalized, these goods would no longer be eligible for the de minimis exemption.

• It would also ensure that de minimis exemption eligibility for products covered by trade enforcement actions is consistent across U.S. trade laws. Products covered by antidumping or countervailing duty orders are already excluded from de minimis exemption eligibility. 

Administration Action to Protect U.S. Consumers, Workers, and Businesses
New Rulemaking to Improve Accountability and Enforcement in De Minimis Shipments: The Administration intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the entry of low-value shipments that will propose to strengthen information collection requirements to promote greater visibility into de minimis shipments.

• This regulatory action will propose to require specific, additional data for de minimis shipments – including the 10-digit tariff classification number and the person claiming the de minimis exemption – which will improve targeting of de minimis shipments and facilitate expedited clearance of lawful de minimis shipments.

• The proposed regulatory changes will also clarify who is eligible for the administrative exemption, and requires filers to identify the person on whose behalf the exemption is being claimed.

• These new requirements would help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) protect consumers from goods that do not meet regulatory health and safety standards and protect U.S. businesses from unfair competition against imported goods that would otherwise be charged duties or restricted from entry. 

Final Rule to Prevent De Minimis Shipments from Circumventing Safety Standards: Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff intend to propose a final rule requiring importers of consumer products to file Certificates of Compliance (CoC) electronically with CBP and CPSC at the time of entry, including for de minimis shipments.

• This regulation would strengthen CBP’s and CPSC’s ability to target and block unsafe products from entering the U.S. market and would help prevent foreign companies from using the de minimis exemption to circumvent consumer protection testing and certification requirements.

Comprehensive Legislative Reforms on De Minimis Needed to Protect American Consumers, Workers, and Businesses
The Administration is pursuing significant regulatory action to address the surge in de minimis imports that put American consumers, workers, retailers, and manufacturers at risk.  But further comprehensive de minimis reforms are needed, and these reforms require congressional action.  The Administration stands ready to work with Congress to pass comprehensive de minimis reform legislation by the end of the year.  Key reforms Congress should advance include:

• Exclusion from de minimis eligibility of import-sensitive products.  Congress should act to exclude import-sensitive products, including textile and apparel products, from the de minimis exemption. 

• Exclusion from the de minimis exemption of shipments containing products that are covered by Section 301, Section 201, or Section 232 trade enforcement actions.  The Administration intends to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to exclude shipments containing products covered by Section 301, Section 201, or Section 232 trade remedies actions, but legislative action by Congress to make this statutory change would help to achieve this important reform more quickly. 

• Passage of previously proposed de minimis reforms in the Detect and Defeat Counter-Fentanyl Proposal.  These reforms would, among other actions, increase transparency and accountability under the de minimis program by requiring more data from shippers, including the product tariff classification number, and give border officials tools they need to more effectively track and target the millions of shipments coming in claiming the de minimis exemption.  The Detect and Defeat Counter-Fentanyl proposal incorporates many of the bipartisan ideas put forward by Members of Congress, and will increase CBP’s ability to detect and seize illicit drugs and the raw material used to make them, and hold drug traffickers accountable. 

Administration Action to Protect American Textile and Apparel Manufacturers
American textile and apparel producers play a critical role in the U.S. defense industrial base and support hundreds of thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the United States.  U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers are facing unfair competition from several China-founded e-commerce giants, as these companies take advantage of the de minimis exemption to ship huge volumes of textile and apparel products to American consumers. In addition to the de minimis reforms highlighted above, the Administration is exploring other decisive actions to support U.S. textile and apparel manufacturers and their workers. 

• Executive Branch Action to Expand Procurement of Certain Textile and Apparel Products:  The Administration will explore ways to increase procurement of certain textile and apparel products across agencies, as a way of ensuring that U.S. taxpayer dollars are supporting U.S. taxpayer jobs in the textile and apparel sector.

• Strengthened Textile and Apparel Enforcement:The Administration continues to prioritize enforcement efforts against illicit textile and apparel imports through intensified targeting of small package shipments, joint trade special operations, increased customs audits and foreign verifications, and the expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List.

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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Pursuant to section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Social Security Amendments of 1977 (Public Law 95-216, 42 U.S.C. 433(e)(1)), I transmit herewith a social security totalization agreement with Romania, titled “Agreement on Social Security between the United States of America and Romania,” and the accompanying legally binding administrative arrangement, titled “Administrative Arrangement between the Competent Authorities of the United States of America and Romania for the Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the United States of America and Romania” (collectively the “Agreements”).  The Agreements were signed at Bucharest on March 23, 2023.

The Agreements are similar in objective and content to the social security totalization agreements already in force with 30 countries.  Such bilateral agreements provide for limited coordination between the United States and foreign social security systems to eliminate dual social security coverage and taxation and to help prevent the lost benefit protection that can occur when workers divide their careers between two countries.

The Agreements contain all provisions mandated by section 233 of the Social Security Act and, pursuant to section 233(c)(4), other provisions which I deem appropriate to carry out the purposes of section 233.

I also transmit for the information of the Congress a report required by section 233(e)(1) of the Social Security Act and prepared by the Social Security Administration on the estimated number of individuals who will be affected by the Agreements and the Agreements’ estimated cost effect.  Also included are a summary of the main provisions and an annotated version of the Agreements with descriptions of each article.  The Department of State and the Social Security Administration have recommended the Agreements to me.

I commend to the Congress the Agreement on Social Security between the United States of America and Romania and the Administrative Arrangement between the Competent Authorities of the United States of America and Romania for the Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between the United States of America and Romania.

                              Sincerely,

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, the White House, Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency convened a roundtable with key stakeholders from the farm credit and finance community to discuss how the Biden-Harris Administration can leverage its historic investments in climate smart agriculture to reduce emissions and store carbon at scale, while opening up new revenue streams for producers.

America’s farmers, ranchers, and foresters play critical role in our fight against climate change through the implementation of climate smart agriculture practices. The Administration has sought to accelerate the expansion of climate smart agricultural practices through the Investing in America agenda by investing in innovative and science-based financial assistance, local technical support, and understanding the business case for climate smart agriculture and forestry.

Participants discussed opportunities to reduce barriers to adoption of climate smart agricultural practices, as these tools must work for operations of all sizes and ensure equity in delivery. Administration officials and participants agreed that to address the climate crisis and build stronger rural economies, solutions should continue to be locally led, science based, and encourage innovation. The discussion also highlighted the role of efforts to improve outreach and education as well as financial and environmental measurement, verification, and reporting. Administration officials sought feedback on implementation of investments, efforts to scale up climate smart agriculture, and opportunities for stacking and aligning incentives.

The discussion emphasized the impact of historic investments from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and the importance of improved financing of agricultural practices, technologies, and systems that are part of the climate solution. Participants highlighted the need for aligned and patient capital to support the adoption of climate smart agricultural practices; and, discussed approaches to standardization and scaling of finance solutions. Administration officials closed the roundtable by underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in farmers, ranchers, and forester and advancing climate smart solutions through a whole of society approach to tackling the climate crisis.

Attendees:

• Akiptan
• Climate United
• Compeer Financial
• Couser Cattle Company
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Farm Credit Council
• Farmer Mac
• Gradable
• Growers Edge
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
• Native Agriculture Financial Services
• Soil and Water Outcomes Fund

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Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive strategy for responsible innovation, the White House convened leaders from hyperscalers, artificial intelligence (AI) companies, datacenter operators, and utility companies to discuss steps to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in AI. Participants considered strategies to meet clean energy, permitting, and workforce requirements for developing large-scale AI datacenters and power infrastructure needed for advanced AI operations in the United States.
 
At the roundtable, White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Bruce Reed, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and industry leaders committed to partnering closely to maintain American leadership in AI that will achieve shared national security, economic, and environmental goals. Developing and operating leading AI in the United States is vital for protecting national security and ensuring that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy. Participants also discussed ways to create good paying jobs for workers, including roles for pipefitters and electrical workers, and keep energy costs low for consumers. The United States is the global leader in AI, and we are taking action to ensure future AI infrastructure creates jobs for American workers, and is built in the United States and powered by clean energy.
 
To accelerate public-private collaboration in advancing U.S. leadership in AI, the Administration is announcing several new actions following today’s convening:
 

• The White House is launching a new Task Force on AI Datacenter Infrastructure to coordinate policy across government. Led by the National Economic Council, National Security Council, and the White House Deputy Chief of Staff’s office, the interagency Task Force will provide streamlined coordination on policies to advance datacenter development operations in line with economic, national security, and environmental goals. The Task Force will work with AI infrastructure leaders to identify opportunities and work with agencies to ensure adequate resourcing, designate agency single points of contact, and properly prioritize AI datacenter development to reflect the importance of these projects to American national security and economic interests. Finally, the Task Force will build on recent work to identify existing authorities and areas where legislative action is needed to modify or strengthen federal authorities to support AI datacenter development.
  
• The Administration will scale up technical assistance to Federal, state, and local authorities handling datacenter permitting. The Permitting Council will work with AI datacenter developers to set comprehensive timelines for Federal agency action and will allocate funds to agencies that accelerate evaluations for FAST-41 covered clean energy projects that support datacenters.
  
• The Department of Energy (DOE) is creating an AI datacenter engagement team to leverage programs to support AI data center development. DOE has curated a suite of resources – including loans, grants, tax credits, and technical assistance – that can help datacenter owners and operators secure clean, reliable energy solutions. DOE is also planning a series of convenings with datacenter developers, clean energy solutions providers, grid operators, and other stakeholders to drive development of innovative solutions.
  
• The Department of Energy will continue to share resources on repurposing closed coal sites with datacenter developers. Retired and retiring coal sites provide a unique opportunity for redevelopment of energy infrastructure that can power new data centers. Existing land and facilities at the power plant site can be repurposed, such as electricity infrastructure for connections to the grid. Combining site features with financial incentives available from Federal or state and local authorities can make attractive opportunities for project developers.
  
• The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will identify Nationwide Permits that can help expedite the construction of eligible AI datacenters and share that information with AI datacenter developers to expedite critical projects.
  
• Industry leaders at today’s convening committed to enhance cooperation with policy makers and explore further solutions, through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
  
• Hyperscalers at today’s convening reaffirmed their commitments to achieving net zero carbon emissions and to procuring clean energy to power their operations.

 
Each of these steps advances significant work already undertaken by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure the United States leads the way in responsible AI innovation and development, including through President Biden’s landmark 2023 Executive Order on AI. These actions will enable datacenters catalyzing the industries of the future to be built here in the United States by American workers.
 
Participants in the convening included:
 
Industry:
Andres Gluski, President and CEO, AES
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet
Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon
Dario Amodei, CEO, Anthropic
Michael Intrator, CEO, CoreWeave
Arshad Mansoor, President and CEO, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Calvin Butler, President and CEO, Exelon
Javier Olivan, Chief Operating Officer, Meta
Brad Smith, President and Vice Chairman, Microsoft
Jensen Huang, President and CEO, Nvidia
Sam Altman, CEO, OpenAI
Chad Williams, Chairman and CEO, Quality Technology Services (QTS)
 
Government:
Jeff Zients, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff
Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy
Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce
Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff
Lael Brainard, Assistant to the President and National Economic Advisor
Jake Sullivan, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy
Ali Zaidi, Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor
Kristine Lucius, Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President
Navtej Dhillon, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
Neelesh Nerurkar, Senior Advisor for Energy and Climate, National Economic Council
Jack Groarke, Senior Policy Advisor, National Economic Council
Ben Buchanan, Special Advisor for Artificial Intelligence
Tarun Chhabra, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Technology and National Security
Benjamin Della Rocca, Director for Technology and National Security
Christopher Davis, Chief of Staff, Department of Energy
Carla Frisch, Acting Executive Director and Principal Deputy Director, Office of Policy, Department of Energy
Ted Dean, Counselor to the Secretary, Department of Commerce

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Tomorrow, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which has transformed our Nation’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking while also providing communities with the tools necessary to support survivors and save lives.  I was proud to write VAWA and champion it three decades ago, and I am even prouder to honor its lasting legacy today.

Before VAWA, our country did not talk about violence against women as a national epidemic or an issue the Government had to address.  As a society, we often overlooked domestic violence — calling it a family matter, not a crime.  Too few police officers were trained on how to properly respond to domestic violence, and there were not enough places for survivors to go for the help they needed or the justice they deserved.  There was no national hotline, and many survivors’ stories went untold. 

That is why, as a United States Senator, I worked closely with brave and committed survivors and advocates to write VAWA ‑- and with the incredible efforts of activists and women’s rights leaders, we got it passed.  Courageous survivors spoke out about the abuse they had endured, bringing this hidden epidemic out of the shadows and changing the way America saw this issue.  VAWA was a game changer.  We began to increase justice for survivors and accountability for perpetrators.  And we finally acknowledged ending gender-based violence as a shared priority for the Nation and turned to developing the coordinated response that survivors need and deserve. 

Beginning in 1994, VAWA has delivered critical resources and support to help survivors of gender-based violence.  Shelters, rape crisis centers, housing, and legal assistance were made available, and funding was provided to train law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, and judges to improve our justice system’s response to survivors.  We also created the first-ever National Domestic Violence Hotline, which has provided millions of people with lifesaving, confidential support and this year answered its seven millionth call.

I have worked across the aisle to reauthorize VAWA four times since its initial signing, each time making this critical law even stronger.  We strengthened protections against stalking, dating violence, trafficking, and sexual assault, expanded access to justice for Tribal communities, and improved services for immigrant, older adult, and LGBTQI+ survivors, among other underserved communities.  As President, I signed the most recent reauthorization of VAWA in 2022, and secured the highest-ever funding level for VAWA implementation.  We provided support for survivors and invested in prevention efforts and educational programs so that we can put a stop to violence and abuse before it occurs.  And we established a new Federal civil cause of action for individuals whose intimate visual images are disclosed without their consent.  

My Administration has prioritized putting an end to gender-based violence even beyond VAWA.  I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, which narrowed the “boyfriend loophole” to help keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.  And I established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.  We put in place new protections to support survivors and address sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace and released the first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, an all-of-government approach to preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence.  And through the American Rescue Plan, we have invested $1 billion in supplemental funding for rape crisis centers, community support organizations, and other services for gender-based violence survivors.

We have led historic, bipartisan military justice reforms to ensure that prosecutorial decisions in cases of gender-based violence are fully independent from the chain of command and better protect survivors in our military.  My Administration has restored and strengthened vital protections under Title IX to help keep students and employees safe from sexual assault and harassment on campus.  And Vice President Kamala Harris and I launched a Federal task force that has taken concrete steps toward prevention, accountability for perpetrators, research, and support for survivors of online harassment and abuse, including launching the first 24/7 national helpline for survivors of image-based abuse.

When I presented VAWA to the Senate all those years ago, I envisioned a world where every woman could live free from fear, free from violence, and free from abuse.  We have made tremendous strides toward achieving this vision, but there is still much more to do.  On this milestone anniversary, let us recommit to creating a society that is truly safe and where we all agree that even one case of gender-based violence is too many.  And let us honor the survivors and advocates, whose powerful voices and tireless dedication have changed our world for the better.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 13, 2024, as the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act.  I call upon each of us to change the culture of violence against women and provide meaningful support to all survivors.  Together, we can transform the country and build a Nation where all people live free of violence and abuse.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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