Presidential Actions

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT: Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 621 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA), I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State:

(1)  the authority under section 506(a)(2) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to $60 million in articles and services from the inventory and resources of any agency of the United States Government and military education and training from the Department of Defense for the purposes and under the authorities of chapter 8 of part I of the FAA to provide anti-crime and counternarcotics assistance to countries that contribute personnel to the Multinational Security Support Mission for Haiti and to the Haitian National Police; and

(2)  the authority to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.

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

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  Policy.  The Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR), established by the Congress in December 2022 under section 2104 of Public Law 117-328, is playing a critical role in the Federal Government’s pandemic preparedness efforts.  The OPPR is providing advice, within the Executive Office of the President, on policy related to preparedness for, and response to, pandemic and other biological threats that may impact national security.  The OPPR is also supporting my Administration’s continued work to address COVID-19 and other public health threats, facilitating coordination and communication among executive departments and agencies to ensure that the United States can quickly detect, identify, and respond to such threats as necessary.  At this stage of my Administration’s response to COVID-19, I have determined that certain Executive Orders are no longer necessary and that certain roles and responsibilities established by other Executive Orders related to COVID-19 should be transferred to the OPPR.

Sec. 2.  Revocations.  Executive Order 13910 of March 23, 2020 (Preventing Hoarding of Health and Medical Resources to Respond to the Spread of COVID-19), Executive Order 13991 of January 20, 2021 (Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing), and Executive Order 13998 of January 21, 2021 (Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel), are hereby revoked.

Sec. 3.  Transfer of Responsibilities.  Responsibilities and duties of the Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response and Counselor to the President (COVID-19 Response Coordinator), including responsibilities and duties specified in Executive Order 13987 of January 20, 2021 (Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security), Executive Order 13994 of January 21, 2021 (Ensuring a Data-Driven Response to COVID-19 and Future High-Consequence Public Health Threats), and Executive Order 13996 of January 21, 2021 (Establishing the COVID-19 Pandemic Testing Board and Ensuring a Sustainable Public Health Workforce for COVID-19 and Other Biological Threats), are transferred to the Director of the OPPR.  The positions of COVID-19 Response Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator of the COVID-19 Response, as established by section 2 of Executive Order 13987, are hereby terminated.

Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 12, 2024.

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Heather M. Cahoon, of Montana, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a term expiring October 6, 2024, vice Eric Drake Eberhard, term expired.

     Heather M. Cahoon, of Montana, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a term expiring October 6, 2030.  (Reappointment)

     Ann C. Fisher, of South Dakota, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission for a term expiring October 14, 2030.  (Reappointment)

     Amanda S. Jacobsen, of Washington, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

     Ashley Jay Elizabeth Poling, of North Carolina, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission for a term expiring November 22, 2030.  (Reappointment)

     Shirley Sachi Sagawa, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2029.  (Reappointment)

     Christophe Andre Tocco, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Career Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

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During Black Maternal Health Week, we recommit to ending the maternal health crisis that is taking the lives of far too many of our Nation’s mothers.

Women in America are dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than women in any other developed nation.  Black women face even more risk and are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.  That is in no small part because of a long history of systemic racism and bias.  Studies show that when Black women suffer from severe injuries or pregnancy complications or simply ask for assistance, they are often dismissed or ignored in the health care settings that are supposed to care for them.  People of color — including expecting mothers — also bear the brunt of environmental injustices like air and water pollution, which worsen health outcomes.  Too often, Black mothers lack access to safe and secure housing, affordable transportation, and affordable, healthy food.  This is unjust and unacceptable.

That is why my Administration has worked to address this crisis from the very beginning.  Vice President Kamala Harris came into office as a key leader on maternal health and continues to fight for improved maternal health outcomes, elevating the issue nationally and convening experts and activists to find solutions.  My Administration’s first piece of historic legislation — the American Rescue Plan — gave States the option to provide a full year of postpartum coverage to women on Medicaid, increasing it from just 60 days previously.  Now, 45 States, Washington, D.C., and the United States Virgin Islands provide a full year of this critical care.  We also made coverage under the Affordable Care Act more affordable, saving millions of families an average of $800 per year on health insurance premiums.

My Administration also released the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which outlines actions the Federal Government will take to combat maternal mortality and improve maternal health.  To start, we created a new “Birthing-Friendly” hospital designation that highlights hospitals and health systems that offer high-quality maternal care — ensuring that expecting mothers know where to go to get the help they need.  To find out which facilities are “Birthing-Friendly,” go to medicare.gov/care-compare/. 

Mental health care is health care — it is so important that women have access to it throughout pregnancy and beyond.  My Administration launched the Maternal Mental Health Hotline so that the one in five women in America who experience maternal mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder can get the support they need.  New and expecting mothers can call 1-833-TLC-MAMA — a confidential, 24-hour, toll-free number — to connect with professional counselors.  Tens of thousands of women have already taken advantage of this valuable hotline, and we know that being able to access support in times of need literally saves lives.  Additionally, we are supporting and expanding maternal mental health screening programs, including for postpartum depression.  We are partnering with community-based organizations to help pregnant women access services that treat substance use disorder and support victims of domestic violence.

My Administration is working to grow and diversify the maternal health workforce to better serve expecting mothers by helping health care providers hire and train physicians, certified midwives, doulas, and community health workers.  I also signed legislation to ensure employers make reasonable accommodations for pregnant and nursing mothers, who deserve job security and to have their workplace rights respected by expanding the use of break time and access to private spaces for millions of nursing parents.  I also remain committed to addressing the long-standing inequities that Black communities have faced and that continue to damage the health and wellness of Black mothers.  For example, we have been working to end discrimination in housing, make public transit more accessible to everyone no matter where they live, expand access to healthy and affordable food, and tackle dangerous environmental injustices that take the biggest toll on families from communities of color.

There is still so much to do to ensure safety and dignity in pregnancy and childbirth.  This week, we extend our gratitude to all the maternal health care workers, who are on the frontlines of this work.  Together, I know that we can make America the best country in the world to have a baby.

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 April 11 through April 17, 2024, as Black Maternal Health Week.  I call upon all Americans to raise awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States by understanding the consequences of institutional racism; recognizing the scope of this problem and the need for urgent solutions; amplifying the voices and experiences of Black women, families, and communities; and committing to building a world in which Black women do not have to fear for their safety, well-being, dignity, or lives before, during, and after pregnancy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of April, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     On April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia; acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, which have been the subject of United Nations Security Council resolutions; and violations of the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.

     On July 20, 2012, the President issued Executive Order 13620 to take additional steps to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 in view of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 of February 22, 2012, and Resolution 2002 of July 29, 2011, and to address:  exports of charcoal from Somalia, which generate significant revenue for al-Shabaab; the misappropriation of Somali public assets; and certain acts of violence committed against civilians in Somalia, all of which contribute to the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia.

     The situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on April 12, 2010, and the measures adopted on that date and on July 20, 2012, to deal with that threat, must continue in effect beyond April 12, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536. 

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


                                                                         JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    April 9, 2024.

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TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:


     Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 of April 12, 2010, with respect to Somalia is to continue in effect beyond April 12, 2024.

     The situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536 with respect to Somalia.


                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.



THE WHITE HOUSE,
    April 9, 2024.

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TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021, which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 14039 of August 20, 2021, Executive Order 14068 of March 11, 2022, Executive Order 14071 of April 6, 2022, and Executive Order 14114 of December 22, 2023, is to continue in effect beyond April 15, 2024.

Specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation — in particular, efforts to undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and partners; to engage in and facilitate malicious cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies and partners; to foster and use transnational corruption to influence foreign governments; to pursue extraterritorial activities targeting dissidents or journalists; to undermine security in countries and regions important to United States national security; and to violate well-established principles of international law, including respect for the territorial integrity of states — continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024 with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 9, 2024.

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On April 15, 2021, by Executive Order 14024, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.  On March 8, 2022, I issued Executive Order 14066 to expand the scope of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024.  On August 20, 2021, March 11, 2022, April 6, 2022, and December 22, 2023, I issued Executive Orders 14039, 14068, 14071, and 14114, respectively, to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024.

Specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation — in particular, efforts to undermine the conduct of free and fair democratic elections and democratic institutions in the United States and its allies and partners; to engage in and facilitate malicious cyber-enabled activities against the United States and its allies and partners; to foster and use transnational corruption to influence foreign governments; to pursue extraterritorial activities targeting dissidents or journalists; to undermine security in countries and regions important to United States national security; and to violate well-established principles of international law, including respect for the territorial integrity of states -‑ continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024, which was expanded in scope by Executive Order 14066, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Orders 14039, 14068, 14071, and 14114, must continue in effect beyond April 15, 2024.

Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14024.

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

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    April 9, 2024.

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    On this day, we honor the more than half a million brave patriots who sacrificed their freedom as prisoners of war — risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans.  We recommit to fulfilling our country’s one truly sacred obligation:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home and when they do not.

Last September, I visited a memorial in Hanoi for my friend, former United States Senator John McCain, who had been imprisoned there for five and a half years when he was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy.  I reflected on the unfathomable conditions and pain that he and so many others have endured as prisoners of war.  It was a solemn reminder of the grave costs of war and the immense sacrifices American service members are willing to make to defend our Nation.  They have always embodied the highest expectations of our democracy — daring all and risking all so that our country remains free and our people remain safe.  We owe them and their families, caregivers, and survivors a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay but will never cease trying to fulfill.

Today, and every day, we recommit to this vow.  We honor the unbending courage and unshakable devotion of our former prisoners of war.  We reaffirm our commitment to bringing home all those still missing or unaccounted for.  We pledge to keep faith in all these heroes and their families — just as they have kept ultimate faith in our Nation.

May God bless our former prisoners of war and their families, caregivers, and survivors — and may God protect our troops.

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 April 9, 2024, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day.  I call upon Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all former prisoners of war as our Nation expresses its eternal gratitude for their service.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of April, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Alaska and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm, flooding, and landslides on November 20, 2023.

Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm, flooding, and landslides in the Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Southeast Island Regional Educational Attendance Area, and the City and Borough of Wrangell.

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

Mr. Brian F. Schiller of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

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

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

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

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend Kwibuka 30, the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide, on April 7, 2024, in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States of America, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation:

The Honorable Eric Kneedler, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Rwanda

The Honorable Mary Catherine Phee, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State

The Honorable Casey Redmon, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Legislative Affairs, National Security Council, The White House

The Honorable Monde Muyangwa, Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development

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    America was founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives.  Today, we champion the equal rights and dignity of the millions of Americans on the autism spectrum, and we celebrate the immense contributions of all neurodiverse people, whose perspectives and experiences make America a richer Nation.

     Some 5.4 million American adults and 1 in 36 children have been diagnosed with autism.  Their experiences with the condition vary widely, but their talents and potential are too often misunderstood or overlooked.  Autistic people routinely face unnecessary obstacles to securing employment and health care and children face bullying and barriers to education.  We can work to end these disparities and ensure they have an equal opportunity to reach their dreams by making sure that people with autism and those who support them have the resources and tools they need to communicate, grow, work, and achieve greater independence.  

     Early diagnosis can make a big difference, which is why my Administration is funding groundbreaking research to boost access to diagnoses and services that can help autistic people of all ages thrive.  The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services are also working to ensure that young children with disabilities, including autism, have access to high-quality, inclusive early childhood programs so that they can thrive as well as helping schools leverage Medicaid to deliver critical health care services.  Further, my Administration released guidance on how schools can obtain, use, and support assistive technology devices that are essential to the success of some people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Department of Education is helping public schools avoid discriminatory discipline for autistic students, whose needs can be misunderstood, while also working to get students with autism and their teachers the resources they need to thrive.  We are working to boost understanding among community members who can help keep people with autism safe — I was proud to sign a reauthorization of Kevin and Avonte’s Law, expanding training for first responders and caregivers.  

     My Administration is also making it easier for all Americans to get the health care they need.  We protected and strengthened the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, expanding health care coverage to millions of Americans.  At the same time, we lowered health insurance premiums by $800 per year for millions of Americans.  Through the American Rescue Plan, we provided $37 billion to make it easier for people with disabilities, including autism, to receive the services they need at home and stay active in their communities.  My Budget requests another $150 billion over the next decade to further expand and improve these life-changing services.   

     We owe everyone in this country a fair shot at the American Dream, so we are also working to increase job opportunities for autistic and other historically marginalized Americans who have been shut out for too long.  My Administration is providing State and local governments, private companies, and nonprofits with Federal funding to hire more Americans with disabilities, including those with autism.  I signed an Executive Order to make the Federal workforce more inclusive, and I eliminated the unjust use of sub-minimum wages for people with disabilities by Federal contractors, working to ensure every American has equal protection under the law.   

     Globally, we are advancing disability rights as part of our work to promote democracy, prosperity, and inclusion.  We are prioritizing disability rights in policy discussions with other nations, and we are working through the United States Agency for International Development and as co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network to stand for the dignity and equal rights of people with disabilities worldwide.
Diversity in all its forms is one of America’s greatest strengths.  Today, we recommit to making the promise of America real for every American on the autism spectrum, upholding our most basic values of decency, fairness, and respect. 

     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 April 2, 2024, as World Autism Acceptance Day.  I call upon all Americans to learn more about autism to improve early diagnosis, to learn more about the experiences of autistic people from autistic people, and to build more welcoming and inclusive communities to support people with autism.
  
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
first day of April, 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-eighth.

                        JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Sexual violence affects every community in this Nation, leaving millions of Americans — our neighbors, friends, colleagues, and loved ones — scarred.  For many survivors, healing can take years, and for some, the pain never heals completely.  During National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to standing with survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and bringing an end to a culture that has allowed sexual assault to occur for far too long.

     More than half of all women and nearly one-third of all men in America have experienced sexual violence. The rate of sexual violence is even higher for people of color.  Survivors have faced this violence wherever life happens — at work, at school, at home, and online.  It can upend people’s jobs and contribute to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.  It is an insult to our most basic humanity and everything we stand for as a Nation. 

     Ending gender-based violence has been the cause of my life.  Thirty years ago, as a United States Senator, I wrote and championed the original Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  This law gave us the tools to prevent and prosecute sexual assault, provide support for survivors, and save lives.  Every time we have re-authorized it, we have made it stronger.  In December 2022, we secured $700 million for VAWA programs — the highest funding level in history — for the next fiscal year.  Those funds have helped strengthen the public health response for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and their children, and expand access to sexual assault medical forensic examinations and culturally specific resources for LGBTQI+ survivors, rural areas, and other underserved and marginalized communities.  The reauthorization also established a new offense for Federal law enforcement officers who commit sexual misconduct under color of law and expanded Tribal jurisdiction so that non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault can be prosecuted for crimes they commit on Tribal lands. 

     My Administration has made ending gender-based violence a top priority in many other ways too.  Our American Rescue Plan delivered $1 billion in funding for rape crisis centers, community support organizations, and other sexual violence services nationwide.  We released the first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, advancing a comprehensive Government-wide approach to preventing and addressing gender-based violence across the country.  When we passed the most significant gun law in nearly 30 years, we narrowed the so-called “boyfriend loophole,” keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.  To combat online harassment and abuse, I worked with Vice President Kamala Harris to launch a Federal task force that has taken concrete steps on prevention, accountability, research, and support for survivors and launched the first 24/7 national helpline for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. 

     We are also ensuring people are safe from abuse at school and work.  I signed an Executive Order that called on the Department of Education to protect students from discrimination based on sex, including sex-based harassment and sexual violence, and I remain steadfast in my commitment to ensuring all students have an educational environment free from discrimination.  I have also signed laws limiting the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements for those who have been sexually assaulted or harassed in the workplace and ending forced arbitration so that survivors can get their day in court.  Additionally, I have asked that Federal agencies take action to make leave more accessible for employees seeking safety and recovering from gender-based violence.  Furthermore, I have spearheaded historic military justice reforms to better protect survivors in our military and ensure that prosecutorial decisions in cases of gender-based violence are fully independent from the chain of command.  

     This National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, let us each recommit to stepping up and doing our part to intervene in, prevent, and end sexual assault in our communities.  Let us redouble our efforts to support and stand with survivors of sexual assault.  Let us pledge to work together to create a society that is truly safe, where all Americans can pursue their dreams without fear of assault, abuse, or harassment. 

     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 laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2024 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.  I urge all Americans to support sexual assault survivors, including when survivors reach out and disclose abuse, and to strengthen our efforts to prevent this abuse in the first place.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                        JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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I often say that we are a good Nation because we are a good people, and during National Donate Life Month, we are reminded of why that is true as we celebrate all the selfless organ donors across our country, who have saved countless lives.  We honor the families and friends of donors who have supported their loved ones, and we recognize the professionals devoted to the transplant community.  We call upon more Americans to register as organ, eye, tissue, or bone marrow donors and share the gift of life with those in need. 

Across the country, organ transplants are being performed at a record pace because of the incredible generosity and courage of organ donors.  America’s doctors have performed over one million organ transplants to date.  Each year, thousands of profoundly compassionate Americans choose to donate their organs, saving the lives of loved ones and people they have never even met.

Despite this progress, there is still so much more to do until every person who needs an organ receives one.  More than 100,000 people, including nearly 2,000 children, are currently on the waiting list for an organ transplant — the majority of whom are people of color.  With a shortage of organ donors and a high demand for them, 17 Americans die each day while waiting for a transplant.

We can each change that.  After someone passes away, their organ donation can save up to 8 people and can improve 75 more lives through eye and tissue donation.  What an extraordinary legacy to leave:  giving people in need a second chance at life and giving families futures with their loved ones.

My Administration is working to improve the organ donation process and ensure living donors and recipients have access to quality, affordable health care.  For the first time in nearly 40 years, we are breaking up the monopoly that has controlled the organ transplant system.  A bipartisan law I signed, the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act, will transform the organ transplant network by increasing competition in the contracts process.  This law allows us to implement an independent board of directors that can strengthen accountability and oversight. In addition, we established the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Modernization Initiative, which will bring more transparency to the system and spearhead needed reforms.  These actions are critical first steps toward cutting down the wait list for organs. 

We have also taken action to extend Medicare coverage of vital drugs for kidney transplant patients and are working to ensure high-quality care for transplants.  This year, through my Inflation Reduction Act, out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare will be capped at $3,500 a year — even for medications that cost some organ recipients many times that.

In addition, I worked with the Congress to secure $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).  The scientists, innovators, and public health professionals receiving ARPA-H funding are working day and night to revolutionize the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and other deadly diseases. In time, these breakthroughs could one day reduce the need for organ transplants or eliminate the need for anti-rejection medication.  For example, to make it easier and faster for patients to get a transplant, ARPA-H has already invested $26 million into addressing organ transplant shortages through on-demand 3D tissue printing, beginning with a human heart. 

Millions of Americans have embraced the American spirit of helping those in need by signing up to be organ donors.  Any adult can register, regardless of age or medical history.  In many States you can sign up by simply checking a box when you renew your driver’s license.  I encourage all Americans to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation by visiting organdonor.gov or bloodstemcell.hrsa.gov for more information on donating bone marrow.  This National Donate Life Month, let us redouble our efforts to save and improve more lives by lending a hand to our fellow Americans in need of life-saving organ transplants. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2024 as National Donate Life Month.  I call on every person who can to share the gift of life and hope by becoming an organ, eye, tissue, or bone marrow donor.  I also call on this Nation to observe National Pediatric Transplant Week from April 21 through April 27, a week dedicated to ending the pediatric transplant waiting list.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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 Today, as we honor César Chávez’s life and legacy, we recommit to fulfilling the fundamental vision of La Causa:  to give every worker the dignity and respect they deserve and ensure everyone has a fair shot at the American Dream.

     César Chávez defined extraordinary moral courage.  He was a migrant farm worker who spent long, strenuous hours working in the fields.  He and his fellow workers received unlivable wages and labored in unjust working conditions.  Even then, a man of unyielding faith and an immovable spirit, Chávez saw every reason to pursue what he knew was the truth of this country:  The people who put food on America’s tables and sustain our Nation deserve their fair share.  

     Alongside legendary activist Dolores Huerta, he founded the United Farm Workers.  Ever since beginning their work in 1962, this union has led legendary marches, strikes, and boycotts.  Chávez himself knocked on doors for years and fasted for weeks on end to bring light to issues facing farm workers.  Together, they made historic progress, like earning farm workers the right to collectively bargain and ensuring safe working conditions and better pay.  As a leader, Chávez not only empowered tens of thousands of farm workers to make their voices heard, he also inspired an entire generation of Latino leaders to forge a better future for all of us.  

     I am proud to keep a bust of César Chávez in the Oval Office.  It is a daily reminder of our shared commitment to America’s workers and our labor unions.  My dad used to say that a job is about a lot more than a paycheck — it is about dignity.  But if the paycheck is insufficient and the working conditions are subpar, a job can never offer someone the dignity they deserve.  That is why since day one of my Administration, I have been working to build an economy that works for everyone — one that grows from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.  So far, the economy has created nearly 15 million jobs — one of the greatest job creation periods in our Nation’s history.  Unemployment has been below 4 percent for the longest stretch in 50 years.  America’s support for unions is higher today than at any time in nearly 60 years.  All of this progress is proof that when America’s unions do well, we all do well.  

     I am also proud to be the most pro-worker and pro-union President in American history.  Since I took office, the Department of Labor has recovered over $21 million in back pay and damages, ensuring that nearly 26,000 farm workers received the wages they earned.  My Administration proposed a new rule last year that would extend overtime pay to as many as 3.6 million workers, ensuring that they are compensated fairly for the hours they spend at work.  I also signed into law the Butch Lewis Emergency Pension Plan Relief Act, which protects pensions for millions of union workers — one of the most significant achievements for union workers and retirees in over 50 years.  The Department of Labor is also working to protect workers exposed to extreme heat, including conducting targeted inspections in industries with high incidences of heat-related illnesses.  They published a rule that strengthens services to migrant and seasonal farm workers by increasing outreach to farm workers and requiring that outreach field visits involve conversations about farm workers’ rights and protections. 

     Migrant workers can find helpful resources and more information about their employment-related rights in America at MigrantWorker.gov or Trabajadormigrante.gov.  These websites have information about recruitment, working in America, returning home safely, and more.  

     I know that there is still work to be done to ensure that we are taking care of our workers.  We need to finally provide undocumented farm workers a pathway to citizenship.  That is why I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.  I also believe every worker in America should have the free and fair choice to join a union or organize and bargain collectively without employer intimidation or coercion.  That is why I encouraged the Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act.  I remain steadfast in my call to ensure paid sick leave for every worker in America and to improve conditions for people who work on farms and ranches and across the food and agricultural industry.  

     César Chávez once said about the power of La Causa:  “Once social change begins it cannot be reversed.  You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read.  You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride.  You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore…you cannot stamp out a people’s cause.”  On this day, we recognize that César Chávez and his fellow farm workers made progress that can never be taken back.  They fought for a sacred cause that continues to beat in the hearts of the American people:  Every worker — no matter who they are, where they are from, or what they do — deserves dignity and respect. 

     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 March 31, 2024, as César Chávez Day.  I call upon all Americans to observe this day as a day of service and learning with appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor César E. Chávez’s enduring legacy.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                        JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Cancer has touched nearly every American family.  During National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month , we honor the enormous courage and strength of the millions of Americans facing the disease today and of the many millions of survivors, whose resilience inspires us all.  Together, we will end cancer as we know it and get patients and families the quality care and support that they deserve.

In recent decades, we have made enormous progress toward beating cancer.  In addition to new medicines and therapies, we have developed early detection methods and discovered prevention measures that extend and save lives.  Studies have shown that over 30 percent of cancers diagnosed today could be prevented through methods like decreasing environmental and toxic exposures to carcinogens and making lifestyle changes like reducing tobacco use and improving nutrition.  Still, cancer is the second-leading cause of death in our country.

I came to office determined to change that.  Beating cancer is personal to my family, as it is to millions of families across America and around the world.  That is why the First Lady and I re-ignited the Cancer Moonshot.  The goal is to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent in the next 25 years — starting by preventing the cancers we know we can stop and catching others as early as possible.  We are also working to turn more cancers from death sentences into chronic diseases that people can live with and to create more supportive experiences for patients and their families.  To help achieve that, I established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $4 billion in bipartisan funding to date to help the scientists, innovators, and public health professionals who are working day and night to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancers and other deadly diseases.  We are not just working toward incremental changes — we are looking for quantum leaps forward.  

It is important for every American to know that cancer screenings are lifesaving — early detection can make all the difference in beating the disease.  That is why my Administration is working to ensure that every American can get them.  During my first year in office, we expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to pay for cancer screenings and primary care visits.  More Americans have insurance than under any President, ensuring that millions of Americans now have health coverage for those services and more.  My Administration is also helping millions of families save an average of $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  To increase access to early detection, my Administration has partnered with community health centers to provide screenings closer to folks’ homes, and we extended health care coverage for lung cancer screenings.  Further, we have closed loopholes so that new stool-based screening tests and follow-up screenings do not lead to surprise costs for patients undergoing colonoscopies.  Eliminating these barriers to screenings will save and extend countless lives.  To learn your personal risk factors and know which screenings are right for you, please talk to your health care provider, visit cdc.gov/cancerscreening or cancer.gov/screeningtests, or call 1‑800-4-CANCER for more information.  We encourage everyone to schedule routine cancer screening appointments.

At the same time, healthy life habits — like maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing exposure to tobacco smoke — can prevent certain cancers, so we are working to help all Americans get and stay healthy. Our National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health supports expanding incentives to purchase fruits and vegetables with SNAP, ensures more kids have access to free and nutritious school lunches, and expands access to nutrition and obesity counseling. For help with quitting smoking — the leading cause of cancer in America — visit SmokeFree.gov, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or text QUITNOW to 333888.

My Administration is working to reduce Americans’ exposure to environmental toxins that can lead to cancer.  Through our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, my Administration has invested billions of dollars to clean up toxic sites and help States replace lead pipes and service lines, protecting millions of families from exposure to so-called “forever chemicals” and other contaminants that increase people’s risk of getting cancer.  I was also proud to sign the PACT Act, ensuring that veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service get the cancer care and benefits that they deserve.

Ending cancer is the kind of big and ambitious goal that America has always embraced.  For the patients fighting for a better day, the survivors who give us strength, the caregivers who share their hearts, the lives we have lost, and the lives we can save, let us recommit to this vital work.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim April 2024 as National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and beat cancer.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     This month, we honor the rich heritage, history, and hopes of the more than 3.5 million Arab Americans across our country who have helped write the American story and move our Nation ever forward embodying the truth that diversity has been and always will be our country’s greatest strength.

     People with Arab heritage were among the many immigrants who came to our country’s shores with a range of cultures, customs, backgrounds, and beliefs, sharing a common courage to start new chapters in an unfamiliar land.  As they built their lives, they helped build America — from fighting for our independence in the Continental Army to serving the cause of freedom during World War II to helping build cities and communities across our Nation, often in the face of discrimination and hate.

     This legacy of courage, resilience, and service lives on today in Arab Americans across our country.  We see it in the brave Arab American service members and public servants, who continue to defend our Nation’s security and freedom.  We see it in the Arab American engineers, scientists, and medical professionals, who are pioneering new breakthroughs and charting a better future for all.  We see it in Arab American business owners and entrepreneurs, who are creating jobs and lifting up communities across the Nation.  We see it in Arab American teachers and community leaders, who continue to inspire the next generation.  And every day, I see it in the Arab Americans serving throughout my Administration, who are helping us build a stronger, more just Nation. 

     But as we come together this month to honor these contributions, we must also pause to reflect on the pain being felt by so many in the Arab American community with the war in Gaza. The trauma, death, and destruction in Israel and Gaza have claimed, and continue to claim, far too many innocent lives ‑- including family and friends of Arab Americans across our Nation.  I am devastated by the suffering of so many and mourn the lives taken, and I pray for the loved ones left behind and for all the innocent men, women, and children living in dire circumstances.

     My Administration is working with partners across the region to respond to the urgent humanitarian crisis, deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza, free the hostages taken during the brutal Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th, and establish an immediate ceasefire that would last at least six weeks, which we would work to build into something more enduring.  We are also focused on ensuring that calm is maintained and restored in neighboring states, including Lebanon. We must preserve the space for peace — for a two-state solution with equal measures of security and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis.  We are committed to working with the Arab American community, who remain critical advocates for the Palestinian and Arab people and a just and lasting peace.

     This challenge also reminds us of our responsibility as a Nation here at home.  Across our country, Arab Americans remain the target of bias and discrimination — including harassment, hate crimes, racist rhetoric, and violent attacks. In recent months, a Palestinian child was killed in his home, a young man was stabbed near a college campus, and a group of students were shot while just walking down the street — tragic reminders that hate never goes away. It only hides. It is up to all of us to give hate no safe harbor.

     That is why we are fighting against the rise of all forms of hate, including against Arab Americans.  On my first day in office, I rescinded the discriminatory Muslim travel ban that prevented individuals from primarily Middle Eastern and African countries from entering the United States.  In 2022, my Administration convened the first United We Stand Summit, which brought together interfaith leaders to counter hate-motivated violence and foster unity.  We are also developing our country’s first-ever National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Related Forms of Bias and Discrimination in the United States, which will identify concrete ways to address the scourge of hate against Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab American communities.  To ensure Arab Americans are fully represented, my Administration finalized the addition of a new Middle Eastern and North African option for the 2030 census and other forms that ask for people’s race and ethnicity — a vital step to ensure that Arab Americans are seen, counted, and valued as new policy is being made.

     America is the only Nation in the world founded on an idea:  that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives.  We have never fully lived up to that promise, but we have never walked away from it either.  This month, we vow that we never will.  Together, we recommit to this promise of America by honoring and advancing the dignity, equity, and security of Arab Americans across our Nation.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2024 as Arab American Heritage Month.  I call upon all Americans to learn more about the history, culture, and achievements of Arab Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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During National Public Health Week, we celebrate the life-saving care of public health professionals who work tirelessly to promote our country’s health, safety, and well-being.  We recognize that the healthier Americans are as individuals, the stronger we are as a Nation. 

In the last few years, we have made enormous progress in recovering from the pandemic, vaccinating 230 million Americans and getting kids back in school.  None of that would have been possible without the courage and dedication of millions of first responders and social workers, doctors and nurses, and scientists and researchers.  Public health professionals have always played an essential role in the life of our Nation — working to boost immunizations, improve safety standards for food and transportation, protect clean air and water, and more.  We owe them for carrying us through tough times and making our country healthier and more prosperous long-term.  We have to help make their jobs easier by investing in the health of the American people.

I have long said that health care should be a right in this country, not a privilege.  That is why my Administration expanded coverage through the Affordable Care Act.  Today, more Americans have health care coverage than under any other President, and millions of families are saving an average of $800 per year on insurance premiums.  We have also invested $7.6 billion in community health centers so people in rural and underserved areas can get care close to home.  After years of trying, we have succeeded in reducing prescription drug costs — for example, capping insulin at $35 per month for seniors on Medicare, down from as much as $400, and finally getting Medicare the authority to negotiate lower drug prices, as the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have long done.  Starting next year, no senior on Medicare will have to pay more than $2,000 per year in total out-of-pocket drug costs — not even for expensive cancer medications that cost many times more.

At the same time, we are funding scientific research that will help us make quantum leaps forward in the prevention, detection, and treatment of deadly diseases.  I established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding for scientists, innovators, and public health professionals making these advances.  Further, the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot, setting a bold goal to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years and boost support for people impacted by cancer.  We also launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research to close research gaps and maximize our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat health conditions in women, like cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and endometriosis.

I am doing all I can to protect women’s fundamental freedom to make their own health care decisions.  In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the constitutional right to choose, tens of millions of Americans are living under extreme State abortion bans that put women’s health and lives at risk and threaten doctors with jail time for providing the health care their patients need.  In response, my Administration has taken steps to safeguard access to emergency medical care, support the ability to travel for reproductive health care, and strengthen privacy protections for patients and health care providers.  I will keep pressing the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade into Federal law.  It is the only way to ensure reproductive freedom for women in every State.  At the same time, Vice President Harris is leading the effort to combat the maternal health crisis that is gripping our country, which has been especially devastating to Black and Native women and women in rural communities, where maternal mortality rates are unconscionably high.

We are also making historic investments in improving mental health by putting more counselors in schools and pushing insurers to cover mental health care at the same level as any other care.

We are working hard to ensure that substance use disorder is treated like any other disease by funding the expansion of prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support services.  My Administration removed decades-long administrative barriers to treatment of opioid use disorder and expanded access to opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone, and we are continuing to advance efforts to address the overdose epidemic and save lives.  We are working to end the epidemic of gun violence that has shattered far too many American lives.  Two summers ago, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years, funding States’ implementation of red flag laws and enhancing background checks for gun buyers under 21.  I launched the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.  I was also proud to sign the reauthorized Violence Against Women Act, building on the law that I first wrote years ago to expand protections and resources for today’s domestic violence survivors. 

Meanwhile, my Administration is making the largest investment ever in fighting the public health crises caused by climate change.  We are working to make communities more resilient to extreme weather and ensuring that 40 percent of our clean energy investments flow to the disadvantaged areas that have borne the brunt of toxic pollution for too long.  Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are also replacing every poisonous lead pipe in the country so anyone in America can turn on the faucet and drink clean water.  We have released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases, including expanding access to nutrition and obesity counseling, and we are providing millions of students with free, nutritious school meals.

Globally, we are making key investments to combat health challenges like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, cancer, and COVID.  With the G20 and other partners, we created the Pandemic Fund to strengthen global pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response.  At home, we invested over $7 billion to help State and local public health departments prepare for future crises, and we launched Public Health AmeriCorps to train a strong, diverse public health workforce for tomorrow.

These are vital steps needed to protect the American people.  During National Public Health Week, we are reminded how interconnected everyone’s health and well-being are and that we are truly all in this together.  By continuing to invest in public health, we can help ensure that the lessons of the last 4 years make our Nation stronger for the future.

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 April 1 through April 7, 2024, as National Public Health Week.  I call on all citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to take action to improve the health of our Nation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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There is no greater sin than the abuse of power, especially when that abuse is directed at a child.  During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we stand together to prevent abuse and neglect, support brave survivors, and build strong communities and families where every child can grow up happy and safe.

     For far too many children across America, the violence, fear, and intimidation associated with physical and emotional abuse define their most formative years.  The emotional scars can last a lifetime, making it hard to form healthy relationships, upending their futures, and perpetuating a toxic cycle of abuse.  As a United States Senator, I fought to change that by writing and championing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the first law of its kind, which helped secure safety and justice for women and children impacted by domestic violence.  Since then, each time we reauthorized VAWA, we have made it stronger — including in 2022, when we increased authorized resources available to children who have been exposed to domestic violence and extended greater jurisdiction to Tribal Courts prosecuting child abuse cases on their own lands. 

     We are also working to prevent abuse and give survivors the resources they need to heal and thrive. The American Rescue Plan invested $350 million in improving child protective services at the State level and in expanding local child abuse prevention programs. In 2022, I signed a bill that eliminates the Federal statute of limitations for civil claims filed by survivors of child sexual abuse so they can still pursue justice as adults.  The Department of Justice is also investing in Children’s Advocacy Centers across the country to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute child sexual abuse and exploitation, including acts committed online.  The Department of Homeland Security is launching a Government-led campaign to combat the threat of child abuse and exploitation online, which will bring awareness to this growing threat; teach children, parents, caregivers, and educators how to report these crimes; and offer resources to survivors.

     Every child in America deserves to grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by love.  This month, we remember that we all play a part in making that real.  For more information on how to recognize and report child abuse or neglect and to support loving families and safe communities visit childwelfare.gov.
     
     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 April 2024 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month.  I call upon all Americans to observe this month by joining together as a Nation to promote the safety and well-being of all children and families and to recognize the child welfare professionals and allies who work tirelessly to protect our children.  Let us also honor the strength and resilience of survivors of child abuse.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.
 
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Every day, care workers dedicate themselves to ensuring the people we love are safe and secure.  They watch over our children, assist our parents, and support loved ones with disabilities.  Their work makes all other work possible.  During Care Workers Recognition Month, we honor their tireless efforts; express our gratitude for their unwavering devotion; and commit to ensuring they receive the pay, benefits, and recognition they deserve.

The services care workers provide are not only essential to so many lives — they are crucial for our economy.  But for too long, care workers’ paychecks have not reflected the value of their demanding and important work.  In fact, care workers are among the lowest paid workers in the country.  Of the millions of care workers in our Nation, the majority are women of color, deepening racial and gender wage and wealth gaps.  Each year, half of the long-term care workforce and nearly 20 percent of the child care workforce end up leaving their jobs, which makes it difficult for the families who depend on care workers to find the stable and secure support they need.   

My Administration is committed to getting care workers the resources and respect they deserve.  In 2021, we invested over $60 billion from our American Rescue Plan in the care economy.  That funding helped keep 225,000 child care centers open during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that the 10 million children they served had a place to go.  It also provided increased pay and bonuses and secured better benefits for child care workers, helping hundreds of thousands of mothers with young children enter or re-enter the workforce.  Through our expanded earned income tax credit alone, we delivered financial relief to nearly 300,000 child care workers.  My Budget includes robust proposals in care infrastructure, including through investments in caregiving for military families and investments in child care to increase accessibility and guarantee affordable, high-quality child care from birth until kindergarten.

In addition, the Executive Order I signed last year includes the most comprehensive set of actions any administration has taken to increase access to high-quality care and support for caregivers.  It directs almost every cabinet-level agency to take over 50 actions that provide more peace of mind for families and more dignity for care workers who deserve jobs with good pay and good benefits.  For example, the Department of Health and Human Services released a proposed rule that would raise Head Start teacher wages by more than $10,000 on average and strengthen Head Start’s ability to recruit and retain staff.  Further, I directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to give veterans who need assistance at home more flexibility to pick their own caregivers.  The Department of Labor has invested tens of millions of dollars in boosting the quality of care jobs and expanding access to them. 

Additionally, agencies are working to improve the quality of home care and nursing home jobs.  My Administration is taking steps to get home care workers the pay they deserve by making sure they get a bigger share of Medicaid payments, and to strengthen requirements for nursing homes so that staff are not stretched thin and residents get the attention they need.  My Administration is also promoting apprenticeship programs that put careers as registered and licensed nurses within reach so that we can both add and keep long-term care workers on the job.

Care workers are our Nation’s hidden heroes.  They support so many of our families across the country, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they are not left behind.  This Care Workers Recognition Month, in addition to expressing our gratitude for their selfless dedication to our loved ones and honoring their tremendous value to our society, we also recommit to ensuring that they are rewarded for their extraordinary contributions to America.  

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 April 2024 as Care Workers Recognition Month.  I call upon all Americans to celebrate the contributions of care workers to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of March, 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-eighth.

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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