Presidential Actions

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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This April, we celebrate children of our service members and veterans whose sacrifice and support allow their parents to serve our Nation and protect children everywhere.

Over the years, the First Lady and I have had the honor of meeting with military and veteran children from every corner of our Nation and witnessing their incredible sense of duty firsthand.  These young patriots often pack up their lives every few years, starting new schools and making new friends.  From watching our own grandchildren, we also know that military children embody courage and selflessness, remaining brave when their moms or dads are deployed and remaining resilient when celebrating birthdays and holidays with an empty seat at the dinner table.  Military and veteran children also take care of loved ones who are wounded, ill, or injured — and far too many grow up with the unbearable pain of losing a parent.  It is a solemn reminder that being a military child means sacrificing for our country without ever wearing a uniform.  

Our Nation has many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families — especially our military children — while deployed and when they return home.  That is why I signed an Executive Order last year that establishes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our Nation’s history to support the economic security of military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors — including improving access to quality, dependable, and affordable child care.  My Administration expanded the Military Parental Leave Program, ensuring that service members have the time they need with their families after a child’s birth, adoption, or long-term foster care placement.  We are working to guarantee universal pre-kindergarten for military children at Department of Defense schools.  We have begun that work by launching a pilot program at a school in Japan.  The First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative is providing support to military children by improving economic opportunity for military families, making school transitions easier, and expanding resources to promote their families’ health and well-being.

Military children embody the very best of America — shouldering the unique challenges military life places on families across our Nation and around the world with tenacity.  This month — and every month — we honor their bravery and show our gratitude to the children of our military service members and veterans for their own service to 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 laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2024 as the Month of the Military Child.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor the children of our service members and veterans with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I also encourage Americans everywhere to find ways to support military-connected children, including by wearing purple during the month of April in honor of their service.

     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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     America was founded on the promise of new beginnings.  During Second Chance Month, we recommit to building a criminal justice system that lives up to those ideals so that people returning to their communities from jail or prison have a fair shot at the American Dream.

     Every year, more than 650,000 people are released from State and Federal prisons, some leaving with nothing more than a few dollars and a bus ticket to start their new lives.  In total, over 70 million Americans have a criminal history record, which can make it hard to secure a steady job, safe housing, affordable health care, or a good education — all important things to have when trying to build a good life.  Studies show that when these needs are met, we do not just empower formerly incarcerated people — we prevent crime and make our communities safer.

     That is why, last year, my Administration released a comprehensive strategic plan to improve the criminal justice system and strengthen public safety. It includes over 100 concrete actions that my Administration is taking to boost public safety by improving rehabilitation in jails and prisons, helping people rebuild their lives, and reducing unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice system so police officers can focus on fighting crime.

     We have also invested nearly $1 billion in job training, addiction recovery, and reentry services across the country, and we have expanded access to Pell Grants so people can earn a college degree while they are incarcerated, starting over with new skills.  We are also helping folks find good-paying jobs rebuilding America on projects funded by our historic infrastructure law and expanding opportunities to serve in the Federal Government.  We are working to make sure those who have served their time have an equal opportunity to obtain health care, housing, education, and consideration for small business loans.  By meeting these needs, we not only empower people to chase their dreams and fuel our economy — we also prevent crime and make our communities safer and stronger. 

      At the same time, my Administration has taken historic steps to end America’s failed approach to marijuana.  Incarceration for marijuana possession alone has destroyed too many lives, particularly for Black and brown Americans, who have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups.  In 2022, I asked the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to start formally reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under Federal law.  I have issued categorical pardons for people convicted for simple possession and use under Federal and D.C. law while urging governors to do the same on the State level.  It is simple:  No one should be in jail or prison for using or possessing marijuana alone.  Meanwhile, my Administration has made historic investments to expand access to mental health and substance use services.  We have also provided $400 million to prevent juvenile justice involvement and make these systems more responsive to the needs of youth. We have provided over $3 billion in funding for education programs that provide support, services, and interventions, which keep students positively engaged in their schools and communities.

    If we pursue this work together, our communities will be safer, stronger, and more just.  It will make families and communities whole and help grow our economy, giving everyone a fair chance.  I have always believed that our Nation’s best days are ahead — and that is true for every single American too. This month, we recommit to fulfilling the fresh promise that every second chance holds.

     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 Second Chance Month.  I call upon government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 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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    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.  Women and girls of all backgrounds have shaped our country’s history, from the ongoing fight for justice and equality to cutting-edge scientific advancements and artistic achievements.  Yet these contributions have often been overlooked.  We must do more to recognize the role of women and girls in America’s story, including through the Federal Government’s recognition and interpretation of historic and cultural sites.

     It is the policy of my Administration to recognize and honor the diverse trailblazers — including women and girls — who have contributed to the fabric of our Nation.  One of the National Park Service’s important functions is serving as the Nation’s storyteller by managing a constellation of sites on behalf of the American public that, together, help preserve and honor different chapters in our Nation’s history.  The National Park Service honors trailblazing women and their contributions to the Nation, from Harriet Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt, to Rosie the Riveter and Mamie Till-Mobley.  Still, women’s history is vastly underrepresented in our National Park System, creating an important opportunity to strengthen our Nation’s recognition of the role of women in shaping this country.

     This order directs actions that will strengthen the Federal Government’s recognition of women’s history and the achievements of women and girls from all backgrounds.  It builds on steps I have taken to advance equity and equality across the Federal Government and to help tell a more complete story of our Nation’s history, including through Executive Order 14020 of March 8, 2021 (Establishment of the White House Gender Policy Council), Executive Order 13985 of January 20, 2021 (Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government), and Executive Order 14091 of February 16, 2023 (Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government).  By honoring the women leaders of the past, we tell a more complete story of America and help build a more equal and equitable present and future.

     Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order:

(a)  The term “sites of national importance” includes National Park “System units” as defined in 54 U.S.C. 100102 (by reference to 54 U.S.C. 100501), national monuments designated by the Congress or by the President pursuant to 54 U.S.C. 320301, and National Historic Landmarks designated under 36 C.F.R. part 65.

(b)  The term “theme studies” means studies conducted by the National Park Service pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 65.5(a) to identify historic properties in the United States that are nationally significant to a specific area of American history.

     Sec. 3.  Recognizing and Honoring Women’s History.  

(a)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, to strengthen the Federal Government’s recognition of women’s history, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit a report to the President that:

(i)   includes an assessment of existing sites of national importance that are directly related to women’s history, whether managed by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, or any other executive branch entity; and

(ii)  identifies opportunities within sites of national importance to highlight important figures and chapters in women’s history.

(b)  To strengthen the Federal Government’s recognition of women’s history:

(i)    The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct an overview theme study specific to women’s history that identifies major topics in women’s history to be addressed by a series of subsequent theme studies.  The overview theme study and plan for additional studies shall address prominent women and girls in key periods of United States history, such as pre-European contact, Colonial America, the American Revolution, the abolition and suffrage movements, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the Progressive Era, the Great Depression and New Deal, World War II and post-war, the civil rights and women’s rights movements, and contemporary America, among other topics.  It also shall highlight women and girl leaders in advocacy and social movements, defense, diplomacy, education, law, medicine, the sciences, conservation and environmental protection, sports, the arts, or other professions and disciplines, as appropriate.  

(ii)   The Secretary of the Interior shall review previously completed theme studies and issue a report to help ensure representation of women’s history in sites of national importance.  This review of completed theme studies should include, among others, sites of national importance focused on or linked with the histories of Latino Americans; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; African Americans; people of Indigenous descent; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex Americans; as well as American civil rights and labor histories.  The report shall adopt an intersectional approach by including women from different backgrounds and communities and shall reflect diversity in factors such as gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, Tribal affiliation, disability, age, geography, income, and socioeconomic status. 

(iii)  To inform relevant actions the Department of the Interior will take over the next 10 years, the Secretary of the Interior shall request recommendations from the National Park System Advisory Board on ways to improve the recognition of women’s history across Federal parks, lands, and programs, including through historic designations and national monument designations.  The Secretary of the Interior shall request that the National Park System Advisory Board produce interim recommendations to the Secretary within 270 days of the date of this order and produce final recommendations within 1 year of the date of this order.

(c)  The Secretary of the Interior shall make available the findings from the overview theme study and series of subsequent theme studies conducted pursuant to subsection (b)(i) of this section to the Director of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the corresponding council established in 20 U.S.C. 80t-2, for consideration, as appropriate, in developing their own exhibits.

Sec. 4.  Implementation.  The Secretary of the Interior shall consult with the Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality in implementing this order.

     Sec. 5.  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,

    March 27, 2024.

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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)
 
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 13664 of April 3, 2014, with respect to South Sudan is to continue in effect beyond April 3, 2024.
 
The situation in and in relation to South Sudan, which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan and the surrounding region, including widespread violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment and use of child soldiers, attacks on peacekeepers, and obstruction of humanitarian operations, 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 13664 with respect to South Sudan.
 
                             Sincerely,
 
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On April 3, 2014, by Executive Order 13664, 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 situation in and in relation to South Sudan, which has been marked by activities that threaten the peace, security, or stability of South Sudan and the surrounding region, including widespread violence and atrocities, human rights abuses, recruitment and use of child soldiers, attacks on peacekeepers, and obstruction of humanitarian operations.

The situation in and in relation to South Sudan 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 3, 2014, must continue in effect beyond April 3, 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 13664.

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

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    March 26, 2024.

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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

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 13694 of April 1, 2015, with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities, and with respect to which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13757 of December 28, 2016, is to continue in effect beyond April 1, 2024.

Significant malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United 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 13694 with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities.

                             Sincerely,

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On April 1, 2015, by Executive Order 13694, the President 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 the increasing prevalence and severity of malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from, or directed by persons located, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States.  On December 28, 2016, the President issued Executive Order 13757 to take additional steps to address the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13694.

These significant malicious cyber-enabled activities 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 on April 1, 2015, must continue in effect beyond April 1, 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 13694.

This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress.
 
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
 
 
 
THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 26, 2024.

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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 $10 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 Haiti; and
 
(2)  the authority to make the determination 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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Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

In accordance with section 6 of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (H.R. 2882; the “Act”), I hereby designate as emergency requirements all funding (including the transfer and repurposing of funds) so designated by the Congress in the Act pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as outlined in the enclosed list of accounts.

The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed memorandum from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. 

                             Sincerely,

                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On Friday, March 22, 2024, the President signed into law:
 
 
S. 992, the “I-27 Numbering Act of 2023,” which designates the Texas and New Mexico portions of the future Interstate-designated segments of the Port-to-Plains Corridor as Interstate Route I-27.

Thank you to Senators Cruz, Cornyn, Luján and Heinrich; and Representatives Arrington and Cuellar for their leadership.
 
S. 1278, which designates the Federal building located at 985 Michigan Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Rosa Parks Federal Building.

Thank you to Senators Stabenow and Peters, Representative Tlaib, and the entire Michigan delegation for their leadership.

###

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On this day more than 200 years ago, revolutionaries throughout Greece rose up for the cause of freedom and declared their independence from the Ottoman Empire.  Today, we honor the legacy of these courageous Greek women and men and rededicate ourselves to the cause of liberty and democracy for all. 

     Throughout our shared history, the people of Greece and the United States have been bound by this common belief — the power to shape our destiny should rest in the hands of “we the people.”  Generation after generation, Americans and Greeks have come together to make those words a reality.  We saw it during World War II, when our nations both fought the forces of fascism.  We saw it during the Cold War, when our people stood united to prevail against communism.  We see it today, as Greece and America stand together alongside a coalition of more than 50 nations to support the brave people of Ukraine as they fight for the same values those Greek revolutionaries did more than 200 years ago:  liberty, freedom, and sovereignty.  

     Today, the partnership, alliance, and friendship shared by Greece and the United States is stronger than ever before — due in large part to the culture, courage, and character of the Greek American community.  From standing up for social justice and advancing civil rights to striving to make our Nation freer and fairer, Greek Americans have pushed our country forward, fanning the flame of liberty that first sparked in Athens thousands of years ago.  Throughout my career, I have been lucky to see this heart, hope, and commitment up close, and I have drawn lifelong inspiration from Greek American friends, families, leaders, and political mentors.  

     Today and every day, let us celebrate the unbreakable bonds of friendship shared by the United States and the Hellenic Republic.  Let us continue to draw strength from the ideas put forth and the example set by our two countries.  Guided by our highest hopes and ideals, let us recommit to preserving, defending, and protecting democracy — together.

     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 25, 2024, as Greek Independence Day:  A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy.  I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second 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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     Rahkel Bouchet, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Robert E. Morin, retired.

     Christopher T. Hanson, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the term of five years expiring June 30, 2029.  (Reappointment)

     Brian Edward Murphy, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, vice Patti B. Saris, retiring.

     Rebecca L. Pennell, of Washington, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington, vice Salvador Mendoza, Jr., elevated.

     Kevin Gafford Ritz, of Tennessee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, vice Julia Smith Gibbons, retiring.

     Felix R. Sanchez, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for a term expiring January 31, 2028, vice Robert A. Mandell, term expired.

     Detra Shaw-Wilder, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, vice Robert N. Scola, Jr., retired.

     Michael Louis Sulmeyer, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.  (New Position)

     John Cuong Truong, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Wendell P. Gardner, Jr., retired.

     Jeannette A. Vargas, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, vice Paul G. Gardephe, retired.

     Daryle Williams, of California, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2030, vice Shelly Colleen Lowe, term expired.

     Bobby Jack Woods, of Kentucky, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky for the term of four years, vice Norman Euell Arflack, term expired.

# # #

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Rhode Island and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from January 9 to January 13, 2024.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Kent, Providence, and Washington.

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

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

Mr. Robert V. Fogel 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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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Rhode Island and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding from December 17 to December 19, 2023.
 
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Kent, Providence, and Washington.
 
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
 
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
Mr. Robert V. Fogel 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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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Maine and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from January 9 to January 13, 2024.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York.

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

Federal funding also is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms and flooding in the counties of Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York.

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

Mr. Robert V. Fogel 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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The President is announcing his intent to nominate one individual to a federal circuit court, four individuals to federal district courts, and two individuals to the District of Columbia Superior Court—all of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.

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

This will be President Biden’s forty-seventh round of nominees for federal judicial positions, bringing the number of announced federal judicial nominees to 229.

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

The President has now announced 28 nominees to serve as U.S. Marshals.

United States Circuit Court Announcement

1. Kevin G. Ritz: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

Kevin G. Ritz has served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee since 2022. From 2005 to 2022, Mr. Ritz worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, where he served as Appellate Chief from 2018 to 2022, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney from 2011 to 2022, and Criminal Appellate Chief from 2010 to 2018. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ritz served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Ritz also served as Chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section and President of the Memphis/Mid-South Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2004, his M.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1999, and his B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Virginia in 1997.

United States District Court Announcements

1. Brian E. Murphy: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Brian E. Murphy has been a partner at Murphy & Rudolf LLP since 2011. The firm was known as Murphy & Vander Salm LLP from 2012 to 2016. Mr. Murphy was previously an Associate Attorney at Todd and Weld LLP from 2009 to 2011 and a public defender at the Committee for Public Counsel Services from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Murphy also served as a supervising attorney for the Worcester County Bar Advocates from 2015 to 2019. He received his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2006 and his B.A. from The College of Holy Cross in 2002.

2. Judge Rebecca L. Pennell: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

Judge Rebecca L. Pennell has been a judge on the Washington Court of Appeals in Spokane since 2016. She was previously a public defender with the Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and Idaho from 2000 to 2016. From 1999 to 2000, Judge Pennell was a Skadden Fellow at TeamChild, an organization that provides legal services to youths in Yakima, Washington. She served as a law clerk for Judge Robert Whaley on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington from 1997 to 1999. Judge Pennell received her J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1996 and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Washington in 1993.

3. Detra Shaw-Wilder: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Detra Shaw-Wilder has been an attorney in private practice at Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton in Coral Gables, Florida since 1994, rising from associate to partner. From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Shaw-Wilder was managing partner of the firm and has served as general counsel for the firm since 2017. She received her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1994 and her B.S. from the University of Florida in 1990.

4. Jeannette Vargas: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Jeannette Vargas has been an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York since 2002. She has served as Deputy Chief in the Civil Division of that office since 2016 and was previously Senior Trial Counsel from 2014 to 2016 and Chief of the Tax and Bankruptcy Unit from 2010 to 2014. Before that, Ms. Vargas worked as an associate at Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett LLP from 2000 to 2001. In between private practice and joining the U.S. Attorney’s office, she served as a law clerk for Judge Sonia Sotomayor on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 2001 to 2002. Ms. Vargas received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 2000 and her A.B, magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1995.

District of Columbia Superior Court Announcements

1. Judge Rahkel Bouchet: Nominee for the District of Columbia Superior Court

Judge Rahkel Bouchet has been a Magistrate Judge for the District of Columbia Superior Court since 2016 and is currently the Deputy Presiding Magistrate Judge. Judge Bouchet was also the Presiding Judge for the D.C. Family Treatment Court, within the D.C. Superior Court, in 2017. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Bouchet worked as a solo practitioner from 1998 to 2006 and from 2008 to 2015. In 2007, Judge Bouchet was a structured-settlements counsel at Seneca One LLC. In addition to her private practice, Judge Bouchet was previously the Supervising Attorney of the Child Welfare/Family Justice Clinic at Howard University School of Law from 2013 to 2015. She received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law in 1997 and her B.A., cum laude, from Howard University in 1993.

2. John Cuong Truong: Nominee for the District of Columbia Superior Court

John Cuong Truong has been a Deputy Chief in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia since 2022. He first joined that office in its Civil Division in 2005 and previously worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division from 2008 to 2013. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Truong worked as an associate at Morgan Lewis & Bockius, LLP from 1998 to 2004. Mr. Truong served as a law clerk for Judge Ricardo M. Urbina on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia from 1997 to 1998. He received his J.D. from American University in 1997 and his M.A. in 2003, and his B.A. from the University of Southern California in 1993.

United States Marshal Announcement

1. Bobby Jack Woods: Nominee for United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky

Bobby Jack Woods served as the elected Sheriff of Boyd County, Kentucky from 2015 to 2023. He previously worked as a Floyd County Commonwealth Detective for the Kentucky Commonwealth Attorney’s Office from 2006 to 2014 after serving for nearly twenty years in the Kentucky State Police from 1984 to 2004. Earlier in his law enforcement career, Mr. Woods was a Boyd County Police Officer from 1979 to 1984. He graduated from the Kentucky State Police Academy in 1985.

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On National Agriculture Day, we celebrate generations of American farmers, farmworkers, fishers, ranchers, foresters, and all those who work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s lands.  They represent the best of America — pride in community, love of family, and work ethic and strength that power our economy and help feed the world.  

     Over the last few decades, the failed trickle-down economic policies of the past have hit rural America especially hard.  They have hollowed out communities, essentially telling farmers that the only path forward is to “get big” or “get out.”  Food producers, meat processors, and grocery chains have consolidated, undercutting small local businesses and weakening the bargaining power of the farmers and ranchers who supply large corporations with goods.  Meanwhile, corporations that sell seeds, fertilizer, and even farm equipment have used their own outsized market power to charge more even as farmers sold their own goods for less.  Family farms have struggled, as the promise of keeping a farm in the family is too often slipping out of reach.  When family farms go by the wayside, the small businesses, hospitals, and schools that depend on them suffer as well.  Across rural America, thousands of young people have had to leave home to find a good-paying job and a fair shot at the American Dream.  It is wrong.   

     I came to office determined to change that.  The historic legislation I have signed is creating new income and new ways for new generations of rural Americans to thrive.  We are investing in rural America, creating new opportunities for farmers and ranchers nationwide.

     The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is strengthening farm supply chains by rebuilding roads, bridges, railways, ports, water systems, and more.  It is bringing high-speed Internet to every household in America, connecting rural communities to markets, customers, jobs, health care, education, and opportunity.  The Inflation Reduction Act is investing nearly $20 billion to help farmers and ranchers earn a living while also helping to tackle the climate crisis, including adopting climate-smart practices like cover crops, rotational grazing, and nutrient management.  It is expanding renewable energy, including homegrown biofuels, which is building a strong bio-economy for jobs of the future.  Together, these laws are helping American farmers and ranchers remain strong and competitive in the face of a changing climate — from investing in watershed management and drought and flood protection to wildland fire protection.  The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing billions of dollars in assistance to farmers who have previously experienced discrimination in their lending programs.

     At the same time, my Administration is working across the board to promote competition and level the playing field for small farmers and ranchers.  For example, the American Rescue Plan invested $1 billion in independent meat processors to help ease conglomerates’ lock on the market and help small- and mid-sized companies grow.  The USDA also published a Packers and Stockyards Act final rule, which prohibits discrimination, retaliation, and certain unfair practices in livestock, meat, and poultry markets.  The USDA also finalized a rule to increase transparency in the poultry tournament system so that growers have important information about the terms of their agreements.  We have also pushed to cut costs for farmers by promoting farmers’ “right to repair” their own equipment, without having to send it back to the manufacturer.  We are working to expand double cropping insurance so farmers have the financial security they need to bear its risks and boost production.   

     We are also standing up for the farm and food workers who form the backbone of our Nation’s economy.  It is simple.  Every worker in America deserves fair pay, safe conditions, and the free and fair choice to join a union.  We promised to be the most pro-union Administration in history — and we are delivering.  The USDA is also investing $45 million into partnerships with workforce development experts to better train agricultural employees.  But there is still more to do, like finally providing undocumented farmworkers a pathway to citizenship.  Our economy needs them, and they deserve dignity and respect. 

     It is simple:  American agriculture feeds our families and powers our economy.  National Agriculture Day is about celebrating the strength and tremendous contributions of our Nation’s farmers and ranchers and making sure communities too long left behind have real reason to feel a new sense of hope and pride.

     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 19, 2024, as National Agriculture Day.  I call upon all Americans to join me in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to and appreciation for our country’s farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, fishers, foresters, and all those who work in the agricultural sector across the Nation.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth 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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    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.  My Administration is committed to getting women the answers they need about their health.  For far too long, scientific and biomedical research excluded women and undervalued the study of women’s health.  The resulting research gaps mean that we know far too little about women’s health across women’s lifespans, and those gaps are even more prominent for women of color, older women, and women with disabilities.  

     The notion of including women in clinical trials used to be revolutionary — which means many diagnostics and treatments were developed without women in mind and thus failed to account for women’s health.  Over 30 years ago, the Congress passed the landmark National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-43) to direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, to include women and people of color in NIH-funded clinical research.  In 2016, the Congress built on these requirements in the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), which directed the NIH to further its pursuit of women’s health research, including by strengthening clinical trial inclusion and data analysis, developing research and data standards to advance the study of women’s health, and improving NIH-wide coordination on women’s health research.

     These policies led to significant increases in women’s participation in clinical trials, and ongoing investments in biomedical research have supported breakthroughs in women’s health.  Through the discovery of genetic factors that increase the risk of breast cancer and innovations in mammography, we have transformed our approach to prevention, early detection, and treatment, and have improved outcomes for women facing a breast cancer diagnosis.  We have improved access to life-saving treatments for women with severe heart failure by ensuring that the devices they need are the right size for a woman’s body.  We have also identified some of the most characteristic symptoms of heart attack in women, which are different from those in men — discoveries that have helped deliver faster treatment to women when every second counts.  This is what we can achieve when we invest in women’s health research.

     It is time, once again, to pioneer the next generation of discoveries in women’s health.  My Administration seeks to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women’s health research in the United States.  That is why I established the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research (Initiative) — which is within the Office of the First Lady and includes a wide array of executive departments and agencies (agencies) and White House offices — to accelerate research that will provide the tools we need to prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently.

     Together with the First Lady’s tireless efforts, the Initiative is already galvanizing the Federal Government to advance women’s health, including through investments in innovation and improved coordination within and across agencies.  We are also mobilizing leaders across a wide range of sectors, including industry, philanthropy, and the medical and research communities, to improve women’s health.

     It is the policy of my Administration to advance women’s health research, close health disparities, and ensure that the gains we make in research laboratories are translated into real-world clinical benefits for women.  It is also the policy of my Administration to ensure that women have access to high-quality, evidence-based health care and to improve health outcomes for women across their lifespans and throughout the country.

     I will continue to call on the Congress to provide the transformative investments necessary to help our researchers and scientists answer today’s most pressing questions related to women’s health.  Investing in innovation in women’s health is an investment in the future of American families and the economy.  At the same time, agencies must use their existing authorities to advance and integrate women’s health across the Federal research portfolio, close research gaps, and make investments that maximize our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat health conditions in women. 

     Sec. 2.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order:

     (a)  The term “women’s health research” means research aimed at expanding knowledge of women’s health across their lifespans, which includes the study and analysis of conditions specific to women, conditions that disproportionately impact women, and conditions that affect women differently.

     (b)  The term “White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research” means the interagency, advisory body established by the Presidential Memorandum of November 13, 2023 (White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research), to advance women’s health research.

     (c)  The term “agency Members of the Initiative” refers to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the National Science Foundation.

     Sec. 3.  Further Integrating Women’s Health Research in Federal Research Programs.  (a)  Building on research and data standards issued by the NIH in 2016, agency Members of the Initiative shall consider actions to develop or strengthen research and data standards that enhance the study of women’s health across all relevant, federally funded research and other Federal funding opportunities.  Agency Members of the Initiative shall consider issuing new guidance, application materials, reporting requirements, and research dissemination strategies to advance the study of women’s health, including to:

(i)    require applicants for Federal research funding, as appropriate, to explain how their proposed study designs will consider and advance our knowledge of women’s health, including through the adoption of standard application language;

(ii)   consider women’s health, as appropriate, during the evaluation of research proposals that address medical conditions that may affect women differently or disproportionately;

(iii)  improve accountability for grant recipients, including, as appropriate, by requiring regular reporting on their implementation of, and compliance with, research and data standards related to women’s health, including compliance with recruitment milestones; and

(iv)   improve the recruitment, enrollment, and retention of women in clinical trials, including, as appropriate, by reducing barriers through technological and data sciences advances.

(b)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Chair of the Initiative and the Director of the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall establish and co-chair a subgroup of the Initiative to promote interagency alignment and consistency in the development of agency research and data standards to enhance the study of women’s health.

     (c)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, agency Members of the Initiative shall report to the Chair of the Initiative on actions taken to strengthen research and data standards to enhance the study and analysis of women’s health and related conditions.

(d)  Within 180 days of the date of this order and on an annual basis thereafter, agency Members of the Initiative shall report to the President on the status of implementation of research and data standards.

     Sec. 4.  Prioritizing Federal Investments in Women’s Health Research.  (a)  Agency Members of the Initiative shall identify and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, prioritize grantmaking and other awards to advance women’s health research, with an emphasis on:

(i)    promoting collaborative, interdisciplinary research across fields and areas of expertise;

(ii)   addressing health disparities and inequities affecting women, including those related to race, ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, disability, and exposure to environmental factors and contaminants that can directly affect health; and

(iii)  supporting the translation of research advancements into improved health outcomes.

(b)  Agency Members of the Initiative shall take steps to promote the availability of federally funded research and other Federal funding opportunities to advance women’s health, including through the development and inclusion of standard language related to women’s health, as appropriate, in all relevant notices of funding opportunity and through better facilitating potential grant applicants’ access to information about funding opportunities related to women’s health research.

     (c)  To advance innovation, commercialization, and risk mitigation, agency Members of the Initiative shall:

(i)    identify and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, seek ways to use innovation funds, challenges, prizes, and other mechanisms to spur innovation in women’s health;

(ii)   invest in innovation to accelerate women’s health research, including through or in collaboration with the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs;

(iii)  support the role of small businesses and entrepreneurs in advancing innovation in women’s health research, including through Small Business Innovation Research Programs and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs; and

(iv)   invest in translational science to convert research findings and discoveries into treatments and interventions that improve women’s health outcomes and reduce health disparities, including through the Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture research programs.

(d)  In implementing section 8(b) of Executive Order 14110 of October 30, 2023 (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence), the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall consider the opportunities for and challenges that affect women’s health research in the responsible deployment and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-enabled technologies in the health and human services sector.

     Sec. 5.  Galvanizing Research on Women’s Midlife Health.  (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, to address research gaps in understanding women’s health and diseases and conditions associated with women’s midlife and later years, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall:

(i)    launch a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the science on menopause to develop an evidence-based research agenda that will guide Federal and private sector investments in menopause-related research;

(ii)   evaluate evidence-based interventions and strategies to improve women’s experiences in the menopausal and perimenopausal periods, including the delivery of treatments for women experiencing menopause in clinical care settings;

(iii)  consider developing new common data elements and survey tools to expand the ethical and equitable collection of data on issues related to women’s midlife health; and

(iv)   develop new comprehensive resources to help ensure that the public has evidence-based information about menopause, including menopause-related research initiatives, findings, and symptom-prevention and treatment options.

(b)  The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall evaluate the needs of women service members and veterans related to midlife health and shall develop recommendations to support improved treatment and targeted research of midlife health issues, including menopausal symptoms.

     Sec. 6.  Assessing Unmet Needs to Support Women’s Health Research.  The Director of OMB and the Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council (Directors) shall lead an effort, in collaboration with the Initiative, to identify current gaps in Federal funding for women’s health research and shall submit recommendations to the President describing the additional funding and programming necessary to catalyze research on women’s health, including in priority areas within women’s health as identified by the Initiative, as follows:

     (a)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Directors shall, in consultation with the Initiative, develop guidance for assessing additional funding that agencies need to close research gaps in women’s health.

     (b)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, Members of the Initiative shall consult the guidance described in subsection (a) of this section and shall each submit a report to the Directors that identifies the funding needed to catalyze research on women’s health.

     (c)  Based on the reports described in subsection (b) of this section, the Directors shall develop and submit recommendations to the President on steps the Federal Government should take to catalyze research on women’s health.  These recommendations shall identify any statutory, regulatory, budgetary, or other changes that may be necessary to ensure that Federal laws, policies, practices, and programs support women’s health research more effectively.

     (d)  Following the submission of the recommendations described in subsection (c) of this section, each Member of the Initiative shall report annually to the Directors on progress made in response to those recommendations and to improve the study of women’s health.  The Director of OMB shall provide a summary of Members’ progress and any new recommendations to the President on an annual basis, consult with each Member on their women’s health research funding needs during the annual budget process, and calculate Federal funding for women’s health research on an annual basis.

     Sec. 7.  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,
    March 18, 2024.

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