Presidential Actions

Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Georgia and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene beginning on September 24, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall, and Toombs.

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 and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Appling, Brooks, Coffee, Columbia, Jefferson, Liberty, Lowndes, Pierce, Richmond, Tattnall, and Toombs.

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

Mr. Kevin A. Wallace, Sr. of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or 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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     America’s young people are part of the most gifted and talented generation in our history — and, like anyone, they deserve second chances.  During National Youth Justice Action Month, we recommit to ensuring that our communities are safe and supportive so that young people thrive.  And we recommit to developing a juvenile justice system that reflects our Nation’s most fundamental values of equality, fairness, and opportunity.

     Between 2000 and 2022, the number of young people in our juvenile justice system has declined significantly, but young people of color and young people with disabilities are still disproportionally represented.  Additionally, young people who enter juvenile justice facilities often lack the support, resources, educational opportunities, and guidance necessary for meaningful rehabilitation and, as a result, are not set up for success once they leave.  The young people in the juvenile justice system often spend years in unsafe environments, without treatment for trauma or mental health conditions.

     My Administration remains committed to improving our youth justice system so that young people who are released are set up for success.  My Administration has made historic investments in our youth justice system.  For youth facing juvenile and criminal justice system involvement, we are investing in evidence-based diversion programs.  And we are expanding access to lawyers who will advocate for and advise these youth.  For those who are exiting the system, we are investing in programs that help youth find housing, educational opportunities, mentorship, job training, and other services as they return to their communities.    

     We are also ensuring that young people have good schools to attend, safe communities to live in, and exciting opportunities for their futures.  My Administration launched the National Partnership for Student Success, which will bring together 250,000 tutors and mentors for our students.  And we secured $1.3 billion to fund afterschool and summer learning programs for K-12 students.  To support our Nation’s youth we increased investments in Full-Service Community Schools fivefold, including providing $253 million to create over 2,000 new full-service community schools in the country, providing critical supports to serve more than one million students’ physical, mental health, and academic needs.  

     We are also making it easier for youth to receive mental health care.  When we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly three decades, we secured funding to increase the number and diversity of school psychologists and mental health counselors available to our children and made it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver these services.  We also launched 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.  By texting or calling 988, young people can connect with trained crisis counselors 24 hours a day, 7 days a week –- and for those who need it, the Lifeline now supports unprecedented access to American Sign Language interpreters.  And we have invested in building mobile crisis response teams so that people in crisis can be connected with trained mental health professionals right away. 

     During National Youth Justice Action Month, we recommit to doing all that we can to ensure that all of our young people can lead full lives.  We show our gratitude to all those supporting youth, both in and out of the juvenile justice system, as they work to build lives full of purpose and meaning.  And we strengthen our resolve to ensure that our juvenile justice system reflects America’s promise of liberty and justice for all.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Youth Justice Action Month.  I call upon all Americans to observe this month by taking action to support our youth and by participating in appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in their communities.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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When I think of clean energy, I think of good-paying jobs for American workers.  Our Nation is leading the fight against the existential threat of climate change all while growing our economy and transitioning this country to a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future.  During National Clean Energy Action Month, we recommit to investing in America and American workers as we build a cleaner, more energy secure future.  

Since day one of my Administration, in partnership with Vice President Harris, I have been committed to building a clean energy economy that creates good-paying and union jobs for American workers.  That is why my Investing in America agenda is making the most significant investment in climate and clean energy in history.  That investment has helped America unleash a clean energy manufacturing and deployment boom — attracting more than $426 billion in private sector investment commitments.  It has also created more than 330,000 new jobs according to independent estimates.  These investments are disproportionately going to places that have been left behind — including historic energy communities that have powered this Nation for generations and to workers who do not have a 4-year college degree.

We are also making investments that help ensure our clean energy future will be built here in America — by American workers.  My Inflation Reduction Act is delivering on my commitment to be the most pro-worker, pro-union President in history.  For the first time ever, we are attaching strong labor protections and incentives to climate and clean energy tax credits.  My Administration finalized a rule through the Inflation Reduction Act incentivizing companies to pay clean energy workers a prevailing wage and employ registered apprentices.  These provisions help ensure jobs building wind farms, installing solar panels, and constructing hydrogen and carbon capture facilities will be good-paying and support proven pathways into the clean energy industry that allow workers to earn while they learn.  Outside estimates suggest the Inflation Reduction Act could help create as many as 1.5 million jobs over the next decade.  And I launched the American Climate Corps to train this next generation of clean energy, conservation, and resilience workers. 

My Administration is making significant progress toward our ambitious goals of securing 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.  That is in no small part due to our Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits and rebates, which families can use to install solar panels, buy energy-saving appliances, get heat pumps, and purchase American-made electric cars.  Not only will this law help triple wind power generation and increase solar production eight-fold by 2030 — tens of billions of dollars will go to the pockets of American families.  And through Federal programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, we are lowering Americans’ energy bills and making millions of homes safer and more energy efficient.

But there is still so much more to do to ensure that we are leading American industries into the 21st century and tackling climate change.  That is why my Administration made the largest investment in America’s power grid ever — making it more resilient to severe weather, laying new transmission lines, and upgrading existing infrastructure so clean and affordable energy can reach every corner of the country.  At the same time, we are speeding up permitting for clean energy and transmission projects while implementing new emissions standards to reduce pollution from oil and gas producers, power plants, and vehicles — which will save American lives, improve the well-being of our people, and save tens of billions of dollars in healthcare costs.    

Across the country, Americans are writing the next chapter in our Nation’s clean energy future — they are getting shovels in the ground and working hard in good-paying jobs all while supporting their families and restoring pride to their communities.  During National Clean Energy Action Month, we celebrate all the progress in clean energy, and we recommit to coming together to secure the future of clean energy here at home.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Clean Energy Action Month.  I call upon all Americans to explore whether new tax credits and rebates can help them lower emissions and save money on energy bills, cars, and home upgrades, and to recognize this month by talking to neighbors, friends, and coworkers about opportunities to address the climate crisis, and working together to mitigate climate change and achieve a healthier environment for all.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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   Defending our digital world is essential to ensuring the safety and security of our Nation and the American people.  During National Cybersecurity Month, we recommit to protecting our data and technologies from malicious hackers and cyber threats.  We encourage all Americans to learn more about cybersecurity.  And we promise to ensure that America can realize the positive impacts of our digital future.

     My Administration is committed to securing the digital ecosystems that touch nearly every aspect of American life.  That is why I released the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which lays out 100 actions the Federal Government, along with our public and private sector partners, is taking to defend our increasingly digital world.  This strategy aims to ensure primary responsibility for creating a safe digital future is borne by technology companies and the Federal Government, entities that are most capable and best-positioned to reduce cyber-related risks for all of us.  I have signed Executive Orders to secure the digital infrastructure of the Nation’s ports, fortify our supply chains, and strengthen our industrial base.  Furthermore, my Administration launched the “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark” program, which works with leading product manufacturers and retailers to ensure Americans have the option of choosing safer smart devices.  Through executive action, we are also setting a higher standard of security for the software purchased by the Government.  

     To keep our digital world safe, we are supporting efforts to build a strong cyber workforce that is ready to meet this moment.  My Administration is committed to investing in the next generation of cybersecurity experts and opening up more opportunities for Americans to pursue a cyber-based career.  We have invested in infrastructure projects across the country, where America’s workers are building semiconductors and making our electric grids more resilient to cyber threats.  We also released a National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy focused on giving more Americans access to the skills and education needed to pursue good-paying jobs in the cyber field.  We have made the Federal Government a model for that work by transitioning the hiring process for cyber positions in the Federal Government to be skills-based –- focusing on required skills and removing unnecessary degree requirements.  We launched the “Service for America” campaign with a recruiting and hiring sprint to connect more people to cyber jobs and fill critical vacancies.  And we are working with academia and the public and private sectors to grow the national cyber workforce by providing high-quality training, scholarships, paid internships, and Registered Apprenticeships.

     My Administration is ensuring that America leads the world in cybersecurity, and we are working with our international partners to combat cyber threats.  We are convening the nearly 70 member countries and international organizations of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative launched by my Administration to address the scourge of ransomware at both an operational and a policy level.  We are working closely with allies and partners to bolster our cyber defense so that we can communicate and support one another in response to cyberattacks.  And we have established cybersecurity goals that are rooted in protecting our shared democratic values.

     During National Cybersecurity Month, we recognize the important role that cybersecurity plays in keeping Americans safe, protecting our institutions, and upholding our democracy.  We honor all of the cybersecurity professionals, who are working tirelessly to defend our digital world.  And we look forward to all that we will accomplish as we work together to advance cybersecurity.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Cybersecurity Month.  I call upon the people, businesses, and institutions of the United States to recognize and act on the importance of cybersecurity and to observe National Cybersecurity Month in support of our national security and resilience.  I also call upon businesses and institutions to take action to better protect the American people against cyber threats and create new opportunities for American workers to pursue good-paying cyber jobs.  Americans can also take immediate action to better protect themselves by turning on multifactor authentication, updating software on computers and devices, using strong passwords, and remaining cautious of clicking on links that look suspicious.

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

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America’s economy is stronger when every American has an opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully.  During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we honor the incredible contributions of disabled Americans to our country and economy.  And we recommit to opening the doors of opportunity wider for people with disabilities, making our Nation more equal, accessible, and fair.

Not too long ago, a person with a disability in America could be denied employment because of their disability.  They could even be denied access to public spaces and basic needs like service in a restaurant or a grocery store.  One of my early acts as a United States Senator was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act.  It was the first time in our Nation’s history that we declared in law what we knew to be true:  that Americans with disabilities deserve dignity, respect, and an equal chance at the American Dream.  The Rehabilitation Act is one of the most consequential civil rights laws in our Nation’s history, banning discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity the Federal Government funds. 

The Rehabilitation Act laid the groundwork for another landmark law:  the Americans with Disabilities Act.  I was enormously proud to co-sponsor that bill and remain even prouder of its lasting legacy today.  For more than 61 million Americans living with a disability, these laws are a source of opportunity, meaningful inclusion, participation, respect, and -‑ as my dad would say — dignity.  And in the Obama-Biden Administration, we built on the lasting legacy of these laws by setting hiring goals in Federal contracts for people with disabilities, which we have upheld and continued to pursue in the Biden-Harris Administration.

My Administration is committed to ensuring people with disabilities have access to good jobs.  In my first few months in office, I signed an Executive Order establishing a Government-wide commitment to advancing equality and equity in Federal employment, including for people with disabilities.  It brought together the Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Office of Personnel Management to ensure that Federal workplaces are fully accessible to people with disabilities so that the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy we pursue.  That includes making sure our Nation’s largest employer — the Federal Government — is the model for fair, accessible, and decent practices in the workplace.  This Executive Order directs agencies to address the challenges faced by job applicants and employees with disabilities.  Additionally, the General Services Administration adopted the United States Access Board’s new guidelines to ensure people with disabilities have access to the over 300,000 Federal Government buildings.  Furthermore, my Administration ended the use of unfair subminimum wages in Federal contracts — no longer will employers be permitted to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage through the AbilityOne Federal contracting program.  And the Department of Labor has launched a comprehensive review of the subminimum wage program.  We are working to increase hiring for people with disabilities in every sector — from helping State and local governments, businesses, and nonprofits access Federal funds to hire more disabled Americans to appointing people with disabilities to positions in my Administration.

My Administration is also strengthening our Nation’s infrastructure and making it more accessible so that people with disabilities have no problems commuting to work or other places.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the biggest investment ever — $1.75 billion — to expand accessibility in transit and rail stations.  It also includes $65 billion to expand access to high-speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home.  Further, the Department of Justice finalized standards for State and local governments to make their internet content and mobile apps more accessible so that digital workplaces are accessible to disabled Americans.

During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate the talent, impact, and legacy of people with disabilities across our Nation by working to make our country stronger, more prosperous, and more just.  And we recommit to ensuring people with disabilities have every opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  I urge all Americans to embrace the talents and skills of workers with disabilities and to promote the right to equal employment opportunity for all.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     America’s young people are the future of our Nation.  Each of them deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.  This National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, we recommit to providing all youth with the resources and support they need to lead healthy lives and achieve their dreams.

     Addressing the opioid and overdose epidemic is a key priority of my Unity Agenda.  Preventing substance use before it starts is a crucial part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose crisis.

     That is why, as President, I am taking bold action to help schools, families, and communities to prevent youth substance use and improve the well-being of our Nation’s youth.  Through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, my Administration made the largest investment in youth mental health ever, including $1 billion of funding to train and hire new school based mental health professionals across the country.  We are supporting substance use prevention training for school administrators and counselors and improving mental health and substance use screening tools so students can get the health services they need.  We have also made it easier for schools to leverage Medicaid to deliver mental health and substance use care to millions of children and youth.  And we are engaging youth as partners to develop and strengthen community strategies for youth to better educate and support their peers, working toward our shared goal of getting ahead of substance use before it starts.

     Over the past 3 years, we have made historic investments in strengthening local youth prevention and public awareness campaigns across the country.  Through our Drug-Free Communities Support Program, we are implementing prevention efforts in all 50 States, significantly reducing youth substance use in these communities.  Further, my Administration launched a social media campaign to educate youth on the dangers of fentanyl and the life-saving effects of opioid overdose reversal medications.  We also used this prevention content to prepare classroom resources for middle and high school students.  Together, we are emboldening our Nation’s youth with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed and empowered decisions.

     We are also taking aggressive action to reduce the supply of illicit drugs before they hit our streets.  Under my leadership, Federal law enforcement is keeping more deadly drugs out of our communities than ever before by stopping illicit fentanyl at ports of entry, prosecuting thousands of drug traffickers, sanctioning individuals and organizations involved in the global illicit drug trade, and engaging globally to disrupt drug trafficking organizations.

     We have made immense progress in preventing the use and misuse of substances and preventing youth from developing substance use disorders.  We are mobilizing communities to take action and stay informed, providing historic amounts of funding to prevent substance use and overdose, and focusing on what works — evidence-based policies, strategies, and programs.  Together with youth, parents, mentors, and leaders from all sectors of communities around our great Nation, we are working to ensure every young person is nurtured in a safe, supportive, thriving environment.  But to improve the lives of youth impacted by substance use and honor all the young lives tragically lost to an overdose, we can and must do more.  This month, we recommit to fulfilling our Nation’s duty to leave no one behind and extend support to those who need it.  America’s youth deserve nothing less than our unwavering commitment to their well-being.

     If you are struggling with substance use or just need someone to talk to, speak to a loved one or health care provider, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP or visit FindSupport.gov.  If you or someone you love is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential crisis support.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month.  Let us all take action to implement practice- and evidence-based prevention strategies and improve the health of our Nation.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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      The arts and humanities bring people together and show us that we have more in common than we have differences — helping us see each other, understand one another, and unite in common cause.  Our artists and scholars embody the very spirit of America:  the drive to create and connect, the pursuit of excellence, and the boldness to be truthtellers and change seekers.  During National Arts and Humanities Month, we celebrate the artists and scholars who lift us up, speak to our souls, and shape who we are as a Nation.

     We are a great Nation, largely because of the power of the arts and humanities, which is stamped into the DNA of America.  My Administration is committed to continuing the longstanding tradition of supporting the arts and humanities — including promoting freedom of expression as a part of a healthy democracy — and has worked to ensure people across the Nation have access to the connection and economic opportunities they provide.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, when local venues like theaters and concert halls were struggling to stay open, we offered a lifeline of over $1 billion in funding.  In 2022, I also signed an Executive Order to advance the cultural vitality of our country and ensure that access to the arts and humanities is within reach of every American.  That included re-establishing the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and appointing the First Lady as an honorary chair and Lady Gaga and Bruce Cohen as co-chairs.  The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently celebrated the 10 recipients of the 2024 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, our Nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.  The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) also launched ArtsHere, a $10 million grant pilot program expected to announce nearly 100 awards for projects by local arts organizations working in underserved communities.  And this year, the NEA — alongside policy experts at the White House, the Second Gentleman, and more — convened artists to demonstrate how the arts and humanities are critical infrastructure to our own well-being and the health of our democracy. 

     I believe deeply in the power of the arts and humanities to tell the story of our Nation and help guide our path toward a better Union.  That is why the First Lady and I have hosted countless events that brought artists and performers here to the White House — from movie screenings and poetry readings to musical performances and a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn.  We have also honored a number of incredible artists and scholars by awarding the National Humanities Medals and National Medals of Arts and by hosting the Kennedy Center Honorees at the White House.  These events and honors are a reminder of the value the arts and humanities bring to our lives and our Nation.  

     Our Administration is working with artists and scholars to ensure that hate has no safe harbor in America.  As a part of our United We Stand Summit, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) launched a joint initiative with the NEA called Connecting Through Culture to leverage the arts and humanities against hate-motivated violence, promote civic engagement, and encourage cross-cultural understanding.  Building on the work of United We Stand, the PCAH, NEH, NEA, and IMLS also launched the Artists for Understanding initiative to bring together a diverse community of artists and humanitarians in the fight against hate.  And the NEH has worked to support humanities and research programs that capture the good, bad, and truth of our Nation.  From helping to document the oral histories of survivors and descendants of the Federal Indian Boarding School era to investing in programs that help protect and preserve America’s Black history through Historically Black Colleges and Universities and supporting cultural institutions in the Pacific Islands, we show our commitment to understanding and learning from our past so that we can work together to build a better future.

     Our Nation’s artists, librarians, scholars, and museum professionals make us feel our humanity, reminding us of all that is possible when we come together.  This month, may we celebrate American artists and scholars, who will always hold a special place in the soul of our Nation.  And may we recommit to supporting the arts and humanities, which make us a stronger and more prosperous 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 October 2024 as National Arts and Humanities Month.  I call on the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and celebrations.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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  Domestic violence affects millions of Americans across our Nation with devastating consequences for survivors, families, and entire communities.  Everyone deserves to live free from the fear of violence, especially in their own home.  During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we recommit to extending support and resources to all survivors, continuing to hold perpetrators accountable, and ensuring that our society is truly safe for everyone. 

     Just last month, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which I wrote and championed as a United States Senator.  It is one of the pieces of legislation of which I am most proud.  VAWA established a coordinated, nationwide response to gender-based violence, lifting social and legal burdens off survivors and onto perpetrators, where they belong.  It directed critical funding toward increasing resources for survivors, strengthened efforts to prevent and prosecute sexual assault, and funded rape crisis centers and shelters to support survivors.  It also created the Nation’s first-ever National Domestic Violence Hotline, which has provided millions of Americans with lifesaving support, answering its seven millionth contact this past year. 

     My Administration recognizes that there is still more work to do.  Between 30 and 40 percent of Americans are impacted by sexual abuse, physical violence, or stalking — including online — by an intimate partner throughout their lifetimes.  Over the years, I have spoken with countless brave survivors of domestic violence, who have shared the devastating toll this abuse takes on all aspects of their lives.  Their stories are also marked by a deep courage and resilience.  Above all, they have made clear that even one case of domestic violence is too many and goes against who we are as a Nation.

     In 2022, I signed into law the reauthorization of VAWA that included its highest funding level to date, expanding protections to ensure that they reach the most vulnerable communities.  These funds will continue to strengthen the public health response for domestic violence survivors and their children, expand access to medical forensic examinations, and increase support for culturally specific resources in marginalized communities.  Additionally, Tribal courts now have jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, sex trafficking, and assaults on Tribal lands.  And we are making sure that VAWA programs are implemented in rural communities across the Nation. 

     We all have a sacred duty to ensure that no one experiences abuse.  That is why my Administration is taking important steps to prevent domestic violence and protect survivors and their families.  We released the first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which laid out a Government-wide approach to prevent and address all forms of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and stalking.  Knowing that domestic violence and gun violence are deeply interconnected, my Administration established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which is overseen by the Vice President, who has spent her career combatting crimes against women and children.  And I signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the most significant gun safety law in decades — which is helping to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers and felons.  Last year, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women awarded over $600 million in grants to address gender-based violence, and through the American Rescue Plan, we have directed an additional $1 billion in funding for rape crisis centers, culturally specific community support organizations, and other domestic violence and sexual assault services.

     We are also taking action to combat the growing threat of cybercrimes and online harassment.  We are increasing access to services and support for survivors of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and ensuring that law enforcement is better equipped to prevent, enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes, including technology abuse by an intimate partner.  Furthermore, the Vice President and I worked together to create a Federal task force that helped launch the first 24/7 national helpline for survivors of image-based abuse.  We are also directing Federal agencies to address sexual violence and sexual harassment in the workplace and in schools, and I have spearheaded historic military justice reforms to protect survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence in our military.

     I remain proud of the progress that has been made in recent decades to combat domestic violence and violence in all forms, but I know that there is more work to be done to ensure that every American is safe.  During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and every month, we must lend our unwavering support to survivors and continue to call upon our fellow Americans to treat everyone with dignity and respect.  If you or someone you know is in need of support, immediate and confidential help is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline by visiting thehotline.org, calling 1-800-799-7233 (TTY 1-800-787-3224), or texting “START” to 88788.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2024 as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.  I call upon our country to change the social norms that tolerate domestic violence, provide meaningful support to survivors, and express gratitude to those working diligently on prevention and response efforts.  Together, we can transform the country and build a Nation where all people live free from violence.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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On June 3, 2024, I signed Proclamation 10773 (Securing the Border).  That proclamation suspended and limited the entry of certain noncitizens into the United States across the southern border during times of high border crossings, and directed the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to promptly consider issuing any instructions, orders, or regulations as might be necessary to address the circumstances at the southern border, including any additional limitations and conditions on asylum eligibility that they determined were warranted.  Following that direction, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General issued an interim final rule (IFR) that established a limitation on asylum eligibility for certain noncitizens who enter the United States across the southern border during times when Proclamation 10773 and the IFR are designed to be in effect, and revised certain procedures applicable to the expedited removal process to more swiftly apply consequences for irregular migration during those times for noncitizens who do not establish a lawful basis to remain.

     Those actions have already produced significant results.  Since Proclamation 10773 and the IFR went into effect, and as of the end of the last calendar month, the average number of encounters by the United States Border Patrol at our southwest border between ports of entry has decreased by 59 percent compared to the period after the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule began to apply on May 12, 2023, and before Proclamation 10773 and the IFR went into effect.  July and August 2024 were the lowest 2 months of encounters between ports of entry since September 2020.  While Proclamation 10773 and the IFR have been in effect, and for individuals encountered between southern border ports of entry as of the end of the last calendar month, the Department of Homeland Security has removed or returned 70 percent of single adults and family members, including more than 119,000 individuals to more than 140 countries; has more than tripled the percentage of noncitizens processed through expedited removal; and has decreased the percentage of noncitizens encountered at the southwest border who are released by United States Border Patrol pending their removal proceedings by 52 percent.

     Following the issuance of the IFR, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice (Departments) received and reviewed more than 1,000 comments.  Based on their review of those comments and their experience in implementing Proclamation 10773 and the IFR, the Departments have identified two issues related to the thresholds for determining when to apply the suspension and limitation on entry in Proclamation 10773 and the measures described in the IFR. 

     First, having closely monitored the 7-consecutive-calendar-day average of encounters following the issuance of Proclamation 10773 and the IFR, the Departments have assessed that the current threshold for discontinuing the suspension and limitation on entry in Proclamation 10773 and the measures described in the IFR could be reached following a short-term decrease in the number of encounters at the southern border that does not reflect a sustained decrease in the number of such encounters or an end to the border circumstances in which Proclamation 10773 and the IFR are designed to apply.  The Departments are currently considering regulatory action to address this issue as it relates to the measures described in the IFR.  With respect to Proclamation 10773, to ensure that the threshold to discontinue the suspension and limitation on entry reflects a sustained decrease in encounters, I have now determined that the suspension and limitation on entry in that proclamation should be discontinued only after the Secretary of Homeland Security has made a factual determination that there have been 28 consecutive calendar days in which the 7-consecutive-calendar-day average of encounters is less than 1,500. 

     Second, while Proclamation 10773 and the IFR excluded encounters of unaccompanied children from non-contiguous countries from the calculation of encounters, the Departments have assessed, based on their experience implementing Proclamation 10773 and the IFR, that this exclusion is unwarranted because processing such noncitizens is particularly resource-intensive for our frontline personnel at the southern border.  This experience indicates that excluding these noncitizens from the calculation yields inaccurate estimates of system capacity.  Again, the Departments are currently considering regulatory action to address this issue as it relates to the measures described in the IFR.  I have now concluded that in order to better achieve Proclamation 10773’s goal of enhancing our ability to address historic levels of migration and more efficiently process migrants arriving at the southern border, that proclamation should include unaccompanied children from both non-contiguous and contiguous countries in the calculation of encounters.  Consistent with section 3(b)(iii) of Proclamation 10773, any unaccompanied children will remain excepted from the suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 1 of Proclamation 10773.  

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a)) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that, absent the measures set forth in Proclamation 10773, as amended by this proclamation, the entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of Proclamation 10773 under circumstances described in section 2 of Proclamation 10773, as amended by this proclamation, would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that the entry of such persons should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions.  I therefore hereby proclaim the following:

     Section 1.  Amendment to Section 2(a) of Proclamation 10773.  Section 2(a) of Proclamation 10773 is amended to read as follows:

     “The Secretary of Homeland Security shall monitor the number of daily encounters and, subject to subsection (b) of this section, the suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 1 of this proclamation shall be discontinued at 12:01 a.m. eastern time on the date that is 14 calendar days after the Secretary makes a factual determination that there have been 28 consecutive calendar days of a 7-consecutive-calendar-day average of less than 1,500 encounters, not including encounters described in subsection 4(a)(iii) of this proclamation.”

     Sec. 2.  Revocation of Section 2(c) of Proclamation 10773.  Section 2(c) of Proclamation 10773 is revoked.

     Sec. 3.  Severability.  It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the interests of the United States.  Accordingly, if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. 

     Sec. 4.  Effectiveness.  The amendments described in sections 1 and 2 of this proclamation shall be effective if and when there is in effect a final rule promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General that amends the IFR entitled Securing the Border, 89 Fed. Reg. 48,710 (June 7, 2024), consistent with the amendments described in sections 1 and 2 of this proclamation.  If, due to court order, the final rule described in the prior sentence cannot be enforced insofar as it makes changes consistent with the amendment described in section 1 of this proclamation, then the amendment described in section 1 of this proclamation will no longer be in effect and section 2(a) of Proclamation 10773 shall continue to apply by its terms.  If, due to court order, the final rule described in the first sentence of this section cannot be enforced insofar as it makes changes consistent with the amendment described in section 2 of this proclamation, then the amendment described in section 2 of this proclamation will no longer be in effect and section 2(c) of Proclamation 10773 shall continue to apply by its terms.

     Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation 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 proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (c)  This proclamation 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.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of South Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg.

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 in the counties of Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, and Spartanburg.

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

Mr. Brett H. Howard of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or 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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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

SUBJECT:       Delegation of Authority Under Section 506(a)(3) 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 the authority under section 506(a)(3) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to $567 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Taiwan.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Virginia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

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

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding. 

Mr. Timothy S. Pheil of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

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

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene beginning on September 23, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla.

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 to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the counties of Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla.

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

Mr. John E. Brogan of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or 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 North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

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 in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey Counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

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

Mr. Thomas J. McCool of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or 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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Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Helene beginning on September 26, 2024, and continuing.

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

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Carter, Johnson, and Unicoi.

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Cocke, Hawkins, and Washington.

Mr. Darryl L. Dragoo of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

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

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     On this solemn day, we honor the memories of the patriots who served our Nation, defended our freedom, and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  We hold close to our hearts the Gold Star mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, sisters and brothers, daughters and sons, and other loved ones, who grieve their loss and carry on their legacy.  And we recommit to fulfilling our sacred obligation to care for all of our Gold Star families.

     Each of our service members is a link in the chain of honor that stretches back to the founding days of our Nation.  They are bound not just by their bravery but also by their commitment to an idea unlike any other in human history:  the idea of the United States of America.  Decade after decade, our service members have fought for our freedom and the freedom of others because they knew that freedom has never been guaranteed.  And just as our fallen heroes have kept the ultimate faith in our country and our democracy, we must keep faith in them.

     To everyone who has loved and lost someone in the service of our country and to everyone with a loved one still missing or unaccounted for, I know how hard these days of remembrance can be.  No matter how much time has passed or how much pride you have in their legacy, the grief and the hurt never fully go away.  The First Lady and I are keeping all Gold Star families in our prayers.  Since I took office, I have signed over 30 bipartisan laws supporting service members and veterans as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors.  And I will continue to do everything I can to support our Gold Star families, to whom our Nation owes a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay. 

     Today, we join Gold Star families in their grief and express our gratitude:  gratitude to our fallen heroes, gratitude for the sacrifices of the families left behind, and gratitude to the brave souls who continue to uphold the flame of liberty all across our country and around the world.  Because of them, our country stands today.  As we honor Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, we recommit to making a more perfect Union, for which our fallen heroes lived and died.  That is our promise.

     The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat. 1895 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day.”

     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 Sunday, September 29, 2024, as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day.  I call upon all Government officials to display the flag of the United States over Government buildings on this special day.  I also encourage the American people to display the flag and hold appropriate ceremonies as a public expression of our Nation’s gratitude and respect for our Gold Star Mothers and Families.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     Generations of Americans have enjoyed hunting and fishing — cherished traditions that bring us closer to our Nation’s natural wonders and embody America’s spirit of resourcefulness and adventure.  During National Hunting and Fishing Day, we celebrate our Nation’s hunters and anglers, honor their contributions, and continue the conservation work that so many of them have led.  

     Americans who hunt and fish have immense appreciation for our environment.  They know that when we take care of the natural world, we ensure that all generations to come will also have the opportunity to hunt, fish, and enjoy the great outdoors.  Passing down this tradition is especially important to rural communities, where hunting and fishing are time-honored pastimes, and to Tribal Nations, where hunting and fishing remain central to their cultures and livelihoods.  My Administration set the most ambitious conservation goal ever — committing to conserve at least 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030.  That goal is at the heart of my “America the Beautiful” initiative to support locally led, voluntary conservation and restoration efforts across the country.  And within our national wildlife refuge system, I approved a 2-million-acre expansion of land available for hunting and fishing.  The Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior are working with the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council to improve hunters’ and anglers’ access to public lands and waters.  I also launched the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to create more safe, affordable, and equitable opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing.  My Inflation Reduction Act made the largest investment ever in addressing the climate crisis, harnessing the power of nature as a climate solution and working to ensure that our fish and wildlife are healthy and abundant for years to come.

     During National Hunting and Fishing Day, we celebrate hunting and fishing and the place they hold in our hearts, cultures, and national story.  We recommit to protecting these activities, which are important to upholding our sacred trust, treaty, and subsistence responsibilities to Tribal Nations.  And we honor all the incredible contributions of the hunters and fishers, land owners, State and territorial officials, Tribal Nations, Indigenous communities, and local leaders working to conserve our lands and waters.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 28, 2024, as National Hunting and Fishing Day.  I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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     America’s natural wonders are our Nation’s heart and soul.  Our public lands protect many of these treasures and ensure that generations can enjoy their splendor — from our national parks and monuments to our forests and wildlife refuges.  On National Public Lands Day, we honor these irreplaceable lands and waters and recommit to working together to preserve them.

     Whether it is the soaring cliffs of Yosemite National Park, the striking geysers of Yellowstone National Park, or the lush hills of the Appalachians in the Monongahela National Forest — our Nation’s public lands inspire and unite us through the ages.  They hold pieces of our country’s history, etched into our lands and waters.  Some public lands are considered sacred by Tribal Nations, which have stewarded them since time immemorial.  And these lands and waters also carry so much promise:  helping protect us against climate change, providing the clean air we breathe and clean water we drink, and sustaining the livelihoods of ranchers, outfitters, guides, and rural and Indigenous communities.  

     Since the beginning of my Administration, I have taken historic steps to conserve our natural treasures for future generations.  That began when I signed an Executive Order that established the most ambitious conservation goal in the history of our country — committing to conserve at least 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030.  To that end, my “America the Beautiful” initiative is supporting voluntary, locally led conservation and restoration efforts across the country.  I also signed an Executive Order to safeguard and steward our Nation’s forests and enlist nature to help address the climate crisis, including through the development of the first National Nature Assessment. 

     Since I came into office, my Administration has conserved more than 42 million acres of our Nation’s lands and waters.  I established and expanded eight national monuments — including the stunning Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, thought to be one of the most sacred places on Earth by some Tribal Nations.  I restored protections for lands and waters across the country that had been rolled back by the previous administration — including the desert buttes of the Bears Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, the stunning Tongass National Forest, and the underwater canyons of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. 

     To protect our waters, I took executive action to direct consideration of more than 700,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii as a new National Marine Sanctuary — which could make this one of the largest protected marine areas on the planet.  And I protected the United States Arctic Ocean from new oil and gas leasing.  My Administration is also advancing the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches along 116 miles of California coastline.

     My Administration has also made historic investments to preserve our Nation’s ecosystems and safeguard our communities against the impact of climate change.  Our Inflation Reduction Act made the largest investment in history to confront the climate crisis, and together with our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments will help support conservation and restoration, including $50 billion dedicated to strengthening community and ecosystem resilience to climate change.  We have also worked to promote equitable access to outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands and waters through the “America the Beautiful” initiative, launching the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to address common challenges and opportunities in expanding outdoor recreation activities and access to the great outdoors.

     I also launched the American Climate Corps to mobilize a new, diverse generation of Americans — putting them to work conserving and restoring our lands and waters, bolstering community resilience, deploying clean energy, implementing energy efficient technologies, and advancing environmental justice.  And, upon completing this program, we are working to ensure they have a pathway to getting high-quality, good-paying clean energy and climate resilience jobs in the public and private sectors.

     Our Nation’s public lands have always been and will always be central to our country’s heritage and essential to our identity.  On National Public Lands Day, I encourage every American to enjoy the wonder of our public lands.  All of our country’s national parks, forests, refuges, and grasslands will have a “Fee-Free Day” on September 28 — anyone can visit them free of charge.  There are several more fee-free days throughout the year, the last of which will occur on Veterans Day, November 11.  Whether you go for the incredible vistas, the lush forests, or the rolling grasslands, our public lands will never fail to inspire awe and connect us to something bigger than ourselves.

     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 September 28, 2024, as National Public Lands Day.  I invite all Americans to join me in a day of service for our public lands.  I also encourage volunteers from across the Nation to celebrate and care for our lands and waters by reforesting the land, maintaining trails, nurturing ecosystems, removing invasive species, and doing other conservation work to serve the lands and waters that support and sustain us.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves South Carolina Emergency Declaration

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Helene beginning on September 25, 2024, and continuing.

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

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, and Spartanburg

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance and reimbursement for mass care including evacuation and shelter support will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Calhoun, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumter, Union, and York.

Public Assistance (Category B) emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding for the counties of Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg.

Mr. Brett H. Howard of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 

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

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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.  During 2020, the last year of the prior administration, homicides in the Nation increased nearly 30 percent over the previous year — the largest 1-year increase in murders ever recorded.  After that, the Vice President and I took action to reduce gun crime and other forms of violent crime.  By the middle of 2022, we had already taken more executive action to reduce gun violence than any other administration at that point in time.  On June 25, 2022, I signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (Public Law 117-159) — the most significant new gun violence prevention law in nearly 30 years.  Rates of homicide in the United States are falling at one of the fastest rates ever recorded.  Year-over-year comparison shows that 2023 had one of the largest declines in the homicide rate in recent history.  This life-saving progress has continued in 2024.  While we have made great progress, much more work remains to be done to reduce gun violence and save lives.

     It is the policy of my Administration to coordinate across executive departments and agencies (agencies) to reduce gun violence and save lives.  This order directs enhanced coordination for two key challenges:  combating emerging firearms threats and understanding and improving school-based active-shooter drills.

     One way to continue the progress on reducing gun violence is to stay ahead of emerging violent crime threats involving firearms.  My Administration has always taken these threats seriously.  In April 2021, one of my Administration’s first executive actions to reduce gun violence was directed at stopping the proliferation of firearms without serial numbers, often referred to as “ghost guns.”  To expand these efforts, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) of the Department of Justice established an Emerging Threats Center, which focuses ATF’s resources on identifying developments in illicit firearm marketplaces, including the use of new technologies to make and unlawfully distribute undetectable firearms and devices that convert semiautomatic firearms into illegal machineguns.  The Vice President and I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down an important gun safety regulation on bump stocks — the device used in the shooting at a crowded music festival in Las Vegas — and called on the Congress to clarify that this dangerous accessory is a machinegun.

The Court’s decision addressing bump stocks did not alter the statutory prohibition on machinegun conversion devices, which are prohibited for non-governmental possession even when not installed on a firearm.  The threat posed by the continued proliferation of these devices is particularly acute.  These devices enable semiautomatic firearms, including easily concealable handguns, to match or exceed the rate of fire of many military machineguns with a single engagement of the trigger — up to 20 bullets in one second and 1,200 rounds in one minute.  From 2017 through 2021, ATF recovered 5,454 of these devices — a 570 percent increase over the previous 5-year period.  These devices are often illegally imported or illegally made on a 3D printer.  

Unserialized, 3D printed firearms — which can be used for illicit purposes such as gun trafficking, possession by people convicted of felonies or subject to domestic violence restraining orders, or unlawful engagement in the business of manufacturing or selling firearms — are another emerging threat.  These firearms can be 3D printed from computer code downloaded from the internet and produced without serial numbers, which law enforcement uses to trace firearms recovered in criminal investigations.  Some 3D printed firearms can be rendered undetectable by magnetometers used to secure airports, courthouses, and certain events.  3D printing technology is developing quickly, which can cause the safety threat of 3D printed firearms to suddenly increase.

In addition to the threat of domestic crime, these emerging firearms threats pose a significant risk to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.  Many foreign countries have heavily regulated automatic weapons and 3D printed and undetectable firearms.  The wide availability of these emerging firearms threats would undermine other nations’ gun laws and the safety and security of our allies.  Technical data and software for 3D printed firearms and machinegun conversion devices can be used by international gangs, criminals, and terrorists in a manner contrary to United States national security and foreign policy interests.    

Multiple agencies have the authority to help stop the proliferation of these emerging threats, and it is the policy of the United States to work collectively across agencies to identify threats, engage in information sharing, and work together to develop and implement effective strategies to combat these threats.  Authorities that can address emerging firearms threats extend beyond the Gun Control Act (Public Law 90-618) and the National Firearms Act (Public Law 73-474).  Focused and enhanced coordination is needed to ensure a unified and robust strategy for enforcing existing legal authorities and using every available tool and resource.  This interagency effort will build on the life-saving work that has occurred to date to stop the proliferation of machinegun conversion devices, including the ongoing efforts at the Department of Justice and ATF.

     My Administration also has invested significant resources in school safety and has taken steps to keeps firearms out of schools.  These steps have focused on preventing unauthorized access to firearms for youth and individuals in crisis; supporting schools that are implementing evidence-based safety and gun-violence prevention and intervention solutions; and addressing the mental health needs of students, particularly those impacted by gun violence.  

Keeping students and educators, including teachers and other school personnel, safe from gun violence in their schools is a top priority for my Administration, but there is more to do to make our schools safer.  Since the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999, according to one analysis, there have been more than 400 school shootings that exposed more than 375,000 students to gun violence.  Exposure to school shootings takes a terrible toll on students and educators.  A nationally representative study found that 51 percent of 14- to 17‑year‑olds in the United States worry about school shootings.

     The majority of States require schools to conduct active-shooter drills for students and educators.  About 95 percent of K-12 public schools in the United States conduct lockdown drills, which include drills to prepare for an active-shooter situation.  These drills vary widely in their approach, and many parents, students, and educators have expressed concerns over the effectiveness of and trauma caused by some approaches to these drills. 

     Despite their ubiquity, there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and minimize any collateral harms they might cause.  While additional research is ongoing, it is difficult to conclusively determine which specific practices are most effective in preparing schools for active-shooter incidents, preventing injuries and fatalities, and minimizing any associated psychological impacts or traumas.  The Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the Department of Homeland Security continue to work together on a range of school safety issues, including the beginnings of research into these important questions.  It is time for these agencies to extend their efforts to help schools better design and conduct effective and age- and developmentally appropriate active-shooter drills.

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

(a)  The term “machinegun” has the meaning given by 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(24) and 26 U.S.C. 5845(b), and includes a “machinegun conversion device,” which is any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun.

(b)  The term “undetectable firearm” means a firearm as proscribed by 18 U.S.C. 922(p).

(c)  The term “3D printing” refers to the additive manufacturing process, during which producers transmit digital designs to 3D printers.  The computerized design guides the fabrication of products, building them up layer by layer rather than cutting away from a large block of existing material as in most traditional manufacturing.  This term includes additive manufacturing technology used to produce a firearm, firearm frame or receiver, or machinegun conversion device.

Sec. 3.  Combating Emerging Firearms Threats.  (a)  There is hereby established an interagency Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force (Task Force).  The Task Force shall be chaired by the Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention.  In addition to the Chair, the Task Force shall consist of the following members:

(i)     the Secretary of State;

(ii)    the Attorney General;

(iii)   the Secretary of Commerce;

(iv)    the Secretary of Homeland Security;

(v)     the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;

(vi)    the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy;

(vii)   the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor;

(viii)  the Counsel to the President;

(ix)    the Assistant to the President and Director of the Domestic Policy Council;

(x)     the Deputy Assistant to the President and Domestic Policy Advisor to the Vice President; and

(xi)    the heads of such other agencies and offices as the Chair may from time to time invite to participate.

(b)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall submit to the President, through the Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a report containing a risk assessment and strategy to stop the proliferation of machinegun conversion devices, with a particular emphasis on the devices used to convert a standard, semiautomatic firearm to a machinegun.  The risk assessment and strategy shall include:

(i)     information regarding the use, recovery, origins, and distribution channels of machinegun conversion devices, including:

(A)  the software or technology used for 3D printing machinegun conversion devices; and

(B)  the origins of machinegun conversion devices that are seized at ports of entry, illegally imported into the United States, or otherwise recovered by law enforcement agencies in the United States;

(ii)    an assessment of existing applicable legal authorities of the agencies represented on the Task Force and other agencies identified at the direction of the Chair to regulate software or technology used to make machinegun conversion devices, which shall include a review of export and import laws;

(iii)   an assessment of the technological and legal feasibility of 3D printing companies designing 3D printers that block the functional capacities of software that can 3D print machinegun conversion devices;

(iv)    an assessment of the operational capabilities and legal authorities of agencies to detect, intercept, and seize machinegun conversion devices that are illegally imported or illegally produced domestically, including through 3D printing;

(v)     an interagency plan for expanding U.S. Customs and Border Protection initiatives with Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement to stop the flow into the United States of machinegun conversion devices;

(vi)    an interagency plan for seizing as criminal instrumentalities 3D printers that are acquired for the purpose of illegally making machinegun conversion devices and recommendations for additional administrative actions necessary to facilitate such seizure;

(vii)   an interagency plan for expanding partnerships with State, Tribal, and local law enforcement for Federal training on identifying machinegun conversion devices, tracing the firearms to which they were attached, and submitting seizure data to ATF;

(viii)  an interagency plan — with input from 3D data providers, technology companies, and civil society — for voluntary, regulatory, and international mechanisms to limit the availability on the internet of files used for the purpose of unlawfully producing machinegun conversion devices;

(ix)    an interagency plan for effective coordination to limit the illegal export and import of software or technology on the internet that can be readily used to 3D print machinegun conversion devices; and

(x)     recommendations for any additional authorities or funding agencies need from the Congress to more effectively address the proliferation of machinegun conversion devices.

(c)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Task Force shall submit to the President, through the Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a report containing a risk assessment and strategy to address the emerging threat related to 3D printed firearms, including unserialized or undetectable 3D printed firearms.  The risk assessment and strategy shall include:

(i)     information regarding the usage, recovery, origins, and distribution channels of 3D printed unserialized firearms and 3D printed undetectable firearms, including the software or technology used for 3D printing unserialized firearms or undetectable firearms;

(ii)    an assessment of how 3D printing of firearms can facilitate violation of the Undetectable Firearms Act (18 U.S.C. 922(p));

(iii)   an assessment of existing authorities, including export and import laws, that regulate software or technology used for 3D printing firearms, including undetectable firearms;

(iv)    an assessment of the technological feasibility of 3D printers proactively blocking the functional capacities of software used to 3D print undetectable firearms;

(v)     an interagency plan for seizing as criminal instrumentalities 3D printers acquired for the purpose of illegally producing or dealing in firearms, including unserialized or undetectable firearms, or for the purpose of producing firearms for criminal purposes, and recommendations for additional administrative actions that may be necessary to facilitate such seizures;

(vi)    an interagency plan for effective coordination between the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce to limit the illegal export or import of software or technology on the internet that can be readily used to illegally 3D print firearms, including unserialized or undetectable firearms;

(vii)   an interagency plan for expanding partnerships with Federal, State, Tribal, and local law enforcement to train them on identifying undetectable or unserialized firearms made with 3D printing software or technology and reporting recoveries of such firearms to ATF; and

(viii)  recommendations for any additional authorities or funding the agencies need from the Congress to more effectively address the problem of 3D printed firearms, including unserialized or undetectable firearms.

(d)  The Task Force shall be responsible for interagency coordination necessary to facilitate agencies’ implementation of the recommendations and strategies in the reports described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(e)  At the direction of the Chair, the Task Force may coordinate interagency efforts to address additional emerging firearms threats.

     Sec. 4.  Understanding and Improving School-Based Active-Shooter Drills.  (a)  Within 110 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Surgeon General, shall develop and publish information about school-based active-shooter drills for schools, including institutions of higher education, and for State, Tribal, and local educational agencies.  Such information shall include:

(i)   a summary of existing research and recommendations on active-shooter drills, including information on:

(A)  how educators can collaborate within schools — as well as with families; communities; State, Tribal, and local law enforcement; and other emergency response officials — to implement drills that effectively prepare a response to school-based active-shooter situations, including by accounting for the particular needs of educators and students with disabilities; sharing evidence-informed age- and developmentally appropriate practices, such as those that prevent or limit trauma and psychological harm to those participating in drills; and facilitating effective and timely communication with students, educators, first responders, family members, and other relevant stakeholders; and

(B)  how schools must comply with Federal civil rights laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and disability when creating, implementing, and evaluating active-shooter drills, including by effectively serving educators and students with disabilities as well as ensuring that communications with educators and students consider their language-related needs (e.g., communicating in a manner and language that educators and students are able to understand); and

(ii)  resources on school-based active-shooter drills, including information on:

(A)  the types of drills that may be appropriate to prepare students and educators for school-based active-shooter situations; and

(B)  how to create, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed, effective, and age- and developmentally appropriate school-based drills, including:

(1)  how best to engage with students, family members, educators, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders on the process for creating, implementing, and evaluating these drills;

(2)  how best to communicate with students, family members, educators, and other relevant stakeholders before, during, and after the drill, including through the use of notification plans for students, educators, parents, and other parties;

(3)  how to prevent or limit trauma or psychological distress associated with active-shooter drills and support students and educators who may experience such trauma or psychological distress; and

(4)  how best to serve people with disabilities and those with unique language-related needs.

(b)  Within 110 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Surgeon General, shall develop and publish information on recommended areas for future research that can help inform policymakers, educators, students, parents, and other relevant stakeholders about different types of school-based active-shooter drills, the appropriate frequency of such drills, and the effects of such drills on students and educators.  This information shall include potential funding sources that could help advance research on, and inform improvements to, active-shooter drills.

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,
September 26, 2024.

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