Statements and Releases

Today, in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Vice President Harris convened faith leaders and community leaders for a conversation about the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic efforts to ensure all communities, including Black communities, can live with dignity, safety, and have access to opportunity.

The Vice President and participating leaders discussed efforts to cut prescription costs, like capping insulin at $35 a month, which means Black seniors, who are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, no longer have to choose between filling their prescriptions or refrigerators. They also discussed the Administration’s work to tackle student debt, make the criminal justice system more just, and reduce gun violence, including the President signing the Bipartisan Safter Communities Act—the first significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. Additionally, they spoke about the importance of the Administration’s investments in Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs), including those in South Carolina, and the Administration’s efforts to expand access to high-speed internet.

This was the Vice President’s 9th trip to the Palmetto State since becoming Vice President. Earlier this month, she visited Columbia, South Carolina, to deliver the keynote address at the South Carolina NAACP’s annual “King Day at the Dome,” and prior to that, she visited Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on January 6th to deliver the keynote address at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Women’s Missionary Society annual retreat.

Participants included:

• Congressman Jim Clyburn, Assistant Democratic Leader
• Reverend Desimond Antley, Pastor, St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church
• Reverend Constance Barnes-McLeod, Pastor, New Grace United Methodist Church
• Bishop Michael C. Butler, Suffragan, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc. and Mayor of Orangeburg, SC
• Reverend Dr. Jamey O. Graham, Sr. Pastor, St. John Baptist Church
• Trudy Grant, Manager, Religious and External Relations, National Action Network
• Bishop Jonathan Holston, Presiding Bishop, South Carolina
• Reverend Gary Miller, Moderator, Orangeburg-Orthodox Baptist Association 
• Reverend Glotavia Morris, Pastor, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
• Pastor Radhika Patel, Pastor, Embodeed Ministry
• Reverend Nelson B. Rivers, III, Vice President, Religious Affairs and External Relations, National Action Network and Pastor, Charity Missionary Baptist Church

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This past Sunday, three American soldiers were killed in Jordan by a drone launched by militant groups backed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).  Earlier today, I attended the dignified return of these brave Americans at Dover Airforce Base, and I have spoken with each of their families.
 
This afternoon, at my direction, U.S. military forces struck targets at facilities in Iraq and Syria that the IRGC and affiliated militia use to attack U.S. forces.
 
Our response began today.  It will continue at times and places of our choosing.
 
The United States does not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else in the world.  But let all those who might seek to do us harm know this: If you harm an American, we will respond.

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Yesterday, the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Endowment of the Arts hosted a first-of-its-kind national convening to explore ideas, policies, and actions to elevate the arts and humanities across the nation. “Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities” brought together leaders from various sectors, including government officials; policymakers; artists; advocates; academics; and philanthropic, labor, and community leaders. This convening built on President Biden’s 2022 Executive Order to Promote the Arts, Humanities, and Museum Library Services which outlined how the arts are essential to the well-being, health, vitality, and Democracy of our nation.

The day-long summit featured remarks and panel discussions on how the arts fuel democracy, build inclusion, support civic culture and helps healing. 

Participating White House and government officials included:

• Douglas Emhoff, Second Gentleman of the United States
• Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden and Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council
• Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, White House
• Maria Rosario Jackson, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts
• Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo), Chair, National Endowment for the Humanities
• Crosby Kemper, Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services
• Admiral Rachel Levine, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
• Radhika Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Katy Kale, Deputy Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration
• Alaysia Black Hackett, Chief Diversity and Equity Officer, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor
• Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, STEAM Caucus Co-Chair
• Rep. Chellie Pingree, Congressional Arts Caucus Co-Chair
• Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
• Mayor Lisa Hicks-Gilbert, City of Elaine, Arkansas, and Artists at Work
• Mike Alexander, Chief Operating Officer, Atlanta Regional Commission

Participating arts, culture and philanthropic leaders included:

• Bruce Cohen, Producer, Oscar Winner, and Co-Chair of President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Jim Canales, President & Trustee, Barr Foundation
• Dr. Elizabeth Alexander, President, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
• Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organization
• Troy Kotsur, Actor, Oscar Winner, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, multidisciplinary artist, educator, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright, and member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Christopher Kaui Morgan, Christopher K. Morgan & Artists, Malashock Dance, and member of the National Council on the Arts
• Renée Fleming, Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor and World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Arts and Health
• Marc Bamuthi Joseph, spoken word artist, writer and librettist, and Vice President of Social Impact at the Kennedy Center
• Jennifer Dorning, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
• Pam Breaux, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies
• Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Chief Executive & Equity Officer, Ashé Cultural Arts Center
• Julie Garreau, Chief Executive Officer, Cheyenne River Youth Project
• Clyde Valentin, Co-Artistic Director, One Nation/One Project
• Alex Gibson, Executive Director, Appalshop
• Sanjit Sethi, President, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

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In September 2023, President Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden tasked the office with four key responsibilities, including enhancing the federal government’s partnerships with cities and states to help them advance their own efforts to reduce gun violence.

On Tuesday, the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs convened over 150 state legislators, advocates, and staff to discuss progress and build momentum following the release of the White House Safer States Agenda at the December convening of state legislators. At the initial convening, Vice President Kamala Harris called on legislators to continue their efforts heading into the 2024 legislative session. This follow-up conversation highlighted early successes and opportunities for the Administration to support states in their ongoing commitment to building safer communities.

Since December, state legislators in at least 27 states across the country have introduced legislation advancing the Safer States Agenda, including legislation that would establish state offices of gun violence prevention, reinforce responsible gun ownership, and establish industry accountability, among other safety measures. Yesterday, participants heard from six state leaders who are championing specific state legislative proposals:

• California State Senator Anthony Portantino on strengthening safe firearm storage laws.
• Delaware State Representative Cynthia Romer on requiring permits to purchase firearms.
• Pennsylvania State Representative Ben Sanchez on banning assault weapons.
• Virginia State Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy on holding the gun industry accountability.
• Washington State Representative Liz Berry on efforts to address lost and stolen firearms.
• Executive Director of the Maryland Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services Dorothy Lennig on Governor Moore’s proposals to establish a statewide Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention, and modernize Maryland’s victims’ compensation program.

The leadership of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention thanked legislators for their commitment and partnership, and advocates for the vital role they plan in advancing state legislation.

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America’s economy is the strongest in the world. Today, we saw more proof, with another month of strong wage gains and employment gains of over 350,000 in January, continuing the strong growth from last year. Our economy has created 14.8 million jobs since I took office, unemployment has been under 4% for two full years now, and inflation has been at the pre-pandemic level of 2% over the last half year. It’s great news for working families that wages, wealth, and jobs are higher now than before the pandemic, and I won’t stop fighting to lower costs and build an economy from the middle out and bottom up. I’ll continue to stand in the way of efforts by Congressional Republicans to enact massive tax giveaways for the wealthy and big corporations; cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; and raise costs for American families.

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Yesterday, the White House and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) convened 30 stakeholders representing minority farmers and farmers of small- or mid-sized operations for an event focused on President Biden’s efforts to ensure all farmers have the tools they need to succeed and thrive, including fair and equitable access to USDA programs and services.

Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and Neera Tanden, White House Domestic Policy Advisor, welcomed participants to the discussion, providing updates on the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to uphold civil rights and promote equity, including in agriculture, through implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order On Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack then shared details on USDA’s vision for and concrete progress in promoting equity, supporting family farmers and ranchers, and ensuring that underserved groups and rural communities have access to critical resources.

Over the past three years, under the Biden-Harris Administration, the USDA has worked hard to deliver a significant and meaningful list of actions to uphold civil rights, advance equity and ensure the promise of America for all communities across the country.

A roundtable conversation was then moderated by Dr. Dewayne Goldmon, USDA Senior Advisor for Racial Equity. Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, also took part in the conversation. Topics discussed included, but were not limited to: the barriers small-scale farmers confront when it comes to securing funding for USDA farm and conservation programs, and USDA’s work through to address these barriers in recent years; the need to engage a more diverse group of young people in agriculture and agriculture-related professions; the need to build lasting partnerships and for producers of all types to have a seat at the table; the unique constraints that state- or county-based policies create for Tribal farmers; and an acknowledgement of USDA’s success in diversifying its leadership and Farm Service Agency county committees, which must be followed by diversification of state and local level staff to better reflect the people they serve.

Following the roundtable at the White House, participants continued the conversation at USDA.

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President Biden Announces Key Nominees

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his Administration:

• Rose E. Jenkins, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court
• Adam B. Landy, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court
• Kashi Way, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court

Rose E. Jenkins, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court

Rose E. Jenkins has over 15 years of career experience as a tax lawyer, and holds a broad-based expertise in the area, focusing particularly on international tax law and administrative law issues. Jenkins is currently an attorney in the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Procedure & Administration) at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Previously, she was a Senior Attorney Advisor at the Tax Law Center at New York University Law School from 2021 to 2023 and a Managing Director in the international tax group within KPMG’s Washington National Tax office from 2020 to 2021. Before KPMG, she was in the IRS Office of Associate Chief Counsel (International), from 2013 to 2020, as an Attorney, Senior Counsel, and finally a Special Counsel. Jenkins started her career as an Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP, where she worked from 2008 to 2013. She received her L.L.M. from New York University Law School, her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, as well as her M.A. and B.A. from Stanford University. She is a member of the New York state bar and has previously served as a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association Tax Section.

Adam B. Landy, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court

Adam B. Landy has been a Special Trial Judge on the United States Tax Court since 2021. Previously, Landy was a Senior Attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Baltimore, Maryland and San Francisco, California from 2016 to 2021. Prior to that, he worked as an Associate at McNair Law Firm, P.A., which later merged into Burr Forman, LLP, from 2010 to 2016. Landy briefly served as a Law Clerk for Judge J. Michelle Childs on the South Carolina Circuit Court during the Summer of 2008. He received his L.L.M from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2009, his M.S. from the University of South Carolina in 2006, and his B.S. from the University of South Carolina in 2004.

Kashi Way, Nominee to be a Judge on the United States Tax Court

Kashi Way is a senior legislation counsel with the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation. He has been with the Committee since 2005. His primary areas of responsibility include energy-related tax issues and the research credit. Way also works on insurance tax issues, issues relating to tax-exempt organizations, and geographically targeted tax incentives. Way’s work, including markup documents, committee report language, and technical explanations, has formed part of the legislative history of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, and many other pieces of major federal tax legislation enacted over the past eighteen years. Prior to joining the staff, Way clerked at the U.S. Tax Court and spent several years in private practice at Covington & Burling. He studied law at the University of Virginia, has an M.A. from Columbia University, and has a B.A. from the University of Southern California.

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During the past three years, I have worked tirelessly to nominate men and women to the federal bench who are committed to the rule of law. Today, we reached an important milestone: the confirmation of the 175th life-tenured federal judge since I took office. I am grateful to Leader Schumer, Chair Durbin, and Senators on both sides of the aisle who have helped to make today’s milestone a reality.
 
I’m particularly proud that these judges reflect the diversity that is our country’s strength. They come from every corner of the legal profession – they were prosecutors, defense attorneys, civil rights lawyers, and advocates for women’s reproductive freedoms. They were labor lawyers, municipal law experts, and academics. More than 65% are women, and 65% are people of color. And we have confirmed more Black women to life-tenured federal judgeships than any previous Administration in history – including our nation’s first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson.
 
Judges make decisions on issues that matter to the American people – from workers’ rights to women’s reproductive rights, to making sure our criminal justice system functions fairly and efficiently. That is why I will continue moving expeditiously – working with the Senate – to nominate and confirm exceptionally qualified individuals who are impartial and faithful to the Constitution.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to applaud the European Union’s historic decision at the European Council today to approve 50 billion euro in additional financial support to Ukraine.  President Biden commended the European Union’s steadfast support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russian aggression and fulfill the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of its citizens. Von der Leyen emphasized the critical importance of sustained U.S. support to Ukraine, which has been indispensable to Ukraine’s efforts to defend its people, cities, and soldiers in its fight for freedom.

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President Biden has been clear that the United States strongly supports Israel’s right to defend itself following the horrific terrorist attacks that occurred on October 7 and in its effort to defeat Hamas to make sure that such an attack never happens again. This includes taking steps to cut off Hamas’ access to the international financial system. Since October 7, the United States has issued five rounds of sanctions against Hamas, including the most recent round of sanctions against Hamas last week. President Biden has also spoken about his concern about the rise in violence that we have seen in the West Bank from extremist actors—in particular the rise in extremist settler violence, which reached record levels in 2023. This violence poses a grave threat to peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, Israel, and the Middle East region, and threatens the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
 
Today, President Biden signed a new Executive Order to implement new measures to address actions that undermine peace, security, and stability in the West Bank. This E.O. will allow the United States to issue financial sanctions against those directing or participating in certain actions, including acts or threats of violence against civilians, intimidating civilians to cause them to leave their homes, destroying or seizing property, or engaging in terrorist activity in the West Bank. The State Department today will also be announcing an initial set of designations under this new E.O.
 
Today’s actions seek to promote peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

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After decades of opposition, President Biden enacted a law that finally takes on Big Pharma and gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will save millions of seniors money on some of the costliest prescription drugs on the market –and today, Medicare will send initial offers to manufacturers of the first ten drugs selected for drug price negotiation to help bring down the price of these prescription drugs.  This is the first time ever that Medicare is not accepting the drug prices the pharmaceutical companies set. 

The drug price negotiation program is a prime example of the ways the Administration is working to lower costs for American families. In 2022, nine million seniors on Medicare were prescribed the ten drugs selected for the first round of drug price negotiation. These individuals spent an estimated $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022 alone for these drugs, which are used to treat some of the most common conditions like blood clots, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and more. Some seniors spent nearly $6,500 out-of-pocket for a single one of these drugs – while Big Pharma continued to make record profits, ripping off American taxpayers and the seniors their drugs aim to treat.

New report highlights Big Pharma price gouging

A new report released today shows that in 2022, Big Pharma charged Americans two to three times more than what they charged people in other OECD countries for the same drugs, even when accounting for rebates and discounts. As one example, U.S. gross prices for insulin – a drug that has been around for 100 years and costs drug companies just $10 a vial to make – were on average almost ten times the price in the United States than in comparison countries.

This comes as large drug companies spent nearly $750 billion on self-enriching stock buybacks and dividends over the last decade. Big Pharma also executed over $135 billion in mergers and acquisitions in 2023 alone, while passing the cost to consumers. And six of ten of the drugs selected for this year’s negotiation program raised their prices in the first month of 2024 – after all ten drugs were already priced three to eight times higher in the United States than in other countries.

President Biden’s drug price negotiation program finally takes on Big Pharma’s exorbitant price gouging of seniors, allowing Medicare to put money back in the pockets of American families. By negotiating lower prices for these drugs – and dozens more in the years that follow – the Biden Administration is creating a new and better deal for patients.

Drug price negotiation could have a significant impact on seniors

Until the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare was prohibited from directly negotiating prescription drug prices to get the best deal for seniors, even as other government agencies that provide health services actively negotiate lower drug prices. The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Defense, and Medicaid all have the power to negotiate drug prices, and they pay less than Medicare, on average, for top-selling brand-name drugs. In 2017, the Government Accountability Office found that the VA paid on average 49 percent less per unit for the same brand-name drugs offered through the VA health system than Medicare Part D paid.

Big Pharma and House Republicans continue to attack popular drug price negotiation program

Americans from all backgrounds and ages overwhelmingly support Medicare being able to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, with eight in ten adults in favor of the federal government negotiating drug prices.  

At the same time, Big Pharma is litigating nine lawsuits against Medicare Drug Price Negotiation. They’re hoping the courts will do what they could not get done in Congress: block Medicare from negotiating lower prices for seniors and families. And House Republicans are all too eager to come to drug companies’ defense. House Republicans have pledged to eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act, have vowed to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits, are trying to kick millions of Americans off affordable health care, and would keep drug prices high for seniors and American families.

President Biden won’t stand for that. He is laser focused on lowering costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and making sure his Inflation Reduction Act gives more seniors, people with disabilities, and families more breathing room. 

Later this year, new, negotiated prices for the first ten prescription drugs selected for the negotiation program are scheduled to be announced. Over the next four years, Medicare will select up to 60 drugs for negotiation – and up to 20 additional drugs per year after that.

Beyond that, millions of seniors with diabetes are already benefitting from the $35 cap for a month’s supply of insulin under the President’s Inflation Reduction Act. Fifteen million Americans are saving $800 per year on health insurance premiums. And seniors that took the 47 drugs covered by Medicare Part B that hiked prices faster than inflation in 2023 had lower coinsurance, with some enrollees saving as much as $618 per dose.

No matter how many times House Republicans try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden knows how it is delivering for American families, and his Administration will continue the fight to lower health care costs for more Americans.

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For the first time in history, Medicare is making offers on the fair price for ten of the most widely used and expensive drugs. Medicare is no longer taking whatever prices for these drugs that the pharmaceutical companies demand. 

To keep their prices high, Big Pharma and their allies lobbied hard against this historic law, and they were joined by every single Republican in Congress, who voted against giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices.  What’s worse, Republicans in Congress are still trying to block this historic law and keep Medicare from getting the best deal for America’s seniors, supporting legislation and budgets that would repeal my work to lower drug prices.

My vision is different. Medicare is negotiating for lower prices on drugs to treat everything from diabetes, Crohn’s disease, arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and more. Just one of these drugs alone can cost as much as $6,500 in out-of-pocket costs for seniors. Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we’re working to give seniors the best possible deal on their prescription drugs and lower health care costs. Already, we’ve cut insulin costs to $35 for seniors and people with disabilities, 15 million Americans are saving an average of $800 per year on health insurance costs, and seniors’ out of pocket drug costs will be capped at $2,000 starting next year. The days where Americans pay two to three times what they pay for prescription drugs in other countries are ending.  

My Administration won’t stop fighting to lower health care costs for seniors and families. Even as Republicans in Congress continue to try to repeal my Inflation Reduction Act, cut Medicare and Social Security benefits, end insurance for millions, and keep health care costs high, we’ll continue to protect these programs and deliver lower costs for seniors and hardworking families.

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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with European Commission Executive Vice Presidents Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis today to discuss ongoing cooperation between the United States and the European Union, including at the most recent U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting on January 30.  They highlighted the continued importance of the TTC as a primary forum to advance key shared priorities, including quantum information science, artificial intelligence, standards, and ongoing efforts to promote high-standard transatlantic trade, and bolster mutual economic security and resilient supply chains.  They also reaffirmed our shared commitment to continue to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s aggression.   

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From Day One, President Biden defined the climate crisis as the existential threat of our time that required a global effort to put the world on a safer climate trajectory.  In his time as Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Secretary Kerry  — with characteristic passion, diplomatic acumen, and tireless focus — ensured that the United States not only rejoined that effort but once again led it.

President Biden’s appointment of John Podesta to continue to lead our global climate efforts demonstrates the President’s steadfast commitment to tackling the climate crisis – and reflects his belief that we have not a moment to lose.  John has played–and will continue to play—a lead role in restoring U.S. domestic leadership on climate, including leading the Administration’s implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, the single largest investment to tackle climate change in history.  John is a key architect of turning President Biden’s bold vision – that tackling the climate crisis also represents the single biggest economic opportunity of our time – into a reality here at home.  These efforts have not only put the United States in a strong position to achieve our climate goals, but have also unleashed a clean manufacturing boom that has inspired a domestic and global resurgence in clean energy investment and good-paying jobs.  As he assumes his new role, John will bring both a deep understanding – and a proven model – for how countries around the world can enhance their ambition while unlocking a new era of clean, inclusive, and resilient economic growth.  John’s efforts and experience will be critical as countries around the world develop their next round of enhanced emissions targets, which are due early next year, as well as work to build out the global clean energy supply chains necessary for achieving our shared climate goals.

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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps of the United Kingdom today to discuss U.S.-UK cooperation on a variety of issues, including preventing regional escalation in the Middle East and ongoing efforts to defend against Iranian-backed Houthi attacks against merchant and naval vessels transiting the Red Sea. They reviewed their support for Israel as it defends itself against Hamas, and efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including through increasing deliveries of life-saving humanitarian aid. They reaffirmed their support for Ukraine as it faces continued Russian aggression. They also noted progress under AUKUS, including recent initiatives on advanced capability development.

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President Biden to visit East Palestine, Ohio in February

 One year ago, on February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, jeopardizing the community’s safety and sense of normalcy. Since the derailment, the Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized a comprehensive, whole-of-government response to support the people of East Palestine, Ohio, affected communities in Pennsylvania, and other impacted communities. In February, President Biden will travel to East Palestine, Ohio, to meet with residents impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment, discuss Federal support to the community, and hold Norfolk Southern accountable.
 
Under President Biden’s leadership, within hours of the derailment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deployed a team of trained emergency response personnel to East Palestine to aid state and local emergency and environmental response efforts. The Department of Transportation (DOT) also arrived on scene within hours to support the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in their independent investigation of the derailment. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked alongside state and local health departments to conduct public health testing and offer technical assistance. Throughout the response and recovery process, the Administration has continued to closely coordinate with the Ohio Governor, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Health and local partners, including the Village of East Palestine and Columbiana County.
 
As President Biden has said from the beginning, the Administration will continue to support the people of East Palestine and other affected communities for as long as it takes, including by using every available tool to hold Norfolk Southern accountable. President Biden pledged he would make Norfolk Southern clean up its mess in East Palestine, and his Administration is delivering. Last February, EPA ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up all environmental damage caused by the derailment, including cleaning or disposing of contaminated soil and water, as well as reimbursing the Federal government’s response costs. In September, President Biden issued an Executive Order directing that Norfolk Southern continue to be held accountable for the derailment and address any long-term effects on the community, and to ensure Federal assistance is available to affected communities should needs develop that are not met by Norfolk Southern.
 
At the same time, the Administration has taken action to improve rail safety and continues to call on Congress to do its part by passing the Bipartisan Railway Safety Act.
 
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to the people of East Palestine, impacted communities in Pennsylvania, and other affected communities, and to holding Norfolk Southern accountable, with each Federal agency playing a critical role in the long-term recovery effort:
 
Environmental Protection Agency

• Holding Norfolk Southern Accountable. On February 21, 2023, EPA issued a Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) unilateral administrative order holding Norfolk Southern accountable to clean up the mess it created. Since then, EPA has directed and overseen the extensive cleanup activities conducted by Norfolk Southern.
  
  On October 18, 2023, EPA issued an Administrative Order under the Clean Water Act to Norfolk Southern requiring the company to remove sediments in culverted areas of Sulphur Run stream, and to further delineate, characterize, and, as necessary, remove oil and hazardous substances from the sediments in Leslie and Sulphur Run streams. Sediment and sheen sampling efforts required by the Order are complete, and cleanup is complete in four of five culverts. Additional cleanup in Sulphur and Leslie Runs will begin in early 2024.
  
• Ensuring the Cleanup is Done Right. The EPA coordinated the oversight of Norfolk Southern’s soil remediation of the derailment site. The remediation included testing of the soils within and immediately surrounding the impacted areas for hazardous materials, and ensuring the site is cleaned up to meet Federal and state regulations.
  
  On October 30, 2023, excavation of contaminated soil from the derailment site was completed, reaching one of the most significant goals of the cleanup. Ultimately, more than 176,000 tons (more than 350 million pounds) of contaminated soil were excavated and transported out of East Palestine for appropriate disposal. The final site-wide confirmation soil sampling effort – a final doublecheck to ensure that the cleanup has been fully successful, and that no contamination has spread due to cleanup activities – is underway and will continue through mid-2024.
  
  Additionally, CERCLA hazardous substances have not impacted water in surface streams since mid-May. Weekly drinking water samples from the municipal water system and over 1,200 private well samples have consistently shown no impacts from the derailment and municipal water continues to meet drinking water safety standards.
  
• Monitoring Air Quality. Since the derailment, EPA has collected more than 115 million air monitoring data points and more than 45,000 samples (air, water and soil) in and around the community. No sustained air monitoring readings or analytical results for the contaminants of concern (vinyl chloride, n-butyl acrylate, and over 70 additional monitored chemicals) have been found above action levels established for the site since the evacuation order was lifted on February 8, 2023. Air monitoring in the community continues as appropriate at site activities to assure protection of the community. Ongoing science-based monitoring continues to show that residents of East Palestine are not at risk from impacted surface water, soil, or air from the derailment.
  
• Supporting the Local Community. Engagement with the surrounding communities and with State and local leaders continues to be a priority for EPA. Representatives from Ohio EPA, the Village of East Palestine and Columbiana County are members of the Unified Command for the cleanup. In addition, Ohio EPA is actively involved with assisting with oversight of the cleanup, primarily with groundwater, potable water, streams, on-site wastewater treatment and final soil sampling efforts. EPA’s Welcome Center in downtown East Palestine remains open and available to answer questions from residents by appointment. Residents can still call the information line or send an email to talk to a representative during business hours. To ensure the affected communities are receiving the most up-to-date information as rapidly as possible, the EPA updates its website on cleanup progress several times each week; hosts recurring community stakeholder meetings to communicate and actively listen to community concerns; and keeps the community informed through the regular print newsletter, now published on a monthly basis, that reaches around 9,000 homes. EPA remains committed to the people of East Palestine and surrounding area, to the successful completion of the cleanup, and to the revitalization of the community.
  
• Prioritizing Chemical Safety. On December 14, 2023, EPA announced it began the process of prioritizing vinyl chloride, one of the primary chemicals of concern involved in the derailment, for a risk evaluation under the nation’s premier chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Department of Transportation

• Investigating the Cause of the Derailment.  The NTSB, which is independent of the DOT, is leading the investigation into the cause of the derailment. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within DOT were on site within hours of the derailment and continue to support the NTSB-led investigation.
  
• Creating a Safer Rail System. In 2023, DOT deployed a historic level of funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to modernize and upgrade fail infrastructure. Grants through programs including the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program, the new Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) program, and Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF) program to support both passenger and freight rail projects, including track improvements, bridge replacements and rehabilitations, highway-rail grade crossing eliminations, upgrades on routes carrying hazardous materials, and more.  In June 2023, through the first-ever RCE grants, DOT awarded $570 million to 32 states to eliminate or improve more than 400 at-grade crossings nationwide — making our roads and railways safer, while also helping countless Americans save time on their commutes.  In September 2023, DOT awarded more than $1.4 billion in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grants to 70 projects to make passenger and freight rail safer – the largest investment ever through the program.
  
• Ensuring Compliance with Rail Safety Regulations.  The FRA initiated multiple inspection programs in 2023 that were focused on tank cars and routes transporting large amounts of hazardous materials. FRA completed a focused inspection and investigation of over 40,000 freight cars, 76,888 miles of track, and thousands of wayside detectors on 28 different railroads. Wayside detectors are devices that are fixed near tracks to scan passing trains for defects. FRA is taking action based on these findings, and the inspections completed are prompting railroads to take corrective actions to increase safety. FRA also conducted a safety assessment of Norfolk Southern’s safety practices, pressed for improvements, and is in the process of conducting comprehensive assessments of the safety culture, practices, and regulatory compliance of each Class I railroad.
  
• Protecting First Responders. PHMSA invested more than $30 million to support firefighters, and local hazardous materials safety planning and response efforts. Thousands of responders nationwide have received training thanks to this program, including 2,500+ responders in 137 different locations in Ohio. PHMSA also proposed a new rule to require railroads to always maintain — and update in real-time — accurate, electronic information about rail hazmat shipments that would be accessible to authorized emergency response personnel. Railroads would also be required to proactively share that information to authorized local first response personnel as soon as the railroad is aware of an accident involving any hazardous materials.  
  
• Supporting Rail Workers: Before the Biden-Harris Administration, most workers didn’t have paid sick leave and instead kept working, which is a safety issue. The Administration has pressed railroads to provide paid sick leave – and now over 88% of Class I freight rail workers do. Last week, FRA issued a Final Rule requiring railroads to provide emergency escape breathing apparatus to train crews and other employees when transporting certain hazardous materials. And last year, DOT called on the Class 1 freight railroads to join the Confidential Close Call System. Since that call, Norfolk Southern became the first to participate with about 1,000 of its employees, and DOT continues to press all others to join the program so all rail workers can report issues without fear of reprisal.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Following the derailment, FEMA provided immediate technical and operational assistance to EPA, Federal partners and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, including providing incident management expertise and community outreach support to the multi-agency response and recovery effort. At its peak, FEMA had 70 full-time and reserve staff on the ground in East Palestine to support the effort.
  
• Pursuant to President Biden’s Executive Order, FEMA designated a Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator, who arrived on the ground within days to oversee the long-term recovery efforts in East Palestine.  The Coordinator continues to work with local officials, State and Federal partners, and Norfolk Southern to address the community’s enduring concerns related to the derailment.  The Coordinator will provide a comprehensive Federal assessment regarding any needs not met by Norfolk Southern using inputs gathered from the community itself and Federal partners. The Coordinator meets regularly with representatives from the Village Council, County Emergency Management, and Federal partners with the intent of delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s promise to support the full recovery of the East Palestine community and its residents.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The health and well-being of those impacted by the derailment is an ongoing priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. As required by President Biden’s Executive Order, HHS will provide technical assistance to the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania in the event that either State considers submitting a proposal for services through the Medicaid program for individuals affected by the derailment, such as an experimental, pilot, or demonstration project. In coordination with the affected States, HHS will continue to monitor the public health consequences of the derailment, including any long-term health issues in the affected communities.

• Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR)
  
  • ASPR developed detailed recommendations on strategies to address the behavioral health impact of the derailment on the East Palestine community and provided these written recommendations to the Responsible Party at the request of FEMA. In December 2023, disaster behavioral health (DBH) and disaster recovery SME’s from ASPR’s Office of Response met with the FEMA’s Federal Coordinator and representatives of the Responsible Party to brief on the recommendations, which are evidence-informed based on the current state of science about the effects of technological disasters on population behavioral health and are actionable but require funding from the Responsible Party.
    
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
  
  • CDC/ATSDR deployed a public health team to East Palestine on February 20, 2023, to provide additional technical assistance at the request of the Ohio and Pennsylvania Health Departments. The team provided support in the following areas: the Assessment of Chemical Exposure (ACE) investigation for residents and first responders; health communications coordination; partner coordination; and environmental data technical assistance. CDC/ATSDR Region 3 and 5 directors continue to participate in bi-weekly Public Health Unit calls with EPA, Ohio Department of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Columbiana County Health Department and continue to provide relevant updates to State and local partners as well as answers to health questions from regulatory partners and the public. 
    
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  
  
  • CMS, through the Center for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), has engaged with the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania to offer support and assistance following the train derailment through the Medicaid program. Following that engagement, Ohio submitted, and CMS approved, a State Plan Amendment (SPA) to implement a policy to help preserve Medicaid eligibility for individuals impacted by the train derailment. Specifically, the SPA ensured that, effective April 1, 2023, any compensation paid by Norfolk Southern to individuals affected by the accident would be disregarded from their income for purposes of determining eligibility for Medicaid. CMS remains in regular contact with both states regarding the operation of their Medicaid programs.
    
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  
  
  • Beginning March 13, 2023, the FDA initiated an Incident Management Group (IMG) to respond to the train derailment, which included representatives from the agency’s human and animal foods programs. The IMG cooperated closely with the EPA, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Unified Command Group leading the response, state and local entities, academia and regulated industry in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The IMG analyzed relevant data and information on chemical food safety hazards, including the release of vinyl chloride, reviewed results of soil samples, and confirmed the disposition or destruction of food products involved in the incident. FDA reviewed the results of soil samples collected and analyzed by EPA, Norfolk Southern, and the State of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for semi-volatile organic compounds.
    
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  
  
  • In the aftermath of the, train derailment, HRSA took action to support two neighboring community health centers, Community Action Agency of Columbiana (CAAC), in Lisbon, Ohio, and Primary Health Network (PHN), in Sharon, Pennsylvania, as they stepped in to deliver primary care services to address unmet need and supplement the efforts of local providers. On March 3, 2023, HRSA provided CAAC with $250,000 in emergency funding to provide screening and supportive services via their mobile unit in partnership with a local community partner, First Church of Christ. The one-time funding allowed CAAC to conduct outreach, purchase medical supplies, and staff the mobile unit with key health care personnel, including nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and administrative support staff who provided toxic chemical screenings, mental health assessments and referrals, case management, and housing referrals.
    
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
  
  • In November 2023, NIEHS, with support from CDC/ATSDR, commissioned the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to hold a two-day public workshop on community questions and concerns about chemical exposures and health impacts in East Palestine. NIEHS also published a rapid scoping review of chemicals of interest to the derailment to assess available health effects information. 
    
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • Following the train derailment, SAMHSA met and coordinated with officials in both Ohio and Pennsylvania regarding support for impacted residents in both states.
    
  • In particular, with technical assistance from SAMHSA, both states applied for and were awarded a SAMHSA Emergency Response Grant which will support the immediate and ongoing behavioral health needs of the community related to the initial incident and subsequent traumatic experiences, help minimize the long-term impacts and foster resilience in the community, and expand and enhance the capacity of local crisis response systems to ensure adequate and effective intervention in situations of crisis.
    
  • The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in partnership with the Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, was awarded $1,088,911 to address major behavioral health issues identified by the community because of the February 3 train derailment.
    
  • The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, Beaver County Behavioral Health, and representatives from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency were awarded $47,488 to address major behavioral health issues identified by the community because of the February 3 train derailment/chemical spill.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• USDA Rural Development obligated $500,000 in Rural Business Development Grant award funding to create a low-interest revolving loan fund for businesses in East Palestine, Ohio. USDA also added the Village of East Palestine as an eligible community on an existing Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) award.

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Vice President Kamala Harris today met with Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago at the White House.  They discussed continued progress under the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) and other key priorities, including regional security issues and the imperative of addressing firearms trafficking. They also discussed Venezuela and the Vice President stressed the need for Nicolas Maduro and his representatives to meet their commitments under the democratic electoral roadmap and support the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a democratic future. 

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Jean Carnahan was a devoted partner, public servant, and the first woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate, and someone I’m proud to have called a dear friend. In the face of unspeakable loss, she found the courage to step up into work she’d never imagined, putting the people and values she believed in above her personal comfort in order to serve our nation.

I remember when she arrived in Washington, just weeks after losing her husband, Mel, and their son, Randy, in a plane crash. I didn’t know her then, but I knew her loss. When I met her, moments after she’d been sworn in to Mel’s seat in the Senate, I told her what other senators had told me when I’d first arrived, having just lost my own wife and daughter – “lose yourself in the work.” But Jean found herself in the work, and over the years, I saw her turn her pain into tremendous purpose.

Jean always knew the value of hard work. She met the love of her life, Mel, in high school, where they sat together in class. She worked her way through college, the first in her family to graduate, at a time when many women never considered attending. Married at 21, she became Mel’s indispensable political partner, in the field, in the governor’s mansion, and over the decades helping to run his nearly two dozen state and local campaigns. Whether working to pass school bonds in their hometown of Rolla, or fighting for daycare for working families as Missouri’s First Lady, she was sharp, kind, and committed to consensus. She revered history and took the honor of the job seriously, personally raising funds to restore the governor’s mansion as the people’s house.

In the U.S. Senate, Jean worked for gun safety and reproductive freedom. She stood up for workers, sponsoring legislation to support folks who’d lost their jobs in the wake of 9/11. And as one of only a handful of women to have then served on the Armed Services Committee, she was part of the first Congressional delegation to travel to Afghanistan that year, and helped to guide our country through its own immense grief at that time.

When Mel was killed, Jean embraced a new motto – “don’t let the fire go out.” She dedicated her life to stoking the flames. And thanks to her quiet courage and lifetime of service, they will keep burning bright.

I’m grateful for Jean’s support over the years, and for the support of her brilliant, strong children, Russ, Tom, and especially Robin, whom I’m so proud to have serving in my Administration as our Administrator of General Services.

Our love is with them today; with her grandchildren; and with the people of Missouri whom she so honorably served in so many ways for so long.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of New York and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe storm and flooding from September 28 to September 30, 2023.
 
Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storm and flooding in the counties of Kings, Nassau, and Westchester.
 
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
 
Ms. Lai Sun Yee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas. 
 
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.   
 
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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Chita Rivera fue una de las grandes del teatro musical estadounidense de todos los tiempos, una pionera y perfeccionista cuyas actuaciones magnéticas en decenas de producciones de Broadway trajeron alegría a millones y capturaron la valentía y la gracia de Estados Unidos.

Con un espíritu incontenible, era la tercera hija de servidores públicos –su madre era empleada del Pentágono y su padre clarinetista de la Banda de la Marina de los Estados Unidos–, se mudó a Nueva York para bailar a los 15 años. Durante las siguientes siete décadas, construyó una carrera deslumbrante, protagonizando papeles de mujeres icónicas y fuertes en clásicos desde West Side Story, Bye Bye, Birdie, Chicago y Kiss of the Spider Woman, abriéndole el camino a generaciones de artistas latinas.

Chita ganó tres premios Tony, el Kennedy Center Honors y la Medalla Presidencial de la Libertad, pero nunca dejó de poner el trabajo en primer lugar. Superó altibajos con resiliencia, incluido un devastador accidente automovilístico que le destrozó la pierna y la dejó con tornillos de metal en los huesos, solo para verla volver a la cima y llevar a cabo actuaciones que le valieron nominaciones al Tony hasta bien entrados los 70 y 80 años.

El trabajo de Chita, fascinante bailarina, cantante y actriz, fue más que entretenimiento: refleja parte de quiénes somos como estadounidenses y como seres humanos, y ha ayudado a moldear la forma en que nos vemos unos a otros y a nuestro mundo. Chita sabía lo que saben los grandes estadounidenses: lo importante no es la fuerza con la que caes, sino la rapidez con la que te levantas. Su deslumbrante encanto vivirá en el alma de nuestra nación.

Nuestro amor hoy para la hija de Chita, Lisa; a los hermanos de Chita, Julio, Armando y Lola del Rivero; y a sus generaciones de fans.

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