Statements and Releases

Jill and I are deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life that occurred as a result of the Jeju Airlines accident in Muan, Republic of Korea. As close allies, the American people share deep bonds of friendship with the South Korean people and our thoughts and prayers are with those impacted by this tragedy. The United States stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.

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Jill and I join the people of India in grieving the loss of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. 

The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage. From forging the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted pathbreaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations—and the world—for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person. 

I had the chance to meet Prime Minister Singh as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as Vice President during his Official State Visit to the United States in 2009. He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the U.S.-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people. 

During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. And Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India. 

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In the early hours of Christmas, Russia launched waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and critical energy infrastructure. The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid. Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia’s aggression. In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of air defense missiles, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defense against Russian forces. 

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On Monday, December 23, 2024, the President signed into law:

H.R. 663, the “Native American Child Protection Act;”

Thank you to Representative Gallego, and Senators Lujan and Collins for their leadership.

H.R. 1097, the “Everett Alvarez, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2023;”

Thank you to Representatives Panetta and Fallon, and Senators Padilla and Lummis for their leadership.

H.R. 1607, which clarifies jurisdiction with respect to certain Bureau of Reclamation pumped storage development;

Thank you to Representatives Schweikert and Stanton, and Senators Kelly and Sinema for their leadership.

H.R. 1727, the ” Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Commission Extension Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Trone, Mooney, Raskin, Norton, Wexton, Connolly and Beyer, and Senators Cardin, Capito, Van Hollen, Manchin, Warner and Kaine for their leadership.

H.R. 2468, the “Mountain View Corridor Completion Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Owens and Curtis, and Senator Lee for their leadership.

H.R. 3254, the “First Responder Access to Innovative Technologies Act;”

Thank you to the late Representative Donald Payne, and Representative Dale Strong, for their leadership.

H.R. 3324, which extends the authority to collect Shasta-Trinity Marina fees through fiscal year 2029;

Thank you to Representative Huffman and LaMalfa, and Senator Padilla for their leadership.

H.R. 3797, the “Paperwork Burden Reduction Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Jason Smith and Panetta, and Senators Thune and Warner for their leadership.

H.R. 3801, the “Employer Reporting Improvement Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Adrian Smith and Mike Thompson, and Senators Warner, Young, Cortez Masto and Thune for their leadership.

H.R. 4094, the “Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Curtis, Owens, Blake Moore and Stewart, and Senators Lee and Romney for their leadership.

H.R. 4385, the “Drought Preparedness Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Neguse and Ciscomani, and Senators Hickenlooper, Lummis and Wyden for their leadership.

H.R. 4467, the “DHS Border Services Contracts Review Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Brecheen and Mark Green, and Senators Cornyn and Hassan for their leadership.

H.R. 5301, the “Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Representatives Robert Garcia and Grothman, and Senators Ossoff and Lankford for their leadership.

H.R. 5646, the “Stop Campus Hazing Act;”

Thank you to Representatives McBath and Duncan, and Senators Klobuchar and Cassidy for their leadership.

H.R. 5770, the “Water Monitoring and Tracking Essential Resources (WATER) Data Improvement Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Neguse and Ciscomani their leadership.

H.R. 6826, which designates the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Historic Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Maryland, as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center;

Thank you to Representatives Mfume, Hoyer, Sarbanes, Harris, Raskin, Trone, Ruppersberger and Ivey, and Senators Cardin and Van Hollen for their leadership.

H.R. 6829, the “Cardiomyopathy Health Education, Awareness, and Research, and AED Training in the Schools Act of 2024” or the “HEARTS Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Representative Pallone and Senator Kim for their leadership.

H.R. 6843, which expands the boundaries of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area to include Lafourche Parish, Louisiana;

Thank you to Representatives Scalise, Garret Graves, Letlow, Higgins and Carter, and Senators Cassidy and Kennedy for their leadership.

H.R. 6960, the “Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Representatives Buddy Carter, Castor and John Joyce, and Senators Casey and Budd for their leadership.

H.R. 7177, which amends title 28, United States Code, to consolidate certain divisions in the Northern District of Alabama;

Thank you to Representatives Strong, Aderholt, Mike Rogers, Moore and Carl for their leadership.

H.R. 7213, the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024” or the “Autism CARES Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Representatives Chris Smith and Cuellar, and Senators Lujan and Collins for their leadership.

H.R. 7332, the “Utah State Parks Adjustment Act;”

Thank you to Representative Maloy and Senator Lee for their leadership.

H.R. 7524, the “GSA Technology Accountability Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Sessions and Connolly, and Senators Peters and Moran for their leadership.

H.R. 7872, the “Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Curtis, Neguse, Ciscomani, Stansbury, Hageman, Owens, Blake Moore, Maloy, Leger Fernandez and Napolitano, Senators Bennet, Lummis, Padilla, Barrasso, Sinema, Romney and Hickenlooper, and the late Senator Dianne Feinstein for their leadership.

H.R. 8219, the “Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Tokuda, LaMalfa, Neguse, Takano, Case, Huffman, Sablan and Radewagen, and Senator Hirono for their leadership.

H.R. 8413, the “Swanson and Hugh Butler Reservoirs Land Conveyances Act;”

Thank you to Representatives Adrian Smith, Bacon and Mann, and Senators Fischer, Ricketts and Marshall for their leadership.

H.R. 8663, the “Detection Equipment and Technology Evaluation to Counter the Threat of Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024” or the “DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Representatives LaLota and Correa, and Senators Cornyn, Ossoff, Sinema and Lankford for their leadership.

H.R. 9566, the “Source code Harmonization And Reuse in Information Technology Act” or the “SHARE IT Act;”

Thank you to Representative Langworthy and Timmons, and Senators Cruz and Peters for their leadership.

S. 59, the “Chance to Compete Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senators Sinema, Hagerty, Lankford and Carper for their leadership.

S. 223, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to fix a technical error in the definitions;

Thank you to Senators Grassley and Coons, and Representatives Burchett and Cohen for their leadership.

S. 709, the “Federal Agency Performance Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senator Peters and Braun, and Representatives Timmons and Khanna for their leadership.

S. 759, the “Beagle Brigade Act of 2023;”

Thank you to Senators Warnock and Ernst, and Representatives Sanford Bishop, Ferguson, Kildee and Adrian Smith for their leadership.

S. 932, the “No Congressionally Obligated Recurring

Revenue Used as Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Now Act” or the “No CORRUPTION Act;”

Thank you to Senators Rosen, Rick Scott and Hawley for their leadership.

S. 1147, the “Jenna Quinn Law;”

Thank you to Senators Cornyn, Hassan, Braun and Lujan, and Representatives Wild and McCaul for their leadership.

S. 1351, the “Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act;”

Thank you to Senators Merkley, Cornyn, Lujan, Tuberville and Collins, and Representatives Khanna, Buddy Carter, Schakowsky and McClain for their leadership.

S. 2414, the “Working Dog Health and Welfare Act of 2023;”

Thank you to Senators Braun and Sinema, and Representatives Yakym and Titus for their leadership.

S. 2513, the “Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senators Tester and Moran, and Representatives Luttrell and Pappas for their leadership.

S. 3448, the “Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023;”

Thank you to Senators Rosen, Cramer, Blumenthal, Rubio and Cardin, and Representatives Buddy Carter, Manning, Stefanik, Wasserman Schultz, Joe Wilson, Brian Fitzpatrick and John Moolenaar for their leadership.

S. 3791, the “America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senators Carper, Capito, Cardin, Boozman, Padilla, Wicker, Whitehouse, Mullin and Van Hollen, and Representatives Wittman, Kiggans, Dingell and Mike Thompson for their leadership.

S. 3857, the “Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act;”

Thank you to Senators Padilla and Butler, and Representatives Issa and Vargas for their leadership.

S. 3938, which designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the “Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic;”

S. 3946, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1106 Main Street in Bastrop, Texas, as the “Sergeant Major Billy D. Waugh Post Office;”

Thank you to Senators Cruz and Cornyn, Representative McCaul, and many others for their leadership.

S. 3959, the “Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senators Wicker, King, Fischer and Tester, and Representatives Garret Graves, Adam Smith, Titus, Mark Green, Carbajal and Guest for their leadership.

S. 3998, the “Federal Judiciary Stabilization Act of 2024;”

Thank you to Senators Cruz and Hirono, Representatives Gooden, Lieu and Moran, and many others for their leadership.

S. 4077, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 180 Steuart Street in San Francisco, California, as the “Dianne Feinstein Post Office;”

Thank you to Senator Padilla and Butler for their leadership.

S. 4107, the “Think Differently Transportation Act;”

Thank you to Senators Duckworth and Capito, and Representatives Molinaro, Nehls, Norton, Pappas, Carson and González-Colón, and the late Representative Donald Payne for their leadership.

S. 4610, which amends title 36, United States Code, to designate the bald eagle as the national bird;

Thank you to Senators Klobuchar, Lummis, Mullin and Smith, and Representatives Finstad, Craig and Emmer for their leadership.

S. 4716, the “Financial Management Risk Reduction Act;”

Thank you to Senators Peters and Johnson, and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene for their leadership.

S. 5314, which designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center;

Thank you to Senators Lankford and Mullin for their leadership.

S. 5355, the “National Advisory Council on Indian Education Improvement Act” or the “NACIE Improvement Act.”

Thank you to Senators Fischer and Tester, and Representatives Neguse, LaMalfa and Davids for their leadership.

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Today, I have signed into law H.R. 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” (the “Act”).  This Act authorizes fiscal year appropriations principally for the Department of Defense, Department of Energy national security programs, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, and the Intelligence Community.  This bill provides vital benefits for military personnel and their families, and includes critical authorities to support our country’s national defense, foreign affairs, and homeland security.  While I am pleased to support the critical objectives of the Act, I note that certain provisions of the Act raise concerns.

A number of provisions of the Act may, in certain circumstances, interfere with the exercise of my constitutional authority to articulate the positions of the United States in international negotiations or fora (e.g., sections 735(a), 1214, 1221, 1333, 5121(b), 7204, and 7803(a)).  I recognize that “[i]t is not for the President alone to determine the whole content of the Nation’s foreign policy” (Zivotofsky v. Kerry) and will make every effort to take action consistent with these directives.  Indeed, I do not necessarily oppose many of the objectives in these provisions.  Nevertheless, I will not treat them as limiting my constitutional discretion to articulate the views of the United States before international organizations and with foreign governments.

Certain provisions of the Act, including sections 129, 809, 1067, 1069, 1078, 1225, 1229, 1707, 6308, 7302(b)(2)-(3), 7502, and 7505, would require the President and other officials to submit certifications, reports, notifications, or plans to the Congress that (1) may in the ordinary course, include highly sensitive classified information, including information that could reveal critical intelligence sources or military operational plans or (2) could implicate executive branch confidentiality interests.  In addition, section 354(4) raises constitutional concerns to the extent that it purports to compel the provision of certain documents subject to executive branch confidentiality interests — including attorney-client privileged information.  The Constitution vests the President with the authority to prevent the disclosure of such highly sensitive information in order to discharge his responsibility to protect the national security.  At the same time, congressional committees have legitimate needs to perform vital oversight and other legislative functions with respect to national security and military matters.  Accordingly, it has been the common practice of the executive branch to comply with statutory reporting requirements in a way that satisfies congressional needs pursuant to the traditional accommodation practice and consistent with due regard for the protection from unauthorized disclosure of classified information relating to sensitive intelligence sources and methods or other exceptionally sensitive matters, as well as to preserve the confidentiality of internal executive branch deliberations, particularly those with respect to decisions bearing on the Nation’s national security.  I believe the Congress shares this understanding, and my Administration will presume that it is incorporated into statutory reporting requirements of the kind at issue in the Act.

Division A, title X, subtitle D, section 1043 of the Act continues to bar the use of funds appropriated to the Department of Defense to transfer Guantánamo Bay detainees to the custody or effective control of certain foreign countries.  Division A, title X, subtitle D, section 1041 likewise would continue to prohibit the use of such funds to transfer Guantánamo Bay detainees into the United States.  It is the longstanding position of the executive branch that these provisions unduly impair the ability of the executive branch to determine when and where to prosecute Guantánamo Bay detainees and where to send them upon release.  In some circumstances, these provisions could make it difficult to comply with the final judgment of a court that has directed the release of a detainee on writ of habeas corpus, including by constraining the flexibility of the executive branch with respect to its engagement in delicate negotiations with foreign countries over the potential transfer of detainees.  I urge the Congress to eliminate these restrictions as soon as possible. 

My Administration strongly opposes Division A, title VII, subtitle A, section 708 of the Act, which inhibits the Department of Defense’s ability to treat all persons equally under the law, no matter their gender identity.  By prohibiting the use of appropriated funds, the Department of Defense will be compelled to contravene clinical practice guidelines and clinical recommendations.  The provision targets a group based on that group’s gender identity and interferes with parents’ roles to determine the best care for their children.  This section undermines our all-volunteer military’s ability to recruit and retain the finest fighting force the world has ever known by denying health care coverage to thousands of our service members’ children.  No service member should have to decide between their family’s health care access and their call to serve our Nation. 

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 23, 2024.

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National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, head of the Interim Government of Bangladesh. Mr. Sullivan thanked Chief Adviser Yunus for his leadership of Bangladesh during a challenging period. Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting and protecting the human rights of all people, regardless of religion. Mr. Sullivan re-iterated the United States’ support for a prosperous, stable, and democratic Bangladesh, and offered the United States’ continued support in meeting the challenges Bangladesh faces.

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Today, President Biden announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row. Those individuals will have their sentences reclassified from execution to life without the possibility of parole.

President Biden has dedicated his career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system. He believes that America must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level, except in cases of terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder – which is why today’s actions apply to all but those cases. When President Biden came into office, his Administration imposed a moratorium on federal executions, and his actions today will prevent the next Administration from carrying out the execution sentences that would not be handed down under current policy and practice.

This historic clemency action builds on the President’s record of criminal justice reform. The President has issued more commutations at this point in his presidency than any of his recent predecessors at the same point in their first terms. Earlier this month, the President announced clemency for approximately 1,500 Americans – the most ever in a single day – who have shown successful rehabilitation and a commitment to making communities safer. This included sentence commutations for nearly 1,500 individuals who were placed on home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and who have successfully reintegrated into their families and communities, as well as 39 pardons for individuals who were convicted of non-violent crimes. President Biden is also the first President ever to issue categorical pardons to individuals convicted of simple use and possession of marijuana, and to former LGBTQI+ service members convicted of private conduct because of their sexual orientation.

The President’s criminal justice record has transformed individual lives and positively impacted communities, especially historically marginalized communities. In the coming weeks, the President will take additional steps to provide meaningful second chances and continue to review additional pardons and commutations.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is commuting the sentences of the following 37 individuals to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole:

                      NameReg. No.SHANNON WAYNE AGOFSKY06267-045 
BILLIE JEROME ALLEN 
26901-044 
AQUILIA MARCIVICCI BARNETTE 
12599-058 
BRANDON LEON BASHAM 
98940-071 
ANTHONY GEORGE BATTLE 
11451-056 
MEIER JASON BROWN 
11364-021 
CARLOS DAVID CARO 
37786-079 
WESLEY PAUL COONCE, JR. 
30011-039 
BRANDON MICHAEL COUNCIL 
63961-056 
CHRISTOPHER EMORY CRAMER 
10422-081 
LEN DAVIS 
24325-034 
JOSEPH EBRON 
08655-007 
RICKY ALLEN FACKRELL 
12324-081 
EDWARD LEON FIELDS, JR.
 04136-063CHADRICK EVAN FULKS16617-074 
MARVIN CHARLES GABRION, II 
09184-055 
EDGAR BALTAZAR GARCIA 
28132-177 
THOMAS MOROCCO HAGER 
08596-007 
CHARLES MICHAEL HALL 
03766-036 
NORRIS G. HOLDER 
26902-044 
RICHARD ALLEN JACKSON 
16669-058 
JURIJUS KADAMOVAS 
21050-112 
DARYL LAWRENCE 
66476-061 
IOURI MIKHEL 
23675-112 
RONALD MIKOS 
20716-424 
JAMES H. ROANE, JR. 
32923-083 
JULIUS OMAR ROBINSON 
26190-177 
DAVID ANTHONY RUNYON 
57997-083 
RICARDO SANCHEZ, JR. 
75820-004 
THOMAS STEVEN SANDERS 
15967-043 
KABONI SAVAGE 
58232-066 
MARK ISAAC SNARR 
11093-081 
REJON TAYLOR 
41070-074 
RICHARD TIPTON 
32922-083 
JORGE AVILA TORREZ 
16054-084 
DANIEL TROYA 
75817-004 
ALEJANDRO ENRIQUE RAMIREZ UMAÑA 
23077-058

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A resilient and secure supply of foundational semiconductors is critical to U.S. national and economic security.  These semiconductors are essential to key sectors of the U.S. economy, powering cars, medical devices, critical infrastructure, key aerospace and defense systems, and the goods and services we rely on every day.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) routinely engages in non-market policies and practices, as well as industrial targeting, of the semiconductor industry that enables PRC companies to significantly harm competition and create dangerous supply chain dependencies in foundational semiconductors.  

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking additional action to protect American workers and businesses from the PRC’s unfair trade practices in the semiconductor sector and support a healthy domestic industry for foundational semiconductors. 

These actions include:

Launching a Section 301 investigation to examine the PRC’s targeting of foundational semiconductors.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is launching a Section 301 investigation to examine the PRC’s targeting of foundational semiconductors (also known as legacy or mature node chips) for dominance and the impact on the U.S. economy.

In addition, the investigation will initially assess the impact of the PRC’s acts, policies, and practices on the production of silicon carbide substrates or other wafers used as inputs into semiconductor fabrication.

PRC semiconductors often enter the U.S. market as a component of finished goods. This Section 301 investigation will examine a broad range of the PRC’s non-market acts, policies, and practices with respect to the semiconductor sector, including to the extent these semiconductors are incorporated as components into downstream products for critical industries like defense, automotive, medical devices, aerospace, telecommunications, and power generation and the electrical grid. 

Awarding and catalyzing billions of dollars in semiconductor manufacturing projects across the country.

The Biden-Harris Administration has championed efforts to ensure more chips are made in America by American workers, in particular through CHIPS and Science Act funding, which allocates at least $2 billion for mature semiconductors.  This was a key part of President Biden’s vision for renewing American economic leadership and a vibrant American industrial base.

The United States is investing across the semiconductor supply chain—including the upstream materials critical to chip manufacturing such as silicon carbide and wafers.  To date, the Department of Commerce has catalyzed billions of dollars in private sector investments that will serve the American auto and defense industries, including the Texas Instruments projects in Texas and Utah, the GlobalFoundries projects in Vermont and New York, and the Bosch project in California.  Many of these investments also include supply agreements with customers across critical infrastructure industries to maximize the predictability, volume, and quality of domestically manufactured chips needed to power complex technology.  These investments are compounded and sustained by this Administration’s 48D Advanced Manufacturing Investment Credit, which will provide up to a 25% tax incentive for the manufacturing of semiconductors, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and wafer production.

Reducing national security risks in federal supply chains.

Semiconductors are key components of U.S. critical infrastructure that have many military applications. It is vital that federal agencies procure secure and trusted chips. 

To clean up federal procurement of semiconductors, the Biden-Harris Administration is:

• Implementing a statutory provision in the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2023 that prohibits executive agencies from procuring or obtaining products and services that include chips from certain Chinese fabs and other entities of concern.
• Releasing a Request for Information (RFI) to gauge the best ways for government contractors to scale up their use of domestically manufactured chips, particularly for critical infrastructure.  The RFI intends to solicit commercial ideas from industry that may inform future policymaking in support of the government-wide effort to leverage existing manufacturing capacity.
• Issuing guidance to help the Federal Government – the world’s largest buyer – organize its demand for domestic semiconductors so that agencies can mitigate the risk posed by undue dependence on foreign manufacturing, limited competition, and possible higher manufacturing costs.  This effort includes agencies developing strategies to dual or multiple source semiconductors, increasing transparency for critical infrastructure supply chains, and providing the government’s demand for the products and services that use these chips.

Prioritizing supply chain resilience and bolstering our toolkit to address non-market policies and practices.

President Biden made supply chain resilience a Day One priority in his Administration.  The first-ever U.S. Government Quadrennial Supply Chain Review, published on December 19, provides an in-depth assessment of the United States’ critical supply chains, actions taken over the last four years to make each supply chain more resilient, and necessary steps to increase U.S. resilience in the future. 

The Review includes a comprehensive strategy to respond to non-market policies and practices because they pose a significant challenge in critical industries covered in the supply chain report.  The strategy details the types of comprehensive action necessary to combat non-market policies and practices, including procurement policies. 

Working with our partners around the world to strengthen cooperation on semiconductor supply chains and address shared concerns about China’s unfair practices.

Semiconductor supply chains are critical not only to the United States but to all of our allies and partners.  The Biden-Harris Administration has closely consulted with allies and partners on promoting economic resilience and addressing the PRC’s non-market practices in the semiconductor supply chain, including through the following efforts:

• The State Department launched the CHIPS and Science Act’s International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, which has thus far partnered with eight countries – Costa Rica, Panama, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Kenya, the Philippines, and Mexico – to promote semiconductor supply chain development, security, and diversification.
• The Department of Commerce announced the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement Relating to Supply Chain Resilience with 13 diverse partner countries across the Indo-Pacific, led by the United States, to coordinate more resilient supply chains for semiconductors and other industries.
• Within the G7, the United States has championed efforts to bolster economic resilience and address harmful market distortions and global excess capacity in key sectors resulting from non-market policies and practices.   This led to the establishment of mechanisms to jointly monitor and respond to these detrimental practices, including in the semiconductor sector.  

President Biden recognizes the benefits for our workers and businesses from strong alliances and a rules-based international trade system based on fair competition.  The Biden-Harris Administration will continue to collaborate with allies and partners on this critical issue in the coming days and weeks.  

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The post FACT SHEET: President Biden Takes Action to Protect American Workers and Businesses from China’s Unfair Trade Practices in the Semiconductor Sector appeared first on The White House.

I’ve dedicated my career to reducing violent crime and ensuring a fair and effective justice system.

Today, I am commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 individuals on federal death row to life sentences without the possibility of parole. These commutations are consistent with the moratorium my Administration has imposed on federal executions, in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.

Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss.

But guided by my conscience and my experience as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice President, and now President, I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level. In good conscience, I cannot stand back and let a new administration resume executions that I halted.

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The bipartisan funding bill I just signed keeps the government open and delivers the urgently needed disaster relief that I requested for recovering communities as well as the funds needed to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted. But it rejects the accelerated pathway to a tax cut for billionaires that Republicans sought, and it ensures the government can continue to operate at full capacity.

That’s good news for the American people, especially as families gather to celebrate this holiday season.

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The United States extends our deepest condolences to the people of Germany grieving the terrible attack at a Christmas market yesterday in Magdeburg, Germany.  No community—and no family—should have to endure such a despicable and dark event, especially just days before a holiday of joy and peace.  My team has been in close touch with German officials.  We’ve made it clear that the United States stands ready to offer all available resources and assistance if needed.  And while this situation remains under investigation, make no mistake:  the United States will always stand with our Allies against violent terror.  In the coming days, we will keep all those injured or killed—and their beloved families—close in our hearts.

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Today, President Biden’s 235th life-tenured federal judicial nominee was confirmed. This marks the largest number of confirmations in a single term since the Carter administration. These highly qualified men and women—all committed to the rule of law and the Constitution—will serve the federal Judiciary for decades to come.
 
Dating back to his time leading the Senate Judiciary Committee, President Biden has made the confirmation of federal judges a top priority. During his four years in office, President Biden has transformed the federal bench and appointed over a quarter of all active judges, and helped to ensure that the Judiciary looks like the communities it serves.
 
The 235 confirmations include:

• One to the United States Supreme Court
• 45 to the nation’s courts of appeals
• 187 to the nation’s district courts
• Two to the United States Court of International Trade

President Biden has worked closely with Senators from both sides of the aisle to fill vacancies at the circuit and district level. He has achieved this milestone despite significant structural disadvantages, including the longest 50-50 Senate in history.

Importantly, President Biden has followed through on one of his earliest campaign promises—to put forward highly-qualified judges from underrepresented professional backgrounds and to instill confidence in the Judiciary by ensuring that federal judges reflect the nation as a whole. 

Professional Diversity

No President has done more to bring professional and experiential diversity to the federal bench than President Biden.

Not only did President Biden appoint the first former public defender to the United States Supreme Court, but he broke records across the board on professional diversity—appointing more than 45 public defenders, more than 25 civil rights lawyers, and at least 10 individuals who have represented workers.

President Biden is also proud to have put forward nominees who come from private legal practice, prosecutors’ offices, and a host of other legal backgrounds, including immigration law, municipal law, and plaintiff-side law. As a lifelong advocate for our men and women in uniform, veterans, and their families, President Biden is proud to have put forward judicial nominees who have served on active duty or in the reserves, in both legal and non-legal roles.

Demographic Diversity
President Biden has set records when it comes to the demographic diversity of his appointees. In doing so, he has helped to ensure that the Judiciary looks like the communities it serves—vital to instilling confidence in both judicial decision-making and outcomes—while refusing to sacrifice on ability or qualifications.

The 235 confirmations include:

• The first Black woman ever to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
• A record number of women, Black, Latino, AANHPI, Native American, Muslim-American, and LGBTQ judges.
• More Black women appointed to the circuit courts than every other presidential administration combined.

 
Impact  
 
Judges have an enormous impact on the everyday lives of Americans.
 
These men and women have the power to uphold basic rights or to roll them back. They hear cases that decide whether women have the freedom to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions; whether Americans have the freedom to cast their ballots; whether workers have the freedom to unionize and make a living wage for their families; and whether children have the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water.
 
Judges are also crucial to protecting against overreach and unconstitutional action by the Executive and Legislative Branches.
 
President Biden is proud of his record of appointments and grateful to the Senate for its partnership in reaching this historic achievement.

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Today, we reached a major milestone in our efforts to protect our Nation’s freedoms: the United States Senate confirmed the 235th federal judge during my presidency – marking the largest number of confirmations in a single term since the 1980s. This includes one Supreme Court Justice, 45 Circuit Court Judges, 187 District Court Judges, and two judges on the Court of International Trade.

These men and women represent the best of America. They are all highly qualified. And they have had distinguished legal, judicial, and academic careers.

When I ran for President, I promised to build a bench that looks like America and reflects the promise of our nation. And I’m proud I kept my commitment to bolstering confidence in judicial decision-making and outcomes.

The 235 confirmed judges include a record number of judges with backgrounds and experiences that have long been overlooked: advocates for civil rights, workers’ rights, immigrants’ rights, and more. I appointed the first former public defenders to sit on the Seventh and First Circuits. I have also put forth men and women who have been prosecutors and plaintiffs’ attorneys.

In addition, I appointed the most demographically diverse slate of judicial nominees ever. This includes: the first Black woman and public defender on the United States Supreme Court, and appointing more Black women to the Courts of Appeals than all previous administrations combined. I also appointed the first Hispanic-American judge to serve on the D.C. Circuit, and the first openly LGBTQ woman on any federal court of appeals; the first AANHPI judge on the Third and Seventh Circuits; the first Muslim-American judge to ever serve as a life-tenured judge; and the first Native Hawaiian woman to ever serve as a life-tenured judge.

And no matter who they are or where they come from, all of these appointees are supremely qualified to serve in the role of Judge, and remain committed to the rule of law and the Constitution.

We reached this milestone thanks to bipartisan support in the Senate, and as a result of the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin.

Judges matter. They shape the everyday lives of Americans, preserving our freedoms and defending our liberties. They hear cases and issue rulings on whether Americans can cast their ballots, whether workers can unionize and make a living wage for their families, and whether children can breathe clean air and drink clean water.

I am proud of the legacy I will leave with our Nation’s judges. And I am proud of those who have stepped forward and heeded the call to serve.

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A government shutdown heading into the holidays would mean service members and air traffic controllers go to work without pay, essential government services for hardworking Americans would be paused, and economic disruption would occur. 

Following an order by President-elect Trump, yesterday Republicans walked away from a bipartisan deal and threatened to shut down the government at the 11th hour in order to pave the way to provide tax breaks for billionaires. This revised legislation does not do that. 

While it does not include everything we sought, it includes disaster relief that the President requested for the communities recovering from the storm, eliminates the accelerated pathway to a tax cut for billionaires, and would ensure that the government can continue to operate at full capacity. President Biden supports moving this legislation forward and ensuring that the vital services the government provides for hardworking Americans – from issuing Social Security checks to processing benefits for veterans — can continue as well as to grant assistance for communities that were impacted by devastating hurricanes.

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Today’s report shows that PCE inflation has remained below 2.5% for four months in a row, while yesterday’s report showed GDP grew by 3.1% in the third quarter. Growth has been 3% per year on average since the beginning of 2021, higher than any other presidential term in the 21st century. Prices remain too high for working families, and we will keep fighting to lower costs for families on key items like housing, groceries, and health care.

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Today, my Administration is announcing student debt cancellation for another 55,000 public service workers, bringing the total number of individuals who have been approved for student debt relief under my Administration to nearly 5 million people through various actions. The public servants approved for debt cancellation today include teachers, nurses, service members, law enforcement officials, and other public service workers who have dedicated their lives to giving back to their communities and who are finally earning the relief they are entitled to under the law.

Over the last four years, we have made significant progress for students and borrowers – including securing the largest increase to the maximum Pell Grant award in over a decade; holding institutions accountable for taking advantage of students; and fixing broken student loan programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment.

From Day One of my Administration, I promised to make sure that higher education is a ticket to the middle class, not a barrier to opportunity. Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt.

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Republicans are doing the bidding of their billionaire benefactors at the expense of hardworking Americans. Republicans are breaking their word to support a bipartisan agreement that would lower prescription drug costs and make it harder to offshore jobs to China—and instead putting forward a bill that paves the way for tax breaks for billionaires while cutting critical programs working families count on, from Social Security to Head Start. President Biden supports the bipartisan agreement to keep the government open, help communities recovering from disasters, and lower costs—not this giveaway for billionaires that Republicans are proposing at the 11th hour.

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For decades, the United States has been a leader in combatting infectious diseases. During the 2022 global outbreak of clade II mpox, the Biden-Harris Administration mounted a robust response by making vaccines, tests, and treatment available to those at risk in the United States and abroad. Now, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing its largest mpox outbreak ever recorded, with more than 50,000 suspect cases in 2024. Multiple neighboring countries have confirmed their first ever mpox cases, and some are also experiencing widespread outbreaks. A handful of travel-related cases have also been recorded in countries outside the Africa region. As we face this outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa, the United States is again acting quickly to respond. At the UN General Assembly in September, President Biden announced that the United States is prepared to commit at least $500 million and to donate up to one million doses of mpox vaccines to support African countries in preventing and responding to this outbreak. We are delivering on that commitment, with two-thirds of our global mpox funding pledge fulfilled, and all of our pledged vaccine doses available now for countries that are ready to receive the doses.
 
The United States is also prepared to respond to clade I and clade II mpox cases domestically, with early detection and a robust testing landscape across the country, increased clinician education and community outreach, and widely available mpox vaccines in retail pharmacies and clinics. Travel-associated cases have been detected in Canada, Germany, India, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. In November 2024, the United States also identified one case of clade Ib mpox in a California resident who had recently traveled to an affected country. No further domestic detections have occurred as of December 5, 2024, and the risk to the general public remains low.

Update on the United States’ Support for the Global Mpox Response
 
The Biden-Harris Administration is working closely with countries, as well as regional and global partners, to address the mpox outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa.
 
President Biden’s announcement of United States’ support to the global mpox response aligned with the United States’ longstanding partnership with countries around the world to prepare for health emergencies and to rapidly respond when they occur. To facilitate more effective global and regional collaboration on the mpox response, the United States has worked with partners, including the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and Brazil as G20 President, to transparently compile and share all pledges to support the mpox response, identifying resources that are currently available and remaining financing gaps. This information, captured in the WHO/World Bank Mpox Financial Tracking Mechanism (FTM), will help donors and response countries to more easily identify remaining gaps and sources of financing to fill those gaps. More than 90% of the financing needs for the response have been met.
 
Key Updates on U.S. Support to the Global Mpox Response: 

1. Delivering on Our Commitment to Vaccine Donations: The U.S. government is delivering on our commitment to ensure mpox vaccines get to those most at risk, including by making more than one million vaccine doses available for distribution in countries that are ready to receive them. Vaccine administration is underway using U.S.-donated vaccines. On November 6, WHO and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) allocated the first 305,000 mpox vaccine doses from President Biden’s one million dose commitment to recipient countries via the Access and Allocation Mechanism (AAM). With support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and its partners, these doses are being shipped as soon as recipient countries have accepted the offer of vaccines and confirmed their ability to receive, store, and use the vaccine to protect those at risk. The remaining 695,000 vaccine doses are also available for allocation through the AAM, and will be distributed by the United States as soon as impacted countries are ready to receive them. The U.S. Government has already delivered 50,000 mpox vaccines to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and 10,000 mpox vaccines to Nigeria. Beyond donating vaccine doses, the United States is working with partner governments to get those vaccines to the people who need them most. For example, in DRC, the U.S. government is supporting risk communication and community engagement to raise awareness about mpox vaccination and help reach priority populations, and coordinating with PEPFAR and other programs to leverage existing service delivery channels to reach high-risk populations. 
   
2. Increasing Testing and Treatment Capacity: In addition to financial resources and vaccines, the United States has provided in-kind donations of more than 65,000 individual mpox tests to countries in the region, along with donations of other laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment. For example, in DRC the U.S. Government has trained 80 field epidemiologists working to detect cases, trace and monitor contacts, and increase community awareness of mpox. These epidemiologists are collecting and sending samples to labs for testing, and at the same time, training additional healthcare workers how to do this work. In Burundi, the U.S. government is working with partners to expand mpox treatment capacity at hospitals in the hardest-hit districts, enabling patients to receive the highest-quality clinical care, nutrition, and psychosocial support closer to home.
   
3. Delivering on Our Commitment of Financial Support to Mpox Preparedness and Response: The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are providing more than $57 million to directly support mpox-specific response activities, including disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostic supplies and testing, clinical case management, risk communication and community engagement, infection prevention and control, access to vaccines, and research. This funding is in addition to the more than $487 million in bilateral global health security (GHS) preparedness and response support provided by the United States to mpox-affected countries through USAID and CDC. Ongoing global health security investments protect the health and livelihoods of people living in other countries and prevent health emergencies from threatening the United States. The country-by-country breakdown of U.S. support to mpox preparedness and response is included in the WHO/World Bank Mpox Financial Tracking Mechanism.
   
4. Strengthening Global Health Security: The United States is working with more than 50 countries around the world – including most mpox-affected countries and those at-risk of an mpox outbreak – to build stronger global health security capacities, ensuring countries are better prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies while protecting U.S. national and homeland security. These ongoing partnerships in mpox-affected countries were in place before the current outbreak, and have played a critical role in supporting the response, especially in the early days before mpox-specific response funding became available. Examples of how this U.S. global health security support has been used to prevent, detect, and respond to the mpox outbreak include:

1. In DRC, building on multi-year investments to strengthen laboratory capacity, the United States supported mpox laboratory capacity building and biosafety and biosurveillance training in provincial labs, enabling these labs to safely test for mpox. In addition, the U.S. Government supported the Ministry of Health to develop a national Mpox Risk Communication and Community Engagement Strategy, which was rapidly adapted for the clade I mpox outbreak.

1. When mpox cases were detected in Rwanda, U.S. Government-supported partners deployed epidemiologists to 10 high-risk districts to provide technical guidance to Public Health Emergency Management Committees and to train 17 Rapid Response Teams. The U.S. Government also supported procurement of test kits and provided training for over 12,600 frontline health workers across 20 districts in infection prevention and control, mpox screening, and case management.

1. When the mpox outbreak spread to Burundi, U.S. Government-supported partners immediately deployed a mobile laboratory to provide faster mpox testing. U.S. Government support for building mpox laboratory capacity continues in Burundi with the recent delivery of additional supplies and training and support to decentralize laboratory testing for mpox and improve the speed of laboratory confirmation.

1. The U.S. Government has partnered with countries in the region to help prepare for potential mpox cases before they occur, including training in surveillance, lab capacity, and risk communication activities. Last month, the Ministry of Health in Angola was facing a severe shortage of mpox testing kits. Without these essential supplies, the country would have had limited, if any, visibility into the size of the outbreak. U.S. Government representatives delivered diagnostic kits to assist in testing nearly 500 suspect mpox cases, helping to confirm the first mpox cases in the country. The U.S. Government is supporting Liberia’s mpox preparedness, including technical assistance for surveillance and laboratories as part of broader activities responding to zoonoses in Liberia. The U.S. Government is supporting Mozambique to develop an Mpox Contingency Preparedness and Response Plan, and supporting the Ministry of Health to conduct mpox outbreak simulation exercises for 11 provinces to help prepare for Mozambique’s potential first case.

1. Investing in Research to Advance Mpox Preparedness: U.S. Government research investments to advance mpox preparedness have been ongoing for decades. International researchers, including some from the U.S. Government, have identified three critical areas of research needed to support the mpox response: 1) reduce mpox transmission, 2) optimize mpox treatment to save lives, and 3) accelerate the development of mpox vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Recent U.S. Government investments in each of these areas include:

1. Reducing Mpox Transmission: Research partnerships between the United States Government and the Government of DRC led to the identification of the newly-emerged clade Ib mpox, which is driving the current regional and global spread of mpox. During the current outbreak, the U.S. Government is investing in research to: improve case detection, understand clade-specific transmission dynamics, identify at-risk populations, characterize mpox disease including length of viral shedding to inform vaccination strategies, as well as determine the most effective public health interventions to stop transmission. Before the current outbreak, U.S. Government investments and technical expertise led to the development of existing investigational antivirals and the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine which, when used broadly in the United States during the height of 2022 mpox outbreak, significantly reduced the spread of mpox and contributed to the drop in new cases reported from hundreds per day in 2022 to single digit figures over the last two years.

1. Optimizing Mpox Treatment to Save Lives: The U.S. Government is conducting research, in partnership with the Government of DRC, to understand how this disease affects adults, children, infants, and pregnant women, as well as the risk factors for severe disease. This knowledge is critical to improving standards of care and developing safe and effective post exposure prophylaxis. A U.S. Government and Government of DRC-supported randomized controlled trial (PALM 007) of TPOXX (an antiviral drug developed and approved to treat smallpox) in adults and children with clade I mpox found no evidence of faster clinical improvement in the TPOXX arm compared to the placebo arm. However, PALM 007 did find that optimized standard of care resulted in reduced mortality for adults and children with clade I mpox. These learnings are being applied to the current outbreak.

1. Accelerating the Development of Mpox Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics: Currently, there are no licensed mpox vaccines for children and adolescents, who are disproportionately impacted by the current mpox outbreak in Africa. The U.S. Government study of the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine showed that adolescents in the U.S, ages 11-17 years, have similar immune responses to the vaccine as adults. This led to the accelerated emergency approval of JYNNEOS for adolescents by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and approval through WHO’s pre-qualification process. JYNNEOS has been available in the United States for individuals under 18 years through an Emergency Use Authorization issued by the FDA in August 2022. The U.S. Government is also investing in new mpox diagnostics and mpox therapeutics. For example, CDC is working on a new test to better differentiate mpox clade I from clade II that can be used by both public and commercial laboratories. To improve our current investigational therapeutic options, NIH and ASPR are supporting the development of new orthopoxvirus monoclonal antibody therapeutic products.

Key Updates on Domestic Preparedness for Mpox: The Biden-Harris Administration has led numerous efforts to prevent and prepare for clade I mpox in the United States:

1. Providing ongoing communication and education: In December 2023, the U.S. CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory to U.S. clinicians, public health departments, and partners. CDC has since issued multiple HAN Health Updates to further increase awareness of clade Ib mpox, its distinction from clade II mpox and the less common clade Ia, and to provide updated recommendations to prevent, detect, and treat both clades of mpox. Following the first case of clade I mpox diagnosed in the United States, CDC released an updated HAN advisory on November 18, 2024 and a Dear Clinicians letter on December 5, 2024 to promote the importance of mpox vaccination and increase mpox detection nationwide.

1. Assessing risk through modeling: Throughout the outbreak in Central and Eastern Africa, CDC has conducted modeling to assess the level of risk to the U.S. public. The risk to the general U.S. public remains low, and the risk to men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who have sex with MSM is low to moderate (updated November 18, 2024). CDC further modeled the risk of transmission of clade I mpox if introduced into MSM networks in the United States. Simulations of 50 U.S. counties identified that counties with lower population-level immunity had a greater chance of large or prolonged outbreak. CDC is applying these findings to target outreach for vaccination promotion efforts to counties at higher risk.

1. Strengthening surveillance: The United States monitors for the virus that causes mpox in wastewater samples, which can provide an early warning of mpox activity and community spread. In addition, aircraft wastewater samples are collected at select U.S. airports for early detection of mpox in the U.S. State and commercial laboratories have put in place a robust mpox diagnostic testing capacity for both clades, and the United States continues to work with public health partners to further increase domestic surveillance and diagnostic testing capacity.

1. Minimizing risk to travelers: CDC issued an updated Level 2 Travel Health Notice (THN) for travelers to Central and Eastern Africa recommending that travelers practice enhanced precautions and be aware of mpox exposure risks and symptoms. The THN also includes vaccination recommendations for travelers to affected countries who are eligible for vaccination.
   
2. Vaccination and treatment: During the 2022 mpox outbreak, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), distributed more than one million vials of JYNNEOS mpox vaccine across the United States. Now, the JYNNEOS mpox vaccine is commercially available. Individuals interested in vaccination can consult CDC’s guidance and should contact their physician, local retail pharmacy, health department or community health center for mpox vaccine availability in their community. Clinicians should refer to CDC’s clinical considerations for use of vaccine to prevent mpox in both adults and children. The high standard of care in U.S. health care can greatly improve mpox outcomes relative to other parts of the world. Symptomatic individuals are highly encouraged to seek care for further evaluation and treatment if needed.

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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke with His Holiness Pope Francis to discuss efforts to advance peace around the world during the holiday season. The President thanked the Pope for his continued advocacy to alleviate global suffering, including his work to advance human rights and protect religious freedoms. President Biden also graciously accepted His Holiness Pope Francis’s invitation to visit the Vatican next month.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will travel to Rome, Italy from January 9 to 12 to meet separately with His Holiness Pope Francis, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, and Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni. On January 10, President Biden will have an audience with the Pope and discuss efforts to advance peace around the world. He will also meet with Italy’s leaders to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy relationship, thank Prime Minister Meloni for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year, and discuss important challenges facing the world. 

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