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Last night, the International Association of Machinists (IAM) ratified a strong contract that recognizes the contribution of over 33,000 workers. I want to congratulate Boeing and the IAM for reaching an agreement that secures historic wage increases and benefits for these workers.  This agreement represents a positive step for Boeing’s future as a leader in the aerospace industry. As I always say: collective bargaining works.
 

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The post Statement from Vice President Harris on the International Association of Machinists and Boeing Contract Ratification appeared first on The White House.

I congratulate the International Association of Machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that reflects the hard work and sacrifices of 33,000 Machinist workers. This contract provides a 38% wage increase over four years, improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace. This contract is also important for Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector. And it was achieved with the support of my economic team, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

Over the last four years, we’ve shown collective bargaining works. Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers—and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Contract Between the International Association of Machinists and Boeing appeared first on The White House.

I congratulate the International Association of Machinists and Boeing for coming to an agreement that reflects the hard work and sacrifices of 33,000 Machinist workers. This contract provides a 38% wage increase over four years, improves workers’ ability to retire with dignity, and supports fairness at the workplace. This contract is also important for Boeing’s future as a critical part of America’s aerospace sector. And it was achieved with the support of my economic team, including Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard.

Over the last four years, we’ve shown collective bargaining works. Good contracts benefit workers, businesses, and consumers—and are key to growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Contract Between the International Association of Machinists and Boeing appeared first on The White House.

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

11:34 P.M. EST

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, Philadelphia!  (Applause.)  Good evening, everyone. 

First of all, can we hear it for Oprah, please?  (Applause.)  And the first second gentleman of the United States, my husband.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

Oh, it’s good to be back.  It’s good to be back and to be with so many incredible leaders, including Bob Casey.  Let’s send him back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

I want to thank all the outstanding artists and performers who are here tonight and sharing the gift that they have with all of us.  I thank you all so very much. 

And to everyone here, thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to be here, for us to all be here together, showing who America is, that we are all in this together.  (Applause.)  We are all in this together. 

     So, Philadelphia, you ready to do this?  (Applause.)

     Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

     Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

Oh, it’s good to be back in the City of Brotherly Love — (applause) — where the foundation of our democracy was forged.  And here, at these famous steps, a tribute to those who start as the underdog and climb to victory.  (Applause.)

So, America, it comes down to this.  One more day — just one more day in the most consequential election of our lifetime, and the momentum is on our side.  (Applause.)

Our campaign has tapped into the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people.  We are optimistic, and we are excited about what we can do together, and we know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

However, the race ain’t over yet — (laughs) — and we must finish strong.  And this could be — this could be one of the closest races in history.  Every single vote matters. 

So, let me ask you: Who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  (Inaudible.)

All right.  Well, help spread the word.  Here in Pennsylvania, polls are open tomorrow morning from 7:00 a.m. to se- — to 8:00 p.m. — 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  And no matter what state you live in, if you are watching this, please go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need, including when and where to vote and where to drop off your mail-in ballot. 

And I also ask you to please talk with your friends and your family and your neighbors.  Share your perspective on why you took the time to be here this evening and why this election is important to you.  Encourage folks to make their voices heard, because we need everyone to vote in Pennsylvania.  And you will decide the outcome of this election, Pennsylvania.  (Applause.)

So, with only a few hours left, we still have work to do.  And as you’ve heard me say before, we like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work. 

     And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win. 

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we will win — we will win –(laughs).

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!  We will win!  We will win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we will win because — and we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  

And we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that has been driven by fear and division.  We are done with that.  We’re done.  We’re exhausted with it.  (Applause.)

America is ready for a fresh start, ready for a new way forward, where we see our fellow American not as an enemy but as a neighbor.  And we are ready for a president who knows that the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down but based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And, Pennsylvania, you know me.  I’m not afraid of tough fights.  For decades, as a prosecutor and the top law enforcement officer of the biggest state in this country, I won fights.  I won fights against the big banks when they ripped off homeowners.  I won fights against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students; against predators who abused women, children, and seniors; against cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

My entire career has been driven by a singular purpose: to fight on behalf of the people — (applause) — on behalf of the people.  And it is my pledge to you that if you give me a chance to fight on your behalf, as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)

And instead of stewing over an enemies list, I will spend every day on your behalf working on my to-do list — (applause) — full of priorities to improve your lives. 

Together, we will build an economy where we bring down the cost of living.  We will ban corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)  We will make housing and childcare more affordable.  (Applause.)  We will cut taxes for workers, for middle-class families, and small businesses.  We will lower health care costs, including the cost of home care for seniors — (applause) — because on the issue of health care, I absolutely believe access to health care should be a right and not just the privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

And to anyone out there watching this, while we’re here, who still is trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions, well, Philly, you know what I’m about to say: We are —

     AUDIENCE:  Not going back! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.

     AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  We are not going back.  And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future — (applause) — and — and ours is a fight for freedom — (applause) — including the most fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.) 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.

So, America, I am asking for your vote.  And here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress. 

And I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make.  I pledge to listen to experts.  I pledge to listen to people who disagree with me, because, you see, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  I’ll give them a seat at the table.  That’s what real leaders do.  (Applause.)  That’s what strong leaders do. 

And I pledge to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Philadelphia, we are here together for many reasons, but probably one of the most important: because we love our country.  We love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.) 

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to the marches when I was in a stroller.  And we all know and we’ve read about it — at those marches, there were people from every walk of life who came together to fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to give her daughters the same chances our country gave her.  And I was blessed growing up to have family by blood and to have family by love, who instilled in me the values of community, of compassion, and faith. 

I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stop believing that, in our country, anything is possible. 

I have lived the promise of America, and today I see the promise of America in everyone who is here, in all of you.  (Applause.)  We are the promise of America.  We are the promise of America. 

I see its promise in the fathers and the mothers and the grandparents across our nation who work so hard every day for our children’s future. 

I see it in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom and in the men who support them.  (Applause.)

I see it in people of all ages who have knocked on doors, made calls, sent texts, and who will spend tomorrow driving their fellow Americans to the polls.  (Applause.)

I see it in Republicans, who have never voted for a Democrat before, but who put the Constitution of the United States above party.  (Applause.)

And I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the very first time.  Where are you?  I know you’re here.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  I know you’re here.  And you who are determined to live free from gun violence, who are determined to tackle the climate crisis, who are ready to shape the world you inherit. 

To you, in particular, I say, I see your power, and I am so proud of you.  Can we all applaud our first-time voters?  (Applause.)

So, America, we started this campaign 107 days ago.  (Applause.)  And from the beginning, ours has not been a fight against something.  It has been a fight for something — (applause) — a fight for a future with freedom, with opportunity, and with dignity for all Americans. 

Our campaign has brought together people from all corners of this nation and from all walks of life, united by our love for our country and our faith in a brighter, stronger, and more hopeful future that we will build together.

And tonight, then, we finish as we started: with optimism, with energy, with joy, knowing — (applause) — knowing that we, the people, have the power to shape our future and that we can confront any challenge we face when we do it together. 

Generations of Americans before us led the fight for freedom, and now the baton is in our hands.  And to everyone who continues to pour so much of yourselves into this campaign as an extension of your love for our country, I thank you for your time, your effort, and the heart you are putting into this.  (Applause.)

And together, I know — I know that, together, we are also intentional about, in this process, building community and building coalitions.  And because of you, each of you and collectively, our people-powered movement reflects a simple and undeniable truth: that we are all in this together.  We are all in this together.  (Applause.)

So, we have one day to get this done, which means now we need to get to work and get out the vote.  (Applause.)  So, let’s reach out, once again, to our family members, friends, classmates, neighbors, coworkers, knowing and reminding them that we all have so much more in common than what separates us.

And let us please remind everyone that your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, tonight, I ask you one last time: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God Bless the United States of America.  God bless you.  (Applause.)

END                11:54 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Philadelphia, PA appeared first on The White House.

Carrie Furnace
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody.  Hi.  (Applause.)

Can we hear it for Cedric the Entertainer?  (Applause.)

Hey, everyone.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.) 

We’re doing this.

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

Oh, it is good to be here tonight with all these leaders.  I thank you all so very much. 

I want to thank Representatives Lee, Deluzio.  Let’s send them back to the U.S. House of Representatives.  (Applause.)

Please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

And I thank everyone for being here and taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this evening. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Madam V.P.!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Applause.)  I

love you back.  I love you back. 

All right.  So, Pittsburgh, this is it.  Tomorrow is Election Day.  (Applause.)  Tomorrow is Election Day, and the momentum is on our side.  (Applause.) 

Our campaign has tapped into the ambitions, the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people.  And we know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

But we still got some work to do, because, look, the race is not over, and we must finish strong. 

So, listen, here’s the thing about the hard work.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.) 

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.

And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  And we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics driven by fear and division.  We are done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  We’re done.  We’re exhausted with it.

And, Pittsburgh, we are not —

AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back. 

And we are not going back because America is ready for a fresh start.  (Applause.)  And we are ready for a president who knows the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And instead of stewing over an enemy’s list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — full of priorities to improve your life, because ours is not a fight against something; it is a fight for something.  (Applause.)

It is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body — (applause) — and not have her government tell her what to do. 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.

So, America, I am asking for your vote.  I am asking for your vote.  (Applause.) 

And here — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face. 

I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make. 

     AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back.

And here’s the thing, guys, we are fighting for a democracy.  We are fighting for a democracy.  (Applause.)  And in a democracy, true leadership understands that the leader listens to the experts and listens to people who disagree with them.  I will listen to people who disagree with me because I do not believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  In fact, I will give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That is what real leaders do.  That is what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Pittsburgh, that is my pledge to you.  And to you I ask, then, who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  Okay, so help spread the word then.  Polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  You know that.  (Laughs.)

Go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need, including where and when to vote and where to drop off your mail ballot, because we need everyone to vote, Pennsylvania.  You will make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will make the difference.

And, friends, listen, we are all here together because we love our country.  We love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.) 

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism — 

     AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  We love you, Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Love you back. 

And one of the highest forms of our love of our country is to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

So, Pittsburgh, listen, we got one day left to get this done.  So, now we work to get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out in these next 24 hours to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do that, let us really be true to what our campaign has been about from the very start.  And on that, I say, please, let us be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions. 

Because here is the thing.  So much about these last several years has been about trying to make people point their fingers at each other, to have Americans point their fingers at each other, to try and make people feel alone or feel small.  But let us do the work, as we work toward this win, of building up community and coalition and reminding everyone that we have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  Let that be our goal.

And let us remind everyone, your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, one last time, Pittsburgh, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  God bless you.  God bless you.  (Applause.)  

                              END

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Pittsburgh, PA appeared first on The White House.

Carrie Furnace
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody.  Hi.  (Applause.)

Can we hear it for Cedric the Entertainer?  (Applause.)

Hey, everyone.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.) 

We’re doing this.

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Pittsburgh!  (Applause.)  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

Oh, it is good to be here tonight with all these leaders.  I thank you all so very much. 

I want to thank Representatives Lee, Deluzio.  Let’s send them back to the U.S. House of Representatives.  (Applause.)

Please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

And I thank everyone for being here and taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this evening. 

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Madam V.P.!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Applause.)  I

love you back.  I love you back. 

All right.  So, Pittsburgh, this is it.  Tomorrow is Election Day.  (Applause.)  Tomorrow is Election Day, and the momentum is on our side.  (Applause.) 

Our campaign has tapped into the ambitions, the aspirations, and the dreams of the American people.  And we know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

But we still got some work to do, because, look, the race is not over, and we must finish strong. 

So, listen, here’s the thing about the hard work.  We like hard work.  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.) 

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.

And we will win because when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  And we have an opportunity in this election to finally turn the page on a decade of politics driven by fear and division.  We are done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  We’re done.  We’re exhausted with it.

And, Pittsburgh, we are not —

AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back. 

And we are not going back because America is ready for a fresh start.  (Applause.)  And we are ready for a president who knows the true measure of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And instead of stewing over an enemy’s list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — full of priorities to improve your life, because ours is not a fight against something; it is a fight for something.  (Applause.)

It is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body — (applause) — and not have her government tell her what to do. 

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.

So, America, I am asking for your vote.  I am asking for your vote.  (Applause.) 

And here — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face. 

I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make. 

     AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back.

And here’s the thing, guys, we are fighting for a democracy.  We are fighting for a democracy.  (Applause.)  And in a democracy, true leadership understands that the leader listens to the experts and listens to people who disagree with them.  I will listen to people who disagree with me because I do not believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  In fact, I will give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That is what real leaders do.  That is what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Pittsburgh, that is my pledge to you.  And to you I ask, then, who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  Okay, so help spread the word then.  Polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  You know that.  (Laughs.)

Go to IWillVote.com for all the information you need, including where and when to vote and where to drop off your mail ballot, because we need everyone to vote, Pennsylvania.  You will make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will make the difference.

And, friends, listen, we are all here together because we love our country.  We love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.) 

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism — 

     AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  We love you, Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Love you back. 

And one of the highest forms of our love of our country is to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

So, Pittsburgh, listen, we got one day left to get this done.  So, now we work to get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out in these next 24 hours to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do that, let us really be true to what our campaign has been about from the very start.  And on that, I say, please, let us be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions. 

Because here is the thing.  So much about these last several years has been about trying to make people point their fingers at each other, to have Americans point their fingers at each other, to try and make people feel alone or feel small.  But let us do the work, as we work toward this win, of building up community and coalition and reminding everyone that we have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  Let that be our goal.

And let us remind everyone, your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, one last time, Pittsburgh, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  God bless you.  God bless you.  (Applause.)  

                              END

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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

3:49 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  Hi, everybody.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Hi.  Hi.  Hi.  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Oh, it’s so good to see everybody.  Thank you all.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.) 

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Well, we’re going to get to work.  We are going to get to work.  We’ve got 24 hours to go.  (Applause.)  And, Allentown, you are going to make the difference.  The path to the White House runs through this room right here.  (Applause.)

And — and sincerely, I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your lives to be here — (applause) — and all the work that you have been doing, the work we will continue to do.  I’m going to say it in that room, but I needed to come here and say to you all here.  (Applause.) 

Over these next 24 hours, I say to all the leaders who are here, let’s get out there.  Let’s remind people of the power that they have through their vote.  (Applause.)  Their vote is their voice about the future of our country, because we are fighting to move forward.  (Applause.) 

We love our country, and we are going to see this through.  And in the process, we are going to build community, and we are going to build coalitions.  (Applause.)  And we are going to remind each other we are all in this together.  (Applause.) 

And I thank you all so, so very much.  Please take care.  I’ll see you on the other side of it all.  All right?  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

God bless you.  God bless you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

                         END                     3:51 P.M. EST

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Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

4:13 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  (Applause.)  Hello, Pennsylvania!  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Can we hear it for Elizabeth?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Elizabeth.  (Applause.)  

Good afternoon.  All right, Allentown, are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Oh, it’s good to be back in Pennsylvania, and it is good to be with so many incredible leaders.  Let me thank everyone. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I want to thank everyone — (applause) — I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon.  We are all in this together, and I know we all here know this.  But I thank you for all the work everyone has been doing over these last months —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and over the next 24 hours.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.

I want to thank my dear friend Governor Shapiro for his leadership — (applause) — his friendship, and all that he does.  Congressman — Congresswoman Wild, let’s reelect her — (applause) — to the United States House of Representatives.  And while we’re at it, please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

Mayor Tuerk, I thank you for your friendship and your long-standing leadership.  (Applause.)

And can we hear it for Fat Joe — (applause) — and Frankie Negrón?  (Applause.)

So, listen, I am so thankful to everyone for being here and including the leaders of the Puerto Rican community.  I stand — (applause) — I stand here proud of my long-standing commitment to Puerto Rico and her people, and I will be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)  All Americans.  All Americans.

So, Allentown, this is it.  Just one more day.  One more day.  (Applause.)  One more day left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and momentum is on our side.  (Applause.)  Momentum is on our side.  Can you feel it?  We have momentum, right?  (Applause.)

Because our campaign has tapped into the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people.  We are optimistic and excited about what we will do together, and we here know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Now, Pennsylvania, the race is not yet over.  Okay?  We got a lot of work to do, and we have got to finish strong. 

So, listen, we got hard work to do.  But here’s the thing: We like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

And one of the reasons we will win is because I do believe when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And we have an opportunity, in this election, to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that have been driven by fear and division.  We’re done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  And we’re exhausted with it.  America is ready for a fresh start —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you, sweetheart.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

And America is ready for a new way forward where we see our fellow American not as an enemy but as a neighbor.  (Applause.)  We are ready — we are ready for a president who understands that the true measure of the strength of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And, Pennsylvania, you know me.  I am not afraid of tough fights, evidently.  (Laughs.)  For decades as a prosecutor and the top law enforcement officer of our biggest state, I won fights against the big banks that ripped off homeowners.  I won fights against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students.  I won fights against predators who abused women and children and seniors and cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re not going back!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  And it is my pledge to you — it is my pledge to you, if you give me a chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)  Nothing in the world.

And it is my pledge to you that when I walk — with your help, it is my pledge to you that when I walk in the White House, instead of stewing over an enemies list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — on your behalf, full of priorities that are about improving your life, about bringing down the cost of living, about banning corporate price gouging on groceries, about making housing and childcare more affordable.  (Applause.)

My plan will be about cutting taxes for workers and middle-class families and small businesses; lowering health care costs, including the cost of home care for our seniors.  (Applause.)

Because here’s wh- — here’s where I’m coming from on this: I believe access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

And to those certain individuals who still want to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — trying to take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions, well, to them, we say: We are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  And we are not going back —

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  Ours is a fight for the future.  And it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And when Congress, with Bob Casey’s help, passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide — (applause) — as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)

So, Pennsylvania, I am here to ask for your vote.  I am here to ask for your vote.  (Applause.)

And here is my pledge — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  (Applause.)  I am not looking — I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to you —

(A protestor disruption can be heard.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s okay.

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and it is my pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, to listen to experts, and to listen to people who disagree with me because I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy.  (Applause.)

And you know what?  By the way, listen, we are fighting for a democracy right now.  (Applause.)  And we love our democracy.  And democracy can be a bit complicated sometimes, but that’s okay.  We are fighting for a democracy, which is why I say that I am not going to be a leader who thinks that people who disagree with me should be put in jail, that they are the enemy.  (Applause.)  I’ll give them a seat at the table, because that’s what real leaders do and that’s what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And it is my pledge to you to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Allentown, that is my pledge to you. 

And so, let me ask: Who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  That’s great.  That’s great.  (Laughs.)

All right.  So, poll- — polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Let’s get the word out.  (Applause.)  Let — let’s get —

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Definitely vote.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Vote.

And let’s get the word out.  All the leaders here, help get the word out to remind people of the hours the polls are open and to remind folks that they can go to IWillVote.com for all the information that folks may need in terms of when and where to vote and where to drop off their mail ballots — right? — because that’s going to be very important. 

And to all the leaders here, I ask you to please continue to talk to your friends and your family and your neighbors and let them know why you decided to take time out of your busy lives to be here right now and what is at stake in this election.  (Applause.)  Please share your perspective on why this election is so important.  And encourage folks to let them know their voices must be heard, because we —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  UAW is in the house!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And UAW is in the house.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  And I am so proud to have your support.  Thank you.  I am so proud to have your support.

And we need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote because you are going to make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will.

So, here’s how I think about things.  We are all here together because we love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America.

And, look, I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  (Applause.)  My parents would take me to marches when I was in a stroller.  And there were people there — we’ve all read and know about it — there were people there from all walks of life who came together in a fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I watched my mother as she raised my sister and me and gave us the same chances our country gave her.  I was blessed to have family by blood and to have family by love who — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community and compassion and faith.  I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stopped believing in — that in our country, anything is possible.  (Applause.)

I have lived the promise of America.  And today, I see the promise of America in everyone who is here, in every one of you, in every one of us.  We are the promise of America.  (Applause.)  We — everyone here, we are the promise of America.  We are the promise of America. 

And I see it — I see it in the fathers and the mothers and the grandparents who work hard every day for their children’s future.  I see it in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)  I see it in the men who support them.  (Applause.)  I see you. 

I see it in the Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution of the United States over party.  (Applause.)

And every day, I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  I do.  I do.  I — I love Gen Z.  (Laughs.)  Exactly.  Right?  Come on.  Exactly.  (Laughs.)  That’s right.  I’m telling you, I love Gen Z.  And here’s one of the reasons why.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  So, here’s one of the things about y’all: You are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)  I know that.  I know that. 

And you who have only known the climate crisis are leading the charge to protect our planet and our future.  You who grew up with active shooter drills are fighting to keep our schools safe.  (Applause.)  You who have known — you who have known fewer rights than your mothers and grandmothers are standing up for freedom. 

And for you, none of these issues is theoretical or political.  This is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your power.  And we must, must, must recognize how bright the future of our nation is because of you.

So, can we hear it for our first-time voters, everybody?  (Applause.)  There we go.  There we go.  There we go.  (Laughs.)  There we go.  There we go. 

All right.  Okay.  One day left.  One day left.  And we need to finish this strong and get this done.  So, let’s get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out to all of our folks in the next 24 hours: family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do, I ask: Let us please be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions.  (Applause.)  Because, you know, there has been so much about these last few years that has been about trying to beat people down, trying to have Americans point their fingers at each other, trying to make people feel as though they’re alone and don’t have anybody.  So —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Not anymore!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not anymore, because we all know — (applause) — we all know that our power includes, yes, this vote in this election but building community and coalitions and reminding folks the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  And we are all in this together.  (Applause.)  We are all in this together.

And from the very start of our campaign, this has not been about a fight that is against something.  This is about a fight that is for something.  (Applause.)  This is for something.  This is about a future with freedom and opportunity and dignity for all Americans.

And so, in this final stretch, let us remember that we have a lot of work to do, and there is power in our work about reminding folks of their voice and the power of their vote.

So, remember: Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power — (applause) — is your power.

So, Pennsylvania, Allentown, I then ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)                    END                     4:35 P.M.

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Allentown, PA appeared first on The White House.

Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

3:49 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  Hi, everybody.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Hi.  Hi.  Hi.  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Oh, it’s so good to see everybody.  Thank you all.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.) 

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Well, we’re going to get to work.  We are going to get to work.  We’ve got 24 hours to go.  (Applause.)  And, Allentown, you are going to make the difference.  The path to the White House runs through this room right here.  (Applause.)

And — and sincerely, I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your lives to be here — (applause) — and all the work that you have been doing, the work we will continue to do.  I’m going to say it in that room, but I needed to come here and say to you all here.  (Applause.) 

Over these next 24 hours, I say to all the leaders who are here, let’s get out there.  Let’s remind people of the power that they have through their vote.  (Applause.)  Their vote is their voice about the future of our country, because we are fighting to move forward.  (Applause.) 

We love our country, and we are going to see this through.  And in the process, we are going to build community, and we are going to build coalitions.  (Applause.)  And we are going to remind each other we are all in this together.  (Applause.) 

And I thank you all so, so very much.  Please take care.  I’ll see you on the other side of it all.  All right?  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

God bless you.  God bless you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

                         END                     3:51 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris to Overflow Crowd at a Campaign Event | Allentown, PA appeared first on The White House.

Muhlenberg College
Allentown, Pennsylvania

4:13 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, Allentown!  (Applause.)  Hello, Pennsylvania!  (Applause.)  Hey, everyone.  Hi.

Can we hear it for Elizabeth?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Elizabeth.  (Applause.)  

Good afternoon.  All right, Allentown, are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

All right.  Oh, it’s good to be back in Pennsylvania, and it is good to be with so many incredible leaders.  Let me thank everyone. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I want to thank everyone — (applause) — I want to thank everyone for taking the time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon.  We are all in this together, and I know we all here know this.  But I thank you for all the work everyone has been doing over these last months —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Thank you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and over the next 24 hours.  (Applause.)  Thank you all.

I want to thank my dear friend Governor Shapiro for his leadership — (applause) — his friendship, and all that he does.  Congressman — Congresswoman Wild, let’s reelect her — (applause) — to the United States House of Representatives.  And while we’re at it, please send Bob Casey back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

Mayor Tuerk, I thank you for your friendship and your long-standing leadership.  (Applause.)

And can we hear it for Fat Joe — (applause) — and Frankie Negrón?  (Applause.)

So, listen, I am so thankful to everyone for being here and including the leaders of the Puerto Rican community.  I stand — (applause) — I stand here proud of my long-standing commitment to Puerto Rico and her people, and I will be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)  All Americans.  All Americans.

So, Allentown, this is it.  Just one more day.  One more day.  (Applause.)  One more day left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and momentum is on our side.  (Applause.)  Momentum is on our side.  Can you feel it?  We have momentum, right?  (Applause.)

Because our campaign has tapped into the ambitions and the aspirations and the dreams of the American people.  We are optimistic and excited about what we will do together, and we here know it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)

Now, Pennsylvania, the race is not yet over.  Okay?  We got a lot of work to do, and we have got to finish strong. 

So, listen, we got hard work to do.  But here’s the thing: We like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)

And one of the reasons we will win is because I do believe when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And we have an opportunity, in this election, to finally turn the page on a decade of politics that have been driven by fear and division.  We’re done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  And we’re exhausted with it.  America is ready for a fresh start —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you, Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you, sweetheart.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

And America is ready for a new way forward where we see our fellow American not as an enemy but as a neighbor.  (Applause.)  We are ready — we are ready for a president who understands that the true measure of the strength of a leader is not based on who you beat down; it is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

And, Pennsylvania, you know me.  I am not afraid of tough fights, evidently.  (Laughs.)  For decades as a prosecutor and the top law enforcement officer of our biggest state, I won fights against the big banks that ripped off homeowners.  I won fights against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students.  I won fights against predators who abused women and children and seniors and cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re not going back!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  And it is my pledge to you — it is my pledge to you, if you give me a chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)  Nothing in the world.

And it is my pledge to you that when I walk — with your help, it is my pledge to you that when I walk in the White House, instead of stewing over an enemies list, I will spend every day working on my to-do list — (applause) — on your behalf, full of priorities that are about improving your life, about bringing down the cost of living, about banning corporate price gouging on groceries, about making housing and childcare more affordable.  (Applause.)

My plan will be about cutting taxes for workers and middle-class families and small businesses; lowering health care costs, including the cost of home care for our seniors.  (Applause.)

Because here’s wh- — here’s where I’m coming from on this: I believe access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

And to those certain individuals who still want to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — trying to take us back to the days when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions, well, to them, we say: We are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  And we are not going back —

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  Ours is a fight for the future.  And it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)

And when Congress, with Bob Casey’s help, passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide — (applause) — as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)

So, Pennsylvania, I am here to ask for your vote.  I am here to ask for your vote.  (Applause.)

And here is my pledge — and here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  (Applause.)  I am not looking — I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to you —

(A protestor disruption can be heard.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s okay.

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and it is my pledge to you to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, to listen to experts, and to listen to people who disagree with me because I don’t believe people who disagree with me are the enemy.  (Applause.)

And you know what?  By the way, listen, we are fighting for a democracy right now.  (Applause.)  And we love our democracy.  And democracy can be a bit complicated sometimes, but that’s okay.  We are fighting for a democracy, which is why I say that I am not going to be a leader who thinks that people who disagree with me should be put in jail, that they are the enemy.  (Applause.)  I’ll give them a seat at the table, because that’s what real leaders do and that’s what strong leaders do.  (Applause.)

And it is my pledge to you to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

So, Allentown, that is my pledge to you. 

And so, let me ask: Who here has a plan to vote?  (Applause.)  Fantastic.  That’s great.  That’s great.  (Laughs.)

All right.  So, poll- — polls are open here in Pennsylvania tomorrow from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Let’s get the word out.  (Applause.)  Let — let’s get —

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Definitely vote.  (Laughs.)

AUDIENCE:  Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Vote.

And let’s get the word out.  All the leaders here, help get the word out to remind people of the hours the polls are open and to remind folks that they can go to IWillVote.com for all the information that folks may need in terms of when and where to vote and where to drop off their mail ballots — right? — because that’s going to be very important. 

And to all the leaders here, I ask you to please continue to talk to your friends and your family and your neighbors and let them know why you decided to take time out of your busy lives to be here right now and what is at stake in this election.  (Applause.)  Please share your perspective on why this election is so important.  And encourage folks to let them know their voices must be heard, because we —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  UAW is in the house!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And UAW is in the house.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  And I am so proud to have your support.  Thank you.  I am so proud to have your support.

And we need everyone in Pennsylvania to vote because you are going to make the difference in this election.  (Applause.)  You will.

So, here’s how I think about things.  We are all here together because we love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America.

And, look, I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  (Applause.)  My parents would take me to marches when I was in a stroller.  And there were people there — we’ve all read and know about it — there were people there from all walks of life who came together in a fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I watched my mother as she raised my sister and me and gave us the same chances our country gave her.  I was blessed to have family by blood and to have family by love who — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community and compassion and faith.  I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but who never stopped believing in — that in our country, anything is possible.  (Applause.)

I have lived the promise of America.  And today, I see the promise of America in everyone who is here, in every one of you, in every one of us.  We are the promise of America.  (Applause.)  We — everyone here, we are the promise of America.  We are the promise of America. 

And I see it — I see it in the fathers and the mothers and the grandparents who work hard every day for their children’s future.  I see it in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)  I see it in the men who support them.  (Applause.)  I see you. 

I see it in the Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution of the United States over party.  (Applause.)

And every day, I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  I do.  I do.  I — I love Gen Z.  (Laughs.)  Exactly.  Right?  Come on.  Exactly.  (Laughs.)  That’s right.  I’m telling you, I love Gen Z.  And here’s one of the reasons why.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.)  So, here’s one of the things about y’all: You are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)  I know that.  I know that. 

And you who have only known the climate crisis are leading the charge to protect our planet and our future.  You who grew up with active shooter drills are fighting to keep our schools safe.  (Applause.)  You who have known — you who have known fewer rights than your mothers and grandmothers are standing up for freedom. 

And for you, none of these issues is theoretical or political.  This is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your power.  And we must, must, must recognize how bright the future of our nation is because of you.

So, can we hear it for our first-time voters, everybody?  (Applause.)  There we go.  There we go.  There we go.  (Laughs.)  There we go.  There we go. 

All right.  Okay.  One day left.  One day left.  And we need to finish this strong and get this done.  So, let’s get out the vote.  (Applause.)  Let’s reach out to all of our folks in the next 24 hours: family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do, I ask: Let us please be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us be intentional about building coalitions.  (Applause.)  Because, you know, there has been so much about these last few years that has been about trying to beat people down, trying to have Americans point their fingers at each other, trying to make people feel as though they’re alone and don’t have anybody.  So —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Not anymore!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not anymore, because we all know — (applause) — we all know that our power includes, yes, this vote in this election but building community and coalitions and reminding folks the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  And we are all in this together.  (Applause.)  We are all in this together.

And from the very start of our campaign, this has not been about a fight that is against something.  This is about a fight that is for something.  (Applause.)  This is for something.  This is about a future with freedom and opportunity and dignity for all Americans.

And so, in this final stretch, let us remember that we have a lot of work to do, and there is power in our work about reminding folks of their voice and the power of their vote.

So, remember: Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power — (applause) — is your power.

So, Pennsylvania, Allentown, I then ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

And when we fight —

AUDIENCE:  We win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)                    END                     4:35 P.M.

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Allentown, PA appeared first on The White House.

Quincy Jones was a trailblazer.
 
He lived his life unapologetically, using his gifts to lift others up. He broke down barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not for praise but because he knew the power of our shared potential.
 
For more than half a century, as a composer, arranger, record and movie producer, Quincy Jones created art that brought joy to millions of people. As an activist, Quincy Jones championed civil and human rights. He brought together artists who wanted to unite their voices to drive change. As a role model, in particular for young people of color in the music industry, Quincy Jones offered inspiration and mentorship. 
 
I was honored to call Quincy a friend. I will always remember his generosity of spirit, his selfless support, and his deep kindness. Our world has lost a giant. But in his melodies, and in the lives he touched, Quincy’s legacy will live on forever.
 
Today, Doug and I are praying for the Jones family and all those who loved him.  
 

# # #

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Quincy Jones was a trailblazer.
 
He lived his life unapologetically, using his gifts to lift others up. He broke down barriers and opened doors for those who came after him, not for praise but because he knew the power of our shared potential.
 
For more than half a century, as a composer, arranger, record and movie producer, Quincy Jones created art that brought joy to millions of people. As an activist, Quincy Jones championed civil and human rights. He brought together artists who wanted to unite their voices to drive change. As a role model, in particular for young people of color in the music industry, Quincy Jones offered inspiration and mentorship. 
 
I was honored to call Quincy a friend. I will always remember his generosity of spirit, his selfless support, and his deep kindness. Our world has lost a giant. But in his melodies, and in the lives he touched, Quincy’s legacy will live on forever.
 
Today, Doug and I are praying for the Jones family and all those who loved him.  
 

# # #

The post Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Quincy Jones was a musical genius who transformed the soul of America – one beat, one rhythm, and one rhyme at a time.

Growing up as a child facing segregation and poverty, he found music to be a refuge. As a teenager, he trained with some of the greatest musicians ever.

Over the next seven decades, he became a producer, composer, instrumentalist, executive, and so much more, discovering some of our most iconic artists and shaping the most memorable records and scores in history.

His God-given talent earned him countless awards and honors in music, film, and television. He was one of few Americans to earn an EGOT and received 28 Grammy Awards – among the most of all time.

In only a way he could, Quincy Jones solidified Black culture as American culture.

He was a great unifier, who believed deeply in the healing power of music to restore hope and uplift those suffering from hunger, poverty, and violence, in America and the continent of Africa.

Jill and I send our love to his entire family and everyone whose spirit was elevated by his extraordinary contributions.

May God bless Quincy Jones.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Quincy Jones was a musical genius who transformed the soul of America – one beat, one rhythm, and one rhyme at a time.

Growing up as a child facing segregation and poverty, he found music to be a refuge. As a teenager, he trained with some of the greatest musicians ever.

Over the next seven decades, he became a producer, composer, instrumentalist, executive, and so much more, discovering some of our most iconic artists and shaping the most memorable records and scores in history.

His God-given talent earned him countless awards and honors in music, film, and television. He was one of few Americans to earn an EGOT and received 28 Grammy Awards – among the most of all time.

In only a way he could, Quincy Jones solidified Black culture as American culture.

He was a great unifier, who believed deeply in the healing power of music to restore hope and uplift those suffering from hunger, poverty, and violence, in America and the continent of Africa.

Jill and I send our love to his entire family and everyone whose spirit was elevated by his extraordinary contributions.

May God bless Quincy Jones.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Quincy Jones appeared first on The White House.

Montage Mountain Resort
Scranton, Pennsylvania

1:52 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Scranton!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody! 

Can we hear it for Glen?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Glen.

Hi, Scranton.  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  It is so good to be with everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

Are we ready to do this? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: We- — we’re ready to get out the vote? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re ready to win?

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Okay.  So, first, let me thank Glen.  I was — I was telling him when we were just hanging out backstage, so when I — my first office that I ran for was district attorney, and the Carpenters were the first union to endorse me.  (Applause.)  And — and I — and I’ve always — I mean, even before, but always — I will always and always have stood with labor. 

And so, I’m very proud to stand with you, Glen, with your members, with all the members of labor, as we do this together.  (Applause.) 

And as he pointed out, there’s a huge difference between me and the other guy, which everybody here knows, which is why you are here to help us get out the vote.  (Applause.) 

But I thought I would share with you — so, I was — when I was coming in, someone reminded me of — of a story I’ve shared, which is when I first ran for office as DA.  So, I — I started out at six points in the polls, right?  So, you kn- — for anyone who knows, that’s 6 out of 100.  (Laughter.)  No one thought we could win.  And I used to campaign with my ironing board.  (Laughter.)  Okay.  You are wondering, “Now, what is she talking about?”  (Laughter.)

So, I would grab my ironing board, a roll of duct tape, my pois- — my posters and my flyers, and I’d put them all in my car, and I’d drive to the local grocery stores.  And I’d pull out my ironing board and my duct tape and my posters and my flyers, and I’d walk to the front of the grocery store outside, and I’d stand up my ironing board, because, you see, an ironing board makes a really great standing desk.  (Laughter.)

And I’d use the duct tape to tape my posters on the outside of the thing, and I’d put my flyers on top of the ironing board.  And I would require people to talk to me as they walked in and out of the grocery store.  (Laughter.)

And I will tell you, that is how I love to campaign.  I don’t do it as much anymore, obviously.  But what you all are signing up to do today and what you’ve been doing, like, let’s enjoy it.  You know, and I know you do.  I can feel the mood in here.  Because it’s the best of who we are as a democracy. 

And I think we’ve kind of — (applause) — right?

And that’s what our campaign has been about.  We are a people-driven campaign, and we love the people.  And we see, in the face of a stranger, a neighbor — right? — and that’s the spirit of what we are doing. 

And over these last — you know, this whole era of this other guy, you know, it —  but it — what it’s done with all that talk that’s been about trying to have us point fingers at each other and divide each other, it makes people feel alone.  It makes them feel like there’s nobody standing with them. 

And so, the way I have always been thinking about our campaign and these next 24 hours is as we are getting out the vote, as we are canvassing, let’s be intentional about building community — about building community, about building coalitions, about reminding people we all have so much more in common than what separates us.  There is power in that.  There is power in that.  (Applause.)  And there’s lasting power in that, right?

It’s about the win, and it is about more.  It is about more.  It is about just strengthening our country and reminding each other we are all in this together.  We rise and fall together.  And that is the strength of who we are and everyone here. 

That’s the strength of Bob Casey.  We’ve got to get him back in the United States Senate.  (Applause.) 

That’s the strength of Mayor Cognetti and all that she has been doing.  Right?  (Applause.)

It’s about leadership that is the kind of leadership that we want.  Right?  They are leaders, we are leaders who understand that the measure of our strength is not based on who we beat down.  It’s based on who we lift up.  Right?  (Applause.)  And so, that’s what we’re going to do.  

And so, over these next 24 hours, I know everyone is here, including our youngest leaders — I see you over there.  I know you’re not ready to vote because you look like you’re about eight, but — (laughs) — but you tell the adults in your life why it’s important they vote.  Okay?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

But over these next 24 hours, let’s — let’s enjoy this moment to knock on a neighbor’s door and in their face, even if we’ve not met them, know that we have a lot that we care about in common and that we are optimistic about the future of our country, that we love our country, and that that’s what this fight is about, and about the promise of America — and the promise of America being represented by everybody who is here.  

So, I thank you all for the time that you have taken out of your busy lives.  There are a number of things that each one of you could be doing right now and — but you’re here, and we’re all here together, under this one roof, as a community of people who care and who are dedicated to the hard work that it requires.  

You know, I — I like to say that you — you know, when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And that’s what we’re doing.  And that’s what we’re doing.  We love our country, and we are fighting for the best of who we are.  And —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I love you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  I love you.

So —

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote. 

AUDIENCE:  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.   Let’s win. (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

All right, let’s get to work.  Twenty-four hours to go.  And I — I so — I — I’m so grateful for everyone here.  I — I just — I’ll end with this point.  You know, I have the — I have the privilege, I have the blessing of being able to travel around our country.  And I’m telling you guys, we’re good.  We’re good.  We’re good.  (Applause.)  We really are.  

I mean, every — I s- — I go into rooms with people who s- — again, seemingly have nothing in common and have everything in common — rooms of people of all kinds of different backgrounds, of ages coming together in this sense of just the — the collective.  We’re good.

And so, we’re going to keep doing this work with the optimism that it requires to be strong.  Everyone here knows, in the context of your family, in your life, when you believe something is possible, you put in the hard work, and you know it’s good work — hard work is good work, it’s joyful work — and we get the job done.  

Let’s get this done.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END                 2:00 P.M. EDT

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Montage Mountain Resort
Scranton, Pennsylvania

1:52 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Scranton!  (Applause.)  Hey, everybody! 

Can we hear it for Glen?  (Applause.)  Let’s hear it for Glen.

Hi, Scranton.  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  It is so good to be with everyone.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

Are we ready to do this? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT: We- — we’re ready to get out the vote? 

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re ready to win?

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Okay.  So, first, let me thank Glen.  I was — I was telling him when we were just hanging out backstage, so when I — my first office that I ran for was district attorney, and the Carpenters were the first union to endorse me.  (Applause.)  And — and I — and I’ve always — I mean, even before, but always — I will always and always have stood with labor. 

And so, I’m very proud to stand with you, Glen, with your members, with all the members of labor, as we do this together.  (Applause.) 

And as he pointed out, there’s a huge difference between me and the other guy, which everybody here knows, which is why you are here to help us get out the vote.  (Applause.) 

But I thought I would share with you — so, I was — when I was coming in, someone reminded me of — of a story I’ve shared, which is when I first ran for office as DA.  So, I — I started out at six points in the polls, right?  So, you kn- — for anyone who knows, that’s 6 out of 100.  (Laughter.)  No one thought we could win.  And I used to campaign with my ironing board.  (Laughter.)  Okay.  You are wondering, “Now, what is she talking about?”  (Laughter.)

So, I would grab my ironing board, a roll of duct tape, my pois- — my posters and my flyers, and I’d put them all in my car, and I’d drive to the local grocery stores.  And I’d pull out my ironing board and my duct tape and my posters and my flyers, and I’d walk to the front of the grocery store outside, and I’d stand up my ironing board, because, you see, an ironing board makes a really great standing desk.  (Laughter.)

And I’d use the duct tape to tape my posters on the outside of the thing, and I’d put my flyers on top of the ironing board.  And I would require people to talk to me as they walked in and out of the grocery store.  (Laughter.)

And I will tell you, that is how I love to campaign.  I don’t do it as much anymore, obviously.  But what you all are signing up to do today and what you’ve been doing, like, let’s enjoy it.  You know, and I know you do.  I can feel the mood in here.  Because it’s the best of who we are as a democracy. 

And I think we’ve kind of — (applause) — right?

And that’s what our campaign has been about.  We are a people-driven campaign, and we love the people.  And we see, in the face of a stranger, a neighbor — right? — and that’s the spirit of what we are doing. 

And over these last — you know, this whole era of this other guy, you know, it —  but it — what it’s done with all that talk that’s been about trying to have us point fingers at each other and divide each other, it makes people feel alone.  It makes them feel like there’s nobody standing with them. 

And so, the way I have always been thinking about our campaign and these next 24 hours is as we are getting out the vote, as we are canvassing, let’s be intentional about building community — about building community, about building coalitions, about reminding people we all have so much more in common than what separates us.  There is power in that.  There is power in that.  (Applause.)  And there’s lasting power in that, right?

It’s about the win, and it is about more.  It is about more.  It is about just strengthening our country and reminding each other we are all in this together.  We rise and fall together.  And that is the strength of who we are and everyone here. 

That’s the strength of Bob Casey.  We’ve got to get him back in the United States Senate.  (Applause.) 

That’s the strength of Mayor Cognetti and all that she has been doing.  Right?  (Applause.)

It’s about leadership that is the kind of leadership that we want.  Right?  They are leaders, we are leaders who understand that the measure of our strength is not based on who we beat down.  It’s based on who we lift up.  Right?  (Applause.)  And so, that’s what we’re going to do.  

And so, over these next 24 hours, I know everyone is here, including our youngest leaders — I see you over there.  I know you’re not ready to vote because you look like you’re about eight, but — (laughs) — but you tell the adults in your life why it’s important they vote.  Okay?  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

But over these next 24 hours, let’s — let’s enjoy this moment to knock on a neighbor’s door and in their face, even if we’ve not met them, know that we have a lot that we care about in common and that we are optimistic about the future of our country, that we love our country, and that that’s what this fight is about, and about the promise of America — and the promise of America being represented by everybody who is here.  

So, I thank you all for the time that you have taken out of your busy lives.  There are a number of things that each one of you could be doing right now and — but you’re here, and we’re all here together, under this one roof, as a community of people who care and who are dedicated to the hard work that it requires.  

You know, I — I like to say that you — you know, when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  And that’s what we’re doing.  And that’s what we’re doing.  We love our country, and we are fighting for the best of who we are.  And —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I love you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  I love you.

So —

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote. 

AUDIENCE:  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!  Let’s get out the vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.  Let’s get out the vote.   Let’s win. (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

All right, let’s get to work.  Twenty-four hours to go.  And I — I so — I — I’m so grateful for everyone here.  I — I just — I’ll end with this point.  You know, I have the — I have the privilege, I have the blessing of being able to travel around our country.  And I’m telling you guys, we’re good.  We’re good.  We’re good.  (Applause.)  We really are.  

I mean, every — I s- — I go into rooms with people who s- — again, seemingly have nothing in common and have everything in common — rooms of people of all kinds of different backgrounds, of ages coming together in this sense of just the — the collective.  We’re good.

And so, we’re going to keep doing this work with the optimism that it requires to be strong.  Everyone here knows, in the context of your family, in your life, when you believe something is possible, you put in the hard work, and you know it’s good work — hard work is good work, it’s joyful work — and we get the job done.  

Let’s get this done.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

END                 2:00 P.M. EDT

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I congratulate Maia Sandu on her historic reelection as the President of Moldova. 

On Sunday, the Moldovan people went to the polls and voted in favor of President Sandu’s vision for a secure, prosperous, and democratic Moldova. President Sandu’s reelection comes just two weeks after the Moldovan people passed a constitutional referendum in support of membership in the European Union. 

For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and election processes. But Russia failed. The Moldovan people have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future, and they have chosen to pursue a path aligned with Europe and democracies everywhere.

###

The post Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections appeared first on The White House.

I congratulate Maia Sandu on her historic reelection as the President of Moldova. 

On Sunday, the Moldovan people went to the polls and voted in favor of President Sandu’s vision for a secure, prosperous, and democratic Moldova. President Sandu’s reelection comes just two weeks after the Moldovan people passed a constitutional referendum in support of membership in the European Union. 

For months, Russia sought to undermine Moldova’s democratic institutions and election processes. But Russia failed. The Moldovan people have exercised their democratic right to choose their own future, and they have chosen to pursue a path aligned with Europe and democracies everywhere.

###

The post Statement by President Joe Biden on Moldova’s Presidential Elections appeared first on The White House.

The United States has deep economic ties to the Western Hemisphere. Through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the Biden-Harris Administration’s premier economic initiative for the region, the United States is strengthening and expanding our efforts to enhance regional competitiveness by focusing on the drivers of bottom-up and middle-out economic growth that will create good-quality jobs and more resilient supply chains.

The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (known as the Americas Partnership or APEP) launched at the Summit of the Americas in 2022, includes member countries that represent90 percent of the hemisphere’s GDP and nearly two-thirds of its people.

At the inaugural Leaders’ Summit on November 3, 2023, President Biden and leaders of the eleven other Americas Partnership countries—Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay—deepened our shared commitment to ahemisphere that is among the most dynamic economic regions in the world.  During the past year, Ministers from the Trade, Foreign Affairs, and Finance tracks have met to set goals and develop priority workstreams to intensify regional economic cooperation.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen all hosted their Americas Partnership ministerial counterparts to drive inclusive sustainable growth and strengthen critical supply chains in semiconductors, medical supplies, and clean energy and critical minerals. 

One year on, the initiative is delivering concrete results to improve the lives of people throughout the region while creating economic opportunities within the hemisphere. As National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the Brookings Institutionthis year, “we’re working to make the Western Hemisphere a globally competitive supply chain hub for semiconductors, clean energy, and more.”

Since its launch, the Americas Partnership is: 

Driving investment and expanded entrepreneurship by leading efforts to train an inclusive and diverse cohort of entrepreneurs and connect them with financing opportunities. 

• The Americas Partnership Investor Network was launched at a July 2024 White House meeting hosted by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. As part of the Network, a diverse group of angel and venture capital investors pledged to collectively invest more than $1 billion in early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.  The Inter-American Development Bank’s innovation and venture arm, IDB Lab, contributed $300,000 toward implementation of this Investor Network by the Uruguay Innovation Hub and Endeavor, creating new opportunities for the region’s next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs.  

• The inaugural cohort of 46 impact enterprises from Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama graduated from USAID’s CATALYZE Americas Partnership Accelerator program, with the next cohort of 119 impact enterprises from Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay in the training pipeline.  The program’s work across 10 target countries has mobilized the first $1.5 million of the investment goal of at least $20 million in two years.

• Canada’s AcelerarMe Program is providing training and mentoring to businesswomen in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Mexico, executed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  The program aims to graduate an estimated 450 entrepreneurs by 2026.  Already, two active cohorts have completed the majority ofthe training and four new cohorts will begin training in January 2025.

• In 2024, Americas Partnership countries supported Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Americas Partnership SME Inclusive Trade Inventory, including programs which assist micro-SMEs, that are owned and led by women, Indigenous persons, minorities, and those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.  This fall, Americas Partnership governments held a Best Practices Exchange to strengthen knowledge-sharing among APEP countries. 

Advancing economic competitiveness and supply chain resilience for Americas Partnership economies.

• The Department of State has driven inclusive and sustainable growth by providing up to $7 million to the IDB’s Biodiversity and Natural Capital Facility.  This Fund for Nature is supporting Americas Partnership member countries with technical cooperation to mainstream climate, biodiversity, natural capital, and nature-based solutions into economic development plans and investments.  

• To bolster semiconductor production capabilities across the Western Hemisphere, the Department of State, in collaboration with the IDB, unveiled the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative.  This groundbreaking initiative, supported through the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, is enhancing semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging capabilities in key Americas Partnership countries, beginning with Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.  Under the initiative, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic signed MOUs with Arizona State and Purdue Universities to expand their skilled semiconductor workforce. 

• The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and IDB Invest have supported almost $2 billion worth of projects in APEP member countries over the past year.  In addition, DFC and IDB Invest launched the Americas Partnership Platform to facilitate co-investments, and added a $30 million technical assistance facility to support new and existing projects under the Platform.

• The Inter-American Development Bank delivered a “Phase I” report to Americas Partnership members in June 2024 to evaluate and enhance members’ competitiveness in the three priority supply chain sectors (semiconductors, medical supplies, and critical minerals).  This report highlighted the scale of the nearshoring opportunity in our region, while identifying areas where targeted policy innovations and infrastructure improvements will attract additional investment.  In the next stage, the IDB is engaging policymakers and other stakeholders throughout the region to develop concrete, country-specific policy recommendations in a set of “Phase II” reports. 

• Americas Partnership countries launched the Americas Partnership Clean Hydrogen Working Group, co-led by Chile, Uruguay, and the United States.  Backed by the Department of State’s Power Sector Program, the Working Group seeks to ensure the Western Hemisphere is a global leader in clean hydrogen development and deployment as countries seek to meet their national clean energy and climate goals. 

• APEP countries have led a wide range of initiatives on key member priorities.  For example, Ecuador and Peru have joined forces to promote sustainable food production.  The Dominican Republic has led an effort to promote transparency and integrity in the public sector.  Chile is spearheadingexpanded cooperation in civil and commercial space affairs. Supported by agencies like the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Americas Partnership countries are also aiming to improve regulatory systems and market access for essential medical products across the region.

• Finally, trade ministers are using the Americas Partnership to promote regional implementation of the 2022 Summit of the Americas Declaration on Good Regulatory Practices, with the goal of promoting compatibility in technical standards that will strengthen supply chains.  

In the year since the November 3, 2023 Leaders’ Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked together with the members of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the hemispheric vision of economic prosperity for all of our citizens.

The post FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Marks the Anniversary of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity Leaders’ Summit appeared first on The White House.

The United States has deep economic ties to the Western Hemisphere. Through the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the Biden-Harris Administration’s premier economic initiative for the region, the United States is strengthening and expanding our efforts to enhance regional competitiveness by focusing on the drivers of bottom-up and middle-out economic growth that will create good-quality jobs and more resilient supply chains.

The Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (known as the Americas Partnership or APEP) launched at the Summit of the Americas in 2022, includes member countries that represent90 percent of the hemisphere’s GDP and nearly two-thirds of its people.

At the inaugural Leaders’ Summit on November 3, 2023, President Biden and leaders of the eleven other Americas Partnership countries—Barbados, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay—deepened our shared commitment to ahemisphere that is among the most dynamic economic regions in the world.  During the past year, Ministers from the Trade, Foreign Affairs, and Finance tracks have met to set goals and develop priority workstreams to intensify regional economic cooperation.  U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen all hosted their Americas Partnership ministerial counterparts to drive inclusive sustainable growth and strengthen critical supply chains in semiconductors, medical supplies, and clean energy and critical minerals. 

One year on, the initiative is delivering concrete results to improve the lives of people throughout the region while creating economic opportunities within the hemisphere. As National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said at the Brookings Institutionthis year, “we’re working to make the Western Hemisphere a globally competitive supply chain hub for semiconductors, clean energy, and more.”

Since its launch, the Americas Partnership is: 

Driving investment and expanded entrepreneurship by leading efforts to train an inclusive and diverse cohort of entrepreneurs and connect them with financing opportunities. 

• The Americas Partnership Investor Network was launched at a July 2024 White House meeting hosted by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. As part of the Network, a diverse group of angel and venture capital investors pledged to collectively invest more than $1 billion in early-stage companies and entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.  The Inter-American Development Bank’s innovation and venture arm, IDB Lab, contributed $300,000 toward implementation of this Investor Network by the Uruguay Innovation Hub and Endeavor, creating new opportunities for the region’s next generation of high-impact entrepreneurs.  

• The inaugural cohort of 46 impact enterprises from Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama graduated from USAID’s CATALYZE Americas Partnership Accelerator program, with the next cohort of 119 impact enterprises from Barbados, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay in the training pipeline.  The program’s work across 10 target countries has mobilized the first $1.5 million of the investment goal of at least $20 million in two years.

• Canada’s AcelerarMe Program is providing training and mentoring to businesswomen in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Mexico, executed by the Thunderbird School of Global Management.  The program aims to graduate an estimated 450 entrepreneurs by 2026.  Already, two active cohorts have completed the majority ofthe training and four new cohorts will begin training in January 2025.

• In 2024, Americas Partnership countries supported Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the Americas Partnership SME Inclusive Trade Inventory, including programs which assist micro-SMEs, that are owned and led by women, Indigenous persons, minorities, and those from historically underrepresented and underserved communities.  This fall, Americas Partnership governments held a Best Practices Exchange to strengthen knowledge-sharing among APEP countries. 

Advancing economic competitiveness and supply chain resilience for Americas Partnership economies.

• The Department of State has driven inclusive and sustainable growth by providing up to $7 million to the IDB’s Biodiversity and Natural Capital Facility.  This Fund for Nature is supporting Americas Partnership member countries with technical cooperation to mainstream climate, biodiversity, natural capital, and nature-based solutions into economic development plans and investments.  

• To bolster semiconductor production capabilities across the Western Hemisphere, the Department of State, in collaboration with the IDB, unveiled the CHIPS ITSI Western Hemisphere Semiconductor Initiative.  This groundbreaking initiative, supported through the CHIPS Act International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund, is enhancing semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging capabilities in key Americas Partnership countries, beginning with Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.  Under the initiative, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic signed MOUs with Arizona State and Purdue Universities to expand their skilled semiconductor workforce. 

• The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and IDB Invest have supported almost $2 billion worth of projects in APEP member countries over the past year.  In addition, DFC and IDB Invest launched the Americas Partnership Platform to facilitate co-investments, and added a $30 million technical assistance facility to support new and existing projects under the Platform.

• The Inter-American Development Bank delivered a “Phase I” report to Americas Partnership members in June 2024 to evaluate and enhance members’ competitiveness in the three priority supply chain sectors (semiconductors, medical supplies, and critical minerals).  This report highlighted the scale of the nearshoring opportunity in our region, while identifying areas where targeted policy innovations and infrastructure improvements will attract additional investment.  In the next stage, the IDB is engaging policymakers and other stakeholders throughout the region to develop concrete, country-specific policy recommendations in a set of “Phase II” reports. 

• Americas Partnership countries launched the Americas Partnership Clean Hydrogen Working Group, co-led by Chile, Uruguay, and the United States.  Backed by the Department of State’s Power Sector Program, the Working Group seeks to ensure the Western Hemisphere is a global leader in clean hydrogen development and deployment as countries seek to meet their national clean energy and climate goals. 

• APEP countries have led a wide range of initiatives on key member priorities.  For example, Ecuador and Peru have joined forces to promote sustainable food production.  The Dominican Republic has led an effort to promote transparency and integrity in the public sector.  Chile is spearheadingexpanded cooperation in civil and commercial space affairs. Supported by agencies like the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Americas Partnership countries are also aiming to improve regulatory systems and market access for essential medical products across the region.

• Finally, trade ministers are using the Americas Partnership to promote regional implementation of the 2022 Summit of the Americas Declaration on Good Regulatory Practices, with the goal of promoting compatibility in technical standards that will strengthen supply chains.  

In the year since the November 3, 2023 Leaders’ Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration has worked together with the members of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to take concrete steps towards fulfilling the hemispheric vision of economic prosperity for all of our citizens.

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