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We condemn in the strongest terms the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE and our prayers are with his family, the Chabad-Lubavitch community, the broader Jewish community, and all who are mourning his loss. This was a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It was an assault as well on UAE and its rejection of violent extremism across the board. The United States is working in close coordination with Israeli and UAE authorities, and we have offered all appropriate forms of support. We commend the rapid efforts of UAE authorities who now have suspects in custody. Those who carried out this crime, and anyone supporting them, must be held fully accountable.

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The post Statement by NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on the Murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE appeared first on The White House.

We condemn in the strongest terms the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE and our prayers are with his family, the Chabad-Lubavitch community, the broader Jewish community, and all who are mourning his loss. This was a horrific crime against all those who stand for peace, tolerance, and coexistence. It was an assault as well on UAE and its rejection of violent extremism across the board. The United States is working in close coordination with Israeli and UAE authorities, and we have offered all appropriate forms of support. We commend the rapid efforts of UAE authorities who now have suspects in custody. Those who carried out this crime, and anyone supporting them, must be held fully accountable.

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The post Statement by NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on the Murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE appeared first on The White House.

In 2015, the world came together to finalize the Paris Agreement, a historic commitment made by nearly every country in the world to address the climate crisis and protect the planet for future generations. On my very first day in office, I took action to return the United States to that agreement, restore America’s global climate leadership, and recommit to international climate ambition. 

Since then, my Administration has leveraged our Nation’s leadership on climate action at home to accelerate global efforts – including at COPs 26, 27, and 28 – to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, create good-paying jobs, protect ecosystems, and strengthen resilience – all of which has also helped grow our economy.

Today at COP29, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of a robust US delegation, the world reached agreement on another historic outcome. In Baku, the United States challenged countries to make an urgent choice: either consign vulnerable communities to ever more catastrophic climate disasters, or step up and place all of us on a safer path toward a better future. 

Together, countries set an ambitious 2035 international climate finance goal. It will help mobilize the level of finance – from all sources – that developingcountries need to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable economies, while opening up new markets for American-made electric vehicles, batteries, and other products. 

In the years ahead, we are confident that the United States will continue this work: through our states and cities, our businesses, and our citizens, supported by durable legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate and clean energy in history. While some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that’s underway in America and around the world, nobody can reverse it — nobody. 

I congratulate the Parties and the COP29 Presidency on reaching this outcome. While there is still substantial work ahead of us to achieve our climate goals, today’s outcome puts us one significant step closer. On behalf of the American people and future generations, we must continue to accelerate our work to keep a cleaner, safer, healthier planet within our grasp.  

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Conclusion of COP29 Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan appeared first on The White House.

In 2015, the world came together to finalize the Paris Agreement, a historic commitment made by nearly every country in the world to address the climate crisis and protect the planet for future generations. On my very first day in office, I took action to return the United States to that agreement, restore America’s global climate leadership, and recommit to international climate ambition. 

Since then, my Administration has leveraged our Nation’s leadership on climate action at home to accelerate global efforts – including at COPs 26, 27, and 28 – to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, create good-paying jobs, protect ecosystems, and strengthen resilience – all of which has also helped grow our economy.

Today at COP29, thanks in part to the tireless efforts of a robust US delegation, the world reached agreement on another historic outcome. In Baku, the United States challenged countries to make an urgent choice: either consign vulnerable communities to ever more catastrophic climate disasters, or step up and place all of us on a safer path toward a better future. 

Together, countries set an ambitious 2035 international climate finance goal. It will help mobilize the level of finance – from all sources – that developingcountries need to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable economies, while opening up new markets for American-made electric vehicles, batteries, and other products. 

In the years ahead, we are confident that the United States will continue this work: through our states and cities, our businesses, and our citizens, supported by durable legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in climate and clean energy in history. While some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that’s underway in America and around the world, nobody can reverse it — nobody. 

I congratulate the Parties and the COP29 Presidency on reaching this outcome. While there is still substantial work ahead of us to achieve our climate goals, today’s outcome puts us one significant step closer. On behalf of the American people and future generations, we must continue to accelerate our work to keep a cleaner, safer, healthier planet within our grasp.  

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Conclusion of COP29 Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan appeared first on The White House.

Ninety-one years ago, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime engineered the Holodomor, a forced and deliberate famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. We remember the men, women, and children who perished during the Holodomor. We also honor the survivors of the Holodomor and their descendants who, despite Stalin’s efforts to repress Ukraine’s national identity, have built a free, independent, and democratic Ukraine. 

Today, as we mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor, we also renew our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people in their time of need. For nearly three years, Russia has been waging a brutal war against the Ukrainian people in an attempt to wipe Ukraine off the map. In this effort, Russia has failed. Kyiv stands free, thanks in part to the United States and the more than 50 other countries that are committed to providing Ukraine with the assistance it needs to defend itself.

My message to the Ukrainian people on this day is clear: The United States honors your past and stands with you in the present. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ongoing defense of its freedom, its pursuit of justice, and its path to the Euro-Atlantic future it has chosen for itself.  The courage and strength of the Ukrainian people will prevail.   

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden Remembering the Holodomor appeared first on The White House.

Ninety-one years ago, Joseph Stalin and the Soviet regime engineered the Holodomor, a forced and deliberate famine that killed millions of Ukrainians. We remember the men, women, and children who perished during the Holodomor. We also honor the survivors of the Holodomor and their descendants who, despite Stalin’s efforts to repress Ukraine’s national identity, have built a free, independent, and democratic Ukraine. 

Today, as we mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor, we also renew our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people in their time of need. For nearly three years, Russia has been waging a brutal war against the Ukrainian people in an attempt to wipe Ukraine off the map. In this effort, Russia has failed. Kyiv stands free, thanks in part to the United States and the more than 50 other countries that are committed to providing Ukraine with the assistance it needs to defend itself.

My message to the Ukrainian people on this day is clear: The United States honors your past and stands with you in the present. On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ongoing defense of its freedom, its pursuit of justice, and its path to the Euro-Atlantic future it has chosen for itself.  The courage and strength of the Ukrainian people will prevail.   

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden Remembering the Holodomor appeared first on The White House.

South Lawn

7:26 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everyone.  Good evening, good evening, good evening.

If you have a seat, please take it.  But don’t jump in the pool.  (Laughter.)

Jill and I are hosting this dinner tonight for a very simple reason: to say thank you — thank you to so many dear friends. 

We began this journey to redeem the soul of the nation and to find the light in the darkness.  Jill and I never could have gotten to where the White House has become without you.  We never could have gotten as much done as we did without you.  And that’s not hyperbole.  I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Maybe the most important thing you’ve done is lend your name, your reputation, your character to this effort.  It’s more than just saying, “We’re for that administration.”  You put yourself on the line.

And we never forget.  We’re incredibly grateful.  

One thing I’ve always believed about public service and especially the presidency is the importance of asking ourselves, “Have we left the country in better shape than we found it?”  (Applause.) 

And tonight, I can say with all my heart the answer to that question is a resounding yes, because of you.  (Applause.)  Because of you.

Kamala and I promised we’d have an administration that looks like America, that taps into the full talents of our nation.  I look out at so many of you — our Cabinet members, our White House staff — who poured their heart and soul into their work.  And I want to thank their families for the sacrifices they made to allow that to happen.  (Applause.)

I believe we can be proud we’re leaving America in a better place today than when we came into office four years ago. 

This country was living through the worst pandemic we’d seen in over 100 years.  Our economy was in a tailspin.  We had just witnessed something we thought we’d never, ever see in America: a violent insurrection on January the 6th.  And so much more. 

We’ve come a long way since then.  We’ve passed historic legislation, often with some bipartisan support — laws that are literally going to change America not just now but for decades and decades to come.  (Applause.)

I know I’ve only been around a few days, a few years.  (Laughter.)  I can’t believe how long it’s been.  (Laughter.)  But I fully believe America is better positioned to lead the world today than any point in my 50 years of public service.  (Applause.) 

If you’ll hold a second, as I say to my colleagues around the world when we meet, “If not America leading the world, who leads the world?”  I mean that literally.  Think about that question.  Who would lead the world if we did not step up?

That’s because of you — and I mean this ser- — sincerely — because of the incredible work you’ve done.  You should be so proud of the work you’ve done.  You should never forget all you’ve done for your country. 

And I’m so proud we can say we’ve done all this with a deep belief in the core values of America: that all of us — all of us are created equal, that everyone should be given a fair shot, that hate should have no safe harbor in America.  (Applause.)

We’ve stuck to our principles, set a high standard for character and integrity in public life.  

And I must say, I follow that standard because I had no choice.  I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.)  That’s the title I’m most proud of.  Jill is the rock of our family.  She has been one of the — I think, one of the finest first ladies in history, in my view.  (Applause.) 

And those who you know Jill, you know I’m going to catch hell for saying that.  “Joe, don’t do that in public.  Don’t say that.”  (Laughter.) 

Jilly, I love you, kid.  I love you. 

Let me close with this.  It will surprise none of you that I’m going to quote an Irish poet.  (Laughter.)  William Butler Yeats wrote, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.”  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

As I look out over such friends, serving as president of the United States has been the honor of my life.  (Applause.)  But while our time in office is coming to an end, our cause endures. 

That’s because of the history of the journey of America.  America, the America of our dreams is calling us to stay engaged, to never give up, to keep going, to keep the faith. 

I know I will, and I know you will. 

We just have to remember who in God’s name we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

Please enjoy the dinner.  Thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

(The dinner continues.)

THE FIRST LADY:  Wow.  (Laughs.)  This is so spectacular.  (Applause.)  That incredible performance, the fountain, these views of the house and the Washington Monument, and all of you.

It’s hard to believe that we’re in the final moments of this extraordinary journel — journey together.  (Applause.)  Some of you have worked with us over the past four years.  Some of you have been in our lives for decades.

THE PRESIDENT:  Forty years!  (Laughter.)

THE FIRST LADY:  You’ve seen us through our proudest, mountaintop moments and helped us achieve them.  (Applause.)  And you’ve been with [by] our side through the hard times and everything in between.

We’ve reached higher, moved further, became stronger because we did it together.  (Applause.)

It is the honor of our lives to serve as your First Family, and we couldn’t have done it without you.  (Applause.)  Time and time again, you’ve opened up your homes to us and carried us forward with your kindness.

Tonight, Joe and I have opened our home to celebrate you, the friends who grew into family.  (Applause.)

May we cherish the journey we’ve been on together and treasure the bonds that we will always share.

Now, this celebration is only possible because of our social secretary, Carlos Elizondo — (applause) — as well as Bryan Rafanelli, who put this magnificent tent event together.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Bryan.  I think you’re over here somewhere.  Thank you to your and you — you and your teams. Thank you for creating magic.  (Applause.)

And — wow — to the President’s Own Marine Band and all of our military band members — (applause) — yes — thank you.  Your music doesn’t just fill a space; you create something new, a place within us and among us where we feel more alive and more complete.

As a military — (laughs) — as a military mom, you make me proud.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  You make your commander in chief proud as well.  (Applause.)  And we deeply appreciate you and your families for your service.

So, finally, I want to talk about the person who brought all of us together: Joe.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

Throughout your life in public service, you’ve put people at the center, so it’s never a surprise to see people gather around you.

Four years ago, you set out to restore the soul of the nation.  That was — (applause) — that was never just a sound bite; it was your drumbeat.

Your wisdom and steady hand lifted our country out of a pandemic, set our economy on solid ground, and fortified our hope for what is possible. 

You led with an unshakable belief in the goodness of the American people and guided us on a new and brighter course. 

All the while, you continued to be a brother, an uncle, a friend, a partner, and a father and grandfather whose devotion can be measured by the calls that you fit in between bilateral meetings and security briefings, just when you check — you want to check in with everyone in our family and say, “I love you.”

What I’ve watched you do for more than 40 years is extraordinary.  What you’ve done over the last four years — (applause) — Joe, what you’ve done over the last four years is breathtaking.  (Applause.) 

Here, Joe.  (The first lady hands the president a glass.)

Oh, here.  (Laughs.)  He has a ginger ale.  (Laughs.)

Please join me in raising a glass to your president, my husband and hero, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

(A toast is given.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Can I say something?

THE FIRST LADY:   Okay.  Wait a minute.  I have something more to say.  (Laughs.)  Wait, drink.

And now please stay and enjoy more of the beautiful music and the stunning views and head out to the dance floor. 

So —

THE PRESIDENT:  I want to say something.

THE FIRST LADY:  — we’re going to have a dance. 

THE PRESIDENT:  I know.  I want to say —

THE FIRST LADY:  Oh, he wants to say something.  Hold on.

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  Folks — (applause).  No.  No, really, thank you.

The thing that I want to say to so many of you who I’ve come to know well is you’ve not only helped me politically and help our family, but when things have really gone bad — when we lost our son, when we lost — the accident and all, you were there.  You’re always there, reaching out in ways that I — you’ve made me promise, some of you, that I wouldn’t say what you’ve done.  But just incredible things you’ve done — incredible things you’ve done for the — our family.

And they’re the things that really matter to me more than anything else.  It’s not just you’re supporters and you’ve helped us win, but you’re there when things really went bad.  Like a lot of families, I was lucky.  I had strong family around me. 

I think of all the people who’ve lost family members in accidents and war and the like that they ha- — they have nobody.  They just walk alone.  But you were always there with me.

And I — I know some of you have been through really tough times yourselves, and you know what it means.  You know what it means. 

And I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. 

There’s a — another Irish poet who once said — (laughter) — that history teaches us not to hope on this side of the grave, but then, once in a lifetime, a longed-for tidal wave of justice rises up and hope and history rhyme. 

You’re making hope and history rhyme.  (Applause.)

9:27 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a Gratitude Dinner appeared first on The White House.

South Lawn

7:26 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everyone.  Good evening, good evening, good evening.

If you have a seat, please take it.  But don’t jump in the pool.  (Laughter.)

Jill and I are hosting this dinner tonight for a very simple reason: to say thank you — thank you to so many dear friends. 

We began this journey to redeem the soul of the nation and to find the light in the darkness.  Jill and I never could have gotten to where the White House has become without you.  We never could have gotten as much done as we did without you.  And that’s not hyperbole.  I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Maybe the most important thing you’ve done is lend your name, your reputation, your character to this effort.  It’s more than just saying, “We’re for that administration.”  You put yourself on the line.

And we never forget.  We’re incredibly grateful.  

One thing I’ve always believed about public service and especially the presidency is the importance of asking ourselves, “Have we left the country in better shape than we found it?”  (Applause.) 

And tonight, I can say with all my heart the answer to that question is a resounding yes, because of you.  (Applause.)  Because of you.

Kamala and I promised we’d have an administration that looks like America, that taps into the full talents of our nation.  I look out at so many of you — our Cabinet members, our White House staff — who poured their heart and soul into their work.  And I want to thank their families for the sacrifices they made to allow that to happen.  (Applause.)

I believe we can be proud we’re leaving America in a better place today than when we came into office four years ago. 

This country was living through the worst pandemic we’d seen in over 100 years.  Our economy was in a tailspin.  We had just witnessed something we thought we’d never, ever see in America: a violent insurrection on January the 6th.  And so much more. 

We’ve come a long way since then.  We’ve passed historic legislation, often with some bipartisan support — laws that are literally going to change America not just now but for decades and decades to come.  (Applause.)

I know I’ve only been around a few days, a few years.  (Laughter.)  I can’t believe how long it’s been.  (Laughter.)  But I fully believe America is better positioned to lead the world today than any point in my 50 years of public service.  (Applause.) 

If you’ll hold a second, as I say to my colleagues around the world when we meet, “If not America leading the world, who leads the world?”  I mean that literally.  Think about that question.  Who would lead the world if we did not step up?

That’s because of you — and I mean this ser- — sincerely — because of the incredible work you’ve done.  You should be so proud of the work you’ve done.  You should never forget all you’ve done for your country. 

And I’m so proud we can say we’ve done all this with a deep belief in the core values of America: that all of us — all of us are created equal, that everyone should be given a fair shot, that hate should have no safe harbor in America.  (Applause.)

We’ve stuck to our principles, set a high standard for character and integrity in public life.  

And I must say, I follow that standard because I had no choice.  I’m Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter and applause.)  That’s the title I’m most proud of.  Jill is the rock of our family.  She has been one of the — I think, one of the finest first ladies in history, in my view.  (Applause.) 

And those who you know Jill, you know I’m going to catch hell for saying that.  “Joe, don’t do that in public.  Don’t say that.”  (Laughter.) 

Jilly, I love you, kid.  I love you. 

Let me close with this.  It will surprise none of you that I’m going to quote an Irish poet.  (Laughter.)  William Butler Yeats wrote, “Think where man’s glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.”  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

As I look out over such friends, serving as president of the United States has been the honor of my life.  (Applause.)  But while our time in office is coming to an end, our cause endures. 

That’s because of the history of the journey of America.  America, the America of our dreams is calling us to stay engaged, to never give up, to keep going, to keep the faith. 

I know I will, and I know you will. 

We just have to remember who in God’s name we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And there is nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

Please enjoy the dinner.  Thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

(The dinner continues.)

THE FIRST LADY:  Wow.  (Laughs.)  This is so spectacular.  (Applause.)  That incredible performance, the fountain, these views of the house and the Washington Monument, and all of you.

It’s hard to believe that we’re in the final moments of this extraordinary journel — journey together.  (Applause.)  Some of you have worked with us over the past four years.  Some of you have been in our lives for decades.

THE PRESIDENT:  Forty years!  (Laughter.)

THE FIRST LADY:  You’ve seen us through our proudest, mountaintop moments and helped us achieve them.  (Applause.)  And you’ve been with [by] our side through the hard times and everything in between.

We’ve reached higher, moved further, became stronger because we did it together.  (Applause.)

It is the honor of our lives to serve as your First Family, and we couldn’t have done it without you.  (Applause.)  Time and time again, you’ve opened up your homes to us and carried us forward with your kindness.

Tonight, Joe and I have opened our home to celebrate you, the friends who grew into family.  (Applause.)

May we cherish the journey we’ve been on together and treasure the bonds that we will always share.

Now, this celebration is only possible because of our social secretary, Carlos Elizondo — (applause) — as well as Bryan Rafanelli, who put this magnificent tent event together.  (Applause.)  Thank you, Bryan.  I think you’re over here somewhere.  Thank you to your and you — you and your teams. Thank you for creating magic.  (Applause.)

And — wow — to the President’s Own Marine Band and all of our military band members — (applause) — yes — thank you.  Your music doesn’t just fill a space; you create something new, a place within us and among us where we feel more alive and more complete.

As a military — (laughs) — as a military mom, you make me proud.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  You make your commander in chief proud as well.  (Applause.)  And we deeply appreciate you and your families for your service.

So, finally, I want to talk about the person who brought all of us together: Joe.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

Throughout your life in public service, you’ve put people at the center, so it’s never a surprise to see people gather around you.

Four years ago, you set out to restore the soul of the nation.  That was — (applause) — that was never just a sound bite; it was your drumbeat.

Your wisdom and steady hand lifted our country out of a pandemic, set our economy on solid ground, and fortified our hope for what is possible. 

You led with an unshakable belief in the goodness of the American people and guided us on a new and brighter course. 

All the while, you continued to be a brother, an uncle, a friend, a partner, and a father and grandfather whose devotion can be measured by the calls that you fit in between bilateral meetings and security briefings, just when you check — you want to check in with everyone in our family and say, “I love you.”

What I’ve watched you do for more than 40 years is extraordinary.  What you’ve done over the last four years — (applause) — Joe, what you’ve done over the last four years is breathtaking.  (Applause.) 

Here, Joe.  (The first lady hands the president a glass.)

Oh, here.  (Laughs.)  He has a ginger ale.  (Laughs.)

Please join me in raising a glass to your president, my husband and hero, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)

(A toast is given.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Can I say something?

THE FIRST LADY:   Okay.  Wait a minute.  I have something more to say.  (Laughs.)  Wait, drink.

And now please stay and enjoy more of the beautiful music and the stunning views and head out to the dance floor. 

So —

THE PRESIDENT:  I want to say something.

THE FIRST LADY:  — we’re going to have a dance. 

THE PRESIDENT:  I know.  I want to say —

THE FIRST LADY:  Oh, he wants to say something.  Hold on.

PARTICIPANT:  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  Folks — (applause).  No.  No, really, thank you.

The thing that I want to say to so many of you who I’ve come to know well is you’ve not only helped me politically and help our family, but when things have really gone bad — when we lost our son, when we lost — the accident and all, you were there.  You’re always there, reaching out in ways that I — you’ve made me promise, some of you, that I wouldn’t say what you’ve done.  But just incredible things you’ve done — incredible things you’ve done for the — our family.

And they’re the things that really matter to me more than anything else.  It’s not just you’re supporters and you’ve helped us win, but you’re there when things really went bad.  Like a lot of families, I was lucky.  I had strong family around me. 

I think of all the people who’ve lost family members in accidents and war and the like that they ha- — they have nobody.  They just walk alone.  But you were always there with me.

And I — I know some of you have been through really tough times yourselves, and you know what it means.  You know what it means. 

And I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you. 

There’s a — another Irish poet who once said — (laughter) — that history teaches us not to hope on this side of the grave, but then, once in a lifetime, a longed-for tidal wave of justice rises up and hope and history rhyme. 

You’re making hope and history rhyme.  (Applause.)

9:27 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a Gratitude Dinner appeared first on The White House.

On November 27, 2018, by Executive Order 13851, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in Nicaragua.  On October 24, 2022, I issued Executive Order 14088 to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851.

     The situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua’s economy, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on November 27, 2018, must continue in effect beyond November 27, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851 with respect to the situation in Nicaragua.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    November 22, 2024.

The post Press Release: Notice to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua appeared first on The White House.

On November 27, 2018, by Executive Order 13851, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the situation in Nicaragua.  On October 24, 2022, I issued Executive Order 14088 to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851.

     The situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua’s economy, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, the national emergency declared on November 27, 2018, must continue in effect beyond November 27, 2024.  Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851 with respect to the situation in Nicaragua.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    November 22, 2024.

The post Press Release: Notice to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua appeared first on The White House.

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the situation in Nicaragua declared in Executive Order 13851 of November 27, 2018, under which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 14088 of October 24, 2022, is to continue in effect beyond November 27, 2024.

The situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua’s economy, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851 with respect to the situation in Nicaragua.

                              Sincerely,

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Letters to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua appeared first on The White House.

Dear Mr. Speaker:   (Dear Madam President:)

Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date.  In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to the situation in Nicaragua declared in Executive Order 13851 of November 27, 2018, under which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 14088 of October 24, 2022, is to continue in effect beyond November 27, 2024.

The situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, as well as its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua’s economy, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.  For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13851 with respect to the situation in Nicaragua.

                              Sincerely,

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Letters to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Nicaragua appeared first on The White House.

Today, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger hosted a meeting with executives from the telecommunications sector to share intelligence and discuss the People’s Republic of China’s significant cyber espionage campaign targeting the sector. The meeting was an opportunity to hear from telecommunications sector executives on how the U.S. Government can partner with and support the private sector on hardening against sophisticated nation state attacks. Today’s meeting reflects the ongoing efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to engage with executives across critical infrastructure sectors to improve our domestic cybersecurity and bolster our national resilience. 

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The post Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with Executives from the Telecommunications Sector appeared first on The White House.

Today, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger hosted a meeting with executives from the telecommunications sector to share intelligence and discuss the People’s Republic of China’s significant cyber espionage campaign targeting the sector. The meeting was an opportunity to hear from telecommunications sector executives on how the U.S. Government can partner with and support the private sector on hardening against sophisticated nation state attacks. Today’s meeting reflects the ongoing efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to engage with executives across critical infrastructure sectors to improve our domestic cybersecurity and bolster our national resilience. 

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The post Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Meeting with Executives from the Telecommunications Sector appeared first on The White House.

My Dad taught me that family is the beginning, the middle, and the end.  It is everything.  During National Family Week, we celebrate the love shared by millions of American families, and we recommit to uplifting them, so that more families can build their American Dream together.

Since I came into office, I have been determined to give hardworking families a little more breathing room and a fair shot at achieving their dreams.  That work began with building an economy that would strengthen our middle class.  My American Rescue Plan kept millions of families afloat during the pandemic, ensuring they could stay in their homes and put food on their tables.  It also delivered the largest-ever Child Tax Credit, which helped tens of millions of working families with the costs of raising children and cut child poverty nearly in half.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created jobs rebuilding our Nation’s infrastructure — from strengthening our roads, bridges, and ports to removing lead pipes from our homes and expanding access to high-speed internet.  My CHIPS and Science Act is revitalizing American manufacturing, and, throughout my Administration, we have created over 1.6 million manufacturing and construction jobs.  And my Inflation Reduction Act made healthcare more affordable for families, saving millions of them an average of $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  It will also cap the cost of out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare, easing their cost of care.  And through my PACT Act, we are helping veterans exposed to toxic materials get the benefits they and their families deserve.  And today, incomes are up almost $4,000, after adjusting for inflation, ensuring families have the breathing room they deserve.

My Administration has also been working to ensure families have the support they need to thrive while keeping them safe.  I signed the Respect for Marriage Act, protecting the right to marriage for same-sex and interracial couples.  I signed an Executive Order that directed the most comprehensive actions of any administration in history to make high-quality child care and long-term care more accessible and support caregivers.  I took a slate of historic actions to prevent children from being placed into foster care and separated from their families without adequate justification.  And I signed the most comprehensive gun reform bill in nearly three decades to end the scourge of gun violence ripping apart our families and deliver historic funding to address the youth mental health crisis.

During National Family Week, may we hold our loved ones close, both the family that have been there since the beginning and the family we have made along the way.  And may we continue to fight for families — the heart and soul of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 24 through November 30, 2024, as National Family Week.  I invite States, communities, and individuals to join together in observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation’s families.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Family Week, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

My Dad taught me that family is the beginning, the middle, and the end.  It is everything.  During National Family Week, we celebrate the love shared by millions of American families, and we recommit to uplifting them, so that more families can build their American Dream together.

Since I came into office, I have been determined to give hardworking families a little more breathing room and a fair shot at achieving their dreams.  That work began with building an economy that would strengthen our middle class.  My American Rescue Plan kept millions of families afloat during the pandemic, ensuring they could stay in their homes and put food on their tables.  It also delivered the largest-ever Child Tax Credit, which helped tens of millions of working families with the costs of raising children and cut child poverty nearly in half.  My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created jobs rebuilding our Nation’s infrastructure — from strengthening our roads, bridges, and ports to removing lead pipes from our homes and expanding access to high-speed internet.  My CHIPS and Science Act is revitalizing American manufacturing, and, throughout my Administration, we have created over 1.6 million manufacturing and construction jobs.  And my Inflation Reduction Act made healthcare more affordable for families, saving millions of them an average of $800 per year on their health insurance premiums.  It will also cap the cost of out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year for seniors on Medicare, easing their cost of care.  And through my PACT Act, we are helping veterans exposed to toxic materials get the benefits they and their families deserve.  And today, incomes are up almost $4,000, after adjusting for inflation, ensuring families have the breathing room they deserve.

My Administration has also been working to ensure families have the support they need to thrive while keeping them safe.  I signed the Respect for Marriage Act, protecting the right to marriage for same-sex and interracial couples.  I signed an Executive Order that directed the most comprehensive actions of any administration in history to make high-quality child care and long-term care more accessible and support caregivers.  I took a slate of historic actions to prevent children from being placed into foster care and separated from their families without adequate justification.  And I signed the most comprehensive gun reform bill in nearly three decades to end the scourge of gun violence ripping apart our families and deliver historic funding to address the youth mental health crisis.

During National Family Week, may we hold our loved ones close, both the family that have been there since the beginning and the family we have made along the way.  And may we continue to fight for families — the heart and soul of our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 24 through November 30, 2024, as National Family Week.  I invite States, communities, and individuals to join together in observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation’s families.

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

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Family Week, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

President Biden spoke today with President Macron of France on a number of global and bilateral matters. They reviewed developments in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East, to include efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes. They committed to remain in close consultation directly and through their national security teams. 

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The post Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Macron of France appeared first on The White House.

President Biden spoke today with President Macron of France on a number of global and bilateral matters. They reviewed developments in Ukraine as well as in the Middle East, to include efforts to secure a ceasefire deal in Lebanon that will allow residents on both sides of the Blue Line to return safely to their homes. They committed to remain in close consultation directly and through their national security teams. 

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The post Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Macron of France appeared first on The White House.

This week, President Biden announced the U.S. intent for a substantial increase in the U.S. contribution to the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank that supports the poorest and most vulnerable countries.  The United States will pledge $4 billion over three years to the ongoing IDA replenishment, subject to Congressional approval, sustaining the U.S. position as the largest historical donor to IDA and joining other countries that are stepping up to assist IDA recipients with critical, sustainable investments in their development.

Just as President Biden has championed a domestic economic agenda built around investing at home, he is determined to unlock the resources needed for developing countries to similarly invest in their futures.  High debt burdens, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the food insecurity crisis fueled by Russia’s war against Ukraine, have put these critical investments out of reach for too many developing countries.  As a result, many countries are facing difficult choices between paying back creditors and making critical investments in their economy and people—like vaccinating children, building more resilient and sustainable food systems, and addressing the damaging effects of climate change.  At this moment of need, we need to scale up the amount of concessional finance available to these countries, while all other creditors need to step up to keep money flowing as well.

IDA is a key source of grants and highly concessional lending that provides net positive flows and helps to fill the investment gap.  It is the single largest source of concessional finance to the poorest and most vulnerable countries, and a vital provider of financing for countries with heavy debt burdens.  IDA offers support for policy reforms in conjunction with financing, with this replenishment sharpening the focus on boosting resilience by addressing the impacts of climate change, pandemics, and fragility and conflict, while continuing to invest in sustainable infrastructure, quality jobs, inclusion, gender equality, good governance, food security and nutrition, and access to basic services.  A strong IDA builds on the initiative that the Biden-Harris Administration has spearheaded to equip the multilateral development banks to help countries better address global challenges so that they can accelerate progress on reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the U.S. pledge, President Biden is urging existing donors to follow his example by stepping up support and calling on new donors to start contributing.  The leaders of developing countries have been loud and clear in calling for more concessional financing.  IDA represents the most impactful opportunity for the international community to respond to this urgent request.

To complement his support for IDA, President Biden has pursued a bold agenda calling on the international financial institutions, bilateral creditors, and the private sector to step up support for countries with ambitious investment and reform plans that are unable to invest in their own futures due to debt service burdens.  President Biden outlined this agenda in the Nairobi-Washington Vision he launched with President Ruto of Kenya in May.  At the Rio Summit, he pressed the G20 to take action on this plan so that developing countries’ stepped-up investments supported by IDA and other multilateral assistance providers are not undermined by free-riding creditors.  As part of this strategy, the U.S. government is deploying its multilateral and bilateral tools to step up financing for countries with heavy debt burdens, providing a pathway for sustainable growth and development.

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The post FACT SHEET: Delivering for the International Development Association appeared first on The White House.

This week, President Biden announced the U.S. intent for a substantial increase in the U.S. contribution to the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank that supports the poorest and most vulnerable countries.  The United States will pledge $4 billion over three years to the ongoing IDA replenishment, subject to Congressional approval, sustaining the U.S. position as the largest historical donor to IDA and joining other countries that are stepping up to assist IDA recipients with critical, sustainable investments in their development.

Just as President Biden has championed a domestic economic agenda built around investing at home, he is determined to unlock the resources needed for developing countries to similarly invest in their futures.  High debt burdens, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the food insecurity crisis fueled by Russia’s war against Ukraine, have put these critical investments out of reach for too many developing countries.  As a result, many countries are facing difficult choices between paying back creditors and making critical investments in their economy and people—like vaccinating children, building more resilient and sustainable food systems, and addressing the damaging effects of climate change.  At this moment of need, we need to scale up the amount of concessional finance available to these countries, while all other creditors need to step up to keep money flowing as well.

IDA is a key source of grants and highly concessional lending that provides net positive flows and helps to fill the investment gap.  It is the single largest source of concessional finance to the poorest and most vulnerable countries, and a vital provider of financing for countries with heavy debt burdens.  IDA offers support for policy reforms in conjunction with financing, with this replenishment sharpening the focus on boosting resilience by addressing the impacts of climate change, pandemics, and fragility and conflict, while continuing to invest in sustainable infrastructure, quality jobs, inclusion, gender equality, good governance, food security and nutrition, and access to basic services.  A strong IDA builds on the initiative that the Biden-Harris Administration has spearheaded to equip the multilateral development banks to help countries better address global challenges so that they can accelerate progress on reducing poverty and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to the U.S. pledge, President Biden is urging existing donors to follow his example by stepping up support and calling on new donors to start contributing.  The leaders of developing countries have been loud and clear in calling for more concessional financing.  IDA represents the most impactful opportunity for the international community to respond to this urgent request.

To complement his support for IDA, President Biden has pursued a bold agenda calling on the international financial institutions, bilateral creditors, and the private sector to step up support for countries with ambitious investment and reform plans that are unable to invest in their own futures due to debt service burdens.  President Biden outlined this agenda in the Nairobi-Washington Vision he launched with President Ruto of Kenya in May.  At the Rio Summit, he pressed the G20 to take action on this plan so that developing countries’ stepped-up investments supported by IDA and other multilateral assistance providers are not undermined by free-riding creditors.  As part of this strategy, the U.S. government is deploying its multilateral and bilateral tools to step up financing for countries with heavy debt burdens, providing a pathway for sustainable growth and development.

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The post FACT SHEET: Delivering for the International Development Association appeared first on The White House.