[{"feed_id":"fact-sheet-in-nevada-president-biden-to-double-down-on-plan-to-lower-housing-costs-and-increase-housing-supply-for-american-families-95384-20240319","headline":"FACT SHEET: In Nevada, President Biden to Double Down on Plan to Lower Housing Costs and Increase Housing Supply for American Families","description":"
President Biden\u2019s American Rescue Plan has already invested $1 billion in Nevada to deliver affordable housing and housing assistance President Biden is working to lower housing costs and increase the housing supply to address the large shortage of affordable homes inherited from his predecessor. In President Biden\u2019s State of the Union address, he called on…<\/p>\n
The post March 19, 2024 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke this morning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. \u00a0The President and the Prime Minister discussed ongoing hostage negotiations taking place in Qatar.\u00a0 They also discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.\u00a0 The President stressed the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid reaching those in need…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 Readout of President Biden's Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke this morning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The President and the Prime Minister discussed ongoing hostage negotiations taking place in Qatar. They also discussed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The President stressed the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid reaching those in need throughout Gaza, with special emphasis on the north. The President reiterated his deep concerns about the prospect of Israel conducting a major ground operation in Rafah, where more than one million displaced civilians are currently seeking shelter after fleeing fighting in the north. The President affirmed the need to defeat Hamas in Gaza while also protecting the civilian population and facilitating the safe and unhindered delivery of assistance throughout Gaza. The President and Prime Minster agreed to have their teams meet soon in Washington to exchange views and discuss alternative approaches that would target key I congratulate the Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga who filed for a union election with the UAW. As one of the world’s largest automakers, many Volkswagen plants internationally are unionized. As the most pro-union president in American history, I believe American workers, too, should have a voice at work. The decision whether to join a union…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 East Room, The White House \u201cIf you don’t have an idea that materializes and changes a person’s life, then what have you got? \u2026You have talk, research, telephone calls, meetings, but you don’t have a change in the community.\u201d Eunice Kennedy Shriver.\u00a0Maria, you live your mother\u2019s words purely, lovingly, and relentlessly. Thank you for your…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 President Biden will host President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on April 11 at the White House for the first trilateral U.S.-Japan-Philippines leaders\u2019 summit. At the summit, the leaders will advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations, a proud…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 National Security Council Via Teleconference 9:02 A.M. EDT MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, and good morning. Thank you for joining us today. This is Jessica Kosmider with the NSC press team, and I’ll be facilitating today’s call. As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials. Not for your reporting, but for your…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 2:16 P.M. EDT MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, good afternoon, everyone. Happy Monday. Happy Monday. I have two items at the top before I turn it over to our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan. Today, to mark Women\u2019s History Month, President Biden, alongside the First Lady and the Vice President and the Second Gentleman, signed a historic…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 On Monday, March 18, 2024, the President signed into law: S. 206, the “Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of life Act” or the “END FENTANYL Act,” which requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review and update manuals and policies related to inspections at ports of entry…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 \u00a0 \u00a0 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy. My Administration is committed to getting women the answers they need about their health. For far too long, scientific and biomedical research excluded…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 President Biden\u2019s Cancer Moonshot is accelerating progress to prevent, detect, and treat cancer while boosting support for families facing cancer, including by undertaking an aggressive effort to protect families and workers from hazardous chemicals like known carcinogens. After more than three decades of inadequate protections, today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a historic…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 Vice President Harris will welcome President Bernardo Ar\u00e9valo of Guatemala to the White House\u00a0on March 25.\u00a0The visit underscores the United States\u2019 commitment to supporting good governance and democracy in Guatemala, following President Ar\u00e9valo\u2019s inauguration in January 2024. The Vice President\u2019s meeting with President Ar\u00e9valo will strengthen the U.S.-Guatemala bilateral relationship and advance joint ongoing efforts…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 At the third Summit for Democracy on March 18, 2024, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and Republic of Korea joined this first-of-its-kind international commitment to work collectively to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware. This joint statement, which was originally announced at the second Summit for Democracy on March 30, 2023, has been…<\/p>\n The post In his State of the Union address, President Biden laid out his vision for transforming women\u2019s health research and improving women\u2019s lives all across America. The President called on Congress to make a bold, transformative investment of $12 billion in new funding for women\u2019s health research. This investment would be used to create a Fund…<\/p>\n The post March 18, 2024 East Room 5:25 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello. AUDIENCE: Hello. THE PRESIDENT: We\u2019ve got a great guest with us today. (Applause.) We — we ought to change the rules in the United States: When St. Patrick\u2019s Day falls on a Sunday, the next day is a holiday. (Laughter.) On behalf of the Finnegans…<\/p>\n The post March 17, 2024 THE PRESIDENT:\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 (Applause.)\u00a0 Well, happy St. Patrick\u2019s Day.\u00a0Please — (applause).\u00a0 Well, thank you, thank you, thank you.\u00a0 Thank you for making me look so good in front of my daughter.\u00a0 (Laughter.)\u00a0 Please sit.\u00a0\u00a0Well, good morning everyone.\u00a0\u00a0AUDIENCE:\u00a0 Good morning.\u00a0THE PRESIDENT:\u00a0 Taoiseach, I\u2019m so glad to get to spend the day together again.\u00a0Your Eminence, thank…<\/p>\n
FACT SHEET: In Nevada, President Biden to Double Down on Plan to Lower Housing Costs and Increase Housing Supply for American Families
President Biden's American Rescue Plan has already invested $1 billion in Nevada to deliver affordable housing and housing assistance
President Biden is working to lower housing costs and increase the housing supply to address the large shortage of affordable homes inherited from his predecessor. In President Biden's State of the Union address, he called on Congress to support the construction and rehabilitation of two million additional homes, lower costs for renters, and help first time homebuyers and families seeking to trade up or downsize.
Today in Las Vegas, Nevada, President Biden will detail his agenda to bring down the cost of housing. He will discuss the investments the Biden-Harris Administration has already made through the American Rescue Plan . The ARP provided $1 billion in Nevada to help boost affordable housing, lower housing costs, and keep homeowners and renters in their homes. This includes $700 million invested in affordable housing supply that includes major investments in senior housing. As a result, Clark County has several major 200-unit affordable housing developments coming, and about 1,000 new senior apartments on the way thanks to the ARP.
The President's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget includes a historic $258 billion in housing investments to give working families a fair shot, including an historic expansion in rental assistance for low-income families, while reducing the deficit by asking corporations and the wealthy to pay their fair share. These new proposals build on his Housing Supply Action Plan , major investments provided by the ARP , and actions the Biden-Harris Administration has already taken to increase the housing supply and lower housing costs for American families, including reducing mortgage insurance premiums by $800 per year for hundreds of thousands of homeowners, expanding rental assistance to more than 100,000 additional households, and building
tens of thousands of affordable housing units. These actions have contributed to a record high of nearly 1.7 million homes currently under construction nationwide.
President Biden's Plan to Lower Housing Costs and Build Two Million Homes
Reduce Barriers to Homeownership
For many Americans, owning a home is the cornerstone of raising a family, building wealth, and joining the middle class. Too many working families feel locked out of homeownership and are unable to compete with investors for a limited supply of affordable for-sale homes. President Biden is calling on Congress to enact legislation to enable more Americans to purchase a home, including:
Mortgage Relief Credit. President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a mortgage relief credit that would provide middle-class first-time homebuyers with a tax credit of $10,000 over two years. This is the equivalent of reducing the mortgage rate by more than 1.5 percentage points for two years on the median home, saving families $400 per month on their mortgage payments. It will help more than 3.5 million middle-class families purchase their first home over the next two years. The President's plan also calls for a new credit to unlock inventory of affordable starter homes, while helping middle-class families move up the housing ladder and empty nesters right size. The President is calling on Congress to provide a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to middle-class families who sell their starter home, defined as homes below the area median home price in the county, to another owner-occupant. This proposal is estimated to help nearly 3 million families.
Down Payment Assistance for First-Generation Homeowners. The President continues to call on Congress to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers whose families haven't benefited from the generational wealth building associated with homeownership. This proposal would help about 400,000 families purchase their first home.
Lowering Closing Costs. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has approved policies and pilots to reduce closing costs for homeowners, including a pilot to waive the requirement for lender's title insurance on certain refinances. This would save thousands of homeowners up to $1500, and an average of $750, and the lower upfront fees will unlock substantial savings for homeowners as mortgage rates continue to fall and more homeowners are able to refinance. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will also pursue rulemaking and guidance to address anticompetitive closing costs imposed by lenders on homebuyers and homeowners. These charges--which benefit the lender but not the borrower--can add thousands to the upfront costs of a mortgage.
Promoting Competition in the Housing Market. In his State of the Union Address, the President discussed the importance of boosting competition and lowering housing costs, and the Department of Justice has made those goals a priority. Last week's settlement reached by the National Association of Realtors is an important step toward boosting competition in the housing market. It could save as much as $10,000 on the median home sale. Now, the Administration is calling on realtors and lenders to offer more choices and lower costs, while promoting access to homeownership for first-time, low-income, and low-wealth homebuyers.
Lowering Costs by Building and Preserving 2 Million Homes
America needs to build more housing in order to lower rental costs and increase access to homeownership. That's why the President is calling on Congress to pass legislation to build and renovate more than 2 million homes , which would close the housing supply gap and lower housing costs for renters and homeowners.
Tax Credits to Build More Housing. President Biden is calling for an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to build or preserve 1.2 million more affordable rental units. Renters living in these properties save hundreds of dollars each month on their rent compared with renters with similar incomes who rent in the unsubsidized market. The President is also calling for a new Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit, the first tax provision to build or renovate affordable homes for homeownership, which would lead to the construction or preservation of over 400,000 starter homes in communities throughout the country.
Innovation Fund for Housing Expansion. The President is unveiling a new $20 billion competitive grant fund as part of his proposed Budget to support communities across the country to build more housing and lower rents and homebuying costs. This fund would support the construction of affordable multifamily rental units; incentivize local actions to remove unnecessary barriers to housing development; pilot innovative models to increase the production of affordable and workforce rental housing; and spur the construction of new starter homes for middle-class families. According to independent analysis, this will create hundreds of thousands of units which will help lower rents and housing costs.
Increasing Banks' Contributions Towards Building Affordable Housing. The President is proposing that each Federal Home Loan Bank double its annual contribution to the Affordable Housing Program \u2013 from 10 percent of prior year net income to 20 percent \u2013 which will raise an additional $3.79 billion for affordable housing over the next decade and assist nearly 380,000 households. These funds would support the financing, acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental and for-sale homes, as well as help low- and moderate-income homeowners to purchase or rehabilitate homes.
Bolstering Efforts to Prevent and End Homelessness. The President is calling for $8 billion for a new grant program to rapidly expand temporary and permanent housing strategies for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Funds from this proposal would support non-congregate emergency shelter solutions, interim housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and rental housing for extremely low-income households experiencing housing instability or homelessness.
Lowering Costs for Renters
President Biden is also taking actions to lower costs and promote housing stability for renters. The White House Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights lays out the key principles of a fair rental market and has already catalyzed new federal actions to make those principles a reality. Today, President Biden is announcing new steps to crack down on unfair practices that are driving up rental costs:
Fighting Rent Gouging by Corporate Landlords. The Biden-Harris Administration is taking action to combat egregious rent increases and other unfair practices that are driving up rents. Corporate landlords and private equity firms across the country have been accused of illegal information sharing, price fixing, and inflating rents. As part of the President's Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing, he is calling on federal agencies to root out and stop illegal corporate behavior that hikes prices on American families through anti-competitive, unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent business practices. In a recent filing , the Department of Justice made clear its position that inflated rents caused by algorithmic use of sensitive nonpublic pricing and supply information violate antitrust laws. Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission and DOJ filed a joint brief
further arguing that it is illegal for landlords and property managers to collude on pricing to inflate rents \u2013 including when using algorithms to do so.
Cracking Down on Rental Junk Fees. Millions of families incur burdensome costs in the rental application process and throughout the duration of their lease, from \"convenience fees\" simply to pay rent online to fees charged to sort mail or collect trash. These fees are often more than the actual cost of providing the service, or are added onto rents to cover services that renters assume are included--or that they don't even want. Last fall, the FTC proposed a rule that if finalized as proposed would ban misleading and hidden fees across the economy, including in housing rental agreements. HUD has released a summary of banned non-rent fees within their rental assistance programs. These actions build on voluntary commitments
the President announced last summer from major rental housing platforms to provide customers with the total, upfront cost on rental properties on their platform.
Expanding Housing Choice Vouchers. Over the last three years, the Administration has secured rental assistance for more than 100,000 additional households. The President is calling on Congress to further expand rental assistance to more than half of a million households, including by providing a voucher guarantee for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care \u2013 the first such voucher guarantees in history. Receiving a voucher would save these households hundreds of dollars in rent each month.
The ARP Provides $1 Billion to Boost Housing Supply and Provide Housing Help in Nevada:
Nevada is a national leader in investing ARP funding in affordable housing: In Nevada, the ARP has provided over $1 billion for housing investments, including helping to fund the construction of thousands of new units in Clark County, making them one of the national leaders in using this money to expand supply of affordable housing.
Investing in Down-Payment Assistance to help Nevadans buy homes: The state also used ARP funds to provide 500 Nevadans with $15,000 in down-payment assistance to purchase a home.
Nevada State and local governments have used $700 million through the ARP to support major affordable housing projects.
About 1,000 ARP-supported Senior Affordable Apartments on the way in Clark County today, including, for example:
+ 195 Units of affordable housing at Pebble and Eastern Senior Apartments in Clark County currently under construction.
+ 125 Units of affordable housing at Nevada HAND's Buffalo and Cactus Senior Apartments in Clark County currently under construction.
The ARP Has Invested Billions of Dollars to Support Affordable Housing:
Through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, over 940 state and local governments have invested more than $18 billion for housing assistance, homelessness, and affordable housing initiatives, including over $6 billion to build and preserve housing.
State and local governments are using an additional $5 billion in funding through the ARP's HOME Investment Partnerships Program to build or rehabilitate at least 20,000 units of affordable housing and support an additional 23,000 households with rental assistance, non-congregate shelter, or supportive services.
New data released today shows that since the ARP's passage, states, Tribal governments, and territories have distributed $6.6 billion HAF award funds to over 500,000 homeowners for past due mortgage payments, utility expenses, and property taxes, as well as other housing related expenses. As a result of this program and the strong economic recovery, foreclosure starts are well below pre-pandemic levels.","publish":"2024-03-19 04:59:53","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/30d459e6601c5e988821554e539dda00?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/30d459e6601c5e988821554e539dda00?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"62189d7f7a3bc5fa0790e2a66adadd04","headline":"Email: Daily Guidance for Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff for Tuesday, March ...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
DAILY GUIDANCE FOR SECOND GENTLEMAN DOUGLAS EMHOFF FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
At 11:15 AM CT, the Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event for Biden for President. This event at The NET Work Spot in Omaha, NE will be open to pre-credentialed media. Press interested in attending this event should contact Seth Schuster, sschuster@joebiden.com .
At 12:00 PM CT, the Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event for Biden for President. This event at the Nebraska Democratic Party Office in Omaha, NE will be open to pre-credentialed media. Press interested in attending this event should contact Seth Schuster, sschuster@joebiden.com .","publish":"2024-03-18 22:13:03","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/62189d7f7a3bc5fa0790e2a66adadd04?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/62189d7f7a3bc5fa0790e2a66adadd04?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"readout-of-president-bidens-call-with-prime-minister-netanyahu-of-israel-13-95387-20240318","headline":"Readout of President Biden\u2019s Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel","description":"
elements of Hamas and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground operation in Rafah.","publish":"2024-03-18 21:19:45","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Readout","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/cb346c004fee055a7e9fe95825cd038f?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/cb346c004fee055a7e9fe95825cd038f?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"8f3fa2109623727de832abb843f63001","headline":"Email: Statement From President Joe Biden on the Volkswagen Plant in Tennesse...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
Statement from President Joe Biden on the Volkswagen Plant in Tennessee
I congratulate the Volkswagen autoworkers in Chattanooga who filed for a union election with the UAW. As one of the world's largest automakers, many Volkswagen plants internationally are unionized. As the most pro-union president in American history, I believe American workers, too, should have a voice at work. The decision whether to join a union belongs to the workers.","publish":"2024-03-18 21:02:46","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/8f3fa2109623727de832abb843f63001?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/8f3fa2109623727de832abb843f63001?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-volkswagen-plant-in-tennessee-95389-20240318","headline":"Statement from President Joe Biden on the Volkswagen Plant in Tennessee","description":"
UPDATED Advisory: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to Host STEM Education Event
On Wednesday, March 20, as part of Women's History Month, the Second Gentleman will visit a local school to meet with students and discuss the importance of expanding opportunities for STEM education. While there, Mr. Emhoff will also participate in a science experiment and uplift the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to gender equity. Lieutenant General DeAnna M. Burt of the United States Space Force will also attend. Please RSVP HERE by Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 PM ET if you are interested in covering this event. Additional details to follow.","publish":"2024-03-18 20:43:10","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/ad53e655064066d1caafd7e738fa2a4d?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/ad53e655064066d1caafd7e738fa2a4d?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"259d6d7a170b28ffc43aad14711f3630","headline":"Email: Daily Guidance for the Vice President for Tuesday, March 19, 2024","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
The Vice President will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press.","publish":"2024-03-18 20:41:42","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/259d6d7a170b28ffc43aad14711f3630?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/259d6d7a170b28ffc43aad14711f3630?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"77240ed69c5a6e20879ee9b77f4ee0dd","headline":"Email: ADVISORY: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to Travel to Nebraska","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
Advisory: Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff to Host STEM Education Event
On Wednesday, March 20, as part of Women's History Month, the Second Gentleman will visit a local school to meet with students and discuss the importance of expanding opportunities for STEM education. While there, Mr. Emhoff will also participate in a science experiment and uplift the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to gender equity. Lieutenant General DeAnna M. Burt of the United States Space Force will also attend. Please RSVP HERE by Tuesday, March 19 at 5:00 PM ET if you are interested in covering this event. Additional details to follow.","publish":"2024-03-18 20:37:30","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/77240ed69c5a6e20879ee9b77f4ee0dd?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/77240ed69c5a6e20879ee9b77f4ee0dd?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"remarks-as-prepared-for-delivery-by-first-lady-jill-biden-at-the-signing-of-an-executive-order-on-advancing-womens-health-research-95381-20240318","headline":"Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the Signing of an Executive Order on Advancing Women\u2019s Health Research","description":"
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the Signing of an Executive Order on Advancing Women's Health Research
East Room, The White House
\"If you don't have an idea that materializes and changes a person's life, then what have you got? \u2026You have talk, research, telephone calls, meetings, but you don't have a change in the community.\" Eunice Kennedy Shriver.
Maria, you live your mother's words purely, lovingly, and relentlessly. Thank you for your life's work and for being an amazing partner on this effort.
Good morning.
In the early 1970 s, researchers in the U.S. studied estrogen's effect in preventing heart attacks.
You see, it was observed that women who had gone through menopause \u2013 therefore, who had lower levels of estrogen \u2013 were more likely to have heart attacks.
So, a study was conducted asking whether estrogen prevents heart attacks.
8,341 people were selected for that study.
All of them men!
This is how things were done.
Even though women are half the population, women's health research has been underfunded and understudied.
Too many of our medications, treatments, and medical school textbooks are based on men and their bodies.
But that ends today.
Finally! Women will get the health care we deserve.
In just a few moments, my husband, President Biden, will sign the most comprehensive executive order in history to advance research on women's health.
On behalf of all of us, thank you, Joe.
If you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell.
You know her.
She's the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but doesn't know why, and can't find treatment options that work for her.
She's the woman going through menopause, who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.
She's the woman whose heart attack isn't recognized because her symptoms don't look like a man's, even as heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.
So many of us \u2013 and so many of the women in our lives \u2013 suffer from health conditions for which we simply don't have answers or solutions.
Think about it: you might have the best doctors, or the best insurance.
But when it comes to Alzheimer's, Endometriosis, IBS, or disruptive menopausal symptoms, is that enough?
No!
We simply don't know enough about how to prevent, detect, and treat the conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently.
And that's the result of a choice: Because, for decades, \"business as usual\" has meant understudying and underfunding research on women's health.
Your President believes this is unacceptable.
When Maria brought this issue to me and Joe less than a year ago, he knew he could make a real difference.
That's what Joe does best: he takes action \u2013 and quickly.
Joe is the first President to make investing in women's health research \u2013 investing in your health, in our health \u2013 a top White House priority.
It's no secret that Joe's accomplishments on health care are historic.
You've heard about his successes: reducing health care premiums and prescription drug costs, protecting millions of patients from surprise medical bills and junk fees, and getting more Americans covered by insurance.
But it's important you know that what Joe is doing through his White House Initiative on Women's Health Research is different and without precedent.
He is investing resources into actually understanding the scientific basis of women's health conditions \u2013 which will allow researchers, doctors, and industry to find new ways to prevent, detect, and treat women's health.
Thanks to Joe's experience and vision, he's approaching this problem differently, too.
As President, Joe created ARPA-H, a new health care agency that pursues breakthroughs in health research at lightning speed.
Just a few weeks ago, ARPA-H launched its first-ever \"sprint\" for women's health, putting $100 million into women's health research and development.
During his State of the Union address earlier this month, Joe called on Congress to invest $12 billion into women's health research, giving researchers the funding needed to make the kinds of discoveries that will change everything.
And he's calling on entrepreneurs, investors, private industry, and philanthropists to do their part \u2013 because it's going to take all of us.
Joe is fighting to finally deliver the answers that millions of women need about their health.
This Executive Order wouldn't be possible without so many women who have been at this work for decades. Many of them doctors who are here with us today \u2013 including Susan, Valerie, Carolyn, and so many others.
So today, as we celebrate Women's History Month, let's write a new future for ourselves, and for the girls and women who will follow.
A future where women leave doctors' offices with more answers than questions.
A future where no woman or girl has to hear that, \"it's all in your head,\" or \"it's just stress.\"
A future where women aren't just an after-thought in a world designed for men, but the first thought in a world designed for everyone.
A future where women don't just survive, they lead long, healthy, and happy lives.
Today is only the beginning.
Thank you.
And now it is my honor to introduce a person who is helping make this future a reality: my husband, the President of the United States, Joe Biden.","publish":"2024-03-18 20:10:28","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/b6aafe114c6d66f79ecfa37b7c7ca532?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/b6aafe114c6d66f79ecfa37b7c7ca532?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"5b81c92cf634ba7d5a0e1a89e1999a95","headline":"Email: Statement From Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Upcoming Tril...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Upcoming Trilateral Leaders' Summit of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States
President Biden will host President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan on April 11 at the White House for the first trilateral U.S.-Japan-Philippines leaders' summit. At the summit, the leaders will advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations, a proud and resolute commitment to shared democratic values, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. The leaders will also reaffirm the ironclad alliances between the United States and the Philippines, and the United States and Japan. At the summit, the three leaders will discuss trilateral cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth and emerging technologies, advance clean energy supply chains and climate cooperation, and further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.
In addition, President Biden will host President Marcos for a meeting at the White House on April 11 to review the historic momentum in U.S.-Philippines relations and discuss efforts to expand cooperation on economic security, clean energy, people-to-people ties, and human rights and democracy. The President will reaffirm the ironclad alliance between the United States and the Philippines and emphasize U.S. commitment to upholding international law and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.","publish":"2024-03-18 19:44:34","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/5b81c92cf634ba7d5a0e1a89e1999a95?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/5b81c92cf634ba7d5a0e1a89e1999a95?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"statement-from-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-the-upcoming-trilateral-leaders-summit-of-the-philippines-japan-and-the-united-states-95378-20240318","headline":"Statement from Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Upcoming Trilateral Leaders\u2019 Summit of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States","description":"
ICYMI: Vice President Harris Opens NAACP Image Awards by Urging People Across America to Register to Vote
\"Go to Vote.gov to register to vote,\" said the Vice President in a surprise video with Queen Latifah that aired during the ceremony's opening segment on Saturday night
WASHINGTON \u2013 Vice President Kamala Harris opened the 55 th NAACP Image Awards on Saturday night by urging people across the nation to register to vote or check their registration status. During a surprise video that kicked off the ceremony, the Vice President asked Queen Latifah to remind viewers to go to Vote.Gov.
\"Remind people about how important this election is coming up in November,\" Vice President Harris urged Queen Latifah. \"If you can ask people to go to Vote.gov to register to vote or to check their registration status, that would mean a lot.\"
The Vice President has consistently led efforts to protect voting rights and advance voter registration. Last month, she convened her second meeting of 2024 with leaders who are on the frontlines of protecting voting rights and registering communities to vote. During the roundtable conversation, she announced new steps that the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to ensure Americans have the information they need to vote, promote voter participation for students, protect election workers, and fight voter suppression laws. In January, she was in Atlanta, GA for a roundtable conversation
on voting rights where she called out extremists across the country for their full-on assault on the freedom to vote at a time when more than 300 anti-voter bills were introduced last year.
Since being sworn in, Vice President Harris has been working with President Biden to ensure that the voting rights of Americans are protected and advanced. In addition to her work on pushing for federal legislation, the Vice President has consistently convened a broad coalition of voting rights champions to strategize about what we must do to ensure that Americans have access to the ballot. She has consistently brought together leaders from the Black community, Latino community, Asian American and Pacific Islander community, Native American and Tribal community, voters with disabilities, youth, poll workers and election officials, and democracy advocacy groups.
In addition to these convenings, Vice President Harris has continued her leadership on voting rights and in the fight for fundamental freedoms:
In January, the Vice President traveled to South Carolina to mark the third anniversary of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol by delivering the keynote speech at the 7 th Episcopal District AME Church Women's Missionary Society's annual retreat. Her address focused on the full-on attack on hard fought, hard-won freedoms.
In the fall, the Vice Presidentlaunched a nationwide \"Fight for Our Freedoms\" college tour in which she energized more than 15,000 students and young leaders. The Vice President took questions from students on a range of issues \u2013 including voting rights \u2013 and called on students to register to vote, organize, and stay involved in the fight for our freedoms.
Last year, the Vice President also held a Summer of Action in which she traveled to 17 states to hold a series of events. During these events, the Vice President spoke about voting rights and how the Administration is fighting back against attacks on fundamental freedoms. For example, she visited the Gila River Indian Community where she spoke about the need for the Native American Voting Rights Act.
In July, the Vice President convened a roundtable discussion on the Americans with Disabilities Act that focused on voting rights and built on an earlier convening about making voting more accessible for those with disabilities.
In March of 2022, the Vice President delivered remarks commemorating the President's Executive Order on Promoting Access to Voting.
The Vice President has regularly held meetings about voting rights with state legislators and members of Congress across the country. This includes traveling to Tennessee after Rep. Jones and Rep. Pearson were expelled, speaking with Texas legislators who were working to block voter suppression efforts, and holding a listening session in Michigan .
# # #","publish":"2024-03-18 19:20:59","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/976c0129190405ff8ee403a2e9ea35c0?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/976c0129190405ff8ee403a2e9ea35c0?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"4e4fc75c482690cd5fca3441c47c3362","headline":"Email: Background Press Call on U.S. Efforts to Counter Misuse of Commercial ...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
BACKGROUND PRESS CALL
BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
ON U.S. EFFORTS TO COUNTER MISUSE OF COMMERCIAL SPYWARE
AND THE THIRD SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY
Via Teleconference
9:02 A.M. EDT
MODERATOR: Hello, everyone, and good morning. Thank you for joining us today. This is Jessica Kosmider with the NSC press team, and I'll be facilitating today's call.
As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials.
Not for your reporting, but for your information, today on the line we have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official].
We'll try to get to as many questions as we can in the time that we have available. Please keep your phones on mute unless you're called on for a question.
With that, I'll turn it over to senior administration official number one for any opening comments.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hey, everybody. Thanks for taking the time. We're joining extremely jetlagged here in South Korea.
But we just concluded a successful first day of the Summit for Democracy that South Korea is hosting this year. And an important focus for the United States and for many of the countries present was countering the misuse of commercial spyware.
So we wanted to just bring to your attention a few developments and a few events that we had here that I think are a powerful reflection of the shifts happening in this domain.
The first is that we announced the addition of six new countries to the joint diplomatic statement that we first unveiled a year ago at the second Summit for Democracy. This joint statement, which is the first of its kind, outlines a shared vision of the threat posed by the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware, and outlines both individual and collective actions that governments are prepared to take.
And at the summit, in remarks that Secretary of State Antony Blinken provided, he announced that six new governments -- Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Poland -- have also joined the joint statement, which now means that the coalition has grown to 17 likeminded governments that are focused on countering the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware.
The Secretary of State also held a photo with representatives from the joint statement countries, including the new countries. And the United States also hosted a signature side event at the conference, the only one today during the ministerial portion of the Summit for Democracy, where we held a panel with four representatives from different parts of -- there's essentially four different stakeholders in this area, including a journalist who was a target of commercial spyware -- his name is Ricardo Avelar from El Salvador; a reporter from Lebanon, Alia Ibrahim, who was part of the founding group of reporters around the Pegasus files from 2021; representative from the investor community, Jamil Jaffer, from Paladin Capital Group. After, they and several other investors outlined voluntary principles and commitments around the responsible use of trusted capital. And we also had Shane Huntley, the head of Google's Threat Analysis Group.
And they all outlined work happening in their respective domains that are all converging now, a year since the last Summit for Democracy, where all of these different stakeholder groups are all rowing in the same direction in both recognizing the risks and the threats posed by the misuse of commercial spyware, but also recommending concrete actions that are aligning between all of these communities.
We also had, in a very powerful set of remarks, the Polish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs speak at the end of the event, explaining why Poland, since they are wrestling with the fallout of commercial spyware use within their own country, are signing on to the joint statement. And it was both moving and powerful to see the Deputy Foreign Minister outline the reasons why Poland is both committed to the principles outlined in the joint statement, but also noted that he heard echoes of what his country has gone through in what some of the panelists outlined during the preceding panel.
And finally, what we would also emphasize, as we thought today was also a powerful reflection of concrete action that the United States has taken, including recent steps, like a visa ban policy that the Secretary of State announced a few weeks ago and U.S. financial sanctions that the U.S. Treasury Department imposed on a number of commercial spyware vendors and two individuals -- demonstrate that there's growing momentum in this space but also that there's more room for collective action. And this will be a focus of ours moving forward.
So I'll pause there.
MODERATOR: Thank you. For anyone who would like to ask any questions, please raise your hand and I will start calling on folks in quick order here.
First up, we'll go with Chris Bing. I am going to -- you should be able to unmute yourself here.
Q Thanks for the update. And good luck on your trip to South Korea.
Yeah, I just wanted to ask, I guess, a few questions. First, what is the feedback that you've been receiving from other Western nations in terms of some sort of agreed-upon framework when it comes to exportation of spyware? Are countries eager to put something in paper? In the past, it's been hard to get to a combined agreement or even framework due to how these tools are used for law enforcement purposes as well.
And then the second question I wanted to ask you was: To what degree is the NSC and the administration looking at controls or the issue of the exportation of exploit code by American developers overseas to some of these companies? This is a component of the ecosystem that isn't talked about very much but there is still sale of exploits and zero days from American researchers abroad. Thank you.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, Chris. So, first, I would note that, you know, the joint statement outlines a series of steps that governments that sign on should be looking to take both individually, including with regard to export controls, as well as collectively.
You may have seen that among the countries that have signed on, Ireland also joined. And Ireland also put out a statement today, in case you haven't seen, explaining their commitment to adhering to this. And this was done in recognition of the fact that a number of spyware vendors have sought to use Ireland as a place -- essentially as a financial pass-through for some of their activities. And you may have seen that the Treasury Department actually placed two entities that were domiciled in Ireland -- placed financial sanctions on them just a couple of weeks ago.
So I think what we're trying to do is very deliberately build out a group of likeminded countries, including some in Western Europe but also beyond that. So, you know, I think notable that we have Japan and the Republic of Korea that have also joined the statement. And this is going to allow us to actually begin those conversations and to grow the number of countries.
We're actually going to be convening all the joint statement countries tomorrow, during the second day of the summit. This will be the first in-person convening where we're going to be talking exactly about these steps that we can take and the lessons learned to see if we can galvanize more collective action.
On the second issue regarding the exploit market, what I will say is that the United States actually joined and signed on to something called the Pall Mall Process, if you're familiar with it, that the UK and France initiated, which is a recognition that there are a broader set of issues that we also want to begin looking at addressing.
One thing, though, that we've been very clear about is we want to make sure that we are able to take concrete and impactful measures. And we have been able to do so with regard to the commercial spyware vendors themselves, but we are looking at what impactful actions we might be able to take in other domains, but to do it in a collective fashion, which is why we are having those conversations with some of our partners through this Pall Mall Process.
MODERATOR: Thanks, Chris. Again, if anyone would like to ask any questions, please raise your hand and I'll be able to unmute you. Thanks.
All right, if we don't have any additional questions -- oh, Chris Bing from Reuters. If you'd like to do a follow-up, that's --
Q Yes, that'd be great. I'm happy to keep it going.
Two things that are interrelated. One, is there any representation -- I haven't seen the full list of representative countries, but is there any representation from the Gulf, from Israel or India? The first question.
And the second is: Have you had a chance to speak with some of the large vendors, specifically Google and Apple, while working on policy? It's our understanding that Apple is looking at changing how it does its threat notifications, so to victims who have been targeted with spyware in the aftermath of an angry response that they received from the Indian government. And we could see changes to that notification process as soon as this week. And so I wanted to get your take on that if you're tracking at all.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sorry, can you clarify? So what are the changes that you're noting?
Q Yeah. So, in particular, the Apple threat notification process. I'm sure you're familiar with it. Typically, the message that one would receive after they've been targeted and Apple was aware, it would say that you had been a target of state-sponsored hacking. That -- there will be a change in edit, which cuts out \"state-sponsored,\" in response, it is our understanding, to the anger that Apple faced by the Indian government following their last round of notifications.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, so on that note, I can't speak, obviously, to what Apple may or may not be doing. What I can say is that, you know, we had a representative from Google on our panel who spoke very powerfully about the effort by his company and others in this space to identify and expose commercial spyware misuse. And in particular, he cited work done -- published in our recent report you would likely have seen by the threat analysis group at Google.
And this was a common theme, essentially, that, you know, dogged reporting, civil society work, and tech companies are all committed and working to identify and expose commercial spyware misuse, which I think is going to be a feature moving forward. We highlighted, for example, the fact that leading philanthropies are donating -- have identified money for civil society organizations to continue their work, including donations in part provided by Apple. So you may have seen the Ford Foundation announce a $4 million donation a couple of weeks ago. So that was something that was also highlighted.
And, you know, the notifications provided by Apple and others are vital, and they have informed a lot of our work and work by groups around the world. But I obviously can't speak to any changes that may or may not be happening.
Your first question again, if you don't mind?
Q Yeah, not a problem. I have not seen the full roster of countries that are engaged in the Democracy Summit or in some of these spyware conversations recently, and I asked if there had been representation from Gulf countries, India or Israel.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, so both India and Israel did have representatives at the summit.
Q Okay. Great. Thank you.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sorry, in the ongoing summit. Yeah.
MODERATOR: All right. Next up, we're going to go to Lorenzo from TechCrunch. You should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi, everyone. Thank you for doing this. You briefly mentioned that Paladin Group and other investor groups are involved in this process. Can you expand a little bit about that? Like, what are they committing to?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Sure. And obviously, I would point you to Paladin. And I think our press team might be able to connect you with their representative, Jamil Jaffer.
But Paladin and several others -- investors -- came to the White House a couple of weeks ago and outlined for us voluntary principles and commitments regarding trusted capital and the investment of trusted capital in a variety of technology domains that include -- and a big feature of the conversation with them was on commercial spyware but also AI, cybersecurity.
So Mr. Jaffer was on the panel as well. And for us, it was an important first step in having an investor outline both the recognition that investments should not be going towards companies that are undertaking or selling products and selling to clients that could undermine free and fair societies, but also a recognition that the U.S. government is not prepared to do business with companies, through our executive order, that are engaged in selling products that could pose a counterintelligence threat on the one hand, but also can enable human rights abuses around the world and threaten the privacy of Americans.
So they have put out these voluntary principles that we can point you to.
MODERATOR: Thank you. Next up, we'll go to Rishi from CNN. Rishi, you should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi. I'm actually with Foreign Policy Magazine. I don't know --
MODERATOR: Oh, I'm so sorry, Rishi. My bad.
Q No, no, that's fine. I used to work at CNN, so maybe there was some old -- something that came in somewhere.
But anyway, thanks for taking my question. My question is: I believe you said 17 countries have signed on between, like, the 11 last year and then 6 more this year. What is your sense -- what reasons have, sort of, countries given for joining this?
And can you talk a little bit more about the countries that haven't joined and what the administration -- whether the administration is doing anything to sort of pressure or convince other democracies in particular to sign on to these agreements?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks for your question. So we've actually taken a very deliberate approach to engaging likeminded partners and gradually growing the number of countries that are committed to the commitments in the joint statement. And the reason is that we want to ensure the integrity of this joint statement that it is a vehicle for countries to act, both domestically and collectively, to share information.
And we're also very conscious that we don't want it to be, essentially, a statement that can serve to whitewash reputations by countries that may be either misusing the tools themselves or serve as hosts for vendors that enable misuse and human rights abuses.
So that's why we had initiated deliberate engagements prior to the last Summit for Democracy that ultimately led us to join with 10 others for a total of 11 countries. And we announced it during the second Summit for Democracy. And similarly, since then, we started having careful conversations with a number of countries that ultimately led us and led these six -- so, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Poland -- to join. And each have different reasons for doing so.
I think the Republic of Ireland -- sorry, for Ireland, I would point you to what they put on their website. They posted today, actually, a statement explaining their commitment.
Poland: They have been very clear that in light of the challenges they have faced within their own country, this reinforced their desire to be part of a coalition looking to counter the misuse because they have seen the effects -- kind of the corrosive effects within their own society and their own political system of the misuse of spyware.
And in that, I would -- you know, I'd obviously point you to the other countries, but I think there is what is an increasing shared understanding that the unregulated spread of these really sophisticated tools can have corrosive effects domestically but also can create longer-term problems if they're not regulated within particular countries.
So I think as a result, we have this kind of shared understanding that we are now growing over time. And it is quite remarkable: If you look back two years ago, there was nothing of the sort. You know, over the past two years, we have built a coalition that, again, is very careful, very deliberate, and I think is reaffirmation that -- sorry, an affirmation that we are building momentum in this space.
Q Thanks. Just a real quick follow-up.
MODERATOR: Last question we'll have Jonathan from The Record. Jonathan, you should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi. CNN reported last night that there's a new batch of U.S. government officials who have been hit with spyware. Could you talk about that? And is it more than 10? Is it a handful? And how long ago were these people targeted with spyware?
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hey, Jonathan. Unfortunately, I'm not able to speak to that. What I can tell you, though, is that beginning two years ago and ever since, we have been very focused on understanding the extent to which U.S. personnel and their family members may be targeted by commercial spyware. And that's based on a recognition that governments that acquire this sort of sophisticated surveillance technology more likely than not will first use it against their own populations but, secondarily, may use it against diplomats and others from the United States or other governments, either to surveil them or also to understand who from their own societies are talking with these diplomats in their country.
So, all I can say is that we are intensely focused on better understanding the extent to which U.S. government personnel and their family members may be targeted.
MODERATOR: All right. Thanks, [senior administration official]. Everyone, this is all the time we have today. If you have any follow-up questions, don't hesitate to ask.
As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials. Thanks so much for joining us.
9:24 A.M. EDT","publish":"2024-03-18 18:43:45","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/4e4fc75c482690cd5fca3441c47c3362?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/4e4fc75c482690cd5fca3441c47c3362?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"background-press-call-on-u-s-efforts-to-counter-misuse-of-commercial-spyware-and-the-third-summit-for-democracy-95373-20240318","headline":"Background Press Call on U.S. Efforts to Counter Misuse of Commercial Spyware and the Third Summit for Democracy","description":"
PRESS BRIEFING BY
PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE
AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
2:16 P.M. EDT
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey, good afternoon, everyone. Happy Monday. Happy Monday. I have two items at the top before I turn it over to our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.
Today, to mark Women's History Month, President Biden, alongside the First Lady and the Vice President and the Second Gentleman, signed a historic executive order that will direct the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to expand and improve research on women's health.
These directives will ensure women's health is integrated and prioritized across the federal government and will galvanize new research on a wide range of topics, including women's midlife health.
The President and First Lady also announced more than 20 new actions and commitments by federal agencies, which includes the launch of a new NIH effort that will direct key investments of $200 million toward -- towards this work.
These actions also build on the First Lady's recent announcement that the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Sprint for -- Sprint for Women's Health is committing $100 million towards transform- -- transformative research and development in women's health.
In his State of the Union Address, the President called on Congress to invest $12 billion in new funding for women's health research and he laid out his bold vision for transforming women's health research. And with today's announcement, he's keeping that promise.
Now, second, today the White House Office of Public Engagement will convene a roundtable on President Biden's efforts to support Black men's health. This event will be moderated by Charisse Jones of USA Today and feature actors Courtney B. Vance and Lamman Rucker; recording artist Raheem DeVaughn; licensed psychologist Dr. Robin L. Smith; and public health analyst from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Dr. Walker Tisdale.
Since the start of his administration, President Biden has prioritized tackling the mental health crisis. In 2022, he released a comprehensive mental health strategy designed to strengthen system capacity, connect more people to care, and create healthier environments.
To support this work and help advance how we transform mental health in the United States, the Biden-Harris administration launched 988 hotline, expanded community mental health centers, established new Centers of Excellence to help promote mental health.
The Biden-Harris administration has and will continue to invest critical resources to expand mental health and substance use support -- substance use support to Americans, including through the Biden -- the President's -- President Biden's proposed budget for fiscal year 2025.
And with that, I'm going to turn it over to our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, who has an update on the Middle East region.
Go ahead, Jake.
MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Ka- -- excuse me -- thank you, Karine, and thanks, everybody. I've got a few opening comments and then I'd be happy to take your questions.
Earlier today, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, as you all have heard. The two leaders discussed the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, and they spoke about the state of Israel's military operations.
The President emphasized his bone-deep commitment to ensuring the long-term security of Israel. And he affirmed, as he did in the State of the Union, that Israel has a right to go after Hamas, the perpetrators of the worst massacre of the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Israel has made significant progress against Hamas. They've broken a significant number of Hamas battalions, killed thousands of Hamas fighters, including senior commanders. Hamas's number three, Marwan Issa, was killed in an Israeli operation last week. The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network. And justice will come for them too, and we are helping to ensure that.
At the same time, more innocent civilians have died in this conflict, in this military operation than in all of the wars in Gaza combined, including thousands of children. A humanitarian crisis has descended across Gaza. And anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared but not stabilized.
When the President visited Israel on October 18 th -- the first U.S. president to make a wartime visit to Israel, I might add -- he said both privately and publicly that the United States has learned a vital lesson over the course of several wars: a military plan cannot succeed without an integrated humanitarian plan and political plan.
And the President has repeatedly made the point that continuing military operations need to be connected to a clear strategic endgame.
The President told the Prime Minister again today that we share the goal of defeating Hamas, but we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen.
Now, instead of pause to reevaluate where things stand in the campaign and what adjustments are needed to achieve long-term success, instead of a focus on stabilizing the areas of Gaza that Israel has cleared so that Hamas does not regenerate and retake terri- -- territory that Israel has already cleared, the Israeli government is now talking about launching a major military operation in Rafah.
The President and the Prime Minister spoke at length about Rafah today. The President explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah of the kind it conducted in Gaza City and Khan Younis.
First, more than a million people have taken refuge in Rafah. They went from Gaza City to Khan Younis and then to Rafah. And they have nowhere else to go. Gaza's other major cities have largely been destroyed. And Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how or where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation.
Second, Rafah is a primary entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and from Israel. An invasion would shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is most sorely needed.
Third, Rafah is on the border with Egypt, which has voiced its deep alarm over a major military operation there and has even raised questions about its future relationship with Israel as a result of any impending military operation.
Now, the President has rejected -- and did again today -- the strawman that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about defeating Hamas. That's just nonsense.
Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else. But a major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally.
Most importantly, the key goals Israel wants to achieve in Rafah can be done by other means.
On the call today, President Biden asked the Prime Minister to send a senior interagency team composed of military, intelligence, and humanitarian officials to Washington in the coming days to hear U.S. concerns about Israel's current Rafah planning and to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.
The Prime Minister agreed that he would send a team. Obviously, he has his own point of view on a Rafah operation, but he agreed that he would send a team to Washington to have this discussion and have this engagement. And we look forward to those discussions.
The President and the Prime Minister also discussed the ongoing negotiations for an immediate ceasefire for several weeks in return for releasing hostages currently being held by Hamas and other militants in Gaza. We would look to build on that ceasefire into something more enduring and use the space created by a cessation of hostilities to surge humanitarian assistance at a vital moment.
So far, this deal has been more elusive than we would have hoped. But we will keep pressing because we regard this as an urgent priority.
As I've said before, Hamas could, of course, end this crisis tomorrow if it chose to do so. And as I've said before, far too little of the energy and the pressure to end this conflict has been applied to Hamas. We will keep pointing that out.
The President and the Prime Minister agreed to stay in close touch in the days and weeks ahead on all of these issues. And, of course, their teams are in daily contact on every element of this crisis, as well as the other threats that Israel faces from around the region and the shared threats that the United States, Israel, and others of our allies and partners face from Iran and its proxy forces across the Middle East.
And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.
Yeah.
Q Jake, you mentioned that the -- the ceasefire deal had -- had been elusive. Understand that -- that Hamas put a proposal forward. Is that still what you guys are working with? And is that still a live option at this point?
MR. SULLIVAN: Hamas has put a proposal on the table. This is after Israel, working with Qatar, Egypt, and the United States, had indicated a willingness to move forward on a six-week ceasefire in -- in return for the release of a number of hostages, leading to further phases from there, and Hamas having given us nothing for quite some time.
And the last time I stood at this podium, I pointed out something I believe today: If Hamas just handed over the elderly, the women, and the wounded, tomorrow, there would be a six-week ceasefire.
They've put a proposal on the table where they've added a series of other conditions as well. Now, the Israeli government has responded by saying they can't just accept that. They regard some of those conditions as going too far. But that's what a negotiation is about.
So, as we speak today, in Qatar, you have teams from Israel, Qatar, and Egypt sitting down and banging through those details to try to arrive at an outcome over the next few days where there is actually a deal. And we believe that those discussions are very live, that a deal is possible, that we should be able to achieve it, and that it is the best way both to get hostages home and to alleviate the suffering of the civilians in Gaza.
And from our perspective, we, the United States, are going to keep pushing on that. And the President had the opportunity to discuss that with the Prime Minister today.
Yeah.
Q And, Jake, why --
Q Thank you, Jake.
Q -- why did the President feel that this was -- that this was an appropriate time for this delegation to come from -- from Israel? And why did he feel that these conversations would succeed in ways that your outreach to the Israeli government have not previously?
MR. SULLIVAN: Look, this is the natural evolution of a discussion between partners. We've had many discussions at many different levels between our military, our intelligence, our diplomats, our humanitarian experts, but we have not yet had the opportunity to have an all-encompassing, comprehensive, integrated, strategic discussion about how to achieve two things: one, the ultimate defeat of Hamas and, two, the protection of civilians and the stabilization of Gaza in a way that will lead to the long-term security of Israel as well as the -- the protection of innocent human life that is in Gaza.
So, from the President's perspective, we've arrived at a point where each side has been making clear to the other its perspective, its view. And now we really need to get down to brass tacks and have the chance for a delegation from each side on an integrated basis -- everyone sitting around the same table, talking through the way forward.
And from the U.S. perspective, this is not a question of defeating Hamas. And anytime I hear an argument that says, \"If you don't smash into Rafah, you can't defeat Hamas,\" I say, \"That is a strawman.\"
Our view is that there are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza, and not smash into Rafah. That's what we're going to present in this integrated way when this team comes.
We'll have a back-and-forth, and we'll let you know how that unfolds as we go forward.
Yeah.
Q Can you describe the tone of the call? There have been reports that they can be very tense, that they have ended abruptly. Can you sort of characterize what the tone was? And then, also, did the President say that an invasion of Rafah is the -- is his red line? And what does that mean?
MR. SULLIVAN: I went over the red line issue, which I know is the obsession of this group, last week. I've got nothing more to say on that front.
As you know, particularly for me, I think that's something that is posed in your questions; it's not stated as a declaration of our policy. And we've made that clear.
With respect to the call, I'm probably not the best person to, you know, give a, kind of, assessment of body language and tone. I can confirm it did not end abruptly. It ended in a totally normal way when they had each gotten through all of their points. And I would say it was very businesslike.
Each of them recognize that we are at a critical moment in this conflict. They share a common objective -- that is for Israel to prevail over Hamas. And they have a different perspective on this operation in Rafah, and they went into some detail on that and had the opportunity, really, to elaborate each of their respective views in a full-throated way, in the way they always do when President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu talk.
So, in that sense, I would say this call was much like previous calls that the two of them have had. They each agreed to have the teams get together, and then they agreed that the two of them would stay in touch as we go forward.
Yeah.
Q Thank you, Jake. The deadline for Israel to comply with the National Security Memorandum 20 is coming up on Sunday. Has Israel responded in writing?
MR. SULLIVAN: So, first, when you say \"to comply,\" what they have to do by Sunday is just provide credible and reliable assurances that they will abide by their international obligations, not obligations we've imposed upon them, but -- but obligations they have freely accepted with respect to international humanitarian law, which, of course, includes not arbitrarily impeding the flow of humanitarian assistance where they can control that.
So, I cannot tell you today -- confirm today that they have provided that. Obviously, as you said, they have several more days before they have to do so. And we anticipate that they will.
Q And then, on a related note, Jake. On March 1 st, President Biden said that he was going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more people the help they need. On today's call, did he make that clear?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, even before today, the results of the President making clear that this was a priority for him and his team working that at a detailed level, operationally, on the ground in Israel, has resulted in certain steps, including the opening of a new gate that we have seen since the President gave the State of the Union and work to flow more convoys to the north along the beach road as well, in addition to other steps, like the landing of the first ship through a maritime corridor on the beaches of Gaza and active work going forward to get that pier that the President announced set up off the coast of Gaza as well.
So, we have taken steps. The President reaffirmed today the need for Israel to do everything in its power and even more than it has already done to address the humanitarian crisis.
And obviously, we saw a U.N. report today, which Director Power of USAID spoke to quite eloquently. It's an alarming report about possible impending famine if everyone doesn't do their responsibility to ensure we address that.
That starts, first and foremost, with Israel, who has an obligation to step up and ensure that more is done to deliver food to starving people in Northern Gaza, but it's also incumbent on us, the United States and the rest of the international community, to step up as well.
We're proud to be the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but there's more we can do, and there is more others can do as well. This has to be an all-hands-on-deck effort.
Yeah.
Q Thank you, Jake. Given that alarming report that famine right now is imminent and the humanitarian catastrophe there, are words enough when it comes to discussions with Israel? Does there need to be some conditions put on military aid?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first, obviously, words aren't enough. It's action that matters. And the action that matters is flowing trucks' and ships' worth of humanitarian assistance -- particularly food, water, and medicine -- to people who are gravely in need of it, as elaborated in that report.
As I said, in the last few days, we've seen some steps forward. We need to see those sustained; we need to see them built on. But ultimately, our judgment comes down not to pledges or promises or words; it comes down to action. And we're going to continue to pre- -- to press on Israel to see the kind of action we want to see.
And then we're going to take responsibility to do our part. And that's, for example, what the temporary period is all about.
Q And there are reports that more than 20 people have been killed in that hospital attack. How confident is the U.S. that Israel is doing everything in its power to protect civilians?
MR. SULLIVAN: I'd make three points about the reports of the attack at Al-Shifa Hospital overnight last night and into today. First, Israel states that it was going after senior Hamas commanders and Hamas militants, and it is clear that Hamas fired back at Israel from that hospital.
Second, we have seen Hamas, over the course of this conflict, use civilian facilities, including hospitals, to store weapons for command and control and to house fighters. And that places an added burden on Israel that very few militaries have to deal with: an entrenched insurgency, a terrorist group, using the shield of civilian institutions to protect themselves during a fight rather than meeting Israel on some open field of battle.
And then, third, it also tells us something else that -- of some concern that I spoke to in my opening comments. Israel cleared Shifa once. Hamas came back into Shifa, which raises questions about how to ensure a sustainable campaign against Hamas so that it cannot regenerate, cannot retake territory.
And from our perspective, it is connecting Israel's objective to a sustainable strategy that is the vital thing we need to focus on right now, rather than have Israel go smash into Rafah. And that is what the President talked to the Prime Minister about today.
Yeah.
Q During the call, did the President threaten at any point to withhold military aid to Israel if Israel moves into Rafah or a famine does ensue in Gaza?
MR. SULLIVAN: The President didn't make threats. What the President said today was, \"I want you to understand, Mr. Prime Minister, exactly where I am on this. I am for the defeat of Hamas. I believe that they are an evil terrorist group with not just Israeli but American blood on their hands. At the same time, I believe that to get to that, you need a strategy that works. And that strategy should not involve a major military operation that puts thousands and thousands of lives -- civilian, innocent lives at risk -- in Rafah. There is a better way. Send your team to Washington. Let's talk about it. We'll lay out for you what we believe is a better way.\"
And I will leave it at that.
Q Did they talk about --
MR. SULLIVAN: Yeah.
Q -- Senator Schumer's call for new elections? And what did the President say about that?
MR. SULLIVAN: So, the Prime Minister did raise his concerns about a variety of things that have come out in the American press. I'm not going to talk specifically about any one of them because I want to, you know, let the Prime Minister speak for himself and also protect the -- the discretion of the call.
And I will just say that, from President Biden's perspective, this is not a question of politics. It's not a question of public statements. It's a question of policy and strategy. That's what he's focused on. That's what he was focused on in the call.
Yeah.
Q Can you give us any detail on the timing of this meeting here in Washington? Is that in the coming days and weeks? And is it your expectation or did Israel commit to not proceeding with any Rafah invasion until that meeting takes place, or is that unclear?
MR. SULLIVAN: We have every expectation that they're not going to proceed with a major military operation in Rafah until we have that conversation.
And I ex- -- they talked about as soon as the end of this week. It could be the beginning of next week. They have not fixed a particular date because each side needs to prepare effectively. But within that timeframe, not a longer timeframe.
Q Sorry. Just to clarify. That's your expectation, or did he exclusively commit on the call to not proceeding with a Rafah operation?
MR. SULLIVAN: I'm not going to put words in their mouth on this. I don't want to do that. You can ask them. But I think you will find that, when asked, they will indicate to you that they're not going to go ahead with this before we've sat down and talked this all through.
Yeah.
Q Thanks, Jake. Vladimir Putin in a press conference spoke about a possible Navalny prisoner swap. He said -- he claimed they had agreed to exchange Navalny for prisoners in the West on the condition that Navalny never come back to Russia. Can you speak to this? Was there any plan in place?
MR. SULLIVAN: We have spoken to Russian officials over the course of months and years with respect to American detainees who are unjustly being held in -- in Russia. We have not heard a Russian official raise Navalny as part of a prisoner swap in any of those conversations.
So, if this is something they were interested in, it certainly sounds like they're coming to it quite late -- in fact, too late, obviously, since he's no longer alive -- because we did not hear that from them before.
Yeah.
Q Thanks, Jake. Prime Minister Netanyahu was on CNN yesterday. He talked about having the support of the majority of the Israeli people for his policies, including going into Rafah. Is there more that the administration -- the U.S. administration needs to do to speak to the Israeli people directly so that they don't support this idea of going into Rafah now?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first of all, inherent in the question is a -- is a -- kind of a -- an interesting irony, which is you have the Prime Minister speaking on American television about his concerns about Americans interfering in Israeli politics, and then your question is should Americans be speaking into Israeli politics, which, in fact, we don't do nearly as much as they speak into ours.
But that's not a constructive answer to your question. Just an observation.
In answer to your question, again, as I said before, from the President's perspective, this isn't really about politics or public opinion or public statements. This is about policy and strategy. And so, the President is not focused on what's popular, what's not popular, how do you shape public opinion. He's interested in how do we get to the right result, and the right result is the enduring defeat of Hamas, a two-state solution that has a secure Israel and a Palestinian state that vindicates the aspirations of the Palestinian people, and a broader normalization of relations so that Israel also has peace with all of its Arab neighbors.
He believes we need to drive to that outcome. And while it is true that many voices in Israel can't see that today, that is not going to alter the President's view, from his perspective, that that is what is not just in the U.S. national security interest, but it's really the only solution to Israel's future as a democratic Jewish state that is secure and at peace with its neighbors, including its most immediate neighbors, the Palestinian people.
Yeah.
Q Thank you, Jake. The head of UNRWA, Lazzarini, said today that he was denied entry to Gaza, the day, as you mentioned, the report that Northern Gaza is facing imminent famine. So, is this an issue that you're raising with the Israelis?
And on another question, there is 5,000, according to the ICRC, prisoners that's been missing. Nobody knows anything about them. They're being held by the Israelis, including doctors and journalists, and the arrest of one of our colleagues at Al Jazeera this morning as well.
What can you do to push the Israelis to at least declare where are these prisoners so their families know where they are? Because most of them, according to our knowledge, there are civilians.
MR. SULLIVAN: So, with respect to Mr. Lazzarini's efforts to get into Gaza today, this is the first I'm hearing that he was denied access. Obviously, we'll inquire as to the circumstances of that.
Second, with respect to the detention of an Al Jazeera journalist today, I've seen the reports. I saw them just recently before coming into this briefing room. I have not had the opportunity to -- to raise that with my Israeli counterparts. We'll do so.
Obviously, we believe that the protection of journalists and the capacity for journalists to do their jobs, even in difficult circumstances, even in warzones, must be protected. That's something this administration takes very seriously in all contexts.
And then, finally, we have regularly indicated to the Israeli government that they have a responsibility under international humanitarian law not just with respect to the conduct of their military operations but, obviously, with respect to the treatment of and access to prisoners in their custody. That's something that we will continue to remind them of as we go forward.
Even as we would also point out that the enemy they are fighting doesn't even come close to the same sport, let alone the same ballpark of caring a lick about anything to do with international humanitarian law.
Q Follow-up. Thanks, Jake.
MR. SULLIVAN: Yeah.
Q After the State of the Union, the President was picked up on a hot mic saying he told Prime Minister Netanyahu they were going to have a \"come to Jesus\" moment. Given what you've said about their conversation today on the Rafah operation, was that this conversation today?
MR. SULLIVAN: I'm not going to characterize that on behalf of the President. I will just describe what happened in the conversation, as I've done here today. And I'll let you all draw your own conclusions.
Yeah.
Q Was Jesus on the call at all?
Q Jake --
MR. SULLIVAN: No comment.
Q So -- so, why is it that it seems so hard for this administration to stand up more firmly to Benjamin Netanyahu? He has been ignoring many of your requests. He's now threatening to launch an offensive in Rafah. And the answer from the White House so far has been pretty soft, and the U.S. are still sending weapons to Israel. So, it seems like there is a big cautiousness from the White House.
MR. SULLIVAN: That seems more like a statement than a question.
Yeah.
Q I have another question on President Macron. What do you make of his state- -- his position becoming more and saying that he might send troo- -- not excluding the fact that he might send troops to Ukraine?
MR. SULLIVAN: I can't speak for President Macron. Obviously, he continues to make his points publicly, and, obviously, he has every right to do that. We've made --
Q troops?
MR. SULLIVAN: We've made our position clear, which is that we're not intending to send U.S. troops to Ukraine. President Biden actually reiterated that before the American people in the State of the Union, and we haven't wavered from that position. We're not wavering from it today.
Yeah.
Q Can you talk a bit about Niger. Niger yesterday suspended the security cooperation with the U.S. Do you have any reaction? I think some of the things that they are saying is the U.S. doesn't really approach them in the right way. They come with this arrogance, which is almost like a form of humiliation, for the Biden administration. Do you have any reaction to the suspension of the security agreement with Niger?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, you've seen what we've said on this subject, which is that we've seen the Facebook posts from the CNSP. It came out Saturday night. We're in touch with them. This obviously follows discussions we had with them about our concerns with their trajectory. And I'll leave it at that because those discussions with the -- the authorities in Niger is ongoing.
Yeah.
Q Thank you so much. Coming back to Israel and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are now -- we have now 1 million people faced with the risk of starvation, and aid is not getting in at the levels necessary to help those people. Who is responsible for that? And during this call, has -- was there any kind of commitment from the part of the Israeli Prime Minister to let more aid come into Gaza?
MR. SULLIVAN: The Prime Minister indicated that he intends to push his government to have more aid come into [DEL: Israel :DEL] [Gaza]. But as I said to an earlier question, the issue is not statements or representations, it's action; it's whether more aid gets in.
We've seen certain things over the past few days that represent steps forward, including the opening of this new gate, including other convoys that have gotten to the North, including throughput through Kerem Shalom and Rafah. But we've seen that before, and then numbers have dipped for a variety of reasons, some to do with just the difficulty of moving aid around Gaza once it gets inside, as we've seen in tragic circumstances.
And from our perspective, the key thing is that we need to flood the zone. We need to use every tool at our disposal -- every land route, every possible number of trucks, as well as sea routes, as well as airdrops to get as much aid in as possible.
Israel has a responsibility in this regard to facilitate the aid, and they can do more. The international community, including the United States, has a responsibility as well. We have done a significant number of things. We can do more.
So, from our point of view, this is an urgent undertaking, an urgent priority, and we will keep at it.
Yeah.
Q Quick one on Russia and a follow-up on Haiti, if possible. I know you said, when asked about President Putin's comments yesterday, that you hadn't heard of a Russian official raise Aleksey Navalny as part of a prisoner swap. You said that they had come to the table too late.
Is that a way of saying that negotiations for -- to release reporter Evan Gershkovich and Paul Whelan are not on the table? Are there any active efforts going on right now for them?
MR. SULLIVAN: We have had a continuous effort to secure the release of both Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. We will continue until they are free. And that means regular communication at senior levels with the Russian Federation, making a series of offers, which we have done over time and will continue to do.
So, no, we have not slackened one inch in our zeal to get the two of them out. It remains an utmost priority of ours. And that work will continue notwithstanding the tragic death of Aleksey Navalny.
Yeah.
Q One more on --
Q Tha- --
Q -- Haiti -- sorry. The State Department announced this weekend that more than 30 Americans had been evacuated from Haiti, but they were evacuated from a northern city, not Port-au-Prince. And today, the State Department said that more than a thousand U.S. citizens have reached out asking about their options for departing the island. Are there plans for the U.S. to do more specifically out of the Port-au-Prince area?
MR. SULLIVAN: So, first, my understanding is that more than 1,000 Americans have been in touch with the embassy to seek more information. Some number of those have asked for information about departing. Others have asked for information about how to remain safely or, if they choose to depart in the fu- -- in the future, how they might do so.
So, the thousand is really a broad universe that encapsulates a number of different categories.
Second, as you noted, we did have our first evacuation flight out of Cap-Ha\u00eftien. More than 30 U.S. citizens were on it. And we will look to continue to operate out of Cap-Ha\u00eftien for people to be able to leave from there.
And then, third, of course, if we determine that there is a secure way to move American citizens who want to leave Haiti out of the Port-au-Prince airport or out of some other route, we will do so.
There's active planning for that. There's a- -- active analysis of -- of the risks of doing so. But we will stay in close touch with every American citizen who wants to be in touch with us in Haiti and continue to look for options to ensure their safe passage out of the country should they choose to leave.
Yeah.
Q Why did President Biden wait so long -- why did he let 32 days pass between phone calls with Prime Minister Netanyahu?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, so, first of all, our teams are in contact every single day at every level. President Biden gets a daily, twice daily -- sometimes nine times daily -- update on what is going on. And he reserves his calls for the Prime Minister for when he believes there's a key strategic moment that needs to come forward. That's point one.
Point two: The Prime Minister, of course, knows how to reach President Biden. If the Prime Minister felt he needed the President for some reason, he would have picked up the phone and called. And, of course, in the last 32 days, President Biden has never declined a -- a phone call from Prime Minister Netanyahu.
So, this pretty much the normal give-and-take of two leaders both operating their governments, both operating their foreign policies, both working with their teams, and then at a key inflection point, in the -- in the dialogue between the two sides, coming together and talking. I wouldn't make more of it than that.
Q And there's a report that when President Biden was told his handling of the war between Israel and Hamas was starting to affect his poll numbers, the quote is, \"He began to shout and swear.\" So, when he does that, is he shouting and swearing about Netanyahu or about Hamas or about his poll numbers?
MR. SULLIVAN: This is the \"When did you stop beating your spouse\" question, because I don't think he ever did that. And so --
Q Excuse me?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, you -- you used that as the premise of your question, which is, \"When he does that.\" He -- I've never seen him do that -- shout or swear in response to that. So, from my perspective, that particular report is not correct.
Yeah.
Q What can you tell us about this temporary pier -- the timeline for it, how it's going to be secured, how soon aid may be delivered through those sea routes you're talking about?
MR. SULLIVAN: So, CENTCOM can go into the operational details on it. What I can tell you is that our original timeline, you know, extended out something like 45 to 60 days to have it fully in place. We're hoping to beat that, if possible, because we're moving heaven and earth to get, you know, all of the complex logistics associated with it fully integrated into the -- the pipeline for aid going into Gaza. And ultimately, it will be a scenario where CENTCOM assets move the pier off the coast, and then it will be IDF assets who actually secure it so that there are no U.S. boots on the ground in Gaza.
But that effort is very much underway. The CENTCOM Commander feels good about the progress we are making and that he will be able to move this on an expedited basis based on the original timelines that he provided.
Q Jake, to the back?
MR. SULLIVAN: Just one more question. Yeah.
Q Jake, do you have a reaction to Russian President Putin's victory? He will be president until 2030. Do you accept the result and his victory?
MR. SULLIVAN: Well, first, nothing about the election outcome was unpredictable because Putin had closed the political space, had locked up political opponents. Some of his political opponents had tragically died. And so, there was nothing free or fair about this election, and the outcome was preordained.
Second, the reality is that President Putin is the President of Russia. We've had to deal with that reality throughout the war in Ukraine, throughout the other aggression Russia has undertaken, throughout the other steps contrary to U.S. national interests that we have seen from this President and from the Russian Federation under his leadership. And we will continue to deal with that reality.
But that reality doesn't deny the fact that this election was not something that met any kind of benchmark of being free or fair.
Thank you all.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you so much, Jake.
Q Thank you, Jake.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you, Jake.
All right, Chris.
Q So, I have a question about budget discu- --
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.
Q -- discussions over --
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.
Q -- the weekend.
Why did the White House object to plans that were taking shape over the weekend for the homeland security budget? And what do you want to make sure gets included in the final legislation? And --
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So --
Q Last thing.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.
Q Just how close are you at this point, do you think?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm -- I'm not going to talk about reporting regarding ongoing negotiations. Going to be super careful talking from the podium here.
One thing that I will make clear is that, look, DHS needs a bill that adequately funds operational pace -- pace. Right? And we have seen, during the -- this past fiscal year, that that is what the administration is fighting for. We want to make sure that they have the operational funding to do the job that they need to be doing. And that is what I can say.
And I want to also add is -- let's not forget the past 10 months here. DHS has removed and returned more people than -- than during every fiscal year since 2013. So, they have maximized their operations, they have done the work to do what they can at the funding levels that there are -- that they are -- that they currently are operating in. And we want to do everything that we can to make sure that they have that operational pace.
So, I'm not going to get into negotiations from here.
Q So, it sounds like we're talking about -- the issue is a dollar figure. The White House wants more money than is being offered.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Just going to be super mindful and not negotiate from the podium. But obviously, we believe that DHS needs additional funding -- we've always said that -- to deal with the security operations and much more that we're dealing with at the border, obviously, and just more broadly, all the work that the DH- -- DHS has to do on behalf of the American people.
Q And you can't say if there's been progress today or anything since the weekend?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, the negotiations continue, and we are focused, certainly, on reaching an agreement. As you know, the -- the shutdown is set for this coming Friday, and we want to get -- certainly get to a place where we have -- again, DHS has what it needs to have the operational -- continue the operational pace that they've been having.
Go ahead.
Q Thanks, Karine. As the Supreme Court considers the case about social media disinformation, misinformation, can you talk about what the administration believes is at stake in this case?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm going to be super mindful. It's an ongoing case. I'm just not going to comment. Would have to refer you to Department of Justice. We've been pretty consistent on this over the past year or so. So, I'm just going to be really mindful on that.
Q And then I have a leftover Israel-Hamas question.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.
Q Because, over the weekend, the President talked about the importance of the freedom of the press.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.
Q He toasted them at the Gridiron Dinner. Has he or anyone in the administration pushed Israel to allow foreign media into Gaza to cover it?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, as Jake said, there's continuous conversation that we have with the leadership of the Israeli government. I don't have anything to share on that particular question. You heard directly from the President as it relates to protecting the freedom of the press, protecting journalists. We've always been very clear about that. The President has spoken to that numerous of times.
I can't speak to that particular -- a particular conversation on that issue. We want to make sure -- right? -- we want to make sure that freedom of the press is respected, that -- that journalists are protected. And so, that is something that the President has had conversation with leaders over the past three years as it relates to that, as it relates to, obviously, humanitarian issues as well.
We've always had those conversations. It doesn't matter if it's our -- if it's our allies or friends or whoever it is, we've always been pretty consistent. But I can't speak to any direct conversation that the President has had on that issue.
Go ahead.
Q What are the remaining sticking points on the DHS funding bill? And some Hill aides say that the White House came in at the 11 th hour? Is -- did the White House step in too late?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, let's -- let's be very clear here and take a step back. When it comes to funding the government, that is something that is the basic duty of Congress is to do that. Right? It is their job to keep the government open. It is something that Congress has to do on behalf of the American people.
There are critical programs that Americans need, that American families need. The DHS funding, more specifically, is what is obviously being discussed -- is important -- right? -- to -- for DHS to do the work that they're currently doing, as we think about the border, as we think about the immigration system.
So, it is their job. It is their duty. I'm not going to speak into timeline as to when we started to have conversations with them. I'm not going to speak to negotiations that are currently happening. I'm certainly not going to do that at the podium.
We believe it is critical and important to continue the operational pace that -- that DHS needs to do their job. Obviously, we've been pretty consistent, as well, over the last three years asking for additional funding.
And so, I'm just going to be really mindful and not negotiate from the podium.
Go ahead, Selina.
Q Thanks, Karine. Does the administration still have close contact with social media companies? And, in specific, are there still communications about removing misinformation?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I'm going to be -- I -- I know there is a -- currently, SCOTUS -- well, I don't even know if it's happening right now. But there is this particular Missouri case. I'm going to be super mindful, super careful, and not to -- not to answer a question that is, you know, adjacent to what's happening with this particular case.
I don't have any conversations to speak to or to lay out to you about conversation with social media. Obviously, the President tries to communicate with Americans and meet them where they are. You see this -- you see us do that pretty consistently. I just want to be super mindful, as there is an ongoing case happening at this time.
Q So, not even speaking about the particularities of the case, more broadly, can you talk about the administration's concerns on the kind of misinformation that's on social media --
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, we've been --
Q -- though that was specific about COVID?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We've been pretty consistent about the importance of -- you know, it is -- it is the responsibility of social media to make sure that -- that what is on their platform is -- you know, is not misinformation, not disinformation. We've been always very clear about that.
I just don't have conversations to lay out or to speak to. But we've been pretty consistent for at least the past couple of years on that.
Okay. Go ahead.
Q Thanks, Karine. A temporary pause on SB 4, the Texas -- the controversial Texas immigration law, is set to expire at 5:00 p.m. today if the Supreme Court doesn't take action. What is the administration's plans if that does go into effect?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. Going to be really careful not to comment on -- on a -- well, not to comment beyond what the DOJ filings have -- have laid out -- so, have shared with all of you. So, I'll say this. I will point out that Department of Justice makes clear that SB 4 is flatly inconsistent with the Supreme Court's decision in Arizona v. United States in 2012 and more than a century of additional precedent.
But generally speaking, SB 4 is just another example of what we have seen from the governor of Texas, Governor Abbott, attempting to politicize what's happening at the border, politicize, obviously, what's happening with the immigration system.
And so, look, the President is going to be focused on -- on making sure that there's significant policy changes and resources we need to secure the border. And so, that is why he's going to continue to -- to call on congressional Republicans to pass the bipartisan border security agreement that came out of the Senate just a couple of months ago, a -- in a -- an agreement that was supported by the Border Patrol union, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and that we worked on for months.
And we believe that is going to meet the needs that -- that we have with the border challenges and deal with some real immigration policies. Outside of that, I don't have anything else to share. But clearly, the Department of Justice has been very clear on their filings on SB 4.
Go ahead.
Q Thank you so much. A domestic question, then two quickies on foreign adversaries.
First of all, what is the White House planning for Iftar this year? And what is your message to Muslim Americans about this particularly difficult year?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I -- I -- look, we are going to -- I don't have anything to share about an event as it relates to Iftar. What I can say is that we've been very consistent and very clear that this conflict is personal and painful for many. And -- and the President has been clear on that. We have been clear from this podium.
He respects all Americans to be -- to speak out and for their voices to be heard as long -- obviously, as long as it's peaceful, obviously. But we understand that it is a pai- -- painful time for a number of communities.
As you know, we've had White House official- -- senior White House officials meet with members of the different communities, whether it's Arab, Muslim, Palestinian communities, to talk about their views, to voice their concerns, and we welcome that.
I just don't have anything to share on any events or beyond that.
Q Okay. So, Pakistan conducted two airstrikes over what they say are militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Was the U.S. consulted on that? Were these coordinated attacks? And are you concerned about the potential for violence escalating in that region?
And then a quickie on South Korea when I'm done -- North Korea.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. A quickie. A quickie.
All right. On Pakistan, just a couple of things that we do want to share with all of you. We are aware of the reports, obviously, that Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan in response to attack in Pakistan on Saturday at a military post. We deeply regret the loss of life and injuries sustained during the attack in Pakistan and the loss of civilian lives during the strikes in Afghas- -- Afghanistan.
We urge the Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks are not launched from Af- -- Afghan soil. We urge Pakistan to exercise restraint and ensure civilians are not harmed in their counterterrorism efforts. We urge both sides to address any differences through dialogue. We remain committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who wish to harm United States or our other partners or allies.
So, we've made that very clear. And we're going to continue to be consistent.
Q Can you confirm South Korean reports that North Korea sent 7,000 containers of munitions to Russia? And if so, what -- what are the consequences of that?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have anything. I have not seen those reports. So, don't have anything to share on that. I want to be really mindful and careful on that one.
Go ahead.
Q Thank you. Can you give us an update on the President's review of the China tariffs, whether that's nearing a decision point?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know you guys ask that question all the time, which I --
Q It's a big one.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- I appreciate it. I don't have anything to share at this time on that.
Q Pivoting to the UnitedHealth hack. I'm wondering if you can give us the latest of the administration's view on whether that is nearing a resolution or if you're still in the thick of it and whether it's possible to say whether you know yet whether American health data has been compromised by this hack.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I would have to refer you to HHS. I've seen the reporting, obviously, on this. Just don't have anything for you at this time beyond the reporting.
Go ahead.
Q Thank you.
Q I was just wondering if you could comment on the Russian elections and whether you see Putin as a legitimately elected President.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I think Jake Sullivan did a very good job speaking to this. And one of the things that he did say, obviously, Putin -- Mr. Putin is the leader of Russia. He spoke to this extensively.
We are -- the results, obviously, also were predetermined. No one is shocked by the results coming out of the elections there.
I just don't have to a- -- anything to add beyond what Jake Sullivan laid out pretty well here --
Q Thanks.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- just moments ago.
Q Thanks, Karine. It -- technically, is it still possible to avoid a shutdown, given the 72-hour review window that has to happen?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I think we have to be hopeful. This is, obviously, a -- a administration that is hopeful and hopes that Congress gets to -- gets to the bottom of this and gets to a point where we keep the government open. It is, again, their basic duty to do so.
As you know, there's negotiations I've been asked about at -- with the DHS. I'm not going to speak to them from here. But this is important. It's critical that we keep the government open.
It's not just DHS. There's numbers of other programs that Americans need that we have to continue. And so, this needs to get done.
Q And then, on the Israeli delegation that's coming. Do we have a sense at this point of who is going to be leading that from their side or from the U.S. side?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything more to share on that. Obviously, as we get to a point where we're able to share more information on that par- -- when that meeting is going to happen, who will be part of that meeting, we'll have more to share. I just don't -- don't have anything, no -- any further details than what Jake sa- -- shared from here earlier.
Q And is it fair to -- to understand from the detailed engagement that Biden is having with Netanyahu and with his government that this means that President Biden feels that the government is legitimate and should continue and that engagement with them can bear more fruit than it has in the past?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that \"legitimate\" --
Q That Netanyahu's government is legitimate, that he is -- still views him as the legitimate leader and that his appeals to them -- to him can be successful.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, let's be clear, like, that is up to -- I mean, Bibi Netan- -- Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel. Like, that is something that we know. Right? That is something that is fact. You know, that doesn't change anything. That is the reason why we've been in constant communication with the Israeli government from all levels. Right? And so, that i- -- that has not changed. Right? That is -- as far as --
Q I ask because Schumer suggested that that maybe should no longer be the case, right?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, look, that is something for -- as it relates to any elections or any- -- anything like that, that's up to the Israeli government. Right? That is something for them to decide.
I can't speak to that. What I can speak to is the President and his involvement and his engagement. I think it's important that he had this conversation with the Prime Minister today about Rafah, about -- about how we move forward.
And so, you know, Jake Sullivan did a really good job laying that out -- what that's going to look like, how that conversation went.
The President doesn't want to see a military operation go into Rafah. He's been very clear about that. He wants to make sure that innocent lives are protected. And we -- and it has to be done in a way that we don't see Palestinian lives -- you know, lose any more Palestinian lives, but understanding that Israel has to go after Hamas -- right? -- a terrorist organization. We understand that.
So, there's going to be a conversation with both sides. Obviously, it's going to happen. But I just don't have anything else to share further from that.
Q Thanks, Karine. The President has quite a bit of travel this week. I was hoping you could tell us a little bit about what he's doing beside his political activity, as well as how he's going to be engaged with these ongoing negotiations to make sure there's not a shutdown.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm going to answer your -- talk about your -- the last part of your question first.
Obviously, the President is always engaged, always communicating with his team. It doesn't matter where he is -- if he's at the White House or anywhere else in this country or the world -- he's president wherever he is. So, I'll say that at the top.
The President is going to be going to Reno and Las Vegas tomorrow. In Reno, he will participate in a campaign event. So, obviously, I will refer you to the campaign for more details on that particular event.
In Las Vegas, he will deliver remarks on lowering costs for American families, which is the priority as it relates to his economic plan on behalf of the American people.
On Wednesday, the President will be in Phoenix and will deliver remarks on Investing in America agenda. This is -- this part of a -- this is part of a busy travel schedule following the State of the Union, where the President is hitting the road, meeting Americans, talking to them directly about how he sees his vision, how he sees the future of this country for, obviously, the American people.
We'll certainly have more details to share. The -- the specifics on the political poi- -- parts of the trip, I would refer you to the campaign.
Q And then just one more question. Next week, the President is going to be going up to New York, meeting with former President Obama and former President Clinton. It's a campaign event, but there is a report that came out today about President Biden's relationship with President Obama indicating that there might be some jealousy involved. I was wondering if you could speak to that.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Let's be very clear: The President -- the two presidents, President Obama and President Biden, have a very good relationship. You all have seen it over the -- the past several years. They -- they're like family to each other. And I'm just not going to -- to speak to reporting that we don't believe to be true.
Go ahead, Aurelia.
Q Thank you so much. Another foreign policy question. On Saturday, Niger decided to cut all military ties with the United States. Can you maybe explain what -- what led to this decision? And how concerned are you that Niger is now one of the African countries seeking military cooperation with Russia instead of the United States?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. Jake spoke to this when he was here not moments ago. Let me just say some -- two toplines about -- about the situation in Niger first, which is: Since the coup last year, we fought -- we sought to -- we sought to work with the Nigerien junta towards a democratic transition and our shared security interest.
Last week, Assistant Secretary Phee, General Langley, and Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallander were in Niamey for a frank conversation with the CNSP to explore how we can chart a common path forward and our concerns about the lack of progress towards a democratic transition and operational consideration for us to maintain a long-term security partnership.
As it relates to -- to Russia, the Russian Federation's repeated violations of international law, to include its illegal invasion and ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, represent a clear threat to the rules-based -- rule-based international system. So, we are closely monitoring the Russian defense activities -- closely, obviously -- in order to assess and mitigate potential risk to U.S. personnel, interest, and assets.
And so, that is how we are looking at that relationship in particular.
Go ahead. Go ahead.
Q Thanks, Karine. Yeah. When will the President hold another news conference so we can ask a question of him without having helicopter noise or jet noise in the background?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to preview -- to share. Obviously, the President -- the President, as you just say- -- as you were just saying, the President takes questions pretty regularly, enjoys having engagement with all of you.
I don't have a press conference to lay out for you at this time.
Q But is there -- is there talk of one?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you. But as I said, the President enjoys engaging with all of you on a regular basis, and he'll continue to do that.
I think I have to go. I'll take your question last. Go ahead.
Q Thank you. The North Carolina Lieutenant Governor and other state officials sent the White House a letter about Awet Hagos, who was arrested in the state last week. I'm wondering if --
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that -- say that one more time. Arrest of who?
Q Yeah. Awet Hagos in North Carolina last week. I'm wondering if the White House has seen the letter and if you have any information about that.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to share on that particular letter. I'm happy to go back to the team and come -- and let you know.
Thanks, everybody. See you on the road.
Q Thanks, Karine.
3:09 P.M. EDT","publish":"2024-03-18 18:14:01","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/a394fe01c681a0400ae306f7d0c1852c?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/a394fe01c681a0400ae306f7d0c1852c?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-national-security-advisor-jake-sullivan-13-95367-20240318","headline":"Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan","description":"
DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE FIRST LADY FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 2024
All times are local unless otherwise indicated.
On Tuesday, March 19^th, 2024, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Norwich, Vermont.
At 4:30 PM, the First Lady will arrive at Lebanon Municipal Airport in Lebanon, New Hampshire. This arrival will be open press and registration is closed.
At 5:15 PM, the First Lady will deliver remarks at a political finance event for the Biden Victory Fund in Norwich, Vermont. This event will be covered by a print pooler only.","publish":"2024-03-18 17:59:44","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/636e2ffbcb946468f1a5ecbde1154484?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/636e2ffbcb946468f1a5ecbde1154484?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"d7ab6703921c38159157b2df9db677e8","headline":"Email: Remarks by President Biden on a Zoom Call With Irish Americans (March ...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN
ON A ZOOM CALL WITH IRISH AMERICANS
Via Teleconference
THE PRESIDENT: Can you all hear me? Happy St. Patrick's Day weekend. It's a little premature. It's not until Sunday.
But I just want to say it's great to so many friends out there who have been with me from the beginning. Looks like Bobby Grady, Kathleen Kennedy, a whole -- all so many of you. And I really mean it. You guys brought me the dance in 2020. And I'm proud and willing to do it again.
I'm speaking to you not only as the President but as the great-great grandson of the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth.
My -- my proud -- I'm the proud son of Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden -- -- she's looking down right now -- speaking from the White House, designed by, I might add, an Irish architect.
Look, my grandfather Ambrose Finnegan used to say, for real, \"Joey, if you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough.\" Well, all of us Irish Americans are lucky we have ancestors who came to these shores. It's a -- it was a precious gift -- the belief that America was a place of possibilities.
I used to hear the stories from my grandfather about his father and his grandfather when they came.
As I made clear at the State of the Union, we're still in the battle for the soul of America -- and that's not hyperbole -- between forces who want to pull America back and those who want to move us into the future. Those who -- it's a real battle between the old ideas of hate, anger, revenge, and retribution and the core American values that brought our ancestors here: honesty, decency, dignity, equality.
Irish Americans have always stepped up in -- in that fight . For real. That's who we are. We're the only people in the world who are nostalgic about the future, I've said -- and I mean it. A future where we defend democracy not diminish it, expand freedom not restrict it. I know ea- -- I know each one of us can do this. I know we can do this.
I want to thank you for your support and your friendship. To borrow a line from Yeats, he said, \"Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.\" You've been an incredible friend to me. And I really mean it. And I -- I'm the Irish of it -- we never give up. We know what the look like. We know what out there. We know and we just never stop.
We can't stop now. There's so much -- there's so much at stake. The guy I'm running against a second time you helped me beat the first time is a guy who doesn't share our values, and this is all about values. It's who we are as Americans. We are a nation of values and dignity.
You've heard me say many times: My dad used to say, \"Your job is about a lot more than your -- a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, 'It's going to be okay, honey.'\" That's what we're all about. That's what we're all about.
And I just left the Taoiseach from Ireland and the Speaker Johnson. I met with all the folks at -- who are Irish Americans in the Congress and the Senate and they have -- and -- anyway --
I -- I'm not -- I'm not supposed to be talking this long here. But I can't tell you how much I appreciate your friendship and your commitment. And you know we never give up. We're not going to give up. We must win this race for the sake of our ancestors and the sake of our .
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you're doing. May God bless you. And may God protect our troops. Thank you.","publish":"2024-03-18 17:25:06","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/d7ab6703921c38159157b2df9db677e8?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/d7ab6703921c38159157b2df9db677e8?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"87c8bd9e79d432017b244d9d48d9a6cf","headline":"Email: PRESS RELEASE: Bills Signed: S. 206, S. 1858","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
On Monday, March 18, 2024, the President signed into law:
S. 206, the \"Eradicating Narcotic Drugs and Formulating Effective New Tools to Address National Yearly Losses of life Act\" or the \"END FENTANYL Act,\" which requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to review and update manuals and policies related to inspections at ports of entry to ensure the effective detection of illegal smuggling of drugs and humans along the border; and
S. 1858, the \"Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act,\" which aligns the application deadline for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program with the application deadline for assistance under the Individuals and Households program.","publish":"2024-03-18 16:42:14","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/87c8bd9e79d432017b244d9d48d9a6cf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/87c8bd9e79d432017b244d9d48d9a6cf?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"press-release-bills-signed-s-206-s-1858-95353-20240318","headline":"Press Release: Bills Signed: S. 206, S. 1858","description":"
First Lady Jill Biden to Travel to Virginia and North Carolina
All times are local unless otherwise indicated.
On Wednesday, March 20^th, 2024, as a part of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research , First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Arlington, Virginia and Durham, North Carolina, where she will tout a series of historic actions and investments by the Biden-Harris administration to transform research and innovation in women's health. The First Lady will deliver remarks at the Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Nonprofit conference in Arlington, Virginia, where she will spotlight the President's new Executive Order that will direct the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to expand and improve research on women's health. She will later deliver remarks on women's health research in Durham, North
Carolina.
At 10:15 AM, the First Lady will deliver remarks at the Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Nonprofit conference in Arlington, Virginia. The event is open to pre-credentialed media. For additional information about covering the event please contact linbedna@amazon.com .
At 12:30 PM, the First Lady will arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport in Morrisville, North Carolina. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Tuesday, March 19 th, at 10:00 AM ET.
At 1:15 PM, the First Lady will deliver remarks on women's health research in Durham, North Carolina. This event is open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Tuesday, March 19 th, at 10:00 AM ET.","publish":"2024-03-18 15:01:03","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/513bac467a6f311b18b235aece17a941?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/513bac467a6f311b18b235aece17a941?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"executive-order-on-advancing-womens-health-research-and-innovation-95335-20240318","headline":"Executive Order on Advancing Women\u2019s Health Research and Innovation","description":"
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Ban Asbestos, Advancing Biden Cancer Moonshot
President Biden's Cancer Moonshot is accelerating progress to prevent, detect, and treat cancer while boosting support for families facing cancer, including by undertaking an aggressive effort to protect families and workers from hazardous chemicals like known carcinogens. After more than three decades of inadequate protections, today the Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a historic ban on ongoing uses of asbestos . This marks the first rule finalized under the nation's updated chemical safety law, a milestone in the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to protect public health, advance environmental justice, and end cancer as we know it.
Asbestos is a potent carcinogen that causes tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year and is linked to lung cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, and more. The EPA's new ban prohibits ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos still used or imported in the United States. This action represents an important step to advance the Biden Cancer Moonshot goal of reducing the cancer death rate by at least half by 2047--preventing more than four million cancer deaths--and preventing cancer before it starts by protecting communities from known risks associated with asbestos exposure.
The Biden Cancer Moonshot is a core component of the President's Unity Agenda, a set of priorities that Americans from every walk of life can support. Prohibiting the manufacture, processing, and distribution of asbestos is also part of the Biden-Harris Administration's historic commitment to advancing environmental justice. Asbestos is used in facilities that are located disproportionately near communities with environmental justice concerns and also particularly affects workers.
Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, EPA and other federal agencies have been delivering on the promise to protect communities from the harmful effects of toxic substances, including carcinogens. The Administration is coordinating across the federal government to protect people from exposure to hazardous chemicals, including through guidance, regulatory actions, investments through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, and more.
Reducing exposure to toxic chemicals protects public health and advances President Biden's commitment to ensuring all people can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live in a healthy community. The Biden-Harris Administration has delivered on additional protections to protect communities from carcinogens, including:
Protecting communities and workers from toxic chemicals that cause long-recognized health risks, including cancer. In addition to today's final rule on asbestos, EPA is advancing proposals to address cancer and other health risks from methylene chloride , carbon tetrachloride , perchloroethylene , and trichloroethylene , all of which are dangerous and sometimes fatal chemicals used in commercial and industrial settings. Additionally, EPA has proposed a rule to strengthen its process for conducting risk evaluations on toxic chemicals
, including carcinogens, and this includes specific consideration of overburdened communities. EPA is moving expeditiously to finalize these rules and realize the new public health protections enabled by Congress under the 2016 amendments to the nation's chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Slashing emissions of ethylene oxide and other cancer-causing air pollution. Last week EPA issued a final rule that will significantly strengthen and update Clean Air Act standards for ethylene oxide emitted into the air from commercial sterilizing facilities. EtO is a highly potent carcinogen that can be particularly harmful to children and communities that are already overburdened by pollution. The new rule will safeguard public health by cutting emissions of EtO from these facilities by over 90 percent. EPA is also working to advance research, and to strengthen standards to reduce toxic air pollution, including other cancer-causing pollutants, from chemical plants.
Combatting PFAS pollution in communities to address health and environmental risks. The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a government-wide plan to address and prevent PFAS contamination. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances , often referred to as 'forever chemicals,' are human-made chemicals that have been widely used in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products for decades. They break down very slowly over time in the environment and in people's bodies, and have been found to have harmful health effects including cancer, low birthweight, and reduced immune responses. EPA has proposed new rules to strengthen protections for communities and drinking water supplies
, helping to address disparities in access to a clean and safe environment. The Administration also launched a comprehensive effort to combat cancer risks associated with PFAS that, for many years, have been in the gear, equipment, and fire suppression agents used by firefighters. The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are leading efforts to measure blood PFAS levels in firefighters , and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer to collect detailed data to better understand the link between workplace exposures and cancer among firefighters.","publish":"2024-03-18 11:32:20","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/8ba163e13d6a817e2bea2442eccf9b71?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/8ba163e13d6a817e2bea2442eccf9b71?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-takes-historic-action-to-ban-asbestos-advancing-biden-cancer-moonshot-95312-20240318","headline":"FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Takes Historic Action to Ban Asbestos, Advancing Biden Cancer Moonshot","description":"
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN
AND TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR OF IRELAND
AT A ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION
East Room
5:25 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello.
AUDIENCE: Hello.
THE PRESIDENT: We've got a great guest with us today. We -- we ought to change the rules in the United States: When St. Patrick's Day falls on a Sunday, the next day is a holiday.
On behalf of the Finnegans of County Louth and the Blewitts of County Mayo -- -- my mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden of Scranton, Pennsylvania -- welcome -- welcome to St. Patrick's Day at the White House.
The Taoiseach and I extend a hundred thousand welcomes to you, all you -- every one of you. Whether you're Irish or whether you wish you were Irish -- -- we're very glad you're all here.
Look, St. Patrick's Day is about friendship. And we have many friends here today, because St. Patrick is a moment that -- great unity in Washington. Whether you're from the red state or a blue state, on this day, you're Irish green. And so -- .
We're joined by members of Congress, as well as members of my Cabinet.
Claire Cronin is here, our ambassador, who's doing -- -- Claire, you're doing great work.
And, of course, our guest of honor, the Taoiseach. It's wonderful to welcome you and Matthew back to the White House.
We've spent a lot of -- quite a lot of time together on this visit, visiting Capitol Hill, sharing laughs at the Gridiron Dinner. Kamala had you over for breakfast as well. And on top of all that, yesterday Ireland won the Six Nations rugby .
My whole family is so excited because two of my cousins who no longer play for the team -- they were great stars -- you won anyway.
It's been a great visit that captures how strong the friendship is between our countries.
Look, we also have friends here today from Northern Ireland: the First Minister and Deputy First Minister -- Michelle, Emma. Where are you, Michelle? It's great to have you here.
And I was very happy to see Northern Ireland's Executive Assembly reinstated last month. Now, Northern Ireland has a fully functioning government again. And -- I didn't your colleague.
Young people of Northern Ireland represent the great peace dividend of the Belfast\/Good Friday Agreement -- the entire generation whose hearts have been shaped not by grievances of the past but by confidence in a better future that we're writing together.
The United States believes -- believes in that future.
Joe Kennedy is here tonight, along w- -- -- that's okay, Joe Joe; you only have 57 here -- -- along with dozens of family members . He's leading the charge to ramp up investments in Northern Ireland, because economic opportunity is going to help make the benefits of peace real and lasting. And from one big Irish Catholic family to another, it's great to have the Kennedys here .
Folks, St. Patrick's Day is a joyful occasion. It's a time to remember with pride our ties to the Emerald Isle -- the land of poets and dreamers, fierce fighters, hard workers who endured decades of poverty and subjugation and pers- -- and persevered through it all, because the Irish spirit can never -- can never -- can never be overcome.
Folks, we remember with awe the waves of Irish immigrants who had the courage to travel across the sea, because they believed, as the poet Seamus Heaney once wrote, \"a further shore is reachable from here\" -- that's what he wrote about -- \"a further shore is reachable from here.\" They arrived in America with little more than hope in their hearts and the strength of their dreams. Their sweat is soaked into the foundations of this country.
As I said at the State of the Union, America has a heart and soul that draws in the old and the new -- home to people of every place on Earth -- from every place on Earth. We all come from somewhere, but we're all Americans. We can never forget that. That's the critical element that binds us together.
And this year, Ireland and the United States mark a milestone: 100 years of diplom- -- diplomatic relations between our countries. One hundred years. I was not -- -- I want to make clear: I wasn't there at the hundredth.
In that time, the ties between us have deepened and multiplied. Our economic partnership has grown tremendously -- in both directions, I might add. Ireland now is one of the top 10 investors in the United States' economy.
And our countries stand -- stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russia's brutal war of aggression in Ukraine. You can clap for that, please. We've got to get this done.
And the Taoiseach and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and get the ceasefire deal -- -- to get a ceasefire deal that brings our -- brings the hostages home and move toward a two-state solution, which is the only path -- the only path for a lasting peace and security.
Folks, my friends, since the last time we celebrated St. Patrick's Day together, I made the trip of a lifetime back home to Belfast in 202- -- the 25 th anniversary of the peace accords; then to County Louth where I visited the church where my ancestors were baptized; then to Dublin for a speech at the Irish Parliament; and, finally, to County Mayo, to the town called Ballina.
There, a huge cathedral -- St. Murdoch's -- right on the banks of the River Moy. One of the men who helped build that was Edward Blewitt, my great-great-great-grandfather. He worked in the town -- in the town brickyard.
In 1828, he was paid -- and they gave me a receipt -- 21 pounds and 12 shillings to help supply the bricks for that cathedral. It was made able to touch -- I was -- it was made, and I was able to touch some of it with my own hands, the very bricks he made.
And all I could think was this: I'm sure [as] Edward labored, he imagined that one day his family would worship at that cathedral, that his children would be baptized there, that future generations of his family would make milestone -- mark milestones there. But I doubt he imagined, nearly 200 years later, his great-great-great-grandson would return to the cathedral as President of the United States of America.
On that trip, before I got there, I toured Carlingford Castle -- as you remember -- in County Louth -- Taoiseach. It was likely one of the last glimpses of Ireland that my Finnegan ancestors saw when they sailed away to new lives -- for new lives in America. They left in the port of Newry in the year 1850.
And here's an amazing fact. It turns out that [is] the exact same port Barack Obama's ancestors sailed from. They left five weeks earlier, his ancestors. They were nearly on the same ship. Both of our great-great-great-great-grandchildren -- both of their great-great-[great]-grandchildren ended up President of the United States of America. It's remarkable.
Stories like these are why I often say the Irish are the only people who are nostalgic about the future. We believe in better tomorrows and we've always -- looking for the next horizon. That's a very American trait as well.
Just more proof that the bonds between Ireland and the United States run deep -- our joys, our sorrows, our passions, our dreams, our optimism. Even the most -- in the most difficult moments, we hold onto hope. That's what we do. We see the world of unlimited possibilities, a future that knows no bounds. And we're writing that future now, and we're doing it together, Ireland and America, just as we have for generations.
Let me end with this. As I said on St. Patrick's Day, at the core of our friend- -- at the core of our friendship, I remember the words -- the words of another great Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, who said, \"Think where man's glory most begins and ends and say my glory was I had such friends.\"
We celebrate the bonds of our friendship today, connecting millions of Irish [DEL: Americans :DEL] and the American people. We celebrate the friendship between two great nations -- one that has shaped our past and strengthened our present and inspires our future.
So, happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody.
And now, I'd like to welcome the Taoiseach to the podium.
TAOISEACH VARADKAR: Mr. President, senators, representatives, deputies, MLAs, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, a chairde.
Before I start, I just wanted to very briefly acknowledge two special guests who flew here to be here today. They are Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe from Element Pictures, who made us very proud by winning four Oscars. So -- . So, thank you both so much for the encouragement that you give to other artists and other producers, and it's great to have you here today.
Mr. President, nearly 250 years ago, Irishmen fought as part of your independence struggle. And exactly 100 years ago, the United States became the first country to formally recognize the newly independent Irish state and establish diplomatic relations. The exchange of ambassadors recognized the sacred promise that had been made between our peoples, forged over centuries, and reflecting the powerful bond between our countries.
This week, meeting so many proud Irish Americans, I've been thinking a lot about sacred promises. And I've been thinking, in particular, of the words of one courageous Irish American, a lawyer and a decorated war hero, who spoke so elo- -- eloquently about the sacred promises that we make as leaders.
To quote his words, \"It's about the promises we make to our children, who deserve a chance to succeed\" -- the promises we make to each other, the sacred promise to work for a better future for all. Those were the words of Beau Biden.
And I know when we're elected to office, we each make a sacred promise to our communities, our party, our country, to ourselves, and we dedicate ourselves to honor it -- not always succeeding, but always doing our best, no matter how challenging the circumstances.
President Biden, one of your country's most sacred promises is to defend the principles of democracy and freedom against tyranny and oppression. And when Ukraine was invaded, you honored that promise and stood firm against an adversary who tore up the rulebook of international law and repudiated our sacred humanity.
So, on behalf of Ireland and the wider European community, we commend your leadership and reaffirm that Europe stands with you and with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
The battle lines are 5,000 miles away, but if Ukraine loses, Putin will soon threaten others closer to home. Dictators cannot be appeased. Dictators can only be defeated. And liberty must prevail.
This evening, in this White House, I'm also reminded by the words of another great Irish American president, John F. Kennedy, who spoke to the Oireachtas -- the Irish Parliament -- in the final months of his life.
President Kennedy issued a challenge to the Irish nation to be the protector of the weak and small. And when somebody dies before their time, as he did, their words can assume a kind of prophecy, a sort of sacred promise for the future.
As a country, we've tried to live up to the mission he set for us when he predicted that one day we would have something to give the world, \"a future of peace with freedom.\" And those words resonate even more strongly today.
And tonight, let us all reflect on the words of President Kennedy when he urged us to do the most important work of peace in protecting the weak and small. And as he said in the Irish Parliament, \"from Cork to Congo, from Galway to the Gaza Strip.\"
President Biden, wh- -- when we met on Friday, we spoke of our shared hope for Israeli and Palestinian states living side by side in peace and security.
And I've always believed that America is a force for good in the world. You've helped to advance liberty and democracy around the globe. You saved Europe and the world from fascism in the 1940 s, from communism after that. You stopped ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and Bosnia and helped bring peace to Ireland and unification to Germany. And today, you stand with us in our fight to save democracy and freedom in Ukraine.
Mr. President, as you know, the Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe that's unhol- -- unfolding before our eyes in Gaza. And when I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people. And the answer is simple: We see our history in their eyes -- a story of displacement, of dispossession and national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger.
So, we support your work and that of your administration to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and create -- to create the space for lasting peace.
The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine, and shelter. And most especially, they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop, on both sides, the hostages brought home, and humanitarian relief allowed in.
Israel must reverse its precipitous decision to authorize a land incursion into Rafah.
And after 100 years of violence, as you said, the only secure future lies in two states, peaceful and sovereign, side by side. And Ireland stands ready to recognize a Palestinian state with like-minded partners when it's most helpful for peace.
Mr. President, we also see Israel's history reflected in our eyes: a diaspora whose heart never left home, no matter how many generations passed; a nation state that was reborn; and a language revived.
I believe it's possible to be for Israel and for Palestine, and I believe you do too -- -- because the life of a Palestinian child is equal to that of an Israeli one, and the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have a homeland and a fully-fledged state in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israel's.
And I also believe there are lessons that can be drawn from our own peace process in Northern Ireland, particularly the concept of parity of esteem and the totality of relationships -- and also the crucial role of America, which provided a chairman for our peace talks in Senator George Mitchell. There was a permanent secretariat, and America provided confidence and oversight.
Mr. President, as you know, today we're joined here in the White House by Michelle O'Neill as First Minister and Emma Little-Pengelly as Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland -- -- a joint office in which they are co-equal -- two courageous women, demonstrating every day what's possible by putting aside old animosities and working together.
The Good Friday Agreement is working again. And thank you all so much for making that possible.
I think they've got off to a great start. And the Irish government is working with them and the Executive in Belfast to build on the peace and prosperity that has been achieved in the last 26 years and to make sure it's shared by all.
And thank you, Mr. President, for your ongoing interest in Ireland and Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement.
We've known each other for many years, met on many occasions, and the only -- your only ask has ever been: How can I help?
So, thank you, Mr. President, for the warm welcome you've extended to me, the enormous amount of time you've given to me and my delegation on this very special occasion.
5:43 P.M.","publish":"2024-03-18 10:54:04","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/bc33ce7416200456789166f2b2cb37d1?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/bc33ce7416200456789166f2b2cb37d1?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"Hlk6eLH1tG8","headline":"Keenan Jones Joins the First Lady to Discuss Student Loan Forgiveness at Biden's State of the Union","description":"Keenan joined the First Lady at President Biden\u2019s State of the Union.\n\nA public school educator in Minnesota, Keenan had his student debt eliminated because of the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.\n\nNow, he has the breathing room to focus on what really matters \u2013 helping his own daughter attend college.","publish":"2024-03-18 08:18:01","update":"2024-03-18 11:26:01","source":"YouTube: The White House","type":"Video","subtype":null,"url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Hlk6eLH1tG8","photo_url":"https:\/\/i1.ytimg.com\/vi\/Hlk6eLH1tG8\/hqdefault.jpg","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Hlk6eLH1tG8","video_duration":null,"platform":"YouTube","author":"The White House","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/youtube\/Hlk6eLH1tG8?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"ZqFntNa-00M","headline":"UAW Member Dawn Joins President Biden at The State of The Union","description":"Dawn, a proud UAW Local 1268 member for over 20 years, joined @POTUS at his State of the Union address.\n\nThanks to the strength and solidarity of her union, the UAW-Big Three contract reopened her plant, bringing thousands of good-paying jobs back home and stabilizing her future.","publish":"2024-03-18 07:20:02","update":"2024-03-18 08:20:01","source":"YouTube: The White House","type":"Video","subtype":null,"url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZqFntNa-00M","photo_url":"https:\/\/i3.ytimg.com\/vi\/ZqFntNa-00M\/hqdefault.jpg","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZqFntNa-00M","video_duration":null,"platform":"YouTube","author":"The White House","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/youtube\/ZqFntNa-00M?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"statement-from-communications-director-kirsten-allen-on-the-visit-of-president-arevalo-of-guatemala-to-the-white-house-95319-20240318","headline":"Statement from Communications Director Kirsten Allen on the Visit of President Ar\u00e9valo of Guatemala to the White House","description":"
Statement from Communications Director Kirsten Allen on the Visit of President Ar\u00e9valo of Guatemala to the White House
Vice President Harris will welcome President Bernardo Ar\u00e9valo of Guatemala to the White House on March 25. The visit underscores the United States' commitment to supporting good governance and democracy in Guatemala, following President Arev\u00e9lo's inauguration in January 2024. The Vice President's meeting with President Ar\u00e9valo will strengthen the U.S.-Guatemala bilateral relationship and advance joint ongoing efforts to promote development, bolster democracy, and address the root causes of migration. The Vice President and President Ar\u00e9velo will discuss additional efforts to address the drivers of irregular migration from northern Central America while continuing the implementation of the Biden-Harris Administration's Root Causes Strategy, including in the areas of: civilian security, good governance, human rights and labor protections, gender-based violence, and economic opportunity. During the visit of President Ar\u00e9valo, the Vice President will convene leaders from government, the
private sector, and civil society as part of Central America Forward, the public-private partnership that has mobilized more than $4.2 billion in commitments and continues generating private sector investments in northern Central America to create jobs and economic opportunities.","publish":"2024-03-18 06:59:43","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/6ba74441ef3f29358511c23c7d576fec?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/6ba74441ef3f29358511c23c7d576fec?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"joint-statement-on-efforts-to-counter-the-proliferation-and-misuse-of-commercial-spyware-73324-20240318","headline":"Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware","description":"
FACT SHEET: President Biden Issues Executive Order and Announces New Actions to Advance Women's Health Research and Innovation
In his State of the Union address, President Biden laid out his vision for transforming women's health research and improving women's lives all across America. The President called on Congress to make a bold, transformative investment of $12 billion in new funding for women's health research. This investment would be used to create a Fund for Women's Health Research at the National Institutes of Health to advance a cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research agenda and to establish a new nationwide network of research centers of excellence and innovation in women's health--which would serve as a national gold standard for women's health research across the lifespan.
It is long past time to ensure women get the answers they need when it comes to their health--from cardiovascular disease to autoimmune diseases to menopause-related conditions. To pioneer the next generation of discoveries, the President and the First Lady launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research , which aims to fundamentally change how we approach and fund women's health research in the United States.
Today, President Biden is signing a new Executive Order that will direct the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to expand and improve research on women's health. These directives will ensure women's health is integrated and prioritized across the federal research portfolio and budget, and will galvanize new research on a wide range of topics, including women's midlife health.
The President and First Lady are also announcing more than twenty new actions and commitments by federal agencies, including through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services , the Department of Defense , the Department of Veterans Affairs , and the National Science Foundation . This includes the launch of a new NIH-wide effort that will direct key investments of $200 million in Fiscal Year 2025 to fund new, interdisciplinary women's health research--a first step towards the transformative central Fund on Women's Health that the President has called on Congress to invest in. These actions also build on the First Lady's announcement last month of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Sprint for Women's Health , which committed $100 million towards transformative research and development in women's health.
Today, the President is issuing an Executive Order that will:
Integrate Women's Health Across the Federal Research Portfolio. The Executive Order directs the Initiative's constituent agencies to develop and strengthen research and data standards on women's health across all relevant research and funding opportunities, with the goal of helping ensure that the Administration is better leveraging every dollar of federal funding for health research to improve women's health. These actions will build on the NIH's current policy to ensure that research it funds considers women's health in the development of study design and in data collection and analysis. Agencies will take action to ensure women's health is being considered at every step in the research process--from the applications that prospective grantees submit to the way that they report on grant implementation.
Prioritize Investments in Women's Health Research. The Executive Order directs the Initiative's constituent agencies to prioritize funding for women's health research and encourage innovation in women's health, including through ARPA-H and multi-agency initiatives such as the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. These entities are dedicated to high-impact research and innovation, including through the support of early-stage small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in research and innovation. The Executive Order further directs HHS and NSF to study ways to leverage artificial intelligence to advance women's health research. These additional investments--across a wide range of agencies--will support innovation and open new doors to breakthroughs in women's health.
Galvanize New Research on Women's Midlife Health. To narrow research gaps on diseases and conditions associated with women's midlife health or that are more likely to occur after menopause, such as rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, and osteoporosis, the President is directing HHS to: expand data collection efforts related to women's midlife health; launch a comprehensive research agenda that will guide future investments in menopause-related research; identify ways to improve management of menopause-related issues and the clinical care that women receive; and develop new resources to help women better understand their options for menopause-related symptoms prevention and treatment. The Executive Order also directs the DoD and VA to study and take steps to improve the treatment of, and research related to, menopause for Service women and women veterans.
Assess Unmet Needs to Support Women's Health Research. The Executive Order directs the Office of Management and Budget and the Gender Policy Council to lead a robust effort to assess gaps in federal funding for women's health research and identify changes--whether statutory, regulatory, or budgetary--that are needed to maximally support the broad scope of women's health research across the federal government. Agencies will also be required to report annually on their investments in women's health research, as well as progress towards their efforts to improve women's health.
Today, agencies are also announcing new actions they are taking to promote women's health research, as part of their ongoing efforts through the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. Agencies are announcing actions to:
Prioritize and Increase Investments in Women's Health Research
Launch an NIH-Cross Cutting Effort to Transform Women's Health Throughout the Lifespan. NIH is launching an NIH-wide effort to close gaps in women's health research across the lifespan. This effort--which will initially be supported by $200 million from NIH beginning in FY 2025--will allow NIH to catalyze interdisciplinary research, particularly on issues that cut across the traditional mandates of the institutes and centers at NIH. It will also allow NIH to launch ambitious, multi-faceted research projects such as research on the impact of perimenopause and menopause on heart health, brain health and bone health. In addition, the President's FY25 Budget Request would double current funding for the NIH Office of Research on Women's Health to support new and existing initiatives that emphasize women's health research.
This coordinated, NIH-wide effort will be co-chaired by the NIH Office of the Director, the Office of Research on Women's Health, and the institute directors from the National Institute on Aging; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institute on Drug Abuse; the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; the National Institute on Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Invest in Research on a Wide Range of Women's Health Issues. The bipartisan Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program , led out of DoD, funds research on women's health encompassing a range of diseases and conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately, or differently from men. While the programs and topic areas directed by Congress differ each year, CDMRP has consistently funded research to advance women's health since its creation in 1993. In Fiscal Year 2022, DoD implemented nearly $490 million in CDMRP investments towards women's health research projects ranging from breast and ovarian cancer to lupus to orthotics and prosthetics in women. In Fiscal Year 2023, DoD anticipates implementing approximately $500 million in CDMRP funding for women's health research, including in endometriosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic fatigue.
Call for New Proposals on Emerging Women's Health Issues. Today, NSF is calling for new research and education proposals to advance discoveries and innovations related to women's health. To promote multidisciplinary solutions to women's health disparities, NSF invites applications that would improve women's health through a wide range of disciplines--from computational research to engineering biomechanics. This is the first time that NSF has broadly called for novel and transformative research that is focused entirely on women's health topics, and proposals will be considered on an ongoing basis.
Increase Research on How Environmental Factors Affect Women's Health. The Environmental Protection Agency is updating its grant solicitations and contracts to ensure that applicants prioritize, as appropriate, the consideration of women's exposures and health outcomes. These changes will help ensure that women's health is better accounted for across EPA's research portfolio and increase our knowledge of women's environmental health--from endocrine disruption to toxic exposure.
Create a Dedicated, One-Stop Shop for NIH Funding Opportunities on Women's Health. Researchers are often unaware of existing opportunities to apply for federal funding. To help close this gap, NIH is issuing a new Notice of Special Interest that identifies current, open funding opportunities related to women's health research across a wide range of health conditions and all Institutes, Centers, and Offices. The NIH Office of Research on Women's Health will build on this new Notice by creating a dedicated one-stop shop on open funding opportunities related to women's health research. This will make it easier for researchers and institutions to find and apply for funding--instead of having to search across each of NIH's 27 institutes for funding opportunities.
Foster Innovation and Discovery in Women's Health
Accelerate Transformative Research and Development in Women's Health. ARPA-H's Sprint for Women's Health launched in February 2024 commits $100 million to transformative research and development in women's health. ARPA-H is soliciting ideas for novel groundbreaking research and development to address women's health, as well as opportunities to accelerate and scale tools, products, and platforms with the potential for commercialization to improve women's health outcomes.
Support Private Sector Innovation Through Additional Federal Investments in Women's Health Research. The NIH's competitive Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program is committing to further increasing--by 50 percent--its investments in supporting innovators and early-stage small businesses engaged in research and development on women's health. These programs will solicit new proposals on promising women's health innovation and make evidence-based investments that bridge the gap between performance of basic science and commercialization of resulting innovations. This commitment for additional funds builds on the investments the Administration has already made to increase innovation in women's health through small businesses, including by increasing investments by sevenfold between Fiscal Year 2021 and Fiscal Year 2023.
Advance Initiatives to Protect and Promote the Health of Women. The Food and Drug Administration seeks to advance efforts to help address gaps in research and availability of products for diseases and conditions that primarily impact women, or for which scientific considerations may be different for women, and is committed to research and regulatory initiatives that facilitate the development of safe and effective medical products for women. FDA also plans to issue guidance for industry that relates to the inclusion of women in clinical trials and conduct outreach to stakeholders to discuss opportunities to advance women's health across the lifespan. And FDA's Office of Women's Health will update FDA's framework for women's health research and seek to fund research with an emphasis on bridging gaps in knowledge on important women's health topics, including sex differences and conditions that uniquely or disproportionately impact women.
Use Biomarkers to Improve the Health of Women Through Early Detection and Treatment of Conditions, such as Endometriosis. NIH will launch a new initiative dedicated to research on biomarker discovery and validation to help improve our ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat conditions that affect women uniquely, including endometriosis. This NIH initiative will accelerate our ability to identify new pathways for diagnosis and treatment by encouraging multi-sector collaboration and synergistic research that will speed the transfer of knowledge from bench to bedside.
Leverage Engineering Research to Improve Women's Health. The NSF Engineering Research Visioning Alliance is convening national experts to identify high-impact research opportunities in engineering that can improve women's health. ERVA's Transforming Women's Health Outcomes Through Engineering visioning event will be held in June 2024, and will bring together experts from across engineering--including those in microfluidics, computational modeling, artificial intelligence\/imaging, and diagnostic technologies and devices--to evaluate the landscape for new applications in women's health. Following this event, ERVA will issue a report and roadmap on critical areas where engineering research can impact women's health across the lifespan.
Drive Engineering Innovations in Women's Health Discovery. NSF awardees at Texas A&M University will hold a conference in summer 2024 to collectively identify challenges and opportunities in improving women's health through engineering. Biomedical engineers and scientists will explore and identify how various types of engineering tools, including biomechanics and immuno-engineering, can be applied to women's health and spark promising new research directions.
Expand and Leverage Data Collection and Analysis Related to Women's Health
Help Standardize Data to Support Research on Women's Health. NIH is launching an effort to identify and develop new common data elements related to women's health that will help researchers share and combine datasets, promote interoperability, and improve the accuracy of datasets when it comes to women's health. NIH will initiate this process by convening data and scientific experts across the federal government to solicit feedback on the need to develop new NIH-endorsed common data elements--which are widely used in both research and clinical settings. By advancing new tools to capture more data about women's health, NIH will give researchers and clinicians the tools they need to enable more meaningful data collection, analysis, and reporting and comprehensively improve our knowledge of women's health.
Reflect Women's Health Needs in National Coverage Determinations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will strengthen its review process, including through Coverage with Evidence Development guidance, to ensure that new medical services and technologies work well in women, as applicable, before being covered nationally through the Medicare program. This will help ensure that Medicare funds are used for treatments with a sufficient evidence base to show that they actually work in women, who make up more than half of the Medicare population.
Leverage Data and Quality Measures to Advance Women's Health Research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration are building on existing datasets to improve the collection, analysis, and reporting of information on women's health. The CDC is expanding the collection of key quality measures across a woman's lifespan, including to understand the link between pregnancy and post-partum hypertension and heart disease, and plans to release the Million Hearts Hypertension in Pregnancy Change Package. This resource will feature a menu of evidence-informed strategies by which clinicians can change care processes. Each strategy includes tested tools and resources to support related clinical quality improvement. HRSA is modernizing its Uniform Data System in ways that will improve the ability to assess how women are being served through HRSA-funded health centers. By improving the ability to analyze data on key clinical
quality measures, CDC and HRSA can help close gaps in women's health care access and identify new opportunities for high-impact research.
Strengthen Coordination, Infrastructure, and Training to Support Women's Health Research
Launch New Joint Collaborative to Improve Women's Health Research for Service Members and Veterans. DoD and VA are launching a new Women's Health Research collaborative to explore opportunities that further promote joint efforts to advance women's health research and improve evidence-based care for Service members and veterans. The collaborative will increase coordination with the goal of helping improve care across the lifespan for women in the military and women veterans. The Departments will further advance research on key women's health issues and develop a roadmap to close pressing research gaps, including those specifically affecting Service women and women veterans.
Coordinate Research to Advance the Health of Women in the Military. DoD will invest $10 million, contingent on available funds, in the Military Women's Health Research Partnership. This Partnership is led by the Uniformed Services University and advances and coordinates women's health research across the Department. The Partnership is supporting research in a wide range of health issues affecting women in the military, including cancers, mental and behavioral health, and the unique health care needs of Active Duty Service Women. In addition, the Uniformed Services University established a dedicated Director of Military Women's Health Research Program, a role that is responsible for identifying research gaps, fostering collaboration, and coordinating and aligning a unified approach to address the evolving needs of Active Duty Service Women.
Support EPA-Wide Research and Dissemination of Data on Women's Health. EPA is establishing a Women's Health Community of Practice to coordinate research and data dissemination. EPA also plans to direct the Board of Scientific Counselors to identify ways to advance EPA's research with specific consideration of the intersection of environmental factors and women's health, including maternal health.
Expand Fellowship Training in Women's Health Research. CDC, in collaboration with the CDC Foundation and American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is expanding training in women's health research and public health surveillance to OBGYNs, nurses and advanced practice nurses. Through fellowships and public health experiences with CDC, these clinicians will gain public health research skills to improve the health of women and children exposed to or affected by infectious diseases, mental health and substance use disorders. CDC will invite early career clinicians to train in public health and policy to become future leaders in women's health research.
Improve Women's Health Across the Lifespan
Create a Comprehensive Research Agenda on Menopause. To help women get the answers they need about menopause, NIH will launch its first-ever Pathways to Prevention series on menopause and the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Pathways to Prevention is an independent, evidence-based process to synthesize the current state of the evidence, identify gaps in existing research, and develop a roadmap that can be used to help guide the field forward. The report, once completed, will help guide innovation and investments in menopause-related research and care across the federal government and research community.
Improve Primary Care and Preventive Services for Women. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality will issue a Notice of Intent to publish a funding opportunity announcement for research to advance the science of primary care, which will include a focus on women's health. Through this funding opportunity, AHRQ will build evidence about key elements of primary care that influence patient outcomes and advance health equity--focusing on women of color--such as care coordination, continuity of care, comprehensiveness of care, person-centered care, and trust. The results from the funding opportunity will shed light on vital targets for improvements in the delivery of primary healthcare across a woman's lifespan, including women's health preventive services, prevention and management of multiple chronic diseases, perinatal care, transition from pediatric to adult care, sexual and reproductive health, and care of older adults.
Promote the Health of American Indian and Alaska Native Women. The Indian Health Service is launching a series of engagements, including focus groups, to better understand tribal beliefs related to menopause in American Indian and Alaska Native Women. This series will inform new opportunities to expand culturally informed patient care and research as well as the development of new resources and educational materials.
Connect Research to Real-World Outcomes to Improve Women's Mental and Behavioral Health. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is supporting a range of health care providers to address the unique needs of women with or at risk for mental health and substance use disorders. Building on its current efforts to provide technical assistance through various initiatives , SAMHSA intends, contingent on available funds, to launch a new comprehensive Women's Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center. This center will identify and improve the implementation of best practices in women's behavioral health across the life span; identify and fill critical gaps in knowledge of and resources for women's behavioral health; and provide learning opportunities, training, and technical assistance for healthcare providers.
Support Research on Maternal Health Outcomes. USDA will fund research to help recognize early warning signs of maternal morbidity and mortality in recipients of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children , and anticipates awarding up to $5 million in Fiscal Year 2023 to support maternal health research through WIC. In addition, research being conducted through the Agricultural Research Service's Human Nutrition Research Centers is focusing on women's health across the lifespan, including the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women and older adults.","publish":"2024-03-18 04:59:45","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/7d71af439c050f29b8018f10b15183d0?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/7d71af439c050f29b8018f10b15183d0?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"33135ad8f3b241a2f315adee038dfd6d","headline":"Email: Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of ...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2024
Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware
At the third Summit for Democracy on March 18, 2024, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and Republic of Korea joined this first-of-its-kind international commitment to work collectively to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware. This joint statement, which was originally announced at the second Summit for Democracy on March 30, 2023, has been updated to reflect these additional countries.
We, the governments of Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, recognize the threat posed by the misuse of commercial spyware and the need for strict domestic and international controls on the proliferation and use of such technology.
Commercial spyware has been misused across the world by authoritarian regimes and in democracies. Too often, such powerful and invasive tools have been used to target and intimidate perceived opponents and facilitate efforts to curb dissent; limit freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, or association; enable human rights violations and abuses or suppression of civil liberties; or track or target individuals without proper legal authorization, safeguards, or oversight. The misuse of these tools presents significant and growing risks to our national security, including to the safety and security of our government personnel, information, and information systems.
We therefore share a fundamental national security and foreign policy interest in countering and preventing the proliferation of commercial spyware that has been or risks being misused for such purposes, in light of our core interests in protecting individuals and organizations at risk around the world; defending activists, dissidents, and journalists against threats to their freedom and dignity; promoting respect for human rights; and upholding democratic principles and the rule of law. We are committed, where applicable and subject to national legal frameworks, to implementing the Guiding Principles on Government Use of Surveillance Technologies and the Code of Conduct developed within the Export Controls and Human Rights Initiative.
To advance these interests, we are partnering to counter the misuse of commercial spyware and commit to:
1. working within our respective systems to establish robust guardrails and procedures to ensure that any commercial spyware use by our governments is consistent with respect for universal human rights, the rule of law, and civil rights and civil liberties;
2. preventing the export of software, technology, and equipment to end-users who are likely to use them for malicious cyber activity, including unauthorized intrusion into information systems, in accordance with our respective legal, regulatory, and policy approaches and appropriate existing export control regimes;
3. robust information sharing on commercial spyware proliferation and misuse, including to better identify and track these tools;
4. working closely with industry partners and civil society groups to inform our approach, help raise awareness, and set appropriate standards, while also continuing to support innovation; and
5. engaging additional partner governments around the world, as well as other appropriate stakeholders, to better align our policies and export control authorities to mitigate collectively the misuse of commercial spyware and drive reform in this industry, including by encouraging industry and investment firms to follow the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Our efforts will allow us to work collectively for the first time as we develop and implement policies to discourage the misuse of commercial spyware and encourage the development and implementation of responsible use principles that are consistent with respect for universal human rights, the rule of law, and civil rights and civil liberties.","publish":"2024-03-18 04:59:43","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/33135ad8f3b241a2f315adee038dfd6d?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/33135ad8f3b241a2f315adee038dfd6d?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"1941a52c5d811c8ba121dcf365f684d2","headline":"Email: Daily Guidance for the Vice President for Monday, March 18, 2024","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2024
DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR
MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024
At 11:30 am ET, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the President and First Lady's Women's History Month reception. The Second Gentleman will attend. This event in the East Room will be open to pre-credentialed media.
At 3:15 pm ET, the President and Vice President will receive the President's Daily Brief. This meeting in the Oval Office will be closed press.
In the afternoon, the Vice President will record two political radio interviews.","publish":"2024-03-17 23:06:39","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/1941a52c5d811c8ba121dcf365f684d2?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/1941a52c5d811c8ba121dcf365f684d2?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"remarks-by-president-biden-and-taoiseach-leo-varadkar-of-ireland-at-a-st-patricks-day-celebration-95315-20240317","headline":"Remarks by President Biden and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland at a St. Patrick\u2019s Day Celebration","description":"
WEEK AHEAD GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 18 \u2013 MARCH 23, 2024
On Monday, March 18, the Vice President will deliver remarks at the President and First Lady's Women's History Month reception. The Second Gentleman will attend. This event in the East Room will be open to pre-credentialed media.
Later, the Vice President will record two political radio interviews.
On Wednesday, March 20, the Vice President will participate in a moderated conversation at the League of Conservation Voters' Annual Capital Dinner.
On Friday, March 22, the Vice President will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to supporting Puerto Rico's recovery and renewal. During her visit, she will highlight how her and the President's Investing in America agenda \u2013 including the historic American Rescue Plan , Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 are delivering results and bringing good jobs to the island.
Later, the Vice President will travel to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
On Saturday, March 23, the Vice President will travel to Parkland, FL to continue her leadership on addressing the epidemic of gun violence and keeping communities safe. During her trip, the Vice President will visit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and meet with families who lost loved ones during the 2018 mass shooting that took the lives of 14 students and three staff members.
Later, the Vice President will return to Washington, DC.","publish":"2024-03-17 22:35:17","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/625ae5d7f2942546adeebcd30e097b13?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/625ae5d7f2942546adeebcd30e097b13?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"23dc4c99e95ef4c6a2cfb7180b598d4e","headline":"Email: Week Ahead Guidance for the Week of March 18, 2024 \u2013 March 24, 2024","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2024
WEEK AHEAD GUIDANCE FOR
THE WEEK OF March 18, 2024 \u2013 March 24, 2024
Monday, March 18, 2024
The President and the First Lady will host a Women's History Month reception at the White House. The President will announce the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to advance women's health research and innovation. The First Lady and the Vice President will also deliver remarks, and the Second Gentleman will attend.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The President will travel to Reno, Nevada.
The President will participate in a campaign event.
The President will depart Reno, Nevada en route Las Vegas, Nevada.
The President will deliver remarks on lowering costs for American families.
The President will depart Las Vegas, Nevada en route Phoenix, Arizona.
The President will participate in a campaign event.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
The President will deliver remarks on his Investing in America agenda.
The President will depart Phoenix, Arizona en route Dallas, Texas.
The President will participate in two campaign receptions.
Thursday, March 21, 2024
The President will depart Dallas, Texas en route Houston, Texas.
The President will participate in a campaign reception.
The President will return to Washington, DC.
Friday, March 22, 2024
The President will depart the White House en route Wilmington, Delaware.","publish":"2024-03-17 22:24:48","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/23dc4c99e95ef4c6a2cfb7180b598d4e?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/23dc4c99e95ef4c6a2cfb7180b598d4e?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"2b30a4a3a4f42dc5709d11c8e57d2f6a","headline":"Email: Remarks by President Biden at a St. Patrick's Day Brunch With Catholic...","description":"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2024
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BIDEN
AT A ST. PATRICK'S DAY BRUNCH WITH CATHOLIC LEADERS
East Room
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Well, happy St. Patrick's Day.
Please -- . Well, thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for making me look so good in front of my daughter. Please sit.
Well, good morning everyone.
AUDIENCE: Good morning.
THE PRESIDENT: Taoiseach, I'm so glad to get to spend the day together again.
Your Eminence, thank you very much for being here as well.
I'm glad to be joined by so many friends and -- from the Catholic Bishops Conference, as well as the Archdiocese of Washington.
And it's great to see our Special Envoy for Economic Affairs to Northern Ireland, Joe Kennedy. Where are you, Joe Joe? It doesn't go very much noticed, but Joe is doing one heck of a job -- you really are, Joe -- pulling things together. Thank you.
And it's great to have Kerry and Kathleen Kennedy. Where are Kerry and Kathleen?
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Hello.
THE PRESIDENT: There you are. Welcome almost home. It wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without you.
And, also, Sister Carol Keehan and Sister Simone Campbell. Where's -- where are you, Sisters? The Nuns on the Bus. You remember, right? God, I love you guys. Thanks for being such great, great partners.
And welcome, everyone, to St. Patrick's Day at the White House.
You know, this has always been a special day for the Biden family and the Biden household. It's not just about heritage, but it really is about faith. So much of it being Irish means to be connected to the Catholic teachings I grew up with.
I went to St. -- as they say in Scranton, St. Paul's -- -- meaning \"Paul's\" -- St. Paul's School in Scranton, Holy Rosary in Claymont and St. Helena's, and then Archmere Academy.
And, you know, I like the belief that we've learned from the beginning: that we're all created equal in the image of God, that every single human being deserves to be treated with dignity.
My dad used to have an expression. My dad would say, \"Joey, a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It's about your dignity. It's about respect. It's about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, 'Honey, it's going to be okay.'\"
And it's not -- you know, that is -- it's just not enough to wish the world would be better. We have a duty to make it better.
My best friend in the world, my sister, Valerie, has -- Val, stand at up. I want people to -- .
Valerie used to be three years younger than me. Now, she's 20 years younger than me. I might note, there's no woman in the Biden household as old as any man in the household.
And, you know, our mother, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, used to say, \"Joey\" -- and I mean this; this is what she'd say, repeatedly -- \"as long as you're alive, you have an obligation to strive. And you're not done until you've seen the face of God. So, keep moving.\" That was her expression, for real.
And that belief inspired generations of Irish women and men to keep going, even in the face of enormous setbacks. And it convinced millions of Irish immigrants, including my ancestors and many of you here, to -- here today -- to leave their beloved homeland and begin a new life in America.
It led Ireland to become a global voice of liberty -- which it still is -- equality, and peace. And it continues to inspire the work of Catholic organizations represented here today.
The Catholic Church has always stepped in when people were suffering to meet their needs -- food, shelter, healthcare, education. Your organizations make real the instructions of Jesus and -- gave his apostles, \"Whatever you do unto the least of my brothers -- these, my brothers and sisters, you do unto me.\" And that's kind of the essence of who we all are.
I want to thank you all for the incredible, valuable work you do to support the vulnerable people in communities across the United States and, I might add, around the world.
So, thank you all for being here. Happy St. Patrick's Day.
And now, I'd like his Eminence, Cardinal Pierre, to come up here and to maybe give us a blessing.","publish":"2024-03-17 22:11:33","platform":"Email","author":"The White House","source":"White House Email: Press Release","url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/2b30a4a3a4f42dc5709d11c8e57d2f6a?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest","factbase_url":"https:\/\/factba.se\/topic\/latest\/email\/2b30a4a3a4f42dc5709d11c8e57d2f6a?utm_source=website&utm_medium=json&utm_campaign=latest"},{"feed_id":"remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-st-patricks-day-brunch-with-catholic-leaders-95290-20240317","headline":"Remarks by President Biden at a St. Patrick\u2019s Day Brunch with Catholic Leaders","description":"