April 29, 2024
President Joe Biden and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador spoke by telephone on Sunday, April 28 th about their continued commitment to strengthening bilateral and regional cooperation that will benefit the people of the United States and Mexico. The two leaders discussed how to effectively manage hemispheric migration, strengthen operational efficiency on our shared border, and thereby improve the security and prosperity of citizens of both countries. In the short term, the two leaders ordered their national security teams to work together to immediately implement concrete measures to significantly reduce irregular border crossings while protecting human rights. President Biden and President López Obrador also pledged to advance initiatives to address the root causes of migration throughout the Western Hemisphere, noting that increasing shared prosperity and security will be of critical importance in effectively addressing the migration challenge over the longer term.
April 29, 2024
Vice President Harris's visit highlights recent $158 million Reconnecting Communities Award for The Stitch project to reconnect Atlanta neighborhoods and drive economic growth
Vice President Harris to meet with small business owners who are taking advantage of Biden-Harris Administration resources to help launch and scale their businesses
Today, Vice President Kamala Harris is kicking off a nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour with a stop in Atlanta, GA. During this multi-state tour, the Vice President will be traveling across the country to highlight how the Biden-Harris Administration has built economic opportunity, supported communities, and delivered for the American people. The tour reflects President Biden and Vice President Harris' commitment to invest in all of America, create an economy in which every person has the freedom to thrive, and help underserved entrepreneurs access historic investments available locally to launch and scale their businesses, build wealth, and strengthen their communities.
While in Atlanta, Vice President Harris will highlight how the city is receiving $158 million for "The Stitch" project to reconnect midtown to downtown Atlanta through the Biden-Harris Administration's first-of-its-kind Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program. When constructed, the Downtown Connector sliced through communities like Sweet Auburn, cutting it off from Downtown and displacing hundreds of homes and businesses in primarily Black working-class neighborhoods. The Stitch project will create a 14-acre mixed-use development cap on three-quarters of the Downtown Connector--increasing access to jobs, housing, education, and healthcare and creating public parks, plazas, and surface streets for walking and biking.
The Stitch is only one of the projects awarded across more than 40 states as part of the announcement of $3.3 billion from the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program, which is funded by the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. This program will help rectify the damage done by past transportation projects – decades of harmful urban renewal projects and legacy policy decisions in the buildout of the Federal highway system that the Department of Transportation estimates displaced over a million people and businesses – while driving economic growth in underserved communities and helping advance racial equity.
The Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program is yet another way the Biden-Harris Administration is advancing economic opportunity, while taking on the legacy of harm in communities that have grappled with decades of disinvestment or economic distress. The Administration is focused on supporting economic comebacks in communities across the country; especially those that have suffered from decades of disinvestment.
The President and Vice President's strategy for investing in all of America has helped lead to a historically strong and equitable recovery, and a small business boom that is lifting communities across the country. Under the Biden-Harris Administration we've seen the three strongest years for new business applications on record. At the same time, Black business ownership has grown at its fastest pace in 30 years and the Latino new entrepreneurship rate reaching an all-time high in 2023. Today, the White House released the Building on the Biden-Harris Small Business Boom report to celebrate the start of National Small Business week and actions the Administration has taken to deliver for small businesses including:
Setting New Records – over $178 billion, representing more than 28% of federal contract spending – in Federal Procurement Dollars Awarded to Small Businesses, including over $76 billion to Small Disadvantaged Businesses in Fiscal Year 2023
On pace to nearly double the number of small dollar loans to small businesses in Fiscal Year 2024 thanks to Biden-Harris Administration policies. Less than one year since implementing policy reforms to increase access to small dollar loans, the Small Business Administration is on pace to increase approved 7 loans under $150,000 by a third compared to Fiscal Year 2023 and nearly double the number of small loans approved compared to the final year of the previous Administration.
Through the American Rescue Plan's State Small Business Credit Initiative , Treasury has approved over $8 billion in SSBCI capital support for small businesses that is expected to catalyze at least $10 in private investment for each dollar of SSBCI capital funding.
On track to deliver more than $250 billion to more than 500,000 small businesses through SBA's lending programs by the end of the decade, meeting Biden-Harris Administration commitment. Since President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, SBA has taken numerous steps to expand access to capital – including finalizing rules to increase small dollar lending, expanding programs that help connect traditionally underserved businesses with resources, and revamping its Lender Match portal – leading to the delivery of nearly $124 billion in financing to small businesses through its 7 , 504, and microloan programs to date.
Additionally, as part of her economic opportunity tour stop in Atlanta, the Vice President is helping highlight the historic Biden-Harris Administration investments in access to capital and small business support that are available to help entrepreneurs scale and grow their businesses in Georgia, including:
With a $65 million investment from the American Rescue Plan , the Georgia Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing Coalition , led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, is driving the equitable development and deployment of innovation and talent in artificial intelligence for manufacturing across Georgia. Built as a network of over 40 partners – including the Technical College System of Georgia, Spelman College, Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, Georgia Cyber Center at Augusta University, Technology Association of Georgia Education, 21^st Century Partnership, SW Regional Commission, University of Georgia and others – Georgia AIM is establishing an ecosystem focused on workforce development, technology innovation, and resilience in manufacturing.
Georgia AIM is one of 21 regional coalitions awarded funding through the ARP's $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge – led by the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration and the most impactful regional economic development competition in decades. These regional coalitions are growing critical industries that will strengthen regional economies, promote inclusive and equitable growth, and create thousands of good-paying jobs in industries of the future such as clean energy, next-generation manufacturing, and biotechnology. Across the nation, BBBRC projects are dedicating $140 million to help increase new business growth and entrepreneurial activity and $100 million to help small and midsized businesses adopt new processes and enter new markets.
Through five lending and equity programs, Georgia's ARP-funded State Small Business Credit Initiative is expected to deliver close to $200 million in capital support to Georgia small businesses and catalyze roughly $2 billion in private funding. Entrepreneurs in Georgia can apply through state-approved lenders to access these programs.
Georgia's SSBCI program is part of the President and Vice President's historic nearly $10 billion nationwide investment in capital access for small businesses through the Treasury Department's ARP-funded SSBCI, which is expected to leverage $10 in private capital for every $1 of SSBCI capital and support roughlyorty-six states and territories committing nearly $3 billion from SSBCI to equity-based financing programs, including over $1.4 billion through partnerships with private venture capital funds – the single largest infusion of federal funding for equity participation in early-stage small businesses in history. These investments are expected to catalyze over $30 billion in additional private investment and follow-on funding over the decade that will help underserved entrepreneurs tap into a critical source of capital for business development and wealth creation that has traditionally suffered from some of the most restrictive barriers to access.
The ARP-funded Capital Readiness Program is helping the Urban League of Greater Atlanta to deliver incubator and accelerator services through its Entrepreneurship Center to historically underserved entrepreneurs that are starting or operating enterprises in high-growth industries including healthcare, climate-resilient technology, infrastructure, and transportation and logistics. Capital Readiness programing is helping underserved entrepreneurs get the mentoring, coaching, and guidance in relationship building needed to help prepare for, secure, and deploy capital.
The Urban League of Greater Atlanta was one of the 43 winners of the $125 million CRP awards competition announced by Vice President Harris in August of 2023. This critical funding, administered by the Minority Business Development Agency , is the largest-ever direct Federal investment in small business incubators and accelerators of its kind and the largest initiative in the over 50-year history of the MBDA.
Three Georgia-based Community Development Financial Institutions received over $125 million in Emergency Capital Investment Program investments to increase their lending and investments to support small businesses and consumers in their communities, including two minority depository institutions : Citizens Trust Bank in Atlanta and the Carver Financial Corporation in Savannah. These investments, stemming from funding Vice President Harris secured during her time in the Senate, are supporting low- and moderate-income community financial institutions across the country in providing loans, grants, and forbearance for small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and consumers, especially in low-income and underserved communities. Nationally, Treasury projects that the more than $8.57 billion invested in 175 federally-insured depository institutions that are CDFIs or MDIs through ECIP may increase lending in Hispanic communities by nearly $58 billion and in Black
communities by up to $80 billion over the next decade.
April 29, 2024
As Congressional Republicans Propose Cutting SBA Funding by 31%, White House releases 2024 Small Business Boom Report that Shows SBA Small Dollar Loans on Track to Nearly Double Since 2020
Small businesses are the engines of the economy. As President Biden says, every time someone starts a new small business, it's an act of hope and confidence in our economy. In celebration of National Small Business Week, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new milestones in support delivered to small businesses across the country.
Since arriving in office, the Biden-Harris Administration has overseen a sustained small business boom across the country. The President's agenda has driven the first, second and third strongest years of new business application rates on record--and is on pace for the fourth--with Americans filing a record 17.2 million new business applications. Business applications are a leading indicator for new business creation, and the historic growth in business applications has coincided with the strongest labor market in decades. And traditionally underserved small businesses are growing at near-historic rates, with Black business ownership growing at the fastest pace in 30 years and Latino business ownership growing at the fastest pace in more than a decade.
Republicans in Congress have undermined small businesses by attempting to repeal Inflation Reduction Act investments that are lowering costs for small business. House Republicans are also threatening assistance to small businesses across the country by proposing draconian cuts to the Small Business Administration as part of their 31% reduction to government-wide spending. And House Republicans would defund the President's agenda to advance racial and gender equity in federal contracts.
President Biden is fighting to grow the small business boom spurred by his agenda. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced:
New Records for Federal Procurement Dollars Awarded to Small Businesses, Including Small Disadvantaged Businesses . The Small Business Administration released its Procurement Scorecard showing that in Fiscal Year 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration awarded an all-time high in federal contracts to small businesses across federal agencies. In total, a record-high of $178.6 billion, or 28.4 percent, of all contracting dollars went to small businesses. This includes:
$76.2 billion to SDBs, totaling 12.1 percent of federal contracting dollars and surpassing the 12% goal for FY23 established by the Office of Management and Budget. This represents the third consecutive year of record-breaking awards to SDBs under President Biden, and puts the Administration on track to reach the President's goal of increasing federal contracting dollars to SDBs by 50% by 2025 . Increasing federal investments in under-resourced businesses helps more Americans realize their entrepreneurial dreams, strengthens the supplier base, and contributes to narrowing persistent wealth disparities.
$32 billion to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses , representing a nearly $4 billion increase from Fiscal Year 2022. The Administration surpassed its goal by nearly 70%, with a total of 5.07 percent of federal contracting dollars going to SDVOSB.
In FY23, government contracting with small businesses supported one million jobs, including in manufacturing, construction, research & development, technology, defense, and other vital industries.
Across the federal government, 22 agencies received an 'A' or higher on their individual procurement scorecards, surpassing last year's total.
In conjunction with the scorecard, the SBA released federal contract data broken down by business owner race and ethnicity for FY23, which shows that businesses owned by historically underrepresented groups earned more through federal contracts across every category.
Release of Third Annual Small Business Boom Report. The White House released its third annual Small Business Boom Report , illustrating the continued achievements of the Biden-Harris Administration to support small businesses by expanding access to capital, providing small businesses with more hands-on support, ensuring federal spending benefits small businesses, and building a fairer tax code. The report shows the Administration has continued to make historic progress on all 35 commitments in the original report including:
SBA has nearly doubled small dollar loans. Small businesses consistently voice the need for access to small dollar loans, with survey results indicating over 50% of small businesses seek loans of less than $100,000, but only one-third of the smallest businesses – those with $100,000 or less in annual revenue – report receiving the full funding they request from banks. Less than one year since implementing policy reforms to increase access to small dollar loans, SBA is on pace to nearly double the number of small loans approved compared to the final year of the previous Administration, with over 20,000 7 loans under $150,000 approved in Fiscal Year 2024. It represents a one-third increase over last year, translating to 750 more businesses getting approved for a small dollar loans every month.
Through the American Rescue Plan's State Small Business Credit Initiative approved over $8 billion in capital support for small businesses, leveraging significantly more in private sector funding. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, Treasury's nearly $10 billion State Small Business Initiative program delivers funding to states, territories, and tribal governments that spur lending and investing in small businesses, and provides critical technical assistance. So far, Treasury has approved $8.4 billion in allocations to 55 states and territories and 34 tribal governments that are expected to catalyze at least $10 in private investment for each dollar of SSBCI capital funding. Already $1.1 billion of approved funding has been deployed to support loans or investments to small businesses or investments in venture capital funds. To date, Treasury has also announced the approval of more than $135 million in
technical assistance grants to 40 states and territories.
Delivering more than $250 billion to small businesses through SBA's lending programs by the end of the decade. In 2021, SBA committed to delivering more than $250 billion in financing to more than 500,000 small businesses by the end of the decade. Under this Administration, SBA has taken numerous steps to expand access to capital including finalizing rules to increase small dollar lending, expanding programs that help connect traditionally underserved businesses with resources, and revamping its Lender Match portal. As a result, SBA has delivered nearly $124 billion in financing to small businesses through its 7 , 504, and microloan programs, putting them on pace to reach their goal.
April 29, 2024
Six months ago, President Biden issued a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence . Since then, agencies all across government have taken vital steps to manage AI's safety and security risks, protect Americans' privacy, advance equity and civil rights, stand up for consumers and workers, promote innovation and competition, advance American leadership around the world, and more.
Today, federal agencies reported that they completed all of the 180-day actions in the E.O. on schedule, following their recent successes completing each 90-day, 120-day, and 150-day action on time. Agencies also progressed on other work tasked by the E.O. over longer timeframes.
Actions that agencies reported today as complete include the following:
Managing Risks to Safety and Security:
Over 180 days, the Executive Order directed agencies to address a broad range of AI's safety and security risks, including risks related to dangerous biological materials, critical infrastructure, and software vulnerabilities. To mitigate these and other threats to safety, agencies have:
Established a framework for nucleic acid synthesis screening to help prevent the misuse of AI for engineering dangerous biological materials. This work complements in-depth study by the Department of Homeland Security , Department of Energy and Office of Science and Technology Policy on AI's potential to be misused for this purpose, as well as a DHS report that recommended mitigations for the misuse of AI to exacerbate chemical and biological threats. In parallel, the Department of Commerce has worked to engage the private sector to develop technical guidance to facilitate implementation. Starting 180 days after the framework is announced, agencies will require that grantees obtain synthetic nucleic acids from vendors that screen.
Released for public comment draft documents on managing generative AI risks, securely developing generative AI systems and dual-use foundation models, expanding international standards development in AI, and reducing the risks posed by AI-generated content. When finalized, these documents by the National Institute of Standards and Technology will provide additional guidance that builds on NIST's AI Risk Management Framework, which offered individuals, organizations, and society a framework to manage AI risks and has been widely adopted both in the U.S. and globally.
Developed the first AI safety and security guidelines for critical infrastructure owners and operators. These guidelines are informed by the completed work of nine agencies to assess AI risks across all sixteen critical infrastructure sectors.
Launched the AI Safety and Security Board to advise the Secretary of Homeland Security, the critical infrastructure community, other private sector stakeholders, and the broader public on the safe and secure development and deployment of AI technology in our nation's critical infrastructure. The Board's 22 inaugural members include representatives from a range of sectors, including software and hardware company executives, critical infrastructure operators, public officials, the civil rights community, and academia.
Piloted new AI tools for identifying vulnerabilities in vital government software systems. The Department of Defense made progress on a pilot for AI that can find and address vulnerabilities in software used for national security and military purposes. Complementary to DoD's efforts, DHS piloted different tools to identify and close vulnerabilities in other critical government software systems that Americans rely on every hour of every day.
Standing up for Workers, Consumers, and Civil Rights
The Executive Order directed bold steps to mitigate other risks from AI--including risks to workers, to consumers, and to Americans' civil rights--and ensure that AI's development and deployment benefits all Americans. Today, agencies reported that they have:
Developed bedrock principles and practices for employers and developers to build and deploy AI safely and in ways that empower workers. Agencies all across government are now starting work to establish these practices as requirements, where appropriate and authorized by law, for employers that receive federal funding.
Released guidance to assist federal contractors and employers comply with worker protection laws as they deploy AI in the workplace. The Department of Labor developed a guide for federal contractors and subcontractors to answer questions and share promising practices to clarify federal contractors' legal obligations, promote equal employment opportunity, and mitigate the potentially harmful impacts of AI in employment decisions. DOL also provided guidance regarding the application of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other federal labor standards as employers increasingly use of AI and other automated technologies in the workplace.
Released resources for job seekers, workers, and tech vendors and creators on how AI use could violate employment discrimination laws. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's resources clarify that existing laws apply the use of AI and other new technologies in employment just as they apply to other employment practices.
Issued guidance on AI's nondiscriminatory use in the housing sector. In two guidance documents, the Department of Housing and Urban Development affirmed that existing prohibitions against discrimination apply to AI's use for tenant screening and advertisement of housing opportunities, and it explained how deployers of AI tools can comply with these obligations.
Published guidance and principles that set guardrails for the responsible and equitable use of AI in administering public benefits programs. The Department of Agriculture's guidance explains how State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments should manage risks for uses of AI and automated systems in benefits programs such as SNAP. The Department of Health and Human Services released a plan with guidelines on similar topics for benefits programs it oversees. Both agencies' documents prescribe actions that align with the Office of Management and Budget's policies, published last month, for federal agencies to manage risks in their own use of AI and harness AI's benefits.
Announced a final rule clarifying that nondiscrimination requirements in health programs and activities continue to apply to the use of AI, clinical algorithms, predictive analytics, and other tools. Specifically, the rule applies the nondiscrimination principles under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act to the use of patient care decision support tools in clinical care, and it requires those covered by the rule to take steps to identify and mitigate discrimination when they use AI and other forms of decision support tools for care.
Developed a strategy for ensuring the safety and effectiveness of AI deployed in the health care sector. The strategy outlines rigorous frameworks for AI testing and evaluation, and it outlines future actions for HHS to promote responsible AI development and deployment.
Harnessing AI for Good
President Biden's Executive Order also directed work to seize AI's enormous promise, including by advancing AI's use for scientific research, deepening collaboration with the private sector, and piloting uses of AI. Over the past 180 days, agencies have done the following:
Announced DOE funding opportunities to support the application of AI for science, including energy-efficient AI algorithms and hardware.
Prepared convenings for the next several months with utilities, clean energy developers, data center owners and operators, and regulators in localities experiencing large load growth. Today, DOE announced new actions to assess the potential energy opportunities and challenges of AI, accelerate deployment of clean energy, and advance AI innovation to manage the growing energy demand of AI.
Launched pilots, partnerships, and new AI tools to address energy challenges and advance clean energy. For example, DOE is piloting AI tools to streamline permitting processes and improving siting for clean energy infrastructure, and it has developed other powerful AI tools with applications at the intersection of energy, science, and security. Today, DOE also published a report outlining opportunities AI brings to advance the clean energy economy and modernize the electric grid.
Initiated a sustained effort to analyze the potential risks that deployment of AI may pose to the grid. DOE has started the process of convening energy stakeholders and technical experts over the coming months to collaboratively assess potential risks to the grid, as well as ways in which AI could potentially strengthen grid resilience and our ability to respond to threats--building off a new public assessment .
Authored a report on AI's role in advancing scientific research to help tackle major societal challenges, written by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
Bringing AI Talent into Government
The AI and Tech Talent Task Force has made substantial progress on hiring through the AI Talent Surge. Since President Biden signed the E.O., federal agencies have hired over 150 AI and AI-enabling professionals and, along with the tech talent programs, are on track to hire hundreds by Summer 2024. Individuals hired thus far are already working on critical AI missions, such as informing efforts to use AI for permitting, advising on AI investments across the federal government, and writing policy for the use of AI in government.
The General Services Administration has onboarded a new cohort of Presidential Innovation Fellows and also announced their first-ever PIF AI cohort starting this summer.
DHS has launched the DHS AI Corps , which will hire 50 AI professionals to build safe, responsible, and trustworthy AI to improve service delivery and homeland security.
The Office of Personnel Management has issued guidance on skills-based hiring to increase access to federal AI roles for individuals with non-traditional academic backgrounds.
For more on the AI Talent Surge's progress, read its report to the President . To explore opportunities, visit https://ai.gov/apply
April 28, 2024
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Washington and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides from January 5 to January 29, 2024.
Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides in the counties of Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Skagit, Skamania, and Wahkiakum and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures in all areas within the state.
Mr. Lance E. Davis of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV .
April 28, 2024
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Kansas and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by a severe winter storm from January 8 to January 16, 2024.
Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe winter storm in the counties of Butler, Chase, Cloud, Edwards, Ford, Geary, Gray, Hodgeman, Morris, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Shawnee, Stafford, Trego, and Wabaunsee.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Mr. DuWayne Tewes of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV .
April 28, 2024
AT THE WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER
Washington Hilton
Washington, D.C.
8:12 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You think your Irish grandparents are wondering. My great-great grandparents who got here in 1846 are going, "What in the hell is going on?"
I want to thank you for the warm welcome. But please, not so loud. Donald is listening. "Sleepy Don." I kind of like that. I may use that again.
Kelly O'Donnell, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, thank you for having me.
MS. O'DONNELL: Thank you, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: But, Kelly O., let's be honest, you're way too young to be president.
It's been a year since I delivered this speech. And my wife, Jill, who is with me tonight, was worried how I'd do. I told her, "Don't worry. It's just like riding a bike." She said, "That's what I'm worried about."
Of course, the 2024 election is in full swing. And, yes, age is an issue. I'm a grown man running against a six-year-old.
But I feel great. I really feel great. I'm campaigning all over the country: Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina. I always done well in the original 13 colonies.
And speaking of history, did you hear what Donald just said about the major Civil War battle? Quote, "Gettysburg. Wow."
Trump's speech was so embarrassing, the statue of Robert E. Lee surrendered again.
But, look -- -- age is the only thing we have in common. My Vice President actually endorses me.
I've had a great stretch since the State of the Union. But Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather. What the hell.
Trump is so desperate, he started reading those bibles he's selling.
Then he got to the First Commandment, "You shall have no other Gods before me." That's when he put it down and said, "This book is not for me."
Look, being here is a reminder that folks think what's going on in Congress is political theater. But that's not true. If Congress were a theater, they'd have thrown out Lauren Boebert a long time ago.
Now, to all of my friends in the press -- and Fox News -- -- some of you complain that I don't take enough of your questions. No comment.
Of course, the New York Times issued a statement blasting me for, quote, "actively and effectively avoiding independent journalists."
Hey, if that's what it takes to get the New York Times to say I'm active and effective, I'm for it. It's okay.
I have hi- -- higher standards. I do interviews with strong independent journalists who millions of people actually listen to, like Howard Stern.
And I know you're looking around and saying, "This guy has been doing this for 50 years. He's had his moment. Give him some- -- give someone else a chance."
To say that, I say, "Lorne, ignore the critics. Ignore the critics."
Lorne is a great friend who has had eight comedians play me over the years on "Saturday Night Live." Eight. And who the hell says I'm not a real job creator?
Look, Lorne has had even more comedians and actors joke about me. Like the funny guy on "Weekend Update," Michael Che. He's hilarious.
Scarlett Johansson, you did such an incredible job in your State of the Union rebuttal that you should be -- do "Weekend Update." Clearly, you're -- you're the funny one in the family.
Look, folks, on a serious note, in addition to marrying up, Colin and I have another thing in common. We both find strength in family.
I got to spend time with his family yesterday in the Oval Office. Colin's dad was a high school teacher in Staten Island, and his mom is an incredible woman -- a family of firefighters, was the Chief Medical Officer in New York City Fire Department on 9/11. As a doctor, she rushed to Ground Zero, risking her own life, treating and saving fellow first responders. Rushing into danger for others for others is my definition of patriotism and heroism.
And so is what all of you do when you report truth over lies. That's why I want to close tonight with my genuine thanks to the free press.
There are some who call you the "enemy of the people." That's wrong, and it's dangerous. You literally risk your lives doing your job. You do.
Covering everything from natural disasters to pandemics to wars and so much more. And some of your colleagues have given their lives, and many have suffered grievous injuries. Other reporters have lost their freedom.
Journalism is clearly not a crime. Not here, not there, not anywhere in the world.
And Putin should release Evan and Alsu immediately.
Just as we're doing everything we can -- we're doing everything we can to bring home journalists -- fellow journalists Austin and all Americans, like Paul Whelan, you know, who -- wrongfully detained all around the world.
And I give you my word as a Biden, we're not going to give up until we get them home. All of them. All of them.
On the third anniversary of January 6 th, I went to Valley Forge. And I said the most urgent question of our time is whether democracy is still -- is still the sacred cause of America. That is the question the American people must answer this year. And you, the free press, play a critical role in making sure the American people have the information they need to make an informed decision.
The defeated former President has made no secret of his attack on our democracy. He has said he wants to be a "dictator on day one," and so much more.
He tells supporters he is their "revenge" and "retribution." When in God's name have you heard another president say something like that? And he promised a "bloodbath" when he loses again. We have to take this seriously.
Eight years ago, you could have written off it as just Trump talk. But no longer. Not after January 6 th.
I'm sincerely not asking of you to take sides but asking you to rise up to the seriousness of the moment; move past the horserace numbers and the gotcha moments and the distractions, the sideshows that have come to dominate and sensantio- -- sensationalize our politics; and focus on what's actually at stake. I think, in your hearts, you know what's at stake. The stakes couldn't be higher.
Every single one of us has roles to play -- a serious role to play in making sure democracy endures -- American democracy. I have my role, but, with all due respect, so do you.
In the age of disinformation, credible information that people can trust is more important than ever. And that makes you -- and I mean this from the bottom of my heart -- it makes you more important than ever.
So, tonight, I'd like to make a toast.
To a free press, to an informed citizenry, to an America where freedom and democracy endure. God bless America.
Now, I'm going to turn it over to Kelly, then you'll hear from a real comedian.
I think I know what I'm in for. You know, Colin Jost has taken aim at me before with his jokes.
MS. O'DONNELL: Oh, I'm sure. You ready?
THE PRESIDENT: Like saying, "After winning the South Carolina primary, Biden barely edged out his closest rival: time."
Colin, when I win, I'm going to have a whole hell of a lot of time, and I'm going to be watching, pal.
Kelly, back to you.
8:22 P.M. EDT
April 28, 2024
Monday, April 29, 2024
At 10:45 AM ET, the Vice President will depart Washington, DC en route to Atlanta, GA. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.
At 12:25 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Atlanta, GA. This arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.
At 2:45 PM ET, the Vice President will kick off her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour with a moderated conversation about investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive. This moderated conversation with Earn Your Leisure's Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings will be pooled press, open to pre-credentialed media, and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
At 3:50 PM ET, the Vice President will depart Atlanta, GA en route to Washington, DC. This departure from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be pooled press.
At 5:20 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Washington, DC. This arrival at Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.
# # #
April 28, 2024
On Monday, April 29, the Vice President will return to Atlanta, GA to kick off her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour with a moderated conversation about investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive. This will be the Vice President's third trip to the state this year and her 12^th since being sworn in. The moderated conversation with Earn Your Leisure's Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings will be pooled press, open to pre-credentialed media, and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
On Wednesday, May 1, the Vice President will travel to Jacksonville, FL to deliver remarks on the fight for reproductive freedoms. This campaign event will be pooled press and opened to pre-credentialed media.
April 28, 2024
THE WEEK OF April 29, 2024 – May 5, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
In the afternoon, the President will depart the White House en route to Wilmington, Delaware. The President will then participate in a campaign event. After, the President will return to the White House.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024
In the afternoon, the President will participate in a campaign reception in Washington, D.C.
Friday, May 3, 2024
In the afternoon, the President will present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the country. The First Lady will attend.
After, the President and the First Lady will depart the White House en route to Wilmington, Delaware.
April 28, 2024
I applaud the UAW and Daimler for reaching a tentative agreement for a record contract. The UAW workers at Daimler are building the trucks and school buses of the future right here in America.
My Investing in America agenda will continue to create good jobs. This agreement is a testament to the power of collective bargaining and shows that we can build a clean energy economy with strong, middle-class union jobs.
April 28, 2024
Readout of President Joe Biden's Call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel
President Biden spoke earlier today with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The President reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israel's security following the successful defense against Iran's unprecedented missile and drone attack earlier this month. They also reviewed ongoing talks to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The President referred to his statement with 17 other world leaders demanding that Hamas release their citizens without delay to secure a ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza. The President and the Prime Minister also discussed increases in the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza including through preparations to open new northern crossings starting this week. The President stressed the need for this progress to be sustained and enhanced in full coordination with humanitarian organizations. The leaders discussed Rafah and the President reiterated his clear position.
April 26, 2024
At 11:00 AM, in honor of Month of the Military Child, First Lady Jill Biden will host the Annual Joining Forces Military Kids Workout on the South Lawn of the White House. During the event, the First Lady will highlight her Joining Forces initiative to support military and veteran families, underscore the importance of building connections between military and civilian communities, and demonstrate the many ways to celebrate military-connected children. Following her remarks, Dr. Biden will kick-off a circuit workout with veterans, service members, military families, caregivers, and survivors. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed. It will be livestreamed at WhiteHouse.gov/live .
April 26, 2024
SATURDAY, APRIL 27 AND SUNDAY, APRIL 28
On Saturday, April 27, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will attend the annual White House Correspondence Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
On Sunday, April 28, the Vice President will be in Washington, DC and has no public events scheduled.
April 26, 2024
President Biden's Investing in America Agenda is providing unprecedented resources for K-12 schools to invest in healthier, more sustainable buildings and infrastructure--from removing lead pipes, to installing clean, reliable solar energy, to purchasing electric school buses. Schools across the country are putting these funds to use to cut harmful air pollution, including climate pollution, and invest in equitable, healthy, resilient, and sustainable schools. To ensure that schools have access to the many resources and technical assistance available to them through the President's Investing in America agenda, the Administration is today hosting the first-ever White House Summit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 School Buildings and Grounds.
Over 90 students, teachers, advocates, school administrators, facilities and grounds experts, and labor leaders will come together at the White House alongside the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss deployment of the unprecedented levels of federal funding available for school infrastructure, clean energy, and healthy schools. The White House Summit will highlight stories from schools across America where communities are taking action to create more sustainable buildings and grounds that tackle the climate crisis, improve learning, and protect children's health. The Summit will also underscore the opportunities for good-paying, union jobs--including jobs that don't require a college degree--made available by the Biden-Harris Administration's historic clean energy agenda. Participants will also have the opportunity to join an in-person workshop on the new "direct pay" provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, which are
helping schools to directly access the benefits of clean energy tax credits for the first time ever.
Promoting Efficient and Healthy Schools
Alongside the Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration is releasing the 2024 White House Toolkit for Sustainable and Healthy K-12 Schools . Designed for use by schools, the toolkit provides an overview of school infrastructure funding, programs, and technical assistance made available by the Biden-Harris Administration to support schools, teachers, and students in achieving energy efficiency, resilience to extreme weather, and cleaner air, water, and transportation. These include programs like the Department of Energy's Renew America's Schools Prize, which is providing $500 million to make energy efficiency, clean energy, and clean vehicles accessible for schools across the country--and is open for applications now . It also includes EPA's Clean School Bus Program, which is providing $5 billion through
the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace polluting diesel school buses with zero- and low-emissions models. The program has already funded over 5,000 clean school buses, providing cleaner air for communities and protecting children from asthma.
These programs also advance President Biden's Justice40 Initiative , which set a goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, clean transit, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Recognizing Climate Leaders in Schools Across America
Today the U.S. Department of Energy is also announcing honorees for its Efficient and Healthy Schools Program. This program recognizes and assists school districts seeking to implement high-impact indoor air quality and efficiency improvements--like Livonia Public Schools in Michigan, which was honored for optimizing their operations to improve building performance. Others, like Broward County Public Schools in Florida, received recognition for implementing efficient and effective HVAC retrofits and other energy-saving measures, while Canajoharie Central School District in New York was honored for developing a comprehensive energy plan. These improvements will reduce energy bills and improve student and teacher health in schools across the country.
To date, 202 school districts in 45 states have joined the program, representing over 5 million students in over 8,400 individual schools--70% of which qualify for Title 1 federal funding on the basis of serving a high percentage of low-income students. The full list of 2024 U.S. Department of Energy Efficient and Healthy Schools Honorees can be found here . Additionally, earlier today U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools , District Sustainability Awardees, and Postsecondary Sustainability Awardees. 41 schools, 10 districts, three postsecondary institutions, and one early learning center from 24 states are being honored for their innovative efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility
costs, improve health and wellness, and offer effective sustainability education. Over the past decade, the award has recognized the work of over 750 schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions across 47 states. Learn more about the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Honorees here .
Today's Summit and announcements build on the Biden-Harris Administration's actions to build healthier, more sustainable schools:
Direct Pay for Clean Energy. In March, the Treasury Department finalized rules for direct pay of certain tax credits. By authorizing direct pay, the Inflation Reduction Act for the first time makes tax-exempt entities, including schools, eligible to access clean energy tax credits and to fully participate in building and owning new clean energy projects. Schools can leverage these tax credits for clean energy investments such as solar, wind, geothermal, and storage, as well as for purchasing clean school buses and other clean vehicles. For example:
+ Manchester Public Schools anticipates receiving $2.5 million in tax credits from the IRS for installing ground source heat pumps and solar panels at Bowers Elementary School in 2023.
+ Seattle Public Schools anticipates receiving $7.5 million in tax credits from the IRS for installing ground source heat pumps and solar panels at 3 elementary schools in 2023.
+ Williamsfield Schools anticipates receiving $100,000 in tax credits from the IRS for 7 Electric School Buses funded through the EPA Clean School Bus rebates and 11 Electric Vehicle charging stations that were put into service in 2023.
Clean School Buses. In January, EPA preliminarily selected 67 applicants to receive nearly $1 billion in funding under the 2023 Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. Selected applicants will purchase over 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts, serving over 7 million students across 37 states. To date, the EPA Clean School Bus Program has awarded nearly $2 billion and funded approximately 5,000 electric and low-emission school buses nationwide. EPA anticipates announcing the awards for the 2023 Clean School Bus Program Rebates Competition in May 2024.
Replacing Lead Pipes for Clean Drinking Water. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests $15 billion toward President Biden's commitment to replace every toxic lead pipe in the country within a decade, protecting children and schools from lead exposure that can cause irreversible harm to cognitive development and hamper children's learning. In February, Vice President Harris traveled to Pittsburgh to announce $5.8 billion for clean water projects nationwide, including lead pipe replacement. Earlier this year, EPA announced $58 million in 2024 grant funding to protect children from lead in drinking water at schools and childcare facilities.
Investing in Disadvantaged Communities and Environmental Justice. EPA is currently accepting applications for $2 billion in Community Change Grants that can be used by schools to reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and other environmental and climate justice activities that benefit disadvantaged communities, such as facility improvements that improve air quality. Dedicated technical assistance is available to eligible applicants for application support, project planning, and more.
Improving Indoor Air Quality. Later this year, EPA will also award $32 million in grant funding to up to 6 organizations that will help K-12 schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities across the country develop and implement comprehensive indoor air quality management plans that address air pollution and improve energy efficiency of school facilities.
Launching the 2024 Renew America's School Prize. In March, DOE's Office of State and Community Energy Programs launched its second round of funding under the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize , a $180 million investment to support improvements like HVAC upgrades, renewable energy installations, lighting, alternative-fuel vehicle infrastructure, and more in K-12 public schools. In particular, the prize focuses on schools that serve disadvantaged communities. Submissions for the 2024 Renew America's Schools Prize are due by June 13 . This prize builds on the first round of funding, which awarded $178 million in 2023 to over 90 school facilities across the country, impacting approximately 74,000 students and 5,000 teachers.
Supporting America's School Infrastructure. In November, the Department of Education awarded over $40 million in funding to eight Supporting America's School Infrastructure state grantees to conduct school facility needs assessments in high-need school districts, hire new staff, and develop or improve public school infrastructure data systems, among other actions.
April 26, 2024
On Thursday, May 9, the President will welcome the Las Vegas Aces to the White House to celebrate their record-breaking season and victory in the 2023 WNBA Finals. [RSVP here by Monday, May 6, at 9:00 AM EST]
April 26, 2024
AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT
Private Residence
Irvington, New York
7:15 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks. Don't leave yet.
Before I begin, I want a promise. When they say, "Joe Biden is in the outer room to see the President," you won't say, "Joe who?"
God love you. You're a good man.
MR. DOUGLAS: Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
MR. DOUGLAS: Thank you. God bless you
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you.
MR. DOUGLAS: Thank you so much.
THE PRESIDENT: Sit down, folks, please.
Dylan, thank you for that introduction. And -- and your sister, she is -- she could be president too, maybe, if she wants.
And -- and your dad, Michael, I -- Michael and I have something in common: We both married way above our station. Some things are just self-evident, in my opinion.
Catherine couldn't be here, but I'm grateful for her sharing her family tonight. And, by the way, she's in Dublin, holy God, you know. The place -- the only place I'm positive I could win. I could be elected Taoiseach in Dublin.
I went back to Mayo to my -- I -- because we were trying to get the Irish Accords through -- together. And I quote, as my -- no -- no family member has been in Ireland since 1848 or something like that. But I went to speak at a cathedral in Mayo that my great-great grandfather had made the bricks for. He was an -- and in Ireland, everything is about your lineage. They keep, you know, doing your background.
And so, I stood out along the river in Mayo with 32,000 people, pouring rain, and they stood there and listened. I decided I don't know why the hell my family ever moved.
But, anyway, she's in Dublin, and tell her I love her.
Look, and, of course, Michael was a great "American President." He -- -- he was single at the time. I wonder what the hell that would be like.
It was bad enough when I -- when I lost my first wife and my child, and I was a se- -- a new U.S. senator. I saw that I got put on the 10 most eligible bachelors list in America. And I swore, after a year, I've never going to go out with anybody again in my whole life.
It's an unusual situation. I don't know -- I don't know how you movie stars handle it.
You know, look, and it's great that he's one of our Founding Fathers now. I was the Ben Franklin Professor of Presidential History at the University of Pennsylvania for four years, teaching at Penn. And -- and Ben was right. If we can keep it -- that's what it was all about.
I now have a portrait in the Oval Office, when you come and see it, of Ben Franklin to remind everybody that, you know, I knew him really well. He was only a couple of years older than I was, but you know?
But, look, it's a reminder of the incredible history of our nation and the future that's within our reach.
You know -- you know, I also include Rodge and Barbara and all of the co-hosts of this event to thank them for their support. It really makes a big difference. You know, I know you have a lot more important things to do, a lot of things that you can be doing, and stepping up and doing what you're doing for me, it really makes a big difference, including the members of Congress who are here today.
Representative Bowman, thanks for the welcoming me into --into your district. I got a passport to come in.
And, Mondaire Jones, who needs to win in November -- Mondaire, you know -- --
One of my best friends in Congress for -- she's much, much younger than I am, but -- -- Nita Lowey. Nita, I love you.
As we head into the spring, we generally feel a bit of excitement building here, you know, in this campaign. So far, we have 1.5 million people who've contributed to our campaign -- 1.5 million; 550,000 new since 2020, and 97 percent are under $200 -- 97 percent.
We're almost -- we've raised almost a quarter of a billion dollars so far.
And so, look, we've ramped hea- -- 133 campaign headquarters and field offices, and we hired hundreds of staff all across the country before Trump and his MAGA Republican friends even have one single office open. So -- and it's good out there. It feels good out there.
I've been going -- I haven't had a chance to watch the court proceedings -- -- because I've been -- -- because I've been out campaigning in all the states.
And while the -- the press doesn't write about it, the momentum is clearly in our favor. Polls are moving towards us and away from Trump. The last 23 polls, we're ahead in 10 of them, and he's ahead in 8, and we're tied in 5.
And just two days ago, we got the best polls we've ever seen. NPR/Marist poll, which is considered one of the best in the country, we're ahead by five among all voters and six by -- by voters who are likely to vote. That's 50- -- 53 to 47. And it keeps moving. Every single week, things are getting better.
But what's more important is what actually -- people when they actually vote. Just two days ago, the Pennsylvania primary, we beat Trump's turnout by 150,000 more votes voted for me than voted for Trump.
Democrats are strongly behind us, and he's losing a lot of Republicans, still, to Nikki Haley in that primary.
We're also getting major endorsements. Yesterday, I received the endorsement of the North Am- -- North American Building Trades. Over 3,500 people showed up. It's the biggest na- -- in our nation and a strong key to battleground states like Wisconsin and M- -- and Michigan. They have a very strong presence there.
But, look, I know not everyone is feeling the enthusiasm. Just the other day, a defeated-looking guy came up to me and said, "Mr. President, I'm being crushed by debt. I'm completely wiped out." And I had to tell him, "Donald, I'm sorry. I can't help you." "I'm not -- I'm just not in the position to do it."
Trump is in trouble, unrelated to me and related to me, no matter -- and he knows it.
Earlier this week, I was in Florida, where they're about to implement one of the most extensive and extreme abortion bans in the country. There's only one reason and -- and one person responsible: It's Donald Trump.
He's worried voters are going to hold him accountable for overriding -- overturning Roe v. Wade and all the cruelty and chaos that's been created. But he said -- he asked voters to give him credit for it. He claimed that he was the reason why. He appointed those folks.
Look, we -- I have news for Trump: The voters are going to hold him accountable. Mark my words, it's going to move millions of voters of women and men at the polls -- to the polls this year.
And I've said many times, Trump and his MAGA crowd don't have a clue about the power of women. You know, when -- -- no, I really mean it.
You -- you may remember, in the Court's decision, it said, but women -- when they changed it, they said there's no constitutional right -- federal con- -- but it's up to the states. They said, "But women have a vote. Women have a vote. They -- they can do something about it," almost with tongue in cheep -- cheek.
Well, he re- -- we -- we reelected Kamala and me with a Democratic Congress -- if we do that, I promise you, Roe v. Wade will be the law of the land again. I guarantee it.
But, look, folks, chaos is nothing new to Trump. His presidency was chaos. Not a joke. Trump is trying to make the country forget just how dark and unsettling it was when he was President, but we'll never forget.
We'll never forget how -- him lying about COVID, telling the American people to inject bleach into their arms. He injected it into his hair. He got it wrong. He got -- he missed. But -- but all -- but all -- all kidding aside, that's what he said.
And, you know, he did that interview acknowledging that he knew it was a serious [DEL: proposition :DEL] [problem], but he didn't want anybody to know. He said it's going to go away by Thanks- -- remember all that?
Well, guess what? Over -- well over a million people died. They died.
We'll never forget the -- his love letters to Kim Jong Un of North Korea and his admiration for Putin. He talks about how smart Putin is and how if he wants to move into Ukraine or anywhere else, have at it if they're not doing enough for us.
We'll never forget him wanting teargas to be sprayed on peaceful protestors outside the White House, and then holding a Bible upside down. Now he's writing his own Bible, and he's trying -- -- and he's trying to sell it.
Look, and we'll certainly never forget the insurrection of June 6 th -- January 6 th, excuse me -- and those dark days of history. The idea that that wasn't an insurrection, I don't -- I don't understand it.
Off the Oval Office -- and I hope some of you come and visit. Off that Oval Office, there's a small dining room. He sat there for two hours watching on television -- watching the chaos, not doing a damn single thing. Policemen died. People were, in fact, badly hurt. I mean, it's never -- it's just -- it's nothing short of the Revolutionary -- of the -- excuse me, the Civil War -- hasn't been even close. It was one of the worst derelictions of duty of any president in American history.
And we want to go back to that -- any of that?
Look, look how far we've come. Since we've been in office, we've created 15 million brand-new jobs, more jobs in that short of time of any president in American history. More people have health insurance today than ever before in the history of this country, and it's working and it's increasing.
We took on Big Pharma. You know, I -- I can put you in Air Force One when we take off here. And you have a prescription from any drug company in America, and you can bring that with me -- with you. I can fly you to Toronto. I can fly you to London. I can fly you to Berlin, to any country, any capital in the world, and you can get that same prescription for 40 to 60 percent less than you get it here.
Well, we won. We lowered prescription drug costs, like 35 bucks for insulin instead of 400 bucks a month for all those people with diabetes.
We've made historic investments in rebuilding the country with these computer chips. I was just -- I was just -- had an -- did a major event up in Syracuse, where the landmark preliminary agreement between my administration and Micron, a microchip manufacturer. We came up with $6.1 billion in fund- -- funding this CHIPS program. We used to create 40 -- we used to make 40 percent of them. We're now down to zero -- zero number.
We paired that -- Micron -- Micron came along and said, "Okay, if you're going to come up with $6 billion, we're going to come up with $125 billion," to invest in New York state alone to build chip facilities right here in New York. The single-biggest investment ever made in the history of this state. Ever.
We've made the most significant investment on climate ever and the most significant gun safety law in 30 years. And we have much more to do. By the way, now they're trying to take down the -- the gun laws we passed.
We should -- I was part of one of two people who got -- when I was a senator, we -- we outlawed assault weapons. And guess what? They're back. They're back. There's no legitimate reason whatsoever for anybody to be able to own an assault weapon. I taught constitutional law -- -- you have the right to own a gun, but from the very beginning, it was not an absolute right. You weren't allowed to buy a cannon when you were in 1800. You -- no, I'm -- no, I'm serious.
You know, I love these guys who say that "the blood" -- the you know, "the blood of liberty is" -- he goes -- they're full of malarkey.
And, by the way, no one -- no one should own a weapon without a background check. Nobody.
And, folks, when I ran, I made a commitment. I said I want an administration that was going to look like America. I placed more Black women in the circuit courts of appeal than every other single president in the history of the United States.
I put the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
I could go on, but the point is it's -- this is all at stake. Trump wants to get rid of everything we've done. He's been very clear about it.
Trump is determined to, quote -- he -- I love this phrase -- he's going to "terminate" the Affordable Care Act. Why? Because it was Obamacare, and now it's on steroids. And guess what? It's saving a lot of lives -- you know, the thousands of thousands, millions of people who have preexisting conditions who wouldn't be able to get insurance otherwise. He can't stand it being associated with Barack.
He's determined to get rid of the climate law. Why? Because he does not believe there's a climate crisis.
I have, since I've been President, flown over -- because of the crises we've had, flown over more forest fires and more flooding that has wiped out places than the entire state of Maryland -- the entire st- -- it would take up the entire state of Maryland.
Look, he's determined -- he's determined to cut taxes for a lot of you. Well, I l- -- I don't -- I don't think you should be paying more taxes, except for one thing: You know, there's a thousand billionaires in America. You know what their average tax rate is? 8.3 percent. Anybody want to trade? Raise your hand.
No, I'm serious. If they just had a 25 percent tax rate -- not even the highest tax rate -- we'd raise $400 billion over the next 10 years; be able to continue to do what I've already done, lower the deficit and not ex- -- not raise it; and be able to have childcare, be able to have eldercare, be able to do things that other countries are doing that make life easier for everybody and grow the economy.
And, by the way, he wants to not only raise -- have another major $2 trillion tax cut, he -- while he wants to cut Social Security and Medicare and do such other -- significant other damage.
But the biggest threat that Trump poses is to our democracy. I really believe that. Some of you may remember when I ran -- because you helped me the first time -- I indicated that -- I spoke -- made a speech at -- at -- when I was in Independence Hall in Philadelphia. And I said our democracy was at stake. And the press said, "What are you talking about democracy for?" Well, guess what? Even then, 60 percent of the people agreed with me. Our democracy literally is at stake.
Above all, what's at risk in 2024 is our freedom -- basic freedoms and democracy.
And, by the way, when you talk about taking away a woman's right to choose, we're well beyond that now. They want to take away the right for contraception, take away the right to marry, take away a whole range of things that Clarence Thomas talked about no longer being guaranteed in the federal Constitution.
Trump not only embraces the violence of January 6 th, he's running on it. I mean, he's running on it. He calls the insurrectionists who are in prison -- he calls them "patriots," and, if reelected, he says he's going to pardon them. He means it.
You know, now Trump says if he loses again, there will be a "bloodbath." My -- let me -- no president -- no president in modern -- in his- -- not in modern -- in history has said those kinds of things.
Folks, we have to say with one voice, as Americans -- as Democrats, as independents -- that there's no place ever in America for political violence. It's just never, never, never, never, never justified. Period.
Look, let me close with this. This election is about a competing vision of America. Trump's vision is one of anger, hate, revenge, retribution. That's what he talks about.
I have a very different view. I have a view of hope and optimism.
I've been doing this a long time. I know I only look like I'm 40, but I'm a little older.
But all kidding aside, I've never been more optimistic about America's prospects than I am today. We have the strongest economy in the world. The rest of the world looks to us.
Imagine had they fin- -- not finally passed the legislation for Israel and for -- and for Ukraine. We are, as Madeleine Albright said, the essential nation. That's a fact.
Who leads the world without us? No, I just -- I mean, I'm being literal. I'm not being figurative.
Look, I see an America defined by democracy, not diminished by it. I see an America where we protect our freedoms, not take them away. I see an America where the economy grows from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down.
My dad, who was a hardworking guy -- a well-read man who never got to -- he got accepted to Johns Hopkins during the war for his -- as they say in Baltimore -- from Baltimore -- and -- but he never got to go. My dad used to 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 have a chance. Just an even chance."
Where working people finally get a fair shot, where healthcare is a right not a privilege -- a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence.
These aren't crazy ideas. These are basic ideas that the vast majority of American people agree with.
Folks, this election is about democracy. It's not hyperbole; it's about democracy. Freedom. America. This is why I need you.
I know we can do this together. As I said, I've never been more optimistic. Not a joke. And I've been doing this a long time. I was in the Senate for 36 years, Vice President for 8 years, and President going on 4. I may not be the smartest guy in the room, but I have more experience and wisdom on this stage than most anybody's ever held the office. And I'm telling you, we have to win this race. We have to win this race.
We just have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. And there's nothing, nothing beyond our capacity -- nothing -- when we do it together.
So, God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.
Thank you.
7:33 P.M. EDT