April 29, 2024

When a law enforcement officer puts on that shield in the morning and heads out the door, their family members dread the phone call – the very call that came today. It's like losing a piece of your soul. To the families of those we lost: Jill and I, and all Americans, are here for you. And we will always be here for you.

We must do more to protect our law enforcement officers. That means funding them - so they have the resources they need to do their jobs and keep us safe. And it means taking additional action to combat the scourge of gun violence. Now. Leaders in Congress need to step up so that we ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, require safe storage of guns, and pass universal background checks and a national red flag law. Enough is enough.

May God Bless these fallen heroes.

April 29, 2024

On Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 1:30 PM, as a part of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to New York, New York, where she will deliver remarks at the 2024 New York Stock Exchange Women's Health Summit to spotlight the importance of women's health research and private and public sector efforts to accelerate progress on women's health. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media with limited capacity. For interested media, please contact judy.shaw@nyse.com .

April 29, 2024

April 29, 2024

Readout of President Biden's Call with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar

President Biden spoke today with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar. The two leaders discussed the deal now on the table to secure the release of hostages together with an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza. The President confirmed that the United States together with Egypt and Qatar would work to ensure the full implementation of its terms. He urged Amir Tamim to exert all efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas as this is now the only obstacle to an immediate ceasefire and relief for the people of Gaza. The two leaders reviewed ongoing initiatives to increase the flow of life-saving assistance to civilians in Gaza. The President thanked the Amir and his senior team for their tireless efforts to secure the release of all hostages held in Gaza. The leaders agreed to remain closely coordinated directly and through their teams over the coming days.

April 29, 2024

April 29, 2024

The Vice President will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press.

Later in the day, the Vice President will record radio interviews for The Big Tigger Morning Show and DeDe in the Morning.

# # #

April 29, 2024

Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration rolled out several key rules to support consumers, workers, and caregivers.

On Monday, the Department of Health and Human Services fulfilled the promise President Biden made in his 2022 State of the Union address to improve the safety and quality of care in federally-funded nursing homes. These rules will also support family caregivers, boost compensation and job quality for care workers, and expand and improve care options. The Administration also followed through on its commitment to home and community-based care, with a new Medicaid Access rule that will ensure 80% of spending is on direct care workers' wages. The Vice President announced these rules at a roundtable with care workers in Wisconsin.

On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission finalized a ban on noncompete agreements, which is expected to increase earnings for the average worker by more than $500 a year and spur the creation of 8,500 additional new businesses every year.

In addition, the Labor Department finalized a new rule raising the threshold for overtime pay – ensuring that more workers who earn less than $58,656 a year have the right to overtime protections and receive the pay they deserve.

The Labor Department also finalized a new rule that could increase savings for middle class families by 20% by ensuring that savers receive retirement advice in their best interest, rather than in the interest of retirement professionals.

On Wednesday, the Department of Transportation mandated that airlines provide automatic cash refunds to passengers who experience cancellations or significant delays, and required airlines and ticket agents show the price of fees for checked bags, seats, and flight changes or cancellations upfront, which will save consumers half a billion in fees. The White House also convened state legislative leaders to discuss state-level actions to address junk fees, building on the Biden-Harris Administration's unprecedented efforts to crack down on junk fees across the economy to lower costs for Americans.

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to reinstate net neutrality following through on encouragement from the President's Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.

Leaders from across the country praised this week's announcements. Here's what they are saying:

FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompete Agreements

Organizations and Labor Unions

AFL-CIO: "Noncompete agreements trap workers from finding better jobs, drive down wages, and stifle competition. We commend the FTC and Lina Khan for finalizing a strong rule to ban these exploitative practices and level the playing field for American workers." [tweet , 4/23/24]

SEIU: "Did you hear today's big news? Noncompetes -- which hold workers, especially Black, brown, and women workers back -- have been banned by the FTC!" [tweet – 4/23/24]

Small Business Majority: "The Federal Trade Commission's final rule banning non-compete agreements is a victory for the U.S. economy because it will help fuel small business growth. In fact, Small Business Majority's research revealed that more than 33 percent of small business owners were prevented from hiring an employee due to a non-compete agreement, and nearly 50 percent said that they have been subject to a non-compete agreement that prevented them from starting or growing a business of their own…. Small businesses overwhelmingly want a level playing field, and non-competes don't deliver because they are a threat to the free, fair and open competition that is essential to a thriving and equitable economy. That's why more than 400 small businesses and small business organizations previously signed our letter urging the FTC to enact its proposed rule to ban non-compete agreements, and why we joined a coalition of small business advocates in signing a letter of support for the

rule. Now, we will look forward to implementation of the new non-compete prohibition." [Statement , 4/23/24]

American Economic Liberties Project: "The FTC's final rule is a clear-cut win for American workers and entrepreneurs. For too long, corporations have used these restrictive clauses to block millions of working people from changing jobs, negotiating for better pay, or starting a new business. But after listening to the comments of thousands of entrepreneurs and workers of all income levels across industries on the proposed rule, the FTC has done the right thing and used their authority to ban these agreements. We're thrilled to see this rule finalized, which won't just improve working conditions and boost wages by more than $400 billion, but will catalyze innovation as millions of Americans are freed to bring their ideas to life and start their own business." [Statement , 4/23/24]

Restaurant Opportunities Centers United: "Restaurant workers have risked their own lives and the health of their family so that people could eat or bring food to their tables. There are other employers that see how important our job is, and they are hiring for higher wages and better benefits. Yet, they couldn't just leave their job because of the non-compete terms. The FTC proposed rule on banning non-compete terms would help millions of restaurant workers who may be in a similar bind; it would allow them to grow and increase their wages to support themselves and their loved ones. And they would no longer suffer from reduced wages and loss of professional growth opportunities." [Statement , 4/23/24]

Public Citizen: "The pervasive use of non-compete clauses limits worker mobility, drives down wages, keeps Americans from pursuing entrepreneurial dreams and creating new businesses, causes more concentrated markets, and keeps workers stuck in unsafe or hostile workplaces. Non-compete clauses are both an unfair method of competition and aggressively harmful to regular people. The FTC was right to tackle this issue and to finalize a strong rule." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Farm Action: "FTC's final rule removes a key mechanism of exploitation and corporate control over U.S. workers. Noncompete clauses prevent workers from freely switching jobs, enabling corporations to hold workers hostage. This abusive practice leaves workers vulnerable to low wages and unsafe working conditions, and we applaud FTC for taking this bold action." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Economic Security Project: "Today's milestone ushers in a new era of pro-worker antitrust enforcement, guaranteeing that employers can no longer exploit workers by limiting their future job prospects. Whether you're a sandwich artist, a doctor, or a new CEO, the FTC's ban on non-compete agreements ensures every worker can freely choose who they want to work for without constraint." [Statement , 4/23/24]

Elected Officials

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: "Banning noncompetes is life-changing for millions of workers. This action will allow people to switch jobs or start a business, boosting wages, spurring innovation & lowering health care costs. Massachusetts workers stand to gain $2 billion in higher pay. A big Biden win!" [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine: "If we want to continue to grow our economy, we must protect and empower American workers. I'm glad the Federal Trade Commission is taking this step to ban non-compete agreements, which stifle wage growth, hinder job mobility, and make it harder for businesses to hire talent. This will expand job opportunities for more Americans, increase wages, promote innovation, and support our country's economic growth." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy: "Non-compete agreements are terrible for workers and our economy – they suppress wages, stifle innovation, and undermine competition. Today's action by the FTC puts power back into the hands of workers and budding entrepreneurs. Congress should pass our bipartisan legislation to ensure employers can never again use non-competes to protect their own interests at the expense of fair wages and economic growth." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley: "HUGE: The @FTC just voted to BAN noncompetes! This is a big win for workers--ending an era of companies abusing noncompete agreements to keep wages lower and growth options limited for working people." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown: "This is big. Corporations use noncompete agreements to prevent workers from leaving for jobs with better pay & benefits. They're exploitative, and I've been pushing the @FTC to ban them for years. Today is a great day for worker freedom. [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman: ".@POTUS has delivered another massive W for working people. ✅Noncompete clauses prevent too many workers from getting a new job with better pay + benefits. Today, @FTC made them ILLEGAL." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith: "Non-compete agreements are used by employers to force workers to stay with their companies. It hurts workers, stifles competition and makes our economy less dynamic. This rule empowers American workers and will build a stronger economy for millions of families." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz: "Eliminating non-compete agreements gives American workers more freedom and promotes competition within our economy. It's absolutely the right thing to do, and @FTC has the full authority to do it." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders: "Can you believe we live in a world where a Starbucks worker can't seek other barista jobs because of a so-called "non-compete" clause? Outrageous! I applaud the Federal Trade Commission for banning non-compete clauses. Once again, Chair Khan is delivering for working people." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey: "It's a bad day to be a greedy corporation. @FTC and @DOL delivered huge wins for workers--banning non-compete agreements that trap workers at artificially low wages, and expanding overtime protections to millions of working class salaried workers." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen: "Noncompete clauses unfairly restrict workers, small businesses, and entrepreneurship across the board. They hurt employees, employers AND our economy, which is why I've long supported getting rid of them -- and why I'm glad to see @POTUS and the @FTC take this major step today." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

California Senator Laphonza Butler: "The @FTC's decision to ban noncompetes is a win for workers and a step towards a fairer economy. Noncompetes disproportionately harm women and people of color, limiting job mobility and bargaining power. I'm glad the FTC is putting workers' rights first." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Missouri Representative Emanuel Cleaver: "Thankful to have a

@POTUS that puts American workers first! With these actions, President Biden is leveling the playing field for hardworking families and ensuring they receive fair pay for their labor. #PeopleOverPolitics." [Tweet , 04/25/24]

Ohio Representative Shontel Brown: "This week, the FTC issued a ban on non-compete clauses, an unfair practice that has been used to limit worker mobility and suppress wages. Banning non-competes is a win for Ohio workers and working people nationwide." [Tweet , 04/25/24]

DOL Announces New Rules on Overtime Pay and Retirement Security

Advocates

AARP: "[This rule] normalizes what Americans already expect their financial advisors should be doing. AARP research shows that retirement savers assume that all financial advisors are giving them good advice, and because of this, they rely on it. Unfortunately, that advice is not always in their best interest. We stand ready to see this rule fully implemented, and to continue our work to close the retirement savings gap across the country." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Elected Officials

Minnesota Senator Tina Smith: "Some 4 million more American workers will now get paid overtime when they work for more than 40 hours a week, thanks to President Biden. That means that if you are a lower-paid salaried worker, you can get overtime just like hourly workers do. That's really good news." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: "It's actually pretty simple -- if you work overtime, you should be paid for it. Starting July 1 st, millions of salaried workers will finally be eligible for overtime pay. This is a major step towards fairer wages and economic justice." [Tweet , 04/25/24]

Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar: "Great news! The @USDOL's new rule will make millions of salaried employees eligible for overtime pay. This is a huge win for Americans struggling with higher costs." [Tweet, 4/25/24]

Virginia Representative Bobby Scott: "Workers deserve fair pay for every hour they work, including 'time and a half' for overtime work. Unfortunately, without adequate overtime pay protections, millions of workers making modest salaries are putting in 50- and 60-hour weeks while being denied overtime protections. By increasing the salary threshold to qualify for overtime pay, the Biden-Harris Administration's final overtime rule provides millions more Americans with the overtime protections they need. This means more dollars in the pockets of workers who are asked to work long hours, enabling them to better provide for themselves and their families. […] This rule is good for workers, good for businesses, and good for our economy. It is the kind of action that further underscores Acting Secretary Julie Su's leadership and commitment to workers' economic security. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for their work to grow the economy from the bottom up and the middle out, and I look

forward to continuing to work together to ensure that workers get a fair share of the profits they produce." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Washington Senator Patty Murray: "After the Trump administration callously excluded millions of workers from overtime protections, this final rule from the Biden administration will restore and expand protections for millions of working people, ensuring they get the overtime compensation they deserve when working long hours away from their families," said Senator Murray. "This will make a material difference in the lives of over 4 million workers--giving their families extra breathing room for their extra labor. From Day One, the Biden administration has been laser-focused on improving the lives of working Americans, and this rule is one more important step in that direction." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: "If you're working overtime, you deserve overtime pay. Today, the Biden administration is extending overtime protections to Americans making up to $58,656 -- up from just $35,568 under Donald Trump. That's a big raise for over 4 million hardworking Americans and long overdue." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky: "Every person in the United States deserves to age with dignity and access to quality long-term care. For years, I have championed a provision that would ensure that registered nurses are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week in nursing facilities. I am happy to see that the Biden Administration has incorporated this provision into the final rule for minimum staffing standards. I am also relieved to see that the rule brings long-overdue transparency to nursing home compensation for direct care workers. […] I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Administration to hold nursing homes accountable for the treatment of their nursing workforce and ensure residents receive high-quality, person-centered care." [Statement , 04/23/24]

DOT Delivers Automatic Refunds and Protect Consumers from Surprise Junk Fees in Air Travel

Organizations and Advocates

American Economic Liberties Project: "The DOT's new rule is a watershed moment for passenger protection in the airline industry, making it easy and accessible for consumers to get relief when Too-Big-To-Care airlines run roughshod over them. This news follows a positive sea change in the DOT's enforcement activity under the Biden administration, including supporting the DOJ's successful JetBlue-Spirit merger challenge, a historic enforcement action against Southwest, and new efforts to empower state attorneys general to address consumer complaints." [Statement , 04/25/2024]

National Consumers League: "Today's rules promise to bring sanity to the refund process. In addition, the new rules on fee transparency will make it easier for consumers to get an accurate price for their flights upfront. This is a far better solution making consumers wait until the end of the ticket buying process to learn what their true cost will be." [Statement , 04/25/2024]

Consumer Federation of America: "Hidden fees prevent consumers from predictably calculating costs, and consumers have almost no recourse when they are owed refunds that never show up. These rules demonstrate that Secretary Buttigieg is continuing his momentum toward leveling the playing field for airline consumers and holding airlines accountable." [Statement , 04/24/2024]

Consumer Action: "We applaud the DOT's move to require refunds for consumers --by default--when flights are cancelled or 'significantly' delayed. This clear directive is sorely needed and a significant improvement for airline passengers." [Statement , 04/25/2024]

Elected Officials

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?Big change from @USDOT:

If your flight gets delayed or canceled, airlines now have to refund you automatically in CASH.

Refunds cover:

- Delayed flights

- Airport changes

- Added connections

- Service class downgrade

- Accessibility changes

[X post , 4/24/2024]

Tennessee Representative Steve Cohen: "These passenger protections are long overdue. When airlines are responsible for flight delays or cancellations, or do not provide the services that their customers pay for, passengers should be made whole, not tied to airline vouchers or travel credits. I have also heard from many travelers about their frustrations with hidden fees for checked bags, seat assignments, and flight change and cancellation fees that far exceed the costs to provide these services. I'm pleased that the Department of Transportation has implemented many of the protections in my Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act and Forbidding Airlines from Imposing Ridiculous Fees Act." [Statement , 04/24/24]

Washington Representative Rick Larsen: "Airline passengers deserve compensation for cancelled or significantly delayed flights and transparency when it comes to junk fees. Today's new rules will deliver both, putting money back in consumers' pockets by streamlining the refund process and requiring airlines to be upfront about ticket prices so passengers can choose the flight that is best for them." [Statement , 04/24/24]

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: "You shouldn't have to jump through hoops just to get your money back if your flight was cancelled or the airline lost your bag. Thanks to the Biden admin, airlines must disclose up-front any extra fees and issue automatic cash refunds for cancelled flights -- no travel vouchers!" [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey: "I applaud @POTUS for taking steps I've long advocated and announcing a new rule to protect travelers from junk fees and ensure automatic refunds for canceled travel. No one should have to beg airlines for their money back and surprise fees shouldn't blow their budgets sky high." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey: "It's good to hear that @USDOT is taking action to protect airline customers from junk fees. American consumers shouldn't be shocked at checkout, and these rules will help ensure prices are more transparent and accurately reflect what you'll pay." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth: "? Huge news! It's past time airlines treat us fairly when they don't deliver the level of service they promise. This new rule by @SecretaryPete and the Biden Administration will help crack down on hidden fees and get folks an automatic refund if a trip is cancelled or delayed." [Tweet , 04/24/24]

Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal: "I'm pleased that the Biden Admin is heeding calls like mine for stiffer remedies against greed-driven junk fees, canceled or delayed flights, & other consumer abuses. Flyers deserve basic rights--services they pay for & compensation when they're denied.

"All fees need to be fully disclosed up front & refunds made right away--as these new rules will help do. Basic fairness shouldn't be up in the air for airlines." [Tweet , 04/25/25]

New Mexico Representative Gabe Vasquez: "Great news! ? If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you'll now receive an automatic cash refund. This is critical for protecting travelers' pocketbooks and ensuring they get the money they deserve." [Tweet , 04/25/24]

Virginia Representative Jennifer McClellan: "NEW: @USDOT announced rules to protect travelers, making it easier to fly! Now, airlines have to issue a cash refund if your flight is canceled/delayed or they lose your bags AND they must be up-front about hidden fees. The Biden-Harris Administration continues to deliver!" [Tweet, 4/25/2024]

South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn: "Good news: The Biden Admin's new rule will require airlines to offer cash refunds when they cancel or significantly delay flights or if they lose your bags. This is @POTUS' latest action to expand consumer protections, eliminate junk fees & lower costs." [Tweet, 4/25/2024]

California Representative Norma Torres: "Great news from @DOT to protect the American flying public! Passengers deserve cash refunds for delays, lost luggage, or cancellations, with no hidden fees. Thank you @POTUS and @SecretaryPete for fighting for consumer rights!" [Tweet , 4/25/2024]

Michigan Representative Hillary Scholten: "HUGE WIN: @USDOT took an incredible step to protect travelers. Airlines are now required to provide automatic cash refunds for flight delays, cancellations, and delayed or lost baggage and eliminate hidden fees! This will save passengers over $500 M & lots of headaches!" [Tweet, 4/25/2024]

Michigan Representative Shri Thanedar: "Everyone hates delays and cancellations at the airport. Thanks to @POTUS and @USDOT, you'll get your refund right away when your travel doesn't go as planned!" [Tweet, 4/25/2024]

California Representative Nanette Barragan: "?? Great news for airline passengers. I hope the other rules for airline controlled delays being considered are also implemented. Thank you POTUS Biden!" [Tweet, 4/25/24]

Delaware Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester: "NEWS: These rules will require airlines to provide automatic cash refunds that will put more $$ in your pockets and save you from hidden airline junk fees. I commend @POTUS and @USDOT for taking this step to protect travelers across the country. See you at the airport! ?✈️" [Tweet, 4/25/24]

New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell: "President Biden moves this week:

✈️Hammered airline fees

✍️Banned noncompete clauses

?Won overtime pay for 4 M workers

Pro worker, pro consumer, pro labor, pro America. Say it with me: #BidenBoom #DemocratsDeliver" [Tweet, 4/24/2024]

Pennsylvania Madeleine Dean: "One thing we can all agree on: cancelled flights, long delays, and lost luggage are unwelcome hurdles -- and far too frequent. Getting your money back shouldn't be another. Thank you to the Biden Administration for easing this stress by requiring automatic cash refunds." [Tweet, 4/24/24]

Federal Communications Commission votes to restore net neutrality

Organizations and Advocates

Public Knowledge: "Today, the FCC voted to restore the net neutrality rules that were put into place in 2015, and later repealed. Restoring what we had before is an important victory, but just the beginning." [Statement , 04/24/24]

ACLU: The American Civil Liberties Union commends the Federal Communications Commission's vote today to restore vital net neutrality regulations by reclassifying broadband under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934. After today's vote, the FCC once again possesses the necessary oversight powers to safeguard users against exploitative or negligent practices by internet service providers .

ACLU: "Today marks the last day that internet service providers can continue to put profit over people. We are thrilled that the FCC now has the authority it needs to protect consumers, promote the exercise of First Amendment rights online, and ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable internet." [Statement , 04/25/24]

Michael Copps, Former Chair of the FCC: "Today's action brings back moderate rules that have already passed court muster and are essential building blocks for a consumer-friendly and citizen-friendly internet.. . . . Our communications technologies are evolving so swiftly, affecting so many important aspects of our individual lives, that they must be available to all of us on a non-discriminatory basis. And they must advance the public interest, protecting consumers, fostering competition, and providing us all the news and information we need as we fight to maintain our democracy. We still have much to do; but today, let's celebrate a huge step forward." [Statement , 04/25/24]

Common Cause: "The restoration of Net Neutrality is a victory for every American household, and it is a victory for democracy. Today's vote returns control of the Internet to the American people instead of corporate interests. The Internet is crucial to civic engagement in the United States today. It functions as a virtual public square where social justice movements organize and garner support. […] The Internet today is an essential public utility and in recent years, service providers proved themselves incapable of delivering that service without supervision. The FCC's vote today returns the Internet to the American people." [Statement , 04/25/24]

Congressional Leaders

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey: "Net neutrality is simple; it's about nondiscrimination. Net neutrality ensures that anyone can use the internet without being blocked or obstructed by gatekeepers. Net neutrality protects dreamers in garages, small businesses, and budding entrepreneurs from being shoved into online slow lanes. Net neutrality ensures advocates, activists, and organizers can freely speak their minds and voice their views. Net neutrality ensures the internet remains a democratic space where commerce and communication can thrive." [Statement , 04/25/24]

California Representative Anna Eshoo: "In 2018, the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality rules, eviscerating the protections of consumers that advanced competition and innovation, and helped small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. Since then, consumers have borne the brunt of this decision as Internet Service Providers slowed data speeds everywhere, including the Santa Clara County firefighters when ISPs throttled them as they fought the then-largest fire in California history. Today's FCC vote reestablishing net neutrality protections for every American is a great victory for national security, public safety, consumer protection, and American innovation." [Statement , 04/25/24]

Washington Senator Maria Cantwell: "Americans should be able to use the internet without fear and without foreign adversaries posing legitimate threats to them on U.S. soil. We need to protect the growing innovation economy by making sure that we have rules that say you can't throttle, you can't slow down, and you can't charge exorbitant fees just to have preferential treatment. I applaud the Chair for their work and look forward to working with her." [Statement , 04/18/24]

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet: "A free and open internet is essential for our democracy and economy. That's why I've pushed alongside Coloradans for years to restore #NetNeutrality rules. I'm glad that @FCC has acted on our calls." [Tweet , 04/25/24]

The Department of Health and Human Services Finalizes Rules to help care workers and caretakers, seniors, and those living with disabilities

Congressional Leaders

Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey: "Our Nation's 1.2 million nursing home residents expect and deserve high quality care that prioritizes health, safety, and human dignity. But for too long, many nursing homes have not met this threshold due to understaffing and inadequate enforcement. This rule, which both establishes staffing minimums and improves enforcement of nursing home violations, is an important step towards ensuring that all nursing homes are providing the care that all residents need and deserve." [Press Release , 04/24/24]

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden: "Adequate staffing in nursing homes is the single most important factor when it comes to the quality of care in these settings. The updated standards finalized by the Biden administration this week will improve the quality of care for the 1.2 million seniors and Americans with disabilities who receive care in a nursing home. […] I also commend the Biden administration for finalizing the Medicaid access rule, which will improve the quality of services that seniors and people with disabilities receive in their own homes and improve the jobs of the direct care workforce that deliver home and community-based services through the Medicaid program. The rule will ensure that Medicaid dollars are being used for wages for direct care workers, and it will establish payment standards for primary care, obstetrics care, and behavioral health care, which are essential services for all Americans." [Press Release

, 04/24/24]

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren: "Nursing home residents -- our parents, family members, and friends -- are too often stuck in facilities without enough staff to keep them healthy and safe. The Biden-Harris administration's new minimum staffing rules will protect seniors and improve quality of care." [Tweet , 04/23/24]

Massachusetts Representative Richard Neal: "Nursing home residents and their families deserve to know that they will be safe and well-cared for in long-term care homes, and the latest actions taken by the Biden Administration are welcome improvements to strengthen patient and worker safety. As long as industry forces prioritize profits over care, Ways and Means Democrats will not only continue cracking down on these unsafe practices but also push for the robust oversight patients and their families deserve. We're committed to ensuring that every American has access to the care they need for their health and well-being while improving support for the direct care workforce. Bolstering our care economy is critical to sustain the historic success delivered by President Biden's re-building our economy from the bottom-up and the middle-out, and we'll continue spreading prosperity and unlocking opportunity by investing right in America's caregivers, workers, and their families." [Press Release

, 04/22/24]

Illinois Representative Jan Schakowsky: "Every person in the United States deserves to age with dignity and access to quality long-term care. For years, I have championed a provision that would ensure that registered nurses are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week in nursing facilities. I am happy to see that the Biden Administration has incorporated this provision into the final rule for minimum staffing standards. I am also relieved to see that the rule brings long-overdue transparency to nursing home compensation for direct care workers. […] I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Administration to hold nursing homes accountable for the treatment of their nursing workforce and ensure residents receive high-quality, person-centered care." [Statement , 04/23/24]

Community, Labor, and Advocacy Organizations

SEIU: "Today is an historic moment. The Biden-Harris administration has taken a major step toward strengthening our long-term care workforce, ensuring quality care for those who need it and helping every family thrive. The 2 million working people united in SEIU – many of whom are nursing home, hospital and home care workers – applaud the Biden-Harris administration for delivering on their promise that they would confront the crisis in our country's nursing home and home care industries head-on. By requiring 80% of Medicaid funding for home care to go directly to workers while taking into account unique circumstances for some providers and creating a federal nursing home staffing standard, our country is better equipped to move forward in the pursuit of building a long-term care system that works for everyone, in all communities." [Statement

, 04/22/24]

AARP: "For years, AARP has fought to ensure the health and safety of every person living in a nursing home. CMS's long overdue rule to require minimum staffing levels in America's nursing homes will help protect the basic rights of residents to live in dignity. It is shameful that nursing homes receiving taxpayer dollars through Medicaid and Medicare haven't been required to provide quality care through specific minimum staffing standards until now. Far too many residents and families have experienced tragic consequences because of poorly staffed facilities. AARP commends CMS for requiring nursing homes to meet important staffing standards, including having a registered nurse on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ultimately, ensuring nursing homes are adequately staffed will improve the quality of care residents receive and can give family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are living with the quality of life they deserve." [Statement

, 04/22/24]

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: "Enrollees in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program will benefit from two rules finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday. The rules -- one focused on access to Medicaid fee-for-service care and home- and community-based services , the other on Medicaid managed care plans -- are complex, but they share a goal that's easy to grasp: improving access to high-quality care for the 85 million people Medicaid covers. […] Once implemented, these rules will improve access to health care services that are supposed to be offered by Medicaid. Along with the recently finalized Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment rule, the rules are an important step to help eligible people get enrolled, stay enrolled, and access the quality health care services they need." [Blog , 04/23/24]

National Council on Disability: "NCD applauds the Biden Administration's systemic investment in home and community based services and strengthening the direct care workforce. The CMS Access Rule in particular is necessary for people with disabilities who rely on the direct care workforce for inclusion in the community." [Statement , 04/23/24]

National Health Law Program: "Nationally, there is a critical direct care workforce shortage. All too often, people eligible for HCBS, which allow people with disabilities and complex medical needs to live in their homes and communities, cannot actually find anyone to provide these essential supports. The HCBS access rule creates a mechanism to address historically insufficient rates and establishes that a fair share of state and federal Medicaid dollars go directly to wages for direct care workers, a workforce that is largely composed of immigrants and people of color. Ultimately, we hope this will increase access to critical HCBS services that let people with disabilities live in their own communities while also improving historical inequities in how this workforce is paid." [Statement , 4/23/24]

State convening on junk fees

Arizona State Representative Analise Ortiz: The Biden Administration is looking to change that, ultimately putting money back into the hands of consumers with the help of several state leaders like Arizona State Representative Analise Ortiz. "The data shows junk fees add 20% to a person's bill and right now when so many Arizonans are struggling, every dollar really counts," Ortiz said. "It's long overdue that Arizonans have transparency when they go to buy certain goods or services." [NBC News , 04/24/2024]

Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan: Officials in Illinois introduced their own junk fees bill last month, aiming to crack down on hidden fees and empowering the state's attorney general to go after businesses that ignore the new restrictions. "We can't do much about global inflation at the state level, but what we can do is deal with things like this," said Democratic state Rep. BOB MORGAN, one of the bill's sponsors. Morgan was in Washington on Monday meeting with White House and FTC officials for an exchange of ideas. [POLITICO , 04/24/2024]

North Carolina State Representative Tim Longest: "This is a very real example of how legislators across the country at the state level can tackle cost of living issues in a real way," said TIM LONGEST, a Democratic state representative from Raleigh, North Carolina, who also attended. [POLITICO , 04/24/2024]

April 29, 2024

Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration took several new actions to protect workers and consumers. From banning noncompete agreements that leave workers stuck in jobs, to raising the threshold for overtime, to requiring airlines to provide passengers with cash refunds and cracking down on junk fees, the Administration is delivering on President Biden's and Vice President Harris's agenda to empower workers, lower costs, and build the economy from the middle out and bottom up.

See more below:

Axios: ? Workers' winning week

[4/27/24]

It was a huge week for U.S. workers, who notched some big wins that could lead to higher wages for millions.

The big picture: New rules from federal agencies intent on implementing the White House's pro worker agenda plus a big union victory in the South are keeping the deck stacked in labor's favor -- for now, Axios' Emily Peck writes.

⚡ State of play: The Labor Department this week expanded its rule on when employees are owed overtime .

Also this week, the Federal Trade Commission [released] a rule that bans nearly all noncompete agreements.

The FTC estimates that 30 million Americans are subject to these agreements and that its ban will lead to $524 in increased wages per year, per worker, on average.

Outside of Washington, auto workers in the South scored a breakthrough victory last week when employees at a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionizing, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports .

The vote gives unions a major inroad into organizing the South, historically hostile to organizing.

Another worker win: Late last night, Daimler truck workers in North Carolina reached a deal that gives them 25% raises and avoids a strike that would have started today, The New York Times reports .

Business Insider: A flurry of new rules from the Biden administration attempt to ban noncompetes, boost overtime pay, and increase refunds for delayed flights

[Juliana Kaplan, 4/27/24]

The Biden administration this week pushed out a slate of rules it says are meant to boost competitiveness and put more money into workers' pockets.

There are already challenges to at least one of the rules -- but together they could land overtime pay for millions more workers, ban noncompetes that prevent workers from moving into jobs in similar industries, and help people get automatic refunds for delayed or canceled flights.

"By increasing competition, these rules give workers their fairly earned wages and gives consumers more power to purchase the best option," Lael Brainard, the director of the National Economic Council, told Business Insider.

[…]

Brainard argued that "a lot of Republicans and some of the businesses and special interests that they're supporting will try to challenge these actions because it means that they have to pass on savings to consumers," adding, "They have to lower prices; they have to give working families a break."

Investopedia: Biden Administration Expands Push to Shift Workplace Rules in Favor of Workers

[Diccon Hyatt, 4/28/24]

President Joe Biden's administration released major regulations last week aimed at tilting workplace rules in favor of workers, the latest in a series of actions by Biden to use the power of federal regulatory agencies to advance policy goals.

Federal regulators finalized rules expanding required overtime pay for workers making less than $58,656 and banning non-compete agreements on Tuesday. And in a move affecting employer-sponsored retirement plans, they finalized a rule requiring retirement advisors to act as fiduciaries , in the best interest of their clients rather than being paid to promote certain financial products.

Taken together, the policies could alter the balance of power in the workplace, giving employees more leverage to switch jobs, potentially raising their bargaining power and ultimately their wages.

"It appears that the Biden administration is taking a number of steps to benefit workers, potentially at the expense of their employers, and is trying to tilt the playing field more in favor of workers," said Leonard Samuels, a labor and employment expert and partner at Berger Singerman law firm. "What the Biden administration is doing all at once is fairly breathtaking."

The new rules are an attempt to "get American workers a better deal," Biden said in a post on social media platform X.1 "Workers ought to have the right to choose who they want to work for," Biden wrote of the non-compete ban. And regarding the overtime rule: "If you work extra hours, you deserve extra pay."

Associated Press: How US Changes to 'noncompete' agreements and overtime pay could affect workers

[Cathy Bussewitz and Mae Anderson, 4/24/24]

For millions of American workers, the federal government took two actions this week that could bestow potentially far-reaching benefits.

In one move, the Federal Trade Commission voted to ban noncompete agreements, which bar millions of workers from leaving their employers to join a competitor or start a rival business for a specific period of time. The FTC's move, which is already being challenged in court, would mean that such employees could apply for jobs they weren't previously eligible to seek.

In a second move, the Biden administration finalized a rule that will make millions more salaried workers eligible for overtime pay. The rule significantly raises the salary level that workers could earn and still qualify for overtime.

April 29, 2024

Later in the day, the Second Gentleman will participate in a fireside chat on gender equity at Global Citizen NOW. The Second Gentleman will discuss the importance of investing in economic opportunities for women. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. Press interested in attending this event should contact Jake Glickman, glickman@ssmandl.com. Additional details to follow.

April 29, 2024

Additional details to follow.

April 29, 2024

April 29, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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.