Today, my Administration is approving $6.1 billion in student debt cancellation for 317,000 borrowers who attended the Art Institutes. This institution falsified data, knowingly misled students, and cheated borrowers into taking on mountains of debt without leading to promising career prospects at the end of their studies.

While my predecessor looked the other way when colleges defrauded students and borrowers, I promised to take this on directly to provide borrowers with the relief they need and deserve. Over the last three years, my Administration has approved nearly $29 billion in debt relief for 1.6 million borrowers whose colleges took advantage of them, closed abruptly, or were covered by related court settlements, compared to just 53,500 borrowers who had ever gotten their debt cancelled through these types of actions before I took office. And in total, we have approved debt cancellation for nearly 4.6 million Americans through various actions.

Today's announcement builds on all we've done to fix broken student loan programs and bring higher education more in reach. That includes: providing the largest increases to the maximum Pell Grant in over a decade, fixing Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income Driven Repayment so borrowers get the relief they are entitled to under the law, launching the SAVE Plan – the most affordable repayment plan ever, and pursuing new plans that would cancel student debt for more than 30 million Americans when combined with everything we've done so far.

We will never stop fighting to deliver relief to borrowers, hold bad actors accountable, and bring the promise of college to more Americans.

As part of the President's Investing in America agenda, a key component of Bidenomics, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress towards lowering costs – including internet costs – for American families across the country. The Affordable Connectivity Program, enacted under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as the largest internet affordability program in our nation's history, has helped 23 million households save on their monthly internet bills. Today, May 1st, begins the final month that Affordable Connectivity Program households will receive any benefit on their internet bills. Without Congressional action to extend funding for the program, millions of Americans will see their internet bills go up or lose internet access at the end of this month. President Biden is once again calling on Republicans in Congress to join their Democratic colleagues in support of extending funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, so tens of millions of Americans can continue to access this essential benefit.

Losing the monthly Affordable Connectivity Program benefit will have drastic, meaningful impacts on American households, according to survey data collected by the Federal Communications Commission. More than three-quarters of surveyed ACP households say losing their ACP benefit would disrupt their service by making them change their plan or drop internet service entirely. More than two thirds of households had inconsistent internet service or no internet service at all prior to ACP, and this number is even higher for surveyed households residing in rural areas. These respondents also reported that ACP has enabled them to schedule or attend healthcare appoints, apply for jobs, complete work, and do schoolwork.

During the month of May, as funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program runs out, millions of households will receive only a partial subsidy on their internet bills and some will receive no discount at all if their provider opts out of the partial benefit.

At this crucial time, the White House is encouraging providers to take steps to keep their consumers connected by offering low-cost or no-cost plans or providing discounts.

On October 25, 2023, President Biden sent Congress a supplemental request for $6 billion to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. Despite that request, Republicans in Congress have failed to act. Without action from Republicans in Congress, this program will sunset at the end of May and tens of millions of Americans may no longer be able to afford high-speed internet service. It is time for Republicans in Congress to step up for families across the country.

See below for the state-by-state breakdown of the number of households that will see a $30 or $75 per month increase on their internet bill if Congressional Republicans fail to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program. This breakdown includes estimates of percentages of households enrolled in ACP in every Congressional District.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Oklahoma and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 25, 2024, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Hughes, Love, and Murray.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance in the counties of Hughes, Love, and Murray.

Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. Benjamin Abbott of the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA [3362], or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service [VRS], captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT [202] 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

Today, Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein, Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden, and Chief Economist of the Investing in America Cabinet Heather Boushey, alongside senior staff from the Department of the Treasury, convened child care providers, community development financial institutions [CDFIs], and local and national leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration between child care providers and CDFIs to support access to affordable, high-quality child care.

Since the beginning of the Administration, President Biden and Vice President Harris have prioritized tackling the structural issues negatively impacting the child care sector, including low wages for workers, high costs for families, and inadequate supply of high-quality care. The Administration has proposed transformational investments that would guarantee affordable, high-quality child care from birth until kindergarten for low- and middle-income working families, restore the expanded Child Tax Credit, expand home and community-based services, and provide national paid family and medical leave.

In April 2023, the President signed an historic Executive Order directing nearly every cabinet-level agency to expand access to affordable, high-quality care and provide increased support for care workers and family caregivers. Over the past month, during Care Workers Recognition Month and our "Month of Action on Care," the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions pursuant to the Executive Order, including: new funding opportunities from the Small Business Administration to support small business providing care and the creation of a child care business development guide; funding opportunities and new resources encouraging the use of supportive services, including care, for equitable workforce development; and the issuance of two final rules to improve access to safe, reliable, high-quality long-term care.

Today, building on these efforts, pursuant to the President's Executive Order, the White House and the Department of the Treasury convened stakeholders to discuss challenges faced by child care businesses, such as barriers to securing financing and opportunities to support care providers, including pathways to access capital. The convening highlighted ways in which they can collaborate with CDFIs for support—bringing awareness to challenges and opportunities faced by both child care businesses and CDFIs and forging cooperation in pursuit of supporting access to affordable, high-quality care.

The Biden Administration marks the first year of implementation of ten-year plans to advance theU.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability [the "Strategy"]. An innovative, long-term, and locally-driven approach to conflict prevention and stabilization, the Strategy aims to bolster partnerships with Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and the Coastal West African countries of Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo. The United States is advancing these partnerships through ten-year country or regional plans that leverage the full range of U.S. Government tools across new and existing diplomatic, defense, and development efforts. Together, the United States and our partners are elevating shared approaches to promoting peace and stability. At the same time, the Administration has deepened cooperation with likeminded countries, multilateral and regional organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders to address drivers of conflict and break costly cycles of instability. The Administration is also investing in evidence-based, adaptive, and innovative programs at the local level, aimed at strengthening social inclusion, government responsiveness, service delivery, and security.

Promoting Peace and Preventing Violent Extremism in Coastal West Africa

Strengthening Recovery and Resilience in Mozambique

Addressing Immediate Needs While Advancing Community Engagement to Increase Security and Prosperity in Haiti

Accelerating Grassroots, Bottom-up Stabilization Initiatives in Libya

Elevating the Rights and Roles of Women and Youth for Sustainable Peace in Papua New Guinea

For more information on our work to implement the Strategy, please visit this dedicated website.

"Cooperation and long-term investments in conflict prevention and stabilization are needed now more than ever to build peace across divided communities and boundaries. We must collectively bolster societal resilience to prevent and reduce the heavy human and financial costs of conflicts that undermine global peace, security, and sustainable development."

Today the White House released visitor log records generated in January 2024. This set includes 48,634 records, bringing the total number of records posted to 1,256,092.

These records were posted pursuant to the White House's policy to voluntarily disclose visitor log records. This release is consistent with the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to becoming the first administration to post visitor log records from its first full year in office.

To learn more about the policy, read our voluntary disclosure policy. To view visitor log records, view our disclosure page.

America is home to people from every place on Earth, some whose ancestors have been here for thousands of years and others who have only just arrived. We all came from somewhere, but we are all American — loyal not to a person or a place but to an idea: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. This idea is our Nation's North Star. While we have never fully lived up to it, we have never stopped pursuing it. This Loyalty Day, we promise to always keep fighting for a more perfect Union.

Our Nation's North Star guided us through historic challenges to Nation-defining triumphs. Through abolition, the Civil War, women's suffrage, the Great Depression, World Wars, and the Civil Rights Movement, the idea of America animated our many movements and gave us hope for a better future. Today, that light — that promise — still shines brightly as we build an America that is more prosperous, free, and just.

Now more than ever, we must stay loyal to our North Star and the founding values that are the bedrock of this Nation. In the face of forces that want to pull America back into the past, we must honor our Constitution and uphold the rule of law. We must respect free and fair elections and honor the will of the people. We must reject violence as a political tool and stamp out hate, giving it no safe harbor in America. We must open the doors of opportunity wider for everyone and remember that diversity is our greatest strength. We must respect the dignity and integrity of our service members, who put their lives on the line for our flag. We must believe in honesty, decency, and respect for others as well as patriotism, justice for all, and possibilities.

Today, we also recognize the men and women across the country who have protected and defended our Nation. We owe a debt of gratitude to our brave service members and veterans along with their families, caregivers, and survivors, who have sacrificed so much to defend our democracy around the globe. We thank all the courageous first responders who protect our communities, the diplomats who support and protect American citizens abroad, and all the hardworking Americans who are the engines of our economy and strengthen our Nation.

This Loyalty Day, we recognize that nothing about our democracy is guaranteed — we must defend it, protect it, and stand up for it. Our democracy began and will be preserved in "We the People," in the habits of our hearts, and in our character — in an optimism that is tested yet endures, a courage that digs deep when we need it, and an empathy that fuels our hearts and inspires all of us to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans.

To celebrate our shared American spirit and the sacrifices so many of our fellow citizens have made, the Congress, by Public Law 85-529, as amended, has designated the first day of May each year as Loyalty Day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2024, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon the people of the United States to join in this national observance, display the American Flag, and pledge allegiance to our Republic for which it stands.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we recognize the bravery and resilience of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we show our gratitude for the dedicated mental health professionals and devoted loved ones who stand by them every step of the way. Mental health care is health care, and my Administration will ensure that every American has the care they need to thrive — we have your back.

Being able to get health care when you need it is essential to living a full, productive, and healthy life — that goes for mental health care too. Mental health care can help people find joy and purpose; ensuring they have access to the care they need is about dignity. But for millions of Americans, mental health care is out of reach. In 2020, less than half of all adults with a mental illness diagnosis received care for it. It is worse for kids — nearly 70 percent of children who need mental health care cannot get it. Imagine being a parent searching for a way to help their child but never finding it, no matter how hard they look. This is an all-too-common experience as many Americans face mental health challenges: Two in five adults report experiencing anxiety or depression, and suicide is a leading cause of death among young people. We know that mental health treatment works, but we need to make it more accessible and affordable for all Americans.

That is why, as President, I have taken steps to dramatically expand access to mental health care in America. I signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act — the largest investment in youth mental health ever, and we are investing $1 billion of that funding to help schools across the country hire and train new mental health counselors. We also added more than 140 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics across the Nation, which serve everyone regardless of their ability to pay and provide a range of services, including 24-hour crisis support. We launched 988, the Nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which anyone can call, text, or chat to be connected to a trained crisis counselor. Further, my Administration developed new resources to support the mental health and resilience of frontline workers; expanded Medicare coverage to include additional substance use disorder services and expand mental health services; made it easier for schools to leverage Medicaid to deliver mental health care to millions of children and youth; and invested in mental health programs that help service members and veterans as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors.

We are also working to ensure full mental health parity so that mental health care is covered the same as physical health care. We have proposed requiring health insurance plans to identify the gaps in the mental health care they provide, and if they find they are not covering mental health care on par with physical health care, to make changes to fix it. Finally, we are taking action to ensure that State and local government employees have the same mental health parity protections as millions of other Americans who get health insurance from their jobs, which is why we are working to close loopholes so these dedicated public servants can more easily access the mental health care they need with fewer limits on care and lower co-pays.

At the same time, my Administration is working to end the opioid and overdose epidemic by cracking down on fentanyl trafficking and increasing public health efforts to save lives. This month, we celebrate the absolute courage of the Americans in recovery and reaffirm our commitment to care for those suffering.

My Administration will also keep fighting to end the youth mental health crisis — and that means addressing social media's contributions to it. I continue to call on the Congress to restrict the personal data that companies collect, ban advertising that targets minors, and take action to ensure that social media platforms prioritize the health and safety of our Nation's children.

Each one of us has a role to play in changing the narrative and ending the stigmatization of mental health issues. We can start by showing compassion so everyone feels free to ask for help and learning the warning signs of emotional distress and suicide. If you are facing a crisis, dial 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are a new or expecting mother, you can call 1?833?TLC-MAMA for confidential advice on mental health from a professional. If you are feeling overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, ask your health care provider, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Helpline at 1?800?662?HELP, or visit FindSupport.gov. To anyone struggling with mental health, know that you are not alone. As Americans, we have a duty of care to reach out to one another and leave no one behind. We are all in this together.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to join in activities and take action to strengthen the mental health of our communities and our Nation.

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




JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Over two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers created the United States of America based on an idea: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Ours would be a government by and for the people, enshrining in our Constitution, over time, the right to vote and to have that vote counted — the threshold of our liberty and democracy. On Law Day, we recommit to protecting this Constitutional right. We reflect on the enduring power of "We the People." We rededicate ourselves to the ongoing pursuit of perfecting our Union.

Right now, we face a rare moment in the history of our Union: Freedom is under attack at home and abroad, at the very same time. Overseas, Russia is continuing its brutal assault against Ukraine's sovereignty, attempting to sow chaos throughout Europe and beyond. Here at home, our democracy is facing threats from waves of States that have proposed dozens of anti-voting laws to suppress the will of the people — reflecting the same dark motivations of the violent mob that stormed the Capitol 3 years ago in an effort to overturn a free and fair election.

Simply put: We are in a battle for the soul of our Nation — between those who want to pull America back to the past and those who want to move America into the future.

I am determined to move our Nation forward to build a future based on equality, decency, and dignity. In this country, that effort begins and ends with the ballot box. That is why I signed an Executive Order that promotes access to voting — from making vote.gov available in 12 languages to providing voter registration services at naturalization ceremonies for our Nation's newest citizens. I also signed into law the Electoral Count Reform Act, which establishes clear guidelines for certifying and counting electoral votes so no mob can again believe that, through violence, it can suppress the will of the people. The Department of Justice has doubled its voting rights staff, increasing their capacity to hold people accountable for voter suppression. Further, the Department is promoting equal access to justice to help every American have access to quality legal aid. I continue to call on the Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Passing these laws would mean the Department can take action against discriminatory voting laws before they go into effect. It is critical to fully secure the right to vote in every State.

We also have to make sure every voice in America has an opportunity to be heard because diversity is our Nation's greatest strength. That is why I signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law, which helps State and local law enforcement better track and identify hate crimes. My Administration also convened the first-ever White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence, working with community leaders across the country to ensure hate has no safe harbor in America.

At the same time, we are committed to defending freedom around the world. The United States has brought together a coalition of more than 50 nations to support the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves and their sovereignty against Russia's vicious onslaught. We unified NATO — the greatest military alliance in the history of the world — and have continued to defend liberty, democracy, and the rule of law. Together, we have made it clear that the United States stands up for freedom. We stand strong with our allies. We bow down to no one — certainly not Vladimir Putin.

America can and should be a Nation that defends democracy, protects our rights and freedoms, and pioneers a future of possibilities for all Americans. History and common sense show us that this can only come to pass in a democracy, and we must be its keepers. Democracy begins with and will be preserved by "We the People," in habits of the heart and in our character; in optimism that is tested yet endures; in courage that digs deep when we need it; and in the willingness to see each other not as enemies but as fellow Americans. This Law Day, U.S.A., may we recommit to protecting every American's right to vote as we build a Union that is free and fair, just and strong, and noble and whole.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in accordance with Public Law 87-20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2024, as Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all Americans to acknowledge the importance of our Nation's legal and judicial systems with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to display the flag of the United States in support of this national observance.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The nearly 370,000 children in foster care deserve to grow up in safe and loving homes that help them reach their full potential. During National Foster Care Month, we share our gratitude for the foster parents who show foster youth unconditional love and the biological parents who work hard to reunite with their children despite difficult circumstances. We thank all the dedicated staff and volunteers who help foster youth find temporary and permanent homes. We commend the immeasurable courage of kids in foster care, who truly represent the best of our American spirit.

No young person should have to face the challenges that foster youth endure. The trauma they experience, including being separated from their biological families at a young age, can leave lasting emotional, mental, and physical scars that take a toll on their adult lives. Too often, it is children of color who bear the brunt of this toll: One in nine Black children and one in seven Native American children have been in foster care. Our Nation has a moral responsibility to ensure all our children are taken care of, especially our foster youth.

That begins with giving families the support and resources they need to provide for their children. The Child Tax Credit I championed during the pandemic cut taxes for millions and cut child poverty in half — the lowest rate ever. It gave families some breathing room, making sure they had the funds they needed to provide for their children. Ensuring families have access to support and resources is so important, especially because poverty can lead to unnecessary interventions that remove children from their homes. My Administration has also invested hundreds of millions of dollars in expanding and improving neglect prevention and child protective services.

At the same time, we are prioritizing helping the children and youth already in the foster care system find supportive and caring temporary and permanent homes. Relative and kinship caregivers take care of one-third of all children in the foster care system. That is why I have called to make adoption and legal guardianship more affordable for those caregivers by making the adoption tax credit fully refundable and extending it to legal guardians — including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. For biological parents who want to safely reunite with their children, we are working to ensure that they have access to legal representation, which is critical for navigating the child welfare system.

To ensure every capable, loving family has the opportunity to foster, I signed an Executive Order that removed barriers making it harder for LGBTQI+ families to foster and adopt. We are also making sure that the 30 percent of all foster youth who identify as LGBTQI+ are placed in environments that love and support them for who they are.

There is still so much to do to ensure our foster youth are set up for success in their adult lives. That is why I proposed providing $9 billion to establish a housing voucher program for all 20,000 youths aging out of foster care every year, giving them the security to begin adulthood. I have also called for over $2 billion to help youth aging out of foster care find a job, enroll in and afford higher education, obtain basic necessities, and access preventative health care.

Throughout my life, I have had the honor of meeting incredible young people who grew up in foster care with wonderful foster parents, who loved them unconditionally. This month, we affirm to foster youth across America that we have their backs, and we recommit to supporting both foster and biological parents in creating safe and loving homes.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as National Foster Care Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by reaching out in their neighborhoods and communities to the children and youth in foster care and their families, to those at risk of entering foster care, and to kin families and other caregivers.

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


JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander [AA and NHPI] communities, whose ingenuity, grit, and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward.

From Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders whose ancestors have called their lands home for hundreds of years to Asian immigrants who have newly arrived and those whose families have been here for generations — AA and NHPI heritage has long been a part of the history of our great country and a defining force in the soul of our Nation. As artists and journalists, doctors and engineers, business and community leaders, and so much more, AA and NHPI peoples have shaped the very fabric of our Nation and opened up new possibilities for all of us. I am proud that they serve at the highest levels of my Administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Ambassador Katherine Tai, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Arati Prabhakar, who make this country a better place each and every day. This year, we are also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative and President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, who work across government to advance equity, opportunity, and justice for AA and NHPI communities.

I have always believed that diversity is our Nation's greatest strength. That is why I launched the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities. This strategy works to harness the full potential of these communities — from combating anti-Asian hate to making government services accessible in more languages. To ensure the legacies of AA and NHPI peoples are properly honored in the story of America, I signed historic legislation that will bring us closer to a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. I also issued a Presidential Memorandum to consider expanding protections for the Pacific Remote Islands to conserve this unique area's significant natural and cultural resources and honor the traditional practices and ancestral pathways of Pacific Island voyagers, and I signed the Amache National Historic Site Act to establish a memorial honoring the 10,000 Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated there during World War II. Throughout my time in office, the First Lady and I have hosted celebrations at the White House that highlight the incredible diversity of AA and NHPI communities, like Diwali and the first-ever White House Lunar New Year celebration. This year, to ensure that the full diversity of AA and NHPI communities is seen and valued as new policy is being made, we updated the Federal Government's standards for collecting data on race and ethnicity for the first time in over 25 years.

Meanwhile, we are creating new opportunities for AA and NHPI communities by building an economy that works for everyone, including investing in AA and NHPI small businesses and entrepreneurs. Since I took office, the Small Business Administration provided over $22 billion in loans to AA and NHPI entrepreneurs. We have seen the results: During my Administration, we achieved the highest Asian American employment and entrepreneurship rates in over a decade.

Last year, the First Lady and I witnessed the absolute courage of the Native Hawaiian people and Hawaii's Asian American and Pacific Islander communities when we visited Maui in the wake of the devastating fires. The destruction upended so many lives, and yet the community showed up ready to help rebuild stronger than before. My Administration has their backs — we are committed to making sure Maui has everything the Federal Government can offer to heal and build back better and as fast as possible. Throughout these efforts, we remain focused on rebuilding the way the people of Maui want to build by respecting sacred lands, cultures, and traditions.

Racism, harassment, and hate crimes against people of AA and NHPI heritage also persist — a tragic reminder that hate never goes away; it only hides. Hate must have no safe harbor in America — that is why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which makes it easier for Americans to report hate crimes, and I also hosted the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence. We are also working to address the scourge of gun violence, which takes the lives of too many AA and NHPI loved ones. I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years. My Administration has taken actions to expand background checks and fund efforts to strengthen red flag laws to keep Americans out of harm's way. There is still so much to do, and I continue to urge the Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Our Nation was founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully realized this promise, but we have never fully walked away from it either. As we celebrate the historic accomplishments of AA and NHPIs across our Nation, we promise we will never stop working to form a more perfect Union.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the histories of the AA and NHPI community and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Sports and physical fitness reflect the best of the American spirit: hard work, collaboration, and big dreams. Some of my favorite memories and most enduring values come from the time I spent playing football as a kid. But you do not have to compete in organized sports to benefit from physical activity — being active in any way helps to improve your health, clear your mind, and make our Nation stronger. During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we commit to doing more to help give every American the opportunity to exercise and live a healthy life.

Whether doing yard work, walking to the store, going on a run with a friend, or playing basketball in the park, exercise makes us healthier and stronger. Exercise lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, certain cancers, and more; and it increases quality of life. It boosts mental health, easing depression and anxiety while improving memory and sleep. It helps young people build lasting friendships — teaching key lessons about discipline, teamwork, and winning and losing and preparing them to be leaders.

But not everyone has that same chance. Today, less than half of all Americans live within a half-mile of a park. Tens of millions of children do not have access to a playground within a 10-minute walk of their home. Cash-strapped schools are too often cutting physical education programs. Youth sports leagues can be expensive, leaving too many kids with few options. The United States of America can do better.

My Administration has kept that in mind from the start. We are making the biggest investment in infrastructure in generations, including $800 million to make sidewalks and crosswalks across the Nation safer for people to walk, run, bike, and skate. I signed the biggest investment in fighting climate change ever — protecting and restoring our great outdoors, which offer so many cherished recreational activities. We are providing over $300 million to help cities and towns build new parks and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. To make National Parks more accessible to Americans, I signed legislation that made National Park entry free for our veterans and members of our Gold Star Families. We are also working to repair the bridges and roads that lead to our National Parks so more families can visit these natural treasures.

At the same time, I convened the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in a half-century, releasing a national strategy to end hunger and, among other things, make it easier for Americans to exercise. Since then, 14 major sports leagues and players associations have signed agreements with my Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to expand access to physical activity, integrate messaging and education about nutrition, and promote healthy lifestyles to the millions of people who engage with their programs every year. My Administration galvanized nearly $10 billion from companies, non-profits, and other stakeholders to meet that goal — helping with everything from making youth sports more affordable to taking children on trips to national parks. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with local governments, schools, and community organizations to get 27 million Americans more active by 2027 by working with communities to implement evidence-based strategies for increasing physical activity across various sectors and settings. The Department of Health and Human Services' "Move Your Way" campaign launched a website with a tool that helps you build an exercise plan — go to health.gov/moveyourway.

We can all come together, feel better, and live longer if we stay active, exercise, and keep moving. It makes us healthier, and that is good for our families, our economy, and our Nation. This month, I encourage all Americans to do more — walk to the store, join a local sports team, sign up for a class or a race, and get out and enjoy the natural wonders of America. I will keep working to make sure everyone has the same fair shot to do so.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United States to make daily physical activity a priority, to support efforts to increase access to sports opportunities in their communities, and to pursue physical fitness as an essential part of healthy living.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

During National Building Safety Month, we thank the engineers, construction workers, trades unions, building inspectors, and other building professionals, who make our buildings stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient.

Building codes help to keep us all safe at home, at work, and in our communities. But two in three communities have not yet adopted the latest building codes, leaving them more vulnerable to fires, floods, and storms, which pose a growing threat in the face of climate change. There is so much we can do to change that by investing in housing, infrastructure, and code enforcement to prevent accidents and protect our families.

Today, a record 1.7 million new housing units are under construction nationwide, and my Budget has a plan to build 2 million more affordable homes, boosting supply and bringing down costs for families. My Administration is making the most significant investment in generations in our Nation's infrastructure while working to remove poisonous lead pipes from every home and school in America so that every child can turn on the faucet and drink clean water. We are modernizing our power grid and investing in energy-efficient buildings and homes so that when disasters hit, the lights stay on. We are weatherizing homes so that families are safe and comfortable inside during extreme heat or cold, storms, and other extreme weather and pay less for utilities. For all of these Federal projects, we are making sure that construction materials are safe, environmentally friendly, high quality, and made in America.

I am calling on the Congress to pass legislation that would provide tax credits for first-time homebuyers and fortify housing to be safe from extreme weather and climate change and built to last.

At the same time, we are making the most significant investment in fighting climate change in history — providing tax credits so folks can make their homes more energy efficient and affordable while also ensuring that the clean energy industries of the future are being built here at home. We are working to dedicate 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments in our sustainable housing, clean energy, and building safety projects to disadvantaged communities that have borne the brunt of economic disinvestment for too long so they can be stronger and more resilient in the face of a changing climate.

To make sure all of these new projects are safe, my Administration launched the National Initiative to Advance Building Codes and is investing over $1 billion to help thousands of communities adopt modern building codes to strengthen their housing and communities from risk. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is working to ensure federally funded housing is safe from flooding through safer flood standards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping communities devastated by floods, fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes to rebuild more safely by incentivizing the adoption of modern building codes. For every dollar invested in sturdier new buildings that meet modern codes, it saves 11 times that in avoided disaster repair and recovery costs down the line.

Every American has a part to play in keeping their homes safe and secure and building a more resilient Nation. You can start by changing the batteries in your smoke alarms regularly and ensuring you have backup power for your critical appliances. Get rid of mold and pests to avoid health issues. If wildfires are a concern where you live, clear leaves and debris from around your community and home to reduce the risk of fires. If you plan to renovate, make sure you follow local home improvement requirements or get expert advice and quality work from a professional contractor who honors those codes.

Today, America is in the midst of a great national comeback. Our economy is strong, and we are building a future of possibilities, investing in our infrastructure, our communities, and our people. That is what America is all about. This month, we recommit to the work of keeping our Nation's buildings safe and built to last for generations to come.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as National Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and other interested groups to join in activities that raise awareness about building safety. I also call on all Americans to learn more about how they can contribute to building safety at home, at work, and in their communities.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Older Americans have worked their whole lives to achieve the American Dream for their families and communities, making our Nation stronger and building a future of possibilities for new generations. This month, we celebrate their immense contributions to our country and stand firm in our efforts to ensure that every American can age with the dignity and financial security that they deserve.

Sixty years ago, a third of older Americans still lived in poverty, and close to half had no health insurance. Over the years, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid helped to change that. Today, they are lifelines for tens of millions of Americans and proof of what government can do to transform lives for the better. I will always fight to protect and strengthen these programs. Folks have paid into Social Security and Medicare from their very first paychecks; the benefits of these programs belong to the American people. It is a sacred trust that people rely on. That is why I have proposed strengthening Social Security — not cutting it as others have suggested — by asking the highest-income Americans to pay their fair share. My new Budget would also extend the life of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund indefinitely to protect the crucial health insurance that nearly 67 million Americans today rely on. At the same time, we are cracking down on so-called junk fees on retirement savings to ensure financial advisors give advice that is in your best interest rather than theirs, protecting the savings you have worked for your whole life.

Across the board, we are also working to cut the cost of health insurance and prescription drugs to give folks a little more breathing room. After years of others trying, we finally beat Big Pharma, giving Medicare the power to negotiate lower drug prices as the Department of Veterans Affairs has done for years. Our Inflation Reduction Act also caps the cost of insulin for people on Medicare at $35 per month, down from as much as $400 per month. Next year, it will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 per year, even for expensive drugs that cost many times that. We have also expanded the range of services that people on Medicare have access to, including dental, mental health, and nutritional health services. Additionally, following an Executive Order I signed, hearing aids are now available over the counter, so millions of people with hearing loss can now buy them at a store or online without a prescription, saving up to $3,000 per pair.

Folks who have spent their whole lives building a community deserve to live, work, and participate in that community as long as they would like. That is why my Administration is also making historic investments in home care. The American Rescue Plan delivered $37 billion to help States strengthen their Medicaid home care programs by recruiting, training, and paying more home care workers and providing counseling, training, and support to family caregivers. Last year, I signed the Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers, the most comprehensive set of executive actions in history for improving care for hardworking families. My new Budget would significantly expand Medicaid home care services to reduce the long waiting list and empower more folks to continue full lives in their communities. We made sure home care workers are getting a bigger share of Medicaid payments and nursing homes have enough staff to guarantee every resident the safe, healthy, caring environment they deserve. Further, we're making groundbreaking investments in the fight to end cancer and other deadly diseases as we know it, reminding us that our country can do big things when we work together.

There is still so much we can do to support our seniors. I have also called to strengthen the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-paid workers who are not raising children in their homes — saving Americans, including our Nation's older workers, an average of $800 on their taxes. My new Budget requests funding to extend my Administration's Affordable Connectivity Program, which has made internet more affordable for 4 million seniors.

Older Americans are the backbone of our Nation. They have built the foundation that we all stand upon today, guided by the core values that define America — freedom, equality, decency, and opportunity. Their work has helped prove that our Nation can do big things when we come together. Now, it is up to all of us to build a future on those same values — a future where we defend democracy instead of diminish it, safeguard our freedoms, invest in communities that have too often been left behind, and deliver for older Americans while ensuring the people they love will be taken care of for generations to come.

This month, we celebrate older Americans' contributions by recommitting to those ideals and defending everyone's right to live full lives with dignity and respect. We will always have their backs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Older Americans Month. This month and beyond, I call upon all Americans to celebrate older adults for their contributions, support their independence, and recognize their unparalleled value to our Nation.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

For centuries, the perseverance, hope, and unshakeable faith of the Jewish people have inspired people around the world. During Jewish American Heritage Month, we celebrate the immeasurable impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture on our Nation's character and recommit to realizing the promise of America for all Jewish Americans.

In 1654, a small band of 23 Jewish refugees fled persecution abroad and sailed into the port of modern-day New York City. They fought for religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles upon which our Nation was built. Jewish American culture has been inextricably woven into the fabric of our country. Jewish American suffragists, activists, and leaders marched for civil rights, women's rights, and voting rights. Jewish American scientists, doctors, and engineers have made scientific breakthroughs that define America as a land of possibilities. They have served our Nation in uniform, on the Nation's highest courts, and at the highest levels of my Administration. As public servants, artists, entertainers, journalists, and poets, they have helped write the story of America, making it — as Emma Lazarus' poem on the Statue of Liberty states — a home for the "huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

As we celebrate the Jewish American community's contributions this month, we also honor their resilience in the face of a long and painful history of persecution. Hamas' brutal terrorist attack on October 7th against Israel marked the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, resurfacing, including here in the United States, painful scars from millennia of antisemitism and genocide of Jewish people. Jews across the country and around the world are still coping with the trauma and horror of that day and the months since. Our hearts are with all the victims, survivors, families, and friends whose loved ones were killed, wounded, displaced, or taken hostage — including women and girls whom Hamas has subjected to appalling acts of rape and sexual violence.

As I said after Hamas' terror attack, my commitment to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist as an independent Jewish state is ironclad. The recent attack by Iran, firing a barrage of hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, reminds us of the existential threats that Israel faces by adversaries that want nothing less than to wipe it off the map. Together with our allies and partners, the United States defended Israel, and we helped defeat this attack.

At the same time, my Administration is working around the clock to free the hostages who have been held by Hamas for over half a year; as I have said to their families, we will not rest until we bring them home. We are also leading international efforts to deliver urgently needed humanitarian aid to Gaza and an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal that releases hostages and lays the groundwork for an enduring two-state solution.

Here at home, too many Jews live with deep pain and fear from the ferocious surge of antisemitism — in our communities; at schools, places of worship, and colleges; and across social media. These acts are despicable and echo the worst chapters of human history. They remind us that hate never goes away — it only hides until it is given oxygen. It is our shared moral responsibility to forcefully stand up to antisemitism and to make clear that hate can have no safe harbor in America.

That is why I released the first-ever United States National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism and clarified the civil rights protections for Jews under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In addition, the Department of Education has launched investigations into antisemitism on college campuses, the Department of Justice is investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, and the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are focused on enhancing security in Jewish communities. We also secured the largest increase in funding ever for the physical security of nonprofits like synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and Jewish schools. I appointed Deborah Lipstadt, a Holocaust expert, as the first-ever Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Together, we are sending the message that, in America, evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. The venom and violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time.

This Jewish American Heritage Month, we honor Jewish Americans, who have never given up on the promise of our Nation. We celebrate the contributions, culture, and values that they have passed down from generation to generation and that have shaped who we are as Americans. We remember that the power lies within each of us to rise together against hate, to see each other as fellow human beings, and to ensure that the Jewish community is afforded the safety, security, and dignity they deserve as they continue to shine their light in America and around the world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

NATIONAL SECURITY MEMORANDUM/nSM-22

MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE
THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION
THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY
THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL
SECURITY AFFAIRS
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND HOMELAND
SECURITY ADVISOR
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF
THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL
THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF
THE OFFICE OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND
BUDGET
THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE DIRECTOR OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
THE ADMINISTRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES
THE CHAIR OF THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
THE CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
THE NATIONAL CYBER DIRECTOR
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

SUBJECT: Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience


Critical infrastructure comprises the physical and virtual assets and systems so vital to the Nation that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on national security, national economic security, or national public health or safety. It is diverse and complex, and includes distributed networks, varied organizational structures, operating models, interdependent systems, and governance constructs.

The United States is in the midst of a generational investment in the Nation's infrastructure. This investment, and the emergence of new technologies, presents an opportunity to build for the future. In the 21st century, the United States will rely on new sources of energy, modes of transportation, and an increasingly interconnected and interdependent economy. This modernization effort will ensure critical infrastructure provides a strong and innovative economy, protects American families, and enhances our collective resilience to disasters before they happen — creating a resilient Nation for generations to come.

The United States also faces an era of strategic competition with nation-state actors who target American critical infrastructure and tolerate or enable malicious actions conducted by non-state actors. Adversaries target our critical infrastructure using licit and illicit means. In the event of crisis or conflict, the Nation's adversaries will also likely increase their efforts to compromise critical infrastructure to undermine the will of the American public and jeopardize the projection of United States military power. The growing impact of climate change, including changes to the frequency and intensity of natural hazards, as well as scarcities; supply chain shocks; and the potential for instability, conflict, or mass displacement places further strain on the assets and systems that Americans depend upon to live and do business.

This memorandum advances our national unity of effort to strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure.

Policy Principles and Objectives

It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical infrastructure, consistent with the following principles:

It is the objective of the United States under this national effort to:

Federal departments and agencies shall implement this memorandum in a manner consistent with applicable law; Presidential directives; and Federal regulations, including those protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Federal Government relies on the specialized authorities, capabilities, and expertise of Federal departments and agencies to ensure an effective, whole-of-government effort to secure critical infrastructure. Under this effort, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide strategic guidance and coordinate Federal cross-sector risk management and resilience activities. Sector Risk Management Agencies [SRMAs] shall serve as day-to-day Federal interfaces for their designated critical infrastructure sector and conduct sector-specific risk management and resilience activities. Elements of the Intelligence Community [IC) and law enforcement, regulatory, and other Federal departments and agencies also play key roles in increasing the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, including responding to all threats and hazards that may affect critical infrastructure.

Close and continuous coordination among the Department of Homeland Security (DHS], SRMAs, and other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to include law enforcement and the IC, is essential to ensuring a national unity of effort and accomplishing the objectives of this memorandum. The Federal Government also seeks to encourage and enable strong collaboration with owners and operators; State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; international partners; and other entities. While most of the Nation's critical infrastructure is owned and operated by non-Federal entities, which are primarily responsible for individual assets' security and resilience, both Government and the private sector have a mutual responsibility and incentive to reduce the risk to critical infrastructure.

Secretary of Homeland Security

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate the national effort to enhance the security and resilience of United States critical infrastructure and provide strategic guidance on this national effort, based on national priorities and sector-specific or cross-sector risk assessments and plans, including through the National Infrastructure Risk Management Plan [National Plan], as required by statute. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall maintain situational awareness about emerging trends, imminent threats, vulnerabilities, and the consequences of incidents that could jeopardize the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall make recommendations to the President, in coordination with SRMAs and other relevant departments and agencies, on the list of designated critical infrastructure sectors, subsectors, and SRMAs — prioritizing critical infrastructure for national security and resilience efforts.

The Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency [CISA] as the National Coordinator for the Security and Resilience of Critical Infrastructure [National Coordinator], shall, in coordination with SRMAs and other Federal departments and agencies:

To provide expertise in support of national critical infrastructure security and resilience efforts, the Director of CISA, in coordination with SRMAs and, as appropriate, other relevant agencies, shall also:

Other Department of Homeland Security Activities

As reflected in statute and Presidential policy, the Secretary of Homeland Security has responsibilities for coordinating Federal preparedness activities and response operations in the United States, including when critical infrastructure impacts are implicated. The Secretary of Homeland Security is the principal Federal official for domestic incident management and, consistent with existing Federal law and policy, including Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 of February 28, 2003 [Management of Domestic Incidents], as amended, DHS may coordinate Federal Government resources used in the response to or recovery from terrorist attacks, major disasters, or other emergencies, or as otherwise requested or directed by the President. In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA], works to reduce the loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters and protecting the Nation from all hazards. DHS, acting through the Director of CISA, serves as the lead Federal agency for cyber asset response activities in accordance with Presidential Policy Directive 41 of July 26, 2016 [United States Cyber Incident Coordination] [PPD-41]. Further, the Secretary of Homeland Security, acting through the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration and the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, has broad authority to assess security risks to the Marine Transportation System and other modes of transportation, develop security measures and regulations, and seek or ensure compliance with those measures and regulations.

Sector Risk Management Agencies

Each critical infrastructure sector has unique characteristics, operating models, and risk profiles that benefit from an identified SRMA with institutional knowledge, specialized expertise, and established relationships across the sector. SRMAs help drive the national effort to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure. Consistent with the statutorily defined roles and responsibilities of SRMAs, SRMAs shall carry out the following roles and responsibilities for their respective sectors, in coordination with DHS, including the National Coordinator, and, as appropriate, other relevant departments and agencies:

Additional Federal Roles and Responsibilities

Risk Management

The Federal Government, including SRMAs, shall use a common risk-based approach to reducing risk to critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure risks can be assessed in terms of threats or hazards, vulnerability, and consequence. For the purposes of this effort, the term "risk" refers to the potential for an unwanted outcome, as determined by its likelihood and the consequences. Risk management efforts should be prioritized based on this shared definition, which necessitates identifying the criticality of assets and systems within and across sectors.

Asset-level Risk

Critical infrastructure owners and operators have primary responsibility, and are uniquely positioned, to manage most risks to their operations and assets. The policy of the Federal Government shall be to support and guide the entities that own, operate, or otherwise control critical infrastructure assets and systems by providing these entities with the information, intelligence analysis, and other support, as appropriate, to manage and mitigate asset-level risks.

Nationally Significant Risk

Effective risk management necessitates the Federal Government, in coordination with owners and operators to the extent practicable, identify, assess, prioritize, mitigate, and monitor risks that may have a potentially debilitating impact on national security [including national defense and continuity of Government], national economic security, or public health or safety. These nationally significant risks may arise within and impact particular sectors or cut across multiple sectors. Federal departments and agencies have the responsibility to identify and mitigate national-level risk through this whole?of?government effort based on the roles and responsibilities enumerated in statute, regulation, and this memorandum. This effort shall be led by DHS in coordination with SRMAs and supported by other Federal departments and agencies with the necessary expertise, resources, and regulatory authorities to support or direct risk mitigation activity. Federal departments and agencies shall leverage all available resources, capabilities, and authorities — including regulatory authorities — to ensure owners and operators implement risk mitigation measures that limit national-level risks. This work shall be coordinated by the National Coordinator, in consultation with the National Security Council staff and the National Cyber Director, as appropriate.

Sector Risk

Certain risks that rise to national concern are common to entities within a particular sector. SRMAs are responsible for day-to-day prioritization and coordination of efforts to mitigate risks within each sector, as part of the broader whole?of-government effort coordinated by DHS, including the National Coordinator, to secure United States critical infrastructure. The Federal Government will support owners and operators as they manage sector-level risk to individual assets and systems.

Systemic and Cross-sector Risk

Critical infrastructure has grown increasingly interdependent and interconnected due to trends in the modern economy, including digitization and electrification. These trends are poised to accelerate over the coming decade due to historic Federal investments in the modernization of the Nation's infrastructure. As such, risks to individual sectors can quickly cascade into other sectors, necessitating coordinated action to understand and mitigate risk.

The National Coordinator shall actively manage systemic and cross-sector risk by working with SRMAs, Federal departments and agencies, and industry to identify, analyze, prioritize, and manage the most significant risks involving multiple sectors. To identify and manage cross-sector risk, SRMAs shall regularly provide the National Coordinator available data on individual assets and systems within their respective sectors. The National Coordinator shall aggregate and analyze this data to improve the identification, prioritization, and mitigation of cross-sector and national risks, and shall provide this analysis to SRMAs to help manage sector-specific risk.

Minimum Security and Resilience Requirements

Effective risk management will require consistent adoption of minimum security and resilience requirements, where possible based on established consensus-based standards, within and across critical infrastructure sectors. Voluntary approaches to enhance critical infrastructure security and resilience have meaningfully mitigated risk over the past decade, but more must be done to ensure the Nation's critical infrastructure is secure and resilient against all threats and hazards. The Federal Government must focus on increasing the adoption of requirements that address sector, national, and cross-sector risks to critical infrastructure.

DHS, including the National Coordinator, SRMAs, and, as appropriate, regulators, shall coordinate to produce cross-sector and sector-specific guidance, performance goals and metrics, and requirements, consistent with their authorities, to adequately mitigate risk. SRMAs, in coordination with regulators, as appropriate and consistent with their authorities, shall develop sector-specific minimum security and resilience requirements for each respective sector, as necessary, and a plan to use existing authorities or other tools to effectively implement those requirements. SRMAs shall support the development of sector-specific performance goals in accordance with National Security Memorandum 5 of July 28, 2021 [Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems].

The National Coordinator shall review proposed sector-specific security and resilience guidance, performance goals, and requirements in coordination with SRMAs, and in consultation with regulators, to facilitate the harmonization of these directives and recommendations at the national and cross-sector level. The National Coordinator shall also provide input into the development of these requirements and recommendations to ensure they address cross-sector and national-level risk, while integrating voluntary standards and mandatory requirements into overall risk management plans and helping to prevent the promulgation of conflicting directives or requirements across sectors. In accordance with the National Cybersecurity Strategy, the National Cyber Director, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall lead my Administration's efforts for cybersecurity regulatory harmonization with respect to security and resilience requirements, of which portions of the effort outlined in this memorandum are an essential component.

Operational Collaboration

To further drive down the Nation's risk, the Federal Government must improve its ability to collaborate directly with those partners who have the means and capability to take actions that mitigate vulnerabilities, respond to incidents, and build resilience at scale. This will complement individual owners and operators' risk mitigation efforts. The Federal Government will collaborate with private-sector partners; State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments; community organizations; and international partners who can take actions that provide resilience and security benefits to owners and operators in the United States and in other countries.

National Infrastructure Risk Management Plan

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop and submit to the President on a recurring basis every 2 years a National Infrastructure Risk Management Plan [National Plan], which shall be informed by: [1) individual sector?specific risk assessments and risk management plans; and (2] a cross-sector risk assessment.

Sector-specific Components

Each SRMA shall develop sector-specific risk assessments and sector-specific risk management plans based on strategic direction provided by the Secretary of Homeland Security, or as prescribed in another National Security Memorandum.

Sector risk assessments previously directed by statute or executive action will be integrated with the sector-specific risk assessments outlined in this memorandum whenever practical. This integration improves cross-sector security and resilience planning. The National Coordinator and SRMAs will coordinate to synchronize the reporting cycle of risk reporting to improve efficiency and reduce duplication of effort. Government-specific portions of the sector-specific risk assessments should also be shared with the GSA.

Cross-sector Risk Assessment

The National Coordinator shall develop a cross-sector risk assessment in coordination with SRMAs, and share this assessment with SRMAs.

National Infrastructure Risk Management Plan

Based on the sector-specific risk assessments and risk management plans and the cross-sector risk assessment, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop and submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor, the National Plan to guide the Federal effort to mitigate cross-sector and other national risks to critical infrastructure.

This forward-looking National Plan shall identify avenues to leverage all available Federal tools, resources, and authorities to limit national-level risks, including those cascading across sectors of critical infrastructure. The National Plan shall also prioritize specific cross-sector risks, with a focus on new and emerging threats to critical infrastructure, and shall identify innovative approaches to limit the risks from these new and emerging threats, particularly risk mitigation strategies for increasingly interdependent and interconnected assets and systems. This document shall be the Federal Government's comprehensive plan to mitigate and manage cross-sector risk — identifying and funding sensible mitigation actions and investments across sectors, as well as continuously identifying for interagency policymakers the gaps and limitations in existing Federal tools or authorities to address the rapidly changing threat and hazard landscape. The National Plan shall also contain:

If the sector-specific strategies and sector-specific plans do not align with the strategic guidance issued by the Secretary of Homeland Security, DHS shall coordinate with SRMAs to resolve any differences, and, as necessary, elevate disagreements to the National Security Council staff.

Systemically Important Entities

The National Coordinator shall regularly identify organizations that own, operate, or otherwise control critical infrastructure that is prioritized based on the potential for its disruption or malfunction to cause nationally significant and cascading negative impacts to national security [including national defense and continuity of Government], national economic security, or national public health or safety. This list of Systemically Important Entities [SIE] shall be informed by inputs received from SRMAs and other Federal departments and agencies as appropriate, based on their respective sector?specific risk assessments, the cross-sector risk assessment, and other relevant critical infrastructure data — including submissions of specific organizations from SRMAs for inclusion in the SIE list. This list of SIE shall be developed in coordination with SRMAs, and in consultation with other relevant Federal departments and agencies and other non?Federal entities, as appropriate. The list will not be made available to the public.

The SIE list shall inform prioritization of Federal activities, including the provision of risk mitigation information and other operational resources to non-Federal entities. The list of SIE developed pursuant to this memorandum, as well as any updates to the list, will satisfy the requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop the list described in section 9 of Executive Order 13636 of February 12, 2013 [Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity]. Where appropriate, regulators will consider this list when applying adequate risk management requirements.

Scope of Effort

Departments and agencies recognize that critical infrastructure is often interconnected globally and shall, as applicable, consider dependencies and interdependencies with assets, systems, and networks outside the United States as a part of sector risk management processes. Departments and agencies shall also collaborate with private-sector partners; State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities; foreign governments; international partners; and other entities that can take actions that provide resilience and security benefits to critical infrastructure owners and operators in the United States and globally. This effort shall include supporting sector coordinating councils, including the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Government Coordinating Council. These councils should be inclusive and include owners and operators, their trade associations, and other industry representatives.

Intelligence Sharing and Information Exchange

Critical infrastructure risk management requires those who own or operate infrastructure to be informed of a wide range of threats that are manmade or result from natural hazards, including by the actionable and timely intelligence and information available on those threats or hazards. To establish a comprehensive, integrated threat picture for United States critical infrastructure, the DNI shall lead IC efforts, in consultation with DHS, including the National Coordinator, SRMAs, and relevant departments and agencies, to:

All departments and agencies, including the IC, shall coordinate with the National Coordinator and SRMAs designated in this memorandum, as appropriate, on outreach to entities within SRMAs' respective sectors to inform sector and cross-sector risk management and convey threat warnings. Collection and analysis of threats to critical infrastructure shall be informed by the President's Intelligence Priorities Framework and further prioritized and coordinated through the NIPF.

CISA shall also facilitate and share information and analysis to support Federal, State, local, Tribal, territorial, and private sector entities actions against all threats and hazards to critical infrastructure, including as the Federal civilian interface for the multi-directional and cross-sector sharing of information, particularly information related to cyber threat indicators, defensive measures, and cybersecurity risks. The SRMAs shall also share and receive information directly from owners and operators in their respective sectors. Information or intelligence shared with the self-organized and self-governed councils — commonly referred to as sector coordinating councils — comprised of a sector's owners and operators, trade associations, and other industry representatives, should be shared through or in coordination with a sector's respective SRMA.

Departments and agencies shall abide by all pertinent legal and policy procedures and use all appropriate legal and policy mechanisms to protect proprietary and sensitive commercial and business information, as well as sensitive intelligence sources, methods, and activities.

Designated Critical Infrastructure Sectors and SRMAs

This memorandum identifies 16 critical infrastructure sectors and designates associated SRMAs. In some cases, co-SRMAs are designated where multiple departments share the roles and responsibilities of the SRMA. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall periodically evaluate the need for and approve changes to critical infrastructure sectors, and shall make recommendations to the President in accordance with statute and in consultation with the Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor. The sectors and SRMAs are as follows:

Chemical:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Commercial Facilities:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Communications:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Critical Manufacturing:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Dams:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Defense Industrial Base:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DOD

Emergency Services:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Energy:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DOE

Financial Services:
Sector Risk Management Agency: Department of the Treasury

Food and Agriculture:
Co-Sector Risk Management Agencies: Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]

Government Services and Facilities:
Co-Sector Risk Management Agencies: DHS and GSA

Healthcare and Public Health:
Sector Risk Management Agency: HHS

Information Technology:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste:
Sector Risk Management Agency: DHS

Transportation Systems:
Co-Sector Risk Management Agencies: DHS and Department of Transportation

Water and Wastewater Systems:
Sector Risk Management Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Implementation of This Memorandum
Except where otherwise directed by existing National Security Memoranda or Executive Orders:

Definitions

The term "critical infrastructure" has the meaning provided in section 1016[e) of the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e]), namely systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on national security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.

The term "all threats, all hazards" means a threat or an incident, natural or manmade, that warrants action to protect life, property, the environment, and public health or safety, and to minimize disruptions of Government, social, or economic activities. It includes, but is not limited to: natural disasters, cyber incidents, industrial accidents, pandemics, acts of terrorism, sabotage, supply chain disruptions to degrade critical infrastructure, and disruptive or destructive activity targeting critical infrastructure.

The term "resilience" means the ability to prepare for threats and hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from adverse conditions and disruptions.

The term "Federal departments and agencies" means any authority of the United States that is an "agency" under 44 U.S.C. 3502[1), other than those considered to be independent regulatory agencies, as defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(5].

The term "national security systems" means those systems as defined as NSS in 44 U.S.C. 3552[b)(6], as well as all other DOD and IC systems, as described in 44 U.S.C. 3553[e)(2] and 3553[e)(3].

The term "Sector Risk Management Agency" has the meaning provided in Public Law 117–263 [6 U.S.C. 650], namely a Federal department or agency, designated by law or Presidential directive, with responsibility for providing institutional knowledge and specialized expertise of a sector, as well as leading, facilitating, or supporting programs and associated activities of its designated critical infrastructure sector in the all-hazards environment in coordination with DHS.

The term "Federal Mission Resilience" means, as defined by the Federal Mission Resilience Strategy, the ability of the Federal executive branch to continuously maintain the capability and capacity to perform essential functions and services, without time delay, regardless of threats or conditions, and with the understanding that adequate warning of a threat may not be available.

The term "cross-sector" means relationships and interdependencies between critical infrastructure sectors that necessitate integrating and coordinating security and resilience activities.

The term "Defense Critical Infrastructure" means DOD and non-DOD networked assets and facilities essential to project, support, and sustain military forces and operations worldwide. Non-DOD owned Defense Critical Infrastructure consists of assets from relevant critical infrastructure sectors and subsectors, including as defined by statute.

The term "supply chain" refers to a linked set of resources and processes between multiple tiers of developers that begins with the sourcing of products and services and extends through the design, development, manufacturing, processing, handling, and delivery of products and services to the acquirer.

The term "risk assessment" is defined as risk identification, analysis, and evaluation, designed to inform risk management.

The term "assets" means a person, structure, facility, information, material, equipment, network, or process, whether physical or virtual, that enables an organization's services, functions, or capabilities.

The term "criticality" means an attribute of an asset, system, or service that reflects its degree of importance or necessity to stated goals, missions or functions, or continuity of operations as they apply to national security [including national defense and continuity of Government], national economic security, or national public health or safety.

The term "sector" means a collection of assets, systems, networks, entities, or organizations that provide or enable a common function for national security [including national defense and continuity of Government], national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.

The term "subsector" means a subset of a sector comprised of critical infrastructure grouped by common resources, common equities, or common functions.

The term "systems" means a combination of personnel, structures, facilities, information, materials, equipment, networks, or processes, whether physical or virtual, integrated or interconnected for a specific purpose that enables an organization's services, functions, or capabilities.

The term "intelligence" has the meaning provided in the National Security Act of 1947, as amended.

The term "intelligence sharing" in the context of this memorandum refers to the timely sharing of intelligence, including credible and specific threat information, assessments, data, or analysis for the purpose of enhancing overall United States national and homeland security and resilience, in accordance with applicable classification handling and intelligence sharing policies and procedures.

The term "information sharing" in the context of this memorandum refers to the bi-directional sharing of timely and relevant information concerning risks to United States critical infrastructure. In the context of this memorandum only, intelligence sharing is an element of information sharing.

The terms "coordinate" and "in coordination with" mean a consensus decision-making process in which the named coordinating department or agency is responsible for working with the affected departments and agencies to achieve consensus and a consistent course of action.

The term "collaboration" means the process of working together to achieve shared goals.

The term "national essential functions" means that subset of Government functions that are necessary to lead and sustain the Nation before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency.

The term "primary mission essential functions" means those Government functions that must be performed in order to support or implement the performance of the national essential functions before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency.

General Provisions

This memorandum rescinds and replaces Presidential Policy Directive 21 of February 12, 2013 [Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience].

[a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i] the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
[ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b] This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.



JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

During the previous Administration, important projects stalled; Under the Biden-Harris Administration, projects are moving more quickly

President Biden's Investing in America agenda is making once-in-a-generation investments in America's infrastructure and our clean energy future that are creating good-paying and union jobs, establishing and growing new industries in the United States, tackling the climate crisis, and helping lower costs for families.

To deploy these investments, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken aggressive action to accelerate project permitting and environmental reviews. The Administration has developed and is currently executing a Permitting Action Plan; secured $1 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act to improve permitting; passed important reforms in the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act that made commonsense changes to the environmental review process, including setting deadlines for completion of reviews and making documents more readable by limiting their length; and took a number of administrative actions to simplify and accelerate the permitting process. By taking these actions, the Administration is ensuring that industry can move forward with key investments and projects, including building out clean energy and transmission, while also being responsible stewards of the environment and protecting communities.

The Administration's focus on reforming federal permitting has led to real results. Thanks to President Biden's leadership, the time to complete the most extensive form of environmental review is already coming down: agencies are completing a higher proportion of environmental impact statements in under two years than under the previous Administration. The Biden-Harris Administration is also completing environmental assessments for projects faster than the previous Administration – for example, data from the Department of Transportation show that in the first three years, the Biden-Harris Administration completed environmental assessments in an average of 9.6 months compared to 15.4 months for the same number of projects during the Trump Administration.

The Biden-Harris Administration is also expanding the use of categorical exclusions, the fastest form of environmental review, bringing review timelines down from months or years to a matter of weeks for projects that have minimal environmental impacts. For example, over 99.5% of federal highway projects were covered by categorical exclusions in fiscal year 2022, meaning the vast majority of projects are moving forward using these faster reviews. The Administration has also expanded the use of categorical exclusions to expedite permitting in key sectors such as EV charging, broadband, CHIPS manufacturing, and clean energy projects.

In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration has surpassed a major renewable energy permitting goal more than 18 months ahead of schedule, with the Department of the Interior [DOI] having permitted more than 25 gigawatts of clean energy projects on public lands well before a 2025 target date. DOI has also already approved the nation's first 10 gigawatts of large-scale offshore wind projects, in support of the President's goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.

The Administration is continuing to develop new tools to expedite permitting of critical infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and clean energy projects. Today the White House Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ] is finalizing the Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule, which simplifies and modernizes the federal environmental review process while fully implementing the new efficiencies Congress passed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The actions outlined below reflect the all-of-government effort the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to accelerate federal permitting across seven key sectors – offshore wind, onshore renewables, transmission, transportation, semiconductors, broadband, and critical minerals – while ensuring strong environmental protections and robust community engagement.

Finalizing the Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule

Modernizing federal environmental reviews. The Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule fully implements new efficiencies in agency environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] that the Administration negotiated on a bipartisan basis and secured in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. These efficiencies include setting clear one- and two- year deadlines for agencies to complete environmental reviews, requiring a lead agency and setting specific expectations for lead and cooperating agencies, and creating a unified and coordinated federal review process. The rule also provides agencies with other new and faster tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental reviews. Together, these reforms will help accelerate America's clean energy future, rebuild our nation's infrastructure, strengthen our nation's energy security, and deliver on the President's Investing in America agenda.

Reducing Bottlenecks Across Seven Key Sectors and Getting Results with Projects

Accelerating transmission projects. Last week, the Biden-Harris Administration finalized the Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits [CITAP] rule that will help improve the efficiency of the federal permitting and authorization process for qualifying onshore transmission facilities. The Department of Energy [DOE] CITAP program gives transmission developers a new option for a streamlined federal review process with a standard two-year schedule that can cut prior timeframes in half for the most complex environmental reviews. For projects that use existing transmission rights-of-way, such as advanced reconductoring or siting solar or storage projects on previously developed areas, last week the DOE also announced new categorical exclusions, the most expedited form of environmental reviews, which enables speedier DOE reviews for projects that have minimal impact on the environment and public health. These recent steps build on recent project-specific progress, such as:

Speeding up renewable energy development on federal lands. In April, DOI finalized a rule that facilitates efficient and responsible renewable energy development by reducing fees for solar and wind projects on public lands by 80 percent—with additional incentives for use of project labor agreements and American-made materials. The rule also streamlines the process for the BLM to review applications in priority areas and delivers greater predictability for industry on how the BLM will issue and manage future leases for solar and wind development. This rule complements the BLM's ongoing efforts to update the Western Solar Plan through a Utility-Scale Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, with the goal of further streamlining the framework for siting solar energy projects. Also in April, the BLM adopted categorical exclusions from the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Navy to expedite the review and approval of geothermal energy exploration on public lands. These actions will help clean energy projects get permitted more quickly. The BLM continues to track progress through an online dashboard. In addition to this work, several projects are moving forward including:

Accelerating offshore wind permitting and delivering the nation's first large-scale projects. Last week DOI announced a final rule that is expected to save offshore wind developers about $1.9 billion over 20 years by modernizing regulations for renewable energy development. DOI's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [BOEM] is also developing programmatic environmental impact statements for the New York Bight and California offshore wind lease areas, to streamline individual project reviews. Additionally, BOEM and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a joint strategy to protect and promote the recovery of endangered North Atlantic right whales while responsibly developing offshore wind energy, and are deploying Inflation Reduction Act funding and working with industry and environmental stakeholders to advance whale detection and monitoring technologies.

These efforts will help continue a strong track record of responsible permitting progress. BOEM has already issued approvals for eight commercial-scale offshore wind projects—up from zero approved when President Biden took office. These eight project approvals total more than 10 gigawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power nearly four million homes. South Fork Wind off New York recently finished construction, Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts has delivered its first power, and several other projects are expected to have construction milestones this year. An example project:

Accelerating construction of high-speed internet projects. In March, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation extended a process for faster historic preservation reviews for communications infrastructure projects on federal lands to all such projects both on and off federal lands. This action will shorten historic preservation reviews from over a year to less than three months. In addition, in April, the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration [NTIA] established and adopted a total of 36 new categorical exclusions that will unlock faster reviews for projects that do not have significant environmental effects. NTIA also developed and released apermitting and environmental mapping tool to help grant recipients and others deploying infrastructure for high-speed Internet service to identify permit requirements and avoid potential environmental impacts. In addition, also in April, DOI issued a final rule to streamline approvals of broadband projects on BLM managed lands. Other projects are moving forward, such as:

Executing on environmental reviews for CHIPS Act-funded semiconductor fabrication plants. The Department of Commerce quickly took action, building an environmental team for the CHIPS office, which has adopted 11 categorical exclusions from the Department of Energy and initiated a programmatic environmental assessment that will enable qualifying projects to quickly move through necessary environmental approvals. An example project:

Streamlining critical mineral permitting: Last year, the Permitting Council announced the first mining project that will receive FAST-41 coverage. FAST-41 coverage will allow critical mineral projects – which are vital to the clean energy transition – to apply for FAST-41 permitting assistance and benefit from facilitated coordination between the project sponsor, the lead agency, and the other Federal agencies that will play a cooperating role on the project's environmental review. This ensures the project has a clear timetable and coordinated approvals process. Other mining projects are moving forward, including:

Accelerating and streamlining permitting for transportation projects. To expedite the environmental review of federally-funded electric vehicle [EV) charging station sites, the Department of Transportation (DOT] adopted a DOE EV charging station categorical exclusion, accelerating environmental review processes for state and local governments seeking to build EV charging infrastructure. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation also exempted most federally-funded or federally-permitted EV charging infrastructure from historic preservation reviews because it found that the effects of these activities are known and not significant. Earlier this month, DOT also announced its Modernizing NEPA Challenge to encourage project sponsors to publish interactive environmental review documents that increase accessibility, transparency and use plain language. These online tools will save time and improve the quality of documents through collaborative, real-time reviews between the public and agencies participating in a project's environmental review process. Other projects are moving forward, including:

Investing in the Resources for Success

Thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, the Administration has had the opportunity to bring on the staff and begin development of the technology needed to execute and streamline permitting and environmental reviews.

The Administration quickly deployed additional resources to hire the Federal staff needed to achieve our permitting goals. Twelve agencies covering all seven sectors received funding to hire the necessary personnel. To date, the Permitting Council has allocated over $165 million from President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act appropriation to support federal agencies, including through staff positions that will help deliver more timely and efficient reviews and permits. Together we have increased the permitting workforce by 14%. In addition, the Permitting Council has made $5 million available to Tribal governments to support Tribal engagement in the environmental review and authorization process for FAST-41 covered projects.

Adopting new technology and tools to improve federal environmental review and permitting processes. Timely, informative environmental reviews that are guided by the best available science and help deliver positive environmental and community impacts will be improved with better technology. Yesterday, the Permitting Council announced $30 million in investments to agencies to help them complete timely environmental reviews and permits. These investments will facilitate meaningful public involvement and support agencies to better manage complex analysis and decision-making.

Promoting Stakeholder Engagement and Positive Community Outcomes

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring strong environmental protections and robust community engagement as it works to accelerate federal permitting. In line with the President's commitment to environmental justice, the Administration is working to ensure projects are built smart from the start by promoting early and meaningful engagement with communities, which fosters community buy-in, helps reduce or avoid conflict, and improves project design while protecting communities from pollution and environmental harms that can result from poor planning and decision making. Accelerating federal permitting is also crucial to advancing the President's Justice40 Initiative, which set a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. Some examples of the Administration's work to promote community engagement include:

Georgia International Convention Center

College Park, Georgia

3:22 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. [Applause]

MR. MILLINGS: Good afternoon, Atlanta. How's everybody doing? [Applause]

How's everybody doing? [Applause]

Okay. We're in Atlanta. But — but before we get started, I want to welcome you to the Economic Opportunity Tour. This is stop number one. And what better place to do it here in Atlanta, Georgia?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. MILLINGS: The city of opportunity.

We want to acknowledge a few people before we get started: Senator Jon Ossoff — [applause]; Senator Raphael Warnock — [applause]; Representative Steve Horsford, who is the chair of the Congressional Black Caus- — Caucus — [applause] — and is celebrating a birthday with us today.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, he is.

MR. BILAL: Happy birthday.

MR. MILLINGS: Happy birthday.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And Vincent Evans, who worked with him. [Laughs]

MR. MILLINGS: Representative Nikema Williams — [applause]; and the leaders of the Black Economic Alliance, who have helped partner to make sure that this tour runs smoothly. So, congratulat- — and thank you guys for being here today. [Applause]

MR. BILAL: Yes.

You know, we do events all the time. But this — this is a little bit more different, I would say that — [laughter] — you know, a different dress code. They're not as enthusiastic for our presence.

MR. MILLINGS: They're warming up. They're warming up.

MR. BILAL: But I — it's more presidential —

MR. MILLINGS: Yeah.

MR. BILAL: — for sure.

Well, first and foremost, thank you for inviting us to have this conversation. It is something that we are definitely looking forward to, for sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Me too. Thank you.

MR. BILAL: So, my first question is: How are you and the President building an economy that provides an opportunity for all?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, let me start by, one, thanking Donald Boone for that introduction and being here. He is one of the almost 50 entrepreneurs that I invited to my office at the White House last summer to talk about their work and so I could listen to them and learn what we needed to do to get the word out about what we are doing.

And this Economic Opportunity Tour, as much as anything, was borne out of that and then a dinner that the three of us had at my house and — and is, therefore, about being on the road to let folks know what is available to them in the spirit of understanding we have so many entrepreneurs; we have so many people who have incredible ideas. They are innovative, hardworking, ambitious, have aspirations, have vision.

None of that we lack for in the community. But for most folks, we lack access to the resources that will feed those ambitions and those aspirations.

I chose Atlanta to be the kickoff for this Economic Opportunity Tour for many reasons that include one of the leaders who is among us — and I would ask us to rise and applaud him — and that is Ambassador Andy Young — [applause] — who is here with his wife, Caroline.

And I will tell you, as a point of personal privilege, Ambassador Young has been an — an advisor to me, a mentor to me, and a friend and has always talked about his vision — his shared vision with Dr. King — about the vision for America that included a vision that was about fighting for civil rights and understanding that to achieve true equality, we have to also have an economic agenda.

And that agenda must include speaking to people's ambitions, that, yes, everybody wants a job — and President Joe Biden and I are very proud that, in our administration, we have brought Black unemployment down to historic lows — but that's a baseline.

We also are focused on something Ambassador Young has talked so much about, which is creating opportunity for people to build wealth and to, thereby, not only strengthen their family — Donald Boone talked about that — but strengthen the economy of the community as a whole. Then everybody in society benefits.

So, that's why I'm here and to talk about what we have done, whether it be an extension of the work I did in th- — in the United States Senate to get 12 billion more dollars into community banks or the work that we have done — and you heard the panel earlier today — that is about uplifting our capacity through the Treasury Department.

I want to thank Secretary Yellen, in her absence, for what she has done to be a partner to me around focusing on a number of issues that are about access to capital but with a focus, also, on minority-owned businesses.

And then what we did to create the Economic Opportunity Coalition, which is fo- — you know, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Google, and getting private equity to invest in community banks — some of the local community banks being represented here — to increase access to capital so that our entrepreneurs in the community have a place to go where it's — that the people who are doing the — the lending know the community, know the capacity of the community, know the mores of the community, and can provide not only capital, but the — the knowledge that so many need to understand how to run a business.

You have a great idea, but you don't necessarily know how to run a payroll; don't necessarily know what kind of system there is for business taxes in a way that allows you to maximize — right? — your resources; don't necessarily know how you're going to keep up your inventory; and — and don't necessarily know what is available in terms of creating access to markets. So, you have a good product, but you need access to markets.

So, the work that we have been doing over the last three years has been focused on all of these areas and also understanding the context in which we exist, which is the longstanding disparities, and understanding that in spite of those who, in certain parts of our country, want to attack DEI, we understand that you can't truly invest in the strength of our nation if you don't pay attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion. [Applause]

We are, for example, paying attention to the fact that in order for any family or individual to have economic well-being, much less the opportunity to create wealth, we need to take into account the history of, for example, the ability of Black folks in America to own a home.

Let's go far back enough — we can go even further, but let's go far back enough to remember the G.I. Bill that was a promise by our nation to invest in who we call the "Greatest Generation," who fought in that war. And so, there was a policy that said: Let us reward them for fighting for our nation and all that we hold sacred and give them access to loans for homeownership.

And the reality, however, of a well-intentioned plan is that it was not well-intentioned in the way it was implemented for a lot of people in that Black veterans did not receive, in equal measure, those loans. And so, whereas a whole population of people had public policy that was about federal investment on lifting people up, certain folks — and Black folks, in particular — veterans — did not receive the benefit. So, now, look at the disparity that's created even by that.

We look at the history of — of redlining. We look at the history of segregation. We remember what happened — I know we're going to talk about — about these urban plans and what that did to cut freeways across communities and limit their access to commerce.

We look at what we've been dealing with as a — as an administration around bias in home appraisals, even to this day, where it is well documented that when a Black family in certain places is trying to get an appraisal for their home, be it to get a second loan or to sell it, they're appraised at a lower value than a similarly situated white family.

And so, these are some of the areas that we are focused on through our economic policies. We've been dealing with student loan debt, understanding that, you know, Black students are much more likely to take out a Pell Grant. We've seen an increase in tuition over the years, but the increase in — in Pell Grants has not been commensurate with that. We're working on that a bit. But student loan debt and the forgiveness of that as a way to allow people to have more assets that they can then put into buying a home or — or building a business.

So, these are some of the examples of what we've been doing. We've been focused on medical debt. Let me just add that.

Medical debt can be one of the fastest ways that somebody can go bankrupt. And often that medical debt is accrued because of some medical emergency that someone or someone in their family has experienced that they didn't have the savings or the anticipation for. And we have now put in place a rule that is in the process of being implemented where we have required that medical debt cannot be a part of your credit score — [applause] — and medical debt cannot be considered when your credit is being evaluated for a car loan, a home loan, things of that nature.

So, these are some examples what we've been doing.

MR. MILLINGS: Yeah, I want to stay with that theme of access. Because it's a — it's a real issue. When we talk about access, and especially communities of color, we've lacked it. A lot of it has been done for many reasons but, specifically — and you kind of alluded to it — urban renewal.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. MILLINGS: So, I'm interested in knowing what work is being done to address some of these historic inequities.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, during the late '50s and '60s, there was this whole policy push — national policy push that was called "urban renewal." But what it ended up doing was — and — and it was supposed to be about making life easier for people that live in the areas where it happened. But essentially, it was about a policy that was directed in making it, many people will say, easier for folks who had wealth and means to — to move to the suburbs and still have access to the — to downtown. I'm oversimplifying it, but that's essentially it.

And you see across the country — I'm going to be in Detroit on this tour. I'm going to be in Milwaukee. As you all know, I'm from California, from the Bay Area. We saw it there — where these — these freeways were built and — basically to cut through communities, which bifurcated the community so that folks couldn't have easy access to, let's say, the small businesses from where they lived. And it ended up decimating these communities for years. So, what we have been doing through our infrastructure bill is putting resources into basically reconnecting communities.

So, here in Atlanta, for example, Freeway 75 and 85, what we are doing is — is dealing with the fact that — I guess there was a division from Sweet Auburn from downtown — and what we need to do to reconnect by creating basically pathways that include, over that pathway, creating parks — but literally the infrastructure and recreating that infrastructure so we can reconnect communities.

So, here in Atlanta, there is going to be $158 million out of our infrastructure bill that will do that work. And it's going to create, we estimate, about 13,000 jobs and — [applause] — and also focus on affordable housing, which was one of the big issues that we're facing as a country. [Applause]

MR. BILAL: Another major issue for entrepreneurs is access to capital. We know that, I think, less than 1 percent goes to Black businesses. So, what are some steps that you guys are doing to kind of correct that issue, which suffocates a lot of businesses from getting started or from expanding?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, here's where I come to this point. It — none of us have achieved success without support — none of us — and without someone or — or people who understood our talent and our dreams and encouraged us to achieve it and showed us how to achieve it.

And as much as anything, the spirit behind the push for access to capital — and, in particular, on this tour, focusing on minority small businesses and Black-owned small businesses and small businesses and entrepreneurs who are Black men — is to recognize the disparities that have existed around the access to the opportunity to achieve success.

Again, I will say, because success is almost always a function of some investment from a community or others that went into the individual who then achieved success. So, the access to capital push that we have made has been about, yes, getting more federal dollars into community banks. It has been about getting the private sector and the big banks to invest, because they will admit, and we know, they are not necessarily in the place where they are — where we need them to be situated to know the community.

Access to capital is — encompasses a commitment to also making sure that we are doing the teaching to then create the access to market. So, it's about financial literacy — a lot of what we talked about before around helping people know how to start a business and keep a business going.

And it's also about understanding that our small bu- — you know, I know I use — I interchange the word "entrepreneur" and "small business." I think, basically, depending on the generation, someone considers themselves an entrepreneur — [laughs] — in terms of younger small businesses, but it's all entrepreneurship, right?

What we also know is that our entrepreneurs, our small-business owners are not only leaders in business but community leaders, civic leaders, hiring locally, mentoring, creating opportunities for economic development and growth within individuals and communities.

So, the work we are doing to extend access to capital is about tapping into the ambition that exists, the aspirations that exist, and then giving people the — the resources that are necessary: money and other resources to actually achieve success.

Can you talk a little bit about how you all achieved your success and how this kind of approach would lend itself to — to others having a story similar to yours?

MR. BILAL: Yeah. You know, we started with an iPhone and idea. That's — that's how we always say. Like, we — we didn't have any capital when we started, right? And that's the beauty of social media. Technology has really empowered everybody and kind of leveled the playing field.

But what we're seeing is that when we're interviewing, you know, other entrepreneurs that may not have the same business model as us, they have an extremely difficult time. And especially when we look at the next generation of unicorn companies —

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. BILAL: — billion-dollar, multi-billion-dollar companies, those are mostly tech companies. And you do need a lot more money to start a tech company.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. BILAL: So, I feel like the entrepreneur in Morehouse and Spelman, they have just as good ideas as Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, but they don't have the capital.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. BILAL: So, they either abort those ideas or they work for those companies. But even that's an issue because we know that we are not hired at the same rate in Silicon Valley as other people as well. Right?

So, even talking to Robert Smith and a lot of other people like that, this is a very complex problem. But I think, from our perspective, we have a unique perspective because we actually get to talk to entrepreneurs every single day.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. BILAL: And we can understand how $100,000 could just accelerate their business, right?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. BILAL: Fifty thousand dollars can accelerate their business, right?

And even looking in the crowd, we have entrepreneurs. I see Pinky Cole. I see Eastside Golf. And these are young entrepreneurs that went out on a limb and bet on theirself, right? But a little bit more capital, they can be the next McDonald's.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. BILAL: They can be the next Nike, right?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. BILAL: And that's what we need in our community, so they can employ — [applause] —

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. BILAL: — so they can employ not just 100 people, but 100,000 people.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right. And that — you hit it on the head in terms of how we feel about this.

This is — you know, th- — yes, there are going to be those who need $20,000 loans. But folks need million-dollar loans. [Laughs] Right? [Applause] And — and when we talk about a small business, it will be — it could be a dozen employees, but it could also be 200 employees. And it is that piece of it that is about getting to that next plateau that is very much how I'm thinking about this tour and the work that we are doing.

So, yes, it's about start-up capital but also what is required, then, to grow and to scale and have it be sustainable.

One of the pieces I failed to mention before but I'll mention now is the President and I, when we first came in, made a commitment that we are going to increase by 50 percent the number of federal contracts going to minority-owned businesses. And we're on track to get that done. [Applause]

So, part of the point of this tour has been to give folks information about how you apply for a federal contract. The reason that we made that commitment is because we then put in place more information that is available to more people about how to get a federal contract, because a lot of that, historically, has been who you know.

And when you get a federal contract, it is potentially yours for life. And it's very sustainable and can be the source of great growth for that individual who owns that business and — and beyond.

I'll also say this, and I was saying it to a few folks earlier: The work that we have accomplished as an administration — be it the infrastructure bill and what we are doing to invest — it'll be trillions of dollars in infrastructure: roads, bridges, sidewalks, all of that; transportation, public transportation. What we have done with the — with the — the CHIPS and Science Act, which is about investment in technology and research and development. What we are doing with the Inflation Reduction Act, which is about at least a trillion dollars invested in the climate, but a clean energy economy.

One of — one of the compelling reasons for me to start this tour now and to ask all the leaders here for help in getting the word out about what is available to entrepreneurs and small businesses is because we are in the process of putting a lot of money in the streets of America for this growth. And we want to make sure everyone has access to the opportunity to take advantage of the contracts and the work that is being generated by this policy push.

And so, we want to make sure people know about it and then know where they can receive the support to be ready to take on the work and then to grow their capacity.

I was very surprised to learn that over 70 percent of construction companies in America — and I'm pretty sure that number is still correct — 70 percent of construction companies in America employ 20 or fewer people. Those are small businesses — right? — who, when we're big building back up America's infrastructure, a lot of that is construction work. Got to make sure people know about what's available to them to actually take those jobs.

MR. MILLINGS: Yeah, I think that's — that's why this moment is so important, right? I always believed that, first, it's the awareness part.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. MILLINGS: We understand what needs to be done.

Then it's the education around it, which I think people kind of leave out. Then it's the action piece.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Mm-hmm.

MR. MILLINGS: And it — it feels like there's some action, especially with this tour. There's the action that's going to take place.

I want to talk about something that's important for every entrepreneur, and that's the cost of living.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. MILLINGS: Affordability.

And so, we've seen interest rates — obviously, over the past four years, they've risen. What — what steps are being taken to lower the burden of — of housing costs?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. MILLINGS: Because, like you said, there's disparities in it. We can go all the way back to the G.I. Bill. When we talk about the creation of — of generational wealth throughout communities, it's kind of missed us. So, what is being done now from your side?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, to your point, we know that homeownership is probably the most effective way to build intergenerational wealth. And it just — it's a fact. [Applause]

And — and just think about it in this context. As a homeowner, then as a parent, if you have a child that wants to go to — okay, this is what I'm going to say — Howard University. [Applause, Laughter]

MR. MILLINGS: Such a great choice. Wonder where you got that one from.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I couldn't help myself.

Or FAMU or — [applause] — or Spelman or Morehouse or Clark — [laughs] — and — and Clark Atlanta, yes.

And as — as a parent, then, as a homeowner, if you have some equity in your home, you can say to your child, you know, "Don't take out the loan; I'll take out some of the equity to help you pay for tuition so that you don't graduate with extraordinary student loan debt and so that, when you graduate, you can do your dream job and not worry about those hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and you can go on and — and prosper."

As a homeowner, if your child says to you, "I want to start a business; I've got a great idea," and you, as a parent, can say, "Let me take out some equity to give you some start-up capital" — intergenerational wealth.

However, again, as we've already discussed, there have been biases and explicit laws and practices that have been in place over generations to exclude certain folks and communities from that opportunity to create that wealth.

And so, we're focused on it also knowing that the — the net worth of a homeowner is about 40 times that of a renter. Think about that. And so, what we can do to uplift and create opportunities for that are very important.

So, one of the things we've done is we have proposed that there would be, for first-generation homeowners — so first-time homeowners — at a certain income level, a $25,000 credit to be able to put a down payment down, which we know would make a huge difference. [Applause]

And then we're looking at an additional policy that would be about basically, for — for those who qualify, $400 a month in tax credit so people can be able to pay their mortgage on a monthly basis. [Applause]

And we are on track to — a commitment to build 2 million more affordable housing units, including what we're doing here in terms of the freeway. [Applause] So, that's important.

But the reality of it is that when we focus on this issue, we got to realize that part of the reason everything is so expensive is we don't have enough supply on the market. And this is a national problem.

So, our investments are about also what we need to do to build affordable housing. I'm looking at some issues around how we can look at vacant commercial real estate and conversion. There's a lot of this issue that is about also what we need to do to focus on local rules that might make it d- — zoning rules that might make it different for these things to happen and how we can create incentives that are productive for everybody.

And then it gets back to, for example, the student loan debt. And what we have seen — we have — we have now forgiven over $150 billion in student loan debt. [Applause] On average, we're looking at somewhere around $70,000 per person. And especially if we're talking about people in public service — nurses, firefighters, teachers — and doubling the number for them.

But — but one of the other things I've asked the leaders here in terms of helping me get the word out: Let people know they qualify for student loan debt [forgiveness] even if they never graduated. That's really important for folks to know.

Because, you know, think about in terms of the logic of the policy. Why is it that — that the case? Because, sadly, they didn't graduate, some people, because they couldn't afford to keep paying tuition. But they still have to pay back that loan.

So, help us get the word out so that people apply. And I guess that gets to the heart of this tour and everything else we're doing. Folks in a lot of situations just don't know what's available to them, and I need the help of the leaders who are here to get the word out so people know what is available to them.

MR. BILAL: Well, that leads me to my next question. I'm not sure if you already answered it or not, but I was going to ask about student loan and what the administration has done for — obviously, there's millions of Americans that, once again, are suffocated with student loan debt and it's really crippled their lives.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, you know, I'll tell you, we went bolder with this — our plan and — for student loan debt relief, and then the Court cut some of the stuff that we were doing. But we have not stopped.

And so, we are through whatever — and all of the powers that we have through executive orders and things of that nature been forgiving, again, up to f- — $150 billion of student loan debt.

What I have seen in my travels around what this means for the people who have applied and figured it out, it's extraordinary. I mean, I've met people who have been forgiven, you know, three-digit thousands of dollars of debt. I — I've met teachers who've been teaching for 20-something years, carrying that debt and not giving up the profession of teaching. We don't pay him enough as it is. [Applause]

And, you know — and so, thinking about that — and let's think of ab- — you know, there were those who resisted the policy from the beginning and said, "Well, why do they need — they should pay off their loans. Why do they need it forgiven?"

Well, let's — let's go back to the example of public servants — nurses, firefighters, teachers. We — yes, we don't pay them enough. And do we — the people who have a calling to, for example, teach other people's children, who pay for school supplies out of their own back pocket, and the benefit they give to all of us as a society, should we not think about that and think about the fact that we want them to stay in that noble profession?

I think about the number of young people who have a calling to do that kind of work, similar kind of work, who have to go to some other kind of job because they need to pay off their loans, when we want that people would be able to follow their passion, especially when it benefits all of us and uplifts society.

So, the reasons behind the policy include just that.

And, again, let's just let people know that they don't have to have graduated in order to — to get their debt forgiven, especially if that might mean that, if they want to go back to school, they can go back and — and know that they can afford to go back.

MR. MILLINGS: Well — well, this is coming from a teacher — I say educator now — turned entrepreneur. I couldn't agree with you more. Pay our teachers. [Laughs] [Applause]

First, I just want to thank you for this. This has been an amazing opportunity. But we do have entrepreneurs here in the building. Where are our entrepreneurs at? [Applause] There they go.

MR. BILAL: Big Dave's Cheesesteaks. [Applause]

MR. MILLINGS: That's a fact.

MR. BILAL: I see Isaac Hayes in the back.

MR. MILLINGS: Shout-out to Isaac Hayes.

MR. BILAL: He can't sing as good as his dad, though. [Laughter]

MR. MILLINGS: No, no. We wouldn't want him to, either. [Laughter]

What piece of advice would you like to leave this audience? Like I said, this is — Atlanta is such a hub of innovation for many businesses, but what would you like to leave this audience with in terms of advice for entrepreneurship?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That you are worthy of and entitled to receive an investment in your dream and your ambition, and to seek out the resources that exist — and we're trying to make it easier for you to find those resources — but seek them out.

And — and know — you know, it's interesting, there's some — there's some studies that show that Black entrepreneurs are often less likely than others to actually apply for a loan for fear they will be rejected. I mean, there's pretty significant data that supports that point.

So, part of my advice is: Go for it. Apply for it.

And — and all — and get the word out, right? We don't — we don't lack for really incredible vision and — and entrepreneurial, creative thought. And so, it's just a matter of, like, let's not let society or history impede or silence those ambitions.

And then I would urge everyone to know, for example, community lenders and to seek them out.

I was just earlier at RICE, and what's happening there in terms of helping young entrepreneurs get ready and then have access. I met this young brother; he's now — he's now going — he's got a water company and is now going to be selling at Walmart. Right?

And so, there are institutions and places that are available to you, groups that are available, mentors here.

I would say to the entrepreneurs who are here: Make sure you — you talk to the person sitting next to you because they may just be that person who is willing to mentor you or willing to give you some advice about how they achieved their success.

But don't give up, because we need you. Our country needs you. And that's how we're going to be strong. [Applause]

And — and I would — I want to just put a fine point on it. Be proud of your ambition. Be proud of your ambition. Have ambition. Dream with ambition.

Do not ever be burdened by other people's limited ability to see what is possible. Don't let that burden you. [Applause]

You know, my mother always used to say to me, "Don't you ever let anybody tell you who you are. You tell them who you are." Right? [Applause]

I have another saying. [Laughter] I eat "no" for breakfast. [Laughter] I don't hear "no" until maybe the 10th time. Don't hear "no." Don't hear "no."

MR. BILAL: Madam Vice President, thank you for your time.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you. [Applause]

END 3:56 P.M. EDT

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:36 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hey. Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Happy Monday. Hopefully everyone is recovered from the weekend. [Laughter]

Q What happened over the weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't know. I don't know. Nerd prom. [Laughter] I think that's what they call it.

Q You never know.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You never know.

Okay. So, I have a couple — like, two things at the top, and then we can get into it.

So, I want to begin, actually, on a solemn note. Over the weekend, deadly storms devastated communities across the Midwest. We are praying for those impacted and the families who lost loved ones, as well as those who were injured.

The White House is coordinating with state and local officials, and we stand ready to provide support as needed.

FEMA will be on the ground today to assess the extent of the damage. And tomorrow, the FEM- — FEMA Administrator will travel to Oklahoma to meet with state and Tribal leaders and hear directly from those who have been impacted.

We are grateful for the first responders and rescue teams who have been working around the clock. Residents should remain vigilant and continue to heed the instructions of local officials.

Turning to this week, today kicks off National Small Business Week. Under President Biden's leadership, we have empowered small businesses and small-business owners nationwide, leading to a small-business boom.

We have been — we have seen historic growth in business applications over the last three years, and we're on pace to s- — to set more records in 2024.

There have been more than 17 million new business applications filed during the Biden-Harris administration. Building on this progress, the Small Business Administration announced that our administration has awarded a record amount of federal contract dollars to small businesses. And we are releasing the third annual Small Business Boom Report, which shows how SBA has nearly doubled small dollar loans to small businesses compared to 2020.

To highlight this work, Vice President Harris is kicking off her new — her — her national Economic Opportunity Tour in Atlanta where she will meet with small-business owners who are taking advantage of how — resources to help launch and scale their businesses.

The President and Vice President will continue fighting congressional Republicans' attacks on small businesses, including their attempts to cut SBA funding by 31 percent.

And I lied. I have one more thing for you, and then we'll get going.

Looking ahead to later this week, the President will travel to Wilmington, North Carolina, on Thursday to discuss how hisinvestigation[investing] in Amer- — in America is rebuilding our infrastructure and creating good-paying jobs in Wilmington and across the country.

We certainly will have additional information for all of you in the days ahead. And please stay tuned.

With that, hey, Darlene.

Q Hi. Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hello.

Q Two foreign questions and then one quick domestic one.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q Does the White House see any forward progress with the latest hostage deal that Secretary Blinken described as "extraordinarily generous" on the part of Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. As you know, we put out a readout yesterday that the President — the call that the President had with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. And the significant focus of that — of that call was obviously on securing the release of all hos- — of all hostages and paving the way to a prolonged ceasefire that would provide relief to the people of Gaza.

In recent days, there has been new progress in talks. And currently, the onus is indeed on Hamas. There is a deal on the table, and they need to take it. We believe that all efforts need to be brought to bear to convince Hamas to accept the proposal immediately.

And so, to that end, just a little information for all of you. This afternoon, the President will speak with the Amir of Qatar and President of Egypt. Secretary Blinken, as just you noted in your question, is in the region right now to carry out the same message that I just laid out to you.

This has been a sustained effort. And the United States is not alone in this effort.

You saw our joint statement — the joint statement last week with the 17 other world leaders demanding that Hamas release our citizens without delay.

And so, we're going to continue to have those conversation. It is a priority. It is a priority to get those hostages home. It is a priority to get to a ceasefire. And is — obviously and a priority to get that all-important humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Q Would the U.S. or the White House see any potential arrests by the ICC as a — as an aggravating factor in the negotiations?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we've been really clear about the ICC investigation. We do not support it. We don't believe that they have the jurisdiction. And I'm just going to leave it there for now.

Q On U.S. and Mexico. The joint statement from President Biden and López Obrador today talked about agreeing to implement immediately concrete measures to significantly reduce irregular border crossings. Have those concrete measures already been agreed to? And can you give any detail on what they are?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep. As you just mentioned, the President and the President of Mex- — our President and the President of Mexico spoke yesterday. There was a joint statement that we put out. I'm going to be really careful here. I'm not going to get ahead of what was laid out in the statement.

But this is — I would say this is a continued commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship that we have and the reg- — regional cooperation. And let's not forget, that regional cooperation will benefit here — us here in the United States but also the people of Mexico.

So, I'm not going to go beyond the readout, that joint statement that came out.

Go ahead, Mary.

Q Following up on that. Darlene mentioned Secretary Blinken did describe this new proposal as "extraordinarily generous." Can you explain a little what he meant by that? What about this — this new proposal is so generous?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not going to characterize the proposal. I'm not going to get into any of the specifics. But what we believe is that now is the time for Hamas to take this deal. It is on the table. It is time to — is way past time to get these hostages home. It is way past time to get to a ceasefire. And we need to make sure we continue to get that humanitarian aid. As we know, it is a dire situation in Gaza.

I just don't have anything to share beyond what — what S- — the Secretary spoke to. He's going to, obviously, meet with regional partners as he's there to continue that pressure, to continue that conversation, to continue that diplomacy that — that we — that's needed in this time. But Hamas needs to take this deal.

Q And on another continuing conversation. Is there any update on this in-person meeting between Israeli and U.S. officials that keeps being pushed down?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Are you talking about the Rafah —

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — re- — in regard to the Rafah operations?

Look, as you — as you know, Israel had — has a lot on their plate. They had to deal with what occurred with Iran. And so, they've been — you know, they've been pretty — pretty busy in — in the last couple of weeks, having — having to, you know, protect their security.

And so, we have had two virtual meetings that Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, has led. We believe that they've been productive. We believe that — that the Israeli government is taking our concerns into account. And those conversations are going to continue.

Q Is it still your expectation that there will, at some point, be —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We —

Q — an in-person —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We would — yes, we would like to have an in-person meeting. That is certainly what we would like to do. But in the meantime, we've had two important virtual meetings. And in — in the readout yesterday, we mentioned that that — that the Rafah — potential Rafah operations did come up between the two leaders in their conversation.

Q And just on another topic. We're — obviously, everyone's watching today what's going on at Columbia University. Has the President or anyone from the White House spoken to — to university leadership? Is the President satisfied with how they're handling the situation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I will say this. Look — and — and we've said this many times. This is nothing new. The President has always been clear that while Americans have the right to peacefully protest — that's something that we believe here in this administration — he stands squarely, squarely against any — any rhetoric — violent rhetoric; any hate — hate threats; and physical intimidation and hate speech.

Obviously, we believe and we have said antisemitism is dangerous, it is hate speech, and it is abhorrent. And there is no place for antisemitism on campuses or any- — anywhere else.

It is a painful moment. We get that. We get that it is a painful moment that Americans are dealing with. And free expression has to be done within the law. And, you know, we're going to continue to be very clear about that. That has not changed. We've been very consistent.

Go ahead, Jeff.

Q Thanks, Karine. Does the White House have a reaction to World Central Kitchen's decision to restart operations in Gaza?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Can I just fir- — can I just first say that the work that humanitarian aid workers do is brave, is incredibly important, and it is good to hear that they are going back to deal — to do the brave work that they continue to do not just in Gaza, obviously — in Haiti and Sudan and many other places around the country — around the globe, pardon me.

And — and so, we are — we're — we're happy to hear that. As you know, the President had a conversation with the Prime Minister about making sure that we deconflict and protect the lives of humanitarian aid workers as they're out there being brave, offering assistance to — to Palestinians in Gaza.

And so, we have seen some steps being taken by Israel to do just that. And we will always encourage and continue to have those discussions with Israel to do more.

And so, we are certainly encouraged by that — by humanitarian aid workers from WCK going back out there — and also encouraged by — by the steps that — that the Israeli government has taken to make sure that more humanitarian aid gets in.

Q Did you consult with them at all about that decision? And are you — are you confident that — that the aid workers are not going to be at further risk?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we're going to con- — again, we're going to continue to be very clear with the Israeli government on making sure that they are protected — humanitarian aid workers are protected. And we have seen some progress in that — in that deconflicting, and we've seen aid increase.

I do want to lay out a couple of things that in the aid — humanitarian aid going in that we've seen increase: Overall, nearly 5,000 trucks have entered Gaza since early April. That includes almost 200 humanitarian and commercial trucks a day, on average, entering Gaza in the late three — in the last three weeks. Some days, 400-plus truckloads enter. The United States conducted over 30 airdrops for relief supplies, including over 1 million meals, a hundred and forty-one thousand three- — — 141,300 bottles of water to Gaza as of April 28th.

And a lot of that is because of the President stepping in and making very clear that we need to do more. And the — the United States have — have led in the effort on getting that humanitarian aid.

Q Just lastly, a follow-up on Mary's question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Does the White House support peaceful protesters at Columbia or elsewhere being threatened with being removed from — from the school or being put on discipline or probation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So —

Q Is that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sorry.

Q — do you think that that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm so sorry.

Q — that that is fair?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, got to be super, super mindful. These are institutions — some of them are private, some of them are public — and it is up to their leadership — university leadership and colleges to make that decision. Not going to weigh in on that from here.

We're going to continue to say all Americans have the right to peacefully protest. At the same time, we have to call out any hateful rhetoric that we hear. Antisemitism is wrong. And so, we're going to continue to — to do that.

But universities and colleges make their own decisions. It is up to their leadership. We're not going to weigh in from here.

Go ahead, Weijia.

Q Thank you, Karine. Our new CBS News poll found that registered voters in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania believe that they would be financially better off if Trump wins. How do you explain that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm going to be careful because we're talking about vote- — registered voters. We're talking about a candidate now — obviously, the former President, who is now a candidate. I got to be mindful of the Hatch Act, and so can't — can't speak to — to that specifically.

But what I will say more broadly is we understand what Americans have gone through. We understand that the pandemic was a heavy, heavy burden on Americans. We understand that Putin's aggression into Ukraine caused inflation to rise — right? — pandemic caused inflation to rise, caused damages to the supply chain. And so, that's why the President took action.

The American Rescue Plan, obviously, was incredibly important in turning the economy around, dealing with the supply chains.

And we also understand that prices are still too high. They're still too high, so this is why you hear us talk about junk fees. This is why you hear us talk about lowering prescription du- — drugs — it is important — making sure that big corporations and billionaires pay their fair share.

And so, we're going to do more work. And we're hoping that message gets through to the American people. That's why you've seen the President in New Hampshire; in Las Vegas; in Madison, Wisconsin, laying down that message to — directly to the American people.

But there is a contrast here. There's a stark contrast to what we see what the President has been doing, this adma- — administration — the Biden-Harris administration — and what Republicans are trying to do. They literally put out a budget that cuts Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and gives special interest groups, billionaires, and corporations a tax break. The President doesn't believe that.

So, that — that's what I will say. I have to be really mindful to not speak specifically to that poll.

But, more broadly, that's what I can say, and I understand — we understand what Americans are — are feeling right now. That's why we're trying to do more.

Q Is the President frustrated that despite the fact that he continues to say —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — what he has done, that Ame- — some Americans are not feeling the impact —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look —

Q — of his policies?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — we have seen some consumer confidence go up over the past couple of months, and I think that's important to note. And so, that is out there — that data is out there.

Look, this is a pr- — we're talking about a president who understands what it feels like to sit around your kitchen table and have to make difficult decision. We get that. He gets that. This is why he's trying to build an economy from the bottom up, middle out. He's been very, very clear about — this is a sympathetic president, so he gets it.

So, it's — he's not going to be frustrated by that. What he's going to do is continue to do the additional work to lower cost and do everything that we can there and to go out there — to go out there and speak directly to the American people. I think that's the most effective way to do that.

Q Just one quick follow-up —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure. Sure.

Q — on Jeff and Mary. And correct me if you already answered th- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Jeff and Mary?

Q On Jeff and Mary.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, Jeff and Mary, the — your — [laughter]. I'm sorry. Your colleagues.

Q I know. It's a blur for everyone today.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It felt — it felt really — it felt like, "Jeff and Mary?" Oh, gosh.

Q From the weekend. [Laughter] So —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I do know who — who you guys are. I — [laughs] —

Q I'm sorry if I missed this. But —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — is the answer, no, the administration has not been in touch with anyone at Columbia?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I don't have any readout. I should have — I should have answered that in — I believe that was Jeff's question. I — I don't have any calls to read out to you of conversations with any university — any university leaders at this time.

Obviously, the President is going to go speak at Morehouse. And so, we've been in touch with them because he's going to give — deliver a commencement speech. He's looking forward to doing that. It is such an important moment in time for graduates. And he's going to go, obviously, to — to West Point. Those are the two that he's doing.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks.

Q Thanks, Karine. I wanted to go back to last week. The administration announced that it was again delaying —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Last week?

Q I know. [Laughter] All the way back a few days ago.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All the way back.

Q The administration announced that it was again delaying a potential ban on menthol cigarettes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q What do you say to critics that say this decision is prioritizing politics over health outcomes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q And can you give a timeline for this decision to actually be made?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, Secretary Becerra obviously put out a statement on this, I believe on Friday.

And I'll say this. Look, the rule garnered a lot of attention — historic attention and — during the public comment period, obviously. And — and so, we got an im- — an immense amount of feedback. And this is including various comments and feedback from civil rights organizations and also the criminal justice movement. And we want to be really mindful to that.

And so, obviously, there's more conversations to be had. And we have to really address the concerns of civil rights leaders and also the criminal justice leaders and also the many, many Americans who wanted to make sure that their voices were being heard.

And so, it's going to take more time. I don't have a timeline. This is an OMB process. They're going to run through that process. And we just want to make sure that — that
we deal with this significant policy issues that are in front of us right now.

Q The Secretary of State met with the Saudi Crown Prince today. Obviously, they were talking primarily about the hostage ceasefire deal. But I'm wondering, headed into the summer months, if that conversation or any conversation with the Saudis recently have touched on oil production and what you'd like to see from them.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I don't have anything to say about — about that piece. I think the State — the State Department — this is Blinken's trip — if that came up, they will have more to say on that.

I don't want to lose — to lose — you know, to lose the importance of the Secretary Bli- — being in the region right now. We have to get this hostage deal done. It's on the table for Hamas to — to take. He's going to — the Secretary is going to meet with regional partners.

And it is time to — only Hamas is standing in the way right now. It is time to move. We got to get these hostages home. We got to get to a ceasefire. And we got to continue to get that humanitarian aid. It is dire. The situation is dire in Gaza, as you all know.

Q And a last quick one. The Washington Post had a lengthy story today detailing efforts by Indian intelligence services to carry out an assassination in the United States.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Now that some of those — I know you were asked about it when they were —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — when this first emerged. But now that the details are known, can you talk about how, if at all, this has impacted our relationship with India —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — what steps we may be taking to make sure that, you know, something like this doesn't happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, any specifics — there's an investigation, as you know, going — going on. So, as you just stated in your question to me, in a criminal investigation, De- — Department of Justice obviously is running that, so anything specific to that, I would have to refer to the DOJ.

Look, India is an important strategic partner here in the United States for the — of — sorry, of the United States. So, we are pursuing an ambitious agenda to expand our cooperation in sev- — in several areas.

As you know, we've been really consistent about that and have laid that out multiple times, whether it's a meeting here with the — with the Prime Minister or a meeting abroad.

This is a serious matter, and we're taking that very, very seriously. The government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and — and will investigate. And we expect that accountability from the government based on that.

And so — but we're going to continue to raise our concerns. That's not going to stop. We're going to continue to raise our concerns directly — directly with the Indian government.

Go ahead, Gabe.

Q Karine, with regards to the ICC's potential warrants, I know you've said that it's the White House's position that the ICC does not have jurisdiction. But did the issue come up yesterday during the President's call with Prime Minister Netanyahu?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to — to read out beyond the readout. I don't have anything to lay out there.

Obviously — and I said this moments ago — the si- — what was the — what was significantly discuss- — the primary focus of that call was obviously that hostage deal, getting to a ceasefire, getting humanitarian aid into Gaza — that was incredibly important — and, obviously, our continued support for — for Israel's security. That continues to be ironclad, obviously, that — we've shown that.

But we need to get to that hostage deal. We need to get the hostages home. We need to get to a ceasefire. And that was the primary conversation. And obviously, the Rafah operations was discussed as well.

Q Is the U.S. directly involved in any diplomatic effort to prevent those warrants from being issued?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything beyond that.

Look, we just don't — we don't believe it's in the ICC jurisdiction in this situation. We do not support the investigation. And I think that kind of answers that question, when we say we do not support this and we do not believe it's in their — in their jurisdiction —

Q And following up —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — ICC's jurisdiction.

Q And following up to — excuse me.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, sorry.

Q I'm sorry.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, no.

Q I'm sorry to interrupt, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, no, no, no, no. I just have — I have a little bit to say, but it's okay — [laughs] — Gabe. Go ahead, Gabe.

Q Switching gears to another topic —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — and following up on what you said earlier about the protests at Columbia. Earlier you talked about how you didn't want to comment on what school administrators might do. But the protesters themselves have now defied that 2:00 p.m. deadline. Should they leave?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The protesters themselves have —

Q At Columbia, yes. There was a deadline for them to leave by 2:00 p.m., and they have not done so. What does the White House think —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You mean that Columbia has — has — has said there is a 2:00 p.m. deadline —

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — for them? Okay.

I'm just not going to comment on leadership in — in col- — at colleges and university, their decisions. That's for them to decide.

We've been very clear. Americans have the right to pro- — to peacefully protest. And we're going to continue to call out any type of hateful rhetoric, any type of potential hateful violence here. It has no place in America. Antisemitism we're going to call out. It is abhorrent. And — and that is hate speech.

We're just going to be consistent. When it comes to those types of decisions on campuses, that is something for college, universities' leadership to decide on.

Q And finally, one more, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q As a dog lover — as a dog lover yourself —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh. Oh, gosh. [Laughter]

Q What does the President and the White House think about Kristi Noem's upcoming book?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, I saw that. It's very sad. It's very sad. It's a sad story. That's all I have for you. It's — it's sad.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. More broadly, is the White House concerned about safety issues at university graduations this year?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'll sa- — look, I'll say this, and I kind of said this at the top: Commencement day for — for college kids is such an important day. You all know that. I'm sure you all have experienced the — how important it is that day, not just for you or for them, in this case, but for parents and loved ones who are here to — to celebrate — to celebrate their — their loved one graduating from college. And that is really important.

You know, it is important that Americans are given the opportunity to peacefully protest. We have to make sure that is something that — that is afforded to Americans. And — and respecting what commencements are truly about, those things are really important.

You know, we hope that schools can — can hold commencement celebrations while respecting difficult viewpoints that — that we're seeing right now in these issues. And we understand that it is a painful, painful moment.

Q Are you — is the White House in touch with — or the Department of Education in touch with universities to check on their planning or security measures they might be taking?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I would refer to Department of — of Education on that. I don't have anything to share at this time from here.

Go ahead, Asma.

Q Thanks, Karine. What is the administration's response specifically to the use of police force in some of these college campus protests? We saw this at Indiana University, Ohio State, Emory, UT Austin.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, again, I'm going to be really repetitive here. It's — Americans have the right to peacefully protest within the law. That is really important here.

Antisemitism is dangerous.

I know I've seen — we've — you've seen the — the videos that have pretty much gone viral out there. And I can't speak to that. We may have more to say about those videos once we look into the — once — you know, we'd have to look into them. Just don't have anything to share beyond that.

But it is important. It is important for Americans to have the right to peacefully protest. We understand this is within the law. And we understand this is a difficult time, and we're going to call out any type of hateful rhetoric.

Q And so, does the administration think that police force or police presence we've seen so far is acceptable?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, as far as police presence, that's up to the colleges and the universities. That's for them to decide. And we have to be able to allow Americans to peacefully protest within the law. That is important, and that's what the President wants to see.

I can't comment on every case. I can't comment on everything that we're seeing out there.

What I can speak to is more broadly and what we want to see and what we've called out.

Q If I can shift gears real quick.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q I know there was discussion — the President himself also referenced the idea — of an immigration-related executive order. Is there any update on that front?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, and I've said this many times before, we believe the bipartisan proposal that came out of the Senate that Republicans rejected because of the former President saying that it hurts him politically, helps the President and not himself — not Donald Trump — that's what we saw. That proposal — that proposal will do the significant work needed at the border, the significant work to move forward on a broken immigration system. That's what we want to see.

In the meantime, we always said that we don't believe it is — it — moving with an executive action is the way to go. We want to see that proposal. But we're always going to look at all options.

I don't have a decision to be made. I don't have anything to announce. But, you know, we're going to continue to call on — call on Republicans, call on Congress to move that Senate pro- — that bipartisan Senate proposal forward.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. A couple of questions for you on Saudi Arabia and also on Ukraine as well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q Secretary Blinken has obviously been in Riyadh discussing the Israel-Hamas war. He's also been discussing the Abraham Accords and normalization of ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel. How confident is the U.S. that those talks can be revived?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, we're going to continue to have those diplomatic conversation. It's important to do so. We're going to — we got to be confident. We're going to be confident that we could — that it gets to a place where — you know, where we — we are — we have — we have a solution here.

And so, I can't go beyond that. You know, the Secretary, as you said, is in Saudi Arabia. He's going to have — really, I — look, the important part about what we're trying to do this week and what you're seeing Secretary Blinken, what you've heard from the readout and heard me talk about — you read yourself the readout from the President with his call to Prime Minister Netanyahu — is to get to this hostage deal.

We got to get to this hostage deal so we can get to a ceasefire, get that all-important — continue to get that humanitarian aid into Gaza. We know the situation in Gaza is dire. And they also had a conversation about the Rafah operations.

And so, that is really the focus here. That is the significant focus. It is important to get to that deal.

Q The U.S. also said that it's preparing — preparing to offer a security package to Saudi. What would that entail?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to share on that.

Q Okay. On Ukraine. Ukraine has lost more ground in the last couple of days as it awaits U.S. aid to get there. Is there any updates on the — the state of those shipments?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, the aid into Ukraine is — is ongoing. They have been receiving that security assistance. I'm going to be really mindful here because there are operational security that I want to be careful. And what we hope is it gets to the frontlines so that Ukraine could def- — continue to defend itself.

And, like you said, they have lost ground. And so, we're hoping to get that security aid to — to the brave pe- — to the brave people in Ukraine. And so, look, it's ongoing. That aid is getting into — into Ukraine. I want to be really, really mindful on speaking to operational security from here, from the podium. I would refer you to Department of Defense for anything further.

Okay. Go ahead, Gerren.

Q Thanks, Karine. First on, as you mentioned, the Vice President kicked off her Economic Opportunity Tour today in Atlanta, which is a majority Black city. Next week, she'll be in Detroit, another majority Black city. It seems like the administration is trying to reach Black Americans, in particular, as it relates to the economy.

Data suggests that Black Americans feel economically burdened and are not aware of some of the work that the administration has done. According to an Economist/YouGov poll, only 22 percent of Black Americans feel they are economically — they feel like they're not economically better off than they were a year ago.

Does the White House fe- — believe that this tour or hope that this tour will help change perceptions —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — amongst Black Americans as it relates to the economy?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. It's — I think Weijia asked me this question, but a more broader sense of how people are feeling about the economy.

And we are very — we think it's very important, the Biden-Harris administration, to go out there and to talk directly to the American people. We believe that if they hear from us, they will know exactly what we've been doing and how we've been delivering.

But we also understand that people are still feeling that prices are too high. They feel that the economy is not working for them. And so, we're going to lay out what we've done this past three — three and a half years, almost, in this administration.

And as it relates to the Black community, when the President walked in, unemployment was above 9 percent. Now it's at a record low in the Black community. Now it's at a record low at around 5 percent. That's because of the — the work that this President has done. Black wealth jumped up by 60 percent. That's important. That's because of the work that this President has done.

But we understand, especially as it relates to the Black community, housing is important. We understand that prices, again, are toolow[high]. And so, we're going to do the work in the Black community, yes, but also for all communities.

And so, having that conversation — and we believe this tour that the Vice President is going to do is — is important.

But we're — we're going to speak to all communities, Black communities and every other community out there, who have felt — who have felt what the pandemic has done and what the high — the high inflation that came after Russia's war into Ukraine.

And so, we're going to continue to do the work, whether it's, you know, talking about junk fees; lowering prescription drug costs, which we've been able to do — continuing to do that, healthcare costs more broadly. This is incredibly important to this President.

Q And just one more question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has a study that came out a few days ago. Amongst a study of Black Americans, 45 percent feel a connection to Palestinians, which aligns with reporting and data that suggests that Black Americans see a similarity between their historical subjugation and what the Palestinians are experiencing.

What is the White House's message to Black Americans who have distinctly supported this President and feel like his policies go against what they believe morally and see this connection to what's happening to Palestinians?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. And it's the message that we have said to Arab Americans, Palestinian Americans, Muslim Americans, and many Americans here who — who are looking at this moment and it is incredibly painful. We understand. This is a painful moment for many. And that's why White House officials, including this President, has had many conversations with communities, leaders of those communities to talk about — to hear from them, to listen to them, and to talk about how to move forward.

And it is also why it is so important that the President spoke to the Prime Minister of Israel yesterday. That is also why it's important that we see the Secretary — Secretary Blinken in the region this week to talk about how do we get to a hostage deal that will lead — getting Americans home, getting hostages home to their loved ones — but to also lead to a ceasefire.

We understand how important it is, and we get — we get that the dire humanitarian aid — that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. That's why we've done an uptick and spoken — direct conversations — with the Israeli government on what we can do to put — to get more aid in — into Gaza. And so, that's what we're seeing.

And so, we got to get that hostage deal. We do.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. I wanted to see if you could just elaborate on how the President is taking in some of the scenes from college campuses around the country. He doesn't have any public events on his schedule today. Is he watching some of the coverage? What's his reaction been?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I can tell you, the President is — like he does every day, is having meetings with his senior advisors, with his team here on an array of issues. I just mentioned that he's going to have conversations with leaders in — in the Middle East region to talk about this hostage deal, to make sure that we get this done, get Americans home — hostages home, more broadly — and make sure we get to a ceasefire. That is something that is incredibly important that, you know, Americans want to see.

As you're talking about the — the protesters, they want to see this war end.

And that's what the President wants to see: it get to a ceasefire. And so, he's focused on that. That's his focus.

I can't — I can't speak to him catching any of what's happening on TV, but I can speak to the importance of the meetings that he's having and these two head-of-state calls that he's going to have this afternoon.

Q Last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia and said that after that visit he was going to be calling President Biden to discuss potential response, even the potential for a role for the National Guard. Did that conversation happen? And has the President weighed —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look —

Q — in on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — I would refer you to the Speaker. I don't have a — a call to speak to.

As it relates to the National Guard, I've been asked this question —

Q Did — did that call happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have a —

Q Did they have a conversation?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have a call to — to speak to.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is that, as it relates to the National Guard, that is something that is under the jurisdiction of governors.

And I know, if it wasn't last week — I believe it was last week, actually, Governor Hochul spoke to that as it relates specifically to what's happening in New York. And so, I would refer you to — to her office.

But National Guards, that's not under our jurisdiction; that's under governors.

Q And military aid for Israel. There is a May 8th deadline for the Biden administration to certify that Israel is in compliance with international humanitarian law. Several bureaus within the State Department have reportedly raised serious concerns over what they call Israel's noncompliance. How is the President planning to make this decision? What meetings is he taking? What information is he evaluating? And when do you expect him to make a decision?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I will say this: In that conversation that the Prime — that — that he had with the Prime Minister, he continued to — to say that — give the commitment that Israel's security is ironclad — our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. That will continue, and that is a commitment that the President has.

I'm not going to speak to a May6th[8th] deadline. I'm — that's not something I'm going to do at this time.

But, look, that — the President has been very clear. As it relates to making sure that — you know, that Israel conduct their operations in Gaza, to make sure that we're protecting innocent Palestinian lives, that — two things could happen. Right? Two things can be true, which is making sure that Israel's security is ironclad. We saw what happened with Iran very recently. They live in a — in a neighborhood that is — that is tough, and they continue to — they will continue to need that support.

So, two things can be true. We can give that commitment to the iron- — ironclad commitment but also have those conversations with Israel about making sure that they conduct their operations in Gaza to make sure that we're protecting — we're protecting innocent Palestinians.

Q But since the President's last called with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Congress —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Which was yesterday.

Q — Congress — well, but between the call two weeks ago or three weeks ago —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — and the call yesterday, Congress has newly authorized about $16 billion —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep.

Q — in additional military aid. Did President Biden communicate what it would take for the U.S. to begin dispersing some of that aid? Progressives have urged him to place conditions on it or to use it as leverage over Israel.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I've been very clear. Two things could be true. We're going to have the ir- — give our commitment to — to Israel's security — that is ironclad — and also have those conversation with Israel about making sure that how they conduct their operations in Gaza protects innocent Palestinian lives, hence the conversation about Rafah — the Rafah operations — right? — the two virtual calls that Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, has led. And we're going to continue to have those conversations.

It is important. It is important that we protect Palestinian lives — innocent Palestinian lives. As Israel continues to defend itself, it is important that they are able to do that, but we have to make sure that, also, in those conversations, that they conduct their operations in a way that innocent Palestinian lives are — are happening.

I don't have anything beyond that. We've been consistent about that. I know Jake Sullivan spoke to this just last week when he was at the podium.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Two topics, if I can. First, right before we came out here, there were reports of a shooting in Charlotte, North Carolina, involving law enforcement officials. Were you guys aware of that? Has the President —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No. No, that's — that's actually the first time I'm hearing about that.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Obviously, I don't — want to be really mindful, since I don't have all the information. I'll certainly look into that and see — and see what's going on there.

You know, police officer, law enforcement officers put their lives at risk every day. And — and so, you know, that is — if that is indeed true, it is very sad news.

And we also know gun violence is an epidemic in this country. That's why the President is doing everything that he can to make sure that we deal with this epidemic. And by — as you know, signing two dozen executive orders, starting an — an anti-gun violence White House office — the first ever — and passing the bipartisan — a bipartisan legislation to deal with this.

We need to do more. We need to do a lot more, and we're going to continue to ask Congress to do so.

Q And then second topic. The Affordable Connectivity Program runs out of funding this week. What is the White House plan to get this renewed? Are there conversations about trying to get this included in the FAA reauthorization?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I got a couple things that I do want to say about that. Despite repeated calls with — from President Biden, congressional Republicans have not extended the Affordable Connectivity Program. This essential program has helped millions of Americans participate in school and work, access healthcare, and stay connected with their loved ones and more.

We announced earlier this month that we are encouraging providers to take steps to keep their consumers connected at this crucial time by offering low-cost, no-cost plans.

We'll continue to push congressional Republicans to take action. And anything else to that I will refer you to FCC.

Q Right. But do you see it potentially ending up with the FAA reauthor- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: FCC?

Q — this is, like, the last big bill that could be —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, we are con- — we contin- — continue to call on — obviously, continue to call on — on Congress to act here and take action. And so, that's what we're going to continue to do.

But obviously, we've taken some steps so that consumers can protect themselves.

Go ahead, Danny.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just on Rafah. The readout yesterday from the call with Netanyahu said that the President had "reiterated his clear position," but it didn't say what it was. Can I just — can you just clarify to us exactly what the position still is at this moment? Is this —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, I mean, it hasn't changed, Danny. We have concerns about a major military operations in Rafah. We've been very clear. There are more than 1 million Palestinians in Rafah, and we believe that they need to be protected. Whatever operation they — they want to move forward when — and we understand there are Hamas operators in the region. And we understand that there are concerns there.

And so, we have shared our — our concerns with that. And we believe that they're going to take our concerns into account.

And we're going to continue to have those conversations. There were two virtual meetings that were led by Jake Sullivan, as I mentioned before.

But our position hasn't changed.

Q And is the position that you have concerns about that or that — that the President would oppose an operation without a credible —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We have concerns. We have concerns about that. And we want to talk and discuss and continue having those conversations about what their potential plan might look like.

And we believe they're going to — we're going to have further discussions and they're going to certainly take our concerns into account.

And so, I'll just leave it there.

Q And you haven't had the credible plan yet?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We have not seen a credible plan yet.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you so much. For the first time in public, the President urged Russia to release Alsu Kurma- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Sorry, I'm going to say that again. Alsu —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Alsu — mm-hmm.

Q — Alsu Kurmasheva —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — from detention in Russia. What prompted him to make this mention in public? And when will the administration declare her wrongfully detained?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, and you heard from the President, obviously. He talked about it during the White House Correspondents' Dinner. He believed it was an opportunity, speaking in front of all of you, to talk about what journalists have to go through and how brave it is for journalists to go out there and deliver — really deliver the news and reporting to — to the public. And it is important to lift that up. It is important to speak to that.

We believe — and I've said this many times from this podium — journalism is not a crime. It is not a crime. It is not a crime here. It's not a crime there, and it is not a crime anywhere.

And so, as it relates to her designation, that is something that the State Department has spoken about. And so — and so, we're going to just leave that to the State Department.

Obviously, we've shared our concerns about her detention. And so, I would refer you — refer you to them. And the State Department has — has shared their concerns about their — their — her detention.

But it is a designation that the State Department makes.

Q Got it.

So, today, we heard China's government denying an accusation made by Secretary of State Blinken that they were seeking to interfere in the U.S. election. Does the White House share this concern? And what are you doing to combat it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, it — the — the Secretary is speaking on behalf of this administration. So, obviously, we share those concerns. But — but we're going to continue to have those diplomatic conversation.

The Secretary, you know, is — delivered a message there, and I just don't have anything beyond that.

Q And then, finally, you just mentioned two head-of-state calls this afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep.

Q Who are they? Is one of them perhaps President Erdo?an, and — [laughter] — are they still talking about a possible meeting?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything to share. I thought you were — didn't you hear what I said about who he's — he's going to be calling?

Q No, who is it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The — the Amir — he's going to call the Amir and Egypt. Those are the two he's going to call today.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know you're trying to get me to say about Erdo?an. I don't have anything to share on that. [Laughter]

Go ahead.

Q Karine, good afternoon. By all accounts, the FAFSA rollout was a mess — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. College — our high school seniors depend on that for financial aid for college. Decision day is May 1st. Who does the President blame for the mess?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that one more time. I'm sorry.

Q Who does the President blame?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: For —

Q For the FAFSA mess — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid — out of the Department of Education.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we — we take that very seriously. Obviously, our goal has been to make it easier for very — you know, Americans who need that relief, as they're thinking about furthering their education and getting that college education.

And so, we want to make sure that it's easier for them to be able to get through that process to get that much-needed aid.

As it relates to FAFSA, we have — we have said, yes, the process has not gone smoothly, and we're doing everything that we can to make it go smoother. We've been — I know the Department of Education have put processes in place to make sure that that happens. And that's what we want to see.

We do not want to make it more difficult for Americans to get that much-needed aid. We want to make it easier. That's one of the reasons the President has talked about, you know, student debt relief, giving Americans a little bit of breathing room.

Now, obviously, this is on the other side of that. We want to make sure that Americans do have — has — have an easier process in getting that done.

Q Does the President still have confidence in the leadership at the Education Department after all this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The President has confidence in his Education Department.

Q And is he aware that applications — FAFSA applications are down some 30 percent —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We understand.

Q — impacting minority —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We unders- —

Q — and low-income students?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We understand the impact. That's why we're doing everything that we can, the Department of Education is doing everything they ca- — we can to rectify that issue. And we have.

Go ahead. Go ahead, Jon.

Q Thanks, Karine. As a result of those ongoing campus protests in the past few days, the main commencement at USC, the University of Southern California, has been canceled. Just today, final exams have been moved at GW Law School. What's your reaction to the repercussions of these protests and how they have impacted students on these two campuses, but also, likely, all across the country at both private and public universities?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, when it comes to decisions about commencements, decisions that universities and colleges are making, that's really up to them to make. That is a decision that they have to decide what's right for their student body, what's right for their community, and that is on them. So, want to be very clear about that.

As it relates to commencement — and I've said this before — look, you know, it is a special day. It is a very special day for students. The President is looking forward to speaking to Morehouse University. He's going to be at West Point later this month.

That's something that he — that's important to him. And he knows how — how — what families and students are feeling at this time to wanting to celebrate that moment, especially as they're thinking about their last four years and moving — and moving forward. And so — so, he's looking forward to celebrating with them.

We continue to believe — and I've said this multiple times already today — is that peaceful — peacefully protest, Americans should have the right to do so — to peacefully protest. Whether it's at a commencement or at their school or anywhere in this country, it has to be done where we do not have hateful rhetoric, violent rhetoric.

We cannot — we not — we got to condemn those. That should not be allowed in this country anywhere. And so, we're going to be consistent on that. We're going to be — we have been about condemning hateful rhetoric, hateful vio- — hate has no place — should have no place in America.

But those are decisions that are made by colleges and universities, their leadership.

Go ahead, Phil.

Q Thank you. Two topics quickly. When the President expanded the definition of Title IX to include gender identity, a handful of states, including Florida, announced that they were directing their public school systems to ignore that policy directive. First, what's the White House's response to their objections? And then, second, should we expect the administration to challenge state policies or laws that distinguish between biological males and females in high school sports?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I'm — there's a lot of litigations happening, so I need to be really careful.

So, I'll just say that every student deserves a right to feel safe in school. That's what — that's what it should be all about: strengthening and restoring vital protections that the previous administration got rid of, when you think about the Title IX updates that you've seen from this administration.

And so, look, I don't have much more to share outside of that. The Department of Education has more information on that specific — what — the new announcements that we've made. But every student deserves to — the right to feel safe. And I'm just going to leave it there.

Q And then a second topic. Last week, a Secret Service agent who was assigned to Vice President Harris's detail was removed from her duties after reportedly attacking the commanding agent in charge. Was the President made aware of that incident? And are there any steps that are being taken to ensure that the vetting is absolutely perfect —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — so that someone in that important of a detail —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — [inaudible].

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I have to be really mindful and careful. That's something for Secret Service to speak to. I can't — I can't go beyond that. I know —

Q Secret Ser- —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And I know that they — they put out a statement, and I believe, yes, the President is aware.

Q Great. Thank you.

Q Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Yeah. All right. Okay.

Go ahead, Monica.

Q Karine, there are two pieces of legislation that have been introduced that would take steps to counter antisemitism on college campuses and more broadly. Has the White House made a determination about which one it would support —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — or would both —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, I'm aware of those two pieces of legislation. Obviously, the President condemns antisemitism.

I don't want to get ahead of — of our Office of Leg Affairs here. So, need to discuss with — about those two pi- — particular pieces of legislation.

Obviously, we've been very clear: We condemn antisemitism. We're going to continue to do that. It has no place. It is hate speech. And so, we're going to continue to do that. I want to be really mindful about getting ahead of — of that.

Q Would the White House support having antisemitism monitors on college campuses?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I need to be super mindful. As you know, we have — we put out a strategic plan here on dealing with antisemitism because we understand that it has risen here in this country and we have to do everything we can to fight hate.

And so, we put a — together a comprehensive plan. I just want to be mindful. I have not spoken to anybody about these two particular legislation. Don't want to get ahead of the team here.

But the President has been very clear — very, very clear. I've said it multiple times throughout this pris- — briefing that we condemn antisemitism and any form of hate.

Q Separately, what is the White House's backup plan for the President's Cancer Moonshot Initiative, since that funding appears not to have been replenished by Congress? Is the plan to go to the —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — private sector for help?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, Cancer Moonshot obviously is –is so important to not just the President, but the First Lady. It is a — a — it is an issue that is incredibly personal to them. And we want to make sure that we get to a place that, you know, cancer no longer is an issue in this country.

Don't have anything beyond — beyond that. Don't have anything to lay out on what the next steps are, but it is a priority for this administration.

All right. Thanks, everybody.

Oh, Michael, go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Back on the ICC.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know I was going to call on you. I forgot.

Q I'm just wondering how concerned is the admin- — the ICC.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q I'm just wondering, how concerned is the administration that any potential charges against Israeli officials could maybe jeopardize the ceasefire talks?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I — I'm not going to go beyond with what I've said. We don't believe the ICC has the jurisdiction. We don't support this investigation. And I'm just going to have to leave it there for now.

Thanks, Michael.

Q Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Bye, everybody.

Q Thank you.

3:28 P.M. EDT

We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven [G7), affirm our joint effort to fight the production, distribution, and sale of illicit synthetic drugs, and the criminal networks which traffic these drugs, which collectively impact the health, security, and well-being of our citizens and of people around the world. Such drugs, especially synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, its analogues and nitazenes, represent an escalating and critical public health emergency, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and devastating impacts on our communities and economies.

In order to collectively address this shared challenge, we are ready to work together and drive international action to disrupt the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, to dismantle the illicit financing networks that support the drug traffickers, to identify emerging drug trends, in order to prevent their expansion and to respond to public health impacts.

In particular, we commit to take enforcement actions to: i] dismantle drug trafficking networks and the supporting illicit financing networks using all available tools, including judicial and law enforcement actions, and hold drug traffickers and their facilitators accountable; ii) disrupt the illicit global supply chain of synthetic drugs as well as of the precursor chemicals that are used to manufacture illicit drugs, and iii) support international scheduling and regulation of dangerous drugs and precursor chemicals.

We will redouble our efforts to: i) raise awareness and knowledge, especially among the youth and persons in vulnerable or marginalized situations, of the adverse effects of drug use, particularly illicitly manufactured and distributed synthetic drugs; ii) share information to identify and quickly respond to new drug threats; iii) promote evidence-based practices to improve the quality and availability of substance use prevention and treatment services; and iv) provide adequate training to support effective law enforcement, health-related, and preventive care.

We confirm our intention to further enhance international cooperation in counternarcotics. In this regard, we welcome the crucial work of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], the International Narcotics Control Board, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs [CND], the World Health Organization and the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats. We appreciate the long-standing work of Europol and Eurojust in facilitating international police and judicial cooperation to fight international drug trafficking. We welcome the European Ports Alliance initiative to fight drug trafficking and organized crime and the foundation of the new European Union Drugs Agency.

To show our steadfast commitment to fighting against this pernicious and expanding threat, we will instruct relevant ministers to work on strengthening international cooperation on this critical issue, raise public awareness, facilitate non-discriminatory and voluntary access to drug-related prevention and treatment services, and coordinate enforcement efforts.

We encourage all countries concerned by the threat posed by illicitly manufactured and distributed synthetic drugs to join the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats and to undertake measures arising from its workstreams and recommendations. We also call on all countries to take appropriate action to counter this deadly scourge, including justice and law enforcement action against illicit precursor suppliers, transnational criminal organizations, and their enablers.

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 (AI). 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:

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:

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:

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.

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:

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:

Georgia AIM is one of 21 regional coalitions awarded funding through the ARP's $1 billion Build Back Better Regional Challenge [BBBRC] – 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.

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 roughly forty-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 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 [MBDA], 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.

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 [SDBs]. The Small Business Administration [SBA] 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:

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:

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 [FEMA] 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.

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.