Category: The White House

Source: The White House

Hilton Americas-Houston
Houston, Texas

 12:33 P.M. CDT
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.  Oh, it is so good to be here.  Good afternoon.  Good — please have a seat.  (Laughter.)  Oh, it is so good to be here.  (Applause.)  God is good.  God is good.

So let me start by saying: It’s wonderful to be back in Houston, isn’t it?  (Applause.)  This is a city of incredible energy and diversity.  And — and it is so wonderful for me, on such a personal level, to be here at the National Baptist Convention.
 
Thank you.  Thank you, everyone.  And, President Jerry Young, thank you for your leadership of this historic organization and for your friendship, for your counsel.  I talk with him from time to time — just, “How are you thinking about the world? Talk to me about how we can work together on the path of what we know we want to do to just shine a light in moments of darkness.”  So I want to thank you for what you do and for the friendship you have given me.
 
And to all the leaders who are here with us: Thank you for the care and the courage that you bring to your work, because this is certainly a room of leaders.

And as a point of personal privilege, I just also want to say it is an honor to be joined today by my pastor, Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown of Third Baptist Church.  (Applause.)  And I think many of you know Dr. Brown, but I will tell you: For two decades now, at least, I have turned to you.  I have turned to him.  And I will say that your wisdom has really guided me and grounded me during some of the most difficult times.  And — and you have been a source of inspiration to me always.  So thank you, Reverend Brown, for being all that you are.  Thank you.
 
So, as many of you know, I was born in Oakland, California.  And I actually grew up attending 23rd Avenue Church of God in Oakland.  And there I learned — as so many of us did, I learned in the Bible of the many teachings about the ever-present tension between darkness and light.  And I learned, in those moments, how important it is to recognize the power of faith.

Through the darkness, faith and our faith reminds us that we are not alone.  Faith teaches us that a brighter future is always ahead and we must keep moving forward to realize that future.  And to move forward, simply put, I also learned and we all know: Faith requires action.

So I was raised to live my faith.  Marching for civil rights, my parents pushed me in a stroller.  That was faith in action.  So was running for office for the very first time I ran, standing up in the name of the people as the first Black woman to be elected District Attorney of San Francisco and the first Black woman in the state of California to run for Attorney General and become the first Black woman to be elected Attorney General of California, where I ran the second-largest Department of Justice in the United States — second only to the United States Department of Justice.  Standing up as the second Black woman in the history of the United States Senate to be elected to the United States Senate, and then placing my hand, yes, on Justice Thurgood Marshall’s bible when I was sworn in as Vice President of the United States.  (Applause.)

These were all, for me, acts of faith born out of being taught to believe in what is possible and what can be, unburdened by what has been.  
 
For me and President Joe Biden, faith guides our work every day.  So I will say to the National Baptist Convention: We know — we know deeply — that when people of faith come together, anything is possible.  (Applause.)  Everything is possible.  That is the power of faith. 
 
Just think, after slavery was outlawed in our country, the founders of this very convention came together to protect the freedom of worship.  As Black people in our nation battled racist laws and ideologies, men and women of the cloth were the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement in America.  And they, then, following the teachings of Christ, built coalitions of people of all faiths and races and walks of life, because they understood and knew the importance of the collective.

They did not declare, “I shall overcome.”  No, they said, “We shall overcome.”
 
So standing on those broad shoulders, let us speak truth about the moment we are now in. 
 
Today we live in unsettled times.  The ideals we thought were long established — such as, overseas, the sovereignty of democratic nations; here in our own country, the powerful transfer of power in a way that is peaceful; the freedom of voters — voters — to decide elections; the freedom of women to decisions about their future; even what constitutes the truth — these ideals now hang in the balance.
 
And in this moment, then, we count on the strength and the conviction of faith leaders to help lead us forward.  As we see gun violence threatening the safety of our communities and the sanctity of our houses of worship, our faith leaders have been among the leaders who demand a ban on assault weapons so that our children do not have to fear their lives as they sit at their desk or kneel in the pew.  (Applause.)  
 
As new laws make in our country are making it more difficult for people to vote, including in this state right here, faith leaders are taking action: registering voters and driving souls to the polls.  Because like generations before, we all know the freedom to vote should be sacred and our democracy must be defended.
 
As extremists work to take away the freedom of women to make decisions about their own bodies, faith leaders are taking a stand, knowing one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held religious beliefs to agree that a woman should have the ability to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.)  And she will choose, in consultation with her pastor or her priest, or a doctor and her loved ones.  But the government should not be making that decision.
 
In this moment, let us heed the words of First Corinthians: “Be on your guard.  Stand firm in the faith.  Be courageous.   Be strong.  And do everything in love.” 
 
National Baptist Convention, we share a deep love for our nation, and we believe in the principles upon which it was founded: freedom, liberty, equality.  But we know that in our beloved country, these principles are only fully realized when we, people of faith, fight for them to be true.  True patriotism means standing up for those principles.  It means requiring and fighting to make sure that our nation lives up to those principles in every generation, in every moment of crisis.
 
The Bible teaches us so much about what we must do to be dutiful, understanding we have a duty to our God and to one another. 
 
And people of faith, then with that spirit, have always been part of leading our nation forward out of the darkness and toward the light. 
 
And as Vice President of the United States, I will share with you, I do believe that today we must do so once again.  We must continue to see America for what it promises to be, what it can be, unburdened by what has been.  
 
We must continue to do whatever it takes to realize our vision for America’s future — a future in which every person has the opportunity to succeed and to thrive and to reach their God-given potential. 
 
You know, as the past year and a half has made clear, we do see what our labor can produce to reach that future.  We have evidence that tells us that a light is shining. 
 
Just think: In 2020, you lifted your voices.  We said there must be better care for our children.  And so, together, we extended the Child Tax Credit, which lifted nearly 40 percent of Black children out of poverty last year alone.  (Applause.)  We lifted our voices in 2020 and said we must support the families of our nation.  And so, together, we passed a tax cut to give parents up to $8,000 for the cost of raising a child, more money to be able to buy food and medicine and school supplies for their children.  (Applause.) 
 
Together, remembering the lesson of Proverbs that “an intelligent heart acquires knowledge.”  So we dedicated — and I say this as a proud graduate of an HBCU — we dedicated over $5.5 billion — (applause) — so that HBCUs remain centers of academic excellence in our nation.
 
And inspired by the aspiration in the Book of John that we all may prosper, we have invested billions more in community banks, understanding that our small businesses are leaders in our community, are the ones who are leaders in our churches, are the ones who are supporting the small league baseball and softball teams, are the mentors, are the ones that are hiring locally.  And so we did that knowing we must invest in our Black and brown small-business owners so that they have more access to capital so they may thrive. 
 
And to — (applause) — and to spread prosperity, we are also taking on the issue of racial bias in home appraisals.  Why?  Because it’s an issue.  (Applause.)
 
Everybody here has heard the stories about our family members, members of our congregation, others who spent a lifetime working hard, understanding the best way that we can create intergenerational wealth in a family or a community is homeownership. 
 
But also then knowing the bias that has long existed — racial bias — from redlining to the issue of racial bias in home appraisals when a Black family tries to sell their home and it gets appraised for less than they know it’s worth.  And then they have friends, who are a white family, that they invite to come over and put up their family pictures — they take down their own — and the home appraisal is for much more. 
 
We got to speak truth about that.  We are, and we’re dealing with it.  Because we know Black families, brown families can realize full and true value of their homes and pass that value on to their children and grandchildren. 
 
And to make sure that every neighborhood can know peace, our administration has passed the first federal gun safety ban in nearly 30 years — (applause) — finally, expanding background checks.
 
And we have also understood what we must do to bring fairness and justice to a system, around the issue of policing.  And so we have restricted the use of chokeholds and no-knock warrants by federal law enforcement agencies.  (Applause.)
 
On another issue, President Biden and I know that one of the three issues that are top for American families, in that one in three Americans struggles with this, is the issue of unpaid medical bills and medical debt.  (Applause.)
 
And what we know is: When people cannot afford their medical bills, they are less likely to seek the care they need.  And we know what our churches do then to try and fill in the gaps, when Sunday morning we read about who needs support and help, what — which of our elders might need a little extra something.
 
Well, the church has a role to play, but so does our government.  Because we all here know God calls on us — God calls on us to help heal the sick. 
 
So, from our end, what we have done to reduce the cost of healthcare is to reduce the cost of health insurance by an average of $800 a year for millions of small-business owners, seniors, and middle-class Americans.  (Applause.)  Because when we are called to help heal the sick, this is the work we must do. 
 
Another issue: We are going to cap the cost of insulin for seniors to $35 a month.  (Applause.)  Black people in America are 60 percent more likely to have diabetes.  And far too many of our seniors, in particular, with diabetes who cannot afford the insulin that a doctor has prescribed to help save their life are cutting their dosage, are getting sicker simply because they cannot afford lifesaving medication.
 
If we talk about what we must all do to help heal the sick, shouldn’t we then agree that access to healthcare should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it?  (Applause.)
 
And I’ll share with you one of the background issues that’s at play here that we are addressing: For years, the big pharmaceutical companies have been standing in the way.  They’ve been putting profit as a priority and not allowing Medicare to negotiate on behalf of the millions of people that it represents. 
 
Well, we finally gave Medicare the power to negotiate the price of prescription drugs on behalf of our seniors.  (Applause.)  And this will bring down costs of medication for millions of Americans. 
 
When President Biden and I ran for office, we promised that we would not raise taxes on families making less than $400,000 a year.  And we have kept that promise.
 
And speaking of promises — (applause) — drumroll — with your support, our administration has nominated the most diverse group of judges in the history of the United States — (applause) — including now Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson — (applause) — the first Black woman to be appointed to that court.  And I know Thurgood is looking down with an immense sense of pride. 
 
So all of that to say there’s a lot of work that has been done but a lot of work that needs to be done, consistent with our teachings and the spirit with which we live and love.  So we’ve had a lot of good success, but we have a long way to go. 
 
As I’ve said, these are unsettled times.  And today then, I ask on everyone here — I ask each one of us to continue to be driven by compassion and optimism.  Because there’s so much about what we have always stood for that has not been a fight against something, it has been a fight for something, fueled by our faith, fueled by optimism, and also fueled by empathy and enlightenment, driven by our love of country and a belief in the promise of our nation. 
 
So let us, people of faith, continue to defend our democracy, continue to defend our liberty and our freedoms.  Let us continue to fight to build a better future.  And let us continue to have faith in God, in our country, and in each other, because together we will continue to usher in the dawn.
 
Thank you.  May God bless you.  And may God bless America.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)
 
                         END            12:56 P.M. CDT

Source: The White House

On Wednesday, September 7, 2022, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Deputy National Security Advisor Mike Pyle met with Argentine Economy Minister Sergio Massa at the White House to discuss the Government of Argentina’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund, and to advance bilateral cooperation on a wide-ranging agenda including climate and energy, food security, critical minerals, and technology.
 
Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Pyle underscored the importance of Argentina’s engagement with the IMF as Argentina works toward a return to macroeconomic stability, economic growth, and opportunity for working families. Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Massa also reaffirmed joint commitments by President Biden and President Fernandez at the Summit of the Americas to help promote food security and access to energy for the world to address the global impacts of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

###

Source: The White House

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

12:55 P.M. EDT 
    
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Good afternoon, everybody.  Okay.
 
The Queen has been — the — I’m so sorry.  Good afternoon, everybody.  It’s been a long morning.
 
All right, let’s do this again.  The President has been briefed and will be updated throughout the day on the concerning news out of the United Kingdom about Queen Elizabeth’s health.  His and the First Lady’s thoughts are with the Queen and her family today. 
 
The President also conveyed to Prime Minister Truss during a previously scheduled video conference this morning that he and Dr. Biden are thinking of the Queen, her family, and the people of the United Kingdom. 
 
This morning, the President hosted the video conference with allies and partners to underscore international support for Ukraine, including through continued security and economic assistance, and the sustained imposition of costs on Russia to hold the Kremlin accountable for its aggression. 
 
They discussed Russia’s weaponization of energy and additional steps to secure sustainable, affordable energy supplies for Europe.  They committed to continued close consultation on this issue.
 
In a few — in a few — in about an hour or so, the President will give remarks on the new, updated COVID-19 vaccines with a simple, clear message: “Don’t wait.  Get a COVID shot this fall.” 
 
He’ll note that with these new, updated vaccines, we’re entering a new moment in our fight against COVID.  For most Americans who are fully vaccinated, our nation’s health experts are recommending that you get the updated COVID vaccine once a year. 
 
The President will also discuss our plan to ensure Americans get these new vaccines and are preparing for the fall and winter. 
 
First, by making these vaccines available for free and easy to get at tens of thousands of convenient locations. 
 
Second, we’re also doing our part by taking action.  While we’re constrained in what we can do with our limited remaining COVID re- — response funding, we’re acting to further increase access to tests and treatments, including by purchasing some more tests and launching a new pilot program to further expand testing. 
 
Third, the President will call on everyone to do their part, with specific calls to action for schools and businesses. 
 
Last, the President will continue to call on Congress to take — to take action on the administration’s request for additional COVID-19 funding so we can make important investments to support testing, long-COVID research, and the development of next-generation vaccines and research. 
 
So, here’s the bottom line: The President will underscore that we’ve come a long way in the last 19 months.  People are back to work, kids are back in school, and we can now prevent the most serious outcomes from COVID.  And if we all stay vigilant and keep doing our part, we can build on this progress and keep people safe, manage COVID, and minimize disruptions this fall and winter. 
 
Lastly, tomorrow, President Biden will travel to Licking County, Ohio, to deliver remarks at the groundbreaking of Intel’s new $20 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility. 
 
Intel committed this funding in anticipation of the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act.  The facility will be built by union labor, creating over 7,000 construction jobs and 3,000 full-time, producing, leading-edge CHIPS jobs as well. 

Thanks to the President’s economic plan, U.S. manufacturing is back.  Our economy has already added more than 680,000 manufacturing jobs since President Biden took office, which is more manufacturing jobs on average per month than any other President in the last 50 years. 
 
Just in the last few weeks, Micron announced it will invest fifty — $15 billion in a new memory chip manufacturing facility in Boise, Idaho, creating 17,000 jobs. 
 
GlobalFoundries and Qualcomm are partnering to invest $4.2 billion to manufacture chips in an upstate New York facility. 
 
Major global companies like Toyota and Honda are choosing America as the place to invest and build. 
 
When we make more in America, we strengthen our supply chains, bolster our economic and national security, and lower costs for Americans. 
 
The CHIPS and Science Act is a once-in-a-generation law that invests in America itself, and it’s a law that American people should be proud of. 
 
With that, go ahead, Aamer.  Good to see you. 
 
Q    Good to see you, too.  Does the White House support putting Senator Manchin’s permitting reform measure in the continuing resolution needed to fund the government?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Say — say that one more time.
 
Q    Sure.  Does the White House support putting Senator Manchin’s permitting reform measure into the CR?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we support the permitting reform bill, which will help us realize the benefits of the historic investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastruc- — Infrastructure Law as well.  We want to see it enacted.  We are working with Senator Schumer and Senator Manchin to find the best path forward. 
 
We think it’s important to meet the country’s clean energy goals and to reduce cost and to promote energy security.  Permitting always delays a new solar and new wind projects are among the longest in our — in our country.
 
So, right now, as you all know, we’ve seen gas prices moving downward at a record pace in — fastest pace in history — in our history.  The point of this legislation is to help ensure a long-term clean energy supply for this country.  And — and so, we’re going to continue to work with Senator Schumer on this.
 
Q    With the permitting reform, the White House believes it could have an effect on a downward trend with gas prices?
 
    MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, again, you know, we’ve done the work to see the prices of gas at the pump go down every day this summer — consecutive days, 86 days.  It’s at three hu- — $3.75 per gallon nationally.  And so, we’ve done the work to do that.
 
What we see this will help us do is ensure long-term clean energy supply for this country.  And so, this is — this is a reason why we think this is important. 
 
Q    And just lastly on that: Is there any concern –there’s obviously differences amongst Democrats on this — that this could sink a CR and lead to a government shutdown?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Meaning this particular —
 
Q    Yeah, this issue.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, the way that we see this is this is not the first time that we’re going through a process — a CR process.  We did it last year.  And we believe that it can happen again, that Congress can move forward and get the CR done.
 
Q    Thank you.  You’ve been referring to this new shot as the “updated COVID-19 vaccine.”  Can you explain a little bit more the decision to no longer be calling it just a booster?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, we — we have to remember we haven’t seen a vaccine — a new vaccine since December 2020.  Our health and medical experts made an independent determination that we now have new, updated vaccine, as you just said, to fight COVID.  It is the first time that we have seen this type of updated vaccine, like I said, since December of 2020.
 
And if you — and the message to folks that we are — we’re — we are providing is: If you’re 12 or older and it’s been at least two months since you last got a shot, you should get these new updated vaccines right away.  That’s the doctor’s advice.  And they made this decision independently.
 
Q    But you do still need to get the first original dose before you can get this shot.  The FDA, the CDC — they’re still referring to this as a booster.  So, I guess, why the discrepancy?  Are you concerned that may cause some confusion?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, I’m not going to get into, like, regulatory language on what to call this.  I’ll leave that to a booster or a vaccine.  We’ll just lay — I’m just laying out what the doctors and the experts have recommended.
 
This is, again, a new vaccine.  We haven’t seen a new vaccine since December of 2020.  What this vaccine does — it targets the Omicron variant, which is the dominant variant not just here, but globally.  And this is — this is good news.  This is a step forward.  And we’re going hear more from the President about this.
 
But we think this is, again, a good step forward.  We are in a place where COVID is now manageable.  We know what works.  We know what keeps us safe, what keeps us from not getting sick — is by getting vaccinated.
 
And right now, if you think about it, there’s more than 200 million Americans who are currently fully vaccinated.  That’s 77 percent of the population who are 12 and older.  And so, that’s — that’s an important way forward that the President has worked very hard since stepping into the administration to make sure that we had a comprehensive vaccine, you know, getting shots into arms operation.  And this is part of that.
 
Q    And just a logistical question.  You mentioned the President being briefed on the Queen’s health.  If she were to pass, should we expect the President would travel to any service? 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, we think it’s inappropriate to actually be talking about that at this time, so I don’t have anything to share on travel.
 
Again, you know, as I stated, the people of UK and the family — the Queen’s family are in the hearts of the President and Dr. Biden.  So, I’ll leave it there.
 
Q    Thank you, Karine.  Has the White House specifically inquired about the Queen’s health this morning?  And when was the last time President Biden actually spoke to the Queen?  Was it at the G7 in Cornwall, or have they had conversations after that?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So they — they last met during the President’s visit to the United Kingdom in June 2021 in Cornwall, as you just stated, when she welcomed the President and the First Lady to Windsor Castle. 
 
A few days before that, she also hosted the President and another G7 leaders at a reception in Cornwall, which is what — which is what you just stated. 
 
Yeah.  That was the last time that they saw each other.
 
Q    And has the White House specifically inquired about her health, or has —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I can tell you that the President has been briefed.  I don’t have any calls to preview at this time.  But he has been briefed on the situation.
 
Q    And a quick one on the tech meeting.  We saw the readout that landed a few minutes ago.  The White House held a listening session with senior administration officials on the harms caused by big tech.  And we are sort of just trying to understand, you know, why tech companies were not invited to participate in such a session and, you know, why did you decide to have such a meeting now.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, this is, as you know, the largest tech meeting — convening that we have had at the White House since the be- — since we have started in the last 19 months.
 
These — just a couple of things I want to say about this, because it’s really important.  These principles are the culmination of months of work by the administration and engagement with numerous stakeholders.  They also consist with work that the administration has been doing and will continue to do. 
 
So this is an important roundtable, as you’ve heard from the readout and as we’ve laid out.  Look, we are — you know, we’re looking forward to hearing any feedback from the tech companies.  And I’ll just leave it at that.
 
Q    Any plans to specifically act on the recommendations that came out?  I mean, there were —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have anything — I don’t have anything specific to add.  Look, again, the roundtable is the largest discussion about the harms of tech companies, as you just started in your question, held at the White House.  The President has long called for fundamental legislative reforms to address these issues, and we look forward to continuing that work with Congress to make bipartisan progress on these issues.
 
Again, the President also encourages federal agencies to use the tools they have to continue advancing these principles throughout their work, as well.  And we welcome any — any feedback from the tech companies.
 
Q    When the President conveyed his thoughts to Prime Minister Truss, did she offer any update on the Queen’s condition or the Queen’s health, based on what she knows?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have anything more to share from — from what I just stated about him having a conversation or speaking to her briefly during this call this morning.
 
Q    Did the President express any concerns over the Queen’s health after meeting with her, as he did last summer?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Concerns meaning —
 
Q    Concerns about her health and how she was doing.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  That is not information that I have. 
 
Look, you know, I’ll just reiterate this because I think this is important, which is our countries and people have always had a — or shared a special relationship.  And our thoughts are – again, are with the people of the United Kingdom, with the Queen and her family.  And she, again, as the President has stated — you know, they are in the hearts of both the President and Dr. Biden. 
 
I don’t have more to share on that.
 
Q    Thank you.
 
Q    Do you have any update on when the last time the President has spoken to the Queen?  Was that when they met, as Kaitlan just referenced?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yep.
 
Q    Or have they —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It was when they met in June of 2021, is the last time they spoke and saw each other.
 
Q    And then, just on COVID, there’s a projection that the administration could run out of tests in another — if there’s another major COVID wave.  I’m wondering if there’s any updates on whether or not the White House or the administration plans to buy more tests. 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, we’ve been very clear we need Congress to pass the CR.  We have made some cuts here and there to the — to our fall plan and — and in order to move forward with this COVID vaccine that we’re talking about, that the President is going to announce today.  We — we have enough for the fall but not for the winter.

And we have been very clear that in order to — to not — to not be left behind, to continue moving in our progress, we need Congress to fund the COVID — you know, the COVID response funds that we have asked for — the $22 billion.

So we’re going to continue to work with Congress.  We’re going to continue to have those conversations — those bipartisan conversations to move that — that conversation forward on getting that CR done.

And so that is a priority for this administration.  We’ve been talking about that for months now.  There’s nothing new there.  And in order to continue with the testing, in order to continue with these new vaccines that are very important, that is a gamechanger in how we’re approaching managing COVID, we need those funds.

Q    Logistically, would the President be given any sort of heads up if the Queen does pass?  Or would he find out, kind of, when Buckingham Palace releases a statement?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Again, I mean, we just feel — we just feel having those conversations at that time is inappropriate.  Clearly, if anything is to share, we will share that.  But again, we’re thinking about their family.  They’re in our hearts.  And just not going to get ahead of that at this time.

Q    And then, on the President’s call with allies, in the readout they mentioned that they talked about Russia’s weaponization of energy and the need to, you know, coordinate on sustainable and affordable energy.  Is the President concerned that gas prices — you mentioned that they’re coming down.  Is he concerned about them increasing again?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  In — here in the U.S.?  I mean, the President is doing everything that he can to make sure that we lower the costs for the American people.  This has been a priority for him.  And he took really bold actions to see the trend that we have seen — been seeing with gas prices, right?  Eighty-six days they’ve been trending down.  And so we’re encouraged by that.

It’s been — it’s been — it’s been, you know, work that, again, his leadership from the Strategic Petroleum and making sure that we tap those — that historic tapping of the Strategic Petroleum of 1 million a day for — for the last several months, that has helped.  It’s the ethanol 15 that he made a decision on to make that available during the summer, which is not a regular time to make that available.

He took bold actions, and now we’re seeing — we’re seeing that effect.

So, look, we’re going to continue to take — to look at all options.  We’re going to continue to make sure we keep costs down for — for the American people, including at the pump.

Q    And then you mentioned the President is going to Ohio tomorrow for this groundbreaking.  Is this going to be something that we’re going to see throughout the midterms — going to these kinds of ribbon-cutting ceremonies, groundbreakings?  I mean, is that kind of the focus?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, I can’t talk about the midterms from here.  I can’t talk anything political from — from where I stand and in this position.

We put out a memo in August laying out what — what the next several weeks would look like.  We had a string of successes, as you know: the Inflation Reduction Act, which is going to lower cost for Americans as it — as it relates to healthcare, as it relates to making sure prescription drugs are lowered for our seniors, as it relates to investment in dealing with our climate crisis, which is all incredibly important.   CHIPS Act — as you know, that’s what he’s going to be focusing on tomorrow.

And so we’re going to go out there.  We’re going to have those conversations with the American people.  Not just us — Cabinet Secretaries; you’re going to see congressional members out there, Democrats who — who are going to make sure that the American people know the work that this President and Democrats have done in Congress on behalf of the American people.

And so we’re going to do that these next several weeks.  The President is going to go to Ohio.  He’s going to go to other states in the next couple of weeks.  And this is important.  This is important because as we talk about the gas prices, the President has been very clear with his — one of his priorities as it comes to the economy, as it relates to the economy is to lower costs for the American people.  And so we’re going to have those conversations across the country.

Go ahead.

Q    Does the President have any intention to go to the British Embassy to sign any book today, though she’s — since we know that she’s ill, to express his best wishes to the people of that country?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t — I don’t have any changes to his — his schedule to announce.

Q    Is that under consideration?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Nothing — nothing to — to — on his schedule today that’s changed at this time that I have to report from here.

Q    Understood.
 
Let me ask you about an announcement that was made by another news outlet this week.  It relates to what the Republicans are calling the “Commitment to America.”  Axios reporting that Kevin McCarthy is going to unveil this economic agenda later this month in Pittsburgh.  Among the items it dictates is a desire to put an end to Build Back Better.  Presumably, that refers to the Inflation Reduction Act.

What’s the President’s view on that, given it’s being celebrated by Democrats as his — one of his signature achievements?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, it says everything that one of the first acts that Kevin McCarthy does — his first act when it deals with the economy and dealing with how do we make — give a little breathing room to the American people is wanting to get rid of the Inflation Reduction Act, which we know — which we know the Inflation Reduction Act is going to help lower costs for our seniors.

It is a — it is a big win for the American people when you think about beating Big Pharma, something that Democrats and congressional members have been trying to do for decades, beating a special interest group that has spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to make sure that we do not do that — lower cost for our seniors — and also make a real effort in energy costs and climate change — lowering those costs as well.

So the fact that that’s the thing, that’s what Kevin McCarthy wants to do, that tells you everything that you know — that we need to know: that they are all for tax giveaways.  And — and it’s a clear, clear message that they are sending to the American people.

Let’s not forget: Medicare is popular with the American people.  What we’re trying to do is popular with the American people.  Protecting Social Security, which is something they have put on the chopping — chopping blocks as well, that is very popular with the American people.

So I think it says — it says all that we need to know about Kevin McCarthy’s agenda and how it does not stand for the American people.

Q    Last question, very quickly: President Obama, in his last visit to the White House, turned to reporters and delivered his message to Democrats on what he thought they needed to do ahead of the midterms.  There were no comments from him publicly to the reporters that were in the room. 
 
What did he tell the President yesterday about what he thinks needs to be done for Democrats, given this uphill climb they still face even though the polls show it’s an increasingly close midterm ahead?  What did he say to the President that needs to be done to help sort of turn that tide?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, again, I can’t talk about the midterms or any political election from this podium —

Q    About achievements.  We don’t have to talk about the midterms.  What did he say he needs to do better?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And what I can say is what I reiterated earlier to one of your colleagues, which is: We are going to talk about the successes that we have been able to do in the last 19 months for the American people.  And that is building an economy that works for all, doesn’t leave anybody behind; make sure that we build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out. 
 
That’s what you’ve seen with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  That’s what you’ve seen with the American Rescue Plan.  That’s what you’ve seen with the CHIPS Act — CHIPS Act — CHIPS and Science Act.

That’s what you see with — again, with the work that this administration, along with Congress — Democrats in Congress have been able to do.

We have a lot of things that we can talk about directly with the American people.  And that’s what we’re going to do. 

The President is going to go to Ohio.  They’re going to — we’re going to go to Intel.  Intel made this investment in manufacturing jobs investment because of the CHIPS and Science Act, because of the commitment that we’re making to manufacturing jobs.

Q    Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  And so that’s going to continue to be our focus.

Go ahead.

Q    Yes, on the Queen’s condition, who is briefing the White House about how she’s doing?  Are you hearing from the Prime Minister?  Are you hearing from Buckingham Palace?  How are you getting your information?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I’m not going to go into details or even private conversation that the President has had on — on the updates that he’s getting on the Queen.  All I can say is that he’s been briefed.  And he has sent — he has been very clear on the message through all of you — sharing with all of you the message that he has to the Queen, her family, and also the people of the United Kingdom.
 
Q    On COVID, there’s a report today that the White House might be looking to wind down the COVID Response Team sometime next year.  Is that in consideration?  What are — what’s the current thinking about — 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have anything to share on that.  Right now, we’re still trying to make sure that we — we continue the success that we have seen with the work that the President has done on COVID.
 
Go ahead.
 
Q    Thank you.  I have a question about the President meeting with the — President Xi of China at G20.  The President this week mentioned that he will see him if President Xi is attending G20.  Is this based on some communication between two governments?  Or he said — 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Can you sa- — I’m sorry, can you say that again?
 
Q    The meeting between President Biden and President Xi of China. 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I don’t have an — I don’t have anything to share on that. 
 
Q    He mentioned this week that he will see President Xi at the G20 if — if he attends.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I am not going to get ahead of our plans, of our trip at this time — or a trip at this time.  We just — I’m not going to confirm anything from — from here, from you.
 
Go ahead.  Way in the back.
 
Q    Thanks, Karine.  Yeah, you’ve talked about trying to get costs down.  A new Gallup poll shows that 24 percent of Americans are spending less; they’ve changed their spending habits.  Seventeen percent are driving less because of inflation.  Seventeen percent traveled less or canceled vacations. 
 
The President has been to his beach house six times.  He went on vacation in North and South Carolina.  Is he considering any spending cuts for the administration or for himself personally because of inflation?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Wait, can you say that part again?
 
Q    Yeah.  So, the President is — 17 percent of Americans have — according to this Gallup poll, have canceled vacations or traveled less.  The President has been to his beach house six times this year.  He has been in North and South Carolina on vacation. 
 
Has the President himself considered personally reducing his spending because of inflation, or had the administration reduced spending because of inflation?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So can I — I’ll say this: The times that the President has gone to Delaware, not including — and we were very clear that when he went to South Carolina in August and Rehoboth, he was going to go spend time with his family, which every President does.  That is not unusual.  That is not uncommon to do.  And the President has a right to spend time with his family, just like every other American across the country.  And so, that was that piece of — of what ha- — what occurred in August. 
 
As it relates to trips that he’s made to Delaware: Look, the way we see that is the President could be President anywhere.  He can — he can work from the Residence.  He can work from the Oval Office.  He can work from Delaware. 
 
And that is — that is the work — that is what he’s able to do as President of the United States. 
 
Look, when it comes to inflation, the President has been very clear on this.  When it comes to his economic plan and dealing with inflation, he’s doing everything that he can to make sure that we lower costs.  That’s why the gas prices going down the last 86 days is a step forward.  Bringing it down under $4, an average of $3.75, is a step forward, because the decline that we have seen is indeed historic.  We haven’t seen that decline in over a decade. 
 
That is why it’s so important that we — we pass the Inflation Reduction Act.  That is going to change people’s lives.  It is a gamechanger if you think about senior citizens who are paying thousand doll- — thousands of dollars a month — $2- to $3,000 a month on prescription drugs.  Now it’s going to be capped at $2,000 a year.  Those are the things that’s actually very popular with — with the American people.
 
And guess what?  Republicans didn’t vote for that.  And Republicans didn’t support that.  Matter of fact, Republicans — what they have put forward is putting Medicare and Social Security on the chopping blocks. 
 
And so, the President is going to continue to be zero-focused on lowering costs for the American people, and that’s what you’ve seen. 
 
I’m going to move on. 
 
(Cross-talk by reporters.)
 
We actually have about 10 minutes left.
 
Go ahead.
 
Q    Can I actually piggy back, though —
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Yeah.
 
Q    — Karine, on that?
 
Just to confirm, though, are there any spending plan cuts, either personally that the President is going to make or the White House?  Because, you know, as my colleague mentioned, Americans are making some of those cuts. And I just wanted to get clarity on whether or not that’s happened?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  We understand.  And we have been very clear — and the President has said this — that we understand what the American people are going through.  And I want to be —
 
Q    But no plans for cuts, you’re saying?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  What — what I — I want to be very clear that we understand that there are American people who are still dealing with high costs.  And we understand that they have those difficult conversations around the kitchen table about how they’re going to spend — spend their paycheck.
 
But we also have to understand is: What the President has been able to do with the economy — and we — we get it.  There’s still more work to do.  With the American Rescue Plan, with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, with the Inflation Reduction Act, with CHIPS — are all part of a plan to make sure we don’t leave anybody behind, we bring down costs. He’s created more than 10 million jo- — 10 million jobs since — since he — he’s walked into office.  We’re going to talk about COVID. 
 
If it wasn’t for the comprehensive plan that the President had put forward about — with COVID, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are right now, with more than 200 million people who are fully vaccinated. 
 
I don’t have anything else to share on that.  What I can say is the President has the ability to work from anywhere.  That is the President’s — one of the President’s obligations that he has.  Wherever he goes, he’s able to work.  He has a team to do that. 
 
And again, when it comes to high costs, when it comes to tough decisions that the American people make, he gets that and he’s going to continue to do the work that we have been doing to bring costs down.
 
Q    Can I ask you a quick question on an unrelated topic?  The Unity Summit next week.  Can you provide any details on what exactly it is or just any additional context on that?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, we’ll have more information for you early — earlier in the week.  I don’t have any details at this time. 
 
I’m going to keep going.  Go ahead.
 
Q    Thank you, Karine.  I will say, I did fill up the tank at the Biden service area the other day, and the gas prices were a bit lower. 
 
But regarding next week, the President is going to Detroit, to the auto show.  Secretary Yellen has got a speech at a Ford plant in, I think, about a half an hour from now. 
 
Is there anything you can preview about the President’s trip to Detroit yet, or anything further on what Secretary Yellen is doing? 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as to what Secretary Yellen is doing, I would refer you to the Department of Treasury. 
 
I’ll give you a little bit on next week — the Detroit visit.  President Biden’s economic plan has fueled an electric vehicle manufacturing boom in America, and you can expect him to talk about that and more in Detroit. 
 
Under President Biden, the private sector has invested over $100 billion to make more electric cars and their parts in America, create jobs for our autoworkers, and strengthen our domestic supply chains. 
 
And just weeks after President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, major companies have already announced billions of additional dollars in new investments to boost American clean energy manufacturing and create good-paying jobs.
 
And that’s what he’s going to look — that’s what Detroit is going to look like. 
 
Q    And are you concerned about the possibility that the $7,500 tax credits may not be available for a lot of these EVs?  There’s been some reporting that the parts just won’t be from the United States, that the — the or- — the country-of-origin situation won’t be sufficient for those.
 
Is the White House concerned and trying to figure out a way to make sure that people can actually get those tax credits to buy those EVs?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So we’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that — that that part of the Inflation Reduction Act, as it comes to the climate change, is implemented in a way that the — the American people sees that direct effect.  It is a priority for us. 
 
We just announced — we announced John Podesta, who’s going to be leading that effort. 
 
As we have done with the American Rescue Plan, as we have done with the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, we’re going to make sure that what we pass — these laws that we pass to improve the Americans lives are — are implemented in a way that has a real effect and that the American people truly feel the cost.
 
Q    Thank you, Karine.  I have two questions.  The first is on Queen Elizabeth.  She has served for nearly a third of American history.  So how does President Biden view this special relationship between the U.S. and the UK if there were to be a transition in the British monarchy?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, don’t want to — you know, we feel like it’s inappropriate to talk about hypotheticals here.  We — what we — what I will say about the relationship with the — with the United Kingdom, as the President said in celebration of Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, which was not too long ago, under — and this is quote: Under her “reign, the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States has grown stronger and closer than ever.”
 
The President, as you all know, has known the Queen for over three decades.  He’s met — he’s met her personally three times — once was in June of 2021 — over the years, including, as I said, twice last year. 
 
Again, we see this relationship is stronger — grows stronger every — grows stronger and closer.  And again, our hearts, the President’s — as he said, our thoughts and our hearts are with the Queen, her family, and also the people of the United Kingdom.
 
Q    They met three times, as you just indicated.  And I’m wondering if you have any — anything to add about what the President has shared on the Queen’s views of the U.S. and the world as it stands right now.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I’m not going to get into private conversations that they have had.  I can tell you, again, they’ve met at least three — they’ve met three times in the past few decades.  And, again, I, you know, don’t want to get ahead of anything here.  We think it’s inappropriate to talk about any travel or any thoughts on that.  But again, you know, we’ve made it very clear that they are in our hearts, they are in our thoughts.  And that’s where we are today with this.  We’ll have more.
 
Q    And a quick clarification on the technology meeting that took place today.  How did the White House select Mozilla and Sonos to represent the views, more broadly, of the entire industry?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, you know, I think the way that we see what is — the roundtable today — it is, again, the largest roundtable that we have seen from this administration to deal with tech, and we think it’s an important conversation to be had.
 
Again, we are — we look forward to hear the feedback from tech companies on what they think about what we’re working through and moving forward.  But again, I’m not going to get ahead of that process.  But we think it’s important. 
 
This is a — you know, this is — the actions that the President has taken on tech and the conversations that we’ve had has been a priority for this President.  And — and we’re just — I think what you should take out from today, or take away from today, is that, you know, the President is going to and has long called for fundamental legislative reforms to address real issues.  And so we’re going to continue to do that.
 
Q    Thanks, Karine.  Why do you guys keep saying the Inflation Reduction Act is reducing prices?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Because in the Inflation Reduction Act, when you look at Medicare, when you look at what it’s going to be able to provide — allow Medicare to negotiate lowering costs for seniors — that is reducing costs.  When you think about seniors who are paying — again, I just stated this — $2,000, $3,000 a month, and it’s going to now cap that at $2,000 a year — that is lowering costs.
 
Q    But a majority of Americans now say that price increases are causing them financial hardship that is more than at the start of the year.  So where’s the inflation reduction for everything else?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So here’s the thing: The Inflation Reduction Act —
 
Q    Karine —
 
Q    Karine, the Queen has died.
 
Q    The Queen died.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Okay, all right.  Okay.  So that’s been confirmed?
 
Q    The Royal Family has tweeted.
 
Q    Yeah.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as I said earlier, you know, our hearts and our thoughts go to the family members of the Queen, goes to the people of United Kingdom.
 
I don’t want to get ahead of what the President is going to say.  I want him to — from you all to hear from him first, and so I don’t want to get ahead of that.
 
But — and I said this earlier: Our relationship with the people of the United Kingdom — and this is something that the President has said himself — has grown stronger and stronger.  And it is one of our — the United Kingdom is one of our closest allies. 
 
And, again, our hearts go to the people of the United Kingdom, to the Queen, and to her family. 
 
I’m just not going to go get ahead of the President.
 
And with that, I’ll see you guys on Monday.  Thank you.
 
1:35 P.M. EDT

Source: The White House

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch. She defined an era.

In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her. An enduring admiration for Queen Elizabeth II united people across the Commonwealth. The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.

She was the first British monarch to whom people all around the world could feel a personal and immediate connection—whether they heard her on the radio as a young princess speaking to the children of the United Kingdom, or gathered around their televisions for her coronation, or watched her final Christmas speech or her Platinum Jubilee on their phones. And she, in turn, dedicated her whole life to their service.

Supported by her beloved Prince Philip for 73 years, Queen Elizabeth II led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty, and the incomparable power of her example. She endured the dangers and deprivations of a world war alongside the British people and rallied them during the devastation of a global pandemic to look to better days ahead. Through her dedication to her patronages and charities, she supported causes that uplifted people and expanded opportunity. By showing friendship and respect to newly independent nations around the world, she elevated the cause of liberty and fostered enduring bonds that helped strengthen the Commonwealth, which she loved so deeply, into a community to promote peace and shared values.

Queen Elizabeth II was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She helped make our relationship special.

We first met the Queen in 1982, traveling to the UK as part of a Senate delegation. And we were honored that she extended her hospitality to us in June 2021 during our first overseas trip as President and First Lady, where she charmed us with her wit, moved us with her kindness, and generously shared with us her wisdom. All told, she met 14 American presidents. She helped Americans commemorate both the anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the bicentennial of our independence. And she stood in solidarity with the United States during our darkest days after 9/11, when she poignantly reminded us that “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing a close friendship with The King and The Queen Consort. Today, the thoughts and prayers of people all across the United States are with the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in their grief. We send our deepest condolences to the Royal Family, who are not only mourning their Queen, but their dear mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world.

###

Source: The White House

    Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was more than a monarch.  She defined an era.

    In a world of constant change, she was a steadying presence and a source of comfort and pride for generations of Britons, including many who have never known their country without her.  Queen Elizabeth II led always with grace, an unwavering commitment to duty, and the incomparable power of her example.  She was a stateswoman of unmatched dignity and constancy who deepened the bedrock Alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States.  She helped make our relationship special.  The seven decades of her history-making reign bore witness to an age of unprecedented human advancement and the forward march of human dignity.  Her legacy will loom large in the pages of British history, and in the story of our world. 

   As a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment.  I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

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

                               JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Source: The White House

Although tech platforms can help keep us connected, create a vibrant marketplace of ideas, and open up new opportunities for bringing products and services to market, they can also divide us and wreak serious real-world harms. The rise of tech platforms has introduced new and difficult challenges, from the tragic acts of violence linked to toxic online cultures, to deteriorating mental health and wellbeing, to basic rights of Americans and communities worldwide suffering from the rise of tech platforms big and small.

Today, the White House convened a listening session with experts and practitioners on the harms that tech platforms cause and the need for greater accountability. In the meeting, experts and practitioners identified concerns in six key areas: competition; privacy; youth mental health; misinformation and disinformation; illegal and abusive conduct, including sexual exploitation; and algorithmic discrimination and lack of transparency.

One participant explained the effects of anti-competitive conduct by large platforms on small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs, including restrictions that large platforms place on how their products operate and potential innovation. Another participant highlighted that large platforms can use their market power to engage in rent-seeking, which can influence consumer prices.

Several participants raised concerns about the rampant collection of vast troves of personal data by tech platforms. Some experts tied this to problems of misinformation and disinformation on platforms, explaining that social media platforms maximize “user engagement” for profit by using personal data to display content tailored to keep users’ attention—content that is often sensational, extreme, and polarizing. Other participants sounded the alarm about risks for reproductive rights and individual safety associated with companies collecting sensitive personal information, from where their users are physically located to their medical histories and choices. Another participant explained why mere self-help technological protections for privacy are insufficient. And participants highlighted the risks to public safety that can stem from information recommended by platforms that promotes radicalization, mobilization, and incitement to violence.

Multiple experts explained that technology now plays a central role in access to critical opportunities like job openings, home sales, and credit offers, but that too often companies’ algorithms display these opportunities unequally or discriminatorily target some communities with predatory products. The experts also explained that that lack of transparency means that the algorithms cannot be scrutinized by anyone outside the platforms themselves, creating a barrier to meaningful accountability.

One expert explained the risks of social media use for the health and wellbeing of young people, explaining that while for some, technology provides benefits of social connection, there are also significant adverse clinical effects of prolonged social media use on many children and teens’ mental health, as well as concerns about the amount of data collected from apps used by children, and the need for better guardrails to protect children’s privacy and prevent addictive use and exposure to detrimental content. Experts also highlighted the magnitude of illegal and abusive conduct hosted or disseminated by platforms, but for which they are currently shielded from being held liable and lack adequate incentive to reasonably address, such as child sexual exploitation, cyberstalking, and the non-consensual distribution of intimate images of adults.

The White House officials closed the meeting by thanking the experts and practitioners for sharing their concerns. They explained that the Administration will continue to work to address the harms caused by a lack of sufficient accountability for technology platforms. They further stated that they will continue working with Congress and stakeholders to make bipartisan progress on these issues, and that President Biden has long called for fundamental legislative reforms to address these issues.

Attendees at today’s meeting included:

• Bruce Reed, Assistant to the President & Deputy Chief of Staff
• Susan Rice, Assistant to the President & Domestic Policy Advisor
• Brian Deese, Assistant to the President & National Economic Council Director
• Louisa Terrell, Assistant to the President & Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs
• Jennifer Klein, Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of the Gender Policy Council
• Alondra Nelson, Deputy Assistant to the President & Head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Bharat Ramamurti, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Economic Council Director
• Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology
• Tarun Chhabra, Special Assistant to the President & Senior Director for Technology and National Security
• Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin, Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Communications and Media
• Danielle Citron, Vice President, Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, and Jefferson Scholars Foundation Schenck Distinguished Professor in Law Caddell and Chapman Professor of Law, University of Virginia School of Law
• Alexandra Reeve Givens, President and CEO, Center for Democracy and Technology
• Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Mitchell Baker, CEO of the Mozilla Corporation and Chairwoman of the Mozilla Foundation
• Karl Racine, Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• Patrick Spence, Chief Executive Officer, Sonos

Principles for Enhancing Competition and Tech Platform Accountability

With the event, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the following core principles for reform:

1. Promote competition in the technology sector. The American information technology sector has long been an engine of innovation and growth, and the U.S. has led the world in the development of the Internet economy. Today, however, a small number of dominant Internet platforms use their power to exclude market entrants, to engage in rent-seeking, and to gather intimate personal information that they can use for their own advantage. We need clear rules of the road to ensure small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs can compete on a level playing field, which will promote innovation for American consumers and ensure continued U.S. leadership in global technology. We are encouraged to see bipartisan interest in Congress in passing legislation to address the power of tech platforms through antitrust legislation.
2. Provide robust federal protections for Americans’ privacy. There should be clear limits on the ability to collect, use, transfer, and maintain our personal data, including limits on targeted advertising. These limits should put the burden on platforms to minimize how much information they collect, rather than burdening Americans with reading fine print. We especially need strong protections for particularly sensitive data such as geolocation and health information, including information related to reproductive health. We are encouraged to see bipartisan interest in Congress in passing legislation to protect privacy.
3. Protect our kids by putting in place even stronger privacy and online protections for them, including prioritizing safety by design standards and practices for online platforms, products, and services. Children, adolescents, and teens are especially vulnerable to harm. Platforms and other interactive digital service providers should be required to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of young people above profit and revenue in their product design, including by restricting excessive data collection and targeted advertising to young people.
4. Remove special legal protections for large tech platforms. Tech platforms currently have special legal protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that broadly shield them from liability even when they host or disseminate illegal, violent conduct or materials. The President has long called for fundamental reforms to Section 230.
5. Increase transparency about platform’s algorithms and content moderation decisions.  Despite their central role in American life, tech platforms are notoriously opaque. Their decisions about what content to display to a given user and when and how to remove content from their sites affect Americans’ lives and American society in profound ways. However, platforms are failing to provide sufficient transparency to allow the public and researchers to understand how and why such decisions are made, their potential effects on users, and the very real dangers these decisions may pose.
6. Stop discriminatory algorithmic decision-making. We need strong protections to ensure algorithms do not discriminate against protected groups, such as by failing to share key opportunities equally, by discriminatorily exposing vulnerable communities to risky products, or through persistent surveillance.

###

Source: The White House

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke by video conference today with Allies and partners to underscore continued international support for Ukraine, including through the ongoing provision of security and economic assistance and the sustained imposition of costs on Russia to hold the Kremlin accountable for its aggression.  The leaders also discussed Russia’s weaponization of energy and the need for further coordination to secure sustainable and affordable energy supplies for Europe.
 
President Biden also conveyed to Prime Minister Truss that he was following reports about Queen Elizabeth’s health and that he and the First Lady are keeping the Queen and her family in their thoughts.
 
Joining President Biden on the call were Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, Chancellor Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Draghi of Italy, Prime Minister Kishida of Japan, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, President Iohannis of Romania, President Duda of Poland, Prime Minister Truss of the United Kingdom, and representatives from France and the European Union.

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Source: The White House

Today, the Biden Administration is announcing its plan to get Americans their updated COVID-19 vaccine shot this fall, to ensure that the nation continues to effectively manage COVID-19 and minimize its disruptions, and to stay prepared for whatever may come.

This plan builds on the Administration’s work over the past 19 months to make COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, tests, masks, and other critical tools widely available to the American people. As the first nation in the world with updated vaccines that target the strain of Omicron that is dominant in the U.S. and around the world, we have a new, powerful tool to prevent serious illness and death, keep businesses and schools open, and get back to our more normal routines.

This summer, we showed that we know how to manage fluctuations in COVID-19 and move forward safely. In fact, even as the BA.5 subvariant of Omicron drove a rise in infections, the U.S. experienced far lower rates of hospitalization and death than in previous surges. Today, daily COVID-19 deaths are down nearly 90 percent since the President took office, and when properly used, the tools we now have can prevent nearly all COVID-19 deaths.

As we head into the fall, we know that there is a potential for an increase in infections, in part due to increased waning of immunity from vaccines and prior infection. Additionally, as the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors, contagious viruses like COVID-19 can spread more easily. And, as we saw last fall with the emergence of Omicron, we must continue to stay prepared for the possibility of a potential new variant of concern.

The Administration’s plan to manage COVID-19 this fall focuses on making sure that Americans continue to have easy and equitable access to lifesaving tools, particularly the updated COVID-19 vaccines, and encouraging Americans to use them. Its success relies on all Americans—state and local leaders, health care providers, employers, educators, community- and faith-based organizations, and individuals—doing their part and taking commonsense actions to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities.

The Administration’s plan includes:

1. Getting Americans the best available protection through free and easy access to new, updated COVID-19 vaccines.Following actions last week by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we are launching a new, updated COVID-19 vaccine this week. The new vaccines provide the strongest available protection from the Omicron strain of the COVID virus, which did not exist when the original vaccine was developed. As the virus continues to change, we will now be able to update our vaccines annually to target the dominant variant. Everyone age 12 years and older is eligible for these updated vaccines at least two months after their primary series or their most recent booster. Given the potential for cases to increase in the fall and winter, it is critical that Americans get a new, updated COVID-19 vaccine to stay protected. The Administration is launching a comprehensive effort to make sure that these vaccines are free, widely available, and easy to access for all Americans.

• Offering new, updated COVID-19 vaccines for free at tens of thousands of trusted locations, with convenient appointment and walk-in hours: The Administration has secured over 170 million doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccines, which will be made available to the American people for free at tens of thousands of convenient locations nationwide, including pharmacies, doctor’s offices, health centers, and state and local health departments. Americans can visit Vaccines.gov to find locations with the new, updated vaccines near them—with more locations and appointments becoming available in the coming days and weeks. After pre-ordered doses are delivered, over 90 percent of Americans will have a location with free, updated COVID-19 vaccines within 5 miles of where they live. The Administration is working with providers to ensure that vaccinations are offered at convenient hours for working families, including on the weekends and in the evenings, and through walk-in appointments. These efforts will help to ensure that the public can get boosted in trusted locations and at times that work best for them.
  • Helping people get their COVID-19 shot and flu shot at the same time in one place: Americans can elect to get their annual flu shot at the same time as their updated COVID-19 vaccine. For Americans who want to get their updated COVID-19 shot and their annual flu shot at the same time, the Administration is working with providers to be able to offer both vaccines at many locations, so Americans can easily and efficiently get the protection that they need for the fall and winter.
  • Launching new community vaccination centers where needed: The Administration remains ready to help jurisdictions interested in standing up new community vaccination centers increase access to the updated COVID-19 vaccines. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will continue to offer reimbursement for 90 percent of the eligible costs of setting up vaccination sites—from procuring equipment to offering translation and transportation services to communities.

• Focusing on protecting those most at-risk: The Administration is launching a targeted campaign to get highest-risk Americans—including older Americans and immunocompromised individuals—their updated COVID-19 vaccine shot as quickly as possible.
  • In the coming weeks, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will reach out to the more than 16 million people who receive Medicare emails to share information on these updated vaccines, including when and how to get them. CMS will also add a message on the updated COVID-19 shots to the 1-800-MEDICARE line, reaching approximately 2 million people each month. The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will help older adults find information about where and how to get boosted through the Eldercare Locator, including connecting individuals who face barriers to leaving their homes with local services. The Administration will also continue to provide moderately or severely immunocompromised individuals the support they need to live their lives safely. This includes providing clear information on how to access the updated COVID-19 vaccines and further expanding access to and awareness of effective pre-exposure prophylactics such as Evusheld to supplement vaccine protection.
  • The Administration will work with long-term care and other congregate settings serving older Americans and people with disabilities to ensure that we are protecting those most at risk with these updated vaccines. CMS will offer resources to thousands of nursing homes so that they have tools to help get residents and staff vaccinated, including: helping schedule on-site vaccination clinics; meeting directly with nursing home administrators to help make a plan to get their staff and residents boosted; and offering office hours with technical assistance and support. ACL will provide information to residents of long-term care facilities and their families about the benefits of updated vaccines.
  • ACL’s Disability Information and Assistance Line (DIAL) will help people with disabilities find vaccination locations offering the updated vaccine, make appointments, and get connected to resources to overcome barriers to getting vaccinated, including transportation. ACL will also continue to work with state and local disability and aging organizations to use the remaining grant funding they were awarded last year to support vaccine access for people with disabilities and older adults.  

• Empowering people with facts and answers to their questions: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching a comprehensive public education campaign that will leverage deep relationships with national and local organizations and will include paid media to meet people where they are with facts and answers to their questions.
  • Engaging community organizations: Building on the successful efforts that have gotten over 600 million shots in arms since January 2021, HHS will engage national, regional, and local community-based organizations to reach people with trusted information on the new, updated COVID-19 vaccines. This continued collaboration will help meet people where they are, and foster conversations with trusted members of their communities. Activities in September include:
    • Local chapters of the National Parent Teacher Association hosting “Shots to Go” vaccination clinics throughout the month.
    • Organizations with strong reach among racial and ethnic minority communities—including the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the Cobb Institute, and the National Hispanic Pastor Alliance—hosting community health expos and vaccine drives in cities.
    • Faith-based groups, such as the Women’s Missionary Society Foundation, hosting a series of vaccine events at AME Churches in several states.
    • Groups with strong reach across rural communities, such as Healthy Trucking of America, hosting pop-up clinics.
  • Paid media: HHS’s We Can Do This Campaign will launch a paid media campaign aimed at increasing COVID-19 vaccination, with a focus on those over age 50, as well as Black, Hispanic, rural, Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native audiences through TV, radio, digital and print outlets

2. Ensuring that Americans continue to have easy access to COVID-19 testing and treatments to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and to keep people out of the hospital. COVID-19 tests and treatments—which the Administration has made widely available and easy to access—have played an essential role in getting schools and businesses open again, reducing serious illness, and minimizing disruption to daily life. These tools will continue to be critical as we head into the fall. While the lack of additional COVID-19 funding from Congress puts constraints on what we are able to do, the Administration will do everything in its power to ensure that tests and treatments remain widely available and easy to access, and will encourage Americans to use them.

• Purchasing more at-home COVID-19 tests for the nation’s stockpile and bolstering the manufacturing of tests made in America:The Administration is acting, within its limited funding, to increase the supply of at-home COVID-19 tests in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) by purchasing over 100 million additional at-home, rapid tests from domestic manufacturers. While insufficient to adequately replenish our existing stockpile of at-home tests, this procurement will help meet some testing needs in the months ahead and will put us in a better position to manage a potential increase in testing demand this fall and winter. And, it will further the Administration’s goal of mobilizing and strengthening the domestic testing manufacturing industrial base.

• Advancing equitable access to COVID-19 treatments, including through additional Test to Treat sites:The Administration will work to expand the Test to Treat footprint beyond the 2,800 current Test to Treat sites, including more mobile and telehealth-based models that will meet people where they are and reduce barriers to access for highest-risk individuals. As part of this effort, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx^®) Tech program and ASPR are launching a new telehealth Test to Treat pilot program that will partner with state, local, Tribal, and/or territorial health departments to serve as many as 15 rural and high-risk communities. This pilot will allow individuals in vulnerable communities to receive home-delivery of at-home tests, use telehealth to consult a clinician without having to leave home, receive a prescription for COVID-19 treatment when appropriate, and have the medications delivered to their home, all at no cost to the individual.

• Investing in testing innovations for at-home tests accessible to people with disabilities, and for next-generation, high-performance COVID-19 rapid tests:The NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering is launching two key initiatives as part of its RADx Fast Track Program to ensure equitable access to at-home tests. The first program will accelerate the development of at-home diagnostic technologies that will provide improved accessibility and ease-of-use for populations with disabilities. The second is to accelerate the development of next-generation COVID-19 diagnostic technologies with improved performance. These investments will ensure that our nation’s testing and diagnostic capabilities can continue to stay ahead of the virus and will help provide additional access to testing for individuals with disabilities.

3. Calling on all Americans to use every tool at their disposal to keep communities safe and schools and businesses open.We now have more tools than ever before to protect and build on the progress we have made, and these tools are widely available—but we must continue to use them this fall. To keep America moving forward safely, the Administration is once again calling on all Americans—including private sector and education leaders—to do their part and take steps to protect themselves and their communities through vaccinations, testing, treatments, and indoor air quality improvements.

• Calling on all businesses to take key actions to protect employees and customers: The Administration is calling on employers to take actions this fall in three key areas of COVID-19 mitigation and protection against serious illness: helping their employees access updated COVID-19 vaccines; ensuring that they know about COVID-19 treatment options and how to access them; and improving indoor air quality across their buildings. This includes actions such as offering paid-time-off for vaccination; working with local vaccine providers to host on-site vaccination clinics for employees, including by offering both the annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 vaccines; incorporating clear information about COVID-19 treatments into employee health plans and employee communications; and taking concrete steps to improve indoor air quality, such as commissioning, repairing, and improving HVAC systems, and installing high-quality air filters and air cleaners. To help businesses take action, the Administration will release clear information about steps that businesses of all kinds can take to protect their workforce and customers and to keep their doors open this fall, and will work across the federal government and with business organizations to share information, answer questions, and support actions in any way that we can.

• Calling on all school districts, colleges, and universities to leverage every available tool to protect educators, staff, and students and keep students in classrooms: The Administration is calling on every school district in America to host at least one vaccination clinic by Thanksgiving, as we continue to provide resources to help schools to do so. The Administration is also calling on colleges and universities to launch vaccination campaigns in the fall, including on-site clinics for students and faculty. In addition to ensuring that educators, staff, students, and campus communities are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, the Administration is calling on schools to use funding provided through the American Rescue Plan to improve ventilation and make other indoor air quality improvements. To help make indoor air quality improvements easier for schools to navigate, the Administration is collaborating with organizations that provide expert guidance and technical support from skilled, trained, and qualified technicians, and the Department of Energy is providing 1-1 consultations for K-12 schools around the country on how to improve indoor air quality.

4. Preparing for potential surges and new variants and building a resilient national COVID-19 response moving forward. Federal agencies have worked at unprecedented levels of speed and coordination to effectively fight back the COVID-19 surges the nation has seen to date. While we have made significant progress in our ability to manage COVID-19 without surges in hospitalizations and deaths, the Administration is clear that we must stay on our front foot and act aggressively in the face of an unpredictable virus. We will also continue to provide clear information on steps Americans can take to protect themselves, including on when to consider masking in crowded, indoor public spaces based on their COVID-19 Community Levels. And, as we drive additional progress on vaccinations, testing, treatments, indoor air quality, and more, the Administration will continue to chart the path for managing COVID-19 in the future.

• Strengthening our national readiness and preparedness to respond to whatever may come through federal table-top preparedness exercises: In the fall, the Administration will continue relying on the crucial surveillance tools we have built to monitor the spread of COVID-19 across the U.S., and to detect any future variants. This includes CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System, which now collects data from over 1,000 wastewater treatment plant sampling sites in sewer systems that serve roughly half of all Americans. In addition, the entire weight of the federal government will continue to be able to rapidly bring resources to bear in the event of a new surge or variant. This includes activating the robust emergency response infrastructure we have built to surge federal personnel, critical supplies, personal protective equipment, testing capacity, and other support to local health systems when needed. Federal agencies will continue to conduct tabletop exercises and scenario planning this fall to ensure that our national response remains sharp and teams remain ready to respond to any changing circumstances.

• Calling on Congress to provide additional COVID-19 funding to meet critical needs: The Administration has made clear to Congress that we need additional funding for the nation’s COVID-19 response. As we warned for months, Congressional inaction has forced us to make difficult tradeoffs that harm our response and preparedness. Last week, we sent an updated $22.4 billion request to Congress to meet immediate short-term domestic needs, including testing; to accelerate the research and development of next-generation vaccines and therapeutics; to increase our understanding of Long COVID; to prepare for future surges and variants; and to support the global response to COVID-19. While we have made tremendous progress on COVID-19, Congress must step up to ensure that we can continue stay on our front foot against this unpredictable virus.

• Planning to eventually transition procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, treatments to the commercial market: The Administration will continue to provide lifesaving tools—including updated COVID-19 vaccines—to the American people this fall for free. To the extent that Congress fails to fund ongoing needs, we are forced to accelerate transitioning procurement and distribution of these critical tools in a way that may leave Americans vulnerable. With additional funding, the Administration will be able to work with state and local health departments, health insurers, health care providers, patients, and other stakeholders to drive a thoughtful, well-coordinated transition—in a way that does not leave large gaps in coverage or prevent easy access to vaccines, tests, and treatments to the American people. The timeline of this transition should be dictated by the state of the pandemic and by the need to ensure an orderly transition, not by the lack of funding.

Source: The White House

 Interactive Mapping Features Will Provide Communities with Location-Based Information on Extreme Heat, Drought, Wildfires, and Other Climate Impacts

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is launching a website that, for the first time, provides a live dashboard to help communities see extreme weather and other hazards from climate change they are facing, while also providing maps projecting how each community could be impacted in the future. The new Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal will help state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments and leaders better track real-time impacts and access federal resources for long-term planning.   

Americans are feeling the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis—from extreme heat across the country, including the dangerous “heat dome” gripping California this week; record-breaking floods across the South and Midwest; Western drought straining the water supplies that millions depend on; and more wildfires threatening communities. Last year, the 20 largest climate-related disasters alone took hundreds of lives, caused untold hardships, and racked up more than $150 billion in damages.

In addition to providing more detailed, location-specific data about climate threats, the new portal also brings together multiple federal information sources and funding opportunities to help communities better prepare for and respond to climate impacts—including historic resilience funding from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for states and communities around the country. Together with the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration is providing historic levels of support to expand resilience programs, protect U.S. communities, economies, and infrastructure from the worsening impacts of climate change, and improve the nation’s climate mapping and data capabilities.

Learn more about ten key ways the Biden-Harris Administration is making America resilient to climate change

Helping Communities Better Understand and Plan for Climate Risk

The Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal is a first-of-its kind hub that will help communities, federal agencies, and other levels of government better understand current exposure to climate risks to strengthen their resilience plans. The portal, which will continue to evolve to meet community needs, includes:

• Real-time monitoring dashboard: To help track the climate-related hazards that are affecting communities each day, a new dashboard brings together maps showing areas currently under extreme heat advisories, drought conditions, and inland and coastal flooding warnings, as well as the locations of active wildfires and areas of poor air quality they produce.  
• Assessments of local climate exposure: In addition to real-time data about extreme weather events, the portal also helps communities understand their historic and future exposure to various climate impacts. The portal’s Assessment Tool provides hazard reports on heat, drought, and flooding down to the census tract level, including projections of future impacts in both low and high-emissions scenarios, based on climate models used in the U.S. National Climate Assessment. This interactive application will help local resilience planners and other users understand how future temperature, precipitation, and flooding conditions may impact their community in the near-term and by mid- and late-century.
• Funding opportunities and other federal resources: The portal also centralizes federal data, programs, and funding opportunities that are available to support resilience efforts—including resources for extreme heat, drought, wildfire, flooding, and coastal inundation and sea level rise. The CMRA Assessment Tool will also help state, local, Tribal, and territorial governments develop data-driven proposals to access federal funding.

Building on Climate Data Efforts Across the Administration

The new web portal is an outgrowth of a National Climate Task Force initiative to provide more accessible climate information and decision tools, as directed by President Biden in his Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. As part of this initiative, last year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched a redesigned Climate.gov and this year the National Integrated Heat Health Information System launched the new Heat.gov—using data sources that are now incorporated into the CMRA portal.

The Assessment Tool also integrates information from federal initiatives including:

• Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool: As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, this screening tool identifies disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The Assessment Tool identifies these census tracts as well, helping planners at all levels of government prioritize equity as they design and implement resilience projects.
• Building Code Adoption Tracking Portal: As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, FEMA continues to update its Building Code Adoption Tracking portal on the status of state, local, Tribal, and territorial building codes and whether these codes provide resistance to hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and tornados. This information on whether an area is covered by a hazard-resistant building code is shown in the Assessment Tool.
• Updated Sea Level Rise data: Earlier this year, the Administration issued the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report, with updated sea level rise projections out to the year 2150 for all U.S. states and territories. This data is incorporated throughout the portal’s resources on coastal inundation.

Under President Biden’s leadership, the Administration has secured historic new investments to further improve our nation’s climate mapping and data capabilities. NOAA is using resources  from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to enhance a wide array of climate data and services, including flood forecasting, soil moisture monitoring, and wildfire prediction and detection. Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act provides resources for NOAA to improve computing capacity, forecasting, and research for weather and climate impacts, as well as over funding for the Council on Environmental Quality to boost data collection on disproportionate environmental harms and climate impacts.

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Source: The White House

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania to express the United States’ strong support for our NATO Ally following Iran’s cyberattack on July 15. They committed to continue working together on Albania’s remediation efforts and cybersecurity measures. In addition, Mr. Sullivan expressed appreciation for Albania’s generous hosting of Afghan nationals who have fled Afghanistan, many of whom assisted U.S. efforts there. They also discussed our ongoing partnership on regional and global issues, including at NATO.