Roll Call Factba.se - Consolidated White House Releases (2024)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2024

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 18 to meet with Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including the war in Gaza and ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace and security in the region.

On Sunday, May 19, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel to meet with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to discuss the war in Gaza, ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all the hostages, the humanitarian crisis, and our shared objective for the enduring defeat of Hamas through both military pressure and a political plan.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-18

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 18 to meet with Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including the war in Gaza and ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace and security in the region.

On Sunday, May 19, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to Israel to meet with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to discuss the war in Gaza, ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all the hostages, the humanitarian crisis, and our shared objective for the enduring defeat of Hamas through both military pressure and a political plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2024

On Tuesday, May 21, Vice President Kamala Harris will return to Philadelphia, PA to deliver the keynote speech at the Service Employees International Union quadrennial convention. This visit is a continuation of the Vice President's consistent efforts to fight for workers across America, including as Chair of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.

Last month, the Vice President joined SEIU and nursing home care workers in La Crosse, WI to make an announcement about two final rules to establish minimum staffing requirements for federally funded nursing homes, and help raise pay for home and community-based service workers. Last year, she also participated in a moderated conversation with SEIU in Philadelphia where she highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration's actions to invest in and protect workers.

This will be the Vice President's fourth visit to Pennsylvania this year and her 14 th since being sworn in. Last week, she joined Sheryl Lee Ralph in Montgomery County for a moderated conversation about reproductive freedoms. Last month, Vice President Harris was also in Philadelphia for a roundtable conversation about the historic steps that she and President Biden have taken to forgive student loan debt for millions of Americans. In February, she returned to Pittsburgh to announce funding for

clean water infrastructure that is helping to remove lead pipes and ensure more children and families have access to clean, safe drinking water.

Media interested in covering the Vice President's keynote speech in Philadelphia, PA should RSVP HERE by 3:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 20.

Media interested in covering the Vice President's arrival at Philadelphia International Airport should RSVP HERE by 3:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 20.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 18, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE AND NATIONAL SECURITY COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR JOHN KIRBY

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:40 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's always fun to hang out with a bunch of Gen Zers before coming out to the podium. I'll just leave it there.

How are you guys doing?

Q Good.

Q Great.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Good afternoon, everybody.

So, I'll be -- going to preview the President's schedule for next week. And so, then -- I think some of you are following some of this stuff, but just to put it all in one.

On Monday, the President will host a reception to commemorate Jewish American Heritage Month. The President, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman will celebrate the immeasurable impact of Jewish values, contributions, and culture in our country, while also honoring their resilience in the face of a long and painful history of persecution.

On Tuesday, the President will travel to New Hampshire. After, he will travel to Boston, Massachusetts. I don't have additional details to share of these trips at this time, but please stay tuned.

On Thursday, the President and the First Lady will host President William Ruto and the First Lady, Rachel Ruto, of the Republic of Kenya for a state visit. The Vice President and Second Gemen- -- Second Gentleman will also, obviously, join as well.

The visit will strengthen our shared commitment to advance peace, security; expand our economic ties; and deepen democratic institutions. The visit will re- -- will affirm our strategic partnership with Kenya and further the vision set forth at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities. The Vice President will also host a state luncheon on Friday at the State Department.

On Saturday, the President will deliver the commencement address at the United States Military Academy's graduation ceremony. He previously deli- -- delivered the commencement address at West Point in 2012 and also 2016 as vice president.

This is a special honor, and the President looks forward to celebrating graduates and their families and thanking them for their selfless service and defense of our nation.

Today, we are also praying for four people who tragically lost their lives in Houston following the deadly storms that ripped through Texas yesterday. We are also thinking of those who were injured and the communities that were affected by this extreme weather.

We are grateful for the first responders and rescue teams who have been working around the clock to protect the people -- to protect people and save lives.

The White House is in touch with governor's office and the Houston mayor, and FEMA is in touch with their state and local counterparts.

As always, we stand ready to provide federal assistance as needed. We continue to monitor the storm's path as it moves east, and more severe weather is likely across the Gulf Coast today. Residents in the affected area as well as those in the path of the storm should heed warnings from state and local officials.

And with that, I have -- we have the Admiral here today to talk about a update in the Middle East.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Karine. Good afternoon, everybody.

Q Good afternoon.

MR. KIRBY: So, earlier today, I think you all know, the first shipments of humanitarian assistance arrived on the shores of Gaza through the multinational humanitarian maritime corridor that the President announced during his State of the Union Address.

As we speak, additional aid from the United States and other countries is arriving in Cyprus, where it will be screened by Israeli authorities and loaded onto ships for delivery via the maritime corridor -- the temporary pier that we've been talking about. And here you can see trucks, just today -- these inc- -- the first truck includes palates from the UAE, as a matter of fact, heading across that causeway -- that temporary causeway onto the beach.

And once in Gaza, once on the beach, the aid will be distributed to those in need by the United Nations.

So, in less than two months, the United States was able to assemble a complex, multinational logistical mechanism to facilitate the delivery of lifesaving assistance in Gaza, to galvanize commitments from partners around the world, and to leverage the United Nations' logistical capabilities to facilitate the distribution of this aid inside the -- inside the -- Gaza.

So, this is a humanitarian effort. And contrary to what we've been seeing out there in the information space, particularly in the region, it is designed solely -- only -- for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. There's no other purpose for this than humanitarian assistance.

And we're obviously grateful for all the U.S. service members and our teams at USAID and the State Department for their tireless work over the past few weeks to get this going.

Through the humanitarian maritime corridor, USAID plans to provide initial contributions of more than 170 metric tons of nutrient-rich food bars to support 11,000 of the most vulnerable children and adults; ready-to-use therapeutic foods to treat more than 7,200 cases of severe wasting in children; and nearly 90 metric tons of critical supplies, such as plastic sheeting for shelter, jerry cans to hold clean water, and hygiene kits to support more than 33,000 people. And just today, as you're seeing here, we were able to get more the 300 pallets of some of that material in there.

Now, today was just a start. It was the first day. There's still work that has to be done to reach what we call "initial operating capability." But we hope to be able to increase the number of pallets that get in over the coming days and keep that sustainable. And we'll keep you updated, of course.

All of this assi- -- assistance is in addition to thousands of tons of food and other non-food items that are being provided by a number of international partners, including, as I said, the UAE, the United Kingdom, EU, to name a few, as well as resources to support the overall mission, including critical equipment to move that assistance.

We anticipate an increase in the flow of assistance from additional countries and organizations utilizing and steadily scaling up, as I said, the humanitarian maritime corridor every single day that goes by.

In recent days, we've seen some progress in the number of trucks entering Gaza via the land crossings as well. Yesterday, more than 360 trucks moved into Gaza. Between April 5 th and May 16 th, an average of 176 trucks entered Gaza every single day. It's not enough. I recognize that. We all recognize that. But it's -- but it is -- it is ongoing, and we're hoping to get it increased. And, obviously, we're going to continue to work with Israel to that end.

I do want to make one important point on this before I leave this topic. There is a robust security plan for this effort, and we remain vigilant to potential threats to a- -- to the -- our service members that are working on the pier and humanitarian aid organizations and workers helping with the distribution and the collection at the marshalling area on the -- on the ground.

It remains a top priority. We're going to remain laser-focused on ensuring the safety of everybody involved in this effort.

Now if I could, just quickly, shift to Ukraine. We're closely monitoring Russia's offensive in northeastern Ukraine and are working around the clock to get weapons and equipment into the hands of Ukrainian solders to help them repel these attacks.

Soon after the President signed the national security supplemental last month, he authorized two military aid packages under the presidential drawdown authority. And late last month, the Department of Defense announced a $6 billion package through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will be used to procure new equipment to strengthen Ukraine's defenses over the medium and long term.

And then, of course, you saw Secretary Blinken, in Kyiv this past week, announced that the United States will provide an additional $2 billion aid package for Ukraine's defense under the Foreign Military Financing program. All of this will -- I'm sorry -- that aid for FMF will be used in four ways.

First, to help Ukraine procure weapons and equipment to repel Russia's invasion.

Second, to invest in Ukraine's defense industrial base.

Third, to help Ukraine purchase military equipment from other countries in addition to the United States.

And, finally, these funds may help other countries transition off Russian systems and incentivize donations to Ukraine.

Now just one last program announcement, and then I promise I'll shut up. I can announce today that our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, will travel to Saudi Arabia starting tomorrow. He'll be there to meet with Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including the war in Gaza, of course, and ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace and security in the region.

On Sunday, the next day, Mr. Sullivan will travel to Israel to meet with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to discuss, of course, the war in Gaza, including ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all the hostages, address the humanitarian crisis, and our shared objective for the enduring affeat -- enduring defeat of Hamas through both military pressure and a political plan.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, M.J.

Q Thanks, Karine. Thanks, Admiral. I wanted to ask you about the three hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza. Was the U.S. given any details, particularly about where they were recovered and how they were recovered?

MR. KIRBY: It's just horrible news. And our hearts go out to the families who -- who are having to deal with this terrible news. I don't have any information that we knew ahead of time or that we had any more -- we have had since the bodies have been recovered -- any additional information or context from the Israelis on this.

Q Okay. The five American hostages who are still unaccounted for --

MR. KIRBY: Correct.

Q -- is there any new intelligence about their whereabouts or their potential wellbeing?

MR. KIRBY: Sadly, no. We don't have any information that -- that leads us to a conclusion that they're -- that they're no longer alive. But we just don't have any additional context whatsoever.

Q And just on a separate topic very quickly. What was your reaction to seeing Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi exchanging hugs?

MR. KIRBY: Exchanging hugs?

Q Mm-hmm.

MR. KIRBY: Well, that's nice for them.

Look, you have two countries here -- leaders of two countries that -- that clearly are acting in various ways around the world inimical to our national security interests, to the interests of many of our allies and partners. No surprise that these two leaders continue to try to develop this burgeoning relationship.

But -- but they're also two leaders that don't have a long history of working together, and officials in both governments that -- that aren't necessarily all that trustful of the other.

What they have in common is a comm- -- is a desire to -- to challenge the international rules-based order, challenge the network of alliances and partnerships that United States enjoys and which President Biden has strengthened in his time in office, and -- and to try to look for ways to bolster each other's national security interests as well.

So, we didn't see anything coming out of this meeting that we weren't necessarily surprised by. I wouldn't go so far as to say we weren't concerned about -- about this relationship and where it's going. Of course we are, and we're watching it closely. But I'd leave it at that.

Q Do you think that was a purposeful show of public display to send any kind of message to the U.S. or otherwise?

MR. KIRBY: Oh, man, I'm not good at talking about personal human bodily affection one way or the other, so I -- I think I'll leave it to these two gents to talk about why they thought it was good to hug one another.

I'll just tell you that -- that we take seriously th- -- the challenges that both countries that represent, and we take seriously this burgeoning relationship between the two of them.

That said, in Ukraine specifically, we haven't seen President Xi rush to the effort to assist the Russian Armed Forces and provide lethal capabilities. We are deeply concerned and have said so. I think Karine mentioned it yesterday, about some of these Chinese companies that are providing microelectronics and components for Russia's defensive sy- -- or weapons systems. That's -- that's a problem, and we've -- and we've raised that with the Ch- -- with the Chinese as well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Darlene.

Q Thank you. So, what is the status of the aid on that first truck that went in? Is it being distributed, or is it still waiting ---

MR. KIRBY: I was told --

Q -- to be distributed?

MR. KIRBY: -- right before coming out here that the U.N. has now taken possession of these first -- these first pallets and are getting them ready for distribution inside Gaza. So, look, I mean, hopefully, by the time we're done here, I mean, some of that stuff will actually be in -- in the mouths of some hungry people, but we'll see.

Q And then one other question on Russia and Ukraine. Russia is pounding the Kharkiv region. Is it time for the U.S. to revisit the prohibition on Ukraine against using American weapons in an offensive manner?

MR. KIRBY: We do not encourage nor do we enable attacks using U.S.-supplied weapons systems inside Russian territory. That's the policy. That has not changed.

Q Thanks.

Q Thank you, Karine. And thank you, Admiral. You just spoke about the importance of protecting humanitarian aid workers. And it's been a month and a half since the IDF released a report about the World Central Kitchen. Has the U.S. finished reviewing that report? And what did it conclude?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware that we have some sort of final conclusion on that. But I'll tell you, I'll take the question, and we'll go back and I'll check with my State Department colleagues. But I'm not aware that we've come to some dif- --different or final conclusion about it.

Q When we asked you several times in the past, you said, "We're still reviewing the report. It takes a long time to go through all the facts and figures." So --

MR. KIRBY: I just don't have an update for you.

Q Okay. Last night, Israel's Defense Minister said that the IDF would send more troops into Rafah. Do you have a response to that?

MR. KIRBY: I -- I think we've addressed this one already. As always, I'll let the Israelis talk about their military operations and where they put their troops. Point one.

Point two, they have a right and a responsibility to go after Hamas, including in Rafah. And as I just mentioned, Jake's going to raise this issue when he goes to -- to Israel on Sunday. They have a right and responsibility to do that.

How they do that matters, and that's part of the conversations that we also want to have and Jake will have about going after that terrorist capability in Rafah in a way that's targeted, precise, and, quite frankly, effective.

We don't believe -- still don't believe that the way to do it is to smash into Rafah with a large body of armed forces on the ground in an -- in an indiscriminate and reckless manner.

So, I can't -- I don't -- I'm not dodging the question. I don't know the context with which Minister Gallant said that.

I can just tell you that nothing has changed about our view, that we don't support a major ground operation or a large operation in Rafah that would put -- now it's about a million people -- at -- at greater risk.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thank you. As you know, President has focused a lot on democracy -- promoting democracy globally in his three and a half years. What is the President's thoughts on the election that are happening in India right now? Around 900 million voters going out to 1 million polling booths to elect 545 member of parliament from thousands of candidates registered political parties.

MR. KIRBY: There's not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. And we applaud the Indian people for -- for exercising, you know, their ability to vote and to have a voice in their -- in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course.

Q And, secondly, Prime Minister Modi is going for his third term -- seeking his third term from the people of India. How do you see India-U.S. relations in the 10 years of his government?

MR. KIRBY: How do I see -- I'm sorry.

Q How do you see India-U.S. relationship in the 10 years of his administration?

MR. KIRBY: How do I see it over the last 10 years?

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

MR. KIRBY: Oh, I -- I'll speak to the last three, if that's okay, because that's kind of where -- where I'm allowed to go. But you -- you --

Q The first three years were also -- vice president.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I'm going to stick to the last three years, if you don't mind.

Look, our relationship with India is extremely close and getting closer. You saw it in our state visit. I mean, we launched all kinds of new initiatives: working on critical emerging technologies together and bolstering and ex- -- expanding the relevance of the Indo-Pacific Quad, of course, which India is a part of. And then just the people-to-people exchanges and the military -- military cooperation that -- that we share with India.

So, I mean, it's a -- it's a very vibrant, very active partnership. And -- and we're grateful for Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

Q One final one. You spoke about Quad. Does the President really believes that two of his Quad partners, India and Japan, are "xenophobic"?

MR. KIRBY: No. I mean, look, Karine already dealt with this one. I mean, the President was making a broader point here about the vibrancy of our own democracy here in the United States and how inclusive and particip- -- par- -- participatory it is.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Danny.

MR. KIRBY: That was not easy to say.

Q Thanks, Admiral. You mentioned that the aid coming through the pier was going to be screened by Israeli authorities. How confident are you that that's not going to cause sort of delays in terms of the aid being held up?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah.

Q And also, if I may, how confident are you that there's not going to be delays at the other end when -- at the pier end as well?

MR. KIRBY: Look, I mean, it's day one. And as I just said, we got indications here just before I came on out here that some of that aid was already moving into Gaza. That's pretty impressive for day one -- just day one.

The inspections are actually happening in Cyprus. And that's -- that's a really important component of this modular system that we've constructed here. So, the inspections are happening before the ships even leave Cyprus and move on down to the eastern coast -- I'm sorry, the Eastern Med, off the coast of Gaza.

So, right now, it -- it seems like a very good system in place. But, again, it's day one, so we'll take a look and see how it goes.

Q Are those inspections being done in tandem with anyone else, such as the United States or --

MR. KIRBY: The IDF is responsible for the inspection regime in Cyprus. And as I said, on this first day, it worked well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q On Jake Sullivan's travel this weekend. Did the U.S. government receive any assurances from Israel that it wouldn't expand its Rafah operation while he's there?

MR. KIRBY: I'll just say, without getting into our diplomatic conversations -- we've said this before -- that we're going to continue to talk to the Israelis about alternatives to major ground operations in Rafah. That is not what they're conducting right now. And they have assured us that they are willing to continue to have those discussions with us before they make any major decisions. And I'll leave it at that.

Q Can you share an update on the American doctors in Gaza who are trying to get out of there and what your understanding is, what the U.S. government assessment is of the holdup?

MR. KIRBY: There's no holdup. They're out.

Twe- -- there was 20 American doctors; 17 are out now -- came out today. And all 17 of the -- they wanted to -- they wanted to leave. I won't speak for the other three, but just -- but I can assure you that any of them that wanted to leave are out now.

Q And then, just finally, you referenced the security plan for the port and the pier. Secretary Austin, a couple of weeks ago, before it was operational, said his understanding was that if U.S. troops were fired upon that they may fire back. Is that still your understanding of what would happen here?

MR. KIRBY: 100 percent.

Q Thank you, Karine. Thank you, Admiral. When it comes to those bodies that were recovered, the three hostages, what impact does that have on the current ceasefire negotiations? Does it set those talks back?

MR. KIRBY: I don't think we can say that right now. First of all, our focus -- and I'm sure our Israeli counterparts' focus, too -- is on the -- on the families who are getting this horrible news. As you know, the talks didn't go anywhere last week. Unfortunately, we just didn't get to a successful conclusion.

One of the things that Jake wants to cover when he goes over -- back to the region is to see what we can do to keep those talks going and get -- get some kind of resolution here. But I don't think -- it's difficult to see how this grim news today is going to have a major effect on -- on the -- on the hostage deal negotiations. We really want to get this done so that we can get six weeks of a ceasefire that can maybe lead to something more enduring.

Q And part of that ceasefire deal is the release of hostages. I know you've said you don't know how many Americans are still alive. But is there a broad assessment of how many hostages overall are still alive?

MR. KIRBY: I would refer you to the Israelis for an exact number. I know it's -- it's north of 100. I've seen estimates of maybe 130 total. Not all of them -- we don't believe all of them are alive. We don't know exactly what the breakdown is.

Q And, of course, Rafah is going to be a big point of discussion when Sullivan is in the region. Can you just talk about the impact that the President's withholding of those 2,000-pound bombs have had on the relationship and Israeli decision-making when it comes to what we're seeing in Rafah right now?

MR. KIRBY: It was not a withholding. Just -- there was a pause put in place on a -- on a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, and that pause is still in place. I would remind you that other aid, other weapons and capabilities from the United States continues to flow to Israel. They are not left defenseless. And they also have -- without getting into specifics, they have inventories of existing -- like similar capabilities that they already had available to them.

I won't speak to their operations, but I think you can just disc- -- discern from news coverage alone that they continue to conduct operations in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza.

Q So, you're saying they already have inventories of the 2,000- --

MR. KIRBY: I'm just saying they have --

Q -- pound bombs?

MR. KIRBY: -- existing inventories of capabilities, and more capabilities continue to go. I won't get into the details of that for their own operational security.

But I did- -- I guess I didn't really answer your question, though, on decision-making. I think -- well, I don't think -- we know that they know what our concerns are with respect to Rafah and how they go into Rafah and what that looks like. And, again, Jake is going to go over this weekend, and he'll reiterate those same points.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q John, you had the assassination attempt of the Slovakian leader this week. What is the level of concern that this could be an indicator of instability in Europe? You have European Union elections coming up in June. There have been some attacks on German politicians that we've seen. You know, how much is this a worry of the administration across the world?

MR. KIRBY: You know, it's too soon to know whether you're seeing some kind of a trend here, a wave of violent activity or intent with respect to political stability in Europe. But obviously, we're watching this real closely. Certainly, we're glad to hear that the Prime Minister survived the attack and -- and is on the mend. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Q Thanks, Karine. Admiral, back to Ukraine. Does the President hope to attend the Ukraine peace conference next month ?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have anything on his schedule to speak to in that regard.

Q I just wanted to ask you about the Strategic Consultant Group status, when the -- when they will be meeting.

MR. KIRBY: Well, you got the National Security Advisor --

Q Is -- it will be next week?

MR. KIRBY: -- going over this weekend. That's -- that's a pretty good -- that's a pretty good level of meetings here. I don't have another one inside the SCG context to -- to speak to today. We've had a couple live ones. We've had some virtual ones. I think that they'll continue. But the next -- the next consultation, if you will, is Jake's trip this weekend.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nadia.

Q John, just to follow up what you told me this morning. Were there any conditions that Israel has imposed on certain items in this aid that will get into Gaza? Because, in the past, they wouldn't allow scissors, for example, wheelchairs, other items. Or is it just purely food --

MR. KIRBY: This is really focused -- these -- certainly today and I think in the coming days, it's really going to be focused on food, nutri- -- nutrition. That's really the focus. And there's been no restrictions placed by the Israelis on that.

Q Okay. And then --

MR. KIRBY: And I would -- I've got one to add -- one -- one more point. You reminded me that -- that the Israelis and the IDF, in particular, have been enormously helpful and supportive of this effort, this temporary pier and their role in -- on the beach and on the ground in supporting it. They've been very, very helpful -- extremely cooperative.

Q And the distribution, you just said that U- -- U.N. agency is going to be in charge. Is that -- does this include UNRWA? And second, will be any supervision by the IDF or in the steps of distribution, not just offloading of the pier?

MR. KIRBY: I want to be careful here because I don't want to violate operational security issues. As I said in my opening statement, the food will be distributed by the U.N. and other aid organizations. I'll let the U.N. speak to th- -- how they're going to do that.

When you get the material ashore, it goes into what we would call a marshalling area. So, it's a part of the beach where it can be placed safely until it can be then head -- head out on trucks into Gaza. And there -- I would just say that there's an adequate security apparatus in place for that purpose. And I think I need to leave it at that.

Q And finally, I just want to follow up on the hostages.

Q Thanks, Karine.

Q that there are actually reports indicating that the -- the bodies that they recovered today, that the hostages were killed as far as December. It -- they were not killed recently.

MR. KIRBY: I don't have that level of information. I don't know.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Nandita, go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Hi, Admiral. Just quickly to follow up on the military pier. Are U.S. troops guarding it on the ground?

MR. KIRBY: There is a -- not on the ground. So, as I said in my opening statement, there are no U.S. servicemembers in Gaza. There is a small U.S. military component on the pier itself. And they're there really to do sort of two things. One is to provide a modicum of security for it but also to assist with the logistics.

I mean, you're going to have ships pulling up to this pier -- not the big cargo ships. They'll -- they'll transport it to smaller ships off the coast of Gaza. Those smaller ships will bring the goods onto the pier, and you're going to need some logistical support to get it from the ships onto the trucks.

So, there's a small footprint of U.S. military on the pier, but they will not -- not go into Gaza.

Q How -- how many, when you -- when you say "small"?

MR. KIRBY: I think I'm going to let the Pentagon speak to the numbers. I don't want to -- I don't want to violate that. But it's not -- it's not a huge number.

Q And -- and why is the U.S. confident that Israel will not strike any of the vehicles that are taking aid in? I understand you said that they've been helpful.

MR. KIRBY: They have been extraordinarily cooperative.

Q But have they offered explicit assurances that they will not? I mean, because they attacked the World Food Kitchen cars that were carrying aid.

MR. KIRBY: And they investigated, and they fired people that they thought were at fault, and they apologized for the mistake. And they have tried to improve their deconfliction process. We are not worried about the Israelis striking the convoys of trucks that are coming off of that pier.

They are actually participating in helping marshal that material ashore and then get it into Gaza. So, that's not a concern.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Patsy.

Q Thank you, Karine. So, just to clarify, John, the Israelis and the American soldiers -- the small footprint of American soldiers will be working together to marshal these shipments?

MR. KIRBY: There is a small component of U.S. servicemembers on the pier. There are no Israeli Defense Forces on the pier.

Q And so, is there anything more that you can preview on President Ruto's visit next week, especially in terms of shoring up partnership against China's influence in the continent?

MR. KIRBY: We'll have more to say on the state visit as we get closer to it.

Q Okay. And then just one more -- one more. And feel free if you want to take this one, Karine. Many of those protests and -- on campus have linked the Palestinian cause to activism of other global injustices, including ra- -- racism against African Americans.

And so, you both have said often that the President understands the emotions behind these protests. But I was wondering specifically: As -- as the President is ramping up his outreach to Black voters, is he aware of and sensitive towards the Black community and how they might see a common parallel of injustice between themselves and Palestinians?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Let me -- let take this. Let's let the Admiral finish what he came to do.

MR. KIRBY: That -- that's a --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And then I'll take some --

Q Okay.

MR. KIRBY: That's definitely not a question for me.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. We'll take a couple more. Go ahead.

Q One is --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, the young lady right here. Yeah.

Q Oh, thank you. John, I -- you mentioned the U.S. providing some security. I thought the IDF was going to be providing the security, but is there a small component of U.S. forces that are also there providing some security for the pier?

MR. KIRBY: There's a small component of U.S. servicemembers on the pier, as I said, that will be helping with force protection, of course. I mean --

Q But you can't speak to the number?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to speak to the number. I'll let you -- the Pentagon do that.

Q And then, there's still U.S. forces or U.S. troops offshore, in addition to those on the pier?

MR. KIRBY: There's a -- there's -- there's a Navy component -- there's a -- there's Navy assistance in getting the material onto smaller vessels out further away from the pier, well off the coast, so that those smaller vessels then can transload the material onto the pier.

I mean, you've seen the pictures of the pier. It's not practical to bring a big freight or cargo ship up against that thing. I mean, it's anchored to the seabed, but it's temporary. It's not -- you know, there's not concrete piles in there.

So, what we do is we take the stuff off the bigger ships -- all well off the coast -- put it on smaller U.S. Navy vessels. Those smaller U.S. Navy vessels will bring it into the pier and offload it so it can get onto trucks.

Q And just overall, this -- this area has been targeted before by a mortar attack. What is the administration trying to do to prevent and deter an attack from happening again? And -- and what efforts are being done to --

MR. KIRBY: I mean --

Q -- protect those U.S. forces there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- part of my being up here today is a little bit of that to make it clear what this is and what it's not. There's been some bogus stuff out there in the information environment, particularly in the region, that this has some sort of military capacity or operational capacity for the IDF, and it just doesn't. It's nothing more than humanitarian assistance.

And we've also passed that message back through the appropriate channels to Hamas so they understand exactly what this is.

And look, showing pictures -- you all can get online and see what it is. I mean, we're making no secret about what this thing is and what it's not.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Just a couple more. Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Admiral, I know this is day one -- maybe closer to hour one of this pier initiative --

MR. KIRBY: But --

Q -- but -- -- you know, even at full capacity, it'll only be a fraction of the amount of aid. Is --

MR. KIRBY: Correct.

Q -- the United States working on or negotiating, figuring out other methods of getting additional aid in via other avenues?

MR. KIRBY: Well, look, there's no better way to do it than the land crossings. There's just not. And before the war, there was 500 trucks going in a day over a course of different crossings, and we want to get back up to that level if we can. Now, that's a tall order; I get that. And we haven't been able to even get a sustainable 300-plus trucks in a day. But it's important that Rafah open immediately.

Other -- other crossings are open, but there's been challenges with getting some of that aid through those crossings, particularly protest activity on the Israeli side. And those delays, those problems have got to be solved.

And I have no doubt that Mr. Sullivan will raise those issues as well when he's over there.

But this is meant to be additive -- this temporary pier -- additive, not an alternative. There's just no alternative really to getting trucks in on the ground.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Brian, you have the last one.

Q Thanks a lot. Hey, Admiral. I have a question about the death toll in Gaza. Does President Biden have confidence in the casualty numbers coming out of Gaza?

MR. KIRBY: The President watches this very, very closely. And you've heard him talk about the more than 30,000 people that have been killed, and he said the majority are women and children. And he's also said that's unacceptable.

And as we've maintained time and time again, the right number of civilian casualties ought to be zero. But in terms of, you know, what -- what specific number we're quoting or citing on any given day, I mean, we're doing the best we can working with the Israelis to -- to ascertain the scope of the civilian suffering, but it's obviously immense.

Q Has his --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank --

Q Has his confidence in the numbers coming out of Gaza increased since late October, when he said he had "no confidence" in the numbers --

MR. KIRBY: You -- you've heard --

Q -- ?

MR. KIRBY: -- the President talk about the numbers and talk about the concern.

Q

MR. KIRBY: And the most important thing -- aside from, obviously, how tragic that is -- is what we're doing to alleviate and help improve conditions in Gaza, including through this temporary pier today.

Thanks, everybody.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, thanks, Admiral.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Darlene, I don't have anything else.

Q Great. Thank you. Does the President, who is a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, agree with the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that Justice Alito should recuse himself from 20 cases involving the 2020 Election or January 6 th, because of the reporting of the upside-down flag flown outside of his house?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, obviously, we've seen the reporting, and I -- I don't want to comment on the specific report of -- on that reporting.

What I can say more broadly is that the President believes that the American flag is sacred -- you've heard him say that -- and is owed proper respect and honor of the brave men and women who have defended our -- our country for generations. And we should be respecting that flag. We should be making sure that it is respected in that way. It is sacred.

As for anything else, the conduct or recusing himself, that is something for the court to decide. I just don't have anything else to add.

And just want to be very clear, the American flag is sacred. That is something that the President has -- believes in, and you've heard me say this before at this podium many times.

Q Can you give us a sense of how the President will use his time at Morehouse on Sunday? Will there be any news in the speech? Will it be more of a lofty "go forth and prosper" kind of speech? Can you give us a sense of --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So --

Q -- without getting specific --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know.

Q -- because I know you --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know.

Q -- don't want to get ahead of the President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. I don't want to get ahead of a president.

No, so, look, he takes these commencement addresses incredibly seriously. He understands the importance of -- of him being the president and, obviously, the Commander-in-Chief and speak -- when he speaks to the -- the West Point graduates later this month. But he sees this as an im- -- an opportunity to lift up and to give important message to our future leaders.

I mean, these Morehouse Men who are graduating will be our future leaders, as you heard from Mayor Benjamin when he was standing here behind this lectern. He talked about what it's like to be part of -- part of that HBCU, if you ima-- -- if you -- if you can imagine, collective -- and how important it is, and how respected that is.

And so, look, he'll have, I think, some important messages to share for these future leaders. He will have themes in his -- in his remarks -- in his commencement remarks that he'll share with them. He's been working on these remarks for the past couple days, I can assure you, with his senior advisors. He's taking this incredibly seriously.

And he understands, as the President tends to do, meet the moment -- the moment that we're in.

I won't get beyond that. But I would say, "Stay tuned." I think it will be a moving -- a moving commencement address. I think it will meet the moment. And I think you will hear directly from the President on how he sees, obviously, the future of this country and also the community that they represent.

But, again, as you just stated, I'm not going to get ahead of the President.

Go ahead, Weijia.

Q Thanks, Karine. I'm going to try again --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: On Morehouse?

Q Not on Morehouse. On --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q -- the flag.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q So, given the flag incident, does President Biden believe that Justice Alito can rule in -- with impartiality for all the cases involving January 6 th?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look -- and this is something that I have spoken to the President about. And it -- basically, what I laid out is how he feels: That the American Flag is sacred, and we should be respecting that flag.

I do not want to get into the business of the specific actions that -- that Supreme Court justices -- if they should recuse themselves or not on a -- on a court. That is something for the Court more broadly. They have to make that decision. That is something that we're not going to step into. We're not going to comment from here.

But more broadly, we can say, from the reportings that we have seen, that, you know, we believe that the American flag should be respected. It should be -- it -- this is a -- if you think about the brave men and women who have sacrificed, given their lives to protect our nation, it is -- it is -- we just -- that is something that we will always say and be really, really clear about.

I cannot speak to if he should recrus- -- recuse himself, how he should move forward in the Court. That is for the Court to decide.

Q Okay. On another topic. Did President Biden --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You seem -- look -- wow, you just seem so disappointed and like, "Ah, Karine -- well, we're going to move on."

Q Well, no, I mean -- I understand that you can't -- that you're not going to engage on -- on that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sorry to disappoint you, Weijia.

Q No, it's -- it's okay.

So, did the President see the confrontations from the House Oversight Committee meeting yesterday?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, so, I have not talked to him about if he's seen it. What we can say, and I think this is something the President would agree upon, which is, you know, you -- as someone who was a senator for 36 years, he believes that people should respect each other, treat with -- each other with dignity and civility.

I am not going to speak to the ex- -- to what happened, obviously, in that hearing.

But what we -- what we can say, as someone who -- you know, a President, as I just stated, was a senator for some time, who -- who knows how that place works, I think you have to treat people with dignity; you have to treat people with respect. It is important. It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you sit on. It is important to do that because you are there to work on behalf of the American people.

And that's probably all I can share at this time.

Monica.

Q Thank you, Karine.

Q On Morehouse. You said the President is going to "meet the moment." Does that mean he's going to specifically address some of the concerns that students there and faculty have raised about his handling of the war in Gaza?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I will say: Stay tuned.

Q Okay. And then what was the President's reaction to Senator Romney saying that the President should have pardoned Donald Trump after the Justice Department brought those indictments against him or that he should have pressured New York prosecutors not to pursue the ongoing hush money trial?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The current President of the United States --

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- getting involved in an ongoing le- -- legal case?

Q A current sitting senator saying that the President should have pardoned Donald Trump.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I mean, we're just going to let the process mo- -- we would never interject ourself in -- in a criminal -- criminal legal proceedings. It's not something that we do from here.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sticky fingers.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's what you called yourself. You said you had sticky fingers.

Q Well, I kept dropping my notebook; I'm just so excited to be here today.

There -- there is a billionaire, Ray Dalio. Quoted by the Financial Times, he's saying now that the chances of a civil war in this country are around 35 to 40 percent. Do you think the chances are that high?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I am not in a place to -- to give probabilities or -- you know, I don't -- I don't gamble. I don't spend my time in Vegas, so I couldn't speak to that.

But what I can say is the President has been really clear about the need to continue to fight for our democracy. That is one of the reasons he jumped into the election back in 2019. What he was seeing across the country, what was -- seeing, obviously, in Charlottesville and what he saw there -- the vile, the -- the hatred -- and it was concerning to him.

And so -- but, you know, you move forward and -- from there to January 6 of 2021 -- that was a very scary time in our dem- -- democracy. That was a stain on our democracy. What we saw happening at the Capitol -- rioters -- of 2,000 rioters wanting to turn over a free and fair election.

So, obviously, the President wants to continue to fight for that, continue to fight for our democracy, fight for our freedoms, and that's where we're going to continue to stand. I can't give probability. I don't even know who this -- who you're speaking of.

Q Okay. And then I have some on the big story today.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q What does President Biden think about the world's number-one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, being cuffed and then hauled in for a mug shot for what appears to be a misunderstanding at a traffic stop?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I -- I've seen the reports of Mr. Schef- -- Scheffler's arrest. I just want to say that our hearts go out to the individual that was killed --

Q Unrelated.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, no, let me finish -- in the auto -- in the auto accident that preceded his arrest. Obviously, someone did die. Someone was killed -- preceded his arrest -- that, obviously, he was not involved in. So, want to make sure that we share our condolences to that family and their loved ones.

Anything else, as specifics to his arrest, that would be something for local authorities to speak to.

Q I think just -- you guys have spent a good chunk of this week --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep.

Q -- talking about how you don't want anybody to ever go to jail again for pos- -- possessing marijuana. Do you think that somebody who was involved in what appears to be a misunderstanding at a traffic stop should be facing 10 years in prison?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: There -- we've seen the reports. There -- there's a process there. We have to let the legal authorities do -- go to their, you know, process and how this all works. I can't comment from here, from the lectern, about something that's being looked into by local authorities. I got to be mindful about that.

But let's not forget: Someone lost their life. Not -- obviously, that preceded this. But there was an individual that was killed, and there's a family that's mourning a death of a loved one. And so, we want to be sensitive to that as well.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Can we still assume that the Kansas City Chiefs will be visiting the White House this year in celebration of their Super Bowl victory?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is all -- the team, per usual, when there is a -- a champion -- a championship team, gets invited. I don't have anything to add on their attendance or how that looks. But the team is always invited. All -- everyone on the team is invited. I just don't have anything beyond that.

Q So, can you confirm -- you said everyone on the team is obviously invited. Is the Chiefs' kicker, Harrison Butker, welcome at this White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say -- you would have to, obviously -- what I can say is we invite the entire team, and we do that always. I don't have anything beyond that.

Q Given his recent comments, is he specifically welcome at this White -- White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We invite the team. We invite the team. It's an invat- -- invitation that goes to the team. And so, it's up to the team who comes and who doesn't come. That's the way it usually works.

Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just going to take another stab at this.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Which one? Which stab?

Q So, is the President concerned that having a Supreme Court Justice --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, okay.

Q -- someone who is in such a high position of power, displaying a flag in his house in such a way, that that could fuel more extremism and division in this country?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just have to be really mindful when we're talking about the highest court of the land. That is -- we're not going to step into the re- -- who should recuse themselves or not. That is for the courts to decide --

Q And then --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- that court to decide.

Q -- what is the sense here about the wife's role here? Whether it is a Supreme Court Justice --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- wife of a senator or a president, should she be able and entitled to have her own political opinions and views without having them tied to her husband or not?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any comment on his wife.

Q And then, just lastly --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.

Q -- the Morehouse president said that he is prepared to stop the commencement on the spot --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- if there are disruptive demonstrations. So, is the President prepared that that could potentially happen in the middle of his speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm going to let the president of -- of Morehouse obviously speak to whatever procedure or whatever process that Morehouse wants to put in place.

Look, I mean, just to step back for a second. You know, the President is very much looking forward to Sunday. It is going to be an important moment for, obviously, the students who are graduating, the young men who are graduating, but also their families. This is some -- this is a -- when the President does commencement address -- he's done it many times -- and I've said this -- as senator, vice president, as president. You all know this. You have covered the President for some time in his different roles as a public -- public -- public person and -- public servant, to be more exact.

And, you know -- and when it comes to this difficult moment in time that we're in, as we speak about the protests, he understands that there's a lot of pain. He understands that people have a lot of opinions, and he respects that folks have opinions.

And so -- and you've also seen the President -- when there has been protests, the President has treated those peacefully protesters very re- -- respectfully -- in a respectful way. And that's how he's going to move with any event that he goes forward to do, including on Sunday.

He will respect the peaceful protesters. It is up to Morehouse on how they want to manage that and move forward with that. But he's going to be respectful, because it's not just the students, it's the parents, it's the loved ones who want -- who want to be there to celebrate -- celebrate an important moment.

And as always, we believe all Americans have the right to peacefully protest. And I'll just leave it there.

Go ahead, Nandita.

Q Just quickly following up on Mayor Benjamin's appearance yesterday.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Q He said he traveled to Morehouse. He spoke to students there. He asked them what they wanted to hear from the President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q And many of them said that they wanted to talk about the war in Gaza. And I'm just kind of trying to understand if the President plans to bring that up proactively during his speech, and what is his message going to be to -- to those asking him to change his policy in the Middle East?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple things. When the mayor was here, he did say he had a private conversation with students and -- and others and faculty there. He said he wanted to keep their -- their -- that private conversation in private. So, he was very mindful in what he shared from -- from here yesterday afternoon.

Again, in asking me that question, that is previewing the President's remarks. I -- I am not going to preview his remarks. I will tell you, more broadly, at a 30,000-foot view, that the President sees this as an important moment to give fu- -- our future leaders some advice on how -- on how he sees the world or how he could give them a little bit of advice on how to move forward in their -- in their careers, in their future.

And so, not going to get beyond that.

Q Does he at least proactively want to bring up this issue, especially because the -- these students, as the mayor said, want to talk to him about Gaza.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're going to have to -- you're going to have to tune in. You have to tune in.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't know if you're traveling with us, but you're going to have to tune in.

Go ahead.

Q Who's helping him craft his speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He's been doing it himself along with his senior advisors all week.

Q Which advisors?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The usual senior advisors.

Q I know -- I know Mayor Benjamin was traveling. I know the Vice President has --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't --

Q -- talked to Morehouse students.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have a list in front of -- in front of me to -- to call out. But, you know, he has about -- you know, a good -- more than a handful of senior advisors. So, you can imagine any one of them have been in the room with him, helping him craft -- craft this important -- important speech that's happening on Sunday. But I just don't have a list of names, but it is his senior advisors.

And he's been working on it every day. That I can assure you.

Q For this week, he's been working on it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He's been diligently working on this and taking this very seriously and wants to, obviously, hit the right -- hit the right tone, meet the moment.

Q And earlier today, at the museum, he said something interesting, where he -- he mentioned, "As soon as I came into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan. And I want to be political for a second, because we're having problems -- not one Republican voted for it -- not one." What -- what did he mean by "problems"? Is it the message not breaking through --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh.

Q -- that -- in your mind, do you think he was talking about --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's a good --

Q -- not enough people know about this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's an interesting catch. I did not catch that in his remarks.

I don't know. I would have to -- I would have to ask the President.

But what I will say is -- and I think that I do re- -- I do remember this in his remarks, which is the American Rescue Plan, not one Republican voted for it. It helped turn the -- the economy around. It helped open schools, helped start small businesses.

And I think it was -- I think he sees it as such an important -- important piece of legislation -- the first one that he was able to sign into law. That made a difference. That made a difference.

And I do know that he believes there are Republicans out there in Congress who try to take credit for that really important piece of legislation. And he tends to call them out, as you've heard him do so. Some of them actually benefited from that -- the American Rescue Plan, which he has been very, very diligent on calling that out.

And it was an opportunity for them to be on the right side of history, and they were not. And so, he tends to call that out.

Anything beyond that, I don't have any specifics or -- or detail into that.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Yeah. Does the President plan to meet with any of the Morehouse students while he's down there, in addition to giving the speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we'll have more to share as we get closer to Sunday. Don't have anything for you at this time beyond that.

Go ahead.

Q Yeah. I wanted to kind of follow up on that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q A lot of -- a lot of the messages to Black Americans that Biden is doing over the last couple days are at -- at them -- you know, a speech at Morehouse, the speech at the museum, the speech in Detroit.

I -- I wonder if you can give any, you know, sense of whether that information flows both ways. Is he asking questions? Is he -- are -- is -- are the Divine Nine, you know, saying, "This is what we would like to see from your presidency going forward"?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q You know, listening as opposed to speaking.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I -- I know you're saying "at them." I don't -- we don't see it "at them." I think the President shows up in front of a crowd of -- in front of a community and talks about how he's been working on their behalf, working to deliver for that community or for all Americans.

I think that's important. I think people want to hear from the President. They want to hear what is it that he has to say, whether it's about the economy, healthcare, whatever issues that's important to them.

And I think the fact that the President shows up at the African American Museum is important. The fact that the President, you know, is here -- has in front -- has -- is talking to the Divine Nine, I think it's also very important. Going to Morehouse, we're talking about young men who are going into -- going into their careers, and they get to hear from the President of the United States. That's actually important, I think, for them to hear from the President.

So, I don't -- the "at them," I think, is kind of a little harsh there. I think it's the President showing up and sharing and being very clear about what he has done, as -- as their president, to deliver.

And -- and I think to the -- I think to the heart of your question, you know, the President also loves to hear from people. He does. He loves to hear from what they have to say, what they have to offer. He's going to do that with the Divine Nine. He did that yesterday with the different plaintiffs of -- of Brown v. Board. He does that very often, continuously, and I think it is important for him.

The best advice, the best -- you know, the best feedback that he gets is from everyday people -- you know, Americans who are out there, who have -- who are living the life -- are living the lives that he's trying to improve. So, he's very much open to that.

Go ahead, Franco.

Q I wanted to ask about the background checks that are going to go into effect next week -- gun background checks. There's a number of lawsuits from state attorney generals against them, the Second Amendment --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Which background checks are you --

Q The gun background checks. The --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q -- they were announced earlier this spring. Expa- -- licenses of private -- private gun sales --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So --

Q -- for the private market.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, I think that's more for the Department of Justice. I don't have any -- anything specifics on how that's going to work out or the process of that. I would have to refer you to Department of Justice. Don't have anything in detail for you at this time.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, since the announcement of the U.S. tariffs on China earlier this week, we've heard from the international community, including IMF and WTO and others, that are expressing concerns about the impact of these tariffs on the global economy. And I understand we heard from NEC Director Brainard yesterday about the case she's making for how underpriced exports have hurt the U.S. economy specifically. But does the administration have any case to be made for how this is going to help the global economy in addition to the U.S. economy?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, just a couple of things. Look, he took this action -- the President did -- obviously, earlier this week, when we made the announcement on Tuesday, to make -- to make sure there was a level playing field, because he knows that Americans can -- can outcompete anyone just as long as that competition is fair, right? And that -- you heard us say that over and over again. You heard that from the ambassador -- Ambassador Tai.

But China hasn't been playing by the rules. It's just a fact. Their unfair policies undermine the global trade, not just us -- Americans and American businesses and companies -- but global trade more broadly.

And so, certainly, we're not alone in voicing those concerns about China's unfair trade policies and taking action to address them. We're not the only ones who have said anything about that, spoken about it, or taken actions. A number of advanced and emerging economies have also expressed concerns. Their industries also face damage from China's overcapacity.

And so, the President is going to continue, as he does always, to work with our allies to join forces to out -- to outcompete China and whether then -- rather than undermining our alliances, threatening jobs, and increasing costs for families by $1,500 with universal 10 percent tariffs.

And so, we are -- we are going to remain an open economy -- the United States. And so -- and we're going to do that with foreign investment and American manufacturing almost double its -- its average before the pandemic. Our China -- our actions -- pardon me -- are focused on strategic sectors and not only on China.

So, we're going to continue to work with our allies. And -- and so, we're trying to make sure that, you know, competition is fair. And the policies that China had were unfair and undermined global trade. And so, we're addressing that. And we're going to continue to do that.

Go ahead.

AIDE: We got to wrap.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's okay. It's all right.

Q Any response from the -- from the White House regarding the sentencing of Mr. DePape in the attack on Paul Pelosi?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, I know that -- I saw that when I was coming out. I want to be really careful on that, too. On -- on the judicial -- it's a judicial process.

But as you heard from the President immediately after we received the tragic news of the heartbreaking attack on Paul Pelosi, there's absolutely no place for political violence in America -- not at all. As leaders, we owe it to everyone not to repeat dangerous conspiracy theories and speak out against violence and violent rhetoric. We're so grateful -- and we had, obviously, the opportunity to see Paul Pelosi a few times, most recently at the Medal of Freedom. And you all saw him as well.

And obviously he has recovered. And so, the President is grateful for his friendship. He's grateful for the friendship of Speaker Pelosi. And we're happy that he's doing well.

But I'm not going to speak to a judicial process.

I'm being pulled, guys. I will see you.

Q Karine, you haven't answered my question, though.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, my gosh.

Q Thank you. So, just a follow-up --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're right. I owe you. I owe you an answer. What was the question?

Q Yeah, just -- it's basically to follow up with what my colleagues have asked about Morehouse. I know you can't preview the content of the speech.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But is the President mindful of how Black students who are protesting in campus might see a parallel of their experience of injustice between themselves and the Palestinians? Has he received input about this? Is he sympathetic to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, the President is sympathetic to the fact that many communities are in pain. He has said that. He is very sympathetic to what people are feeling right now. He knows that it is a difficult time, and he respects that. He truly does. And -- and, you know, that is also why he also respects the fact that people have the right to peacefully protest.

And it is a difficult time, and we get that. He gets that. And, you know, as President, he makes incredibly difficult decisions. And -- but he also understands as president, there are people who are going to feel pain in a different way or see actions that he's taken differently, in different views. But this is what our democracy is all about, having different opinions, having different views, and being able to express your voice and be able to be very clear about that.

And so, that's why we've been saying -- when you all have been asking about protests and what the President's going to do -- he's going to do what he's been doing for the past several months when there have been protests -- respect the protesters who are doing it peacefully -- understanding that all Americans have the right to speak their voice. That is part of our democracy. That is part of who we are.

All right. Thanks, everybody.

END 3:36 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May / 17 / 2024

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 26, 2024, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Texas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding beginning on April 26, 2024, and continuing.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Walker.

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

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

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

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

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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

SATURDAY, May 18 AND SUNDAY, May 19

The Vice President will be in Washington, DC and has no public events scheduled.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

All times are local and subject to change.

At 11:30 AM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will deliver remarks at a political event in Detroit, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 3:00 PM, the First Lady will deliver remarks at a political event in New York, New York. Her remarks will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF

AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Washington, D.C.

11:43 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: My name is Joe Biden -- -- and I'm a lifetime member of the NAACP. But I said that a little earlier to the president, and he said, "Are your dues paid up?" I got to check. Oh, my Lord.

So many -- so many people here today. You changed the world. Seventy years ago, you changed -- I say "the world." That's not hyperbole. I'm not exaggerating. You not only changed the United States, you changed our role in the world in a fundamental way. I know there's a lot more to do.

President Johnson, that introduction -- thank you for your leadership. But most importantly, for the NAACP.

It's an honor to be with all of you here at the National Museum of American -- African American History and Culture. Remember we were trying to get this built for years? It's pretty neat, isn't it? Huh?

And, by the way, I want to thank the staff who runs this place. They do an incredible job.

Together, the NAACP and this museum are monuments to the power of Black history. And Black history is American history. It's American. No, I -- it's a really important thing to continue to -- we have a whole group of people out there trying to rewrite history, trying to erase history.

It's a tribute to heroes known and unknown who pursued our nation's North Star.

We're unique among all nations in the world, and I mean that. Every other nation is based on ethnicity, bas- -- based on religion and other things, but we're the only one based on an idea: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and should be treated equally their whole lives -- throughout their life.

We've never fully lived up to that idea, to state the obvious, but we've never walked away from it either because of so many of you in this room and so many more.

Seventy years ago, when the Supreme Court ruled on Brown v. the Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, a prayer was answered in a long struggle for freedom.

Yesterday, I welcomed the family of plaintiffs of that landmark case to the White House, to the Oval Office -- their office. Once upon a time, they were excluded from certain classrooms. But 70 years later, they're inside the most important room of all, the Oval Office, where they belong.

They're a living reminder that "once upon a time" wasn't that long ago. And all the progress we've made is -- still have more to do. And there are still groups that are trying to erase it.

You know, one of the cases that led to the landmark decision was in my home state of Delaware. A Black mother from Hockessin, Delaware, joined by parents of eight other students in the -- in Claymont -- the town I moved to when we -- work ran out in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and we moved back in third grade -- moved here in third -- to Delaware in third grade. All in Claymont -- they -- they just wanted a simply proposition: They wanted their kids to be able to attend a school and be treated with dignity and respect.

They asked a man who I looked up to and really admired and helped me out as a young public defender, Louis L. Redding. He was the first man -- the first Black man ever admitted to the practice of law in the state of Delaware -- to say -- and that -- think about that.

Here's the first man -- this guy was brilliant, and he didn't get admitted till after the '50 s in Delaware to the -- I mean -- well, he enlisted a young Jewish lawyer from the NAACP named Jack Greenberg to help him devise a legal strategy to get rid of the racial segregation in Delaware schools.

In 1952, in Delaware, for the first time in our country's history, in Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart -- and, by the way, any Delawareans here today? Gr- -- all right. First time ever segregated white public schools were ordered to admit Black children.

Louis L. Redding's argument in those early Delaware cases laid the legal framework for Brown v. the Board. His story, a timeless truth about America: When we make real the promise of America for all Americans, the nation changes for the better. Everything from the economy to everything grows -- everything grows.

After Brown vs. Board decision, the public schools gradually and often much too slowly were integrated. Graduation rates for Black and Latino students increased significantly, though.

The Brown decision proves a simple idea. We learn better when we learn together.

That's why my administration is increasing funding for schools to bring together students from different backgrounds.

My Department of Education is investing $300 million, including another 20 million announced today, to support diversity in our schools.

We're also -- we're also funding efforts to increase diversity in the teaching profession itself because, as the president said, Black students -- but especially young Black men were rea- -- re- -- react to Black teachers. S- -- Black students who have Black teachers are significantly more likely to graduate from high school and enroll in college. It makes a difference, and it matters.

My Department of Education provided an additional almost half a billion dollars -- $450 million to ensure teachers in our schools reflect the diversity in our country, and we're just getting started. This money is going to go toward training the next generation of teachers at HBCUs, Tribal colleges, and minority-serving institutions.

And, by the way, not because I'm married to one, but we need to give teachers a raise. I mean it.

Another lesson from Brown is that every child deserves a quality education. How can we -- think -- think of this in simple terms: How can we have the strongest economy in the world without the best education in the world? I mean, it's not possible. That taps into the full talents of our entire nation.

And the answer starts with childhood -- early childhood education.

Because of the nation's legacy of discrimination, the Black children start school with an average of seven months behind their white peers in reading. But one year of universal, high-quality pre-K could eliminate 98 percent of that gap. Just one year. And children who go to preschool are nearly 50 percent more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a two-year or four-year degree no matter what their background is.

That's why my administration is working to support Black children. And as soon as I came into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan. And I'm going to be political by just saying this, because we're having problems -- not one Republican voted for it -- not one. But the American Rescue Plan expanded Child Care Tax Credits that delivered monthly checks to working families that cut Black child poverty in half.

My Republican friends let it expire. Well, I'm going to keep fighting to reestablish it. We're going to get it reestablished.

And I'm going to keep fighting to make sure preschool is universal for every three- and four-year-old in America. We can afford to do this. It's not hard.

Instead of giving multibillion-dollar breaks to the super wealthy, let's make the wealthy began to pay their fair share of taxes. We can afford all this.

I'll just slow up for just one second here and ad-lib a little bit here because I'm going to get in trouble for doing -- keeping you longer, but -- -- you know, we have a thousand billionaires in America. A thousand. I'm a capitalist. If you can make all that money, fine. Just pay your fair share.

But here's the deal, do you know what the tax -- federal tax rate is for a billionaire in America? 8.3 percent. If we just raised it to 25 percent, we'd raise 400 million -- billion dollars over the next 10 years. That could pay for all of this, cut the deficit, and do so much more. Just being -- just pay your fair share.

Look, it's not only good for children; it's good for the country when we have early education, and it grows the economy.

We're also working to ensure every child, no matter what their ZIP Code, has access to a quality education experience in K through 12. The American Rescue Plan delivered $130 billion to American schools -- the most ever in funding public education in our nation's history.

And we added another $200 -- $2 billion annually to Title I funding to support school students that are most in need. These dollars help for things like tutoring; paying teachers are for -- what they deserve; providing more advanced casework and courseworks as well.

While college degrees are still a ticket to the middle class, that ticket is becoming too expensive. Too many -- too many young people, Black students are dealing with unsustainable debts in exchange for a college degree. That's why my administration has taken the most significant action, notwithstanding the tr- -- the Supreme Court tried to stop me, to provide student debt relief -- the most supreme -- ever.

I've been able to relieve $160 billion in student debt -- -- to over 4.5 million Americans, including a significant number of Black borrowers. That means they can now start a family, buy a home, save for their children's school, gi- -- give back to their communities.

It also increased the maximum Pell Grant to -- by $900 -- the largest increase in a decade. And it matters because over 60 percent of Black students rely on Pell Grants to go to college.

And something I'm really proud of: We're making historic investments in Historic Black Colleges and Universities.

Now, I'm from Delaware, so I go along with Delaware State being the best HBCU. Kamala keeps saying it's Howard. And I'm going now -- I'm going to Sunday to make a speech at that other place, that -- that men's col- -- More- -- Morehou- -- -- Morehouse!

I got more Morehouse Men in my administration than Morehouse.

But regardless of loyalties, it's clear HBCUs are vital to our nation's progress. I mean it. That's not hyperbole.

HBCUs are responsible for 40 percent of Black engineers in America, 50 percent of Black teachers, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists, 80 percent of all Black judges -- and, by the way, I put more on the bench than anybody ever has -- -- and 100 percent of Black vice presidents. You got it.

HBCUs also don't have endowments like other colleges and universities that are able to fund research labs and so much more.

Well, Kamala and I made a commitment to lift HBCUs up, and we're keeping that commitment.

Today, I'm proud to announce, as was mentioned earlier by the president, that we've invested over $16 billion in HBCUs -- by far the most ever of any administration -- in combination of almost all administrations.

This investment has helped HBCUs do everything from build student housing to study climate science to create health research labs, prepare Black students for labs in industries of the future, because they don't have the endowments to do it themselves now.

But let's be clear, I know real power when I see it.

Later today, in the Oval Office, I'll be meeting with the presidents of the Divine Nine. You all think I'm kidding, don't you? Well, I'm proud that we're the first admi- --

AUDIENCE MEMBER:

THE PRESIDENT: You -- you got it.

AUDIENCE MEMBER:

THE PRESIDENT: I can tell there's no -- anyway.

We're the the first administration in history to have a working group from the Divine Nine in the White House. And I asked them to do that from the very beginning.

But we know, 70 years after Brown v. Board, there are some forces trying to deny freedom of opportunity for all Americans.

A few minutes ago, I talked with some of the Little Rock Nine, who were determined to integrate a public school in Little Rock, Arkansas, 67 years ago.

I'd like to recognize them for their courage and her- -- if they -- if they can, would you -- if you're able, please stand and rise so we can all see you.

And thank God Eisenhower was president. Thank God we had someone who stood up.

The Little Rock Nine were met with vitriol and violence.

Today, the resistance comes in other insidious forms. An extreme movement led by my predecessor and his MAGA Republican allies, backed by an extreme Supreme Court, gutted affirmative action in college admissions.

My predecessor and his extreme MAGA friends are now going after diversity, equity, and inclusion all across America. They want a country for some, not for all.

And let's not kid ourselves, folks. This is the God's truth what I'm saying.

My predecessor and his extreme MAGA friends are responsible for taking away other fundamental freedoms, from the freedom to vote to the freedom to choose. But I've always believed that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed. And I mean that: everyone to succeed.

That's what Brown is all about. That's what we're all about. That's what America is about.

Let me close this. On Sunday, I'm attending the commencement at Morehouse College, one of our nation's most important institutions. Morehouse was founded after our nation's civil war to help prepare Black Americans who were formerly enslaved to enter the ministry, earn an education, and usher them from slavery to freedom.

The founders of Morehouse understood something fundamental: Education is linked to freedom. Because to be free means to have something that no one can ever take away from you.

And that's the power of an education. That's why the Brown decision we commemorate today is so important.

The work of building a democracy is -- of possibility, of a democracy worthy of our dreams starts with opening the doors of opportunity for everyone without exception. And we can do it.

We just have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. There's nothing beyond our capacity when we decide to work together.

May God bless you all. And thank you all for all the bravery you've demonstrated over the years. And may God protect our troops.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Proud to be with you. Thank you.

11:59 A.M. EDT

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-17

National Museum of African American History and Culture
Washington, D.C.

It also increased the maximum Pell Grant to — by $900 — the largest increase in a decade. And it matters because over 60 percent of Black students rely on Pell Grants to go to college.

And something I'm really proud of: We're making historic investments in Historic Black Colleges and Universities. [Applause]

Now, I'm from Delaware, so I go along with Delaware State being the best HBCU. [Laughter] Kamala keeps saying it's Howard. [Applause, Laughter] And I'm going now — I'm going to Sunday to make a speech at that other place, that — that men's col- — More- — Morehou- — [laughter] — Morehouse! [Applause, Laughter]

I got more Morehouse Men in my administration than Morehouse. [Laughter]

But regardless of loyalties, it's clear HBCUs are vital to our nation's progress. [Applause] I mean it. That's not hyperbole.

HBCUs are responsible for 40 percent of Black engineers in America, 50 percent of Black teachers, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists, 80 percent of all Black judges — and, by the way, I put more on the bench than anybody ever has –[applause] — and 100 percent of Black vice presidents. [Applause, Laughter] You got it.

HBCUs also don't have endowments like other colleges and universities that are able to fund research labs and so much more.

Well, Kamala and I made a commitment to lift HBCUs up, and we're keeping that commitment.

Today, I'm proud to announce, as was mentioned earlier by the president, that we've invested over $16 billion in HBCUs — by far the most ever of any administration — in combination of almost all administrations. [Applause]

This investment has helped HBCUs do everything from build student housing to study climate science to create health research labs, prepare Black students for labs in industries of the future, because they don't have the endowments to do it themselves now.

But let's be clear, I know real power when I see it.

Later today, in the Oval Office, I'll be meeting with the presidents of the Divine Nine. [Applause] You all think I'm kidding, don't you? Well, I'm proud that we're the first admi- —

AUDIENCE MEMBER: [Inaudible]

THE PRESIDENT: You — you got it.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: [Inaudible]

THE PRESIDENT: [Laughs] I can tell there's no — anyway. [Laughter]

We're the the first administration in history to have a working group from the Divine Nine in the White House. And I asked them to do that from the very beginning.

But we know, 70 years after Brown v. Board, there are some forces trying to deny freedom of opportunity for all Americans.

A few minutes ago, I talked with some of the Little Rock Nine, who were determined to integrate a public school in Little Rock, Arkansas, 67 years ago. [Applause]

I'd like to recognize them for their courage and her- — if they — if they can, would you — if you're able, please stand and rise so we can all see you. [Applause]

And thank God Eisenhower was president. Thank God we had someone who stood up.

The Little Rock Nine were met with vitriol and violence.

Today, the resistance comes in other insidious forms. An extreme movement led by my predecessor and his MAGA Republican allies, backed by an extreme Supreme Court, gutted affirmative action in college admissions.

My predecessor and his extreme MAGA friends are now going after diversity, equity, and inclusion all across America. They want a country for some, not for all.

And let's not kid ourselves, folks. This is the God's truth what I'm saying.

My predecessor and his extreme MAGA friends are responsible for taking away other fundamental freedoms, from the freedom to vote to the freedom to choose. But I've always believed that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed. And I mean that: everyone to succeed. [Applause]

That's what Brown is all about. That's what we're all about. That's what America is about.

Let me close this. On Sunday, I'm attending the commencement at Morehouse College, one of our nation's most important institutions. Morehouse was founded after our nation's civil war to help prepare Black Americans who were formerly enslaved to enter the ministry, earn an education, and usher them from slavery to freedom.

The founders of Morehouse understood something fundamental: Education is linked to freedom. Because to be free means to have something that no one can ever take away from you. [Applause]

And that's the power of an education. That's why the Brown decision we commemorate today is so important.

The work of building a democracy is — of possibility, of a democracy worthy of our dreams starts with opening the doors of opportunity for everyone without exception. And we can do it.

We just have to remember who we are. We are the United States of America. [Applause] There's nothing beyond our capacity when we decide to work together.

May God bless you all. And thank you all for all the bravery you've demonstrated over the years. And may God protect our troops.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause] Proud to be with you. Thank you.

11:59 A.M. EDT

Press Briefings

2024-05-17

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:40 P.M. EDT

On Thursday, the President and the First Lady will host President William Ruto and the First Lady, Rachel Ruto, of the Republic of Kenya for a state visit. The Vice President and Second Gemen- — Second Gentleman will also, obviously, join as well.

The visit will strengthen our shared commitment to advance peace, security; expand our economic ties; and deepen democratic institutions. The visit will re- — will affirm our strategic partnership with Kenya and further the vision set forth at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities. The Vice President will also host a state luncheon on Friday at the State Department.

On Saturday, the President will deliver the commencement address at the United States Military Academy's graduation ceremony. He previously deli- — delivered the commencement address at West Point in 2012 and also 2016 as vice president.

This is a special honor, and the President looks forward to celebrating graduates and their families and thanking them for their selfless service and defense of our nation.

MR. KIRBY: Thank you, Karine. Good afternoon, everybody.

Through the humanitarian maritime corridor, USAID plans to provide initial contributions of more than 170 metric tons of nutrient-rich food bars to support 11,000 of the most vulnerable children and adults; ready-to-use therapeutic foods to treat more than 7,200 cases of severe wasting in children; and nearly 90 metric tons of critical supplies, such as plastic sheeting for shelter, jerry cans to hold clean water, and hygiene kits to support more than 33,000 people. And just today, as you're seeing here, we were able to get more the 300 pallets of some of that material in there.

Soon after the President signed the national security supplemental last month, he authorized two military aid packages under the presidential drawdown authority. And late last month, the Department of Defense announced a $6 billion package through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will be used to procure new equipment to strengthen Ukraine's defenses over the medium and long term.

And then, of course, you saw Secretary Blinken, in Kyiv this past week, announced that the United States will provide an additional $2 billion aid package for Ukraine's defense under the Foreign Military Financing program. All of this will — I'm sorry — that aid for FMF will be used in four ways.

First, to help Ukraine procure weapons and equipment to repel Russia's invasion.

Second, to invest in Ukraine's defense industrial base.

Third, to help Ukraine purchase military equipment from other countries in addition to the United States.

And, finally, these funds may help other countries transition off Russian systems and incentivize donations to Ukraine.

Now just one last program announcement, and then I promise I'll shut up. I can announce today that our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, will travel to Saudi Arabia starting tomorrow. He'll be there to meet with Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral and regional matters, including the war in Gaza, of course, and ongoing efforts to achieve a lasting peace and security in the region.

On Sunday, the next day, Mr. Sullivan will travel to Israel to meet with senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, to discuss, of course, the war in Gaza, including ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all the hostages, address the humanitarian crisis, and our shared objective for the enduring affeat — enduring defeat of Hamas through both military pressure and a political plan.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, M.J.

Q Thanks, Karine. Thanks, Admiral. I wanted to ask you about the three hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza. Was the U.S. given any details, particularly about where they were recovered and how they were recovered?

MR. KIRBY: It's just horrible news. And our hearts go out to the families who — who are having to deal with this terrible news. I don't have any information that we knew ahead of time or that we had any more — we have had since the bodies have been recovered — any additional information or context from the Israelis on this.

Q Okay. The five American hostages who are still unaccounted for —

MR. KIRBY: Correct.

Q — is there any new intelligence about their whereabouts or their potential wellbeing?

MR. KIRBY: Sadly, no. We don't have any information that — that leads us to a conclusion that they're — that they're no longer alive. But we just don't have any additional context whatsoever.

Q And just on a separate topic very quickly. What was your reaction to seeing Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi exchanging hugs?

MR. KIRBY: Exchanging hugs?

Q Mm-hmm.

MR. KIRBY: Well, that's nice for them.

Look, you have two countries here — leaders of two countries that — that clearly are acting in various ways around the world inimical to our national security interests, to the interests of many of our allies and partners. No surprise that these two leaders continue to try to develop this burgeoning relationship.

But — but they're also two leaders that don't have a long history of working together, and officials in both governments that — that aren't necessarily all that trustful of the other.

What they have in common is a comm- — is a desire to — to challenge the international rules-based order, challenge the network of alliances and partnerships that United States enjoys and which President Biden has strengthened in his time in office, and — and to try to look for ways to bolster each other's national security interests as well.

So, we didn't see anything coming out of this meeting that we weren't necessarily surprised by. I wouldn't go so far as to say we weren't concerned about — about this relationship and where it's going. Of course we are, and we're watching it closely. But I'd leave it at that.

Q Do you think that was a purposeful show of public display to send any kind of message to the U.S. or otherwise?

MR. KIRBY: Oh, man, I'm not good at talking about personal human bodily affection one way or the other, so I — I think I'll leave it to these two gents to talk about why they thought it was good to hug one another. [Laughter]

I'll just tell you that — that we take seriously th- — the challenges that both countries that represent, and we take seriously this burgeoning relationship between the two of them.

That said, in Ukraine specifically, we haven't seen President Xi rush to the effort to assist the Russian Armed Forces and provide lethal capabilities. We are deeply concerned and have said so. I think Karine mentioned it yesterday, about some of these Chinese companies that are providing microelectronics and components for Russia's defensive sy- — or weapons systems. That's — that's a problem, and we've — and we've raised that with the Ch- — with the Chinese as well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Darlene.

Q Thank you. So, what is the status of the aid on that first truck that went in? Is it being distributed, or is it still waiting —

MR. KIRBY: I was told —

Q — to be distributed?

MR. KIRBY: — right before coming out here that the U.N. has now taken possession of these first — these first pallets and are getting them ready for distribution inside Gaza. So, look, I mean, hopefully, by the time we're done here, I mean, some of that stuff will actually be in — in the mouths of some hungry people, but we'll see.

Q And then one other question on Russia and Ukraine. Russia is pounding the Kharkiv region. Is it time for the U.S. to revisit the prohibition on Ukraine against using American weapons in an offensive manner?

MR. KIRBY: We do not encourage nor do we enable attacks using U.S.-supplied weapons systems inside Russian territory. That's the policy. That has not changed.

Q Thanks.

Q Thank you, Karine. And thank you, Admiral. You just spoke about the importance of protecting humanitarian aid workers. And it's been a month and a half since the IDF released a report about the World Central Kitchen. Has the U.S. finished reviewing that report? And what did it conclude?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not aware that we have some sort of final conclusion on that. But I'll tell you, I'll take the question, and we'll go back and I'll check with my State Department colleagues. But I'm not aware that we've come to some dif- –different or final conclusion about it.

Q When we asked you several times in the past, you said, "We're still reviewing the report. It takes a long time to go through all the facts and figures." So —

MR. KIRBY: I just don't have an update for you.

Q Okay. Last night, Israel's Defense Minister said that the IDF would send more troops into Rafah. Do you have a response to that?

MR. KIRBY: I — I think we've addressed this one already. As always, I'll let the Israelis talk about their military operations and where they put their troops. Point one.

Point two, they have a right and a responsibility to go after Hamas, including in Rafah. And as I just mentioned, Jake's going to raise this issue when he goes to — to Israel on Sunday. They have a right and responsibility to do that.

How they do that matters, and that's part of the conversations that we also want to have and Jake will have about going after that terrorist capability in Rafah in a way that's targeted, precise, and, quite frankly, effective.

We don't believe — still don't believe that the way to do it is to smash into Rafah with a large body of armed forces on the ground in an — in an indiscriminate and reckless manner.

So, I can't — I don't — I'm not dodging the question. I don't know the context with which Minister Gallant said that.

I can just tell you that nothing has changed about our view, that we don't support a major ground operation or a large operation in Rafah that would put — now it's about a million people — at — at greater risk.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thank you. As you know, President has focused a lot on democracy — promoting democracy globally in his three and a half years. What is the President's thoughts on the election that are happening in India right now? Around 900 million voters going out to 1 million polling booths to elect 545 member of parliament from thousands of candidates [inaudible] registered political parties.

MR. KIRBY: There's not too many more vibrant democracies in the world than India. And we applaud the Indian people for — for exercising, you know, their ability to vote and to have a voice in their — in their future government. And we wish them well throughout the process, of course.

Q And, secondly, Prime Minister Modi is going for his third term — seeking his third term from the people of India. How do you see India-U.S. relations in the 10 years of his government?

MR. KIRBY: How do I see — I'm sorry.

Q How do you see India-U.S. relationship in the 10 years of his administration?

MR. KIRBY: How do I see it over the last 10 years?

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

MR. KIRBY: Oh, I — I'll speak to the last three, if that's okay, because that's kind of where — where I'm allowed to go. But you — you —

Q The first three years were also — vice president.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I'm going to stick to the last three years, if you don't mind.

Look, our relationship with India is extremely close and getting closer. You saw it in our state visit. I mean, we launched all kinds of new initiatives: working on critical emerging technologies together and bolstering and ex- — expanding the relevance of the Indo-Pacific Quad, of course, which India is a part of. And then just the people-to-people exchanges and the military — military cooperation that — that we share with India.

So, I mean, it's a — it's a very vibrant, very active partnership. And — and we're grateful for Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

Q One final one. You spoke about Quad. Does the President really believes that two of his Quad partners, India and Japan, are "xenophobic"?

MR. KIRBY: No. I mean, look, Karine already dealt with this one. I mean, the President was making a broader point here about the vibrancy of our own democracy here in the United States and how inclusive and particip- — par- — participatory it is.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Danny.

MR. KIRBY: That was not easy to say.

Q Thanks, Admiral. You mentioned that the aid coming through the pier was going to be screened by Israeli authorities. How confident are you that that's not going to cause sort of delays in terms of the aid being held up?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah.

Q And also, if I may, how confident are you that there's not going to be delays at the other end when — at the pier end as well?

MR. KIRBY: Look, I mean, it's day one. And as I just said, we got indications here just before I came on out here that some of that aid was already moving into Gaza. That's pretty impressive for day one — just day one.

The inspections are actually happening in Cyprus. And that's — that's a really important component of this modular system that we've constructed here. So, the inspections are happening before the ships even leave Cyprus and move on down to the eastern coast — I'm sorry, the Eastern Med, off the coast of Gaza.

So, right now, it — it seems like a very good system in place. But, again, it's day one, so we'll take a look and see how it goes.

Q Are those inspections being done in tandem with anyone else, such as the United States or —

MR. KIRBY: The IDF is responsible for the inspection regime in Cyprus. And as I said, on this first day, it worked well.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q On Jake Sullivan's travel this weekend. Did the U.S. government receive any assurances from Israel that it wouldn't expand its Rafah operation while he's there?

MR. KIRBY: I'll just say, without getting into our diplomatic conversations — we've said this before — that we're going to continue to talk to the Israelis about alternatives to major ground operations in Rafah. That is not what they're conducting right now. And they have assured us that they are willing to continue to have those discussions with us before they make any major decisions. And I'll leave it at that.

Q Can you share an update on the American doctors in Gaza who are trying to get out of there and what your understanding is, what the U.S. government assessment is of the holdup?

MR. KIRBY: There's no holdup. They're out.

Twe- — there was 20 American doctors; 17 are out now — came out today. And all 17 of the — they wanted to — they wanted to leave. I won't speak for the other three, but just — but I can assure you that any of them that wanted to leave are out now.

Q And then, just finally, you referenced the security plan for the port and the pier. Secretary Austin, a couple of weeks ago, before it was operational, said his understanding was that if U.S. troops were fired upon that they may fire back. Is that still your understanding of what would happen here?

MR. KIRBY: 100 percent.

Q Thank you, Karine. Thank you, Admiral. When it comes to those bodies that were recovered, the three hostages, what impact does that have on the current ceasefire negotiations? Does it set those talks back?

MR. KIRBY: I don't think we can say that right now. First of all, our focus — and I'm sure our Israeli counterparts' focus, too — is on the — on the families who are getting this horrible news. As you know, the talks didn't go anywhere last week. Unfortunately, we just didn't get to a successful conclusion.

One of the things that Jake wants to cover when he goes over — back to the region is to see what we can do to keep those talks going and get — get some kind of resolution here. But I don't think — it's difficult to see how this grim news today is going to have a major effect on — on the — on the hostage deal negotiations. We really want to get this done so that we can get six weeks of a ceasefire that can maybe lead to something more enduring.

Q And part of that ceasefire deal is the release of hostages. I know you've said you don't know how many Americans are still alive. But is there a broad assessment of how many hostages overall are still alive?

MR. KIRBY: I would refer you to the Israelis for an exact number. I know it's — it's north of 100. I've seen estimates of maybe 130 total. Not all of them — we don't believe all of them are alive. We don't know exactly what the breakdown is.

Q And, of course, Rafah is going to be a big point of discussion when Sullivan is in the region. Can you just talk about the impact that the President's withholding of those 2,000-pound bombs have had on the relationship and Israeli decision-making when it comes to what we're seeing in Rafah right now?

MR. KIRBY: It was not a withholding. Just — there was a pause put in place on a — on a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs, and that pause is still in place. I would remind you that other aid, other weapons and capabilities from the United States continues to flow to Israel. They are not left defenseless. And they also have — without getting into specifics, they have inventories of existing — like similar capabilities that they already had available to them.

I won't speak to their operations, but I think you can just disc- — discern from news coverage alone that they continue to conduct operations in Rafah and elsewhere in Gaza.

Q So, you're saying they already have inventories of the 2,000- —

MR. KIRBY: I'm just saying they have —

Q — pound bombs?

MR. KIRBY: — existing inventories of capabilities, and more capabilities continue to go. I won't get into the details of that for their own operational security.

But I did- — I guess I didn't really answer your question, though, on decision-making. I think — well, I don't think — we know that they know what our concerns are with respect to Rafah and how they go into Rafah and what that looks like. And, again, Jake is going to go over this weekend, and he'll reiterate those same points.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q John, you had the assassination attempt of the Slovakian leader this week. What is the level of concern that this could be an indicator of instability in Europe? You have European Union elections coming up in June. There have been some attacks on German politicians that we've seen. You know, how much is this a worry of the administration across the world?

MR. KIRBY: You know, it's too soon to know whether you're seeing some kind of a trend here, a wave of violent activity or intent with respect to political stability in Europe. But obviously, we're watching this real closely. Certainly, we're glad to hear that the Prime Minister survived the attack and — and is on the mend. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Q Thanks, Karine. Admiral, back to Ukraine. Does the President hope to attend the Ukraine peace conference next month [inaudible]?

MR. KIRBY: I don't have anything on his schedule to speak to in that regard.

Q I just wanted to ask you about the Strategic Consultant Group status, when the — when they will be meeting.

MR. KIRBY: Well, you got the National Security Advisor —

Q Is — it will be next week?

MR. KIRBY: — going over this weekend. That's — that's a pretty good — that's a pretty good level of meetings here. I don't have another one inside the SCG context to — to speak to today. We've had a couple live ones. We've had some virtual ones. I think that they'll continue. But the next — the next consultation, if you will, is Jake's trip this weekend.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nadia.

Q John, just to follow up what you told me this morning. Were there any conditions that Israel has imposed on certain items in this aid that will get into Gaza? Because, in the past, they wouldn't allow scissors, for example, wheelchairs, other items. Or is it just purely food —

MR. KIRBY: This is really focused — these — certainly today and I think in the coming days, it's really going to be focused on food, nutri- — nutrition. That's really the focus. And there's been no restrictions placed by the Israelis on that.

Q Okay. And then —

MR. KIRBY: And I would — I've got one to add — one — one more point. You reminded me that — that the Israelis and the IDF, in particular, have been enormously helpful and supportive of this effort, this temporary pier and their role in — on the beach and on the ground in supporting it. They've been very, very helpful — extremely cooperative.

Q And the distribution, you just said that U- — U.N. agency is going to be in charge. Is that — does this include UNRWA? And second, will be any supervision by the IDF or in the steps of distribution, not just offloading of the pier?

MR. KIRBY: I want to be careful here because I don't want to violate operational security issues. As I said in my opening statement, the food will be distributed by the U.N. and other aid organizations. I'll let the U.N. speak to th- — how they're going to do that.

When you get the material ashore, it goes into what we would call a marshalling area. So, it's a part of the beach where it can be placed safely until it can be then head — head out on trucks into Gaza. And there — I would just say that there's an adequate security apparatus in place for that purpose. And I think I need to leave it at that.

Q And finally, I just want to follow up on the hostages.

Q Thanks, Karine.

Q [Inaudible] that there are actually reports indicating that the — the bodies that they recovered today, that the hostages were killed as far as December. It — they were not killed recently.

MR. KIRBY: I don't have that level of information. I don't know.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Nandita, go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Hi, Admiral. Just quickly to follow up on the military pier. Are U.S. troops guarding it on the ground?

MR. KIRBY: There is a — not on the ground. So, as I said in my opening statement, there are no U.S. servicemembers in Gaza. There is a small U.S. military component on the pier itself. And they're there really to do sort of two things. One is to provide a modicum of security for it but also to assist with the logistics.

I mean, you're going to have ships pulling up to this pier — not the big cargo ships. They'll — they'll transport it to smaller ships off the coast of Gaza. Those smaller ships will bring the goods onto the pier, and you're going to need some logistical support to get it from the ships onto the trucks.

So, there's a small footprint of U.S. military on the pier, but they will not — not go into Gaza.

Q How — how many, when you — when you say "small"?

MR. KIRBY: I think I'm going to let the Pentagon speak to the numbers. I don't want to — I don't want to violate that. But it's not — it's not a huge number.

Q And — and why is the U.S. confident that Israel will not strike any of the vehicles that are taking aid in? I understand you said that they've been helpful.

MR. KIRBY: They have been extraordinarily cooperative.

Q But have they offered explicit assurances that they will not? I mean, because they attacked the World Food Kitchen cars that were carrying aid.

MR. KIRBY: And they investigated, and they fired people that they thought were at fault, and they apologized for the mistake. And they have tried to improve their deconfliction process. We are not worried about the Israelis striking the convoys of trucks that are coming off of that pier.

They are actually participating in helping marshal that material ashore and then get it into Gaza. So, that's not a concern.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Patsy.

Q Thank you, Karine. So, just to clarify, John, the Israelis and the American soldiers — the small footprint of American soldiers will be working together to marshal these shipments?

MR. KIRBY: There is a small component of U.S. servicemembers on the pier. There are no Israeli Defense Forces on the pier.

Q And so, is there anything more that you can preview on President Ruto's visit next week, especially in terms of shoring up partnership against China's influence in the continent?

MR. KIRBY: We'll have more to say on the state visit as we get closer to it.

Q Okay. And then just one more — one more. And feel free if you want to take this one, Karine. Many of those protests and — on campus have linked the Palestinian cause to activism of other global injustices, including ra- — racism against African Americans.

And so, you both have said often that the President understands the emotions behind these protests. But I was wondering specifically: As — as the President is ramping up his outreach to Black voters, is he aware of and sensitive towards the Black community and how they might see a common parallel of injustice between themselves and Palestinians?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Let me — let take this. Let's let the Admiral finish what he came to do.

MR. KIRBY: That — that's a —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And then I'll take some —

Q Okay.

MR. KIRBY: That's definitely not a question for me.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. We'll take a couple more. Go ahead.

Q One is —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, the young lady right here. Yeah.

Q Oh, thank you. John, I — you mentioned the U.S. providing some security. I thought the IDF was going to be providing the security, but is there a small component of U.S. forces that are also there providing some security for the pier?

MR. KIRBY: There's a small component of U.S. servicemembers on the pier, as I said, that will be helping with force protection, of course. I mean —

Q But you can't speak to the number?

MR. KIRBY: I'm not going to speak to the number. I'll let you — the Pentagon do that.

Q And then, there's still U.S. forces or U.S. troops offshore, in addition to those on the pier?

MR. KIRBY: There's a — there's — there's a Navy component — there's a — there's Navy assistance in getting the material onto smaller vessels out further away from the pier, well off the coast, so that those smaller vessels then can transload the material onto the pier.

I mean, you've seen the pictures of the pier. It's not practical to bring a big freight or cargo ship up against that thing. I mean, it's anchored to the seabed, but it's temporary. It's not — you know, there's not concrete piles in there.

So, what we do is we take the stuff off the bigger ships — all well off the coast — put it on smaller U.S. Navy vessels. Those smaller U.S. Navy vessels will bring it into the pier and offload it so it can get onto trucks.

Q And just overall, this — this area has been targeted before by a mortar attack. What is the administration trying to do to prevent and deter an attack from happening again? And — and what efforts are being done to —

MR. KIRBY: I mean —

Q — protect those U.S. forces there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — part of my being up here today is a little bit of that to make it clear what this is and what it's not. There's been some bogus stuff out there in the information environment, particularly in the region, that this has some sort of military capacity or operational capacity for the IDF, and it just doesn't. It's nothing more than humanitarian assistance.

And we've also passed that message back through the appropriate channels to Hamas so they understand exactly what this is.

And look, showing pictures — you all can get online and see what it is. I mean, we're making no secret about what this thing is and what it's not.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Just a couple more. Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Admiral, I know this is day one — maybe closer to hour one of this pier initiative —

MR. KIRBY: But —

Q — but — [laughs] — you know, even at full capacity, it'll only be a fraction of the amount of aid. Is —

MR. KIRBY: Correct.

Q — the United States working on or negotiating, figuring out other methods of getting additional aid in via other avenues?

MR. KIRBY: Well, look, there's no better way to do it than the land crossings. There's just not. And before the war, there was 500 trucks going in a day over a course of different crossings, and we want to get back up to that level if we can. Now, that's a tall order; I get that. And we haven't been able to even get a sustainable 300-plus trucks in a day. But it's important that Rafah open immediately.

Other — other crossings are open, but there's been challenges with getting some of that aid through those crossings, particularly protest activity on the Israeli side. And those delays, those problems have got to be solved.

And I have no doubt that Mr. Sullivan will raise those issues as well when he's over there.

But this is meant to be additive — this temporary pier — additive, not an alternative. There's just no alternative really to getting trucks in on the ground.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Brian, you have the last one.

Q Thanks a lot. Hey, Admiral. I have a question about the death toll in Gaza. Does President Biden have confidence in the casualty numbers coming out of Gaza?

MR. KIRBY: The President watches this very, very closely. And you've heard him talk about the more than 30,000 people that have been killed, and he said the majority are women and children. And he's also said that's unacceptable.

And as we've maintained time and time again, the right number of civilian casualties ought to be zero. But in terms of, you know, what — what specific number we're quoting or citing on any given day, I mean, we're doing the best we can working with the Israelis to — to ascertain the scope of the civilian suffering, but it's obviously immense.

Q Has his —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank —

Q Has his confidence in the numbers coming out of Gaza increased since late October, when he said he had "no confidence" in the numbers —

MR. KIRBY: You — you've heard —

Q — [inaudible]?

MR. KIRBY: — the President talk about the numbers and talk about the concern.

Q [Inaudible]

MR. KIRBY: And the most important thing — aside from, obviously, how tragic that is — is what we're doing to alleviate and help improve conditions in Gaza, including through this temporary pier today.

Thanks, everybody.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right, thanks, Admiral.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Darlene, I don't have anything else.

Q Great. Thank you. Does the President, who is a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, agree with the current chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee that Justice Alito should recuse himself from 20 cases involving the 2020 Election or January 6th, because of the reporting of the upside-down flag flown outside of his house?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, obviously, we've seen the reporting, and I — I don't want to comment on the specific report of — on that reporting.

What I can say more broadly is that the President believes that the American flag is sacred — you've heard him say that — and is owed proper respect and honor of the brave men and women who have defended our — our country for generations. And we should be respecting that flag. We should be making sure that it is respected in that way. It is sacred.

As for anything else, the conduct or recusing himself, that is something for the court to decide. I just don't have anything else to add.

And just want to be very clear, the American flag is sacred. That is something that the President has — believes in, and you've heard me say this before at this podium many times.

Q Can you give us a sense of how the President will use his time at Morehouse on Sunday? Will there be any news in the speech? Will it be more of a lofty "go forth and prosper" kind of speech? Can you give us a sense of —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So —

Q — without getting specific —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know.

Q — because I know you —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know.

Q — don't want to get ahead of the President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. I don't want to get ahead of a president.

No, so, look, he takes these commencement addresses incredibly seriously. He understands the importance of — of him being the president and, obviously, the Commander-in-Chief and speak — when he speaks to the — the West Point graduates later this month. But he sees this as an im- — an opportunity to lift up and to give important message to our future leaders.

I mean, these Morehouse Men who are graduating will be our future leaders, as you heard from Mayor Benjamin when he was standing here behind this lectern. He talked about what it's like to be part of — part of that HBCU, if you ima– — if you — if you can imagine, collective — and how important it is, and how respected that is.

And so, look, he'll have, I think, some important messages to share for these future leaders. He will have themes in his — in his remarks — in his commencement remarks that he'll share with them. He's been working on these remarks for the past couple days, I can assure you, with his senior advisors. He's taking this incredibly seriously.

And he understands, as the President tends to do, meet the moment — the moment that we're in.

I won't get beyond that. But I would say, "Stay tuned." I think it will be a moving — a moving commencement address. I think it will meet the moment. And I think you will hear directly from the President on how he sees, obviously, the future of this country and also the community that they represent.

But, again, as you just stated, I'm not going to get ahead of the President.

Go ahead, Weijia.

Q Thanks, Karine. I'm going to try again —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: On Morehouse?

Q Not on Morehouse. On —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q — the flag.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q So, given the flag incident, does President Biden believe that Justice Alito can rule in — with impartiality for all the cases involving January 6th?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look — and this is something that I have spoken to the President about. And it — basically, what I laid out is how he feels: That the American Flag is sacred, and we should be respecting that flag.

I do not want to get into the business of the specific actions that — that Supreme Court justices — if they should recuse themselves or not on a — on a court. That is something for the Court more broadly. They have to make that decision. That is something that we're not going to step into. We're not going to comment from here.

But more broadly, we can say, from the reportings that we have seen, that, you know, we believe that the American flag should be respected. It should be — it — this is a — if you think about the brave men and women who have sacrificed, given their lives to protect our nation, it is — it is — we just — that is something that we will always say and be really, really clear about.

I cannot speak to if he should recrus- — recuse himself, how he should move forward in the Court. That is for the Court to decide.

Q Okay. On another topic. Did President Biden —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You seem — look — wow, you just seem so disappointed and like, "Ah, Karine — well, we're going to move on." [Laughs]

Q Well, no, I mean — I understand that you can't — that you're not going to engage on — on that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sorry to disappoint you, Weijia. [Laughs]

Q No, it's — it's okay.

So, did the President see the confrontations from the House Oversight Committee meeting yesterday?

But what we — what we can say, as someone who — you know, a President, as I just stated, was a senator for some time, who — who knows how that place works, I think you have to treat people with dignity; you have to treat people with respect. It is important. It doesn't matter which side of the aisle you sit on. It is important to do that because you are there to work on behalf of the American people.

And that's probably all I can share at this time.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I will say: Stay tuned.

Q Okay. And then what was the President's reaction to Senator Romney saying that the President should have pardoned Donald Trump after the Justice Department brought those indictments against him or that he should have pressured New York prosecutors not to pursue the ongoing hush money trial?

Q A current sitting senator saying that the President should have pardoned Donald Trump.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I mean, we're just going to let the process mo- — we would never interject ourself in — in a criminal — criminal legal proceedings. It's not something that we do from here.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sticky fingers.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: [Laughs] That's what you called yourself. You said you had sticky fingers.

Q Well, I kept dropping my notebook; I'm just so excited to be here today. [Laughter]

There — there is a billionaire, Ray Dalio. Quoted by the Financial Times, he's saying now that the chances of a civil war in this country are around 35 to 40 percent. Do you think the chances are that high?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I am not in a place to — to give probabilities or — you know, I don't — I don't gamble. I don't spend my time in Vegas, so I couldn't speak to that.

But what I can say is the President has been really clear about the need to continue to fight for our democracy. That is one of the reasons he jumped into the election back in 2019. What he was seeing across the country, what was — seeing, obviously, in Charlottesville and what he saw there — the vile, the — the hatred — and it was concerning to him.

And so — but, you know, you move forward and — from there to January 6 of 2021 — that was a very scary time in our dem- — democracy. That was a stain on our democracy. What we saw happening at the Capitol — rioters — of 2,000 rioters wanting to turn over a free and fair election.

So, obviously, the President wants to continue to fight for that, continue to fight for our democracy, fight for our freedoms, and that's where we're going to continue to stand. I can't give probability. I don't even know who this — who you're speaking of.

Q Okay. And then I have some on the big story today.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q What does President Biden think about the world's number-one golfer, Scottie Scheffler, being cuffed and then hauled in for a mug shot for what appears to be a misunderstanding at a traffic stop?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I — I've seen the reports of Mr. Schef- — Scheffler's arrest. I just want to say that our hearts go out to the individual that was killed —

Q Unrelated.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, no, let me finish — in the auto — in the auto accident that preceded his arrest. Obviously, someone did die. Someone was killed — preceded his arrest — that, obviously, he was not involved in. So, want to make sure that we share our condolences to that family and their loved ones.

Anything else, as specifics to his arrest, that would be something for local authorities to speak to.

Q I think just — you guys have spent a good chunk of this week —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yep.

Q — talking about how you don't want anybody to ever go to jail again for pos- — possessing marijuana. Do you think that somebody who was involved in what appears to be a misunderstanding at a traffic stop should be facing 10 years in prison?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: There — we've seen the reports. There — there's a process there. We have to let the legal authorities do — go to their, you know, process and how this all works. I can't comment from here, from the lectern, about something that's being looked into by local authorities. I got to be mindful about that.

But let's not forget: Someone lost their life. Not — obviously, that preceded this. But there was an individual that was killed, and there's a family that's mourning a death of a loved one. And so, we want to be sensitive to that as well.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Can we still assume that the Kansas City Chiefs will be visiting the White House this year in celebration of their Super Bowl victory?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is all — the team, per usual, when there is a — a champion — a championship team, gets invited. I don't have anything to add on their attendance or how that looks. But the team is always invited. All — everyone on the team is invited. I just don't have anything beyond that.

Q So, can you confirm — you said everyone on the team is obviously invited. Is the Chiefs' kicker, Harrison Butker, welcome at this White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say — you would have to, obviously — what I can say is we invite the entire team, and we do that always. I don't have anything beyond that.

Q Given his recent comments, is he specifically welcome at this White — White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We invite the team. We invite the team. It's an invat- — invitation that goes to the team. And so, it's up to the team who comes and who doesn't come. That's the way it usually works.

Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just going to take another stab at this.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Which one? Which stab? [Laughter]

Q So, is the President concerned that having a Supreme Court Justice —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, okay.

Q — someone who is in such a high position of power, displaying a flag in his house in such a way, that that could fuel more extremism and division in this country?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just have to be really mindful when we're talking about the highest court of the land. That is — we're not going to step into the re- — who should recuse themselves or not. That is for the courts to decide —

Q And then —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — that court to decide.

Q — what is the sense here about the wife's role here? Whether it is a Supreme Court Justice —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — wife of a senator or a president, should she be able and entitled to have her own political opinions and views without having them tied to her husband or not?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any comment on his wife.

Q And then, just lastly —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.

Q — the Morehouse president said that he is prepared to stop the commencement on the spot —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — if there are disruptive demonstrations. So, is the President prepared that that could potentially happen in the middle of his speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm going to let the president of — of Morehouse obviously speak to whatever procedure or whatever process that Morehouse wants to put in place.

Look, I mean, just to step back for a second. You know, the President is very much looking forward to Sunday. It is going to be an important moment for, obviously, the students who are graduating, the young men who are graduating, but also their families. This is some — this is a — when the President does commencement address — he's done it many times — and I've said this — as senator, vice president, as president. You all know this. You have covered the President for some time in his different roles as a public — public — public person and — public servant, to be more exact.

And, you know — and when it comes to this difficult moment in time that we're in, as we speak about the protests, he understands that there's a lot of pain. He understands that people have a lot of opinions, and he respects that folks have opinions.

And so — and you've also seen the President — when there has been protests, the President has treated those peacefully protesters very re- — respectfully — in a respectful way. And that's how he's going to move with any event that he goes forward to do, including on Sunday.

He will respect the peaceful protesters. It is up to Morehouse on how they want to manage that and move forward with that. But he's going to be respectful, because it's not just the students, it's the parents, it's the loved ones who want — who want to be there to celebrate — celebrate an important moment.

And as always, we believe all Americans have the right to peacefully protest. And I'll just leave it there.

Go ahead, Nandita.

Q Just quickly following up on Mayor Benjamin's appearance yesterday.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Q He said he traveled to Morehouse. He spoke to students there. He asked them what they wanted to hear from the President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q And many of them said that they wanted to talk about the war in Gaza. And I'm just kind of trying to understand if the President plans to bring that up proactively during his speech, and what is his message going to be to — to those asking him to change his policy in the Middle East?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple things. When the mayor was here, he did say he had a private conversation with students and — and others and faculty there. He said he wanted to keep their — their — that private conversation in private. So, he was very mindful in what he shared from — from here yesterday afternoon.

Again, in asking me that question, that is previewing the President's remarks. I — I am not going to preview his remarks. I will tell you, more broadly, at a 30,000-foot view, that the President sees this as an important moment to give fu- — our future leaders some advice on how — on how he sees the world or how he could give them a little bit of advice on how to move forward in their — in their careers, in their future.

And so, not going to get beyond that.

Q Does he at least proactively want to bring up this issue, especially because the — these students, as the mayor said, want to talk to him about Gaza.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're going to have to — you're going to have to tune in. You have to tune in.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't know if you're traveling with us, but you're going to have to tune in.

Go ahead.

Q Who's helping him craft his speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He's been doing it himself along with his senior advisors all week.

Q Which advisors?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The usual senior advisors. [Laughter]

Q I know — I know Mayor Benjamin was traveling. I know the Vice President has —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't —

Q — talked to Morehouse students.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have a list in front of — in front of me to — to call out. But, you know, he has about — you know, a good — more than a handful of senior advisors. So, you can imagine any one of them have been in the room with him, helping him craft — craft this important — important speech that's happening on Sunday. But I just don't have a list of names, but it is his senior advisors.

And he's been working on it every day. That I can assure you.

Q For this week, he's been working on it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He's been diligently working on this and taking this very seriously and wants to, obviously, hit the right — hit the right tone, meet the moment.

Q And earlier today, at the museum, he said something interesting, where he — he mentioned, "As soon as I came into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan. And I want to be political for a second, because we're having problems — not one Republican voted for it — not one." What — what did he mean by "problems"? Is it the message not breaking through —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh.

Q — that — in your mind, do you think he was talking about —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's a good —

Q — not enough people know about this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's an interesting catch. I did not catch that in his remarks.

I don't know. I would have to — I would have to ask the President.

But what I will say is — and I think that I do re- — I do remember this in his remarks, which is the American Rescue Plan, not one Republican voted for it. It helped turn the — the economy around. It helped open schools, helped start small businesses.

And I think it was — I think he sees it as such an important — important piece of legislation — the first one that he was able to sign into law. That made a difference. That made a difference.

And I do know that he believes there are Republicans out there in Congress who try to take credit for that really important piece of legislation. And he tends to call them out, as you've heard him do so. Some of them actually benefited from that — the American Rescue Plan, which he has been very, very diligent on calling that out.

And it was an opportunity for them to be on the right side of history, and they were not. And so, he tends to call that out.

Anything beyond that, I don't have any specifics or — or detail into that.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Yeah. Does the President plan to meet with any of the Morehouse students while he's down there, in addition to giving the speech?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we'll have more to share as we get closer to Sunday. Don't have anything for you at this time beyond that.

Go ahead.

Q Yeah. I wanted to kind of follow up on that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q A lot of — a lot of the messages to Black Americans that Biden is doing over the last couple days are at — at them — you know, a speech at Morehouse, the speech at the museum, the speech in Detroit.

I — I wonder if you can give any, you know, sense of whether that information flows both ways. Is he asking questions? Is he — are — is — are the Divine Nine, you know, saying, "This is what we would like to see from your presidency going forward"?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q You know, listening as opposed to speaking.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I — I know you're saying "at them." I don't — we don't see it "at them." I think the President shows up in front of a crowd of — in front of a community and talks about how he's been working on their behalf, working to deliver for that community or for all Americans.

I think that's important. I think people want to hear from the President. They want to hear what is it that he has to say, whether it's about the economy, healthcare, whatever issues that's important to them.

And I think the fact that the President shows up at the African American Museum is important. The fact that the President, you know, is here — has in front — has — is talking to the Divine Nine, I think it's also very important. Going to Morehouse, we're talking about young men who are going into — going into their careers, and they get to hear from the President of the United States. That's actually important, I think, for them to hear from the President.

So, I don't — the "at them," I think, is kind of a little harsh there. I think it's the President showing up and sharing and being very clear about what he has done, as — as their president, to deliver.

And — and I think to the — I think to the heart of your question, you know, the President also loves to hear from people. He does. He loves to hear from what they have to say, what they have to offer. He's going to do that with the Divine Nine. He did that yesterday with the different plaintiffs of — of Brown v. Board. He does that very often, continuously, and I think it is important for him.

The best advice, the best — you know, the best feedback that he gets is from everyday people — you know, Americans who are out there, who have — who are living the life — are living the lives that he's trying to improve. So, he's very much open to that.

Go ahead, Franco.

Q I wanted to ask about the background checks that are going to go into effect next week — gun background checks. There's a number of lawsuits from state attorney generals against them, the Second Amendment —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Which background checks are you —

Q The gun background checks. The —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q — they were announced earlier this spring. Expa- — licenses of private — private gun sales —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So —

Q — for the private market.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay, I think that's more for the Department of Justice. I don't have any — anything specifics on how that's going to work out or the process of that. I would have to refer you to Department of Justice. Don't have anything in detail for you at this time.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, since the announcement of the U.S. tariffs on China earlier this week, we've heard from the international community, including IMF and WTO and others, that are expressing concerns about the impact of these tariffs on the global economy. And I understand we heard from NEC Director Brainard yesterday about the case she's making for how underpriced exports have hurt the U.S. economy specifically. But does the administration have any case to be made for how this is going to help the global economy in addition to the U.S. economy?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, just a couple of things. Look, he took this action — the President did — obviously, earlier this week, when we made the announcement on Tuesday, to make — to make sure there was a level playing field, because he knows that Americans can — can outcompete anyone just as long as that competition is fair, right? And that — you heard us say that over and over again. You heard that from the ambassador — Ambassador Tai.

But China hasn't been playing by the rules. It's just a fact. Their unfair policies undermine the global trade, not just us — Americans and American businesses and companies — but global trade more broadly.

And so, certainly, we're not alone in voicing those concerns about China's unfair trade policies and taking action to address them. We're not the only ones who have said anything about that, spoken about it, or taken actions. A number of advanced and emerging economies have also expressed concerns. Their industries also face damage from China's overcapacity.

And so, the President is going to continue, as he does always, to work with our allies to join forces to out — to outcompete China and whether then — rather than undermining our alliances, threatening jobs, and increasing costs for families by $1,500 with universal 10 percent tariffs.

And so, we are — we are going to remain an open economy — the United States. And so — and we're going to do that with foreign investment and American manufacturing almost double its — its average before the pandemic. Our China — our actions — pardon me — are focused on strategic sectors and not only on China.

So, we're going to continue to work with our allies. And — and so, we're trying to make sure that, you know, competition is fair. And the policies that China had were unfair and undermined global trade. And so, we're addressing that. And we're going to continue to do that.

Go ahead.

AIDE: We got to wrap.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's okay. It's all right.

Q Any response from the — from the White House regarding the sentencing of Mr. DePape in the attack on Paul Pelosi?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, I know that — I saw that when I was coming out. I want to be really careful on that, too. On — on the judicial — it's a judicial process.

But as you heard from the President immediately after we received the tragic news of the heartbreaking attack on Paul Pelosi, there's absolutely no place for political violence in America — not at all. As leaders, we owe it to everyone not to repeat dangerous conspiracy theories and speak out against violence and violent rhetoric. We're so grateful — and we had, obviously, the opportunity to see Paul Pelosi a few times, most recently at the Medal of Freedom. And you all saw him as well.

And obviously he has recovered. And so, the President is grateful for his friendship. He's grateful for the friendship of Speaker Pelosi. And we're happy that he's doing well.

But I'm not going to speak to a judicial process.

I'm being pulled, guys. I will see you.

Q Karine, you haven't answered my question, though.

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

Q Thank you. So, just a follow-up —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're right. I owe you. I owe you an answer. What was the question?

Q Yeah, just — it's basically to follow up with what my colleagues have asked about Morehouse. I know you can't preview the content of the speech.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But is the President mindful of how Black students who are protesting in campus might see a parallel of their experience of injustice between themselves and the Palestinians? Has he received input about this? Is he sympathetic to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, the President is sympathetic to the fact that many communities are in pain. He has said that. He is very sympathetic to what people are feeling right now. He knows that it is a difficult time, and he respects that. He truly does. And — and, you know, that is also why he also respects the fact that people have the right to peacefully protest.

And it is a difficult time, and we get that. He gets that. And, you know, as President, he makes incredibly difficult decisions. And — but he also understands as president, there are people who are going to feel pain in a different way or see actions that he's taken differently, in different views. But this is what our democracy is all about, having different opinions, having different views, and being able to express your voice and be able to be very clear about that.

And so, that's why we've been saying — when you all have been asking about protests and what the President's going to do — he's going to do what he's been doing for the past several months when there have been protests — respect the protesters who are doing it peacefully — understanding that all Americans have the right to speak their voice. That is part of our democracy. That is part of who we are.

All right. Thanks, everybody.

END 3:36 P.M. EDT

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

In honor of the 70^thanniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, President Joe Biden hosted a delegation of plaintiffs and family members representing the historic decision in the Oval Office. Members of the delegation represented litigants from the five cases that were combined under the Brown v. Board decision, including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Briggs v. Elliott, Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, Belton [Bulah] v. Gebhart, and Bolling v. Sharpe.

President Biden reiterated his longstanding effort to honor the legacy of historic changemakers that paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans and all Americans. The President and the delegation also highlighted the continued need to advance educational equity and underscored the White House's strong commitment to addressing racial disparities in our education system, despite attacks on educational rights, the erasure of Black history, and the elimination of affirmative action in university admissions. President Biden and Vice President Harris remain committed to driving greater equality and opportunity within our education system and society.

The meeting participants included:

Brown v. Board Family Members:

Briggs v. Elliott Family Members:

Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward Family Members:

Gebhart v. Belton Family Members:

Bolling v. Sharpe Family Members:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Cheryl Brown Henderson: Daughter of Named Plaintiff, Oliver Brown

Darl Everett, Jr.

Victoria Benson

Jeffrey Benson

Lusandra Everett

Briggs v. Elliott Family Members:

Ada Stukes Adderley

Ky Adderley

Dawn Lucas

Nathaniel Briggs: Son of Named Plaintiff, Briggs

Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward Family Members:

John Stokes: Original Plaintiff

Joan Cobbs

Ernest Johns

Robert Johns

Roderick Johns

Gebhart v. Belton Family Members:

Joan Anderson

Original Plaintiff

Carol Anderson Neff

Tai Ingram

Christopher Michael Neff

Rene Ricks-Stamps: Daughter of Named Plaintiff, Belton

Bolling v. Sharpe Family Members:

Adrienne Jennings Bennett: Original Plaintiff

Curtis Bennet, Sr.

Curtis Bennet, Jr.

Kim Relaford

Letitia Alexander

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-17

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Thank you, Doug.

Chairman Lowes, President Gravelle, thank you for your kindness and your leadership, for living the good life for your communities. And it's so wonderful to be here with Bryan and Liz. Joe and I are grateful to have your voices and vision as part of our administration.

Yesterday evening, this community welcomed me with so much warmth. And I had the opportunity to speak about my sister, and how communities can come together to find healing and hope.

It's an honor to be with all of you again today to talk about how each of your communities have come together to address Tribal and rural health.

Because your health matters.

That's why Joe's administration has taken historic steps to support the incredible things that are happening at Tribal health centers like the Sault Tribe Health Centers and the Bay Mills Health Center.

For the past two years, he's made sure the Indian Health Service, and the Tribal medical services it funds, can continue providing lifesaving care without interruptions to their budget. And he is committed to making that true every year going forward.

He's fighting to increase the IHS budget, and make sure it's stable and continues growing over time, so that health systems like yours can continue to flourish.

And Joe is honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship – providing you the funding and flexibility you need to design the health systems that work for you. Because you know best what you need. And when Tribes operate their own health systems, you make sure care meets the needs of your community.

When people here are able to access consistent care – when they don't need to drive miles for treatments. When grandparents don't have to live in pain from an infected tooth, and mothers can get the prenatal care they need close to home, and children can grow up knowing there's always someone they can talk to on their darkest days.

When lived experiences are at the center of care – it changes lives, and saves them.

We're here to learn about what's working, how we can continue to be your partners, and what we can do to support other communities who wish to do what you have done here.

The Second Gentleman and I are listening – and so is your President. We are committed to working with you, so you can thrive.

For Immediate Release

May 17, 2024

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Community Listening Session on Tribal Health Care

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

Thank you, Doug.

Aanii.

Chairman Lowes, President Gravelle, thank you for your kindness and your leadership, for living the good life for your communities. And it's so wonderful to be here with Bryan and Liz. Joe and I are grateful to have your voices and vision as part of our administration.

Yesterday evening, this community welcomed me with so much warmth. And I had the opportunity to speak about my sister, and how communities can come together to find healing and hope.

It's an honor to be with all of you again today to talk about how each of your communities have come together to address Tribal and rural health.

Because your health matters.

That's why Joe's administration has taken historic steps to support the incredible things that are happening at Tribal health centers like the Sault Tribe Health Centers and the Bay Mills Health Center.

For the past two years, he's made sure the Indian Health Service, and the Tribal medical services it funds, can continue providing lifesaving care without interruptions to their budget. And he is committed to making that true every year going forward.

He's fighting to increase the IHS budget, and make sure it's stable and continues growing over time, so that health systems like yours can continue to flourish.

And Joe is honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship – providing you the funding and flexibility you need to design the health systems that work for you. Because you know best what you need. And when Tribes operate their own health systems, you make sure care meets the needs of your community.

When people here are able to access consistent care – when they don't need to drive miles for treatments. When grandparents don't have to live in pain from an infected tooth, and mothers can get the prenatal care they need close to home, and children can grow up knowing there's always someone they can talk to on their darkest days.

When lived experiences are at the center of care – it changes lives, and saves them.

We're here to learn about what's working, how we can continue to be your partners, and what we can do to support other communities who wish to do what you have done here.

The Second Gentleman and I are listening – and so is your President. We are committed to working with you, so you can thrive.

Bryan?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Today, ahead of the 46 th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, President Biden signed a National Security Memorandum on United States Policy on the Antarctic Region. Under this policy, the United States will continue to lead cooperative international efforts through the Antarctic Treaty System to maintain the Antarctic Region for peaceful purposes; protect its relatively pristine environment and ecosystems, particularly given the key role Antarctica plays in the global climate system; and conduct critical scientific research, long into the future.

The ATS has successfully maintained the peace in the Antarctic Region by freezing conflicting territorial claims, prohibiting military activities other than in support of scientific research or for any other peaceful purpose, prioritizing science and environmental protection over commercial interests, prohibiting mining for non-scientific purposes, and promoting transparency and cooperation. It also provides tools to verify compliance with these ambitious provisions, tools the United States has used more than any other country, having conducted 15 unannounced inspections of facilities in Antarctica. We remain vigilant against actions by countries that could threaten U.S. national interests by bringing international discord to the Antarctic Region. The United States, represented by the Department of State at ATS bodies, will work with international partners through the ATS to promote peace and science in the region, and promote international cooperation while safeguarding U.S. national

interests.

With this NSM, the United States aims to:

Protect the relatively unspoiled environment of the Antarctic Region and its associated ecosystems;

Preserve and pursue unique opportunities for scientific research and understand Antarctica's relationship to global environmental change;

Maintain the Antarctic Region as an area of international cooperation reserved exclusively for peaceful purposes; and

Assure the protection and conservation of the living resources in and ecosystems of the Antarctic Region.

The United States has the largest scientific program in the Antarctic Region. The U.S. Antarctic Program is managed on behalf of the nation by the U.S. National Science Foundation and includes three year-round stations on the continent and assets dedicated to exploring and understanding the Southern Ocean and its role in the earth system. The NSF, in partnership with other Federal science agencies, also supports world-class research in Antarctica in aeronomy and astrophysics, ecology, atmospheric sciences, biology and medicine, geology and geophysics, glaciology, and ocean and climate systems, and living marine resources. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has for decades monitored and studied Antarctic marine living resources and ecosystems, and in partnership with the NSF, provided the best scientific evidence available to policy makers about how to protect this vulnerable region, including the data underpinning the efforts to establish a

representative system of effective marine protected areas. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency, working closely with NSF, reviews and evaluates the potential environmental impacts when U.S. nongovernmental operators plan to conduct expeditions to Antarctica.

The results of research conducted by the United States and other countries have conclusively demonstrated that ongoing climate and other global changes and their associated impacts are affecting the Antarctic Region and the world, including through ocean warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion, air and water pollution, and threats to biodiversity. Research conducted by the United States has also helped shed light on the risks and uncertainties of climate tipping points such as the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet.

The United States has encouraged and will continue to encourage countries to take immediate steps to use the best available science to protect the Antarctic Region's vulnerable environment and ecosystems, which is critical to a stable global climate, such as by encouraging countries to set ambitious 2035 nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement that are aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and establishing a system of effective marine protected areas in the Antarctic Region.

The Biden-Harris Administration will work with Congress to continue its support of our three world-class, year-round scientific research stations; research in the Antarctic Region on ocean ecosystems and Antarctic marine living resources; and modernization of the nation's polar icebreaker fleet. The Administration will also work with Congress to meet international commitments and to ensure the appropriate domestic legislation and regulations to safeguard the wide range of U.S. interests in the Antarctic Region.

The policy signed today replaces PDD/NSC-26 (1994) and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to modernize outdated policies and address climate change.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

Today, ahead of the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, President Biden signed a National Security Memorandum [NSM] on United States Policy on the Antarctic Region. Under this policy, the United States will continue to lead cooperative international efforts through the Antarctic Treaty System [ATS] to maintain the Antarctic Region for peaceful purposes; protect its relatively pristine environment and ecosystems, particularly given the key role Antarctica plays in the global climate system; and conduct critical scientific research, long into the future.

The ATS has successfully maintained the peace in the Antarctic Region by freezing conflicting territorial claims, prohibiting military activities other than in support of scientific research or for any other peaceful purpose, prioritizing science and environmental protection over commercial interests, prohibiting mining for non-scientific purposes, and promoting transparency and cooperation. It also provides tools to verify compliance with these ambitious provisions, tools the United States has used more than any other country, having conducted 15 unannounced inspections of facilities in Antarctica. We remain vigilant against actions by countries that could threaten U.S. national interests by bringing international discord to the Antarctic Region. The United States, represented by the Department of State at ATS bodies, will work with international partners through the ATS to promote peace and science in the region, and promote international cooperation while safeguarding U.S. national interests.

With this NSM, the United States aims to:

The United States has the largest scientific program in the Antarctic Region. The U.S. Antarctic Program is managed on behalf of the nation by the U.S. National Science Foundation [NSF] and includes three year-round stations on the continent and assets dedicated to exploring and understanding the Southern Ocean and its role in the earth system. The NSF, in partnership with other Federal science agencies, also supports world-class research in Antarctica in aeronomy and astrophysics, ecology, atmospheric sciences, biology and medicine, geology and geophysics, glaciology, and ocean and climate systems, and living marine resources. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] has for decades monitored and studied Antarctic marine living resources and ecosystems, and in partnership with the NSF, provided the best scientific evidence available to policy makers about how to protect this vulnerable region, including the data underpinning the efforts to establish a representative system of effective marine protected areas. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency, working closely with NSF, reviews and evaluates the potential environmental impacts when U.S. nongovernmental operators [including tour operators] plan to conduct expeditions to Antarctica.

The results of research conducted by the United States and other countries have conclusively demonstrated that ongoing climate and other global changes and their associated impacts are affecting the Antarctic Region and the world, including through ocean warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion, air and water pollution, and threats to biodiversity. Research conducted by the United States has also helped shed light on the risks and uncertainties of climate tipping points such as the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet.

The United States has encouraged and will continue to encourage countries to take immediate steps to use the best available science to protect the Antarctic Region's vulnerable environment and ecosystems, which is critical to a stable global climate, such as by encouraging countries to set ambitious 2035 nationally determined contributions [NDCs] under the Paris Agreement that are aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and establishing a system of effective marine protected areas in the Antarctic Region.

The Biden-Harris Administration will work with Congress to continue its support of our three world-class, year-round scientific research stations; research in the Antarctic Region on ocean ecosystems and Antarctic marine living resources; and modernization of the nation's polar icebreaker fleet. The Administration will also work with Congress to meet international commitments and to ensure the appropriate domestic legislation and regulations to safeguard the wide range of U.S. interests in the Antarctic Region.

The policy signed today replaces PDD/NSC-26 [1994] and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to modernize outdated policies and address climate change.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

On Tuesday, May 21, the Second Gentleman will travel to New York, NY to participate in a fireside chat on combating antisemitism and hate. This fireside chat will be open to pre-credentialed media. Please RSVP HERE by Monday, May 20 at 2:00 PM ET if you are interested in covering this event. Additional details to follow.

On Wednesday, May 22, the Second Gentleman will participate in a roundtable on protecting the civil rights of K-12 students against school book bans. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach in the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, Matt Nosanchuk, will also attend. This roundtable will be open to pre-credentialed media. Press interested in attending this event should contact Leah Drayton, leahdrayton@nypl.org . Additional details to follow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Private Residence

Glencoe, Illinois

4:23 P.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you.

Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon. Good afternoon.

Please -- please have a seat. Good afternoon.

Is this on? It is now on.

Karen and Jon, thank you so very much for opening your beautiful home for all of us. I -- you know, I was saying to them: I know that it kind of -- it -- we have a big footprint when we travel. And so, it is no small matter to just invite a few friends over and a few other friends.

But thank you. This is very kind and generous of you, and it really makes a difference. So, thank you to our hosts, please.

And to the host committee and to everyone here, thank you all for the support, for being here, and for loving our country -- really, for loving our country.

You know, on the point about being the first woman, my mother had many sayings, and one of them she would say to me, "Kamala, make -- you know, you may be the first to do many things. Make sure you're not the last." And when I think about the young women that you are referring to and that I meet, I very much look at them knowing that they are going to just soar. They are going to soar. And I often remind them that they have to remember all the people that they may not see at the moment who are cheering them on every step of the way.

So, thank you all for being here. This is -- let's see --there. Let's give that another go.

Thank you all for being here.

This election is probably one of the most, if not the most important election of our lifetime. I know Invest [DEL: in :DEL] [to] Elect and the folks who are leading it and who are part of it have been a part of these elections for almost every cycle in recent memory. And every cycle, we have talked about the critical importance of the presidential election. This one, I absolutely believe, is the most consequential of any we have been involved in in any recent time.

In fact, I say to a lot of folks that, listen, I think that we have to understand this election is fundamentally about a basic question: What kind of country do we want to live in? It is also about understanding our power as Americans.

And by that, I mean, as Vice President, I have now met over 150 world leaders -- my staff has counted -- -- presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings -- many of them now multiple times. We have formed relationships and friendships.

The last three international trips that I took were, at the beginning of this year, to Munich for the Munich Security Conference, where I spoke on the stage representing America's perspective on what is happening, in particular, in the context of our NATO Allies. I, before that, at the end of last year, was in Dubai for COP28, the global climate conference, to represent our perspective there. And I was also in the UK to -- to speak about the -- what I believe to be the concerns and -- and the benefits, but the future of AI -- in particular, around safety.

All that to say, just the last three trips, to a one, when I saw other world leaders, they came up to me and essentially said, "Hope you guys are going to be okay." And understand, when they raised this point, it was purely out of self-interest.

In fact, the speech that I gave at Munich for -- if anyone is interested, I'll make sure and get it to you -- there with our European allies, I was speaking, really, to an American audience but reminding, then, us -- speaking there in Munich -- about the 1930 s. Let us remember what happens when America removes itself from the global community.

In my speech, I then talked about the fact that isolation does not equal insulation. And I say all that, then, in the context of the consequence of this election, yes, to us and to the rest of the world. And then we understand, in that context, the power that we each have in this moment -- a power that will impact people we'll never meet and people that will never know our names.

But because of your activism and your commitment to our country and what we stand for, I do believe the world will be better off. This is the context of this election.

We have -- I have -- have it written down. I think we have now 173 days to go. It sounds like a lot of time, but we know it's not. And I will say we are winning. We are winning, and we will win. We are winning, and we will win. We are winning.

We are winning when you think about the work of our administration -- our President, Joe Biden -- the work that we have done. History is going to show we have broken -- talk about breaking barriers --broken absolute new barriers and thresholds in terms of what we have done, rivaling Eisenhower -- the investment in America's infrastructure.

What we have done in creating over 15 million new jobs, over 850,000 new manufacturing jobs -- bringing manufacturing back to the United States in a way that we know we need. If no one understood the concept of supply chains before the pandemic, we know it now.

What we are doing to invest in CHIPS and Science -- we were just talking about science and yet -- many of you know, my mother had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters and end breast cancer. She was a breants c- -- breast cancer researcher. I grew up going to the lab with her. She'd take us after school and on weekends. The idea that we are putting such a significant investment in scientific research in this moment --

The work that we have done on climate. By my estimate, at least a trillion dollars over the next 10 years we are dropping on the streets of America to invest in resilience, adaptation, and to invest in a clean energy economy -- a new economy.

The work that we have done that is about investing in a broad-based economy and all the macroeconomic measures that tell us it's working. I think about it in the context of what we are doing to challenge industries with these government investments to invest in the private sector. We have estimated that at least over $700 billion of private-sector investment has happened to match what we have been investing. Right?

We are winning. We are winning in terms of when you think about economic measures and how people are doing and the cost of living. We finally took on Big Pharma to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices so that now seniors will have a cap on the annual cost of prescription medication of $2,000 -- -- $2,000 a year. It's a game changer.

We have capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month. What that will mean for seniors who, for years, had to determine whether they could either afford their insulin or afford rent.

We are winning as an administration. We are winning as a party. Take a look at the midterms. Take a look at the end of last year in those special elections. Did you see what happened in Wisconsin with that court?

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yeah, we did. Yeah, we did.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Did you see what we did in Virginia?

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Yes, we did. Yes, we did.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Did we see what happened from Kansas to California, from Montana to Ohio, when choice and freedom was on the ballot? In so-called red and so-called blue states, when it was on the ballot, the American people voted for freedom. The American people voted for freedom.

We are winning. As a campaign, we have opened up -- I don't know, I've lost count how many offices, especially in all the swing states. Let me tell you, in the last four months, I have personally taken 40 trips.

In fact, I just landed here from Milwaukee, where I was earlier today. I started the day in D.C. But I was in Milwaukee today because I'm in the midst of an Economic Opportunity Tour that I started, speaking with small businesses about what we have done to expand access to capital for small businesses. We're -- and we're seeing historic small-business growth because of the work of our administration.

So, we are winning. And I think it's very important for us to understand that momentum is on our side. While we are so aware of the stakes, let's know momentum is on our side.

And let us understand, then, that, in many ways, this campaign and this election is really about what I believe to be the promise of America. You know, I -- I believe in the promise of America. I am empirical evidence of the promise of America. And I believe that, very much, that is also what is at stake: to keep and to build on the promise of America, which is a promise for everyone to enjoy equal rights and opportunity and dignity.

The promise of America, a democracy, understanding that du- -- there's a duality to the nature of democracy. On the one hand, great strength when it is intact -- what it does to protect individual liberties and freedoms. And on the other hand, its fragility, that it is only as strong as our willingness to fight for it.

There is a direct connection between the promise of America and our willingness to fight for it. So, we're actually where we need to be, which is we are being challenged, as Americans, to fight for our country and to realize -- and if nothing made that more clear than the Dobbs decision -- that we can't take anything for granted ever if we're not prepared to fight.

So, that's where we are. You know, many of you have heard me speak many times, and I will, as I often do, paraphrase Coretta Scott King, who famously said: The fight for civil rights -- which is the fight for equality, which is the fight for justice, which is the fight for freedom -- the fight for civil rights, she said, must be fought and won with each generation.

She had two points. The first, then, being that whatever gains we make, they will not be permanent. And the second point being: And, therefore, understanding that's the nature of it all, when you have to fight to maintain and uphold these rights, do not despair. Let's not throw up our hands. It's time to roll up our sleeves, right? It's time to roll up our sleeves.

So, I'll end all of that and all of this, then, with saying: This is a critical time. And we who are in this fight together, which is all of us under this beautiful tent -- we understand. And let's just hold on to the fact we're not fighting against anything; we are fighting for something.

And when we look at who the former President is, we have empirical evidence of the fact that America's leadership needs to be about competence, care, concern for the American people and the ability and desire to actually do something about the condition of the American people. On the other side, it's about chaos.

And so, my last point is this. You know, in the last several years, I think there's a certain perversion that has taken place and taken hold that suggests that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down. See the former President. But what we all know is that the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.

The true character trait of leaders is to have empathy, to have some level of care and concern, much less just curiosity, about the suffering of other people and then to take it upon oneself to do something to alleviate their condition. That's what we're into. That's what we're about. And as much as anything else, that's what this election is about: showing who we are as Americans.

And I know we're going to be okay. And I thank you all very much.

Thank you.

END 4:38 P.M. CDT

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Discovery World

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

12:25 P.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good -- good afternoon, I think it is now. Please, everyone, have a seat.

Rufus King High School Band -- -- what? You all are killing it. Oh, you're so good. You're so good. Thank you, all.

Oh, when I look at our young leaders, I know the future of our country is so bright. Thank you all very much for being a part of today.

MR. HUGHLEY: I'm -- I'm glad to be here with you, Madam Vice President. I love Wisconsin. I'm glad to be here when it's not freezing, so -- --

We have a lot of incredible leaders here. First off, we'd like to acknowledge -- thank you, James Phelps, who did that introduction --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- where nobody clapped for me. I appreciate that. That's great.

We have Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. Could he -- is he here? Is he here?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes, he is. There he is.

MR. HUGHLEY: Stand up. Stand up. You can stand up.

We have Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman. Is she here? Stand up.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: For HUD.

MR. HUGHLEY: Hey -- hey, let's do this. Why don't y'all stay standing until we finish? All -- just stand up. It's not a raid. I promise you. Ain't nothing going to happen.

We have Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. Is she here?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: She was here earlier.

MR. HUGHLEY: There you go.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: There she is.

MR. HUGHLEY: We have County Executive David Crowley. Is he here? There you go.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson, what a cool-ass name that is. That's dope.

And, of course, Senator Tammy Baldwin is here. That's wonderful.

It is so nice to be here with elected officials that are not under indictment. I tell you -- -- I swear to God, I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

You know, I -- I've always been a huge fan of yours. You were -- you were my senator from California. I've been very proud of what you're doing. And it's -- to me, this is an extension of what you did in California. I'm very proud of the work you're doing.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, D.L.

MR. HUGHLEY: But this is the third stop of your national Economic Opportunity Tour.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: Why did you decide to launch the tour, and how is it going so far?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, first of all, thank you, D.L., for being here. And your voice is so important. You always take on the issue of the day. You give us humor and laughter, but you always talk about serious issues in such a thoughtful way.

MR. HUGHLEY: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, thank you for being on this stage with me.

MR. HUGHLEY: My pleasure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Can we hear it for D.L., please?

Are the Ques in the house?

MR. HUGHLEY: Ahh -- -

Don't get nervous, white people. It's -- it's n- -- I promise you, it's not -- ain't nobody -- it ain't nobody attacking the village or nothing. It's fine.

But -- but this is -- this is --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So -- yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- very important. And I know from -- I know from a very -- that -- from our very lengthy conversation --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- not only how important it is the work you've done but to let people know about it --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- and what's available.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right. So, as you and I have talked about, first of all, we all know that we are a nation that was empowered and continues to be empowered by the aspirations and the ambitions of her people. And we also know that we don't lack for talent. We don't lack for skills. We don't lack for good ideas and innovative thought.

But there are those who, with all of that, lack for access to either information or relationships that allow them to then translate all of those skills into something that will actually be real and, by extension, benefit the whole -- an entire community and society.

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure, sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, I decided to embark on this Economic Opportunity Tour to travel the country and share with folks what resources are available -- and resources that are not just about helping folks get by but get ahead.

We know that we all want an opportunity, if that is our life's calling or ambition, to be able not just to have a job but to create wealth -- intergenerational wealth, to contribute to the economy of the neighborhood, of the -- the place where you live and, by extension, our country and the world.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right. Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And so, this tour is designed to get that information, because we are doing extraordinary work. I mean, I look at Mr. Phelps, who introduced you and I, his construction company. I was talking to him earlier. He has about 100 employees and -- or 50 employees, but -- or actually, where is he? There you are. How many employees as of now?

MR. PHELPS: Fifty.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Fifty employees. And I was sharing with Mr. Phelps that we -- the President and I -- because of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bi- -- the Infrastructure Act, we are dropping trillions of dollars on the streets of America right now to build back up our roads and our bridges, our sidewalks; to invest in a clean energy economy to deal with the climate crisis in a way that is about building up adaptation and resilience.

Well, a -- a business like Mr. Phelps's business --

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- is going to make what we plan to do out of Washington, D.C., real on the streets of America.

And here's the thing about why I'm focused on small businesses. One of the reasons is that -- do you know that over 90 percent of construction companies in America have 20 or fewer employees? They're small businesses doing extraordinary work.

When you see the signs around Milwaukee and around our country, "Brought to you by the Biden-Harris administration," and you see a crane and you see shovels in the ground, it's going to be with and in partnership with our brothers and sisters of labor, IBEW -- who's doing the great apprenticeship work -- and it's going to be businesses like Mr. Phelps who are doing that work.

So, we want them to know what is available to them.

MR. HUGHLEY: You said something -- because I think, communally, we understand. We were raised to work really hard, and things would happen. Like, mulattos were told we had to work twice as hard to get half as far. But it isn't just about hard work. It is what you alluded to earlier: access, information.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And so, that -- that makes me proud of -- all you can say about somebody is that when you are climbing, you can recognize them when they get to the top. And I can say that's true of you. And that's -- that's something that makes me very proud.

You are doing those things to expand --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- access, and we talked about that. But the ho- -- the homeowner aspect --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- that is a chip in the game. That's a big chip in the game.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: That is access to capital, that is sending kids to college, that is --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- taking vacation.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: But for us, the path is a little curvier than for a lot of people.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: What are you doing to mitigate some of those things?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, part of how I'm thinking of this Economic Opportunity Tour in general is to acknowledge -- speak truth and acknowledge both the opportunities that exist but also the disparities and the obstacles that exist.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, let's talk about Black homeownership. Without spending too much time on a -- a history lesson, first of all, nobody got 40 acres and a mule.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right. Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Then you look at, for example -- and I'll jump around -- what happened with a federal policy initiative that said about the Greatest Generation -- those who fought in the wars, that -- that established America's leadership on an -- on a global scale -- "Let's invest in that Greatest Generation when they come back." And there were substantial federal dollars through grants that then went to those mostly servicemen who were then veterans coming back.

So, when there was this incredible boost around homeownership -- "Let's invest in their ability to buy homes." Incredible boost.

However, the Black servicemen did not get full advantage --

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- of those loans. So, the discrimination occurred there. So, where there was a boost, some got ahead, and some just didn't get the benefit of it.

You look at it in terms of what we know around segregation. You look at it in terms of redlining.

And then, most recently, an obstacle that we have been addressing and speaking truth about is racial bias in home appraisals --

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- which is very real.

So, in an environment where Black families are 40 percent less likely to own homes --

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- we also have, among those who do own a home, so many examples -- and -- and, D.L., you have -- you can tell the story of how racial bias has undervalued a Black homeowner's home in such a way that if they rely on that biased appraisal, they will receive less value for their property if they're trying to sell it or they're trying to get a second mortgage --

MR. HUGHLEY: It's so ironic you bring that up.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- will receive less.

MR. HUGHLEY: It's so ironic because --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, tell the -- you want to tell your story?

MR. HUGHLEY: I was -- I bought a house in West Hills. I had only lived around Black people my whole life.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: I bought a house in West Hills, California, which is the basis of the television show I did called "The Hughleys." I go to sell that house because my wife said we had to move. We'd owned that house for a couple of years. We'd done all these -- these improvements. My real estate broker said, "Well, you got to -- you got to take your pictures down and take down, you know, the -- you know, take down anything that lets them -- you -- them know who lives here."

And, of course, I'm -- I was, you know, I was like, "Nah, I'm not going to do that." They came -- the appraisal came in so low, the bank contacted us. And it would have had to been a home in disrepair. The home that's on TV.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: Like, I'm on TV with this home.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: They sent another appraiser out, and they gave me $200,000 more. And it was interesting to me. I'm like -- the fact that -- I actually wrote this in my book, and we talk about it on my show all the time, this happens to Black people consistently --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- where we have to -- now I just keep actual pictures of white people in my house just in case.

You ain't going to get me twice. I keep them in my wallet, too, just in case the police. I'm just telling you. This is just me.

But it -- but these kinds of things -- these microaggressions are things that no -- I -- I've been around a lot of administrations. I don't know that anybody has done it as succinctly as you all have. And -- and --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, and -- because we need to just call it what it is -- right? -- and then deal with it. And so, how we're dealing with it is, one, to tell the truth about it. Because there are countless stories of a Black family doing just that, actually, of -- of then talking with a friend who is white and asking them to put in their family pictures --

MR. HUGHLEY: Right. Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- and to bring the appraiser in, and a substantial difference around how the home is appraised.

So, we just need to deal with it, knowing that, for example, one of the problems here is that a very small minority of home appraisers are people of color. And -- because this is about people of color to Black people and other people of color.

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And so, we need to deal with it on that level. The other piece of it is that we are now requiring that home appraisers be trained on racial bias. And we have set up a -- basically, a report line to let people know there is somewhere to go with this information.

Because too often -- -- right? Too often, people who are the -- the focus of unfairness know it's unfair -- right? -- you don't need to be taught that it's unfair -- but sometimes just feel like, "There's nowhere to go with this. I'm just going to have to accept it."

MR. HUGHLEY: Right. Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And this is unacceptable, and so we have set up a system to make it so that there is somewhere to go with this information.

MR. HUGHLEY: We were speaking about expansion of -- of wealth and -- and those opportunities and homeownership. But a big impediment to that also is debt.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Huge issue.

MR. HUGHLEY: And I think it's something I hear on my radio show all the time --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- crushing, crushing debt. Student loans are a big part of that.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: Thank God I have a GED, so that didn't cost a lot. So, while you all were studying, I was keeping all my money. But -- -- it is such a crushing thing to start out with -- with a --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- with a debt that you're -- that's going to be hard to pay. Even the interest on that debt is going to be almost impossible.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: What have you done to kind of deal with that -- that reality for so many people of color?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right. So, let's start with one of -- there are two areas, in particular, where we're dealing with, in terms of the burden of debt, which so many people carry such a burden.

So, one is medical debt. So, a lot of people experience medical debt usually borne out of a medical emergency. And so, it's something you obviously, then, don't plan for. It is something that happens, and then people have these hospital bills, these doctor's bills, that can be in the tens, hundreds of thousands of dollars --

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- for an unexpected emergency. So, we have decided that, well, look, it's not like that medical emergency happened because you're financially irresponsible. That's a healthcare matter.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, we are now saying medical debt cannot be included in your credit score. Right? Because, after all, your credit -- well, first of all, everybody these days knows their credit score like you know how much you weigh, right?

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: You just -- -- you can get a little app and look at it. Some people look at it on a daily basis. And -- and --

MR. HUGHLEY: Check my little -- check my credit score right now, please.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And -- and we know what that number means in terms of your ability to qualify for a small-business loan, a home loan, a credit card, a car loan. So, we are saying that cannot be included.

The other thing that we have said about medical debt is that it cannot work against you when you are applying for credit.

And, again, it's just what's morally right, from our perspective, which is people shouldn't be debilitated around having access to economic opportunity because they experienced a medical emergency or something of that nature.

MR. HUGHLEY: It -- which is why I'm here.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: Because I remember growing up, you know, my mother would go to the hospital a lot.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: And the debt was so bad, she put everything in our name. Like, I had a electric bill when I was three.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: I'm not even trying to -- like, these are the things that they had to do to kind of navigate this space.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I know.

MR. HUGHLEY: And to hear someone actually address the concerns that you know are real and that --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- through no fault of your own, exist. And I just think, when you talk about the medical space, you said something that made me -- in addition to all the things I've -- I've thought that you've done, when you talk about the disparity of treatment of women of color --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: My daughter is -- she had my second grandchild. She was -- we were ecstatic, and then she got diagnosed with breast cancer. And had she not -- and women in certain regions of this country, their health outcomes are just disparate, depending on what area of the country they live in --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- and what kind of access they have to.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And the fact that because she's married to a doctor and we were, you know, fortunate to be able to get her what she needed, it -- it is working out for us. But I know so many people --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- in her journey that I heard about that didn't. And the fact that you addressed that and have done -- you and your administration have taken steps to make sure that that not only is heard, but addressed. That's something I've heard you talk about a lot too.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, and you're right. I mean, we could have a long conversation this afternoon about health disparities and the intersection between that and racial disparities.

I mean, maternal mortality is something I've been working on for years. Black women are three times more likely to be diagno- -- well, to actually die in connection with pregnancy; Native women, twice as likely; rural women, one and a half times more likely.

And when you look into the reasons, yes, it is about availability of affordable care. It is also about racial bias.

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And so, that is something I've been working on for years. In fact, most recently, I'll tell you -- I know it's off -- it's not on the Economic Opportunity Tour, but I'm going to connect it.

When I became Vice President, as a continuation of this work, I took a look at which states had extended coverage for women on Medicaid for postpartum care from 2 months to 12 months. So, I took a look at this. So, women on Medicaid, only three states had extended it to 12 months.

So, I'm not above shaming folks.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, I issued a challenge to the states: Extend coverage for women on Medicaid to 12 months. And as of today, 46 states have done it.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right?

And these connections are very real in terms of economic health and wellbeing and -- and issues like access to affordable --

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- healthcare.

The other thing I just don't want to overlook is the student loan debt piece. And so -- and also -- D.L., you know, we've talked about this -- the things we have achieved have not been without great opposition.

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

So, student loan debt -- you all may remember, we actually had a much more ambitious plan, but there were forces working against that.

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, then the President said, "Well, I'm going to go and do it on my own to the extent I can without Congress or without the Court supporting this." And so, we have now been -- we have now forgiven over $150 billion of student loan debt for over 4 million Americans.

And one of the pieces that is -- that is particularly important for me, because my -- my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Frances Wilson, God rest her soul, attended my law school graduation. I love our teachers.

We made as part of the -- the student loan forgiveness plan that public servants -- so, nurses, firefighters, teachers -- would get double the amount of debt forgiveness -- -- because, God knows, we don't pay them enough as it is, and they have dedicated their lives to service. And, again, it's -- it's what's smart, but it's also just what's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: It's fair.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: It's just fair.

MR. HUGHLEY: I -- I think you're absolutely right. And I think that it is a shame that we live in a society that separates people like that, where women aren't making what they -- you know, I want women to get all the money that they deserve, and then give us our change back. That's what I want. I want that to start happening. So, if you could do -- if you can do that too.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Let me just say, I have talked to D.L.'s wife, and she is so strong and funny and smart. And I'm just going to just say that you are lucky that you are married to her.

MR. HUGHLEY: Man -- yeah. Did she call you or something? Did something happen?

You -- you know, I am here specifically because I remember when we had a conversation at the dinner we had --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Mm-hmm.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- and it was not always -- it got contentious. And I had to apologize to you, because I had let a media narrative co-opt my perspective, and I think that tends to happen with -- with women and people of color. I think that that we oftentimes hear this call, this siren's call that is so -- it's so mesmerizing that sometimes you believe it.

And I had to apologize to you because -- you were a prosecutor. I grew up in California. I -- I love that state. And what I saw happen to it -- I equated with, you know, elected officials, and I'd lumped you in with it.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Mm-hmm.

MR. HUGHLEY: But -- but some of the things that I have subsequently come to learn about you not only make me proud of you, but make me be an advocate for you. I am proud of the things you've done. I'm proud of what you're trying to do for this country -- this administration is trying to do for this country. And I -- and I can say in front of them: I'm sorry that I ever let somebody tell me what I should have known from the beginning.

And I'm -- I'm -- and I'll be -- and I'll use my voice not as a -- I'm not a paid -- I'm not -- I don't even like politics all that much. It's ironic to me.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: But I think you have done what you said you would do. And there was a time that I didn't believe it, and I have to say that I'm sorry.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you, D.L. Thank you.

MR. HUGHLEY: And I'm going to do what I have to do to make sure you get the word out and make sure that people understand you have done everything you've promised. And I am proud of you. So -- --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Oh, D.L., thank you.

MR. HUGHLEY: I'm very proud.

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Four more years! Four more years!

MR. HUGHLEY: Wait until everybody else jumps in, all right? Come on, man. No rhythm, -- --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, one of -- one of the other -- thank- -- first of all, thank you, D.L.

MR. HUGHLEY: You're very welcome.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. That means so much more than I can say.

I do want to mention one of the -- one of the many other things we're doing that, again, to your point is about acknowledging the disparities: federal contracts.

So, for -- how many small-business owners do we have here today?

MR. HUGHLEY: Wow.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Okay, right. Right.

So, a lot of federal contracts go to small businesses. But what we know is, often who gets the -- who even has the information about how to apply for a federal contract is a matter of who you know, not necessarily the -- the skill of your work, how well you do your work. Certainly, you know, it has nothing to do with anything other than often just a lack of information and access to those relationships.

So, from day one, when the President I came in, we said we are going to increase by 50 percent federal contracts going to minority-owned businesses. And we are on track to get that done by the end of next year.

And I mentioned that to say that the work that we have been doing is about creating incentives for folks to apply, but also holding the federal government to account for measuring how we are doing this work and being intentional about it. And I think that's so very important.

And that's where, look, who's in the position of power matters. Because, one, if you don't even have any level of awareness or interest in these disparities, you're not going to get anything done on them. And then, when you become aware, if you actually intend to get something done, you have to hold yourself and the system to account.

And I will say, that is part of the method of our approach to a lot of this work. Our work is -- is -- includes, for example, like -- let's have metrics. Let's say, for example, we know the -- the history of Black homeownership: We know the history of -- of bias and -- and laws that prevented equal access to that opportunity.

We have now proposed that if you are the child of parents who -- or you were raised in a family where the folks who raised you were not homeowners, when you want to go buy a home, you will be entitled to a $25,000 grant toward down payment for a home.

Again, acknowledging the realities of it all. If your parents owned a home, and then you, as their child, say, "I want to go buy," then your parents will likely have the opportunity and ability to say, "Honey, you don't have to go take out that big loan; I'm going to take some equity out of my home to help you with that down payment."

MR. HUGHLEY: Sure.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And that's how intergenerational wealth works.

But if you start with nothing, how are we going to give people those opportunities?

MR. HUGHLEY: Right.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And so, it's about acknowledgement and then pushing through the actual policies that are not just about lip service, but actually making a difference.

MR. HUGHLEY: You seem to be having a -- and hearing you talk -- you have a different approach. I think that there are people who think that the top down works best.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: There are people believe that you can build a house with the roof first. They -- there are people -- --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: They do; they believe that. And any construction man can tell you that ain't possible.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And there are people who believe that because when you're -- you're talking consistently about the small-business owners and -- and people being entrepreneurial -- those are ground up. Those are foundational kind of things.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And it really does depend on your life's experiences, how you view things, and in terms of the way -- the way that you lead. So, tell me a little bit about why you see things that way.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: Because this -- the politics is -- if it's nothing else, it also is transactional too. So, why do you see the -- the approach of top, of -- you know, from the foundation up being the best approach to taking America even into the next centuries and decades?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: So, in particular, my focus on small businesses, which extends back to my years in the Senate, when I was a part of getting $12 billion more into our community banks -- and I know we have many community lenders who are here -- is because those lenders are in the community -- they know the resources, they know the capacity, they know the desires of the community -- and can also, then, assist and support getting people information around things like financial literacy.

In fact, one of the announcements we're making today is putting hundreds millions more dollars into advisors and consultants -- here in Milwaukee, for example, over a dozen --that will, for free, give people financial literacy information: how to apply for loans. Community banks give information about -- to a small business: This is how you run a payroll; this is how you deal with your business taxes.

I was talking with one of the CDFIs earlier who has a booth here -- there are many booths, so I encourage everyone to go and stop by them; there's a lot of information -- who was -- who was telling a young man who's a small-business owner: You know, there's a difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant, and you need to know the difference because you got to, you know, keep all that straight, but then also so you can actually create a business model out of what you are doing now that would allow you access to growth.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: But a lot of my focus on small businesses, then -- it is because small businesses employ over half of America's working population.

But also, when I grew up, I had my mother, who raised us, and a second mother, Ms. Shelton, who -- we lived in the apartment above the nursery school that she owned and ran. And she was a second mother to us. She -- when my mother was working late, she would take care of us in the evenings and sometimes on the weekends.

And Ms. Shelton ran this nursery school, and it was a small business. And, you know, she was from Louisiana but part of that exodus of folks that --

MR. HUGHLEY: Everybody left Louisiana to Texas or --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- moved to California, right?

MR. HUGHLEY: -- California. Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And she was not only a small-business owner and leader, but she was a civic leader. She was a matriarch of the community. She counseled young parents. She hired locally. She mentored. And that's who our small-business leaders are.

And so, when I think about it -- it is about investing in America's prosperity and -- and a broad-based economy, but it's also about investing in communities and the civic fabric of communities that contributes to the economic health and well-being. And that's where my passion comes from and why I do this part of the work that I do.

MR. HUGHLEY: Hearing you talk, one of the things that I keep -- consistently hear you say is "the information."

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: And one of the things people of color were denied was the information.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: "We don't want you to know anything." Do what I -- and -- and --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And there's so much misinformation.

MR. HUGHLEY: And -- and because -- I remember when we grew up -- this is -- all the men I knew would have newspapers everywhere.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: They were read it. Like --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yes.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- it was in your cupboards, and you wrapped your furn- -- your glasses in it. The information was everywhere. Like, you could get -- you could get a good whoopin' for messing with the paper before your daddy finished it. You can mess with them funny papers. Don't do nothing else.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right.

MR. HUGHLEY: Information was important to us. And I think that --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah, that's true.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- there are people --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's true.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- who want to deny us access to information because of the power it unleashes. That -- some of these things have existed but just even highlighting them in a way that makes it more accessible to people, to make it more reasonable, more attainable to people. And so, having a conversation that not only talks about what you have done but the pathway to showing people what is available to them just -- just from accessing things. And I think that's an important approach.

Just -- and I know you have to go, but --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, let me just add something to your point. We could be here all afternoon. We won't be, though.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah, yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: This is what's -- this is what is, frankly, facetious and wrong about the bootstrap theory.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right? "Just pick yourself up. If you want to do better, you would do better. It must be some sign of your character and a flaw in your character that you're not doing as well as I am doing."

Instead of understanding that not everyone has access to the information, but when they do have access, then there's no -- as I said earlier, no lack of ambition, aspiration, good ideas, work ethic. There's no lack of any of that.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And that's why I'm doing this tour. And that's why I'm doing this tour. Because we are now dropping trillions of dollars on the streets of America -- Joe Biden and me and our administration, many leaders who you just met. And I want to make sure -- -- that everyone who needs to know how to be a part of this actually has the information to be able to then do the work.

MR. HUGHLEY: You -- I'm proud -- like, I remember, you were -- when you were talking about the infrastructure and your Depart- -- talking about the Department of Transportation.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: Well, you know, like, I remember Sugar Hill was in California. They started the 10 freeway in a Black neighborhood that had already pulled itself by its bootstraps.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: See, a lot of times, they'll have a conversation with us after you've taken our boots, then you say we never had any. But -- but the Department of Transportation built deliberately through neighborhoods of color.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: They --

MR. HUGHLEY: And the fact that you --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: They called it "urban planning."

MR. HUGHLEY: They called it "urban planning."

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Those freeways cutting through neighborhoods --

MR. HUGHLEY: On purpose.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: -- all over the country.

MR. HUGHLEY: And if you read -- and if you know the history of it and -- and find an administration that is dealing with it and -- and -- to the best they can, like whole neighborhoods are -- in Dallas, a neighborhood -- the wealthiest neighborhood owned -- was owned by Black man named Bob Jones. They took it under -- with the Army Corps of Engineers and the city planners.

So, the fact that --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: "Urban renewal," they used to call it. "Urban renewal."

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah. The fact that through your administration and through the Infrastructure Bill that you guys passed, you are finding mi- -- finding ways to not -- it's certainly not reparations, but it is a level of restorative justice, where you say, "We did this; we're going to try to do this to kind of -- to undercut some of the damage we've done." That's important too.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, we want to be intentional. But to your point, for example, it's something else that we've done: The rule has been for a very long time that previously incarcerated people cannot be eligible for Small Business Administration loans. We have now gotten rid of that.

So, now that -- the fact that someone was previously incarcerated will not render them ineligible for a small-business loan. Because here's the thing. We believe in second chances. I believe in redemption and the ability of all people to be able to come back, and we need to give them the ability and opportunity to do it.

Here's another thing I -- that's very important, and I asked all the leaders here to help us get this information out, which is why we have invited the leaders who are here. You are -- you are business leaders, you are opinion leaders. Please help us get the word out. That's part of why I'm doing that and have asked you all to join us.

So, on the student loan debt, let's think about this. The inability to be able to pay tuition is why people take out loans. Okay? So, then, logically, that also tells us some people who can't afford tuition drop out because they can't afford tuition. But they still have debt.

Our policy on student loan debt forgiveness includes people who never graduated being eligible for that -- -- forgiveness. Help us get the word out, because a lot of people are assuming that they are only qualified for student debt forgiveness if they graduated.

And again, we know, statistically, whether it be small-business loans or other things that are available to folks -- you know, when -- when you've lo- -- when you've experienced life in such a way that you've -- you've -- you've had countless disappointments, sometimes folks are reluctant then to put themselves out there, to apply for something for fear they'll be denied or rejected. And that is part of what we see sometimes in terms of somebody not applying for an SBA loan, not applying for student debt forgiveness.

And we want to remind people: If you don't apply, you certainly won't get it. And so, again, I ask the leaders here to help us get the word out.

MR. HUGHLEY: You know, education is very -- obviously, components of that are very important. But we talked a lot about student loan and student debt and tuition, even trade schools -- like --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Yeah, that's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- AI is not going to be able to fix your house, it's not going to be able to be a carpenter, it's not going to be able to be a cobbler -- cobbler. I think that the way you all talk about -- your administration have -- the verbiage you use in terms of finding a thing that you do -- whether it's with your hand, your heart -- being exposed to things and being able to learn a trade is just as important.

Like I'm not -- college wasn't for me. I have a GED for a reason. It didn't mean I wasn't bright or wasn't intrigued or I didn't have passion. It just meant that there was a different pathway for me.

Administra- -- from your perspective, there are pathways that you are building so people, if they want to go to trade school, if they want to learn --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: IBEW is represented here. They're doing an extraordinary job with their apprenticeship programs. I've visited many IBEWs around the country. Four-year apprenticeship programs, usually, where they actually pay the apprentice during those four years, while they're learning, understanding that they're going to develop a -- a -- high, high, high levels of skills but need to be able to get by through the process of learning those skills.

I agree with you.

MR. HUGHLEY: I don't care how rich you are, you're going to call the plumber one day. I don't care. Or -- or a craftsman or --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Or an electrician or -- right.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah. And I think that's very important. I mean, I think that there has been a tendency for these things to play above people's heads in -- to the -- to the degree that they feel like they're -- they're not involved in the conversation. I know a lot of -- a lot of young Black men I talk to feel as if they're not involved in the conversations.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And I think that that's something that -- one of the reasons you're doing this tour --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, you're exactly right.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- is to address the cynicism that they're not being involved because -- because we know that people -- a fulfilled community starts with fil- -- fulfilled leaders.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: And if they feel like no one is talking to them, if they feel like nobody is addressing their concerns or their needs, that could be -- that's going to be a problem.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: And everybody wants to be seen as a full human being. Right? And that's part of -- that's part of, in summary, a lot of what this tour is highlighting is the various things that we are doing to acknowledge the various dimensions of -- of who we are, but in the context of economic opportunity -- be it debt, be it homeownership, be it access to loans, be it access to -- to counseling, and the services that help people know how to start a business and -- and keep a business.

All of -- there is a -- there is a method to the madness, if you will, which is truly about seeing a whole human being and understanding that when we give people opportunities -- you know, this is the beauty of human nature. When you -- when you set a high bar and give people the opportunity to jump for it -- I've seen it throughout my career and life -- people go for it every time. Every time. That's the beauty of human nature.

MR. HUGHLEY: Yeah.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: You give people the ability to know that they have the resources to actually grab that thing? The beauty of human nature: People go for it.

MR. HUGHLEY: It's all -- invariably.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Right? Yeah.

MR. HUGHLEY: One -- it's -- it's one of the -- somebody once said that you give information with a spoon and not a hammer. You know what I mean?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: That's right.

MR. HUGHLEY: It has to be digestible. You have to understand it. And I think that things like this being accessible, answering some of those questions, having -- addressing some of those concerns. Of course, you're going to do this a lot. But, one, I'm glad to be here with you. I'm glad it's .

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm glad you are, D.L. And I'm glad you got some steak last night.

MR. HUGHLEY: I'm going to get some today too. And is weed legal? I'm just playing.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I mean here. I mean -- -- I mean, you said "steak." Let's -- I -- every time I -- I have a conversation -- a chance to engage with you, I come away even a more fervent supporter.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you.

MR. HUGHLEY: I think -- I think what you're doing is only a tip of the iceberg in terms of what you're going to be able to accomplish. So, thank you --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it.

MR. HUGHLEY: -- for allowing me to be here. Thank you for being here.

Madam Vice President of the United States of America.

END 1:05 P.M. CDT

# # #

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

Our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve Forces comprise the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. Throughout the annals of history, they have stood on the frontlines of freedom — risking everything to keep the light of liberty burning bright at home and around the globe. On Armed Forces Day, we honor their service. We remember their selfless sacrifices. We renew our solemn vow to them and their families, caregivers, and survivors.

Our Nation has many obligations but only one that is truly sacred: to train and equip those we send into harm's way and care for them and their families when they come home. Since I came into office, I have signed over 30 bipartisan bills to support our service members, our veterans, and their families. That includes the PACT Act — the most significant law in our Nation's history to help the millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances and burn pits during their military service. Further, we are working to ensure that service members and their families have access to the mental health care they need — an important step toward ending the silent scourge of suicide that has already taken too many lives.

At the same time, we are working to give service members, veterans, and their families some well-deserved breathing room. My Administration helped fix the student loan system, easing the burden of $160 billion of student debt for nearly 4.6 million Federal student loan borrowers through various actions. This year, I took the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our Nation's history to support the economic security of military families, spouses, caregivers, and survivors. We are making it easier for military spouses to find work by making it easier for the Federal Government to hire them, encouraging employers to offer more flexible leave policies, and lowering the cost of child care for military families. Through the First Lady's Joining Forces Initiative, we are taking further action to support military and veteran spouses in finding and keeping good-paying jobs as well as health and wellness resources.

As Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that every member of our military feels safe and respected — and that means ensuring inclusivity, dignity, and decency remain at the core of the culture of our Armed Forces. I am proud to have implemented historic, bipartisan reforms to our military justice system, which better protect victims and ensure prosecutorial decisions for sexual assault, domestic violence, and other crimes are fully independent from the chain of command. One of my earliest acts in office was to end the ban on transgender Americans serving openly in the military. My Administration will continue to stand up to all forms of harassment and hate within our ranks so that all our service members can thrive.

No matter how high the cost, how great the risk, or how heavy the burden — through long deployments and dangers, frequent moves and challenging trainings, and the many other unique burdens of serving our country — our Nation's Armed Forces have always met the moment. They exemplify the very best of our Nation. Today — and every day — let us honor their service, sacrifice, courage, and commitment. Let us continue to meet our sacred obligation to them and their families, caregivers, and survivors.

May God bless and protect our service members and veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.

I direct the Secretary of Defense, on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens. I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their respective jurisdictions each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States. I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.

Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day.

Proclamation 10585 of May 19, 2023, is hereby superseded.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

Millions of Americans have viral hepatitis, an infection of the liver that can be cured or managed with the right treatment, but every year, it takes the lives of thousands of Americans who for too long did not realize that they were sick. Testing saves lives. On National Hepatitis Testing Day, we encourage folks everywhere to help spread the word and get tested, and we commit to continuing our work to get every American the high-quality health care they need to live long, healthy lives.

Hepatitis C, the most common strain of the disease, is spread through contact with infected blood. It can take years to cause noticeable symptoms, leaving many folks unaware that anything is wrong. As a result, they can unintentionally spread the virus; pregnant women with hepatitis C can, for example, pass it on to their newborns. Left untreated, it can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. Fortunately for patients and their families, there is a cure that is 95 percent effective, once folks know to seek it. But it can be very expensive for people without health insurance, putting it out of reach for too many Americans in need, and that is wrong.

We have the tools to end this public health threat, saving thousands of lives. I have proposed a comprehensive plan that would speed up testing, increase access to life-saving medication, train more medical providers, and boost research into a vaccine. For example, my plan would simplify testing by accelerating the availability of point-of-care diagnostics, which means patients could be diagnosed in a single visit rather than having to follow up with multiple tests. It would launch an innovative subscription model for hepatitis C drugs, which would expand access to life-saving treatments for individuals who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, eligible to receive healthcare from the Indian Health Service, or incarcerated. It would invest in health centers and programs that deliver hepatitis care and in training more health care professionals, including programs that serve Black and Native communities — who are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C. It also supports efforts to raise awareness of the critical benefits of testing and treatment, reaching out directly to communities with high infection rates, including people who are incarcerated or in drug treatment programs. My Budget proposes investments that would help prevent serious illness and avoid serious complications from hepatitis C so that we can save lives and finally end hepatitis C in America once and for all.

At the same time, we are working to prevent hepatitis B, the second most common strain of viral hepatitis, which ultimately contributes to as many as 25 percent of people dying prematurely from liver-related diseases. Over 600,000 Americans, many from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, are living with a chronic hepatitis B infection. The good news is that there is already a hepatitis B vaccine that can save lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges all adults under 60 to be screened and vaccinated and for 30 years has recommended that children be vaccinated as well.

America has always been a place where we can get big things done together. That includes beating hepatitis once and for all. This work begins with every American taking steps to protect their own health by asking your health care provider about getting tested for hepatitis B and C and getting vaccinated for hepatitis B. My Administration will keep pushing to advance prevention, testing, treatment, and cures. Together, we can save lives.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19, 2024, as National Hepatitis Testing Day. I encourage all Americans to join in activities that will increase awareness about viral hepatitis and what we can do to prevent and treat it.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

This week, we recommit to ensuring that global trade reflects America's highest values: fairness, transparency, innovation, dignity, and opportunity for American workers, American businesses, and American families.

For decades, our country embraced trickle-down economics which rewarded wealth, not work. Companies took their jobs overseas to get cheaper labor. Factories closed down. Manufacturing slowed. Entire communities became hollowed out as American workers lost their paychecks and sense of pride.

My Administration is changing that. Since I came into office, we have focused on rebuilding our economy from the bottom up and middle out — not the top down. We have seen the results: We have created over 15 million jobs since I took office, including nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs. Unemployment has been at under 4 percent for more than 2 years for the first time in more than 6 decades. A record 17 million Americans are starting small businesses. As a result of investments during my Administration, factories are coming back, producing everything from semiconductors to clean energy technology here at home. We have launched over 56,000 infrastructure projects across the country — rebuilding our Nation's roads, highways, bridges, railroads, ports, airports, and so much more.

As we rebuild at home, we are also ensuring American workers and businesses have a fair shot abroad. Together with 13 nations across the Indo-Pacific, we are creating a new Economic Framework that will strengthen our supply chains, raise labor standards, advance our clean energy transition, and combat the corruption that too often robs workers of a fair share of the value they create. I am taking action to protect American workers and businesses from China's unfair trade practices and ensure they compete on a level playing field, including increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses. At the same time, we are working to increase trade with Kenya, Taiwan, and other partners around the world.

No region impacts the economic security of the United States more directly than the Western Hemisphere. Together with 11 partners, we have launched the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity to build more resilient supply chains, mobilize high-standard investments in our partners' economies, and ensure that trade-enabled growth means inclusive growth across all of our nations. My Administration is helping to better protect workers' rights, end unfair labor practices, and support free and fair union elections. For example, through the Partnership for Workers' Rights we launched with Brazil, we are taking collective action to promote workers' empowerment and end violations of workers' rights, which is key to achieving sustainable economic growth.

My Administration has launched historic trade initiatives with the European Union to promote clean manufacturing and create new jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. For example, through the Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminum, we are partnering to tackle non-market excess capacity and emissions intensity in the steel and aluminum sectors, which threaten the competitiveness of our workers and producers. Together, we created the U.S.-E.U. Trade and Technology Council that has deepened our cooperation on sustainable, high-standard trade.

The United States is also working with our partners to combat non-market policies and practices and structural overcapacity that distort global markets, create unfair competitive advantages, and lead to dependencies that make us vulnerable to coercion. From the G7 to our partnerships with developing countries and our engagement at the WTO, we are working across the board to protect our workers, industries, and economic security.

As my Administration takes these steps, American workers will remain front of mind. Through the first-ever Presidential Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally, my Administration is making workers' rights central to all of our international economic partnerships and diplomacy, ensuring that workers get the dignity and opportunity they deserve. We are working to expand trade opportunities for communities that have too often been left behind — including helping small businesses compete in international markets through our new National Export Strategy and making it easier for small and medium sized businesses to access loans from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The Department of Commerce launched a Global Diversity Export Initiative to help minority-owned businesses overcome barriers to entering international trade.

All across our country, American workers are writing the greatest comeback story our Nation has ever known. This week and every week, my Administration recommits to ensuring our trade supports them, protects them, and helps forge a better future for our Nation — one where no one is left behind and everyone gets a fair shot.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25, 2024, as World Trade Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week and to celebrate with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

Boating is a beloved American pastime — each year, nearly 100 million people find peace and freedom on our Nation's lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. This week, as so many of us look forward to summer, we remind Americans to be safe and responsible on the water.

Taking basic steps to protect yourself and your loved ones can save lives. Everyone on board should wear a life jacket at all times. Boat operators should always check the weather forecast; bring maps and emergency communication tools; and wear their engine-cut-off switch lanyard, which will automatically stop the vessel if they slip or are thrown overboard. They should always boat sober. Operating a boat is like driving a car and demands full attention.

Americans who own a boat should meanwhile make sure it meets Federal safety standards. The civilian Coast Guard Auxiliary can send volunteers to inspect your boat and its safety equipment for free. Free courses on boat safety are available in all 50 States by qualified volunteer organizations, and many offer in-person and online trainings on important topics like boat handling, marine navigation, engine maintenance, weather prediction, and more.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 18 through May 24, 2024, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage all Americans who participate in boating activities to observe this occasion by learning more about safe boating practices and by taking advantage of boating safety education opportunities. I also encourage the Governors of the States and Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to join me in encouraging boating safety in every community.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

During National Emergency Medical Services [EMS] Week, we honor our Nation's courageous EMS providers, who put it all on the line to deliver urgent, life-saving care to people across our country in times of great need.

Whether paramedics, emergency medical technicians, 911 and 988 dispatchers, or other first responders, EMS providers routinely work long hours away from loved ones to keep other families whole. They risk their own lives and health, staring down storms, floods, or fires and rushing to rescue people in need. For many Americans, they are a beacon of hope in some of life's toughest moments and let us know we are going to be okay. We have a duty to show up for them the way they show up for us.

That is why my Administration is working to get every EMS department in America the equipment and support they deserve. During my first months in office, we passed the American Rescue Plan, investing billions of dollars to support EMS roles. Today, we are working with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to keep EMTs on the job and to help them handle trauma and burn out. We are working to get departments the resources they need to provide better training and equipment for EMS providers. To help ease staffing shortages, we are also helping communities recruit and train more firefighters, who often provide emergency medical services as well. We are fighting to ease the burden of student loans. In all, we have cancelled debt for 4.6 million student borrowers, including for nearly 900,000 public service workers by fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which many non-profit or government EMS provider employees could be eligible for.

I have often said that courage lies in every heart, and the expectation is that it will one day be summoned. It is summoned every day for America's EMS providers. They embody the best of our Nation — bravery, honor, and respect, never failing to answer the call to help others. This week, we thank them and the unions that protect so many of our EMS providers and promise to always have their backs.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25, 2024, as National Emergency Medical Services Week. I call upon public officials, doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMS providers, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to honor our brave EMS workers and to pay tribute to the EMS providers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-17

NATIONAL SECURITY MEMORANDUM/nSM-23

MEMORANDUM FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE

THE SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

THE SECRETARY OF ENERGY

THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION AGENCY

THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

BUDGET

THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

THE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

AGENCY

THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL

SECURITY AFFAIRS

THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE

AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL SCIENCE

FOUNDATION

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS

AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

THE CHAIR OF THE MARINE MAMMAL COMMISSION

SUBJECT: United States Policy on the Antarctic Region

This memorandum establishes the policy of the United States with respect to the Antarctic Region. It rescinds and replaces Presidential Decision Directive/NSC-26 of June 9, 1994 [United States Policy on the Arctic and Antarctic Regions]. It identifies the key objectives and mechanisms by which the United States will lead and participate in activities within or pertaining to the Antarctic Region.

Section 1. Policy. [a) Due to its significant national interests in and historic ties to the Antarctic Region, and as 1 of 12 original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 (Antarctic Treaty], the United States reaffirms the importance of protecting the unique and fragile Antarctic Region and its resources and ecosystems in the face of direct and indirect pressures from human activities. The Antarctic Region plays a vital role in the global climate system, supports unique organisms and ecosystems, and provides an unparalleled platform for multi-scale environmental and cosmological research. The United States will continue to lead cooperative international efforts through the Antarctic Treaty System [ATS] to maintain the Antarctic Region for peaceful purposes, protect its relatively pristine environment and ecosystems, and conduct scientific research.

[b) United States policy toward the Antarctic Region has four fundamental objectives: (1] to protect the relatively unspoiled environment of the Antarctic Region and its associated ecosystems; [2) to preserve and pursue unique opportunities for scientific research and understand the Antarctic Region's relationship to global environmental changes; (3] to maintain the Antarctic Region as an area of international cooperation reserved exclusively for peaceful purposes; and [4) to assure the protection and conservation of the living resources in and ecosystems of the Antarctic Region.

Sec. 2. United States Engagement with the Antarctic Treaty System. (a] The United States continues to strongly support the ATS as the legal framework that establishes the Antarctic Region as a zone for peace, international cooperation, the pursuit of science, and environmental protection. The United States has held and will continue to take a leadership role in negotiating and implementing related agreements concerning the Antarctic Region.

[b) The United States reiterates its steadfast position of not recognizing sovereignty claims and of reserving all its rights throughout the whole of the Antarctic Region, consistent with the Antarctic Treaty.

(c] The United States will continue to maintain an active and influential presence in the ATS — led by the Department of State with participation by other executive departments and agencies [agencies] — and in Antarctica through the active engagement of the National Science Foundation [NSF]. The NSF budgets for and manages the United States Antarctic Program on behalf of the Federal Government pursuant to Presidential Memorandum 6646 of February 5, 1982 [United States Antarctic Policy and Programs]. Through the United States Antarctic Program, the United States maintains three year-round scientific research stations in Antarctica and, together with other agencies, undertakes and supports scientific research in the Antarctic Region. The United States will work collaboratively to conduct world-class research that also assists policymakers to advance the goals of the policy outlined in this memorandum in a manner consistent with the ATS.

[d) To maintain the effectiveness and durability of the ATS, the United States will continuously strengthen its promotion of transparency, compliance, cooperation, the exchange of best practices, and adherence to relevant norms by all ATS participants. Consistent with the ATS, the United States will continue to use all tools available — including expanding the Nation's polar icebreaker fleet — to support the goals of the policy outlined in this memorandum, particularly to achieve United States Antarctic Program science and operations goals and Department of State-led inspections. Furthermore, the United States will advance management of human activities in the Antarctic Region proactively and consistently with its objectives of protection and conservation. This management approach reflects the United States' steadfast commitment to all aspects of the ATS, to include but not limited to arms control, the protection of vulnerable flora and fauna, and the general prohibition of activity relating to mineral resources.

(e] Considering ongoing climate change and other global changes and their associated impacts — to include ocean warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion, pollution, threats to biodiversity, and the risk of reaching tipping points such as the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet — the United States recognizes the benefits of research opportunities and scientific pursuits in the Antarctic Region to benefit all ATS participants. The United States collaboratively leverages Federal, international, academic, and public-private partnerships to advance and share data, information, and knowledge about the Antarctic Region and its role in Earth systems. For example, the United States Global Change Research Program — which facilitates collaboration and cooperation across its Federal Government member agencies — aims to advance global change science; engage the Nation; collaborate internationally; and inform decisions about risks, mitigation, and adaptation to global changes.

[f) As a party to the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CAMLR Convention], the United States will continue to promote conservation and utilization of the best scientific information available for decision-making about Antarctic marine living resources and ecosystems. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the NSF, and other relevant research-oriented agencies will maintain strong scientific programs that advance knowledge and inform decision?making under the CAMLR Convention, and that enable the United States to persuasively advocate for effective protection and conservation of Antarctic ecosystems and marine living resources. For any such ecosystems and resources subject to exploitation, the United States will promote the application of a precautionary, ecosystem-based approach rooted in the best available science to sustainably manage target, associated, and dependent species. Furthermore, the United States recognizes the value and importance of establishing, enforcing, monitoring, and adaptively managing fully and highly protected large-scale marine protected areas as tools to conserve Antarctic marine living resources, their ecosystems, and the benefits they provide.

Sec. 3. Definitions and Area of Application. For purposes of this memorandum:

[a) The ATS includes four international agreements: the Antarctic Treaty; the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals; the CAMLR Convention; and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, along with Measures, Decisions, and Resolutions in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the Antarctic Treaty and CAMLR Convention.

(b] The term "Antarctic Region" applies to the fullest, cumulative extent of the ATS. The area of application of the Antarctic Treaty is the area south of 60 degrees South Latitude, including all ice shelves. The CAMLR Convention applies to the Antarctic Treaty area and to the area between 60 degrees South Latitude and the Antarctic Convergence [as defined in Article I of the CAMLR Convention] in the Southern Ocean.

[c) The term "ATS participants" comprises states, multinational organizations, and non-state actors involved in ATS affairs and Antarctic activities, to include the Antarctic Treaty Contracting Parties, Observers, and Invited Experts participating in Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. The term also applies to the CAMLR Convention Contracting Parties, Acceding States, and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a] This memorandum rescinds and replaces Presidential Decision Directive/NSC-26.

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

(i] the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

[ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(c] This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with the Constitution and the laws of the United States; the obligations of the United States under the treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a party; and customary international law as recognized by the United States, including with respect to the law of the sea, and shall be subject to the availability of appropriations.

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

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

President Biden believes every student deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them to be the next generation of leaders. Today, on the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which outlawed racially segregated schools – deeming them unequal and unconstitutional – the Biden-Harris Administration highlights new actions with the release of additional funding and resources to support school diversity and advance the goal that all students have access to a world-class education.

Research shows that racial achievement gaps are strongly associated with school segregation, in turn because schools with high concentrations of Black and Latino students receive fewer resources. The desegregation of schools that followed Brown led to a 30 percent increase in graduation rates for Black students and a 22 percent increase for Latino students. As school districts were released from court-ordered desegregation, research shows that in the 1960 s and 1970 s, school integration increased rapidly, but that trend has reversed in the past two decades when both racial and economic segregation increased . For example, segregation between white and Black students is up 64 percent since 1988, while segregation by economic status has grown by 50 percent

since 1991. According to the U.S. Department of Education's State of School Diversity Report , racially and socioeconomically isolated schools often lack critical resources and learning experiences and opportunities that prepare students for college and career success. The Department of Education report found that three in five Black and Latino students and two in five American Indian/Alaska Native students attend schools where at least 75% of students are students of color and 42% of white students attend schools where students of color make up less than 25% of the population.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring the educational success of every child, and to address racial segregation in our schools that leads to worse educational outcomes for children, including through investments in local efforts to increase diversity and equal opportunity. The Administration is focused on academic acceleration and has made record levels of investment in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to help improve opportunity for all. This includes supporting districts as they work to strengthen and diversify the education profession, enrich educational experiences, and improve school climate and conditions for robust learning.

New Actions to Advance Racial and Educational Equity

To advance racial and educational equity and continue the work of Brown to support educational opportunity for all students, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the following new actions today:

New Magnet School Grants. The Department of Education's Magnet Schools Assistance Program will invest $20 million in new awards for school districts in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Texas to establish magnet programs designed to further desegregate public schools by attracting students from different social, economic, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. The President's 2025 budget request includes $139 million for MSAP and $10 million to continue investments in the Fostering Diverse Schools program.

Establishing a new technical assistance center to help states and school districts provide more equitable and adequate approaches to school funding. The U.S. Department of Education announced a new Technical Assistance Center on Fiscal Equity as part of the Comprehensive Centers Program. The Center on Fiscal Equity will provide capacity-building services to support states and school districts build equitable and adequate resource allocation strategies, improve the quality and transparency of fiscal data, and prioritize supports for students and communities with the greatest need.

New Data on Equal Access to Math and Science Courses. The Department of Education Office for Civil Rights is releasing a new Civil Rights Data Collection report highlighting students' access to and enrollment in mathematics, science, and computer science courses and academic programs, drawing from information in the 2020-21 Civil Rights Data Collection . The report reflects stark continuing racial inequities in access to math, science, and computer science courses for students in high schools with high concentrations of Black and Latino students.

Preserving African American History. To further advance the President's Executive Order on Promoting the Arts, the Humanities, and Museum and Library Services, the Administration is launching an interagency process to develop new actions by the Federal Government to preserve African American history – including preserving historic sites, protecting and increasing access to literature, and ensuring the public, including students, has continuing access to resources. This effort will bolster African American history and culture as integral, indelible parts of American history.

Investing in Underserved Schools

Under the American Rescue Plan, the nation's schools received $130 billion in funding – the most in our Nation's history – with a focus on undeserved schools. The American Rescue Plan also included new requirements that have driven nearly $800 million in State additional education funding, above and beyond the federal investment, to the most underserved school by protecting schools with high rates of poverty from reductions in State and local education funding.

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has secured nearly $2 billion in additional Title I funding to support our schools with the highest need, for a record $18.4 billion in annual funding.

The Biden-Harris Administration has also increased funding for Full-Service Community Schools five-fold, from $30 million in Fiscal Year 2021 to $150 million in FY 2024 so that underserved schools, including those that serve a majority of students of color, have the additional resources they need to help deliver more services to students and their families, such as health care, housing, and child care, to close resource and opportunity gaps.

Increasing Teacher Diversity

Research indicates that educator diversity can improve student achievement and help close achievement gaps. For example, one study found that Black students randomly assigned to at least one Black teacher in grades K-3 were nearly 19% more likely to enroll in college than their same-school, same-race peers.

The Administration is prioritizing efforts to increase educator diversity across 15 competitive grant programs that support teacher preparation, development, recruitment, and retention. These programs awarded nearly $450 million to 263 grantees, 92 percent of which were to grantees that addressed specific priorities related to educator diversity.

The Administration secured and awarded a total of more than $23 million in first-time ever funding for the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Grant program which provides grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities , Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities , and Minority Serving Institutions for teacher preparation programs to increase the number of well-prepared teachers, including teachers of color and multilingual educators.

Strengthening School Diversity

During this Administration, the Department of Education is investing more than $300 million in programs that increase school diversity This includes increased investment in the Magnet Schools Assistance Program , which aims to reduce racial isolation, including by creating highly effective schools, and the creation of the Fostering Diverse Schools Demonstration Program , a new initiative to increase school socioeconomic diversity, which awarded more than $14 million in new grants.

In August 2023 after the Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions, the Department of Education released a Dear Colleague Letter on Race and School Programming to guide schools on lawful programs to promote racially inclusive school communities and, along with the Department of Justice, a Dear Colleague Letter and a Questions and Answers Resource to help colleges and universities understand the Supreme Court's decision as they continue to pursue campuses that are racially diverse and that include students with a range of viewpoints, talents, backgrounds, and experiences. The Department of Education published a resource summarizing specific

guidance describing Federal legal obligations to ensure that all students have equal access to education regardless of race, color, or national origin.

The Department of Education issued a new rule requiring, among other things, many Charter School Program applicants to assure that proposed charter schools would not negatively affect any desegregation efforts in the communities in which charters are to be located.

Closing the School Readiness Gap

Because of the legacy of discrimination, Black children start school on average nearly seven months behind their white peers in reading. One study finds that one year of universal high-quality pre-K could eliminate most of that gap. Others indicate that students who go to preschool are nearly 50% more likely to finish high school and go on to a college degree. Each of the President's budgets have included proposals that would provide preschool to every four-year-old in the country. In addition:

President Biden has secured an additional $1.5 billion for Head Start and nearly a 50% increase in funding for the Child Care & Development Block Grant program, which helps low-income families afford child care. Approximately 30% of children and families receiving high-quality Head Start services are Black and close to 40% of families benefiting from CCBDG are Black.

The American Rescue Plan provided $24 billion to stabilize child care. Over 44% of programs that received assistance were owned or operated by people of color and 53% of providers receiving stabilization funds were operating in the most racially diverse counties.

The Department of Education released guidance on how districts can leverage the increases the President has secured for Title I to expand access to high-quality preschool services, including through partnerships with Head Start programs. This is the first Department of Education preschool guidance in more than a decade.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

President Biden believes every student deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them to be the next generation of leaders. Today, on the 70^thanniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education [Brown] decision, which outlawed racially segregated schools – deeming them unequal and unconstitutional – the Biden-Harris Administration highlights new actions with the release of additional funding and resources to support school diversity and advance the goal that all students have access to a world-class education.

Research shows that racial achievement gaps are strongly associated with school segregation, in turn because schools with high concentrations of Black and Latino students receive fewer resources. The desegregation of schools that followed Brown led to a 30 percent increase in graduation rates for Black students and a 22 percent increase for Latino students. As school districts were released from court-ordered desegregation, research shows that in the 1960s and 1970s, school integration increased rapidly, but that trend has reversed in the past two decades when both racial and economic segregation increased. For example, segregation between white and Black students is up 64 percent since 1988, while segregation by economic status has grown by 50 percent since 1991. According to the U.S. Department of Education's State of School Diversity Report, racially and socioeconomically isolated schools often lack critical resources and learning experiences and opportunities that prepare students for college and career success. The Department of Education report found that three in five Black and Latino students and two in five American Indian/Alaska Native students attend schools where at least 75% of students are students of color and 42% of white students attend schools where students of color make up less than 25% of the population.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring the educational success of every child, and to address racial segregation in our schools that leads to worse educational outcomes for children, including through investments in local efforts to increase diversity and equal opportunity. The Administration is focused on academic acceleration and has made record levels of investment in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to help improve opportunity for all. This includes supporting districts as they work to strengthen and diversify the education profession, enrich educational experiences, and improve school climate and conditions for robust learning.

New Actions to Advance Racial and Educational Equity

To advance racial and educational equity and continue the work of Brown to support educational opportunity for all students, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the following new actions today:

Investing in Underserved Schools

Increasing Teacher Diversity

Research indicates that educator diversity can improve student achievement and help close achievement gaps. For example, one study found that Black students randomly assigned to at least one Black teacher in grades K-3 were nearly 19% more likely to enroll in college than their same-school, same-race peers.

Strengthening School Diversity

Closing the School Readiness Gap

Because of the legacy of discrimination, Black children start school on average nearly seven months behind their white peers in reading. One study finds that one year of universal high-quality pre-K could eliminate most of that gap. Others indicate that students who go to preschool are nearly 50% more likely to finish high school and go on to a college degree. Each of the President's budgets have included proposals that would provide preschool to every four-year-old in the country. In addition:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and Chief of Cabinet Nicol's Posse of Argentina

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met yesterday with Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and Chief of Cabinet Nicol's Posse of Argentina at the White House to reaffirm the strong partnership between our two countries.

The National Security Advisor recognized President Milei's ongoing efforts to stabilize Argentina's economy and reviewed areas where the United States and Argentina can strengthen their economic cooperation, including on mobilizing private sector investment in Argentina's clean energy and technology sectors. The National Security Advisor also congratulated Argentina on the recent purchase of F-16 s from Denmark, and discussed further opportunities to deepen our security and defense partnership.

Additionally, they discussed ways to bolster cooperation to address important regional and global challenges, including ongoing efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure a ceasefire and hostage deal that would bring hostages home, including those from the United States and Argentina. National Security Advisor Sullivan thanked Argentina for speaking out to support democracy in Venezuela and condemn Russia's war against Ukraine.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

On the International Day Against hom*ophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, my Administration stands in support and solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people around the world as they seek to live full lives, free from violence and discrimination. This is a matter of human rights, plain and simple. The United States applauds those individuals and groups worldwide working to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people wherever they are under threat. And we are grateful for the contributions that LGBTQI+ people make every day across our nation.

From Day One of my presidency, my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ people a priority. In my first month in office, I signed a Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World , directing that our diplomacy and development work around the world be conducted in a manner that reflects our commitment to the equal human rights of this population. We have stood up against laws that target LGBTQI+ people for criminal prosecution; worked to protect LGBTQI+ refugees, who are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; and launched a Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally , to ensure that our

efforts to confront the scourge of gender-based violence address the unique risks and barriers that LGBTQI+ people face. I also signed an Executive Order directing my Administration to work to prevent the use of so-called "conversion therapy" – an abusive and discredited practice that often targets children. And my Administration continues to engage with governments, faith leaders, families, and communities worldwide to protect and promote respect for human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights.

Efforts like these have yielded tangible results. During the past year, the United States has responded to abuses of LGBTQI+ people abroad. We've developed an approach to foreign assistance that ensures LGBTQI+ people aren't overlooked in our work. We've expanded access for LGBTQI+ people through our refugee programs. And the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons , whom I appointed, is driving rapid response to proposed anti-LGBTQI+ legislation around the world. We've seen how American leadership makes a difference; over the past decade, a growing number of nations have decriminalized same-sex conduct, often with the encouragement of the United States.

Yet we know there is much more to do. LGBTQI+ communities around the world still face hate-fueled violence and discrimination. They still struggle to attain equal access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, and justice. Like all human beings, LGBTQI+ people deserve equality – equal rights, equal citizenship, equal dignity. It is our shared moral responsibility to fight back against hom*ophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, just as we must fight back against all hate-fueled violence, at home and abroad.

Today marks the 30^th anniversary of when the World Health Organization made the wise and overdue decision to declassify 'hom*osexuality' as a mental disorder. That was a victory for LGBTQI+ people and human rights defenders everywhere. 30 years later, the work of equality continues. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a part of it.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

On the International Day Against hom*ophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, my Administration stands in support and solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex [LGBTQI+] people around the world as they seek to live full lives, free from violence and discrimination. This is a matter of human rights, plain and simple. The United States applauds those individuals and groups worldwide working to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people wherever they are under threat. And we are grateful for the contributions that LGBTQI+ people make every day across our nation.

From Day One of my presidency, my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ people a priority. In my first month in office, I signed a Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World, directing that our diplomacy and development work around the world be conducted in a manner that reflects our commitment to the equal human rights of this population. We have stood up against laws that target LGBTQI+ people for criminal prosecution; worked to protect LGBTQI+ refugees, who are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; and launched a Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, to ensure that our efforts to confront the scourge of gender-based violence address the unique risks and barriers that LGBTQI+ people face. I also signed an Executive Order directing my Administration to work to prevent the use of so-called "conversion therapy" – an abusive and discredited practice that often targets children. And my Administration continues to engage with governments, faith leaders, families, and communities worldwide to protect and promote respect for human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights.

Efforts like these have yielded tangible results. During the past year, the United States has responded to abuses of LGBTQI+ people abroad. We've developed an approach to foreign assistance that ensures LGBTQI+ people aren't overlooked in our work. We've expanded access for LGBTQI+ people through our refugee programs. And the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, whom I appointed, is driving rapid response to proposed anti-LGBTQI+ legislation around the world. We've seen how American leadership makes a difference; over the past decade, a growing number of nations have decriminalized same-sex conduct, often with the encouragement of the United States.

Yet we know there is much more to do. LGBTQI+ communities around the world still face hate-fueled violence and discrimination. They still struggle to attain equal access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, and justice. Like all human beings, LGBTQI+ people deserve equality – equal rights, equal citizenship, equal dignity. It is our shared moral responsibility to fight back against hom*ophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, just as we must fight back against all hate-fueled violence, at home and abroad.

Today marks the 30^thanniversary of when the World Health Organization made the wise and overdue decision to declassify 'hom*osexuality' as a mental disorder. That was a victory for LGBTQI+ people and human rights defenders everywhere. 30 years later, the work of equality continues. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a part of it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

On May 21, the President will travel to New Hampshire. After, the President will travel to Boston, Massachusetts.

Additional details to follow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024

In the morning, the Vice President will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press.

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with the leaders of the Divine Nine, historically Black sororities and fraternities. This meeting in the Oval Office will be closed press.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Bay Mills Community College

As Prepared for Delivery

SECOND GENTLEMAN DOUGLAS EMHOFF: Boozhoo!

Thank you, Chairman Lowes. You've been a strong advocate for social services and cultural programs for the Sault Ste Marie Tribe, and you've made a real difference in the lives of your community members.

It's great to be in Michigan with my good friend, Dr. Biden. She is a passionate advocate for so many issues, and she puts her heart and soul into everything she does.

As Second Gentleman, I've had the honor of meeting Tribal leaders and visiting Native communities across the country.

My first solo trip was to New Mexico where I visited a COVID-19 vaccine clinic with the Kewa Pueblo. On that trip, I learned about the challenges Native Americans were facing to protect their Tribal members, especially elders, during the pandemic.

They were fighting to preserve their heritage and ensure their communities could continue to thrive for many generations to come.

Last year, the Vice President and I traveled to the Gila River Indian Community where I met with a group of military veterans. I had the chance to speak with them about their service and thank them for their bravery and dedication to our nation.

Many of you who are here today are also veterans, service members – patriots.

Native Americans have served our country in every major conflict in the past 200 years. And today, Native Americans serve in uniform at the highest rate of any population.

This unique dedication and commitment to service is echoed throughout every generation.

Today's young Native leaders are upholding this legacy and defending our nation's values.

They are also carrying forward the language, culture, and traditions of their tribes – while fighting back against disparities that have harmed Tribal communities for decades.

To achieve economic justice in Indian Country, we must address historical barriers and support tribal self-determination.

When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, they acknowledged the duty to safeguard and strengthen the bonds between our nations.

They also vowed to build a future in which every Native person can realize their aspirations and every Native community can be a place of opportunity.

That is why President Biden and Vice President Harris have invested nearly $45 billion in Indian Country.

This includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan and $13 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Through these transformational investments, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking historic action to: rebuild Tribal roads and bridges; expand access to clean drinking water and clean energy; ensure every Native American has access to high-speed internet; and create good-paying jobs.

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris's leadership, we will continue to invest in, and support, Tribal Nations and Native communities.

The Vice President has worked with Native communities her entire career.

As District Attorney of San Francisco, she represented Native children and families in Indian Child Welfare Act cases. And as Attorney General of California, she partnered with Tribal leaders, child welfare agencies, and law enforcement officials to enforce ICWA.

President Biden and Vice President Harris, working hand-in-hand with Native leaders, will continue to safeguard the protections of ICWA. They understand its significance and the importance of acknowledging the truth about this country's history.

They will also keep fighting to address the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

There is much more work to do, but together, I know we will build a better future for this generation and generations to come.

Now, I am proud to introduce Whitney Gravelle, President of the Bay Mills Indian Community.

For Immediate Release

May 16, 2024

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Bay Mills Indian Community Event

Brimley, Michigan

Thank you, President Gravelle. You and Chairman Lowes are fearless advocates for your communities – ensuring that ancestral lands are protected, and fighting for justice and hope ahead. Your leadership echoes throughout this peninsula and to the rest of the state beyond. I'm grateful for all that you do.

Mayor Gerrie, Jaimee, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

Joe promised to appoint Native leaders across his administration, and he has – including by hiring some amazing people from your tribes.

Bryan and Liz, President Biden is grateful for your work.

Serving as the second spouse of the United States is something I know a bit about, and, Doug, you are doing an incredible job – finding balance between your own profession and your service to the country – you're the best Second Gentleman, ever!

Aanii!

I'm honored to be with all of you today. What an incredible performance! Thank you for welcoming me.

I teach writing at a community college – like this one – just outside of Washington, DC.

And years ago, I had to tell my class that I would miss the next session for personal reasons.

Now, my students have a lot of shining qualities, but boundaries are not one of them. So, they immediately began shouting, "Dr. B, Dr. B, where are you going?"

My sister was having the first of her cancer treatments, a stem cell transplant, and she would be in a hospital room for six weeks. I tried to explain with as much composure as I could muster, but the words caught in my throat. I turned to the whiteboard, hoping to hold back my emotions.

When I turned back around, the entire class was standing. They lined up and gave me a hug, one by one.

Until that moment, I didn't realize how much I was struggling, or how much I needed them.

Sometimes our strength comes from within us, and sometimes it can't. It's up to all of us to carry each other's grief and joy.

In the darkest times of my life, I learned that one of the most courageous things we can do is lean on each other. And I learned that, often, it doesn't take much to be that strength in return: A kind word. A hand on a shoulder. A smile that lets someone know they aren't alone.

It's a gift we give to each other: our vulnerability, our brokenness, and the chance to lift up our communities when they need it most.

And suddenly, we become so much stronger than we ever could be alone.

That community – that connection – it's something we all need. It's how we heal each other, how we find our place in the world, making our planet a little brighter and a little better as we do.

It's what the Seven Grandfather Teachings tell us.

That when we act with love and respect, honesty and truth, bravery and humility, and wisdom – we understand how we can serve our communities – and the wildlands around them – and walk the path of a good life. The teachings tell us to look out for each other in the big moments – when lives change or crisis comes – and in the everyday moments too – like my students did for me.

It's something I first heard more than two years ago, in central Michigan, at another Chippewa Tribe: the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

That idea carries here – across the Great Lakes – to the place of the pike and the place of the rapids too. This community comes together as a family – one that stretches across miles and fields and towns to the entire eastern U.P. You look for ways to serve your neighbors – to meet the moment – no matter how big or small.

You show up for each other – and for your communities – and the President and I want to show up for you.

Joe made a commitment to Indian Country – and he's delivering on his promises.

His administration has made the largest-ever federal investment in Native communities. He signed an historic executive order honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship and supporting Tribal self-determination.

And he's begun an unprecedented collaboration with Tribal Nations to manage the lands, waters, and natural wonders.

It has been one my greatest honors to travel to Indian Country as First Lady.

In Tribal health clinics and schools, at roundtables and in gymnasiums, I've spoken with Native leaders and young people, who are weaving their heritage with their vision for the future, expanding connections through the reach of broadband, supporting revitalization of their Native languages, and growing their economies.

The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a partner in those efforts.

Just a few moments ago, we had the opportunity to watch a beautiful performance – the cool breeze from Lake Superior all around us. It makes the air feel different than it does anywhere else, doesn't it?

And we looked out at the horizon – the same one your ancestors considered generations ago – the same one your children's children will contemplate together years from now.

Our partnership isn't only about today – it's about those children too – about how we will serve the next generation. And Joe and I stand with you and all of Indian Country, as we work to build that bright future together.

A tomorrow where we continue shaping our great nations – walking the path of the good life together. Leaning on each other with wisdom and respect. Learning from one another with humility. Pushing forward bold progress with bravery. And united by love – for each other and the Earth around us.

And together, we will create a community that stretches across lakes and plains – one that is stronger than any of us would be alone.

Miigwetch.

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-16

Brimley, Michigan

Thank you, President Gravelle. You and Chairman Lowes are fearless advocates for your communities – ensuring that ancestral lands are protected, and fighting for justice and hope ahead. Your leadership echoes throughout this peninsula and to the rest of the state beyond. I'm grateful for all that you do.

Mayor Gerrie, Jaimee, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

Joe promised to appoint Native leaders across his administration, and he has – including by hiring some amazing people from your tribes.

Bryan and Liz, President Biden is grateful for your work.

Serving as the second spouse of the United States is something I know a bit about, and, Doug, you are doing an incredible job – finding balance between your own profession and your service to the country – you're the best Second Gentleman, ever!

I'm honored to be with all of you today. What an incredible performance! Thank you for welcoming me.

I teach writing at a community college – like this one – just outside of Washington, DC.

And years ago, I had to tell my class that I would miss the next session for personal reasons.

Now, my students have a lot of shining qualities, but boundaries are not one of them. So, they immediately began shouting, "Dr. B, Dr. B, where are you going?"

My sister was having the first of her cancer treatments, a stem cell transplant, and she would be in a hospital room for six weeks. I tried to explain with as much composure as I could muster, but the words caught in my throat. I turned to the whiteboard, hoping to hold back my emotions.

When I turned back around, the entire class was standing. They lined up and gave me a hug, one by one.

Until that moment, I didn't realize how much I was struggling, or how much I needed them.

Sometimes our strength comes from within us, and sometimes it can't. It's up to all of us to carry each other's grief and joy.

In the darkest times of my life, I learned that one of the most courageous things we can do is lean on each other. And I learned that, often, it doesn't take much to be that strength in return: A kind word. A hand on a shoulder. A smile that lets someone know they aren't alone.

It's a gift we give to each other: our vulnerability, our brokenness, and the chance to lift up our communities when they need it most.

And suddenly, we become so much stronger than we ever could be alone.

That community – that connection – it's something we all need. It's how we heal each other, how we find our place in the world, making our planet a little brighter and a little better as we do.

It's what the Seven Grandfather Teachings tell us.

That when we act with love and respect, honesty and truth, bravery and humility, and wisdom – we understand how we can serve our communities – and the wildlands around them – and walk the path of a good life. The teachings tell us to look out for each other in the big moments – when lives change or crisis comes – and in the everyday moments too – like my students did for me.

It's something I first heard more than two years ago, in central Michigan, at another Chippewa Tribe: the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

That idea carries here – across the Great Lakes – to the place of the pike and the place of the rapids too. This community comes together as a family – one that stretches across miles and fields and towns to the entire eastern U.P. You look for ways to serve your neighbors – to meet the moment – no matter how big or small.

You show up for each other – and for your communities – and the President and I want to show up for you.

Joe made a commitment to Indian Country – and he's delivering on his promises.

His administration has made the largest-ever federal investment in Native communities. He signed an historic executive order honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship and supporting Tribal self-determination.

And he's begun an unprecedented collaboration with Tribal Nations to manage the lands, waters, and natural wonders.

It has been one my greatest honors to travel to Indian Country as First Lady.

In Tribal health clinics and schools, at roundtables and in gymnasiums, I've spoken with Native leaders and young people, who are weaving their heritage with their vision for the future, expanding connections through the reach of broadband, supporting revitalization of their Native languages, and growing their economies.

The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a partner in those efforts.

Just a few moments ago, we had the opportunity to watch a beautiful performance – the cool breeze from Lake Superior all around us. It makes the air feel different than it does anywhere else, doesn't it?

And we looked out at the horizon – the same one your ancestors considered generations ago – the same one your children's children will contemplate together years from now.

Our partnership isn't only about today – it's about those children too – about how we will serve the next generation. And Joe and I stand with you and all of Indian Country, as we work to build that bright future together.

A tomorrow where we continue shaping our great nations – walking the path of the good life together. Leaning on each other with wisdom and respect. Learning from one another with humility. Pushing forward bold progress with bravery. And united by love – for each other and the Earth around us.

And together, we will create a community that stretches across lakes and plains – one that is stronger than any of us would be alone.

Miigwetch.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

The bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization is a big win for travelers, the aviation workforce, and our economy. It will expand critical protections for air travelers, strengthen safety standards, and support pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers.

It also builds on my Administration's efforts to improve the travel experience for airline passengers, affirming the Department of Transportation's rule that mandated automatic refunds when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed. It also makes sure families can sit together without paying extra fees. Passengers shouldn't have to jump through endless hoops just to get the refunds that they are owed, and corporations shouldn't rip off hardworking Americans through hidden junk fees.

I want to thank members of both parties who worked together over many months to pass this long-term reauthorization.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

H.R. 3935, the "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024," which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and related revenue authorities through September 30, 2028; and reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board through September 30, 2028.

Thank you to Representatives Graves and Larsen, Senators Cantwell and Cruz, and many others for their leadership.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

All times are local and subject to change.

At 12:15 PM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will join a community listening session about health care with members of the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed.

At 1:15 PM, to highlight historic investments through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will tour the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed.

At 3:30 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at MBS International Airport in Freeland, Michigan. This arrival will be open press and registration is closed.

At 5:15 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event in Midland, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 7:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Friday, May 17 th, at 8:00 AM ET.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China. This action will combat China's unfair trade practices and support the President's historic investments in American steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar, and other strategic sectors. President Biden's actions are pro-worker, pro-union, and pro-investment, which is why they were praised by a range of labor, business, environmental, and elected leaders.

Leaders across the country are celebrating the announcement. Here's what they're saying:

Union and Labor Leaders

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO: "The AFL-CIO strongly supports President Biden's announcement that, after a thorough investigation, he will maintain or increase tariffs on a range of unfairly traded products from China. This will help to revitalize our domestic manufacturing capacity, create new jobs, and advance our national and economic security. President Biden once again is standing up for American workers." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President David McCall, United Steelworkers Union [USW]: "The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and flawed Chinese trade policies have had an outsized negative impact on our members,"

"Now, the Biden administration's work to strengthen relief measures shows we're not backing down. Instead, we're backing up our domestic producers and workers."

From the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, from new approaches on outbound investment to today's tariff announcements and more, President Biden is addressing trade through an integrated set of solutions,"

"And moving forward, we know this administration will continue to show this same grit and ingenuity in standing up for workers, including the investigation it initiated last month into China's transportation, logistics and maritime policies." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International Vice President Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers Union [USW]: "The key to President Biden's success in building a worker-centered trade policy is his multi-pronged approach. His administration has been diligently confronting foreign unfair trade using established trade tools to stand up to the unfair and anticompetitive policies of trading partners like China. But just as importantly, President Biden has been strategically using investments here at home to reignite and renew America's manufacturing capacity." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President Brian Bryant, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers [IAM]: "As International President of one of the largest manufacturing unions in North America, I've seen first-hand the negative impacts of the Chinese government's anti-competitive trade practices, such as dumping heavily subsidized imports," said Bryant. "The IAM has been a leader over the years in sounding the alarm on unfair trade practices that cost North American jobs. Tariffs aren't an end goal but a very important tool to end trade practices that kill good American jobs and drive down American pay. They are coupled with President Biden's historic investment policies, which continue to build and grow an economy that benefits working families nationwide.

"The Biden Administration has been willing to challenge the disastrous effects of Chinese economic policies on American manufacturing and trade and enact policies to make a difference.

"We thank President Biden for standing up for union workers and creating policies that build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families," added Bryant. "We will continue to work with the Biden Administration and Ambassador Tai on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President Kenneth W. Cooper, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers [IBEW]: "I am proud to have joined President Biden today as he announced new protections for American workers against unfair Chinese trade practices. For too long, U.S. manufacturers, especially those in advanced electrical and energy technologies, have been undercut by cheap Chinese exports.

"This move will help level the playing field for both businesses and workers, further boosting domestic manufacturing.

"The Biden-Harris administration has made rebuilding America's manufacturing sector a priority, and we're already seeing results as high-tech semiconductor and EV battery plants set up shop in communities across the United States.

"President Biden's decision means more investments and jobs in America's manufacturing and clean energy sectors. The men and women of the IBEW are committed to working with his administration to restore America's role as the world's manufacturing and technological leader." [Statement, 5/14/24]

United Auto Workers [UAW]: "The UAW applauds todays decisive action from the White House on ensuring that the transition. We have warned for many months that, left to the forces of corporate greed, the EV future was threatened by a race to the bottom, from China to Mexico to right here in the United States. Making sure that major corporations have to pay a price for pitting worker against worker, pushing wages lower and lower, is a key part of a pro-worker trade policy. America's autoworkers, our families, and working-class communities across this country want a trade policy that puts workers firs. Today's announcement is a major step in the right direction" [Statement, 5/14/24]

Teamsters: "#Teamsters applaud @POTUS and @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai for taking action to maintain and expand the current Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Raising tariffs on electric vehicles and other products from China is essential to protecting American workers from China's unfair trade policies." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Business and Industry Leaders

President Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing: "Enhancing the Section 301 tariffs to counter China's unfair trade practices is absolutely the right thing to do for America's future. We commend Ambassador Tai and the Biden administration for defending American workers and industries.

"AAM supported the original initiation of the Section 301 tariffs and urged this administration to both extend and enhance the relief measures. Decades of unfair trade by the People's Republic of China have devastated American communities and weakened our economic security."

"We are particularly pleased to see enhanced Section 301 tariffs on steel, aluminum, electric vehicles, semiconductors, the battery supply chain, and certain essential PPE products. We have called the introduction of Chinese EVs into the the United States a potential 'extinction-level event' for our vital auto sector. While the nature of China's unfair trade practices shifts from time to time, the goals are always clear: to disrupt global norms, weaken American economic security, and seek growth at the expense of others.

"The Section 301 tariffs, together with investments in industry and infrastructure, and Buy America domestic preferences, form the framework of an effective 21st century industrial policy for America. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress to build on these achievements." [Statement]

President and CEO Rich Nolan, The National Mining Association [NMA]: "

"From minerals to batteries, China already has a decades long global start, and its dominance of the world's supply chains shows it. It's encouraging to see the Biden administration take bold action to counter the forceful hold China has on these markets, but this action must be coupled with support for, and approval of, U.S. mining projects. We need more domestic sources that can responsibly feed our manufacturing supply chains. Without them, we're simply shifting our import reliance from China to adversarial foreign sources, action that may derisk our supply chains, but doesn't truly strengthen them." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, Solar Energy Industries Association [SEIA]: "SEIA commends the Biden administration for taking action to support the continued build out of U.S. solar and storage manufacturing. We are evaluating the announcement to determine its full impact, but it's clear that several of these decisions will help improve the business conditions for American manufacturers.

"The Administration was thoughtful to include a tariff exclusion process for key machinery that companies need to manufacture solar components in the United States. A temporary tariff exclusion will help reduce production costs and incentivize increased investment in domestic manufacturing.

"We are also pleased that the Administration will delay the tariff increase on batteries for energy storage systems. This move provides a runway for continued production and deployment of energy storage to meet growing demand for electricity.

"We need an American-made solar and storage economy, and the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] has brought us closer to that vision than any policy in history. Today's announcement from the Biden administration will continue this progress, and SEIA is committed to finding additional solutions and equitable trade policy to establish the United States as the new global leader for clean energy manufacturing." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Mike Carr, Solar Energy Manufacturers for America [SEMA] Coalition: "The Administration made the right decision to strengthen protections for solar components we seek to build in the U.S. While no one action can unwind the years of a concerted effort to dominate this industry, including in manufacturing equipment and heavily subsidized production by Chinese-headquartered firms in Southeast Asia, we are encouraged by this indication of the Biden administration's commitment to use all the tools at their disposal in a targeted and strategic way." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Eric Axel, American Medical Manufacturers Association [AMMA]: "The White House understands that domestic manufacturers face an onslaught of underpriced, subpar Chinese imports. By sidelining high-quality American manufacturers, cheap Chinese imports threaten the safety of our healthcare workers and patients. […] The White House's bold proclamation is significant for everyone who favors fortifying domestic PPE and medical product manufacturing. AMMA anticipates the measures announced by President Biden having a transformative impact, invigorating the domestic manufacturing base and safeguarding our nation's health and security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO Jesse Gary, Century Aluminum: "Today's actions are critical for the U.S. aluminum industry. President Biden's decisive leadership on Sec. 301 tariffs and to invest in the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, shows this Administration's commitment to U.S. primary aluminum production.

"Thanks to the President's leadership, Century is planning to build a new greenfield facility that will double existing domestic capacity. The smelter would not only be the first new American aluminum smelter in 45 years, but also one of the 'greenest' smelters in the world, powered with cutting edge technology and renewable energy. This Administration announced a $500 million grant which will help to facilitate this investment in our future." [Statement, 5/14/24]

MP Materials: "This action will help level the playing field for domestic producers, giving U.S. industry the time it needs to scale and develop in a manner that aligns with America's vital national interest. In the long term, these measures will foster greater balance and resiliency across the global supply chain, ultimately benefiting producers and consumers worldwide. By enhancing our domestic capabilities, we not only secure our economic further but also contribute to a more balanced and robust global market." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation: "Automakers embrace fair competition. We're not shrinking from it, but China's EV overcapacity and subsidy issue is real. The competitiveness of the auto industry in the U.S. will be harmed if heavily subsidized Chinese EVs can be sold at below-market prices to U.S. consumers."

"It's appropriate for the White House to be looking at tools to prevent the U.S. from becoming a dumping ground for subsidized Chinese EVs. We can't let China's EV overcapacity problem turn into a U.S. auto industry problem." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Climate and Economic Leaders

Executive Director Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance: "President Biden's industrial policies have targeted federal investment to the sectors that are vital to the economic and energy security of the United States, manufacturing workers and communities, and the fate of the planet. The tariff actions announced by the president are a forceful complement to these investments in American manufacturing and a strong statement that the United States will not engage in a race to the bottom when it comes to clean technologies.

"We should be building our clean energy future here at home. We applaud the action President Biden has taken today." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Chairman Zach Mottl, Coalition for a Prosperous America [CPA]: "On behalf of our members that are committed to producing in the U.S. and creating high-paying American jobs, we applaud President Biden and Ambassador Tai for taking this important action to increase Section 301 China tariffs in these critical industries."

"There is overwhelming evidence, including from the USITC, that proves what CPA has been saying for more than a decade: tariffs are a critical reshoring tool to stimulate domestic production, avoid future inflation, and to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Importantly, the Biden administration's action to increase the China tariffs is a strong signal that we are in a new bipartisan era of utilizing tariffs and industrial policy to promote fair and balanced trade, and to protect American workers and manufacturers from China's illegal, predatory trade activity." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Ben Jealous, Sierra Club: "We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration's increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers."

"[…] These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to […] unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.".[Statement, 5/14/24]

Senior fellow Ryan Mulholland, Center for American Progress [CAP]: "These tariffs are an appropriate and necessary step to combat China's unfair trade practices and ensure that American workers remain at the forefront of the clean energy transition. In the auto sector, the protection provided by these increased tariffs must not be an excuse for firms to slow their deployment of high-quality and affordable EVs. The domestic manufacturers that benefit from tariff protection should use this opportunity to boost their production of EVs, continue to invest in new U.S.-based production, offer their employees better compensation, and allow workers to fairly and freely join unions." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Roosevelt Institute: "Today, the US government announced 100 percent tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, along with other restrictions on inputs into clean energy supply chains. This action offers critical support to the historic public and private sector decarbonization investments under the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA], CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ensuring they will not be threatened by imports that violate fair trade laws and will be viable in the future" [Statement, 5/14/24]

Congressional Leaders

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York: "The Chinese Communist Party has shown they will stop at nothing to steal our intellectual property and undermine the American economy, including providing deep subsidies to their companies. Because the CCP does not compete fairly, imposing new tariffs is a necessary step towards addressing the unfair imbalance of China's trade relationship with the United States. This action is vital to protect American workers, American manufacturers, American innovation, and our national security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania: "When we hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world. I have urged presidents of both parties to maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to level the playing field for Pennsylvania workers and protect our jobs and our national security." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan: "I was pleased to join the President today for his announcement of new trade measures to protect American manufacturers and workers. Chinese electric vehicles are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government. With a level playing field, our auto industry and our workers can compete with anyone and win. But that means competing with companies, not countries. Michigan has seen the impacts of China's unfair trade practices on our jobs. I appreciate the President's leadership and strong support for our shared goal of ensuring that the electric vehicle transition is led by American workers." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Senator Gary Peters, Michigan: "I support the Administration's decision to raise tariffs on China across key manufacturing sectors. They will help keep our auto industry competitive, support good-paying, union jobs here at home, and protect our economic & national security.

A flood of heavily subsidized electric vehicles from China would undercut Michigan's automakers and workers. Today's announcement is a necessary response to combat the Chinese government's unfair trade practices that endanger the future of our auto industry. It will help level the playing field, keep our auto industry competitive, and support good-paying, union jobs here at home by ensuring that American workers and companies are leading the way in both gas-powered and electric vehicle manufacturing. This action will also help offset the harmful impact of Chinese steel and aluminum subsidies that have affected jobs and businesses in manufacturing hubs like Michigan.

This effort will also help address national security vulnerabilities posed by Chinese electric vehicles and protect Americans' personal data and our roadways from Chinese Communist Party-backed companies. I welcome this important step, and I look forward to continue working with the Administration on additional steps we must take to combat the economic and national security threats posed by Chinese electric vehicles." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon: "I'm pleased President Biden is taking steps to fight back against China's predatory trade practices in key sectors, as well as continuing to combat China's IP theft and forced technology transfer. There's no question that the Chinese government intends to monopolize the production of solar panels, batteries, and other climate-related technologies that are crucial to the future of manufacturing and good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. However, tariffs are only one pressure point, and I hope to work with the administration to further support U.S. workers in these industries and others facing China's unfair trade practices." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts: "President Biden and USTR @AmbassdaorTai are standing up for American workers and against unfair trade policies from China. With strong trade enforcement + big investments in our economy, we're bringing back American manufacturing jobs." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut: "Good news. China is a global trade cheater. They shouldn't get free access to our markets. Decades of manufacturing flight to low cost countries decimated our economy and our families. Joe Biden is making the hard choices to rebuild American manufacturing." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

"Europe is prepared to sit back and let China control the supply chain for every major technology we will rely upon to run our 2050 economy. Bad idea." [Tweet, 5/14/24]

Congressman Dan Kildee, Michigan: "We must do more to combat unfair trade practices that hurt American workers, including by the Chinese Communist Party. I applaud President Biden's decisive actions that will benefit Michigan workers.

China continues to rely on unfair trade practices, including forced labor, intellectual property theft, and state-sponsored subsidies for critical industries. By flooding the U.S. and global markets with goods, China is seeking to control the market in critical industries like semiconductors, electric vehicles, steel and aluminum and solar panels. China's unfair trade practices are driving down wages and contributing to a race to the bottom for American workers. These tariffs announced by President Biden will help to boost American manufacturing and protect American jobs.

I will continue to work with President Biden to support a pro-worker trade agenda that ensures we make things in America, not in China." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Michigan: "I strongly support @POTUS decision to increase tariffs to strengthen domestic automotive manufacturing, protect American jobs, and safeguard our global leadership in the auto industry. We aren't competing on a level playing field, and we have seen the impact of unfair trade practices in the past. The Chinese Community Party's use of aggressive subsidies doesn't protect living wages, fair labor practices, occupational safety standards for workers, or environmental standards. We must compete in a fair marketplace. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to protect American jobs and competitiveness, and our economic and national security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Michigan: "As a former CIA officer and Pentagon official, I've been sounding the alarm on the threats Chinese vehicles pose to our national and economic security, and the tariffs announced today are an important step forward. The production of these vehicles and products is subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party. Positioning them to flood our markets and kill American jobs in our own manufacturing sector. Today's announcement targets China's long standing unfair trade practices, and begins the process of pushing pack on their flooding markets with subsidized goods that undercut good old fashioned American competition." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Michigan: "When trade is fair, American workers succeed. Today, surrounded by the men and women of the steelworkers, autoworkers, and so many other labor unions – President Biden did what he does best, lead for the American people. I was honored to join the President on behalf of Michigan's 11^thDistrict at the White House as he signed a new executive order to protect American manufacturing from the Chinese Communist Party's unfair, uncompetitive policies. For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has deployed unfair manufacturing and trade practices to undercut American labor, threatening our economic and national security. I strongly support the tariffs announced on Chinese electric vehicles, chips components, and critical minerals. I commend President Biden for taking action – no one else has done more for American manufacturing and the domestic auto industry. Thank you, Mr. President for ensuring that the future is built in America by union workers." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congressman Chris Deluzio, Pennsylvania: "Protecting Made-In-America manufacturing is a no-brainer: it's growing strong jobs at home and standing strong against globilization's gutting of American industry. Great to see @POTUS take action against Communist China and put workers at the center of his trade policy." [Tweet, 5/14/24]

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois: "President Biden's targeted actions on behalf of American workers, farmers, and businesses will protect our economy from the brazenly predatory and unfair trade practices of the Chinese Community Party. This new action was developed through a thorough and thoughtful review conducted in coordination with our allies under Ambassador Tai's leadership. Working in tandem with our ongoing investments in our infrastructure, research, and workers, it will bolster American manufacturing and competitiveness. For decades, the CCP has engaged in anticompetitive trade practices, flooding global markets with artificially cheap products to wipe out competition while stealing technology and other intellectual property. As the CCP seeks to expand these predatory tactics, President Biden's policies will help to level the playing field. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Administration to help American workers and businesses prove yet again that they can out-compete anyone." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Frank Pallone, New Jersey: "In order to bolster our domestic manufacturing and support American jobs, the federal government needs to take action to curb the import of cheap Chinese goods. I support the Biden Administration's efforts to respond to China's aggressive trade policies." [Tweet, 5/11/2024]

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Labor, Business, and Elected Leaders Praise President Biden's Actions to Protect American Workers and Businesses from China's Unfair Trade Practices

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China. This action will combat China's unfair trade practices and support the President's historic investments in American steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar, and other strategic sectors. President Biden's actions are pro-worker, pro-union, and pro-investment, which is why they were praised by a range of labor, business, environmental, and elected leaders.

Leaders across the country are celebrating the announcement. Here's what they're saying:

Union and Labor Leaders

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO: "The AFL-CIO strongly supports President Biden's announcement that, after a thorough investigation, he will maintain or increase tariffs on a range of unfairly traded products from China. This will help to revitalize our domestic manufacturing capacity, create new jobs, and advance our national and economic security. President Biden once again is standing up for American workers." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President David McCall, United Steelworkers Union : "The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and flawed Chinese trade policies have had an outsized negative impact on our members,"

"Now, the Biden administration's work to strengthen relief measures shows we're not backing down. Instead, we're backing up our domestic producers and workers."

From the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, from new approaches on outbound investment to today's tariff announcements and more, President Biden is addressing trade through an integrated set of solutions,"

"And moving forward, we know this administration will continue to show this same grit and ingenuity in standing up for workers, including the investigation it initiated last month into China's transportation, logistics and maritime policies." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International Vice President Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers Union : "The key to President Biden's success in building a worker-centered trade policy is his multi-pronged approach. His administration has been diligently confronting foreign unfair trade using established trade tools to stand up to the unfair and anticompetitive policies of trading partners like China. But just as importantly, President Biden has been strategically using investments here at home to reignite and renew America's manufacturing capacity." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President Brian Bryant, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers : "As International President of one of the largest manufacturing unions in North America, I've seen first-hand the negative impacts of the Chinese government's anti-competitive trade practices, such as dumping heavily subsidized imports," said Bryant. "The IAM has been a leader over the years in sounding the alarm on unfair trade practices that cost North American jobs. Tariffs aren't an end goal but a very important tool to end trade practices that kill good American jobs and drive down American pay. They are coupled with President Biden's historic investment policies, which continue to build and grow an economy that benefits working families nationwide.

"The Biden Administration has been willing to challenge the disastrous effects of Chinese economic policies on American manufacturing and trade and enact policies to make a difference.

"We thank President Biden for standing up for union workers and creating policies that build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families," added Bryant. "We will continue to work with the Biden Administration and Ambassador Tai on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President Kenneth W. Cooper, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers : "I am proud to have joined President Biden today as he announced new protections for American workers against unfair Chinese trade practices. For too long, U.S. manufacturers, especially those in advanced electrical and energy technologies, have been undercut by cheap Chinese exports.

"This move will help level the playing field for both businesses and workers, further boosting domestic manufacturing.

"The Biden-Harris administration has made rebuilding America's manufacturing sector a priority, and we're already seeing results as high-tech semiconductor and EV battery plants set up shop in communities across the United States.

"President Biden's decision means more investments and jobs in America's manufacturing and clean energy sectors. The men and women of the IBEW are committed to working with his administration to restore America's role as the world's manufacturing and technological leader." [Statement , 5/14/24]

United Auto Workers : "The UAW applauds todays decisive action from the White House on ensuring that the transition. We have warned for many months that, left to the forces of corporate greed, the EV future was threatened by a race to the bottom, from China to Mexico to right here in the United States. Making sure that major corporations have to pay a price for pitting worker against worker, pushing wages lower and lower, is a key part of a pro-worker trade policy. America's autoworkers, our families, and working-class communities across this country want a trade policy that puts workers firs. Today's announcement is a major step in the right direction" [Statement , 5/14/24]

Teamsters: "#Teamsters applaud @POTUS and @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai for taking action to maintain and expand the current Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Raising tariffs on electric vehicles and other products from China is essential to protecting American workers from China's unfair trade policies." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Business and Industry Leaders

President Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing: "Enhancing the Section 301 tariffs to counter China's unfair trade practices is absolutely the right thing to do for America's future. We commend Ambassador Tai and the Biden administration for defending American workers and industries.

"AAM supported the original initiation of the Section 301 tariffs and urged this administration to both extend and enhance the relief measures. Decades of unfair trade by the People's Republic of China have devastated American communities and weakened our economic security."

"We are particularly pleased to see enhanced Section 301 tariffs on steel, aluminum, electric vehicles, semiconductors, the battery supply chain, and certain essential PPE products. We have called the introduction of Chinese EVs into the the United States a potential 'extinction-level event' for our vital auto sector. While the nature of China's unfair trade practices shifts from time to time, the goals are always clear: to disrupt global norms, weaken American economic security, and seek growth at the expense of others.

"The Section 301 tariffs, together with investments in industry and infrastructure, and Buy America domestic preferences, form the framework of an effective 21 st century industrial policy for America. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress to build on these achievements." [Statement ]

President and CEO Rich Nolan, The National Mining Association : "

"From minerals to batteries, China already has a decades long global start, and its dominance of the world's supply chains shows it. It's encouraging to see the Biden administration take bold action to counter the forceful hold China has on these markets, but this action must be coupled with support for, and approval of, U.S. mining projects. We need more domestic sources that can responsibly feed our manufacturing supply chains. Without them, we're simply shifting our import reliance from China to adversarial foreign sources, action that may derisk our supply chains, but doesn't truly strengthen them." [Statement

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President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, Solar Energy Industries Association : "SEIA commends the Biden administration for taking action to support the continued build out of U.S. solar and storage manufacturing. We are evaluating the announcement to determine its full impact, but it's clear that several of these decisions will help improve the business conditions for American manufacturers.

"The Administration was thoughtful to include a tariff exclusion process for key machinery that companies need to manufacture solar components in the United States. A temporary tariff exclusion will help reduce production costs and incentivize increased investment in domestic manufacturing.

"We are also pleased that the Administration will delay the tariff increase on batteries for energy storage systems. This move provides a runway for continued production and deployment of energy storage to meet growing demand for electricity.

"We need an American-made solar and storage economy, and the Inflation Reduction Act has brought us closer to that vision than any policy in history. Today's announcement from the Biden administration will continue this progress, and SEIA is committed to finding additional solutions and equitable trade policy to establish the United States as the new global leader for clean energy manufacturing." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Mike Carr, Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition: "The Administration made the right decision to strengthen protections for solar components we seek to build in the U.S. While no one action can unwind the years of a concerted effort to dominate this industry, including in manufacturing equipment and heavily subsidized production by Chinese-headquartered firms in Southeast Asia, we are encouraged by this indication of the Biden administration's commitment to use all the tools at their disposal in a targeted and strategic way." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Eric Axel, American Medical Manufacturers Association : "The White House understands that domestic manufacturers face an onslaught of underpriced, subpar Chinese imports. By sidelining high-quality American manufacturers, cheap Chinese imports threaten the safety of our healthcare workers and patients. […] The White House's bold proclamation is significant for everyone who favors fortifying domestic PPE and medical product manufacturing. AMMA anticipates the measures announced by President Biden having a transformative impact, invigorating the domestic manufacturing base and safeguarding our nation's health and security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

President and CEO Jesse Gary, Century Aluminum: "Today's actions are critical for the U.S. aluminum industry. President Biden's decisive leadership on Sec. 301 tariffs and to invest in the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, shows this Administration's commitment to U.S. primary aluminum production.

"Thanks to the President's leadership, Century is planning to build a new greenfield facility that will double existing domestic capacity. The smelter would not only be the first new American aluminum smelter in 45 years, but also one of the 'greenest' smelters in the world, powered with cutting edge technology and renewable energy. This Administration announced a $500 million grant which will help to facilitate this investment in our future." [Statement , 5/14/24]

MP Materials: "This action will help level the playing field for domestic producers, giving U.S. industry the time it needs to scale and develop in a manner that aligns with America's vital national interest. In the long term, these measures will foster greater balance and resiliency across the global supply chain, ultimately benefiting producers and consumers worldwide. By enhancing our domestic capabilities, we not only secure our economic further but also contribute to a more balanced and robust global market." [Statement , 5/14/24]

President and CEO John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation: "Automakers embrace fair competition. We're not shrinking from it, but China's EV overcapacity and subsidy issue is real. The competitiveness of the auto industry in the U.S. will be harmed if heavily subsidized Chinese EVs can be sold at below-market prices to U.S. consumers."

"It's appropriate for the White House to be looking at tools to prevent the U.S. from becoming a dumping ground for subsidized Chinese EVs. We can't let China's EV overcapacity problem turn into a U.S. auto industry problem." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Climate and Economic Leaders

Executive Director Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance: "President Biden's industrial policies have targeted federal investment to the sectors that are vital to the economic and energy security of the United States, manufacturing workers and communities, and the fate of the planet. The tariff actions announced by the president are a forceful complement to these investments in American manufacturing and a strong statement that the United States will not engage in a race to the bottom when it comes to clean technologies.

"We should be building our clean energy future here at home. We applaud the action President Biden has taken today." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Chairman Zach Mottl, Coalition for a Prosperous America : "On behalf of our members that are committed to producing in the U.S. and creating high-paying American jobs, we applaud President Biden and Ambassador Tai for taking this important action to increase Section 301 China tariffs in these critical industries."

"There is overwhelming evidence, including from the USITC, that proves what CPA has been saying for more than a decade: tariffs are a critical reshoring tool to stimulate domestic production, avoid future inflation, and to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Importantly, the Biden administration's action to increase the China tariffs is a strong signal that we are in a new bipartisan era of utilizing tariffs and industrial policy to promote fair and balanced trade, and to protect American workers and manufacturers from China's illegal, predatory trade activity." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Ben Jealous, Sierra Club: "We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration's increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers."

"[…] These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to […] unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.". [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senior fellow Ryan Mulholland, Center for American Progress : "These tariffs are an appropriate and necessary step to combat China's unfair trade practices and ensure that American workers remain at the forefront of the clean energy transition. In the auto sector, the protection provided by these increased tariffs must not be an excuse for firms to slow their deployment of high-quality and affordable EVs. The domestic manufacturers that benefit from tariff protection should use this opportunity to boost their production of EVs, continue to invest in new U.S.-based production, offer their employees better compensation, and allow workers to fairly and freely join unions." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Roosevelt Institute: "Today, the US government announced 100 percent tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, along with other restrictions on inputs into clean energy supply chains. This action offers critical support to the historic public and private sector decarbonization investments under the Inflation Reduction Act , CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ensuring they will not be threatened by imports that violate fair trade laws and will be viable in the future" [Statement , 5/14/24]

Congressional Leaders

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York: "The Chinese Communist Party has shown they will stop at nothing to steal our intellectual property and undermine the American economy, including providing deep subsidies to their companies. Because the CCP does not compete fairly, imposing new tariffs is a necessary step towards addressing the unfair imbalance of China's trade relationship with the United States. This action is vital to protect American workers, American manufacturers, American innovation, and our national security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania: "When we hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world. I have urged presidents of both parties to maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to level the playing field for Pennsylvania workers and protect our jobs and our national security." [Statement , 5/14/2024]

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan: "I was pleased to join the President today for his announcement of new trade measures to protect American manufacturers and workers. Chinese electric vehicles are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government. With a level playing field, our auto industry and our workers can compete with anyone and win. But that means competing with companies, not countries. Michigan has seen the impacts of China's unfair trade practices on our jobs. I appreciate the President's leadership and strong support for our shared goal of ensuring that the electric vehicle transition is led by American workers." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

Senator Gary Peters, Michigan: "I support the Administration's decision to raise tariffs on China across key manufacturing sectors. They will help keep our auto industry competitive, support good-paying, union jobs here at home, and protect our economic & national security.

A flood of heavily subsidized electric vehicles from China would undercut Michigan's automakers and workers. Today's announcement is a necessary response to combat the Chinese government's unfair trade practices that endanger the future of our auto industry. It will help level the playing field, keep our auto industry competitive, and support good-paying, union jobs here at home by ensuring that American workers and companies are leading the way in both gas-powered and electric vehicle manufacturing. This action will also help offset the harmful impact of Chinese steel and aluminum subsidies that have affected jobs and businesses in manufacturing hubs like Michigan.

This effort will also help address national security vulnerabilities posed by Chinese electric vehicles and protect Americans' personal data and our roadways from Chinese Communist Party-backed companies. I welcome this important step, and I look forward to continue working with the Administration on additional steps we must take to combat the economic and national security threats posed by Chinese electric vehicles." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon: "I'm pleased President Biden is taking steps to fight back against China's predatory trade practices in key sectors, as well as continuing to combat China's IP theft and forced technology transfer. There's no question that the Chinese government intends to monopolize the production of solar panels, batteries, and other climate-related technologies that are crucial to the future of manufacturing and good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. However, tariffs are only one pressure point, and I hope to work with the administration to further support U.S. workers in these industries and others facing China's unfair trade practices." [Statement , 5/14/2024]

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts: "President Biden and USTR @AmbassdaorTai are standing up for American workers and against unfair trade policies from China. With strong trade enforcement + big investments in our economy, we're bringing back American manufacturing jobs." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut: "Good news. China is a global trade cheater. They shouldn't get free access to our markets. Decades of manufacturing flight to low cost countries decimated our economy and our families. Joe Biden is making the hard choices to rebuild American manufacturing." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

"Europe is prepared to sit back and let China control the supply chain for every major technology we will rely upon to run our 2050 economy. Bad idea." [Tweet , 5/14/24]

Congressman Dan Kildee, Michigan: "We must do more to combat unfair trade practices that hurt American workers, including by the Chinese Communist Party. I applaud President Biden's decisive actions that will benefit Michigan workers.

China continues to rely on unfair trade practices, including forced labor, intellectual property theft, and state-sponsored subsidies for critical industries. By flooding the U.S. and global markets with goods, China is seeking to control the market in critical industries like semiconductors, electric vehicles, steel and aluminum and solar panels. China's unfair trade practices are driving down wages and contributing to a race to the bottom for American workers. These tariffs announced by President Biden will help to boost American manufacturing and protect American jobs.

I will continue to work with President Biden to support a pro-worker trade agenda that ensures we make things in America, not in China." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Michigan: "I strongly support @POTUS decision to increase tariffs to strengthen domestic automotive manufacturing, protect American jobs, and safeguard our global leadership in the auto industry. We aren't competing on a level playing field, and we have seen the impact of unfair trade practices in the past. The Chinese Community Party's use of aggressive subsidies doesn't protect living wages, fair labor practices, occupational safety standards for workers, or environmental standards. We must compete in a fair marketplace. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to protect American jobs and competitiveness, and our economic and national security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Michigan: "As a former CIA officer and Pentagon official, I've been sounding the alarm on the threats Chinese vehicles pose to our national and economic security, and the tariffs announced today are an important step forward. The production of these vehicles and products is subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party. Positioning them to flood our markets and kill American jobs in our own manufacturing sector. Today's announcement targets China's long standing unfair trade practices, and begins the process of pushing pack on their flooding markets with subsidized goods that undercut good old fashioned American competition." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Michigan: "When trade is fair, American workers succeed. Today, surrounded by the men and women of the steelworkers, autoworkers, and so many other labor unions – President Biden did what he does best, lead for the American people. I was honored to join the President on behalf of Michigan's 11^th District at the White House as he signed a new executive order to protect American manufacturing from the Chinese Communist Party's unfair, uncompetitive policies. For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has deployed unfair manufacturing and trade practices to undercut American labor, threatening our economic and national security. I strongly support the tariffs announced on Chinese electric vehicles, chips components, and critical minerals. I commend President Biden for taking action – no one else has done more for American manufacturing and the domestic auto industry. Thank you, Mr. President for ensuring that the future is built in America by union workers."

[Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congressman Chris Deluzio, Pennsylvania: "Protecting Made-In-America manufacturing is a no-brainer: it's growing strong jobs at home and standing strong against globilization's gutting of American industry. Great to see @POTUS take action against Communist China and put workers at the center of his trade policy." [Tweet , 5/14/24]

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois: "President Biden's targeted actions on behalf of American workers, farmers, and businesses will protect our economy from the brazenly predatory and unfair trade practices of the Chinese Community Party. This new action was developed through a thorough and thoughtful review conducted in coordination with our allies under Ambassador Tai's leadership. Working in tandem with our ongoing investments in our infrastructure, research, and workers, it will bolster American manufacturing and competitiveness. For decades, the CCP has engaged in anticompetitive trade practices, flooding global markets with artificially cheap products to wipe out competition while stealing technology and other intellectual property. As the CCP seeks to expand these predatory tactics, President Biden's policies will help to level the playing field. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Administration to help American workers and businesses prove yet again that

they can out-compete anyone." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Frank Pallone, New Jersey: "In order to bolster our domestic manufacturing and support American jobs, the federal government needs to take action to curb the import of cheap Chinese goods. I support the Biden Administration's efforts to respond to China's aggressive trade policies." [Tweet , 5/11/2024]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STEPHEN BENJAMIN

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:52 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We'll wait for -- for -- I don't want to call her out, but -- --

Q Madam President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Madam President, that's right. I was trying to be good, not call out people.

All right. Good afternoon.

As President Biden said during his campaign, no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana. That's why in 2022, President Biden requested that DOJ and HHS review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

Today, the administration is taking a major step toward reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under federal law.

If finalized, marina- -- marijuana will no longer hold the higher-level classification it currently holds over fentanyl and meth, drugs driving our nation's overdose epidemic. And it will remove burdensome, longstanding barriers to critical research.

This announcement builds on the work President Biden has already done to pardon a record number of federal offenses for simply possessing marijuana. His categorical pardon for federal offenses of simple possession in October 2022 and December 2023 lifted barriers to housing, small business loans, and more for thousands of Americans.

The reality is, while white, Black, and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionately higher rates.

The President's actions today further his commitment to reverse longstanding injustices and to right historic wrongs.

Next, I want to talk about a part -- as part of our series of engagements this week, we are marking the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education. Today, President Biden met with plaintiffs and their family members at the White House.

Among those the President met with include Adrienne Jennings Bennett, a plaintiff in one of the original cases, Boiling v. Sharpe, that was argued alongside Brown v. Board, and Cheryl Brown Henderson, one of the daughters of the le- -- of the lead plaintiff, Oli- -- Oliver L. Brown, in the Brown v. Board.

The delegation represents litigants from the five cases that were combined under Brown v. Board of Education and heard before the Supreme Court, as well as the NAAC[P] President Derrick Johnson and other leaders of the NAACP who were critical in fighting for these and other hard-won freedoms for Black Americans.

The President was proud to participate in this meeting and honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans while highlighting his vision for how we must continue to build on these freedoms.

Joining us today, as you can see from my right, to say more and make some news about this administration's work to advance racial equity and opportunity for Black Americans is Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, the former Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Steve Benjamin. Thank you so much for coming again.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The podium is yours.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you, Karine. Thank you so much.

Thank you, my friend. I -- I miss being mayor, y'all. I -- I think it was a much -- a much simpler existence at times.

Today at the White House, as Karine mentioned, we're recognizing -- commemorating the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education becoming the law of the land, upending decades of discrimination since ni- -- 1896.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue their long- -- longstanding effort to honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for African Americans.

This morning, he met with the plaintiffs and their families, as Karine mentioned, in the Oval Office. During the meeting, he commended them for changing our nation for the better and committed to continue his fight to move us closer to the promise of America.

Families from each of the five different cases that were consolidated in Brown v. Board were present today.

Tomorrow, the President is going to deliver remarks at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Here, he and the Vice President, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, will also meet with leaders of the Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.

On Sunday, May 19 th, the President is going to deliver the commencement address at the 140 th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia, where today the faculty voted to confer upon the President an honorary degree.

President Biden and Vice President Harris -- who also, as we all know, serves as the very first HBCU graduate, first to serve as Vice President of the Unites States -- they know firsthand the value of HBCUs.

And I'm proud and very pleased to announce today that the Biden-Harris administration has invested more than $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which is unprecedented -- a record amount.

President Biden has also canceled $160 billion in student loans for over 4 million Americans, providing significant relief to all borrowers, with significant impact on Black borrowers; increased the amount of maximum Pell Grants, as well, by $900 -- the largest increase in a decade -- helping students from low- and middle-income backgrounds pursue their dreams of a post-secondary education -- nearly 60 percent of African American students are federally -- are federal financial aid recipients -- with an average award of nearly $5,000 per student.

This is only a snapshot of what this administration has delivered as President Biden and Vice President Harris have leveraged the full force of the federal government to advance racial justice and build economic opportunity since their first day in office.

As a result of their leadership, Black household family wealth is up 60 percent; more than 2.5 million jobs have been created for African Americans; and in 2023, we hit the lowest Black unemployment data on record. And that remains consistently low, as we've seen, across the country -- unemployment under 4 percent for the entire nation for 27 months running.

I'm very happy to be here with you. More than happy to take your questions, I think.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thank you so much for being here. So, you recently met with students and faculty at Morehouse College. Can you just talk to us about the concerns they shared and how you responded?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. And I -- and I'll do my best to be clear and transparent, because I also promised the students I would keep our conversation as closely as I possibly could.

But, you know, every day, as Director of -- of Public Engagement here, we get out across the -- the country and try to spend at least two days of every week on the road somewhere doing what -- what my grandmother and other loved ones might say, "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. You listen twice as much as you talk."

And really wanted to lean in with these young leaders to hear what they wanted to hear on their very special commencement day. Many of you know that four years ago, many of them were denied a commencement because of the pandemic -- the greatest pandemic since 1918. And wanted to make sure that the President's goal to center these students and have a chance to discuss the real issues of the world that they might have to address as leaders going forward was important.

So, we sat there. We talked about everything. I mean, we -- we talked about the status of the world. Certainly, many of them wanted to talk about the Middle East and -- and war. We talked about reconnecting communities and -- and the amazing $160 million going -- going in just up the street, The Stitch project in Atlanta, working to -- to undo some of the damage done by previous infrastructure investments and how it's connect- -- reconnecting in a very reparative and restorative way the Sweet Auburn community.

We talked about -- about wealth creation. Each and every one of these young men -- who, I will say, were exceptional -- five students, all graduating seniors, going off to do great things at fine institutions and great places to work, four faculty members, and two administrators shared, individually, one by one, the things that were important to them to try and hear.

But the common thread was they wanted to make sure we were centering the young people and that the President did that on -- on Sunday. So -- but we talked on -- on any range of issues.

I have a college-aged daughter who also attends an HBCU and -- and a 17-year-old, as of today -- happy birthday, Jordan Grace Benjamin -- -- who is plotting world domination and takeover as we speak. She's the real politician in the family. But -- but their concerns and interest areas were not dissimilar from the two teenagers who live in our household.

Q And do you or the President have any concerns about the President's address overshadowing the commencement, as we've heard from some students publicly?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. No, obviously, I think what -- what's going to be most important are -- are the words that the President articulates. And I know that he -- he feels very deeply about what this means to these young men.

And -- and I say "young men." Many of you know that Morehouse is a unique institution. Some of you who are familiar with -- with the legacy of the great school is it's probably the only place in the country, if not the world right now, where that many amazingly talented young men are being trained for leadership in -- in the world at one time -- young Black men.

No, the -- the goal will be to make sure that we use this as an opportunity to continue to elevate the amazing work that's been done at Morehouse over the last century and a half.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Yeah. I -- I -- Mayor Benjamin, hey. I do wonder what kind of reception do you, having been there, expect the President to receive at Morehouse.

Also, does he plan to have any direct engagement with -- with students or faculty there? A lot of them that I've talked to have said, you know, "We don't just want a campaign speech or speech at us, but we want to be able to talk policy or talk about their issues."

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. I'm -- I'm sure the President will have a chance to engage with faculty, staff, and students while he's there. And I know that he looks forward to it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

MR. BENJAMIN: Did I answer that question?

Q Yeah. Well, the--

MR. BENJAMIN: Okay.

Q -- the first one. What kind of -- having talked to students at Morehouse, what kind of reception do you expect him to receive?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. You know -- you know, it's so important to realize that no community is monolithic. Even some of the -- the range of -- of opinions that we received last Friday and that I've heard from speaking with literally dozens and dozens of folk with just about -- about this speech over the last several days, people have different thoughts about what they might want to hear.

I do know that the President, again, is -- is very focused on centering these young men and -- and what this -- this transition in life means to them. So, we listen very closely. We received those messages, and we shared those with the President and -- and his speechwriting team.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

Q Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And happy birthday to your daughter.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you.

Q Does the President share the president of Morehouse College's belief that the graduation ceremony should be halted if there are protests or disruptions?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I'm going to let Morehouse handle Morehouse and let Dr. Thomas, who's -- who's been wonderful to work with as we prepare for the commencement -- I'll let him speak for Morehouse College.

The President has been very clear. I mean, we live in a -- an amazing country where you have three estates of government. And you have a fourth estate that personifies the importance of -- of the right to free speech. You -- you -- and you do it well. That right to free speech extends to -- to even those who -- who wish to protest. And he respects that, and he makes it a point to lean in when there are protesters in the very same space.

So, we'll respect that. I think, as long as there are peaceful protests that don't disrupt the -- the amazing moment that is for each of those graduates there today, I think we'll all consider this a success.

Q Did the White House ever consider canceling the speech once you learned that there likely would be protests?

MR. BENJAMIN: No, not that I know of. But I'll -- I'll defer that to someone else. No -- no, ma'am.

Q Hi, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Recent polls have Joe Biden and Donald Trump neck and neck among Black voters. I'm hoping -- hoping to stay away from the Hatch Act. But do you think that the President's message is resonating with Black voters?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, you have no responsibility to stay away from the Hatch Act, but I do.

Q Yeah.

MR. BENJAMIN: So, I appreciate that.

I -- as I mentioned, I spend a great deal of time on the road. I mean, the -- this is a wonderful citadel of democracy. There are -- D.C., the heart of the Republic. But getting out and listening to people and hearing the impact of President Biden's and Vice President Harris's policies on helping change their lives inform my opinion as to where just everyday Americans stand. We're not going to talk politics.

And I've had the chance to be, gosh, in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia the -- just in the last several months -- and listened to people talk about the impact of -- of amazing things, like the criminal justice reforms and social reforms the President has led on and on how, in fact, while creating access to capital and -- and creating economic opportunity, leading to not just these precipitously low unemployment rates but the greatest increase in number of Black-owned businesses in 30 years; how we're not just talking about history, like we are do- -- doing today with -- with the -- with the Brown and related-case defendants but how, indeed, the President is making history every single day.

That's the feedback I get from people. And I think that we're going to -- we're going to focus -- continue on making history on this side of the -- of -- of the table by just leading through good government and the leadership of the President and the Vice President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Kelly.

Q Thank you. Is there a connection between the investments that you talked about today in the HB[C]U community and the things you've been hearing from your travels, some of the concerns that have been expressed by students and communities across the country, especially in the last several months of the Israel-Hamas war? Is there a link between the investments and what you've been learning?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. No. The $16 billion number that we're releasing today is new. It's an updated number. But I mean, if you may remember that the previous total shared publicly was $7 billion, which is also a record, long before the -- the last several months.

This is consistent with the President's very clear commitment from day one of his administration to making sure that -- that not only do we declare that equity and -- and -- is a central theme sacrosanct to this -- the core of this administration, but that we actually put in place real ladders to opportunity as he seeks to build an economy from the middle -- middle out and bottom up. I mean, so, this is -- this is nothing new. This is entirely consistent with the work that the President has been doing in day one -- a whole-of-government approach, a whole-of-society approach that -- that's yielding fruit.

Q And when you talk about this kind of investment and you're meeting with groups of students who feel frustration, does it make a difference?

MR. BENJAMIN: I -- you know, so I will cross the line, maybe get back to the first question just briefly. As -- as we went through -- it's always important, again, if you -- if you're going to listen, you have to listen. You -- you can't come in talking. And -- and you listen and you receive where people are, and you get into real public narrative -- you know, the story of -- the story of you, the story of me and kind of where we go from here.

And when you see opportunities to share these successes -- and I'm not going to sit and go through it a tick list -- but in every single corner of American society, when you think about the President's leadership -- the greatest pandemic since 1918; the greatest economic disruption many of us expected maybe since 1929; the greatest social unrest, we saw after the -- the murder of George Floyd, since 1968 -- all wrapped up into a moment that that -- that, post-Charlottesville, propelled this genuinely good man to decide he wanted to help lead his country.

That's all part of what has become the Biden-Harris agenda, and they've been leading from the front. As I go through those issues -- and I did it last Friday with those amazing young leaders -- heads were nodding. People were very much appreciative of -- of receiving the information. And I know we're planning to go out and share with others.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Jeff.

Q Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to circle back to the meeting today in the Oval Office. The people who were there with President Biden came out and spoke with us briefly afterwards, and a few of them mentioned the work that still needs to be done and how schools are still in many parts of the country, still, effectively, segregated. Did the President have anything to say about that in terms of continuing work? And did he respond to -- you know, a parent asked that a holiday be made out of the anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education --

MR. BENJAMIN: So, that -- that request came up in our meeting before the meeting as well, from one of the families of the litigants.

I mean, it's important to note that the first major national holiday established in decades is Juneteenth. The President -- that's his legislation. The establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Memorial in Illinois and Mississippi -- also because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's leadership -- the passing of the Emmett Till Antilynching bill.

Even some of the tough things left to do. Hopefully, the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act someday. Each of the elements of the -- in those bills are part of the President's executive order as relates to federal law enforcement agencies.

In his conversation, and I'm not sure if -- one of the speakers, they may have mentioned, the President also talked to her mother -- a 103-year-old litigant as well, by phone.

There's an acknowledgement every day with our president that we're -- we're not where we ought to be, but we're certainly not where we used to be. And every once -- every -- every moment you have to celebrate the successes we've had, celebrating the diversity of this country and how we move forward together is a moment to celebrate.

Still a lot of work to be done, but it's only going to happen with truly inspired leadership like we're getting from President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Q Thank you. And thank you, Mayor Benjamin. The Morehouse commencement ceremony has been described as solemn, steeped in tradition. You just described it as "unique." And I'm wondering how the nature of the ceremony factored into the White House's decision to have President Biden speak there at a time when there's volatility on campuses nationwide.

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure, Morehouse and all the other HBCU -- I served as a trustee at Benedict College, another proud, historically Black college in Columbia, South Carolina. Again, my daughter also attends -- she -- she'll tell you that she wears Spelman on her chest all day, every day. She is a Spelman woman.

More- -- Morehouse is unique, but I dare say that every institution of higher learning is unique. And HBCUs are -- yes, are solemn places -- most, almost every one of them, but most of them birth after one of the darkest periods in world history and certainly the darkest period in -- in American history. So, when you step onto those grounds, you're always stepping into someplace special.

The President was invited to come to Morehouse, voted on by the faculty today to indeed receive an honorary doctorate, which we conferred on Sunday. And I think, yeah, it's a special place and having a chance to speak very directly to this very unique group of talented young men and women who -- young men and their families, who are going to go out and help change the world -- yeah, I'm sure it did factor in his decision to make -- to make the move down there.

Q The President of the United States receives multiple invitations to speak at multiple universities every single year. And I'm -- I'm wondering if you think that -- even with the possibility of protests, that there's an expectation of, potentially, a calmer reception at Morehouse than elsewhere?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I'll tell you, Morehouse is an amazingly special and dignified place. Yes, he does receive a lot of invitations. But this President has also been very intentional over the course of his career and certainly his presidency, to always make sure he makes time to go to HBCUs.

He -- he delivered the commencement address at Howard last year, and he's been at SC State's commencement address. He's obviously spoke to the president of Delaware State, where -- where President Biden will tell you that he got his political start decades ago -- spoke to Dr. Allen today. And, obviously, it's special to him.

And he realizes that not only a speech but, more importantly, the $16 billion in resources to support this amazing -- amazingly talented group of young leaders -- that he doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. We're going to start wrapping it up. Go ahead.

Q A question on -- a question on the Oval Office meeting, and then wanted to follow up on something else you said. Had the President met with the families involved in the Delaware case prior to today's Oval Office meeting? Or was this his first time meeting them?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, it was interesting -- and, obviously, this is my first time in the same space with each of them -- he spent a significant amount of time with the Delaware families. One of the ladies, a gran- -- a daughter of one of the litigants indicated that the President had spent several moments on their couch over the course of -- of his career. So, he was very familiar with the case. He kno- -- he knows the case. But he had engaged with the families in the past.

Q And then, on the question of enthusiasm for the President in the African American community, what do you chalk that lethargy up to?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I will tell you -- again, I can only speak, Francesca, to my -- to my experience. And when I get out there and we talk to people about the amazing successes of the administration and the leadership of the President and Vice President, people are psyched. I mean, they're -- they're happy about these meaningful developments that are helping change the lives of people all across this country.

We got to make sure not -- and that's -- that's a campaign job. Our job here is making sure we share the news and hopefully, in partnership with each and every one of you, that the news gets out to all the places in this very different world in which we live in which people receive their news.

So, I'm looking over there. a third question, Francesca.

Q No, I just wanted to ask: Are you saying that you distrust the polling that shows the President's support among the African American community is lower than it was this time four years ago?

MR. BENJAMIN: I can honestly tell you that I don't follow the polls.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Hi, Mayor Benjamin. Brown v. Board not only ended "separate but equal," but it was a real preparation for the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, there's a -- a different movement happening after the Supreme Court ruling in Harvard vs. Students for Fair Admissions and -- with affirmative action that has created this sort of -- seemingly, this anti-DEI, anti-equity movement that impacted schools, businesses, and even this administration's ability to implement some of these policies.

Does the President believe that he has leaned in enough on this issue? And how much can we expect him to speak to that in tomorrow's speech?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. Well, he has one speech tomorrow at the -- at the NAACP. And then, obviously, he has several speeches this weekend.

The President is unapologetic about the -- not only the principle of equity being a core value to him but also his administration, but he continues to make sure that, consistent with his very first executive order, that every piece of policy and -- that comes out of the administration, as well as each of the cornerstone laws enacts -- the infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS bill, and -- and also the American Rescue Plan -- that each of those pillars have the same core of equity. And it's led to record amounts of contracting -- I think $76 billion this past year for small, minority-owned businesses -- record amounts in the Black community and the Latino community, as well.

So, he's not stepping back on his commitment to equity and continues to lean in and expects his administration to do the same.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Go ahead, Ebony. You got last question.

Q Okay. I want to follow up on just two comments. One, you just mentioned the $76 in -- $76 billion in contracts for minority businesses. But can you talk about what that looks like for Black businesses specifically?

MR. BENJAMIN: $12.1 billion.

Q Wow. $12.1 billion.

And then my -- my second question is: Earlier, you were talking about that we aren't where we want to be, but we -- we're not where we used to be, but we're not where we want to be.

Specifically, when the question was asked, what -- what are the things -- or -- or are there any orders or policies and executive orders that we can see coming from the President that can address some of these inequities in education?

When we were at -- earlier, I was talking about how we are seeing resegregation in some of the schools. How can the administration -- or is it -- what are -- what could we see from the administration to reverse that? Because there's been a reversal in some -- in many areas.

MR. BENJAMIN: Yeah. I'll try to make the answer as concise as possible. But as you can tell, I believe very much so in data and -- and good data.

You know, the -- the challenge that we faced at the height of the pandemic, recognizing the -- still the way that most of our education systems across the country are funded -- property taxes, local resources, not necessarily dedicated at the level that they ought to receive, even in -- sometimes in the same town or the -- or the same state, can make things particularly a challenge.

The work that the President led on, along with the Vice President, to make sure that we're investing not only in HBCUs -- record amounts here today -- but also, under the American Rescue Plan, Title One schools are receiving $130 billion in -- in funding for maintenance of equity requirements, making sure we're protecting high-poverty schools from reductions in state and local funding.

I mean, it's -- it's what he does every day. When I talk about not -- not being where we used to be and also not being where we ought to be, there's this idea -- and he talks about it often; you've heard him say it a mil- -- a million times -- about the idea of -- of America.

The idea is that we all aspire to be a more perfect Union, which means that it -- it's -- every once in a while, you get to take big strides, big leaps forward -- Brown v. Board was a big leap forward; today's announcement of $16 billion for HBCUs is a big leap forward -- but the everyday struggles are -- are -- that's the hard work. That's the hard work that -- that this President has decided that he's going to lean into every single day.

Some days, we'll take strides. Every once in a while, you know, it's a -- it's three and out. Sometimes it's inches. But we're making progress towards that more perfect Union. And it takes intentional fortitude and leadership and vision of the fact that we're stronger when we're together, that diversity is -- is our strength, and it's something that the President and Vice President Harris are very proud of.

Thank you all for having me. All right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you, Mayor.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

Q Thanks, Mr. Mayor.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Q Thanks, Mayor.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Seung Min.

Oh, wait. Let's give him a second to -- all right.

Q Two topics, if I may.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, of course.

Q First, President Biden decided to block the release of the audio of his interview with the special counsel. And obviously, the letter from the White House Counsel laid out the reasons about the concerns it being used for political purposes. But that seems to imply that the White House is concerned that these could be politically damaging. So, why not just release them, especially with this White House's --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- commitment to transparency?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, one -- for one, the transcripts, as you all know, is already out there. I think the second piece of this, too, to note is that the Attorney General made it clear that law enforcement files like these need to be protected. And so, the President made his determination at the request of the Attorney General. So, just want to make that second point that I made really clear.

The Department of Justice and the White House Counsel's Office have provided extensive written letters -- as you all know; I'm sure some of you have read this -- on this issue and, like I said, that you have seen. And so -- so, when it comes to anything further or any specifics, obviously, I would -- I would refer you to my colleagues at the White House Counsel's Office.

But those are the th- -- just to make that -- that second point, again, very clear: This was taken by determination -- the President took the determination at the request of the -- of the Attorney General and wanted to make sure -- the Attorney General wanted to make sure that -- that law enforcement files like these must be protected.

Q But does the White House feel that the -- the recording, the audio, could be politically harmful since that point was also raised in the letter?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I can't -- I don't want to get into -- dive into the specific point that you're making about the politics. I would have to ser- -- refer you to our Counsel's Office on that. But there were determination that the President took very seriously on behalf of the -- obviously, at the request of the Attorney General. And that's how this decision was made.

Q And on the -- on the shooting of the Slovakian Prime Minister. I know the President released a statement yesterday, but now that it -- it looks more and more clear that it appears to have been a politically motivated attack, I was wondering if the -- if the White House had more to say --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I --

Q -- on that front, of those potential motivations.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, don't want to go beyond what I said here at the -- at the lectern yesterday.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just to follow up on what Seung Min was asking for. Speaker Mike Johnson said that President Biden is, quote, "apparently afraid" for citizens to hear his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. How is the White House responding to that kind of criticism?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I would say the transcripts are already out there. They've been out there. They have been released to the public. The public has an opportunity to hear directly from the President and what -- or to read and -- what exactly the President said.

The Attorney General made it clear that law enforcement files like these need to be protected. And that's the determination that was made. Anything further, anything specifics, I would -- certainly would refer you to my colleagues.

But that was a determination that was made. And, again, anything more to that, I would refer you to my colleagues.

Q You talked about the transcripts being released.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But, as you know, hearing something and reading it is very different. And if the transcript is already out there, why is it different to have the audio there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Like I said, there were determinations that the President -- that was made by the President at the request of the Attorney General. And so, we took that very seriously. The President took that very seriously. And so, that's what I would say to your question.

Q And just one more question --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q -- on another topic with Xi Jinping meeting with Vladimir Putin. At the summit in Beijing, they pledged to deepen their strategic partnership. What is the U.S. assessment of the current Russia-China relationship?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I know that there was a statement, obviously, that was a joint statement that was put out. Look, we don't see anything new here. I will reiterate what I said yesterday, which was we find it unacceptable that Chinese companies are helping Putin wage this war against Ukraine. We've been very clear about that.

And if China purports to support peace in Europe, it cannot continue to fuel the biggest threat of the European security. And that's not just coming from us. It's coming from NATO, the EU, the G7 partners -- they put out statement about this as well.

So, look, the statement is nothing new. It's more of the same. And we've been very clear where we stand on this.

Go ahead, Jeff.

Q I'd like to follow up on that, actually.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q The -- you said the statement is nothing new. It was pretty anti-American. I mean, if it's -- whether it's new or not, is it concerning to the White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it -- we don't see -- again, we don't see anything new with this. We've seen this before. I -- I get the point that you're making. We've seen this type of bilateral statement from those two -- from those two countries. We have been very clear about this.

And it's not just us. You've heard from the EU, you've heard from the G7 partners, you've hear- -- heard from NATO.

And, look, we have been -- all -- all of the -- all of the allies and partners that I just mentioned, we've been very clear on making sure that we do everything that we can to give the brave people of Ukraine, who are fighting Putin's aggression, the -- the se- -- the security assistance that they need. And that's why it was so important to get that national security supplemental.

You heard -- you heard us announce $1 billion on the day that it became law -- that national security supplemental -- to get that funding out. You -- you heard from Secretary Blinken, who was just in Ukraine and talked abo- -- talked about giving more of that security assistance.

So, we've all been clear. There -- you know, these two -- this two bilateral relationship, obviously, they stand out as a -- two countries who will -- who are, as I said, put out the statement.

But, you know, that is not the position -- not -- not just the position of the U.S. They heard it from G7, NATO, the EU. We've been very, very clear about that. And we're going to continue to -- to stand by Ukraine as they fight for their freedom, they fight for their democracy.

Q Does this White House/does the United States have any leverage to dissuade China from supporting Russia as much as it is?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, we've been very clear publicly. We've been very clear privately. And we'll continue to do that.

Q But -- but that -- that doesn't answer my question. Like, saying you've been very clear -- what -- what kind of leverage do you have to -- to change this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, here's what I say, Jeff. When you have the EU, you have the G7, you have NATO all saying what we are saying right now, which is we're going to protect -- or continue to help Ukraine defend itself, you know, that says a lot. We're -- we're talking about partners and allies here who mount a pretty -- a pretty strong -- a pretty strong force here in saying that we're going to continue to -- to support Ukraine.

I mean, I think that says -- that says what you need to know.

Q And there's just nothing more you can do about China?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I'm not going to talk about bilateral relationship. I said this yesterday. What I can speak is to what we've reiterated over and over again is that it is unacceptable for Chinese companies and how they're helping Putin wage this -- this -- this war against Ukraine. We've been pretty clear about that.

But the fact that this is a President that has been able to make -- bring NATO together -- right? -- been able to make NATO the more -- more -- you know, stronger than it's ever been, that's important. The fact that he has been able to put -- to bring more than 50 countries together in order to -- in order to make sure that Ukraine has what its needs -- it needs to fight against Putin's war, that says a lot. That says a lot about this President's leadership, and that's says -- says a lot about where other countries are. I mean, our partners and allies came together in support of Ukraine, and we're going to continue to do so.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Republican Senator Mitt Romney said in an interview overnight that he believes that President Biden should have pardoned his predecessor from federal charges. And Romney argued that it's now been a win-win for Trump in his campaign and in his public profile that he's been able to use these charges to his benefit.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not going to speak to pardons from here -- I'm just not -- especially for a candidate for the 2024 election. I'm just not going to speak about it from here.

Q But clemency is obviously a presidential power.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm just not going to speak about it from here.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. The Bureau of Labor statistics yesterday released, inadvertently, some CPI data --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- 30 minutes before they were supposed to. It came a month after it was demonstrated that an economist had been talking to Wall Street firms and a couple years after there was some suspicious trading activity. So, I'm wondering what -- what level of concern you guys have, how confident you are in the BLS leadership, and if you think that there should be an outside, sort of, investigation.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And to your question, it was an inadvertent leak yesterday by BLS, and there was a statement that they put out. BLS has alerted the Office of Management and Budget and DOL's Office of the Inspector General of the incident. BLS takes its data seriously and security, obviously, seriously and is conducting a full investigation into its procedures and controls to ensure the incident is not -- is not repeated.

BLS can obviously speak more into their investigation. We have -- the President -- we have confident that this will -- this will get done.

Go ahead.

Q Hi, Karine. Thank you. Two topics, if I can.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q Briefly on what we've been talking about with Ukraine. The U.S. today -- the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russian entities for facilitating weapo- -- weapons transfers between North Korea and Russia. Also today, the -- the chair of the NATO Military Committee said that Russia was outstripping Western powers in increasing their defense industry capacity.

How big an impact are these sanctions realistically likely to have? And is the U.S. considering more sanctions that target the Russian defense industry more directly?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, starting with your first -- or your last question first, I'm not going to preview sanctions from here. That's not what we do.

But I can say that, to your point, today, the Department of Treasury designated five Russia-based individuals and entities connected to the transfer of military equipment and components from the Dom- -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- DPRK -- to Russia. This action builds a several -- builds on several sanctions designations over the past year, targeting the Russia-DPRK military relationship, most recently in February 2024, just couple months ago.

These designations highlight our resolution opp- -- our resolute opposition to these continued arms transfer. We condemn Russia's veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the U.N. 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, a body that documented violations of U.N. sanctions related to the DPRK.

We will continue to examine all possibilities to counter the destabili- -- destabilizing Russia-DPRK partnership, but I'm certainly not going to preview any sanctions from here.

Q Okay. And one on Israel by extension. The Hou- --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q The Houthis have threatened more actions against ships that they claim are heading for Israel and potentially even in the Mediterranean. Will the U.S. continue operations against the Houthis if these attacks restart?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, obviously we condemn these Houthis -- Houthis for these attacks and continue to take action to hold them accountable. We've been pretty consistent in doing that for the past several months. These reckless attacks by the Iran-ba- -- Ira- -- Iran-backed Houthis have not only disrupted global trade and commerce but also taken the lives of international seafarers simply doing their jobs.

So, we have taken significant amount of Hou- -- of Houthi weapons. Our military is regularly destroying Houthi missiles when they're being loaded and prepared to launch but before they can actually be fired at commercial ships as well.

We will continue to act as needed to degrade the Houthi capabilities. You have, again, seen us do this for the past several months, and so we are committed to doing that.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. I want to ask you about a topic that's getting a lot of attention. The Kansas City Chiefs' kicker, Harrison Butker, is facing criticism for his recent commencement address, where he told female graduates that the most important title a woman could hold is homemaker. He was critical about surrogacy, IVF, and Pride Month, and he also criticized the President for being a Catholic who supports abortion rights. Has the President seen those comments? Does he have a reaction to them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know, the President has been pretty busy today, so I haven't had a chance to -- to focus on this particular issue. I think I've -- I've heard some reports on it.

Look, the President is not going to back away from supporting women and reproductive rights, reproductive healthcare. It is important to do that. It is important to fight for all of our freedoms, and that's what you're seeing the President do. He's not going to back away from that.

And, look, I can't speak to this specific thing because I haven't re- -- heard it in -- in its entirety.

But, look, you know, you have a former administration that -- that had said -- a former President that said over and over again that they were going to do everything that they can to get rid of Roe v. Wade, was successful in doing that by -- by putting forward judges that made that happen -- we saw the Dobbs decision in 2022 -- and what that caused is chaos. It caused women to -- to have to do -- you know, to have to, you know, be in a position to not get the healthcare that they need.

I mean, that's -- should not be where we are as a country. It should not be.

And then you have extreme Republicans that continue to talk about -- to talk about how they want to put a national abortion ban. It's causing chaos. It's causing chaos for women. It's causing chaos for families.

When you're saying that a family can't make a decision on IVF, that's not what this President is about. He wants to make sure that women have the right to make these incredibly difficult decisions about their healthcare so families could make a decision about how they want to build and move forward with building a family.

And so, can't -- I can't speak to those direct comments, but what I can speak to is what the President is committed to, and he has shown that over and over again. And you have a Vice President that has toured the country talking exactly about that: about how we have to protect our freedoms and -- freedoms of -- of, obviously, reproductive health, as -- as we're speaking right now.

Q And I know you said you can't speak to the comments --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- but as the President gets ready to give his own commencement address, does he think a message like that is appropriate at a commencement address?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: From -- from this particular --

Q Yeah. Mm-hmm.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, again, I haven't heard -- I haven't heard this in context. I saw some reporting. So, I want to be super mindful.

Look, the Pre- -- the President sees commencement day as such an important moment for not just the students but for their families, obviously, their loved ones, to talk about the future, to talk about how -- how they -- how, in the world that we are in n- -- in the world that we're in now, how do we move forward?

And you'll hear themes from this President on that particular message. And he understands how critical and important and how those message -- especially a message from the President of the United States, how much it matters.

I don't want to get ahead of the President. He's going to, obviously, lay out and speak to his commencement address on his own. But he's done this many times before. He's done -- he's done this when he's given commencement address as a senator, has done it, obviously, as Vice President, and now President. And this is an incredible, important, impactful -- impactful moment.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Just -- just now, one of your colleagues at the State Department said Israel needs to do more to prevent settlers from sacking trucks of humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.

The people who are doing this sort of thing are supporters of Prime Minister Netanyahu. They're part of the far-right parties. They're a part of his coalition.

Is the President concerned that the Prime Minister's domestic political needs could be preventing him from cracking down on what is essentially aiding a famine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, a couple of things. I do want to give an update on humanitarian aid that has gone into Gaza. I think it's important.

Since April 5 th, more than 7,000 trucks have been moved into Gaza. So, that is an update. Yesterday, nearly 250 trucks moved into Gaza, both via Kerem Shalom -- so, that is open, so that is important, as you all know, in southern Gaza -- and a new crossing, Erez West, in northern Gaza.

So, we have seen trucks go in. And I think that's important to note. And that's because of the President's -- President's push and relationship with the Prime Minister and insisting and pushing and saying we need to get more aid into -- into Gaza, because we know how dire the humanitarian situation is.

However -- however, with saying all of that, we remain concerned about ongoing limited operations at the Rafah [DEL: boarding :DEL] [border] crossing and also the Erez crossing -- I know I just mentioned that's a new crossing, but we want to get more in -- as well as the ability of humanitarian partners to move within Gaza to deliver assistance and fuel to the vulnerable people who need it.

So, this level of aid remains insufficient. And we want to continue to press Israel to increase the level of [DEL: assistant :DEL] [assistance] moving into Gaza.

I cannot speak to the Prime Minister's domestic politics. That is for him to speak to. What I can speak to is what we have been working on doing and how much we understand and the importance of getting that humanitarian aid in. And that's what we've been doing.

Q I understand that you can't speak to the Prime Minister's motivations. What I asked you, as the spokesperson for the President --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- is: Is the President concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu's domestic political situation may be --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What --

Q -- imperiling ef- -- U.S. efforts to get more aid into Gaza?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I'm saying is that we understand what I just laid out is not sufficient. We want to get more in. We are continuing to have those conversation with Israel, and we have seen some progress. We need to get more in. And so, the President is committed to that, and that's what you have seen from this President.

That's what I will speak to.

Go ahead, Nadia. No, I know you have follow-ups.

Go ahead.

Q Just want to follow up actually, on the humanitarian aid.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But equally as important issue is the fuel. So, now the U.N. agency are saying that no fuel -- it's impossible to get fuel to Gaza, and you know it's vital for the hospitals.

So, is -- what efforts are the White House is leading to push the Israelis to allow fuel in?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, as you know, the pier is in place, which is very important. It will be operational in upcoming days. So, that's important. And obviously, the Department of Defense will have more specifics on that. And so, we're confident that we're going to be able to distribute this type of aid to get that in to Gaza.

And so, we continue to have conversations with the U.N. and the Israelis and also NGOs to ensure -- to ensure humanitarian workers are protected and we con- -- we continue to get that aid in.

You heard from the National Security Advisor just mo- -- days ago, speak from this lectern to say that we are trying to do everything that we can from air, sea, and land to get that humanitarian aid in. It is -- we understand how critical that is to get done.

And so, this pier is now in place. In the up- -- next couple of days, very -- you know, coming days, we'll get that moving. And that is one way, obviously, we're going to get that fuel in, get the aid in.

And obviously, we're still working on the land crossings. And as you just heard, I gave some updates on -- on the trucks that have gone in to one of -- a new crossing that just opened up and, obviously, Kerem Shalom.

So, we are committed -- this President is committed in getting that done.

Q I have one more question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Yesterday, I did an interview with Senator Lindsey Graham. And he said basically that a defense and security comprehensive package with Saudi Arabia, it could happen sooner than later. And he suggests that, actually, it could be happening under a Democratic administration, and he is willing to help the President for delivery.

So, long --

Q We know --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- Jake is going to the region. Can you just --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I can't confirm -- I can't confirm Jake's travel. But -- but go ahead.

Q All right. Well, we can confirm it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I cannot confirm it from here. I appreciate that.

Q But can you weave this in and basically tell us that -- if the White House believes this deal could happen -- , obviously, to what happened in Gaza and the ?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, you know, we've been -- we've been very consistent about our long-term goal for more a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and integrated Middle East region. And that remains a focus for us. That remains a focus for this President. That remains a focus for our U.S. foreign policy. That is -- will always be where we stand on that.

And we continue to have conversations on these issues in- -- to include the need of a pathway to a Palestinian state, which is the only way to establish a sustainable peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That continues to be -- we've been, again, very consistent about that.

Our immediate focus remains to securing the release of hostages, to make sure that we get -- also get to a ceasefire, get that humanitarian -- create an environment where we're getting more humanitarian aid in. So, obviously, that's our focus right now, because we understand how important it is to get those hostages home to their loved ones and to their families, to get that humanitarian aid in, and to get to a ceasefire. We want to see that. We want to get to a ceasefire.

Go ahead, Michael.

Q Thanks, Karine. The governor of Florida signed a bill today that effectively erases all references to climate change in Florida law. Do you have a response?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's pretty shameful. And, you know, the President, as you know, has been the most progressive, has done more on climate change than any other president. And -- and so, we are committed -- committed in dealing with this crisis and meeting our goals. And you have heard from this president, and it is unfortunate. It is unfortunate that there are climate deniers still out there.

There's a lot more work that we need to do. And so, we think that's shameful.

Q The administration also today organized a deportation flight of 100 Haitians to Haiti. How does the administration at this point justify deportation flights to Haiti given the situation on the ground there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you've heard from us many times. We are urgently trying to -- urgently working with the international partners in Congress to expedite the deployment of -- of the Kenyan-led multinational security support, MS- -- MSS mission, as you've been hearing. We've contributed $300 million to that mission, and we want to bolster the Haitian police, what's going on -- on that -- on that front.

And we've also led -- we've also led in humanitarian assistance with over $170 million since October 2022 nd. We understand the situation is dire in Haiti. We understand that. And we are clear-eyed that the economic, political security and stability are key drivers for migrants around the world.

And obviously, as I -- as you all know, you've been tracking what's going on in Haiti. So, we are closely monitoring the situation and the rou- -- routes frequently used by migrants to reach our borders and would stress that, at this time, irregular migration flows through the Caribbean remain low.

But that said, we are always planning for contingencies, and we believe that is important as well.

I can't speak to this particular -- this particular incident. I have not spoken to the team about this yet.

But we get how dire it is there, and that's why we've tried to move up our humanitarian [DEL: assistant :DEL] [assistance] here, leading the world in getting that humanitarian aid. And we're trying to get the M- -- M- -- MSS in place so that we can give the support to the Haitian National Police in dealing with the dire situation that's happening.

AIDE: Karine, time for one more.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead, Patsy. And then I have to go.

Q Thank you, Karine. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday publicly questioned Prime Minister Netan- -- Netanyahu on his strategic endgame of the war, calling out for an establishment of a governing alternative in Gaza that's not Hamas but also not Israeli military's role. And to me, he is basically saying what Jake Sullivan and Secretary Blinken has been encouraging --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- for the same things this week. Even though this is the first time that Gallant is saying it publicly, this is something that we've known privately from Israeli defense -- defense officials for some time now.

I'm just wondering about the timing of this, how --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- Jake and then Secretary Blinken and then Gallant are all saying --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- the same things this week. Was there any coordination of any sort?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So -- so, I'm not going -- I'm going to let others do an analysis of the speech. That's not something I'll do from here.

But we've been very clear that when it comes to the future of Gaza, we do not support an Israeli reoccupation. We've been clear from this podium, from, obviously, behind this lectern. And we obviously do not support Hamas governance in Gaza.

So, that's where we've been. We'll continue to be there. The -- that underscores the importance of having a clear and concrete plan for the day after the conflict at -- in Gaza.

As you just stated in your question to me, Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, was very clear about this very recently. And so, we have discussed this with the Israelis. And so, we'll continue to do that, to have that conversation. But I'm not going to analyze his speech and talk -- speak to --

Q My question was about the timing, though. Was there any coordination --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, but I'm not -- I'm not going to speak to timing. I'm not going to give an analysis on it. We're continuing to have those conversations with the Israelis, as we have been. And we've made our point. And we've made our -- our -- where -- our stance pretty clear on that. You heard that from the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan very recently at this lectern.

Q And just more broadly, on the -- on the ceasefire itself. It appears to be in deadlock right now. So, at this point, is the President still confident that his strategic end goal to end the violence in Gaza and then what happens the day after can align with that of Israel and Hamas?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, we have to continue to be hopeful. This is a President that's optimistic, that's hopeful. We're going to continue to work around the clock to get this done.

You know, this could all end today if Hamas would release the wounded, the women. And -- and we've said this over and over again -- the elderly. It could end today. But we're determined to get those hostages home. We are determined to get -- to get to a ceasefire, to get more humanitarian aid in. And we have to be optimistic. We have to be hopeful here.

Go ahead, Aurelia.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know I have to go.

Q Thank you. Israel said today that additional troops will enter the Rafah area and that its operation there will intensify. Do you have a comment on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I will say is that we are continuing to monitor -- just going to repeat what Jake Sullivan said from this podium. Nothing has changed since he was here on Monday. And we're continuing to monitor. We made our -- our case very clear about a -- a potential major military operation in Rafah. We have our concerns about that. We've made that clear to our Israeli counterparts. We'll continue to do that.

What we have been told by the Israelis and what we have seen is that these are targeted -- what we're seeing in Rafah -- targeted operations. And we're going to continue to have those -- those, we believe, constructive -- these -- these meetings that we've had have been constructive, and not just in those two virtual meetings, but on a daily basis, we certainly are talking with the Israeli government.

All right. You have the last one.

Q Thank you. The Deputy Director of ICE is telling us that two Jordanian nationals are in removal proceedings now after posing as Amazon delivery drivers to crash the gates at Quantico. Does the White House think this might have been a failed terrorist attack?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, going to be really mindful. These two Jordanians that you're speaking of remain in ICE -- ICE custody. And given that it is an active law enforcement matter, so I would have to refer you to ICE.

I just can't dive into this because, again, the -- there is a law enforcement ma- -- this is a law enforcement matter.

Q Something totally different.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh. Where is this going?

Q Have you heard --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, no.

Q -- that Vice President Harris is telling friends that she may go back to California and run for governor if the election does not go her way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That is news to me. I -- I would say this. The Vice President has been a great partner to this President. He is appreciative of the work that she has done. It is impressive what she has been able to do on these tours that she has done on reproductive rights, her leadership on gun violence -- to fight gun violence across the country -- prevention, obviously, in leading the -- in the first historic office coming out of the White House.

She has been an amazing partner, and the President appreciates her, appreciates her leadership. And that's all I'll say to that.

Q And last one.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh.

Q Why is President Biden celebrating today the Dow reaching 40,000 if his position, dating back to 2021, about the stock market is "that's not how I judge whether or not we have economic growth."

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, while we have long said that the stock market is not the economy -- and we have said that, to your point -- it's clear that -- what we'll say is that the President -- President Biden's economic plan is working. It's growing the middle class, as you hear us talk about all the time; spurs investment in manufacturing -- created almost 800,000 jobs in this administration alone -- and infrastructure; and outperform other countries.

That's what the President has been very focused on. Record stock market highs under President Biden are good for retirement accounts and household wealth. And that is just a fact.

And so, which we -- which, you know, we would never root for a stock market crash or for Americans to lose their jobs. It's something that we would never root for from here. But obviously, you know, the stock market, again, is not the economy. But we believe that the President's economic -- President Biden's economic plan is working -- again, growing the middle class -- and I think that's a good thing. I think we should be really grateful for that -- for the American people.

Thanks, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.

2:50 P.M. EDT

Press Briefings

2024-05-16

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

Q Madam President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Madam President, that's right. [Laughter] I was trying to be good, not call out people.

All right. Good afternoon.

As President Biden said during his campaign, no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana. That's why in 2022, President Biden requested that DOJ and HHS review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

The reality is, while white, Black, and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionately higher rates.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The podium is yours.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you, Karine. Thank you so much.

Thank you, my friend. I — I miss being mayor, y'all. [Laughter] I — I think it was a much — a much simpler existence at times.

Today at the White House, as Karine mentioned, we're recognizing — commemorating the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education becoming the law of the land, upending decades of discrimination since ni- — 1896.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue their long- — longstanding effort to honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for African Americans.

This morning, he met with the plaintiffs and their families, as Karine mentioned, in the Oval Office. During the meeting, he commended them for changing our nation for the better and committed to continue his fight to move us closer to the promise of America.

Families from each of the five different cases that were consolidated in Brown v. Board were present today.

On Sunday, May 19th, the President is going to deliver the commencement address at the 140th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia, where today the faculty voted to confer upon the President an honorary degree.

Q The President of the United States receives multiple invitations to speak at multiple universities every single year. And I'm — I'm wondering if you think that — even with the possibility of protests, that there's an expectation of, potentially, a calmer reception at Morehouse than elsewhere?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I'll tell you, Morehouse is an amazingly special and dignified place. Yes, he does receive a lot of invitations. But this President has also been very intentional over the course of his career and certainly his presidency, to always make sure he makes time to go to HBCUs.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. We're going to start wrapping it up. Go ahead.

Q A question on — a question on the Oval Office meeting, and then wanted to follow up on something else you said. Had the President met with the families involved in the Delaware case prior to today's Oval Office meeting? Or was this his first time meeting them?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, it was interesting — and, obviously, this is my first time in the same space with each of them — he spent a significant amount of time with the Delaware families. One of the ladies, a gran- — a daughter of one of the litigants indicated that the President had spent several moments on their couch over the course of — of his career. So, he was very familiar with the case. He kno- — he knows the case. But he had engaged with the families in the past.

Q And then, on the question of enthusiasm for the President in the African American community, what do you chalk that lethargy up to?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I will tell you — again, I can only speak, Francesca, to my — to my experience. And when I get out there and we talk to people about the amazing successes of the administration and the leadership of the President and Vice President, people are psyched. I mean, they're — they're happy about these meaningful developments that are helping change the lives of people all across this country.

We got to make sure not — and that's — that's a campaign job. Our job here is making sure we share the news and hopefully, in partnership with each and every one of you, that the news gets out to all the places in this very different world in which we live in which people receive their news.

So, I'm looking over there. [Inaudible] a third question, Francesca. [Laughter]

Q No, I just wanted to ask: Are you saying that you distrust the polling that shows the President's support among the African American community is lower than it was this time four years ago?

MR. BENJAMIN: I can honestly tell you that I don't follow the polls.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Hi, Mayor Benjamin. Brown v. Board not only ended "separate but equal," but it was a real preparation for the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, there's a — a different movement happening after the Supreme Court ruling in Harvard vs. Students for Fair Admissions and — with affirmative action that has created this sort of — seemingly, this anti-DEI, anti-equity movement that impacted schools, businesses, and even this administration's ability to implement some of these policies.

Does the President believe that he has leaned in enough on this issue? And how much can we expect him to speak to that in tomorrow's speech?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. Well, he has one speech tomorrow at the — at the NAACP. And then, obviously, he has several speeches this weekend.

The President is unapologetic about the — not only the principle of equity being a core value to him but also his administration, but he continues to make sure that, consistent with his very first executive order, that every piece of policy and — that comes out of the administration, as well as each of the cornerstone laws enacts — the infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS bill, and — and also the American Rescue Plan — that each of those pillars have the same core of equity. And it's led to record amounts of contracting — I think $76 billion this past year for small, minority-owned businesses — record amounts in the Black community and the Latino community, as well.

So, he's not stepping back on his commitment to equity and continues to lean in and expects his administration to do the same.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Go ahead, Ebony. You got last question.

Q Okay. I want to follow up on just two comments. One, you just mentioned the $76 in — $76 billion in contracts for minority businesses. But can you talk about what that looks like for Black businesses specifically?

MR. BENJAMIN: $12.1 billion.

Q Wow. $12.1 billion. [Laughter]

And then my — my second question is: Earlier, you were talking about that we aren't where we want to be, but we — we're not where we used to be, but we're not where we want to be.

The idea is that we all aspire to be a more perfect Union, which means that it — it's — every once in a while, you get to take big strides, big leaps forward — Brown v. Board was a big leap forward; today's announcement of $16 billion for HBCUs is a big leap forward — but the everyday struggles are — are — that's the hard work. That's the hard work that — that this President has decided that he's going to lean into every single day.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I —

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a new record in Federal funding and investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities totaling more than $16 billion from Fiscal Years 2021 through current available data for FY 2024. This new reported total is up from the previously announced over $7 billion , and captures significant additional actions already undertaken. The total of more than $16 billion includes over $11.4 billion between FY2021 and FY2023 through Federal grants, contracting awards, and debt relief for HBCUs; over $4 billion between FY2021 and FY2023 for HBCU-enrolled students through federal financial aid and educational benefits for veterans; and, so far in FY 2024, over $900 million has been secured for Department of Education programs strengthening HBCUs as institutions. President Biden

and Vice President Harris are committed to ensuring whole-of-government investment efforts in HBCUs continue at full momentum through the rest of FY 2024.

These historic funding levels demonstrate the Administration's ongoing commitment to HBCUs, which serve as an engine for upward economic mobility in our country. The Administration is also focused on work to ensure HBCUs have the resources to provide a high-quality postsecondary education.

For more than 180 years, HBCUs have been advancing intergenerational economic mobility for Black families and communities, developing vital academic research, and making our Nation more prosperous and equitable. Despite representing only 3% of colleges and universities, HBCUs play an outsized role to support the economic mobility of African Americans, producing 40 percent of all Black engineers, 50 percent of all Black teachers, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists, 80 percent of all Black judges, and the first woman and Black Vice President of the United States. Overall, HBCUs greatly contribute to the economic success of America, providing college access to twice as many Pell Grant-eligible

students as non-HBCU institutions. Additionally, social mobility research by the United Negro College Fund finds that HBCUs support nearly five times more students than Ivy League and other top-ranked institutions in facilitating movement from the bottom 40% in U.S. household income to the top 60%.

A CEA report published today further underscores that HBCUs are engines for upward mobility and additionally discusses new research showing that HBCU enrollment has considerable positive effects on bachelor's degree completion and household income later in life. The report details how these successes have occurred in the context of historic underfunding of HBCUs. It also discusses a recent resurgence in applications to, and enrollment in, HBCUs which highlight the high value that students have placed on these institutions in recent years.

Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to advancing racial equity , economic opportunity, and educational excellence, including by reestablishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities . Between FY 2021 – FY 2023 the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to support HBCUs:

Invested over $11.4 billion in HBCUs, which includes:

Nearly $4 billion for HBCUs through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief legislation. These grants funded through the Department of Education and other agencies have helped HBCUs support students' ability to meet basic needs; support campus operations, staffing, teaching, and educational programs; and keep campuses and the surrounding communities on the path to an equitable recovery;

$2.6 billion from the Department of Education to build institutional capacity at HBCUs. These efforts support the growth and sustainability of HBCU degree programs; increase and enhance human, technological, and physical infrastructure for research; strengthen positioning to secure direct partnership opportunities; and create sustainable fund development;

Over $1.6 billion to HBCUs through Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other competitive funding opportunities that drive the advancement of academic and training programs, community-based initiatives, and research innovation across national priorities such as medicine and public health, climate science, agriculture, emerging technologies, and defense;

Almost $950 million to support HBCUs in growing research capacity and related infrastructure to better compete for Federal research and development dollars;

Nearly $719 million in grant funding to expand STEM academic capacity and educational programs; and in other high-wage, high-demand fields such as computer science, nursing, and allied health;

Over $150 million in Federal contracting opportunities awarded to HBCUs, including for research and expansion of STEM education programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and U.S. Agency for International Development;

$1.6 billion in capital finance debt relief for 45 public and private HBCUs. Discharging these debts has enabled these institutions to focus resources on supporting students, faculty, and staff while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Over $2.4 million in Project SERV funds to support HBCUs affected by more than a dozen bomb threats in 2022. These grants have helped restore safe learning environments and invest in student mental health and well-being for students.

In addition to the over $11 billion provided to HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $4 billion to support the success of HBCU-enrolled students through:

$2.8 billion in need-based grants and other Federal programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, to assist HBCU students in affording a postsecondary education; and

Nearly $1.3 billion to support Veterans attending HBCUs through the GI bill and other college, graduate school, and training programs delivered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While more must be done to ensure equity for HBCUs and their students, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering landmark first-of-its-kind results:

The Department of Defense U.S. Air Force established the first-ever HBCU-led University Affiliated Research Center . Led by Howard University with seven other HBCUs and funded at $90 million over five years, efforts will focus on advancing the deployment of autonomous technologies for Air Force missions. Participating schools include Jackson State University, Tuskegee University, Hampton University, Bowie State University, Norfolk State University, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, and Tougaloo College.

The Department of Commerce established the first-ever Connecting-Minority-Communities program delivering funding for 43 HBCUs to purchase broadband internet, purchase equipment, and hire IT personnel to tackle the digital divide impacting HBCUs. Several HBCUs also recently launched an HBCU CHIPS Network in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology to increase the coordination of the resources at the colleges and universities and jointly contribute to workforce development needs of the semiconductor industry. Chips are critical in powering our consumer electronics, automobiles, data centers, critical infrastructure, and virtually all military systems.

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide $4.2 million in grant funding to HBCUs, through the EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Center program .

The Department of Agriculture announced a $262.5 million investment to support 33 projects across U.S. institutions of higher education designed to train the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals. Through the USDA NextGen program , the projects are led by 1890 land-grant institutions , 1994 land-grant institutions , and institutions of higher education located in the Insular Areas. This historic investment will provide training and support to more than 20,000 future food and agricultural leaders through 33 projects executed by more than 60 institutions across 24 states and Insular Areas.

The Department of Energy announced the inaugural $7.75 million Historically Black Colleges and Universities Clean Energy Education Prize , a competition that will support HBCUs in developing programming to strengthen the participation of K-12 and community college students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The competition, which has announced its first 10 winning HBCU teams , is supporting the creation of clean energy community networks to inspire the next generation of students to work in STEM fields related to clean energy.

The Department of Education provided nearly $25 million to HBCUs under the Research and Development Infrastructure program to transform their research infrastructure, including strengthening research productivity, faculty expertise, physical infrastructure, and partnerships leading to increases in external funding.

The Department of Transportation announced Prairie View A&M University in Texas as the first-ever HBCU to lead a University Transportation Center . Prairie View A&M and 11 other HBCUs were among 34 schools to receive a portion of a $435 million grant for development of interoperable technology systems, which allow equipment, software, and applications to work together, communicate, and exchange data.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is pioneering efforts to close opportunity gaps in STEM, including nearly $12 million for eight HBCUs to support programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning and create a more diverse pipeline of talent for careers in data-intensive space-based Earth science.

The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs established the Executive HBCU Space Lab , a new collaboration between HBCUs, the Federal government, and industry partners to increase HBCU engagement in space-related federal contracting. The Executive HBCU Space Lab is a solutions-oriented initiative that will release resources including SpaceTechConnect, a free platform to highlight space-related capabilities at HBCUs.

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences established HBCU-Connect , a new initiative with HBCUs to inspire the development of environmental health science leaders from diverse backgrounds. HBCU-Connect is a multifaceted effort to strengthen ties between the institute and faculty and students at academic institutions that are often underrepresented in the sciences.

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched the Maternal Health Research Collaborative for MSIs , providing roughly $30 M in research support to seven HBCUs over five years. The funding will build capacity of HBCUs to conduct Black maternal health research to fully understand and address the root causes of disparities in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health outcomes; and to find community-based solutions to address these disparities and advance health equity.

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health funding to HBCUs totaled $147.5 million to support research, training, research capacity building, and outreach efforts. NIH funding included endowment awards to strengthen the research infrastructure of the HBCU award recipients to conduct minority health and health disparities research. Other NIH funding has assisted several HBCUs in contributing towards building a diverse scientific workforce, including mentorship and student training programs and career development opportunities for faculty.

The National Science Foundation launched Advancing Research Capacity at HBCUs through Exploration and Innovation to support participation in an intensive, facilitated workshop that brings together HBCU faculty, staff, research administrators and academic leadership focused on exploration of innovative and promising approaches for addressing the research capacity needs of HBCUs.

The National Science Foundation, as part of Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity initiative , awarded an Atlanta-based HBCU consortium a $14 million competitive grant to establish a hub that promotes equity in the national research ecosystem and serves as a model for other HBCUs and emerging research institutions. The consortium includes Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Clark Atlanta University.

The National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM, in support of the CHIPS and Science Act, established an Interagency Working Group on HBCU, TCU, and MSI STEM Achievement. The Council provides a coordinated federal approach to carry out sustained outreach activities to increase clarity, transparency, and accountability for federal research agency investments in STEM education and research at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, including such institutions in rural areas.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced awards totaling $5.5 million for HBCUs to conduct housing and community development research to support the production of affordable housing, support homeownership, advance use of renewable energy, and address infrastructure inequity affecting underserved communities.

The Department of Justice has increased both the number of HBCUs applying for grants and its HBCU approval rate. Over the past five years, DOJ's grant awards to HBCUs have increased 83% .

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

In addition to the over $11 billion provided to HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $4 billion to support the success of HBCU-enrolled students through:

While more must be done to ensure equity for HBCUs and their students, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering landmark first-of-its-kind results:

Unprecedented $16 billion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence. For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America's leadership at home and abroad. Today, graduates from our Nation's more than 100 HBCUs are in every room where important decisions are made – leading in our schools, hospitals, courtrooms, boardrooms, and at the highest levels of government. And as we look forward, we know that our HBCUs will continue to prepare young leaders to build a better, more just future for our country and the world.

That is why President Biden and I have delivered an unprecedented $16 billion to our Nation's HBCUs. This historic investment is transformative – from helping to fund cutting-edge research and making long-overdue renovations, to providing mental health resources and ensuring students have access to every opportunity to thrive. We have also delivered the largest increase to Pell Grants in a decade as we work to make higher education more affordable. I have witnessed the direct impact of these record investments while meeting with thousands of HBCU students as Vice President, including during my Fight for Our Freedoms college tour last fall.

President Biden and I remain committed to using every lever available to support HBCUs and the students and communities they serve. We know that when we invest in the success of our HBCUs, we are investing in the strength of our Nation – today and for generations to come.

# # #

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Representatives of Countries with Citizens Taken Hostage by Hamas

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met yesterday with Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The 18 nations represented at the meeting all have citizens taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The group discussed their collective call for Hamas to immediately release the hostages and ways to bring an end to the crisis. National Security Advisor Sullivan also relayed that the President continues to engage with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Amir of Qatar, and President Sisi to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Today's Supreme Court ruling is an unmistakable win for American consumers. Since President Obama and I created it in the wake of the Great Recession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has worked to protect consumers from abusive practices by lenders, servicers, and special interests, and has lowered costs for hardworking families by going after junk fees. Under my Administration, the CFPB has delivered: providing nearly $9 billion in consumer relief and working to save consumers $20 billion per year going forward on credit card late fees, overdraft fees, and other junk fees.

Every step of the way, while the CFPB and I have fought for the middle class, Republicans in Congress and in states across the country have stood with special interests who want to keep ripping families off. In the face of years of attacks from extreme Republicans and special interests, the Court made clear that the CFPB's funding authority is constitutional and that its strong record of consumer protection will not be undone.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Today's Supreme Court ruling is an unmistakable win for American consumers. Since President Obama and I created it in the wake of the Great Recession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [CFPB] has worked to protect consumers from abusive practices by lenders, servicers, and special interests, and has lowered costs for hardworking families by going after junk fees. Under my Administration, the CFPB has delivered: providing nearly $9 billion in consumer relief and working to save consumers $20 billion per year going forward on credit card late fees, overdraft fees, and other junk fees.

Every step of the way, while the CFPB and I have fought for the middle class, Republicans in Congress and in states across the country have stood with special interests who want to keep ripping families off. In the face of years of attacks from extreme Republicans and special interests, the Court made clear that the CFPB's funding authority is constitutional and that its strong record of consumer protection will not be undone.

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-16

It is a pleasure to join you at the Center for American Progress.

Today, I want to talk about the President's investment agenda and the trade enforcement that is necessary to make sure American jobs and investment are not undercut by China's unfair trade practices.

The President came to office with a plan to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up—a sharp departure from the trickle-down approach of the prior administration. On his watch, we are seeing record investment in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Investment must be paired with trade enforcement to make sure the comeback we are seeing in communities around the country is not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China. We have learned from the past. There can be no second China Shock here in America.

Earlier this week, the President announced important enforcement under Section 301 of our trade laws to raise tariffs against China's unfair trade practices in vital industries of the future. Today, the Administration is taking additional action to prevent circumvention of tariffs in the solar industry.

By contrast, the President opposes Republican proposals to impose across-the-board tariffs on all goods from all countries, even those that play by the rules. They would cost an average family up to $1,500 every year, according to analysis done here at CAP.

America's Domestic-Led Recovery

After inheriting an economy with millions out of work, broken supply chains, and a surge in inflation from pandemic-era disruptions, the President secured major legislation that has supported a strong recovery. Investment, growth, and productivity are up, while unemployment is down. Wages have grown faster than prices, but the cost of living is too high, and we are fighting to bring it down.

We saw the unacceptably high cost of relying on a single foreign source for critical inputs when the dramatic supply shocks associated with the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine caused a surge in inflation and widespread shortages. The President's historic investment laws – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act – are strengthening the supply side of our economy. Private sector investments in manufacturing plants are at record highs, reversing previous disinvestment, and manufacturing employment is up by nearly 800,000, after declining during the previous administration.

China's Export-Led Recovery and Industrial Overcapacity

Today, at a time when a strong U.S. recovery is underway powered by domestic consumption and investment, there are signs that China is exporting its way to recovery. China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth by investing in significant industrial overcapacity and flooding global markets with artificially cheap exports.

We saw what happened in the wake of the first China Shock, which harmed factory towns all over our country. Twelve years ago, here at the Center for American Progress, I discussed my concerns that China's unbalanced investment- and export-driven growth model was imposing costs on growth in America and globally. I noted that "only by moving from an economy dependent on external demand and exports to one driven by domestic consumer demand" could China achieve its long-term growth goals consistent with broader global growth.

China's share of global manufacturing is now approaching 30%, enabled by a combination of non-market practices, including forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft, and discriminatory rules..
Sectors prioritized by the central government are flooded with investments backed by ambitious local governments. Since investment has been redirected away from the property sector, state banks have been encouraged to provide underpriced credit to priority industries.

The U.S. Trade Representative's [USTR] Section 301 report on China documents evidence and cites sources from around the world of ways that China acquires foreign technology through forced transfers, cybertheft, and other means.

China is now simply too big to play by its own rules. China's industrial capacity and exports in certain sectors are now so large, they can undermine the viability of investments in the U.S. and other countries. Indeed, many of our partners around the world are raising the same concerns about the effects on their own industrial sectors.

Between 2017 and 2021, China's production across the solar supply chain outpaced every other country in the world combined. By the end of this year, the global supply of solar panels is expected to outpace global demand by roughly three-fold, largely driven by Chinese policies to continue expanding investment despite overcapacity and sharply declining prices.

China's industrial overcapacity undermines market-based innovation and competition, as well as our workers and supply chain resilience.

Markets need reliabledemand signals and fair competition for the best firms and technologies to be able to innovate and invest in clean energy and other sectors. The Chinese government has made clear that China's massive investments in electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries are an intentional strategy to effectively capture these sectors. By undercutting global prices for these goods, Chinese policy-driven overcapacity disrupts the necessary demand signal that would enable market-based investment to be viable. Similarly, if firms cannot safeguard the intellectual property they develop, it undercuts market-based incentives to invest in R&D.

Second, a new cycle of Chinese policy-driven overcapacity and export surges could have adverse consequences for our workers. Analysis suggests the first China Shock was associated with the loss of nearly a million manufacturing jobs. It is vital to use legitimate enforcement tools to make sure a second China Shock does not happen again.

Third, the concentration in China of control over high value-added components of supply chains for key industries could undermine our resilience. Supply chains that become overly dependent on a few nodes of production are susceptible to geographically localized shocks. The pandemic laid bare what occurs when the United States—and the world—becomes entirely dependent on Chinese exports for goods like medical equipment. Given the scale and significance of the clean energy transition, we must guard against concentration risks in our supply chains.

Coupling Investment and Enforcement in Key Industries of the Future

The President's agenda combines investment in industries of the future with enforcement of our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete. Imposing tariffs in selective sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws ensures the investments and jobs in EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar spurred by the President's historic laws are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China.

Last year, China exported roughly 5 million ICE and electric vehicles, becoming the world's largest auto exporter. Similarly, the subsidized production of electric vehicle batteries and battery components is so high that China is expected to produce more than four times its domestic demand.

The IRA and BIL include important programs to encourage domestic investment all along the supply chain for lower emissions vehicles along with consumer incentives.

Tariffs on Chinese EVs will be increased to 100% to prevent a surge of unfairly underpriced exports and to enable automakers and autoworkers in the US to compete fairly. Tariffs will be increased to 25% on batteries and battery components to diversify supply chains and give domestic companies an incentive to continue to develop cutting edge technologies.

In the solar sector, bolstered by the IRA, the private sector is undertaking a record investment boom in American solar manufacturing. China dominates more than 70 percent of all segments of the solar energy supply chain, including 97 percent of global silicon wafer capacity. And China's continued loss-leading production and investment threaten to drive out foreign producers that have to meet market return hurdles.

To guard against that, tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels will be increased to 50%. In addition, today's announcement reimposes a 14.25% tariff on bifacial solar modules and confirms the end of the solar bridge on June 6, helping to ensure against trade circumvention. Today's announcement will also help to clarify guidance on domestic content for the solar supply chain under the IRA.

In the legacy semiconductors industry, China is also quickly building overcapacity through state support. According to some estimates, within the next three years, the country could account for roughly one third of the world's production of legacy chips—resulting in inordinate concentration of the supply of semiconductors used to power everyday technologies the world depends on.

These chips are vital to national security no less than economic security. After decades in which America stood by while semiconductor manufacturing moved abroad in response to government subsidies, the CHIPS and Science Act is enabling businesses to invest in semiconductor manufacturing in America again for the first time in decades. And tariffs on Chinese legacy semiconductors will increase to 50% to enforce against a surge of Chinese imports that benefit from the country's nonmarket industrial targeting.

A Better Path Forward

Today, we are at a turning point. The President is leading the way on an approach that invests in America and stands up for American workers against China's unfair practices, following years of trickledown policies that hollowed out too many factory towns around the country.

The Administration is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, as demonstrated by the President's regular discussions with President Xi, along with the recent visits by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury. We are committed to cooperating with China to meet the world's most pressing challenges, including by supporting the deployment of clean energy technologies. Within that broader context, it is important to enforce our trade laws against China's unfair nonmarket practices to prevent harm to American workers and businesses.

Many foreign partners, including the EU, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, and India, have started or publicly considered trade actions of a similar nature. We will work with G-7 and G-20 partners to advance our common interest.

China's industrial footprint is more complex today than during its previous export surge. Today's actions to support U.S. solar manufacturers, which include ending tariff exemptions and monitoring imports from countries found to be circumventing trade enforcement measures, will help ensure that China is not able undercut U.S. manufacturers simply by moving its factories.

In negotiating USMCA, the previous administration did not adequately address the potential transshipment of Chinese exports entering the U.S. market via Mexico. Mexico is an important partner to the US in many areas. We look forward to working with Mexico to address concerns that some Chinese steel exports appear to be flowing through Mexico, and some Chinese auto companies may be considering exporting vehicles and auto parts via Mexico. The USMCA review in 2026 would be an opportunity to further discuss this potential risk.

The President's tough targeted approach combining investment and enforcement in key sectors is a sharp departure from the prior administration. The previous administration did not take action to invest in America and failed to follow through on securing the promised Chinese purchases or end to China's unfair practices in its failed Phase One trade agreement with China.

Conclusion

The President has long believed in a middle-out bottom-up approach to growing the economy, and secured historic legislation to make it happen. The resulting private sector investments are reversing decades of disinvestment, creating pathways to goodmiddle-class jobs, and facilitating critical investments in innovation, infrastructure, and clean energy. The President's approach is providing a model of how to deliver sustainable growth with good jobs and smart investments, but, for it to succeed, it is vital to enforce the rules that safeguard healthy market-driven competition.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Center for American Progress

As Prepared for Delivery

It is a pleasure to join you at the Center for American Progress.

Today, I want to talk about the President's investment agenda and the trade enforcement that is necessary to make sure American jobs and investment are not undercut by China's unfair trade practices.

The President came to office with a plan to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up--a sharp departure from the trickle-down approach of the prior administration. On his watch, we are seeing record investment in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Investment must be paired with trade enforcement to make sure the comeback we are seeing in communities around the country is not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China. We have learned from the past. There can be no second China Shock here in America.

Earlier this week, the President announced important enforcement under Section 301 of our trade laws to raise tariffs against China's unfair trade practices in vital industries of the future. Today, the Administration is taking additional action to prevent circumvention of tariffs in the solar industry.

By contrast, the President opposes Republican proposals to impose across-the-board tariffs on all goods from all countries, even those that play by the rules. They would cost an average family up to $1,500 every year, according to analysis done here at CAP.

America's Domestic-Led Recovery

After inheriting an economy with millions out of work, broken supply chains, and a surge in inflation from pandemic-era disruptions, the President secured major legislation that has supported a strong recovery. Investment, growth, and productivity are up, while unemployment is down. Wages have grown faster than prices, but the cost of living is too high, and we are fighting to bring it down .

We saw the unacceptably high cost of relying on a single foreign source for critical inputs when the dramatic supply shocks associated with the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine caused a surge in inflation and widespread shortages. The President's historic investment laws – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act – are strengthening the supply side of our economy. Private sector investments in manufacturing plants are at record highs, reversing previous disinvestment, and manufacturing employment is up by nearly 800,000, after declining during the previous administration.

China's Export-Led Recovery and Industrial Overcapacity

Today, at a time when a strong U.S. recovery is underway powered by domestic consumption and investment, there are signs that China is exporting its way to recovery. China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth by investing in significant industrial overcapacity and flooding global markets with artificially cheap exports.

We saw what happened in the wake of the first China Shock , which harmed factory towns all over our country. Twelve years ago, here at the Center for American Progress, I discussed my concerns that China's unbalanced investment- and export-driven growth model was imposing costs on growth in America and globally. I noted that "only by moving from an economy dependent on external demand and exports to one driven by domestic consumer demand" could China achieve its long-term growth goals consistent with broader global growth.

China's share of global manufacturing is now approaching 30%, enabled by a combination of non-market practices , including forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft, and discriminatory rules..

Sectors prioritized by the central government are flooded with investments backed by ambitious local governments. Since investment has been redirected away from the property sector , state banks have been encouraged to provide underpriced credit to priority industries.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Section 301 report .pdf) on China documents evidence and cites sources from around the world of ways that China acquires foreign technology through forced transfers, cybertheft, and other means.

China is now simply too big to play by its own rules. China's industrial capacity and exports in certain sectors are now so large, they can undermine the viability of investments in the U.S. and other countries. Indeed, many of our partners around the world are raising the same concerns about the effects on their own industrial sectors.

As noted in the USTR's 301 review, "China now produces 70 percent of the world's electric vehicles, accounts for over 80 percent of battery manufacturing capacity, [and] controls around twice as much 50-180 nm semiconductor manufacturing capacity as the next largest producer..."

In part, China's overcapacity is achieved by firms selling at or below cost --enabled by policy decisions that unfairly depress capital, labor, and energy costs. China accounts for over 50% of global steel production at a time when the emissions intensity of Chinese steel production ranks among the world's highest.

Between 2017 and 2021, China's production across the solar supply chain outpaced every other country in the world combined. By the end of this year, the global supply of solar panels is expected to outpace global demand by roughly three-fold , largely driven by Chinese policies to continue expanding investment despite overcapacity and sharply declining prices.

China's industrial overcapacity undermines market-based innovation and competition, as well as our workers and supply chain resilience.

Markets need reliable demand signals and fair competition for the best firms and technologies to be able to innovate and invest in clean energy and other sectors. The Chinese government has made clear that China's massive investments in electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries are an intentional strategy to effectively capture these sectors. By undercutting global prices for these goods, Chinese policy-driven overcapacity disrupts the necessary demand signal that would enable market-based investment to be viable. Similarly, if firms cannot safeguard the intellectual property they develop, it undercuts market-based

incentives to invest in R&D.

Second, a new cycle of Chinese policy-driven overcapacity and export surges could have adverse consequences for our workers. Analysis suggests the first China Shock was associated with the loss of nearly a million manufacturing jobs . It is vital to use legitimate enforcement tools to make sure a second China Shock does not happen again.

Third, the concentration in China of control over high value-added components of supply chains for key industries could undermine our resilience. Supply chains that become overly dependent on a few nodes of production are susceptible to geographically localized shocks. The pandemic laid bare what occurs when the United States--and the world--becomes entirely dependent on Chinese exports for goods like medical equipment . Given the scale and significance of the clean energy transition, we must guard against concentration risks in our supply chains.

Coupling Investment and Enforcement in Key Industries of the Future

The President's agenda combines investment in industries of the future with enforcement of our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete. Imposing tariffs in selective sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws ensures the investments and jobs in EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar spurred by the President's historic laws are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China.

Last year, China exported roughly 5 million ICE and electric vehicles, becoming the world's largest auto exporter. Similarly, the subsidized production of electric vehicle batteries and battery components is so high that China is expected to produce more than four times its domestic demand.

The IRA and BIL include important programs to encourage domestic investment all along the supply chain for lower emissions vehicles along with consumer incentives .

Tariffs on Chinese EVs will be increased to 100% to prevent a surge of unfairly underpriced exports and to enable automakers and autoworkers in the US to compete fairly. Tariffs will be increased to 25% on batteries and battery components to diversify supply chains and give domestic companies an incentive to continue to develop cutting edge technologies.

In the solar sector, bolstered by the IRA, the private sector is undertaking a record investment boom in American solar manufacturing. China dominates more than 70 percent of all segments of the solar energy supply chain, including 97 percent of global silicon wafer capacity. And China's continued loss-leading production and investment threaten to drive out foreign producers that have to meet market return hurdles.

To guard against that, tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels will be increased to 50%. In addition, today's announcement reimposes a 14.25% tariff on bifacial solar modules and confirms the end of the solar bridge on June 6, helping to ensure against trade circumvention. Today's announcement will also help to clarify guidance on domestic content for the solar supply chain under the IRA.

In the legacy semiconductors industry, China is also quickly building overcapacity through state support. According to some estimates, within the next three years, the country could account for roughly one third of the world's production of legacy chips--resulting in inordinate concentration of the supply of semiconductors used to power everyday technologies the world depends on.

These chips are vital to national security no less than economic security. After decades in which America stood by while semiconductor manufacturing moved abroad in response to government subsidies, the CHIPS and Science Act is enabling businesses to invest in semiconductor manufacturing in America again for the first time in decades. And tariffs on Chinese legacy semiconductors will increase to 50% to enforce against a surge of Chinese imports that benefit from the country's nonmarket industrial targeting.

A Better Path Forward

Today, we are at a turning point. The President is leading the way on an approach that invests in America and stands up for American workers against China's unfair practices, following years of trickledown policies that hollowed out too many factory towns around the country.

The Administration is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, as demonstrated by the President's regular discussions with President Xi, along with the recent visits by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury . We are committed to cooperating with China to meet the world's most pressing challenges, including by supporting the deployment of clean energy technologies. Within that broader context, it is important to enforce our trade laws against China's unfair nonmarket practices to prevent harm to American workers and businesses.

Many foreign partners, including the EU, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, and India, have started or publicly considered trade actions of a similar nature. We will work with G-7 and G-20 partners to advance our common interest.

China's industrial footprint is more complex today than during its previous export surge. Today's actions to support U.S. solar manufacturers, which include ending tariff exemptions and monitoring imports from countries found to be circumventing trade enforcement measures, will help ensure that China is not able undercut U.S. manufacturers simply by moving its factories.

In negotiating USMCA, the previous administration did not adequately address the potential transshipment of Chinese exports entering the U.S. market via Mexico. Mexico is an important partner to the US in many areas. We look forward to working with Mexico to address concerns that some Chinese steel exports appear to be flowing through Mexico, and some Chinese auto companies may be considering exporting vehicles and auto parts via Mexico. The USMCA review in 2026 would be an opportunity to further discuss this potential risk.

The President's tough targeted approach combining investment and enforcement in key sectors is a sharp departure from the prior administration. The previous administration did not take action to invest in America and failed to follow through on securing the promised Chinese purchases or end to China's unfair practices in its failed Phase One trade agreement with China.

Conclusion

The President has long believed in a middle-out bottom-up approach to growing the economy, and secured historic legislation to make it happen. The resulting private sector investments are reversing decades of disinvestment, creating pathways to good middle-class jobs

, and facilitating critical investments in innovation, infrastructure, and clean energy. The President's approach is providing a model of how to deliver sustainable growth with good jobs and smart investments, but, for it to succeed, it is vital to enforce the rules that safeguard healthy market-driven competition.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with President Santiago Peña of Paraguay

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with President Santiago Peña of Paraguay at the White House yesterday to discuss opportunities to strengthen the deep partnership between our two countries. The National Security Advisor welcomed the stand that Paraguay has taken on important regional and global issues, such as supporting democracy in Venezuela and condemning Russia's war against Ukraine. They also discussed continued bilateral cooperation on shared security and economic priorities, including mobilizing U.S. private sector investment to develop Paraguay's digital and physical infrastructure and Paraguay's interest in joining the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. National Security Advisor Sullivan and President Peña reaffirmed the shared democratic values that form the bedrock of the U.S.-Paraguay relationship and discussed ongoing efforts in Paraguay to strengthen democratic institutions and combat corruption.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:51 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I've just got two things at the top, and then we'll get going.

Today, President Biden attended the annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service, where he honored the lives and service of fallen officers across the country.

As the President says, we must do more to protect our brave men and women in law off- -- law enforcement. That means funding for more officers, more detectives, and more technology so officers have what they need to do their job safely and protect us.

From day one, President Biden has taken bold action to reduce crime, bolster public safety, and protect the safety of police who walk the beat.

And thanks to the American Rescue Plan, this administration has invested the largest-ever federal investment in fighting and preventing crime.

Since President Biden took office, we have seen historic declines in crime because of the work of brave law enforcement officers and community leaders.

But we can't stop there. That's why President Biden continues to call on Congress to pass his Safer America Plan to invest $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention.

And second, today, the United States is taking coordination action in response to the Orte- -- Ortega-Murillo regime's continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and ongoing exploitation of the vulnerable migrants.

The Departments of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security jointly issued a policy alert to travel companies with information about the ways in which smugglers are facilitating illegal migration to the United States to remind the industry of key steps that they should take to avoid complicity in the exploitation of migrants.

This complements the International Air Transp- -- Transport Association and its members' action last week to -- to address irregular migration.

The Department of Treasury sanctioned a Russian military training center that supports re- -- repressive actions by the Nic- -- Nicaraguan National Police to prosecute pol- -- political opposition and two gold companies that enrich the Ortega-Murillo -- Murillo regime.

Additionally, the Department of State imposed by vi- -- vis- -- visa restriction on the over -- over 250 individuals supporting attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms and repression of civil society organizations.

These actions build on President Biden's effort to address irregular migration following last -- last week's Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection ministerial in Guatemala, where we pledged $578 million to support our partners integrating millions of migrants in the region.

Today's actions also support the President's aff- -- affirmative agenda for a more democratic, secure, and prosper- -- prosperous for the Western Hemisphere.

With that, Colleen.

Q Thank you. I wondered if you could talk about the timing of the decision to notify Congress about the weapons transfer to Israel. It came just as the House was preparing to vote on legislation that would have forced the President to distribute that aid.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, when it comes to process on any type of weapons purchases or anything like that, that is something that the State Department can speak to. They can speak to -- about it directly.

What I want to do is reiterate what Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, said here at the podium earlier this week -- that the only pause that we have done is that one pause -- paused shipment. And so -- and so, just want to be really clear -- because of our concerns of what -- what could be a Rafah operation.

And so, we've been really mindful of that. We've been really clear about that. We've -- we've addressed our concerns -- our concerns about a major operation in Rafah publicly and privately.

But we've always said -- we've always said that we believe in -- in -- you know, we believe in -- the President believe, obviously, the commitment, and we do as well, to Israel's security is ironclad. And we want to make sure that they have what they need -- Israel has what they need to defend themselves against their enemies, including Hamas. And so, we've always been very clear about that.

And when it comes to transfer of weapons systems, they're -- they're continuing, aside from that one shipment that we paused last week: the 500- and the 2000-pound unguided munitions. So, that -- that is where we are at this moment.

I cannot speak to timeline. I cannot speak to anything specific about this particular reporting on weapons transfer package. That's something for the State Department to speak to.

Q Okay. So then Biden is an institutionalist, but he decided to circumvent the nonpartisan group that has done the debates for three decades. So, I just wondered, you know, if you could talk a little bit about that at all.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The debates?

Q I know. I know. It's about his schedule, so I thought I'd try the President's schedule.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I get it. I get it. I get it. I know there's a lot of interest in what the campaign announced earlier this morning, obviously, through the -- a video from the President.

I'm going to be really mindful; we are talking about 2024 election. And so, we are committed to the rule of law here. I'm going to respect that.

So, anything specific related to that, obviously, you're going to have to go to the campaign, as we've been pretty consistent here.

The President agen- -- agenda is pretty clear. He wants to create an agenda that works for all, leaves no one behind, and an economy that -- that is built from the bottom up, middle out, an economy founded on strong, growing middle class. We've been very clear about that.

He wants to make sure that we -- America -- that -- that we have an America that is more free. That's what he concerns about -- right? -- including reproductive rights.

He wants to make sure that we are not -- the President has also said that we want to make sure that we're -- we don't stand for the dark, revenge-based policies put forward by Republican officials. That's not where we are.

We want to make sure that -- that we are continuing to -- to deliver for the American people. That's what this President has been doing for the last three years.

As it relates to the news about the debate challenge, that is something that the campaign has to speak to directly.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Does the President worry that he muddies the message he's trying to send to Israel by approving this new transfer of weapons so soon after he withheld the transfer of these 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't think -- no, to answer your question very directly. I think what Jake Sullivan did here on Monday, laying out the 10 parts of our commitment and how we're seeing Middle -- the Middle East -- obviously, in particular, the war in Israel and Gaza and how we're moving forward -- how we're moving forward in supporting our friend, Israel.

We've been very clear that when it comes to their security, that continues to be ironclad. There is no change there. We believe that they need to be able to defend themselves, just like the President was able to do when Iran -- he was able to bring together a coalition. We saw 300 missiles and drones that were targeted at Israel that we were able to step in and help, obviously, Israel defend itself. I think that shows how committed we are to their security.

And we have said that it is one pause -- one pause on these bombs -- one package, one shipment. And that is obviously connected to Rafah and the potential -- what could happen in Rafah, and we've been very clear about that.

Those conversations continue. You heard Jake Sullivan say himself, in the upcoming days, he's hoping to have a in-person, continuing that engagement that they've been having. There's been two virtual. But every day, they're having these conversations with their counterparts. I'm talking about NSC and -- and Jake, obviously, and his team.

But when it comes to Rafah, where there is a densely populated citizens who are there, who are seeking refuge -- more than a million -- you heard that from Jake, you've heard that from us, you've heard that from the President. We want to make sure that there's a plan to protect their lives.

Q Did the decision to approve this weapons shipment now have anything to do with the bill that Republicans have introduced that would force the President to approve --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So --

Q -- all military aid to Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Here's -- here's what I would say. I think, again, our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. That hasn't changed. We've been very clear about making sure that Israel is able to defend themselves against Iran, against their proxies. We've been very clear.

Hezbollah attacks Israel almost every day. Right? That's what we're seeing. And we have been very clear about making sure that they're able to defend themselves.

And I can't speak to the process, the timing of -- of this particular weapons transfer. That is something for the State Department to speak to. So, would I -- I would have to leave it to them.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. So, the U.S. has been very clear that it paused the shipment of those 2,000-pound bombs because of fears of how it could be used in Rafah. But does the President not share any concerns about how the weapons as a part of this $1 billion package could also be used to harm civilians?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we have always been very clear -- and we have been clear, certainly very recently, that while our support for Israel is ironclad and we believe that they should be able to defend themselves, we believe that they have the right to go after Hamas, a terrorist organization, and they should do that.

We've also said two things can be true. We've also said that they have to do it in a way that protects civilian lives. That continues -- that continues to be part of the conversation. That continues in a process for us to make that very clear directly to them. And we've been also very vocal about that privately and obviously publicly.

So, those two things can happen. Those two things can happen.

And so -- and so, look, we're going to continue, again, to have a conversation with our counterparts. NSC, obviously, is going to continue to have those conversations as we move forward.

Q And we have learned from two U.S. officials that Israel has amassed enough troops at the edge of the border with Rafah to launch a full-scale incursion. If Israel does so, as Netanyahu has vowed to, how will the U.S. respond?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, that is for -- whatever the Prime Minister has said recently, that is something for him to speak to. We -- obviously, I can't speak for the Israeli government. That is not something that I do from here.

We have been very clear: We're going to continue to monitor the situation. We have -- we believe that what we're seeing right now is targeted -- a targeted operation. That's what Israel has told us. We have not seen a major operation moving forward.

But we -- obviously, we have concerns that that could happen. And so, that's why these engagements continue. That's why these conversations continue. And we've been very clear about the fact that, again, more than a million ci- -- civilian lives are in Rafah. We want to make sure that they're protected.

But we also believe that Israel has the right to go after Hamas. We want it to be done in a strategic way, obviously. And those conversations continue.

Q So, just to be clear, the U.S. believes that what Israel is currently doing in Rafah -- pushing in deeper with further military operations -- the U.S. believes that is both targeted and strategic?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm not going to go blow by blow with every -- you know, with every reporting that is coming out and that is being laid out about what folks are seeing. I'm not going to go into blow by blow about that.

What I can say is what we understand is those operations are targeted. They're limited. That's what we've been told. We're going to continue to monitor the situation.

The conversations continue. The engagement about Rafah continues. You heard that directly from Jake Sullivan.

And so, we are talking about this every day -- every day. Yes, we've talked about the two virtual engagement. Yes, Jake has talked about wanting to have an in-person meeting. But those conversations happen on a daily basis. And I think that's important to note as well.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Did the Israelis give Jake any assurances of no Rafah offensive before he gets there this weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I am not going to speak into private conversations. What I can tell you is those engagements, those conversations about our concerns about a major military operation in Rafah continue, and they've been constructive. You heard directly from Jake about this.

And I'm just not going to go into specifics on how -- what -- what the back-and-forth is. And I also cannot confirm Jake's travel. Like, that's not something that I can do right now.

Q Just to kind of go back to the decision to send, you know, a billion dollars in arms to Israel, and then, you know, what the President said about his decision to sto- -- to pause sending some arms to Israel. I mean, it just appears inconsistent.

We understand that your position is to make sure Israel can defend itself. But how do you -- you know, how should we sort of think about both of these decisions made at the same time? I mean, is he -- is he not concerned that those billion dollars in arms is actually going to impact civilians in Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I don't -- I don't believe it's inconsistent. We've been very clear -- we've been very clear here. Two things can be true, right? Two things can be true. We can have tough conversations with our friends and allies. That is something that you've seen from this president in his diplomacy. Right? It isn't -- and we can have constructive conversation.

We can also share our concerns. And that's what you have seen. And we can say to our ally that "Look, we want to make sure you're able to defend yourself. We want to make sure that…." We're going to continue to say that "Our commitment to you, Israel's security, is ironclad."

That is -- I mean, I just laid out -- we saw what -- what Iran did -- right? -- not too long ago. We know Hezbollah is going after Israel almost on a daily basis. We know that.

And so, they have to be able -- Israel has to be able to defend itself.

But when we see a situation in Rafah, the one -- within more -- with more than 1.4 million citizens who are seeking refuge there, because they moved there to seek refuge, we're going to also share our concerns.

And -- but those -- and the thing to remember is that those conversations are continuing. They are happening. You heard that from Jake: On a daily basis, they are happening.

And so, we're going to monitor the situation. You know, those two things could be true, right? We can try to make sure that our friends and allies are able to protect themselves against -- against their enemies, defend themselves. And we can also flag and say, "Hey, this is something that we are concerned about when it comes -- in this particular instance, obviously, Rafah, and a po- -- a potential operations -- a major operations -- military operation in Rafah."

Q But the President's comments, you know, about his decision to pause a shipment to Israel through -- came in the light of campus protests. I mean, was that -- were those comments made in light of --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No. I --

Q -- you know, kind of appeasing or reaching out to younger voters or how people were feeling in the country at that point?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I would say that we have been very loud and clear about our concerns about a major military operations in Rafah for weeks -- for months. This is something that we have been talking about for some time -- for some time now.

So, I -- they are not connected. The President is -- this is not about politics for this President. This is about the right thing to do.

Q And did you have -- sorry, on --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- just a different topic. Do you have a comment on the Putin-Xi meeting that's coming up this week? I mean, does the President have any thoughts on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here's our thoughts. You know, we don't comment on bilateral -- bilateral engagement. We've been always pretty consistent.

But I want to make one point clear. We find it unacceptable that the Chinese companies are helping Putin wage this war against Ukraine. And if China purports to want good relations with Europe and other countries, it cannot continue to fuel the biggest threat to European security right now.

This is not just a U.S. position. You also heard it from the G7 partners, NATO, and the EU. And that's our position on that.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. The IDF says that it has intensified military operations in specific areas of Eastern Rafah. Can you first confirm whether it's still the U.S.'s assessment that this is not the full-scale full incursion into Rafah that the President has been warning about?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what I will say -- and I've -- and I'm going to be pretty consistent from here. Going to be pretty boring, I guess, for the next few minutes or so at this podium, behind this lectern, which is: We're monitoring the situation. We've been told and what we see -- it is a targeted, limited operation in Rafah. That is what we're -- we're seeing. I'm -- I can't go, like, by report by report here. That is not something that I'm going to do from here.

We have made our concerns very clear, publicly and privately, about a ma- -- a potential major operations offensive in Rafah. And so, look, we do not believe they should be dropped in densely -- these bombs, right? -- should be dropped in densely populated cities. So, we are talking to the Israeli government about this.

That's why we put a pause about -- on the shipment for one -- one shipment, only one shipm- -- shipment of the 500- and 2,000-pound bombs, give- -- given our concerns -- our major concerns here.

And so, I'm not going to go blow by blow here. I'm not going to go to every spec- -- specific reporting. This is what we are monitoring. This is what we know. And the conversations, engagement on Rafah certainly will continue with our Israeli counterparts.

Q But what you're seeing right now is not a major military operation --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's --

Q -- into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's what I can share with you, yes. That I can say.

Q Just to return to a question that I think a couple of my colleagues were --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- trying to ask about. This new arms deal for Israel, it would include tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, and mortar rounds. That's according to our reporting. Is the President not concerned that those are the kinds of things that could be used in a -- a military operation into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I -- I would have to refer you on the specifics of what is being talked about, spoken about with the weapons transfer package -- that is something that I -- that the State Department would have to speak to.

And I've kind of addressed this already about how two things can be true, right? We can -- we believe that our -- you know, Israel has the right to defend itself. Our -- obviously, when it comes to their security, it's ironclad. And we believe that they have every right to go after Hamas, a terrorist organization. We've been very clear about that.

And we've also said they need to do this where we see a protection of civ- -- civilian lives. And so, those things could be true. And those conversations are going to continue.

I cannot speak to this package. That is something that the State Department can speak to. I can't speak to the process. I can't speak to what's in it. That's for the State Department to -- to lay out.

Q Well, you've drawn a real distinction, I think, between offensive and defensive operations. And the President was clear that the reason for pausing on the shipment of bombs is because those are the kinds of bombs that could be used in a Rafah operation. So, I'm just asking, again --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- whether tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, and mortar rounds -- are those not things that could also potentially be used in a Rafah incursion?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we have been clear. I can't speak to the specifics of what is in this transfer of weapons. I can't. What I can say is that we have been clear that Israel has the right to defend itself. We are -- we are committed to Israel's security. That is ironclad. That is t- -- true, right?

We believe that they should have the right to defend themselves against their enemies, including Hamas -- including Hamas. And so, that is what you see here. That is what you're -- you're going to continue to see from us.

When it comes to our potential concern of a major offensive operation in Rafah, we've talked about that. We've talked about that, which is why we paused that one shipment, because of our concerns of a major offensive operation.

Q I'm not asking you to confirm --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- the details of this specific arms deal.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But the list that I just gave --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- does the U.S. see those -- those things as being purely defensive weapons?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What we have been very clear about: Israel has the right to defend itself. That's what we believe. We paused one shipment that we believe could -- could be used in a potential offensive operation in Rafah. And we've been very clear about that. It's one shipment that we paused.

But it doesn't -- it doesn't take away from the fact that Israel should be able to defend itself against its enemies. And that's what this is about. That's what we're talking about here.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, I understand there's a group of American doctors who are in Gaza who are looking for the administration's help in getting out of there, that -- they are with the Palestinian American Medical Association. They traveled to Gaza this month to provide some emergency medical assistance. Can you detail the administration's efforts to try to get them out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q How is Israel cooperating with that assistance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we can say that we're tracking this matter closely and working to get the impacted American citizens out of Gaza. So, that is something that we're working on. We've been in touch with representatives of four doctors and their families and are engaging directly with the government of Israel to make that happen. So, we're doing everything that we can.

Q Is the goal to get them out immediately or before operations expand into Rafah and there's military movement there that could further put them --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, regardless, if there was an operation in Rafah or potential operation in Rafah, it doesn't -- we need to get them out. We want to get them out. And that is our -- it has nothing to do with anything else. These are Americans -- impacted American citizens. And so, we're working to get them out.

Q And then just on the debates. Can you explain why President Biden feels it's important to have a general election face-off one on one with former President Trump in late June, which is earlier than in past election cycles?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I can't speak to the timeline. I can't speak to the decisions on the debate. That is something that the campaign could speak to. I can speak to what the President has been trying to do for these past three years and make that stark contrast with what Republican elected officials have been trying to do.

He's been trying to make sure that we build an economy for all, don't leave anybody behind; make sure that we're fighting Big Pharma; make sure that we're lowering costs for Americans.

And you have congressional Republicans -- actually, that way -- who are constantly trying to make sure that -- that we -- we increase healthcare costs -- right? -- that we give tax breaks to corporations and billionaires. That's what they're offering: cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

That's what I can provide for you, what -- what the President's policy has been, what he's been trying to do, and, you know, what we're up against here. And we're also talking about our democracy, our freedoms that are under attack. And -- and so, the President is going to continue to fight for that.

As it relates to the debate timeline or anything connected to that, that is something for the campaign to speak to.

Q And just finally, the President put a statement out on this. But is there anything else you can share about this -- what appears to be an attempted assassination attempt on the Slovakian Prime Minister?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, as you just stated, the President put out a statement on this earlier today. And I will just reiterate that we're expressing -- the President expressed his alarm and deep concern over the attack. As the President said, he and Dr. Biden are praying for a swift recovery, and our thoughts are with his family and the people of Slo- -- Slovakia.

We condemn this horrific at- -- act of violence, and our embassy is in close touch with the government and ready to assist. And I'm just going to leave it there for now.

Go ahead.

Q I want to ask about the inflation report. But first I wanted to just follow up. Does the President intend any direct outreach to allies in Slovakia or --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any --

Q -- calls or anything like that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any calls to read out to you at this time.

Q Okay. On -- on the inflation report.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.

Q Obviously, it was positive for you guys. But we're still seeing inflation above normal levels, despite everything the administration and the Fed is doing. Do you have a sense of when households can expect to see prices stabilize?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, here's what I can tell you. What we're going to continue to do is make sure that we are -- when it comes to our priority as it relates to the economy, we want to make sure that we're fighting inflation and continue to do so. And so, we understand we have a lot more work to do. We get that.

But I wou- -- I would state that inflation is down more than 60 percent, with the lowest core inflation in three years, and grocery prices fell over the last three months. Wages are up more than the prices over the last year. And since the pandemic, more than 15 million jobs created. And unemployment is under 4 percent, and that is the longest stretch that we have seen in over 50 years.

So, we are seeing some progress -- some macroeconomic progress -- but we understand that there are Americans and families that are still struggling. That's why the President continues to do everything that he can to lower costs, whether it's insulin at 35 bucks for seniors and calling for -- for that to be for all Americans, and a plan to build 2 million new homes, lower childcare costs. This is what the President is trying to do and has been very clear about his plan for Americans as it relates to the economy.

And again, in contrast to what GOP is trying to do -- cut Medicare, cut -- cut Social Security, cut Medicaid, make sure that -- they want to make sure that there's a tax break for billionaires and corporations -- that's not what this President is about.

So, the work continues. We're going to continue to fight inflation. We're going to continue to be really focused on that. And that's what you're going to see from this administration.

Go ahead.

Q Back to Rafah. Is there a concern at all that, you know, these targeted attacks would still cumulatively add up to -- you know, the amount of civilian casualties or damage -- I know that the concern is a major ground operation, but as these more targeted attacks continue by the IDF, is there a worry that that would -- would still add up, ultimately, to the kind of civilian casualties you're trying to avoid?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is what Jake said, which is we're monitoring the situation, and we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to have engagements with our counterparts in the Israeli government. That is something that we're going to continue. We believe that it's been constructive.

We have not seen a major military operation. And so, we've been clear about that. Jake has been clear about that from here. But we're going to continue to have those conversations.

I can't get into cumulative -- I can't -- that is not --that's hypotheticals that I don't want to get into from here. But the engagements continue.

Jake said himself when he was here: He's hoping in the next couple of days or so to have an in-person meeting to talk about Rafah operations. He has been -- has had regular communications with his counterparts in the Israeli government, and that's going to continue.

Q And I know you said you couldn't preview Jake's travel, but are there any -- any sense of a meeting happening in Washington, when those in-person meetings would happen? Can you speak to any of that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As you know, when we have had virtual meetings with -- with our counterparts in Is- -- in Israel government, we have shared that information, including -- right? -- the virtual -- virtual -- virtual meetings, including when the President spoke to the Prime Minister. And we said in our readout that they talked about the Rafah operations. We certainly will share that with you. I just don't have anything at this time to -- to speak to.

Go ahead.

Q With apologies, with the situations in Israel --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- you're saying that two things can be true at the same time. Can two things be true at the same time again? In other words, would the President again decide that the weapons -- the most recent weapons package that -- that he proposed is being used for a large capacity of civilian deaths, like the 2,000-pound bombs -- could he then, again, say, "You know what, we're -- we're going to -- we're going to hold these back after all"?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I just -- I'm not going to get into hypotheticals from here. I'm just not.

What I can say is that we have been very clear that our -- when it comes to Israel's security, that is ironclad. We believe that they should be able to defend themselves -- we've been very clear about that -- against their enemies, including Hamas. Clear about that.

When there are concerns that have -- that we see, we will -- we will certainly speak to that, as we have done for the past several weeks. We have been consistent about that too.

In this particular instance, with the Rafah operations, a major military operations, we have said we have concerns. And those conversations continue.

I'm not going to get into hypotheticals from here. I think we have laid out how we see -- how we see our engagement, obviously -- how we see this moving forward, whether it is the Rafah operations, obviously, our major concerns there, and those conversations continuing. And also making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. And that has been consistent here, and that is what we're going to continue to say from here.

And you heard directly from the National Security Advisor -- lay that out in 10 -- in 10 parts on Monday, and I think in a pretty comprehensive, detailed way. Obviously, there's the hostage deal that we want to make sure that happens. We want to see a ceasefire. We want to see hostages come home. We want to see more humanitarian aid go in. And so, that is also something that we're working as well towards.

Q The President had his big event yesterday on tariffs. I wanted to circle back to the U.S. Steel situation, Nip- -- the offer from Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel. The President has opposed that deal. Can you give us any update? Does he plan to try to block it? Is he hoping the proponent withdraws its offer? He's, you know, been on record opposing it for a month or two now.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm just going to be -- I -- there's a CFIUS review. I'm going to be super mindful. It's an independent review. So, I can't comment beyond -- beyond that.

Q There are calls from senators -- Republican senators -- that he can kill it without that review. Is it the administration's position --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I totally -- totally understand.

Q -- that he should wait for the review to be done?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We respect the CFIUS review. I'm just not going to get ahead of that.

Q And on the border. Can you give us any update on the President's thinking on that executive order that you folks are said to be considering?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, this is the same thing that I've been saying and we've all been saying for the past several months -- right? -- especially since we -- when we first introduced this national security supplemental back in October, that included the border security piece in that.

And then, obviously, we went to -- we took that out, and then went to a place of working in a bipartisan way with senators in trying to come up with a -- a negotiation that dealt with border challenges, that dealt with a broken system that we have seen for decades.

And so, we still want to see that. We still want to see Congress move forward with that. We believe it is the toughest, the fairest way to -- to deal with the border, to deal with the immigration challenges. The President wants to sign that. He wants to sign that.

As it relates to your question about any executive actions, any other -- any other, you know, movement that might be there, look, as you just said -- said in your -- in your question to me, we're always looking at potential actions that we can take. But we are going to continue to push Congress to move on this. We believe that it can happen.

Q There are -- there are two --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We believe that it can happen.

Q There are two reports today about potential actions. One from the AP -- our friend, Colleen, right here -- that the administration might consider sort of triaging new asylum cases to the front of the line to more quickly assess whether they are removed or -- or stay to -- for a more thorough review.

Another from the New York Post that the President might consider an executive action to close the border -- close the border at a threshold of 4,000 crossings a day.

I'm wondering if you could speak to either of those reports.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it's basically the same answer that I gave you in my fir- -- in your first question, which is we want to see -- we understand this immigration system has been broken for decades. We want to see that Senate bipartisan negotiation plan that came forward -- we want to see that moving.

And as I've stated many times before -- you've heard it from the President himself -- we were ready to move forward. That was ready to be pushed out of the Senate in a bipartisan way.

The former President, President Trump, told Republicans to reject it -- to reject it. And that's what we're seeing.

And we believe that Republicans should be where majority of Americans are. They want to see an answer, a way to fix this -- we believe legislatively -- to fix what's happening at the border, the challenges that we're seeing.

I don't have anything beyond that. As I've said many, many times before, as you asked me your question, we're looking at all options. I just don't have anything to share at this time.

Q And I should specify, it was Seung Min and colleagues. Sorry, I don't want to get in trouble.

Q She'll be -- she'll be grateful.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good. A callout -- a callout to Seung Min --

Q Yeah, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- who is not here.

Go ahead, April.

Q Karine --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Q -- I have two topics. One, Marilyn Mosby, we understand that the application for a pardon has been delivered and accepted by the White House as well as Justice. What's the movement? What is the President's thinking?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q What is he expected to do on this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I want to -- and, April, I appreciate the question. I know we went back and forth on this last week.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Certainly appreciate the question.

I have to be really careful from this podium not to talk about individual pardon requests. It is inappropriate for me to do so. And so, I need to be really mindful.

DOJ -- and I said this to you last time -- applies a thorough and deliberative process. We've got to let them do that process. And so, that is -- certainly, that particular question has to go to DOJ. From -- from this lectern, at this podium, I cannot speak to individual cases and want to be super mindful. And we never have -- we never have over the last three years.

Q Okay. Other presidents have. But that's okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But that's what I'm saying. We haven't.

Q I know. I know.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We haven't because we want to respect that process.

Q So -- and follow up on that topic. Is the Presi- -- has the President gotten any communication personally from organizations like the NAACP, Win With Women, some of the organizations that have written letters to the President --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- about this case? Because you got a majority of the civil rights community, a lot of large organizations, Black organizations are really on the side of a pardon for her. Does he know about it? Has he talked to anyone specifically on it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I have not spoken to the President directly about it. I know -- I know the letters that you're speaking of. I know we get letters all the time -- right? -- obviously, in -- supporting an agenda. So, obviously, those letters have come through. I just haven't spoken to the President directly about this -- about this.

Q So --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And I want to be careful -- right? -- we don't -- this is -- we -- we do not want to speak about individual cases. We believe it's inappropriate.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We want to be really, really mindful here.

Q And lastly, on this topic, then.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q On this topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: On this topic?

Q On this topic. Yeah, because I --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, we continue. Okay.

Q The 23 rd is sentencing. Are you -- it's -- could it be realistic that everyone's waiting for the 23 rd, and then they will think about acting?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't -- I -- I'm going to be really mindful. I -- I appreciate your efforts. I appreciate --

Q I am trying. I'm trying hard.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. Clearly, clearly. And I -- I appreciate your effort. I just cannot comment on individual -- individual cases here.

Q All right. And lastly, on the next topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, I thought this was the last one.

Q No, I said two when we started.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, okay.

Q All right. So -- -- at the beginning of the briefing, you talked about a commitment to policing. And for the last few years, particularly when then-candidate Biden was talking about holding police officers accountable when the George Floyd death happened -- we all remember that. Now there is another call, yet again, from the Mothers of the Movement, who are meeting with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus right now looking for action, particularly in the wake of what happened in Florida recently with the Black man shot by police who was in the military -- wrong person, wrong place.

What are the thoughts of this White House about the push for police reform, as you support police accountability and civil rights at the same time?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. And our hearts go out to any -- anyone who -- who lost a child. It is -- under any circ*mstances, it is heartbreaking. It is heartbreaking. And our heart goes out to the families who've lost loved ones in police shootings.

And you've heard that from this administration. You've heard that from this President.

As you know, the President signed an executive order to hold federal law enforcement to the highest standards. And he believes that officers should be held to those standards. President Biden has been clear about his commitment to doing everything he can to make our community safer,

including by advancing effective accountable policing.

The vast majority of Americans want the same thing too. They want -- they want trust, they want safety, and they want accountability. That's why the President has pushed Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice for Policing Act and signed an executive order to make federal policing the gold standard -- the gold standard of effectiveness and accountability.

Let's not forget, when Congress could not get this done, the President took action and did that executive order. So, we can't forget that. Like, he is going to continue to push Congress, but he took action himself on the federal level of what he can do from here.

And so, he also continues to believe that we need to build a lasting trust between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to serve and protect. And so, we're going to continue to encourage Congress to move forward with this.

Q Is this the time to do it, to lean in? During a political election cycle, is this the time for the President to lean in?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- look, I -- I'm not going to -- this is not about a political cycle for this President. He's been leaning in to this for three years. Right? We talked about the -- the crises -- the President talked about four crises when he walked into this admini- -- administration. One of them had to do with racial inequality.

And from the beginning, he has pushed for Congress to move forward for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It didn't move forward, and he acted. And that wasn't -- that -- he acted some time ago and moved forward with an executive order. And we're going to continue to push for that.

It has nothing to do with politics. It has -- it has everything to do with this being the right thing to do. When --

Q Does the White House blame Tim Scott for holding it up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, I'm not going to get into the blame game here, because I don't even know where the process is. We believe that Congress should move forward in getting this done in a bipartisan way. There's no reason why it shouldn't.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thank you. What are the next steps after White House officials met with the Chinese this week in Geneva on AI?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What are the next steps?

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I -- as you know, the President signed an executive order on AI, which is the most comprehensive executive action that he -- he took. And what I would say with the -- China is those conversations are going to continue. But this is an issue that the President believes that we need to act on and thinks it's an incredibly important issue to move forward on.

Those conversation with China are going to continue -- the dos- -- diplomatic conversation. I don't have anything to preview beyond that.

Q A bipartisan group of senators this morning put out a roadmap for their view of legislation on artificial intelligence, led by Senator Schumer. Does this White House have a perspective on it and have you weighed in at all directly with those four senators?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, this is very similar -- similar to the answer that I ga- -- gave, but I will say, to this particular legislation, we're grateful that Leader Schumer and Senators Rounds, Young, and Martin [Heinrich] for their work on this important issue. We're very grateful.

As you know, and I think we may have mentioned this, the -- you know, after the President did his executive order -- as I mentioned, it's the most significant action done by a -- by a government, he -- he -- within days of signing it, he met with that exact group of lawmakers to underscore the importance of moving forward with a bipartisan legislation. So, we are -- we're appreciative of that. We think it's important that they're doing that.

As it relates to, like, their -- the exact approach of this piece of legislation, that is something that Congress is going to have to move forward on, but we are grateful -- we are grateful that -- that they're moving forward in a bipartisan way. Again, the President talked to this particular group about this. And so, we're -- we're glad to see this moving forward.

Q Just so I understand. So, you're -- you're appreciative of them working on something related to I -- AI --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- but you're not backing what's in the framework?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well -- well, it has to -- there's a process here, right? It has to move forward. They're going to have to figure out the exact approach. We're going to let them figure out the exact approach.

The President said in that meeting that he had with that congressional group that they needed to move forward in a bipartisan way. We see that. We are grateful for that. But I'm not going to get into the specifics. They're working through that. They're going to figure out the exact approach. So, we're going to let them do that.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. You briefly talked on Monday about the President's meeting tomorrow with the families involved the Brown vs. Board of Education --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q -- case. Do you have more you can share about --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I do.

Q -- the details: who he is meeting with, how the meeting came about, and what his message will be tomorrow?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I do. I have a little bit more detail on that -- on just, like, the -- obviously, these are a couple of days of really important engagement that the President has. I'll start with the Bro- -- the Brown v. Board of Education.

So, this week, at the White House, we're recognizing it is the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, becoming the law of the land. President Biden will participate in a number of engagements that honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans. He will also highlight his vision for how we must continue to build on these freedoms.

Tomorrow, President Biden will meet with the plaintiffs from the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case and their families at the White House.

And then, on Friday, as I stated earlier this week as well, May 17 th, President Biden will deliver remarks at the NAACP 70 th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education at the -- at the National Museum of African American History of -- and Culture in Washington, D.C. The President and -- the President and the Vice President will also meet with -- excuse me. I have a little cold, guys. Sorry. Sorry.

The President and the Vice President will also meet with the leaders of the Divine Nine historically Black sororities and fraternities.

On Sunday, May 19 th, as -- also, as you all are tracking, the President is going to deliver a commencement address at the 140 th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia. So, as you can see, there are a couple of engagements that are -- that are -- that he's having in the next four or five days. And so, we will have more to share. And you'll -- obviously, you'll hear from him directly.

Go ahead.

Q So, according to today's CPI report, rental inflation continues to be stubbornly high. How optimistic is President Biden that Congress will approve his, you know, plans to build 2 million more homes or preserve 2 million more homes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I think this is something that the President is going to continue to fight for, obviously. He's going to continue to speak towards how important it is for homeowners to be able to afford a home, to be able to afford rent. And we know what Americans are going through. That's why he created -- very early on in his administration, he created a task force to deal with that, to deal with how we can -- what else we can do from here, from the federal government, to deal with what homeowners are dealing with, what Americans are dealing with when it comes to higher cost.

So -- but the way to actually address this in a more holistic way, we have to see legislation. We have to see Congress act. And, look, we're going to -- we're certainly going to continue to be consistent here in -- in calling on Congress to -- to make that move.

You know, HUD has taken a lot of actions on making sure homeownership is more affordable, making sure that there is discrimination taken out of -- out of -- especially with certain communities that have to deal with buying a home. And so, they've been very effective there, so we appreciate their leadership there. But we need to do more. We need to do more.

Q What's the progress so far of the 2 million homes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I don't have -- I don't have a progress report with you -- for you at this time. But, look, we understand that this action, moving this forward, is important and critical to many Americans and their families across the country.

We understand how difficult it is and -- for homeowners, for renters. We understand that. And we understand that lowering -- lowering costs, it has to be at the center of our economic plan, which is why the President continues to fight inflation and do everything that he can to lower cost.

Q How worried is President Biden about his reelection bid based on this --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't --

Q -- because this affects Americans --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't speak to -- I can't speak to that. I can -- what I can say is that the President is doing everything that he can to deliver for the American people every day -- every day. It's not about politics; it's about the right thing to do. That's one of the reasons why he ran. He believed that he could do something; he can get things done.

And we believe, in the last three and a half years, we've been able to do that. We've been able to create some jobs; we've been able to lower unemployment. We understand that people are still feeling this and there's more work to do. But I -- but it's not -- as I'm speaking about this, it's not in a political lens. This is on what the President believes is the right thing to do on behalf of the American people as President of the United States.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I was calling -- . Go ahead.

Q Yeah, thank you.

Q No problem.

Q How concerned is the President about the advances the Russian army is making around Kharkiv?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, you saw -- you saw Secretary Blinken in -- in Ukraine yesterday, and I think he laid out our commitment, obviously, to -- to Ukraine. And that's one of the reasons that we fought so hard, certainly, to get that national security supplemental done.

And so, we are focused on supporting Ukraine's defense. We're going to continue to do that in -- in Kharkiv, obviously, in that region, where Ukrainian forces are fighting very hard.

And -- and, as you know, on Friday, we warned that we had anticipating -- we had been anticipating that Russia would launch an offensive against Kharkiv and we're anticipating that Russia would increase its attacks in an attempt to establish a shallow buffer zone along the Ukraine border, and we have been coordinating closely with Ukraine to help them prepare.

And as you've heard us say -- you heard Jake said this as well, on Monday -- how when the -- when the national security supplemental became law, the President right away moved forward with a president authori- -- authorization for $1 billion of military aid package.

And so, that continues to flow. Certainly, the Department of Def- -- Defense will have more on that. And so -- and then, on Friday, he authorized a second military package to send more urgently needed weapons, including artillery -- artillery ammunition, air defense, interceptors, and aircra- -- anti-aircraft missiles, armed vehicles, artillery rounds, javelins, anti-armor systems, and other equipment needed to defend Kharkiv and other areas under threat.

We are also working on another package to get to -- to get urgently needed aid to Ukraine. So, you've seen our commitment. You've seen our commitment through the Secretary -- Secretary Blinken, obviously, who was just there. We're committed -- committed to Ukraine continuing to fight for their democracy, the -- and continuing to fight the aggression -- Russia's aggression.

Q Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q So, U.S. government will send former senior U.S. officials to Taipei for the May 20 inauguration of the new president there. How did the President decide the members of that delegation? Do you think China will respond to the inauguration? If so, how?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're talking about the Taiwan inauguration?

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. So -- and you're talking about the delegation? So -- so, inauguration is happening on May 20 th.

In January, the Secretary of State issued a statement congratulating President Lai on his electoral -- President-elect Lai on his electoral victory, and noted that the United States looks forward to working with his administration and leaders of all of Taiwan's political parties to advance our shared interests and values as well as furthering our longstanding unofficial relationship.

Consistent with pa- -- past practice, the United States will send an unofficial delegation to attend the inauguration.

I don't have anything more to share about that. That is something that the State Department is running, as it relates to the unofficial delegation, so they can certainly share more on what that looks like. But obviously, it's an upcoming inauguration on May 20 th.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you. I know you don't want to talk about campaign stuff. So, I would just look for your --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I really don't.

Q I would just look for your insight, then --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I r- -- it's not even that I don't want to. I can't. I can't, Peter.

Q Then how about your insight as the most prominent political communicator in the world: the White House Press Secretary.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: In the world?

Q In the world. The White House Press Secretary.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: In the world.

Q Does a person generally want to debate when they are winning or when they are losing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I am not going to do political punditry from here, my friend. I'm just not going to do it.

Q So --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I used to do that in my old job. I'm not going to do it from here in this job.

Q So, should we see this sudden offer from the President to debate as a signal that you guys realized you need to change the subject after some really bad polling?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know, we went -- had a back-and-forth on polling yesterday. And I -- you know, it just goes back to very -- the core of what I said to you, which is, look, this is a president that has had a pretty successful legislative -- especially legislative -- tenure in the first three and a half years and has delivered on many things that are popular to the American people.

And we're going to continue to talk about it. We're going to continue to travel the country and talk about investing for America. We're going to continue to talk about how we need to do more to lower costs for Americans.

We get it. We understand how hard it is. This President talks about being around at the kitchen table and how hard it is to make those difficult decisions, sometimes, every month on what you're going to pay for. So, he gets that.

And I just don't want to get into polling, any more details on polling. What I can say is the President is focused -- he is laser-focused on making sure we do everything that we can to give people, Americans a little bit of breathing room. And that's what the President is going to continue to do.

As it relates to the debate, you've got to talk to the campaign about it. That is a question for the campaign. And I'm sure they are eager -- eager to answer your questions, Peter.

Q Then not a debate-specific question, but debate prep --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh.

Q -- is something that, traditionally, can happen here at the White House. Who is going to stand in during the prep for Donald Trump?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Who's going to stand in? Do you want to stand in for Donald Trump? Do you want to do that?

Q I don't.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can connect you with the campaign. That might be fun for you.

Q Actually, so you're saying I can go debate Joe Biden behind the scenes --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know what?

Q -- for as long as I want? Actually, yes!

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think -- I think that might be fun for both of you. It might be fun for both of you. I think --

Q Okay, sure.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think that might be fun.

I don't have anything for you on that.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But I appreciate the question. I appreciate you trying.

All right. I know we have to wrap up. Go ahead, Ed.

Q Yeah. Thanks, Karine. I want to ask you about how the President talks about inflation. So, two times over the past two weeks, the President said inflation was 9 percent when he came into office. Is the President misleading Americans on that? Or does he just not realize that inflation was 1.4 percent when he came into office?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you know, Ed -- and -- and thank you for the question, because I know that this -- we got a lot of incoming on this yesterday. And, look, I -- what the President was -- the point that he was making is that the factors that cause inflation was in place when he walked in -- into the administration, when he took office.

Let's -- as you know, the pandemic caused inflation around the world to be -- by disrupting our economy and breaking our supply chains. As you know, we had to act quickly on dealing with the supply chain. He put together a task force. You saw the President do that.

And just a couple of examples here -- or one example, semiconductor shortages already existed when he took office. That increased costs on everything from auto parts to washing machines. By some measures, it accounted for one third of inflation in late 2021.

Many countries saw worse inflation than we did. And obviously -- and we've talked about this -- we've been able to come out of that economic downturn in better -- in a better place than most of our counterparts across the globe.

Reopening after the pandemic unavoidably increased inflation by unleashing pent-up demand. Inflation increased quickly as we reopened. Annualized core P- -- CPI in the second term of 2021 was 9 percent. And so, he was talking about the factors that were in place that led to -- that lead to that.

And, look -- and I said this earlier, going to say it again, we're going to do everything as we're -- we're talking about CPI -- we're going to do everything that we can. This President is committed to doing everything that we can to fight inflation. And that's what the President was trying to speak to.

Q But COVID started in March of 2020. So, those factors were in place for about a year before the President took office.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look -- I mean, look, the pandemic was happening, right? That caused inflation. That was happening. Supply chain was -- was breaking our economy. That was happening.

And it wasn't just us. It wasn't just us. It was globally. And -- and they were -- in other countries, our allies and partners were seeing worse infla- -- inflation than we were. And we are able to recover, and we are in a stronger position as we've recovered.

But he was talking about what was in place, what was happening, the factors that led -- and I talked about the second quarter of 2021. We saw that inflation was at 9 percent. So, he was speaking dir- -- specifically to the factors that led to that.

All right. I've got to -- go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. What is the administration's reaction to Egypt's decision to block humanitarian aid from entering through the Rafah crossing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we've obviously seen the reports. We have concerns. We want to see humanitarian aid. It is critical to -- for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza.

We're going to continue to have those conversations. We know how dire the situation is in Gaza, the humanitarian situation. So, we want to see that. Those conversations are going to continue. We're going to continue to have those diplomatic conversations.

And so, we've got to see that aid flow in, and the President is committed to that.

Q How has Egypt justified its decision to the U.S. government?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I'm not going to get into diplomatic conversations. What I can say is our commitment to get that aid in, and we're going to continue to have those conversations with our -- with our -- with our --

Q And I've got one more on the U.S. maritime port that --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q I believe construction is basically done. Is that right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you on that.

Q Okay. So, but a very specific question. If a family of Gazans --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- show up at that port as asylum seekers, will the U.S. government turn them away?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you on that. What I can say is that very -- when October 7 th happened, there were Palestinian Americans that were in Gaza who wanted to get out. And we brought 1,800 of them. We did everything that we can to get the ones who wanted to go out -- right? -- who wanted to leave. And we did that.

I can't speak to that particular question. I would have to go back to my team. I just can't speak to that question.

Q How many of the 1,800 did we successfully manage to get out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I would refer you to the State Department. But there were 1,800 Palestinian Americans who were in Gaza. Not all of them wanted to leave. Some of them did, and we were successful in getting -- getting them out.

I don't have that number in front of me. I would refer you to the State Department.

Okay. You have the last.

Q Republicans on Capitol Hill have been accusing the president of violating the Impoundment Control Act, which is an impeachable offense, by withholding the bombs for Israel. Does the White House have a response to that? And what is the legal authority that the White House is citing for the President to withhold the weapons?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I -- I will say this: The administration -- as you saw, we put out a SAP just yesterday and that we -- just last night, a Statement of Administration Policy about this particular -- the Israeli -- I'm sorry, the Israel Security Assistance Act. We said that we would veto that bill. The administration strongly opposes this attempt to constrain the President's ability to deploy U.S. security assistance consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. This bill raises serious concerns about infringing of the President's authorities under Article 2 of the Constitution.

So, that is -- to answer your question: It's under Article 2 of the Constitution. And that is our legal authority here.

And with that --

Q A response to the vi- -- accusations that withholding the weapons violates the Impoundment Control Act?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I just said that we believe that we were in -- it was in our legal authority to do so. We did. And we've been very clear: This is one shipment -- one shipment, as we talk about the Rafah operations and our concerns about a major military operations.

And you've heard us -- you know, I went back and forth with some of your colleagues about our commitment. You heard it from Ja- -- Jake Sullivan. Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. We believe that they should be able to defend themselves. And that is going to be consistent, and we're going to continue to -- to say so.

And when it comes to something -- a potential major military operation in Rafah, we're going to share our concerns publicly and privately, as we have been doing for the past several weeks.

All right, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.

Q Thanks, Karine. Feel better.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Bye. Thank you.

2:49 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

BEFORE MEETING WITH JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

AND COMBATANT COMMANDERS

Cabinet Room.

4:42 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everyone. Welcome to the Cabinet Room. Welcome. And it's great to see you all.

We got some important meeting and business to do in a minute. But I do want to kick it off with one comment: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

You know, first, I want to thank you for your leadership. I know it's -- I may not look it, but I've seen it for a while. I've been arou- -- I know I don't look like I've been around very long. I know that part. But -- but never before have I seen the nation ask so much of our military in so many parts of the world at the same time.

In Europe, you're equipping and training Ukrainian troops as they defend their freedom against Russia's vicious onslaught.

In Africa, you're working with our partners to take terrorists off the battlefield.

In the Indo-Pacific, you're building alliances with Australia, Philippines, Japan, and Republic of Korea and improving our relationship with India as well and putting our nation in the strongest position we can possibly be in.

In the Middle East, you have stepped up to defend against a range of unprecedented attacks on U.S. forces, Israel, and our partners across the region.

And I look forward to discussing -- I think you've been remarkable. I look forward to discussing all these issues this afternoon.

Next, I want to thank you for your commitment. I know last year hasn't been easy. I know, as you've faced crises abroad, you've also faced unnecessary chaos here at home: polarized politics, which I'm sure doesn't confuse you at all, but it does me sometimes; and potential shutdowns, performative stunts that impact on morale and readiness and too many military families.

But you keep going. And you keep showing every person, with the most heart to serve, you're made up of an incredible group of men and women. And -- and I know I've said it before, but I mean it -- I don't think there's any comparable counterargument -- you're the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. And that's a fact.

And, you know, I've -- I've had -- I've had a vow since I've been a young senator, and that is that, you know, we have a lot of obligations but only one -- only one overwhelming obligation: to prepare those we send into harm's way with all they need and to take care of them and their families when they come home and when they don't come home.

And you've made progress on this front as well -- over the last year, in particular.

I'm proud that, for the first time in nearly a decade, rates of sexual assault and harassment are -- within active-duty forces are down. They're down. And that's because of your leadership.

And, finally, as I said a moment ago, I know I've asked a lot of you but -- and everyone in this room, but I have one more request: Please pass along my deepest thanks to all the servicemen and women under your control and under your charge. And I really mean it.

Right now, all across the world, we're defending our nation -- they're defending it. And every day, they're risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow citizens.

So, this afternoon, I look forward to discussing a whole range of things and how I can continue to help support your needs and what you're doing for us.

So, I want to thank you again for being here. And I'm going to ask the press to leave and we get down to business.

Thank you.

Q Mr. President, why debate in June? Why do you want to debate in June? Are you worried about your position in the polls, sir?

Q President Biden --

Q Why do you want to debate so early, sir?

Q Did you see Trump says he'll do a third debate? Would you? Why not -- why not debate a third time?

Q Are you looking forward to the debates, Mr. President? Are you looking forward to the debates, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: I am.

Come on.

Q You don't want to debate RFK, Jr.?

THE PRESIDENT:

4:46 P.M. EDT

Presidential Actions

2024-05-16

Seventy years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education that outlawed racial segregation in our Nation's public schools, finding that "separate but equal" is "inherently unequal." That landmark decision helped us move closer to realizing the idea that defines who we are as a Nation: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While our society has never fully lived up to that idea, we have never fully walked away from it either — and on this milestone anniversary, we promise we will not walk away from it now.

As we commemorate 70 years since Brown v. Board of Education changed our Nation, we also commemorate the important foundation that was laid in Delaware. A mother in Hockessin, joined by the parents of eight other students in Claymont, simply wanted their children to attend school and be treated with dignity and respect. Through Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart, courageous lawyers and judges in Delaware — like Louis Redding and Chancellor Collins Seitz — helped lay the legal groundwork for the Brown v. Board of Education decision to strike down the insidious doctrine of separate but equal.

Brown v. Board of Education may have opened up schools to all our Nation's students, but the fight to get these students into classrooms persisted. There were still people in power who wanted to pull America back to the past, doing everything they could to keep school doors shut to Black students. Our Nation will never forget the stories of the Little Rock Nine, the group of students who were refused entry to their local high school by the National Guard blocking the doors. We will never forget the story of Ruby Bridges, who at only six-years-old had to be escorted by United States Marshals to her elementary school because an angry mob tried to prevent her from entering. Across the country, Black students who entered newly desegregated schools endured discrimination, harassment, and racism from their peers, educators, and school administrators. Yet, these students in the face of danger returned to class again and again, backed by community and civil rights leaders who were determined to take a stand for racial justice and equity that would benefit future generations of Americans. They showed us that bravery exists in the youngest of hearts, possessing the guts and courage to stand up for the best of our country. All the while, they kept faith in our Nation and in our North Star ?- the sacred ideals at the heart of who we are.

Today, we know that the lessons learned from Brown v. Board of Education served as a catalyst for the most fundamental civil rights legislation of our time like the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act. But while the decision in Brown v. Board of Education has allowed so many schools to develop diverse, inclusive learning communities that value empathy, kindness, and tolerance, the full potential of Brown v. Board of Education remains unfulfilled. There is still so much work to do to ensure that every student has equal access to a quality education and that our school systems fully benefit from the diversity and talent of our students — because diversity has always been one of our Nation's greatest strengths.

Since I came into office, we have prioritized making our schools more equitable. My Administration secured nearly $2 billion in additional Title I funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help provide a high-quality education to our most underserved students. Additionally, my American Rescue Plan delivered historic funding to our Nation's schools, supporting critical programs that help level the playing field like after-school and summer programs. Further, after the Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions, I directed the Department of Education to analyze what practices help build more inclusive and diverse student bodies. At the same time, we are making sure to tell the full truth of our Nation's history, and I am proud to have signed a bill to expand the historic sites of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, preserving this essential history.

On this milestone anniversary, may we honor the Brown v. Board of Education decision and all the people who have fought so hard to open classroom doors to every student. It is a reminder that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed and that every generation of Americans has benefited by opening the doors of opportunity just a little bit wider to include those who have been left behind. Today, may we recognize the inherent value in having diverse, thriving schools and continue working together to build a future worthy of the dreams and aspirations of our Nation's students.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 17, 2024, as the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. I call upon Americans to honor all the civil rights leaders, activists, educators, and students who have fought for decades to make our schools more equitable and work together to realize the promise of America for every American.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Yesterday, nearly one year since the White House released the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials hosted advocates from across the country to discuss the Administration's historic efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence. Ending gender-based violence has been a cornerstone of President Biden's career—including his championing of the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994 as a U.S. Senator. As President, he has signed historic legislation to secure the highest-ever funding to support implementation of the Violence Against Women Act, expand the reach of services to underserved communities, and increase housing protections for survivors.

Participants in the convening discussed the Administration's commitment to ending gender-based violence wherever it occurs—at home, at work, in schools, in communities, and online—as well as the substantial progress that has been made towards implementing the U.S. National Plan. Participants also discussed new Administration actions aimed at addressing gender-based violence, including:

These announcements build on the Administration's previous efforts to address gender-based violence. For instance, the Administration has strengthened gender-based violence protections for Tribal communities, helped keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, restored and strengthened vital protections from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment for students, taken bold action to strengthen accountability for sexual violence in the military and advance bipartisan military justice reform, provided guidance to employers on how to prevent discrimination and make people feel safe on the job, and increased access to resources for survivors. This work is guided by the U.S. National Plan, which adopted a comprehensive, government-wide approach to end sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, online harassment and abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Participants in today's convening included:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Release of the Final Report and Blueprint of the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse. Established through a Presidential Memorandum signed by President Biden in June 2022, the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse issued a final Blueprint that outlines comprehensive actions from more than a dozen federal agencies, including enhanced protections for students, children and youth, as well as programs that represent a record investment of more than $36

million in dedicated funding to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence in the U.S. and globally.

New "Safe Leave" Options for Federal Employees. The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance for federal agencies on the use of "safe leave" to support federal employees' access to paid leave and leave without pay for purposes related to seeking safety and recovering from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The updated guidance highlights options for federal employees to take leave to obtain medical treatment, seek assistance from organizations that provide services to survivors, seek relocation, and take related legal action. Today's new guidance, consistent with a Presidential Memorandum signed by President Biden in February 2023, will help ensure that federal employees have access to leave when they need it.

Survivor-Centered Initiatives Under the Violence Against Women Act . In continuing to implement the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022, the Department of Justice recently announced new targeted grants and initiatives to address the intersectional needs and lived experiences of survivors. To increase additional pathways to justice for survivors, DOJ recently released a solicitation for the first-ever Restorative Practices Pilot Program to support, enhance, and expand existing restorative practice programs that prevent or address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and build evidence for victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive restorative practices addressing these harms. DOJ also launched the Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative

to fund pilot sites using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to cases of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People related to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

New Protections to Promote Survivor Privacy, Safety, and Economic Security. The Federal Communications Commission called on auto manufacturers and wireless service providers to help protect survivors from the misuse of connected car tools by abusers by helping ensure that smart car services are not being used to stalk, harass, or intimidate survivors of domestic violence. FCC then issued a proposed rule to that effect, which follows a separate FCC rule that allows a survivor of domestic abuse to separate a mobile phone line from an account with an abuser. The Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service will also issue new guidance implementing a provision of SECURE

2.0 Act of 2022 affirming that survivors of domestic abuse may qualify to receive penalty-free distributions from an employer-sponsored retirement plan to provide additional flexibility for a survivor who may need access to funds to, for instance, support relocation. The distribution from the retirement plan is included in gross income, unless the amount is subsequently repaid to the plan or rolled over to an Individual Retirement Account, but it is not subject to the 10% penalty tax that normally applies to an early distribution.

These announcements build on the Administration's previous efforts to address gender-based violence. For instance, the Administration has strengthened gender-based violence protections for Tribal communities, helped keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, restored and strengthened vital protections from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment for students, taken bold action to strengthen accountability for sexual violence in the military and advance bipartisan military justice reform, provided guidance to employers on how to prevent discrimination and make people feel safe on the job, and increased access to resources for survivors. This work is guided by the U.S. National Plan, which adopted a comprehensive, government-wide approach to end sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, online harassment and abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Participants in today's convening included:

Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council

Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission

Charlotte Burrows, Chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Rosie Hidalgo, Director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women

Robert Shriver, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management

Lynn Rosenthal, Director of Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Violence at the Department of Health and Human Services

Catherine Powell, Senior Advisor for Gender-Based Violence of the Gender Policy Council

Mary Anne Franks, President and Legislative & Tech Policy Director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, and Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Civil Rights Law, George Washington University Law School

The event was livestreamed and the recording can be found here .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Canada and the United States are pleased to announce the renewal of the bilateral Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force for an additional year.

In August 2022, President Biden set the United States, and the world, on an ambitious new course to grow the clean economy and create good jobs by signing the Inflation Reduction Actinto law. Already, the Inflation Reduction Acthas created more than 170,000 clean energy jobs that are helping the United States meet its climate goals and strengthen energy security. Canada has also taken recent action to implement its cornerstone C$93 billion suite of major economic investment tax credits for a clean economy to ensure Canadian workers remain at the forefront of the global race to net-zero. Canada hopes that four of its major economic investment tax credits will pass into law by this summer. Together, Canada and the United States are building our shared supply chains to enable the net-zero transition to create more new opportunities for workers in a way that is shared by all.

In March 2023, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau launched the one-year ETTF to accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains, including: security and strengthening renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, critical minerals, grid integration and resilience, nuclear energy, and other areas to advance our collective energy security. Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and White House Senior Advisor to the President Amos Hochstein, in partnership with departments and ministries in both countries, the inaugural ETTF meeting took place in May 2023.

Through the ETTF, Canada and the United States have advanced shared priorities to deploy clean energy solutions at scale and support the development of critical mineral and civil nuclear supply chains that will fuel the development of an integrated, North American industry capable of supporting the energy transition in our respective countries and around the world.

To date, the ETTF has accelerated several accomplishments in these sectors, including:

Convening a Canada-U.S. industry roundtable during the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in March 2024;

Promoting uptake of strong environmental, social, and governance standards through government-industry collaboration;

Multilaterally pledging at COP 28 to facilitate government-led investment in nuclear enrichment and conversion capacity; and

Supporting the deployment of civil nuclear energy in Romania with collaborative financing.

Expanding Cooperation on Critical Minerals

Today, Canada and the United States jointly announced the first co-investments targeting the development of strategic critical mineral deposits in Canada. Two Canadian companies have received funding to advance the resilient development of North American critical mineral supply chains.

The U.S. Department of Defense, via the Defense Production Act Investment Office, announced US$14.8 million in awards to Canadian companies Fortune Minerals Limited and Lomiko Metals, Inc. . The Department of Natural Resources Canada also announced complementary funding of up to C$7.5 million to Fortune and C$4.9 million to Lomiko under the C$3.8 billion Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. This investment builds on previous funding provided by the Government of Canada to these two companies to build resilient supply chains and drive clean economic growth.

These announcements by the United States and Canada demonstrate our commitment to implementing a joint vision of developing sustainable, integrated critical mineral supply chains that will serve North American advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense sectors.

Developing Resilient and Innovative Civil Nuclear Supply Chains

The ETTF has promoted the deployment of safe, zero-carbon nuclear energy and the enhancement of secure nuclear fuel supply chains, particularly through the participation of the U.S. and Canada in the multilateral pledge made at COP28 to mobilize US$4.2 billion in government-led investment in enrichment and conversion capacity over the next three years aiming to catalyze private sector finance. The United States and Canada pledged to make 2024 the year of implementation and work jointly to support the development of complementary nuclear supply chain capacities sufficient to support our industries and establish a resilient North American nuclear supply chain free from Russian influence.

In February, Canada issued a 10-year, C$4 billion green bond, which was the world's first sovereign green bond to include certain nuclear expenditures, affirming Canada's commitment to serving as a global nuclear leader. Canada continues to engage industry and international partners to enable the announcement of concrete measures later this spring to further advance nuclear energy and bolster North American nuclear fuel supply chains.

This year, President Biden signed into law a series of actions that will secure our energy resources and support U.S. and allied leadership in the nuclear sector, including reauthorizing up to US$800 million for two small modular reactor deployments this decade and up to US$2.72 billion to jumpstart uranium enrichment services in the United States. The United States and Canada look forward to working together to leverage these historic investments and further strengthen ties between our industries.

Decarbonizing Steel and Aluminum

Canada and the United States are making significant investments to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and support good-paying union jobs that strengthen North American manufacturing competitiveness. In this context, and noting the integrated nature of our steel and aluminum supply chains, both countries recognize that steel and aluminum are essential materials to grow the clean economy, and will continue to collaborate to promote U.S.-Canada trade in green steel and aluminum.

Looking to the Year Ahead

Over the coming year, the United States and Canada will work to amplify areas of common priority and agreement from the ETTF in our bilateral and multilateral engagements focused on the clean energy transformation, including through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment and Canada's upcoming role as host of the G7 in 2025. In particular, our countries look forward to capitalizing on significant, recent investments our two sides have made in the nuclear fuel cycle and intend to work closely with industry to strengthen cooperation on secure and resilient nuclear supply chains.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Canada and the United States are pleased to announce the renewal of the bilateral Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force [ETTF] for an additional year.

In August 2022, President Biden set the United States, and the world, on an ambitious new course to grow the clean economy and create good jobs by signing the Inflation Reduction Actinto law. Already, the Inflation Reduction Acthas created more than 170,000 clean energy jobs that are helping the United States meet its climate goals and strengthen energy security. Canada has also taken recent action to implement its cornerstone C$93 billion [US$69 billion] suite of major economic investment tax credits for a clean economy to ensure Canadian workers remain at the forefront of the global race to net-zero. Canada hopes that four of its major economic investment tax credits will pass into law by this summer. Together, Canada and the United States are building our shared supply chains to enable the net-zero transition to create more new opportunities for workers in a way that is shared by all.

In March 2023, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau launched the one-year ETTF to accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains, including: security and strengthening renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, critical minerals, grid integration and resilience, nuclear energy, and other areas to advance our collective energy security. Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and White House Senior Advisor to the President Amos Hochstein, in partnership with departments and ministries in both countries, the inaugural ETTF meeting took place in May 2023.

Through the ETTF, Canada and the United States have advanced shared priorities to deploy clean energy solutions at scale and support the development of critical mineral and civil nuclear supply chains that will fuel the development of an integrated, North American industry capable of supporting the energy transition in our respective countries and around the world.

To date, the ETTF has accelerated several accomplishments in these sectors, including:

Expanding Cooperation on Critical Minerals

Today, Canada and the United States jointly announced the first co-investments targeting the development of strategic critical mineral deposits in Canada. Two Canadian companies have received funding to advance the resilient development of North American critical mineral supply chains.

The U.S. Department of Defense, via the Defense Production Act Investment Office, announced US$14.8 million [C$20 million] in awards to Canadian companies Fortune Minerals Limited ["Fortune"] and Lomiko Metals, Inc. ["Lomiko"]. The Department of Natural Resources Canada also announced complementary funding of up to C$7.5 million [US$5.6 million] to Fortune and C$4.9 million [US$3.6 million] to Lomiko under the C$3.8 billion [US$2.8 billion] Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. This investment builds on previous funding provided by the Government of Canada to these two companies to build resilient supply chains and drive clean economic growth.

These announcements by the United States and Canada demonstrate our commitment to implementing a joint vision of developing sustainable, integrated critical mineral supply chains that will serve North American advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense sectors.

Developing Resilient and Innovative Civil Nuclear Supply Chains

The ETTF has promoted the deployment of safe, zero-carbon nuclear energy and the enhancement of secure nuclear fuel supply chains, particularly through the participation of the U.S. and Canada in the multilateral pledge made at COP28 to mobilize US$4.2 billion [C$5.7 billion] in government-led investment in enrichment and conversion capacity over the next three years aiming to catalyze private sector finance. The United States and Canada pledged to make 2024 the year of implementation and work jointly to support the development of complementary nuclear supply chain capacities sufficient to support our industries and establish a resilient North American nuclear supply chain free from Russian influence.

In February, Canada issued a 10-year, C$4 billion [US$3 billion] green bond, which was the world's first sovereign green bond to include certain nuclear expenditures, affirming Canada's commitment to serving as a global nuclear leader. Canada continues to engage industry and international partners to enable the announcement of concrete measures later this spring to further advance nuclear energy and bolster North American nuclear fuel supply chains.

This year, President Biden signed into law a series of actions that will secure our energy resources and support U.S. and allied leadership in the nuclear sector, including reauthorizing up to US$800 million [C$1.08 billion] for two small modular reactor deployments this decade and up to US$2.72 billion [C$3.7 billion] to jumpstart uranium enrichment services in the United States. The United States and Canada look forward to working together to leverage these historic investments and further strengthen ties between our industries.

Decarbonizing Steel and Aluminum

Canada and the United States are making significant investments to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and support good-paying union jobs that strengthen North American manufacturing competitiveness. In this context, and noting the integrated nature of our steel and aluminum supply chains, both countries recognize that steel and aluminum are essential materials to grow the clean economy, and will continue to collaborate to promote U.S.-Canada trade in green steel and aluminum.

Looking to the Year Ahead

Over the coming year, the United States and Canada will work to amplify areas of common priority and agreement from the ETTF in our bilateral and multilateral engagements focused on the clean energy transformation, including through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment and Canada's upcoming role as host of the G7 in 2025. In particular, our countries look forward to capitalizing on significant, recent investments our two sides have made in the nuclear fuel cycle and intend to work closely with industry to strengthen cooperation on secure and resilient nuclear supply chains.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Since taking office, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have moved with urgency to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to spur innovation and advance opportunity, while also taking action to ensure workers share in these gains. As part of these efforts, President Biden's landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence directed the Department of Labor to establish a set of key principles that protect workers and ensure they have a seat at the table in determining how these technologies are developed and used. The Biden-Harris Administration is today unveiling these principles and announcing that technology companies Microsoft and Indeed have committed to adopt these principles as appropriate to their workplace.

Pursuant to President Biden's landmark Executive Order, the following principles apply to the development and deployment of AI systems in the workplace:

These principles should be considered during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing. The principles are applicable to all sectors and intended to be mutually reinforcing, though not all principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace. The principles are not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a guiding framework for businesses. AI developers and employers should review and customize the best practices based on their own context and with input from workers. The Administration welcomes additional commitments from other technology companies who wish to adopt these principles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Since taking office, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have moved with urgency to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to spur innovation and advance opportunity, while also taking action to ensure workers share in these gains. As part of these efforts, President Biden's landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence directed the Department of Labor to establish a set of key principles that protect workers and ensure they have a seat at the table in determining how these technologies are developed and used. The Biden-Harris Administration is today unveiling these principles and announcing that technology companies Microsoft and Indeed have committed to adopt these principles as appropriate to

their workplace.

Pursuant to President Biden's landmark Executive Order, the following principles apply to the development and deployment of AI systems in the workplace:

Centering Worker Empowerment: Workers and their representatives, especially those from underserved communities, should be informed of and have genuine input in the design, development, testing, training, use, and oversight of AI systems for use in the workplace.

Ethically Developing AI: AI systems should be designed, developed, and trained in a way that protects workers.

Establishing AI Governance and Human Oversight: Organizations should have clear governance systems, procedures, human oversight, and evaluation processes for AI systems for use in the workplace.

Ensuring Transparency in AI Use: Employers should be transparent with workers and job seekers about the AI systems that are being used in the workplace.

Protecting Labor and Employment Rights: AI systems should not violate or undermine workers' right to organize, health and safety rights, wage and hour rights, and anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation protections.

Using AI to Enable Workers: AI systems should assist, complement, and enable workers, and improve job quality.

Supporting Workers Impacted by AI: Employers should support or upskill workers during job transitions related to AI.

Ensuring Responsible Use of Worker Data: Workers' data collected, used, or created by AI systems should be limited in scope and location, used only to support legitimate business aims, and protected and handled responsibly.

These principles should be considered during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing. The principles are applicable to all sectors and intended to be mutually reinforcing, though not all principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace. The principles are not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a guiding framework for businesses. AI developers and employers should review and customize the best practices based on their own context and with input from workers. The Administration welcomes additional commitments from other technology companies who wish to adopt these principles.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

President Biden's Investing in America agenda has catalyzed an American clean energy manufacturing and deployment boom. Through the President's Inflation Reduction Act, incentives for manufacturing and deployment of clean energy, including incentives for domestically-manufactured solar products, have driven a historic surge in solar installations and announcements of new U.S. solar module and component manufacturing. The silicon solar cell was invented and demonstrated in the U.S. at Bell Labs in 1956, and the U.S. led the world in solar innovation and manufacturing for decades. China's anticompetitive subsidization and trade practices, however, decimated the U.S. solar manufacturing industry in the 2000 s and 2010 s. Recently, as solar manufacturing has made a comeback in the U.S. thanks to President Biden's leadership, China has further ramped up solar overcapacity, dumping artificially cheap modules and components onto the global market and circumventing trade enforcement measures in an

attempt to put other countries' manufacturers out of business.

Since President Biden took office, companies have announced more than $17 billion and 335 gigawatts of manufacturing investment throughout the solar supply chain, with enough announced investment in solar modules to power 18 million homes. Announced solar module manufacturing capacity has grown to more than 125 gigawatts, compared to 7 gigawatts of manufacturing capacity before passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. American manufacturing is powering a boom in solar deployment, which has doubled since President Biden took office and reached record highs last year, with 32.4 gigawatts of solar capacity installed in 2023, a more than 50 percent increase over 2022 installations.

President Biden believes that American workers and manufacturers can compete with anyone--as long as the competition is fair. Earlier this week, the Biden-Harris Administration directed the U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on $18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses – including by doubling the tariff rate on solar cells and modules from 25% to 50%.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new actions to strengthen American solar manufacturing and protect businesses and workers from China's unfair trade actions:

Removal of the bifacial module exclusion under Section 201. Bifacial solar panels generally used in utility-scale solar projects are not currently subject to safeguard tariffs under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. Since this exclusion was implemented by the previous Administration, imports of bifacial panels have surged, now making up nearly all U.S. solar panel imports and undercutting the effectiveness of the Section 201 safeguard. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing that it plans to imminently remove this exclusion, which will offer U.S. solar manufacturers increased Section 201 tariff protection from unfair imports. Importers with pre-existing contracts for bifacial solar modules to be delivered within 90 days of the removal of the exclusion will be able to certify those contracts to continue using the exclusion for that period.

Ending the solar bridge and cracking down on stockpiling. In June 2022, President Biden initiated a temporary, 24-month bridge to facilitate certain imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam duty-free to ensure robust deployment while the domestic solar manufacturing base ramped up. Since then, U.S. solar manufacturing and deployment have both grown dramatically. As the President has previously committed, the bridge will end as scheduled on June 6, 2024, and producers in Southeast Asia that have been found to be circumventing antidumping and countervailing duties on solar manufacturers from the People's Republic of China will be subject to those duties. Additionally, in implementing the solar bridge, the Department of Commerce requires that panels imported duty-free must be installed within 180 days to prevent stockpiling. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it will vigorously enforce this provision, including by requiring importers to provide to CBP

a certification of solar module utilization with detailed information about the modules being deployed.

Monitoring import surges and oversupply. Imports of solar modules from Southeast Asia, where PRC manufacturers have been found to be circumventing antidumping and countervailing duties, have surged over the last year. PRC companies have recently built new capacity in these countries, targeting the U.S. market. The Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce will closely monitor import patterns to ensure the U.S. market does not become oversaturated and will explore all available measures to take action against unfair practices.

Providing additional guidance on the domestic content bonus. The Inflation Reduction Act contains a bonus tax credit available to developers of clean energy projects that meet certain statutory requirements for sourcing iron and steel products and manufactured products from domestic producers. Today, the Department of Treasury is issuing further guidance concerning the domestic content bonus to enable more clean energy developers and manufacturers in the U.S. to take advantage of the bonus. While the domestic content bonus is already driving partnerships between developers and manufacturers in the U.S., stakeholders have raised concerns about challenges in determining eligibility. Today's Notice creates a new elective safe harbor that gives clean energy developers the option of relying on Department of Energy-provided default cost percentages to determine bonus eligibility. Treasury and IRS continue to consider stakeholder comments and plan to issue further domestic content guidance to

address issues not in the scope of this guidance, including adding further sectors, including offshore wind, to the new elective safe harbor table and issuing proposed rules for projects using elective pay . In particular, Treasury and IRS, with DOE and other agencies, continue to evaluate potential options to further the IRA's goal of incentivizing U.S. solar manufacturing, including solar wafer production.

Supporting technology development to onshore solar wafer and cell manufacturing. The Department of Energy is announcing more than $70 million in research and development selections to seed new technologies across the solar supply chain. Funding from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enable new entrants to the solar manufacturing market to establish their technologies and access more capital. The 18 selected projects will address gaps in the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain , including equipment, ingots and wafers, and silicon and thin-film solar cell manufacturing , and open new markets for solar technologies like integrated-photovoltaics and agrivoltaics.

Managing the tariff-rate quota for solar cells under Section 201 to support expanded solar manufacturing. Currently, there is a 5-gigawatt tariff-rate quota for imported solar cells under Section 201. The Administration will closely monitor the level of imported solar cells used to manufacture panels in the U.S. and will work to raise the quota by 7.5-gigawatts if imports approach the current quota level, to ensure domestic module manufacturing continues to grow while manufacturers scale production throughout the supply chain.

These actions follow a series of Biden-Harris Administration initiatives to support solar manufacturing and deployment.

$7 billion in selections for Solar for All grants. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency announced grantees for its Solar for All competition under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Solar for All grantees will serve all 50 states and the U.S. territories, as well as Tribal nations, to expand cost-cutting residential solar solutions to at least 900,000 low-income households and save families an average of $400 per year on their utility bills.

Expanded eligibility for Energy Communities bonus credit. In March, the Department of Treasury and the IRS issued additional guidance for the bonus credit, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, for clean energy generation projects placed in service in communities that have historically been reliant on fossil fuel jobs. The additional guidance extends bonus eligibility to areas of the country where there are approximately 100 more planned utility-scale solar projects, helping to drive greater future clean energy investment into energy communities.

Support for solar component manufacturing. In April, the Department of Energy released information provided by recipients of 48 C Advanced Energy Projects credits who voluntarily consented to have their project details shared publicly. Out of $4 billion in allocations, projects representing approximately $1.9 billion in allocations volunteered to have information shared , including Highland Materials, Inc., which received $255.6 million to produce solar-grade polysilicon in Tennessee's coal country and SOLARCYCLE, Inc., which received $64 million to produce solar glass in Georgia. The second round of $6 billion in 48 C funding is currently.

Developing solar energy on America's public lands. In April, the Department of the Interior finalized regulations that will ensure America's public lands play a vital role in the clean energy economy by lowering the cost of developing solar and wind projects and improving permitting application processes for renewable energy projects. The Department also announced that more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy are currently being generated on public lands with the completion of two new solar projects, and that the Administration has surpassed its target to permit at least 25 gigawatts of clean energy by 2025 – enough clean energy to power more than 12 million homes across the country.