Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

Statement from the Press Secretary   Today, the President was delighted to welcome the great Americans he intends to appoint to the 1776 Commission. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary of glorious Independence, many of America’s school children are tragically being taught to hate our founding, hate our history, and hate our country. This must stop. The 1776 Commission will help ensure that every American child learns that they live in the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. That is why it is absolutely vital to teach America’s young people all that is inspiring and unifying in our history. We want our children to become patriots who love their country. The 1776 Commission will share the story of our nation’s miraculous founding, proclaim the self-evident truths contained in the Declaration of Independence, and explain how these founding principles have helped our people overcome great national challenges throughout our history – and how these principles can guide us to a great American future. All Americans should pay close attention to this work.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

On Friday, December 18, 2020, the President signed into law:     H.J.Res. 107, the “Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021,” which provides fiscal year (FY) 2021 appropriations to Federal agencies through December 20, 2020, for continuing projects and activities of the Federal Government.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

On Friday, December 18, 2020, the President signed into law:     S. 910, the “National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020,” which reauthorizes the National Sea Grant College Program through fiscal year 2025; clarifies that the scope of the program includes financial assistance for research, training, and technology transfer; and modifies the Dean John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship Program;   S. 945, the “Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act,” which requires certain issuers of securities to establish that they are not owned or controlled by a foreign government, specifically if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is unable to audit specified reports because the issuer has retained a foreign public accounting firm that is not subject to inspection by the Board;   S. 1069, the “Digital Coast Act,” which requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain a program capable of efficiently integrating coastal data with decision-support tools, training, and best practices to improve local, State, and Federal capacities to manage the coastal region; and   S. 1982, the “Save Our Seas 2.0 Act,” which establishes a nongovernmental Marine Debris Foundation and a prize competition for the "Genius Prize for Save Our Seas Innovation"; increases efforts to engage, cooperate, and coordinate with other governmental and nongovernmental entities to raise international awareness of plastic waste and combat marine debris; and creates infrastructure grant programs to be administered by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Executive Order Promoting Redemption of Savings Bonds

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PROMOTING REDEMPTION OF SAVINGS BONDS       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Purpose.  Since 1935, the Department of the Treasury (Department) has issued savings bonds to the American public.  Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government, these bonds are extremely safe investments that were designed to be accessible even to inexperienced investors.  Indeed, over the years, savings bonds have proved to be a popular birthday or graduation gift, helping introduce younger Americans to the rewards of investing in our country's future.  Among other things, savings bonds provided the United States with a critical source of financing during World War II.     By law, savings bonds never expire, and there is no deadline for owners to redeem them.  It is currently estimated that more than 75 million matured savings bonds, issued as far back as 1935, remain unredeemed.  The total value of these unredeemed savings bonds is approximately $27 billion.     Above and beyond any legal requirements applicable to savings bonds, the Department should take all appropriate action to make sure that those Americans who invested in the future success of their country have the opportunity to receive the remuneration to which they are lawfully entitled.  Under my Administration, the Department has already undertaken significant measures to reunite matured savings bonds with their rightful owners.  For example, the Department in 2019 released an online tool known as "Treasury Hunt" to help individuals determine if they are the owners of matured unredeemed savings bonds.  This order is the next step in ensuring that owners of matured savings bonds have a full opportunity to redeem their bonds.     Sec. 2.  Updating Records.  The Department shall work to digitize and make electronically searchable sufficient information to identify the registered owner of any matured unredeemed savings bond, including the name and registered address of such owner and of any registered beneficiaries.  In particular, the Department shall complete its ongoing pilot project to assess the feasibility and cost of digitizing and making these records searchable and accessible, which is being carried out in conjunction with multiple vendors, before the end of calendar year 2020.  If the pilot project is successful, a vendor shall be selected to begin digitizing savings bond records.  When digitizing records, the Department shall, to the extent feasible, focus first on the bond-issuance years that represent the highest percentage of matured unredeemed debt.      Sec. 3.  Information Accessibility.  Within 30 days of beginning to receive data from the digitization of records described in section 2 of this order, the Department shall incorporate into the data accessible through Treasury Hunt information collected from the digitized records, in a secure manner and consistent with applicable law, including the Privacy Act.  The Department shall work to ensure that this information can be used through Treasury Hunt to help individuals determine if they are the owners of matured unredeemed savings bonds.       Sec. 4.  Customer Research.  The Department shall conduct customer research to determine why individuals do not redeem savings bonds upon maturity, any barriers individuals encounter when they do attempt to redeem their bonds, and the feasibility of modifying redemption methods or developing alternative redemption methods in order to mitigate, overcome, or avoid any such barriers.     Sec. 5.  Collaboration with States.  The Department shall engage with States and State associations to obtain additional data and information to help the Department identify owners of unredeemed bonds, to learn best practices employed by the States regarding the redemption of mature bonds, and to encourage the States to add direct links to Treasury Hunt to States' unclaimed property websites or other appropriate State publications or information portals.       Sec. 6.  Public Reporting.  Within 6 months of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall publish a report on actions and initiatives undertaken by the Department to implement this order.      Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or          (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.     (c)  This order 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.                         DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     December 18, 2020.

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT          Today, I have signed into law S. 1982, the "Save Our Seas 2.0 Act" (the "Act").  The Act enhances our Nation's efforts to combat marine debris and its adverse effects on the economy of the United States, the marine environment, and navigation safety.  I note, however, that the Act raises a number of constitutional concerns.      Section 112(b) of the Act requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to appoint, and allows the Under Secretary to remove, members of the Board of Directors of the Marine Debris Foundation, who would be inferior officers.  The Appointments Clause authorizes the Congress to vest the authority to appoint inferior officers only in the President, the head of a department, or a court of law.  The Under Secretary is not the head of a department who could constitutionally be authorized to appoint inferior officers.  I will, therefore, implement section 112(b) consistent with the Appointments Clause by requiring that the Under Secretary make these appointments either with the Secretary of Commerce's approval or by designating already duly appointed officers who would be exercising authorities in their new roles that are germane to their pre-existing duties.  Similarly, because the power to remove is generally incidental to the power to appoint, I will implement section 112(b) to require the Secretary's approval for any removals.      Several other provisions of the Act (including sections 201, 202(a), 203, and 204(b)) require the executive branch to adopt a particular foreign policy or purport to direct negotiations with foreign governments and international organizations.  My Administration will implement these provisions in a manner consistent with the President's constitutional authority to conduct foreign affairs.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     December 18, 2020.

Resolute Reads FIVE STORIES PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT YOU TO MISS

 

FIVE STORIES PRESIDENT TRUMP DOESN'T WANT YOU TO MISS Moderna COVID Vaccine Gets Key Endorsement — Vaccinations Are Safe and Will End Pandemic -Fox News “The vote Thursday by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel to recommend an emergency use authorization for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine is an important and welcome step in our battle to end the COVID-19 pandemic,” Sally Pipes writes. Vaccinations are already underway for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as well.    WATCH: Vice President Pence receives the Coronavirus vaccine! The COVID-19 Moon Shot: Operation Warp Speed -RealClearHealth “What usually takes up to ten years, America’s innovative bio-pharmaceutical companies accomplished–the design and testing of a new vaccine–in less than ten months,” Jerry Rogers writes. “The Trump administration, the American bio-pharmaceutical industry, medical professionals, and America’s supermarkets, grocers, and pharmacies have all risen to the enormous task of defeating an invisible enemy.” Trump’s Peace Deals Mean the Anti-Israel Boycott Movement Is Dead -New York Post “The US-brokered Abraham Accords will almost certainly be remembered as Team Trump’s greatest foreign achievement. Among the as-yet-unappreciated benefits: The accords will utterly delegitimize those in the West who seek to delegitimize Israel, not least the movement to boycott, divest from and sanction the Jewish state,” Sohrab Ahmari writes. Trump Signs Bill for Women’s Suffrage Monument in Washington, D.C. -Forbes “President Donald Trump signed a bill Thursday authorizing an outdoor federal monument in Washington, D.C., to the women’s suffrage movement to honor the activists who won women the right to vote, his latest move to mark the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment,” Carlie Porterfield reports.    WATCH: President Trump signs law to honor women’s suffrage China Lies About Its Wrongdoing on COVID, Spying, Global Aggression, Pollution and More -Fox News “China has not taken one step in statecraft that suggests the regime is interested in being a more responsible international partner,” defense expert James Carafano writes. “It is the height of irresponsibility to believe that going easy on the Chinese Communist regime will produce anything other than more deceit and aggression and more disappointment for the free world.”

President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 18, 2020 President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts   Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to be Members of the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission for terms of two years:   Larry Arnn, of Arkansas, Chair   Dr. Carol M. Swain, of Tennessee, Vice Chair   Brooke L. Rollins, of Texas   Vincent M. Haley, of Virginia   Victor Davis Hanson, of California   Phil Bryant, of Mississippi   Mike Gonzalez, of Maryland   John Gibbs, of Michigan   Scott McNealy, of Nevada   Gay Hart Gaines, of Florida   Ned Ryun, of Virginia   Charles Kirk, of Illinois   Peter N. Kirsanow, of Ohio   Charles R. Kesler, of California   Dr. Thomas K. Lindsay, of Texas   Jerry C. Davis, of Missouri   Michael Farris, of Virginia   Bob McEwen, of Ohio

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 17, 2020

On Thursday, December 17, 2020, the President signed into law:   H.R. 473, which authorizes the Every Word We Utter Monument to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia to commemorate the women's suffrage movement and passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.

Three Nominations and One Withdrawal Sent to the Senate

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 17, 2020

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:      Terrence M. Andrews, of California, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Edward J. Damich, term expired.      Romolo A. Bernardi, of New York, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2023, vice Carolyn L. Gallagher, term expired.      Daniel Z. Epstein, of Texas, to be Chairman of the Administrative Conference of the United States for the term of five years, vice Paul R. Verkuil, resigned. WITHDRAWAL SENT TO THE SENATE:      Daniel Z. Epstein, of Texas, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Edward J. Damich, term expired, which was sent to the Senate on February 4, 2020.

Proclamation on Wright Brothers Day, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 16, 2020 WRIGHT BROTHERS DAY, 2020   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          On this day 117 years ago, for a few short seconds over 120 feet of wind-swept beach in North Carolina, Orville Wright became the first person to achieve sustained, controlled, powered, and manned flight, forever altering the course of human history.  The flying machine Orville piloted, which he and his brother Wilbur designed and constructed following years of research and testing, propelled mankind off the ground and into the skies.  Today, we honor these tenacious and intrepid pioneers who paved the way for American leadership in aviation.      The story of the Wright Brothers reflects the quintessential American values of perseverance, courage, and sheer grit.  Neither Wilbur nor Orville graduated high school.  Both brothers, however, possessed a fascination with new technology and mechanics.  They taught themselves engineering through their work in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio.  Using a homemade wind tunnel, they collected data and developed new designs for propellers and wings, oversaw the creation of a new, specially made engine, and invented an innovative system for steering manned aircraft, solving problems that had plagued previous attempts at powered flight.  Through trial and error and hundreds of test flights in gliders and prototypes, the Wright Brothers, in true American fashion, pushed beyond the boundaries of human discovery and exploration.  Their tireless dedication and unyielding determination testify to the power of human ingenuity and produced a revolution in transportation, national defense, and global economic development.      The Wright Brothers' pursuits also established America's role as the world's foremost aviation leader and set the stage for future generations of American flight heroes.  Just 24 years after the Wright Brothers' first flight, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean, and 5 years later Amelia Earhart became the first woman to accomplish that same feat.  Just a few weeks ago, our Nation mourned the loss of another aviation legend, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager.  In a rocket plane named "Glamorous Glennis" after his beloved wife, Yeager flew at speeds in excess of 700 miles per hour, breaking the sound barrier for the first time in human history.  This incredible feat occurred a mere 44 years after the Wright Brothers' first flight achieved a top airspeed of just 34 miles per hour.  In 1969, 22 years after Yeager's flight, Neil Armstrong, an Ohioan like the Wright Brothers, became the first person to ever set foot on the lunar surface, thrusting American leadership in flight beyond the Earth's atmosphere.  And, earlier this year, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a commercially built and operated spacecraft to the International Space Station from American soil for the first time.  With the same spirit that took the Wright Brothers into the sky, our brave astronauts are once again redefining the limits of human knowledge and discovery.      December 17th is forever enshrined as the day the Wright Brothers launched a new era of American greatness.  Today, as we reflect on the immeasurable influence the Wright Brothers had upon our society and the world, we resolve to continue breaking barriers, setting new horizons, and building a better and brighter future for all.  In the years to come, Americans must continue to press further on the boundaries of sky and space and forge new frontiers for American success, just as Orville and Wilbur Wright courageously did more than a century ago.      The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of each year as "Wright Brothers Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2020, as Wright Brothers Day.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP