Saturday, March 20, 2021

March 20, 2021 Statement from President Biden Marking Nowruz

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2021
 
Statement from President Biden Marking Nowruz

Spring is an eternal symbol of renewal and rebirth, with light and hope filling the hearts of people from the United States to Iran, Central Asia, the Caucuses, the Middle East, and Europe. That is the message and the joy of Nowruz that we are honoring with a Haft-Sin table in the White House. This year, perhaps more than ever, that message is badly needed.  After all our pain and loss, we are reminded that better days lie ahead and that we all must work together to achieve a shared future of greater peace, prosperity, and understanding. As we continue to make progress against COVID-19, I hope that soon our virtual celebrations will return to the joy and community we feel gathering together with family and friends.
 
Happy Nowruz!


A Proclamation on National Poison Prevention Week, 2021

 

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March 19, 2021
 
NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK, 2021
 
- - - - - - -
 
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
 
A PROCLAMATION
     Sixty years ago, the Congress established National Poison Prevention Week to remind all Americans to stay vigilant and protect our families from the often hidden threat of poisoning.  Never has that reminder been more timely than this year -- 9 out of 10 poisonings occur inside the home, and with families spending more time indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, children and isolated seniors are at an increased risk of accidental poisoning that could result in injury or death.

     Young children are particularly vulnerable to accidental poisoning because -- as every parent knows -- children tend to explore objects with their hands and mouths.  That's especially true when it comes to products with floral or fruity aromas, or those that come in colorful packaging.  Hand sanitizer, household cleaning products, laundry packets, medications, coin cell batteries, and liquid nicotine are among the most commonly ingested products; these and similar items should be stored in child-resistant packaging and kept out of sight and out of reach of children.  Medications should be secured and, if possible, locked away.  And unfinished or unused medicine should be properly discarded -- many pharmacies and police departments have disposal kiosks for just that purpose.  

     In 2019, approximately 67,500 of our Nation's children under the age of 5 had to visit the emergency room due to unintended poisoning.  About 85 percent of these incidents occurred in the home, most often because they ingested blood pressure medications, acetaminophen, bleach, ibuprofen, antidepressants, attention deficit disorder medications, or laundry packets.  Elderly Americans are also at risk of mistaking medications and ingesting household products; for seniors who are isolated due to the pandemic, it is particularly important to secure and clearly label medications and poisonous substances.

     Poison control centers are a vital component of our Nation's response to poisonings.  Centers across the United States operate around the clock and respond to approximately three million calls every year from the public, as well as from health care providers, 911 public-safety access points, health departments, law enforcement, first responders, and other safety agencies.  They represent our first line of defense in many cases, including when it comes to the opioid epidemic that continues to devastate so many of our families and communities.

     According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths have increased significantly in the past several years.  Opioids are the main driver for this increase, killing nearly 47,000 people in the United States in 2018.  Two out of three opioid-involved overdose deaths involve synethic opioids, including illegally manufactured fentanyl.  When used in combination with other drugs, with or without the user's knowledge, it can be poisonous and deadly.

     But even legal substances, like liquid nicotine, can pose a deadly risk.  Ingestion of small amounts of liquid nicotine can be extremely hazardous and even deadly to children, which is why the Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned vape shops and other retailers that selling liquid nicotine without proper packaging violates Federal law.  To avoid potential poisonings, always store liquid nicotine in its child-resistant packaging, tightly seal the container after each use, and keep it locked or stored away from children. 

     If you believe someone has been poisoned, immediately call the Poison Control Help line at 800-222-1222.  For more information, go to poisonhelp.org.

     To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take appropriate preventive measures, on September 26, 1961, the United States Congress, by joint resolution (75 Stat. 681), authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March each year as "National Poison Prevention Week."

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 21 through March 27, 2021, to be National Poison Prevention Week.  I call upon all Americans to observe this week by taking actions to safeguard their families from poisonous products, chemicals, and medicines often found in our homes, and to raise awareness of these dangers to prevent accidental injuries and deaths.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
 
 
                             JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

March 19, 2021 Remarks by President Biden at Emory University

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2021
 
Remarks by President Biden at Emory University 
 
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
 
5:54 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Good afternoon.  Sorry we’re a little late, but we had an opportunity to meet with leaders of the AAPI community downstairs, and it was heart wrenching to listen to them. 
 
As many of you know, we originally planned to hold a car rally to thank our supporters.  But given the recent days --events of recent days, we didn’t feel it was appropriate, so we cancelled that rally.  But we want our supporters to know we’ll come back and hold that rally another trip.  But today, we want to speak about something else.
 
I said from the beginning of my campaign for President that we needed to come together; that we needed to unite as one people, one nation, one America.  I said in my kickoff speech in Philadelphia.  I said that very same thing when I spoke at Gettysburg.  I said that in my inaugural address.  And I believe it with every fiber of my being.
 
There are simply some core values and beliefs that should bring us together as Americans.  One of them is standing together against hate, against racism -- the ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation. 
 
The Vice President and I, as I said, met a little bit earlier, just before this, with leaders from the Asian American community here in Georgia. 
 
We talked about Tuesday’s mass shooting, about another example of public health crisis, of gun violence in this country.  Eight people killed, seven women.   Six were of Asian descent.  All fellow Americans.  Each one of them we mourn.
 
Their families are left with broken hearts and unanswered questions.  And the investigation is ongoing.  And the Vice President and I are being regularly updated by the Attorney General and the Director of the FBI, working closely with Governor Kemp and Mayor Bottoms and local officials. 
 
But whatever the motivation, we know this: Too many Asian Americans have been walking up and down the streets and worrying, waking up each morning the past year feeling their safety and the safety of their loved ones are at stake.  They’ve been attacked, blamed, scapegoated, and harassed.  They’ve been verbally assaulted, physically assaulted, killed. 
 
Documented incidents against -- of hate against Asian Americans have seen a skyrocketing spike over the last year, let alone the ones that happened and never get reported.  It’s been a year of living in fear for their lives just to walk down the street.  Grandparents leave -- to leave -- afraid to leave their homes.  Small-business owners targeted and gunned down.  Attacks on some of the most vulnerable people in our nation -- the elderly, low-wage workers, and women. 
 
In fact, Asian American women suffer twice as many incidents of harassment and violence as Asian American men.  We’re learning again what we've always known: Words have consequences.  It’s the coro- -- it’s the coronavirus.  Full stop. 
 
The conversation we had today with the AAPI leaders, and that we’re hearing all across the country, is that hate and violence often hide in plain sight.  And it’s often met with silence.  That’s been true throughout our history, but that has to change -- because our silence is complicity.  We cannot be complicit.  We have to speak out.  We have to act. 
 
In my first week in office, I signed an executive order directing federal agencies to combat this resurgence of xenophobia.  The Department of Justice is strengthening its partnership with the AAPI community to prevent these crimes, in addition to its other work to take on violent extremism and domestic terrorism. 
 
I’m calling on Congress to pass and get my -- to get to my desk the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.  And the House just passed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a law I authored more than 25 years ago and is one of my proudest legislative achievements.  I call on the Senate to swiftly pass it and get it to my desk. 
 
But for all the good that laws can do, we have to change our hearts.  Hate can have no safe harbor in America.  It must stop.  And it’s on all of us -- all of us, together -- to make it stop.
 
Something else should bring us together, and that is a belief in science.  Science isn’t something that should divide us.  There’s nothing political about it.  There’s nothing partisan about it. 
 
One of America’s best examples of commitment to science is headquartered right here in Atlanta: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The CDC represent the best of this nation: brilliant minds, deep faith in science, and a strong commitment to public service.  We came here to thank them for all the work they do, and especially the work they’ve done over the course of this pandemic.  We owe them and their families our gratitude. 
 
And we wanted to convey to them the absolute commitment to give them everything they need to do their work and get it done -- free of politics and guided by science.  And because of them, we’re making real progress.  We just met my goal of administering 100 million shots before my first 100 days in office.  We did it in about 60 days.  We’re not stopping now. 
 
The American Rescue funds more vaccines, more vaccination centers, and more increases in testing.  It’s going to help us accelerate our nationwide effort to reopen schools safely. 
 
Last week, I directed all states, Tribes, and territories to make all adults eligible to be vaccinated no later than May 1.  But while this is a time of optimism, it’s not a time for relaxation.  I need all Americans to keep doing your part: wash your hands, stay socially distanced, keep masking up as recommended by the CDC, and get vaccinated when it’s your turn.
 
None of this is political.  It’s all science-based.  But now is not the time to let down our guard down.  That’s science-based as well. 
 
In the last week, we’ve seen -- we’ve seen increases in the number of cases in several states.  Things may get worse as new variants of the virus spread.  That’s why we need to vaccinate as many people as quickly as we possibly can, because it’s the best thing we can do to fight back against these variants.  We will do -- we have to beat this virus.  We have to, and we will.  But we’ll do it by setting aside politics and embracing science. 
 
On another subject, the right to vote -- that should bring us together as well, but it now divides us.  This is a democracy, and the right to vote is fundamental.  The fact that there was a record turnout in America in the last election, in the midst of a pandemic, should be something we celebrated, not attacked. 
 
The fact that you held a free and fair election in Georgia that stood up to recount after recount, court case after court case, is something you should be proud of. 
 
The fact that your poll workers, your election workers, your volunteers, your local officials, your state officials, your courts stood up to the immense pressure with character and honesty and integrity helped save our democracy.  And this country will long be grateful for it. 
 
But as this state, home to Martin Luther King and John Lewis, knows better than most: The battle for the right to vote is never, ever over.  And it’s not over here, in this state of Georgia. 
 
So we’re in the fight again.  It’s a fight we need to win.  Because if anyone ever doubted that voting matters, Georgia just proved it did.  If anyone ever wondered if one vote can make a difference, Georgia just proved it 11,779 times.  And if anyone ever wondered if voting can change a country, Georgia just proved it can.  Because when you elected two new United States senators, you made it possible to pass the American Rescue Plan. 
 
Landmark legislation will not only meet the emergency we’re in, but transform this nation -- starting with this: For those folks who either already have or will soon have $1,400 in their pockets, you can thank Senators Warnock and Ossoff.  But for their votes, it would not have happened. 
 
What does that mean?  It means 85 percent of the households in America will get that money.  Here in Georgia, it means 88 percent of all adults and 88 percent of the children in this state will get that $1,400 as well.  Just add it up.  A typical family -- two parents, two kids -- earning $100,000 a year, each will get $1,400.  That’s $5,600 for that family that’s in distress trying to figure out how to pay their mortgage, pay their rent, keep food on the table. 
 
And that’s not all.  There’s something called a “child tax credit.”  What that basically means is you get a tax credit for every child you have.  The American Rescue Plan expands that credit.  It means that families of over 2 million children in Georgia will be eligible for an increase in that child tax credit of [up to] $1,600 per year [sic] -- per child.  And it’s going to be delivered on a regular basis. 
 
So, starting this summer, families with young kids will get $300 a month per child.  This is going to lift 177,000 [171,000] children in Georgia out of poverty.
 
The American Rescue Plan expands coverage and reduces costs under the Affordable Care Act.  So for a family of four earning $90,000 per year, with insurance under the Affordable Care Act, they’ll see about $200 a month off their monthly premiums. 
 
And for Georgia’s schools, the American Rescue Plan provides around $4 billion for Georgia’s schoolchildren, grades K through 12, to help them reopen safely. 
 
And here’s one of the biggest things for Georgia: Because of the American Rescue Plan, Georgia is now eligible for about $2 billion to expand Medicaid.  What does that mean?  It means another 500,000 Georgians will be covered all across this state with Medicaid that don’t have it now. 
 
For your state and local governments, this is what it does: State government will get around $5 billion to make up for lost revenue.  Local governments will get around $3.5 billion.  That’s going to make it possible to keep a lot of police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other first responders on the job. 
 
And here’s one final thing the American Rescue Plan does: For the first time in a long time, it puts the working families, the middle class -- people who built this country -- first, not last.
 
Sixty-six percent of the tax breaks in this plan go to folks making $90,000 or less a year.  And how much for the top 1 percent -- where 83 percent of all of the tax cut -- it was the last President’s tax cut?  Zero.  The top 1 percent get zero. 
 
But the American Rescue Plan isn’t only about putting money in the pockets -- people’s pockets.  It also will create and spur economic growth in America.  That’s why major economists -- left, right, and center -- support this plan.  Even Wall Street agrees.  According to Moody’s, this law will help America create 7 million new jobs by the end of the year.  And we’ll do it by rebuilding the backbone of this nation: the working people, the middle class -- the people who built this country.  
 
It’s about giving those people a fair shot, for a change. It’s about providing and proving to the American people that their government works and can deliver for them, which brings me to my last point. 
 
The American Rescue Plan is a plan that brings America together and benefits all America.  That’s why so many polls show that over 70 percent of the country support it, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents.  Maybe Republicans in Washington didn’t vote for it, but the American Rescue Plan sure has brought the country together.  And, for me, that measure of unity, that’s what matters.
 
Let me end with this: There is so much we can do if we do it together; if we remember who we are; if we stand together against hate; once again believe and invest in science; if we stand up for the right of all Americans to vote and have access to voting; if we remember we’re here to help all the people of this country, not just those few at the top; if we remember to do justice, love mercy, to walk humbly as fellow human beings and as fellow Americans; if we remember we’re the United States of America and that, together, there is nothing -- not a single thing -- we cannot do if we do it together. 
 
My heart goes out to all -- all the family members who lost someone in those horrific shootings on Tuesday.  I know they feel that -- like there's a black hole in their chest they're being sucked into and things will never get better.  But our prayers are with you.  And I assure you the one you’ve lost will always be with you.  Always be with you.  And the day will come when their memory brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye, as unbelievable as that is now.  It will take a while, but I promise you it will come.  And when it does, that’s the day you know you're going to make it.   
 
May God bless all those families.  May God protect our troops.  Thank you very much.
 
6:10 P.M. EDT
 

March 19, 2021 Remarks by President Biden and Vice President Harris During a Briefing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2021
 
Remarks by President Biden and Vice President Harris During a Briefing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Atlanta, Georgia
 
2:17 P.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  You know, one of the things that caught my attention -- and I think we talked about this very early on, within the first six weeks of the virus becoming where it -- everybody, and people starting to get sick, and some of them die.  And -- was I got a call from a mayor -- a really great guy, a real hardworking fellow in Detroit -- saying to me, “Mr. President, you don't understand.”  This was even before -- I wasn’t President then, actually.  He called me, “Mr. Vice President.”  He said, “You know, I don't think people understand.  You know, my community is now about 80 percent African American.  And we're dying and getting sick at a much higher rate than the white community here, or any other community.”
 
And I brought that up, initially, before I put together that group that you're leading and helping lead, and no one wanted to hear it.  And I remember they -- we had trouble getting your predecessors to track it.  But what you’re doing really makes a difference.  It makes a gigantic difference.  As the Vice President knows as well or better than anybody, it really, really makes a difference.  So, thank you. 
 
DR. LIBURD:  Thank you.  Dr. Walensky?  Thank you so much.
 
DR. WALENSKY:  Any other questions for us?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, but why are y’all standing?  (Laughter.)
 
That’s the first one.  You don’t have to stand for us.  Why don’t you sit down?  For real.  Get comfortable. 
 
PARTICIPANT:  No chair.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  No, they have chairs.  They have chairs.  (Laughter.)  But, you know, that’s -- that’s the first question.
 
And the second question is, why did only one person clap?  I don’t know.  They might take that (inaudible).  You know what I mean?  (Laughter.)  I’m teasing.  I’m teasing.  (Applause.) 
 
The reason I do this, as the Doc knows -- you all are too serious here -- we owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude, and we will for a long, long, long time, because I hope this is the beginning of the end of not paying attention to what's going to come again and again and again and again. 
 
We can build all the walls we want.  We can have the most powerful armies in the world, but we can’t -- but we cannot stop -- we cannot stop these viruses, other than be aware of where they are and move quickly on them when we find them. 
 
And the one thing that I -- the reason I am so, so happy to have been able to -- anyway -- to have Doc here is that science is back. 
 
No, all kidding aside.  Think about it: For the longest time, not just -- not just as it relates to CDC, but science -- science was viewed as -- as sort of an appendage to anything else we were talking about.  But it's back.
 
And I just want you to have some confidence that
it's not only -- are the Vice President and I and the whole team, and the whole COVID team writ-large committed, but the American people have moved.  The American people have moved. This is a bipartisan effort now.  Now, it isn't showing itself in the way senators and congressmen vote, but the public -- the public.  We were talking about it on a -- on a helicop- -- on the airplane.  The public, in a bipartisan way. 
 
When I came up with this $1.9 billion for this whole COVID -- and the economic relief side of it as well -- we were told that it could never pass; we’d never get any help.  Well, we didn't get any help in the Senate or the House, but you have 55 percent of the Republicans in America supporting it.  You have 90-some percent of the Democrats, 80-some --
 
The point is, the public is thankful to you, because it's about science.  That's what they understand.  They understand. 
 
And we're not going back to the old days.  Even if tomorrow the whole administration changed, I think things have -- you've changed things.  You've changed them in a way that are going to make everybody healthier in this country.  And when we have a crisis, you're prepared to meet it because you speak truth and science to power, and that is -- that is the power.
 
So, to all of the folks listening -- I guess you said there's hundreds or if not thousands of people listening:
 
DR. WALKE:  Yes.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you. 
 
There's an entire generation coming up that is learning from what you've done.  I don't just mean learning about how to deal with a virus.  Learning about it makes a difference to tell the truth, to follow the science, and just wherever it takes you, and just be honest about it.  And that's what you've all done. 
 
So we owe you a debt of gratitude in all the lives you’ve saved.  I carry in my pocket -- and the Doc knows -- on the back of my schedule, I have listed every single day with the exact number of people who have died from COVID the day before.  I mean for cumulative.  We’re at 535,217 dead as of yesterday, last night.
 
It's got to stop.  But you're slowing it.  It’s stopping.
And it really, really matters.  You know, that's more people than have died in all of World War -- Americans -- all of World War One, World War Two, the Vietnam War, and 9/11 combined -- combined -- in a year.  In a year. 
 
And you are the Army.  You're the Navy.  You're the Marines.  You're the Coast Guard.  I really mean it.  This is a war.  You are the frontline troops.  It sounds silly to say it that way.  It sounds sort of grand.  But think about it.
 
And, finally, we got the vaccines.  We got the companies together.  And then they didn't have the wherewithal to be able to produce all the vaccines.
 
So there's a thing called the Defense Production Act.  As President, I'm allowed to enforce it.  So I had people saying, “Stop making that, and start making these.”
 
We finally put together -- did you ever think you'd see the day -- because you've all been involved with medicine -- see two major drug companies cooperate for the good of the country?  One invent -- one come up with the drug, and the other say, “Well, we'll manufacture it for you”?
 
So what -- what you're doing really, really, really matters, not only -- and I'll end with this -- not only in saving lives, but changing the mindset of the country.  Changing the mindset of the country.  And it’s affected everything, not just affected people's health.  It’s affected their attitude -- the attitude about what we can do as a country.
 
Everybody thought that I was -- I didn't quite understand when I announced that we were going to -- we had over 100 million shots in less than -- you remember when I said we're going to -- my goal was to have 100 million shots in people's arms in the first 100 days as President?  And everybody said, “Oh, that sounds -- yeah, right.”  Now it's, “He should have been more -- have been, you know…”  (Laughter.)  “Why didn’t they say more?”  You know what I mean? 
 
But here's the point: The point is that it is changing the way we look at a whole range of things.  And when I announced it, everybody but the Vice President wondered why I also pointed out that we landed a rover on Mars at the same time: Because this is the United States of America, for God’s sake.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing we cannot do when we do it together.  And that's what you're showing everybody.
 
So I came to say thank you.  I really mean it.  I have a whole lot of nice notes on here about the science, but -- (laughter) -- but I came here to say thank you, because you're not only -- you're changing the psyche of the country.  You're saving lives.  You're saving lives.  But you're changing the psyche of the country.
 
And this is, as I said -- it's not being -- I don't -- I don't think we're being chauvinistic about our country, but this is -- think about it: We're the only country in the world that has, every time we've gone into a crisis, have come out stronger immediately after the crisis than when we went in before the crisis.  Think about it.  It’s about who we are. 
 
Closing comment: I was with Xi Jinping -- China.  I spent more time with him, I'm told, than any world leader -- because when he was Vice President, I was Vice President.
 
His President and mine wanted us to get to know one another because it was clear he was going to become the President.  And I spent -- traveled 17,000 miles with him in China, in the United States, and Asia generally, and met with him, I guess, they tell me, 24, 25 hours alone, just me and an interpreter, and he and an interpreter.  And, by the way, I handed in all my notes.  (Laughter.)  Minor point.
 
But all kidding aside, he asked me -- we were on the Tibetan Plateau.  He asked me and said to me, “Can you define America for me?”  And I said, “Yeah, in one word.  And I mean it -- in one word: possibilities.”  Possibilities.  That’s what you guys believe in: possibilities, based on science and hard data.
 
And so I just thank you for not only your intellectual skills, but your heart -- your heart, your determination.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 
 
And I shouldn't have done that because I wanted to yield to my Vice President, who’s smarter than I am.
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, there's not much to add to that, Mr. President.  (Laughter.)
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, just sorry.
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, I -- but I will say that I do believe that this administration, with the leadership of our President, is without any question about science. 
 
And everyone here knows, before the President was President, he was dedicated to science -- the Moonshot.  And so -- and my mother was a scientist.  I grew up -- the first job I had -- little-known fact -- was cleaning pipettes at her lab.  I was awful.  She fired me.  (Laughter.) 
 
And then there was this moment of global crisis.  And the President takes calls with leaders around the world.  We talk with people around the world.  And they have named their centers of disease control after this center of disease control.  They put their -- the name of their country, and they call it “CDC.” 
 
You all are a model for the world around what can be done based on a pursuit of that which will uplift and improve human condition and life.  And you guys do this work around the clock. 
 
And so we are here to say thank you -- because it's not easy. You're making difficult decisions right now, some of the most difficult, but you're making those decisions based on science, based on hard work, and based on a commitment to the public health.  And therein lies part of the nobility of your work. 
 
You do this work on behalf of people you will never meet, on behalf of people who will never know your names because you care about our country and their wellbeing.  So we are here to thank you.  Thank you.
 
2:29 P.M. EDT
 

March 19, 2021 Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2021
 
Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
Via Teleconference 

12:34 P.M. EDT
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Well, thank you for joining us today.  Today we’ll get a state-of-the-pandemic update from Dr. Walensky, and Dr. Fauci will highlight the latest science. 
 
But first, I want to start with the important announcement the President made yesterday.  We reached our 100 million shots goal in just 58 days, weeks ahead of schedule.  Achieving this goal is a direct result of deliberate, aggressive actions guided by the President’s whole-of-government national strategy to end the pandemic.
 
Now, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we will have the resources to fully implement this strategy and put the pandemic behind us.  I’m currently at a community health center in New York City where I joined Leader Schumer on a tour of the Ryan Health Center to see what’s working, thank the folks on the frontlines, and hear what else we can do to support them.
 
I also want to thank Leader Schumer for his critical leadership in passing the American Rescue Plan.
 
Today, I’ll give a brief update on our three-part strategy on vaccinations.  First, more vaccine supply.  Second, more vaccinators in the field.  And third, more places to get vaccinated.
 
On vaccine supply, the President has taken aggressive action to move up the production timelines for all three vaccines -- Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.  As a result, by the end of May, we will have enough vaccine for every adult in the United States. 
 
This week, about 22 million doses went out to states, Tribes, and territories, and through the federal channels, including pharmacies and community health centers.  That’s more than two and a half times the weekly supply that was being distributed when we took office.
 
On vaccinators in the field, we've deployed nearly 6,000 federal personnel to serve as vaccinators and support vaccinations, including over 2,000 active-duty military men and women.  At the President's direction, that number will grow to more than 6,000 active-duty troops over the coming weeks.
 
On places to get vaccinated, we've increased the number of convenient and trusted places for people to get a shot.  We’ve provided federal support for more than 600 community vaccination sites.  We've administered more than 1 million shots at federally run community vaccination sites across the country.  And more than 60 percent of those vaccinations have been administered to minority populations.  That includes two sites right here in New York City: one in Brooklyn and one in Queens.  And the American Rescue Plan will allow us to continue to increase the number of community vaccination centers. 
 
We launched the Federal Pharmacy Program, which has allowed millions of Americans to get a shot in their local pharmacy the same way they get their flu shot.  Last week, the President committed to doubling the number of pharmacies participating in the program.  Already, people can get vaccinated at one of 14,000 pharmacies around the nation.  For Americans who aren't near a pharmacy or a community vaccination center, we’ve supported more than 500 mobile clinics to meet people where they are. 
 
And today, I'm at the Ryan Health Center.  Community health centers like Ryan Health serve 30 million people; 60 percent are people of color, and two-thirds of patients are below the poverty line.  The administration is already sending vaccines directly to 250 of these community health centers.  By the end of April, we will deliver vaccines to an additional 700 community health centers.  This work is a result of the Biden administration's partnership with state and local officials, federal workers, and the nonprofit and private sectors, and it is leading to significant progress.
 
As you can see in our weekly vaccination progress report, the current seven-day average is 2.5 million shots per day -- 2.5 million shots per day.  That's a new record pace that we will continue to build on.  Importantly, now two out of three adults age 65 and older have gotten at least their first shot.  This is critical because 80 percent of COVID deaths have been individuals 65 and over.
 
Given our progress on increasing supply, coupled with increasing the number of vaccinators in the field and creating more places to get vaccinated, the President announced last week that all adults in the country will be eligible for vaccinations no later than May 1.  All adults eligible no later than May 1.
 
Finally, I want to provide an update on how we are working with our North American partners on efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 across the continent.  As part of the national strategy to end the pandemic, the United States is committed to engaging with the international community and supporting global efforts to address public health and humanitarian concerns. Under the President's direction, the U.S. reengaged with the WHO on day one of his presidency.  We committed to providing the most funding to COVAX than any country in the world: $4 billion.
 
We also announced with our Quad partners last week that we are working to achieve expanded manufacturing of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at facilities in India.
 
And now, given our visibility into vaccine supply in the U.S., we're able to announce that we're lending a portion of our releasable AstraZeneca vaccines to Mexico and to Canada. 
 
Our approach to this wartime effort is to have as many tools in our toolkit as possible.  Right now, we have three effective vaccines that went through a rigorous review process to be authorized by the FDA.  We have other vaccines going through that process now, including one from AstraZeneca. 
 
As we await the results of these trials here in the U.S., many countries have already approved AstraZeneca but need more supply.  That includes Canada and Mexico. 
 
So balancing the need to let the approval process of the AstraZeneca vaccine take place here in the U.S., with the importance of helping to stop the spread in other countries, we will loan a portion of our releasable AstraZeneca vaccine to Mexico and Canada.  This action will allow our neighbors to meet a critical vaccination need in their countries, providing more protection immediately across the North American continent.  In total, we will loan Mexico and Canada around 4 million doses. 
 
To be clear: This loan will not reduce the available supply of vaccines to Americans.  The doses we are loaning are not approved for use in the United States.  No American will be without a vaccine because of this action.
 
And with that, I'll turn it over to Dr. Walensky.  Dr. Walensky?
 
DR. WALENSKY:  Thank you, Jeff.  I’m glad to be back with you all today.  Let’s begin with the data.
 
COVID-19 cases continue to remain between 50- and 60,000 cases per day, with the most recent seven-day average at 53,200 cases per day.  The most recent seven-day average of hospital admissions is slightly below 4,700 admissions per day, similar to the seven-day average we had on Monday.  Deaths continue to decline with the current seven-day average of 1,025 deaths per day.
 
Today, I want to talk about a top priority for us at CDC and for me as a parent: CDC’s efforts to support the safe reopening of schools for in-person instruction.  We have frequently said CDC believes schools should be the last place to close and the first place to open. 
 
The benefits of in-person instruction are well recognized.  As a mother of three myself, I know all too well the difficulties that arise for our children -- and parents and caregivers -- when children are not able to attend in person for school.  These challenges are especially difficult for children and families from low-resourced communities, as well as those from racial and ethnic minority communities and those with disabilities. 
 
Safe in-person instruction gives our children access to the critical, social, and mental health services that prepare them for the future, in addition to the vital educational needs that they need to succeed.
 
When I became CDC Director, I promised that I would lead with science.  To rebuild trust in our public health institutions and to keep people safe, it's critical to make decisions based on evidence and facts.  On February 12th, CDC released our operational strategy for K-12 schools, based on the latest science at the time, to help schools open and remain open for safe in-person learning. 
 
The science told us then, just as it tells us now, that K-12 schools that implement strong, layered prevention strategies can operate safely while protecting teachers, staff, and students.  We've seen data demonstrating that this is safe, even in areas of high community spread. 
 
CDC’s operational strategy focuses on five key layered mitigation measures for schools conducting in-person learning. These include universal and correct use of masks, physical distancing, hand washing, and respiratory etiquette, cleaning to maintain healthy facilities, and diagnostic testing with rapid and efficient contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine, and in collaboration with local health departments.
 
When we released the operational strategy, I said that CDC was going to follow the science and would update our guidance as new evidence emerged.  This is essential since the science of COVID-19 is rapidly changing with new data emerging every week.
 
Since the initial release, CDC scientists have been actively reviewing the latest science and conducting their own studies to expand the evidence base, and we now have new information to help us refine our recommendations, specifically for physical distancing. 
 
Last week, the Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases published a study that looked at COVID-19 in 251 Massachusetts school districts over a four-month period of time.  It found that physical distancing of at least three feet between students could safely be adopted in school settings when everyone -- students and staff -- wore a mask at all times.  And today, CDC is publishing three new studies in the MMWR that add to this evidence base. 
 
One study looked at data from Utah elementary schools and found that COVID-19 spread was low with students placed less than six feet apart in classrooms, even though levels of virus spread in the community were high.
 
Another report examined data from kindergarten classrooms in Springfield and St. Louis, Missouri.  This study found that transmission occurred at lower rates in classrooms than in the community because the schools used multiple layered prevention strategies together.
 
And the third study looked at COVID-19 rates among students in Florida and found that 60 percent of cases in students were not related to spread in schools.  It also found that resuming in-person activity was not associated with proportionate increase in COVID-19 cases.  Importantly, this study also found that COVID-19 rates were higher among students in school districts that did not have mandatory mask-use policies in place. 
 
Layered mitigation strategies, including strict use of masks among students and a distance of at least three feet between students, were common factors among the schools in these studies that demonstrated decreased transmission from COVID-19.  This additional evidence continues to underscore why it is so important for schools to use layered prevention strategies to provide the greatest level of protection. 
 
So, in light of the expanded evidence on physical distancing, today, CDC is pleased to update our recommendations for physical distancing between students and classrooms in our K-12 operational strategy.  Specifically, in elementary schools, CDC is now recommending that all students remain at least six feet apart in classrooms where everyone is wearing a mask, regardless of whether community COVID-19 risk is low, medi- -- intermediate -- low, moderate, substantial, or high.
 
In middle and high schools, CDC is also recommending that students be at least three feet apart in classrooms where everyone is wearing a mask and the community level of risk is low, moderate, or substantial.  Because COVID-19 is spread more likely among older students, CDC recommends that middle and high school students should be at least six feet apart in communities where COVID 19 risk is high, unless cohorting is possible.
 
Cohorting is when groups of students are kept together with the same peers and staff, without close interaction with other groups or cohorts, to reduce the risk of spread throughout the school.  We recognize that cohorting is harder in high school students, but the science indicates that these students are also at higher risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2. 
 
I want to emphasize that these recommendations are specific to students in classrooms with universal mask wearing.  CDC continues to recommend at least six feet of distance between teachers and staff and other adults in the school buildings and between the adults and students.
 
In common areas in the school, when masks cannot be worn -- such as when eating, during activities such as singing, band practice, sports, exercise, and other activities that can increase exhalation -- these activities should be moved outdoors or to large, well-ventilated spaces when possible.  And six feet should also be used in community settings outside the classroom.
 
Today's announcement builds on our ongoing efforts to support teachers, school, staff, and students, as well as our work and educational and public health stakeholders to provide the guidance, tools, and resources to get our nation's schools open as quickly and safely as possible.  This includes our plan to invest $10 billion to support COVID-19 diagnostic and screening testing for teachers, staff, and students -- which we announced on Wednesday -- and our ongoing work to get teachers and school staff vaccinated during the month of March through more than 9,000 pharmacies in our Federal Retail Pharmacy program that are now prioritizing vaccination appointments for teachers and staff who work in K-12 schools. 
 
If you are an eligible educator or school staff member and have not yet been vaccinated, I encourage you to go to CDC.gov to learn more about how you can sign up for an appointment through this program.
 
I'm hopeful that we are turning a corner on this pandemic. Getting our children back to school, in-person instruction, as soon as possible, is a critical first step in doing so.  I'm grateful to all the scientists who have produced the evidence to address the key question, such as the distance required to remain safe, so that we can move quickly to this end.
 
Thank you.  I look forward to your questions, and I'll now turn things over to Dr. Fauci.
 
DR. FAUCI:  Thank you very much, Dr. Walensky.  I’d like to spend the next couple of minutes in addressing an issue which is on the forefront of the minds of many people, and that relates to the threat of a variant of concern, particularly the B117 variant, which, right now, as we know, is causing a significant degree of concern in Europe where the flare and the surge that they are seeing is directly related to the variant 117. 
 
This variant, as you know, is every day getting more and more dominant in our own country.  So, very first, let me take just a few seconds to refresh your memory about the variant.  It was first detected in the UK in December of 2020.  It was reported in over 90 countries.  The first U.S. cases were detected in the United States, in Colorado, at the end of December of 2020.  And since then, it has been detected in 50 jurisdictions in the United States, and likely accounts now for about 20 to 30 percent of the infections in this country, and that number is growing. 
 
Next slide.
 
So what I want to do, again, is take a look, first, of the concern that we have and then some encouraging news, and then I'll end with a caveat.  Of concern is that there are about 50 percent increase in transmission with this particular variant that has been documented in the UK, and there’s likely an increase in severity of disease if infected with this variant.
 
Next slide.
 
This is an example of that.  If you look at the daily confirmed cases in certain selected European countries over a period of time -- and as you can see, the last date on this slide is March 17th -- this is what I referred to previously about the surges that are going on in Europe at a time when we've reached this point of plateauing that Dr. Walensky mentioned to you, where we're now at 53,200 cases per day on a seven-day average.  This strongly suggests that there's an increase in transmissibility in the European countries associated with 117.
 
What about severity of disease?  Next slide.  In a couple of UK studies, this one, looking at over 54,000 matched pairs of participants in the UK, in which one person was infected with the B117 and another one with the previously circulating variant, there was a 64 percent increased risk of death for those with the B117. 
 
Next slide.
 
In this similar study in the UK, there was about 5,000 deaths that were analyzed where there was the presence or absence of 117.  And again, an estimated 61 percent higher risk of death with B117. 
 
Next slide.
 
What about some encouraging news?  There has been a minimal impact on viral neutralization by EUA monoclonal antibodies.  And importantly, for what we are doing in the United States with vaccines, there's been a minimal impact on viral neutralization either by convalescent plasma or, importantly, by post-vaccination sera. 
 
Next slide.
 
And so, on this last slide, as you can see with Israel as an example where the B117 predominates, as their vaccine doses into the arms of individuals increase, you're seeing a very dramatic and steady diminution of cases, which is underscoring the effect and the capability of the currently utilized vaccines against 117. 
 
With that encouraging note, I want to end with a big caveat.  The way we can counter 117, which is a growing threat in our country, is to do two things: to get as many people vaccinated as quickly and as expeditiously as possible with the vaccine that we know works against this variant; and finally, to implement the public health measures that we talk about all the time and that was on Dr. Walensky’s slide: masking, physical distancing, and avoiding congregate settings, particularly indoors.
 
I'll stop there, and back to Jeff.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Thank you, Dr. Fauci.  And before we open up it for questions, I spoke at the beginning about reaching the President's goal to administer 100 million shots in his first 100 days, and we accomplished that in just 58 days. 
 
This week, we've also announced a number of steps to help deliver on the President's goal to get our schools reopened.  As Dr. Walensky just discussed, the CDC continues to work to update its guidance for schools, as the science evolves.
 
Earlier this week, we announced that schools will receive $10 billion in funding for testing programs and nearly $130 billion to help schools invest in mitigation strategies, like PPE, additional space, hiring more teachers.  And at the President's direction, we're also working to get all educators vaccinated. 
 
With that, we'll open it up for a few questions.
 
MODERATOR:  All right.  And I know there's a lot of questions today, so please keep your questions to one question.
 
First, we'll go to Anne Flaherty at ABC.
 
Q    Hi, thanks for taking my question.  Dr. Walensky, can you address the criticism by some of the unions that the research that you're looking at in schools does not address underfunded urban schools? 
 
And on the testing -- you've encouraged testing, but these tests -- these rapid tests are not widely available on the market, even with the additional $10 billion.  How soon before schools can test?
 
DR. WALENSKY:  Yeah, thank you for that question, Anne.  You know, we have now increasing evidence for many different school settings that did not control for ventilation, as to demonstrating that it is safe in classrooms, when 100 percent masked, to be at three feet. 
 
And so, you know, what I would say is, you know, we are following the science, and we have done the science, and we've seen the science to make -- to ensure that this is safe for those schools.
 
Our strategies for mitigation, when layered with integration strategies that we have demonstrated, talk about distancing, masking, as well as respiratory etiquette, hand washing, and contact tracing.  We have added, indeed, layered mitigation strategies -- further layered mitigation strategies for both ventilation as well as testing and teacher vaccination.
 
So while we don't believe those to be essential, all of those are scaling up simultaneously through the American Rescue Plan.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Next question.
 
MODERATOR:  Next we'll go to Erin Billups at Spectrum News.
 
Q    Hi, thanks for taking my question.  So a growing number of studies are finding that the second shot of the mRNA vaccines are unnecessary for people previously infected with COVID-19.  In France, they've changed their policy based on this.  Are there any discussions happening to consider a change in dosing policy for the U.S. in light of these findings, particularly because research is showing that second doses are effectively wasted on those with pre-existing immunity?
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Let's go to Dr. Fauci.  Dr. Fauci?
 
DR. FAUCI:   Yeah.  Yes, there's no doubt that for the preliminary studies that we have seen right now, that vaccination of an individual who has been previously infected has a much greater increment in the level of neutralizing antibodies, compared to an individual who has just been vaccinated and received a second dose. 
 
Now, obviously, the places that are now looking at that are those that have a true paucity of vaccine doses.  But as you've heard from Jeff, just recently, we are now at a position where we are giving between 2 and 3 million doses a day.  If there were a dramatic shortage, I think that's something that you would want to consider, but that's not something that we'll be making a policy about soon. 
 
Thanks.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  And, importantly, we have enough doses now, driven by the President's action, for all adult Americans by the end of May. 
 
Next question.
 
MODERATOR:  Next we’ll going to Michael Wilner at McClatchy.  
 
Q    Thanks, everyone, for doing this.  I'd like to ask about these FEMA-run federal mass vaccination sites and clarify some confusion I'm hearing that's out there.  In Florida, we understand that the sites are now transitioning to only administering second doses and will then close up shop. 
 
So two questions, specifically one on Florida.  Are those mass sites closing?  And then, secondly and more broadly, are all of these federal mass vaccination sites intended to stand up for only a couple of weeks at a time?  Thanks.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  You know, I don't know the specifics on Florida.  We can follow up on that.  But I can say, across the board, these sites are really an important opportunity to increase the number of places where Americans can get vaccinated. 
 
And as I said in my opening comments, we're now well over a million shots -- doses administered at the federal sites.  The federal sites are seen as very well run.  And, importantly, not only efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines, but doing so in an equitable way. 
 
So, the plan is for the federal sites to continue.  We'll get back to you with any specifics on the Florida site. 
 
Next question.
 
MODERATOR:  Next we'll go to Kaitlan Collins at CNN.
 
Q    Thank you very much.  I have a question for Jeff and a question for Dr. Walensky.  Jeff, can you just explain what is -- what do you mean by “loan,” when you're saying that we're loaning vaccines to Mexico and to Canada -- these AstraZeneca vaccines?  Does that mean that they're going to reimburse the U.S. for these or return this amount of AstraZeneca doses?  Could you just explain that? 
 
And then, Dr. Walensky, could you say: Was the CDC pressured by teachers unions not to change this guidance to three feet from six feet in school?
 
MR. ZIENTS:  So thank you, Kaitlan.  The structure of a loan, that's what makes most sense, given what we're balancing here, which is helping our global partners while they have a critical need and we await the results of the clinical trials here in the U.S. and FDA action on AstraZeneca in the next several weeks.
 
So this arrangement helps Canada and Mexico, in the moment, meet that critical need, while ensuring that they return those doses through the company -- through AstraZeneca -- later in the year.
 
Dr. Walensky?
 
DR. WALENSKY:  Great.  Yeah, thank you, Kaitlan, for that question.  First, let me just acknowledge what the teachers have had to do this year in the context of COVID-19, and how they have had to evolve their thinking and their curricula, and how they teach their students in, truly, an overwhelming and challenging time.
 
I've spoken to the teachers unions.  They know that we need to follow the science and to make our guidance based on that science, and they've been very respectful of that.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Next question.
 
MODERATOR:  Next we’ll go to Kristen Welker at NBC.
 
Q    Hi, everyone.  Thanks for doing the call.   Can you address the fact that there has been an uptick in cases in some states?  New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island -- to name just a few.  Why do you assess this is happening now, given the fact that people are getting vaccinated?  And how concerned are you about it? 
 
And can you just be crystal clear why is it okay for kids to be three feet apart but adults in the workplace, for example, still need to be six feet apart?  Thank you.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  So let's have Dr. Fauci answer the first question about increases in some states and Dr. Walensky on three versus six feet. 
 
Dr. Fauci.
 
DR. FAUCI:  Yeah, thank you very much, Jeff.  Yes, that’s an excellent question, and it really relates to what we have been saying on the past few briefings that we've given.
 
We’re at a position right now where we have a plateauing at around 53,000 cases per day.  The concern is that throughout the country, there are a number of state, city, regions that are pulling back on some of the mitigation methods that we've been talking about: the withdrawal of mask mandates, the pulling back to essentially non-public health measures being implemented.  This is something that each of us have expressed concern about that is really quite risky to declare victory before you have the level of infection in the community to a much, much lower level than 53,000 cases per day. 
 
So it is unfortunate but not surprising to me that you are seeing increases in number of cases per day in areas -- cities, states, or regions -- even though vaccines are being distributed at a pretty good clip of 2 to 3 million per day.  That could be overcome if certain areas pull back prematurely on the mitigation and public health measures that we all talk about.
 
DR. WALENSKY:  Maybe I'll chime in -- thank you for that question, Kristen -- that the evidence shows that the risk of COVID-19 transmission among younger children is much lower than it is among teenagers and adults.  And in particular, our school studies have shown that when children -- young children -- are masked, the distance of three feet is, in fact, safe and has a lower transmission risk.
 
For adults, we don't have that evidence, and for older children, and so we're continuing with the six foot guidance.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  I just want to reiterate what the President said yesterday, which is consistent with what Dr. Fauci just said, which is: It is a time for optimism but not a time for relaxation.  We need to follow the basic public health standards.  We need to mask up, and then we need to make sure everyone gets their vaccine when it's their turn.  We cannot let down our guard at this point. 
 
Kevin, one more question.
 
MODERATOR:  One more question.  We'll go to April Ryan with theGrio.
 
Q    Thank you for letting me ask this question.  What are the concerns with the variant and its severity as it relates to school-aged children?  We're understanding that the variants are hitting the children harder than the original strain.  And how does this play into these new guidelines for schools and the distancing -- three feet apart?  Thank you.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Let's start with Dr. Fauci on the variant in kids and then over to you, Dr. Walensky. 
 
DR. FAUCI:   Well, yes.  Obviously, as I mentioned in one of the first slides that I showed, that there is an increase in severity, but also, it appears that the likelihood of a child getting infected is greater with this variant.  That might relate not to anything specific about children, but that it is just, in general, more easily transmitted.  So that would explain that. 
 
Regarding the school situation, I'll hand that back to Dr. Walensky.
 
DR. WALENSKY:  And what we can say is that it is, in fact -- while these variants are concerning, it is, in fact, the same disease and the same mitigation strategies -- the masking, the distancing -- work just the same with the variants as they do with the wild-type disease.
 
MR. ZIENTS:  Good.  Well, thank you, everybody, for joining us.  We'll look forward to Monday's briefing.  Thank you.
 
1:07 P.M. EDT



To view the COVID Press Briefing slides, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/COVID-Press-Briefing_19March2021_for-transcript.pdf

March 19, 2021 Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

 

The White House Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2021
 
Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre

Aboard Air Force One
En Route Atlanta, Georgia
12:04 P.M. EDT
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It’s good to see everybody.  Okay. 
 
Given the tragic shooting this week, we made changes to the schedule today.  President Biden and Vice President Harris have postponed the previously planned political event for a future date.  
 
The President and the Vice President will be meeting with state legislators and community advocates from the Georgia Asian American and Pacific Islander community.  They will have an opportunity to hear about the impact on their community of Tuesday's heartbreaking, senseless acts of violence, as well as their perspectives on increased anti-Asian hate incidents. 
 
The President will offer his support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and across the country, and talk about his fierce commitment to combatting xenophobia, intolerance, and hate. 
 
The President and the Vice President will also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where they will receive an update from health and medical experts who are helping lead the fight against the pandemic. 
 
Throughout the day, the President and the Vice President will meet with Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock, Senator Jon Ossoff, and Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and also Stacey Abrams.
 
Today, the Department of Education took steps to grant full relief to borrowers and approved “defense to repayment” claims to date, where we determined that their institutions engaged in misconduct against them.  There are tens of thousands of borrowers whom Education Department determined were harmed by their institution, sometimes years ago.  But too many had been blocked from getting substantial assistance due to formulas for partial relief adopted by the prior administration. 
 
We are rescinding those formulas, and we will be working quickly to grant full relief to borrowers where a careful review of the evidence showed by -- showed they were taken advantage of. 
      
Full relief under the regulations will be granted to borrowers with approved claims to date.  The ultimate effect of this change will be full cancellation of an estimated 72,000 borrowers, discharging $1 billion in loans. 
 
This is the Department’s first step in addressing borrower defense claims as well as the underlying regulations.  The Department will be pursuing additional actions, including re-regulation, in the future. 
 
Next week, the President will continue communicating directly and clearly with Americans about [how] the American Rescue Plan is helping them and their families, and making sure they understand how to utilize benefits available to them.
 
As Jen said yesterday, on Tuesday -- the anniversary of the Affordable Care Act being signed into law -- President Biden will travel to Columbus, Ohio, as part of the Help Is Here tour. While there, he will highlight how the American Rescue Plan will lower healthcare costs for many American families. 
 
On Tuesday [Wednesday], the President will host an event to mark Equal Pay Day. 
 
On Thursday, the President will hold a formal press conference in the afternoon, as you all know about already. 
 
Throughout the week, the Vice President, First Lady, and Second Gentleman will also travel for the Help Is Here tour.  On Monday, the Vice President will travel to Jacksonville, Florida, and the Second Gentleman will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, for an event with Secretary Vilsack.  More trips will be announced over the coming days. 
 
     All right.  Jonathan, you want to kick us off?
 
     Q    Thanks, Karine.  Welcome aboard.  I want to start with -- if you can give us a little more of the about today's events, in particular the President's message to the Asian American community, many of whom have expressed real fears about a rise in hate crimes and who have expressed frustration that this one has not been categorized as a hate crime and that other incidents have not as well.  What is he going to say to them? And does he believe that more should be done to classify these as biased incidents?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Well, the first thing is, as you know, he's going to meet with the Asian American/Pacific Islander -- do a meeting with the local elected.  So he'll have a conversation there.  And I think, there, he's going to hear from them about the impact of this violent incident that we saw just a couple days ago, as you all know, in the community, and more broadly, their perspective on the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents. 
 
The President will offer their -- his support to the community in Georgia and across the country, and highlight his commitment to combatting xenophobia, intolerance, and hate, as well as establish -- establishing -- the establishment in his executive order that he actually announced on January 26.
 
The President -- you know, he understands.  He understands and knows the past year -- that the community has been vilified, they've been scapegoated, and they've been attacked.  And so he is going to speak -- he's going -- he has -- he’s spoken to the nation, as we know, last week.  He made sure that, in his remarks, he lifted up the anti-AAPI hate that they have seen the last -- the past year, and he called it out. 
 
And so this is what he will continue to do -- to continue to make sure that he's talking to the -- make sure that he's communicating that to the community. 
 
And not only that -- as I was talking about the executive order -- in that executive order, he directed the DOJ to do everything that they can to end this violence and protect the community. 
 
And so they have been doing that.  The DOJ has started doing listening sessions with the community on this issue.  And also, HHS was part of that executive order.  We just confirmed the Secretary there, so we will see more action coming from them as well.
 
As far as his remarks, I can give you a little bit of what he'll be talking about in his remarks today.  Give me a second. 
 
So, as you all know, given the horrible incidents, things have changed.  So he's going to, you know, address the issue broadly in his remarks, and you can expect the President to meet the moment that we are in.  So, very similar to the AAPI meeting, but this one he’ll actually do this by addressing -- by, in a public way, making sure that the country knows what he has to say while he's in Atlanta.
 
Q    Let me just ask you one about the events yesterday in
Alaska with the meeting with the Chinese officials.  Obviously, it got very heated at times.  One of the things that's come up is: China has failed to live up to their promised U.S. imports from the trade agreement done with the previous administration.  Does the Biden administration plan to hold them accountable for breaking that promise?  How much of a priority is the trade deficit with China right now?
 
     MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So let me start here: Yesterday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Tony Blinken had their first meeting -- had their first meeting in Anchorage.  They had two sessions yesterday, and they’ll meet again later this morning. 
 
The United States delegation came to Anchorage committed to laying out the principles, interests, and values that animate our engagement with Beijing.  Knowing that exaggerated diplomatic presentations often are aimed at a domestic audience -- this is the message that they want their domestic audience to cover -- but we understand the U.S. delegation is continuing with our agenda while we're there.  We will still have business to conduct.  We will use the remaining hours to privately outline for the PRC officials the same messages we have consistently delivered in public. 
 
As Secretary Blinken and NSA Sullivan emphasized, America's approach will be undergirded by confidence in our dealing with Beijing, which we are doing from a position of strength, even as we have the humility to know that we are a country internally striving to become a more perfect union ourselves.
 
And I just wanted to quote what National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said yesterday at the start of the talks, which is, “We do not seek conflict, but we welcome stiff competition. And we will always stand up for our principles, for our people, and for our friends.”
 
Q    Does the administration worry that this friction with China could filter down and fuel more harassment or discrimination against Asian Americans?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I think -- I'm just going to go back to what I said before, which is, you know, what we saw was an exaggeration of diplomatic presentation often aimed at a domestic audience.  Right?  And so we aren’t letting the theatrics from other sides stop us from doing what we want to do in Alaska, which is essentially lay out our principles and expectations and have the tough, early conversation we need with the PRC. 
 
Look, we knew, going into this, it was going to be tough.  We knew it wasn't going to be easy.  But -- and -- but we are ready to have a frank -- they are clearly having a frank conversation with them, and we are -- we're going to continue those conversations.
 
Q    (Inaudible) about the future of the relationship, though.  I mean, this is pretty -- you know, pretty -- a difficult first meeting.  I mean, is this the -- is this how you want it to start off?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, you know, like I said, we knew this was going to be a tough discussion, a frank discussion, and -- but we're still moving towards diplomacy, and that is the goal here.  And every relationship with every country is different.  And so we are just going to continue that, you know, as I quoted from Jake and Secretary Blinken -- from Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, and Secretary Blinken.  So --
 
Q    Do you think it makes a meeting with President Xi and President Biden more or less likely in the near future, given the tenor of the conversation?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You know, I don’t have anything else to say about that potential meeting.  This was a standalone meeting that they're having in Anchorage right now.  Like I said, this is part of the process.  We knew it was going to be intense.  We knew it was going to be -- you know, a frank conversation was going to be had.  And we're going to continue moving forward.
 
Q    I don't want to lose the question that John asked earlier, which was really important, about China not meeting its commitments under the trade deal that it has agreed to, to the United States.  What's the message that you're sending to them as far as that is concerned?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Look, I think having the mes- -- having this meeting that they had yesterday on U.S. foreign soil, I think that was the -- that was a key, kind of, you know, statement as how we wanted to move toward with China.  Like, we know it's going to be a competitive relationship, but we understand that we're going to continue moving with diplomacy; we're going to continue having those conversations at all levels.
 
Q    And just more broadly, the tough talk from Biden on Russia; tough talk directly to China: What does it say about where you're going in terms of foreign policy, just broadly?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I mean, look, I think -- I think, with Russia, he was asked a direct question, and he gave a direct answer.  And he’s not going to back off.  He’s not going to -- you know, he’s going to be very frank and very open about -- about -- about that relationship, especially when he is asked directly.
 
And so, that -- you know, that is going to continue.  You know, people are -- have asked this: When is he going to meet with the President -- you know, with the President Putin?  The President will meet with President Putin when the time is right. 
 
And so, you know, President Biden and President Putin have different perspectives on their respective countries, but where they agree is that we should continue to look for ways to work together where it is in our mutual interest, as we did with New START.  From the first phone call with President Putin, President Biden has been clear that the United States will also respond to a number of destabilizing Russian actions.
 
As you know, we have requested new or disclassified [sic] intelligence community assessments in four such areas and plan to respond to each of them in the coming weeks.  And we’ve said that before. 
 
But -- and also, earlier this month, you saw the first such response went -- announced several actions in response to Russia's use of a chemical weapon in the attempted murder of Navalny.  As the President has said, there will be more soon, and Russia will pay a price for its action.
 
Q    Been an influx of migrants at the border, and there were some Republicans saying they don't want to discuss immigration changes until that is brought under control.  What does that mean for the prospect of the President getting through reforms that he wants on immigration?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just want to step back for a second because there's a history here that we have to -- that we have to understand and remember in what the migrants are going through and the reason why they're coming. 
 
They're coming from, you know, corruption, violence, a country -- countries where they face that every day, where they have to deal with economic struggle.  There's climate change issues.  They had to deal with two hurricanes in the region.  And then, on top of that, you're talking about COVID, the pandemic, as well. 
 
And so, you know, those are things that we have to understand -- like, why are they making this treach- -- this, you know, very difficult, difficult kind of journey here to this country. 
 
And also, we've seen migrant surges before.  In 2014, we saw it, and in 2019.  So, here's the thing: You know, we have -- we have a challenge at the border.  And what is clear from the last four years is that chaos, cruelty, and confusion did not enhance security, and it did nothing to fix our immigration system.
 
So the President is committed to implementing an immigration system that is orderly, that is humane, compassionate, and lawful, and his approach is focused on bold action to keep our country safe, strong, and prosperous.
 
And one of the things, you know, we can assure you that we're not going to do: We're not going to tear families apart or send unaccompanied children migrating without their parents back to -- back to a dangerous situation.  That is not what we are going to do. 
 
So the administration is going to treat these children with the same care and compassion as we would treat our own children.  So they are working around the clock to move children from CBC [CBP] to HHS care, find and vet the sponsors and family of these children, and release children to these individuals, once the proper -- the proper oversight and vetting is completed.
 
Q    On the border, though, you previewed more trips this week and coming next week on the Help is Here tour, but there is no trip to the border planned.  If he’s going to be doing all these trips across the country, why not visit the border?
 
You mentioned multiple times that you changed the travel today to respond to the attack in Atlanta.  Does the situation at the border not rise to that level to, you know, change his travel schedule and make a trip to the border to see the crisis himself?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  This trip was already planned.  We announced this trip, I believe, if not early this week or late last week.  I can't remember at the moment.  And so we made that very clear that we were coming here, and so we changed the trip because a horrific event happened just a couple of days ago.  And we -- the President wants to make sure that he's meeting that moment.
 
When it comes to the border, there's a lot that -- you know, traveling, as you know, takes a lot from -- you know, from what is happening on the ground, which is critical work to make sure that we're processing, that we're moving things along. 
 
And so, you know, it is -- right now, we have Secretary Mayorkas, who’s on top of it; we have DHS, who’s on top.  We’re going to have Secretary Becerra very soon, who was just confirmed yesterday. 
 
So he has his team who is doing the work, and we’re seeing it and trying to give -- bring capacity to the border so we can move this along a lot quicker.
 
And so we're seeing that.  We saw -- we see FEMA down there, as well, helping with capacity.  We have HHS and ORR that’s been embedded into CBP.  So just to make sure that we're moving this as quickly as possible.
 
But I do -- I know you, Chris -- you had a question about the influx of families, right?
 
Q    More specifically how that’ll impact the debate on Capitol Hill over immigration changes.  Some Republicans don't want to come to the table until they feel like the situation is under control.  What do you say to them about, you know, how you move forward now?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, immigration is a bipartisan issue; it has been for a very long time.  And, you know, if we want to come to a solutions, you know, if they want to come to the table and help with the challenge that we're seeing, then they got to come to the table as well.
 
And so here's the thing: You know, the President is committed to the bill being voted on this week, as well as, you know, his -- you know the different piecemeals, as well as in the immigration bill.  And so he wants -- he wants bipartisanship.  He wants Republicans and Democrats to come together on a issue that has, like I said, bipartisanship history of it.
 
And so, you know, let's not make complaints; let's actually come together and try to fix -- to fix the problem.
 
Q    On the border, there is suggestion that part of the reason granting some of the vaccines to Mexico is getting help with Central American migration.  Can you say whether there is -- that is part of the reason why the administration is going to be giving some of the vaccine to Mexico -- was for that kind of help on Central Americans?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as you can imagine, when you're having to -- when you're having conversation with countries -- different countries, different issues -- you're talking about different issues, right?  And so that is that is what's happening there.  There are just conversations on different issues.  And, yes, the pandemic -- which is, you know, unprecedented -- is part of those conversations that we're having in a parallel way.
 
And so when you think about Mexico, when you think about Canada, those are our neighbors, right?  Those are -- we have similar interests.  And we want to make sure that we're doing our part as well in beating back this pandemic.
 
And so, you know, the pan- -- there are no borders -- right? -- when it comes to the pandemic.  They don't -- it doesn't see a border.  And so it's important that we -- that we do -- that we do our part in making sure that we’re mitigating the infections that we see.
 
Q    My question is about getting help on the Central mig- -- in the migration, getting helping from Mexico and stemming, you know, some flow of migrants.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Those conversations are happening, just like I said, in parallel.  You know, the conversations are happening in, you know -- at levels -- at levels of the agencies that they need to be happening.
 
Q    Did Mexico agree to take additional steps in return for the vaccines?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  All I can tell you is that there are always multiple conversations that are happening at the same time.  It’s part of diplomacy.  It’s part of the process.  It’s part of how we’re communicating with different countries.
 
Q    On taxes, I know you guys have said that the threshold for raising taxes on households is going to be $400,000 per household.  Have you guys come up with a number for individuals, like income level?  Where will that threshold hit for tax increases?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, look, the President has always been very clear that he wants to make sure we invest in the middle class, we invest in working people.  And so this is something that's incredibly important to him.  As you said, when it comes to raising taxes, it’s going to be on $4,000 [sic] and up, and anyone who's below the four- -- $400,000, pardon me -- $400,000 threshold will not see a tax increase.
 
But here's the thing: It's a little early, right?  We're still working out through the process.  And you're right, it's -- right now we said it's per household.  And so we'll -- we will see, like, what develops, but it's still early in the process.
 
Q    So (inaudible) he’s going to Georgia, which is right now -- its state assembly is debating measures that could pote- -- critics say would restrict voting rights of access to the ballot for the citizens there, particularly -- potentially communities of color.  I know that the topic of conversation has changed today slightly because of a -- of that shooting, but that has also affect- -- impacted a minority community.  Is this going to be a moment where the President addresses this?  We’re in Georgia, against the backdrop.  Should we expect to hear from him today on this very important topic?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  So, as you know, he's going to be meeting with Stacey Abrams, and so -- who has played a leading role in voting access and voter protection, and she will be an important partner in tackling this major issue moving forward.
 
The President intends to take an active role in voting rights, just in -- not just in Washington, but also in states.  You know, and that is an -- I think that meeting is an example of his commitment to making sure that happens. 
 
And also, just a coup- -- just about two weeks ago, he signed an executive order on the access -- voting access and how to use, you know, the whole of government, the resource of the federal government to make sure that voting is accessible for eligible American people.
 
But to your point -- I mean, to your point: Look, the administration is committed to protecting the fundamental right to vote and making it easier for all eligible Americans to vote.  Right?  The President's campaign was about fighting for democracy, and we're going to continue to fight for democracy from the White House.
 
And, look, we need to protect voting rights, particularly as we see what is happening to systemically roll it back in states -- in states like Georgia, which is one of the leading states that are really rolling it back.  He supports H.R. 1, “For the People.”  He supports -- he supports -- you know, to restore the Voting Right[s] Act, as we saw with John Lewis’s bill, H.R. 4.
 
And so, you know, the President is pleased to seeing that H.R. 1 is out of the House, and so he's going to continue to show his support in that as well.
 
Q    We saw the President take a fall on the stairs.  Is he doing okay?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  So, as you know, it's pretty windy outside.
 
Q    Yes.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  It's very windy.  I almost fell coming up the steps myself.  He is doing 100 percent fine.  He’s --
 
Q    Did he hurt his foot that was recently broken, at all?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  He's doing great.  All I can tell you: He's doing fine.  He's preparing for the trip today, and he is -- he's doing just great.
 
Q    Did he get checked out by the doctor?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  I just -- all I know is -- I can tell you is he's doing fine.  He's doing great.
 
Q    So, just one more question about vaccines.  We're entering talks, possibly, or considering donating to Mexico and Canada.  Is the thinking that bilateral distribution is the way to do it, as opposed to maybe giving some to COVAX -- like COVAX partnership of Europe?  Or is bilateral the way to go?  Is that the thinking?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  (Inaudible) you know, look, when -- like I said, when it comes to Mexico and Canada -- right? -- they are partners, they are our neighbors, and they made a request. 
 
And so, as -- you know, as a relationship that has -- you know, there are multiple interests in that relationship.  We -- and we -- you know, we had the vaccine.  And so, you know, we're making sure we're doing our part in beating back the -- the pandemic.
 
Q    Is the administration considering giving vaccines to the COVAX partnership?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  You know what?  I have to get -- I have to get back to you on that one.  I don't have anything for you right now.
 
Q    One quick thing.  Given Vice President Harris's Southeast Asian heritage, can we expect her -- to see her take a leading role today in the remarks in the meetings?
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  She's on this trip, as you all know. We're going to meet her in Georgia.  And I think it's incredibly important to have her with us; so does the President. 
 
And so, as you said, she is a, you know, Asian American/Pacific Islander.  And so she will be at the meeting -- the AAPI meeting.  She'll be at the CDC meeting.  She'll be at the remarks.  But right now, the President is the only person who's going to be speaking.
 
Q    Thank you so much. 
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thank you so much, guys.
 
Q    Thanks, Karine.
 
MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  Thank you.

12:28 P.M. EDT