Proclamation on 850th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2020 850TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT THOMAS BECKET   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          Today is the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket on December 29, 1170.  Thomas Becket was a statesman, a scholar, a chancellor, a priest, an archbishop, and a lion of religious liberty.      Before the Magna Carta was drafted, before the right to free exercise of religion was enshrined as America's first freedom in our glorious Constitution, Thomas gave his life so that, as he said, "the Church will attain liberty and peace."      The son of a London sheriff and once described as "a low‑born clerk" by the King who had him killed, Thomas Becket rose to become the leader of the church in England.  When the crown attempted to encroach upon the affairs of the house of God through the Constitutions of Clarendon, Thomas refused to sign the offending document.  When the furious King Henry II threatened to hold him in contempt of royal authority and questioned why this "poor and humble" priest would dare defy him, Archbishop Becket responded "God is the supreme ruler, above Kings" and "we ought to obey God rather than men."      Because Thomas would not assent to rendering the church subservient to the state, he was forced to forfeit all his property and flee his own country.  Years later, after the intervention of the Pope, Becket was allowed to return -- and continued to resist the King's oppressive interferences into the life of the church.  Finally, the King had enough of Thomas Becket's stalwart defense of religious faith and reportedly exclaimed in consternation:  "Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"      The King's knights responded and rode to Canterbury Cathedral to deliver Thomas Becket an ultimatum:  give in to the King's demands or die.  Thomas's reply echoes around the world and across the ages.  His last words on this earth were these:  "For the name of Jesus and the protection of the Church, I am ready to embrace death."  Dressed in holy robes, Thomas was cut down where he stood inside the walls of his own church.      Thomas Becket's martyrdom changed the course of history.  It eventually brought about numerous constitutional limitations on the power of the state over the Church across the West.  In England, Becket's murder led to the Magna Carta's declaration 45 years later that:  "[T]he English church shall be free, and shall have its rights undiminished and its liberties unimpaired."      When the Archbishop refused to allow the King to interfere in the affairs of the Church, Thomas Becket stood at the intersection of church and state.  That stand, after centuries of state-sponsored religious oppression and religious wars throughout Europe, eventually led to the establishment of religious liberty in the New World.  It is because of great men like Thomas Becket that the first American President George Washington could proclaim more than 600 years later that, in the United States, "All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship" and that "it is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights."      Thomas Becket's death serves as a powerful and timeless reminder to every American that our freedom from religious persecution is not a mere luxury or accident of history, but rather an essential element of our liberty.  It is our priceless treasure and inheritance.  And it was bought with the blood of martyrs.      As Americans, we were first united by our belief that "rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God" and that defending liberty is more important than life itself.  If we are to continue to be the land of the free, no government official, no governor, no bureaucrat, no judge, and no legislator must be allowed to decree what is orthodox in matters of religion or to require religious believers to violate their consciences.  No right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, and virtuous society than the right to follow one's religious convictions.  As I declared in Krasiński Square in Warsaw, Poland on July 6, 2017, the people of America and the people of the world still cry out:  "We want God."       On this day, we celebrate and revere Thomas Becket's courageous stand for religious liberty and we reaffirm our call to end religious persecution worldwide.  In my historic address to the United Nations last year, I made clear that America stands with believers in every country who ask only for the freedom to live according to the faith that is within their own hearts.  I also stated that global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life, reflecting the belief held by the United States and many other countries that every child -- born and unborn -- is a sacred gift from God.  Earlier this year, I signed an Executive Order to prioritize religious freedom as a core dimension of United States foreign policy.  We have directed every Ambassador -- and the over 13,000 United States Foreign Service officers and specialists -- in more than 195 countries to promote, defend, and support religious freedom as a central pillar of American diplomacy.      We pray for religious believers everywhere who suffer persecution for their faith.  We especially pray for their brave and inspiring shepherds -- like Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong and Pastor Wang Yi of Chengdu -- who are tireless witnesses to hope.      To honor Thomas Becket's memory, the crimes against people of faith must stop, prisoners of conscience must be released, laws restricting freedom of religion and belief must be repealed, and the vulnerable, the defenseless, and the oppressed must be protected.  The tyranny and murder that shocked the conscience of the Middle Ages must never be allowed to happen again.  As long as America stands, we will always defend religious liberty.       A society without religion cannot prosper.  A nation without faith cannot endure -- because justice, goodness, and peace cannot prevail without the grace of God.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 29, 2020, as the 850th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket.  I invite the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches and customary places of meeting with appropriate ceremonies in commemoration of the life and legacy of Thomas Becket.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth 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

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA’S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2020 PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR AMERICA’S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC “All families should be empowered to make the decision that is right for their own circumstance.” – President Donald J. Trump   EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS: President Donald J. Trump is taking action to expand K-12 educational options for disadvantaged children impacted by the pandemic. Today, President Trump signed an Executive Order offering flexibility to provide certain disadvantaged children with emergency K-12 scholarships to access in-person learning opportunities. The Order allows States and eligible entities to use available Federal Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) funds to provide life-changing scholarships to families whose children cannot access in-person learning. CSBG funds totaled nearly $1.7 billion in FY 2020. Scholarships provided with CSBG funds can help families pay for private school tuition, home schooling, micro schooling, learning-pod expenses, special education services, or tutoring. FIGHTING FOR OUR CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING: President Trump is protecting America’s children who need an in-person learning option from prolonged school closures. Despite providing $13 billion in Federal support for K-12 schools this spring to safely resume in-person learning, more than half of all public school students began school remotely this fall. A lack of in-person learning most harms low-income students and students with disabilities. Research shows that during school closures this spring, students’ math progress in low-income neighborhoods decreased by nearly 50 percent and those from middle-income neighborhoods fell by almost a third. According to surveys, children with special needs were twice as likely to receive little or no virtual instruction and to be dissatisfied with the virtual instruction they received. A recent survey of educators found student absences have doubled during the pandemic. Analysts project that if in-person classes do not fully resume until January 2021, low-income students will lose over a year of learning. Projections also show that an average student could lose between $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings, or the equivalent of a full year of full-time work. EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY: President Trump continues to help each child have a fair shot at the American dream through school choice. President Trump has led a national conversation on expanding school choice and introduced the most transformative education funding proposal ever, Education Freedom Scholarships. President Trump has twice signed legislation re-authorizing the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship program. The Trump Administration has invested nearly $1.5 billion in the development of public charter schools, helping this innovative sector grow to 7,500 charter schools serving more than 3 million students. Because of the President’s  historic tax reform, parents across the nation can now withdraw up to $10,000 tax-free per year from 529 education savings plans to cover public, private, or religious K-12 schooling costs. ###

Executive Order on Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 28, 2020

EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THROUGH SCHOOL CHOICE       By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to ensure the education, health, safety, and well-being of America's children, our most essential resource upon which the future of our great Nation depends, it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Purpose.  As part of their efforts to address the public health challenges and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, State and local officials shut down in-person learning for the vast majority of our more than 56 million elementary and secondary school students beginning in late February and early March of this year.  Since then, however, our Nation has identified effective measures to facilitate the safe resumption of in-person learning, and the Federal Government has provided more than $13 billion to States and school districts to implement those measures.      The prolonged deprivation of in-person learning opportunities has produced undeniably dire consequences for the children of this country.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that school attendance is negatively correlated with a child's risk of depression and various types of abuse.  States have seen substantial declines in reports of child maltreatment while school buildings have been closed, indicating that allegations are going unreported.  These reductions are driven in part by social isolation from the schoolteachers and support staff with whom students typically interact and who have an obligation to report suspected child maltreatment.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has also found that school closures have a "substantial impact on food security and physical activity for children and families."  Additionally, a recent survey of educators found student absences from school, including virtual learning, have nearly doubled during the pandemic, and as AAP has noted, chronic absenteeism is associated with alcohol and drug use, teenage pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, and suicide attempts.     School closures are especially difficult for families with children with special needs.  Schools provide not only academic supports for students with special needs, but they also provide much-needed in-person therapies and services, including physical and occupational therapies.  A recent survey found that 80 percent of children with special needs are not receiving the services and supports to which they are entitled and that approximately 40 percent of children with special needs are receiving no services or supports.  Moreover, the survey found that virtual learning may not be fully accessible to these students, as children with special needs are twice as likely to receive little or no remote learning and to be dissatisfied with the remote learning received.       Low-income and minority children are also disproportionately affected by school closures.  In low-income zip codes, students' math progress decreased by nearly 50 percent while school buildings were closed in the spring, and the math progress of students in middle-income zip codes fell by almost a third during the same period.  A recent analysis projected that, if in-person classes do not fully resume until January 2021, Hispanic, Black, and low-income students will lose 9.2, 10.3, and 12.4 months of learning, respectively.      A failure to quickly resume in-person learning options is likely to have long-term economic effects on children and their families.  According to a recent study, if in person classes do not fully resume until January 2021, the average student could lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings, or the equivalent of a year of full-time work.  Additionally, in 2019, more than 90 percent of children under the age of 18 had at least one employed parent.  Many employed parents do not have the option of engaging in remote work that allows them the flexibility to supervise their children during the day when in-person learning options are not available.  Without the resumption of in-person learning opportunities, the economic and social harms resulting from such lost employment opportunities will continue to compound.       To help mitigate these harms, the Department of Health and Human Services recently announced additional relief for low income parents by allowing States to use funds available through the Child Care and Development Fund to subsidize child care services and services that supplement academic instruction for children under the age of 13 who are participating in virtual instruction.  Nevertheless, virtual instruction is an inadequate substitute for in-person learning opportunities and this aid is insufficient to meet current needs.      While some families, especially those with financial means, have been able to mitigate school disruptions through in person options such as homeschooling, private schools, charter schools, and innovative models like microschools and "learning pods," for many families, their children's residentially assigned public school remains their only financially available option.  Unfortunately, more than 50 percent of all public-school students in the United States began school remotely this fall.  These children, including those with special needs, are being underserved due to the public education system's failure to provide in-person learning options.       Students whose families pay tuition for their education are also facing significant hardships due to the economic disruptions caused by the pandemic.  Scores of private schools, including approximately 100 Catholic schools, have permanently closed since the onset of COVID-19, and more than half of our Nation's private schools are believed to have lost enrollment due to the pandemic.  These closures and declining enrollments are harmful to students, bad for communities, and likely to impose increased strain on public school systems.     I am committed to ensuring that all children of our great Nation have access to the educational resources they need to obtain a high-quality education and to improving students' safety and well-being, including by empowering families with emergency learning scholarships.      Sec. 2.  Providing Emergency Learning Scholarships for Students.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall take steps, consistent with law, to allow funds available through the Community Services Block Grant program to be used by grantees and eligible entities to provide emergency learning scholarships to disadvantaged families for use by any child without access to in-person learning.  These scholarships may be used for:         (i)    tuition and fees for a private or parochial school;          (ii)   homeschool, microschool, or learning-pod costs;          (iii)  special education and related services, including therapies; or         (iv)   tutoring or remedial education.        Sec. 3.  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 or agency, or the head thereof; or          (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.     (b)  This 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 28, 2020.

Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 27, 2020

December 27, 2020           Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)   In accordance with section 6(a) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (H.R. 133; the "Act"), I hereby designate as emergency requirements all funding (including the rescission of funds) so designated by the Congress in the Act pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as outlined in the enclosed list of accounts.   The details of this action are set forth in the enclosed memorandum from the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.                                   Sincerely,                                   DONALD J. TRUMP

Statement from the President

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 27, 2020 Statement from the President      As President of the United States it is my responsibility to protect the people of our country from the economic devastation and hardship that was caused by the China Virus.      I understand that many small businesses have been forced to close as a result of harsh actions by Democrat-run states. Many people are back to work, but my job is not done until everyone is back to work.      Fortunately, as a result of my work with Congress in passing the CARES Act earlier this year, we avoided another Great Depression. Under my leadership, Project Warp Speed has been a tremendous success, my Administration and I developed a vaccine many years ahead of wildest expectations, and we are distributing these vaccines, and others soon coming, to millions of people.      As President, I have told Congress that I want far less wasteful spending and more money going to the American people in the form of $2,000 checks per adult and $600 per child.      As President I am demanding many rescissions under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The Act provides that, “whenever the President determines that all or part of any budget authority will not be required to carry out the full objectives or scope of programs for which it is provided, or that such budget authority should be rescinded for fiscal policy or other reasons (including termination of authorized projects or activities for which budget authority has been provided), the President shall transmit to both Houses of Congress a special message” describing the amount to be reserved, the relevant accounts, the reasons for the rescission, and the economic effects of the rescission. 2 U.S.C. § 683.      I will sign the Omnibus and Covid package with a strong message that makes clear to Congress that wasteful items need to be removed. I will send back to Congress a redlined version, item by item, accompanied by the formal rescission request to Congress insisting that those funds be removed from the bill.      I am signing this bill to restore unemployment benefits, stop evictions, provide rental assistance, add money for PPP, return our airline workers back to work, add substantially more money for vaccine distribution, and much more.        On Monday the House will vote to increase payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000. Therefore, a family of four would receive $5,200. Additionally, Congress has promised that Section 230, which so unfairly benefits Big Tech at the expense of the American people, will be reviewed and either be terminated or substantially reformed.        Likewise, the House and Senate have agreed to focus strongly on the very substantial voter fraud which took place in the November 3 Presidential election.      The Senate will start the process for a vote that increases checks to $2,000, repeals Section 230, and starts an investigation into voter fraud.      Big Tech must not get protections of Section 230!      Voter Fraud must be fixed!      Much more money is coming. I will never give up my fight for the American people!

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 27, 2020

On Sunday, December 27, 2020, the President signed into law:     H.R. 133, an Act making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, providing coronavirus emergency response and relief, and for other purposes.

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 27, 2020 President Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso   President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso, on Monday, December 28, 2020, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.   The Honorable Dr. J. Peter Pham, Ph.D., United States Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa, will lead the delegation.   Member of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable Sandra E. Clark, United States Ambassador to Burkina Faso

Presidential Message on Kwanzaa, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 26, 2020

Presidential Message on Kwanzaa, 2020 The First Lady and I send our best wishes to all those observing Kwanzaa.   For many, today marks the first day in a weeklong celebration of African culture and heritage.  As families, friends, and communities light the Kinara over the next 7 days, our Nation honors the indelible contributions of African Americans to the strength and vitality of the United States.   During this time, we send season’s greetings to those celebrating and pray for the health, happiness, and unity of all Americans in the New Year.

Presidential Message on Christmas, 2020

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 25, 2020 Presidential Message on Christmas, 2020 The First Lady and I send our warmest wishes to all Americans as we celebrate Christmas.  While our gatherings might look different than in years past, this Christmas, like every Christmas, is an opportunity for us to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and show our heartfelt gratitude for the abundant blessings God has bestowed upon our lives and country. In this season of peace, we cherish the warmth, generosity, and faith that breathe life into our holiday gatherings.  The love we share with our family and friends fills our hearts with joy, just as the story of Christ’s birth inspires people all over the world.  This year, we come together as proud Americans—grateful for our sacred right to worship freely and to openly profess our trust in the enduring light and promise of the coming of God. To military families who are unable to celebrate Christmas together this year, our Nation humbly thanks you for your service and sacrifice.  We are forever indebted to those who courageously serve our country in uniform—and those who walk alongside them.  We also thank our Nation’s first responders, law enforcement officers, and frontline medical professionals who work tirelessly to serve and protect our communities.  Your daily contributions are an example of the selfless love of God and remind us of the noble principles we strive to live by, especially during this special time of year. To all Americans, and to all our friends around the globe celebrating today, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 24, 2020 Merry Christmas from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose for their official Christmas portrait on the Grand Staircase Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, in the Grand Foyer of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)

Merry Christmas from President Trump and the First Lady

 

The White House • December 24, 2020 WATCH: Merry Christmas from President Trump and the First Lady President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump wish all Americans a Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season. Despite the challenges posed by this year's global pandemic, the American people continue to display incredible courage and patriotism. The bond that unites us as citizens is stronger than any adversity we face. As of this month, doses from two new Coronavirus vaccines are now being administered to Americans across the country. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the strength and ingenuity that defines the American spirit.   "We are grateful for all of the scientists, researchers, manufacturing workers, and service members who have worked tirelessly to make this breakthrough possible," President Trump said. "It is truly a Christmas miracle."   The President and First Lady thank our first responders, law enforcement officers, doctors, nurses, and many others who made sacrifices this year to keep Americans safe. “Through this great challenge, we have been inspired by the kindness and courage of citizens across this country,” the First Lady said.    On behalf of the entire First Family, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 23, 2020

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT         Today, I have signed into law S. 1014, the "Route 66 Centennial Commission Act" (the "Act").  The Act provides for a Commission made up of individuals appointed by the President, in certain cases based on the recommendations of Members of Congress, with responsibility to conduct a study on ways to honor the centennial anniversary of Route 66 and to provide recommendations exclusively to the Congress.  To avoid concerns regarding the separation of powers, my Administration will consider this Commission to be located in the legislative branch.  I also expect that the General Services Administration (GSA) will be able to fulfill the intent of section 7(d) that the GSA provide to the Commission, on request and on a reimbursable basis, the administrative support services necessary for the Commission to carry out the Act.  Consistent with the separation of powers, however, a directive from a legislative branch entity cannot be understood as binding on an executive branch entity like the GSA.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     December 23, 2020.