Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien on the Executive Order Addressing Chinese Software Applications

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021

Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien on the Executive Order Addressing Chinese Software Applications Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order addressing the continuing threat posed by Chinese software applications.  The Chinese government requires that all commercial companies, big and small, support the Chinese Communist Party’s political objectives as Chinese regulators have recently demonstrated.  China’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy explicitly aims to co-opt or coerce civilian enterprises into assisting the People’s Liberation Army.  This executive order tasks the Secretary of Commerce to identify prohibited transactions involving eight Chinese software applications, including payment services; directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify and take appropriate action against other software applications; and develops a program to control the export of exploitable United States user data to foreign adversaries.  President Trump continues to prioritize the safety and security of the United States homeland and the American people.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021

On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, the President signed into law:     H.R. 1240, the “Young Fishermen's Development Act,” which requires the Commerce Department to establish the Young Fishermen's Development Grant Program to provide training, education, outreach, and technical assistance initiatives for young fishermen;   H.R. 1503, the “Orange Book Transparency Act of 2020,” which amends the types of patents and exclusivity-related information for approved drugs listed in a publication of the Food and Drug Administration;   H.R. 1966, the “Henrietta Lacks Enhancing Cancer Research Act of 2019,” which requires GAO to complete a study on barriers to participation in Federally funded cancer clinical trials by populations that have been traditionally underrepresented in such trials;   H.R. 2468, the “School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act,” which increases the preference given, in awarding allergy and asthma-related grants, to States that require public schools to have allergy and asthma management programs;   H.R. 3976, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Aretha Franklin Post Office Building;   H.R. 4031, the “Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019 or the GLRI Act of 2019,” which reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through FY 2026;   H.R. 4983, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gilbert, Arizona, as the Staff Sergeant Alexander W. Conrad Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic;   H.R. 4988, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14 Walnut Street in Bordentown, New Jersey, as the Clara Barton Post Office Building;   H.R. 5023, which designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Youngstown, Ohio, as the Carl Nunziato VA Clinic;   H.R. 5123, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 476 East Main Street in Galesburg, Illinois, as the Senior Airman Daniel Miller Post Office Building;   H.R. 5273, the “Securing America's Ports Act,” which requires the Department of Homeland Security to develop a plan for increasing to one hundred percent the rate of scanning of commercial and passenger vehicles and freight rail traffic entering the United States using large-scale non-intrusive inspection systems;   H.R. 5451, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 599 East Genesee Street in Fayetteville, New York, as the George H. Bacel Post Office Building;   H.R. 5458, the “Rocky Mountain National Park Boundary Modification Act,” which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire, by donation, an approximately 40-acre parcel of non-Federal land for inclusion within the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado;   H.R. 5459, the “Rocky Mountain National Park Ownership Correction Act,” which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to exchange a small parcel of Federal land for an equal sized parcel of private land to correct a land ownership error within the boundary of the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado;   H.R. 5597, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 305 Northwest 5th Street in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the Clara Luper Post Office Building;   H.R. 5663, the “Safeguarding Therapeutics Act,” which extends certain import refusal and destruction authorities to medical devices;   H.R. 5852, the “Weir Farm National Historical Park Redesignation Act,” which redesignates the Weir Farm National Historic Site in Connecticut as the Weir Farm National Historical Park;   H.R. 5972, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1, in Wilmington, Delaware, as the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office;   H.R. 5983, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4150 Chicago Avenue in Riverside, California, as the Woodie Rucker-Hughes Post Office Building;    H.R. 6016, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14955 West Bell Road in Surprise, Arizona, as the Marc Lee Memorial Post Office Building;   H.R. 6100, the “Strengthening the Opposition to Female Genital Mutilation Act of 2020 or the STOP FGM Act of 2020,” which increases criminal penalties for performing a female genital mutilation on a minor and expands the scope of punishable offenses;   H.R. 6161, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1585 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, North Carolina, as the J. Howard Coble Post Office Building;   H.R. 6237, the “Proper and Reimbursed Care for Native Veterans Act” or the “PRC for Native Veterans Act,” which clarify the requirement of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to reimburse the Indian Health Service for certain services;   H.R. 6418, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 509 Fairhope Avenue in Fairhope, Alabama, as the William "Jack" Jackson Edwards III Post Office Building;   H.R. 6535, which deems urban Indian organizations and their employees to be a part of the Public Health Service for purposes of liability protection under the Federal Tort Claims Act;   H.R. 7088, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 111 James Street in Reidsville, Georgia, as the Senator Jack Hill Post Office Building;   H.R. 7105, the “Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020,” which amends a number of VA authorities related to medical care; housing and homelessness; general benefits; education benefits; training programs; financial protections; addressing the particular needs of women veterans; military sexual trauma; memorials affairs; and extending the sunset dates of certain time-limited authorities;   H.R. 7259, the “Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act,” which authorizes the holder of an acceleration certificate awarded under the Patents for Humanity program to transfer the certificate to another party;   H.R. 7347, which designates the medical center of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center;   H.R. 7460, the “Peace Corps Commemorative Work Extension Act,” which extends the authority of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal lands in the District of Colombia to commemorate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded;   H.R. 7502, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 South 16th Street in Clarinda, Iowa, as the Jessie Field Shambaugh Post Office Building;   H.R. 7810, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3519 East Walnut Street in Pearland, Texas, as the Tom Reid Post Office Building;   H.R. 7898, which establishes the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program and the 3D Elevation Program within the Department of the Interior;   H.R. 8611, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4755 Southeast Dixie Highway in Port Salerno, Florida, as the Joseph Bullock Post Office Building;   H.R. 8810, the “National Landslide Preparedness Act,” which establishes the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program and the 3D Elevation Program within the Department of the Interior; and   H.R. 8906, the “Lifespan Respite Care Reauthorization Act of 2020,” which reauthorizes the Lifespan Respite Care Program through fiscal year (FY) 2024.     ###

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 On Tuesday, January 5, 2021 the President signed into law:     H.R. 4356, the “Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act,” which expands Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections to certain individuals for termination of contracts for telephone, multichannel video programming, or internet access service, and for other purposes;   H.R. 6192, the “1921 Silver Dollar Coin Anniversary Act,” which requires the Department of the Treasury to mint and issue coins in honor of the 100th anniversary of the completion of coinage of the Morgan dollar and the 100th anniversary of the commencement of coinage of the Peace dollar;   H.R. 6435, the “Combating Pandemic Scams Act of 2020,” which requires the Federal Trade Commission to develop and disseminate information to the public regarding scams related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and   H.R. 8354, the “Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020,” which establishes the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative within the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department.

Message to the Congress on Addressing the Threat Posed By Applications and Other Software Developed or Controlled By Chinese Companie

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:     Pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby report that I have issued an Executive Order declaring additional steps to be taken concerning the national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain) to deal with the threat posed by applications and other software developed or controlled by Chinese companies.     The pace and pervasiveness of the spread in the United States of certain connected mobile and desktop applications and other software developed or controlled by persons in the People's Republic of China (PRC), to include Hong Kong and Macau (China), continue to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  By accessing personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, Chinese connected software applications can access and capture vast swaths of information from users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information.  The continuing activity of the PRC and the Chinese Communist Party to steal or otherwise obtain United States persons' data makes clear that there is an intent to use bulk data collection to advance China's economic and national security agenda.  To deal with this threat, additional steps are required against those who develop or control certain Chinese connected software applications to protect our national security.     The Executive Order prohibits certain future transactions, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), involving the following Chinese connected software applications:  Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office.  The Secretary is also directed to:         (i)   continue to evaluate Chinese connected software applications that may pose an unacceptable risk to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, and to take appropriate action in accordance with Executive Order 13873; and         (ii)  in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, provide a report to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs with recommendations to prevent the sale or transfer of United States user data to, or access of such data by, foreign adversaries, including through the establishment of regulations and policies to identify, control, and license the export of such data.     I have delegated to the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, the authority to take such actions, including adopting appropriate rules and regulations, and employing all other powers granted to the President by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement the Executive Order.  The heads of all executive departments and agencies are directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement the provisions of the Executive Order.     I am enclosing a copy of the Executive Order I have issued.                         DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 5, 2021.

Executive Order Addressing the Threat Posed By Applications and Other Software Developed or Controlled By Chinese Companies

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   ADDRESSING THE THREAT POSED BY APPLICATIONS AND OTHER SOFTWARE DEVELOPED OR CONTROLLED BY CHINESE COMPANIES        By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code,      I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, find that additional steps must be taken to deal with the national emergency with respect to the information and communications technology and services supply chain declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019 (Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain).  Specifically, the pace and pervasiveness of the spread in the United States of certain connected mobile and desktop applications and other software developed or controlled by persons in the People's Republic of China, to include Hong Kong and Macau (China), continue to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.  At this time, action must be taken to address the threat posed by these Chinese connected software applications.      By accessing personal electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and computers, Chinese connected software applications can access and capture vast swaths of information from users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information.  This data collection threatens to provide the Government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with access to Americans' personal and proprietary information -- which would permit China to track the locations of Federal employees and contractors, and build dossiers of personal information.      The continuing activity of the PRC and the CCP to steal or otherwise obtain United States persons' data makes clear that there is an intent to use bulk data collection to advance China's economic and national security agenda.  For example, the 2014 cyber intrusions of the Office of Personnel Management of security clearance records of more than 21 million people were orchestrated by Chinese agents.  In 2015, a Chinese hacking group breached the United States health insurance company Anthem, affecting more than 78 million Americans.  And the Department of Justice indicted members of the Chinese military for the 2017 Equifax cyber intrusion that compromised the personal information of almost half of all Americans.      In light of these risks, many executive departments and agencies (agencies) have prohibited the use of Chinese connected software applications and other dangerous software on Federal Government computers and mobile phones.  These prohibitions, however, are not enough given the nature of the threat from Chinese connected software applications.  In fact, the Government of India has banned the use of more than 200 Chinese connected software applications throughout the country; in a statement, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology asserted that the applications were "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India."       The United States has assessed that a number of Chinese connected software applications automatically capture vast swaths of information from millions of users in the United States, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information, which would allow the PRC and CCP access to Americans' personal and proprietary information.       The United States must take aggressive action against those who develop or control Chinese connected software applications to protect our national security.      Accordingly, I hereby order:      Section 1.  (a)  The following actions shall be prohibited beginning 45 days after the date of this order, to the extent permitted under applicable law:  any transaction by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, with persons that develop or control the following Chinese connected software applications, or with their subsidiaries, as those transactions and persons are identified by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) under subsection (e) of this section:  Alipay, CamScanner, QQ Wallet, SHAREit, Tencent QQ, VMate, WeChat Pay, and WPS Office.      (b)  The Secretary is directed to continue to evaluate Chinese connected software applications that may pose an unacceptable risk to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, and to take appropriate action in accordance with Executive Order 13873.      (c)  Not later than 45 days after the date of this order, the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide a report to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs with recommendations to prevent the sale or transfer of United States user data to, or access of such data by, foreign adversaries, including through the establishment of regulations and policies to identify, control, and license the export of such data.      (d)  The prohibitions in subsection (a) of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted before the date of this order.      (e)  Not earlier than 45 days after the date of this order, the Secretary shall identify the transactions and persons that develop or control the Chinese connected software applications subject to subsection (a) of this section.      Sec. 2.  (a)  Any transaction by a United States person or within the United States that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate the prohibition set forth in this order is prohibited.      (b)  Any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions set forth in this order is prohibited.      Sec. 3.  For the purposes of this order:      (a)  the term "connected software application" means software, a software program, or group of software programs, designed to be used by an end user on an end-point computing device and designed to collect, process, or transmit data via the Internet as an integral part of its functionality.      (b)  the term "entity" means a government or instrumentality of such government, partnership, association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization, including an international organization;      (c)  the term "person" means an individual or entity;      (d)  the term "personally identifiable information" (PII) is information that, when used alone or with other relevant data, can identify an individual.  PII may contain direct identifiers (e.g., passport information) that can identify a person uniquely, or quasi-identifiers (e.g., race) that can be combined with other quasi-identifiers (e.g., date of birth) to successfully recognize an individual.      (e)  the term "United States person" means any United States citizen, permanent resident alien, entity organized under the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction within the United States (including foreign branches), or any person in the United States.      Sec. 4.  (a)  The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including adopting rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to me by IEEPA, as may be necessary to implement this order.  All agencies shall take all appropriate measures within their authority to implement this order.      (b)  The heads of agencies shall provide, in their discretion and to the extent permitted by law, such resources, information, and assistance to the Department of Commerce as required to implement this order, including the assignment of staff to the Department of Commerce to perform the duties described in this order.      Sec. 5.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.      Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                                DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 5, 2021.

President Donald J. Trump Approves Tennessee Emergency Declaration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 President Donald J. Trump Approves Tennessee Emergency Declaration Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the State of Tennessee and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from an explosion on December 25, 2020.   The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in Davidson County.   Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.    Pete Gaynor, Administrator, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, named Myra M. Shird as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

President Donald J. Trump Announces Additional Support for the People of Puerto Rico as They Continue to Rebuild Following Natural Disasters

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 President Donald J. Trump Announces Additional Support for the People of Puerto Rico as They Continue to Rebuild Following Natural Disasters Today, President Donald J. Trump’s Administration announced one of the largest grants ever for infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico to rebuild from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria. Under the leadership of President Trump, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will award $3.7 billion to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, dams, and reservoirs.  This funding represents the 90% Federal share of the $4.1 billion fixed cost estimate (FCE) for facilities operated by Puerto Rico’s Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA). This is one of the largest Public Assistance grants in the history of FEMA, demonstrating once again, the Trump Administration’s commitment to supporting the people of Puerto Rico and improving the territory’s infrastructure. Today’s announcement is in addition to FEMA grants of $9.6 billion for electrical infrastructure and $2 billion for education facilities announced by President Trump in September of 2020.  Together, these grants exceed the total Public Assistance funding in any single federally-declared disaster other than Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy.  Federal funding of $9.6 billion will allow the Puerto Rico Electrical Power Authority (PREPA) to repair and replace thousands of miles of transmission and distribution lines, electrical substations, power generation systems, office buildings, and make other grid improvements.  The $2 billion grant for the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE) will focus on restoring school buildings and educational facilities across the island. All critical infrastructure projects are funded under FEMA’s Public Assistance Alternative Procedures, pursuant to Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.  This innovative funding method allows Puerto Rican officials to work with FEMA to determine how to best meet their unique recovery needs.   Once the PRASA grant is awarded, President Trump’s Administration will have obligated over $40 billion for Puerto Rico’s recovery from Hurricane Maria.     ###

Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien Regarding the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 5, 2021 Statement from National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien Regarding the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan President Trump has released the “National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan,” which sets forth how the United States government will defend the American economy through enhanced cybersecurity coordination, policies and practices, aimed at mitigating risks to the maritime sub-sector, promoting prosperity through information and intelligence sharing, and preserving and increasing the nation’s cyber workforce. President Trump designated the cybersecurity of the Maritime Transportation System (MTS) as a top priority for national defense, homeland security, and economic competitiveness in the 2017 National Security Strategy. The MTS contributes to one quarter of all United States gross domestic product, or approximately $5.4 trillion. MTS operators are increasingly reliant on information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) to maximize the reliability and efficiency of maritime commerce. This plan articulates how the United States government can buy down the potential catastrophic risks to our national security and economic prosperity created by technology innovations to strengthen maritime commerce efficiency and reliability. The National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan unifies maritime cybersecurity resources, stakeholders, and initiatives to aggressively mitigate current and near-term maritime cyberspace threats and vulnerabilities while complementing the National Strategy for Maritime Security. The Plan identifies government priority actions to close maritime cybersecurity gaps and vulnerabilities over the next five years. This Administration continues to defend American workers and American prosperity while strengthening our national security. President Trump has taken numerous steps to bolster cybersecurity measures, promote American workers, defend American technology, and lead the world in technological innovation. Today’s release furthers the President’s successes at bridging the private and public technological and industrial sectors to benefit the American people and protect the American way of life. Read the National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan Here   ###

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2021 President Trump Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana   President Donald J. Trump today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the second Inauguration of His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, on Thursday, January 7, 2021, in Accra, Ghana.   The Honorable Dr. J. Peter Pham, Ambassador, United States Special Envoy for the Sahel Region of Africa, will lead the delegation.   Member of the Presidential Delegation: The Honorable Stephanie S. Sullivan, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana ###

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2021

Administration Issues Annual Intellectual Property Report   Today, United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), Vishal Amin, issued the United States Annual Intellectual Property Report for 2020. The report details the actions and activities taken over the past year by the United States to promote, protect, and prioritize our great competitive advantage – our Nation’s innovative economy. In 2017, the Trump Administration adopted a four-part intellectual property strategy that has provided a framework for sound intellectual property policy to advance innovation and creativity and ensure effective intellectual property protection and enforcement domestically and abroad.     “From day one, the Administration has had a singular focus on strengthening and growing our Nation’s innovative economy,” stated Coordinator Amin. “The actions that we have taken to protect American intellectual property have helped set the United States on a path to remain not only an economic leader, but a powerhouse of innovation, invention, and creativity for decades to come.”   To learn more about the Annual Intellectual Property Report, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/IPEC-Annual-Intellectual-Property-Report-January-2021.pdf.

President Donald J. Trump to Award the Medal of Freedom to Devin Nunes

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 4, 2021 President Donald J. Trump to Award the Medal of Freedom to Devin Nunes        On Monday, President Donald J. Trump will award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Devin Nunes. This prestigious award is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, which is awarded by the President to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.        Devin grew up on a farm in California’s San Joaquin Valley. Since his election to Congress in 2002 at the age of 29, he has been a tireless fighter for the farmers of California, waging a long and successful battle to bring water to the Central Valley. In 2014, Devin was selected to chair the House Intelligence Committee. As Chairman, he confronted Russian aggression and opposed the Iran Nuclear Deal. Against fierce opposition, he led the effort to declassify documents seized in the bin Laden raid that showed Al Qaeda’s collaboration with Iran.      In 2017, Congressman Nunes launched an investigation into the Obama-Biden administration’s misconduct during the 2016 election – and began to unearth the crime of the century. As a result of his work, he discovered that the infamous Steele Dossier was funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. He found that a senior Justice Department attorney was married to one of the architects of the document. He learned that the Obama-Biden administration had issued Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrants to spy on President Trump’s campaign and illegitimately unmasked several innocent spying victims for political gain.      Devin Nunes’ courageous actions helped thwart a plot to take down a sitting United States president.  Devin’s efforts led to the firing, demotion, or resignation of over a dozen FBI and DOJ employees.  He also forced the disclosure of documents that proved that a corrupt senior FBI official pursued a vindictive persecution of General Michael Flynn -- even after rank and file FBI agents found no evidence of wrongdoing.      Congressman Nunes pursued the Russia Hoax at great personal risk and never stopped standing up for the truth.  He had the fortitude to take on the media, the FBI, the Intelligence Community, the Democrat Party, foreign spies, and the full power of the Deep State. Devin paid a price for his courage. The media smeared him and liberal activists opened a frivolous and unjustified ethics investigation, dragging his name through the mud for eight long months. Two dozen members of his family received threatening phone calls – including his 98 year old grandmother.      Congressman Devin Nunes is a public servant of unmatched talent, unassailable integrity, and unwavering resolve. He uncovered the greatest scandal in American history.     ###

Thirty Nominations Sent to the Senate

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 3, 2021

NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:      Terrence M. Andrews, of California, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Edward J. Damich, term expired.      Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, of Puerto Rico, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, vice Juan R del Valle Torruella, deceased.      John M. Barger, of California, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 2022, vice David Avren Jones, term expired.      Joseph L. Barloon, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, vice Leo Maury Gordon, retired.      Melanie J. Bevan, of Florida, to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida for the term of four years, vice William Benedict Berger, Sr., term expired.      Rahkel Bouchet, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice John Ramsey Johnson, retired.      Robert Benedict Bowes, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2025, vice Brian D. Quintenz, term expired.      Brian P. Brooks, of California, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years, vice Joseph Otting.      Christopher Bancroft Burnham, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2024, vice Ronald David McCray, term expired.      Maria Teresa Bonifacio Cenzon, of Guam, to be Judge for the District Court of Guam for the term of ten years, vice Frances Marie Tydingco-Gatewood, term expired.      Charles W. Cook, Jr., of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for a term expiring May 18, 2025, vice Richard Capel Howorth, term expired.      William A. Douglass, of Florida, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.      Frank Dunlevy, of California, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2022, vice Michael D. Kennedy, term expired.      Sharon E. Goodie, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Robert E. Morin, retired.      Mark Van Dyke Holmes, of New York, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for a term of fifteen years. (Reappointment)      John P. Howard, III, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice Kathryn A. Oberly, retired.      John Chase Johnson, of Oklahoma, to be Inspector General, Federal Communications Commission.  (New Position)      Dennis Dean Kirk, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Merit Systems Protection Board for the term of seven years expiring March 1, 2023, vice Susan Tsui Grundmann, term expired.      Stephen Andrew Kubiatowski, of Kentucky, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Margaret Mary Sweeney, term expired.      Edmund G. LaCour Jr., of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Alabama, vice Andrew Lynn Brasher, elevated.      Danny Lam Nguyen, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Carol A. Dalton, retired.      Grace Karaffa Obermann, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen years, vice Susan G. Braden, term expired.      Mark A. Robbins, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Michael L. Rankin, retired.      Ricky Roden, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority for the remainder of the term expiring May 18, 2021, vice James R. Thompson, III.      Carl Ezekiel Ross, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Judith Bartnoff, retired.      Vijay Shanker, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals for the term of fifteen years, vice John R. Fisher, retired.      Elizabeth J. Shapiro, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Lee F. Satterfield, term expired.      Judy Shelton, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2010, vice Janet L. Yellen, resigned.      John C. Truong, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for the term of fifteen years, vice Wendell P. Gardner, Jr., retired.      Chad F. Wolf, of Virginia, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, vice Kirstjen Nielsen, resigned.   ###