February 16, 2021 ICYMI: The Biden-Harris Administration Opens Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 16, 2021 ICYMI: The Biden-Harris Administration Opens Special Enrollment Period on HealthCare.gov   Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration opened HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov for a special enrollment period until May 15 to provide all Americans the opportunity to sign up for health insurance coverage amid the pandemic. President Biden believes health care is a right and will do everything in his power to uphold his commitment to ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. After four years of attacks on Americans’ health care and amid the pandemic, this special enrollment period will help Americans secure some peace of mind as we work to beat the pandemic and strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act.   Here's how leaders across the country are encouraging Americans to sign up for health care:   President Barack Obama: “Great news: Thanks to President Biden, starting today, you can go to http://HealthCare.gov to sign up for health insurance. If you’re uninsured or hoping to change plans, here’s a good article that can help you figure out if you’re eligible.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Protect Our Care Chair Leslie Dach: President Biden is delivering on his health care promises. For four years, Republicans waged a war on America’s health care. President Biden is doing the opposite. Thanks to the President’s actions, millions of Americans will now be able to buy affordable quality health insurance for themselves and their families. This is so important during this pandemic, when millions have lost their job or can no longer afford their insurance and where every American is worried about their access to health care. The President’s announcement of a $50 million marketing campaign will mean more Americans know that affordable health insurance is now within their reach. This move comes on the heels of a historic week for health care, where the House Democrats strengthened the already substantial health care provisions proposed by President Biden in the American Rescue Plan. It’s clear President Biden and Democrats are using every tool at their disposal to build on the strong foundation of the Affordable Care Act to lower costs and expand coverage.” [Statement, 2/15/20]   Matt Eyles, President and CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP): “Every American deserves access to affordable health coverage and high-quality care, and that is especially true during a pandemic. We appreciate the Biden Administration for providing this additional opportunity for hardworking American families to enroll in coverage for their health and financial security as they continue to fight to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Timely and targeted solutions such as this special enrollment period are exactly what Americans need to support them through COVID-19. We appreciate this demonstration of strong public-private partnership, and we are committed to remaining a valuable private sector partner for the benefit of communities and families. Nearly 14 million Americans already get coverage through the individual market, and they appreciate the strong consumer protections provided by plans available through the marketplaces. Health insurance providers will support individuals and families with valuable information about coverage options – online, over the phone, and in many languages. Those who enroll in or change coverage during this SEP should be ready to update their financial information so they can find out whether they qualify for help. In fact, 9 out of 10 people who enrolled in the individual market last year received financial help. They also should have a list of their doctors and prescriptions ready so they can choose a plan that’s right for them. Americans should also know that a change in their coverage status because of the loss of a job will qualify them for a special enrollment period at any time of the year. Health insurance providers continue to cover costs for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, treatment and vaccines, as well as costs for other medical services and prescription drugs, making coverage absolutely essential for Americans’ health, financial stability and peace of mind.” [Statement, 2/15/20]   AARP: “Today is the first day of the ACA special enrollment period in every state across the country. This will provide critical access to Americans 50+ who have struggled to maintain health care coverage throughout the pandemic. Learn more and sign up at spr.ly/6013H9ijc” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Peter V. Lee, Get Covered 2021 Co-Chair and Executive Director of Covered California: “This Special Enrollment Period will give all Americans a chance to enroll in health care coverage and get much needed financial assistance. We applaud President Biden’s actions and his commitment to do the national outreach that is essential to fostering more enrollment. Leaning in to help those who are uninsured get the financial help they need to get covered has never been so critical.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   Laura Packard, Get Covered 2021 Co-Chair and Executive Director for Get America Covered: “Americans now have another opportunity to seek quality, affordable health care coverage. With increased outreach and education, we can help those who are uninsured understand their financial options and get them enrolled in health insurance. Now is not the time to be uninsured.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   Carrie Banahan, Get Covered 2021 Co-Chair and Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for the Commonwealth of Kentucky: “Americans have been hit hard by the pandemic. Now we have an opportunity to get more people insured at a time when we need it the most.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: “President Biden re-opened enrollment for health coverage to expand access for Americans in this health and economic crisis. We're working to quickly respond to the COVID crisis and pass the American Rescue Plan to deliver bold relief, lower costs, and expand coverage for all.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Access to health care is a matter of life-or-death, as our nation has tragically seen during the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis.  President Biden’s actions to expand access to health care through the Affordable Care Act will be a lifeline for potentially millions during their time of need, protecting the health and financial security of those who have lost their health insurance through no fault of their own. At the same time, our House Committees are advancing and preparing to pass the Biden American Rescue Plan, which will take the action needed to defeat this pandemic, putting shots in people’s arms, money in their pockets, children back to school and people back to work.  With nearly half a million Americans having died, over 27 million having been infected and tens of millions without jobs, it is imperative that we send this legislation to President Biden’s desk to be signed as soon as possible. Together with the Biden-Harris Administration, the Democratic Congress will continue our work to save lives and livelihoods, and to protect the right of all Americans to affordable, quality health care.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: “Starting today, millions of Americans without health coverage can log onto HealthCare.gov and get covered through the special enrollment period launched by the Biden Administration. With the COVID-19 pandemic still placing Americans at risk of illness and hospitalization, it is essential that as many of our people are covered with quality, affordable health insurance.  Democrats enacted the Affordable Care Act in 2010 in order to bring down costs and make health care more accessible to tens of millions of Americans. We have defended the law against Republican sabotage and efforts to repeal it, as well as a lawsuit that threatens to strip away coverage for those with pre-existing conditions in the middle of a deadly pandemic where those with certain underlying conditions are at greater risk. Last Congress, the House passed legislation to strengthen and expand the law’s protections, and this Congress we will work with the Biden Administration to continue making sure that Americans are able to access high-quality and affordable health care even after this pandemic is finally brought to an end.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr.: “The importance of health care coverage has never been clearer as millions of Americans are losing their jobs and health coverage due to this public health and economic crisis. I applaud President Biden’s swift action to reopen the Marketplace so that Americans can sign up for quality, affordable health care. The Biden Administration is also conducting outreach and marketing so that people are aware of this special enrollment period. The HealthCare.gov Marketplace opens today and will remain open through May 15.  I encourage everyone in need of health care coverage to check out their options.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott: “Last month, President Biden and Vice President Harris took a long overdue step to expand access to affordable health care during the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a Special Enrollment Period for the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces. Expanding access to health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act is one of the best strategies we have to help people get covered during this global health emergency.  Regrettably, the previous Administration refused to take this basic step to support uninsured and underinsured Americans, even as the number of COVID-19 cases grew rapidly. Now, as the virus continues to spread across the country, this Special Enrollment Period will provide millions of Americans and their families an opportunity to access the comprehensive health coverage they need to weather this pandemic. I encourage anyone who doesn’t already have coverage to find and sign up for an affordable health insurance plan by visiting HealthCare.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596 from February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021.” [Press Release, 2/15/20]   Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont: “New @AccessHealthCT special enrollment period opens today for people who currently do not have coverage. #GetCoveredCT” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Hawaii Governor David Ige: Do you need Health Insurance? 2021 Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Comprehensive Health Insurance Coverage. Starting Feb. 15, 2021 to May 15, 2021. https://healthcare.gov or (800) 318-2596” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Maine Governor Janet Mills: “Thanks to @POTUS, http://healthcare.gov is open now through May 15, 2021 for a special enrollment period. I encourage Maine people who need affordable, high-quality insurance to visit http://CoverME.gov to learn about coverage options and find local assistance. Most Maine people shopping on the marketplace can find coverage that costs less than $75/month for health coverage in 2021. Sixty percent of Maine customers qualify for a plan costing under $75/month while 40 percent can pay under $10/month. Health care saves lives. It keeps people working, enjoying life, and contributing to the economy. And with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure that Maine people can see their doctor, receive care, and stay healthy. Visit http://CoverMe.Gov now through May 15, 2021 to explore your health coverage options.” [Tweet Thread, 2/15/20]   New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham: “Open enrollment for health care coverage begins TODAY! Get coverage for you and your family – financial assistance is available. Find more information about New Mexico's health care exchange @NMHIX at https://bewellnm.com/ways-to-enroll/How-To-Enroll” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Oregon Governor Kate Brown: “Starting today, Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace will be opening a special enrollment period for 90 days. If you or your loved ones need health insurance, go to http://ow.ly/EE5W50DzdBf for more information.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   California Senator Alex Padilla: “Do you and your family need health insurance? @POTUS has opened a special enrollment period from now through May 15 so that everyone affected by the pandemic can access quality care. Visit http://HealthCare.gov to get covered.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth: “Important announcement Thanks to @POTUS 's leadership, http://HealthCare.gov is now opened for a special enrollment period to give people affected by the pandemic another opportunity to #GetCovered. Don't miss out, the enrollment period ends May 15.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Michigan Senator Gary Peters: “Do you need health insurance? Today through May 15 is the special enrollment period. You can visit https://healthcare.gov and learn more about how you and your family can get covered!” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich: “Great news: http://HealthCare.gov is now open to enroll in health coverage! @POTUS has opened a special enrollment period starting today until May 15. As we continue to confront the pandemic, please make sure you and your family get covered if you are not already.” [Tweet, 2/16/20]   Oregon Senator Ron Wyden: “It’s never been more critical that Americans have quality, affordable health care coverage. This special enrollment period is a great opportunity to get coverage for you and your family.” [Tweet, 2/16/20]   Washington Senator Patty Murray: “It’s more important than ever to ensure that you and your family have the health coverage you need. Find an affordable health care plan during the special enrollment period now underway.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin: “HealthCare.gov is open for business! @POTUS Biden took action and opened a special enrollment period from now until May 15 to help more Americans find the quality, affordable health insurance they need now. Visit http://Healthcare.gov to #GetCovered!” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell: “I applaud @POTUS for opening the Special Enrollment Period and allowing uninsured Alabamians to seek out coverage in the face of this public health crisis.  Sign up TODAY through May 15!!” [Tweet, 2/15/20] Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton: “The Health Insurance Marketplace has opened a Special Enrollment Period today through May 15. It's never been more important to have quality, reliable health insurance, and it may be more affordable than you think. Visit http://HealthCare.gov to get covered.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   California Congressman Mark DeSaulnier: “.@POTUS has created a new special enrollment period for health insurance under the ACA due to #COVID19. Starting today, you can sign up for a health insurance plan that works for you. #GetCovered” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   California Congressman Jimmy Panetta: “You have from February 15 to May 15 to take advantage of @POTUS' special enrollment period. Explore your options for health coverage and help secure some peace of mind as we work to beat this pandemic and build on the Affordable Care Act. Enroll at http://HealthCare.gov” [Tweet, 2/15/20] California Congresswoman Ana Eshoo: “The ACA Marketplace reopens today for anyone seeking affordable health insurance! This special enrollment period begins today and ends May 15th. Make sure you get covered. You can enroll HERE http://Healthcare.gov” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   California Congresswoman Barbara Lee: “An important step by @POTUS to ensure that everyone has the care they need during this pandemic. Health care is a right, not a privilege.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro: “Starting today, uninsured Connecticut residents can enroll in coverage through March 15, 2021. Visit Access Health CT or call 1-855-805-4325 to participate in this Special Enrollment Period. Coverage is critical as we continue to navigate #COVID19.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Connecticut Congresswoman Jahana Hayes: “Access Health CT has a special enrollment period. Beginning today and ending March 15, uninsured residents will be able to explore quality, affordable health insurance options. Visit http://AccessHealthCT.com to sign up. [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Florida Congresswoman Lois Frankel: “The special enrollment period begins today through Saturday, May 15. Visit http://HealthCare.gov or http://CuidadoDeSalud.gov to view 2021 plans and enroll. You can also call the Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 for help in over 150 languages.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Today's the day! The #ACA Open Enrollment period has officially begun. Visit http://Healthcare.gov to find a plan that suits your needs and #GetCovered!” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Florida Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy: “If you missed the December deadline, starting TODAY you can sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. @POTUS has extended the enrollment period for another 3 months due to #COVID19 Get more info” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Georgia Congressman David Scott: “There’s a new Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Affordable Care Act plans in 2021. Beginning today, February 15 through May 15, you can enroll in Marketplace health coverage at http://healthcare.gov.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Illinois Congressman Brad Schneider: “All Americans should have access to affordable health care, especially during a pandemic. Beginning today, the Biden Administration is encouraging Americans to get covered by opening http://healthcare.gov for enrollment through May 15th.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley: “Thanks to President Biden, starting TODAY there is a special enrollment period for the ACA that will run through March 15. Visit http://Healthcare.gov now to learn about the options that are available to you and your family.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne: “Do you need new health insurance because of a lost job or better coverage? The http://Healthcare.gov marketplace is OPEN NOW! @POTUS ordered a special open enrollment period from TODAY through May 15th. Sign up: http://healthcare.gov #IA03” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree: “President Biden has created a new ACA Special Enrollment Period due to the ongoing pandemic. Mainers who need to enroll in health care coverage may visit http://HealthCare.gov TODAY through May 15th to find a plan that meets their needs.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell: “President Biden has created a new ACA Special Enrollment Period due to the ongoing #COVID health crisis. Americans who need to enroll in health care coverage may visit http://HealthCare.gov TODAY through May 15th to find a plan that meets their needs.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Minnesota Congresswoman Annie Craig: “No one should be forced to go without health insurance – especially during a pandemic. If you missed the open enrollment period last year, now is your chance to sign up for a plan on the open market.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   New York Congressman Adrian Espaillat: “Access to health care and coverage is more important today than ever before. Thank you @POTUS for expanding the enrollment period with a January executive order. The ACA Marketplace opens today and will remain open through Saturday, May 15.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   New Jersey Congressman Tom Malinowski: “From today through May 15th, 2021, all Americans are able to sign up for health insurance during this Special Enrollment Period. Explore your options and secure the peace of mind of knowing you are covered by visiting https://healthcare.gov” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   New Jersey Josh Gottheimer: “Does your family need access to health insurance coverage? The Administration has reopened http://Healthcare.gov starting TODAY for a special enrollment period through May 15, 2021 — to allow those who need coverage to sign up for health insurance amid the COVID-19 crisis.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Pennsylvania Congressman Brendan Boyle: “GOOD NEWS! Starting today and running through May 15, http://HealthCare.gov has now opened up a special enrollment period to sign up for health insurance as we all work to beat this pandemic and build upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA). (thread) @HHSGov opened this Special Enrollment Period via a direct order from @POTUS Biden. The President is following up on the commitment he made in the American Rescue Plan to make health insurance coverage more affordable for millions of Americans.” [Tweet Thread, 2/15/20]   Texas Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia: “Today @POTUS reopened #ACA enrollment staring through May 15. Make sure you get covered, you can enroll HERE http://Healthcare.gov” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Texas Congresswoman Veronica Escobar: “NEWS The Special Open Enrollment period has begun! Until May 15, El Pasoans have the opportunity to sign up for health care at http://healthcare.gov. Our community has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and it’s never been more crucial to #GetCovered.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Vermont Congressman Peter Welch: “If you need a health plan, the Biden administration has reopened enrollment for health exchanges across the country until May 14. Don’t miss the opportunity to sign up through Vermont Health Connect! To enroll, visit http://VermontHealthConnect.org or call 855-899-9600. Spread the word!” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton: “A special ACA open enrollment period is now available to help all Americans get access to the health care they need during this pandemic. Visit http://HealthCare.gov to find a plan that works for you.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly: “The Biden administration has opened a special enrollment period so Americans can get access to the health care they need during this pandemic. Visit http://HealthCare.gov to find a plan that works for you.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Washington Congressman Derek Kilmer: “If you recently lost your health care coverage, @WAplanfinder can help you find, compare, and enroll in a health plan during the special enrollment period - which opens today! Learn more: https://bit.ly/2VjBCft #GetCoveredWA #StayCoveredWA” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Washington Congressman Rick Larsen: “A special open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act starts today! Washingtonians can go to @WAplanfinder http://wahealthplanfinder.org to request assistance from trained navigators & sign up for health plans for 2021. The special enrollment period ends May 15. #GetCoveredWA” [Tweet, 2/15/20]   Washington Congressman Adam Smith: “Great news: a special health insurance open enrollment period is open from February 15 - May 15! For anyone in the State of Washington who is currently uninsured, you can sign up through @WAplanfinder and learn more here.” [Tweet, 2/15/20]

February 16, 2021 FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Extension of COVID-19 Forbearance and Foreclosure Protections for Homeowners

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 16, 2021   FACT SHEET: Biden Administration Announces Extension of COVID-19 Forbearance and Foreclosure Protections for Homeowners As millions of Americans face continued hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic, President Biden is continuing to take action to help keep individuals and families in their homes. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a housing affordability crisis. Today, 1 in 5 renters is behind on rent and just over 10 million homeowners are behind on  mortgage payments. People of color face even greater hardship and are more likely to have deferred or missed payments, putting them at greater risk of eviction and foreclosure.     Today, as part of the President’s commitment to deliver immediate relief for American families bearing the brunt of this crisis, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture announced a coordinated extension and expansion of forbearance and foreclosure relief programs. These critical protections were due to expire in March, leaving many at risk of falling further into debt and losing their homes. Now, homeowners will receive urgently needed relief as we face this unprecedented national emergency. Today’s action builds on steps the President took on Day One to extend foreclosure moratoriums for federally guaranteed mortgages.   The actions announced today will: Extend the foreclosure moratorium for homeowners through June 30, 2021; Extend the mortgage payment forbearance enrollment window until June 30, 2021 for borrowers who wish to request forbearance; Provide up to six months of additional mortgage payment forbearance, in three-month increments, for borrowers who entered forbearance on or before June 30, 2020. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture worked in lock-step to make sure that the above actions will reach the greatest number of Americans. Last week, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the independent agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, extended forbearance by three months for borrowers coming to the end of their forbearance period. These coordinated actions will cover 70 percent of existing single-family home mortgages. President Biden is committed to protecting homeownership and housing stability as America begins to turn a painful crisis into a robust recovery. Today’s extended forbearance and foreclosure programs are an important step towards building stronger and more equitable communities.   To bolster these efforts, it is critical that Congress pass the American Rescue Plan to deliver more aid to struggling homeowners. The rescue plan creates a Homeowners Assistance Fund which will provide states with $10 billion to help struggling homeowners catch up on their mortgage payments and utility costs. This relief is critical for homeowners with mortgages in the private market who are not able to take advantage of today’s actions and may face longer term challenges. The Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities in extending these protections are to: Provide immediate relief to homeowners across America. Today’s actions directly benefit the 2.7 million homeowners currently in COVID forbearance and extend the availability of forbearance options for nearly 11 million government-backed mortgages nationwide. Communities large and small need this assistance. That is why the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Agriculture worked in concert to deliver across-the-board relief for urban, suburban, rural, and military homeowners, including seniors with reverse mortgages   Support hard-hit communities of color. The health and economic costs of this crisis have not been evenly felt, a pattern repeated over the course of the pandemic. Extending forbearance policies will provide critical support to homeowners of color, who make up a disproportionate share of borrowers with delinquent loans and loans in forbearance due to COVID-related hardship. On the first day of his Administration, President Biden committed to advancing racial equity across all government programs and policies. Today, agencies are stepping up with housing relief that will strengthen communities of color and build the foundation for an equitable recovery. Provide a centralized resource for housing assistance. Homeowners and renters can visit consumerfinance.gov/housing for up-to-date information on their relief options, protections, and key deadlines. As federal agencies continue working to implement housing assistance for American families, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers this website as a one-stop shop for both homeowners and renters to learn about programs and resources that can help them stay in their homes by reducing the risk of eviction and foreclosure.

February 15, 2021 Statement by President Joe Biden on the 2021 Special Health Insurance Enrollment Period through HealthCare.gov

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2021   Statement by President Joe Biden on the 2021 Special Health Insurance Enrollment Period through HealthCare.gov   Health care is a right, not a privilege – and I will do everything in my power to ensure that all Americans have access to the quality, affordable health care they deserve. That is especially critical in the midst of a deadly pandemic that has already taken the lives of more than 470,000 of our fellow Americans and infected more than one out of every 12 additional Americans, often with devastating consequences to their health.   Starting today and running through May 15, 2021, we are opening HealthCare.gov for all Americans to have the opportunity to sign up for health insurance. Now, everyone will be able to use a special enrollment period to help secure some peace of mind as we work to beat the pandemic and strengthen and build on the Affordable Care Act.   As more Americans get covered, it is encouraging to see Congress moving quickly to pass the American Rescue Plan, which will ramp up testing, tracing, and our national vaccination program to get shots into as many arms as possible as quickly as we can. The American Rescue Plan will also take big steps to lower health costs and expand access to care for all Americans, including those who have lost their jobs. It will increase federal subsidies and decrease premiums in order to ensure that no one pays more than 8.5 percent of their income to purchase meaningful and comprehensive health coverage. And it incentivizes states to expand coverage to an additional four million people with low incomes, and provides states the opportunity to extend coverage for a year to low-income women who have recently given birth.   I encourage everyone who needs health insurance to go to HealthCare.gov from today through May 15. If you already have coverage, then help your family and friends sign up and enroll.   We will get through this crisis if we look out for one another and work together to expand coverage, lower costs, and ensure that health care truly is a right for all Americans.

February 15, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Texas Emergency Declaration

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 15, 2021   President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Texas Emergency Declaration   Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of Texas and ordered federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from a severe winter storm beginning on February 11, 2021, and continuing.   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 all 254 Texas counties.   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 for mass care and sheltering and direct federal assistance will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.    Robert J. Fenton, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Jerry S. Thomas as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT:  FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV

February 14, 2021 President Biden to Participate in G7 Virtual Engagement

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2021 President Biden to Participate in G7 Virtual Engagement   On Friday, February 19, President Joe Biden will join fellow G7 leaders for a virtual meeting in the first gathering of G7 leaders since April 2020. This virtual engagement with leaders of the world’s leading democratic market economies will provide an opportunity for President Biden to discuss plans to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, and rebuild the global economy.  President Biden will focus on a global response to the COVID pandemic, including coordination on vaccine production, distribution, and supplies, as well as continued efforts to mobilize and cooperate against the threat of emerging infectious diseases by building country capacity and establishing health security financing. In January, on President Biden’s first day in office, he announced that the United States would re-engage with the World Health Organization to strengthen global health. His first National Security Memorandum was focused on COVID-19 and the relationship between a safe and secure United States, defeating COVD-19, improving global health, and advancing domestic and global health security to prevent, detect and respond to future biological catastrophes. The administration has pledged the United States will join the COVAX initiative, to purchase and distribute vaccines globally and through a multilateral mechanism. These global efforts reinforce the President’s progress to address the COVID pandemic at home, including increasing the pace of vaccinations, instituting public health measures for safe travel, and providing schools with scientific guidance for safe operations.   President Biden will also discuss the global economic recovery, including the importance of all industrialized countries maintaining economic support for the recovery and collective measures to build back better. As we build back better, we must ensure that the recovery is inclusive and benefits all workers, including women and members of historically disadvantaged groups, and all parts of our country. President Biden will also discuss need to make investments to strengthen our collective competitiveness and the importance of updating global rules to tackle economic challenges such as those posed by China. Finally, President Biden and other leaders will also discuss a robust agenda of measures to address the global climate crisis, a key priority for the administration.   The February 19 virtual engagement will be hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of this year’s UK’s G7 Presidency, and ahead of the planned G7 summit in June 2021.

February 14, 2021 ICYMI: Mayors and Governors of Both Parties Across the Country Meet with President Biden and Vice President Harris to Discuss the American Rescue Plan

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2021   ICYMI: Mayors and Governors of Both Parties Across the Country Meet with President Biden and Vice President Harris to Discuss the American Rescue Plan   Friday, a bipartisan group of mayors and governors met with President Biden and Vice President Harris to discuss the American Rescue Plan and the urgent need for Congress to pass much-needed relief to get American cities and states back on their feet.   See below for excerpts from coverage of the meeting from news outlets around the country:   Santa Fe New Mexican: Lujan Grisham optimistic after meeting with Biden, Harris on COVID-19 relief [Daniel J. Chacón, 2/12/21]   “This is a president and a vice president who, through their staff and directly in that meeting, are very clear that we’re in a federal emergency, both economically and still dealing with the public health component of the emergency with COVID,” the governor said. “They know that they can’t do these things without us, and they want to have every tool and resource available to us to get it done right.”   Albuquerque Journal: After White House meeting, governor sees help on way to NM [Dan Boyd, 2/12/21]   In a telephone interview, the governor said New Mexico would get roughly $2 billion in financial aid – for health care, tribal investments and other programs – under the American Rescue Plan proposed by the Biden administration that would provide a total of $350 billion in direct aid for states and local governments.   “This is a game-changer for us and I made that clear to the president and vice president,” Lujan Grisham told the Journal.   KRQE: Gov. has ‘good conversation’ with President, Vice President on COVID relief [Rachel Knapp, 2/12/21]   “We need economic support and relief and working with congress to make sure to get the $1.9 trillion dollars, you know, as that trickles down to New Mexico,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham in a telephone interview with KRQE. The governor was part of a bipartisan blend of mayors and governors in the Oval Office to discuss the vital need to pass the American Rescue Plan, which is Biden’s proposed 1.9 trillion dollar relief package.   KATV: Gov. Hutchinson meets with President Biden, VP Harris on American Rescue Plan [2/12/21]   The oval office discussion centered around the American Rescue Plan which the White House calls an emergency legislative package to fund vaccinations, provide immediate direct relief to families, and support struggling communities.   "I assured him that the State of Arkansas is really working hard not only on the efficient distribution of the vaccines but also fairness for how that is distributed and we can do it. We are committed to it, we just need the supply. He understands that and so that was a major topic that I raised."   Miami Herald: Mayor tells president in White House summit that Miami is ready for more vaccines [Joey Flechas and Francesca Chambers, 2/12/21]   “I have great hope that we can pass this legislation to benefit not only Miami residents but all of the residents of the United States,” Suarez, who is Cuban American, said in Spanish from the briefing room lectern.   Suarez, elected mayor in 2017, said it was an “incredibly spirited conversation” and called it “wonderfully productive.” He said he has already spoken more to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris during their first month in office than he did the Trump administration in its entirety.   Local 10 Miami: Miami Mayor Suarez part of bipartisan meeting with Biden at White House [2/12/21]   Miami Mayor Francis Suarez joined a small group of mayors and governors who met with President Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris in the Oval Office on Friday about COVID-19 relief needs. KDFW: Arlington mayor highlights need for city COVID-19 aid during White House meeting [2/12/21]   Williams said during the meeting he highlighted the need for direct financial assistance for cities.   "Cities know where the holes are, where the gaps are and with this direct assistance we have the opportunity to put that money right in the right place to be able to help our businesses, our less fortunate," Williams said.   Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams attends White House meeting on local COVID-19 response [Kailey Broussard, 2/12/21]   President Joe Biden consulted several city and state officials, including Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams, in Washington on Friday about how the federal government can best help local COVID-19 response and vaccination rollout.   Biden made the pitch for his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to a bipartisan group of nine mayors and governors from around the country Friday morning. The most important part of his plan, Biden said in the meeting, is distributing enough vaccine and providing economic aid to states. However, he asked members of the group for their input, as key decision-makers in local response.   The Detroit News: Biden, Duggan in White House meeting talk need for vaccine supply, state and local aid [By Melissa Nann Burke and Christine Ferretti, 2/12/21]   Washington — Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan met with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday among a bipartisan group of governors and mayors discussing the urgency of adopting Biden's economic stimulus plan, which could provide over $10 billion in state and local aid for Michigan if approved.    […]   He said Biden's $1.9 trillion recovery plan would help residents struggling with 20% unemployment or facing eviction and aid for businesses so the city doesn't see the boarded up commercial districts of seven or eight years ago.    […]   "It was a special experience to sit in the Oval Office with four Republican governors and mayors, four Democratic governors and mayors, talking and sometimes debating with the president and the vice president — everybody just focused on how to solve the problem," Duggan told reporters after the meeting.   Detroit Free Press: Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan visits White House, voices 'complete confidence' in Biden [By Todd Spangler, 2/12/21]   Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan on Friday joined a bipartisan meeting of mayors and governors with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office, saying afterward he has already seen improvements in the number of COVID-19 vaccinations being given in the city and he has "complete confidence" in Biden's response.   "I think they're doing everything they possibly can," Duggan said in the White House Briefing Room following the meeting. He and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Republican, spoke to the news media and answered a few questions ahead of Press Secretary Jen Psaki's daily briefing with reporters. […]   Duggan, who was an early supporter of Biden's candidacy last year, said he and other elected officials in the meeting on Friday expressed how the federal government can help increase vaccinations and bolster business efforts to reopen.   Baltimore Sun: With Trump gone, Maryland Gov. Hogan becomes one of first governors to attend White House meeting with Biden [By Jeff Barker, 2/12/21]   Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan traveled to the White House for a meeting Friday, something he was loath to do during the administration of former president Donald Trump.   The Republican governor attended an Oval Office session about COVID-19 relief with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and a bipartisan group of other governors and mayors.   Hogan urged the GOP afterward to work with the Democratic Biden administration, which has proposed a $1.9 trillion aid package being considered by Congress.   WBAL-TV 11 (NBC Baltimore): Hogan takes part in White House meeting on COVID-19 [By Deborah Weiner, 2/12/21]   WASHINGTON — Gov. Larry Hogan took part Friday in a bipartisan meeting held at the White House between Democratic and Republican governors and mayors addressing COVID-19.   […]   After the meeting, Hogan issued a statement calling on his Republican colleagues to reach a compromise with the Biden administration to move the relief forward.   The governor's statement reads: "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to be one of the first governors to meet with President Biden and Vice President (Kamala) Harris as we work together to end this horrific pandemic.   "At this time when so many Americans have stopped believing that democracy can work for them, we must show that Republicans and Democrats in Washington can work together to get important things done. We cannot afford another partisan process with one party dictating to the other.   Maryland Matters: Hogan Sees Bipartisanship Hope After Oval Office Meeting on COVID-19 Aid [By Bruce DePuyt, 2/12/21]   Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) participated in an Oval Office meeting with President Biden and a small, bipartisan group of governors and mayors on Friday.  The session, which ran longer than the scheduled hour, came as the White House seeks congressional approval for $350 billion to help states and localities fight COVID-19 — part of Biden’s broader $1.9 trillion relief plan.  […]   In a statement, Hogan, the immediate past chairman of the National Governors Association, did not take a position on the funding, but he called on leaders of the two parties to work together.  “As I told President Biden, there is no reason why he and Republicans in Congress cannot forge a compromise that addresses the nation’s top priorities in this crisis,” he said.

Executive Order on the Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

 

February 14, 2021 Executive Order - - - - - - - ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to better serve people in need through partnerships with civil society, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments, it is hereby ordered:      Section 1.  Policy.  Faith-based and other community-serving organizations are vital to our Nation's ability to address the needs of, and lift up, low-income and other underserved persons and communities, notably including persons of color.  The American people are key drivers of fundamental change in our country, and few institutions are closer to the people than our faith-based and other community organizations.  It is important that the Federal Government strengthen the ability of such organizations and other nonprofit providers in our communities to deliver services effectively in partnership with Federal, State, and local governments and with other private organizations, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and forbidding the establishment of religion.  The Federal Government can preserve these fundamental commitments while empowering faith-based and secular organizations to assist in the delivery of vital services in our neighborhoods.  These partnerships are also vital for the success and effectiveness of the United States' diplomatic, international development, and humanitarian work around the world.      Sec. 2.  Establishment.  There is established a White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (White House Partnerships Office) within the Executive Office of the President, supported by the Domestic Policy Council and the Office of Public Engagement, that will have lead responsibility in the executive branch for establishing policies, priorities, and objectives for the Federal Government's comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and expand the work of community-serving organizations, both faith-based and secular, to the extent permitted by law.      Sec. 3.  Functions.  The principal functions of the White House Partnerships Office are, to the extent permitted by law:       (a)  to assist in organizing more effective efforts to serve people in need across the country and around the world, in partnership with civil society, including faith-based and secular organizations;      (b)  to develop, lead, and coordinate the Administration's policy agenda affecting faith-based and other community programs and initiatives and to optimize the role of such efforts in communities;      (c)  to ensure that policy decisions and programs throughout the Federal Government are consistent with the policy set forth in section 1 of this order with respect to faith-based and other community initiatives;      (d)  to bring concerns, ideas, and policy options to Administration leadership for assisting, strengthening, and replicating partnerships, whether financial or nonfinancial, with faith-based and other community organizations; and      (e)  to promote awareness among diverse civil society leaders of opportunities to partner -- both financially and otherwise -- with the Federal Government to serve people in need and to build institutional capacity.      Sec. 4.  Administration.  (a)  The White House Partnerships Office may make use of established or ad hoc committees, task forces, or interagency groups.      (b)  The White House Partnerships Office shall be led by an Executive Director and a Deputy Director.  The operations of the White House Partnerships Office shall begin within 30 days of the date of this order.      (c)  The White House Partnerships Office shall coordinate with the liaison and point of contact designated by each executive department and agency (agency) with respect to this initiative.      (d)  All agencies shall cooperate with the White House Partnerships Office and provide such information, support, and assistance to the White House Partnerships Office as it may request, to the extent permitted by law.      (e)  In order to ensure that Federal programs and practices involving grants or contracts to faith-based organizations are consistent with applicable law, the Executive Director of the White House Partnerships Office, acting through the Counsel to the President, may seek the opinion of the Attorney General on any constitutional and statutory questions involving existing or prospective programs and practices.       Sec. 5.  Amendments to Executive Orders.  (a)  Executive Order 13198 of January 29, 2001 (Agency Responsibilities With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives); Executive Order 13279 of December 12, 2002 (Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-Based and Community Organizations), as amended by Executive Order 13559 of November 17, 2010 (Fundamental Principles and Policymaking Criteria for Partnerships With Faith-Based and Other Neighborhood Organizations); Executive Order 13280 of December 12, 2002 (Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for International Development With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives); Executive Order 13342 of June 1, 2004 (Responsibilities of the Departments of Commerce and Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives); and Executive Order 13397 of March 7, 2006 (Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security With Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives), are amended by: (i)    substituting "White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships" for "White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives" and "White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative" each time they appear in those orders; (ii)   substituting "White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships" for "White House OFBCI" each time it appears in those orders; (iii)  substituting "Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships" for "Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives" and "Centers for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives" each time they appear in those orders; and (iv)   substituting "Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships" for "Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives" and "Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives" each time they appear in those orders. (b) Executive Order 13397, as amended, is further amended by substituting, in section 1(b), "the Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (Executive Director)" for "the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI Director)" and by substituting "Executive Director" for "WHOFBCI Director" each time it appears in the order.      Sec. 6.  Revocation.  Executive Order 13831 of May 3, 2018 (Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative), is revoked.      Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department 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.                                  JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.   THE WHITE HOUSE,     February 14, 2021.

February 14, 2021 FACT SHEET: President Biden Reestablishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2021 FACT SHEET: President Biden Reestablishes the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Biden-Harris administration commits to promoting partnerships with faith-based and neighborhood organizations to help people in need; announces Melissa Rogers as Executive Director and Josh Dickson as Deputy Director Today, President Biden is signing an executive order reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, which will promote partnerships with religious and secular organizations to better serve people in need. As our country grapples with a global pandemic, a severe economic downturn, the scourge of systemic racism, an escalating climate crisis and profound polarization, President Biden knows that civil society partnerships are essential to meeting such challenges. Twenty years ago, President George W. Bush established the first White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. As President Bush said, government cannot be replaced by the efforts of religious and other community organizations, but government “can and should welcome [such organizations] as partners.” In 2009, the Obama-Biden administration continued this initiative, while also putting its own stamp on its name, practices, and policies. For example, this office helped prevent foreclosure amidst the housing crisis by sharing information with more than 50,000 faith-based and community stakeholders on mortgage refinancing and scam prevention; increase the number of summer meals served to kids for a total of more than 1.2 billion summer meals served; assist communities in responding to and recovering from disasters; and train diverse faith leaders on protecting their houses of worship.   At a time of great challenge and opportunity, the Biden-Harris administration is re-launching this bipartisan initiative. The Partnerships Office’s initial work will include collaborating with civil society to: address the COVID-19 pandemic and boost economic recovery; combat systemic racism; increase opportunity and mobility for historically disadvantaged communities; and strengthen pluralism. The office will also support agency partnerships that advance the United States Government’s diplomatic, international development, and humanitarian work around the world.  All of this work will be done in ways that respect cherished constitutional guarantees.   Leading the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be Melissa Rogers, who will serve as the office’s Executive Director and as Senior Director for Faith and Public Policy in the White House Domestic Policy Council. Melissa has been a leader on these issues for decades, including serving from 2013-2017 as Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in the Obama-Biden Administration. Josh Dickson, White House Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, will serve as the office’s Deputy Director. He will be a key interlocutor with faith communities and other stakeholders. Josh previously served as National Faith Engagement Director for Biden for President, and was Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the Department of Commerce during the Obama-Biden Administration. Trey Baker, who previously served as the National Director of African American Engagement for Biden for President and is currently a White House Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, will serve as the office’s liaison to Black communities, including Black faith communities. The Partnerships Office will work hand in hand with the wider White House Office of Public Engagement’s constituency outreach initiatives to engage and partner with stakeholders of all backgrounds and beliefs in its efforts to serve individuals and communities in need. The team will also work with closely with staff in agency Centers for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to execute the objectives outlined in today’s executive order. “There are not Democrats or Republicans dying from this pandemic, or losing their jobs, going hungry and facing eviction in this economic crisis, or facing the sting of systemic racism or the brunt of the climate crisis,” said President Biden. “They are fellow human beings. They are fellow Americans. And this is not a nation that can, or will, simply stand by and watch the suffering around us. That is not who we are. That is not what faith calls us to be. That is why I’m reestablishing the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships to work with leaders of different faiths and backgrounds who are the frontlines of their communities in crisis and who can help us heal, unite, and rebuild. We still have many difficult nights to endure. But we will get through them together and with faith guiding us through the darkness and into the light.”   The White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be an essential part of the Biden-Harris administration’s plan to bring people of all backgrounds and beliefs together to meet our challenges, perfect our union, and restore the soul of our country. Specifically, the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will work with civil society partners to: Address the Covid-19 Pandemic and Boost Economic Recovery By working with diverse civil society organizations, the Partnerships Office will help more Americans get facts about COVID-19 and vaccinations, and support economic recovery efforts. Faith and community leaders are frequently anchors of their neighborhoods due to the services they provide and the trust and respect they command, enabling them to effectively reach the most vulnerable.   Combat Systemic Racism The Partnerships Office will work closely with organizations and community leaders to tackle systemic racism and other forms of bias. Whether it is health, education, economic opportunity, housing, or the criminal justice system, racial and other disparities abound, and it will take an all-hands-on-deck effort to fix these problems. The Partnerships Office is committed to making equity a top priority and working with stakeholders from all beliefs and backgrounds in pursuit of a more just and equitable society.   Increase Opportunity and Mobility for Historically Disadvantaged Communities The Biden-Harris administration has made a firm commitment to serving vulnerable communities and people in need, and the Partnerships Office will play an important role in this work. From supporting immigrants and welcoming refugees to addressing childhood hunger to helping minority-owned and rural small businesses grow and thrive, the Partnerships Office will focus much of its programmatic efforts on these key administration priorities.   Advance International Development and Global Humanitarian Work U.S. agencies’ partnerships will also serve people around the world. Whether it is promoting child and maternal health or defusing conflicts, these partnerships are vital for the success and effectiveness of the United States' diplomatic, international development, and global humanitarian work.   Strengthen Pluralism and Respect Constitutional Guarantees A key commitment of the Partnerships Office is embracing pluralism. At its best, the United States is not only a country with remarkable peace across our religious differences, it is a nation where people of diverse faiths and beliefs regularly make common cause. When Methodists and Muslims, Buddhists and Baptists, Sikhs and Secular Humanists serve together, we strengthen one another and we strengthen America. As part of this commitment, the Partnerships Office will work to protect the right to practice faith without fear, implementing promises President-elect Biden made about safeguarding faith communities that are at risk of discrimination, harassment, and hate-based acts of violence and vandalism.   Fundamental to these goals is respecting our cherished guarantees of church-state separation and freedom for people of all faiths and none, as the executive order notes. The Partnerships Office, for example, will not prefer one faith over another or favor religious over secular organizations. Instead, it will work with every willing partner to promote the common good, including those who have differences with the Administration. As President Biden has repeatedly said, he will be president for all Americans. In addition to advancing collaborative efforts to serve people in need, the White House Partnerships Office will develop and coordinate the Administration's policy agenda regarding faith-based and other community organizations.

February 14, 2021 Statement by the President Three Years After the Parkland Shooting

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 14, 2021 Statement by the President Three Years After the Parkland Shooting   Three years ago today, a lone gunman took the lives of 14 students and three educators at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In seconds, the lives of dozens of families, and the life of an American community, were changed forever.   For three years now, the Parkland families have spent birthdays and holidays without their loved ones. They’ve missed out on the experience of sending their children off to college or seeing them on their first job after high school. Like far too many families, they’ve had to bury pieces of their soul deep within the Earth. Like far too many families — and, indeed, like our nation — they’ve been left to wonder whether things would ever be okay.   These families are not alone. In big cities and small towns. In schools and shopping malls. In churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. In movie theaters and concert halls. On city street corners that will never get a mention on the evening news. All across our nation, parents, spouses, children, siblings, and friends have known the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. And in this season of so much loss, last year’s historic increase in homicides across America, including the gun violence disproportionately devastating Black and Brown individuals in our cities, has added to the number of empty seats at our kitchen tables. Today, as we mourn with the Parkland community, we mourn for all who have lost loved ones to gun violence.   Over these three years, the Parkland families have taught all of us something profound. Time and again, they have showed us how we can turn our grief into purpose – to march, organize, and build a strong, inclusive, and durable movement for change.   The Parkland students and so many other young people across the country who have experienced gun violence are carrying forward the history of the American journey. It is a history written by young people in each generation who challenged prevailing dogma to demand a simple truth: we can do better. And we will.   This Administration will not wait for the next mass shooting to heed that call. We will take action to end our epidemic of gun violence and make our schools and communities safer. Today, I am calling on Congress to enact commonsense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets. We owe it to all those we’ve lost and to all those left behind to grieve to make a change. The time to act is now.

February 13, 2021 Statement by President Joe Biden on the Senate Vote in the Trial of Donald Trump

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2021   Statement by President Joe Biden on the Senate Vote in the Trial of Donald Trump   It was nearly two weeks ago that Jill and I paid our respects to Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who laid in honor in the Rotunda after losing his life protecting the Capitol from a riotous, violent mob on January 6, 2021.   Today, 57 Senators – including a record 7 Republicans – voted to find former President Trump guilty for inciting that deadly insurrection on our very democracy. The Senate vote followed the bipartisan vote to impeach him by the House of Representatives. While the final vote did not lead to a conviction, the substance of the charge is not in dispute. Even those opposed to the conviction, like Senate Minority Leader McConnell, believe Donald Trump was guilty of a “disgraceful dereliction of duty” and “practically and morally responsible for provoking” the violence unleashed on the Capitol.   Tonight, I am thinking about those who bravely stood guard that January day. I’m thinking about all those who lost their lives, all those whose lives were threatened, and all those who are still today living with terror they lived through that day. And I’m thinking of those who demonstrated the courage to protect the integrity of our democracy – Democrats and Republicans, election officials and judges, elected representatives and poll workers – before and after the election.    This sad chapter in our history has reminded us that democracy is fragile. That it must always be defended. That we must be ever vigilant. That violence and extremism has no place in America. And that each of us has a duty and responsibility as Americans, and especially as leaders, to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.   That is how we end this uncivil war and heal the very soul of our nation. That is the task ahead. And it’s a task we must undertake together. As the United States of America.

February 13, 2021 Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2021   Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki We accepted the resignation of TJ Ducklo after a discussion with him this evening. This conversation occurred with the support of the White House Chief of Staff. We are committed to striving every day to meet the standard set by the President in treating others with dignity and respect, with civility and with a value for others through our words and our actions.   ###

 

- February 13, 2021 - Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America I want to first thank my team of dedicated lawyers and others for their tireless work upholding justice and defending truth.   My deepest thanks as well to all of the United States Senators and Members of Congress who stood proudly for the Constitution we all revere and for the sacred legal principles at the heart of our country. Our cherished Constitutional Republic was founded on the impartial rule of law, the indispensable safeguard for our liberties, our rights and our freedoms.   It is a sad commentary on our times that one political party in America is given a free pass to denigrate the rule of law, defame law enforcement, cheer mobs, excuse rioters, and transform justice into a tool of political vengeance, and persecute, blacklist, cancel and suppress all people and viewpoints with whom or which they disagree. I always have, and always will, be a champion for the unwavering rule of law, the heroes of law enforcement, and the right of Americans to peacefully and honorably debate the issues of the day without malice and without hate.    This has been yet another phase of the greatest witch hunt in the history of our Country. No president has ever gone through anything like it, and it continues because our opponents cannot forget the almost 75 million people, the highest number ever for a sitting president, who voted for us just a few short months ago.  I also want to convey my gratitude to the millions of decent, hardworking, law-abiding, God-and-Country loving citizens who have bravely supported these important principles in these very difficult and challenging times.     Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun. In the months ahead I have much to share with you, and I look forward to continuing our incredible journey together to achieve American greatness for all of our people. There has never been anything like it!   We have so much work ahead of us, and soon we will emerge with a vision for a bright, radiant, and limitless American future.    Together there is nothing we cannot accomplish.    We remain one People, one family, and one glorious nation under God, and it’s our responsibility to preserve this magnificent inheritance for our children and for generations of Americans to come.   May God bless all of you, and may God forever bless the United States of America.