May 12, 2021 Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021   Remarks by President Biden on the COVID-19 Response and the Vaccination Program   South Court Auditorium 4:12 P.M. EDT   THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon again.  Tomorrow, we will cross 250 million vaccine shots administered since I took office.  I think it’s a pretty consequential achievement for the nation.   I promised I’d keep you up to date every 50 million shots, and today I have an important update.  Last week, I launched a new phase of our vaccination program.    At that time, I set two new goals for our country: The first was getting 70 percent of adults their first shot by July the Fourth.  The second was having 160 million Americans of all ages fully vaccinated by that same date.   I’m pleased to report we’ve made strong progress on the adult vaccination efforts in just the past few days by making it easier than ever to get vaccinated.  You can visit Vaccines.gov or text your ZIP Code to 438829 to find a vaccination site near you.  And we’re also opened up thousands of federal pharmacy sites to vaccinations without an appointment so people can just walk up and get the shot.   Now more employers than ever are giving people time off as well to get their shots.  More grocery and retail stores and sports teams are providing discounts and promotions to encourage customers and fans to get vaccinated.   I was -- talked to a bunch of governors yesterday.  One -- the governor of Maine -- points out that if you’re a hunter or a fisherman in Maine, and you want to get a license, no problem, you don’t have to pay for it if your vaccination shot at the same time you get your license.  The whole point is: There’s a lot more convenient places for people to get their vaccine shot.   From May 24th to July 4th, Uber and Lyft -- and I think it’s incredibly generous of them -- are going to offer everyone in America free rides to and from vaccination sites.  So go online, find out where the vaccination site is, call Uber or Lyft, they will take you there, wait for you, and take you back.   As a result, even though more than half of the adults in the country have already gotten their first shot, we have fewer people who need to be vaccinated than ever before and we’re actually -- actually seeing a slight increase in the pace of vaccinations across the past week.  And we’re now on track to hit 60 percent of adults with at least one shot by next week.   We still have a lot of work to do to get the adult vaccination rate up to 70 percent, but I believe we’re going to get there.    So, today, I want to talk about an exciting new development.  When I spoke last week, I said that we were hoping to soon add a new element to our vaccination program: vaccinations for adolescents ages 12 and older.   And then, on Monday, after a rigorous and thorough review, the Food and Drug Administration -- the FDA -- authorized Pfizer vaccine for use in that age category: 12 and up.   Today, an independent advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- the CDC -- voted to recommend its use.  Now pending the C- -- CDC’s final approval later today, we’re going to have, for the first time, a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents over the 12 years of age.  And this is one more giant step in our fight against the pandemic.   I sincerely think the scientists, researchers, and clinical trial participants deserve our thanks; they’ve all made this possible.  Because of them, nearly 17 million more Americans are eligible to get vaccinated, and now -- now.    I encourage each of them and their parents to get their vaccination shots right away.  And here’s why: We know that kids at this -- at this age, 12 and above, are at risk from COVID-19.  About 3 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in kids under 17 years of age.  And teenagers can spread it to their friends, to their siblings, to their parents, and to their grandparents.  Now that vaccine is authorized for ages 12 and up, and I encourage their parents to make sure they get the shot.   As I promised last week, we’re ready.  This new population is going to find the vaccine rollout fast and efficient.  As of tomorrow, more than 15,000 pharmacies across this country will be ready to vaccinate this age group.  Most of these pharmacies are close to a family -- as their family home -- as the kid’s school is to their family home.   We’re also going to be getting vaccines to pharm- -- for -- to pedia- -- pediatricians and family doctors so parents and children can talk to their doctors who they trust about getting the vaccination.  And they’ll be able to do it at that office.   We’re also partnering with school-based clinics and community health centers.  Of course, we remain focused on equity in our vaccine program.  The vaccine is free for everyone -- free.   Additionally, if teens are on the move this summer, they can get their first shot in one place and the second shot elsewhere.    At the same time, we’re also launching an important public education campaign.  First and foremost, we’re providing families with trusted medical information they need to make informed decisions about the vaccination and the vaccine.   Our medical and scientific experts at CDC and the National Institutes of Health will be out there in the public every day to answer questions and get the facts out.   We will also be partnering with healthcare providers, schools, community organizations, states, and Tribes, and cities at the same time.   The bottom line is this: The vaccine for kids between the ages of 12 and 15 are safe, effective, easy, fast, and free.   So, my hope is that parents will take advantage of the vaccine and get their kids vaccinated.   Now, let’s remember that millions of 16- and 17-year-olds have also been safely vaccinated.  And as more and more Americans get vaccinated, COVID-19 hospitalizations and death rates continue to fall.   Today, the New York Times reported the number of COVID hospitalizations in the United States since April of 2020, right after the start of this pandemic, is the lowest.   Safe and effective vaccines are -- are curbing the spread of the virus, and they're saving thousands of lives and allowing millions of Americans to start returning to a closer-to-normal life.   As I said earlier, for everyone 12 years and up, it’s never been easier or more convenient to get vaccinated.  Visit Vaccines.gov to find out where, or text your ZIP Code to 438829.  That is 438829.  Text your ZIP Code to that number, and you’ll find the closest vaccine facilities to you at that moment.  It’s easy, it’s convenient, and it’s free.   So if you haven’t gotten vaccinated or still have questions, talk to someone you trust -- your physician, your pharmacist, your next-door neighbor who got the shot.  Talk to your faith leaders.  Look at the folks in your community who have gotten vaccinated and are getting back to living their lives -- the grandparents united with their grandkids; friends getting together again.    I’ve been saying for a long -- this for a long time, but I believe it: This is not a Democratic or Republican issue; this is about life and death.  It’s about getting us closer to normal.   Let me conclude with this: In light of the end of -- that we've been talking about -- there's a light at the end of the tunnel -- well, it’s growing brighter and brighter.  And we need all of you to bring it home.    Americans ages 12 and up: Get vaccinated.  And on July 4th, let’s celebrate our independence as a nation and our independence of this virus.  We can do this.    And as I said a little bit earlier today in another context, you know, I don’t believe that the American people -- there's any significant portion of American people who will refuse to get vaccinated.  You keep hearing about how Republicans wont -- and this.  Look, if it's available, if it's nearby, if it’s convenient, people are getting vaccinated.  I believe the vast majority of Americans are going to get vaccinated.  That’s the route we’re going now.    So may God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  And if you’ve been vaccinated, you don’t have to wear this outside around people unless there's really large groups.  And you don’t have to wear it inside if you're with people that you -- that have also been vaccinated.  So protect yourself.  Protect your neighbors.    Thank you very much.  Appreciate it.   Q    Mr. President, what do you say to Americans who are worried about the supply of gas and rising prices right now?   THE PRESIDENT:  We have been in very, very close contact with Colonial Pipeline, which is the one area you're talking about, where the -- one of the reasons that gasoline prices are going up.  And I think you're going to hear some good news in the next 24 hours.  And I think we'll be getting that under control.   Secondly, I have, in the meantime, made it easier for us to have lifted some of the restrictions on the transportation of fuel, as well as access to the United States military providing fuel and with vehicles to get it there -- where -- places where it's badly needed.    And I'd also point out that I think what this shows is that -- I think we have to make a greater investment in education as it relates to being able to train and graduate more people proficient in cybersecurity.    And I've been saying for a long long, long time now -- I know I probably -- you could probably say it for me, but I think that one of the most important things we have to do to reclaim our place as a leading innovator in the world is to have a better-educated workforce.    And that goes back to the days -- long time ago now, over five years ago -- when I was Vice President and I surveyed all the Fortune 500 companies.  I said, “What do you most need?”  And remember what they said: a better-educated workforce.  But they're not spending money to educate the workforce.    And -- but it's important that we do this.  And the cybersecurity piece is one, I think, you're going to see where we need significantly larger number of experts in the area of cybersecurity working for private companies, as well as private companies being willing to share data as to what -- how they're protecting themselves.   I think that's part of the long-term answer not just in terms of energy, but across the board.  I know that's not a direct response to your question, but it does impact on it, I think, down the road.   Q    Are you concerned about the violence in the Middle East?  And can you talk about what conversations you have had with officials there?   THE PRESIDENT:  My national security staff and Defense staff has been in constant contact with their counterparts in the Middle East -- not just with the Israelis, but also with everyone from the Egyptians, to the Saudis, to the Emiratis, et cetera.    And I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu not too long ago.  I'll be putting out a statement very shortly on that.    My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later.  But Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.    But I had a conversation for a while with the -- with the Prime Minister of Israel.  And I think that -- my hope is that we'll see this coming to a conclusion sooner than later.   Thank you.   Q    What's your take on the end of your meeting, sir?  Were you optimistic coming out of it today?   THE PRESIDENT:  Which one -- which one of the 12 I've had?  (Laughter.)   Q    Pelosi, Schumer, and the crew.    Q    Infrastructure, sir.  And in particular --   THE PRESIDENT:  You guys are bad.  I'm not supposed to be answering all these questions.  I'm supposed to leave, but I can't resist your questions.    I came away encouraged.  And -- but I want to make it clear to you: I'm encouraged not just because of a solid meeting with -- with the Republican Leader in the House and with Mitch -- or Senator McConnell, who I've known a long, long time and worked with.  I've been meeting with bipartisan leaders for a long time now.  I've met with gosh knows how many.    I mean, and there's more than one single group.  There's a bipartisan organiz- -- you know, groups that're made up of 10 to 20 members.  There's been groups that I met with --   For example, I met with -- yesterday, with Kyrsten Sinema.  I thought that was a -- and she purported, and I believe her, to speak for some of the bipart- -- her -- her friends who are both sides of the aisle about how to do deal -- how to go forward with infrastructure.    So I'm -- generically, I'm encouraged that there is room to have a compromise on a bipartisan bill that's solid and significant, and a means by which to pay for it without dropping all of the -- all of the burden on -- on middle-class and working-class people.   Look, what's the one thing people are concerned about with the gas?  Gasoline prices going up.  Exactly right.  And it matters if you make $40,000 a year.  It matters if you're a two family person [sic] and making 80-, 90,000 dollars -- two family -- two wage earners.  It matters.    And what I don't want to do -- and this will be another discussion we didn't get into today -- is how to pay for it.  And if everything is paid for by a user fee, well, then, you know, the burden falls on working-class folks who are -- who are having trouble.  They're -- we're getting them out of the -- they're coming around, but it has -- this has to be a burden shared across the spectrum.   Anyway, thank you, guys.   4:27 P.M. EDT

May 12, 2021 FACT SHEET: President Signs Executive Order Charting New Course to Improve the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021   FACT SHEET: President Signs Executive Order Charting New Course to Improve the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks   Today, President Biden signed an Executive Order to improve the nation’s cybersecurity and protect federal government networks. Recent cybersecurity incidents such as SolarWinds, Microsoft Exchange, and the Colonial Pipeline incident are a sobering reminder that U.S. public and private sector entities increasingly face sophisticated malicious cyber activity from both nation-state actors and cyber criminals. These incidents share commonalities, including insufficient cybersecurity defenses that leave public and private sector entities more vulnerable to incidents.    This Executive Order makes a significant contribution toward modernizing cybersecurity defenses by protecting federal networks, improving information-sharing between the U.S. government and the private sector on cyber issues, and strengthening the United States’ ability to respond to incidents when they occur.  It is the first of many ambitious steps the Administration is taking to modernize national cyber defenses.  However, the Colonial Pipeline incident is a reminder that federal action alone is not enough. Much of our domestic critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and those private sector companies make their own determination regarding cybersecurity investments. We encourage private sector companies to follow the Federal government’s lead and take ambitious measures to augment and align cybersecurity investments with the goal of minimizing future incidents.   Specifically, the Executive Order the President is signing today will:   Remove Barriers to Threat Information Sharing Between Government and the Private Sector. The Executive Order ensures that IT Service Providers are able to share information with the government and requires them to share certain breach information. IT providers are often hesitant or unable to voluntarily share information about a compromise.  Sometimes this can be due to contractual obligations; in other cases, providers simply may be hesitant to share information about their own security breaches. Removing any contractual barriers and requiring providers to share breach information that could impact Government networks is necessary to enable more effective defenses of Federal departments, and to improve the Nation’s cybersecurity as a whole.   Modernize and Implement Stronger Cybersecurity Standards in the Federal Government. The Executive Order helps move the Federal government to secure cloud services and a zero-trust architecture, and mandates deployment of multifactor authentication and encryption with a specific time period. Outdated security models and unencrypted data have led to compromises of systems in the public and private sectors. The Federal government must lead the way and increase its adoption of security best practices, including by employing a zero-trust security model, accelerating movement to secure cloud services, and consistently deploying foundational security tools such as multifactor authentication and encryption.   Improve Software Supply Chain Security. The Executive Order will improve the security of software by establishing baseline security standards for development of software sold to the government, including requiring developers to maintain greater visibility into their software and making security data publicly available. It stands up a concurrent public-private process to develop new and innovative approaches to secure software development and uses the power of Federal procurement to incentivize the market. Finally, it creates a pilot program to create an “energy star” type of label so the government – and the public at large – can quickly determine whether software was developed securely. Too much of our software, including critical software, is shipped with significant vulnerabilities that our adversaries exploit. This is a long-standing, well-known problem, but for too long we have kicked the can down the road. We need to use the purchasing power of the Federal Government to drive the market to build security into all software from the ground up.   Establish a Cybersecurity Safety Review Board. The Executive Order establishes a Cybersecurity Safety Review Board, co-chaired by government and private sector leads, that may convene following a significant cyber incident to analyze what happened and make concrete recommendations for improving cybersecurity. Too often organizations repeat the mistakes of the past and do not learn lessons from significant cyber incidents. When something goes wrong, the Administration and private sector need to ask the hard questions and make the necessary improvements. This board is modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, which is used after airplane crashes and other incidents.   Create a Standard Playbook for Responding to Cyber Incidents. The Executive Order creates a standardized playbook and set of definitions for cyber incident response by federal departments and agencies. Organizations cannot wait until they are compromised to figure out how to respond to an attack. Recent incidents have shown that within the government the maturity level of response plans vary widely. The playbook will ensure all Federal agencies meet a certain threshold and are prepared to take uniform steps to identify and mitigate a threat.  The playbook will also provide the private sector with a template for its response efforts.   Improve Detection of Cybersecurity Incidents on Federal Government Networks. The Executive Order improves the ability to detect malicious cyber activity on federal networks by enabling a government-wide endpoint detection and response system and improved information sharing within the Federal government. Slow and inconsistent deployment of foundational cybersecurity tools and practices leaves an organization exposed to adversaries. The Federal government should lead in cybersecurity, and strong, Government-wide Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) deployment coupled with robust intra-governmental information sharing are essential.   Improve Investigative and Remediation Capabilities. The Executive Order creates cybersecurity event log requirements for federal departments and agencies. Poor logging hampers an organization’s ability to detect intrusions, mitigate those in progress, and determine the extent of an incident after the fact.  Robust and consistent logging practices will solve much of this problem.

- May 12, 2021 - Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America

 

- May 12, 2021 -  Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America The Republicans in the House of Representatives have a great opportunity today to rid themselves of a poor leader, a major Democrat talking point, a warmonger, and a person with absolutely no personality or heart. As a representative of the Great State of Wyoming, Liz Cheney is bad for our Country and bad for herself. Almost everyone in the Republican Party, including 90% of Wyoming, looks forward to her ouster—and that includes me!

May 12, 2021 Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021   Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel President Biden spoke today with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He condemned the rocket attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including against Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. He conveyed his unwavering support for Israel’s security and for Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself and its people, while protecting civilians. He also conveyed the United States’ encouragement of a pathway toward restoring a sustainable calm. He shared his conviction that Jerusalem, a city of such importance to people of faith from around the world, must be a place of peace. He updated the Prime Minister on the United States’ diplomatic engagement with regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, as well as with Palestinian officials. The two leaders agreed to maintain the close consultation between their teams, which has included consistent engagement by their respective foreign ministers, defense ministers, chiefs of defense, and national security advisors, and to stay in touch personally in the days ahead.

May 12, 2021 President Biden Announces Third Slate of Judicial Nominees

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021   President Biden Announces Third Slate of Judicial Nominees   President Biden has announced his intent to nominate three new Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees, who will bring deep credentials and qualifications to the federal bench, as well as career-long devotion to our Constitution and the rule of law. These individuals embody President Biden’s commitment to ensure that his judicial nominees represent not only the excellence but the diversity of our nation with respect to both personal and professional backgrounds.   Many of them are groundbreaking choices, including: the second judge of Hispanic origin to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the second judge from Puerto Rico ever to sit on the First Circuit; the second African American woman ever to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, who would also be the only judge with experience as a federal defender serving on that circuit; an immigrant who came to the United States as a small child and would be the only judge with experience as a federal defender serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; only the third active Native American federal judge currently serving in the entire United States, and the first Native American federal judge in Washington State history; the first African American district court judge to sit in the Camden courthouse of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; the second African American woman judge and the second Asian American judge to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts This is President Biden’s third slate of judicial nomination announcements, and he has now put forward 20 names for federal judicial vacancies.    President Biden has spent decades committed to strengthening the federal bench, which is why he continues to move at a historically fast pace with respect to judicial nominations. His first announcement of candidates for the judiciary was made faster than any that of any new President in modern American history, and today’s announcement further continues that trend.   CIRCUIT COURT Gustavo A. Gelpí, Jr.: Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí, Jr. is a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and has served as chief judge of the court since 2018. Judge Gelpí was confirmed unanimously to the district court in 2006. Judge Gelpí previously served as a magistrate judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 2001 to 2006. Prior to his appointment in 2001, Judge Gelpí worked in the litigation department of the McConnell Valdés law firm. Previously, Judge Gelpí was the Solicitor General of Puerto Rico from 1999 to 2000. He also served as the Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Legal Counsel in the Puerto Rico Department of Justice from 1997 to 1999 and special counsel to the Puerto Rico Attorney General in 1997. Judge Gelpí served as special counsel to the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 1996 and as an Assistant Federal Public Defender from 1993 to 1996. Judge Gelpí began his legal career as a law clerk for Judge Juan Perez-Gimenez on the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico from 1991 to 1993.   Eunice C. Lee, Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Eunice C. Lee is an Assistant Federal Defender with the Federal Defenders of New York. Before joining the Federal Defenders, Ms. Lee worked from 1998 to 2019 with the Office of the Appellate Defender in New York City. She joined the office as a Staff Attorney and was named Supervising Attorney in 2001. She served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Law at New York University School of Law from 2003 to 2019, teaching a criminal appellate defense clinic. Ms. Lee also served as Director of Recruitment and Outreach at the Office of the Appellate Defender from 2003 until her departure in 2019. During her career, Ms. Lee has represented over 380 indigent clients in proceedings before state and federal appellate courts on direct appeal, in post-judgment motions, and in habeas proceedings. Ms. Lee began her legal career as a law clerk for Judge Susan J. Dlott on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio from 1996 to 1997, and Judge Eric L. Clay on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1997 to 1998.   Ms. Lee received her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1996 and her B.A. from Ohio State University in 1993.   Veronica S. Rossman, Nominee for the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit   Veronica S. Rossman has served as Senior Counsel to the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Districts of Colorado and Wyoming since 2017. From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Rossman served as the Appellate Division Chief of her office, and she previously worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Appellate Division from 2010 to 2015. Ms. Rossman was a visiting professor at the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law from 2008 to 2010, and she worked as a staff attorney for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from 2007 to 2008. From 2004 to 2005, Ms. Rossman was an attorney with the law firm of Mastbaum and Moffat. Ms. Rossman first worked as an Assistant Federal Defender for the Districts of Colorado and Wyoming in 2003, where she served in the Trial Division. During her career, she has represented over 250 indigent clients. From 1998 to 2002, she was a litigation associate at Morrison & Foerster, LLP. Ms. Rossman began her legal career as a law clerk for Chief Justice A. William Maupin on the Nevada Supreme Court from 1997 to 1998.   Ms. Rossman received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1997 and her B.A. from Columbia University in 1993.   Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Judge Gelpí received his J.D. from Suffolk University in 1991 and his B.A. from Brandeis University in 1987.   DISTRICT COURT   Angel Kelley: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts  Angel Kelley has served as an Associate Judge on the Massachusetts state court since 2009, with an initial appointment to the District Court then appointed to the Superior Court in 2013. During her term as a Superior Court judge she held a leadership position as the Regional Administrative Judge on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 2017 to 2020. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Kelley served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2009. Previously, she was a clinical instructor at Harvard Law School from 2005 to 2007 and an attorney for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 1997 to 2005. She began her legal career as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society in the Juvenile Rights Division in Brooklyn, New York from 1993 to 1997.   Judge Kelley received her LL.M. in Trial Advocacy from Temple University in 2003, her J.D. from Georgetown University in 1992, and her B.A. from Colgate University in 1989.  Lauren J. King: Nominee for the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington Lauren J. King is a principal at Foster Garvey, P.C. based in Seattle, Washington, where she has practiced since 2012. She chairs the firm’s Native American Law Practice Group and has served as a pro tem appellate judge for the Northwest Intertribal Court System since 2013. Ms. King is also an appointed Commissioner on the Washington State Gambling Commission. She previously taught Federal Indian Law at the Seattle University School of Law. Prior to joining Foster Garvey, King was an associate at Byrnes Keller Cromwell LLP from 2010 to 2012 and at K&L Gates from 2008 to 2009. Ms. King graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2008, and from the University of Washington, with distinction, in 2004. Ms. King is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, which is located in Oklahoma.  Karen M. Williams: Nominee for the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey  Karen M. Williams has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court in the District of New Jersey since 2009. Judge Williams also currently serves as an adjunct professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Prior to her appointment, Judge Williams spent 17 years in private practice at Jasinski & Williams, P.C. in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Judge Williams’s work focused on employment law, including litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. Judge Williams received her J.D. from the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law in 1992 and her B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University in 1985.

May 11, 2021 ICYMI: Economist, Mark Zandi: President Biden's Build Back Better plan “Will Improve Nearly Every Community in America”

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2021     ICYMI: Economist, Mark Zandi: President Biden's Build Back Better plan “Will Improve Nearly Every Community in America”    Today, economist Mark Zandi wrote an op-ed in CNN arguing that President Biden’s Build Back batter agenda is “a bold effort to invest in the nation's infrastructure and labor force.”                                            Zandi highlights the plans’ proposed investments in infrastructure, which “will support business competitiveness and labor productivity growth, all in an effort to lift the economy's long-term growth rate.”  And, he stressed the need for the “increased investment in education, child and eldercare, paid family and medical leave and housing” as outlined in the President’s agenda, and the impact it will have on improving the U.S.’ low female participation in the workforce.   Zandi adds, “Build Back Better also works to ensure that the benefits of the larger economy go to lower income households, and thus addresses the long-developing and now serious problem of income and wealth inequality… Most of the 3.5 million jobs that we estimate will have been created as a result of Biden's plan a decade from now will go to those with lesser skills and education and lower incomes. More important in the long run, the plan lifts incomes and wealth of lower-income Americans by helping them increase their educational attainment, go to work, own homes and live closer to their jobs.”   Zandi concludes that if the President’s plans through Congress and become law, “it would positively touch nearly every community in America.”   Read full op-ed below:   CNN: Opinion: Biden's Build Back Better plan will improve nearly every community in America [Mark Zandi, 5/11/21]   There is a lot to like in the President's Build Back Better plan. It is big — with a total of $4.5 trillion in increased government spending and tax credits over the next decade — but we have big economic problems. One major issue in the American economy is that underlying growth has been disappointing for a long time. Moreover, the benefits of the growth we have seen in recent decades has mostly gone to high-income and wealthy Americans. Build Back Better is focused on addressing these problems. Of the $4.5 trillion in proposed spending and tax credits, almost $2.6 trillion is for investment in infrastructure, and more than $1.9 trillion is for investment in the labor force. The plan also includes $3.5 trillion in tax increases, about half of which come from higher taxes on mostly large multinational corporations and the other half on the well-to-do. The infrastructure spending is one-time and some of the tax credits will expire. But, since the tax increases remain in place, the plan is paid for over about a 15-year period.   That increased infrastructure spending — on everything from traditional transportation projects to broadband and basic research and development — will support business competitiveness and labor productivity growth, all in an effort to lift the economy's long-term growth rate.   Increased investment in education, child and eldercare, paid family and medical leave and housing will also support productivity growth and will increase labor force participation. One group this will help most: women, and especially moms. US female participation in the workforce is among the lowest for developed economies given the prohibitively high cost of taking care of children and other family members in need.   The President's plan needs to go through the legislative process and will surely end up differently than he has proposed, but if it were fully adopted next year, we estimate that labor force participation would increase by nearly a full percentage point, and even more for women, lifting the economy's underlying real GDP growth by 10 to 15 basis points a decade from now. This boost to growth isn't a lot each year, but over a generation or two, it will result in a much bigger and wealthier economy.   Build Back Better also works to ensure that the benefits of the larger economy go to lower income households, and thus addresses the long-developing and now serious problem of income and wealth inequality. It will not solve the problem, though it will turn the dial in the right direction. Most of the 3.5 million jobs that we estimate will have been created as a result of Biden's plan a decade from now will go to those with lesser skills and education and lower incomes. More important in the long run, the plan lifts incomes and wealth of lower-income Americans by helping them increase their educational attainment, go to work, own homes and live closer to their jobs.   The most substantial criticism of this plan is against the higher taxes on corporations and the wealthy. Some worry that these tax hikes will reduce business investment and expansion plans in the United States, while reducing the incentives to work and reducing the savings of high-income taxpayers. Indeed, this will happen, but the negative impacts will be small.   The tax increases in the Biden plan are at least partially about rolling back the tax cuts for corporations and the well-to-do in President Trump's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. However, it is not clear that the TCJA meaningfully increased underlying investment. Instead, much of the tax windfall went into share repurchases and bigger dividends. If the tax cuts didn't lift economic growth, it is tough to argue that increasing them will appreciably hurt growth.   Biden is proposing some additional tax increases, such as taxing capital gains and dividends like income for those making over $1 million a year, but it is hard to see how this will have a significant impact on the way uber-wealthy households work and save. Of all the tax increases, increasing the top marginal rate on corporations from its current 21% to 28% is likely to have the most significant negative fallout, all else equal. But that's likely why he is proposing to roll back the Trump corporate tax rate cut only part way and has signaled a willingness to negotiate how far.   The biggest concern for this plan is around that it will be poorly executed. The Build Back Better plan is complex, with lots of massive moving parts. On paper, the plan is paid for and does not add meaningfully to the nation's deficits and debt as its spending and tax credits ultimately expire. But there is a risk that the tax credits will not expire. Also, heightened tax enforcement by beefing up IRS audits, which is also part of Biden's plan, might not raise as much additional revenue as anticipated from wealthy taxpayers who are adept at finding loopholes. If they fail to end these programs after a decade of spending, there would be larger federal budget deficits and debt to contend with.   The Build Back Better plan is a bold effort to invest in the nation's infrastructure and labor force. While the plan will not get through Congress in the same form the president has proposed it, we do expect a significant part of it will become law late this year and to take effect in 2022. If it does, it would positively touch nearly every community in America.

- May 11, 2021 - Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America

 

- May 11, 2021 -  Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America When I was in office we were known as the Peace Presidency, because Israel’s adversaries knew that the United States stood strongly with Israel and there would be swift retribution if Israel was attacked. Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies. America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the U.S. will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself. Unbelievably, Democrats also continue to stand by crazed anti-American Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others, who savagely attack Israel while they are under terrorist assault.

May 11, 2021 Biden-Harris Administration Approves First Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Waters

 

FORWARDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR - - - - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2021 Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov   Biden-Harris Administration Approves First Major Offshore Wind Project in U.S. Waters  Major milestone will propel America’s drive toward a clean energy future Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today announced approval of the construction and operation of the Vineyard Wind project — the first large-scale, offshore wind project in the United States. The Secretaries were joined in the announcement by labor leaders who have been working to ensure that the project is built and maintained by union labor. The 800-megawatt Vineyard Wind energy project will contribute to the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of generating 30 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2030. The project will be located approximately 12 nautical miles offshore Martha's Vineyard and 12 nautical miles offshore Nantucket in the northern portion of Vineyard Wind’s lease area. It will create 3,600 jobs and provide enough power for 400,000 homes and businesses. “A clean energy future is within our grasp in the United States. The approval of this project is an important step toward advancing the Administration's goals to create good-paying union jobs while combatting climate change and powering our nation,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “Today is one of many actions we are determined to take to open the doors of economic opportunity to more Americans.” “Today’s offshore wind project announcement demonstrates that we can fight the climate crisis, while creating high-paying jobs and strengthening our competitiveness at home and abroad,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This project is an example of the investments we need to achieve the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious climate goals, and I’m proud to be part of the team leading the charge on offshore wind.”  In its first four months, the Biden-Harris administration has catalyzed the offshore wind industry by announcing the first ever national offshore wind energy mandate, creating a roadmap for the future of this innovative industry. Achieving the 30 gigawatt goal is anticipated to result in the creation of tens of thousands of living wage, family-supporting union jobs while positioning America to lead a clean energy revolution and tackle the climate crisis. Building the offshore wind supply chain can feed steel mills in West Virginia, support ship building in Texas, and wind turbine manufacturing in both inland areas and on the coasts. Today’s Record of Decision (ROD) grants Vineyard Wind final federal approval to install 84 or fewer turbines off Massachusetts as part of an 800-megawatt offshore wind energy facility. The project is expected to create 3,600 area jobs and will power up to 400,000 homes. Turbines will be installed in an east-west orientation, and all the turbines will have a minimum spacing of 1 nautical mile between them in the north-south and east-west directions, consistent with the U.S. Coast Guard recommendations in the Final Massachusetts and Rhode Island Port Access Route Study. The ROD adopts mitigation measures to help avoid, minimize, reduce, or eliminate adverse environmental effects that could result from the construction and operation of the proposed project. These mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements were developed through input, consultation, and coordination with stakeholders, Tribes, and federal and state agencies. For more information, please see appendix A of the ROD. “This project represents the power of a government-wide approach to offshore wind permitting, taking stakeholder ideas and concerns into consideration every step of the way,” said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton. “We will continue to advance new projects that will incorporate lessons learned from analyzing this project to ensure an efficient and predictable process for industry and stakeholders.” The ROD is jointly signed by and addresses permitting decisions by BOEM, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Prior to construction, Vineyard Wind must submit a facility design report and a fabrication and installation report. These engineering and technical reports provide specific details for how the facility will be fabricated and installed in accordance with the approved Construction and Operations Plan. In addition to today’s announcement, since January 20, the Department has initiated the environmental review of two other offshore wind projects, and pursued additional leasing opportunities in the New York Bight.

- May 10, 2021 - Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America

 

- May 10, 2021 -  Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America The House GOP has a massive opportunity to upgrade this week from warmonger Liz Cheney to gifted communicator Elise Stefanik. Elise has intelligence, an endorsement from American Patriot Brandon Judd and the National Border Patrol Council, she has an A+ from the NRA, and she loves our Veterans. We need someone in Leadership who has experience flipping districts from Blue to Red as we approach the important 2022 midterms, and that’s Elise! She knows how to win, which is what we need!

May 10, 2021 Statement by President Biden on FDA’s Expanded Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to Include Adolescents

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2021   Statement by President Biden on FDA’s Expanded Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to Include Adolescents After a rigorous and thorough scientific review process, today the Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from individuals 16 years and older to also include individuals 12 to 15 years old. This is a promising development in our fight against the virus. If you are a parent who wants to protect your child, or a teenager who is interested in getting vaccinated, today’s decision is a step closer to that goal. Millions of 16- and 17-year-olds have been safely vaccinated, and as more and more Americans get vaccinated, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to fall. The safe and effective vaccines are curbing the spread of the virus, saving thousands of lives, and allowing millions of Americans to start returning to a closer to normal life. In the coming days, we will hear more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on its recommendations. I look forward to speaking more about what today’s news means for our vaccination program, but the bottom line is: The light at the end of the tunnel is growing, and today it got a little brighter.

May 10, 2021 FORWARDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

 

FORWARDING FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY - - - - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2021 Contact: Alexandra LaManna press@treasury.gov   Treasury Launches Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to Deliver $350 Billion    Aid to state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments will help bring back jobs, address pandemic’s economic fallout, and lay the foundation for a strong, equitable recovery    WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments.  Treasury also released details on the ways funds can be used to respond to acute pandemic-response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among state and local governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis. Eligible state, territorial, metropolitan city, county, and Tribal governments will be able to access funding directly from the Treasury Department in the coming days to assist communities as they recover from the pandemic.   “Today is a milestone in our country’s recovery from the pandemic and its adjacent economic crisis. With this funding, communities hit hard by COVID-19 will able to return to a semblance of normalcy; they’ll be able to rehire teachers, firefighters and other essential workers – and to help small businesses reopen safely,” said Secretary Janet L. Yellen.  “There are no benefits to enduring two historic economic crises in a 13-year span, except for one: We can improve our policymaking. During the Great Recession, when cities and states were facing similar revenue shortfalls, the federal government didn’t provide enough aid to close the gap. That was an error. Insufficient relief meant that cities had to slash spending, and that austerity undermined the broader recovery. With today’s announcement, we are charting a very different – and much faster – course back to prosperity.” While the need for services provided by state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments has increased —including setting up emergency medical facilities, standing up vaccination sites, and supporting struggling small businesses—these governments have faced significant revenue shortfalls as a result of the economic fallout from the crisis. As a result, these governments have endured unprecedented strains, forcing many to make untenable choices between laying off educators, firefighters, and other frontline workers or failing to provide services that communities rely on. Since the beginning of this crisis, state and local governments have cut over 1 million jobs.    The Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds provide substantial flexibility for each jurisdiction to meet local needs—including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers, and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis. Within the categories of eligible uses listed, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities. In addition to allowing for flexible spending up to the level of their revenue loss, recipients can use funds to: Support public health expenditures, by – among other uses – funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral healthcare, mental health and substance misuse treatment and certain public health and safety personnel responding to the crisis;   Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including by rehiring public sector workers, providing aid to households facing food, housing or other financial insecurity, offering small business assistance, and extending support for industries hardest hit by the crisis   Aid the communities and populations hardest hit by the crisis, supporting an equitable recovery by addressing not only the immediate harms of the pandemic, but its exacerbation of longstanding public health, economic and educational disparities   Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have borne and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service during the pandemic; and,   Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, improving access to clean drinking water, supporting vital wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and expanding access to broadband internet.  Insufficient federal aid and state and local austerity under similar fiscal pressures during the Great Recession and its aftermath undermined and slowed the nation’s broader recovery. The steps the Biden Administration has taken to aid state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments will create jobs and help fuel a strong recovery. And support for communities hardest-hit by this crisis can help undo racial inequities and other disparities that have held too many places back for too long. For an overview of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds program including an expanded use of eligible uses, see the fact sheet released today. For additional details on the state, local, territorial, and Tribal government allocations, see the full list here.  For updates from Treasury Department Relief and Recovery Programs, sign up here.  For more information, visit Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds on Treasury.gov.