- May 13, 2021 - Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America

 

View this email in your browser - May 13, 2021 -  Statement by Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America A devastating letter written by Arizona Senate President Karen Fann on voting irregularities, and probably fraud, in Maricopa County during the 2020 Presidential Election. Even the database was illegally deleted after the subpoena to produce the information.    Senate President Fann has invited Maricopa County officials to a public hearing on May 18 to allow them the opportunity to try to explain what happened to the missing databases, ballots, and other significant issues.   The Fake News and Lamestream Media is doing everything they can not to cover this major story. They just refuse to talk or report about it. They don’t want the United States or World to see what is going on with our corrupt, third world election.

May 13, 2021 CMS Issues Guidance on American Rescue Plan Funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services

 

FORWARDING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - - - - - - - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2021 Contact: media@hhs.gov   CMS Issues Guidance on American Rescue Plan Funding for Medicaid Home and Community Based Services    Guidance Helps States Access Additional Federal Funds for Critical Services Supporting Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is issuing guidance on how states can receive enhanced funding, provided through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP), to increase access to home and community based services (HCBS) for Medicaid beneficiaries. These benefits provide critical services to millions of older adults and individuals with disabilities, allowing them to receive health services in their homes and communities, rather than in nursing homes and other institutions. Today’s guidance is a key tool to assist states in leveraging federal resources to increase health equity in Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to HCBS, positive health outcomes, and community integration.   As the pandemic continues to impact health care, it is important that Medicaid beneficiaries with long-term services and supports needs receive the assistance required to live in the setting of their choice, including their own home. The additional federal funding made available under the American Rescue Plan allows states to tailor HCBS enhancements based on the needs and priorities of its residents, while protecting and strengthening the HCBS workforce, safeguarding financial stability for HCBS providers, and accelerating long-term services and supports reform and innovation.   “Millions of individuals across the county – including people with disabilities and older Americans – rely on home based care and the workforce that provides that critical care. The Biden-Harris Administration continues to support states and workers by making critically needed investments in home and community based services,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “The American Rescue Plan helps to ensure that states can benefit from an increased federal investment in HCBS systems across the country, so that Medicaid beneficiaries receive high quality, cost-effective, person-centered services in their homes and remain a valued part of their communities.”     Section 9817 of the ARP provides states with a temporary 10 percentage point increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain Medicaid HCBS from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 to improve HCBS under the Medicaid program. The guidance that was issued to states via a State Medicaid Director Letter outlines the eligible services and parameters for which states can claim the increased FMAP, and provides examples of activities that states can implement to enhance, expand, or strengthen HCBS.    To review the State Medicaid Director Letter, please visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/smd21003.pdf.

May 13, 2021 Remarks by President Biden on the Colonial Pipeline Incident

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2021   Remarks by President Biden on the Colonial Pipeline Incident   Roosevelt Room 12:27 P.M. EDT   THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, folks.  I want to update everyone on the ransomware cyberattack that impacted on the Colonial Pipeline over this past week.   As of yesterday evening, Colonial has begun restarting the flow of refined products in their pipeline.     This morning, Colonial reported that fuel is beginning to flow to a majority of the markets that they service, and they should be reaching full operational capacity as we speak -- as I speak to you right now.   That is good news.  But I want to be clear: We will not feel the effects at the pump immediately.  This is not like flicking on a light switch.  This pipeline is 5,500 miles long.  It had never been fully shut down in its entire history, and so -- so fully.  And we have to -- now they have to safely and fully return to normal operations.  And it's going to take some time, and there may be hic- -- hic- -- hiccups, like I just had, along the way here.  (Laughter.)   Still, we expect to see a region-by-region return to normalcy beginning this weekend and continuing into next week.   In the meantime, I want to update you on what our administration is doing to accelerate this process, to mitigate shortages, and to protect you from price gouging -- to protect the American people from price gouging -- all those along the line.   First, we relaxed rules for pipeline operators to provide flexibility for emergency personnel to help manually get portions of the pipeline up and running earlier this week.  Secondly, over the weekend, we reviewed and worked with the company to get a portion of the pipeline system from North Carolina to Maryland to operate under manual control and deliver its ex- -- deliver its existing inventory.    In addition, we’ve put in place emergency orders that lifts hours -- the hours restrictions and allowed states to lift weight restrictions for tank truck drivers to be on the road.  This allows those drivers to work more and carry more fuel to the affected regions.    Third, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a targeted, 20-day waiver of standards in several states to give fuel suppliers more flexibility to use available fuels where they're needed, which will boost the fuel supply.    And those -- those last two actions have made tens of millions of gallons of additional fuel available each day to be able to be distributed.    Put another way: The extraordinary measures the administration has taken, we estimate, sent enough gas to stations to fill the tanks of over 5 million vehicles in the last few days.  Fourthly, as part of an effort to use every possible means to accelerate fuel deliveries, last night I granted a waiver of the Jones Act to fuel suppliers.  This allows non-U.S. flagged vessels to transport refined fuel products from the Gulf of Mexico to affected areas.  And we'll grant additional waivers if necessary.  These steps are temporary, but they will remain in place until full service is fully restored.     This is a -- this is a whole-of-government response to get more fuel more quickly to where it is needed and to limit the pain being felt by American customers.   Now, here is what drives -- the driver in the states that are affected, here's what they -- you can do -- the drivers: Don’t panic, number one.  I know seeing lines at the pumps or gas stations with no gas can be extremely stressful, but this is a temporary situation.  Do not get more gas than you need in the next few days.     As I said, we expect the situation to begin to improve by the weekend and into early next week.  And gasoline supply is coming back on line, and panic buying will only slow the process.   And I also want to say something to the gas stations: Do not -- I repeat, do not try to take advantage of consumers during this time.   I'm going to work with governors in the affected states to put a stop to price gouging wherever it arises.  And I am asking our federal agencies to stand ready to provide assistance to state-level efforts to monitor and address any price gouging at the pump.   Nobody should be using this situation for financial gain.  That’s what the hackers are trying to do.  That's what they were about, not us.  That’s not who we are.     And as for the people who carried out this attack, the FBI has released details on the attack so others can take steps to prevent being victimized like Colonial has been.      We do not believe -- I emphasize, we do not believe the Russian government was involved in this attack.  But we do have strong reason to believe that criminals who did the attack are living in Russia.  That's where it came from -- were from Russia.       We have been in direct communication with Moscow about the imperative for responsible countries to take decisive action against these ransomware networks.     We're also going to pursue a measure to disrupt their ability to operate.  And our Justice Department has launched a new task force dedicated to prosecuting ransomware hackers to the full extent of the law.    And finally, let me say that this event is providing an urgent reminder of why we need to harden our infrastructure and make it more resilient against all threats -- natural and manmade.    My administration is continuing to safeguard our critical infrastructure, the majority of which is privately owned and managed, like Colonial Pipeline.  Private entities are in charge of their own cybersecurity, and we need -- and we have to -- we know -- we know what they need.  They need greater private-sector investment in cybersecurity.  And that's why we launched a new public-private initiative in April that is focusing on strengthening cybersecurity in the electric sector for natural gas, for pipelines, as well as water systems and other lifeline sectors.    And last night, I signed an executive order to improve the nation's cybersecurity.  It calls for federal agencies to work more closely with the private sector to share information, strengthen cybersecurity practices, and deploy technologies that increase reliance against cyberattacks.    It outlines innovative ways the government will drive to deliver security and software, using federal buying power to jumpstart the market and improve the products that all Americans use.    To assist in this urgent work of protecting our nation's -- our nation against cyberattacks, I'm calling on the United States Senate to move quickly to confirm Chris Inglis as our National Cyber Director and Jen Easterly to be the Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the Department of Homeland Security.     In America, we've seen critical in- -- infrastructure taken offline by floods, fires, storms and criminal hackers.  In Texas, last month, we saw what happens when storms hit power systems that aren't fully modernized or ready for the threats of extreme weather with tragic results.   Now we're seeing the effect of criminal hackers with gas lines throughout the Southwest -- excuse me, the Southeast.  And we're in a competition with China and the rest of the world to win the 21st century, economically.  And we're not going to win it competing with an infrastructure that is out of the 20th century.  We need a modern infrastructure.   My American Jobs Plan includes transformative investments in modernizing and in securing our critical infrastructure.   Later this afternoon, I'll be meeting with Republican senators to discuss ways we can move forward on modernizing the infrastructure we have today and building the infrastructure we need for tomorrow.   I'm willing to negotiate, as I indicated yesterday to the House members and to the leadership.  But it's clearer than ever that doing nothing is not an option.    Again, we expect things to return to normal over the next several days.  I will be monitoring Colonial’s progress and the federal government's support every step of the way.    So, stay strong.  Help is on the way.  We’re going to get through this as we always do, as Americans, and we’re going to do it together.  And it’s going to be quick.   God bless you all, and may God protect our troops.   Q    Mr. President, you said that the hackers are believed to be living in Russia.  At what point does the U.S. start to try to inflict pain on governments who allow this sort of this to happen in their territory?   THE PRESIDENT:  We are working to try to get to the place where we have sort of an international standard that governments knowing that criminal activities are happening from their territory, that we all -- we all move on those -- those criminal enterprises.  And I -- I expect that’s one of the topics I’ll be talking about with -- with President Putin.   Q    Are you confident that Putin was not involved?   THE PRESIDENT:  I am confident that I read the report of the FBI accurately, and they say they were not -- he was not, the government was not.   Q    Mr. President, Wednesday’s executive order mentions the Colonial Pipeline directly, but the press release says it only encourages private-sector companies to follow the federal government’s lead, which -- encouragement is good, but in the face of profit, it’s kind of sketchy.  So what concrete steps is the administration taking to ensure that companies are prepared and held accountable for their cyber issues -- cybersecurity issues?   THE PRESIDENT:  You’ve asked three different questions in that one thing, I think -- as I understand it.   The bottom line is that I cannot dictate that the private companies do certain things relative to cybersecurity.  A lot of you are very seasoned reporters; you’ve been covering this debate up on the Capitol Hill for -- before I became President -- and, unrelated to President Trump, just a debate internally among senators as to whether or not the government should be assisting.  And it gets into privacy issues and a whole range of things.   So that's going to be an ongoing negotiation.  But I think it's becoming clear to everyone that we have to do more than is being done now, and the federal government can be significant value added in having that happen.   Yes.   Q    Will you consider doing any kind of retaliatory cyberattacks to shut down these criminals?  Are you ruling that out?   THE PRESIDENT:  No.   Q    Is Prime Minister Netanyahu doing enough to stop this violence there from escalating?   THE PRESIDENT:  I had a brief conversation with him yesterday.  And I have my intelligence community, the Defense Department, as well as the State Department have been in contact with all of their counterparts in -- not only in Israel, but in the region.    And one of the things that I have seen thus far is that there has not been a significant overreaction.  The question is how -- how we get to a point where -- they get to a point where there is a significant reduction in the attacks, particularly the rocket attacks that are indiscriminately fired into population centers.    But I expect I'll be having some more discussions.  And it wasn't -- we haven't just spoken with the Israelis -- the Egyptians, the Saudis, and others.  So, we’re -- it’s -- it’s a work in progress right now.   So thank you all so very much.   Q    One more, Mr. President?  Just one more on the ransom: Were you briefed on the fact that the company did pay the ransom?   THE PRESIDENT:  I have no comment on that.  Thank you.   12:40 P.M. EDT

May 13, 2021 FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration to Invest $7 Billion from American Rescue Plan to Hire and Train Public Health Workers in Response to COVID-19

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2021   FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration to Invest $7 Billion from American Rescue Plan to Hire and Train Public Health Workers in Response to COVID-19   Funding Will Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs to Respond to COVID-19, Prepare U.S. for Future Outbreaks, and Support Local Public Health Officials   As Vaccine for Adolescents Comes Online, Administration Sets Aside Dedicated Funding for School Nurses, Who Can Help Provide Information about Vaccinations   As part of its ongoing COVID-19 response efforts, the Biden-Harris Administration will invest $7.4 billion from the American Rescue Plan to recruit and hire public health workers to respond to the pandemic and prepare for future public health challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced that public health workers are essential, providing critical services to keep Americans safe and healthy. The funding announced today will allow the United States to expand its public health workforce, creating tens of thousands of jobs to support vaccinations, testing, contact tracing, and community outreach, and strengthen America’s future public health infrastructure.   The Biden-Harris Administration will invest $4.4 billion to allow states and localities to expand their over-stretched public health departments with additional staff to support COVID-19 response efforts. This funding will support a range of public health roles, including funding for Disease Intervention Specialists to do contact tracing, case management, and support outbreak investigations, and dedicated funding to hire school nurses to help schools safely reopen and remain open for in-person instruction. Additionally, funds will support the development of the next generation of public health leaders by creating a Public Health AmeriCorps and expanding CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service – the renowned program that equips workers to identify and contain public health outbreaks.   Finally, CDC will use $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to create a new grant program that will facilitate federal investment in the people and expertise needed at the state and local levels to expand, train, and modernize the public health workforce for the future. In the months ahead, CDC will work with leaders from across the public health community to design this new grant program.   All awardees of this American Rescue Plan funding will be asked to prioritize recruiting individuals from the communities they will serve and from backgrounds underrepresented in critical public health professions.   Today’s funding builds on the President’s announcement last week of $250 million to help community -based organizations hire and mobilize community outreach workers and social support specialists to increase access to vaccinations in the hardest-hit and highest risk communities.    The Biden-Harris Administration will:   Invest $4.4 Billion to Surge Public Health Staffing for COVID-19 Response   Help States and Localities Increase their Public Health Staffing and Expertise:  State and local public health heroes have led the fight against COVID-19 for more than a year. Often understaffed and lacking resources, local public health departments have provided critical services during the pandemic, including setting up testing sites, leading local vaccination efforts, and delivering personal protective equipment, therapeutics, and care to those in need. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, CDC will fund $3.4 billion in new hiring for state and local public health departments to quickly add staff to support critical COVID-19 response efforts – including vaccination outreach and administration efforts, testing and contact tracing, epidemiologists, data scientists, and other vital public health functions. This funding includes at least $500 million for the hiring of school nurses, who can offer medical expertise to support parents and teens as vaccination options for younger people expand. This builds on resources in the American Rescue Plan’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund which can also be used to hire school nurses.   Launch Public Health AmeriCorps: At a time of unprecedented interest in public health, CDC and AmeriCorps (the Corporation for National and Community Service) will launch the Public Health AmeriCorps – a $400 million investment from the American Rescue Plan to recruit and build a new workforce ready to respond to the public health needs of the nation. The program will focus on building a diverse pipeline for the public health workforce and providing direct service to communities across the country. The partnership will leverage the expertise of both agencies, capitalizing on AmeriCorps’ experience managing some of the most prominent public service and workforce development programs in the nation while benefitting from CDC’s technical expertise as the country’s leading public health agency.   Recruit and Train Public Health Leaders: CDC will expand its current workforce programs, including the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS). EIS is a national, deployable, cutting-edge public health workforce that responds to local outbreaks. Over the past seven decades, EIS officers have served as boots-on-the-ground epidemiologists during some of the most severe outbreaks and public health emergencies, including the Ebola outbreak, H1N1, the Flint water crisis, Zika, and the COVID-19 pandemic. With $245 million from the American Rescue Plan, CDC will increase support for programs including EIS, the Undergraduate Public Health Scholars Program, and the Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases RISE Fellowship, which offers students from underrepresented background the opportunity to study infectious diseases and health disparities. Expanding these programs will support workforce diversity in public health to help reduce longstanding health disparities and inequities. In addition, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology will invest $80 million to train public health professionals to help modernize the public health data infrastructure, with a focus on recruiting from minority serving institutions and universities.   Building the Laboratory Workforce and Building Capacity for Future Outbreaks: With $337 million from the American Rescue Plan, CDC will strengthen the public health laboratory workforce pipeline. CDC will expand the current public health laboratory fellowship programs for laboratory science graduates and implement a new public health internship program for undergraduate students to gain experiences in public health laboratory settings. Funds will improve the capacity of the nation’s public-private clinical laboratory infrastructure to support rapid, large-scale responses to public health emergencies.   Invest $3 Billion to Prepare for Future Pandemics   Create a New Program to Modernize the Public Health Workforce: CDC will create a new grant program to provide under-resourced health departments with the support they need to hire staff and build a strong public health workforce. This grant program will offer community health workers and others hired for the COVID-19 response an opportunity to continue their careers beyond the pandemic as public health professionals. CDC will convene federal, state, local, and territorial public health experts to inform the design and focus of this new grant program. Ultimately, the program will allow the United States to continue to support the nation’s public health infrastructure, particularly in lower-income and underserved communities.

May 12, 2021 ICYMI: President Biden’s Historic Third Slate of Judicial Nominees

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2021     ICYMI: President Biden’s Historic Third Slate of Judicial Nominees   Today, President Biden announced his intent to nominate three new candidates to the Court of Appeals and three candidates to the District Court.   These highly-qualified candidates 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.   This is the third judicial nominations announcement made by the President, and these nominations will bring the full number of judicial nominees made during this administration to 20.   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.   See below for coverage highlights of today’s announcement:   USA Today: Biden names new federal judges, including a Bush nominee, with an emphasis on diversity “President Joe Biden announced a new round of judicial nominations Wednesday that underscored the administration's push to expand diversity on the federal bench as the White House moves rapidly to put its own stamp on the judiciary.   Among the new federal judge candidates Biden will be sending to the Senate for confirmation: the first Native American federal judge in Washington State; the second judge from Puerto Rico to sit on the Boston-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit; and the second Black woman to serve on the New York-based 2nd Circuit.”   Rep. Nydia Velazquez: “Judge Gelpí has led a distinguished legal career, and is widely regarded by several political factions in Puerto Rico as a fair and impartial jurist.” Rep. Raul Grijalva: “The Biden administration deserves recognition for nominating a judge who has both denounced the racist underpinnings of the Insular Cases and criticized the Supreme Court and Congress for denying U.S. citizens residing in the territories the legal rights the rest of us take for granted," Grijalva said in a statement. "Judge Gelpí has been a leader in correctly interpreting relevant federal law consistent with the Constitution, which has gone a long way toward ending these injustices.” Reuters: Biden latest judicial picks stress public defender work “Progressives and judicial reform proponents have long called for more judges on the federal bench with backgrounds as public defenders. More often, judges have tended former prosecutors or defense attorneys from major law firms. "President Biden has made clear that the days of public defenders being systematically passed over for top jobs on the federal bench are over," Christopher Kang, the chief counsel of the progressive group Demand Justice, said in a statement. He said no president has before nominated so many circuit judges with experience as public defenders. All five of Biden's nominations so far to the regional circuit courts have had such experience, and three spent the majority of the careers in such positions.”   CBS News: Biden rolls out latest slate of judicial nominees “President Biden on Wednesday announced a third wave of judicial nominees, continuing the White House's theme of selecting candidates with diverse backgrounds and professional qualifications as he undertakes an effort to make his own mark on the federal bench reshaped by his predecessor. ‘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,’ the White House said. ‘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.’”   CNN: Biden announces third slate of judicial nominees “Gelpí received the backing of two Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez and Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva.   Velazquez, who used to chair the caucus, praised Gelpí as "a strong defender of civil rights and of the people of Puerto Rico" and urged the Senate to quickly confirm his nomination. She noted Gelpí would be just the second Hispanic judge to serve on the First Circuit.   Grijalva commended the Biden administration for "nominating a judge who has both denounced the racist underpinnings of the Insular Cases and criticized the Supreme Court and Congress for denying U.S. citizens residing in the Territories the legal rights the rest of us take for granted."   Bloomberg Law: Biden’s Latest Judicial Picks Include Three Public Defenders "The nominees announced Wednesday are in line with Biden’s promise to select judges that would diversify the federal courts in terms of gender, race and ethnicity, and job experience. Five of the six intended picks are women, at least five are people of color."   National Law Journal: Biden Broadens Push to Put More Public Defenders on Appeals Courts “President Biden has made clear that the days of public defenders being systematically passed over for top jobs on the federal bench are over,’ said Christopher Kang, chief counsel for the progressive group Demand Justice.”   The Grio: Biden presents new list of federal judicial nominees, including 3 Black women “The pool of hopefuls brings forth the diversity and experience this administration has championed from the onset. Among the six nominees, one could become the first Black judge in the Camden courthouse of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.”

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.