Roll Call Factba.se - Consolidated White House Releases (2024)

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

President Biden believes every student deserves access to a high-quality education that prepares them to be the next generation of leaders. Today, on the 70^thanniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education [Brown] decision, which outlawed racially segregated schools – deeming them unequal and unconstitutional – the Biden-Harris Administration highlights new actions with the release of additional funding and resources to support school diversity and advance the goal that all students have access to a world-class education.

Research shows that racial achievement gaps are strongly associated with school segregation, in turn because schools with high concentrations of Black and Latino students receive fewer resources. The desegregation of schools that followed Brown led to a 30 percent increase in graduation rates for Black students and a 22 percent increase for Latino students. As school districts were released from court-ordered desegregation, research shows that in the 1960s and 1970s, school integration increased rapidly, but that trend has reversed in the past two decades when both racial and economic segregation increased. For example, segregation between white and Black students is up 64 percent since 1988, while segregation by economic status has grown by 50 percent since 1991. According to the U.S. Department of Education's State of School Diversity Report, racially and socioeconomically isolated schools often lack critical resources and learning experiences and opportunities that prepare students for college and career success. The Department of Education report found that three in five Black and Latino students and two in five American Indian/Alaska Native students attend schools where at least 75% of students are students of color and 42% of white students attend schools where students of color make up less than 25% of the population.

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring the educational success of every child, and to address racial segregation in our schools that leads to worse educational outcomes for children, including through investments in local efforts to increase diversity and equal opportunity. The Administration is focused on academic acceleration and has made record levels of investment in K-12 schools and institutions of higher education to help improve opportunity for all. This includes supporting districts as they work to strengthen and diversify the education profession, enrich educational experiences, and improve school climate and conditions for robust learning.

New Actions to Advance Racial and Educational Equity

To advance racial and educational equity and continue the work of Brown to support educational opportunity for all students, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the following new actions today:

Investing in Underserved Schools

Increasing Teacher Diversity

Research indicates that educator diversity can improve student achievement and help close achievement gaps. For example, one study found that Black students randomly assigned to at least one Black teacher in grades K-3 were nearly 19% more likely to enroll in college than their same-school, same-race peers.

Strengthening School Diversity

Closing the School Readiness Gap

Because of the legacy of discrimination, Black children start school on average nearly seven months behind their white peers in reading. One study finds that one year of universal high-quality pre-K could eliminate most of that gap. Others indicate that students who go to preschool are nearly 50% more likely to finish high school and go on to a college degree. Each of the President's budgets have included proposals that would provide preschool to every four-year-old in the country. In addition:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and Chief of Cabinet Nicol's Posse of Argentina

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met yesterday with Foreign Minister Diana Mondino and Chief of Cabinet Nicol's Posse of Argentina at the White House to reaffirm the strong partnership between our two countries.

The National Security Advisor recognized President Milei's ongoing efforts to stabilize Argentina's economy and reviewed areas where the United States and Argentina can strengthen their economic cooperation, including on mobilizing private sector investment in Argentina's clean energy and technology sectors. The National Security Advisor also congratulated Argentina on the recent purchase of F-16 s from Denmark, and discussed further opportunities to deepen our security and defense partnership.

Additionally, they discussed ways to bolster cooperation to address important regional and global challenges, including ongoing efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure a ceasefire and hostage deal that would bring hostages home, including those from the United States and Argentina. National Security Advisor Sullivan thanked Argentina for speaking out to support democracy in Venezuela and condemn Russia's war against Ukraine.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

On the International Day Against hom*ophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, my Administration stands in support and solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people around the world as they seek to live full lives, free from violence and discrimination. This is a matter of human rights, plain and simple. The United States applauds those individuals and groups worldwide working to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people wherever they are under threat. And we are grateful for the contributions that LGBTQI+ people make every day across our nation.

From Day One of my presidency, my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ people a priority. In my first month in office, I signed a Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World , directing that our diplomacy and development work around the world be conducted in a manner that reflects our commitment to the equal human rights of this population. We have stood up against laws that target LGBTQI+ people for criminal prosecution; worked to protect LGBTQI+ refugees, who are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; and launched a Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally , to ensure that our

efforts to confront the scourge of gender-based violence address the unique risks and barriers that LGBTQI+ people face. I also signed an Executive Order directing my Administration to work to prevent the use of so-called "conversion therapy" – an abusive and discredited practice that often targets children. And my Administration continues to engage with governments, faith leaders, families, and communities worldwide to protect and promote respect for human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights.

Efforts like these have yielded tangible results. During the past year, the United States has responded to abuses of LGBTQI+ people abroad. We've developed an approach to foreign assistance that ensures LGBTQI+ people aren't overlooked in our work. We've expanded access for LGBTQI+ people through our refugee programs. And the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons , whom I appointed, is driving rapid response to proposed anti-LGBTQI+ legislation around the world. We've seen how American leadership makes a difference; over the past decade, a growing number of nations have decriminalized same-sex conduct, often with the encouragement of the United States.

Yet we know there is much more to do. LGBTQI+ communities around the world still face hate-fueled violence and discrimination. They still struggle to attain equal access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, and justice. Like all human beings, LGBTQI+ people deserve equality – equal rights, equal citizenship, equal dignity. It is our shared moral responsibility to fight back against hom*ophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, just as we must fight back against all hate-fueled violence, at home and abroad.

Today marks the 30^th anniversary of when the World Health Organization made the wise and overdue decision to declassify 'hom*osexuality' as a mental disorder. That was a victory for LGBTQI+ people and human rights defenders everywhere. 30 years later, the work of equality continues. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a part of it.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-17

On the International Day Against hom*ophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, my Administration stands in support and solidarity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex [LGBTQI+] people around the world as they seek to live full lives, free from violence and discrimination. This is a matter of human rights, plain and simple. The United States applauds those individuals and groups worldwide working to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ people wherever they are under threat. And we are grateful for the contributions that LGBTQI+ people make every day across our nation.

From Day One of my presidency, my Administration has made advancing the human rights of LGBTQI+ people a priority. In my first month in office, I signed a Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World, directing that our diplomacy and development work around the world be conducted in a manner that reflects our commitment to the equal human rights of this population. We have stood up against laws that target LGBTQI+ people for criminal prosecution; worked to protect LGBTQI+ refugees, who are especially vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; and launched a Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, to ensure that our efforts to confront the scourge of gender-based violence address the unique risks and barriers that LGBTQI+ people face. I also signed an Executive Order directing my Administration to work to prevent the use of so-called "conversion therapy" – an abusive and discredited practice that often targets children. And my Administration continues to engage with governments, faith leaders, families, and communities worldwide to protect and promote respect for human rights, including LGBTQI+ rights.

Efforts like these have yielded tangible results. During the past year, the United States has responded to abuses of LGBTQI+ people abroad. We've developed an approach to foreign assistance that ensures LGBTQI+ people aren't overlooked in our work. We've expanded access for LGBTQI+ people through our refugee programs. And the Special Envoy to Advance the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons, whom I appointed, is driving rapid response to proposed anti-LGBTQI+ legislation around the world. We've seen how American leadership makes a difference; over the past decade, a growing number of nations have decriminalized same-sex conduct, often with the encouragement of the United States.

Yet we know there is much more to do. LGBTQI+ communities around the world still face hate-fueled violence and discrimination. They still struggle to attain equal access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, and justice. Like all human beings, LGBTQI+ people deserve equality – equal rights, equal citizenship, equal dignity. It is our shared moral responsibility to fight back against hom*ophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, just as we must fight back against all hate-fueled violence, at home and abroad.

Today marks the 30^thanniversary of when the World Health Organization made the wise and overdue decision to declassify 'hom*osexuality' as a mental disorder. That was a victory for LGBTQI+ people and human rights defenders everywhere. 30 years later, the work of equality continues. The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a part of it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2024

On May 21, the President will travel to New Hampshire. After, the President will travel to Boston, Massachusetts.

Additional details to follow.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Friday, May 17, 2024

In the morning, the Vice President will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press.

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will meet with the leaders of the Divine Nine, historically Black sororities and fraternities. This meeting in the Oval Office will be closed press.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Bay Mills Community College

As Prepared for Delivery

SECOND GENTLEMAN DOUGLAS EMHOFF: Boozhoo!

Thank you, Chairman Lowes. You've been a strong advocate for social services and cultural programs for the Sault Ste Marie Tribe, and you've made a real difference in the lives of your community members.

It's great to be in Michigan with my good friend, Dr. Biden. She is a passionate advocate for so many issues, and she puts her heart and soul into everything she does.

As Second Gentleman, I've had the honor of meeting Tribal leaders and visiting Native communities across the country.

My first solo trip was to New Mexico where I visited a COVID-19 vaccine clinic with the Kewa Pueblo. On that trip, I learned about the challenges Native Americans were facing to protect their Tribal members, especially elders, during the pandemic.

They were fighting to preserve their heritage and ensure their communities could continue to thrive for many generations to come.

Last year, the Vice President and I traveled to the Gila River Indian Community where I met with a group of military veterans. I had the chance to speak with them about their service and thank them for their bravery and dedication to our nation.

Many of you who are here today are also veterans, service members – patriots.

Native Americans have served our country in every major conflict in the past 200 years. And today, Native Americans serve in uniform at the highest rate of any population.

This unique dedication and commitment to service is echoed throughout every generation.

Today's young Native leaders are upholding this legacy and defending our nation's values.

They are also carrying forward the language, culture, and traditions of their tribes – while fighting back against disparities that have harmed Tribal communities for decades.

To achieve economic justice in Indian Country, we must address historical barriers and support tribal self-determination.

When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, they acknowledged the duty to safeguard and strengthen the bonds between our nations.

They also vowed to build a future in which every Native person can realize their aspirations and every Native community can be a place of opportunity.

That is why President Biden and Vice President Harris have invested nearly $45 billion in Indian Country.

This includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan and $13 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Through these transformational investments, the Biden-Harris Administration is taking historic action to: rebuild Tribal roads and bridges; expand access to clean drinking water and clean energy; ensure every Native American has access to high-speed internet; and create good-paying jobs.

Under President Biden and Vice President Harris's leadership, we will continue to invest in, and support, Tribal Nations and Native communities.

The Vice President has worked with Native communities her entire career.

As District Attorney of San Francisco, she represented Native children and families in Indian Child Welfare Act cases. And as Attorney General of California, she partnered with Tribal leaders, child welfare agencies, and law enforcement officials to enforce ICWA.

President Biden and Vice President Harris, working hand-in-hand with Native leaders, will continue to safeguard the protections of ICWA. They understand its significance and the importance of acknowledging the truth about this country's history.

They will also keep fighting to address the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

There is much more work to do, but together, I know we will build a better future for this generation and generations to come.

Now, I am proud to introduce Whitney Gravelle, President of the Bay Mills Indian Community.

For Immediate Release

May 16, 2024

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at a Bay Mills Indian Community Event

Brimley, Michigan

Thank you, President Gravelle. You and Chairman Lowes are fearless advocates for your communities – ensuring that ancestral lands are protected, and fighting for justice and hope ahead. Your leadership echoes throughout this peninsula and to the rest of the state beyond. I'm grateful for all that you do.

Mayor Gerrie, Jaimee, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

Joe promised to appoint Native leaders across his administration, and he has – including by hiring some amazing people from your tribes.

Bryan and Liz, President Biden is grateful for your work.

Serving as the second spouse of the United States is something I know a bit about, and, Doug, you are doing an incredible job – finding balance between your own profession and your service to the country – you're the best Second Gentleman, ever!

Aanii!

I'm honored to be with all of you today. What an incredible performance! Thank you for welcoming me.

I teach writing at a community college – like this one – just outside of Washington, DC.

And years ago, I had to tell my class that I would miss the next session for personal reasons.

Now, my students have a lot of shining qualities, but boundaries are not one of them. So, they immediately began shouting, "Dr. B, Dr. B, where are you going?"

My sister was having the first of her cancer treatments, a stem cell transplant, and she would be in a hospital room for six weeks. I tried to explain with as much composure as I could muster, but the words caught in my throat. I turned to the whiteboard, hoping to hold back my emotions.

When I turned back around, the entire class was standing. They lined up and gave me a hug, one by one.

Until that moment, I didn't realize how much I was struggling, or how much I needed them.

Sometimes our strength comes from within us, and sometimes it can't. It's up to all of us to carry each other's grief and joy.

In the darkest times of my life, I learned that one of the most courageous things we can do is lean on each other. And I learned that, often, it doesn't take much to be that strength in return: A kind word. A hand on a shoulder. A smile that lets someone know they aren't alone.

It's a gift we give to each other: our vulnerability, our brokenness, and the chance to lift up our communities when they need it most.

And suddenly, we become so much stronger than we ever could be alone.

That community – that connection – it's something we all need. It's how we heal each other, how we find our place in the world, making our planet a little brighter and a little better as we do.

It's what the Seven Grandfather Teachings tell us.

That when we act with love and respect, honesty and truth, bravery and humility, and wisdom – we understand how we can serve our communities – and the wildlands around them – and walk the path of a good life. The teachings tell us to look out for each other in the big moments – when lives change or crisis comes – and in the everyday moments too – like my students did for me.

It's something I first heard more than two years ago, in central Michigan, at another Chippewa Tribe: the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

That idea carries here – across the Great Lakes – to the place of the pike and the place of the rapids too. This community comes together as a family – one that stretches across miles and fields and towns to the entire eastern U.P. You look for ways to serve your neighbors – to meet the moment – no matter how big or small.

You show up for each other – and for your communities – and the President and I want to show up for you.

Joe made a commitment to Indian Country – and he's delivering on his promises.

His administration has made the largest-ever federal investment in Native communities. He signed an historic executive order honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship and supporting Tribal self-determination.

And he's begun an unprecedented collaboration with Tribal Nations to manage the lands, waters, and natural wonders.

It has been one my greatest honors to travel to Indian Country as First Lady.

In Tribal health clinics and schools, at roundtables and in gymnasiums, I've spoken with Native leaders and young people, who are weaving their heritage with their vision for the future, expanding connections through the reach of broadband, supporting revitalization of their Native languages, and growing their economies.

The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a partner in those efforts.

Just a few moments ago, we had the opportunity to watch a beautiful performance – the cool breeze from Lake Superior all around us. It makes the air feel different than it does anywhere else, doesn't it?

And we looked out at the horizon – the same one your ancestors considered generations ago – the same one your children's children will contemplate together years from now.

Our partnership isn't only about today – it's about those children too – about how we will serve the next generation. And Joe and I stand with you and all of Indian Country, as we work to build that bright future together.

A tomorrow where we continue shaping our great nations – walking the path of the good life together. Leaning on each other with wisdom and respect. Learning from one another with humility. Pushing forward bold progress with bravery. And united by love – for each other and the Earth around us.

And together, we will create a community that stretches across lakes and plains – one that is stronger than any of us would be alone.

Miigwetch.

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-16

Brimley, Michigan

Thank you, President Gravelle. You and Chairman Lowes are fearless advocates for your communities – ensuring that ancestral lands are protected, and fighting for justice and hope ahead. Your leadership echoes throughout this peninsula and to the rest of the state beyond. I'm grateful for all that you do.

Mayor Gerrie, Jaimee, thank you for taking the time to be with us today.

Joe promised to appoint Native leaders across his administration, and he has – including by hiring some amazing people from your tribes.

Bryan and Liz, President Biden is grateful for your work.

Serving as the second spouse of the United States is something I know a bit about, and, Doug, you are doing an incredible job – finding balance between your own profession and your service to the country – you're the best Second Gentleman, ever!

I'm honored to be with all of you today. What an incredible performance! Thank you for welcoming me.

I teach writing at a community college – like this one – just outside of Washington, DC.

And years ago, I had to tell my class that I would miss the next session for personal reasons.

Now, my students have a lot of shining qualities, but boundaries are not one of them. So, they immediately began shouting, "Dr. B, Dr. B, where are you going?"

My sister was having the first of her cancer treatments, a stem cell transplant, and she would be in a hospital room for six weeks. I tried to explain with as much composure as I could muster, but the words caught in my throat. I turned to the whiteboard, hoping to hold back my emotions.

When I turned back around, the entire class was standing. They lined up and gave me a hug, one by one.

Until that moment, I didn't realize how much I was struggling, or how much I needed them.

Sometimes our strength comes from within us, and sometimes it can't. It's up to all of us to carry each other's grief and joy.

In the darkest times of my life, I learned that one of the most courageous things we can do is lean on each other. And I learned that, often, it doesn't take much to be that strength in return: A kind word. A hand on a shoulder. A smile that lets someone know they aren't alone.

It's a gift we give to each other: our vulnerability, our brokenness, and the chance to lift up our communities when they need it most.

And suddenly, we become so much stronger than we ever could be alone.

That community – that connection – it's something we all need. It's how we heal each other, how we find our place in the world, making our planet a little brighter and a little better as we do.

It's what the Seven Grandfather Teachings tell us.

That when we act with love and respect, honesty and truth, bravery and humility, and wisdom – we understand how we can serve our communities – and the wildlands around them – and walk the path of a good life. The teachings tell us to look out for each other in the big moments – when lives change or crisis comes – and in the everyday moments too – like my students did for me.

It's something I first heard more than two years ago, in central Michigan, at another Chippewa Tribe: the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

That idea carries here – across the Great Lakes – to the place of the pike and the place of the rapids too. This community comes together as a family – one that stretches across miles and fields and towns to the entire eastern U.P. You look for ways to serve your neighbors – to meet the moment – no matter how big or small.

You show up for each other – and for your communities – and the President and I want to show up for you.

Joe made a commitment to Indian Country – and he's delivering on his promises.

His administration has made the largest-ever federal investment in Native communities. He signed an historic executive order honoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship and supporting Tribal self-determination.

And he's begun an unprecedented collaboration with Tribal Nations to manage the lands, waters, and natural wonders.

It has been one my greatest honors to travel to Indian Country as First Lady.

In Tribal health clinics and schools, at roundtables and in gymnasiums, I've spoken with Native leaders and young people, who are weaving their heritage with their vision for the future, expanding connections through the reach of broadband, supporting revitalization of their Native languages, and growing their economies.

The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to be a partner in those efforts.

Just a few moments ago, we had the opportunity to watch a beautiful performance – the cool breeze from Lake Superior all around us. It makes the air feel different than it does anywhere else, doesn't it?

And we looked out at the horizon – the same one your ancestors considered generations ago – the same one your children's children will contemplate together years from now.

Our partnership isn't only about today – it's about those children too – about how we will serve the next generation. And Joe and I stand with you and all of Indian Country, as we work to build that bright future together.

A tomorrow where we continue shaping our great nations – walking the path of the good life together. Leaning on each other with wisdom and respect. Learning from one another with humility. Pushing forward bold progress with bravery. And united by love – for each other and the Earth around us.

And together, we will create a community that stretches across lakes and plains – one that is stronger than any of us would be alone.

Miigwetch.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

The bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization is a big win for travelers, the aviation workforce, and our economy. It will expand critical protections for air travelers, strengthen safety standards, and support pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers.

It also builds on my Administration's efforts to improve the travel experience for airline passengers, affirming the Department of Transportation's rule that mandated automatic refunds when flights are cancelled or significantly delayed. It also makes sure families can sit together without paying extra fees. Passengers shouldn't have to jump through endless hoops just to get the refunds that they are owed, and corporations shouldn't rip off hardworking Americans through hidden junk fees.

I want to thank members of both parties who worked together over many months to pass this long-term reauthorization.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

H.R. 3935, the "FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024," which reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration and related revenue authorities through September 30, 2028; and reauthorizes the National Transportation Safety Board through September 30, 2028.

Thank you to Representatives Graves and Larsen, Senators Cantwell and Cruz, and many others for their leadership.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

All times are local and subject to change.

At 12:15 PM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will join a community listening session about health care with members of the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed.

At 1:15 PM, to highlight historic investments through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will tour the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed.

At 3:30 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at MBS International Airport in Freeland, Michigan. This arrival will be open press and registration is closed.

At 5:15 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event in Midland, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 7:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Friday, May 17 th, at 8:00 AM ET.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China. This action will combat China's unfair trade practices and support the President's historic investments in American steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar, and other strategic sectors. President Biden's actions are pro-worker, pro-union, and pro-investment, which is why they were praised by a range of labor, business, environmental, and elected leaders.

Leaders across the country are celebrating the announcement. Here's what they're saying:

Union and Labor Leaders

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO: "The AFL-CIO strongly supports President Biden's announcement that, after a thorough investigation, he will maintain or increase tariffs on a range of unfairly traded products from China. This will help to revitalize our domestic manufacturing capacity, create new jobs, and advance our national and economic security. President Biden once again is standing up for American workers." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President David McCall, United Steelworkers Union [USW]: "The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and flawed Chinese trade policies have had an outsized negative impact on our members,"

"Now, the Biden administration's work to strengthen relief measures shows we're not backing down. Instead, we're backing up our domestic producers and workers."

From the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, from new approaches on outbound investment to today's tariff announcements and more, President Biden is addressing trade through an integrated set of solutions,"

"And moving forward, we know this administration will continue to show this same grit and ingenuity in standing up for workers, including the investigation it initiated last month into China's transportation, logistics and maritime policies." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International Vice President Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers Union [USW]: "The key to President Biden's success in building a worker-centered trade policy is his multi-pronged approach. His administration has been diligently confronting foreign unfair trade using established trade tools to stand up to the unfair and anticompetitive policies of trading partners like China. But just as importantly, President Biden has been strategically using investments here at home to reignite and renew America's manufacturing capacity." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President Brian Bryant, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers [IAM]: "As International President of one of the largest manufacturing unions in North America, I've seen first-hand the negative impacts of the Chinese government's anti-competitive trade practices, such as dumping heavily subsidized imports," said Bryant. "The IAM has been a leader over the years in sounding the alarm on unfair trade practices that cost North American jobs. Tariffs aren't an end goal but a very important tool to end trade practices that kill good American jobs and drive down American pay. They are coupled with President Biden's historic investment policies, which continue to build and grow an economy that benefits working families nationwide.

"The Biden Administration has been willing to challenge the disastrous effects of Chinese economic policies on American manufacturing and trade and enact policies to make a difference.

"We thank President Biden for standing up for union workers and creating policies that build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families," added Bryant. "We will continue to work with the Biden Administration and Ambassador Tai on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people." [Statement, 5/14/24]

International President Kenneth W. Cooper, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers [IBEW]: "I am proud to have joined President Biden today as he announced new protections for American workers against unfair Chinese trade practices. For too long, U.S. manufacturers, especially those in advanced electrical and energy technologies, have been undercut by cheap Chinese exports.

"This move will help level the playing field for both businesses and workers, further boosting domestic manufacturing.

"The Biden-Harris administration has made rebuilding America's manufacturing sector a priority, and we're already seeing results as high-tech semiconductor and EV battery plants set up shop in communities across the United States.

"President Biden's decision means more investments and jobs in America's manufacturing and clean energy sectors. The men and women of the IBEW are committed to working with his administration to restore America's role as the world's manufacturing and technological leader." [Statement, 5/14/24]

United Auto Workers [UAW]: "The UAW applauds todays decisive action from the White House on ensuring that the transition. We have warned for many months that, left to the forces of corporate greed, the EV future was threatened by a race to the bottom, from China to Mexico to right here in the United States. Making sure that major corporations have to pay a price for pitting worker against worker, pushing wages lower and lower, is a key part of a pro-worker trade policy. America's autoworkers, our families, and working-class communities across this country want a trade policy that puts workers firs. Today's announcement is a major step in the right direction" [Statement, 5/14/24]

Teamsters: "#Teamsters applaud @POTUS and @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai for taking action to maintain and expand the current Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Raising tariffs on electric vehicles and other products from China is essential to protecting American workers from China's unfair trade policies." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Business and Industry Leaders

President Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing: "Enhancing the Section 301 tariffs to counter China's unfair trade practices is absolutely the right thing to do for America's future. We commend Ambassador Tai and the Biden administration for defending American workers and industries.

"AAM supported the original initiation of the Section 301 tariffs and urged this administration to both extend and enhance the relief measures. Decades of unfair trade by the People's Republic of China have devastated American communities and weakened our economic security."

"We are particularly pleased to see enhanced Section 301 tariffs on steel, aluminum, electric vehicles, semiconductors, the battery supply chain, and certain essential PPE products. We have called the introduction of Chinese EVs into the the United States a potential 'extinction-level event' for our vital auto sector. While the nature of China's unfair trade practices shifts from time to time, the goals are always clear: to disrupt global norms, weaken American economic security, and seek growth at the expense of others.

"The Section 301 tariffs, together with investments in industry and infrastructure, and Buy America domestic preferences, form the framework of an effective 21st century industrial policy for America. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress to build on these achievements." [Statement]

President and CEO Rich Nolan, The National Mining Association [NMA]: "

"From minerals to batteries, China already has a decades long global start, and its dominance of the world's supply chains shows it. It's encouraging to see the Biden administration take bold action to counter the forceful hold China has on these markets, but this action must be coupled with support for, and approval of, U.S. mining projects. We need more domestic sources that can responsibly feed our manufacturing supply chains. Without them, we're simply shifting our import reliance from China to adversarial foreign sources, action that may derisk our supply chains, but doesn't truly strengthen them." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, Solar Energy Industries Association [SEIA]: "SEIA commends the Biden administration for taking action to support the continued build out of U.S. solar and storage manufacturing. We are evaluating the announcement to determine its full impact, but it's clear that several of these decisions will help improve the business conditions for American manufacturers.

"The Administration was thoughtful to include a tariff exclusion process for key machinery that companies need to manufacture solar components in the United States. A temporary tariff exclusion will help reduce production costs and incentivize increased investment in domestic manufacturing.

"We are also pleased that the Administration will delay the tariff increase on batteries for energy storage systems. This move provides a runway for continued production and deployment of energy storage to meet growing demand for electricity.

"We need an American-made solar and storage economy, and the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] has brought us closer to that vision than any policy in history. Today's announcement from the Biden administration will continue this progress, and SEIA is committed to finding additional solutions and equitable trade policy to establish the United States as the new global leader for clean energy manufacturing." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Mike Carr, Solar Energy Manufacturers for America [SEMA] Coalition: "The Administration made the right decision to strengthen protections for solar components we seek to build in the U.S. While no one action can unwind the years of a concerted effort to dominate this industry, including in manufacturing equipment and heavily subsidized production by Chinese-headquartered firms in Southeast Asia, we are encouraged by this indication of the Biden administration's commitment to use all the tools at their disposal in a targeted and strategic way." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Eric Axel, American Medical Manufacturers Association [AMMA]: "The White House understands that domestic manufacturers face an onslaught of underpriced, subpar Chinese imports. By sidelining high-quality American manufacturers, cheap Chinese imports threaten the safety of our healthcare workers and patients. […] The White House's bold proclamation is significant for everyone who favors fortifying domestic PPE and medical product manufacturing. AMMA anticipates the measures announced by President Biden having a transformative impact, invigorating the domestic manufacturing base and safeguarding our nation's health and security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO Jesse Gary, Century Aluminum: "Today's actions are critical for the U.S. aluminum industry. President Biden's decisive leadership on Sec. 301 tariffs and to invest in the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, shows this Administration's commitment to U.S. primary aluminum production.

"Thanks to the President's leadership, Century is planning to build a new greenfield facility that will double existing domestic capacity. The smelter would not only be the first new American aluminum smelter in 45 years, but also one of the 'greenest' smelters in the world, powered with cutting edge technology and renewable energy. This Administration announced a $500 million grant which will help to facilitate this investment in our future." [Statement, 5/14/24]

MP Materials: "This action will help level the playing field for domestic producers, giving U.S. industry the time it needs to scale and develop in a manner that aligns with America's vital national interest. In the long term, these measures will foster greater balance and resiliency across the global supply chain, ultimately benefiting producers and consumers worldwide. By enhancing our domestic capabilities, we not only secure our economic further but also contribute to a more balanced and robust global market." [Statement, 5/14/24]

President and CEO John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation: "Automakers embrace fair competition. We're not shrinking from it, but China's EV overcapacity and subsidy issue is real. The competitiveness of the auto industry in the U.S. will be harmed if heavily subsidized Chinese EVs can be sold at below-market prices to U.S. consumers."

"It's appropriate for the White House to be looking at tools to prevent the U.S. from becoming a dumping ground for subsidized Chinese EVs. We can't let China's EV overcapacity problem turn into a U.S. auto industry problem." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Climate and Economic Leaders

Executive Director Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance: "President Biden's industrial policies have targeted federal investment to the sectors that are vital to the economic and energy security of the United States, manufacturing workers and communities, and the fate of the planet. The tariff actions announced by the president are a forceful complement to these investments in American manufacturing and a strong statement that the United States will not engage in a race to the bottom when it comes to clean technologies.

"We should be building our clean energy future here at home. We applaud the action President Biden has taken today." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Chairman Zach Mottl, Coalition for a Prosperous America [CPA]: "On behalf of our members that are committed to producing in the U.S. and creating high-paying American jobs, we applaud President Biden and Ambassador Tai for taking this important action to increase Section 301 China tariffs in these critical industries."

"There is overwhelming evidence, including from the USITC, that proves what CPA has been saying for more than a decade: tariffs are a critical reshoring tool to stimulate domestic production, avoid future inflation, and to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Importantly, the Biden administration's action to increase the China tariffs is a strong signal that we are in a new bipartisan era of utilizing tariffs and industrial policy to promote fair and balanced trade, and to protect American workers and manufacturers from China's illegal, predatory trade activity." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Executive Director Ben Jealous, Sierra Club: "We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration's increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers."

"[…] These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to […] unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.".[Statement, 5/14/24]

Senior fellow Ryan Mulholland, Center for American Progress [CAP]: "These tariffs are an appropriate and necessary step to combat China's unfair trade practices and ensure that American workers remain at the forefront of the clean energy transition. In the auto sector, the protection provided by these increased tariffs must not be an excuse for firms to slow their deployment of high-quality and affordable EVs. The domestic manufacturers that benefit from tariff protection should use this opportunity to boost their production of EVs, continue to invest in new U.S.-based production, offer their employees better compensation, and allow workers to fairly and freely join unions." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Roosevelt Institute: "Today, the US government announced 100 percent tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, along with other restrictions on inputs into clean energy supply chains. This action offers critical support to the historic public and private sector decarbonization investments under the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA], CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ensuring they will not be threatened by imports that violate fair trade laws and will be viable in the future" [Statement, 5/14/24]

Congressional Leaders

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York: "The Chinese Communist Party has shown they will stop at nothing to steal our intellectual property and undermine the American economy, including providing deep subsidies to their companies. Because the CCP does not compete fairly, imposing new tariffs is a necessary step towards addressing the unfair imbalance of China's trade relationship with the United States. This action is vital to protect American workers, American manufacturers, American innovation, and our national security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania: "When we hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world. I have urged presidents of both parties to maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to level the playing field for Pennsylvania workers and protect our jobs and our national security." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan: "I was pleased to join the President today for his announcement of new trade measures to protect American manufacturers and workers. Chinese electric vehicles are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government. With a level playing field, our auto industry and our workers can compete with anyone and win. But that means competing with companies, not countries. Michigan has seen the impacts of China's unfair trade practices on our jobs. I appreciate the President's leadership and strong support for our shared goal of ensuring that the electric vehicle transition is led by American workers." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Senator Gary Peters, Michigan: "I support the Administration's decision to raise tariffs on China across key manufacturing sectors. They will help keep our auto industry competitive, support good-paying, union jobs here at home, and protect our economic & national security.

A flood of heavily subsidized electric vehicles from China would undercut Michigan's automakers and workers. Today's announcement is a necessary response to combat the Chinese government's unfair trade practices that endanger the future of our auto industry. It will help level the playing field, keep our auto industry competitive, and support good-paying, union jobs here at home by ensuring that American workers and companies are leading the way in both gas-powered and electric vehicle manufacturing. This action will also help offset the harmful impact of Chinese steel and aluminum subsidies that have affected jobs and businesses in manufacturing hubs like Michigan.

This effort will also help address national security vulnerabilities posed by Chinese electric vehicles and protect Americans' personal data and our roadways from Chinese Communist Party-backed companies. I welcome this important step, and I look forward to continue working with the Administration on additional steps we must take to combat the economic and national security threats posed by Chinese electric vehicles." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon: "I'm pleased President Biden is taking steps to fight back against China's predatory trade practices in key sectors, as well as continuing to combat China's IP theft and forced technology transfer. There's no question that the Chinese government intends to monopolize the production of solar panels, batteries, and other climate-related technologies that are crucial to the future of manufacturing and good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. However, tariffs are only one pressure point, and I hope to work with the administration to further support U.S. workers in these industries and others facing China's unfair trade practices." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts: "President Biden and USTR @AmbassdaorTai are standing up for American workers and against unfair trade policies from China. With strong trade enforcement + big investments in our economy, we're bringing back American manufacturing jobs." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut: "Good news. China is a global trade cheater. They shouldn't get free access to our markets. Decades of manufacturing flight to low cost countries decimated our economy and our families. Joe Biden is making the hard choices to rebuild American manufacturing." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

"Europe is prepared to sit back and let China control the supply chain for every major technology we will rely upon to run our 2050 economy. Bad idea." [Tweet, 5/14/24]

Congressman Dan Kildee, Michigan: "We must do more to combat unfair trade practices that hurt American workers, including by the Chinese Communist Party. I applaud President Biden's decisive actions that will benefit Michigan workers.

China continues to rely on unfair trade practices, including forced labor, intellectual property theft, and state-sponsored subsidies for critical industries. By flooding the U.S. and global markets with goods, China is seeking to control the market in critical industries like semiconductors, electric vehicles, steel and aluminum and solar panels. China's unfair trade practices are driving down wages and contributing to a race to the bottom for American workers. These tariffs announced by President Biden will help to boost American manufacturing and protect American jobs.

I will continue to work with President Biden to support a pro-worker trade agenda that ensures we make things in America, not in China." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Michigan: "I strongly support @POTUS decision to increase tariffs to strengthen domestic automotive manufacturing, protect American jobs, and safeguard our global leadership in the auto industry. We aren't competing on a level playing field, and we have seen the impact of unfair trade practices in the past. The Chinese Community Party's use of aggressive subsidies doesn't protect living wages, fair labor practices, occupational safety standards for workers, or environmental standards. We must compete in a fair marketplace. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to protect American jobs and competitiveness, and our economic and national security." [Statement, 5/14/24]

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Michigan: "As a former CIA officer and Pentagon official, I've been sounding the alarm on the threats Chinese vehicles pose to our national and economic security, and the tariffs announced today are an important step forward. The production of these vehicles and products is subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party. Positioning them to flood our markets and kill American jobs in our own manufacturing sector. Today's announcement targets China's long standing unfair trade practices, and begins the process of pushing pack on their flooding markets with subsidized goods that undercut good old fashioned American competition." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Michigan: "When trade is fair, American workers succeed. Today, surrounded by the men and women of the steelworkers, autoworkers, and so many other labor unions – President Biden did what he does best, lead for the American people. I was honored to join the President on behalf of Michigan's 11^thDistrict at the White House as he signed a new executive order to protect American manufacturing from the Chinese Communist Party's unfair, uncompetitive policies. For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has deployed unfair manufacturing and trade practices to undercut American labor, threatening our economic and national security. I strongly support the tariffs announced on Chinese electric vehicles, chips components, and critical minerals. I commend President Biden for taking action – no one else has done more for American manufacturing and the domestic auto industry. Thank you, Mr. President for ensuring that the future is built in America by union workers." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congressman Chris Deluzio, Pennsylvania: "Protecting Made-In-America manufacturing is a no-brainer: it's growing strong jobs at home and standing strong against globilization's gutting of American industry. Great to see @POTUS take action against Communist China and put workers at the center of his trade policy." [Tweet, 5/14/24]

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois: "President Biden's targeted actions on behalf of American workers, farmers, and businesses will protect our economy from the brazenly predatory and unfair trade practices of the Chinese Community Party. This new action was developed through a thorough and thoughtful review conducted in coordination with our allies under Ambassador Tai's leadership. Working in tandem with our ongoing investments in our infrastructure, research, and workers, it will bolster American manufacturing and competitiveness. For decades, the CCP has engaged in anticompetitive trade practices, flooding global markets with artificially cheap products to wipe out competition while stealing technology and other intellectual property. As the CCP seeks to expand these predatory tactics, President Biden's policies will help to level the playing field. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Administration to help American workers and businesses prove yet again that they can out-compete anyone." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Frank Pallone, New Jersey: "In order to bolster our domestic manufacturing and support American jobs, the federal government needs to take action to curb the import of cheap Chinese goods. I support the Biden Administration's efforts to respond to China's aggressive trade policies." [Tweet, 5/11/2024]

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Labor, Business, and Elected Leaders Praise President Biden's Actions to Protect American Workers and Businesses from China's Unfair Trade Practices

This week, President Biden took action to protect investments in America by increasing tariffs on $18 billion of imports from China. This action will combat China's unfair trade practices and support the President's historic investments in American steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar, and other strategic sectors. President Biden's actions are pro-worker, pro-union, and pro-investment, which is why they were praised by a range of labor, business, environmental, and elected leaders.

Leaders across the country are celebrating the announcement. Here's what they're saying:

Union and Labor Leaders

President Liz Shuler, AFL-CIO: "The AFL-CIO strongly supports President Biden's announcement that, after a thorough investigation, he will maintain or increase tariffs on a range of unfairly traded products from China. This will help to revitalize our domestic manufacturing capacity, create new jobs, and advance our national and economic security. President Biden once again is standing up for American workers." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President David McCall, United Steelworkers Union : "The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and flawed Chinese trade policies have had an outsized negative impact on our members,"

"Now, the Biden administration's work to strengthen relief measures shows we're not backing down. Instead, we're backing up our domestic producers and workers."

From the CHIPS and Science Act to the Inflation Reduction Act, from new approaches on outbound investment to today's tariff announcements and more, President Biden is addressing trade through an integrated set of solutions,"

"And moving forward, we know this administration will continue to show this same grit and ingenuity in standing up for workers, including the investigation it initiated last month into China's transportation, logistics and maritime policies." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International Vice President Roxanne Brown, United Steelworkers Union : "The key to President Biden's success in building a worker-centered trade policy is his multi-pronged approach. His administration has been diligently confronting foreign unfair trade using established trade tools to stand up to the unfair and anticompetitive policies of trading partners like China. But just as importantly, President Biden has been strategically using investments here at home to reignite and renew America's manufacturing capacity." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President Brian Bryant, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers : "As International President of one of the largest manufacturing unions in North America, I've seen first-hand the negative impacts of the Chinese government's anti-competitive trade practices, such as dumping heavily subsidized imports," said Bryant. "The IAM has been a leader over the years in sounding the alarm on unfair trade practices that cost North American jobs. Tariffs aren't an end goal but a very important tool to end trade practices that kill good American jobs and drive down American pay. They are coupled with President Biden's historic investment policies, which continue to build and grow an economy that benefits working families nationwide.

"The Biden Administration has been willing to challenge the disastrous effects of Chinese economic policies on American manufacturing and trade and enact policies to make a difference.

"We thank President Biden for standing up for union workers and creating policies that build and grow an economy that works in the best interest of working families," added Bryant. "We will continue to work with the Biden Administration and Ambassador Tai on rewriting trade rules to benefit working people." [Statement , 5/14/24]

International President Kenneth W. Cooper, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers : "I am proud to have joined President Biden today as he announced new protections for American workers against unfair Chinese trade practices. For too long, U.S. manufacturers, especially those in advanced electrical and energy technologies, have been undercut by cheap Chinese exports.

"This move will help level the playing field for both businesses and workers, further boosting domestic manufacturing.

"The Biden-Harris administration has made rebuilding America's manufacturing sector a priority, and we're already seeing results as high-tech semiconductor and EV battery plants set up shop in communities across the United States.

"President Biden's decision means more investments and jobs in America's manufacturing and clean energy sectors. The men and women of the IBEW are committed to working with his administration to restore America's role as the world's manufacturing and technological leader." [Statement , 5/14/24]

United Auto Workers : "The UAW applauds todays decisive action from the White House on ensuring that the transition. We have warned for many months that, left to the forces of corporate greed, the EV future was threatened by a race to the bottom, from China to Mexico to right here in the United States. Making sure that major corporations have to pay a price for pitting worker against worker, pushing wages lower and lower, is a key part of a pro-worker trade policy. America's autoworkers, our families, and working-class communities across this country want a trade policy that puts workers firs. Today's announcement is a major step in the right direction" [Statement , 5/14/24]

Teamsters: "#Teamsters applaud @POTUS and @USTradeRep @AmbassadorTai for taking action to maintain and expand the current Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports. Raising tariffs on electric vehicles and other products from China is essential to protecting American workers from China's unfair trade policies." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Business and Industry Leaders

President Scott Paul, Alliance for American Manufacturing: "Enhancing the Section 301 tariffs to counter China's unfair trade practices is absolutely the right thing to do for America's future. We commend Ambassador Tai and the Biden administration for defending American workers and industries.

"AAM supported the original initiation of the Section 301 tariffs and urged this administration to both extend and enhance the relief measures. Decades of unfair trade by the People's Republic of China have devastated American communities and weakened our economic security."

"We are particularly pleased to see enhanced Section 301 tariffs on steel, aluminum, electric vehicles, semiconductors, the battery supply chain, and certain essential PPE products. We have called the introduction of Chinese EVs into the the United States a potential 'extinction-level event' for our vital auto sector. While the nature of China's unfair trade practices shifts from time to time, the goals are always clear: to disrupt global norms, weaken American economic security, and seek growth at the expense of others.

"The Section 301 tariffs, together with investments in industry and infrastructure, and Buy America domestic preferences, form the framework of an effective 21 st century industrial policy for America. We look forward to working with the Biden administration and Congress to build on these achievements." [Statement ]

President and CEO Rich Nolan, The National Mining Association : "

"From minerals to batteries, China already has a decades long global start, and its dominance of the world's supply chains shows it. It's encouraging to see the Biden administration take bold action to counter the forceful hold China has on these markets, but this action must be coupled with support for, and approval of, U.S. mining projects. We need more domestic sources that can responsibly feed our manufacturing supply chains. Without them, we're simply shifting our import reliance from China to adversarial foreign sources, action that may derisk our supply chains, but doesn't truly strengthen them." [Statement

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President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper, Solar Energy Industries Association : "SEIA commends the Biden administration for taking action to support the continued build out of U.S. solar and storage manufacturing. We are evaluating the announcement to determine its full impact, but it's clear that several of these decisions will help improve the business conditions for American manufacturers.

"The Administration was thoughtful to include a tariff exclusion process for key machinery that companies need to manufacture solar components in the United States. A temporary tariff exclusion will help reduce production costs and incentivize increased investment in domestic manufacturing.

"We are also pleased that the Administration will delay the tariff increase on batteries for energy storage systems. This move provides a runway for continued production and deployment of energy storage to meet growing demand for electricity.

"We need an American-made solar and storage economy, and the Inflation Reduction Act has brought us closer to that vision than any policy in history. Today's announcement from the Biden administration will continue this progress, and SEIA is committed to finding additional solutions and equitable trade policy to establish the United States as the new global leader for clean energy manufacturing." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Mike Carr, Solar Energy Manufacturers for America Coalition: "The Administration made the right decision to strengthen protections for solar components we seek to build in the U.S. While no one action can unwind the years of a concerted effort to dominate this industry, including in manufacturing equipment and heavily subsidized production by Chinese-headquartered firms in Southeast Asia, we are encouraged by this indication of the Biden administration's commitment to use all the tools at their disposal in a targeted and strategic way." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Eric Axel, American Medical Manufacturers Association : "The White House understands that domestic manufacturers face an onslaught of underpriced, subpar Chinese imports. By sidelining high-quality American manufacturers, cheap Chinese imports threaten the safety of our healthcare workers and patients. […] The White House's bold proclamation is significant for everyone who favors fortifying domestic PPE and medical product manufacturing. AMMA anticipates the measures announced by President Biden having a transformative impact, invigorating the domestic manufacturing base and safeguarding our nation's health and security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

President and CEO Jesse Gary, Century Aluminum: "Today's actions are critical for the U.S. aluminum industry. President Biden's decisive leadership on Sec. 301 tariffs and to invest in the resurgence of U.S. manufacturing, shows this Administration's commitment to U.S. primary aluminum production.

"Thanks to the President's leadership, Century is planning to build a new greenfield facility that will double existing domestic capacity. The smelter would not only be the first new American aluminum smelter in 45 years, but also one of the 'greenest' smelters in the world, powered with cutting edge technology and renewable energy. This Administration announced a $500 million grant which will help to facilitate this investment in our future." [Statement , 5/14/24]

MP Materials: "This action will help level the playing field for domestic producers, giving U.S. industry the time it needs to scale and develop in a manner that aligns with America's vital national interest. In the long term, these measures will foster greater balance and resiliency across the global supply chain, ultimately benefiting producers and consumers worldwide. By enhancing our domestic capabilities, we not only secure our economic further but also contribute to a more balanced and robust global market." [Statement , 5/14/24]

President and CEO John Bozzella, Alliance for Automotive Innovation: "Automakers embrace fair competition. We're not shrinking from it, but China's EV overcapacity and subsidy issue is real. The competitiveness of the auto industry in the U.S. will be harmed if heavily subsidized Chinese EVs can be sold at below-market prices to U.S. consumers."

"It's appropriate for the White House to be looking at tools to prevent the U.S. from becoming a dumping ground for subsidized Chinese EVs. We can't let China's EV overcapacity problem turn into a U.S. auto industry problem." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Climate and Economic Leaders

Executive Director Jason Walsh, BlueGreen Alliance: "President Biden's industrial policies have targeted federal investment to the sectors that are vital to the economic and energy security of the United States, manufacturing workers and communities, and the fate of the planet. The tariff actions announced by the president are a forceful complement to these investments in American manufacturing and a strong statement that the United States will not engage in a race to the bottom when it comes to clean technologies.

"We should be building our clean energy future here at home. We applaud the action President Biden has taken today." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Chairman Zach Mottl, Coalition for a Prosperous America : "On behalf of our members that are committed to producing in the U.S. and creating high-paying American jobs, we applaud President Biden and Ambassador Tai for taking this important action to increase Section 301 China tariffs in these critical industries."

"There is overwhelming evidence, including from the USITC, that proves what CPA has been saying for more than a decade: tariffs are a critical reshoring tool to stimulate domestic production, avoid future inflation, and to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. Importantly, the Biden administration's action to increase the China tariffs is a strong signal that we are in a new bipartisan era of utilizing tariffs and industrial policy to promote fair and balanced trade, and to protect American workers and manufacturers from China's illegal, predatory trade activity." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Executive Director Ben Jealous, Sierra Club: "We cannot trade a dependency on foreign oil for a clean energy future reliant upon China. We must continue to invest and build our clean energy future in America. The Sierra Club welcomes the Biden administration's increase in tariffs on imports from China, which pushes back on its monopolization of clean energy goods, benefitting American workers."

"[…] These climate-forward tariffs make clear to China and allies that countries that make critical products and enforce environmental and labor standards will have a competitive advantage. We look forward to continuing our work with President Biden and Congress to use the full range of trade tools available to […] unlock the full potential of the Inflation Reduction Act. The swift transition to clean energy will be manufactured in the U.S.". [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senior fellow Ryan Mulholland, Center for American Progress : "These tariffs are an appropriate and necessary step to combat China's unfair trade practices and ensure that American workers remain at the forefront of the clean energy transition. In the auto sector, the protection provided by these increased tariffs must not be an excuse for firms to slow their deployment of high-quality and affordable EVs. The domestic manufacturers that benefit from tariff protection should use this opportunity to boost their production of EVs, continue to invest in new U.S.-based production, offer their employees better compensation, and allow workers to fairly and freely join unions." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Roosevelt Institute: "Today, the US government announced 100 percent tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China, along with other restrictions on inputs into clean energy supply chains. This action offers critical support to the historic public and private sector decarbonization investments under the Inflation Reduction Act , CHIPS and Science Act, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ensuring they will not be threatened by imports that violate fair trade laws and will be viable in the future" [Statement , 5/14/24]

Congressional Leaders

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, New York: "The Chinese Communist Party has shown they will stop at nothing to steal our intellectual property and undermine the American economy, including providing deep subsidies to their companies. Because the CCP does not compete fairly, imposing new tariffs is a necessary step towards addressing the unfair imbalance of China's trade relationship with the United States. This action is vital to protect American workers, American manufacturers, American innovation, and our national security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senator Bob Casey, Pennsylvania: "When we hold trade cheats accountable, we put American workers in the best position to outcompete anyone in the world. I have urged presidents of both parties to maintain and increase Section 301 tariffs to level the playing field for Pennsylvania workers and protect our jobs and our national security." [Statement , 5/14/2024]

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Michigan: "I was pleased to join the President today for his announcement of new trade measures to protect American manufacturers and workers. Chinese electric vehicles are heavily subsidized by the Chinese government. With a level playing field, our auto industry and our workers can compete with anyone and win. But that means competing with companies, not countries. Michigan has seen the impacts of China's unfair trade practices on our jobs. I appreciate the President's leadership and strong support for our shared goal of ensuring that the electric vehicle transition is led by American workers." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

Senator Gary Peters, Michigan: "I support the Administration's decision to raise tariffs on China across key manufacturing sectors. They will help keep our auto industry competitive, support good-paying, union jobs here at home, and protect our economic & national security.

A flood of heavily subsidized electric vehicles from China would undercut Michigan's automakers and workers. Today's announcement is a necessary response to combat the Chinese government's unfair trade practices that endanger the future of our auto industry. It will help level the playing field, keep our auto industry competitive, and support good-paying, union jobs here at home by ensuring that American workers and companies are leading the way in both gas-powered and electric vehicle manufacturing. This action will also help offset the harmful impact of Chinese steel and aluminum subsidies that have affected jobs and businesses in manufacturing hubs like Michigan.

This effort will also help address national security vulnerabilities posed by Chinese electric vehicles and protect Americans' personal data and our roadways from Chinese Communist Party-backed companies. I welcome this important step, and I look forward to continue working with the Administration on additional steps we must take to combat the economic and national security threats posed by Chinese electric vehicles." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon: "I'm pleased President Biden is taking steps to fight back against China's predatory trade practices in key sectors, as well as continuing to combat China's IP theft and forced technology transfer. There's no question that the Chinese government intends to monopolize the production of solar panels, batteries, and other climate-related technologies that are crucial to the future of manufacturing and good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. However, tariffs are only one pressure point, and I hope to work with the administration to further support U.S. workers in these industries and others facing China's unfair trade practices." [Statement , 5/14/2024]

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts: "President Biden and USTR @AmbassdaorTai are standing up for American workers and against unfair trade policies from China. With strong trade enforcement + big investments in our economy, we're bringing back American manufacturing jobs." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

Senator Chris Murphy, Connecticut: "Good news. China is a global trade cheater. They shouldn't get free access to our markets. Decades of manufacturing flight to low cost countries decimated our economy and our families. Joe Biden is making the hard choices to rebuild American manufacturing." [Tweet , 5/14/2024]

"Europe is prepared to sit back and let China control the supply chain for every major technology we will rely upon to run our 2050 economy. Bad idea." [Tweet , 5/14/24]

Congressman Dan Kildee, Michigan: "We must do more to combat unfair trade practices that hurt American workers, including by the Chinese Communist Party. I applaud President Biden's decisive actions that will benefit Michigan workers.

China continues to rely on unfair trade practices, including forced labor, intellectual property theft, and state-sponsored subsidies for critical industries. By flooding the U.S. and global markets with goods, China is seeking to control the market in critical industries like semiconductors, electric vehicles, steel and aluminum and solar panels. China's unfair trade practices are driving down wages and contributing to a race to the bottom for American workers. These tariffs announced by President Biden will help to boost American manufacturing and protect American jobs.

I will continue to work with President Biden to support a pro-worker trade agenda that ensures we make things in America, not in China." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Michigan: "I strongly support @POTUS decision to increase tariffs to strengthen domestic automotive manufacturing, protect American jobs, and safeguard our global leadership in the auto industry. We aren't competing on a level playing field, and we have seen the impact of unfair trade practices in the past. The Chinese Community Party's use of aggressive subsidies doesn't protect living wages, fair labor practices, occupational safety standards for workers, or environmental standards. We must compete in a fair marketplace. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to protect American jobs and competitiveness, and our economic and national security." [Statement , 5/14/24]

Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, Michigan: "As a former CIA officer and Pentagon official, I've been sounding the alarm on the threats Chinese vehicles pose to our national and economic security, and the tariffs announced today are an important step forward. The production of these vehicles and products is subsidized by the Chinese Communist Party. Positioning them to flood our markets and kill American jobs in our own manufacturing sector. Today's announcement targets China's long standing unfair trade practices, and begins the process of pushing pack on their flooding markets with subsidized goods that undercut good old fashioned American competition." [Tweet, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Michigan: "When trade is fair, American workers succeed. Today, surrounded by the men and women of the steelworkers, autoworkers, and so many other labor unions – President Biden did what he does best, lead for the American people. I was honored to join the President on behalf of Michigan's 11^th District at the White House as he signed a new executive order to protect American manufacturing from the Chinese Communist Party's unfair, uncompetitive policies. For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has deployed unfair manufacturing and trade practices to undercut American labor, threatening our economic and national security. I strongly support the tariffs announced on Chinese electric vehicles, chips components, and critical minerals. I commend President Biden for taking action – no one else has done more for American manufacturing and the domestic auto industry. Thank you, Mr. President for ensuring that the future is built in America by union workers."

[Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congressman Chris Deluzio, Pennsylvania: "Protecting Made-In-America manufacturing is a no-brainer: it's growing strong jobs at home and standing strong against globilization's gutting of American industry. Great to see @POTUS take action against Communist China and put workers at the center of his trade policy." [Tweet , 5/14/24]

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois: "President Biden's targeted actions on behalf of American workers, farmers, and businesses will protect our economy from the brazenly predatory and unfair trade practices of the Chinese Community Party. This new action was developed through a thorough and thoughtful review conducted in coordination with our allies under Ambassador Tai's leadership. Working in tandem with our ongoing investments in our infrastructure, research, and workers, it will bolster American manufacturing and competitiveness. For decades, the CCP has engaged in anticompetitive trade practices, flooding global markets with artificially cheap products to wipe out competition while stealing technology and other intellectual property. As the CCP seeks to expand these predatory tactics, President Biden's policies will help to level the playing field. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Administration to help American workers and businesses prove yet again that

they can out-compete anyone." [Statement, 5/14/2024]

Congresswoman Frank Pallone, New Jersey: "In order to bolster our domestic manufacturing and support American jobs, the federal government needs to take action to curb the import of cheap Chinese goods. I support the Biden Administration's efforts to respond to China's aggressive trade policies." [Tweet , 5/11/2024]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

AND DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STEPHEN BENJAMIN

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:52 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We'll wait for -- for -- I don't want to call her out, but -- --

Q Madam President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Madam President, that's right. I was trying to be good, not call out people.

All right. Good afternoon.

As President Biden said during his campaign, no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana. That's why in 2022, President Biden requested that DOJ and HHS review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

Today, the administration is taking a major step toward reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug under federal law.

If finalized, marina- -- marijuana will no longer hold the higher-level classification it currently holds over fentanyl and meth, drugs driving our nation's overdose epidemic. And it will remove burdensome, longstanding barriers to critical research.

This announcement builds on the work President Biden has already done to pardon a record number of federal offenses for simply possessing marijuana. His categorical pardon for federal offenses of simple possession in October 2022 and December 2023 lifted barriers to housing, small business loans, and more for thousands of Americans.

The reality is, while white, Black, and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionately higher rates.

The President's actions today further his commitment to reverse longstanding injustices and to right historic wrongs.

Next, I want to talk about a part -- as part of our series of engagements this week, we are marking the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education. Today, President Biden met with plaintiffs and their family members at the White House.

Among those the President met with include Adrienne Jennings Bennett, a plaintiff in one of the original cases, Boiling v. Sharpe, that was argued alongside Brown v. Board, and Cheryl Brown Henderson, one of the daughters of the le- -- of the lead plaintiff, Oli- -- Oliver L. Brown, in the Brown v. Board.

The delegation represents litigants from the five cases that were combined under Brown v. Board of Education and heard before the Supreme Court, as well as the NAAC[P] President Derrick Johnson and other leaders of the NAACP who were critical in fighting for these and other hard-won freedoms for Black Americans.

The President was proud to participate in this meeting and honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans while highlighting his vision for how we must continue to build on these freedoms.

Joining us today, as you can see from my right, to say more and make some news about this administration's work to advance racial equity and opportunity for Black Americans is Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement, the former Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Steve Benjamin. Thank you so much for coming again.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The podium is yours.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you, Karine. Thank you so much.

Thank you, my friend. I -- I miss being mayor, y'all. I -- I think it was a much -- a much simpler existence at times.

Today at the White House, as Karine mentioned, we're recognizing -- commemorating the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education becoming the law of the land, upending decades of discrimination since ni- -- 1896.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue their long- -- longstanding effort to honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for African Americans.

This morning, he met with the plaintiffs and their families, as Karine mentioned, in the Oval Office. During the meeting, he commended them for changing our nation for the better and committed to continue his fight to move us closer to the promise of America.

Families from each of the five different cases that were consolidated in Brown v. Board were present today.

Tomorrow, the President is going to deliver remarks at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Here, he and the Vice President, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, will also meet with leaders of the Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.

On Sunday, May 19 th, the President is going to deliver the commencement address at the 140 th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia, where today the faculty voted to confer upon the President an honorary degree.

President Biden and Vice President Harris -- who also, as we all know, serves as the very first HBCU graduate, first to serve as Vice President of the Unites States -- they know firsthand the value of HBCUs.

And I'm proud and very pleased to announce today that the Biden-Harris administration has invested more than $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which is unprecedented -- a record amount.

President Biden has also canceled $160 billion in student loans for over 4 million Americans, providing significant relief to all borrowers, with significant impact on Black borrowers; increased the amount of maximum Pell Grants, as well, by $900 -- the largest increase in a decade -- helping students from low- and middle-income backgrounds pursue their dreams of a post-secondary education -- nearly 60 percent of African American students are federally -- are federal financial aid recipients -- with an average award of nearly $5,000 per student.

This is only a snapshot of what this administration has delivered as President Biden and Vice President Harris have leveraged the full force of the federal government to advance racial justice and build economic opportunity since their first day in office.

As a result of their leadership, Black household family wealth is up 60 percent; more than 2.5 million jobs have been created for African Americans; and in 2023, we hit the lowest Black unemployment data on record. And that remains consistently low, as we've seen, across the country -- unemployment under 4 percent for the entire nation for 27 months running.

I'm very happy to be here with you. More than happy to take your questions, I think.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thank you so much for being here. So, you recently met with students and faculty at Morehouse College. Can you just talk to us about the concerns they shared and how you responded?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. And I -- and I'll do my best to be clear and transparent, because I also promised the students I would keep our conversation as closely as I possibly could.

But, you know, every day, as Director of -- of Public Engagement here, we get out across the -- the country and try to spend at least two days of every week on the road somewhere doing what -- what my grandmother and other loved ones might say, "God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. You listen twice as much as you talk."

And really wanted to lean in with these young leaders to hear what they wanted to hear on their very special commencement day. Many of you know that four years ago, many of them were denied a commencement because of the pandemic -- the greatest pandemic since 1918. And wanted to make sure that the President's goal to center these students and have a chance to discuss the real issues of the world that they might have to address as leaders going forward was important.

So, we sat there. We talked about everything. I mean, we -- we talked about the status of the world. Certainly, many of them wanted to talk about the Middle East and -- and war. We talked about reconnecting communities and -- and the amazing $160 million going -- going in just up the street, The Stitch project in Atlanta, working to -- to undo some of the damage done by previous infrastructure investments and how it's connect- -- reconnecting in a very reparative and restorative way the Sweet Auburn community.

We talked about -- about wealth creation. Each and every one of these young men -- who, I will say, were exceptional -- five students, all graduating seniors, going off to do great things at fine institutions and great places to work, four faculty members, and two administrators shared, individually, one by one, the things that were important to them to try and hear.

But the common thread was they wanted to make sure we were centering the young people and that the President did that on -- on Sunday. So -- but we talked on -- on any range of issues.

I have a college-aged daughter who also attends an HBCU and -- and a 17-year-old, as of today -- happy birthday, Jordan Grace Benjamin -- -- who is plotting world domination and takeover as we speak. She's the real politician in the family. But -- but their concerns and interest areas were not dissimilar from the two teenagers who live in our household.

Q And do you or the President have any concerns about the President's address overshadowing the commencement, as we've heard from some students publicly?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. No, obviously, I think what -- what's going to be most important are -- are the words that the President articulates. And I know that he -- he feels very deeply about what this means to these young men.

And -- and I say "young men." Many of you know that Morehouse is a unique institution. Some of you who are familiar with -- with the legacy of the great school is it's probably the only place in the country, if not the world right now, where that many amazingly talented young men are being trained for leadership in -- in the world at one time -- young Black men.

No, the -- the goal will be to make sure that we use this as an opportunity to continue to elevate the amazing work that's been done at Morehouse over the last century and a half.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Yeah. I -- I -- Mayor Benjamin, hey. I do wonder what kind of reception do you, having been there, expect the President to receive at Morehouse.

Also, does he plan to have any direct engagement with -- with students or faculty there? A lot of them that I've talked to have said, you know, "We don't just want a campaign speech or speech at us, but we want to be able to talk policy or talk about their issues."

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. I'm -- I'm sure the President will have a chance to engage with faculty, staff, and students while he's there. And I know that he looks forward to it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

MR. BENJAMIN: Did I answer that question?

Q Yeah. Well, the--

MR. BENJAMIN: Okay.

Q -- the first one. What kind of -- having talked to students at Morehouse, what kind of reception do you expect him to receive?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. You know -- you know, it's so important to realize that no community is monolithic. Even some of the -- the range of -- of opinions that we received last Friday and that I've heard from speaking with literally dozens and dozens of folk with just about -- about this speech over the last several days, people have different thoughts about what they might want to hear.

I do know that the President, again, is -- is very focused on centering these young men and -- and what this -- this transition in life means to them. So, we listen very closely. We received those messages, and we shared those with the President and -- and his speechwriting team.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

Q Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And happy birthday to your daughter.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you.

Q Does the President share the president of Morehouse College's belief that the graduation ceremony should be halted if there are protests or disruptions?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I'm going to let Morehouse handle Morehouse and let Dr. Thomas, who's -- who's been wonderful to work with as we prepare for the commencement -- I'll let him speak for Morehouse College.

The President has been very clear. I mean, we live in a -- an amazing country where you have three estates of government. And you have a fourth estate that personifies the importance of -- of the right to free speech. You -- you -- and you do it well. That right to free speech extends to -- to even those who -- who wish to protest. And he respects that, and he makes it a point to lean in when there are protesters in the very same space.

So, we'll respect that. I think, as long as there are peaceful protests that don't disrupt the -- the amazing moment that is for each of those graduates there today, I think we'll all consider this a success.

Q Did the White House ever consider canceling the speech once you learned that there likely would be protests?

MR. BENJAMIN: No, not that I know of. But I'll -- I'll defer that to someone else. No -- no, ma'am.

Q Hi, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. Recent polls have Joe Biden and Donald Trump neck and neck among Black voters. I'm hoping -- hoping to stay away from the Hatch Act. But do you think that the President's message is resonating with Black voters?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, you have no responsibility to stay away from the Hatch Act, but I do.

Q Yeah.

MR. BENJAMIN: So, I appreciate that.

I -- as I mentioned, I spend a great deal of time on the road. I mean, the -- this is a wonderful citadel of democracy. There are -- D.C., the heart of the Republic. But getting out and listening to people and hearing the impact of President Biden's and Vice President Harris's policies on helping change their lives inform my opinion as to where just everyday Americans stand. We're not going to talk politics.

And I've had the chance to be, gosh, in Arizona, Nevada, Illinois, South Carolina, Georgia, New York, New Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia the -- just in the last several months -- and listened to people talk about the impact of -- of amazing things, like the criminal justice reforms and social reforms the President has led on and on how, in fact, while creating access to capital and -- and creating economic opportunity, leading to not just these precipitously low unemployment rates but the greatest increase in number of Black-owned businesses in 30 years; how we're not just talking about history, like we are do- -- doing today with -- with the -- with the Brown and related-case defendants but how, indeed, the President is making history every single day.

That's the feedback I get from people. And I think that we're going to -- we're going to focus -- continue on making history on this side of the -- of -- of the table by just leading through good government and the leadership of the President and the Vice President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Kelly.

Q Thank you. Is there a connection between the investments that you talked about today in the HB[C]U community and the things you've been hearing from your travels, some of the concerns that have been expressed by students and communities across the country, especially in the last several months of the Israel-Hamas war? Is there a link between the investments and what you've been learning?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. No. The $16 billion number that we're releasing today is new. It's an updated number. But I mean, if you may remember that the previous total shared publicly was $7 billion, which is also a record, long before the -- the last several months.

This is consistent with the President's very clear commitment from day one of his administration to making sure that -- that not only do we declare that equity and -- and -- is a central theme sacrosanct to this -- the core of this administration, but that we actually put in place real ladders to opportunity as he seeks to build an economy from the middle -- middle out and bottom up. I mean, so, this is -- this is nothing new. This is entirely consistent with the work that the President has been doing in day one -- a whole-of-government approach, a whole-of-society approach that -- that's yielding fruit.

Q And when you talk about this kind of investment and you're meeting with groups of students who feel frustration, does it make a difference?

MR. BENJAMIN: I -- you know, so I will cross the line, maybe get back to the first question just briefly. As -- as we went through -- it's always important, again, if you -- if you're going to listen, you have to listen. You -- you can't come in talking. And -- and you listen and you receive where people are, and you get into real public narrative -- you know, the story of -- the story of you, the story of me and kind of where we go from here.

And when you see opportunities to share these successes -- and I'm not going to sit and go through it a tick list -- but in every single corner of American society, when you think about the President's leadership -- the greatest pandemic since 1918; the greatest economic disruption many of us expected maybe since 1929; the greatest social unrest, we saw after the -- the murder of George Floyd, since 1968 -- all wrapped up into a moment that that -- that, post-Charlottesville, propelled this genuinely good man to decide he wanted to help lead his country.

That's all part of what has become the Biden-Harris agenda, and they've been leading from the front. As I go through those issues -- and I did it last Friday with those amazing young leaders -- heads were nodding. People were very much appreciative of -- of receiving the information. And I know we're planning to go out and share with others.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Jeff.

Q Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to circle back to the meeting today in the Oval Office. The people who were there with President Biden came out and spoke with us briefly afterwards, and a few of them mentioned the work that still needs to be done and how schools are still in many parts of the country, still, effectively, segregated. Did the President have anything to say about that in terms of continuing work? And did he respond to -- you know, a parent asked that a holiday be made out of the anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education --

MR. BENJAMIN: So, that -- that request came up in our meeting before the meeting as well, from one of the families of the litigants.

I mean, it's important to note that the first major national holiday established in decades is Juneteenth. The President -- that's his legislation. The establishment of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Memorial in Illinois and Mississippi -- also because of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's leadership -- the passing of the Emmett Till Antilynching bill.

Even some of the tough things left to do. Hopefully, the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act someday. Each of the elements of the -- in those bills are part of the President's executive order as relates to federal law enforcement agencies.

In his conversation, and I'm not sure if -- one of the speakers, they may have mentioned, the President also talked to her mother -- a 103-year-old litigant as well, by phone.

There's an acknowledgement every day with our president that we're -- we're not where we ought to be, but we're certainly not where we used to be. And every once -- every -- every moment you have to celebrate the successes we've had, celebrating the diversity of this country and how we move forward together is a moment to celebrate.

Still a lot of work to be done, but it's only going to happen with truly inspired leadership like we're getting from President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Q Thank you. And thank you, Mayor Benjamin. The Morehouse commencement ceremony has been described as solemn, steeped in tradition. You just described it as "unique." And I'm wondering how the nature of the ceremony factored into the White House's decision to have President Biden speak there at a time when there's volatility on campuses nationwide.

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure, Morehouse and all the other HBCU -- I served as a trustee at Benedict College, another proud, historically Black college in Columbia, South Carolina. Again, my daughter also attends -- she -- she'll tell you that she wears Spelman on her chest all day, every day. She is a Spelman woman.

More- -- Morehouse is unique, but I dare say that every institution of higher learning is unique. And HBCUs are -- yes, are solemn places -- most, almost every one of them, but most of them birth after one of the darkest periods in world history and certainly the darkest period in -- in American history. So, when you step onto those grounds, you're always stepping into someplace special.

The President was invited to come to Morehouse, voted on by the faculty today to indeed receive an honorary doctorate, which we conferred on Sunday. And I think, yeah, it's a special place and having a chance to speak very directly to this very unique group of talented young men and women who -- young men and their families, who are going to go out and help change the world -- yeah, I'm sure it did factor in his decision to make -- to make the move down there.

Q The President of the United States receives multiple invitations to speak at multiple universities every single year. And I'm -- I'm wondering if you think that -- even with the possibility of protests, that there's an expectation of, potentially, a calmer reception at Morehouse than elsewhere?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I'll tell you, Morehouse is an amazingly special and dignified place. Yes, he does receive a lot of invitations. But this President has also been very intentional over the course of his career and certainly his presidency, to always make sure he makes time to go to HBCUs.

He -- he delivered the commencement address at Howard last year, and he's been at SC State's commencement address. He's obviously spoke to the president of Delaware State, where -- where President Biden will tell you that he got his political start decades ago -- spoke to Dr. Allen today. And, obviously, it's special to him.

And he realizes that not only a speech but, more importantly, the $16 billion in resources to support this amazing -- amazingly talented group of young leaders -- that he doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. We're going to start wrapping it up. Go ahead.

Q A question on -- a question on the Oval Office meeting, and then wanted to follow up on something else you said. Had the President met with the families involved in the Delaware case prior to today's Oval Office meeting? Or was this his first time meeting them?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, it was interesting -- and, obviously, this is my first time in the same space with each of them -- he spent a significant amount of time with the Delaware families. One of the ladies, a gran- -- a daughter of one of the litigants indicated that the President had spent several moments on their couch over the course of -- of his career. So, he was very familiar with the case. He kno- -- he knows the case. But he had engaged with the families in the past.

Q And then, on the question of enthusiasm for the President in the African American community, what do you chalk that lethargy up to?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I will tell you -- again, I can only speak, Francesca, to my -- to my experience. And when I get out there and we talk to people about the amazing successes of the administration and the leadership of the President and Vice President, people are psyched. I mean, they're -- they're happy about these meaningful developments that are helping change the lives of people all across this country.

We got to make sure not -- and that's -- that's a campaign job. Our job here is making sure we share the news and hopefully, in partnership with each and every one of you, that the news gets out to all the places in this very different world in which we live in which people receive their news.

So, I'm looking over there. a third question, Francesca.

Q No, I just wanted to ask: Are you saying that you distrust the polling that shows the President's support among the African American community is lower than it was this time four years ago?

MR. BENJAMIN: I can honestly tell you that I don't follow the polls.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Hi, Mayor Benjamin. Brown v. Board not only ended "separate but equal," but it was a real preparation for the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, there's a -- a different movement happening after the Supreme Court ruling in Harvard vs. Students for Fair Admissions and -- with affirmative action that has created this sort of -- seemingly, this anti-DEI, anti-equity movement that impacted schools, businesses, and even this administration's ability to implement some of these policies.

Does the President believe that he has leaned in enough on this issue? And how much can we expect him to speak to that in tomorrow's speech?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. Well, he has one speech tomorrow at the -- at the NAACP. And then, obviously, he has several speeches this weekend.

The President is unapologetic about the -- not only the principle of equity being a core value to him but also his administration, but he continues to make sure that, consistent with his very first executive order, that every piece of policy and -- that comes out of the administration, as well as each of the cornerstone laws enacts -- the infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS bill, and -- and also the American Rescue Plan -- that each of those pillars have the same core of equity. And it's led to record amounts of contracting -- I think $76 billion this past year for small, minority-owned businesses -- record amounts in the Black community and the Latino community, as well.

So, he's not stepping back on his commitment to equity and continues to lean in and expects his administration to do the same.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Go ahead, Ebony. You got last question.

Q Okay. I want to follow up on just two comments. One, you just mentioned the $76 in -- $76 billion in contracts for minority businesses. But can you talk about what that looks like for Black businesses specifically?

MR. BENJAMIN: $12.1 billion.

Q Wow. $12.1 billion.

And then my -- my second question is: Earlier, you were talking about that we aren't where we want to be, but we -- we're not where we used to be, but we're not where we want to be.

Specifically, when the question was asked, what -- what are the things -- or -- or are there any orders or policies and executive orders that we can see coming from the President that can address some of these inequities in education?

When we were at -- earlier, I was talking about how we are seeing resegregation in some of the schools. How can the administration -- or is it -- what are -- what could we see from the administration to reverse that? Because there's been a reversal in some -- in many areas.

MR. BENJAMIN: Yeah. I'll try to make the answer as concise as possible. But as you can tell, I believe very much so in data and -- and good data.

You know, the -- the challenge that we faced at the height of the pandemic, recognizing the -- still the way that most of our education systems across the country are funded -- property taxes, local resources, not necessarily dedicated at the level that they ought to receive, even in -- sometimes in the same town or the -- or the same state, can make things particularly a challenge.

The work that the President led on, along with the Vice President, to make sure that we're investing not only in HBCUs -- record amounts here today -- but also, under the American Rescue Plan, Title One schools are receiving $130 billion in -- in funding for maintenance of equity requirements, making sure we're protecting high-poverty schools from reductions in state and local funding.

I mean, it's -- it's what he does every day. When I talk about not -- not being where we used to be and also not being where we ought to be, there's this idea -- and he talks about it often; you've heard him say it a mil- -- a million times -- about the idea of -- of America.

The idea is that we all aspire to be a more perfect Union, which means that it -- it's -- every once in a while, you get to take big strides, big leaps forward -- Brown v. Board was a big leap forward; today's announcement of $16 billion for HBCUs is a big leap forward -- but the everyday struggles are -- are -- that's the hard work. That's the hard work that -- that this President has decided that he's going to lean into every single day.

Some days, we'll take strides. Every once in a while, you know, it's a -- it's three and out. Sometimes it's inches. But we're making progress towards that more perfect Union. And it takes intentional fortitude and leadership and vision of the fact that we're stronger when we're together, that diversity is -- is our strength, and it's something that the President and Vice President Harris are very proud of.

Thank you all for having me. All right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you, Mayor.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

Q Thanks, Mr. Mayor.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Q Thanks, Mayor.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Seung Min.

Oh, wait. Let's give him a second to -- all right.

Q Two topics, if I may.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, of course.

Q First, President Biden decided to block the release of the audio of his interview with the special counsel. And obviously, the letter from the White House Counsel laid out the reasons about the concerns it being used for political purposes. But that seems to imply that the White House is concerned that these could be politically damaging. So, why not just release them, especially with this White House's --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- commitment to transparency?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, one -- for one, the transcripts, as you all know, is already out there. I think the second piece of this, too, to note is that the Attorney General made it clear that law enforcement files like these need to be protected. And so, the President made his determination at the request of the Attorney General. So, just want to make that second point that I made really clear.

The Department of Justice and the White House Counsel's Office have provided extensive written letters -- as you all know; I'm sure some of you have read this -- on this issue and, like I said, that you have seen. And so -- so, when it comes to anything further or any specifics, obviously, I would -- I would refer you to my colleagues at the White House Counsel's Office.

But those are the th- -- just to make that -- that second point, again, very clear: This was taken by determination -- the President took the determination at the request of the -- of the Attorney General and wanted to make sure -- the Attorney General wanted to make sure that -- that law enforcement files like these must be protected.

Q But does the White House feel that the -- the recording, the audio, could be politically harmful since that point was also raised in the letter?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I can't -- I don't want to get into -- dive into the specific point that you're making about the politics. I would have to ser- -- refer you to our Counsel's Office on that. But there were determination that the President took very seriously on behalf of the -- obviously, at the request of the Attorney General. And that's how this decision was made.

Q And on the -- on the shooting of the Slovakian Prime Minister. I know the President released a statement yesterday, but now that it -- it looks more and more clear that it appears to have been a politically motivated attack, I was wondering if the -- if the White House had more to say --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I --

Q -- on that front, of those potential motivations.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, don't want to go beyond what I said here at the -- at the lectern yesterday.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just to follow up on what Seung Min was asking for. Speaker Mike Johnson said that President Biden is, quote, "apparently afraid" for citizens to hear his interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. How is the White House responding to that kind of criticism?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I would say the transcripts are already out there. They've been out there. They have been released to the public. The public has an opportunity to hear directly from the President and what -- or to read and -- what exactly the President said.

The Attorney General made it clear that law enforcement files like these need to be protected. And that's the determination that was made. Anything further, anything specifics, I would -- certainly would refer you to my colleagues.

But that was a determination that was made. And, again, anything more to that, I would refer you to my colleagues.

Q You talked about the transcripts being released.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But, as you know, hearing something and reading it is very different. And if the transcript is already out there, why is it different to have the audio there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Like I said, there were determinations that the President -- that was made by the President at the request of the Attorney General. And so, we took that very seriously. The President took that very seriously. And so, that's what I would say to your question.

Q And just one more question --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q -- on another topic with Xi Jinping meeting with Vladimir Putin. At the summit in Beijing, they pledged to deepen their strategic partnership. What is the U.S. assessment of the current Russia-China relationship?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I know that there was a statement, obviously, that was a joint statement that was put out. Look, we don't see anything new here. I will reiterate what I said yesterday, which was we find it unacceptable that Chinese companies are helping Putin wage this war against Ukraine. We've been very clear about that.

And if China purports to support peace in Europe, it cannot continue to fuel the biggest threat of the European security. And that's not just coming from us. It's coming from NATO, the EU, the G7 partners -- they put out statement about this as well.

So, look, the statement is nothing new. It's more of the same. And we've been very clear where we stand on this.

Go ahead, Jeff.

Q I'd like to follow up on that, actually.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q The -- you said the statement is nothing new. It was pretty anti-American. I mean, if it's -- whether it's new or not, is it concerning to the White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it -- we don't see -- again, we don't see anything new with this. We've seen this before. I -- I get the point that you're making. We've seen this type of bilateral statement from those two -- from those two countries. We have been very clear about this.

And it's not just us. You've heard from the EU, you've heard from the G7 partners, you've hear- -- heard from NATO.

And, look, we have been -- all -- all of the -- all of the allies and partners that I just mentioned, we've been very clear on making sure that we do everything that we can to give the brave people of Ukraine, who are fighting Putin's aggression, the -- the se- -- the security assistance that they need. And that's why it was so important to get that national security supplemental.

You heard -- you heard us announce $1 billion on the day that it became law -- that national security supplemental -- to get that funding out. You -- you heard from Secretary Blinken, who was just in Ukraine and talked abo- -- talked about giving more of that security assistance.

So, we've all been clear. There -- you know, these two -- this two bilateral relationship, obviously, they stand out as a -- two countries who will -- who are, as I said, put out the statement.

But, you know, that is not the position -- not -- not just the position of the U.S. They heard it from G7, NATO, the EU. We've been very, very clear about that. And we're going to continue to -- to stand by Ukraine as they fight for their freedom, they fight for their democracy.

Q Does this White House/does the United States have any leverage to dissuade China from supporting Russia as much as it is?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, we've been very clear publicly. We've been very clear privately. And we'll continue to do that.

Q But -- but that -- that doesn't answer my question. Like, saying you've been very clear -- what -- what kind of leverage do you have to -- to change this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, here's what I say, Jeff. When you have the EU, you have the G7, you have NATO all saying what we are saying right now, which is we're going to protect -- or continue to help Ukraine defend itself, you know, that says a lot. We're -- we're talking about partners and allies here who mount a pretty -- a pretty strong -- a pretty strong force here in saying that we're going to continue to -- to support Ukraine.

I mean, I think that says -- that says what you need to know.

Q And there's just nothing more you can do about China?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I'm not going to talk about bilateral relationship. I said this yesterday. What I can speak is to what we've reiterated over and over again is that it is unacceptable for Chinese companies and how they're helping Putin wage this -- this -- this war against Ukraine. We've been pretty clear about that.

But the fact that this is a President that has been able to make -- bring NATO together -- right? -- been able to make NATO the more -- more -- you know, stronger than it's ever been, that's important. The fact that he has been able to put -- to bring more than 50 countries together in order to -- in order to make sure that Ukraine has what its needs -- it needs to fight against Putin's war, that says a lot. That says a lot about this President's leadership, and that's says -- says a lot about where other countries are. I mean, our partners and allies came together in support of Ukraine, and we're going to continue to do so.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Republican Senator Mitt Romney said in an interview overnight that he believes that President Biden should have pardoned his predecessor from federal charges. And Romney argued that it's now been a win-win for Trump in his campaign and in his public profile that he's been able to use these charges to his benefit.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm not going to speak to pardons from here -- I'm just not -- especially for a candidate for the 2024 election. I'm just not going to speak about it from here.

Q But clemency is obviously a presidential power.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm just not going to speak about it from here.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. The Bureau of Labor statistics yesterday released, inadvertently, some CPI data --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- 30 minutes before they were supposed to. It came a month after it was demonstrated that an economist had been talking to Wall Street firms and a couple years after there was some suspicious trading activity. So, I'm wondering what -- what level of concern you guys have, how confident you are in the BLS leadership, and if you think that there should be an outside, sort of, investigation.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And to your question, it was an inadvertent leak yesterday by BLS, and there was a statement that they put out. BLS has alerted the Office of Management and Budget and DOL's Office of the Inspector General of the incident. BLS takes its data seriously and security, obviously, seriously and is conducting a full investigation into its procedures and controls to ensure the incident is not -- is not repeated.

BLS can obviously speak more into their investigation. We have -- the President -- we have confident that this will -- this will get done.

Go ahead.

Q Hi, Karine. Thank you. Two topics, if I can.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Sure.

Q Briefly on what we've been talking about with Ukraine. The U.S. today -- the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Russian entities for facilitating weapo- -- weapons transfers between North Korea and Russia. Also today, the -- the chair of the NATO Military Committee said that Russia was outstripping Western powers in increasing their defense industry capacity.

How big an impact are these sanctions realistically likely to have? And is the U.S. considering more sanctions that target the Russian defense industry more directly?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, starting with your first -- or your last question first, I'm not going to preview sanctions from here. That's not what we do.

But I can say that, to your point, today, the Department of Treasury designated five Russia-based individuals and entities connected to the transfer of military equipment and components from the Dom- -- Democratic People's Republic of Korea -- DPRK -- to Russia. This action builds a several -- builds on several sanctions designations over the past year, targeting the Russia-DPRK military relationship, most recently in February 2024, just couple months ago.

These designations highlight our resolution opp- -- our resolute opposition to these continued arms transfer. We condemn Russia's veto of the U.N. Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of the U.N. 1718 Committee Panel of Experts, a body that documented violations of U.N. sanctions related to the DPRK.

We will continue to examine all possibilities to counter the destabili- -- destabilizing Russia-DPRK partnership, but I'm certainly not going to preview any sanctions from here.

Q Okay. And one on Israel by extension. The Hou- --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q The Houthis have threatened more actions against ships that they claim are heading for Israel and potentially even in the Mediterranean. Will the U.S. continue operations against the Houthis if these attacks restart?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, obviously we condemn these Houthis -- Houthis for these attacks and continue to take action to hold them accountable. We've been pretty consistent in doing that for the past several months. These reckless attacks by the Iran-ba- -- Ira- -- Iran-backed Houthis have not only disrupted global trade and commerce but also taken the lives of international seafarers simply doing their jobs.

So, we have taken significant amount of Hou- -- of Houthi weapons. Our military is regularly destroying Houthi missiles when they're being loaded and prepared to launch but before they can actually be fired at commercial ships as well.

We will continue to act as needed to degrade the Houthi capabilities. You have, again, seen us do this for the past several months, and so we are committed to doing that.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. I want to ask you about a topic that's getting a lot of attention. The Kansas City Chiefs' kicker, Harrison Butker, is facing criticism for his recent commencement address, where he told female graduates that the most important title a woman could hold is homemaker. He was critical about surrogacy, IVF, and Pride Month, and he also criticized the President for being a Catholic who supports abortion rights. Has the President seen those comments? Does he have a reaction to them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know, the President has been pretty busy today, so I haven't had a chance to -- to focus on this particular issue. I think I've -- I've heard some reports on it.

Look, the President is not going to back away from supporting women and reproductive rights, reproductive healthcare. It is important to do that. It is important to fight for all of our freedoms, and that's what you're seeing the President do. He's not going to back away from that.

And, look, I can't speak to this specific thing because I haven't re- -- heard it in -- in its entirety.

But, look, you know, you have a former administration that -- that had said -- a former President that said over and over again that they were going to do everything that they can to get rid of Roe v. Wade, was successful in doing that by -- by putting forward judges that made that happen -- we saw the Dobbs decision in 2022 -- and what that caused is chaos. It caused women to -- to have to do -- you know, to have to, you know, be in a position to not get the healthcare that they need.

I mean, that's -- should not be where we are as a country. It should not be.

And then you have extreme Republicans that continue to talk about -- to talk about how they want to put a national abortion ban. It's causing chaos. It's causing chaos for women. It's causing chaos for families.

When you're saying that a family can't make a decision on IVF, that's not what this President is about. He wants to make sure that women have the right to make these incredibly difficult decisions about their healthcare so families could make a decision about how they want to build and move forward with building a family.

And so, can't -- I can't speak to those direct comments, but what I can speak to is what the President is committed to, and he has shown that over and over again. And you have a Vice President that has toured the country talking exactly about that: about how we have to protect our freedoms and -- freedoms of -- of, obviously, reproductive health, as -- as we're speaking right now.

Q And I know you said you can't speak to the comments --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- but as the President gets ready to give his own commencement address, does he think a message like that is appropriate at a commencement address?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: From -- from this particular --

Q Yeah. Mm-hmm.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, again, I haven't heard -- I haven't heard this in context. I saw some reporting. So, I want to be super mindful.

Look, the Pre- -- the President sees commencement day as such an important moment for not just the students but for their families, obviously, their loved ones, to talk about the future, to talk about how -- how they -- how, in the world that we are in n- -- in the world that we're in now, how do we move forward?

And you'll hear themes from this President on that particular message. And he understands how critical and important and how those message -- especially a message from the President of the United States, how much it matters.

I don't want to get ahead of the President. He's going to, obviously, lay out and speak to his commencement address on his own. But he's done this many times before. He's done -- he's done this when he's given commencement address as a senator, has done it, obviously, as Vice President, and now President. And this is an incredible, important, impactful -- impactful moment.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. Just -- just now, one of your colleagues at the State Department said Israel needs to do more to prevent settlers from sacking trucks of humanitarian aid bound for Gaza.

The people who are doing this sort of thing are supporters of Prime Minister Netanyahu. They're part of the far-right parties. They're a part of his coalition.

Is the President concerned that the Prime Minister's domestic political needs could be preventing him from cracking down on what is essentially aiding a famine?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, a couple of things. I do want to give an update on humanitarian aid that has gone into Gaza. I think it's important.

Since April 5 th, more than 7,000 trucks have been moved into Gaza. So, that is an update. Yesterday, nearly 250 trucks moved into Gaza, both via Kerem Shalom -- so, that is open, so that is important, as you all know, in southern Gaza -- and a new crossing, Erez West, in northern Gaza.

So, we have seen trucks go in. And I think that's important to note. And that's because of the President's -- President's push and relationship with the Prime Minister and insisting and pushing and saying we need to get more aid into -- into Gaza, because we know how dire the humanitarian situation is.

However -- however, with saying all of that, we remain concerned about ongoing limited operations at the Rafah [DEL: boarding :DEL] [border] crossing and also the Erez crossing -- I know I just mentioned that's a new crossing, but we want to get more in -- as well as the ability of humanitarian partners to move within Gaza to deliver assistance and fuel to the vulnerable people who need it.

So, this level of aid remains insufficient. And we want to continue to press Israel to increase the level of [DEL: assistant :DEL] [assistance] moving into Gaza.

I cannot speak to the Prime Minister's domestic politics. That is for him to speak to. What I can speak to is what we have been working on doing and how much we understand and the importance of getting that humanitarian aid in. And that's what we've been doing.

Q I understand that you can't speak to the Prime Minister's motivations. What I asked you, as the spokesperson for the President --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- is: Is the President concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu's domestic political situation may be --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What --

Q -- imperiling ef- -- U.S. efforts to get more aid into Gaza?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I'm saying is that we understand what I just laid out is not sufficient. We want to get more in. We are continuing to have those conversation with Israel, and we have seen some progress. We need to get more in. And so, the President is committed to that, and that's what you have seen from this President.

That's what I will speak to.

Go ahead, Nadia. No, I know you have follow-ups.

Go ahead.

Q Just want to follow up actually, on the humanitarian aid.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But equally as important issue is the fuel. So, now the U.N. agency are saying that no fuel -- it's impossible to get fuel to Gaza, and you know it's vital for the hospitals.

So, is -- what efforts are the White House is leading to push the Israelis to allow fuel in?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, as you know, the pier is in place, which is very important. It will be operational in upcoming days. So, that's important. And obviously, the Department of Defense will have more specifics on that. And so, we're confident that we're going to be able to distribute this type of aid to get that in to Gaza.

And so, we continue to have conversations with the U.N. and the Israelis and also NGOs to ensure -- to ensure humanitarian workers are protected and we con- -- we continue to get that aid in.

You heard from the National Security Advisor just mo- -- days ago, speak from this lectern to say that we are trying to do everything that we can from air, sea, and land to get that humanitarian aid in. It is -- we understand how critical that is to get done.

And so, this pier is now in place. In the up- -- next couple of days, very -- you know, coming days, we'll get that moving. And that is one way, obviously, we're going to get that fuel in, get the aid in.

And obviously, we're still working on the land crossings. And as you just heard, I gave some updates on -- on the trucks that have gone in to one of -- a new crossing that just opened up and, obviously, Kerem Shalom.

So, we are committed -- this President is committed in getting that done.

Q I have one more question.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Yesterday, I did an interview with Senator Lindsey Graham. And he said basically that a defense and security comprehensive package with Saudi Arabia, it could happen sooner than later. And he suggests that, actually, it could be happening under a Democratic administration, and he is willing to help the President for delivery.

So, long --

Q We know --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- Jake is going to the region. Can you just --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I can't confirm -- I can't confirm Jake's travel. But -- but go ahead.

Q All right. Well, we can confirm it.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I cannot confirm it from here. I appreciate that.

Q But can you weave this in and basically tell us that -- if the White House believes this deal could happen -- , obviously, to what happened in Gaza and the ?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, you know, we've been -- we've been very consistent about our long-term goal for more a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and integrated Middle East region. And that remains a focus for us. That remains a focus for this President. That remains a focus for our U.S. foreign policy. That is -- will always be where we stand on that.

And we continue to have conversations on these issues in- -- to include the need of a pathway to a Palestinian state, which is the only way to establish a sustainable peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That continues to be -- we've been, again, very consistent about that.

Our immediate focus remains to securing the release of hostages, to make sure that we get -- also get to a ceasefire, get that humanitarian -- create an environment where we're getting more humanitarian aid in. So, obviously, that's our focus right now, because we understand how important it is to get those hostages home to their loved ones and to their families, to get that humanitarian aid in, and to get to a ceasefire. We want to see that. We want to get to a ceasefire.

Go ahead, Michael.

Q Thanks, Karine. The governor of Florida signed a bill today that effectively erases all references to climate change in Florida law. Do you have a response?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's pretty shameful. And, you know, the President, as you know, has been the most progressive, has done more on climate change than any other president. And -- and so, we are committed -- committed in dealing with this crisis and meeting our goals. And you have heard from this president, and it is unfortunate. It is unfortunate that there are climate deniers still out there.

There's a lot more work that we need to do. And so, we think that's shameful.

Q The administration also today organized a deportation flight of 100 Haitians to Haiti. How does the administration at this point justify deportation flights to Haiti given the situation on the ground there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you've heard from us many times. We are urgently trying to -- urgently working with the international partners in Congress to expedite the deployment of -- of the Kenyan-led multinational security support, MS- -- MSS mission, as you've been hearing. We've contributed $300 million to that mission, and we want to bolster the Haitian police, what's going on -- on that -- on that front.

And we've also led -- we've also led in humanitarian assistance with over $170 million since October 2022 nd. We understand the situation is dire in Haiti. We understand that. And we are clear-eyed that the economic, political security and stability are key drivers for migrants around the world.

And obviously, as I -- as you all know, you've been tracking what's going on in Haiti. So, we are closely monitoring the situation and the rou- -- routes frequently used by migrants to reach our borders and would stress that, at this time, irregular migration flows through the Caribbean remain low.

But that said, we are always planning for contingencies, and we believe that is important as well.

I can't speak to this particular -- this particular incident. I have not spoken to the team about this yet.

But we get how dire it is there, and that's why we've tried to move up our humanitarian [DEL: assistant :DEL] [assistance] here, leading the world in getting that humanitarian aid. And we're trying to get the M- -- M- -- MSS in place so that we can give the support to the Haitian National Police in dealing with the dire situation that's happening.

AIDE: Karine, time for one more.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead, Patsy. And then I have to go.

Q Thank you, Karine. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant yesterday publicly questioned Prime Minister Netan- -- Netanyahu on his strategic endgame of the war, calling out for an establishment of a governing alternative in Gaza that's not Hamas but also not Israeli military's role. And to me, he is basically saying what Jake Sullivan and Secretary Blinken has been encouraging --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- for the same things this week. Even though this is the first time that Gallant is saying it publicly, this is something that we've known privately from Israeli defense -- defense officials for some time now.

I'm just wondering about the timing of this, how --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- Jake and then Secretary Blinken and then Gallant are all saying --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- the same things this week. Was there any coordination of any sort?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So -- so, I'm not going -- I'm going to let others do an analysis of the speech. That's not something I'll do from here.

But we've been very clear that when it comes to the future of Gaza, we do not support an Israeli reoccupation. We've been clear from this podium, from, obviously, behind this lectern. And we obviously do not support Hamas governance in Gaza.

So, that's where we've been. We'll continue to be there. The -- that underscores the importance of having a clear and concrete plan for the day after the conflict at -- in Gaza.

As you just stated in your question to me, Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, was very clear about this very recently. And so, we have discussed this with the Israelis. And so, we'll continue to do that, to have that conversation. But I'm not going to analyze his speech and talk -- speak to --

Q My question was about the timing, though. Was there any coordination --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, but I'm not -- I'm not going to speak to timing. I'm not going to give an analysis on it. We're continuing to have those conversations with the Israelis, as we have been. And we've made our point. And we've made our -- our -- where -- our stance pretty clear on that. You heard that from the National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan very recently at this lectern.

Q And just more broadly, on the -- on the ceasefire itself. It appears to be in deadlock right now. So, at this point, is the President still confident that his strategic end goal to end the violence in Gaza and then what happens the day after can align with that of Israel and Hamas?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, we have to continue to be hopeful. This is a President that's optimistic, that's hopeful. We're going to continue to work around the clock to get this done.

You know, this could all end today if Hamas would release the wounded, the women. And -- and we've said this over and over again -- the elderly. It could end today. But we're determined to get those hostages home. We are determined to get -- to get to a ceasefire, to get more humanitarian aid in. And we have to be optimistic. We have to be hopeful here.

Go ahead, Aurelia.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know I have to go.

Q Thank you. Israel said today that additional troops will enter the Rafah area and that its operation there will intensify. Do you have a comment on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I will say is that we are continuing to monitor -- just going to repeat what Jake Sullivan said from this podium. Nothing has changed since he was here on Monday. And we're continuing to monitor. We made our -- our case very clear about a -- a potential major military operation in Rafah. We have our concerns about that. We've made that clear to our Israeli counterparts. We'll continue to do that.

What we have been told by the Israelis and what we have seen is that these are targeted -- what we're seeing in Rafah -- targeted operations. And we're going to continue to have those -- those, we believe, constructive -- these -- these meetings that we've had have been constructive, and not just in those two virtual meetings, but on a daily basis, we certainly are talking with the Israeli government.

All right. You have the last one.

Q Thank you. The Deputy Director of ICE is telling us that two Jordanian nationals are in removal proceedings now after posing as Amazon delivery drivers to crash the gates at Quantico. Does the White House think this might have been a failed terrorist attack?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, going to be really mindful. These two Jordanians that you're speaking of remain in ICE -- ICE custody. And given that it is an active law enforcement matter, so I would have to refer you to ICE.

I just can't dive into this because, again, the -- there is a law enforcement ma- -- this is a law enforcement matter.

Q Something totally different.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh. Where is this going?

Q Have you heard --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, no.

Q -- that Vice President Harris is telling friends that she may go back to California and run for governor if the election does not go her way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That is news to me. I -- I would say this. The Vice President has been a great partner to this President. He is appreciative of the work that she has done. It is impressive what she has been able to do on these tours that she has done on reproductive rights, her leadership on gun violence -- to fight gun violence across the country -- prevention, obviously, in leading the -- in the first historic office coming out of the White House.

She has been an amazing partner, and the President appreciates her, appreciates her leadership. And that's all I'll say to that.

Q And last one.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh.

Q Why is President Biden celebrating today the Dow reaching 40,000 if his position, dating back to 2021, about the stock market is "that's not how I judge whether or not we have economic growth."

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, while we have long said that the stock market is not the economy -- and we have said that, to your point -- it's clear that -- what we'll say is that the President -- President Biden's economic plan is working. It's growing the middle class, as you hear us talk about all the time; spurs investment in manufacturing -- created almost 800,000 jobs in this administration alone -- and infrastructure; and outperform other countries.

That's what the President has been very focused on. Record stock market highs under President Biden are good for retirement accounts and household wealth. And that is just a fact.

And so, which we -- which, you know, we would never root for a stock market crash or for Americans to lose their jobs. It's something that we would never root for from here. But obviously, you know, the stock market, again, is not the economy. But we believe that the President's economic -- President Biden's economic plan is working -- again, growing the middle class -- and I think that's a good thing. I think we should be really grateful for that -- for the American people.

Thanks, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.

2:50 P.M. EDT

Press Briefings

2024-05-16

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

Q Madam President.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Madam President, that's right. [Laughter] I was trying to be good, not call out people.

All right. Good afternoon.

As President Biden said during his campaign, no one should be in jail for using or possessing marijuana. That's why in 2022, President Biden requested that DOJ and HHS review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law.

The reality is, while white, Black, and brown people use marijuana at similar rates, Black and brown people have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at disproportionately higher rates.

MR. BENJAMIN: All right.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The podium is yours.

MR. BENJAMIN: Thank you, Karine. Thank you so much.

Thank you, my friend. I — I miss being mayor, y'all. [Laughter] I — I think it was a much — a much simpler existence at times.

Today at the White House, as Karine mentioned, we're recognizing — commemorating the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education becoming the law of the land, upending decades of discrimination since ni- — 1896.

President Biden and Vice President Harris will continue their long- — longstanding effort to honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for African Americans.

This morning, he met with the plaintiffs and their families, as Karine mentioned, in the Oval Office. During the meeting, he commended them for changing our nation for the better and committed to continue his fight to move us closer to the promise of America.

Families from each of the five different cases that were consolidated in Brown v. Board were present today.

On Sunday, May 19th, the President is going to deliver the commencement address at the 140th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia, where today the faculty voted to confer upon the President an honorary degree.

Q The President of the United States receives multiple invitations to speak at multiple universities every single year. And I'm — I'm wondering if you think that — even with the possibility of protests, that there's an expectation of, potentially, a calmer reception at Morehouse than elsewhere?

MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I'll tell you, Morehouse is an amazingly special and dignified place. Yes, he does receive a lot of invitations. But this President has also been very intentional over the course of his career and certainly his presidency, to always make sure he makes time to go to HBCUs.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. We're going to start wrapping it up. Go ahead.

Q A question on — a question on the Oval Office meeting, and then wanted to follow up on something else you said. Had the President met with the families involved in the Delaware case prior to today's Oval Office meeting? Or was this his first time meeting them?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, it was interesting — and, obviously, this is my first time in the same space with each of them — he spent a significant amount of time with the Delaware families. One of the ladies, a gran- — a daughter of one of the litigants indicated that the President had spent several moments on their couch over the course of — of his career. So, he was very familiar with the case. He kno- — he knows the case. But he had engaged with the families in the past.

Q And then, on the question of enthusiasm for the President in the African American community, what do you chalk that lethargy up to?

MR. BENJAMIN: You know, I will tell you — again, I can only speak, Francesca, to my — to my experience. And when I get out there and we talk to people about the amazing successes of the administration and the leadership of the President and Vice President, people are psyched. I mean, they're — they're happy about these meaningful developments that are helping change the lives of people all across this country.

We got to make sure not — and that's — that's a campaign job. Our job here is making sure we share the news and hopefully, in partnership with each and every one of you, that the news gets out to all the places in this very different world in which we live in which people receive their news.

So, I'm looking over there. [Inaudible] a third question, Francesca. [Laughter]

Q No, I just wanted to ask: Are you saying that you distrust the polling that shows the President's support among the African American community is lower than it was this time four years ago?

MR. BENJAMIN: I can honestly tell you that I don't follow the polls.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Hi, Mayor Benjamin. Brown v. Board not only ended "separate but equal," but it was a real preparation for the Civil Rights Movement. Similarly, there's a — a different movement happening after the Supreme Court ruling in Harvard vs. Students for Fair Admissions and — with affirmative action that has created this sort of — seemingly, this anti-DEI, anti-equity movement that impacted schools, businesses, and even this administration's ability to implement some of these policies.

Does the President believe that he has leaned in enough on this issue? And how much can we expect him to speak to that in tomorrow's speech?

MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. Well, he has one speech tomorrow at the — at the NAACP. And then, obviously, he has several speeches this weekend.

The President is unapologetic about the — not only the principle of equity being a core value to him but also his administration, but he continues to make sure that, consistent with his very first executive order, that every piece of policy and — that comes out of the administration, as well as each of the cornerstone laws enacts — the infrastructure bill, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS bill, and — and also the American Rescue Plan — that each of those pillars have the same core of equity. And it's led to record amounts of contracting — I think $76 billion this past year for small, minority-owned businesses — record amounts in the Black community and the Latino community, as well.

So, he's not stepping back on his commitment to equity and continues to lean in and expects his administration to do the same.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Okay. Go ahead, Ebony. You got last question.

Q Okay. I want to follow up on just two comments. One, you just mentioned the $76 in — $76 billion in contracts for minority businesses. But can you talk about what that looks like for Black businesses specifically?

MR. BENJAMIN: $12.1 billion.

Q Wow. $12.1 billion. [Laughter]

And then my — my second question is: Earlier, you were talking about that we aren't where we want to be, but we — we're not where we used to be, but we're not where we want to be.

The idea is that we all aspire to be a more perfect Union, which means that it — it's — every once in a while, you get to take big strides, big leaps forward — Brown v. Board was a big leap forward; today's announcement of $16 billion for HBCUs is a big leap forward — but the everyday struggles are — are — that's the hard work. That's the hard work that — that this President has decided that he's going to lean into every single day.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I —

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a new record in Federal funding and investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities totaling more than $16 billion from Fiscal Years 2021 through current available data for FY 2024. This new reported total is up from the previously announced over $7 billion , and captures significant additional actions already undertaken. The total of more than $16 billion includes over $11.4 billion between FY2021 and FY2023 through Federal grants, contracting awards, and debt relief for HBCUs; over $4 billion between FY2021 and FY2023 for HBCU-enrolled students through federal financial aid and educational benefits for veterans; and, so far in FY 2024, over $900 million has been secured for Department of Education programs strengthening HBCUs as institutions. President Biden

and Vice President Harris are committed to ensuring whole-of-government investment efforts in HBCUs continue at full momentum through the rest of FY 2024.

These historic funding levels demonstrate the Administration's ongoing commitment to HBCUs, which serve as an engine for upward economic mobility in our country. The Administration is also focused on work to ensure HBCUs have the resources to provide a high-quality postsecondary education.

For more than 180 years, HBCUs have been advancing intergenerational economic mobility for Black families and communities, developing vital academic research, and making our Nation more prosperous and equitable. Despite representing only 3% of colleges and universities, HBCUs play an outsized role to support the economic mobility of African Americans, producing 40 percent of all Black engineers, 50 percent of all Black teachers, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists, 80 percent of all Black judges, and the first woman and Black Vice President of the United States. Overall, HBCUs greatly contribute to the economic success of America, providing college access to twice as many Pell Grant-eligible

students as non-HBCU institutions. Additionally, social mobility research by the United Negro College Fund finds that HBCUs support nearly five times more students than Ivy League and other top-ranked institutions in facilitating movement from the bottom 40% in U.S. household income to the top 60%.

A CEA report published today further underscores that HBCUs are engines for upward mobility and additionally discusses new research showing that HBCU enrollment has considerable positive effects on bachelor's degree completion and household income later in life. The report details how these successes have occurred in the context of historic underfunding of HBCUs. It also discusses a recent resurgence in applications to, and enrollment in, HBCUs which highlight the high value that students have placed on these institutions in recent years.

Since Day One, the Biden-Harris Administration has committed to advancing racial equity , economic opportunity, and educational excellence, including by reestablishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities . Between FY 2021 – FY 2023 the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic actions to support HBCUs:

Invested over $11.4 billion in HBCUs, which includes:

Nearly $4 billion for HBCUs through the American Rescue Plan and other COVID relief legislation. These grants funded through the Department of Education and other agencies have helped HBCUs support students' ability to meet basic needs; support campus operations, staffing, teaching, and educational programs; and keep campuses and the surrounding communities on the path to an equitable recovery;

$2.6 billion from the Department of Education to build institutional capacity at HBCUs. These efforts support the growth and sustainability of HBCU degree programs; increase and enhance human, technological, and physical infrastructure for research; strengthen positioning to secure direct partnership opportunities; and create sustainable fund development;

Over $1.6 billion to HBCUs through Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other competitive funding opportunities that drive the advancement of academic and training programs, community-based initiatives, and research innovation across national priorities such as medicine and public health, climate science, agriculture, emerging technologies, and defense;

Almost $950 million to support HBCUs in growing research capacity and related infrastructure to better compete for Federal research and development dollars;

Nearly $719 million in grant funding to expand STEM academic capacity and educational programs; and in other high-wage, high-demand fields such as computer science, nursing, and allied health;

Over $150 million in Federal contracting opportunities awarded to HBCUs, including for research and expansion of STEM education programs at the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and U.S. Agency for International Development;

$1.6 billion in capital finance debt relief for 45 public and private HBCUs. Discharging these debts has enabled these institutions to focus resources on supporting students, faculty, and staff while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic; and

Over $2.4 million in Project SERV funds to support HBCUs affected by more than a dozen bomb threats in 2022. These grants have helped restore safe learning environments and invest in student mental health and well-being for students.

In addition to the over $11 billion provided to HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $4 billion to support the success of HBCU-enrolled students through:

$2.8 billion in need-based grants and other Federal programs, including Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, to assist HBCU students in affording a postsecondary education; and

Nearly $1.3 billion to support Veterans attending HBCUs through the GI bill and other college, graduate school, and training programs delivered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

While more must be done to ensure equity for HBCUs and their students, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering landmark first-of-its-kind results:

The Department of Defense U.S. Air Force established the first-ever HBCU-led University Affiliated Research Center . Led by Howard University with seven other HBCUs and funded at $90 million over five years, efforts will focus on advancing the deployment of autonomous technologies for Air Force missions. Participating schools include Jackson State University, Tuskegee University, Hampton University, Bowie State University, Norfolk State University, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, and Tougaloo College.

The Department of Commerce established the first-ever Connecting-Minority-Communities program delivering funding for 43 HBCUs to purchase broadband internet, purchase equipment, and hire IT personnel to tackle the digital divide impacting HBCUs. Several HBCUs also recently launched an HBCU CHIPS Network in collaboration with Georgia Institute of Technology to increase the coordination of the resources at the colleges and universities and jointly contribute to workforce development needs of the semiconductor industry. Chips are critical in powering our consumer electronics, automobiles, data centers, critical infrastructure, and virtually all military systems.

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will provide $4.2 million in grant funding to HBCUs, through the EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Center program .

The Department of Agriculture announced a $262.5 million investment to support 33 projects across U.S. institutions of higher education designed to train the next generation of diverse agricultural professionals. Through the USDA NextGen program , the projects are led by 1890 land-grant institutions , 1994 land-grant institutions , and institutions of higher education located in the Insular Areas. This historic investment will provide training and support to more than 20,000 future food and agricultural leaders through 33 projects executed by more than 60 institutions across 24 states and Insular Areas.

The Department of Energy announced the inaugural $7.75 million Historically Black Colleges and Universities Clean Energy Education Prize , a competition that will support HBCUs in developing programming to strengthen the participation of K-12 and community college students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The competition, which has announced its first 10 winning HBCU teams , is supporting the creation of clean energy community networks to inspire the next generation of students to work in STEM fields related to clean energy.

The Department of Education provided nearly $25 million to HBCUs under the Research and Development Infrastructure program to transform their research infrastructure, including strengthening research productivity, faculty expertise, physical infrastructure, and partnerships leading to increases in external funding.

The Department of Transportation announced Prairie View A&M University in Texas as the first-ever HBCU to lead a University Transportation Center . Prairie View A&M and 11 other HBCUs were among 34 schools to receive a portion of a $435 million grant for development of interoperable technology systems, which allow equipment, software, and applications to work together, communicate, and exchange data.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is pioneering efforts to close opportunity gaps in STEM, including nearly $12 million for eight HBCUs to support programs in artificial intelligence and machine learning and create a more diverse pipeline of talent for careers in data-intensive space-based Earth science.

The White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through HBCUs established the Executive HBCU Space Lab , a new collaboration between HBCUs, the Federal government, and industry partners to increase HBCU engagement in space-related federal contracting. The Executive HBCU Space Lab is a solutions-oriented initiative that will release resources including SpaceTechConnect, a free platform to highlight space-related capabilities at HBCUs.

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences established HBCU-Connect , a new initiative with HBCUs to inspire the development of environmental health science leaders from diverse backgrounds. HBCU-Connect is a multifaceted effort to strengthen ties between the institute and faculty and students at academic institutions that are often underrepresented in the sciences.

The Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau launched the Maternal Health Research Collaborative for MSIs , providing roughly $30 M in research support to seven HBCUs over five years. The funding will build capacity of HBCUs to conduct Black maternal health research to fully understand and address the root causes of disparities in maternal mortality, severe maternal morbidity, and maternal health outcomes; and to find community-based solutions to address these disparities and advance health equity.

The Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health funding to HBCUs totaled $147.5 million to support research, training, research capacity building, and outreach efforts. NIH funding included endowment awards to strengthen the research infrastructure of the HBCU award recipients to conduct minority health and health disparities research. Other NIH funding has assisted several HBCUs in contributing towards building a diverse scientific workforce, including mentorship and student training programs and career development opportunities for faculty.

The National Science Foundation launched Advancing Research Capacity at HBCUs through Exploration and Innovation to support participation in an intensive, facilitated workshop that brings together HBCU faculty, staff, research administrators and academic leadership focused on exploration of innovative and promising approaches for addressing the research capacity needs of HBCUs.

The National Science Foundation, as part of Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity initiative , awarded an Atlanta-based HBCU consortium a $14 million competitive grant to establish a hub that promotes equity in the national research ecosystem and serves as a model for other HBCUs and emerging research institutions. The consortium includes Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Clark Atlanta University.

The National Science and Technology Council's Committee on STEM, in support of the CHIPS and Science Act, established an Interagency Working Group on HBCU, TCU, and MSI STEM Achievement. The Council provides a coordinated federal approach to carry out sustained outreach activities to increase clarity, transparency, and accountability for federal research agency investments in STEM education and research at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, including such institutions in rural areas.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced awards totaling $5.5 million for HBCUs to conduct housing and community development research to support the production of affordable housing, support homeownership, advance use of renewable energy, and address infrastructure inequity affecting underserved communities.

The Department of Justice has increased both the number of HBCUs applying for grants and its HBCU approval rate. Over the past five years, DOJ's grant awards to HBCUs have increased 83% .

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

In addition to the over $11 billion provided to HBCUs, the Biden-Harris Administration has provided over $4 billion to support the success of HBCU-enrolled students through:

While more must be done to ensure equity for HBCUs and their students, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering landmark first-of-its-kind results:

Unprecedented $16 billion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence. For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America's leadership at home and abroad. Today, graduates from our Nation's more than 100 HBCUs are in every room where important decisions are made – leading in our schools, hospitals, courtrooms, boardrooms, and at the highest levels of government. And as we look forward, we know that our HBCUs will continue to prepare young leaders to build a better, more just future for our country and the world.

That is why President Biden and I have delivered an unprecedented $16 billion to our Nation's HBCUs. This historic investment is transformative – from helping to fund cutting-edge research and making long-overdue renovations, to providing mental health resources and ensuring students have access to every opportunity to thrive. We have also delivered the largest increase to Pell Grants in a decade as we work to make higher education more affordable. I have witnessed the direct impact of these record investments while meeting with thousands of HBCU students as Vice President, including during my Fight for Our Freedoms college tour last fall.

President Biden and I remain committed to using every lever available to support HBCUs and the students and communities they serve. We know that when we invest in the success of our HBCUs, we are investing in the strength of our Nation – today and for generations to come.

# # #

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with Representatives of Countries with Citizens Taken Hostage by Hamas

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met yesterday with Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The 18 nations represented at the meeting all have citizens taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza. The group discussed their collective call for Hamas to immediately release the hostages and ways to bring an end to the crisis. National Security Advisor Sullivan also relayed that the President continues to engage with Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Amir of Qatar, and President Sisi to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Today's Supreme Court ruling is an unmistakable win for American consumers. Since President Obama and I created it in the wake of the Great Recession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has worked to protect consumers from abusive practices by lenders, servicers, and special interests, and has lowered costs for hardworking families by going after junk fees. Under my Administration, the CFPB has delivered: providing nearly $9 billion in consumer relief and working to save consumers $20 billion per year going forward on credit card late fees, overdraft fees, and other junk fees.

Every step of the way, while the CFPB and I have fought for the middle class, Republicans in Congress and in states across the country have stood with special interests who want to keep ripping families off. In the face of years of attacks from extreme Republicans and special interests, the Court made clear that the CFPB's funding authority is constitutional and that its strong record of consumer protection will not be undone.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Today's Supreme Court ruling is an unmistakable win for American consumers. Since President Obama and I created it in the wake of the Great Recession, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau [CFPB] has worked to protect consumers from abusive practices by lenders, servicers, and special interests, and has lowered costs for hardworking families by going after junk fees. Under my Administration, the CFPB has delivered: providing nearly $9 billion in consumer relief and working to save consumers $20 billion per year going forward on credit card late fees, overdraft fees, and other junk fees.

Every step of the way, while the CFPB and I have fought for the middle class, Republicans in Congress and in states across the country have stood with special interests who want to keep ripping families off. In the face of years of attacks from extreme Republicans and special interests, the Court made clear that the CFPB's funding authority is constitutional and that its strong record of consumer protection will not be undone.

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-16

It is a pleasure to join you at the Center for American Progress.

Today, I want to talk about the President's investment agenda and the trade enforcement that is necessary to make sure American jobs and investment are not undercut by China's unfair trade practices.

The President came to office with a plan to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up—a sharp departure from the trickle-down approach of the prior administration. On his watch, we are seeing record investment in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Investment must be paired with trade enforcement to make sure the comeback we are seeing in communities around the country is not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China. We have learned from the past. There can be no second China Shock here in America.

Earlier this week, the President announced important enforcement under Section 301 of our trade laws to raise tariffs against China's unfair trade practices in vital industries of the future. Today, the Administration is taking additional action to prevent circumvention of tariffs in the solar industry.

By contrast, the President opposes Republican proposals to impose across-the-board tariffs on all goods from all countries, even those that play by the rules. They would cost an average family up to $1,500 every year, according to analysis done here at CAP.

America's Domestic-Led Recovery

After inheriting an economy with millions out of work, broken supply chains, and a surge in inflation from pandemic-era disruptions, the President secured major legislation that has supported a strong recovery. Investment, growth, and productivity are up, while unemployment is down. Wages have grown faster than prices, but the cost of living is too high, and we are fighting to bring it down.

We saw the unacceptably high cost of relying on a single foreign source for critical inputs when the dramatic supply shocks associated with the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine caused a surge in inflation and widespread shortages. The President's historic investment laws – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act – are strengthening the supply side of our economy. Private sector investments in manufacturing plants are at record highs, reversing previous disinvestment, and manufacturing employment is up by nearly 800,000, after declining during the previous administration.

China's Export-Led Recovery and Industrial Overcapacity

Today, at a time when a strong U.S. recovery is underway powered by domestic consumption and investment, there are signs that China is exporting its way to recovery. China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth by investing in significant industrial overcapacity and flooding global markets with artificially cheap exports.

We saw what happened in the wake of the first China Shock, which harmed factory towns all over our country. Twelve years ago, here at the Center for American Progress, I discussed my concerns that China's unbalanced investment- and export-driven growth model was imposing costs on growth in America and globally. I noted that "only by moving from an economy dependent on external demand and exports to one driven by domestic consumer demand" could China achieve its long-term growth goals consistent with broader global growth.

China's share of global manufacturing is now approaching 30%, enabled by a combination of non-market practices, including forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft, and discriminatory rules..
Sectors prioritized by the central government are flooded with investments backed by ambitious local governments. Since investment has been redirected away from the property sector, state banks have been encouraged to provide underpriced credit to priority industries.

The U.S. Trade Representative's [USTR] Section 301 report on China documents evidence and cites sources from around the world of ways that China acquires foreign technology through forced transfers, cybertheft, and other means.

China is now simply too big to play by its own rules. China's industrial capacity and exports in certain sectors are now so large, they can undermine the viability of investments in the U.S. and other countries. Indeed, many of our partners around the world are raising the same concerns about the effects on their own industrial sectors.

Between 2017 and 2021, China's production across the solar supply chain outpaced every other country in the world combined. By the end of this year, the global supply of solar panels is expected to outpace global demand by roughly three-fold, largely driven by Chinese policies to continue expanding investment despite overcapacity and sharply declining prices.

China's industrial overcapacity undermines market-based innovation and competition, as well as our workers and supply chain resilience.

Markets need reliabledemand signals and fair competition for the best firms and technologies to be able to innovate and invest in clean energy and other sectors. The Chinese government has made clear that China's massive investments in electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries are an intentional strategy to effectively capture these sectors. By undercutting global prices for these goods, Chinese policy-driven overcapacity disrupts the necessary demand signal that would enable market-based investment to be viable. Similarly, if firms cannot safeguard the intellectual property they develop, it undercuts market-based incentives to invest in R&D.

Second, a new cycle of Chinese policy-driven overcapacity and export surges could have adverse consequences for our workers. Analysis suggests the first China Shock was associated with the loss of nearly a million manufacturing jobs. It is vital to use legitimate enforcement tools to make sure a second China Shock does not happen again.

Third, the concentration in China of control over high value-added components of supply chains for key industries could undermine our resilience. Supply chains that become overly dependent on a few nodes of production are susceptible to geographically localized shocks. The pandemic laid bare what occurs when the United States—and the world—becomes entirely dependent on Chinese exports for goods like medical equipment. Given the scale and significance of the clean energy transition, we must guard against concentration risks in our supply chains.

Coupling Investment and Enforcement in Key Industries of the Future

The President's agenda combines investment in industries of the future with enforcement of our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete. Imposing tariffs in selective sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws ensures the investments and jobs in EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar spurred by the President's historic laws are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China.

Last year, China exported roughly 5 million ICE and electric vehicles, becoming the world's largest auto exporter. Similarly, the subsidized production of electric vehicle batteries and battery components is so high that China is expected to produce more than four times its domestic demand.

The IRA and BIL include important programs to encourage domestic investment all along the supply chain for lower emissions vehicles along with consumer incentives.

Tariffs on Chinese EVs will be increased to 100% to prevent a surge of unfairly underpriced exports and to enable automakers and autoworkers in the US to compete fairly. Tariffs will be increased to 25% on batteries and battery components to diversify supply chains and give domestic companies an incentive to continue to develop cutting edge technologies.

In the solar sector, bolstered by the IRA, the private sector is undertaking a record investment boom in American solar manufacturing. China dominates more than 70 percent of all segments of the solar energy supply chain, including 97 percent of global silicon wafer capacity. And China's continued loss-leading production and investment threaten to drive out foreign producers that have to meet market return hurdles.

To guard against that, tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels will be increased to 50%. In addition, today's announcement reimposes a 14.25% tariff on bifacial solar modules and confirms the end of the solar bridge on June 6, helping to ensure against trade circumvention. Today's announcement will also help to clarify guidance on domestic content for the solar supply chain under the IRA.

In the legacy semiconductors industry, China is also quickly building overcapacity through state support. According to some estimates, within the next three years, the country could account for roughly one third of the world's production of legacy chips—resulting in inordinate concentration of the supply of semiconductors used to power everyday technologies the world depends on.

These chips are vital to national security no less than economic security. After decades in which America stood by while semiconductor manufacturing moved abroad in response to government subsidies, the CHIPS and Science Act is enabling businesses to invest in semiconductor manufacturing in America again for the first time in decades. And tariffs on Chinese legacy semiconductors will increase to 50% to enforce against a surge of Chinese imports that benefit from the country's nonmarket industrial targeting.

A Better Path Forward

Today, we are at a turning point. The President is leading the way on an approach that invests in America and stands up for American workers against China's unfair practices, following years of trickledown policies that hollowed out too many factory towns around the country.

The Administration is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, as demonstrated by the President's regular discussions with President Xi, along with the recent visits by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury. We are committed to cooperating with China to meet the world's most pressing challenges, including by supporting the deployment of clean energy technologies. Within that broader context, it is important to enforce our trade laws against China's unfair nonmarket practices to prevent harm to American workers and businesses.

Many foreign partners, including the EU, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, and India, have started or publicly considered trade actions of a similar nature. We will work with G-7 and G-20 partners to advance our common interest.

China's industrial footprint is more complex today than during its previous export surge. Today's actions to support U.S. solar manufacturers, which include ending tariff exemptions and monitoring imports from countries found to be circumventing trade enforcement measures, will help ensure that China is not able undercut U.S. manufacturers simply by moving its factories.

In negotiating USMCA, the previous administration did not adequately address the potential transshipment of Chinese exports entering the U.S. market via Mexico. Mexico is an important partner to the US in many areas. We look forward to working with Mexico to address concerns that some Chinese steel exports appear to be flowing through Mexico, and some Chinese auto companies may be considering exporting vehicles and auto parts via Mexico. The USMCA review in 2026 would be an opportunity to further discuss this potential risk.

The President's tough targeted approach combining investment and enforcement in key sectors is a sharp departure from the prior administration. The previous administration did not take action to invest in America and failed to follow through on securing the promised Chinese purchases or end to China's unfair practices in its failed Phase One trade agreement with China.

Conclusion

The President has long believed in a middle-out bottom-up approach to growing the economy, and secured historic legislation to make it happen. The resulting private sector investments are reversing decades of disinvestment, creating pathways to goodmiddle-class jobs, and facilitating critical investments in innovation, infrastructure, and clean energy. The President's approach is providing a model of how to deliver sustainable growth with good jobs and smart investments, but, for it to succeed, it is vital to enforce the rules that safeguard healthy market-driven competition.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Center for American Progress

As Prepared for Delivery

It is a pleasure to join you at the Center for American Progress.

Today, I want to talk about the President's investment agenda and the trade enforcement that is necessary to make sure American jobs and investment are not undercut by China's unfair trade practices.

The President came to office with a plan to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up--a sharp departure from the trickle-down approach of the prior administration. On his watch, we are seeing record investment in clean energy and advanced manufacturing.

Investment must be paired with trade enforcement to make sure the comeback we are seeing in communities around the country is not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China. We have learned from the past. There can be no second China Shock here in America.

Earlier this week, the President announced important enforcement under Section 301 of our trade laws to raise tariffs against China's unfair trade practices in vital industries of the future. Today, the Administration is taking additional action to prevent circumvention of tariffs in the solar industry.

By contrast, the President opposes Republican proposals to impose across-the-board tariffs on all goods from all countries, even those that play by the rules. They would cost an average family up to $1,500 every year, according to analysis done here at CAP.

America's Domestic-Led Recovery

After inheriting an economy with millions out of work, broken supply chains, and a surge in inflation from pandemic-era disruptions, the President secured major legislation that has supported a strong recovery. Investment, growth, and productivity are up, while unemployment is down. Wages have grown faster than prices, but the cost of living is too high, and we are fighting to bring it down .

We saw the unacceptably high cost of relying on a single foreign source for critical inputs when the dramatic supply shocks associated with the pandemic and Russia's war on Ukraine caused a surge in inflation and widespread shortages. The President's historic investment laws – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Chips and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act – are strengthening the supply side of our economy. Private sector investments in manufacturing plants are at record highs, reversing previous disinvestment, and manufacturing employment is up by nearly 800,000, after declining during the previous administration.

China's Export-Led Recovery and Industrial Overcapacity

Today, at a time when a strong U.S. recovery is underway powered by domestic consumption and investment, there are signs that China is exporting its way to recovery. China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth by investing in significant industrial overcapacity and flooding global markets with artificially cheap exports.

We saw what happened in the wake of the first China Shock , which harmed factory towns all over our country. Twelve years ago, here at the Center for American Progress, I discussed my concerns that China's unbalanced investment- and export-driven growth model was imposing costs on growth in America and globally. I noted that "only by moving from an economy dependent on external demand and exports to one driven by domestic consumer demand" could China achieve its long-term growth goals consistent with broader global growth.

China's share of global manufacturing is now approaching 30%, enabled by a combination of non-market practices , including forced technology transfer and intellectual property theft, and discriminatory rules..

Sectors prioritized by the central government are flooded with investments backed by ambitious local governments. Since investment has been redirected away from the property sector , state banks have been encouraged to provide underpriced credit to priority industries.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Section 301 report .pdf) on China documents evidence and cites sources from around the world of ways that China acquires foreign technology through forced transfers, cybertheft, and other means.

China is now simply too big to play by its own rules. China's industrial capacity and exports in certain sectors are now so large, they can undermine the viability of investments in the U.S. and other countries. Indeed, many of our partners around the world are raising the same concerns about the effects on their own industrial sectors.

As noted in the USTR's 301 review, "China now produces 70 percent of the world's electric vehicles, accounts for over 80 percent of battery manufacturing capacity, [and] controls around twice as much 50-180 nm semiconductor manufacturing capacity as the next largest producer..."

In part, China's overcapacity is achieved by firms selling at or below cost --enabled by policy decisions that unfairly depress capital, labor, and energy costs. China accounts for over 50% of global steel production at a time when the emissions intensity of Chinese steel production ranks among the world's highest.

Between 2017 and 2021, China's production across the solar supply chain outpaced every other country in the world combined. By the end of this year, the global supply of solar panels is expected to outpace global demand by roughly three-fold , largely driven by Chinese policies to continue expanding investment despite overcapacity and sharply declining prices.

China's industrial overcapacity undermines market-based innovation and competition, as well as our workers and supply chain resilience.

Markets need reliable demand signals and fair competition for the best firms and technologies to be able to innovate and invest in clean energy and other sectors. The Chinese government has made clear that China's massive investments in electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries are an intentional strategy to effectively capture these sectors. By undercutting global prices for these goods, Chinese policy-driven overcapacity disrupts the necessary demand signal that would enable market-based investment to be viable. Similarly, if firms cannot safeguard the intellectual property they develop, it undercuts market-based

incentives to invest in R&D.

Second, a new cycle of Chinese policy-driven overcapacity and export surges could have adverse consequences for our workers. Analysis suggests the first China Shock was associated with the loss of nearly a million manufacturing jobs . It is vital to use legitimate enforcement tools to make sure a second China Shock does not happen again.

Third, the concentration in China of control over high value-added components of supply chains for key industries could undermine our resilience. Supply chains that become overly dependent on a few nodes of production are susceptible to geographically localized shocks. The pandemic laid bare what occurs when the United States--and the world--becomes entirely dependent on Chinese exports for goods like medical equipment . Given the scale and significance of the clean energy transition, we must guard against concentration risks in our supply chains.

Coupling Investment and Enforcement in Key Industries of the Future

The President's agenda combines investment in industries of the future with enforcement of our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete. Imposing tariffs in selective sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws ensures the investments and jobs in EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar spurred by the President's historic laws are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China.

Last year, China exported roughly 5 million ICE and electric vehicles, becoming the world's largest auto exporter. Similarly, the subsidized production of electric vehicle batteries and battery components is so high that China is expected to produce more than four times its domestic demand.

The IRA and BIL include important programs to encourage domestic investment all along the supply chain for lower emissions vehicles along with consumer incentives .

Tariffs on Chinese EVs will be increased to 100% to prevent a surge of unfairly underpriced exports and to enable automakers and autoworkers in the US to compete fairly. Tariffs will be increased to 25% on batteries and battery components to diversify supply chains and give domestic companies an incentive to continue to develop cutting edge technologies.

In the solar sector, bolstered by the IRA, the private sector is undertaking a record investment boom in American solar manufacturing. China dominates more than 70 percent of all segments of the solar energy supply chain, including 97 percent of global silicon wafer capacity. And China's continued loss-leading production and investment threaten to drive out foreign producers that have to meet market return hurdles.

To guard against that, tariffs on Chinese solar cells and panels will be increased to 50%. In addition, today's announcement reimposes a 14.25% tariff on bifacial solar modules and confirms the end of the solar bridge on June 6, helping to ensure against trade circumvention. Today's announcement will also help to clarify guidance on domestic content for the solar supply chain under the IRA.

In the legacy semiconductors industry, China is also quickly building overcapacity through state support. According to some estimates, within the next three years, the country could account for roughly one third of the world's production of legacy chips--resulting in inordinate concentration of the supply of semiconductors used to power everyday technologies the world depends on.

These chips are vital to national security no less than economic security. After decades in which America stood by while semiconductor manufacturing moved abroad in response to government subsidies, the CHIPS and Science Act is enabling businesses to invest in semiconductor manufacturing in America again for the first time in decades. And tariffs on Chinese legacy semiconductors will increase to 50% to enforce against a surge of Chinese imports that benefit from the country's nonmarket industrial targeting.

A Better Path Forward

Today, we are at a turning point. The President is leading the way on an approach that invests in America and stands up for American workers against China's unfair practices, following years of trickledown policies that hollowed out too many factory towns around the country.

The Administration is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, as demonstrated by the President's regular discussions with President Xi, along with the recent visits by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury . We are committed to cooperating with China to meet the world's most pressing challenges, including by supporting the deployment of clean energy technologies. Within that broader context, it is important to enforce our trade laws against China's unfair nonmarket practices to prevent harm to American workers and businesses.

Many foreign partners, including the EU, Brazil, South Africa, Thailand, and India, have started or publicly considered trade actions of a similar nature. We will work with G-7 and G-20 partners to advance our common interest.

China's industrial footprint is more complex today than during its previous export surge. Today's actions to support U.S. solar manufacturers, which include ending tariff exemptions and monitoring imports from countries found to be circumventing trade enforcement measures, will help ensure that China is not able undercut U.S. manufacturers simply by moving its factories.

In negotiating USMCA, the previous administration did not adequately address the potential transshipment of Chinese exports entering the U.S. market via Mexico. Mexico is an important partner to the US in many areas. We look forward to working with Mexico to address concerns that some Chinese steel exports appear to be flowing through Mexico, and some Chinese auto companies may be considering exporting vehicles and auto parts via Mexico. The USMCA review in 2026 would be an opportunity to further discuss this potential risk.

The President's tough targeted approach combining investment and enforcement in key sectors is a sharp departure from the prior administration. The previous administration did not take action to invest in America and failed to follow through on securing the promised Chinese purchases or end to China's unfair practices in its failed Phase One trade agreement with China.

Conclusion

The President has long believed in a middle-out bottom-up approach to growing the economy, and secured historic legislation to make it happen. The resulting private sector investments are reversing decades of disinvestment, creating pathways to good middle-class jobs

, and facilitating critical investments in innovation, infrastructure, and clean energy. The President's approach is providing a model of how to deliver sustainable growth with good jobs and smart investments, but, for it to succeed, it is vital to enforce the rules that safeguard healthy market-driven competition.

Thank you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with President Santiago Peña of Paraguay

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with President Santiago Peña of Paraguay at the White House yesterday to discuss opportunities to strengthen the deep partnership between our two countries. The National Security Advisor welcomed the stand that Paraguay has taken on important regional and global issues, such as supporting democracy in Venezuela and condemning Russia's war against Ukraine. They also discussed continued bilateral cooperation on shared security and economic priorities, including mobilizing U.S. private sector investment to develop Paraguay's digital and physical infrastructure and Paraguay's interest in joining the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity. National Security Advisor Sullivan and President Peña reaffirmed the shared democratic values that form the bedrock of the U.S.-Paraguay relationship and discussed ongoing efforts in Paraguay to strengthen democratic institutions and combat corruption.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:51 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I've just got two things at the top, and then we'll get going.

Today, President Biden attended the annual Peace Officers' Memorial Service, where he honored the lives and service of fallen officers across the country.

As the President says, we must do more to protect our brave men and women in law off- -- law enforcement. That means funding for more officers, more detectives, and more technology so officers have what they need to do their job safely and protect us.

From day one, President Biden has taken bold action to reduce crime, bolster public safety, and protect the safety of police who walk the beat.

And thanks to the American Rescue Plan, this administration has invested the largest-ever federal investment in fighting and preventing crime.

Since President Biden took office, we have seen historic declines in crime because of the work of brave law enforcement officers and community leaders.

But we can't stop there. That's why President Biden continues to call on Congress to pass his Safer America Plan to invest $37 billion to support law enforcement and crime prevention.

And second, today, the United States is taking coordination action in response to the Orte- -- Ortega-Murillo regime's continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and ongoing exploitation of the vulnerable migrants.

The Departments of Treasury, State, and Homeland Security jointly issued a policy alert to travel companies with information about the ways in which smugglers are facilitating illegal migration to the United States to remind the industry of key steps that they should take to avoid complicity in the exploitation of migrants.

This complements the International Air Transp- -- Transport Association and its members' action last week to -- to address irregular migration.

The Department of Treasury sanctioned a Russian military training center that supports re- -- repressive actions by the Nic- -- Nicaraguan National Police to prosecute pol- -- political opposition and two gold companies that enrich the Ortega-Murillo -- Murillo regime.

Additionally, the Department of State imposed by vi- -- vis- -- visa restriction on the over -- over 250 individuals supporting attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms and repression of civil society organizations.

These actions build on President Biden's effort to address irregular migration following last -- last week's Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection ministerial in Guatemala, where we pledged $578 million to support our partners integrating millions of migrants in the region.

Today's actions also support the President's aff- -- affirmative agenda for a more democratic, secure, and prosper- -- prosperous for the Western Hemisphere.

With that, Colleen.

Q Thank you. I wondered if you could talk about the timing of the decision to notify Congress about the weapons transfer to Israel. It came just as the House was preparing to vote on legislation that would have forced the President to distribute that aid.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, when it comes to process on any type of weapons purchases or anything like that, that is something that the State Department can speak to. They can speak to -- about it directly.

What I want to do is reiterate what Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, said here at the podium earlier this week -- that the only pause that we have done is that one pause -- paused shipment. And so -- and so, just want to be really clear -- because of our concerns of what -- what could be a Rafah operation.

And so, we've been really mindful of that. We've been really clear about that. We've -- we've addressed our concerns -- our concerns about a major operation in Rafah publicly and privately.

But we've always said -- we've always said that we believe in -- in -- you know, we believe in -- the President believe, obviously, the commitment, and we do as well, to Israel's security is ironclad. And we want to make sure that they have what they need -- Israel has what they need to defend themselves against their enemies, including Hamas. And so, we've always been very clear about that.

And when it comes to transfer of weapons systems, they're -- they're continuing, aside from that one shipment that we paused last week: the 500- and the 2000-pound unguided munitions. So, that -- that is where we are at this moment.

I cannot speak to timeline. I cannot speak to anything specific about this particular reporting on weapons transfer package. That's something for the State Department to speak to.

Q Okay. So then Biden is an institutionalist, but he decided to circumvent the nonpartisan group that has done the debates for three decades. So, I just wondered, you know, if you could talk a little bit about that at all.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The debates?

Q I know. I know. It's about his schedule, so I thought I'd try the President's schedule.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I get it. I get it. I get it. I know there's a lot of interest in what the campaign announced earlier this morning, obviously, through the -- a video from the President.

I'm going to be really mindful; we are talking about 2024 election. And so, we are committed to the rule of law here. I'm going to respect that.

So, anything specific related to that, obviously, you're going to have to go to the campaign, as we've been pretty consistent here.

The President agen- -- agenda is pretty clear. He wants to create an agenda that works for all, leaves no one behind, and an economy that -- that is built from the bottom up, middle out, an economy founded on strong, growing middle class. We've been very clear about that.

He wants to make sure that we -- America -- that -- that we have an America that is more free. That's what he concerns about -- right? -- including reproductive rights.

He wants to make sure that we are not -- the President has also said that we want to make sure that we're -- we don't stand for the dark, revenge-based policies put forward by Republican officials. That's not where we are.

We want to make sure that -- that we are continuing to -- to deliver for the American people. That's what this President has been doing for the last three years.

As it relates to the news about the debate challenge, that is something that the campaign has to speak to directly.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Does the President worry that he muddies the message he's trying to send to Israel by approving this new transfer of weapons so soon after he withheld the transfer of these 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't think -- no, to answer your question very directly. I think what Jake Sullivan did here on Monday, laying out the 10 parts of our commitment and how we're seeing Middle -- the Middle East -- obviously, in particular, the war in Israel and Gaza and how we're moving forward -- how we're moving forward in supporting our friend, Israel.

We've been very clear that when it comes to their security, that continues to be ironclad. There is no change there. We believe that they need to be able to defend themselves, just like the President was able to do when Iran -- he was able to bring together a coalition. We saw 300 missiles and drones that were targeted at Israel that we were able to step in and help, obviously, Israel defend itself. I think that shows how committed we are to their security.

And we have said that it is one pause -- one pause on these bombs -- one package, one shipment. And that is obviously connected to Rafah and the potential -- what could happen in Rafah, and we've been very clear about that.

Those conversations continue. You heard Jake Sullivan say himself, in the upcoming days, he's hoping to have a in-person, continuing that engagement that they've been having. There's been two virtual. But every day, they're having these conversations with their counterparts. I'm talking about NSC and -- and Jake, obviously, and his team.

But when it comes to Rafah, where there is a densely populated citizens who are there, who are seeking refuge -- more than a million -- you heard that from Jake, you've heard that from us, you've heard that from the President. We want to make sure that there's a plan to protect their lives.

Q Did the decision to approve this weapons shipment now have anything to do with the bill that Republicans have introduced that would force the President to approve --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So --

Q -- all military aid to Israel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Here's -- here's what I would say. I think, again, our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. That hasn't changed. We've been very clear about making sure that Israel is able to defend themselves against Iran, against their proxies. We've been very clear.

Hezbollah attacks Israel almost every day. Right? That's what we're seeing. And we have been very clear about making sure that they're able to defend themselves.

And I can't speak to the process, the timing of -- of this particular weapons transfer. That is something for the State Department to speak to. So, would I -- I would have to leave it to them.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. So, the U.S. has been very clear that it paused the shipment of those 2,000-pound bombs because of fears of how it could be used in Rafah. But does the President not share any concerns about how the weapons as a part of this $1 billion package could also be used to harm civilians?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we have always been very clear -- and we have been clear, certainly very recently, that while our support for Israel is ironclad and we believe that they should be able to defend themselves, we believe that they have the right to go after Hamas, a terrorist organization, and they should do that.

We've also said two things can be true. We've also said that they have to do it in a way that protects civilian lives. That continues -- that continues to be part of the conversation. That continues in a process for us to make that very clear directly to them. And we've been also very vocal about that privately and obviously publicly.

So, those two things can happen. Those two things can happen.

And so -- and so, look, we're going to continue, again, to have a conversation with our counterparts. NSC, obviously, is going to continue to have those conversations as we move forward.

Q And we have learned from two U.S. officials that Israel has amassed enough troops at the edge of the border with Rafah to launch a full-scale incursion. If Israel does so, as Netanyahu has vowed to, how will the U.S. respond?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, that is for -- whatever the Prime Minister has said recently, that is something for him to speak to. We -- obviously, I can't speak for the Israeli government. That is not something that I do from here.

We have been very clear: We're going to continue to monitor the situation. We have -- we believe that what we're seeing right now is targeted -- a targeted operation. That's what Israel has told us. We have not seen a major operation moving forward.

But we -- obviously, we have concerns that that could happen. And so, that's why these engagements continue. That's why these conversations continue. And we've been very clear about the fact that, again, more than a million ci- -- civilian lives are in Rafah. We want to make sure that they're protected.

But we also believe that Israel has the right to go after Hamas. We want it to be done in a strategic way, obviously. And those conversations continue.

Q So, just to be clear, the U.S. believes that what Israel is currently doing in Rafah -- pushing in deeper with further military operations -- the U.S. believes that is both targeted and strategic?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm not going to go blow by blow with every -- you know, with every reporting that is coming out and that is being laid out about what folks are seeing. I'm not going to go into blow by blow about that.

What I can say is what we understand is those operations are targeted. They're limited. That's what we've been told. We're going to continue to monitor the situation.

The conversations continue. The engagement about Rafah continues. You heard that directly from Jake Sullivan.

And so, we are talking about this every day -- every day. Yes, we've talked about the two virtual engagement. Yes, Jake has talked about wanting to have an in-person meeting. But those conversations happen on a daily basis. And I think that's important to note as well.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Did the Israelis give Jake any assurances of no Rafah offensive before he gets there this weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I am not going to speak into private conversations. What I can tell you is those engagements, those conversations about our concerns about a major military operation in Rafah continue, and they've been constructive. You heard directly from Jake about this.

And I'm just not going to go into specifics on how -- what -- what the back-and-forth is. And I also cannot confirm Jake's travel. Like, that's not something that I can do right now.

Q Just to kind of go back to the decision to send, you know, a billion dollars in arms to Israel, and then, you know, what the President said about his decision to sto- -- to pause sending some arms to Israel. I mean, it just appears inconsistent.

We understand that your position is to make sure Israel can defend itself. But how do you -- you know, how should we sort of think about both of these decisions made at the same time? I mean, is he -- is he not concerned that those billion dollars in arms is actually going to impact civilians in Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I don't -- I don't believe it's inconsistent. We've been very clear -- we've been very clear here. Two things can be true, right? Two things can be true. We can have tough conversations with our friends and allies. That is something that you've seen from this president in his diplomacy. Right? It isn't -- and we can have constructive conversation.

We can also share our concerns. And that's what you have seen. And we can say to our ally that "Look, we want to make sure you're able to defend yourself. We want to make sure that…." We're going to continue to say that "Our commitment to you, Israel's security, is ironclad."

That is -- I mean, I just laid out -- we saw what -- what Iran did -- right? -- not too long ago. We know Hezbollah is going after Israel almost on a daily basis. We know that.

And so, they have to be able -- Israel has to be able to defend itself.

But when we see a situation in Rafah, the one -- within more -- with more than 1.4 million citizens who are seeking refuge there, because they moved there to seek refuge, we're going to also share our concerns.

And -- but those -- and the thing to remember is that those conversations are continuing. They are happening. You heard that from Jake: On a daily basis, they are happening.

And so, we're going to monitor the situation. You know, those two things could be true, right? We can try to make sure that our friends and allies are able to protect themselves against -- against their enemies, defend themselves. And we can also flag and say, "Hey, this is something that we are concerned about when it comes -- in this particular instance, obviously, Rafah, and a po- -- a potential operations -- a major operations -- military operation in Rafah."

Q But the President's comments, you know, about his decision to pause a shipment to Israel through -- came in the light of campus protests. I mean, was that -- were those comments made in light of --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No. I --

Q -- you know, kind of appeasing or reaching out to younger voters or how people were feeling in the country at that point?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I would say that we have been very loud and clear about our concerns about a major military operations in Rafah for weeks -- for months. This is something that we have been talking about for some time -- for some time now.

So, I -- they are not connected. The President is -- this is not about politics for this President. This is about the right thing to do.

Q And did you have -- sorry, on --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- just a different topic. Do you have a comment on the Putin-Xi meeting that's coming up this week? I mean, does the President have any thoughts on that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here's our thoughts. You know, we don't comment on bilateral -- bilateral engagement. We've been always pretty consistent.

But I want to make one point clear. We find it unacceptable that the Chinese companies are helping Putin wage this war against Ukraine. And if China purports to want good relations with Europe and other countries, it cannot continue to fuel the biggest threat to European security right now.

This is not just a U.S. position. You also heard it from the G7 partners, NATO, and the EU. And that's our position on that.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. The IDF says that it has intensified military operations in specific areas of Eastern Rafah. Can you first confirm whether it's still the U.S.'s assessment that this is not the full-scale full incursion into Rafah that the President has been warning about?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, what I will say -- and I've -- and I'm going to be pretty consistent from here. Going to be pretty boring, I guess, for the next few minutes or so at this podium, behind this lectern, which is: We're monitoring the situation. We've been told and what we see -- it is a targeted, limited operation in Rafah. That is what we're -- we're seeing. I'm -- I can't go, like, by report by report here. That is not something that I'm going to do from here.

We have made our concerns very clear, publicly and privately, about a ma- -- a potential major operations offensive in Rafah. And so, look, we do not believe they should be dropped in densely -- these bombs, right? -- should be dropped in densely populated cities. So, we are talking to the Israeli government about this.

That's why we put a pause about -- on the shipment for one -- one shipment, only one shipm- -- shipment of the 500- and 2,000-pound bombs, give- -- given our concerns -- our major concerns here.

And so, I'm not going to go blow by blow here. I'm not going to go to every spec- -- specific reporting. This is what we are monitoring. This is what we know. And the conversations, engagement on Rafah certainly will continue with our Israeli counterparts.

Q But what you're seeing right now is not a major military operation --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's --

Q -- into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That's what I can share with you, yes. That I can say.

Q Just to return to a question that I think a couple of my colleagues were --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- trying to ask about. This new arms deal for Israel, it would include tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, and mortar rounds. That's according to our reporting. Is the President not concerned that those are the kinds of things that could be used in a -- a military operation into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I -- I would have to refer you on the specifics of what is being talked about, spoken about with the weapons transfer package -- that is something that I -- that the State Department would have to speak to.

And I've kind of addressed this already about how two things can be true, right? We can -- we believe that our -- you know, Israel has the right to defend itself. Our -- obviously, when it comes to their security, it's ironclad. And we believe that they have every right to go after Hamas, a terrorist organization. We've been very clear about that.

And we've also said they need to do this where we see a protection of civ- -- civilian lives. And so, those things could be true. And those conversations are going to continue.

I cannot speak to this package. That is something that the State Department can speak to. I can't speak to the process. I can't speak to what's in it. That's for the State Department to -- to lay out.

Q Well, you've drawn a real distinction, I think, between offensive and defensive operations. And the President was clear that the reason for pausing on the shipment of bombs is because those are the kinds of bombs that could be used in a Rafah operation. So, I'm just asking, again --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- whether tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, and mortar rounds -- are those not things that could also potentially be used in a Rafah incursion?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we have been clear. I can't speak to the specifics of what is in this transfer of weapons. I can't. What I can say is that we have been clear that Israel has the right to defend itself. We are -- we are committed to Israel's security. That is ironclad. That is t- -- true, right?

We believe that they should have the right to defend themselves against their enemies, including Hamas -- including Hamas. And so, that is what you see here. That is what you're -- you're going to continue to see from us.

When it comes to our potential concern of a major offensive operation in Rafah, we've talked about that. We've talked about that, which is why we paused that one shipment, because of our concerns of a major offensive operation.

Q I'm not asking you to confirm --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- the details of this specific arms deal.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q But the list that I just gave --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- does the U.S. see those -- those things as being purely defensive weapons?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What we have been very clear about: Israel has the right to defend itself. That's what we believe. We paused one shipment that we believe could -- could be used in a potential offensive operation in Rafah. And we've been very clear about that. It's one shipment that we paused.

But it doesn't -- it doesn't take away from the fact that Israel should be able to defend itself against its enemies. And that's what this is about. That's what we're talking about here.

Go ahead.

Q Karine, I understand there's a group of American doctors who are in Gaza who are looking for the administration's help in getting out of there, that -- they are with the Palestinian American Medical Association. They traveled to Gaza this month to provide some emergency medical assistance. Can you detail the administration's efforts to try to get them out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q How is Israel cooperating with that assistance?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we can say that we're tracking this matter closely and working to get the impacted American citizens out of Gaza. So, that is something that we're working on. We've been in touch with representatives of four doctors and their families and are engaging directly with the government of Israel to make that happen. So, we're doing everything that we can.

Q Is the goal to get them out immediately or before operations expand into Rafah and there's military movement there that could further put them --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, regardless, if there was an operation in Rafah or potential operation in Rafah, it doesn't -- we need to get them out. We want to get them out. And that is our -- it has nothing to do with anything else. These are Americans -- impacted American citizens. And so, we're working to get them out.

Q And then just on the debates. Can you explain why President Biden feels it's important to have a general election face-off one on one with former President Trump in late June, which is earlier than in past election cycles?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I can't speak to the timeline. I can't speak to the decisions on the debate. That is something that the campaign could speak to. I can speak to what the President has been trying to do for these past three years and make that stark contrast with what Republican elected officials have been trying to do.

He's been trying to make sure that we build an economy for all, don't leave anybody behind; make sure that we're fighting Big Pharma; make sure that we're lowering costs for Americans.

And you have congressional Republicans -- actually, that way -- who are constantly trying to make sure that -- that we -- we increase healthcare costs -- right? -- that we give tax breaks to corporations and billionaires. That's what they're offering: cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

That's what I can provide for you, what -- what the President's policy has been, what he's been trying to do, and, you know, what we're up against here. And we're also talking about our democracy, our freedoms that are under attack. And -- and so, the President is going to continue to fight for that.

As it relates to the debate timeline or anything connected to that, that is something for the campaign to speak to.

Q And just finally, the President put a statement out on this. But is there anything else you can share about this -- what appears to be an attempted assassination attempt on the Slovakian Prime Minister?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, as you just stated, the President put out a statement on this earlier today. And I will just reiterate that we're expressing -- the President expressed his alarm and deep concern over the attack. As the President said, he and Dr. Biden are praying for a swift recovery, and our thoughts are with his family and the people of Slo- -- Slovakia.

We condemn this horrific at- -- act of violence, and our embassy is in close touch with the government and ready to assist. And I'm just going to leave it there for now.

Go ahead.

Q I want to ask about the inflation report. But first I wanted to just follow up. Does the President intend any direct outreach to allies in Slovakia or --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any --

Q -- calls or anything like that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have any calls to read out to you at this time.

Q Okay. On -- on the inflation report.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, sure.

Q Obviously, it was positive for you guys. But we're still seeing inflation above normal levels, despite everything the administration and the Fed is doing. Do you have a sense of when households can expect to see prices stabilize?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, here's what I can tell you. What we're going to continue to do is make sure that we are -- when it comes to our priority as it relates to the economy, we want to make sure that we're fighting inflation and continue to do so. And so, we understand we have a lot more work to do. We get that.

But I wou- -- I would state that inflation is down more than 60 percent, with the lowest core inflation in three years, and grocery prices fell over the last three months. Wages are up more than the prices over the last year. And since the pandemic, more than 15 million jobs created. And unemployment is under 4 percent, and that is the longest stretch that we have seen in over 50 years.

So, we are seeing some progress -- some macroeconomic progress -- but we understand that there are Americans and families that are still struggling. That's why the President continues to do everything that he can to lower costs, whether it's insulin at 35 bucks for seniors and calling for -- for that to be for all Americans, and a plan to build 2 million new homes, lower childcare costs. This is what the President is trying to do and has been very clear about his plan for Americans as it relates to the economy.

And again, in contrast to what GOP is trying to do -- cut Medicare, cut -- cut Social Security, cut Medicaid, make sure that -- they want to make sure that there's a tax break for billionaires and corporations -- that's not what this President is about.

So, the work continues. We're going to continue to fight inflation. We're going to continue to be really focused on that. And that's what you're going to see from this administration.

Go ahead.

Q Back to Rafah. Is there a concern at all that, you know, these targeted attacks would still cumulatively add up to -- you know, the amount of civilian casualties or damage -- I know that the concern is a major ground operation, but as these more targeted attacks continue by the IDF, is there a worry that that would -- would still add up, ultimately, to the kind of civilian casualties you're trying to avoid?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is what Jake said, which is we're monitoring the situation, and we're going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to have engagements with our counterparts in the Israeli government. That is something that we're going to continue. We believe that it's been constructive.

We have not seen a major military operation. And so, we've been clear about that. Jake has been clear about that from here. But we're going to continue to have those conversations.

I can't get into cumulative -- I can't -- that is not --that's hypotheticals that I don't want to get into from here. But the engagements continue.

Jake said himself when he was here: He's hoping in the next couple of days or so to have an in-person meeting to talk about Rafah operations. He has been -- has had regular communications with his counterparts in the Israeli government, and that's going to continue.

Q And I know you said you couldn't preview Jake's travel, but are there any -- any sense of a meeting happening in Washington, when those in-person meetings would happen? Can you speak to any of that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: As you know, when we have had virtual meetings with -- with our counterparts in Is- -- in Israel government, we have shared that information, including -- right? -- the virtual -- virtual -- virtual meetings, including when the President spoke to the Prime Minister. And we said in our readout that they talked about the Rafah operations. We certainly will share that with you. I just don't have anything at this time to -- to speak to.

Go ahead.

Q With apologies, with the situations in Israel --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- you're saying that two things can be true at the same time. Can two things be true at the same time again? In other words, would the President again decide that the weapons -- the most recent weapons package that -- that he proposed is being used for a large capacity of civilian deaths, like the 2,000-pound bombs -- could he then, again, say, "You know what, we're -- we're going to -- we're going to hold these back after all"?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I just -- I'm not going to get into hypotheticals from here. I'm just not.

What I can say is that we have been very clear that our -- when it comes to Israel's security, that is ironclad. We believe that they should be able to defend themselves -- we've been very clear about that -- against their enemies, including Hamas. Clear about that.

When there are concerns that have -- that we see, we will -- we will certainly speak to that, as we have done for the past several weeks. We have been consistent about that too.

In this particular instance, with the Rafah operations, a major military operations, we have said we have concerns. And those conversations continue.

I'm not going to get into hypotheticals from here. I think we have laid out how we see -- how we see our engagement, obviously -- how we see this moving forward, whether it is the Rafah operations, obviously, our major concerns there, and those conversations continuing. And also making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. And that has been consistent here, and that is what we're going to continue to say from here.

And you heard directly from the National Security Advisor -- lay that out in 10 -- in 10 parts on Monday, and I think in a pretty comprehensive, detailed way. Obviously, there's the hostage deal that we want to make sure that happens. We want to see a ceasefire. We want to see hostages come home. We want to see more humanitarian aid go in. And so, that is also something that we're working as well towards.

Q The President had his big event yesterday on tariffs. I wanted to circle back to the U.S. Steel situation, Nip- -- the offer from Nippon Steel to buy U.S. Steel. The President has opposed that deal. Can you give us any update? Does he plan to try to block it? Is he hoping the proponent withdraws its offer? He's, you know, been on record opposing it for a month or two now.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I'm just going to be -- I -- there's a CFIUS review. I'm going to be super mindful. It's an independent review. So, I can't comment beyond -- beyond that.

Q There are calls from senators -- Republican senators -- that he can kill it without that review. Is it the administration's position --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I totally -- totally understand.

Q -- that he should wait for the review to be done?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We respect the CFIUS review. I'm just not going to get ahead of that.

Q And on the border. Can you give us any update on the President's thinking on that executive order that you folks are said to be considering?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, this is the same thing that I've been saying and we've all been saying for the past several months -- right? -- especially since we -- when we first introduced this national security supplemental back in October, that included the border security piece in that.

And then, obviously, we went to -- we took that out, and then went to a place of working in a bipartisan way with senators in trying to come up with a -- a negotiation that dealt with border challenges, that dealt with a broken system that we have seen for decades.

And so, we still want to see that. We still want to see Congress move forward with that. We believe it is the toughest, the fairest way to -- to deal with the border, to deal with the immigration challenges. The President wants to sign that. He wants to sign that.

As it relates to your question about any executive actions, any other -- any other, you know, movement that might be there, look, as you just said -- said in your -- in your question to me, we're always looking at potential actions that we can take. But we are going to continue to push Congress to move on this. We believe that it can happen.

Q There are -- there are two --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We believe that it can happen.

Q There are two reports today about potential actions. One from the AP -- our friend, Colleen, right here -- that the administration might consider sort of triaging new asylum cases to the front of the line to more quickly assess whether they are removed or -- or stay to -- for a more thorough review.

Another from the New York Post that the President might consider an executive action to close the border -- close the border at a threshold of 4,000 crossings a day.

I'm wondering if you could speak to either of those reports.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it's basically the same answer that I gave you in my fir- -- in your first question, which is we want to see -- we understand this immigration system has been broken for decades. We want to see that Senate bipartisan negotiation plan that came forward -- we want to see that moving.

And as I've stated many times before -- you've heard it from the President himself -- we were ready to move forward. That was ready to be pushed out of the Senate in a bipartisan way.

The former President, President Trump, told Republicans to reject it -- to reject it. And that's what we're seeing.

And we believe that Republicans should be where majority of Americans are. They want to see an answer, a way to fix this -- we believe legislatively -- to fix what's happening at the border, the challenges that we're seeing.

I don't have anything beyond that. As I've said many, many times before, as you asked me your question, we're looking at all options. I just don't have anything to share at this time.

Q And I should specify, it was Seung Min and colleagues. Sorry, I don't want to get in trouble.

Q She'll be -- she'll be grateful.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good. A callout -- a callout to Seung Min --

Q Yeah, yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- who is not here.

Go ahead, April.

Q Karine --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yes.

Q -- I have two topics. One, Marilyn Mosby, we understand that the application for a pardon has been delivered and accepted by the White House as well as Justice. What's the movement? What is the President's thinking?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q What is he expected to do on this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I want to -- and, April, I appreciate the question. I know we went back and forth on this last week.

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Certainly appreciate the question.

I have to be really careful from this podium not to talk about individual pardon requests. It is inappropriate for me to do so. And so, I need to be really mindful.

DOJ -- and I said this to you last time -- applies a thorough and deliberative process. We've got to let them do that process. And so, that is -- certainly, that particular question has to go to DOJ. From -- from this lectern, at this podium, I cannot speak to individual cases and want to be super mindful. And we never have -- we never have over the last three years.

Q Okay. Other presidents have. But that's okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But that's what I'm saying. We haven't.

Q I know. I know.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We haven't because we want to respect that process.

Q So -- and follow up on that topic. Is the Presi- -- has the President gotten any communication personally from organizations like the NAACP, Win With Women, some of the organizations that have written letters to the President --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- about this case? Because you got a majority of the civil rights community, a lot of large organizations, Black organizations are really on the side of a pardon for her. Does he know about it? Has he talked to anyone specifically on it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I have not spoken to the President directly about it. I know -- I know the letters that you're speaking of. I know we get letters all the time -- right? -- obviously, in -- supporting an agenda. So, obviously, those letters have come through. I just haven't spoken to the President directly about this -- about this.

Q So --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And I want to be careful -- right? -- we don't -- this is -- we -- we do not want to speak about individual cases. We believe it's inappropriate.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We want to be really, really mindful here.

Q And lastly, on this topic, then.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q On this topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: On this topic?

Q On this topic. Yeah, because I --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, we continue. Okay.

Q The 23 rd is sentencing. Are you -- it's -- could it be realistic that everyone's waiting for the 23 rd, and then they will think about acting?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't -- I -- I'm going to be really mindful. I -- I appreciate your efforts. I appreciate --

Q I am trying. I'm trying hard.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. Clearly, clearly. And I -- I appreciate your effort. I just cannot comment on individual -- individual cases here.

Q All right. And lastly, on the next topic.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, I thought this was the last one.

Q No, I said two when we started.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, okay.

Q All right. So -- -- at the beginning of the briefing, you talked about a commitment to policing. And for the last few years, particularly when then-candidate Biden was talking about holding police officers accountable when the George Floyd death happened -- we all remember that. Now there is another call, yet again, from the Mothers of the Movement, who are meeting with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus right now looking for action, particularly in the wake of what happened in Florida recently with the Black man shot by police who was in the military -- wrong person, wrong place.

What are the thoughts of this White House about the push for police reform, as you support police accountability and civil rights at the same time?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. And our hearts go out to any -- anyone who -- who lost a child. It is -- under any circ*mstances, it is heartbreaking. It is heartbreaking. And our heart goes out to the families who've lost loved ones in police shootings.

And you've heard that from this administration. You've heard that from this President.

As you know, the President signed an executive order to hold federal law enforcement to the highest standards. And he believes that officers should be held to those standards. President Biden has been clear about his commitment to doing everything he can to make our community safer,

including by advancing effective accountable policing.

The vast majority of Americans want the same thing too. They want -- they want trust, they want safety, and they want accountability. That's why the President has pushed Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice for Policing Act and signed an executive order to make federal policing the gold standard -- the gold standard of effectiveness and accountability.

Let's not forget, when Congress could not get this done, the President took action and did that executive order. So, we can't forget that. Like, he is going to continue to push Congress, but he took action himself on the federal level of what he can do from here.

And so, he also continues to believe that we need to build a lasting trust between law enforcement and the communities that they are sworn to serve and protect. And so, we're going to continue to encourage Congress to move forward with this.

Q Is this the time to do it, to lean in? During a political election cycle, is this the time for the President to lean in?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- look, I -- I'm not going to -- this is not about a political cycle for this President. He's been leaning in to this for three years. Right? We talked about the -- the crises -- the President talked about four crises when he walked into this admini- -- administration. One of them had to do with racial inequality.

And from the beginning, he has pushed for Congress to move forward for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. It didn't move forward, and he acted. And that wasn't -- that -- he acted some time ago and moved forward with an executive order. And we're going to continue to push for that.

It has nothing to do with politics. It has -- it has everything to do with this being the right thing to do. When --

Q Does the White House blame Tim Scott for holding it up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, I'm not going to get into the blame game here, because I don't even know where the process is. We believe that Congress should move forward in getting this done in a bipartisan way. There's no reason why it shouldn't.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q Thank you. What are the next steps after White House officials met with the Chinese this week in Geneva on AI?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What are the next steps?

Q Yes.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I -- as you know, the President signed an executive order on AI, which is the most comprehensive executive action that he -- he took. And what I would say with the -- China is those conversations are going to continue. But this is an issue that the President believes that we need to act on and thinks it's an incredibly important issue to move forward on.

Those conversation with China are going to continue -- the dos- -- diplomatic conversation. I don't have anything to preview beyond that.

Q A bipartisan group of senators this morning put out a roadmap for their view of legislation on artificial intelligence, led by Senator Schumer. Does this White House have a perspective on it and have you weighed in at all directly with those four senators?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. So, this is very similar -- similar to the answer that I ga- -- gave, but I will say, to this particular legislation, we're grateful that Leader Schumer and Senators Rounds, Young, and Martin [Heinrich] for their work on this important issue. We're very grateful.

As you know, and I think we may have mentioned this, the -- you know, after the President did his executive order -- as I mentioned, it's the most significant action done by a -- by a government, he -- he -- within days of signing it, he met with that exact group of lawmakers to underscore the importance of moving forward with a bipartisan legislation. So, we are -- we're appreciative of that. We think it's important that they're doing that.

As it relates to, like, their -- the exact approach of this piece of legislation, that is something that Congress is going to have to move forward on, but we are grateful -- we are grateful that -- that they're moving forward in a bipartisan way. Again, the President talked to this particular group about this. And so, we're -- we're glad to see this moving forward.

Q Just so I understand. So, you're -- you're appreciative of them working on something related to I -- AI --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- but you're not backing what's in the framework?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well -- well, it has to -- there's a process here, right? It has to move forward. They're going to have to figure out the exact approach. We're going to let them figure out the exact approach.

The President said in that meeting that he had with that congressional group that they needed to move forward in a bipartisan way. We see that. We are grateful for that. But I'm not going to get into the specifics. They're working through that. They're going to figure out the exact approach. So, we're going to let them do that.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. You briefly talked on Monday about the President's meeting tomorrow with the families involved the Brown vs. Board of Education --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, yeah.

Q -- case. Do you have more you can share about --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I do.

Q -- the details: who he is meeting with, how the meeting came about, and what his message will be tomorrow?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I do. I have a little bit more detail on that -- on just, like, the -- obviously, these are a couple of days of really important engagement that the President has. I'll start with the Bro- -- the Brown v. Board of Education.

So, this week, at the White House, we're recognizing it is the 70 th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, becoming the law of the land. President Biden will participate in a number of engagements that honor the legacy of those who paved the way for progress and hard-fought rights for Black Americans. He will also highlight his vision for how we must continue to build on these freedoms.

Tomorrow, President Biden will meet with the plaintiffs from the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case and their families at the White House.

And then, on Friday, as I stated earlier this week as well, May 17 th, President Biden will deliver remarks at the NAACP 70 th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education at the -- at the National Museum of African American History of -- and Culture in Washington, D.C. The President and -- the President and the Vice President will also meet with -- excuse me. I have a little cold, guys. Sorry. Sorry.

The President and the Vice President will also meet with the leaders of the Divine Nine historically Black sororities and fraternities.

On Sunday, May 19 th, as -- also, as you all are tracking, the President is going to deliver a commencement address at the 140 th Morehouse College commencement in Atlanta, Georgia. So, as you can see, there are a couple of engagements that are -- that are -- that he's having in the next four or five days. And so, we will have more to share. And you'll -- obviously, you'll hear from him directly.

Go ahead.

Q So, according to today's CPI report, rental inflation continues to be stubbornly high. How optimistic is President Biden that Congress will approve his, you know, plans to build 2 million more homes or preserve 2 million more homes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I think this is something that the President is going to continue to fight for, obviously. He's going to continue to speak towards how important it is for homeowners to be able to afford a home, to be able to afford rent. And we know what Americans are going through. That's why he created -- very early on in his administration, he created a task force to deal with that, to deal with how we can -- what else we can do from here, from the federal government, to deal with what homeowners are dealing with, what Americans are dealing with when it comes to higher cost.

So -- but the way to actually address this in a more holistic way, we have to see legislation. We have to see Congress act. And, look, we're going to -- we're certainly going to continue to be consistent here in -- in calling on Congress to -- to make that move.

You know, HUD has taken a lot of actions on making sure homeownership is more affordable, making sure that there is discrimination taken out of -- out of -- especially with certain communities that have to deal with buying a home. And so, they've been very effective there, so we appreciate their leadership there. But we need to do more. We need to do more.

Q What's the progress so far of the 2 million homes?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I don't have -- I don't have a progress report with you -- for you at this time. But, look, we understand that this action, moving this forward, is important and critical to many Americans and their families across the country.

We understand how difficult it is and -- for homeowners, for renters. We understand that. And we understand that lowering -- lowering costs, it has to be at the center of our economic plan, which is why the President continues to fight inflation and do everything that he can to lower cost.

Q How worried is President Biden about his reelection bid based on this --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't --

Q -- because this affects Americans --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't speak to -- I can't speak to that. I can -- what I can say is that the President is doing everything that he can to deliver for the American people every day -- every day. It's not about politics; it's about the right thing to do. That's one of the reasons why he ran. He believed that he could do something; he can get things done.

And we believe, in the last three and a half years, we've been able to do that. We've been able to create some jobs; we've been able to lower unemployment. We understand that people are still feeling this and there's more work to do. But I -- but it's not -- as I'm speaking about this, it's not in a political lens. This is on what the President believes is the right thing to do on behalf of the American people as President of the United States.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I was calling -- . Go ahead.

Q Yeah, thank you.

Q No problem.

Q How concerned is the President about the advances the Russian army is making around Kharkiv?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, you saw -- you saw Secretary Blinken in -- in Ukraine yesterday, and I think he laid out our commitment, obviously, to -- to Ukraine. And that's one of the reasons that we fought so hard, certainly, to get that national security supplemental done.

And so, we are focused on supporting Ukraine's defense. We're going to continue to do that in -- in Kharkiv, obviously, in that region, where Ukrainian forces are fighting very hard.

And -- and, as you know, on Friday, we warned that we had anticipating -- we had been anticipating that Russia would launch an offensive against Kharkiv and we're anticipating that Russia would increase its attacks in an attempt to establish a shallow buffer zone along the Ukraine border, and we have been coordinating closely with Ukraine to help them prepare.

And as you've heard us say -- you heard Jake said this as well, on Monday -- how when the -- when the national security supplemental became law, the President right away moved forward with a president authori- -- authorization for $1 billion of military aid package.

And so, that continues to flow. Certainly, the Department of Def- -- Defense will have more on that. And so -- and then, on Friday, he authorized a second military package to send more urgently needed weapons, including artillery -- artillery ammunition, air defense, interceptors, and aircra- -- anti-aircraft missiles, armed vehicles, artillery rounds, javelins, anti-armor systems, and other equipment needed to defend Kharkiv and other areas under threat.

We are also working on another package to get to -- to get urgently needed aid to Ukraine. So, you've seen our commitment. You've seen our commitment through the Secretary -- Secretary Blinken, obviously, who was just there. We're committed -- committed to Ukraine continuing to fight for their democracy, the -- and continuing to fight the aggression -- Russia's aggression.

Q Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.

Q So, U.S. government will send former senior U.S. officials to Taipei for the May 20 inauguration of the new president there. How did the President decide the members of that delegation? Do you think China will respond to the inauguration? If so, how?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You're talking about the Taiwan inauguration?

Q Yeah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. So -- and you're talking about the delegation? So -- so, inauguration is happening on May 20 th.

In January, the Secretary of State issued a statement congratulating President Lai on his electoral -- President-elect Lai on his electoral victory, and noted that the United States looks forward to working with his administration and leaders of all of Taiwan's political parties to advance our shared interests and values as well as furthering our longstanding unofficial relationship.

Consistent with pa- -- past practice, the United States will send an unofficial delegation to attend the inauguration.

I don't have anything more to share about that. That is something that the State Department is running, as it relates to the unofficial delegation, so they can certainly share more on what that looks like. But obviously, it's an upcoming inauguration on May 20 th.

Go ahead.

Q Thank you. I know you don't want to talk about campaign stuff. So, I would just look for your --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I really don't.

Q I would just look for your insight, then --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I r- -- it's not even that I don't want to. I can't. I can't, Peter.

Q Then how about your insight as the most prominent political communicator in the world: the White House Press Secretary.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: In the world?

Q In the world. The White House Press Secretary.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: In the world.

Q Does a person generally want to debate when they are winning or when they are losing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I am not going to do political punditry from here, my friend. I'm just not going to do it.

Q So --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I used to do that in my old job. I'm not going to do it from here in this job.

Q So, should we see this sudden offer from the President to debate as a signal that you guys realized you need to change the subject after some really bad polling?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know, we went -- had a back-and-forth on polling yesterday. And I -- you know, it just goes back to very -- the core of what I said to you, which is, look, this is a president that has had a pretty successful legislative -- especially legislative -- tenure in the first three and a half years and has delivered on many things that are popular to the American people.

And we're going to continue to talk about it. We're going to continue to travel the country and talk about investing for America. We're going to continue to talk about how we need to do more to lower costs for Americans.

We get it. We understand how hard it is. This President talks about being around at the kitchen table and how hard it is to make those difficult decisions, sometimes, every month on what you're going to pay for. So, he gets that.

And I just don't want to get into polling, any more details on polling. What I can say is the President is focused -- he is laser-focused on making sure we do everything that we can to give people, Americans a little bit of breathing room. And that's what the President is going to continue to do.

As it relates to the debate, you've got to talk to the campaign about it. That is a question for the campaign. And I'm sure they are eager -- eager to answer your questions, Peter.

Q Then not a debate-specific question, but debate prep --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, gosh.

Q -- is something that, traditionally, can happen here at the White House. Who is going to stand in during the prep for Donald Trump?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Who's going to stand in? Do you want to stand in for Donald Trump? Do you want to do that?

Q I don't.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can connect you with the campaign. That might be fun for you.

Q Actually, so you're saying I can go debate Joe Biden behind the scenes --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You know what?

Q -- for as long as I want? Actually, yes!

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think -- I think that might be fun for both of you. It might be fun for both of you. I think --

Q Okay, sure.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think that might be fun.

I don't have anything for you on that.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: But I appreciate the question. I appreciate you trying.

All right. I know we have to wrap up. Go ahead, Ed.

Q Yeah. Thanks, Karine. I want to ask you about how the President talks about inflation. So, two times over the past two weeks, the President said inflation was 9 percent when he came into office. Is the President misleading Americans on that? Or does he just not realize that inflation was 1.4 percent when he came into office?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you know, Ed -- and -- and thank you for the question, because I know that this -- we got a lot of incoming on this yesterday. And, look, I -- what the President was -- the point that he was making is that the factors that cause inflation was in place when he walked in -- into the administration, when he took office.

Let's -- as you know, the pandemic caused inflation around the world to be -- by disrupting our economy and breaking our supply chains. As you know, we had to act quickly on dealing with the supply chain. He put together a task force. You saw the President do that.

And just a couple of examples here -- or one example, semiconductor shortages already existed when he took office. That increased costs on everything from auto parts to washing machines. By some measures, it accounted for one third of inflation in late 2021.

Many countries saw worse inflation than we did. And obviously -- and we've talked about this -- we've been able to come out of that economic downturn in better -- in a better place than most of our counterparts across the globe.

Reopening after the pandemic unavoidably increased inflation by unleashing pent-up demand. Inflation increased quickly as we reopened. Annualized core P- -- CPI in the second term of 2021 was 9 percent. And so, he was talking about the factors that were in place that led to -- that lead to that.

And, look -- and I said this earlier, going to say it again, we're going to do everything as we're -- we're talking about CPI -- we're going to do everything that we can. This President is committed to doing everything that we can to fight inflation. And that's what the President was trying to speak to.

Q But COVID started in March of 2020. So, those factors were in place for about a year before the President took office.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look -- I mean, look, the pandemic was happening, right? That caused inflation. That was happening. Supply chain was -- was breaking our economy. That was happening.

And it wasn't just us. It wasn't just us. It was globally. And -- and they were -- in other countries, our allies and partners were seeing worse infla- -- inflation than we were. And we are able to recover, and we are in a stronger position as we've recovered.

But he was talking about what was in place, what was happening, the factors that led -- and I talked about the second quarter of 2021. We saw that inflation was at 9 percent. So, he was speaking dir- -- specifically to the factors that led to that.

All right. I've got to -- go ahead.

Q Thank you, Karine. What is the administration's reaction to Egypt's decision to block humanitarian aid from entering through the Rafah crossing?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we've obviously seen the reports. We have concerns. We want to see humanitarian aid. It is critical to -- for humanitarian aid to get into Gaza.

We're going to continue to have those conversations. We know how dire the situation is in Gaza, the humanitarian situation. So, we want to see that. Those conversations are going to continue. We're going to continue to have those diplomatic conversations.

And so, we've got to see that aid flow in, and the President is committed to that.

Q How has Egypt justified its decision to the U.S. government?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I'm not going to get into diplomatic conversations. What I can say is our commitment to get that aid in, and we're going to continue to have those conversations with our -- with our -- with our --

Q And I've got one more on the U.S. maritime port that --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay.

Q I believe construction is basically done. Is that right?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you on that.

Q Okay. So, but a very specific question. If a family of Gazans --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- show up at that port as asylum seekers, will the U.S. government turn them away?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you on that. What I can say is that very -- when October 7 th happened, there were Palestinian Americans that were in Gaza who wanted to get out. And we brought 1,800 of them. We did everything that we can to get the ones who wanted to go out -- right? -- who wanted to leave. And we did that.

I can't speak to that particular question. I would have to go back to my team. I just can't speak to that question.

Q How many of the 1,800 did we successfully manage to get out?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I would refer you to the State Department. But there were 1,800 Palestinian Americans who were in Gaza. Not all of them wanted to leave. Some of them did, and we were successful in getting -- getting them out.

I don't have that number in front of me. I would refer you to the State Department.

Okay. You have the last.

Q Republicans on Capitol Hill have been accusing the president of violating the Impoundment Control Act, which is an impeachable offense, by withholding the bombs for Israel. Does the White House have a response to that? And what is the legal authority that the White House is citing for the President to withhold the weapons?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I -- I will say this: The administration -- as you saw, we put out a SAP just yesterday and that we -- just last night, a Statement of Administration Policy about this particular -- the Israeli -- I'm sorry, the Israel Security Assistance Act. We said that we would veto that bill. The administration strongly opposes this attempt to constrain the President's ability to deploy U.S. security assistance consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. This bill raises serious concerns about infringing of the President's authorities under Article 2 of the Constitution.

So, that is -- to answer your question: It's under Article 2 of the Constitution. And that is our legal authority here.

And with that --

Q A response to the vi- -- accusations that withholding the weapons violates the Impoundment Control Act?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I just said that we believe that we were in -- it was in our legal authority to do so. We did. And we've been very clear: This is one shipment -- one shipment, as we talk about the Rafah operations and our concerns about a major military operations.

And you've heard us -- you know, I went back and forth with some of your colleagues about our commitment. You heard it from Ja- -- Jake Sullivan. Our commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. We believe that they should be able to defend themselves. And that is going to be consistent, and we're going to continue to -- to say so.

And when it comes to something -- a potential major military operation in Rafah, we're going to share our concerns publicly and privately, as we have been doing for the past several weeks.

All right, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.

Q Thanks, Karine. Feel better.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Bye. Thank you.

2:49 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

BEFORE MEETING WITH JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

AND COMBATANT COMMANDERS

Cabinet Room.

4:42 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, everyone. Welcome to the Cabinet Room. Welcome. And it's great to see you all.

We got some important meeting and business to do in a minute. But I do want to kick it off with one comment: Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

You know, first, I want to thank you for your leadership. I know it's -- I may not look it, but I've seen it for a while. I've been arou- -- I know I don't look like I've been around very long. I know that part. But -- but never before have I seen the nation ask so much of our military in so many parts of the world at the same time.

In Europe, you're equipping and training Ukrainian troops as they defend their freedom against Russia's vicious onslaught.

In Africa, you're working with our partners to take terrorists off the battlefield.

In the Indo-Pacific, you're building alliances with Australia, Philippines, Japan, and Republic of Korea and improving our relationship with India as well and putting our nation in the strongest position we can possibly be in.

In the Middle East, you have stepped up to defend against a range of unprecedented attacks on U.S. forces, Israel, and our partners across the region.

And I look forward to discussing -- I think you've been remarkable. I look forward to discussing all these issues this afternoon.

Next, I want to thank you for your commitment. I know last year hasn't been easy. I know, as you've faced crises abroad, you've also faced unnecessary chaos here at home: polarized politics, which I'm sure doesn't confuse you at all, but it does me sometimes; and potential shutdowns, performative stunts that impact on morale and readiness and too many military families.

But you keep going. And you keep showing every person, with the most heart to serve, you're made up of an incredible group of men and women. And -- and I know I've said it before, but I mean it -- I don't think there's any comparable counterargument -- you're the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. And that's a fact.

And, you know, I've -- I've had -- I've had a vow since I've been a young senator, and that is that, you know, we have a lot of obligations but only one -- only one overwhelming obligation: to prepare those we send into harm's way with all they need and to take care of them and their families when they come home and when they don't come home.

And you've made progress on this front as well -- over the last year, in particular.

I'm proud that, for the first time in nearly a decade, rates of sexual assault and harassment are -- within active-duty forces are down. They're down. And that's because of your leadership.

And, finally, as I said a moment ago, I know I've asked a lot of you but -- and everyone in this room, but I have one more request: Please pass along my deepest thanks to all the servicemen and women under your control and under your charge. And I really mean it.

Right now, all across the world, we're defending our nation -- they're defending it. And every day, they're risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow citizens.

So, this afternoon, I look forward to discussing a whole range of things and how I can continue to help support your needs and what you're doing for us.

So, I want to thank you again for being here. And I'm going to ask the press to leave and we get down to business.

Thank you.

Q Mr. President, why debate in June? Why do you want to debate in June? Are you worried about your position in the polls, sir?

Q President Biden --

Q Why do you want to debate so early, sir?

Q Did you see Trump says he'll do a third debate? Would you? Why not -- why not debate a third time?

Q Are you looking forward to the debates, Mr. President? Are you looking forward to the debates, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT: I am.

Come on.

Q You don't want to debate RFK, Jr.?

THE PRESIDENT:

4:46 P.M. EDT

Presidential Actions

2024-05-16

Seventy years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a unanimous decision in Brown v. Board of Education that outlawed racial segregation in our Nation's public schools, finding that "separate but equal" is "inherently unequal." That landmark decision helped us move closer to realizing the idea that defines who we are as a Nation: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. While our society has never fully lived up to that idea, we have never fully walked away from it either — and on this milestone anniversary, we promise we will not walk away from it now.

As we commemorate 70 years since Brown v. Board of Education changed our Nation, we also commemorate the important foundation that was laid in Delaware. A mother in Hockessin, joined by the parents of eight other students in Claymont, simply wanted their children to attend school and be treated with dignity and respect. Through Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart, courageous lawyers and judges in Delaware — like Louis Redding and Chancellor Collins Seitz — helped lay the legal groundwork for the Brown v. Board of Education decision to strike down the insidious doctrine of separate but equal.

Brown v. Board of Education may have opened up schools to all our Nation's students, but the fight to get these students into classrooms persisted. There were still people in power who wanted to pull America back to the past, doing everything they could to keep school doors shut to Black students. Our Nation will never forget the stories of the Little Rock Nine, the group of students who were refused entry to their local high school by the National Guard blocking the doors. We will never forget the story of Ruby Bridges, who at only six-years-old had to be escorted by United States Marshals to her elementary school because an angry mob tried to prevent her from entering. Across the country, Black students who entered newly desegregated schools endured discrimination, harassment, and racism from their peers, educators, and school administrators. Yet, these students in the face of danger returned to class again and again, backed by community and civil rights leaders who were determined to take a stand for racial justice and equity that would benefit future generations of Americans. They showed us that bravery exists in the youngest of hearts, possessing the guts and courage to stand up for the best of our country. All the while, they kept faith in our Nation and in our North Star ?- the sacred ideals at the heart of who we are.

Today, we know that the lessons learned from Brown v. Board of Education served as a catalyst for the most fundamental civil rights legislation of our time like the 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act. But while the decision in Brown v. Board of Education has allowed so many schools to develop diverse, inclusive learning communities that value empathy, kindness, and tolerance, the full potential of Brown v. Board of Education remains unfulfilled. There is still so much work to do to ensure that every student has equal access to a quality education and that our school systems fully benefit from the diversity and talent of our students — because diversity has always been one of our Nation's greatest strengths.

Since I came into office, we have prioritized making our schools more equitable. My Administration secured nearly $2 billion in additional Title I funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help provide a high-quality education to our most underserved students. Additionally, my American Rescue Plan delivered historic funding to our Nation's schools, supporting critical programs that help level the playing field like after-school and summer programs. Further, after the Supreme Court effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions, I directed the Department of Education to analyze what practices help build more inclusive and diverse student bodies. At the same time, we are making sure to tell the full truth of our Nation's history, and I am proud to have signed a bill to expand the historic sites of Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, preserving this essential history.

On this milestone anniversary, may we honor the Brown v. Board of Education decision and all the people who have fought so hard to open classroom doors to every student. It is a reminder that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed and that every generation of Americans has benefited by opening the doors of opportunity just a little bit wider to include those who have been left behind. Today, may we recognize the inherent value in having diverse, thriving schools and continue working together to build a future worthy of the dreams and aspirations of our Nation's students.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 17, 2024, as the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. I call upon Americans to honor all the civil rights leaders, activists, educators, and students who have fought for decades to make our schools more equitable and work together to realize the promise of America for every American.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Yesterday, nearly one year since the White House released the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials hosted advocates from across the country to discuss the Administration's historic efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence. Ending gender-based violence has been a cornerstone of President Biden's career—including his championing of the original Violence Against Women Act in 1994 as a U.S. Senator. As President, he has signed historic legislation to secure the highest-ever funding to support implementation of the Violence Against Women Act, expand the reach of services to underserved communities, and increase housing protections for survivors.

Participants in the convening discussed the Administration's commitment to ending gender-based violence wherever it occurs—at home, at work, in schools, in communities, and online—as well as the substantial progress that has been made towards implementing the U.S. National Plan. Participants also discussed new Administration actions aimed at addressing gender-based violence, including:

These announcements build on the Administration's previous efforts to address gender-based violence. For instance, the Administration has strengthened gender-based violence protections for Tribal communities, helped keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, restored and strengthened vital protections from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment for students, taken bold action to strengthen accountability for sexual violence in the military and advance bipartisan military justice reform, provided guidance to employers on how to prevent discrimination and make people feel safe on the job, and increased access to resources for survivors. This work is guided by the U.S. National Plan, which adopted a comprehensive, government-wide approach to end sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, online harassment and abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Participants in today's convening included:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Release of the Final Report and Blueprint of the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse. Established through a Presidential Memorandum signed by President Biden in June 2022, the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse issued a final Blueprint that outlines comprehensive actions from more than a dozen federal agencies, including enhanced protections for students, children and youth, as well as programs that represent a record investment of more than $36

million in dedicated funding to address technology-facilitated gender-based violence in the U.S. and globally.

New "Safe Leave" Options for Federal Employees. The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance for federal agencies on the use of "safe leave" to support federal employees' access to paid leave and leave without pay for purposes related to seeking safety and recovering from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The updated guidance highlights options for federal employees to take leave to obtain medical treatment, seek assistance from organizations that provide services to survivors, seek relocation, and take related legal action. Today's new guidance, consistent with a Presidential Memorandum signed by President Biden in February 2023, will help ensure that federal employees have access to leave when they need it.

Survivor-Centered Initiatives Under the Violence Against Women Act . In continuing to implement the VAWA Reauthorization Act of 2022, the Department of Justice recently announced new targeted grants and initiatives to address the intersectional needs and lived experiences of survivors. To increase additional pathways to justice for survivors, DOJ recently released a solicitation for the first-ever Restorative Practices Pilot Program to support, enhance, and expand existing restorative practice programs that prevent or address domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and build evidence for victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive restorative practices addressing these harms. DOJ also launched the Healing and Response Teams Special Initiative

to fund pilot sites using a Tribal-based model of care to respond to cases of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People related to intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and sex trafficking.

New Protections to Promote Survivor Privacy, Safety, and Economic Security. The Federal Communications Commission called on auto manufacturers and wireless service providers to help protect survivors from the misuse of connected car tools by abusers by helping ensure that smart car services are not being used to stalk, harass, or intimidate survivors of domestic violence. FCC then issued a proposed rule to that effect, which follows a separate FCC rule that allows a survivor of domestic abuse to separate a mobile phone line from an account with an abuser. The Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service will also issue new guidance implementing a provision of SECURE

2.0 Act of 2022 affirming that survivors of domestic abuse may qualify to receive penalty-free distributions from an employer-sponsored retirement plan to provide additional flexibility for a survivor who may need access to funds to, for instance, support relocation. The distribution from the retirement plan is included in gross income, unless the amount is subsequently repaid to the plan or rolled over to an Individual Retirement Account, but it is not subject to the 10% penalty tax that normally applies to an early distribution.

These announcements build on the Administration's previous efforts to address gender-based violence. For instance, the Administration has strengthened gender-based violence protections for Tribal communities, helped keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers, restored and strengthened vital protections from sexual violence and other sex-based harassment for students, taken bold action to strengthen accountability for sexual violence in the military and advance bipartisan military justice reform, provided guidance to employers on how to prevent discrimination and make people feel safe on the job, and increased access to resources for survivors. This work is guided by the U.S. National Plan, which adopted a comprehensive, government-wide approach to end sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, online harassment and abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence.

Participants in today's convening included:

Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council

Jessica Rosenworcel, Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission

Charlotte Burrows, Chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Rosie Hidalgo, Director of the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women

Robert Shriver, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management

Lynn Rosenthal, Director of Sexual Violence and Gender-Based Violence at the Department of Health and Human Services

Catherine Powell, Senior Advisor for Gender-Based Violence of the Gender Policy Council

Mary Anne Franks, President and Legislative & Tech Policy Director of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, and Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor in Intellectual Property, Technology, and Civil Rights Law, George Washington University Law School

The event was livestreamed and the recording can be found here .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Canada and the United States are pleased to announce the renewal of the bilateral Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force for an additional year.

In August 2022, President Biden set the United States, and the world, on an ambitious new course to grow the clean economy and create good jobs by signing the Inflation Reduction Actinto law. Already, the Inflation Reduction Acthas created more than 170,000 clean energy jobs that are helping the United States meet its climate goals and strengthen energy security. Canada has also taken recent action to implement its cornerstone C$93 billion suite of major economic investment tax credits for a clean economy to ensure Canadian workers remain at the forefront of the global race to net-zero. Canada hopes that four of its major economic investment tax credits will pass into law by this summer. Together, Canada and the United States are building our shared supply chains to enable the net-zero transition to create more new opportunities for workers in a way that is shared by all.

In March 2023, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau launched the one-year ETTF to accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains, including: security and strengthening renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, critical minerals, grid integration and resilience, nuclear energy, and other areas to advance our collective energy security. Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and White House Senior Advisor to the President Amos Hochstein, in partnership with departments and ministries in both countries, the inaugural ETTF meeting took place in May 2023.

Through the ETTF, Canada and the United States have advanced shared priorities to deploy clean energy solutions at scale and support the development of critical mineral and civil nuclear supply chains that will fuel the development of an integrated, North American industry capable of supporting the energy transition in our respective countries and around the world.

To date, the ETTF has accelerated several accomplishments in these sectors, including:

Convening a Canada-U.S. industry roundtable during the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in March 2024;

Promoting uptake of strong environmental, social, and governance standards through government-industry collaboration;

Multilaterally pledging at COP 28 to facilitate government-led investment in nuclear enrichment and conversion capacity; and

Supporting the deployment of civil nuclear energy in Romania with collaborative financing.

Expanding Cooperation on Critical Minerals

Today, Canada and the United States jointly announced the first co-investments targeting the development of strategic critical mineral deposits in Canada. Two Canadian companies have received funding to advance the resilient development of North American critical mineral supply chains.

The U.S. Department of Defense, via the Defense Production Act Investment Office, announced US$14.8 million in awards to Canadian companies Fortune Minerals Limited and Lomiko Metals, Inc. . The Department of Natural Resources Canada also announced complementary funding of up to C$7.5 million to Fortune and C$4.9 million to Lomiko under the C$3.8 billion Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. This investment builds on previous funding provided by the Government of Canada to these two companies to build resilient supply chains and drive clean economic growth.

These announcements by the United States and Canada demonstrate our commitment to implementing a joint vision of developing sustainable, integrated critical mineral supply chains that will serve North American advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense sectors.

Developing Resilient and Innovative Civil Nuclear Supply Chains

The ETTF has promoted the deployment of safe, zero-carbon nuclear energy and the enhancement of secure nuclear fuel supply chains, particularly through the participation of the U.S. and Canada in the multilateral pledge made at COP28 to mobilize US$4.2 billion in government-led investment in enrichment and conversion capacity over the next three years aiming to catalyze private sector finance. The United States and Canada pledged to make 2024 the year of implementation and work jointly to support the development of complementary nuclear supply chain capacities sufficient to support our industries and establish a resilient North American nuclear supply chain free from Russian influence.

In February, Canada issued a 10-year, C$4 billion green bond, which was the world's first sovereign green bond to include certain nuclear expenditures, affirming Canada's commitment to serving as a global nuclear leader. Canada continues to engage industry and international partners to enable the announcement of concrete measures later this spring to further advance nuclear energy and bolster North American nuclear fuel supply chains.

This year, President Biden signed into law a series of actions that will secure our energy resources and support U.S. and allied leadership in the nuclear sector, including reauthorizing up to US$800 million for two small modular reactor deployments this decade and up to US$2.72 billion to jumpstart uranium enrichment services in the United States. The United States and Canada look forward to working together to leverage these historic investments and further strengthen ties between our industries.

Decarbonizing Steel and Aluminum

Canada and the United States are making significant investments to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and support good-paying union jobs that strengthen North American manufacturing competitiveness. In this context, and noting the integrated nature of our steel and aluminum supply chains, both countries recognize that steel and aluminum are essential materials to grow the clean economy, and will continue to collaborate to promote U.S.-Canada trade in green steel and aluminum.

Looking to the Year Ahead

Over the coming year, the United States and Canada will work to amplify areas of common priority and agreement from the ETTF in our bilateral and multilateral engagements focused on the clean energy transformation, including through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment and Canada's upcoming role as host of the G7 in 2025. In particular, our countries look forward to capitalizing on significant, recent investments our two sides have made in the nuclear fuel cycle and intend to work closely with industry to strengthen cooperation on secure and resilient nuclear supply chains.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Canada and the United States are pleased to announce the renewal of the bilateral Canada-U.S. Energy Transformation Task Force [ETTF] for an additional year.

In August 2022, President Biden set the United States, and the world, on an ambitious new course to grow the clean economy and create good jobs by signing the Inflation Reduction Actinto law. Already, the Inflation Reduction Acthas created more than 170,000 clean energy jobs that are helping the United States meet its climate goals and strengthen energy security. Canada has also taken recent action to implement its cornerstone C$93 billion [US$69 billion] suite of major economic investment tax credits for a clean economy to ensure Canadian workers remain at the forefront of the global race to net-zero. Canada hopes that four of its major economic investment tax credits will pass into law by this summer. Together, Canada and the United States are building our shared supply chains to enable the net-zero transition to create more new opportunities for workers in a way that is shared by all.

In March 2023, President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau launched the one-year ETTF to accelerate cooperation on critical clean energy opportunities and supply chains, including: security and strengthening renewable energy and electric vehicle supply chains, critical minerals, grid integration and resilience, nuclear energy, and other areas to advance our collective energy security. Under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and White House Senior Advisor to the President Amos Hochstein, in partnership with departments and ministries in both countries, the inaugural ETTF meeting took place in May 2023.

Through the ETTF, Canada and the United States have advanced shared priorities to deploy clean energy solutions at scale and support the development of critical mineral and civil nuclear supply chains that will fuel the development of an integrated, North American industry capable of supporting the energy transition in our respective countries and around the world.

To date, the ETTF has accelerated several accomplishments in these sectors, including:

Expanding Cooperation on Critical Minerals

Today, Canada and the United States jointly announced the first co-investments targeting the development of strategic critical mineral deposits in Canada. Two Canadian companies have received funding to advance the resilient development of North American critical mineral supply chains.

The U.S. Department of Defense, via the Defense Production Act Investment Office, announced US$14.8 million [C$20 million] in awards to Canadian companies Fortune Minerals Limited ["Fortune"] and Lomiko Metals, Inc. ["Lomiko"]. The Department of Natural Resources Canada also announced complementary funding of up to C$7.5 million [US$5.6 million] to Fortune and C$4.9 million [US$3.6 million] to Lomiko under the C$3.8 billion [US$2.8 billion] Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. This investment builds on previous funding provided by the Government of Canada to these two companies to build resilient supply chains and drive clean economic growth.

These announcements by the United States and Canada demonstrate our commitment to implementing a joint vision of developing sustainable, integrated critical mineral supply chains that will serve North American advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defense sectors.

Developing Resilient and Innovative Civil Nuclear Supply Chains

The ETTF has promoted the deployment of safe, zero-carbon nuclear energy and the enhancement of secure nuclear fuel supply chains, particularly through the participation of the U.S. and Canada in the multilateral pledge made at COP28 to mobilize US$4.2 billion [C$5.7 billion] in government-led investment in enrichment and conversion capacity over the next three years aiming to catalyze private sector finance. The United States and Canada pledged to make 2024 the year of implementation and work jointly to support the development of complementary nuclear supply chain capacities sufficient to support our industries and establish a resilient North American nuclear supply chain free from Russian influence.

In February, Canada issued a 10-year, C$4 billion [US$3 billion] green bond, which was the world's first sovereign green bond to include certain nuclear expenditures, affirming Canada's commitment to serving as a global nuclear leader. Canada continues to engage industry and international partners to enable the announcement of concrete measures later this spring to further advance nuclear energy and bolster North American nuclear fuel supply chains.

This year, President Biden signed into law a series of actions that will secure our energy resources and support U.S. and allied leadership in the nuclear sector, including reauthorizing up to US$800 million [C$1.08 billion] for two small modular reactor deployments this decade and up to US$2.72 billion [C$3.7 billion] to jumpstart uranium enrichment services in the United States. The United States and Canada look forward to working together to leverage these historic investments and further strengthen ties between our industries.

Decarbonizing Steel and Aluminum

Canada and the United States are making significant investments to decarbonize energy-intensive industries and support good-paying union jobs that strengthen North American manufacturing competitiveness. In this context, and noting the integrated nature of our steel and aluminum supply chains, both countries recognize that steel and aluminum are essential materials to grow the clean economy, and will continue to collaborate to promote U.S.-Canada trade in green steel and aluminum.

Looking to the Year Ahead

Over the coming year, the United States and Canada will work to amplify areas of common priority and agreement from the ETTF in our bilateral and multilateral engagements focused on the clean energy transformation, including through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment and Canada's upcoming role as host of the G7 in 2025. In particular, our countries look forward to capitalizing on significant, recent investments our two sides have made in the nuclear fuel cycle and intend to work closely with industry to strengthen cooperation on secure and resilient nuclear supply chains.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

Since taking office, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have moved with urgency to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to spur innovation and advance opportunity, while also taking action to ensure workers share in these gains. As part of these efforts, President Biden's landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence directed the Department of Labor to establish a set of key principles that protect workers and ensure they have a seat at the table in determining how these technologies are developed and used. The Biden-Harris Administration is today unveiling these principles and announcing that technology companies Microsoft and Indeed have committed to adopt these principles as appropriate to their workplace.

Pursuant to President Biden's landmark Executive Order, the following principles apply to the development and deployment of AI systems in the workplace:

These principles should be considered during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing. The principles are applicable to all sectors and intended to be mutually reinforcing, though not all principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace. The principles are not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a guiding framework for businesses. AI developers and employers should review and customize the best practices based on their own context and with input from workers. The Administration welcomes additional commitments from other technology companies who wish to adopt these principles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

Since taking office, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have moved with urgency to harness the potential of artificial intelligence to spur innovation and advance opportunity, while also taking action to ensure workers share in these gains. As part of these efforts, President Biden's landmark Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence directed the Department of Labor to establish a set of key principles that protect workers and ensure they have a seat at the table in determining how these technologies are developed and used. The Biden-Harris Administration is today unveiling these principles and announcing that technology companies Microsoft and Indeed have committed to adopt these principles as appropriate to

their workplace.

Pursuant to President Biden's landmark Executive Order, the following principles apply to the development and deployment of AI systems in the workplace:

Centering Worker Empowerment: Workers and their representatives, especially those from underserved communities, should be informed of and have genuine input in the design, development, testing, training, use, and oversight of AI systems for use in the workplace.

Ethically Developing AI: AI systems should be designed, developed, and trained in a way that protects workers.

Establishing AI Governance and Human Oversight: Organizations should have clear governance systems, procedures, human oversight, and evaluation processes for AI systems for use in the workplace.

Ensuring Transparency in AI Use: Employers should be transparent with workers and job seekers about the AI systems that are being used in the workplace.

Protecting Labor and Employment Rights: AI systems should not violate or undermine workers' right to organize, health and safety rights, wage and hour rights, and anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation protections.

Using AI to Enable Workers: AI systems should assist, complement, and enable workers, and improve job quality.

Supporting Workers Impacted by AI: Employers should support or upskill workers during job transitions related to AI.

Ensuring Responsible Use of Worker Data: Workers' data collected, used, or created by AI systems should be limited in scope and location, used only to support legitimate business aims, and protected and handled responsibly.

These principles should be considered during the whole lifecycle of AI – from design to development, testing, training, deployment and use, oversight, and auditing. The principles are applicable to all sectors and intended to be mutually reinforcing, though not all principles will apply to the same extent in every industry or workplace. The principles are not intended to be an exhaustive list but instead a guiding framework for businesses. AI developers and employers should review and customize the best practices based on their own context and with input from workers. The Administration welcomes additional commitments from other technology companies who wish to adopt these principles.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 16, 2024

President Biden's Investing in America agenda has catalyzed an American clean energy manufacturing and deployment boom. Through the President's Inflation Reduction Act, incentives for manufacturing and deployment of clean energy, including incentives for domestically-manufactured solar products, have driven a historic surge in solar installations and announcements of new U.S. solar module and component manufacturing. The silicon solar cell was invented and demonstrated in the U.S. at Bell Labs in 1956, and the U.S. led the world in solar innovation and manufacturing for decades. China's anticompetitive subsidization and trade practices, however, decimated the U.S. solar manufacturing industry in the 2000 s and 2010 s. Recently, as solar manufacturing has made a comeback in the U.S. thanks to President Biden's leadership, China has further ramped up solar overcapacity, dumping artificially cheap modules and components onto the global market and circumventing trade enforcement measures in an

attempt to put other countries' manufacturers out of business.

Since President Biden took office, companies have announced more than $17 billion and 335 gigawatts of manufacturing investment throughout the solar supply chain, with enough announced investment in solar modules to power 18 million homes. Announced solar module manufacturing capacity has grown to more than 125 gigawatts, compared to 7 gigawatts of manufacturing capacity before passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. American manufacturing is powering a boom in solar deployment, which has doubled since President Biden took office and reached record highs last year, with 32.4 gigawatts of solar capacity installed in 2023, a more than 50 percent increase over 2022 installations.

President Biden believes that American workers and manufacturers can compete with anyone--as long as the competition is fair. Earlier this week, the Biden-Harris Administration directed the U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on $18 billion of imports from China to protect American workers and businesses – including by doubling the tariff rate on solar cells and modules from 25% to 50%.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing new actions to strengthen American solar manufacturing and protect businesses and workers from China's unfair trade actions:

Removal of the bifacial module exclusion under Section 201. Bifacial solar panels generally used in utility-scale solar projects are not currently subject to safeguard tariffs under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. Since this exclusion was implemented by the previous Administration, imports of bifacial panels have surged, now making up nearly all U.S. solar panel imports and undercutting the effectiveness of the Section 201 safeguard. Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing that it plans to imminently remove this exclusion, which will offer U.S. solar manufacturers increased Section 201 tariff protection from unfair imports. Importers with pre-existing contracts for bifacial solar modules to be delivered within 90 days of the removal of the exclusion will be able to certify those contracts to continue using the exclusion for that period.

Ending the solar bridge and cracking down on stockpiling. In June 2022, President Biden initiated a temporary, 24-month bridge to facilitate certain imports from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam duty-free to ensure robust deployment while the domestic solar manufacturing base ramped up. Since then, U.S. solar manufacturing and deployment have both grown dramatically. As the President has previously committed, the bridge will end as scheduled on June 6, 2024, and producers in Southeast Asia that have been found to be circumventing antidumping and countervailing duties on solar manufacturers from the People's Republic of China will be subject to those duties. Additionally, in implementing the solar bridge, the Department of Commerce requires that panels imported duty-free must be installed within 180 days to prevent stockpiling. Customs and Border Protection has announced that it will vigorously enforce this provision, including by requiring importers to provide to CBP

a certification of solar module utilization with detailed information about the modules being deployed.

Monitoring import surges and oversupply. Imports of solar modules from Southeast Asia, where PRC manufacturers have been found to be circumventing antidumping and countervailing duties, have surged over the last year. PRC companies have recently built new capacity in these countries, targeting the U.S. market. The Department of Energy and the Department of Commerce will closely monitor import patterns to ensure the U.S. market does not become oversaturated and will explore all available measures to take action against unfair practices.

Providing additional guidance on the domestic content bonus. The Inflation Reduction Act contains a bonus tax credit available to developers of clean energy projects that meet certain statutory requirements for sourcing iron and steel products and manufactured products from domestic producers. Today, the Department of Treasury is issuing further guidance concerning the domestic content bonus to enable more clean energy developers and manufacturers in the U.S. to take advantage of the bonus. While the domestic content bonus is already driving partnerships between developers and manufacturers in the U.S., stakeholders have raised concerns about challenges in determining eligibility. Today's Notice creates a new elective safe harbor that gives clean energy developers the option of relying on Department of Energy-provided default cost percentages to determine bonus eligibility. Treasury and IRS continue to consider stakeholder comments and plan to issue further domestic content guidance to

address issues not in the scope of this guidance, including adding further sectors, including offshore wind, to the new elective safe harbor table and issuing proposed rules for projects using elective pay . In particular, Treasury and IRS, with DOE and other agencies, continue to evaluate potential options to further the IRA's goal of incentivizing U.S. solar manufacturing, including solar wafer production.

Supporting technology development to onshore solar wafer and cell manufacturing. The Department of Energy is announcing more than $70 million in research and development selections to seed new technologies across the solar supply chain. Funding from the President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enable new entrants to the solar manufacturing market to establish their technologies and access more capital. The 18 selected projects will address gaps in the domestic solar manufacturing supply chain , including equipment, ingots and wafers, and silicon and thin-film solar cell manufacturing , and open new markets for solar technologies like integrated-photovoltaics and agrivoltaics.

Managing the tariff-rate quota for solar cells under Section 201 to support expanded solar manufacturing. Currently, there is a 5-gigawatt tariff-rate quota for imported solar cells under Section 201. The Administration will closely monitor the level of imported solar cells used to manufacture panels in the U.S. and will work to raise the quota by 7.5-gigawatts if imports approach the current quota level, to ensure domestic module manufacturing continues to grow while manufacturers scale production throughout the supply chain.

These actions follow a series of Biden-Harris Administration initiatives to support solar manufacturing and deployment.

$7 billion in selections for Solar for All grants. In April, the Environmental Protection Agency announced grantees for its Solar for All competition under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created by President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Solar for All grantees will serve all 50 states and the U.S. territories, as well as Tribal nations, to expand cost-cutting residential solar solutions to at least 900,000 low-income households and save families an average of $400 per year on their utility bills.

Expanded eligibility for Energy Communities bonus credit. In March, the Department of Treasury and the IRS issued additional guidance for the bonus credit, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, for clean energy generation projects placed in service in communities that have historically been reliant on fossil fuel jobs. The additional guidance extends bonus eligibility to areas of the country where there are approximately 100 more planned utility-scale solar projects, helping to drive greater future clean energy investment into energy communities.

Support for solar component manufacturing. In April, the Department of Energy released information provided by recipients of 48 C Advanced Energy Projects credits who voluntarily consented to have their project details shared publicly. Out of $4 billion in allocations, projects representing approximately $1.9 billion in allocations volunteered to have information shared , including Highland Materials, Inc., which received $255.6 million to produce solar-grade polysilicon in Tennessee's coal country and SOLARCYCLE, Inc., which received $64 million to produce solar glass in Georgia. The second round of $6 billion in 48 C funding is currently.

Developing solar energy on America's public lands. In April, the Department of the Interior finalized regulations that will ensure America's public lands play a vital role in the clean energy economy by lowering the cost of developing solar and wind projects and improving permitting application processes for renewable energy projects. The Department also announced that more than 10 gigawatts of clean energy are currently being generated on public lands with the completion of two new solar projects, and that the Administration has surpassed its target to permit at least 25 gigawatts of clean energy by 2025 – enough clean energy to power more than 12 million homes across the country.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May/ 15 / 2024

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from September 11 to September 13, 2023.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Bristol and Worcester.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire commonwealth.

Robert V. Fogel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at , by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App . Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service , captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV .

Presidential Actions

2024-05-15

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding from September 11 to September 13, 2023.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Bristol and Worcester.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire commonwealth.

Robert V. Fogel of the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the commonwealth and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA [3362], or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service [VRS], captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT [202] 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

Thursday, May 16, 2024

At 10:15 AM ET, the Vice President will depart Washington, DC en route to Milwaukee, WI. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 11:10 AM CT, the Vice President will arrive in Milwaukee, WI. This arrival at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 12:40 PM CT, the Vice President will continue her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour by participating in a moderated conversation with comedian, radio show host, and author DL Hughley. This discussion in Milwaukee, WI will be pooled press, open to pre-credentialed media, and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

At 2:25 PM CT, the Vice President will depart Milwaukee, WI en route to Chicago, IL. This departure from Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport will be pooled press.

At 3:15 PM CT, the Vice President will arrive in Chicago, IL. This arrival at Chicago O'Hare International Airport will be pooled press.

At 4:40 PM CT, the Vice President will participate in a campaign event.

At 5:55 PM CT, the Vice President will depart Chicago, IL en route to Washington, DC. This departure from Chicago O'Hare International Airport will be pooled press.

At 8:30 PM ET, the Vice President will arrive in Washington, DC. This arrival at Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

At 3:00 PM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will deliver remarks at a political event in Marquette, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 5:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at Chippewa County International Airport in Kincheloe, Michigan. This arrival will be open to pre-credentialed media and registration is closed.

At 6:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a community event with the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, May 16 th, at 12:00 PM ET. The event will be livestreamed here .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2022

Today, the President and Vice President released their annual public financial disclosure reports to the American people.

These public filings help to prevent financial conflicts of interest by providing transparency about the assets of government officials.

Information about these finances are reported through annual disclosures, which are reviewed and certified by the independent Office of Government Ethics. Neither the President nor the Vice President have any conflicts of interest.

The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires high-level federal officials to publicly disclose their personal financial interests on OGE Form 278 and the President and Vice President are pleased to do so.

View the President's financial disclosure report here .

View the Vice President's financial disclosure report here .

The financial disclosure reports of White House officials are also available here . Additional reports will be added on a rolling basis.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

As we celebrate two years since the launch of the Global Health Worker Initiative , the United States continues to demonstrate our commitment to global health and to the global health workforce, providing more than $10.5 billion in global health program funding with Fiscal Year 2023 funds. Recognizing that strategic and sustained investments in health workers are critical to overcoming the setbacks from COVID-19 and to achieving sustained progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals , the United States contributes more than $1.5 billion annually to support health workers and strengthen the health workforce globally through our bilateral health programs, such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief , the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative , and global health security programs. For the first time in FY24, USAID is receiving $10 million in new funding to support the GHWI and the President's 2025 Budget requested $20 million to build on this

important work.

All countries, including the United States, must take action now to be prepared for the next pandemic and to achieve the health-related SDG targets, which include ending HIV, tuberculosis , and malaria as a public health threat by 2030, achieving universal health coverage and access to essential health services, and preventing child and maternal deaths.

Health care workers need safe, healthy, supportive working environments to do their jobs – yet across the globe, health workers have to operate in increasingly difficult, even dangerous conditions with limited protections of their rights. Far too many health workers face inadequate pay, safeguards, and equipment, and lack access to mental health and psychosocial support services, and, in many cases, health workers face harassment and violence with targeted attacks on the rise. These challenges have a disproportionate impact on women, who represent 70% of the health workforce, which further hinders women's economic security.

Through the GHWI, the United States has partnered with countries and communities around the world to support efforts to build a stronger health workforce and make health workers safer and better equipped to provide high-quality care.

PILLAR 1: PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING HEALTH WORKERS

The United States has invested in efforts to protect and support health workers around the world so that they can continue providing services safely while also taking care of their well-being.

The United States supports global efforts to monitor a growing number of attacks on health workers. The U.S. Agency for International Development supported the operation of the World Health Organization's Surveillance System for Attacks on Health Care to document and disseminate data on attacks on health workers across countries experiencing complex humanitarian emergencies. Since January 1, 2024, this WHO website has documented 395 attacks in 12 countries and territories, resulting in 160 deaths and 267 injuries of health workers.

The United States is supporting efforts to address workplace safety concerns in health settings. In Ukraine, over the past year, USAID has helped safeguard health workers while maintaining access to health care following the Russian invasion through adoption of innovative telemedicine solutions, including the training of 724 health and information technology workers and the facilitation of 2,130 technical support sessions. As a result, health workers have provided over 10,000 telemedicine visits following the training. In addition, the CDC supported training of laboratory staff in infection prevention and control practices in Uganda, upgraded and certified biosafety cabinets in Senegal, and supported disease-specific testing for numerous disease outbreaks, including support for molecular serotype testing for dengue during an active outbreak in Bangladesh.

PILLAR 2: EXPANDING THE GLOBAL HEALTH WORKFORCE AND ACCELERATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The United States is continuing efforts to create career pathways, improve labor protections, and expand opportunities for paid employment for health workers, including community health workers to address systemic barriers and to close critical skill gaps.

The United States has launched new effort to improve working conditions and encourage fair labor standards. Through USAID's Gender Equity and Quality Fund, USAID established its first partnership with a global union federation to advance the representation and rights of health and care workers. This multi-country activity strengthens health and care workers' organizations, and health worker leaders that advocate for improved working conditions, safeguards, and equitable employment in Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ghana, and Philippines. This work advances women's economic security by addressing key barriers that disproportionately impact women who are more likely to be employed in the health sector, by encouraging fair labor standards and social protections. In addition, USAID, together with UNICEF, WHO and other global and regional partners, launched the Community Health Delivery Partnership to build a common country-led, data-driven agenda to improve alignment,

high-level advocacy, and accountability focusing on community health workers' status, rights, and protections. To date, the partnership has mobilized over 500 participants from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Uganda, and Philippines.

The United States provides critical support to health workers who provide essential HIV, TB, and malaria services. PEPFAR helps fund salaries for critical health staff in more than 55 countries where the United States supports the expansion and continuation of HIV and TB services--this includes more than 346,000 doctors and medical officers, nurses and midwives, social workers, laboratory staff, pharmacists, public health professionals, and community health workers and other community-based cadres. PEPFAR also supports health workforce management and policies, health workforce training, recruitment, and retention, and human resources information systems. Over the past year, PMI provided training, supervision, and equipment to approximately 100,000 community health workers across Africa and southeast Asia. This support enables community health workers to deliver case management of malaria at the community level, most often through integrated platforms that enable treatment of other

common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

The Peace Corps, through its Advancing Health Professionals Program, has recruited and deployed U.S. health professionals to (1) train health workers in clinical pharmacy and pharmacognosy at the University of Malawi College of Medicine; (2) provide training in medical-surgical nursing to third-year nursing students to advance the primary health care system in Uganda; (3) design the Emergency Medical Care professional courses curriculum for undergraduates in Eswatini; (4) train nurse practitioners to treat more complex diseases in Liberia; and (5) train local providers of HIV treatment for indigenous populations in Panama.

Skilled public health workers are essential to rapidly detect and respond to disease outbreaks. CDC's Field Epidemiology Training Program builds global health workforce capacity in countries around the world by better equipping health workers to meet population health needs. When avian influenza A H5 N1 resurfaced in 2023, CDC's FETP-trained health workers in Cambodia swiftly joined an international investigation team from various sectors, including the World Health Organization and United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization , to address this highly pathogenic virus of international concern. Their expertise played a pivotal role in the rapid response and implementation of disease control measures during the outbreak, underscoring the critical contribution of health workforce development programs to global health security and improving health threat management on a global scale.

The United States is working to ensure that a strong health workforce is part of building a strong primary health care system. Through Primary Impact, USAID is working to accelerate essential health care provision by supporting country-led plans to strengthen primary health care and investing in the health workforce in seven countries, including Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, Indonesia and the Philippines. In early 2024, Primary Impact programs expanded to India, Madagascar, Rwanda, Uganda, and Vietnam. In Kenya, USAID has supported the establishment of 108 Primary Health Care Networks across 25 counties, supporting the rollout of multidisciplinary health teams and a new community health promoter cadre who are equipped with digital devices that link to an electronic community health information system.

CDC supports the Stop Transmission of Polio Program, in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF to augment and build capacity of the immunization workforce in the most difficult settings. This program recruits and trains international public health experts and deploys them to countries around the world to strengthen national immunization surveillance programs, support supplemental immunization activities, respond to disease outbreaks, and help support polio eradication. During the past year, CDC trained and deployed 61 experts, while also supporting the activities of an additional 120 experts already trained and deployed in 32 countries.

PILLAR 3: ADVANCING EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Over the past year, the United States has supported efforts to build a more diverse health workforce and health leadership and advance training opportunities for career growth and workforce retention. This has included increasing partnerships and efforts to build capacity for the roles of local community and faith-based organizations as service providers to populations that are under-served and most vulnerable.

The United States has increased its investment in nurses, who serve as the backbone of patient care. In March, PEPFAR launched a Nursing Leadership Initiative in Botswana, Côte d'Ivoire, Eswatini, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia. Through the initiative, PEPFAR is providing $8 million in 2024 to support nurses at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS response. This initiative aims to: (1) enhance nurses' skill sets to lead planning and delivery of HIV/AIDS-related services; (2) help nurses to identify, advocate, and leverage innovative digital solutions to enhance quality service delivery; (3) protect nurses by enhancing their infection prevention and control skills, providing supportive work environments, and supporting mental health needs; (4) invest in the development, retention, and equitable distribution of the nursing workforce; and (6) enhance nurses' communications and leadership skill sets.

The United States builds capacity of community and faith-based partners who play a critical role in the delivery of health services. Through New Partnerships Initiatives investments, USAID worked with local community and faith-based partners in Pakistan, Malawi, South Sudan, Kenya and Haiti to train community health workers and volunteers to conduct community outreach to advance social and behavior change among youth, women and men in underserved and hard-to-reach communities. Community health worker and volunteer efforts led to improved community awareness of available services and increased use of locally available family planning and maternal health services.

The United States has partnered with HBCUs to train at-risk adolescents to work in health-related fields. The Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities Global Health Consortium , partnered with the Government of Malawi to train and employ adolescent girls and young women as Disease Control Surveillance Assistants. With funding from PEPFAR, this partnership has recruited and trained 220 graduates of the DREAMS Program for AGYW from the three districts with the highest rates of new HIV infections among AGYW – 98 percent of these graduates have been retained and are currently employed providing essential primary health and HIV services with a special focus on AGYW health needs.

The Department of Defense has worked to combat stigma and discrimination in military health services. Since 2018, the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program has led a comprehensive initiative to combat stigma and discrimination in military health services across over 30 countries. This effort has resulted in the establishment of Codes of Conduct in more than twenty Ministries of Defense Health Facilities, driving policy adjustments within MODs to enable service members to serve and deploy on Peacekeeping Missions without bias. With DHAPP's support, healthcare workers are now providing stigma-free healthcare, fostering inclusivity and support within both military and civilian communities.

The United States is training health workers in equity research. As the largest funder of health research in the world, the National Institutes of Health has trained more than 7500 researchers in more than 130 countries since 1989 through the Fogarty International Center . In the past year, NIH has supported neurology research in Zambia and 8 centers to undertake collaborative cancer research through the Global Training for Research and Equity in Cancer program. Research training topics include cancer genetics, epidemiology, bioinformatics, clinical research, and implementation research.

PILLAR 4: DRIVING AND INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND INNOVATION

Over the past year, the United States has continued to expand digital strategies that equip health workers to provide more efficient, quality-integrated service delivery, including telehealth services that can expand the reach of health services to remote, underserved and marginalized communities.

CDC has developed two health informatics training programs: GEEKS , a tiered training to apply skills to improve vaccine coverage and strengthen disease surveillance systems; and I-LEAD , a leadership program that enables participants to develop and implement digital health solutions. Over the past year, GEEKS has trained more than 400 participants and implemented 29 projects, while I-LEAD has trained more than 194 participants from 20 countries.

PMI invests in digital decision-making and data-collection tools for community health workers. These tools can improve the quality of care and job performance by health workers while generating data to identify underserved populations, document program impact on morbidity and mortality, and better forecast commodity needs. Through PMI's digital community health initiative, digital community health assessments were conducted in 27 PMI partner countries. During the past year, activities identified in these initial assessments were implemented in 8 countries, including support for a community electronic medical record system in Rwanda and a community health worker registry in Zambia.

Virtual learning strategies can now reach the most difficult and remote settings. The United States has supported Project ECHO, a model in which health workers participate in a virtual community of practice with their peers where they share knowledge, experience and feedback. Project ECHO has programs in more than 80 countries with attendees in many more and has reached more than two million health workers with these trainings. While these efforts started prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Project ECHO provided an essential lifeline when many countries were locked down, and this initiative has continued to expand post-COVID. In many settings, virtual engagements have replaced or augmented costly in-person trainings, and the model has well-demonstrated impact. For example, the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program supports Project ECHO in 46 countries, including advanced clinical HIV training sessions in 16 countries. U.S. agencies have also funded Project ECHO to

train health workers on COVID-19, public health emergency management, tuberculosis , One Health, infection prevention and control, antimicrobial resistance, and laboratory skills.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

PILLAR 1: PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING HEALTH WORKERS
The United States has invested in efforts to protect and support health workers around the world so that they can continue providing services safely while also taking care of their well-being.

PILLAR 2: EXPANDING THE GLOBAL HEALTH WORKFORCE AND ACCELERATING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The United States is continuing efforts to create career pathways, improve labor protections, and expand opportunities for paid employment for health workers, including community health workers to address systemic barriers and to close critical skill gaps.

PILLAR 3: ADVANCING EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Over the past year, the United States has supported efforts to build a more diverse health workforce and health leadership and advance training opportunities for career growth and workforce retention. This has included increasing partnerships and efforts to build capacity for the roles of local community and faith-based organizations as service providers to populations that are under-served and most vulnerable.

PILLAR 4: DRIVING AND INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND INNOVATION
Over the past year, the United States has continued to expand digital strategies that equip health workers to provide more efficient, quality-integrated service delivery, including telehealth services that can expand the reach of health services to remote, underserved and marginalized communities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

AT THE NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL SERVICE

U.S. Capitol

Washington, D.C.

12:21 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: President Yoes, Auxiliary President Hennie, Auxiliary President Lehmann, Executive Director and good friend Jimmy Pasco, thank you for your service to our nation and for inviting me to join you once again today.

I'd also like to thank the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General Monaco and -- as well the deputy of -- the Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas; and the Director of the FBI; Secret Service; Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the U.S. Capitol Police for their leadership.

We're also joined by my good friend, Wade Carpenter, president of the Chiefs of Police, and Ed Kelly, president of the firefighters' union.

And thank you, members of the Congress who are here today.

Two weeks ago, I was in Charlotte, North Carolina, to spend some time with the families of the eight brave police officers who were shot in the line of duty. Tragically, four of them were killed. They were husbands, fathers, heroes.

And all of you who serve and for your families left behind, you live a cho- -- a simple truth: Every time you put on that shield and walk out of the house, your family wonders if that call will come or if they'll get that terrible call somewhere during the day or night. We owe you as a nation.

This year, we honor ov- -- over 200 heroic women and men from all across the law enforcement community who made the ultimate sacrifice.

For all the families of our fallen officers, I know hearing the name of your husband, wife, father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister brings it all back as if you got that news just 10 minutes ago. That black hole in the middle of your chest -- you feel like you're being sucked into. It's like losing part of your soul.

I know. When my son Beau spent a year in Iraq, he came home with stage four glioblastoma and was going to die, and he did. I know what it's like. I get a feeling that you all know, as well, who have lost in the past. You know, I found out there is only one thing -- at least for me, when my -- got the call that my wife and daughter were dead; when I got the call my son was about to die -- I know the only one thing that helped: family.

If you have family, hold them tight. Hold on to each other, because the day will come -- it's hard to believe -- when the thought of your husband or your wife or your son or your daughter will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It takes a long time, but it will come. My wish for you: It'll come sooner than later.

There is a line from the English poet John Milton. He said, "They also serve who only stand and wait." Every family of an officer stands and waits so their loved one can serve the rest of us.

I admire your courage in being here. And I hope you take comfort in the knowledge that their sacrifice will never be forgotten and then, in this extended family of women and men assembled here today, who will always be there for you -- other police officers, they'll always be there for you.

Throughout my career, I've unfortunately spoken at too many funerals of too many police officers -- extraordinary, brave, heroic public servants who kept us safe. Being a police officer is not just what you do; it's who you are.

You're just like all the women and men in law enforcement I grew up with in Scranton and Claymont, Delaware. You always run toward danger as others run away from it. Most of you, even when you were kids, you did it, long before you became an officer. You run toward the cries for help knowing that you could be of help. It's part of your DNA to serve, to protect, to defend.

You represent the very best of America. You're the steel spine of this country.

Back in February, I convened a group of police chiefs at the White House to talk about the hard work you're doing to make our communities safer.

Being a cop is one hell of a lot harder than it's ever been. We expect everything of you. We expect everyone -- drug counselors, you're supposed to be, protecting people who are overdosing; social workers to kids who have been abandoned; guardians in communities flooded with weapons of fear.

That's why, since day one of my presidency, I've been working to make sure you have the tools you need to protect, the partners you need, and the community to help.

During the pandemic, I signed the American Rescue Plan that provided $350 billion to states and cities that they could use to keep communities safe, retain and hire more police officers, pay overtime and bonuses, expand benefits for disabled first responders, and support [DEL: violent :DEL] [violence] prevention strategies.

Places like Detroit, Toledo, Kansas City, Houston put more cops on the beat. It was one of the largest federal investments ever made in public safety.

I also signed the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly 30 years to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals, while strengthening background checks and -- for gun purchases, cracking down on illegal gun sales, reining in "ghost guns" that are increasingly found at crime scenes.

My Safer America Plan invests $37 billion in public safety to hire many more police officers trained in community policing, to build trust, to solve crimes faster.

I'm grateful for the partnership of Jim and the other law enforcement officers that we worked together on my executive order on policing.

My Safer America Plan also makes investments to support programs that are proven to tackle the root causes of crime, to ensure you have the psychologists and the social workers responding to crises alongside you.

We also know that police officers deal with unbelievable stress. Every time you respond to a call, execute a warrant, or conduct a traffic [DEL: spot :DEL] [stop], there's a tremendous risk: fear of ambush, anxiety of not knowing what's behind that door, the trauma of bearing witness to the most horrible tragedies imaginable.

That's why our administration is laser-focused on providing you with the mental health and wellness resources you need and deserve.

That's why I also signed extended benefits for families of officers who tragically died by suicide -- honoring Capitol Police officers like Howard Liebengood, who defended the Capitol on January 6 th, whose dad I knew well when he served as Sergeant at Arms in the United States Senate.

We remember all our law enforcements who defend this Capitol and our democracy on that terrible day.

And Congress should also pass the Honoring Fallen Heroes Act that extends benefits to first responders who are exposed to toxic substances and die of cancer.

I know so many of you still carry the physical and invisible wounds of your service. We can never thank you enough for your courage, your service, and your sacrifice.

You risk your lives every day for the safety of the people you don't even know. That's why each of you, each and every one of you, is a hero.

It's no accident that violent crime is near a record 50-year low -- a 50-year low. It's because of extraordinary efforts by all of you in your communities, together with historic steps taken to support you -- to stop the flow of illegal guns, to hold gun traffickers accountable for crimes.

It matters, and it matters a lot.

I often say: There is no greater responsibility of government than ensuring the safety of the American people and those who sacrifice to protect us all.

We've made a lot of progress, but there's still much more to be done.

Let me close. To the families here today, my wife and I know how hard it is in different ways, but I promise you the day will come again when the memory of your loved one will bring a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It may take a couple seasons, but it will come.

And I hope you always remember one thing that is never fully lost: your love for them and their love for you.

God bless you all. May God protect law enforcement. And may God protect our troops.

12:30 P.M. EDT

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-15

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-15

Cabinet Room

4:42 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

AT THE ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR

CONGRESSIONAL STUDIES 30 TH ANNUAL GALA

Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Washington, D.C.

8:03 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello.

Whoa! What a crowd.

Please have a seat if you have one.

Well, thank you, Judy Chu, for that introduction and for your leadership of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

By the way, I was raised early on by a guy who wa- -- became my sort of sponsor when I got here as a 30-year-old kid: Danny Inouye. And Norm Mineta was a close friend as well, so I got trained early on.

Thank you, leaders of the House Democratic Caucus. And, Leader Jeffries, you're here somewhere, I'm told. I can't see you, but I know you're here. And Whip Clark, Chair Aguilar, and all of the members of Congress here tonight.

Thank you, thank you, thank you also to the Asian Pacific In- -- American Institute of Congressional Studies for 30 years -- -- of empowering [DEL: AAAHP :DEL] [AANHPI] leaders all across the government.

And let me say, I have kept our commitment to having an administration that looks like America. I made that commitment when I got elected. While members of the AANHPI community at every level, led by the incredible Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris -- -- and so many here today, including my Cabinet: U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai -- ; Acting Labor Secretary Judy Su -- Julie Su -- ; Director of my Office of Science and Technology. Where -- where is Arati? Where is she? Stand up, kid. I like that dress. Let them see your gown.

And thanks to all of you -- leaders of labor, business, philanthropy, civil rights, arts, culture, and so much more.

All of you -- and I mean all of you -- represent a simple truth: There is no singular Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander identity. The diversity of cultures and breadth of your achievements that has shaped and strengthened the fabric of our country. The fastest-growing demographic in the United States, you represent how we are a nation of immigrants, a nation of dreamers, a nation of freedom.

That's the America we share. That's the America we know.

And you've made incredible progress: 15 million new jobs recorded, historic-low levels of unemployment, record small-business creation. In fact, loans from our Small Business Administration to AANHPI small business is up by 44 percent compared to the previous administration.

Because we extended the Child Care Tax Credit during the pandemic -- which not one Republican voted for, I might add -- we cut Asian American child poverty by nearly 25 percent to a record low.

[DEL: The lowest :DEL] [To lower] costs across the board -- we finally beat Big Pharma and gave Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drug prices. We also capped insulin at $35 a month down from about $400 a month for seniors on Medicare, including for millions in this community.

Our reforms not only saved lives -- guess what? -- it saved the taxpayers $160 billion -- -- $160 -- because Medicare no longer has to pay those exorbitant prices.

We're also making college more affordable by relieving student debt for millions of borrowers, including many in this community. That's worth clapping for, I promise you. How we can be the leader of the world without having the best education in the world, I don't understand.

We increased Pell Grants by $800 a year -- the largest increase in a decade -- which matters to 40 percent of the AANHPI students -- they rely on Pell Grants. Folks -- -- when I was growing up, $800 makes a lot of difference to a family.

More people have health insurance today than ever before. And I'm proud that my administration announced DACA recipients will finally have access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act.

And, by the way, the first bill I introduced was the most comprehensive immigration reform bill in decades. It includes a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and expands the number of green cards so many more families can build their American Dream together.

Unfortunately, those provisions were not included in the recent bipartisan border bill. That was the first bill I ever introduced when I ca- -- became president. But this bill had the majority -- that bipartisan bill has majority support in the House and Senate. But I was told that other guy -- that loser -- -- I think he's having trouble.

Trump called Republicans in the -- to block that Senate bill -- got on the phone and said, "It -- it'd be a win for Biden and a loser for him," so he -- they have to make sure you don't allow it to get to a vote. But he's wrong. Republicans in Congress must act because it's the right thing to do, and America needs it done.

Thanks to the defa- -- the decades of advocacy by so many of you, I'm proud our administration recently announced major changes in how federal government collects and reports federal data on race and ethnicity. By disaggregating data on a community that's so diverse, we can better serve the entire community.

After all, if our government doesn't really see the difference between Korean Americans distinctly from Filipino Americans, how in the hell can they address the needs of each community? And we've changed that with disaggregation.

We're also making historic investments to rebuild our roads and our bridges and -- and to lead the world in science and innovation. And that includes the most significant investment ever -- ever, ever, anywhere in the history of the world on climate.

I'm so proud, with your help, that the new report co-released by 20 major climate organizations -- from the -- from the Sierra Club to the Sunrise Movement -- credited our administration with making more than -- taking 300 actions related to climate, conservation, public health, and clean energy.

I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years, which I know matters to the community that I mourned with. And I remember in Atlanta, Half Moon Bay, and Monterey Park.

This guy said -- when the last shooting occurred, he said what -- they asked him about it; he said, just "get over it." "Get over it." Ugh -- anyway. I'll be good.

Together, we'll not stop until we ban assault weapons again -- this time permanently.

I can go on, but I'm between you and your dinner.

The point is we're -- -- we're lowering costs; we're expanding opportunities with your help; we're protecting freedoms. That's in stark contrast to my predecessor's view of it and of you.

Look, I'll never forget him lying about the pandemic, telling Americans to inject bleach into their skin. I wonder if he did it. It might explain some things. Anyway.

We'll never forget the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic. And I was proud to have signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with your support to help states, cities better report, respond, prevent crime.

We also provided historic levels of funding to public safety in local communities that is delivering results. We're seeing near -- a near 50-year low in violent crime in America. According to the Justice Department, hate crimes targeting Asian Americans fell by 33 percent from 2021 to 2022.

But there's still more to do so that every community feels safe.

When Trump was in office, he enacted a $2 trillion tax cut, overwhelmingly benefitting the very wealthiest among us and the biggest corporations, that exploded the federal deficit. His administration added more to the federal debt than any previous presidential term. And now, he and the congressional Republicans want to do it all over again.

At the same time, they want to -- I love this word -- "terminate" -- I love the way these guys talk -- "terminate" the Affordable Care Act, which would terminate a lot of lives, denying millions of you and your families in healthcare insurance, denying protections for preexisting conditions for literally several million people.

They want to undo what they finally got done and then -- what we di- -- finally got done to make up for it. They want to -- to -- they want to give power back to Big Pharma to charge exorbitant prices on prescription drugs. This is what they're saying on the platform. Those of you in the Congress know this.

My predecessor wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. He said there's a lot of reasons you can do it "in terms of cutting." Not on my watch.

He brags about getting Roe v. Wade overturned. But Kamala and I are going to keep fighting to restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again.

And while we fight for comprehensive re- -- immigration reform, Trump continues to vilify immigrants. I can't believe the way this guy talks. He talks about immigrants as "rapists" and "murderers" -- his words, not mine. He said they are "not people" -- they are "not people." He says immigrants are "poisoning the blood of this country."

Folks, that's not who we are. Diversity is our strength as a nation and always has been and always will be. And my predecessor's prejudices lead him to obscure positions. And [DEL: they :DEL] [we] want a country for all of us -- that's what we want.

Let me close with this. Two years ago, I signed a landmark law to pave the way for the creation of a National Museum of Asian Americans -- which was mentioned already -- -- Native [DEL: Americans :DEL] [Hawaiians], Pacific Islanders History and Culture. So very proud to do so because it amplifies why we are a great nation. It matters.

But Trump and his friends want to e- -- they want to erase history, not make history. Together, we make history, all of us in this room. And that's why I see all of you and we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month, including my dear friend we all miss and whose family is here tonight, Norm Mineta, who helped create this caucus.

Norm once said, "Democracy is not a spectator's sport. It requires everyone's active participation. You don't have to be running for office to be a public -- be in public service," end of quote.

Folks, there have always been competing values and visions of what America should be. My predecessor believes we are a country of revenge and retribution. I believe we're a nation of hope and opportunity for everybody. We're a country of honesty, decency, faith, fairness. That's the future we're building together.

I see a future where we defend democracy, not diminish it. I see a future where we protect freedoms, not take them away. I see a future where the middle class finally has a fair shot and the wealthy be- -- the wealthy finally begin to pay their fair share so we can provide char- -- childcare, paid leave, and so much more and still reduce the federal deficit. Folks, I see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence.

Above all, I see a future for all Americans. I see a country for all Americans.

And it's because of you -- and I mean this sincerely -- I've never been more optimistic. We just have to remember who in the hell we are. We're the United States of America. And there is nothing beyond our capacity when we work together.

So, let's keep working together because we can get so much done.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I mean it. Thank you. Thank you.

8:15 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya for a State Visit to the United States on May 23, 2024. The upcoming visit will mark the 60 th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations and will celebrate a partnership that is delivering for the people of the United States and Kenya. The visit will strengthen our shared commitment to advance peace and security, expand our economic ties, and deepen democratic institutions. The leaders will discuss ways to bolster our cooperation in areas including people-to-people ties, trade and investment, technological innovation, climate and clean energy, health, and security. The visit will affirm our strategic partnership with Kenya and further the vision set forth at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit: African leadership is essential to addressing global priorities.

The President, the First Lady, the Vice President, and the Second Gentleman will greet President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya for the State Arrival Ceremony on Thursday morning. This event on the South Lawn will be open press. [RSVP here by Monday, May 20 at 12:00 PM ET]

The President will hold a bilateral meeting with President William Ruto of Kenya. This event in the Oval Office will have an in-house pool spray at the top.

The President will host a joint press conference with President William Ruto of Kenya. This event in the East Room will be open press. [RSVP here by Monday, May 20 at 12:00 PM ET]

The President and the First Lady will greet President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya on arrival for the State Dinner. This event at the North Portico will be opened to pre-credentialed media.

The President and the First Lady will participate in a photo opportunity with President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya at the Grand Staircase on the occasion of the State Dinner. This event will be pooled press.

The President and the First Lady will host President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto of the Republic of Kenya for a State Dinner on the South Lawn. The Vice President and the Second Gentleman will attend. This event on the South Lawn will be pooled press.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

On Thursday, May 16, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel from Milwaukee, WI to Chicago, IL for a campaign event. Illinois will be the 17 th state that the Vice President has visited this year.

# # #

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-15

New York, New York

Liz, you lead with vision – and that's what today is all about. So many women's – and men's – lives are filled with more knowledge, which is power, and joy because of this work. Thank you for inviting me to join all of you today for this summit.

Good morning.

It was an ordinary Saturday in an extraordinary life.

I was in my office in the East Wing doing what community college teachers do on weekends – especially on a weekend so late in the semester: I was grading papers.

It was late April last year. Earlier that morning, I'd read in the New York Times that the U.S. loses $1.8 billion in working time every year to the menopause symptoms that upend women's lives.

It struck me – I'd experienced those kinds of symptoms too, so had many of my friends, but, I thought, that's the way life is, isn't it?

And then, that afternoon, Maria Shriver, the former First Lady of California, came in for a meeting.

She wanted to talk about women's health. She told me that it's not just menopause symptoms that don't have enough treatment options. It's all of women's health – for our whole bodies, for our whole lives.

It's a problem that's so simple – yet often ignored: women's health is understudied and research is underfunded.

As a result, too many of our medications, treatments, health products, and medical school textbooks are based on men. This has created gaps in our understanding of conditions that mostly affect women, only affect women, or affect women and men differently, leaving women seeking health care in a medical world largely designed for men.

Women's health is about understanding those conditions. And the discoveries we make will give us insight into all of human biology and experience.

It was one of those moments that happen in life, where you learn something and you can never see the world the same way again.

Suddenly, the problem felt so familiar – because if you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell. You know her.

She's the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but doesn't know why, and can't find treatment options that work for her.

She's the woman going through menopause, who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.

She's the woman whose heart attack isn't recognized because her symptoms don't look like a man's, even as heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.

She's the woman who needs treatments, and affordable and easy-to-use products that help her stay healthy or feel better when health needs arise.

Does this sound like something you've heard before?

It should. Because many of you in this room write about her. Or, maybe, you research her.

Over the last few months, I've visited research centers and universities, and I've spoken with doctors and scientists to understand the research questions we need to ask – and the answers they could find if we invest in women's health.

All of you know that potential: In 2021, the Boston Consulting Group estimated that the size of the women's health market would grow from $9 billion to $29 billion in just eight years.

But those numbers don't tell the whole story. Because there's a cost to inaction.

Women spend more years of their lives in "poor health" than men. Time spent negotiating health conditions for which we need to find more answers. Time away from loved ones, time not spent following their dreams, or pursuing their careers.

We can change this. We can give hours and days and years back to women, and to the families who love them. Making it so women don't have to leave their careers because of treatable conditions. And it could add a trillion dollars annually to the world economy by 2040.

We have to invest in women's health. We can't afford not to.

That's why my husband, President Biden, is fundamentally changing how our nation approaches and funds women's health research.

Last year, Joe and I launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. We're helping close the research gaps in women's health, so we can understand the science behind the conditions that so many women experience, building the knowledge that will create life-changing products and fuel innovation.

During his State of the Union, Joe called on Congress to make a bold investment to do just that – with $12 billion. And he signed an Executive Order to make sure that when the government funds studies, they include women from the beginning.

Earlier this year, ARPA-H – the agency Joe created to pursue health breakthroughs with lightning speed – launched its first-ever Sprint for Women's Health. Over this year, ARPA-H will invest $100 million to fund transformative research and development.

We're "de-risking" investments in big ideas from researchers and start-ups – the ones that could revolutionize women's health – so that answers can get to the women who need them, quickly.

President Biden is taking a leap toward the future – making a change today that will open up all the possibilities of tomorrow with an all-of-government effort.

Investing in women's health matters to Joe – and to me. But we can't do this alone. We need industry to look ahead with that same vision. The private sector – from entrepreneurs and investors – is essential to bringing these discoveries to the marketplace, reaching millions of women who need solutions.

You in this room – publishers, writers, editors, women and men who care about this issue – you are powerful storytellers, distilling the critical questions of our time into the ideas and stories that will change everything for someone, or maybe all of us.

Thanks to you, the momentum behind women's health feels unstoppable.

We can't let this moment pass us by.

Together, we will build a health care system where women aren't an after-thought, but a first-thought. Where we leave doctors' offices with more answers than questions. Where we don't have to miss days of work or life for treatable conditions. Where no woman or girl has to hear, "it's all in your head," or, "it's just stress," ever again. Where women don't just survive, they lead long, healthy, and happy lives.

Thank you.

For Immediate Release

May 15, 2024

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by First Lady Jill Biden at the Women's Health Health Lab

New York, New York

Liz, you lead with vision – and that's what today is all about. So many women's – and men's – lives are filled with more knowledge, which is power, and joy because of this work. Thank you for inviting me to join all of you today for this summit.

Good morning.

It was an ordinary Saturday in an extraordinary life.

I was in my office in the East Wing doing what community college teachers do on weekends – especially on a weekend so late in the semester: I was grading papers.

It was late April last year. Earlier that morning, I'd read in the New York Times that the U.S. loses $1.8 billion in working time every year to the menopause symptoms that upend women's lives.

It struck me – I'd experienced those kinds of symptoms too, so had many of my friends, but, I thought, that's the way life is, isn't it?

And then, that afternoon, Maria Shriver, the former First Lady of California, came in for a meeting.

She wanted to talk about women's health. She told me that it's not just menopause symptoms that don't have enough treatment options. It's all of women's health – for our whole bodies, for our whole lives.

It's a problem that's so simple – yet often ignored: women's health is understudied and research is underfunded.

As a result, too many of our medications, treatments, health products, and medical school textbooks are based on men. This has created gaps in our understanding of conditions that mostly affect women, only affect women, or affect women and men differently, leaving women seeking health care in a medical world largely designed for men.

Women's health is about understanding those conditions. And the discoveries we make will give us insight into all of human biology and experience.

It was one of those moments that happen in life, where you learn something and you can never see the world the same way again.

Suddenly, the problem felt so familiar – because if you ask any woman in America about her health care, she probably has a story to tell. You know her.

She's the woman who gets debilitating migraines, but doesn't know why, and can't find treatment options that work for her.

She's the woman going through menopause, who visits her doctor and leaves with more questions than answers, even though half the country will go through menopause at some point in their lives.

She's the woman whose heart attack isn't recognized because her symptoms don't look like a man's, even as heart disease is the leading cause of death among women.

She's the woman who needs treatments, and affordable and easy-to-use products that help her stay healthy or feel better when health needs arise.

Does this sound like something you've heard before?

It should. Because many of you in this room write about her. Or, maybe, you research her.

Over the last few months, I've visited research centers and universities, and I've spoken with doctors and scientists to understand the research questions we need to ask – and the answers they could find if we invest in women's health.

All of you know that potential: In 2021, the Boston Consulting Group estimated that the size of the women's health market would grow from $9 billion to $29 billion in just eight years.

But those numbers don't tell the whole story. Because there's a cost to inaction.

Women spend more years of their lives in "poor health" than men. Time spent negotiating health conditions for which we need to find more answers. Time away from loved ones, time not spent following their dreams, or pursuing their careers.

We can change this. We can give hours and days and years back to women, and to the families who love them. Making it so women don't have to leave their careers because of treatable conditions. And it could add a trillion dollars annually to the world economy by 2040.

We have to invest in women's health. We can't afford not to.

That's why my husband, President Biden, is fundamentally changing how our nation approaches and funds women's health research.

Last year, Joe and I launched the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. We're helping close the research gaps in women's health, so we can understand the science behind the conditions that so many women experience, building the knowledge that will create life-changing products and fuel innovation.

During his State of the Union, Joe called on Congress to make a bold investment to do just that – with $12 billion. And he signed an Executive Order to make sure that when the government funds studies, they include women from the beginning.

Earlier this year, ARPA-H – the agency Joe created to pursue health breakthroughs with lightning speed – launched its first-ever Sprint for Women's Health. Over this year, ARPA-H will invest $100 million to fund transformative research and development.

We're "de-risking" investments in big ideas from researchers and start-ups – the ones that could revolutionize women's health – so that answers can get to the women who need them, quickly.

President Biden is taking a leap toward the future – making a change today that will open up all the possibilities of tomorrow with an all-of-government effort.

Investing in women's health matters to Joe – and to me. But we can't do this alone. We need industry to look ahead with that same vision. The private sector – from entrepreneurs and investors – is essential to bringing these discoveries to the marketplace, reaching millions of women who need solutions.

You in this room – publishers, writers, editors, women and men who care about this issue – you are powerful storytellers, distilling the critical questions of our time into the ideas and stories that will change everything for someone, or maybe all of us.

Thanks to you, the momentum behind women's health feels unstoppable.

We can't let this moment pass us by.

Together, we will build a health care system where women aren't an after-thought, but a first-thought. Where we leave doctors' offices with more answers than questions. Where we don't have to miss days of work or life for treatable conditions. Where no woman or girl has to hear, "it's all in your head," or, "it's just stress," ever again. Where women don't just survive, they lead long, healthy, and happy lives.

Thank you.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

Today, the United States is taking coordinated action in response to the Ortega-Murillo regime's continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and ongoing exploitation of vulnerable migrants, including via the facilitation – and profiting off of – irregular migration to the United States. These actions are taken as part of the President's efforts to crack down on irregular migration and in support of his affirmative agenda for the Western Hemisphere for a more democratic, secure, and prosperous region.

The United States is taking the following specific actions:

The Administration urges the Nicaraguan regime to cease its systemic violations of human rights and to stop its cynical practice of selling short-term visas upon arrival in Managua that support the exploitation of vulnerable migrants, to the financial benefit of the regime.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

Today, the United States is taking coordinated action in response to the Ortega-Murillo regime's continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and ongoing exploitation of vulnerable migrants, including via the facilitation – and profiting off of – irregular migration to the United States. These actions are taken as part of the President's efforts to crack down on irregular migration and in support of his affirmative agenda for the Western Hemisphere for a more democratic, secure, and prosperous region.

The United States is taking the following specific actions:

1. The Departments of the Treasury, State, and Homeland Security jointly issued a policy alert to travel companies with information about the ways smuggling networks and transnational criminal organizations prey on vulnerable migrants, ongoing U.S. actions to hold these malicious practices actors accountable, and key steps that the travel industry can take to avoid complicity in the exploitation of migrants.

2. The Department of the Treasury sanctioned a Russian Military Training Center that supports repressive actions by the Nicaraguan National Police to persecute political opposition and two gold companies that enrich the Ortega-Murillo regime.

3. Additionally, the Department of State imposed visa restrictions on over 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, non-government actors, and their immediate family members for their roles in supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime's attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms and repression of civil society organizations.

The Administration urges the Nicaraguan regime to cease its systemic violations of human rights and to stop its cynical practice of selling short-term visas upon arrival in Managua that support the exploitation of vulnerable migrants, to the financial benefit of the regime.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

BY SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

ON ACTIONS AGAINST THE ORTEGA-MURILLO REGIME

REPRESSING PEOPLE AND PREYING ON MIGRANTS IN NICARAGUA

Via Teleconference

9:49 A.M. EDT

MODERATOR: I am extremely sorry for our delay today. We had a last-minute scheduling conflict. But I thank you all for joining this call on Nicaragua. I will be very brief.

Not for reporting purposes -- on the call we have [senior administration official]. We also have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. Again, that's not for reporting purposes.

The call will be on background, attributable to senior administration officials.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. And I reiterate my apologies for the delay. I'm very sorry for keeping everybody waiting. And thank you for your time and patience with us today.

Today, the Biden administration is taking several coordinated actions out of significant concern about the government of Nicaragua and its continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and their exploitation of migrants. These actions are taken as a part of the President's efforts to crack down on irregular migration and in support of his affirmative agenda for the Western Hemisphere for a more democratic, secure, and prosperous region.

We are very concerned about the ways in which the Ortega-Murillo regime continues to engage in a repressive campaign that silences civil society and unjustly detains individuals for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

Today, the Treasury Department designated three Nicaragua-based entities: a Russian military training center that supports repressive activities by the Nicaraguan National Police to prosecute political opposition and two gold companies that generate revenue and enrich the Ortega regime.

At the same time, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on over 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, non-governmental actors, and their immediate family members for their roles in supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime's attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people, and repression of civil society organizations.

The regime is also responsible for the weaponization and profiting off of desperate and vulnerable migrants. Among other issues, the regime sells visas upon arrival at their airports for migrants that require them to leave the country in 96 hours. So they are profiting quite substantially off of facilitation of irregular migrants who ultimately, in many cases, make their way up towards our Southwest border.

As part of our comprehensive approach to addressing this issue, today the Treasury, State, and Department of Homeland Security are also issuing a policy alert to inform the aviation and travel industry of the ways in which smugglers are facilitating this illegal migration and to remind the industry of key steps that they should take to avoid complicity in these actions.

These actions are -- in addition to standing on their own, they're also a follow-up to the third Los Angeles Declaration Ministerial in Guatemala last week, where the United States pledged $578 million in humanitarian development and economic assistance, and secured support from partner countries to help respond in supporting the regularization and integration of migrants.

As I know all of you know, our Latin American and Caribbean partners are hosting more than 80 percent of the nearly 8 million Venezuelan migrants that have fled the Maduro regime. And this is critically important because it helps keep them in place and reduce the numbers at our Southwest border.

It was also highly encouraging to see, in advance of the ministerial, actions like the one taken by the International Air Transport Association and its members, issuing a statement reminding its members of the importance, consistent with our policy alert today, of taking steps to minimize the risk that their airlines are being used to facilitate and support irregular migration. And this also follows on our imposition of visas on Colombian companies that are engaged in transport of migrants as well.

And combined, all of these efforts collectively send a strong signal not only to the Ortega regime to stop its nefarious actions, but also to private sector actors to remind them of the important steps that they can and should take to help avoid exploitation of their systems.

The U.S. government will continue to take actions to promote accountability for those involved in the Ortega government's relentless attacks on the human rights and fundamental freedoms. And we will continue to take steps to address and hopefully, ultimately, stop the exploitation of vulnerable migrants and to respond to the, really, cynical ways in which the Ortega regime is profiting off of facilitating the movement of these migrants.

And finally, I'll just end by stating what I think is obvious, which is that we strongly urge the Ortega regime to cease its repression of democracy and allow Nicaraguans to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to cease their practice of facilitating irregular migration.

I will now turn it over to the State Department for additional comments.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, and good morning, everyone. Just to piggyback on much of what [senior administration official] has said, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, and those under their command, continue to unjustly detain their own countrymen for bravely advocating for free civil society, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. They've chosen to align themselves with Russia's authoritarian government and follow its playbook of repression.

The Ortega-Murillo regime has deeply involved itself in profiting, as [senior administration official] said, from the exploitation of vulnerable migrants. We are committed to promoting accountability for those who act on behalf of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo and facilitating or sustain their assaults on democracy and human rights.

So to elaborate a little bit more on the actions by the Department of State today, we took steps to impose visa restrictions on over 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, including police and paramilitary personnel, penitentiary officials, prosecutors, judges, public higher-education officials, as well as select non-governmental actors for their roles in supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime in its attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms, repression of civil society organizations, and profiting off of vulnerable migrants, all pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10309.

In addition, the Department of State is joining Homeland Security and Treasury to jointly issue a policy alert to warn airlines, air charter operators, travel agents, service providers of the ways in which smugglers are facilitating irregular migration and migrant smuggling and trafficking networks to the United States, and the importance of preventing the exploitation of their legitimate transportation services.

In particular, the actions by the Nicaraguan government are of grave concern, where President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have put in place permissive, by design, migration policies such as the 96-hour cap that have introduced opportunities to exploit migrants and fuel dangerous irregular travel towards the Southwest U.S. border.

We urge Ortega and Murillo to cease their repression of democracy and allow Nicaraguans to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. I will just run through the Treasury actions that we are rolling out today.

On the sanctions front, Treasury will sanction three Nicaragua-based entities to hold the Ortega-Murillo regime to account for its continued repression of the Nicaraguan people and its profiting from exploitation of vulnerable migrants.

The first entity is the Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Managua, a Nicaragua-based subdivision of the government of the Russian Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Managua enabled anti-democratic behavior and repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime. Our targets are Compañía Minera Internacional, Sociedad Anónima, known by its Spanish acronym as COMINTSA, and Capital Mining Investment Nicaragua, Sociedad Anónima -- which are government-affiliated gold companies generating revenue for the Ortega-Murillo regime.

As you know, by imposing sanctions, all U.S. persons are prohibited from transacting with these entities, which effectively cuts them off from the U.S. and much of the international financial system. And any assets they have in the United States are blocked.

The designations of the RTC and the two gold companies that enrich the Ortega-Murillo regime demonstrate the United States' enduring support for the Nicaraguan people and condemnation of a regime that exploits vulnerable migrants for profit while facilitating irregular migration to the United States.

In addition to sanctions, Treasury is also joining the policy alert that our colleagues have mentioned. At OFAC, we see every day the destabilizing effects of illicit finance on countries around the world. That's why we want to very clearly identify the risk to the business community of engaging in activity that exacerbates instability and enables exploitation.

We have and will continue to use our authorities, including the Transnational Criminal Organizations Sanctions authorities, to hold smugglers accountable and cut them off from using the U.S. financial system.

So with that, I'll turn things back over to [moderator].

MODERATOR: Thank you very much to our three speakers for joining us today.

At this moment, I will turn it over to questions. If you have a question, please raise your hand and I will unmute you. As a reminder, the call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials. And as noted in the media advisory, the call is embargoed until 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time today.

We'll turn it over to Michael Wilner, please.

Q Thanks. I appreciate this. And thanks, everyone, for doing the call. If you could just provide some more details on the policy alert and, you know, what it means to -- what steps are required of the aviation and travel industry to avoid complicity. What are you asking them to do? And, really, any more details on that would be appreciated.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to respond to that if you'd like.

The statement conveys the U.S. government's efforts to promote responsible practices in the industry, but it also notifies the airlines that they are being exploited -- that migrant smuggling and human trafficking networks are exploiting these legitimate transportation services to facilitate irregular migration to the United States.

So, the alert has a number of suggestions that can be done by the airlines. There are five different suggestions that include participation in the document validation process. There are suggestions that the airlines could undertake proactive measures to identify flight segments and routes that are known to be used by migrants and migrant smuggling. And the United States is closely tracking this issue and can also provide and share information to support airlines' efforts.

Industry participants can also report concerning activity to the United States Customs and Border Protection to be able to work to avoid irregular migration and migrant smuggling. Carrying out appropriate due diligence also protects the exploitation of services.

And then finally, encouraging all airlines to comply with government regulations by transmitting accurate and timely API, or advanced passenger information, prior to departure beginning at least 24 hours prior to scheduled takeoff to enable proper record checks and so on.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And if I could just add one quick thing to that which I think is important, which is that this follows on, as I said before, the International Association of -- IATA's own -- the industry issuing a statement last week, the International Air Transport Association, in which the airlines themselves noted the value of implementing commercial measures to minimize the risk of irregular migration.

And so, this alert follows on to that, and it provides -- it's actually four, not five, but it provides four concrete measures that airlines can take, and talks about the ways in which the U.S. government can assist them in doing that.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I will also flag for our friends on the line that we will have the policy alert, a Treasury press release on the sanctions, and a statement on the visas posting later this morning for everyone's reference as well.

We'll turn to Salome Ramirez next.

Q Thank you. Good morning. Just to follow up on the policy alert and to have some clarification, does this mean that maybe airlines who don't comply or don't take the actions that the U.S. is encouraging would have some kind of repercussion or some kind of consequence for being complicit in this illegal migration? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, I'll start with that. One thing that I think is really important to note, as we already said during the opening, is that the U.S. government, particularly the State Department, has taken steps already through its 3 C visa restrictions to impose visa restrictions on executives who are -- executives of charter companies who have supported the movement of migrants, largely to Managua. And those actions have had a really important effect on the numbers of charter airlines that are engaged.

This is something that the U.S. government is watching closely. There's not any specific enforcement action threatened or accompanying this at the time, but it is something that we continue to watch and look at very closely.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I recognize that we started late and that we are over five minutes already, but if there are any other questions, please do raise your hand. Otherwise, we can wrap up, and we can take maybe a couple more -- maybe one or two more questions.

Let's go to Pedro Rojas, please. Please also say your outlet.

Q Thanks so much. Pedro Rojas with Univision. I just wanted to find out if there is any consideration to -- in order to stop these charter flights, to at least temporarily close the airspace over Nicaragua. I know that sounds extreme, but if there's any consideration to some measure like that, to prevent this. We have known that there's a lot of flights coming from Cuba and places like that into Nicaragua in the last few months . Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks for that. Again, I think what we're taking today are a series of incredibly robust and strong measures to both respond to the democracy and human rights abuses of the Ortega regime and also make explicitly clear -- respond to the ways in which they are profiting off of migrants.

We are working -- as I said, there are a number of steps that we're taking and that have been taken by the private companies, including their own voluntary statements, and this will build off of them.

Obviously, we need to act in ways that address the problem but also continue to allow for what is also legitimate travel into Nicaragua and other countries in the region as well.

And so, we think these are a set of strong measures that both convey the seriousness with which the Biden administration takes these issues, and also we expect and hope that they will have a concrete effect, and we will continue to evaluate and monitor and adjust as needed depending on what we see on the ground.

Q Thank you.

MODERATOR: We'll go next to Tracy Wilkinson. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q This is Tracy Wilkinson with the Los Angeles Times. I want one more clarification on the alerts and the airlines and the warnings and so forth. It's only in connection with illegal migration, is that correct? You're not addressing at all regular tourism that, you know, tons of American tourists go to Nicaragua, and obviously, that helps enrich Ortega and his comp- -- and so forth, his associates. So I just wondered if at all tourism is something that you're going to -- are or will address at all in related policies. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks for that question. I mean, we are not trying to stop or preclude tourists and legitimate travel to and from Nicaragua. We are very focused explicitly on the ways in which the Ortega regime is profiting off of the movement of migrants to their country. And as I said at the start, they're in very cynical ways selling visas upon arrival that require individuals to leave within 96 hours. This is the Ortega regime profiting off the movement of migrants and facilitating the smuggling of migrants. And that is the issue that we are focused on.

Q Thanks.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I think that's all the time we have for today. Again, our sincere apologies for starting a little bit late. We will have the statements from our agencies, including the policy alert, posted. We will be issuing a statement also from the White House that links to all three actions today for ease, so please stay tuned for that.

Thank you again for joining. Thank you to our speakers. Again, the embargo of this call will lift at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. And the call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials.

10:13 A.M. EDT

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
Via Teleconference

Not for reporting purposes — on the call we have [senior administration official]. We also have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. Again, that's not for reporting purposes.

The call will be on background, attributable to senior administration officials.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks. And I reiterate my apologies for the delay. I'm very sorry for keeping everybody waiting. And thank you for your time and patience with us today.

Today, the Biden administration is taking several coordinated actions out of significant concern about the government of Nicaragua and its continued repression of the people of Nicaragua and their exploitation of migrants. These actions are taken as a part of the President's efforts to crack down on irregular migration and in support of his affirmative agenda for the Western Hemisphere for a more democratic, secure, and prosperous region.

We are very concerned about the ways in which the Ortega-Murillo regime continues to engage in a repressive campaign that silences civil society and unjustly detains individuals for exercising their fundamental freedoms.

Today, the Treasury Department designated three Nicaragua-based entities: a Russian military training center that supports repressive activities by the Nicaraguan National Police to prosecute political opposition and two gold companies that generate revenue and enrich the Ortega regime.

At the same time, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on over 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, non-governmental actors, and their immediate family members for their roles in supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime's attack on human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people, and repression of civil society organizations.

The regime is also responsible for the weaponization and profiting off of desperate and vulnerable migrants. Among other issues, the regime sells visas upon arrival at their airports for migrants that require them to leave the country in 96 hours. So they are profiting quite substantially off of facilitation of irregular migrants who ultimately, in many cases, make their way up towards our Southwest border.

As part of our comprehensive approach to addressing this issue, today the Treasury, State, and Department of Homeland Security are also issuing a policy alert to inform the aviation and travel industry of the ways in which smugglers are facilitating this illegal migration and to remind the industry of key steps that they should take to avoid complicity in these actions.

These actions are — in addition to standing on their own, they're also a follow-up to the third Los Angeles Declaration Ministerial in Guatemala last week, where the United States pledged $578 million in humanitarian development and economic assistance, and secured support from partner countries to help respond in supporting the regularization and integration of migrants.

As I know all of you know, our Latin American and Caribbean partners are hosting more than 80 percent of the nearly 8 million Venezuelan migrants that have fled the Maduro regime. And this is critically important because it helps keep them in place and reduce the numbers at our Southwest border.

It was also highly encouraging to see, in advance of the ministerial, actions like the one taken by the International Air Transport Association and its members, issuing a statement reminding its members of the importance, consistent with our policy alert today, of taking steps to minimize the risk that their airlines are being used to facilitate and support irregular migration. And this also follows on our imposition of visas on Colombian companies that are engaged in transport of migrants as well.

And combined, all of these efforts collectively send a strong signal not only to the Ortega regime to stop its nefarious actions, but also to private sector actors to remind them of the important steps that they can and should take to help avoid exploitation of their systems.

The U.S. government will continue to take actions to promote accountability for those involved in the Ortega government's relentless attacks on the human rights and fundamental freedoms. And we will continue to take steps to address and hopefully, ultimately, stop the exploitation of vulnerable migrants and to respond to the, really, cynical ways in which the Ortega regime is profiting off of facilitating the movement of these migrants.

And finally, I'll just end by stating what I think is obvious, which is that we strongly urge the Ortega regime to cease its repression of democracy and allow Nicaraguans to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to cease their practice of facilitating irregular migration.

I will now turn it over to the State Department for additional comments.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, and good morning, everyone. Just to piggyback on much of what [senior administration official] has said, Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, and those under their command, continue to unjustly detain their own countrymen for bravely advocating for free civil society, religious freedom, and freedom of expression. They've chosen to align themselves with Russia's authoritarian government and follow its playbook of repression.

The Ortega-Murillo regime has deeply involved itself in profiting, as [senior administration official] said, from the exploitation of vulnerable migrants. We are committed to promoting accountability for those who act on behalf of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo and facilitating or sustain their assaults on democracy and human rights.

So to elaborate a little bit more on the actions by the Department of State today, we took steps to impose visa restrictions on over 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, including police and paramilitary personnel, penitentiary officials, prosecutors, judges, public higher-education officials, as well as select non-governmental actors for their roles in supporting the Ortega-Murillo regime in its attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms, repression of civil society organizations, and profiting off of vulnerable migrants, all pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10309.

In addition, the Department of State is joining Homeland Security and Treasury to jointly issue a policy alert to warn airlines, air charter operators, travel agents, service providers of the ways in which smugglers are facilitating irregular migration and migrant smuggling and trafficking networks to the United States, and the importance of preventing the exploitation of their legitimate transportation services.

In particular, the actions by the Nicaraguan government are of grave concern, where President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo have put in place permissive, by design, migration policies such as the 96-hour cap that have introduced opportunities to exploit migrants and fuel dangerous irregular travel towards the Southwest U.S. border.

We urge Ortega and Murillo to cease their repression of democracy and allow Nicaraguans to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thank you. Good morning, everyone. I will just run through the Treasury actions that we are rolling out today.

On the sanctions front, Treasury will sanction three Nicaragua-based entities to hold the Ortega-Murillo regime to account for its continued repression of the Nicaraguan people and its profiting from exploitation of vulnerable migrants.

The first entity is the Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Managua, a Nicaragua-based subdivision of the government of the Russian Federation Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Training Center of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Managua enabled anti-democratic behavior and repression by the Ortega-Murillo regime. Our targets are Compañía Minera Internacional, Sociedad Anónima, known by its Spanish acronym as COMINTSA, and Capital Mining Investment Nicaragua, Sociedad Anónima — which are government-affiliated gold companies generating revenue for the Ortega-Murillo regime.

As you know, by imposing sanctions, all U.S. persons are prohibited from transacting with these entities, which effectively cuts them off from the U.S. and much of the international financial system. And any assets they have in the United States are blocked.

The designations of the RTC and the two gold companies that enrich the Ortega-Murillo regime demonstrate the United States' enduring support for the Nicaraguan people and condemnation of a regime that exploits vulnerable migrants for profit while facilitating irregular migration to the United States.

In addition to sanctions, Treasury is also joining the policy alert that our colleagues have mentioned. At OFAC, we see every day the destabilizing effects of illicit finance on countries around the world. That's why we want to very clearly identify the risk to the business community of engaging in activity that exacerbates instability and enables exploitation.

We have and will continue to use our authorities, including the Transnational Criminal Organizations Sanctions authorities, to hold smugglers accountable and cut them off from using the U.S. financial system.

So with that, I'll turn things back over to [moderator].

We'll turn it over to Michael Wilner, please.

Q Thanks. I appreciate this. And thanks, everyone, for doing the call. If you could just provide some more details on the policy alert and, you know, what it means to — what steps are required of the aviation and travel industry to avoid complicity. What are you asking them to do? And, really, any more details on that would be appreciated.

And then finally, encouraging all airlines to comply with government regulations by transmitting accurate and timely API, or advanced passenger information, prior to departure beginning at least 24 hours prior to scheduled takeoff to enable proper record checks and so on.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And if I could just add one quick thing to that which I think is important, which is that this follows on, as I said before, the International Association of — IATA's own — the industry issuing a statement last week, the International Air Transport Association, in which the airlines themselves noted the value of implementing commercial measures to minimize the risk of irregular migration.

And so, this alert follows on to that, and it provides — it's actually four, not five, but it provides four concrete measures that airlines can take, and talks about the ways in which the U.S. government can assist them in doing that.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I will also flag for our friends on the line that we will have the policy alert, a Treasury press release on the sanctions, and a statement on the visas posting later this morning for everyone's reference as well.
We'll turn to Salome Ramirez next.

Q Thank you. Good morning. Just to follow up on the policy alert and to have some clarification, does this mean that maybe airlines who don't comply or don't take the actions that the U.S. is encouraging would have some kind of repercussion or some kind of consequence for being complicit in this illegal migration? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: So, I'll start with that. One thing that I think is really important to note, as we already said during the opening, is that the U.S. government, particularly the State Department, has taken steps already through its 3C visa restrictions to impose visa restrictions on executives who are — executives of charter companies who have supported the movement of migrants, largely to Managua. And those actions have had a really important effect on the numbers of charter airlines that are engaged.

This is something that the U.S. government is watching closely. There's not any specific enforcement action threatened or accompanying this at the time, but it is something that we continue to watch and look at very closely.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I recognize that we started late and that we are over five minutes already, but if there are any other questions, please do raise your hand. Otherwise, we can wrap up, and we can take maybe a couple more — maybe one or two more questions.
Let's go to Pedro Rojas, please. Please also say your outlet.

Q Thanks so much. Pedro Rojas with Univision. I just wanted to find out if there is any consideration to — in order to stop these charter flights, to at least temporarily close the airspace over Nicaragua. I know that sounds extreme, but if there's any consideration to some measure like that, to prevent this. We have known that there's a lot of flights coming from Cuba and places like that into Nicaragua in the last few months [inaudible]. Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks for that. Again, I think what we're taking today are a series of incredibly robust and strong measures to both respond to the democracy and human rights abuses of the Ortega regime and also make explicitly clear — respond to the ways in which they are profiting off of migrants.

We are working — as I said, there are a number of steps that we're taking and that have been taken by the private companies, including their own voluntary statements, and this will build off of them.

Obviously, we need to act in ways that address the problem but also continue to allow for what is also legitimate travel into Nicaragua and other countries in the region as well.

And so, we think these are a set of strong measures that both convey the seriousness with which the Biden administration takes these issues, and also we expect and hope that they will have a concrete effect, and we will continue to evaluate and monitor and adjust as needed depending on what we see on the ground.

Q Thank you.

MODERATOR: We'll go next to Tracy Wilkinson. You should be able to unmute yourself.

Q This is Tracy Wilkinson with the Los Angeles Times. I want one more clarification on the alerts and the airlines and the warnings and so forth. It's only in connection with illegal migration, is that correct? You're not addressing at all regular tourism that, you know, tons of American tourists go to Nicaragua, and obviously, that helps enrich Ortega and his comp- — and so forth, his associates. So I just wondered if at all tourism is something that you're going to — are or will address at all in related policies. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, thanks for that question. I mean, we are not trying to stop or preclude tourists and legitimate travel to and from Nicaragua. We are very focused explicitly on the ways in which the Ortega regime is profiting off of the movement of migrants to their country. And as I said at the start, they're in very cynical ways selling visas upon arrival that require individuals to leave within 96 hours. This is the Ortega regime profiting off the movement of migrants and facilitating the smuggling of migrants. And that is the issue that we are focused on.

Q Thanks.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much. I think that's all the time we have for today. Again, our sincere apologies for starting a little bit late. We will have the statements from our agencies, including the policy alert, posted. We will be issuing a statement also from the White House that links to all three actions today for ease, so please stay tuned for that.

Thank you again for joining. Thank you to our speakers. Again, the embargo of this call will lift at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. And the call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

I am alarmed to hear reports of an attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Jill and I are praying for a swift recovery, and our thoughts are with his family and the people of Slovakia. We condemn this horrific act of violence. Our embassy is in close touch with the government of Slovakia and ready to assist.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and National Security Tarun Chhabra and Department of State Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology Seth Center led an interagency U.S. delegation with officials from the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce to meet with a PRC delegation including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Development and Reform Commission, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Chinese Communist Party Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission on May 14 in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss artificial intelligence risk and safety. This meeting followed the Woodside summit between President Biden and President Xi Jinping in November 2023, where both leaders affirmed the need to convene U.S. and PRC government experts to address the risks associated with advanced AI systems.

In a candid and constructive discussion, the United States and PRC exchanged perspectives on their respective approaches to AI safety and risk management. The United States reiterated the importance of harnessing the benefits of AI for sustainable development, for developing and developed countries alike. The United States underscored the importance of ensuring AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy in order to realize these benefits of AI, and of continuing to build global consensus on that basis. The United States also raised concerns over the misuse of AI, including by the PRC.

The United States affirmed the need to maintain open lines of communication on AI risk and safety as an important part of responsibly managing competition.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Technology and National Security Tarun Chhabra and Department of State Acting Special Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technology Seth Center led an interagency U.S. delegation with officials from the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Commerce to meet with a PRC delegation including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Development and Reform Commission, Cyberspace Administration of China, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Chinese Communist Party Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission on May 14 in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) risk and safety. This meeting followed the Woodside summit between President Biden and President Xi Jinping in November 2023, where both leaders affirmed the need to convene U.S. and PRC government experts to address the risks associated with advanced AI systems.

In a candid and constructive discussion, the United States and PRC exchanged perspectives on their respective approaches to AI safety and risk management. The United States reiterated the importance of harnessing the benefits of AI for sustainable development, for developing and developed countries alike. The United States underscored the importance of ensuring AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy in order to realize these benefits of AI, and of continuing to build global consensus on that basis. The United States also raised concerns over the misuse of AI, including by the PRC.

The United States affirmed the need to maintain open lines of communication on AI risk and safety as an important part of responsibly managing competition.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

Fighting inflation and lowering costs is my top economic priority. I know many families are struggling, and that even though we've made progress we have a lot more to do. Inflation has fallen more than 60% from its peak, and core inflation fell to its lowest level in three years. Prices are still too high--so my agenda will give families breathing room by building two million new homes to lower housing costs, taking on Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices, and calling on grocery chains making record profits to lower grocery prices for consumers.

Rather than bringing solutions, Congressional Republicans want to increase costs by going back to their same old trickle-down economics. Republicans want to slash taxes for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, and raise taxes for middle class families. They would protect special interests and Big Pharma, and undermine workers and seniors by slashing Social Security and Medicare. All that would send inflation skyrocketing. I have a different vision for the future: one in which we take on special interests to lower costs and give the middle class a fair shot.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

Fighting inflation and lowering costs is my top economic priority. I know many families are struggling, and that even though we've made progress we have a lot more to do. Inflation has fallen more than 60% from its peak, and core inflation fell to its lowest level in three years. Prices are still too high—so my agenda will give families breathing room by building two million new homes to lower housing costs, taking on Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices, and calling on grocery chains making record profits to lower grocery prices for consumers.

Rather than bringing solutions, Congressional Republicans want to increase costs by going back to their same old trickle-down economics. Republicans want to slash taxes for the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, and raise taxes for middle class families. They would protect special interests and Big Pharma, and undermine workers and seniors by slashing Social Security and Medicare. All that would send inflation skyrocketing. I have a different vision for the future: one in which we take on special interests to lower costs and give the middle class a fair shot.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Brazilian Presidential Advisor Celso Amorim

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by telephone yesterday with Brazilian Presidential Advisor Celso Amorim. He expressed his condolences on behalf of President Biden and the people of the United States to those who have been impacted by the devastating flooding and landslides in southern Brazil. The National Security Advisor reiterated the United States continued support and commitment to work closely with Brazil on providing necessary assistance. The two discussed progress on deepening our bilateral relationship and addressing global and regional challenges, including efforts to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and secure a ceasefire and hostage deal that would bring American and Brazilian hostages home, Russia's war against Ukraine, and the electoral process in Venezuela.

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

Statements and Releases

2024-05-15

To support these efforts and the evidence-based strategies described above, several new commitments to tackling absenteeism in every corner of the country will be announced at the Summit:

The White House does not endorse any nonfederal entity, product, service, or publication. Links to websites and resources outside the U.S. Federal Government are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsem*nt or an approval by the White House of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The White House bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2024

The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic investments to help ensure that all children can thrive in the 21^st century – and that begins with students being in school every day. Chronic absenteeism – students missing 10% or more of school – emerged as a serious challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic due to school closures, which began during the previous Administration. The U.S. rate of chronic absenteeism reached about 31% in the 2021-2022 school year. There have been improvements in the 2022-2023 school year, with some American schools and school systems demonstrating significant progress based on proven strategies.

But absenteeism remains a challenge for many schools, both in the United States and around the world. Students who are chronically absent are much less likely to read at grade level and to graduate high school. According to theCouncil of Economic Advisers , absenteeism can account for up to 27% and 45% of the post-pandemic test score declines in math and reading, respectively.

Eliminating as few as 10 absences per year could have significant impacts on the probability of students graduating high school and enrolling in college. A new brief released today shows that some districts are improving a lot and others much less. That is consistent with other research showing that district, school, and teacher responses can make a significant difference to absenteeism.

We as a country should not accept chronic absenteeism as a new normal. Earlier this year, the Administration announced its Improving Student Achievement Agenda . And today at the White House, the Administration will host the Every Day Counts Summit featuring bipartisan state and local education leaders who are tackling absenteeism head on using evidence-based approaches.

Today, the Administration is calling on states, cities and towns, and schools to cultivate a "culture of attendance" and send a clear message that students need to be in school. To support effective communications, the Administration is sharing tools for messaging effectively to parents about attendance. In addition, the Administration supports efforts by state and local leaders to report in real time on student absences by school--in order to track progress and address challenges as they occur. At the Summit, the state superintendents for Alabama and Indiana will share the ways they are gathering, sharing, and using data already.

In addition to prioritizing and reporting on absenteeism, the Administration's strategy calls for adopting four other strategies:

1. Increasing effective communication with families, including the use of tactics like texting, which may be part of creating what Attendance Works refers to as a "culture of attendance ";

2. Visiting families at home to help find supportive solutions;

3. Making school more relevant for students so they want to be there; and

4. Meeting the basic needs of students and families, including through investing in Full-Service Community Schools, which, among other features, connect families to supports such as health care, housing, and child care.

The Governors of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and leaders from four school districts, will talk about how they are advancing these strategies.

As part of the Every Day Counts Summit, the Administration is announcing these new actions:

Targeting competitive federal grant programs to activities intended to increase student attendance and engagement. This month, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Notice Inviting Applications for the Education Innovation and Research grant program , making available approximately $250 million to create, develop, implement, and replicate evidence-based solutions that accelerate student achievement, including those designed to reduce chronic absenteeism and increase student engagement. In the coming weeks, the Department will also release Notices Inviting Applications for the Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building grant program and the Promise Neighborhoods grant program, both of which can support student attendance and engagement.

Publishing new resources and tools on the effective use of data to identify students who are chronically absent and intervene early. The Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences will issue resources supporting schools in using data and early warning systems to help identify patterns in student attendance, build positive school climate and strong family relationships , and effectively communicate with parents on school attendance – including personalized notifications about how many days a student has missed. In addition, the Department's Student Engagement and Attendance Center is releasing a new toolkit

for states and districts to examine root causes of chronic absenteeism and identify interventions. The Department's National Center for Education Statistics will also collect new data on causes of chronic absenteeism this June through its School Pulse Panel survey and the Department will publish new data on school attendance at the state, local, and school levels later this year.

Releasing a new resource for increasing student attendance, engagement, and success through career-connected learning, with examples and connections that schools can use to increase career pathways. The Department of Education's Office of Career, Technical and Adult education previously announced $25 million in grant awards to advance Career-Connected High Schools, supporting a critical strategy to combat absenteeism for high school students – making school more relevant.

Issuing a new resource on addressing transportation needs to improve school attendance. Many students miss school because of transportation issues, especially in vulnerable communities. To address this issue, many transit agencies, school districts and local governments across the country work together to offer free or reduced transit fares for students. In time for back to school, the Federal Transit Administration and the Department of Education will distribute a resource highlighting ways to make bus and train transit a viable and affordable option for young people to get to and from school.

To support these efforts and the evidence-based strategies described above, several new commitments to tackling absenteeism in every corner of the country will be announced at the Summit:

Overdeck Family Foundation and the Ad Council Research Institute have committed to working together on a new messaging toolkit for states, school districts, and principals based on new research around effectively communicating with parents and families to increase student attendance. This messaging toolkit will be ready in time for back to school.

The National Partnership for Student Success Support Hub at the Johns Hopkins Everyone Graduates Center is releasing a Digital Backpack – "Resources to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Your Community" – that includes a curated set of publicly available resources for easy reference. The Annenberg Center at Brown University and Research for Action are releasing a new Ed Research for Action Brief designed to support an evidence-based approach to increasing school connectedness. The GRAD Partnership is also releasing a resource with guiding questions and action planning templates that schools and districts can use to create a comprehensive approach to reducing absenteeism that is customized to local conditions and additional

resources for addressing school-wide attendance patterns and meeting individual student needs.

The American Academy of Pediatrics , which represents 67,000 pediatricians across the U.S., will engage its members to reinforce the key role of our nation's pediatricians in addressing school attendance through individual interactions with patients and their parents, as well as through systems-level partnerships with schools. AAP has worked with partners in K-12 to reinforce the link between school attendance and good health and stress the value of developing strong school attendance habits as early as preschool. AAP will provide resources to parents with guidance for when to keep children home from school, tips for concerned parents on addressing school avoidance, and guidance on how best to prepare for the start of each school year.

Today's announcements build on the previous actions of the Administration, including targeting federal competitive grant programs to prioritize evidence-based approaches to supporting student achievement, including those that address chronic absenteeism; issuing a letter to state education leaders sharing effective strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism and the federal resources available to support their efforts; and explaining the flexibility available for pandemic relief funds to support these activities through the 2024-25

school year.

To support and sustain state and local investments in increasing student attendance and engagement, the Administration's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget proposal includes $8 billion in mandatory funding for Academic Acceleration and Achievement Grants to help close opportunity and achievement gaps, including supporting evidence-based strategies to increase student attendance and engagement.

The Administration has also provided resources and opportunities to support states, districts, and schools including:

The Department of Education provided guidance to states on how to use American Rescue Plan Homeless Children and Youth funds for transportation to and from schools for students experiencing homelessness. Students experiencing homelessness face particular challenges in attending school regularly. More than half of students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent in the 2021-2022 school year.

Providing funding through the STOP School Violence Program, in part through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to improve school safety by providing students, teachers, and staff with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and prevent acts of violence. This program funds measures that promote a positive and healthy school climate including, anti-bullying training, enhancing access to school-based behavioral health services, implementing appropriate social and emotional learning programs, and hiring personnel to help create a welcoming school climate, all of which have been proven to increase student attendance and engagement.

The White House does not endorse any nonfederal entity, product, service, or publication. Links to websites and resources outside the U.S. Federal Government are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsem*nt or an approval by the White House of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The White House bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-14

Next Post: FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions and Resources for Increasing Student Attendance and Engagement as Part of the White House Every Day Counts Summit

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions and Resources for Increasing Student Attendance and Engagement as Part of the WhiteHouse Every Day CountsSummit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

In the morning, the Vice President will receive briefings and conduct internal meetings with staff. These meetings will be closed press.

In the afternoon, the President and the Vice President will receive the President's Daily Brief. This meeting in the Oval Office will be closed press.

In the evening, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will host an event in celebration of Día de las Madres at the Vice President's Residence. This event will be closed press.

# # #

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-14

NeueHouse Madison Square

New York, New York

5:37 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hey, everyone. Hi, hi, hi. [Applause]

Do you have, like, a mic? Can I walk around with a mic?

Sit. Please have a seat.

I hate standing behi- — here we go. I hate standing behind a podium.

Good evening, everyone. It is so good to be every- — with everyone. Phil, Thelma, everyone, thank you so very much.

I'm only going to speak briefly because I want us to get into a good conversation. But let me thank all of you so very much.

As you heard from Thelma and Phil, I was born loving art. And I once aspired that I could be as — an artist, and my mother convinced me that I probably could. But, you know, I mean, I did pen and ink. It was only so good.

But I grew up — so, I grew up in the Bay Area, the daughter of parents who were active in Civil Rights Movement. And as many of you know, the intersection and the relationship between art and movements in our country and around the world is inextricable.

They are intertwined in such a foundation and fundamental way, because when we understand the impetus, the passion, and the — the reason for these movements and, in particular, the movements that have been about a fight for freedom, we know that it's about an expression of feelings that sometimes we can capture in words, but sometimes we capture through art — visually or through song or through dance.

And so, I grew up in an environment that was very rich about the importance of expression and for it to be free and to be received and to be understood or, at least, let's try to understand it.

And so, when Phil and when — when Thelma — when we talked about doing this for this election cycle, I was so excited, and I am so excited that we are all here together to see the connections, especially in this moment, because I don't need to tell anyone here what's happening in our country right now.

I have witnessed, during the course of my three years as Vice President and even before, but in the last several years, there is a full-on intent to attack fundamental freedoms and rights in our country, whether it be the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride — [applause]; the freedom to be — to be; the freedom to — to be free from the fear of gun violence; the freedom to learn America's full history — [applause]; the freedom to befear[free] from bigotry and hate; and the freedom for a woman to make decisions about her own body — [applause] — and not have her government tell her what to do; and the freedom to have access to the ballot box. I could go on and on.

Fundamental freedoms — and I have empirical evidence of every point that I have just made, especially in the last few years. Full-on attacks, unapologetic, against those rights and those freedoms.

And in this environment, there has been something that has also caused those especially who — whose freedoms are being attacked to feel alone. I think that's part of the intent of some of this push: to make people feel alone, the other-ism. We're not together; it's you versus me, but not us.

And when we can bring people together to see something, like in art, where they see something that they recognize based on a life they have experienced, and to each one of us, we can look at that one piece of art, and based on what we see through the lens of what we feel and what we've experienced, we see something different, but we're all looking at the same thing. Isn't that very special? Isn't that very special?

And so, I think about this moment in many ways, obviously. But one of them is I look at this moment through the lens of the importance of us finding a way to unify and bring people together and make sure folks don't feel alone and to create community. And after all, artists do that so well all the time.

And for all of those reasons, I'm — I'm so thrilled to be with all of you.

And I'll just end with this point. I mean, you know, I think that there's been this kind of perverse approach in the last several years that suggests that the measure of the strength of a — a leader is based on who you beat down, instead of what I think we all know, which is the true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.

And — [applause] — there's — there's been some sense that, oh, it's a sign of weakness to have empathy, when, in fact, the — the character of real leaders is the character that causes one to have some level of care and concern about the suffering of other people and then do something about it.

And I say that to an extraordinary group of leaders, who also understand the importance of expression and recognizing the emotions and the passion and the feeling that we all have and — and providing a space for that expression.

So, thank you all. I'm very happy to be with you. Thank you. [Applause]

Let's begin our conversation.

END 5:43 P.M. EDT

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-14

Private Residence

New York, New York

11:39 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Hi, everyone. Hi, hi. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]

Please have a seat. Please have a seat. Please have a seat.

Thank you, Alexis. And we're going to engage in conversation in a minute, and I'm really looking forward to that.

It is good to see so many longstanding friends and many new friends. And I want to thank you all for taking the time to have this conversation at this very important and pivotal moment in the history of our country.

Crystal, thank you for hosting us, you and Ray. I mean, you guys are family to me. You have hosted me in this very living room many times for many conversations.

Sarah Min — where is Sarah? — thank you. Just, I mean, literally — I was saying to Crystal and Sarah and Alicia, I mean, you know, it's a real blessing in your lives — I think all of us have girlfriends who have always just — they're there with us. Right? And when you need them just to pick you up, to push you out, to laugh with you, to celebrate with you, to — to live.

And these three have been such extraordinary friends to me and just on this road and journey with me for such a long time. So, to Crystal, to Sarah, to Alicia, I thank you for bringing everybody together. [Applause] Thank you.

And — and to Crystal's plus-one, Ray. [Laughter]

So, I'll just get right to a few points, and then we can start the conversation. Let me start with this. We are winning. We are winning. [Applause] We are winning. And we will win. [Applause] We are winning, and we will win.

If you take a look at what we have, in just three years, accomplished, be it what we have done in a way that rivals — God bless him — but Eisenhower around what we have done to invest trillions of dollars in America's infrastructure; bringing manufacturing back to the United States; investing in the climate with over a trillion dollars in a way that we are rivaling or at least probably requiring competition from our allies around the world to do what we're doing to take care of this precious planet Earth that we have.

What we are doing to deal with supply chain — a term that was, in most people — not in most people's — right? — language and lexicon until the pandemic but became clear: We need to have strong supply chains right here in the United States,least[lest] industries and economies shut down.

We are investing in CHIPS and Science. I'm so excited about that. Many of you know that my mother was a scientist — a breast cancer researcher. She'd take my sister, Maya, and I to the lab on weekends and — and after school. And the idea that we are investing in the work that is about seeing what is possible and what can be, unburdened by what has been; that we can invest in those things will — that will uplift the human condition.

We are winning on so many fundamental issues that are about the strength of our economy, a broad-based economy, that are about improving the condition and lives of so many.

What we are doing in terms of our ability to, one, be a role model around what a clean energy economy in the future can look like. And doing all that while we also fight for fundamental freedoms and rights.

We are winning, and we are going to win. And it will not be easy.

Many of you may know I have now, as Vice President of the United States, met with — my staff has counted — over 150 world leaders — presidents, prime ministers, chancellors, and kings — now with many of them multiple times to the point that we have developed friendships are on — that are on a first-name basis.

I'll tell you, the last three international trips I took were two at the end of last year and one this year.

Last year, it was — the last trips I took were Dubai. I represented our country at COP28, the global climate conference. I was in the UK. The — Rishi Sunak of the UK asked me to come, and I presented on how we think about the future of safety in AI. And then, this year, I presented America's perspective in front of our NATO Allies at the Munich Security Conference.

In each one of just those last three trips, to a one, world leaders came up to me — we're on a first-name basis — "Kamala," they said, "hope you guys are going to win." And understand, when they presented that point, it's purely out of self-interest.

Because they understand what we here all know: When we, as the United States of America, walk into these rooms, historically, we have the earned and self-appointed authority to walk into those rooms chin up, shoulders back, talking about the importance of democracy, rule of law.

But this room of role models knows that when one is a role model, people watch what you do to see if it matches what you say. People around the world are watching and hoping and praying America lives up to her promise.

And I believe in the promise of America. And I believe in America's promise to her people. I am living proof of America's promise.

And so, when I think, then, about where we are in this moment, it is about us living up to that promise and believing in it and then knowing that that promise will only be achieved if we, each of us, are willing to fight for it. [Applause]

And I also believe: When you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for. [Laughter] And so, we're going to talk about a few things here. But I'll say a lot of what we stand for and will be fighting for over the course of these next — what is it, six months, Sheila?

MS. NIX: Less than. [Laughter]

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Less than. Everyone, meet Sheila Nix, my — the Chief of Staff of my campaign. [Applause]

A lot of the issues that we stand for and are fighting for are issues that I've worked on my entire career. As many of you know, on the issue of, for example, reproductive health — and we'll talk a bit about that — I just did — I just came from doing the Sherri Shepherd show. If any of you have watched her, she's fantastic. She's very smart, very funny.

But — but in attendance, in the audience, were my niece, Meena; my goddaughter, Helena, who is getting — Crystal gave her some food to eat because she's been running with me since we left D.C. [Laughter] We're all mommies here. [Laughter]

And in the audience was a woman by the name of Wanda Kagan. She used to be called Wanda Kagan when we were in — in high school. She's now married. And the story of Wanda is some — a story that I have not often told but have been talking about more as she talks about it, which is this: When I was in high school, I learned that my best friend, Wanda, was being molested by her stepfather. And I said to her, "Well, you have to come live with us." And I called my mother, and my mother said, "Of course, she does." And so, she did.

And you all know I started my career as a prosecutor. But you may not know that that's one of the reasons why. Because I decided I wanted to take on crimes and harms against women and children. And the majority of my career as a prosecutor was actually focused on just that.

So, when I travel the country, often seeing Alexis McGill out in these main streets — [laughter] — when I talk about the immorality of laws that, for example, would make no exception for rape or incest on the issue of abortion, I am talking about an issue that I am very familiar with in terms of how it plays out in reality. The idea that some so-called leader would suggest that after someone has survived a violation to their body, they have no right to decide what happens to their body next — it's immoral.

And these are issues I've worked on for years. When I think about what we need to do in terms of addressing the economy, you know, as — as Attorney General of California, elected and reelected — as the first woman, by the way, but that wasn't the point — [laughter] — I ran the second-largest Department of Justice in the United States, second only to the United States Department of Justice.

And when I was there, a lot of the work that I did was about what we need to do to support the economy, support consumers, protect homeowners, knowing that, for example, if you want to talk about one of the smartest and most effective ways that an American family can achieve intergenerational wealth is through homeownership and what we need to do, then, to protect that.

I worked with small businesses back then and now, as Vice President, have been responsible for billions of dollars more in capital going to community banks to invest in small businesses. I convened a whole group of executives from American Express, Bank of America, and others to invest mil- — billions more private equity to make access to capital real.

The work that we are doing that is about — focused on the fact that in our economy, we have no lack of people with ambition and aspirations, but so many face obstacles to achieve the economic health and security, much less wealth, that they desire. And we need to address that if we really want to build an economy that works for everyone.

So, I've taken on issues like debt, one of the biggest burdens for the American people. Medical debt — doing the work that I've done, I have seen it play out, especially when I would work on, as Attorney General, hospital mergers and what would bring people down.

So, guess what we have done as an administration? We have now said that medical debt cannot be included in your credit score. [Applause] I will tell you: This is a game changer. Credit score — you know, now people can get it — there are all kinds of apps. People know that as well as they know their weight. [Laughter] Right? [Laughs] And they know what that number means — [laughter] — for a variety of things.

The fact that medical debt, which is usually acquired, sadly, because of a medical emergency — it's no reflection, that medical emergency, of how financially responsible you are or not — but weighs people down.

These are the kinds of things that we have done that is reflective of an approach about what we stand for, which includes, as it relates to the economy, as much as anything, making sure that people can't just get by but can get ahead.

And then, of course, the issue of democracy. And I'll close with that, and then we can start our discussion. I mean, my God. In our lifetime — Crystal, you were talking about Brown v. Board of Education. Seventieth anniversary, I think, is this weekend.

PARTICIPANT: Friday.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Friday.

My mentor, who I never met but who inspired a lot of my career, was Thurgood Marshall. [Applause] Right? Who, as much as anything, his — his — the model that I saw so much about him was he understood how to translate the passion from the streets to the courtrooms of our country and then do the work of reminding us of the foundational principles that underlie the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence and all those words that are supposed to reflect the principles that we hold dear.

The idea of democracy, freedom — right? — it was about fights for freedom — that the highest court in our land — the court of Thurgood and RBG — would take a constitutional right that had been recognized from the women of America — freedoms.

You see what's happening in terms of Florida and some other places — freedom the — the — "Don't Say Gay." Freedom — on the attack of people to love who they love openly and with pride.

Attacks — book bans. The freedom to learn America's full history.

The opposition to smart gun safety laws, like assault weapons bans and universal background checks, which essentially is an assault on the freedom that our children and each of us should have to be free from fear of gun violence.

Freedom — the freedom — I just did — I've been doing a lot of events for AANHPI week, Asian American history. And the freedom — the freedom most recently I talked about yesterday — to be free from hate and bigotry.

Fundamental freedoms are at stake right now.

And so, when I say that we are winning, we are. Part of it is because I know who's in this room. We do believe in the promise of America. And we know what we stand for, so we know what to fight for.

And with that, I say, we will win.

And to my New York friends, I will also ask you specifically, you got some House races here — [laughter and applause] — that could actually turn this stuff around. And, in particular, New York 17, in Hudson Valley. So, please pay attention to that.

And I could not sit down to start this conversation without asking you for something, which I have now done. So, let's start our conversation. [Applause, Laughter]

Good. Thank you.

END 11:54 A.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

At 11:30 AM, as a part of the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research , First Lady Jill Biden will deliver remarks at the 2024 Women's Health Health Lab event in New York, New York, where she will highlight how the Biden-Harris administration is fundamentally changing how our nation approaches and funds women's health research. The First Lady's remarks will be open to pre-credentialed media with limited capacity. For interested media, please contact jaime.marsanico@hearst.com .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

During a live interview with Sherri Shepherd, the Vice President discussed maternal health, her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, and the Biden-Harris Administration's record of delivering for the American people

NEW YORK – Vice President Kamala Harris joined Sherri Shepherd this morning for a wide-ranging conversation that aired across the country. During the live interview, the Vice President continued her leadership on addressing the maternal health crisis, discussed her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour, and outlined how the Biden-Harris Administration has delivered historic progress for families throughout America. She also shared what she has been hearing on the road while making more than 40 trips to 16 states since the beginning of the year.

ICYMI, here are four moments from today's interview on Sherri:

1. Vice President Harris spoke about her continued work to address the maternal health crisis and improve postpartum care for women across America:

"One of the things that I started to focus on when I became Vice President is, I was curious about what is going on in terms of giving women the support they need in terms of postpartum care. And I looked at our country and realized that, for women on Medicaid, only three states in our nation had extended postpartum coverage from two months to 12 months – only three states. … I then issued a challenge to all of these states: Extend postpartum care to 12 months. As of today, 46 states have signed on. … women deserve and need this kind of support."

2. The Vice President discussed her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour and highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration has reduced debt – from forgiving an unprecedented amount of student debt to taking on medical debt:

"We have been looking at, for example, medical debt because usually it is because somebody faces a medical emergency for which they were not prepared, did not have the savings. … we are on track to say that medical debt cannot be counted in your credit score. … this is going to be a game changer for so many people and it is just what is morally right. … we are on track to forgiving over $160 billion in student loan debt for 4 million people including for our public servants like our nurses, our firefighters, and our teachers."

3. Vice President Harris underscored what she and President Biden have done to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in communities throughout the country:

"One of the areas of focus for me to strengthen and fortify our nation's economy is to focus on supporting small businesses … I have been working on getting more resources to them and, in particular, increasing access to capital. So I started this Economic Opportunity Tour to focus on helping people know that we have, for example, expanded what we are allowing in terms of small-business loans through community banks. We have gotten rid of some of the obstacles to loans."

4. The Vice President shared how young leaders across America give her hope while working to protect our fundamental freedoms:

"I started a college tour last fall – meeting with Gen Z and all these young people who are not waiting around for us to fix things. They are ready to take it on … things like gun violence, climate crisis. And I think that part of what we all embrace and need to acknowledge is that we measure the strength of ourselves not based on who we beat down but who we lift up. And let us continue to focus on that as a way to strengthen ourselves, our country."

Watch the Vice President's full interview with Sherri here: segment 1 | segment 2 | segment 3

# # #

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS

AT A RECEPTION IN CELEBRATION OF

AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH

Rose Garden

5:01 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everyone. Good afternoon.

Please have a seat, those who can -- those who have a chair.

Well, it -- what a beautiful day. And it is so good to be with so many dear friends and so many extraordinary leaders.

And, of course, at the front and the most important of our leaders today, I have to acknowledge our president, Joe Biden, and -- -- and him welcoming everyone to the White House. And Joe Biden, as everyone here knows, is a leader of courage and conviction and a fighter for freedom, justice, and equity for all Americans. Yes.

And to the first Second Gentleman of the United States -- who I know is here, but I don't see him at the moment -- -- my husband, Doug Emhoff -- ; to the members of our administration and the members of Congress, including the members of CAPAC; and all of the distinguished guests, including some who I welcomed last week for the first-ever AANHPI Night Market -- -- hosted at the Vice President's Residence, it is an honor to gather with all of you.

The story of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders is the story of America herself. During AANHPI Heritage Month, we honor the leaders who shaped the earliest days of our nation's history.

From the 1800 s when Chinese Americans laid the tracks of the transcontinental railroad to the South Asian Americans who worked on farms and lumber mills and strengthened the agricultural base of the Pacific Coast; from the Japanese Americans of the 442 nd Combat Team who defended our freedom and liberty during World War Two to the Filipino Americans who helped lead the historic Delano grape strike -- -- resulting in more fair pay and basic workplace protections for agricultural workers -- -- and then fast-forward to today, the leaders here and across our nation who continue to make history every day.

This month and every month, we honor and celebrate the heroes upon whose broad shoulders we all stand.

And as many of you may know, my mother arrived in the United States from India when she was 19 years old, by herself, never having been to America. My mother had two goals in her life: to raise her two daughters -- my sister, Maya, and me -- and to end breast cancer. She was a breast cancer researcher.

My mother never asked anyone's permission to pursue her dreams. And it is because of her character, strength, and determination that within one generation I stand before you as Vice President of the United States.

Like so many, we were raised, all of us, to understand the value of hard work, the importance of community, and the duty we all have to have some level of concern and care about the well-being of other people and our duty, then, to do something about it.

You know, there has been something quite perverse, I think, happening in our nation over the last several years where some people would suggest that the measure of strength is based on who you beat down, instead of what we know: The true measure of strength is based on who you lift up.

In this moment, we see extremists who try to divide our nation. We see so-called leaders with the biggest pulpits and the biggest bully pulpits who encourage and incite xenophobia and hate, including anti-Asian hate. We see a full-on assault, state by state, on our most fundamental freedoms and rights: the freedom to vote, the freedom to live safe from the horror of gun violence, the freedom from hate and bigotry, the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride, the freedom to learn and acknowledge our true and full history, and the freedom of women to make decisions about their own body -- -- and not have their government tell them what to do.

And so, in this moment -- I'll close by this -- I am reminded of the words of one of my dearest friends and a mentor to me, Secretary Norm Mineta. Norm often said, "You have two arms: one to climb the ladder of success and one to reach down and pick someone up and pull them up behind you."

This AANHPI Heritage Month, let us all celebrate those who have lifted up our nation, and to honor their memory, let us renew our commitment to lift as we climb.

And now, it is my great privilege to introduce a leader who has inspired people around the world and who has fought for years with such courage for equity and for justice. Please welcome Lucy Liu.

MS. LIU: Good afternoon.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon.

MS. LIU: I am deeply honored to have been introduced by Vice President Kamala Harris -- a trailblazer, a beacon of hope for women and people of color everywhere.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

MS. LIU: Her his- -- . Yes, yes, let's give it up for her.

Her historic election as the first female Black and Asian American Vice President of the United States is a testament to the limitless possibilities of the American Dream. Thank you for your leadership and your inspiration.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

MS. LIU: I was born and raised in New York with parents who both immigrated from China. And while we commemorate AANHPI Heritage Month here today, our household proudly celebrates it every month.

My son, Rockwell, possesses a deep awareness of our roots, exuding a profound confidence in his identity. Now, this is truly remarkable to me, especially considering the contrast to my childhood, where I felt I had to keep things secretive and distance myself from my heritage in order to have a stronger sense of belonging.

Now, as we gather to honor this heritage, and in the Rose Garden at the White House, I am struck by the irony that once inhibited my own path towards fearlessness. Our journey as Asian Americans is deeply rooted in history, marked by resilience, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of justice.

From the struggles of our ancestors who first set foot on American soil to the generations that followed, we have contributed to the rich tapestry of this nation, shaping its history and its future. Throughout history, we have faced formidable challenges in asserting our rights, including the right to vote and be counted.

When Chinese immigrants arrived during the California Gold Rush, we battled against discrimination and practices like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, aimed at disenfranchising us. Despite these obstacles, Asian Americans have persisted in their fight for equality and representation. In 1943, there was a significant victory when this Exclusion Act was repealed.

Subsequent decades saw the gradual dismantling of discriminatory policies. Today, as we confront the ongoing challenges of voter suppression and intolerance, we remain steadfast in our commitment to democracy, inspired by the sacrifices of those who came before us and fueled by the hope of a brighter future.

It is against this backdrop of struggle and progress that I have the privilege of introducing a leader who embodies the values of equality, unity, and progress; a president who is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and believes, like we do, in the bond of family and the pride of our immigrant heritage.

Mr. President, all of us here -- including my son, Rockwell -- stand united with you with open hearts and minds to continue this journey of collaboration to celebrate AANHPI excellence.

Esteemed guests, the 46 th President of the United States, President Joe Biden.

THE PRESIDENT: My name is Joe Biden. I work for Kamala Harris.

I asked her to be my vice president because I knew I needed somebody smarter than me.

Folks, Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month -- -- here in the White House.

And thank you, Lucy, for that introduction and all you do for the community, on and off the screen.

Kamala, our historic Vice President, who represents the community with such great -- with such great pride. And, Doug -- I know you're here somewhere, but wherever you are, Doug -- he's back there? Okay, anyway -- our first Second Gentleman -- -- he's here along with so many of our friends.

Mazie and Tammy, two leaders in the United States Senate. There you are. And Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Representative Judy Chu.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: She's over there.

THE PRESIDENT: There you are, Judy.

And other members who represent the community in growing numbers in each election.

As Kamala mentioned, that includes the family of the late Norm Mineta, who was a great friend and a great leader. In fact, this year marks the 25 th anniversary of the creation of the White House Initiative on Asian American, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and Norm supported it.

And, by the way, I was educated by a guy who -- if I can digress for just a moment -- one of the people -- when I first got here, I didn't want to be here because I just lost my family in an accident. And there was a guy named Danny Inouye who came along. Danny had more grit and determination than anybody I ever knew. And he was a guy who stood tall. He -- and this is a guy who -- anyway, I don't want to get started, but -- -- but he taught me an awful lot.

Several Commission members are here as well, and I want to thank them. Kamala and I are committed to having an administration -- when we go- -- got elected, we said we're going to have an administration that looks like America, and it does. We do.

We have members of every community, who so many of them are here today -- -- including our Cabinet, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. Katherine -- where is Ka- -- -- there she is. Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su.

And above all, thanks to all of you -- leaders of labor, business, philanthropy, civil rights, arts and culture, and so much more.

All of you represent a simple truth: There is no singular Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander identity. And diversity in those cultures, the breadth of achievement has shaped the strength and fabric of this country. But it's not all the same.

The fastest-growing demographic in the United States, you represent how we are, as a nation of immigrants, a nation of dreamers, a nation of freedom.

And that's the America we share. We've made incredible progress together: 15 million new jobs -- a record; historic-low levels of unemployment; record small-business creation. In fact, loans from our Small Business Administration to the AANHPI small business is up 44 percent compared -- --

By the way, the dog is cheering for that. That was a dog up front here. He's all for it. He's employed.

And, look, because we expanded the Child Care Tax Credit during the pandemic, not -- and, by the way, not one Republican voted for it -- we cut Asian American child poverty by nearly 25 percent -- a record low.

Lower costs across the board. We finally beat Big Pharma and got Medicare the ability to negotiate lower drug prices. For example, we capped insulin at $35 a month, down from $400. It only cost them -- it only cost them 10 bucks to make it. And seniors on Medicare, including your parents and grandparents, are beneficiaries.

It not only saves lives, but interesting fact around my Republican friends: It saves the budget $160 billion -- -- $160 billion -- because Medicare no longer has to pay those exorbitant fees and prices.

And we're now making college more affordable by relieving student debt for millions of students, including so many in the community. And we secured the largest increase in Pell Grants in a decade. It matters now -- nearly 40 percent of N- -- AANH- -- -NHPI students rely on Pell Grants to get to college -- nearly 40 percent.

More people have health insurance today than ever before in the history of this country, including in the community. And I'm proud my administration announced DACA recipients will finally get access to healthcare through the Affordable Care Act.

And, by the way, I proposed the most comprehensive immigration reform bill in decades. It includes a pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and expands the number of green cards so more families can build their American Dream together.

And now Congress has to act and do the right thing. I'll keep mo- -- we're both going to keep pushing forward.

Thanks to decades of advocacy by so many of you, I'm proud our administration rec- -- we recently announced major changes to how federal government collects and reports federal data on race and ethnicity. By disaggregating data on the community this is -- that it so deserves, we can better serve the entire community -- individual communities.

After all, our government didn't really see Korean Americans distinctly from Filipino Americans. But how can we [DEL: cress :DEL] [address] each community's needs without an understanding of the specific needs? We're changing that.

We're also making historic investments to rebuild roads and bridges and lead the world in science and innovation. That includes the most significant investment ever in climate in the history of the world -- over $368 billion -- and there's so many leading the way.

I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years, which matters, as I mourned with you in Atlanta, Monterey Park, and Half Moon Bay. I've been there to meet the families. Together, we won't stop until we finally ban assault weapons as well.

I can go on. But, look, the point here is we're lowering costs, expanding opportunities, and protecting freedoms. That's in stark contrast to my predecessor's view of America and his view of all of you.

We'll never forget him lying about the pandemic. We'll never forget the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic. I'm proud to have had to -- I'm not proud to have had to, but I'm proud to have signed and -- the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act with your support.

We've also provided historic value in funding for public safety, local communities, and it's bringing us results. We're seeing a 50-year low in violent crime in America. San Francisco, for example, anti-Asian hate crimes are down 75 percent over the last two years.

When Trump was in office, he enacted a $2 trillion tax cut, overwhelmingly benefiting the super wealthy and the very biggest corporations, that exploded the federal deficit. His administration added more to the federal debt than any previous presidential term in American history. And now, he and his congressional Republican friends want to do it again.

At the same time, he wants to, quote -- I love his terminology -- "terminate" the Affordable Care Act, kicking millions of you and your families off of insurance and taking away protections for preexisting conditions, affecting millions of people.

And Social Security and Medicare -- my predecessor says, quote, "There's a lot we can do in terms of cutting." Not on our watch.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Not on our watch.

THE PRESIDENT: Not on our watch.

And he brags about cutting Roe v. Wade, making sure it's overturned. But Kamala and I are going to keep fighting to restore Roe v. Wade until it's the law of the land again.

While we fight for comprehensive immigration reform, he calls immigrants "rapists" and "murderers." He says they are "not people" -- they are "not people." He says immigrants are, quote, "poisoning the blood of our country."

Folks, my predecessor wants a country just for some of us. We want a country for all of us.

Let me close this. Two years ago, I signed the landmark law to pave the way for the creation of the National Museum of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander History and Culture. It matters.

There are those who want to erase history. But together, you're making history. We're making history.

And what I see in all of you, including some incredibly special people here today. Born in the Philippines, she came to America as a fo- -- to follow her dream. She started working at a restaurant at an airport before working her way up to become one of the best chefs in the world. And now, the first woman Asian American Executive Chef of the White House, Chef Cris.

Come here. Come on up here, Chef.

She is incredible. I -- matter of fact, I was 20 pounds lighter when I came.

MS. COMERFORD: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much.

MS. COMERFORD: Thank you. I love you.

THE PRESIDENT: You deserve it. Love you too.

MS. COMERFORD: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

She's been here for over two decades, serving presidents of both parties. She's prepared dinners for heads of state, celebrities -- from everyone from Super Bowl champions to everyday heroes. And above all, she's a world-class culinary leader who leaves you with a sense of wonder about American forever -- as a forever nation of immigrants.

Look, a story all of you represent in one form or another. Maybe your family has been here for generations or you're here for the fir- -- you're the first one here. Maybe you never thought you'd be here at the White House, but you are here at the White House --the People's House, your house -- your house.

We see you. There's always been a competing set of values and visions in America that's existed never as starkly as today -- one held by my predecessor of revenge and retribution, the other of hope and opportunity that we all share -- honesty, decency, faith, fairness.

That's the future we're building together. And it's because of you. And I mean this sincerely. It's because of you I've never been more optimistic about America's future in my entire career.

We just have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. And there is nothing -- nothing beyond our capacity when we act together. And that's what we have to do, and that's what we are doing.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops. Thank you.

5:22 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

Adam B. Abelson, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, vice James Kelleher Bredar, retired.

Embry J. Kidd, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, vice Charles R. Wilson, retiring.

Joseph Francis Saporito, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, vice Malachy Edward Mannion, retired.

Meredith A. Vacca, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York, vice Frank Paul Geraci, Jr., retired.

# # #

Presidential Actions

2024-05-14

Adam B. Abelson, of Maryland, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland, vice James Kelleher Bredar, retired.

Embry J. Kidd, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit, vice Charles R. Wilson, retiring.

Joseph Francis Saporito, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, vice Malachy Edward Mannion, retired.

Meredith A. Vacca, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of New York, vice Frank Paul Geraci, Jr., retired.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

AND UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE TAI

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:15 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. All right, everybody. All right.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

Q Hi.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi.

Q Hello.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's raining outside.

Okay. So, as you just saw today, the President directed his Trade Representative to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on $18 billion of imports from China.

This action will protect American workers and businesses from China's unfair trade practices. As you've heard the President often say, American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone as long as the competition is fair.

Our U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, is here to share more on the President's announcement and take some of your questions.

And with that, I will turn it over to Ambassador Tai. Welcome to the briefing room for the first time.

AMBASSADOR TAI: Thank you so much.

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

President Biden has consistently been clear that he will take action to defend American workers and businesses from the unfair trade practices of the People's Republic of China.

Today, he is once again keeping that promise.

President Biden and bi- -- and I both know that American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone as long as the competition is fair.

But for too long, the PRC has been playing by a different set of rules with unfair and anticompetitive economic practices. Those unfair practices include forced technology transfer, including cyber hacking and cyber theft; non-market policies, such as targeting industrial sectors for dominance, labor rights suppression, and weak environmental protection; and flooding markets worldwide with artificially cheap products that wipe out the competition.

The President's action today is a part of his vision to rebuild our supply chains and our ability to make things in America to lower costs, outcompete the PRC, and encourage the elimination of practices that undercut American workers and businesses. We are doing that by investing in manufacturing and clean energy here at home and raising tariffs to protect these investments.

I conducted a statutory review of the PRC's forced technology transfer and other intellectual-property-related practices, which were the subject of the 2018 Section 301 investigation.

In that review, I found that the PRC continues to deploy these unfair trade practices. And I conveyed my findings to the President in a report, which is available on the USTR website.

It is clear that the previous administration's trade deal with the PRC failed to increase American exports or boost manufacturing. In fact, China's exports in some critical sectors, like EVs and batteries, actually increased.

In response, President Biden, today, signed a memorandum directing me to increase tariffs on critical manufacturing and mining sectors, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, and certain critical minerals. The increased tariffs are expected to cover approximately $18 billion of trade.

The President also directed a process to request excluding certain production machinery from the tariffs to permit solar and clean manufacturers to purchase equipment while diversifying their suppliers.

Next week, I expect to issue a public notice that conveys the specific tariff lines, tariff rates, and timing for the proposed increases, along with the details of the machinery exclusions process.

This strong action by the President is strategic. As he has said, we do not seek to constrain China's economic development, but we will insist on fair competition and defend American workers from the PRC's unfair practices.

Today's direction by the President defends American workers and businesses from the PRC's artificially cheap products, whether EVs or steel or critical minerals or semiconductors.

I also want to emphasize that we continue to consult with our partners and our allies who face similar threats from the PRC's unfair trade practices and are also voicing their concern with those unfair practices and taking action. Our partners are essential to addressing the broader threat to our working families and businesses.

Today's strong tariff announcement is an important part of President Biden's worker-centered trade policy, which is about using trade to empower workers and making sure that they can compete fairly and thrive, and supports the historic investments we have already made here at home.

I can now take your questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Go ahead, Aamer.

Q Thank you, Ambassador. First, there seems to be some confidence that these tariffs won't cause the competition to slide into conflict with China. If you could just explain a little bit about why you are so confident.

And then, secondly, BYD is looking to build EV factories in Mexico that could flood the U.S. market. Why isn't the administration preemptively announcing tariffs to hit these vehicles?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, you actually asked two questions.

Q Yeah, I did. Sorry.

AMBASSADOR TAI: Yes. So, let me begin with the first, which is that we've been very, very clear about the strategic nature of this tariff review process and the focus on ensuring that the actions that are announced will be effective in leveling the playing field, giving our workers and our businesses the chance to continue to compete and to thrive against an onslaught of really, really challenging measures and a challenging economic system that is coming from Beijing.

We have been clear about this with the American public.

We have also been equally clear about this with our counterparts in Beijing. Every single one of us, from the President on down, over the course of the last three years, have made clear the challenges that we are facing, the nature of that challenge, and the need for us to act. Because we know what happens if we don't act and we don't defend: We will see the same patterns repeated over and over again.

So, what we are doing today should by no means be a surprise to our counterparts in Beijing. We have made clear this is not about escalation. This is about the consequences of decades of economic policy and the need for the United States to defend our rights.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, and there was the second question.

AMBASSADOR TAI: And the second question was on the EVs and BYD in Mexico. At USTR, that is exactly what we are built to worry about and to be concerned with. That will require a separate pathway. This is about imports from China. What you're talking about would be imports from Mexico. Equally important -- something that we were talking to our industry, our workers, and our partners about. And I would just ask you to stay tuned.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

Q Thanks, Ambassador. When Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods, it led to some increased prices for U.S. customers. How can you be sure the same thing won't happen again?

AMBASSADOR TAI: First of all, I think that that link, in terms of tariffs to prices, has been largely debunked. What I would say -- what I would say is that what the President has instructed that we do is to focus on making our supply chains more resilient. That means we need more options. That means here in America, we need to have more manufacturing capacity. Resilient supply chains means that we will be able to insulate the American economy from the kinds of price spikes and the inflationary dynamics that we have seen that have come primarily from the supply chain challenges we've experienced first from the pandemic, next from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

If you think back to March of 2020 and you think about how much a face mask cost, it's a trick question. The answer is you did not have enough money to buy a face mask because there just weren't enough in the world to go around. So, it is with that in mind that these actions are being taken. It is, in fact, to address those types of challenges that no one wants to experience again.

Q The U.S. government is subsidizing the EV industry here pretty significantly. How is that different from what the Chinese government is doing?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, if you take a look at the Chinese economic model, what you see is a system of state support that is built to dominate and take over entire industries. So, this is what I mean by, "We've seen the pattern" -- steel and aluminum, solar panels, batteries, EVs.

Today, China's production capacity in steel is 55 percent of world capacity -- that's in one country; aluminum, 60 percent; EVs, 60 percent; solar, 80 percent; and in certain critical minerals, 85 to 95 percent. So, those are subsidies with an aim to cornering the world market and achieving dominance and creating dependency.

The types of support that we're talking about here are defensive in nature. They're about creating the space to compete, the space to thrive, the space to survive the kind of onslaught that we are seeing across the board.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Steve.

Q Did the President signal to President Xi in their most recent conversation that this might be happening soon?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, let me put it this way. Again, from the President to Secretary Yellen, Secretary Blinken, in my own engagements with counterparts from Beijing, we have been very, very clear about the sobriety with which we approach the U.S.-China trade and economic relationship. It needs to be fair.

I did offer my counterpart the courtesy of a notification. This does not come as a surprise -- should not come as a surprise to our counterparts in Beijing.

Q The notification -- was that today or yesterday or --

AMBASSADOR TAI: That was the -- a prenotification.

Q Thank you.

Q Thank you, Ambassador Tai. I know that these new tariffs are seen as more targeted and strategic, but the administration has chosen to keep in place those Trump-era tariffs on some 300 billion dollars' worth of goods, which Biden himself had said in 2019 that Americans are paying for. So, why make that decision to keep it in place? And aren't you concerned that it's going to keep prices elevated?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, first of all, let me say a couple things. In terms of the price that Americans paid for in the previous era, some of that -- well, maybe a lot of it was about the chaos and unpredictability that it created and the -- the escalation that resulted. All right?

Secondly, I think what -- I'm -- I'm a trade lawyer by training, and, at USTR, we are deep into the technical issues. The Section 301-based review that we undertook required us to look at a couple of questions. One of them was the effect of the practices on our economy. And there you have our response, which is a targeted strategic response that is meant to work together with the investments that we're making.

The other aspect that we had to look at was the effect of the tariffs on changing China's behavior with respect to the IPR abuses and the forced tech transfer. There, the findings in my report, which you can find on the USTR website, right here -- it's a serious report -- is that not only have we not seen the problematic practices subside in some areas, we have seen them get worse.

And in that light, there is actually no reason for us and no justification to relieving the tariff burdens on the trade with Beijing.

Q And just quickly, what do you say to critics who say that by putting these high tariffs on Chinese EVs, you're leaving American consumers with fewer options, more expensive cars, as China is very far ahead in creating very cheap EV cars?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think what you have to do is remember and revisit the story and the show that we have been a part of for the last several decades, which is as you allow China to dominate the supply and the production in these industries, your choice is actually made for you. You have fewer choices, and it -- it lays our entire economy -- from consumers and workers, all the way up to our government -- susceptible to the kinds of coercion that we've seen from a government who was willing to weaponize the dependencies that it has created when a partner does something that it does not like politically.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: J.J.

Q On Mexico, you said, "Stay tuned." Are you saying that there could be some changes to the USMCA rules or to the -- to the law that would allow the U.S. to apply tariffs on goods from China that originate in Mexico or other third countries?

AMBASSADOR TAI: What I'm saying is the fact pattern that's developing is one that is of serious concern to us and that, at USTR, we are looking at all of our tools to see how we can address the problem.

Q Specifically from Mexico or from other third countries as well?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think just the general fact pattern.

Q Is there anything else you can say to elaborate on the problem?

AMBASSADOR TAI: Stay tuned.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Yeah, thanks, Karine. Thanks, Ambassador.

So, this is an election year. Why did it take three years to impose these tariffs?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, this is where I put my lawyer hat back on. Under the 301 statute, in the fourth year of the tariffs, if there is a stakeholder that is benefiting from the tariffs who asks us to keep them, we keep them. That is what happened in 2022, because the tariffs first went on in 2018.

As a result of that, in the fall of 2022, we started a process. We opened up a portal -- that was open, I think, in the end of '22 to the very beginning of '23 -- notice and comment. We wanted to hear from all of our stakeholders, their views on the tariffs, the pros and the cons, please inform us. That -- that elicited, I think, about 1,600 comments. So, that's at the beginning of 2023.

And then we started a whole-of-government interagency review within the Biden administration. That process has taken us to today and the unveiling of this finalized package, which the President approved.

Q So, it's -- it took three years to -- to figure out the Chinese were flooding the market and stealing technology? I mean, it's pretty evident that they've been doing that all along.

AMBASSADOR TAI: No, it took -- it took a year and a half for the course of the review. You will see the amount of care that we put into our investigation and our findings. Yes, there continue to be problems. But then the question is: What do you do about the tariffs?

For this administration, it is extremely important that we approach a relationship, like the one between the U.S. and China, and these issues around the industries and the jobs of the future with discipline. That's what takes so long, is the design and the architecture of the tariff defense system that you will see.

Q One more quick thing on Mexico, if I could. Are we looking at tariffs -- I mean, quotas? The Trump administration imposed quotas on steel and aluminum tariff -- aluminums coming in from Canada and Mexico. Could there be the same policy related to EVs once comes in?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think I'll just rely on the answer I provided bef- -- before, which is "stay tuned."

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Anita.

Just a couple more.

Q Thank you, Ambassador. It should also come as no surprise that former President Donald Trump is very critical of the moves that President Biden made today. He's just blowing up my inbox, calling this a "weak and futile attempt," saying, basically, it's too little too late. What's your response to that?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I would just say that --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We want to be careful -- --

AMBASSADOR TAI: -- this action --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- not to respond to -- to a candidate. That's not --

AMBASSADOR TAI: So -- thank you. I appreciate that.

So, I am subject to the -- the Hatch Act. I guess what I would do is interpret your question to mean -- or maybe I should ask you to rephrase your question.

Q Sure. I mean, how do you respond to criticism that these tariffs are not enough and have come too late? And those -- those are coming clearly from former President Donald Trump.

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, again, subject to the Hatch Act. Let me just say, in general, with respect to criticism that these tariffs might not be strong, let me put it this way: We have put a lot of heart and a lot of effort -- intellectual effort, economic effort, and consultation effort -- into this package. They are designed to be strategic and not chaotic. They are designed to be effective and not emotional.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Russell -- Gabe.

Q Thank you, Karine. Thank you, Ambassador. Following up on my colleague Selina's question. You said that the President has been consistent on this issue, but back in 2019, when he was a candidate, he said that "any freshman econ student could tell you that the American people are paying his tariffs," referring to his opponent at the time. And he also said that he would reverse what he called "senseless policies." Why did he change his mind?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, I'm going to reject the assertion that he changed his mind. What he has been clear about is his commitment to America, America's workers, and America's manufacturing capabilities and resilience, a future for our economy that is built from the middle out and from the bottom up.

These tariffs are -- tariffs are tools, and this is something at USTR that we feel very strongly about, because they're our tools. They're the tools of trade. When used strategically and smartly, they can be powerful forces for economic strength and development, and that is what you are seeing in this package.

Q But previously, he called them "senseless." They're no longer senseless?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think you have to separate out the tool itself and perhaps how it's being used and whether or not they are articulated for a particular purpose.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, .

Q There will obviously be costs here. Who are the big losers here? I mean, is it American importers? I mean, there was an International Trade Commission report last year that essentially said that.

AMBASSADOR TAI: I would encourage you -- I think the ITC report is maybe not as long as our report. It is long. I would encourage you to take another look at it, because a lot of what people think it says is not what it said.

In terms of the methodology that the ITC used, it is very clear that there were positive impacts of the tariffs on the specific industries that were being covered by it.

Let me just back up to the frame of your question. I think that it just comes down to this, which is the President has committed to America's workers and to America's industries and these industries of the future a bright future. And we are going to use all of the tools at our disposal -- trade tools in combination with the investments that we have made and the commitment that the President has to standing up for America's economic interests -- to make that happen.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Thank you so much.

AMBASSADOR TAI: Thank you very much.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

And it's good to see Angela Perez in the house.

But thank you, Ambassador Tai.

Okay. So, I just have one more thing at the top, and then we'll -- we'll continue with questions.

Today, the President and First Lady are honoring the memories of the 10 lives lost two years ago in Buffalo, New York, as a result of unacceptable racial hatred and senseless gun violence. We also honor the bravery of those in law enforcement who responded quickly and who risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities.

Today, White House Deputy Director of Office of Gun Violence Prevention Gregory Jackson will join families of the victims and survivors of the shooting for a ceremony of reflection in Buffalo, where he will deliver a letter from President Biden.

In his letter, the President shares his condolences and reiterates his commitment to combat gun violence and counter hate-fueled violence.

The President will continue to use every tool at his disposal to end the epidemic of gun violence affecting Buffalo and communities nationwide.

With that, Aamer.

Q Was it appropriate for Speaker Johnson to show up at the trial with the former President today?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm -- I can't speak to -- don't want to comment, obviously, as this is related to 2024 elections.

And I can't speak to the Speaker's schedule. That is something for him to decide on.

And let's not forget, this is also connected to an independent judicial process. So, going to be really mindful.

And he makes his choices on what he does, you know, with -- with his business. That is his choice to be made.

What I can speak to is, obviously, what the President is speaking to today as it relates to 301 tariffs, making sure that he's protecting American workers, protecting American businesses, making sure that when we -- that, you know, when we're allowed to compete in a fair way, we can thrive. And that's what you heard from this President.

And what we've learned and we've seen from what the -- the Speaker is, obviously, leading in -- with congressional

Republicans is that they want to -- they want to cut -- they want to cut Medi- -- Medicare. They want to cut -- you know, they want to cut Social Security. They want to get th- -- rid of things that the American people truly, truly care about.

And so, our focus is going to continue to build an economy from the bottom up, the middle out.

And, you know, this is -- this is something that we can speak to. I think the contrast between what we do here and what Republicans -- more broadly, Republicans in Congress -- do is -- I think couldn't be more stark.

Q Can I ask you if there's any administration reaction to Georgia's passage of the "foreign influence law" today? And will there be any ramifications for the U.S.-Georgia relationship if it is, in fact, enacted?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I do have a -- a statement from us on this:

We're deeply troubled by Georgia's Kremlin-style "foreign agents" legislation, which just passed, as you just sta- -- stated, parliament. And we expect the president to veto it.

While, it is unclear whether parliament will try to override a potential veto, we have been outspoken about our concerns with the legislation, which runs counter to democratic values and would move Georgia further away from the values of the European Union and, let's not forget, also NATO.

The Georgian people have been making their views known about this legislation, protesting in the streets, as you all have been reporting. This weekend, we saw some of the largest protests in Georgia's history, with tens of thousands of peaceful protesters undeterred by -- undeterred by intimidation tactics, telling their government to oppose this legislation because they want Euro-Atlantic future.

We will see the parliament -- what the parliament does. But if this legislation passes, it will compel us to fundamentally reassess our relationship with Georgia.

Go ahead. Go ahead, Steve.

Q Based on what you're seeing around Rafah, does it appear that the Israelis are preparing to move in in a big way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have anything new to share, other than what the -- Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor -- he was here, obviously, 24 hours ago -- when he was asked about operations and our discussions, obviously, and what we're seeing in Rafah. We have been very clear about this -- that we are going to continue to monitor, to keep a close eye.

We -- he also said that what -- from what we understand, what we know, the -- what we're seeing in -- in Rafah right now, according to what Israel has shared with us, it is limited, targeted operations. That's what we've been told.

And we have been very clear. We've been very clear about how we feel about our concerns, privately and publicly, about a potential major operation in Rafah. We have been very clear about the more than 1 million people who are living -- who are now seeking refuge, to be more exact, in Rafah, and we want to make sure that their lives are protected. These are innocent civilian lives. We want to make sure that they are protected.

And so, that is -- basically nothing has changed to what Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, stated right here at -- at the lectern yesterday.

Q Thank you, Karine. And just to follow up on Aamer. When you say "fundamentally reassess" relations with Georgia, what -- what do you -- what does that mean? What do you -- what could that entail?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I'm not going to get into specifics. I'm not going to get into details here. I think I laid out where we are, our concerns. We are deeply concerned about this. I think the people of Georgia have been very clear over the past couple of days: the largest protest over the weekend that we have seen, tens of thousands -- that they have seen in -- in that country.

And so -- but we want to make sure that we put out our disapproval, our disagreement. And, of course, we're going to reassess our relationship with Georgia. I'm just not going to get into specifics, into details of what that might look like.

Danny.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just going back to Rafah briefly.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Qatar has said that they think Israel's military -- what Israel is doing there at the moment already is setting back the negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal. Do you share that assessment?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look -- and Jake said this yesterday: There are multiple phases, multiple elements to -- to this hostage deal that would lead to a ceasefire, that would obviously get hostages home -- some of them American hostages -- that we are working get -- to get that hostage deal -- really focus -- and we know how critical it is. And also, to get that humanitarian aid -- create a situation where we can get more humanitarian aid into -- sort of, into Gaza more -- obviously, Gaza, more broadly.

And so, look, we're going to continue that work. We're going to continue to have those conversations. It is a dynamic situation.

And as it relates to -- to Rafah, I answered -- I think Aam- -- Aamer asked me the question about what we're seeing. We're monitoring the situation. We've been very clear, publicly and privately.

Jake, when he was here, he talked about in the upcoming days having an in-person meeting with his counterpart in -- in the Israeli government. He's looking forward to do that.

We've been having continuous conversation with Israel about -- about Rafah operations. It's been constructive. And so, we -- we expect those conversations to continue.

Go ahead.

Q Hey. I just wanted to -- thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Just wanted to be a little more granular on Rafah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q You said the Israeli government had told you they are limited, targeted operations. Is the White House concerned that Israel is making a very incremental sort of incursion into Rafah to make it harder for you guys to say, you know, that the red line has been crossed or approached?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm not going to get into a red line from here. What I will say is: Obviously, the IDF can speak to their own operations. What we've been told, these -- and as you just stated in your question to me, these are targeted, limited operations. And so far, it does not appear -- it does not appear to be a major ground operation.

And we have been worrying about that. We've been very clear about that. You heard that from Jake Sullivan yesterday, our National Security Advisor. You've heard that many times from here from us. We, of course, are monitoring the situation with our con- -- our longstanding concerns over a potential -- a potential major ground operation.

And we've said there's more than 1 million -- 1 million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in Rafah. And so, we've been very clear -- taken -- they're taking shelter there. That remains. And so, we're going to continue to have conversations, obviously, with the Israeli government.

Jake Sullivan spoke to this. In the upcoming days, he's -- he is expecting that to happen in person.

But those conversations continue, and they have been constructive.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. A senior White House official recently met with some students and faculty at Morehouse College. Can you talk a little bit about some of the concerns raised from those students and faculty members and how the White House responded?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is -- and you're speaking about Steve Benjamin?

Q Exactly.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Right? Mayor Benjamin, who is also the Director of Off- -- the Office of Public Engagement. I can confirm that he did have a meeting at Morehouse. I won't get into the specifics, but he regularly does this. He regularly goes on the road, hears directly from Americans, and he directly -- in this -- in this inst- -- instance, it would be students and faculty, obviously. And I just don't have anything beyond that to share.

The President is certainly looking forward to his commencement address this coming Sunday at Morehouse. He's looking forward to speaking not just to the students but obviously families and loved ones who were here -- who will be there to hear -- you know, to celebrate the students but also to hear from a -- to hear a message from this President.

I don't have anything more to share, but I can certainly confirm that Steve Benjamin was at Morehouse recently.

Q And how many American medical workers does the White House estimate are currently trapped inside Gaza and unable to get out? And is there a plan to help them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I certainly -- look, what we have said over and over again, and we will continue to say this, that humanitarian aid workers, obviously, are brave to do the work that they're doing not just in Gaza but around the world, whether it's in Sudan, Haiti, many places -- that they actually go out there and do that brave work to offer assistance -- much needed -- to folks on -- on the ground. And so, we appreciate that. We want to see them protected. We want to make sure that they have the ability to continue that work.

I don't have an estimate for you on -- on the number of people, to your question, but it is imperative -- it is important that we see humanitarian aid workers protected. And those are conversations that we continue to have with the Israeli government.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks a lot, Karine. In regards to the President's plans to increase tariffs that he announced earlier today, is there an expectation that China will retaliate? And if indeed that happens, what should American consumers plan for in terms of increased prices that they pay for on a variety of Chinese goods?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I think the Ambassador addressed this question a little bit.

And what I will say is: There's no need for a trade war. There isn't. And we've been very clear -- and the Ambassador said this at the -- at the podium just moments ago, obviously -- that we have been very clear about this. We've been very vocal about -- about where --- what the President -- how the President believes we should move forward. He wants to do this in a smart and strategic way. That's what you see. And it's not just the tariffs. It's an investment.

You hear talk -- him talking about investing in America, making sure that manufacturers are coming back. We have created almost -- nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs. So, there is an investment piece, not just a tariffs piece.

And the President has been also very clear: This is about American workers. This is about American companies. This is about protecting them. And we have been also very clear that China's policies, trade policies have been unfair. And we've had concerns.

You heard the Ambassador talk about how you've seen Cabinet-level conversations about this over -- over the year. And we've been also very consistent about that.

Whether it's Secretary Yellen, Secretary Blinken -- they've been the most recent -- recent secretaries to have traveled to Beijing to -- and this came up -- to have those conversations.

And so, look, there's no need -- there's no need for a trade war. That is not what we're -- this is not what this is about. This is about protecting, again, American workers. This is about protecting American businesses, making it more fair so that we can compete. And we believe that with -- with a fair

scenario here that we can outcompete.

Q I also wanted to ask you a question that you were not asked yesterday. It's in regards to the Vice President's language that she used yesterday to young people. I'm not going to repeat that language. I don't use that language publicly, and I don't think you want me to repeat verbatim what she --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, it's up to you if you want to repeat it or not. I can't speak for you.

Q I'm not going to. So, my --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Well, there you go.

Q -- my question -- my question to is: Is that appropriate? Were you surprised she used that language? Is -- was this a one-off, or can we expect similar language from the Vice President going forward?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, for those of you who have,

you know, covered the Vice President, knows the Vice President, she's passionate about what she fights for. She is. And I think it's important to have someone who's passionate about what they're speaking about -- about what they're trying to lift up.

And you've seen her be incredibly passionate about reproductive freedom and what's happening right now in this country. And when it comes to women's right -- a woman's ability to choose, make really difficult decisions on their body -- you've seen her talk about that with ending gun violence and encouraging young people to not let the -- any obsabl- -- obstacles get in the way.

And so, this is -- we're talking about someone who has broken ce- -- glass ceilings, right? We're talking about someone who can speak to, you know, about what it's like to go through that process.

And so, she's incredibly passionate. And I will leave it there. And, you know -- you know, I could not be more proud to -- to have her as someone that I look up to as Vice President. And I think many people here would say the same.

Q I read -- I read her remarks. I watched her remarks. And I agree with the sentiment that she was conveying to those young people. Could she have done that without dropping the F-bomb?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, she was passionate. She's passionate about what she believes. And that's what I think you heard from this Vice President, and I think it's important.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. There was a lawsuit filed by a group of major airlines against the Biden administration over a new rule requiring transparency on checked bag fees and res- -- reservation change fees. Is the administration concerned that this is going to delay this rule going into effect, which is supposed to happen on July 1 st?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I can't speak to the timeline from this. I think that's something the Department of Transportation can certainly speak to that more. This is a significant win, as we see it -- this rule for consumers. I think that's important -- saving them half a billion -- half a billion dollars every year and bringing transparency to what has become a fee-ridden purchasing process.

So, it is significant. It's a win for the American people. It's a win for consumers. Can't speak to the timeline. That's something that the Department of -- of Transportation can certainly lean into.

Q But could a lawsuit like this be a setback for the broader agenda of the administration: tackling hidden junk fees?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I probably should have said at the first, going to be really mindful. It's a litigation. Don't want to speak to the litigation. I'm speaking more broadly.

And so, what I can say: It's a win for consumers. That's -- it's an important rule. It is -- we're talking about saving billions of dollars to -- to the American consumer. And so, it is an important move forward -- step forward. And anything else, I would certainly refer you to Department of Transportation.

Go ahead.

Q Yes. At this point, when Gaza has been practically leveled, 80 percent of the hospitals are out of service, most of the people have been displaced, what do you think is the incentive Hamas has to keep negotiating a ceasefire?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it is, we believe, incredibly important and critical to get to this ceasefire, to get to a hostage deal, to get hostages home. And it's not easy, right? You heard -- you heard Jake talk about this. He actually quoted Senator George Mitchell -- right? -- and talked about how sometimes it takes a thousand failures before you can get to one win. And I think that really speaks to the moment that we're in.

And -- and I said this before as I was asked this question: There are a lot of dynamics here that when you're talking about the different -- the different phases -- right? -- when it comes to a hostage deal. And so, look, it's not going to stop us from continue to have these conversation. It's not going to stop us for understanding what is at stake here.

We got to get these hostages home. We got to get that humanitarian -- continuing to get that humanitarian aid in. And we got to get to a ceasefire. We have to.

And, you know, Hamas, as we have stated, and you've heard us say over and over again, is a terrorist organization. This could end today if they would let the women, the wounded, the elderly go. It could end. This could end.

So, in the meantime, you -- and you heard the -- you heard Jake go through the 10 -- you know, the 10 points of our -- how we're seeing and how we're viewing what's happening in the Middle East. And so, that continues. We're going to -- it's not going to stop us from having this really important, critical conversation, negotiations around the hostage deal. There's so much at stake here, and it is important and critical to continue these talks.

Q Follow-up.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Do you think that U.S. is safer today than it was seven months ago, considering the rage and the questioning from countries in the ?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that one more time. If whose --

Q If -- if the U.S. is safer today than it was seven months ago, considering --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I don't have any -- any changes of where we are today. I can't speak to that. What I can say is the President is always going to put our national security first. He's always going -- as it relates to the American people, as it relates to us. That's the lens that he moves with. That's how he sees things. And I think that's incredibly important. And his commitment -- his commitment continues to be so.

Go ahead.

Q Taiwan is going to hold its inauguration next Monday. Does the administration expect any changes in policy with the incoming President Lai? And then, you know, are you seeing any signs that China may try to use this occasion to act aggressively or in a coercive way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I -- I can't speak for what China is going to do or not do. I'm not, you know, obviously, in -- in the head of President Xi. But we've been -- we've been very clear about where we stand with our One China policy. Nothing has changed there.

And, look, I would have to let -- let the leader of -- the leader speak for himself. I just don't have anything to add beyond that. We will see. We will see.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Why do you think Americans are so down on President Biden right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What do you mean?

Q I know you don't like to talk about polls like the five of six swing states that he is losing right now to somebody who is a criminal defendant. But more broadly, it doesn't seem like anything you guys are doing is making him more popular. Why do you think that is?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you -- you mentioned a criminal defendant -- your words, not mine. So, I want to be super mindful about how I answer this question because, obviously, that criminal defendant is also a -- in -- in the race for 2024 election. So, going to be super mindful there.

I will speak more broadly to what the American people are going through. Like, we understand. We are sensitive enough and open-minded enough to understand that this is -- that not just this country but globally people have had to deal with a pandemic and coming out of that pandemic. We understand that even -- you know, you think about gas prices and, because of Putin's war, what that has occurred that led to a gas prices increasing.

And the President had a lot to deal with when he walked in -- a lot -- a lot of crises. And this is a president that took that very, very seriously and took action. The American Rescue Plan -- no Republicans voted for that, but we ended up trying to work to get an economy that's fairer for all and make sure that we don't leave people behind in creating 15 million jobs, un- -- an unemployment rate that's under 4 percent.

We understand that people are still feeling this. We get that. And we're not -- we're not blind to that. That's why you hear the President pretty regularly announcing how he is going to lower costs for the American people -- whether it's Big Pharma, trying to lower healthcare costs, expanding ACA for those who truly need it, or it is making sure that we get rid of junk fees that cost Americans a lot of money every year.

So, look, we know it's going to take a little bit of time. We get that. And we are going to continue to -- it's not going to stop us from talking about it and then also not going to stop us from talking about the contrast that we see from GOP Republican congressional members who want to do the opposite of what the President is trying to get done: cutting Social Security, Medicare -- Medicare, Medicaid. That is what they're talking about -- slashing taxes for billionaires and corporations.

That's not what this President wants to do. He wants to make sure that we're building an economy from the bottom up, middle out.

And, again, we get it. We get that prices are too high for Americans. And that w- -- that's what we're going to continue to do: the work.

Q I get that you understand that people are hurting right now. Why is it that nothing you're doing to address their concerns is working?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I'm saying is we're going to continue to do the work.

I can't speak to the polls, right? Those are for folks who are experts who can do a deep dive and look into that and speak to them.

What I can speak to is: We understand what the American people is feeling. We understand what they're going through. That's why we're going to continue to do the work. 301 tariff, that's part of it -- right? -- making sure that we're protecting American workers, making sure that we're protecting American businesses.

That's the work that the President is going to focus on. And we're going to continue to move in that way.

Q So, more broadly, then --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- have you considered, in the White House, that some of President Biden's recent policy positions could be a turn-off to the people that used to like him?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here, I would -- this is -- I would disagree with you there, because a lot of the policies that the President is pushing forward are incredibly popular. They are. They are.

Student debt, even though you have Republicans who stopped the President on moving with his plan on student debt, that's actually very popular with Americans.

Fighting Big Pharma, that's popular with Americans. Right?

Making sure that we lower costs on healthcare, that's popular with Americans.

So, what the President is actually doing is popular with what majority of Americans want to do -- even in protecting reproductive rights, something that Republicans are not on the right side of history. You think about what extreme -- extreme elected officials want to do. The President wants to protect and make sure that we actually are giving a wom- -- a woman a right to make really difficult decisions on their healthcare.

So, that part I certainly disagree with you on.

Go ahead, Jared.

Q Is the meeting with Israelis on -- on Rafah also expected to include ongoing conversations about that shipment of 2,000-pound bombs? Any kind of steps or conditions you want to see, the administration wants to see that -- to move forward on a final determination?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I -- those -- don't have anything for you on a timeline or that particular conversation.

The Rafah operations -- we've been really clear about our concerns about that. Any major military operations going into Rafah, we have been clear that we do not believe that is the way -- the right way to move forward.

And -- and so, we're going to continue to be clear. We're going to have a meeting about that specifically. As you know, National Security Advisor stated that. There's been continuous conversations on this particular issue that we believe has been constructive. And conversations continue.

We're going to monitor the situation. I'm not going to go beyond what we've just stated about where -- where -- our focus on the Rafah operations and those conversations.

Go ahead.

Q President Biden has frequently pledged that no one making under $400,000 would see their taxes go up. Tariffs are effectively a tax on imports. I'm wondering if you can commit that no American importer making less than $400,000 would see their cost go up.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, our commitment to Americans are very clear, which is that we are not going to tax -- we do not want to see a tax increase ov- -- on Americans making over $400,000. That -- that has been our point where we have been since the beginning of this administration. That has not changed.

We have to remember what these tariffs are all about is actually making sure that we are protecting American workers, that we are protecting American businesses.

We have to -- we cannot forget, as well, that the last -- the trade deal that the last administration, the Trump administration did not -- actually, it was a bad deal. It was a failed deal. It didn't increase our im- -- American imports. It didn't increase manufacturing here. And this is --

Q But importers of solar cells are some of the products that are part of the announcement today. You can guarantee that none of those importers --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is Americans --

Q -- below a certain threshold will see any costs go up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is Americans -- Americans here -- we have been very clear that we do not want to -- there -- we do not want to see taxes for them if they are making under $400,000. That is something that we've been very clear about.

But I also do not want to -- not -- we should not forget why we're doing this today. This is about protecting American workers. This is about protecting American businesses.

What we saw from the last administration failed. It failed. We did not see manufacturing go up. We did not see im- -- imports go up -- exports go up. And so, that is also incredibly important to note.

And we want to do this -- the President wants to do this in a smart and strategic way. And that's what you are seeing from this announcement today.

Q Karine, there's a report that's just out right now that Jake Sullivan will be going to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to discuss the military operation in Rafah. I know you mentioned that there would be a meeting in the coming days. Can you confirm his travel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't confirm that at this time.

Go ahead.

Q Hi, Karine. Picking up on your last answer that you don't believe that this is a tax on Americans making under $400,000 a year. Some Democrats, including Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, have come out and said that "tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans and this tax increase will hit every family," calling it "horrible news." How do you respond to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, it's very much to what I've been saying. This is -- this is truly about -- what the President wanted to do -- he wanted to make sure that this was done in a smart and strategic way. That's what this announcement is about. It's about making sure that we address the unfair policies that we have seen from China. And this is what this does.

American workers and businesses can out- -- can outcompete anyone if we actually create a competition that is fair. And that's what you're seeing from this President.

We have been also very clear that we do not want to see a tax crease -- increase for anyone making under $400,000. That has also been our -- our approach on this as we talk about the economy, as we talk about making sure that we're building an economy from the bottom up, middle out. We want this to make sure that we're not leaving anyone behind.

This is a smart and strategic approach from this President. These tariffs are targeted at critical industries, where his -- his Investing in America agenda is spurring a manufacturing boom. He is coupling investment with actions to protect American workers and to protect businesses as well.

That's our approach here. That's how we're going to move forward.

Q And, Karine --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- I know you said you couldn't confirm Jake's travel to Saudi Arabia this weekend. But would you say, across the administration, is there an increased sense of urgency to make sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu does not go further into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I think there's been a sense of urgency from day one. We've been very clear about this. The last time the President spoke to the Prime Minister, one of the topics that came up that we read out to all of you was the Rafah operations.

You've -- you've heard us say over and over again about our concerns, and we've been clear about our concerns privately and, certainly, publicly about 1 -- more than 1 million people. More than 1 million Palestinian citizens are -- are now seeking refuge in Rafah. And so, we want to make sure that -- that they are -- their -- you know, their lives are protected -- understanding that dismantling Hamas's operation is actually really important. This is something that we believe in, that we want to see as well. That's why we've offered our own thoughts on how to move forward with that.

Conversations continue. We're going to be very clear about our concerns here. And -- and I'll just leave it there.

All right, everybody.

Thanks, everyone. I'll see you tomorrow? Tomorrow.

Q Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Bye, everybody.

Q Thanks, Karine.

2:05 P.M. EDT

Press Briefings

2024-05-14

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

1:15 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. All right, everybody. All right.

Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

Q Hi.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi.

Q Hello.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's raining outside.

Okay. So, as you just saw today, the President directed his Trade Representative to increase tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 on $18 billion of imports from China.

This action will protect American workers and businesses from China's unfair trade practices. As you've heard the President often say, American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone as long as the competition is fair.

Our U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, is here to share more on the President's announcement and take some of your questions.

And with that, I will turn it over to Ambassador Tai. Welcome to the briefing room for the first time.

AMBASSADOR TAI: Thank you so much.

Well, good afternoon, everyone.

President Biden has consistently been clear that he will take action to defend American workers and businesses from the unfair trade practices of the People's Republic of China.

Today, he is once again keeping that promise.

President Biden and bi- — and I both know that American workers and businesses can outcompete anyone as long as the competition is fair.

But for too long, the PRC has been playing by a different set of rules with unfair and anticompetitive economic practices. Those unfair practices include forced technology transfer, including cyber hacking and cyber theft; non-market policies, such as targeting industrial sectors for dominance, labor rights suppression, and weak environmental protection; and flooding markets worldwide with artificially cheap products that wipe out the competition.

The President's action today is a part of his vision to rebuild our supply chains and our ability to make things in America to lower costs, outcompete the PRC, and encourage the elimination of practices that undercut American workers and businesses. We are doing that by investing in manufacturing and clean energy here at home and raising tariffs to protect these investments.

I conducted a statutory review of the PRC's forced technology transfer and other intellectual-property-related practices, which were the subject of the 2018 Section 301 investigation.

In that review, I found that the PRC continues to deploy these unfair trade practices. And I conveyed my findings to the President in a report, which is available on the USTR website.

It is clear that the previous administration's trade deal with the PRC failed to increase American exports or boost manufacturing. In fact, China's exports in some critical sectors, like EVs and batteries, actually increased.

In response, President Biden, today, signed a memorandum directing me to increase tariffs on critical manufacturing and mining sectors, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, batteries, solar cells, and certain critical minerals. The increased tariffs are expected to cover approximately $18 billion of trade.

The President also directed a process to request excluding certain production machinery from the tariffs to permit solar and clean manufacturers to purchase equipment while diversifying their suppliers.

Next week, I expect to issue a public notice that conveys the specific tariff lines, tariff rates, and timing for the proposed increases, along with the details of the machinery exclusions process.

This strong action by the President is strategic. As he has said, we do not seek to constrain China's economic development, but we will insist on fair competition and defend American workers from the PRC's unfair practices.

Today's direction by the President defends American workers and businesses from the PRC's artificially cheap products, whether EVs or steel or critical minerals or semiconductors.

I also want to emphasize that we continue to consult with our partners and our allies who face similar threats from the PRC's unfair trade practices and are also voicing their concern with those unfair practices and taking action. Our partners are essential to addressing the broader threat to our working families and businesses.

Today's strong tariff announcement is an important part of President Biden's worker-centered trade policy, which is about using trade to empower workers and making sure that they can compete fairly and thrive, and supports the historic investments we have already made here at home.

I can now take your questions.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Go ahead, Aamer.

Q Thank you, Ambassador. First, there seems to be some confidence that these tariffs won't cause the competition to slide into conflict with China. If you could just explain a little bit about why you are so confident.

And then, secondly, BYD is looking to build EV factories in Mexico that could flood the U.S. market. Why isn't the administration preemptively announcing tariffs to hit these vehicles?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, you actually asked two questions.

Q Yeah, I did. Sorry. [Laughter]

AMBASSADOR TAI: Yes. So, let me begin with the first, which is that we've been very, very clear about the strategic nature of this tariff review process and the focus on ensuring that the actions that are announced will be effective in leveling the playing field, giving our workers and our businesses the chance to continue to compete and to thrive against an onslaught of really, really challenging measures and a challenging economic system that is coming from Beijing.

We have been clear about this with the American public.

We have also been equally clear about this with our counterparts in Beijing. Every single one of us, from the President on down, over the course of the last three years, have made clear the challenges that we are facing, the nature of that challenge, and the need for us to act. Because we know what happens if we don't act and we don't defend: We will see the same patterns repeated over and over again.

So, what we are doing today should by no means be a surprise to our counterparts in Beijing. We have made clear this is not about escalation. This is about the consequences of decades of economic policy and the need for the United States to defend our rights.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, and there was the second question.

AMBASSADOR TAI: And the second question was on the EVs and BYD in Mexico. At USTR, that is exactly what we are built to worry about and to be concerned with. That will require a separate pathway. This is about imports from China. What you're talking about would be imports from Mexico. Equally important — something that we were talking to our industry, our workers, and our partners about. And I would just ask you to stay tuned.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

Q Thanks, Ambassador. When Trump hiked tariffs on Chinese goods, it led to some increased prices for U.S. customers. How can you be sure the same thing won't happen again?

AMBASSADOR TAI: First of all, I think that that link, in terms of tariffs to prices, has been largely debunked. What I would say — what I would say is that what the President has instructed that we do is to focus on making our supply chains more resilient. That means we need more options. That means here in America, we need to have more manufacturing capacity. Resilient supply chains means that we will be able to insulate the American economy from the kinds of price spikes and the inflationary dynamics that we have seen that have come primarily from the supply chain challenges we've experienced first from the pandemic, next from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

If you think back to March of 2020 and you think about how much a face mask cost, it's a trick question. The answer is you did not have enough money to buy a face mask because there just weren't enough in the world to go around. So, it is with that in mind that these actions are being taken. It is, in fact, to address those types of challenges that no one wants to experience again.

Q The U.S. government is subsidizing the EV industry here pretty significantly. How is that different from what the Chinese government is doing?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, if you take a look at the Chinese economic model, what you see is a system of state support that is built to dominate and take over entire industries. So, this is what I mean by, "We've seen the pattern" — steel and aluminum, solar panels, batteries, EVs.

Today, China's production capacity in steel is 55 percent of world capacity — that's in one country; aluminum, 60 percent; EVs, 60 percent; solar, 80 percent; and in certain critical minerals, 85 to 95 percent. So, those are subsidies with an aim to cornering the world market and achieving dominance and creating dependency.

The types of support that we're talking about here are defensive in nature. They're about creating the space to compete, the space to thrive, the space to survive the kind of onslaught that we are seeing across the board.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Steve.

Q Did the President signal to President Xi in their most recent conversation that this might be happening soon?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, let me put it this way. Again, from the President to Secretary Yellen, Secretary Blinken, in my own engagements with counterparts from Beijing, we have been very, very clear about the sobriety with which we approach the U.S.-China trade and economic relationship. It needs to be fair.

I did offer my counterpart the courtesy of a notification. This does not come as a surprise — should not come as a surprise to our counterparts in Beijing.

Q The notification — was that today or yesterday or —

AMBASSADOR TAI: That was the — a prenotification.

Q Thank you.

Q Thank you, Ambassador Tai. I know that these new tariffs are seen as more targeted and strategic, but the administration has chosen to keep in place those Trump-era tariffs on some 300 billion dollars' worth of goods, which Biden himself had said in 2019 that Americans are paying for. So, why make that decision to keep it in place? And aren't you concerned that it's going to keep prices elevated?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, first of all, let me say a couple things. In terms of the price that Americans paid for in the previous era, some of that — well, maybe a lot of it was about the chaos and unpredictability that it created and the — the escalation that resulted. All right?

Secondly, I think what — I'm — I'm a trade lawyer by training, and, at USTR, we are deep into the technical issues. The Section 301-based review that we undertook required us to look at a couple of questions. One of them was the effect of the practices on our economy. And there you have our response, which is a targeted strategic response that is meant to work together with the investments that we're making.

The other aspect that we had to look at was the effect of the tariffs on changing China's behavior with respect to the IPR abuses and the forced tech transfer. There, the findings in my report, which you can find on the USTR website, right here — it's a serious report — is that not only have we not seen the problematic practices subside in some areas, we have seen them get worse.

And in that light, there is actually no reason for us and no justification to relieving the tariff burdens on the trade with Beijing.

Q And just quickly, what do you say to critics who say that by putting these high tariffs on Chinese EVs, you're leaving American consumers with fewer options, more expensive cars, as China is very far ahead in creating very cheap EV cars?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think what you have to do is remember and revisit the story and the show that we have been a part of for the last several decades, which is as you allow China to dominate the supply and the production in these industries, your choice is actually made for you. You have fewer choices, and it — it lays our entire economy — from consumers and workers, all the way up to our government — susceptible to the kinds of coercion that we've seen from a government who was willing to weaponize the dependencies that it has created when a partner does something that it does not like politically.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: J.J.

Q On Mexico, you said, "Stay tuned." Are you saying that there could be some changes to the USMCA rules or to the — to the law that would allow the U.S. to apply tariffs on goods from China that originate in Mexico or other third countries?

AMBASSADOR TAI: What I'm saying is the fact pattern that's developing is one that is of serious concern to us and that, at USTR, we are looking at all of our tools to see how we can address the problem.

Q Specifically from Mexico or from other third countries as well?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think just the general fact pattern.

Q Is there anything else you can say to elaborate on the problem?

AMBASSADOR TAI: Stay tuned.

Q Okay.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead. Go ahead.

Q Yeah, thanks, Karine. Thanks, Ambassador.

So, this is an election year. Why did it take three years to impose these tariffs?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, this is where I put my lawyer hat back on. Under the 301 statute, in the fourth year of the tariffs, if there is a stakeholder that is benefiting from the tariffs who asks us to keep them, we keep them. That is what happened in 2022, because the tariffs first went on in 2018.

As a result of that, in the fall of 2022, we started a process. We opened up a portal — that was open, I think, in the end of '22 to the very beginning of '23 — notice and comment. We wanted to hear from all of our stakeholders, their views on the tariffs, the pros and the cons, please inform us. That — that elicited, I think, about 1,600 comments. So, that's at the beginning of 2023.

And then we started a whole-of-government interagency review within the Biden administration. That process has taken us to today and the unveiling of this finalized package, which the President approved.

Q So, it's — it took three years to — to figure out the Chinese were flooding the market and stealing technology? I mean, it's pretty evident that they've been doing that all along.

AMBASSADOR TAI: No, it took — it took a year and a half for the course of the review. You will see the amount of care that we put into our investigation and our findings. Yes, there continue to be problems. But then the question is: What do you do about the tariffs?

For this administration, it is extremely important that we approach a relationship, like the one between the U.S. and China, and these issues around the industries and the jobs of the future with discipline. That's what takes so long, is the design and the architecture of the tariff defense system that you will see.

Q One more quick thing on Mexico, if I could. Are we looking at tariffs — I mean, quotas? The Trump administration imposed quotas on steel and aluminum tariff — aluminums coming in from Canada and Mexico. Could there be the same policy related to EVs once [inaudible] comes in?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think I'll just rely on the answer I provided bef- — before, which is "stay tuned."

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Anita.

Just a couple more.

Q Thank you, Ambassador. It should also come as no surprise that former President Donald Trump is very critical of the moves that President Biden made today. He's just blowing up my inbox, calling this a "weak and futile attempt," saying, basically, it's too little too late. What's your response to that?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I would just say that —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We want to be careful — [laughs] —

AMBASSADOR TAI: — this action —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: — not to respond to — to a candidate. That's not —

AMBASSADOR TAI: So — thank you. I appreciate that.

So, I am subject to the — the Hatch Act. I guess what I would do is interpret your question to mean — or maybe I should ask you to rephrase your question.

Q Sure. I mean, how do you respond to criticism that these tariffs are not enough and have come too late? And those — those are coming clearly from former President Donald Trump. [Laughter]

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, again, subject to the Hatch Act. Let me just say, in general, with respect to criticism that these tariffs might not be strong, let me put it this way: We have put a lot of heart and a lot of effort — intellectual effort, economic effort, and consultation effort — into this package. They are designed to be strategic and not chaotic. They are designed to be effective and not emotional.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Russell — Gabe.

Q Thank you, Karine. Thank you, Ambassador. Following up on my colleague Selina's question. You said that the President has been consistent on this issue, but back in 2019, when he was a candidate, he said that "any freshman econ student could tell you that the American people are paying his tariffs," referring to his opponent at the time. And he also said that he would reverse what he called "senseless policies." Why did he change his mind?

AMBASSADOR TAI: So, I'm going to reject the assertion that he changed his mind. What he has been clear about is his commitment to America, America's workers, and America's manufacturing capabilities and resilience, a future for our economy that is built from the middle out and from the bottom up.

These tariffs are — tariffs are tools, and this is something at USTR that we feel very strongly about, because they're our tools. They're the tools of trade. When used strategically and smartly, they can be powerful forces for economic strength and development, and that is what you are seeing in this package.

Q But previously, he called them "senseless." They're no longer senseless?

AMBASSADOR TAI: I think you have to separate out the tool itself and perhaps how it's being used and whether or not they are articulated for a particular purpose.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, [inaudible].

Q There will obviously be costs here. Who are the big losers here? I mean, is it American importers? I mean, there was an International Trade Commission report last year that essentially said that.

AMBASSADOR TAI: I would encourage you — I think the ITC report is maybe not as long as our report. It is long. I would encourage you to take another look at it, because a lot of what people think it says is not what it said.

In terms of the methodology that the ITC used, it is very clear that there were positive impacts of the tariffs on the specific industries that were being covered by it.

Let me just back up to the frame of your question. I think that it just comes down to this, which is the President has committed to America's workers and to America's industries and these industries of the future a bright future. And we are going to use all of the tools at our disposal — trade tools in combination with the investments that we have made and the commitment that the President has to standing up for America's economic interests — to make that happen.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Thank you so much.

AMBASSADOR TAI: Thank you very much.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

Q Thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you.

And it's good to see Angela Perez in the house. [Laughter]

But thank you, Ambassador Tai.

Okay. So, I just have one more thing at the top, and then we'll — we'll continue with questions.

Today, the President and First Lady are honoring the memories of the 10 lives lost two years ago in Buffalo, New York, as a result of unacceptable racial hatred and senseless gun violence. We also honor the bravery of those in law enforcement who responded quickly and who risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities.

Today, White House Deputy Director of Office of Gun Violence Prevention Gregory Jackson will join families of the victims and survivors of the shooting for a ceremony of reflection in Buffalo, where he will deliver a letter from President Biden.

In his letter, the President shares his condolences and reiterates his commitment to combat gun violence and counter hate-fueled violence.

The President will continue to use every tool at his disposal to end the epidemic of gun violence affecting Buffalo and communities nationwide.

With that, Aamer.

Q Was it appropriate for Speaker Johnson to show up at the trial with the former President today?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm — I can't speak to — don't want to comment, obviously, as this is related to 2024 elections.

And I can't speak to the Speaker's schedule. That is something for him to decide on.

And let's not forget, this is also connected to an independent judicial process. So, going to be really mindful.

And he makes his choices on what he does, you know, with — with his business. That is his choice to be made.

What I can speak to is, obviously, what the President is speaking to today as it relates to 301 tariffs, making sure that he's protecting American workers, protecting American businesses, making sure that when we — that, you know, when we're allowed to compete in a fair way, we can thrive. And that's what you heard from this President.

And what we've learned and we've seen from what the — the Speaker is, obviously, leading in — with congressional

Republicans is that they want to — they want to cut — they want to cut Medi- — Medicare. They want to cut — you know, they want to cut Social Security. They want to get th- — rid of things that the American people truly, truly care about.

And so, our focus is going to continue to build an economy from the bottom up, the middle out.

And, you know, this is — this is something that we can speak to. I think the contrast between what we do here and what Republicans — more broadly, Republicans in Congress — do is — I think couldn't be more stark.

Q Can I ask you if there's any administration reaction to Georgia's passage of the "foreign influence law" today? And will there be any ramifications for the U.S.-Georgia relationship if it is, in fact, enacted?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I do have a — a statement from us on this:

We're deeply troubled by Georgia's Kremlin-style "foreign agents" legislation, which just passed, as you just sta- — stated, parliament. And we expect the president to veto it.

While, it is unclear whether parliament will try to override a potential veto, we have been outspoken about our concerns with the legislation, which runs counter to democratic values and would move Georgia further away from the values of the European Union and, let's not forget, also NATO.

The Georgian people have been making their views known about this legislation, protesting in the streets, as you all have been reporting. This weekend, we saw some of the largest protests in Georgia's history, with tens of thousands of peaceful protesters undeterred by — undeterred by intimidation tactics, telling their government to oppose this legislation because they want Euro-Atlantic future.

We will see the parliament — what the parliament does. But if this legislation passes, it will compel us to fundamentally reassess our relationship with Georgia.

Go ahead. Go ahead, Steve.

Q Based on what you're seeing around Rafah, does it appear that the Israelis are preparing to move in in a big way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have anything new to share, other than what the — Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor — he was here, obviously, 24 hours ago — when he was asked about operations and our discussions, obviously, and what we're seeing in Rafah. We have been very clear about this — that we are going to continue to monitor, to keep a close eye.

We — he also said that what — from what we understand, what we know, the — what we're seeing in — in Rafah right now, according to what Israel has shared with us, it is limited, targeted operations. That's what we've been told.

And we have been very clear. We've been very clear about how we feel about our concerns, privately and publicly, about a potential major operation in Rafah. We have been very clear about the more than 1 million people who are living — who are now seeking refuge, to be more exact, in Rafah, and we want to make sure that their lives are protected. These are innocent civilian lives. We want to make sure that they are protected.

And so, that is — basically nothing has changed to what Jake Sullivan, our National Security Advisor, stated right here at — at the lectern yesterday.

Q Thank you, Karine. And just to follow up on Aamer. When you say "fundamentally reassess" relations with Georgia, what — what do you — what does that mean? What do you — what could that entail?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I — I'm not going to get into specifics. I'm not going to get into details here. I think I laid out where we are, our concerns. We are deeply concerned about this. I think the people of Georgia have been very clear over the past couple of days: the largest protest over the weekend that we have seen, tens of thousands — that they have seen in — in that country.

And so — but we want to make sure that we put out our disapproval, our disagreement. And, of course, we're going to reassess our relationship with Georgia. I'm just not going to get into specifics, into details of what that might look like.

Q Thanks, Karine. Just going back to Rafah briefly.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Qatar has said that they think Israel's military — what Israel is doing there at the moment already is setting back the negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage deal. Do you share that assessment?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look — and Jake said this yesterday: There are multiple phases, multiple elements to — to this hostage deal that would lead to a ceasefire, that would obviously get hostages home — some of them American hostages — that we are working get — to get that hostage deal — really focus — and we know how critical it is. And also, to get that humanitarian aid — create a situation where we can get more humanitarian aid into — sort of, into Gaza more — obviously, Gaza, more broadly.

And so, look, we're going to continue that work. We're going to continue to have those conversations. It is a dynamic situation.

And as it relates to — to Rafah, I answered — I think Aam- — Aamer asked me the question about what we're seeing. We're monitoring the situation. We've been very clear, publicly and privately.

Jake, when he was here, he talked about in the upcoming days having an in-person meeting with his counterpart in — in the Israeli government. He's looking forward to do that.

We've been having continuous conversation with Israel about — about Rafah operations. It's been constructive. And so, we — we expect those conversations to continue.

Go ahead.

Q Hey. I just wanted to — thank you.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Just wanted to be a little more granular on Rafah.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q You said the Israeli government had told you they are limited, targeted operations. Is the White House concerned that Israel is making a very incremental sort of incursion into Rafah to make it harder for you guys to say, you know, that the red line has been crossed or approached?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm not going to get into a red line from here. What I will say is: Obviously, the IDF can speak to their own operations. What we've been told, these — and as you just stated in your question to me, these are targeted, limited operations. And so far, it does not appear — it does not appear to be a major ground operation.

And we have been worrying about that. We've been very clear about that. You heard that from Jake Sullivan yesterday, our National Security Advisor. You've heard that many times from here from us. We, of course, are monitoring the situation with our con- — our longstanding concerns over a potential — a potential major ground operation.

And we've said there's more than 1 million — 1 million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in Rafah. And so, we've been very clear — taken — they're taking shelter there. That remains. And so, we're going to continue to have conversations, obviously, with the Israeli government.

Jake Sullivan spoke to this. In the upcoming days, he's — he is expecting that to happen in person.

But those conversations continue, and they have been constructive.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. A senior White House official recently met with some students and faculty at Morehouse College. Can you talk a little bit about some of the concerns raised from those students and faculty members and how the White House responded?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, what I can say is — and you're speaking about Steve Benjamin?

Q Exactly.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Right? Mayor Benjamin, who is also the Director of Off- — the Office of Public Engagement. I can confirm that he did have a meeting at Morehouse. I won't get into the specifics, but he regularly does this. He regularly goes on the road, hears directly from Americans, and he directly — in this — in this inst- — instance, it would be students and faculty, obviously. And I just don't have anything beyond that to share.

The President is certainly looking forward to his commencement address this coming Sunday at Morehouse. He's looking forward to speaking not just to the students but obviously families and loved ones who were here — who will be there to hear — you know, to celebrate the students but also to hear from a — to hear a message from this President.

I don't have anything more to share, but I can certainly confirm that Steve Benjamin was at Morehouse recently.

Q And how many American medical workers does the White House estimate are currently trapped inside Gaza and unable to get out? And is there a plan to help them?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I certainly — look, what we have said over and over again, and we will continue to say this, that humanitarian aid workers, obviously, are brave to do the work that they're doing not just in Gaza but around the world, whether it's in Sudan, Haiti, many places — that they actually go out there and do that brave work to offer assistance — much needed — to folks on — on the ground. And so, we appreciate that. We want to see them protected. We want to make sure that they have the ability to continue that work.

I don't have an estimate for you on — on the number of people, to your question, but it is imperative — it is important that we see humanitarian aid workers protected. And those are conversations that we continue to have with the Israeli government.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks a lot, Karine. In regards to the President's plans to increase tariffs that he announced earlier today, is there an expectation that China will retaliate? And if indeed that happens, what should American consumers plan for in terms of increased prices that they pay for on a variety of Chinese goods?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I think the Ambassador addressed this question a little bit.

And what I will say is: There's no need for a trade war. There isn't. And we've been very clear — and the Ambassador said this at the — at the podium just moments ago, obviously — that we have been very clear about this. We've been very vocal about — about where — what the President — how the President believes we should move forward. He wants to do this in a smart and strategic way. That's what you see. And it's not just the tariffs. It's an investment.

You hear talk — him talking about investing in America, making sure that manufacturers are coming back. We have created almost — nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs. So, there is an investment piece, not just a tariffs piece.

And the President has been also very clear: This is about American workers. This is about American companies. This is about protecting them. And we have been also very clear that China's policies, trade policies have been unfair. And we've had concerns.

You heard the Ambassador talk about how you've seen Cabinet-level conversations about this over — over the year. And we've been also very consistent about that.

Whether it's Secretary Yellen, Secretary Blinken — they've been the most recent — recent secretaries to have traveled to Beijing to — and this came up — to have those conversations.

And so, look, there's no need — there's no need for a trade war. That is not what we're — this is not what this is about. This is about protecting, again, American workers. This is about protecting American businesses, making it more fair so that we can compete. And we believe that with — with a fair

scenario here that we can outcompete.

Q I also wanted to ask you a question that you were not asked yesterday. It's in regards to the Vice President's language that she used yesterday to young people. I'm not going to repeat that language. I don't use that language publicly, and I don't think you want me to repeat verbatim what she —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, it's up to you if you want to repeat it or not. I can't speak for you. [Laughs]

Q I'm not going to. So, my —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Well, there you go.

Q — my question — my question to is: Is that appropriate? Were you surprised she used that language? Is — was this a one-off, or can we expect similar language from the Vice President going forward?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, for those of you who have,

you know, covered the Vice President, knows the Vice President, she's passionate about what she fights for. She is. And I think it's important to have someone who's passionate about what they're speaking about — about what they're trying to lift up.

And you've seen her be incredibly passionate about reproductive freedom and what's happening right now in this country. And when it comes to women's right — a woman's ability to choose, make really difficult decisions on their body — you've seen her talk about that with ending gun violence and encouraging young people to not let the — any obsabl- — obstacles get in the way.

And so, this is — we're talking about someone who has broken ce- — glass ceilings, right? We're talking about someone who can speak to, you know, about what it's like to go through that process.

And so, she's incredibly passionate. And I will leave it there. And, you know — you know, I could not be more proud to — to have her as someone that I look up to as Vice President. And I think many people here would say the same.

Q I read — I read her remarks. I watched her remarks. And I agree with the sentiment that she was conveying to those young people. Could she have done that without dropping the F-bomb?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, she was passionate. She's passionate about what she believes. And that's what I think you heard from this Vice President, and I think it's important.

Go ahead, Karen.

Q Thanks, Karine. There was a lawsuit filed by a group of major airlines against the Biden administration over a new rule requiring transparency on checked bag fees and res- — reservation change fees. Is the administration concerned that this is going to delay this rule going into effect, which is supposed to happen on July 1st?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I can't speak to the timeline from this. I think that's something the Department of Transportation can certainly speak to that more. This is a significant win, as we see it — this rule for consumers. I think that's important — saving them half a billion — half a billion dollars every year and bringing transparency to what has become a fee-ridden purchasing process.

So, it is significant. It's a win for the American people. It's a win for consumers. Can't speak to the timeline. That's something that the Department of — of Transportation can certainly lean into.

Q But could a lawsuit like this be a setback for the broader agenda of the administration: tackling hidden junk fees?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I probably should have said at the first, going to be really mindful. It's a litigation. Don't want to speak to the litigation. I'm speaking more broadly.

And so, what I can say: It's a win for consumers. That's — it's an important rule. It is — we're talking about saving billions of dollars to — to the American consumer. And so, it is an important move forward — step forward. And anything else, I would certainly refer you to Department of Transportation.

Go ahead.

Q Yes. At this point, when Gaza has been practically leveled, 80 percent of the hospitals are out of service, most of the people have been displaced, what do you think is the incentive Hamas has to keep negotiating a ceasefire?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, it is, we believe, incredibly important and critical to get to this ceasefire, to get to a hostage deal, to get hostages home. And it's not easy, right? You heard — you heard Jake talk about this. He actually quoted Senator George Mitchell — right? — and talked about how sometimes it takes a thousand failures before you can get to one win. And I think that really speaks to the moment that we're in.

And — and I said this before as I was asked this question: There are a lot of dynamics here that when you're talking about the different — the different phases — right? — when it comes to a hostage deal. And so, look, it's not going to stop us from continue to have these conversation. It's not going to stop us for understanding what is at stake here.

We got to get these hostages home. We got to get that humanitarian — continuing to get that humanitarian aid in. And we got to get to a ceasefire. We have to.

And, you know, Hamas, as we have stated, and you've heard us say over and over again, is a terrorist organization. This could end today if they would let the women, the wounded, the elderly go. It could end. This could end.

So, in the meantime, you — and you heard the — you heard Jake go through the 10 — you know, the 10 points of our — how we're seeing and how we're viewing what's happening in the Middle East. And so, that continues. We're going to — it's not going to stop us from having this really important, critical conversation, negotiations around the hostage deal. There's so much at stake here, and it is important and critical to continue these talks.

Q Follow-up.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Do you think that U.S. is safer today than it was seven months ago, considering the rage and the questioning from countries in the [inaudible]?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say that one more time. If whose —

Q If — if the U.S. is safer today than it was seven months ago, considering —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I don't have any — any changes of where we are today. I can't speak to that. What I can say is the President is always going to put our national security first. He's always going — as it relates to the American people, as it relates to us. That's the lens that he moves with. That's how he sees things. And I think that's incredibly important. And his commitment — his commitment continues to be so.

Go ahead.

Q Taiwan is going to hold its inauguration next Monday. Does the administration expect any changes in policy with the incoming President Lai? And then, you know, are you seeing any signs that China may try to use this occasion to act aggressively or in a coercive way?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, look, I — I can't speak for what China is going to do or not do. I'm not, you know, obviously, in — in the head of President Xi. But we've been — we've been very clear about where we stand with our One China policy. Nothing has changed there.

And, look, I would have to let — let the leader of — the leader speak for himself. I just don't have anything to add beyond that. We will see. We will see.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Why do you think Americans are so down on President Biden right now?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What do you mean?

Q I know you don't like to talk about polls like the five of six swing states that he is losing right now to somebody who is a criminal defendant. But more broadly, it doesn't seem like anything you guys are doing is making him more popular. Why do you think that is?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you — you mentioned a criminal defendant — your words, not mine. So, I want to be super mindful about how I answer this question because, obviously, that criminal defendant is also a — in — in the race for 2024 election. So, going to be super mindful there.

I will speak more broadly to what the American people are going through. Like, we understand. We are sensitive enough and open-minded enough to understand that this is — that not just this country but globally people have had to deal with a pandemic and coming out of that pandemic. We understand that even — you know, you think about gas prices and, because of Putin's war, what that has occurred that led to a gas prices increasing.

And the President had a lot to deal with when he walked in — a lot — a lot of crises. And this is a president that took that very, very seriously and took action. The American Rescue Plan — no Republicans voted for that, but we ended up trying to work to get an economy that's fairer for all and make sure that we don't leave people behind in creating 15 million jobs, un- — an unemployment rate that's under 4 percent.

We understand that people are still feeling this. We get that. And we're not — we're not blind to that. That's why you hear the President pretty regularly announcing how he is going to lower costs for the American people — whether it's Big Pharma, trying to lower healthcare costs, expanding ACA for those who truly need it, or it is making sure that we get rid of junk fees that cost Americans a lot of money every year.

So, look, we know it's going to take a little bit of time. We get that. And we are going to continue to — it's not going to stop us from talking about it and then also not going to stop us from talking about the contrast that we see from GOP Republican congressional members who want to do the opposite of what the President is trying to get done: cutting Social Security, Medicare — Medicare, Medicaid. That is what they're talking about — slashing taxes for billionaires and corporations.

That's not what this President wants to do. He wants to make sure that we're building an economy from the bottom up, middle out.

And, again, we get it. We get that prices are too high for Americans. And that w- — that's what we're going to continue to do: the work.

Q I get that you understand that people are hurting right now. Why is it that nothing you're doing to address their concerns is working?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I'm saying is we're going to continue to do the work.

I can't speak to the polls, right? Those are for folks who are experts who can do a deep dive and look into that and speak to them.

What I can speak to is: We understand what the American people is feeling. We understand what they're going through. That's why we're going to continue to do the work. 301 tariff, that's part of it — right? — making sure that we're protecting American workers, making sure that we're protecting American businesses.

That's the work that the President is going to focus on. And we're going to continue to move in that way.

Q So, more broadly, then —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — have you considered, in the White House, that some of President Biden's recent policy positions could be a turn-off to the people that used to like him?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, here, I would — this is — I would disagree with you there, because a lot of the policies that the President is pushing forward are incredibly popular. They are. They are.

Student debt, even though you have Republicans who stopped the President on moving with his plan on student debt, that's actually very popular with Americans.

Fighting Big Pharma, that's popular with Americans. Right?

Making sure that we lower costs on healthcare, that's popular with Americans.

So, what the President is actually doing is popular with what majority of Americans want to do — even in protecting reproductive rights, something that Republicans are not on the right side of history. You think about what extreme — extreme elected officials want to do. The President wants to protect and make sure that we actually are giving a wom- — a woman a right to make really difficult decisions on their healthcare.

So, that part I certainly disagree with you on.

Go ahead, Jared.

Q Is the meeting with Israelis on — on Rafah also expected to include ongoing conversations about that shipment of 2,000-pound bombs? Any kind of steps or conditions you want to see, the administration wants to see that — to move forward on a final determination?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I — those — don't have anything for you on a timeline or that particular conversation.

The Rafah operations — we've been really clear about our concerns about that. Any major military operations going into Rafah, we have been clear that we do not believe that is the way — the right way to move forward.

And — and so, we're going to continue to be clear. We're going to have a meeting about that specifically. As you know, National Security Advisor stated that. There's been continuous conversations on this particular issue that we believe has been constructive. And conversations continue.

We're going to monitor the situation. I'm not going to go beyond what we've just stated about where — where — our focus on the Rafah operations and those conversations.

Go ahead.

Q President Biden has frequently pledged that no one making under $400,000 would see their taxes go up. Tariffs are effectively a tax on imports. I'm wondering if you can commit that no American importer making less than $400,000 would see their cost go up.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, our commitment to Americans are very clear, which is that we are not going to tax — we do not want to see a tax increase ov- — on Americans making over $400,000. That — that has been our point where we have been since the beginning of this administration. That has not changed.

We have to remember what these tariffs are all about is actually making sure that we are protecting American workers, that we are protecting American businesses.

We have to — we cannot forget, as well, that the last — the trade deal that the last administration, the Trump administration did not — actually, it was a bad deal. It was a failed deal. It didn't increase our im- — American imports. It didn't increase manufacturing here. And this is —

Q But importers of solar cells are some of the products that are part of the announcement today. You can guarantee that none of those importers —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is Americans —

Q — below a certain threshold will see any costs go up?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can say is Americans — Americans here — we have been very clear that we do not want to — there — we do not want to see taxes for them if they are making under $400,000. That is something that we've been very clear about.

But I also do not want to — not — we should not forget why we're doing this today. This is about protecting American workers. This is about protecting American businesses.

What we saw from the last administration failed. It failed. We did not see manufacturing go up. We did not see im- — imports go up — exports go up. And so, that is also incredibly important to note.

And we want to do this — the President wants to do this in a smart and strategic way. And that's what you are seeing from this announcement today.

Q Karine, there's a report that's just out right now that Jake Sullivan will be going to Saudi Arabia and Israel this weekend to discuss the military operation in Rafah. I know you mentioned that there would be a meeting in the coming days. Can you confirm his travel?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't confirm that at this time.

Go ahead.

Q Hi, Karine. Picking up on your last answer that you don't believe that this is a tax on Americans making under $400,000 a year. Some Democrats, including Jared Polis, the governor of Colorado, have come out and said that "tariffs are a direct, regressive tax on Americans and this tax increase will hit every family," calling it "horrible news." How do you respond to that?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I mean, it's very much to what I've been saying. This is — this is truly about — what the President wanted to do — he wanted to make sure that this was done in a smart and strategic way. That's what this announcement is about. It's about making sure that we address the unfair policies that we have seen from China. And this is what this does.

American workers and businesses can out- — can outcompete anyone if we actually create a competition that is fair. And that's what you're seeing from this President.

We have been also very clear that we do not want to see a tax crease — increase for anyone making under $400,000. That has also been our — our approach on this as we talk about the economy, as we talk about making sure that we're building an economy from the bottom up, middle out. We want this to make sure that we're not leaving anyone behind.

This is a smart and strategic approach from this President. These tariffs are targeted at critical industries, where his — his Investing in America agenda is spurring a manufacturing boom. He is coupling investment with actions to protect American workers and to protect businesses as well.

That's our approach here. That's how we're going to move forward.

Q And, Karine —

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q — I know you said you couldn't confirm Jake's travel to Saudi Arabia this weekend. But would you say, across the administration, is there an increased sense of urgency to make sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu does not go further into Rafah?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I think there's been a sense of urgency from day one. We've been very clear about this. The last time the President spoke to the Prime Minister, one of the topics that came up that we read out to all of you was the Rafah operations.

You've — you've heard us say over and over again about our concerns, and we've been clear about our concerns privately and, certainly, publicly about 1 — more than 1 million people. More than 1 million Palestinian citizens are — are now seeking refuge in Rafah. And so, we want to make sure that — that they are — their — you know, their lives are protected — understanding that dismantling Hamas's operation is actually really important. This is something that we believe in, that we want to see as well. That's why we've offered our own thoughts on how to move forward with that.

Conversations continue. We're going to be very clear about our concerns here. And — and I'll just leave it there.

All right, everybody.

Thanks, everyone. I'll see you tomorrow? Tomorrow.

Q Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Bye, everybody.

Q Thanks, Karine.

2:05 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

All times are local and subject to change.

From Thursday, May 16 th, 2024 – Saturday, May 18 th, 2024, First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Michigan and New York. The First Lady will be joined by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff in Michigan.

Thursday, May 16 th, 2024

At 2:00 PM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will arrive at Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport in Gwinn, Michigan. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Wednesday, May 15 th, at 3:00 PM ET.

At 3:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event in Marquette, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 5:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at Chippewa County International Airport in Kincheloe, Michigan. This arrival will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Wednesday, May 15 th, at 3:00 PM ET.

At 6:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a community event with the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Wednesday, May 15 th, at 3:00 PM ET.

Friday, May 17 th, 2024

At 12:00 PM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will join a community listening session about health care with members of the Bay Mills Indian Community and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, May 16 th, at 9:00 AM ET.

At 1:00 PM, to highlight historic investments through President Biden's Investing in America Agenda, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will tour the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, May 16 th, at 9:00 AM ET.

At 3:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at MBS International Airport in Freeland, Michigan. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, May 16 th, at 9:00 AM ET.

At 5:15 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a political event in Midland, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 7:00 PM, the First Lady and Second Gentleman will arrive at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit, Michigan. This arrival will be open press. For interested media, please RSVP HERE by Thursday, May 16 th, at 9:00 AM ET.

Saturday, May 18 th, 2024

At 11:30 AM, First Lady Jill Biden and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff will deliver remarks at a political event in Detroit, Michigan. This event will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

At 2:50 PM, the First Lady will deliver remarks at a political event in New York, New York. Her remarks will be open to pre-credentialed media. For interested media, please contact press@joebiden.com .

Presidential Actions

2024-05-14

For personal protective equipment (facemasks, medical gloves, and syringes and needles], the Trade Representative is directed to increase rates of duty to no less than the rates indicated:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

ON HIS AGENDA TO PROMOTE AMERICAN INVESTMENTS AND JOBS

Rose Garden

12:32 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now, I assume you're standing in case you have to run when the rain starts. Please, have a seat.

Rox, thank you very much for all you do to fight for American steelworkers. I mean that sincerely.

I -- and I want to recognize all the labor unions here today, including Steel Workers, Auto Workers, Sheet Metal Workers, AFL-CIO, IBEW, Communications Workers, Boilermakers, Machinists.

I'm proud, as Rox said, to be labeled the most pro-union President in American history. You heard me say it before: Wall Street is important, lot of good folks there, but they didn't build America. The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class.

Folks, leaders from key American industries are here as well, including steel, aluminum, solar, semiconductors, automakers.

And members of my Cabinet are here as well. Janet Yellen -- the front row is Murderers' Row here -- -- the Treasury Department; Julie Su, our Trade -- our -- of -- of Labor; and Katherine Tai, our nation's Trade Representative; and outstanding members of Congress as well.

From Michigan, Debbie Stabenow is here. Debbie, welcome.

And Hala- -- and Haley Stevens is here. No, I guess she -- there you are. Oh, you did make it. They told me you might not be able to make it. I'm sorry.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS: I'm here.

THE PRESIDENT: All right.

And Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Again, you -- smile, Debbie, it's okay.

REPRESENTATIVE DINGELL: I am. I'm happy.

THE PRESIDENT: Elissa Slotkin --

Well, you should be. You -- you're -- you're responsible for a lot of this.

Thank you for joining us as I announce a series of actions to make sure American workers and American business and corporations can compete and win in the industries of the future, because that's what this is about.

The fact is that American workers are -- can outwork and outcompete anyone, as long as the competition is fair. But for too long, it hasn't been fair.

For years, the Chinese government has poured state money into Chinese companies across a whole range of industries: steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, solar panels -- the industries of the future -- and even critical health equipment, like gloves and masks.

China heavily subsidized all these products, pushing Chinese companies to produce far more than the rest of the world can absorb. And then dumping the excess products onto the market at unfairly low prices, driving other manufacturers around the world out of business.

You know, we -- I won't go into it, but we were talking about today about how many aluminum plants there used to be and how many there are now.

The prices are unfairly low because Chinese companies don't need to worry about a profit because the Chinese government subsidized them and subsidized them heavily.

And the Chinese relies on other anticompetitive tactics as well, like forcing the American companies to transfer their technology in order to do business in China.

I've spent a lot of time with Xi Jinping. Early on, I told him -- he said, why am I being unfair with China? I said, "Look, we'll play by the same rules if you want. If you want to do business in China, you got to have a 51 percent Chinese owner, you got to provide access to all your intellectual property, et cetera. You want to do that in America?" There was silence.

Sometimes they just outright steal through cyber espionage and other means. And it's been a well-documented inter- -- and internationally recognized.

When you make tactics like these, they are -- they're -- you're not competing. It's not competition. It's cheating. And we've seen the damage here in America.

To name one example, back in 2000, when cheap steel from China began to flood the market, U.S. steel towns across Pennsylvania and Ohio were hit hard. And any of you from those areas know well. More than [DEL: 1,800 :DEL] [18,000] ironworkers and steelworkers in Pennsylvania and Ohio lost their jobs.

I'm not going to let that happen again.

That's why today I'm announcing new tariffs in key sectors of the economy that are going to ensure that our workers are not held back by unfair trade practices.

They include a thing I'm announcing today: 25 percent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products. And we'll counter China's overcapacity in these industries.

And we're making major investments in clean American steel and aluminum -- clean American steel and aluminum. It's a big deal. Clean because of the way we manufacture it here -- it emits half as much carbon as steel made in China.

Last month, my administration announced the largest investment in clean manufacturing in all of history, up to $1.5 billion in six clean steel projects across America, creating and supporting thousands -- thousands of union jobs.

Next, a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles made in China. And people say, "Wow." Because we're not going to let China flood our market, making it impossible for American automakers -- automobile -- auto manufacturers to compete fairly.

We're also implementing a 25 percent tariff on electric vehicle batteries from China and a 25 percent tariff on the critical minerals that make those batteries.

Folks, look, I'm determined that the future of the electric vehicles will be made in America by union workers. Period. And we'll do it by following international trade laws to do it.

American companies are investing tens of billions of dollars in electric vehicles and their batteries. And thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're building a network of 500,000 charging stations all across America, creating thousands -- thousands of IBEW jobs across America. Electric charging stations -- -- and the reason to do this is simple: Electric charging stations have to be as easy to find as a gas station, and that's what this will be. You're not going to have to worry about -- you're taking off and you're going to be able to make it all across the country in one -- without having to figure something else out.

Our partners around the world are making similar investments. They also want a supply chain for electric vehicles that isn't dominated by unfair trade practices from China.

America can continue to buy -- Americans -- I want to make this clear, notwithstanding what the other guy is saying -- can buy any kind of car they want -- whether it's gas, electric, or hybrid -- but we're never going to allow China to fa- -- unfairly control the market for these cars. Period.

Next -- -- we're going to raise tariffs on Chinese solar panels from 25 to 50 percent. Here, again, because the Chinese government is subsidizing excess capacity, they're flooding the market. They're driving manufacturing companies out of business in Europe. But we won't let that happen here in America.

We're putting a 50 percent tariff on semiconductors made in China. These are those tiny computer -- all of you know this, but for the public -- those little, tiny computer chips, smaller than a fingertip, that power everyday lives -- everything from smartphones to automobiles to dishwashers, satellites.

Look, America invented these [DEL: cheeps :DEL] [chips]. But over time, we stopped making them. We invested other -- overseas. Now, thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act, one of the most significant investments ever in science and technology, we're bringing this vital industry back home where it started, in the United States of America.

And finally, we're putting tariffs on health equipment, like masks and gloves that nurses and doctors wear every single day. If the pandemic caught us any- -- tau- -- taught us anything, we need a secure ply- -- supply of essential supplies here at home.

Folks, these key sectors, my administration is combining investments in America with tariffs that are strategic and targeted. It's a smart approach.

Compare that to the pri- -- what the prior administration did. The -- my predecessor promised to increase American exports and boost manufacturing. But he didn't either. He failed.

He signed a trade deal with China. They were supposed to buy $200 billion more in American goods. Instead, China imports from America barely budged.

And now, Trump and his MAGA Republicans want across-the-board tariffs on all imports from all countries, if reelected. Well, that would drive up costs for families on an average of $1,500 per year each year. He simply doesn't get it.

For years, I've heard many Republicans and even Democratic friends say, "China is not on the rise" -- excuse me, "China is on the rise; America is falling behind." I've always believed they got it wrong.

America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. And since I've come into office, the GDP is up, our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest level in over a decade, and we're standing up against Chinese government unfair economic practices now.

At the same time -- -- we're standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. I've revitalized our partnerships with the Pacific allies in India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines -- Pacific Island nations.

I've made sure the most advanced American technologies we develop or invent can be used by the Chi- -- can't be used by the Chinese government to undermine our national security.

Frankly, before it rains -- frankly, for all this tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that.

Bottom line: I want fair competition with China, not conflict. And we're in a stronger position to win that economic competition of the 21 st century against China than anyone else because we're investing in America again.

Let me close -- let me close with this. I come from Scranton, a town like a lot of working-class, middle-class neighborhoods all across America -- like Racine, Wisconsin, which I visited last week. Once a manufacturing boomtown until trickle-down economics came along, and the middle class in Racine got hollowed out.

Six years ago, my predecessor showed up carrying a golden shovel, promising, thanks to his new $10 billion, manufacturing complex would be built in Racine. He said it would be the eighth wonder of the world -- big promises that never came true. He used that golden shovel to dig a hole, and then he fell into it.

Well, that's not on my -- that's not part of my -- well, I'm delivering for Racine -- delivering. Thanks to the investment of my administration, Microsoft is investing billions to build a new data center in Racine, creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

Because the view from Scranton and towns like it are a lot different than from Mar-a-Lago. It's the view where -- that money doesn't determine your worth, everyone is entitled to being treated with dignity and respect, and everyone deserves a fair shot. We leave nobody behind.

That's the America we're building together. That's why I've never been more optimistic about our future. And I'm really going fast because of the rain.

We have -- -- that's why we have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. And there is nothing -- there is nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all. And better get out of the rain.

Thank you very, very much.

Thank you.

Oh, we got to sign this.

Q Mr. President, why wait three years for the tariffs?

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Q Mr. President --

Q Mr. President, is Netanyahu going too far in Rafah?

Q Mr. President, Trump said today, "China is eating our lunch." What do you say in response? He said, "China is eating our lunch." That's what Trump said today.

THE PRESIDENT: He's being feeding them a long time.

12:45 P.M. EDT

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-14

Rose Garden

12:32 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause] Now, I assume you're standing in case you have to run when the rain starts. [Laughter] Please, have a seat.

Rox, thank you very much for all you do to fight for American steelworkers. I mean that sincerely.

I — and I want to recognize all the labor unions here today, including Steel Workers, Auto Workers, Sheet Metal Workers, AFL-CIO, IBEW, Communications Workers, Boilermakers, Machinists.

I'm proud, as Rox said, to be labeled the most pro-union President in American history. You heard me say it before: Wall Street is important, lot of good folks there, but they didn't build America. The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class.

Folks, leaders from key American industries are here as well, including steel, aluminum, solar, semiconductors, automakers.

And members of my Cabinet are here as well. Janet Yellen — the front row is Murderers' Row here — [laughter] — the Treasury Department; Julie Su, our Trade — our — of — of Labor; and Katherine Tai, our nation's Trade Representative; and outstanding members of Congress as well.

From Michigan, Debbie Stabenow is here. Debbie, welcome.

And Hala- — and Haley Stevens is here. No, I guess she — there you are. Oh, you did make it. They told me you might not be able to make it. I'm sorry.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS: I'm here. [Inaudible]

THE PRESIDENT: All right.

And Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Again, you — smile, Debbie, it's okay. [Laughter]

REPRESENTATIVE DINGELL: I am. I'm happy.

THE PRESIDENT: Elissa Slotkin —

Well, you should be. You — you're — you're responsible for a lot of this.

Thank you for joining us as I announce a series of actions to make sure American workers and American business and corporations can compete and win in the industries of the future, because that's what this is about.

The fact is that American workers are — can outwork and outcompete anyone, as long as the competition is fair. But for too long, it hasn't been fair.

For years, the Chinese government has poured state money into Chinese companies across a whole range of industries: steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, solar panels — the industries of the future — and even critical health equipment, like gloves and masks.

China heavily subsidized all these products, pushing Chinese companies to produce far more than the rest of the world can absorb. And then dumping the excess products onto the market at unfairly low prices, driving other manufacturers around the world out of business.

You know, we — I won't go into it, but we were talking about today about how many aluminum plants there used to be and how many there are now.

The prices are unfairly low because Chinese companies don't need to worry about a profit because the Chinese government subsidized them and subsidized them heavily.

And the Chinese relies on other anticompetitive tactics as well, like forcing the American companies to transfer their technology in order to do business in China.

I've spent a lot of time with Xi Jinping. Early on, I told him — he said, why am I being unfair with China? [Inaudible] I said, "Look, we'll play by the same rules if you want. If you want to do business in China, you got to have a 51 percent Chinese owner, you got to provide access to all your intellectual property, et cetera. You want to do that in America?" There was silence.

Sometimes they just outright steal through cyber espionage and other means. And it's been a well-documented inter- — and internationally recognized.

When you make tactics like these, they are — they're — you're not competing. It's not competition. It's cheating. And we've seen the damage here in America.

To name one example, back in 2000, when cheap steel from China began to flood the market, U.S. steel towns across Pennsylvania and Ohio were hit hard. And any of you from those areas know well. More than1,800[18,000] ironworkers and steelworkers in Pennsylvania and Ohio lost their jobs.

I'm not going to let that happen again.

That's why today I'm announcing new tariffs in key sectors of the economy that are going to ensure that our workers are not held back by unfair trade practices.

They include a thing I'm announcing today: 25 percent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products. And we'll counter China's overcapacity in these industries.

And we're making major investments in clean American steel and aluminum — clean American steel and aluminum. It's a big deal. Clean because of the way we manufacture it here — it emits half as much carbon as steel made in China.

Last month, my administration announced the largest investment in clean manufacturing in all of history, up to $1.5 billion in six clean steel projects across America, creating and supporting thousands — thousands of union jobs.

Next, a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles made in China. And people say, "Wow." [Applause] Because we're not going to let China flood our market, making it impossible for American automakers — automobile — auto manufacturers to compete fairly.

We're also implementing a 25 percent tariff on electric vehicle batteries from China and a 25 percent tariff on the critical minerals that make those batteries.

Folks, look, I'm determined that the future of the electric vehicles will be made in America by union workers. Period. [Applause] And we'll do it by following international trade laws to do it.

American companies are investing tens of billions of dollars in electric vehicles and their batteries. And thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're building a network of 500,000 charging stations all across America, creating thousands — thousands of IBEW jobs across America. Electric charging stations — [applause] — and the reason to do this is simple: Electric charging stations have to be as easy to find as a gas station, and that's what this will be. You're not going to have to worry about — you're taking off and you're going to be able to make it all across the country in one — without having to figure something else out.

Our partners around the world are making similar investments. They also want a supply chain for electric vehicles that isn't dominated by unfair trade practices from China.

America can continue to buy — Americans — I want to make this clear, notwithstanding what the other guy is saying — can buy any kind of car they want — whether it's gas, electric, or hybrid — but we're never going to allow China to fa- — unfairly control the market for these cars. Period.

Next — [applause] — we're going to raise tariffs on Chinese solar panels from 25 to 50 percent. Here, again, because the Chinese government is subsidizing excess capacity, they're flooding the market. They're driving manufacturing companies out of business in Europe. But we won't let that happen here in America.

We're putting a 50 percent tariff on semiconductors made in China. These are those tiny computer — all of you know this, but for the public — those little, tiny computer chips, smaller than a fingertip, that power everyday lives — everything from smartphones to automobiles to dishwashers, satellites.

Look, America invented thesecheeps[chips]. But over time, we stopped making them. We invested other — overseas. Now, thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act, one of the most significant investments ever in science and technology, we're bringing this vital industry back home where it started, in the United States of America. [Applause]

And finally, we're putting tariffs on health equipment, like masks and gloves that nurses and doctors wear every single day. If the pandemic caught us any- — tau- — taught us anything, we need a secure ply- — supply of essential supplies here at home.

Folks, these key sectors, my administration is combining investments in America with tariffs that are strategic and targeted. It's a smart approach.

Compare that to the pri- — what the prior administration did. The — my predecessor promised to increase American exports and boost manufacturing. But he didn't either. He failed.

He signed a trade deal with China. They were supposed to buy $200 billion more in American goods. Instead, China imports from America barely budged.

And now, Trump and his MAGA Republicans want across-the-board tariffs on all imports from all countries, if reelected. Well, that would drive up costs for families on an average of $1,500 per year each year. He simply doesn't get it.

For years, I've heard many Republicans and even Democratic friends say, "China is not on the rise" — excuse me, "China is on the rise; America is falling behind." I've always believed they got it wrong.

America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. And since I've come into office, the GDP is up, our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest level in over a decade, and we're standing up against Chinese government unfair economic practices now.

At the same time — [applause] — we're standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. I've revitalized our partnerships with the Pacific allies in India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines — Pacific Island nations.

I've made sure the most advanced American technologies we develop or invent can be used by the Chi- — can't be used by the Chinese government to undermine our national security.

Frankly, before it rains — frankly, for all this tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that.

Bottom line: I want fair competition with China, not conflict. And we're in a stronger position to win that economic competition of the 21st century against China than anyone else because we're investing in America again.

Let me close — let me close with this. I come from Scranton, a town like a lot of working-class, middle-class neighborhoods all across America — like Racine, Wisconsin, which I visited last week. Once a manufacturing boomtown until trickle-down economics came along, and the middle class in Racine got hollowed out.

Six years ago, my predecessor showed up carrying a golden shovel, promising, thanks to his new $10 billion, manufacturing complex would be built in Racine. He said it would be the eighth wonder of the world — big promises that never came true. He used that golden shovel to dig a hole, and then he fell into it. [Laughter]

Well, that's not on my — that's not part of my — well, I'm delivering for Racine — delivering. Thanks to the investment of my administration, Microsoft is investing billions to build a new data center in Racine, creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

Because the view from Scranton and towns like it are a lot different than from Mar-a-Lago. It's the view where — that money doesn't determine your worth, everyone is entitled to being treated with dignity and respect, and everyone deserves a fair shot. We leave nobody behind.

That's the America we're building together. That's why I've never been more optimistic about our future. And I'm really going fast because of the rain.

We have — [laughter] — that's why we have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. [Applause] And there is nothing — there is nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all. And better get out of the rain.

Thank you very, very much. [Applause]

Thank you.

Oh, we got to sign this.

Q Mr. President, why wait three years for the tariffs?

[The presidential memorandum is signed]

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause]

Q Mr. President —

Q Mr. President, is Netanyahu going too far in Rafah?

Q Mr. President, Trump said today, "China is eating our lunch." What do you say in response? He said, "China is eating our lunch." That's what Trump said today.

THE PRESIDENT: He's being feeding them a long time. [Applause, Laughter]

12:45 P.M. EDT

Speeches and Remarks

2024-05-14

Rose Garden

12:32 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause] Now, I assume you're standing in case you have to run when the rain starts. [Laughter] Please, have a seat.

Rox, thank you very much for all you do to fight for American steelworkers. I mean that sincerely.

I — and I want to recognize all the labor unions here today, including Steel Workers, Auto Workers, Sheet Metal Workers, AFL-CIO, IBEW, Communications Workers, Boilermakers, Machinists.

I'm proud, as Rox said, to be labeled the most pro-union President in American history. You heard me say it before: Wall Street is important, lot of good folks there, but they didn't build America. The middle class built America, and unions built the middle class.

Folks, leaders from key American industries are here as well, including steel, aluminum, solar, semiconductors, automakers.

And members of my Cabinet are here as well. Janet Yellen — the front row is Murderers' Row here — [laughter] — the Treasury Department; Julie Su, our Trade — our — of — of Labor; and Katherine Tai, our nation's Trade Representative; and outstanding members of Congress as well.

From Michigan, Debbie Stabenow is here. Debbie, welcome.

And Hala- — and Haley Stevens is here. No, I guess she — there you are. Oh, you did make it. They told me you might not be able to make it. I'm sorry.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVENS: I'm here. [Inaudible]

THE PRESIDENT: All right.

And Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Again, you — smile, Debbie, it's okay. [Laughter]

REPRESENTATIVE DINGELL: I am. I'm happy.

THE PRESIDENT: Elissa Slotkin —

Well, you should be. You — you're — you're responsible for a lot of this.

Thank you for joining us as I announce a series of actions to make sure American workers and American business and corporations can compete and win in the industries of the future, because that's what this is about.

The fact is that American workers are — can outwork and outcompete anyone, as long as the competition is fair. But for too long, it hasn't been fair.

For years, the Chinese government has poured state money into Chinese companies across a whole range of industries: steel and aluminum, semiconductors, electric vehicles, solar panels — the industries of the future — and even critical health equipment, like gloves and masks.

China heavily subsidized all these products, pushing Chinese companies to produce far more than the rest of the world can absorb. And then dumping the excess products onto the market at unfairly low prices, driving other manufacturers around the world out of business.

You know, we — I won't go into it, but we were talking about today about how many aluminum plants there used to be and how many there are now.

The prices are unfairly low because Chinese companies don't need to worry about a profit because the Chinese government subsidized them and subsidized them heavily.

And the Chinese relies on other anticompetitive tactics as well, like forcing the American companies to transfer their technology in order to do business in China.

I've spent a lot of time with Xi Jinping. Early on, I told him — he said, why am I being unfair with China? [Inaudible] I said, "Look, we'll play by the same rules if you want. If you want to do business in China, you got to have a 51 percent Chinese owner, you got to provide access to all your intellectual property, et cetera. You want to do that in America?" There was silence.

Sometimes they just outright steal through cyber espionage and other means. And it's been a well-documented inter- — and internationally recognized.

When you make tactics like these, they are — they're — you're not competing. It's not competition. It's cheating. And we've seen the damage here in America.

To name one example, back in 2000, when cheap steel from China began to flood the market, U.S. steel towns across Pennsylvania and Ohio were hit hard. And any of you from those areas know well. More than1,800[18,000] ironworkers and steelworkers in Pennsylvania and Ohio lost their jobs.

I'm not going to let that happen again.

That's why today I'm announcing new tariffs in key sectors of the economy that are going to ensure that our workers are not held back by unfair trade practices.

They include a thing I'm announcing today: 25 percent tariff on Chinese steel and aluminum products. And we'll counter China's overcapacity in these industries.

And we're making major investments in clean American steel and aluminum — clean American steel and aluminum. It's a big deal. Clean because of the way we manufacture it here — it emits half as much carbon as steel made in China.

Last month, my administration announced the largest investment in clean manufacturing in all of history, up to $1.5 billion in six clean steel projects across America, creating and supporting thousands — thousands of union jobs.

Next, a 100 percent tariff on electric vehicles made in China. And people say, "Wow." [Applause] Because we're not going to let China flood our market, making it impossible for American automakers — automobile — auto manufacturers to compete fairly.

We're also implementing a 25 percent tariff on electric vehicle batteries from China and a 25 percent tariff on the critical minerals that make those batteries.

Folks, look, I'm determined that the future of the electric vehicles will be made in America by union workers. Period. [Applause] And we'll do it by following international trade laws to do it.

American companies are investing tens of billions of dollars in electric vehicles and their batteries. And thanks to my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we're building a network of 500,000 charging stations all across America, creating thousands — thousands of IBEW jobs across America. Electric charging stations — [applause] — and the reason to do this is simple: Electric charging stations have to be as easy to find as a gas station, and that's what this will be. You're not going to have to worry about — you're taking off and you're going to be able to make it all across the country in one — without having to figure something else out.

Our partners around the world are making similar investments. They also want a supply chain for electric vehicles that isn't dominated by unfair trade practices from China.

America can continue to buy — Americans — I want to make this clear, notwithstanding what the other guy is saying — can buy any kind of car they want — whether it's gas, electric, or hybrid — but we're never going to allow China to fa- — unfairly control the market for these cars. Period.

Next — [applause] — we're going to raise tariffs on Chinese solar panels from 25 to 50 percent. Here, again, because the Chinese government is subsidizing excess capacity, they're flooding the market. They're driving manufacturing companies out of business in Europe. But we won't let that happen here in America.

We're putting a 50 percent tariff on semiconductors made in China. These are those tiny computer — all of you know this, but for the public — those little, tiny computer chips, smaller than a fingertip, that power everyday lives — everything from smartphones to automobiles to dishwashers, satellites.

Look, America invented thesecheeps[chips]. But over time, we stopped making them. We invested other — overseas. Now, thanks to my CHIPS and Science Act, one of the most significant investments ever in science and technology, we're bringing this vital industry back home where it started, in the United States of America. [Applause]

And finally, we're putting tariffs on health equipment, like masks and gloves that nurses and doctors wear every single day. If the pandemic caught us any- — tau- — taught us anything, we need a secure ply- — supply of essential supplies here at home.

Folks, these key sectors, my administration is combining investments in America with tariffs that are strategic and targeted. It's a smart approach.

Compare that to the pri- — what the prior administration did. The — my predecessor promised to increase American exports and boost manufacturing. But he didn't either. He failed.

He signed a trade deal with China. They were supposed to buy $200 billion more in American goods. Instead, China imports from America barely budged.

And now, Trump and his MAGA Republicans want across-the-board tariffs on all imports from all countries, if reelected. Well, that would drive up costs for families on an average of $1,500 per year each year. He simply doesn't get it.

For years, I've heard many Republicans and even Democratic friends say, "China is not on the rise" — excuse me, "China is on the rise; America is falling behind." I've always believed they got it wrong.

America is rising. We have the best economy in the world. And since I've come into office, the GDP is up, our trade deficit with China is down to the lowest level in over a decade, and we're standing up against Chinese government unfair economic practices now.

At the same time — [applause] — we're standing up for peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. I've revitalized our partnerships with the Pacific allies in India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines — Pacific Island nations.

I've made sure the most advanced American technologies we develop or invent can be used by the Chi- — can't be used by the Chinese government to undermine our national security.

Frankly, before it rains — frankly, for all this tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that.

Bottom line: I want fair competition with China, not conflict. And we're in a stronger position to win that economic competition of the 21st century against China than anyone else because we're investing in America again.

Let me close — let me close with this. I come from Scranton, a town like a lot of working-class, middle-class neighborhoods all across America — like Racine, Wisconsin, which I visited last week. Once a manufacturing boomtown until trickle-down economics came along, and the middle class in Racine got hollowed out.

Six years ago, my predecessor showed up carrying a golden shovel, promising, thanks to his new $10 billion, manufacturing complex would be built in Racine. He said it would be the eighth wonder of the world — big promises that never came true. He used that golden shovel to dig a hole, and then he fell into it. [Laughter]

Well, that's not on my — that's not part of my — well, I'm delivering for Racine — delivering. Thanks to the investment of my administration, Microsoft is investing billions to build a new data center in Racine, creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

Because the view from Scranton and towns like it are a lot different than from Mar-a-Lago. It's the view where — that money doesn't determine your worth, everyone is entitled to being treated with dignity and respect, and everyone deserves a fair shot. We leave nobody behind.

That's the America we're building together. That's why I've never been more optimistic about our future. And I'm really going fast because of the rain.

We have — [laughter] — that's why we have to remember who we are. We're the United States of America. [Applause] And there is nothing — there is nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

God bless you all. And better get out of the rain.

Thank you very, very much. [Applause]

Thank you.

Oh, we got to sign this.

Q Mr. President, why wait three years for the tariffs?

[The presidential memorandum is signed]

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, thank you, thank you. [Applause]

Q Mr. President —

Q Mr. President, is Netanyahu going too far in Rafah?

Q Mr. President, Trump said today, "China is eating our lunch." What do you say in response? He said, "China is eating our lunch." That's what Trump said today.

THE PRESIDENT: He's being feeding them a long time. [Applause, Laughter]

12:45 P.M. EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May/ 14 / 2024

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Iowa and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and tornadoes from April 26 to April 27, 2024.

The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby, and Union.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. DuWayne Tewes of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.

Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at , by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App . Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service , captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV .

Presidential Actions

2024-05-14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

BY NATIONAL ECONOMIC ADVISOR LAEL BRAINARD

AND SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS

ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S ACTIONS TO PROTECT

AMERICAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES

Via Teleconference

3:23 P.M. EDT

MR. KIKUKAWA: Hey, everyone. Thank you for joining our call today. Apologies that the daily press briefing is still ongoing.

Today's call is embargoed until tomorrow at five o'clock a.m. Eastern time. It will -- we will start with on-the-record remarks from National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard, followed by a background Q&A from "senior administration officials."

The -- if you did not already receive the factsheet, please email me. The factsheet is also embargoed until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.

With that, I will turn it over to Lael.

MS. BRAINARD: Well, thank you, and thanks to everyone for joining us today.

As many of you know, President Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania -- one of our first electrified cities. He saw what happened when manufacturing moved overseas under trickle-down, and he knows what American businesses and American workers are capable of when they're given a fair chance to compete and win.

The President knows it is vital to invest in American manufacturing and workers and to enforce our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete.

The President secured historic legislation to invest in key sectors that are vital to our future. And on his watch, real spending on factory construction has more than doubled and the economy has added nearly 800,000 new manufacturing jobs after both declined on his predecessor's watch.

With this announcement, the President is taking important enforcement action to raise tariffs in key sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws that will make sure that historic investments in jobs spurred by President Biden's actions are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China in areas like EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar.

China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth at the expense of others by continuing to invest despite excess Chinese capacity and flooding global markets with exports that are underpriced due to unfair practices.

China is simply too big to play by its own rules.

The President's actions reflect the conclusions of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai's mandatory four-year review that China continues to engage in unfair practices, such as forced technology transfer and restrictions and intellectual property theft from U.S. companies.

I will just briefly highlight some of the key actions.

The tariff rate will increase to 100 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports to offset China's unfair practices and subsidies and level the playing field for U.S. automakers and autoworkers.

These practices favor Chinese automakers at the expense of U.S. and other foreign automakers and autoworkers and are leading to a massive surge of unfairly underpriced Chinese vehicles into foreign markets. The President won't let that happen here.

The tariff rate will double to 50 percent on solar cell imports from China. As a result of unfair practices, China's anticipated manufacturing capacity in solar is more than double the forecasts of near-term global demand. High levels of non-market overcapacity have led to extreme concentration of production in China and underpriced exports that undermine fair competition.

China controls over 70 percent of global production in each step of the manufacturing process for solar, from polysilicon to solar modules, which creates unacceptable risks for our supply chains and clean energy goals.

We're also closely monitoring attempts by Chinese firms to avoid our trade enforcement remedies outside of China.

The Section 301 tariff will increase to 25 percent, triple the current level, on certain steel and aluminum imports from China. The President recently called out unfair trade in steel and aluminum, where China controls over 50 percent of global production.

China's steel producers rely on more carbon-intensive production processes. In contrast, U.S. industries are investing in decarbonization, supported by Department of Energy programs.

The President is committed to a stable bilateral relationship with China. He is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, and this action is consistent with that approach.

We are working with our partners around the world to address our shared concerns about China's unfair practices. We know China's unfair practices have harmed communities in Michigan, in Pennsylvania, and around the country that are now having the opportunity to come back due to President[DEL: 's :DEL] Biden's investment agenda.

The President's actions ensure that American business and workers have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in industries that are vital to our future, such as clean energy and semiconductors.

The President is taking a tough strategic approach, combining investment at home with enforcement against China in key sectors, in contrast with the prior administration that failed to follow through either on investments, like Foxconn in Wisconsin, or on China's trade commitments.

The previous administration's phase one trade deal with China did not deliver on its promises to increase exports to Chi- -- to China from the U.S., to create manufacturing jobs here in America, or to end China's unfair practices.

The President's approach also contrasts with proposals to impose an across-the-board tariff on all goods from all countries that would raise costs by $1,500 per year on each American family.

With that, I'm going to turn it over to my colleagues to respond to your questions. Thank you.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thank you so much, Lael.

If you have a question, please raise your hand. I know some folks have already.

We will start with Josh Boak of the AP.

Q Hi. Thank you so much for doing this. I was hoping you might be able to spell out why you think raising these tariffs will continue competition without increasing the risks of conflict given China's own economic development goals.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that one. Look, these actions are designed to remedy the harm from China's existing trade practices. We've been really clear -- the President on down -- that we seek a stable relationship with China. We don't seek to undercut China's development.

But when China is producing at a rate and with a trajectory that's far in excess of any plausible estimate of global demand, that is going to flood the global market with supply that undercuts our ability to build productive capacity at home and that of our allies and those of emerging market countries as well. That reduces our supply chain resilience. That leaves all of us across the world more vulnerable to economic coercion. And that's why we're taking these actions.

But none of that is to take away from the efforts that the President has made to create a stable bilateral relationship. We've made that very clear directly with China. That's our goal. It is not to escalate tensions, and we expect that they have a full understanding of why we're taking these measures.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Let me jump in. This is [senior administration official]. I would just note that this issue has been part of longstanding conversations with Chinese officials in our channels, whether it's Secretary Yellen, Secretary Raimondo, and Secretary Blinken, most recently. So, I don't think these concerns will come as a surprise to Chinese interlocutors. We've also been quite clear the President feels the need to act on issues like this.

And, again, our diplomacy with China is not meant to indicate that we're not going to have difference. We absolutely are. This is a competitive relationship at its core. That does not preclude, as [senior administration official] mentioned, the possibility of managing that competition responsibility. And that's really what the President's China policy is all about.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And I'll just jump in. This is [senior administration official]. Just to underscore what [senior administration official] just said a minute ago, which is that these actions are very much focused on strategic and key sectors. They're not broad based. Like previous actions, they are very narrowly targeting a set of sectors where we are prioritizing domestic investments and not to be in a world with overreliance on a single source.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Great. Thanks so much everyone. And apologies, I should have introduced our speakers on this call -- or on background. For your awareness only and not for reporting, in order of who just spoke, it was [senior administration official], [senior administration official], and [senior administration official]. We also have [senior administration official] on the call.

With that, I'll turn it over to Jeff Mason.

Q Thanks very much. A question on the car tariffs. Why did the U.S. decide to only put tariffs on EV cars and not all Chinese cars? And, secondly, can you speak a little bit to the politics of this? To what extent was this done now as a -- as an effort to boost President Biden's message going into the election? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that. This has nothing to do with politics. I mean, I think this review has been ongoing for a long time. I think we've been thoroughly studying and assessing how Chinese have been investing in their electric vehicle domestic industry and the range of unfair practices that are giving them a significant unfair pricing competitive advantage, so I think that's the reason why we are moving towards a significant step up in the tariff rate for electric vehicles.

They've obviously built a EV industry behind a -- their own tariff wall. I think it's well known. I think you know this, which is Chinese have a 40 percent tariff on U.S. autos. And therefore, it was important for us to ensure that given their rapidly growing exports and excess capacity in the sector, that we put in the right safeguards.

MR. KIKUKAWA: [Senior administration official], you're unmuted. Did you want to add anything?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No, no, I think [senior administration official] covered it well. I mean, we've made -- EVs -- EVs are where we've focused in terms of placing tariffs because that's where we made hundreds of billions of dollars of public investments. And that's -- we've made those investments to build resilience in our clean technology supply chains, and so that's our focus here.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks. Apologies about that. I'll turn it over to Demetri now.

Q Thank you. My understanding is that when Secretary Yellen was recently in Beijing, she did not tell her counterparts about the plan to triple tariffs on steel and aluminum. Can you say, did she outline the other tariff increases that are being imposed when she met her counterparts?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can take a first stab at that one. Look, I don't want to get into private diplomatic conversations and the specifics therein. But in general terms, I can say that our concerns about overcapacity have been clearly communicated through multiple channels, as has the intent to take action to address those concerns.

So, they're not mutually exclusive -- right? -- the diplomacy part, talking to China about what we see, why we're concerned, what we plan to do. But I think the difference that I would point out here is that we are also seeking to act to address those concerns directly.

Q [Senior administration official], if I could just follow on, do you expect Chinese retaliation? And if so, what sectors do you think they will target?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, look, I think many on this call have observed previous rounds on 301. So, I don't want to speculate about what the -- what precisely the Chinese will do here. I think, again, we've been pretty clear about our concerns. Where think -- we think they're based on longstanding issues: non-market policy and practices, trade technology, overcapacity. They're concerns that are shared by others -- the G7, the EU as well.

Again, don't want to speculate on what the Chinese response would be. I would expect that they'll be speaking out directly.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks. We'll now turn it over to Emily Peck.

Q Hi. Thank you for doing this. My question is: Wouldn't giving Americans access to really cheap Chinese electric vehicles be good for American consumers and also bring down price pressure and inflation and also advance our transition to electronic -- to electric vehicles? And --

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to --

Q Sorry, just to get it in. Does it also run the risk of leaving the U.S. behind ultimately if -- if we are -- if our, you know, auto industry is behind on this and our consumers aren't driving these cars anymore while the rest of the world is advancing?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: This is [senior administration official]. I'm happy to start. I mean, you're right, the deployment of clean technology, it's critical to address climate change. And that's why China can't be the only country that produces clean technology for the world. We need -- we need diversified, not concentrated, production of our most critical goods and technologies. That -- that was the lesson of the pandemic.

And if we have a level playing field, we and other countries will have the chance to compete. And that's -- that's the kind of dynamic that we think will produce resilient supply chains and clean technology and give us our best chance of meeting our climate goals.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And I'll just jump in and just add to what [senior administration official] said, which is when the President thinks about our, you know, clean energy transition, the President thinks about good American jobs. And I think, with the domestic investments that we have already made with BIL, CHIPS, and IRA, these investments are working and leading to a whole new investment, you know, in this country with new jobs.

I just don't think that we need to make that trade-off. You know, cheap Chinese EVs that, you know, negatively impact U.S. businesses or workers does not further the cause of EVs in this country.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks, both. I'll now turn it over to Kayla Tausche.

Q Thank you so much, all, for -- for doing this. I was wondering if you could elaborate on how the tariff levels were set for these items and on the timing, with some of these tariffs taking effect this year, some not taking effect until 2026.

And to follow on -- on Emily's question on the tariff rates themselves. I mean, an American consumer can buy an EV from China right now for $10,000. I mean, was there a determination that $20,000 was a threshold that would make it too expensive or prohibitive?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can certainly jump in. I think [senior administration official] can also chime in. I think specifically on EVs, we -- I think we looked at a series of indicators that point to continued price compression when it comes to China's EV sector. Therefore, it was important to have a large enough step-up rate in the tariffs to ensure that we try to, like, level the playing field. I think that was a reason why we moved up to 100-percent tariff rates for EVs.

And I think on to your second question, some of the tariffs are kicking in in 2026 partly to allow for both a transition phase on batteries, where we're beginning to see domestic production come online but not quite imminently to minimize market disruption whilst also sending a strong signal domestically that we are trying to, over time, reduce our reliance on China's imports when it comes to batteries.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: [Senior administration official], do you want to jump in? Otherwise, I'll -- I'm happy to say a bit more as well.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Feel free, [senior administration official]. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Okay. Kayla, I mean, just what I would emphasize is this is a -- this is a multistage process, and it's, in a sense, multiplayer competition. We're going to learn from each step of the process -- from private-sector actors, consumers, from allies and partners, and from China. If we need to make further adjustments, we have the ability to do so. If we need to use other tools, many are available.

We're already making unprecedented investments in our own EV manufacturing sector. We're examining the potential national security threats presented by connected vehicles.

I would also emphasize that when you look across the world, our actions are not the only ones in the pipeline. We're far from the only country that's voicing concerns about Chinese overcapacity. Europe, Turkey, Brazil, India -- many other countries are echoing our message, and several may follow with actions that amplify the effect of what we're announcing tomorrow.

So, we'll assess the interplay of all of these factors and then recalibrate as needed.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks, [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. I'll now turn it over to Simon Rabinovitch.

Q Thank you very much. Just a quick one. You know, clearly at 102.5 percent, you don't want to see Chinese EVs on U.S. roads. Why not just go with Senator Sherrod Brown's proposal and ban them altogether?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can just jump in and say we have not had a -- you know, we don't have a position on that specifically. I think this -- these set of actions are very much just focused on the 301 statutory review. That's been completed, and they are narrowly focused on several tariffs that are important to protect workers and industry within the U.S. strategic sectors, as opposed to anything broader and larger for now.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thank you. Now turning it over to Josh Wingrove.

Q Hey. Thank you so much. Can you talk through the process about whether you considered offsetting reductions on other goods at all or whether that wasn't seriously considered? In other words, something to balance the net effect of it to minimize the risk of retaliation.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to start, Josh. I mean, we -- look, China across the board continues to pursue an economic po- -- model with policy distortions and unfair trade practices. And that means it has an unfair advantage across the full range of manufactured goods that it exports.

Now, I mean, I would point out, there's a key difference in terms of what we're announcing tomorrow and what we inherited. The previous administration's restrictive efforts were not paired with affirmative inducements for companies to make investments in strategic sectors. It didn't include a diplomatic effort to have likeminded countries that are playing by the same rules to join us in confronting China's trade practices.

And so, this is a -- this is a very different strategy in which tariffs are not a standalone strategy.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: [Senior administration official], this is [senior administration official] just to add an additional thought. So, the President's direction follows on a report from Ambassador Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative, of the effectiveness of the 301 tariff action to date.

And as you all will see in the report, part of what our conclusions or findings are is that China has not eliminated many of its forced technology transfer policies and practices, and instead has even become more aggressive in some of those actions, including through cyber intrusions and cyber theft that harm American workers and businesses.

So, it's our view that China are truly not entitled to a reduction in tariffs in light of its behavior. And part of the recommendation that went from Ambassador Tai to President Biden was to find modifications or identify modifications to increase the effectiveness of the tariff action.

And so, as has been described, those are targeted and strong actions with respect to particular sectors and products, including trying to improve their impact -- positive impact for the U.S. economy in these critical sectors in which the President has led these historic investments.

Thanks.

MR. KIKUKAWA: I think we have time for a few more questions. I'll turn it over to Hans Nichols.

Q Hi. Thanks, guys, for doing this call. Just a quick housekeeping matter. The $860 billion that you guys are using, that's CHIPS, IRA, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. And so, is that the sort of cosmic number you'd like us to use or you think is the most accurate for the investments that the President has made?

And then, secondly, I think we just got the answer to that question, but are the 301 sanctions on Trump's $300 billion of goods still all in place? And is the correct number to use for the combined goods $318 billion?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can take the $860 billion. That's right. That's basically the investments in -- the private-sector investments that have been mobilized across these critical sectors.

Q Right. Okay. You said -- you said private there, just so -- just so I'm -- you're using that number as private, not on what the -- okay. Thanks.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Yes. Just to clarify, if you go to Invest.gov, it will lay out all of these invest -- like, which sectors we're looking at in terms of private-sector investments.

Q And then on what's happening to the Trump 301 $300 billion?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: This is [senior administration official]. I'll jump in. We can come back to you with a more precise number, but just to clarify that the existing Section 301 tariffs would remain in place generally without modification. The $18 billion would be a combination of additional products, plus increases of tariffs on some existing products.

And then we have to go back to 2017 numbers to give you kind of one unified number so it's not just the, you know, $350 billion, approximately, plus 18 further.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks --

Q Okay. And since no one has asked the question, I am just going to go ahead and ask it. Why are these not inflationary?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that. I think inflation, as you know, has fallen about 60 percent. And this would not change that. There's no inflationary impact of these actions. They're mainly targeting strategic sectors where we are ramping up domestic investment.

I think what would be inflationary is more, you know, across-the-board, 10 percent type of tariff that would pose a real risk to consumers, which we're not doing here. There are a very targeted set of tariffs on specific sectors.

MR. KIKUKAWA: And I'll turn it over to Gavin Bade for our last question.

Q Hi. Thanks, all, for doing this. I just had a process question here. Did -- last week, we saw some Democratic senators led by Majority Leader Schumer weigh in and ask you all to not lift any tariffs. I wonder: Did that letter have any --have any influence on your thinking here? Was that -- was that in play as you guys were thinking about what you were going to do on these tariffs?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I think we're all looking at each other virtually wondering who's going to speak. This is [senior administration official]. And I'm happy to take that.

I mean, of course, we've received extensive public input, including a lot of views from Capitol Hill. On that specific letter, I mean, we're aware of the input that came in. But this is a result of an extensive process of review in terms of trying to enhance the effectiveness of the tariffs.

It's been a multiyear process at this point with a lot of internal deliberation. And so, the view was we really wanted to focus the action to strengthen the effectiveness of the tariffs with respect to these critical sectors, which, as we've talked about, are very important for a green transition, as well as to rebuild manufacturing in the United States, and, of course, jobs -- all in the context of trying to address China's forced technology transfer practices.

Thanks.

MR. KIKUKAWA: And since that was a short answer, I'll take one more question from Justin Gomez.

Q Hi. Thanks for doing this call. I know you all just addressed the inflation part of this. But what can you tell Americans right now on what kind of impact they're going to see from these tariffs in the near term and in the long term? What kind of -- what kind of cost increases could they expect from this announcement?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No increases on costs. I think what Americans can expect is that the investment boom that is undergoing that is fueling record levels of jobs in manufacturing and factory construction will continue. I think there is comeback that we're seeing across communities that had long cycles of disinvestment. These tariffs will protect and safeguard those gains.

MR. KIKUKAWA: All right. Thank you everyone for your time.

If you have -- I know there are a few people who have additional questions. Feel free to email them.

And as I mentioned at the top and in the email, this call is embargoed until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Thanks, and have a nice day.

3:52 P.M. EDT

Press Briefings

2024-05-14

3:23 P.M. EDT

MR. KIKUKAWA: Hey, everyone. Thank you for joining our call today. Apologies that the daily press briefing is still ongoing.

Today's call is embargoed until tomorrow at five o'clock a.m. Eastern time. It will — we will start with on-the-record remarks from National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard, followed by a background Q&A from "senior administration officials."

The — if you did not already receive the factsheet, please email me. The factsheet is also embargoed until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.

With that, I will turn it over to Lael.

MS. BRAINARD: Well, thank you, and thanks to everyone for joining us today.

As many of you know, President Biden grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania — one of our first electrified cities. He saw what happened when manufacturing moved overseas under trickle-down, and he knows what American businesses and American workers are capable of when they're given a fair chance to compete and win.

The President knows it is vital to invest in American manufacturing and workers and to enforce our trade laws to give our workers and businesses a fair chance to compete.

The President secured historic legislation to invest in key sectors that are vital to our future. And on his watch, real spending on factory construction has more than doubled and the economy has added nearly 800,000 new manufacturing jobs after both declined on his predecessor's watch.

With this announcement, the President is taking important enforcement action to raise tariffs in key sectors under Section 301 of our trade laws that will make sure that historic investments in jobs spurred by President Biden's actions are not undercut by a flood of unfairly underpriced exports from China in areas like EVs, batteries, vital medical equipment, steel and aluminum, semiconductors, and solar.

China is using the same playbook it has before to power its own growth at the expense of others by continuing to invest despite excess Chinese capacity and flooding global markets with exports that are underpriced due to unfair practices.

China is simply too big to play by its own rules.

The President's actions reflect the conclusions of U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai's mandatory four-year review that China continues to engage in unfair practices, such as forced technology transfer and restrictions and intellectual property theft from U.S. companies.

I will just briefly highlight some of the key actions.

The tariff rate will increase to 100 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports to offset China's unfair practices and subsidies and level the playing field for U.S. automakers and autoworkers.

These practices favor Chinese automakers at the expense of U.S. and other foreign automakers and autoworkers and are leading to a massive surge of unfairly underpriced Chinese vehicles into foreign markets. The President won't let that happen here.

The tariff rate will double to 50 percent on solar cell imports from China. As a result of unfair practices, China's anticipated manufacturing capacity in solar is more than double the forecasts of near-term global demand. High levels of non-market overcapacity have led to extreme concentration of production in China and underpriced exports that undermine fair competition.

China controls over 70 percent of global production in each step of the manufacturing process for solar, from polysilicon to solar modules, which creates unacceptable risks for our supply chains and clean energy goals.

We're also closely monitoring attempts by Chinese firms to avoid our trade enforcement remedies outside of China.

The Section 301 tariff will increase to 25 percent, triple the current level, on certain steel and aluminum imports from China. The President recently called out unfair trade in steel and aluminum, where China controls over 50 percent of global production.

China's steel producers rely on more carbon-intensive production processes. In contrast, U.S. industries are investing in decarbonization, supported by Department of Energy programs.

The President is committed to a stable bilateral relationship with China. He is committed to responsibly managing competition with China, and this action is consistent with that approach.

We are working with our partners around the world to address our shared concerns about China's unfair practices. We know China's unfair practices have harmed communities in Michigan, in Pennsylvania, and around the country that are now having the opportunity to come back due to President'sBiden's investment agenda.

The President's actions ensure that American business and workers have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in industries that are vital to our future, such as clean energy and semiconductors.

The President is taking a tough strategic approach, combining investment at home with enforcement against China in key sectors, in contrast with the prior administration that failed to follow through either on investments, like Foxconn in Wisconsin, or on China's trade commitments.

The previous administration's phase one trade deal with China did not deliver on its promises to increase exports to Chi- — to China from the U.S., to create manufacturing jobs here in America, or to end China's unfair practices.

The President's approach also contrasts with proposals to impose an across-the-board tariff on all goods from all countries that would raise costs by $1,500 per year on each American family.

With that, I'm going to turn it over to my colleagues to respond to your questions. Thank you.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thank you so much, Lael.

If you have a question, please raise your hand. I know some folks have already.

We will start with Josh Boak of the AP.

Q Hi. Thank you so much for doing this. I was hoping you might be able to spell out why you think raising these tariffs will continue competition without increasing the risks of conflict given China's own economic development goals.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that one. Look, these actions are designed to remedy the harm from China's existing trade practices. We've been really clear — the President on down — that we seek a stable relationship with China. We don't seek to undercut China's development.

But when China is producing at a rate and with a trajectory that's far in excess of any plausible estimate of global demand, that is going to flood the global market with supply that undercuts our ability to build productive capacity at home and that of our allies and those of emerging market countries as well. That reduces our supply chain resilience. That leaves all of us across the world more vulnerable to economic coercion. And that's why we're taking these actions.

But none of that is to take away from the efforts that the President has made to create a stable bilateral relationship. We've made that very clear directly with China. That's our goal. It is not to escalate tensions, and we expect that they have a full understanding of why we're taking these measures.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Let me jump in. This is [senior administration official]. I would just note that this issue has been part of longstanding conversations with Chinese officials in our channels, whether it's Secretary Yellen, Secretary Raimondo, and Secretary Blinken, most recently. So, I don't think these concerns will come as a surprise to Chinese interlocutors. We've also been quite clear the President feels the need to act on issues like this.

And, again, our diplomacy with China is not meant to indicate that we're not going to have difference. We absolutely are. This is a competitive relationship at its core. That does not preclude, as [senior administration official] mentioned, the possibility of managing that competition responsibility. And that's really what the President's China policy is all about.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And I'll just jump in. This is [senior administration official]. Just to underscore what [senior administration official] just said a minute ago, which is that these actions are very much focused on strategic and key sectors. They're not broad based. Like previous actions, they are very narrowly targeting a set of sectors where we are prioritizing domestic investments and not to be in a world with overreliance on a single source.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Great. Thanks so much everyone. And apologies, I should have introduced our speakers on this call — or on background. For your awareness only and not for reporting, in order of who just spoke, it was [senior administration official], [senior administration official], and [senior administration official]. We also have [senior administration official] on the call.

With that, I'll turn it over to Jeff Mason.

Q Thanks very much. A question on the car tariffs. Why did the U.S. decide to only put tariffs on EV cars and not all Chinese cars? And, secondly, can you speak a little bit to the politics of this? To what extent was this done now as a — as an effort to boost President Biden's message going into the election? Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that. This has nothing to do with politics. I mean, I think this review has been ongoing for a long time. I think we've been thoroughly studying and assessing how Chinese have been investing in their electric vehicle domestic industry and the range of unfair practices that are giving them a significant unfair pricing competitive advantage, so I think that's the reason why we are moving towards a significant step up in the tariff rate for electric vehicles.

They've obviously built a EV industry behind a — their own tariff wall. I think it's well known. I think you know this, which is Chinese have a 40 percent tariff on U.S. autos. And therefore, it was important for us to ensure that given their rapidly growing exports and excess capacity in the sector, that we put in the right safeguards.

MR. KIKUKAWA: [Senior administration official], you're unmuted. Did you want to add anything?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No, no, I think [senior administration official] covered it well. I mean, we've made — EVs — EVs are where we've focused in terms of placing tariffs because that's where we made hundreds of billions of dollars of public investments. And that's — we've made those investments to build resilience in our clean technology supply chains, and so that's our focus here.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks. Apologies about that. I'll turn it over to Demetri now.

Q Thank you. My understanding is that when Secretary Yellen was recently in Beijing, she did not tell her counterparts about the plan to triple tariffs on steel and aluminum. Can you say, did she outline the other tariff increases that are being imposed when she met her counterparts?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can take a first stab at that one. Look, I don't want to get into private diplomatic conversations and the specifics therein. But in general terms, I can say that our concerns about overcapacity have been clearly communicated through multiple channels, as has the intent to take action to address those concerns.

So, they're not mutually exclusive — right? — the diplomacy part, talking to China about what we see, why we're concerned, what we plan to do. But I think the difference that I would point out here is that we are also seeking to act to address those concerns directly.

Q [Senior administration official], if I could just follow on, do you expect Chinese retaliation? And if so, what sectors do you think they will target?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yeah, look, I think many on this call have observed previous rounds on 301. So, I don't want to speculate about what the — what precisely the Chinese will do here. I think, again, we've been pretty clear about our concerns. Where think — we think they're based on longstanding issues: non-market policy and practices, trade technology, overcapacity. They're concerns that are shared by others — the G7, the EU as well.

Again, don't want to speculate on what the Chinese response would be. I would expect that they'll be speaking out directly.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks. We'll now turn it over to Emily Peck.

Q Hi. Thank you for doing this. My question is: Wouldn't giving Americans access to really cheap Chinese electric vehicles be good for American consumers and also bring down price pressure and inflation and also advance our transition to electronic — to electric vehicles? And [inaudible] —

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to —

Q Sorry, just to get it in. Does it also run the risk of leaving the U.S. behind ultimately if — if we are — if our, you know, auto industry is behind on this and our consumers aren't driving these cars anymore while the rest of the world is advancing?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: This is [senior administration official]. I'm happy to start. I mean, you're right, the deployment of clean technology, it's critical to address climate change. And that's why China can't be the only country that produces clean technology for the world. We need — we need diversified, not concentrated, production of our most critical goods and technologies. That — that was the lesson of the pandemic.

And if we have a level playing field, we and other countries will have the chance to compete. And that's — that's the kind of dynamic that we think will produce resilient supply chains and clean technology and give us our best chance of meeting our climate goals.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: And I'll just jump in and just add to what [senior administration official] said, which is when the President thinks about our, you know, clean energy transition, the President thinks about good American jobs. And I think, with the domestic investments that we have already made with BIL, CHIPS, and IRA, these investments are working and leading to a whole new investment, you know, [inaudible] in this country with new jobs.

I just don't think that we need to make that trade-off. You know, cheap Chinese EVs that, you know, negatively impact U.S. businesses or workers does not further the cause of EVs in this country.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks, both. I'll now turn it over to Kayla Tausche.

Q Thank you so much, all, for — for doing this. I was wondering if you could elaborate on how the tariff levels were set for these items and on the timing, with some of these tariffs taking effect this year, some not taking effect until 2026.

And to follow on — on Emily's question on the tariff rates themselves. I mean, an American consumer can buy an EV from China right now for $10,000. I mean, was there a determination that $20,000 was a threshold that would make it too expensive or prohibitive?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can certainly jump in. I think [senior administration official] can also chime in. I think specifically on EVs, we — I think we looked at a series of indicators that point to continued price compression when it comes to China's EV sector. Therefore, it was important to have a large enough step-up rate in the tariffs to ensure that we try to, like, level the playing field. I think that was a reason why we moved up to 100-percent tariff rates for EVs.

And I think on to your second question, some of the tariffs are kicking in in 2026 partly to allow for both a transition phase on batteries, where we're beginning to see domestic production come online but not quite imminently to minimize market disruption whilst also sending a strong signal domestically that we are trying to, over time, reduce our reliance on China's imports when it comes to batteries.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: [Senior administration official], do you want to jump in? Otherwise, I'll — I'm happy to say a bit more as well.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Feel free, [senior administration official]. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Okay. Kayla, I mean, just what I would emphasize is this is a — this is a multistage process, and it's, in a sense, multiplayer competition. We're going to learn from each step of the process — from private-sector actors, consumers, from allies and partners, and from China. If we need to make further adjustments, we have the ability to do so. If we need to use other tools, many are available.

We're already making unprecedented investments in our own EV manufacturing sector. We're examining the potential national security threats presented by connected vehicles.

I would also emphasize that when you look across the world, our actions are not the only ones in the pipeline. We're far from the only country that's voicing concerns about Chinese overcapacity. Europe, Turkey, Brazil, India — many other countries are echoing our message, and several may follow with actions that amplify the effect of what we're announcing tomorrow.

So, we'll assess the interplay of all of these factors and then recalibrate as needed.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks, [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. I'll now turn it over to Simon Rabinovitch.

Q Thank you very much. Just a quick one. You know, clearly at 102.5 percent, you don't want to see Chinese EVs on U.S. roads. Why not just go with Senator Sherrod Brown's proposal and ban them altogether?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can just jump in and say we have not had a — you know, we don't have a position on that specifically. I think this — these set of actions are very much just focused on the 301 statutory review. That's been completed, and they are narrowly focused on several tariffs that are important to protect workers and industry within the U.S. strategic sectors, as opposed to anything broader and larger for now.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thank you. Now turning it over to Josh Wingrove.

Q Hey. Thank you so much. Can you talk through the process about whether you considered offsetting reductions on other goods at all or whether that wasn't seriously considered? In other words, something to balance the net effect of it to minimize the risk of retaliation.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to start, Josh. I mean, we — look, China across the board continues to pursue an economic po- — model with policy distortions and unfair trade practices. And that means it has an unfair advantage across the full range of manufactured goods that it exports.

Now, I mean, I would point out, there's a key difference in terms of what we're announcing tomorrow and what we inherited. The previous administration's restrictive efforts were not paired with affirmative inducements for companies to make investments in strategic sectors. It didn't include a diplomatic effort to have likeminded countries that are playing by the same rules to join us in confronting China's trade practices.

And so, this is a — this is a very different strategy in which tariffs are not a standalone strategy.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: [Senior administration official], this is [senior administration official] just to add an additional thought. So, the President's direction follows on a report from Ambassador Tai, the U.S. Trade Representative, [inaudible] of the effectiveness of the 301 tariff action to date.

And as you all will see in the report, part of what our conclusions or findings are is that China has not eliminated many of its forced technology transfer policies and practices, and instead has even become more aggressive in some of those actions, including through cyber intrusions and cyber theft that harm American workers and businesses.

So, it's our view that China [inaudible] are truly not entitled to a reduction in tariffs in light of its behavior. And part of the recommendation that went from Ambassador Tai to President Biden was to find modifications or identify modifications to increase the effectiveness of the tariff action.

And so, as has been described, those are targeted and strong actions with respect to particular sectors and products, including trying to improve their impact — positive impact for the U.S. economy in these critical sectors in which the President has led these historic investments.

MR. KIKUKAWA: I think we have time for a few more questions. I'll turn it over to Hans Nichols.

Q Hi. Thanks, guys, for doing this call. Just a quick housekeeping matter. The $860 billion that you guys are using, that's CHIPS, IRA, and Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. And so, is that the sort of cosmic number you'd like us to use or you think is the most accurate for the investments that the President has made?

And then, secondly, I think we just got the answer to that question, but are the 301 sanctions on Trump's $300 billion of goods still all in place? And is the correct number to use for the combined goods $318 billion?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I can take the $860 billion. That's right. That's basically the investments in — the private-sector investments that have been mobilized across these critical sectors.

Q Right. Okay. You said — you said private there, just so — just so I'm — you're using that number as private, not on what the — okay. Thanks.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Yes. Just to clarify, if you go to Invest.gov, it will lay out all of these invest — like, which sectors we're looking at in terms of private-sector investments.

Q And then on what's happening to the Trump 301 $300 billion?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: This is [senior administration official]. I'll jump in. We can come back to you with a more precise number, but just to clarify that the existing Section 301 tariffs would remain in place generally without modification. The $18 billion would be a combination of additional products, plus increases of tariffs on some existing products.

And then we have to go back to 2017 numbers to give you kind of one unified number so it's not just the, you know, $350 billion, approximately, plus 18 further.

MR. KIKUKAWA: Thanks —

Q Okay. And since no one has asked the question, I am just going to go ahead and ask it. Why are these not inflationary?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I'm happy to take that. I think inflation, as you know, has fallen about 60 percent. And this would not change that. There's no inflationary impact of these actions. They're mainly targeting strategic sectors where we are ramping up domestic investment.

I think what would be inflationary is more, you know, across-the-board, 10 percent type of tariff that would pose a real risk to consumers, which we're not doing here. There are a very targeted set of tariffs on specific sectors.

MR. KIKUKAWA: And I'll turn it over to Gavin Bade for our last question.

Q Hi. Thanks, all, for doing this. I just had a process question here. Did — last week, we saw some Democratic senators led by Majority Leader Schumer weigh in and ask you all to not lift any tariffs. I wonder: Did that letter have any –have any influence on your thinking here? Was that — was that in play as you guys were thinking about what you were going to do on these tariffs?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I think we're all looking at each other virtually wondering who's going to speak. This is [senior administration official]. And I'm happy to take that.

I mean, of course, we've received extensive public input, including a lot of views from Capitol Hill. On that specific letter, I mean, we're aware of the input that came in. But this is a result of an extensive process of review in terms of trying to enhance the effectiveness of the tariffs.

It's been a multiyear process at this point with a lot of internal deliberation. And so, the view was we really wanted to focus the action to strengthen the effectiveness of the tariffs with respect to these critical sectors, which, as we've talked about, are very important for a green transition, as well as to rebuild manufacturing in the United States, and, of course, jobs — all in the context of trying to address China's forced technology transfer practices.

MR. KIKUKAWA: And since that was a short answer, I'll take one more question from Justin Gomez.

Q Hi. Thanks for doing this call. I know you all just addressed the inflation part of this. But what can you tell Americans right now on what kind of impact they're going to see from these tariffs in the near term and in the long term? What kind of — what kind of cost increases could they expect from this announcement?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: No increases on costs. I think what Americans can expect is that the investment boom that is undergoing that is fueling record levels of jobs in manufacturing and factory construction will continue. I think there is comeback that we're seeing across communities that had long cycles of disinvestment. These tariffs will protect and safeguard those gains.

MR. KIKUKAWA: All right. Thank you everyone for your time.

If you have — I know there are a few people who have additional questions. Feel free to email them.

And as I mentioned at the top and in the email, this call is embargoed until 5:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Thanks, and have a nice day.

3:52 P.M. EDT

Presidential Actions

2024-05-14

On May 16, 2012, by Executive Order 13611, the President declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act [50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq] to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Yemen and others that threatened Yemen's peace, security, and stability. These actions include obstructing the political process in Yemen and blocking the implementation of the agreement of November 23, 2011, between the Government of Yemen and those in opposition to it, which provides for a peaceful transition of power that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people.

The actions and policies of certain former members of the Government of Yemen and others in threatening Yemen's peace, security, and stability continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13611 on May 16, 2012, to deal with that threat must continue in effect beyond May 16, 2024. Therefore, in accordance with section 202[d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d]), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13611 with respect to Yemen.

Presidential Actions

2024-05-14

TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:

Section 202[d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d]) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency with respect to Yemen declared in Executive Order 13611 of May 16, 2012, is to continue in effect beyond May 16, 2024.

The actions and policies of certain former members of the Government of Yemen and others in threatening Yemen's peace, security, and stability continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13611 with respect to Yemen.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

May 14, 2024.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2024

PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE

AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

2:32 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Good afternoon, everyone.

Q Good afternoon.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Happy Monday. Happy belated Mother's Day to many of you here. I have two things at the top, and then I'll turn it over to our National Security Advisor.

So, this afternoon, the President and Vice President will host a reception celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month here at the White House.

The Biden-Harris administration has leveraged the full force of the federal government to ensure the promise of America for all AA and NHPI communities, including by using an executive order establishing the President's Advisory Commission and the White House Initiative on Asian American[s], Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The Biden-Harris administration has delivered the most equitable economic recovery on record, with nearly 15 million jobs created, including historic AA and NHPI small-business growth.

We are also working to ensure equal access to quality education, expand affordable healthcare for children and families, combat hate, improve disaster recovery, preserve Indigenous heritage and lands, and protect civil rights by advancing language access and data equity.

And you'll hear from the President directly on this work later today.

And finally, today, the Biden-Harris administration is kicking off this year's Infrastructure Week. I know you all are very excited about that.

We are celebrating the historic progress of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, which continues to create good-paying jobs, boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up.

While "Infrastructure Week" became an empty punchline during the prior administration, President Biden is delivering an "Infrastructure Decade" that will benefit communities for generations to come.

To date, our administration has announced over 56,000 infrastructure projects across the country and delivered over $450 billion from the Infrastructure Law.

Today, we released an updated map showcasing thousands of projects that are underway, as well as new state-by-state factsheets that spotlight investments and projects across the President's entire Investing [in] America agenda.

This Infra- -- Infrastructure Week, we are also calling out Congress -- Repub- -- Republicans in Congress, to be more specific, who voted against the President's Infrastructure Law but are now showing up at the groundbreaking -- groundbreaking events and ribbon cuttings.

We're also calling on congressional Republicans to extend funding for affordability, connectivity program, which has lowered Internet bills to enable more than 23 million households to access affordable high-speed Internet.

Without congressional actions, millions of Americans will see their Internet bills increase or lose Internet access at the end of the month.

With that, as you can see, our National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, is here to give a Middle East update.

Jake.

MR. SULLIVAN: Thank you, Karine. And good afternoon, everyone. Before I take your questions, I want to step back and make some comments on the latest developments in the Middle East.

There has been a lot more heat than light in the recent coverage and commentary about the war between Israel and Hamas, so I want to take a moment today to get back to basics and lay out the administration's view. Here is how we see it.

One, this is a war between the state of Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, whose mission is to annihilate Israel and kill as many Jews as they can. The war began on October 7 th when Hamas massacred 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. There was a ceasefire in place on October 6 th. Sinwar broke it. The President has made clear the United States wants to see Hamas defeated and justice delivered to Sinwar. There can be no equivocation on that.

Two, the Palestinian civilians caught in the middle of this war are in hell. The death and trauma they've endured are unimaginable. Their pain and suffering are immense. No civilian should have to go through that. This is on the President's mind every day.

Three, Israel has an unusual, even unprecedented burden in fighting this war because Hamas uses hospitals and schools and other civilian facilities for military purposes and has built a vast network of military tunnels under civilian areas. That puts innocent civilians in the crossfire. It does not lessen Israel's responsibility to do all it can to protect innocent civilians.

Four, we believe Israel can and must do more to ensure the protection and well-being of innocent civilians. We do not believe what is happening in Gaza is a genocide. We have been firmly on record rejecting that proposition.

Five, the United States will continue to lead international efforts to surge humanitarian assistance throughout the Gaza Strip because innocent civilians should never go without food, water, medicine, shelter, sanitation, or other basic necessities. Active diplomacy by President Biden has made a considerable difference in getting more aid into Gaza. Now we are redoubling that diplomacy to press the key actors, including Israel and Egypt. I discussed this issue with my Israeli and Egyptian counterparts yesterday.

Six, the United States has sent a massive amount of military assistance to Israel to defend itself against all threats, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran and its other proxies. We are continuing to send military assistance, and we will ensure that Israel receives the full amount provided in the supplemental. We have paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs because we do not believe they should be dropped in densely populated cities. We are talking to the Israeli government about this.

We still believe it is -- would be a mistake to launch a major military operation into the heart of Rafah that would put huge numbers of civilians at risk without a clear strategic gain. The President was clear that he would not supply certain offensive weapons for such an operation, were it to occur. It has not yet occurred. And we are still working with Israel on a better way to ensure the defeat of Hamas everywhere in Gaza, including in Rafah. This has been the subject of detailed conversations between our professionals, and I discussed this again with my Israeli counterpart just yesterday.

Seven, military pressure is necessary but not sufficient to fully defeat Hamas. If Israel's military efforts are not accompanied by a political plan for the future of Gaza and the Palestinian people, the terrorists will keep coming back and Isra- -- Israel will remain under threat. We are seeing this happen in Gaza City. So, we were talking to Israel about how to connect their military operations to a clear strategic endgame -- about a holistic, integrated strategy to ensure the lasting defeat of Hamas and a better alternative future for Gaza and for the Palestinian people.

Eight, Israel's long-term security depends on being integrated into the region and enjoying normal relations with the Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. The advantages of strong partnerships were on display recently when a coalition of countries helped Israel defend itself against Iranian missiles and drones. We need to consider the tactical battlefield situation in Gaza in light of the bigger strategic picture. We should not miss a historic opportunity to achieve the vision of a secure Israel, flanked by strong regional partners, presenting a powerful front to deter aggression and uphold regional stability. We are pursuing this vision every day.

Nine, we are urgently and relentlessly working for a ceasefire and a hostage deal, starting with the first phase and building to an enduring calm. As the President said this weekend, there could be a ceasefire tomorrow if Hamas simply released women, wounded, and elderly hostages -- all innocents.

Israel put a forward-leaning proposal on the table for a ceasefire and hostage deal. The world should be calling on Hamas to come back to the table and accept a deal. The hostages include Americans and citizens from around the world. The President is determined to bring them safe- -- safely back to their loved ones. And I met with the families of these American hostages again just this past Friday. They know how hard the President is working on this.

Ten, Iran and its proxies have tried to take advantage of the war in Gaza to launch attacks on Israel. Hezbollah is attacking every day. The threat posed by Iran and its proxies to Israel, to regional stability, and to American interests is clear. We are working with Israel and other partners to protect against these threats and to prevent escalation into an all-out regional war through a calibrated combination of diplomacy, deterrence, force posture adjustments, and use of force when necessary to protect our people and to defend our interests and our allies. We will not let Iran and its proxies succeed.

These are President Biden's positions. They reflect his commitment to getting an outcome in Gaza and across the broade- -- broader Middle East that protects Israel's future security and paves the way for a future of dignity and security for the Palestinian people, as well, rather than Israel getting mired in a counterinsurgency campaign that never ends and ultimately saps Israel's strength and vitality.

And this is all consistent with President Biden's longstanding view that, ultimately, a two-state solution is the only way to ensure a strong, secure, Jewish, democratic state of Israel, as well as a future of dignity, security, and prosperity for the Palestinian people.

One last thing. No president has stood stronger with Israel than Joe Biden. He was the first president ever to visit Israel during wartime. He is protecting Israel at the United Nations. He mobilized a coalition to directly defend Israel against an unprecedented Iranian attack. He led the bipartisan effort to pass a supplemental that ensures Israel's defense and military edge for years to come.

His commitment to Israel is ironclad. Ironclad doesn't mean you never disagree. It means you work through your disagreements, as only true friends can do. That's exactly what we've done for the past seven months, and that's what we'll keep doing.

And with that, I'll be happy to take your questions.

Yeah.

Q Thank you, Jake. Just a week ago, the administration sounded optimistic on the prospect of a ceasefire and hostage deal. Now those talks appear to have stalled. Can you provide an update?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, I have been quoting George Mitchell of late, who negotiated peace between the warring parties in Northern Ireland. And Senator Mitchell said quite famously that negotiations are a thousand days of failure and "one day of success."

And right now, we're in the former days rather than the latter day. And this particular negotiation has had its ups and downs, its ins and outs, its twists and turns. And what I laid out in my opening comments remains the case: There could be a ceasefire tomorrow if Hamas would just go ahead and release women, wounded, and elderly.

We do believe Israel has put a good proposal on the table. Hamas has put a counterproposal on the table.

The world is calling for a ceasefire. Those who are doing so should go to Hamas and say, "Come to the table and work until we get a deal." I can't predict when and if that will happen. I can tell you that we remain committed to pressing the diplomacy to achieve that outcome on behalf of the American hostages and all the hostages and on behalf of getting to an enduring calm in Gaza.

What exactly the next step is we will have to see. This is a dynamic situation that involves the diplomatic element as well as the military element, including the recent operations that Israel has taken in Rafah. So, we will now have to see how things unfold in the coming days.

Q The White House has said that it was down to language. What is it down to now?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, in the end, when you're talking about a phased agreement that has multiple elements relating to sequencing of hostages coming out, movement of military capabilities, surging of humanitarian assistance, movement of civilians, all these things are quite detailed. And working through those details is what is going to be necessary to get this across the finish line.

We believe there is a framework that both sides could sign up to, and it's really about the specifics of that framework and filling that out that's necessary. Language ends up being on a page, but it is what reflects the implementation of those details. That's what we're working with the parties -- both with Israel and with Qatar and Egypt, who are in close touch with the representatives of Hamas. And we'll keep you updated as we drive to the finish line.

We are intent and determined to get all of the hostages home. We are intent and determined to produce a ceasefire and hostage deal. We believe we can achieve that. I cannot tell you when.

Yeah.

Q Jake, I want to ask you about Russia. But just first on this -- on this topic. In the readout, your call with Israeli officials yesterday, it said that you're going to have this meeting again in person soon. Is your expectation -- well, one, when is your expectation that meeting will happen? And do you expect that there won't be a Rafah offensive until that meeting has taken place?

MR. SULLIVAN: I expect it'll happen in a matter of days, not weeks. We haven't announced a specific date on the calendar. But this isn't going to be long in the future. We're just talking about scheduling so that we can get the teams together. Because, of course, it's not just me meeting my counterpart. It's military intelligence and humanitarian

professionals on both sides being a part of that conversation as well.

And what I expect is that we will have an opportunity to talk further about the best way to ensure Hamas's defeat everywhere in Gaza, including in Rafah, in the context of that conversation and that that opportunity will still be available to us when we show up for that conversation.

Q And then -- and then Zelenskyy's advisor said today that this new -- these new Russian government appointments, including the defense minister, show that Moscow is going to try to scale up its war effort and reconfigure its economy for its defense needs. Is that your assessment of this shake-up as well?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, it's an opaque system. It's run by one man: Vladimir Putin. He calls the shots. He may move around professionals into various roles, but at the end of the day, he seems bound and determined to continue to try to inflict a brutal war of aggression on Ukraine. We'll take whatever comes, support Ukraine alongside a coalition of countries, and -- and see what happens.

So, I don't have a specific comment on the nature of this change-up in their government. I've seen that speculation from the Ukrainians. It's not unreasonable. But I can't draw any conclusions at this point. We'll have to see what unfolds.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. Does the U.S believe that Sinwar or other top Hamas leaders are hiding in Rafah? And, if not, why do the Israeli forces continue to push further into Rafah? What reasons are they giving you?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, I've seen the public reporting on this both in Israeli press and in American press, citing intelligence officials suggesting he's not actually in Rafah. I'm not going to comment from intelligence -- on intelligence operations from the podium. So, I'm afraid I can't go further in trying to answer your question.

But it's a reasonable question if, in fact, it were the case that he weren't in Rafah. But I can't confirm that one way or the other from this podium.

Q But what reasons are the Israelis giving for why they continue to push forward in Rafah? And do you get the sense that they're taking the U.S. warning and threat seriously?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, I think that they have taken the sustained conversation that we have had with them about how to seek an enduring defeat for Hamas while minimizing civilian harm -- I think they have been taking that seriously. We've had multiple rounds of conversations -- professional to professional, President to Prime Minister. We will continue those conversations. We have been very clear about where we stand, and we've also been clear that we're here to actually offer constructive ideas for how to proceed with this in a way that will ultimately achieve the objective.

One of the points I made at the outset that I think bears repeating is that really any military operation -- a targeted operation, a larger operation on the ground or in the air -- has got to be connected to a strategic endgame that also answered the question, "What comes next?"

And that's something that we're really bearing in on with the Israeli government and feel that there needs to be more attention on that piece of it, lest we end up in a circ*mstance where Israel conducts a military operation, kills a bunch of Hamas guys, also creates some harm to innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, and then terrorists come back, as we have seen them come back in Gaza City and Khan Yunis and other places.

We want to avoid that outcome. We want an outcome in which the page gets turned from Hamas's terroristic reign over Gaza and a better future comes for the Palestinian people and for the security of the State of Israel. That's what we're going to keep working through.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. I know you don't -- previously haven't wanted to talk about drawing red lines, but Israel is continuing to strike Rafah and they're continuing to order the evacuation of large numbers of civilians. So, how will you assess when it has crossed over into that -- into a full-scale offensive from the current, you know, operations that are happening now?

MR. SULLIVAN: We're watching this very closely, as you are. We're consulting closely with the Israelis. We're collecting our own assessment of what's happening on the ground. The Israeli Defense Forces have indicated to us that the operations they are currently pursuing are targeted; they are not the kind of massive military operation that we have talked about.

We'll make our own judgment on that as we see things unfolding, and it will be based on a totality of factors. It's not a mathematical formula or a mechanical determination. It's something we will judge based on what we see. And the President will then make his determinations. We have not seen that happen yet.

Yes, April.

Q Jake, you've said some of the most strongest words yet about the Palestinians -- protecting them, protecting the innocent civilians, as well as ensuring their security and aid. What has the -- your department, the National Security Council, as well as Steve Benjamin said to Morehouse in the lead-up to the President's speech trying to quell the concerns about protests during his commencement address this weekend?

MR. SULLIVAN: I have not spoken with the folks at Morehouse, and I'd have to defer to Steve to relay to you what he's said to them in their conversations. We're, of course, focused on the policy as it relates to the ongoing war and the situation in the Middle East. I have not been engaged in or involved in the preparations for the President's commencement address.

Q But is this message important to get out right now, as there are people who are walking out on college commencement addresses, as people are turning their backs wearing scarves that represent Palestinians? Is this message important to get out for these upcoming commencement addresses that the President is delivering?

MR. SULLIVAN: The President called Prime Minister Netanyahu at the beginning of April, more than a month ago, to register his very strong concern about the need to get more humanitarian assistance in, and he put out a strong public statement at that time. So, the premise of your question that I'm now coming to speak about the issue of surging humanitarian assistance and protecting civilians is not a premise I'm afraid I can accept.

The President has been very strong on this. Secretary Blinken has been strong on it and not just in what they say but in the work that we are doing with Israel, with Egypt, with the United Nations, and, frankly, through our own activities, including airdrops and the work to get this pier in place to begin to surge humanitarian assistance in by sea.

And when it comes to the issue of civilian harm and the question of trying to do everything possible to reduce the amount of civilian harm on the Strip, this is something the President has spoken to quite actively over a sustained period of time, as well, and is directly engaged with the Israelis on too.

Q But you know there are people who are protesting the President's appearance at Morehouse because of the Palestinian issue. What do you say to those people directly?

MR. SULLIVAN: I would say: Please read the remarks that I just gave to this room today, because I think it tries to lay out --

Q It's not flip -- it's not a flip --

MR. SULLIVAN: I'm not being flip. I'm telling you, April, straight up. What I've just laid down here today encapsulates the President's position on something that is both simple and complex. It is simple because Hamas is an evil terrorist organization that needs to be defeated, period. It is complex because doing that, in the context of what is happening in the Gaza Strip, is a complex military operation. And, frankly, the regional situation makes it even more complex.

And people of good faith have very strong views on this issue. And we will engage with people across the -- you know, across the board of -- of folks who have come to this with their own perspective, their own worldview, and all we can do is tell them how do we see it, where do we stand.

And what I've tried to lay out for you step by step is where we stand on a set of issues that raise questions of policy, of course, but al- -- are also deeply human. They're deeply human for the hostage families. They're deeply human for those who lost their lives in a massacre on October 7 th and whose loved ones lost their lives. It's deeply human for innocent people who are caught in the crossfire and are struggling to get access to basic necessities.

And we're going to keep speaking to that as we go forward and continue to follow what we believe is in the best interests and in -- and reflective of the values of this country.

Q Jake, in the back.

MR. SULLIVAN: Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. The -- there's a New York Times analysis today that showed Russian missiles breaking through Ukrainian air defenses in far greater numbers over the past couple of months, interceptions down. At the same time, there's this -- apparently, you know, Russian forces gathering and surging on this new front in the north.

Is any of this the result of delays in getting arms to the Ukrainians, or what accounts for this turn?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, part of it is the fact that Russia has continued to push the envelope in terms of just the brutality and intensity of its campaign. It has sought more targets across a wider range of Ukraine -- most of them civilian, frankly -- trying to destroy the Ukrainian electricity grid with an even greater determination this year than they had last year.

Part of it is about the need for us -- the United States and our coalition of countries -- to surge up more air defense in so that Ukraine has it.

And, yes, part of it is about a six-month delay in being able to get assistance to Ukraine. That has put Ukraine in a hole, and we've made no bones about that from this podium.

So, we have started moving air defense to them. We intend to move more in. And by "we," I don't just mean the U.S. I mean our whole coalition, with the President, Secretary Austin, myself working day in, day out to coordinate those deliveries and to put Ukraine in a position where it is better able to defend against what Russia is throwing at them. And what they are throwing at them is quite considerable.

Yeah.

Q Can I follow up on that? Can you quantify how quickly is that new -- the new packages of military assistance arriving on the battlefield in Ukraine and if the U.S. is confident that they'll arrive in time for -- for the Ukrainians to be able to fend off advances in the Kharkiv -- in Kharkiv and other regions?

MR. SULLIVAN: The same day that the law took effect -- now two, three weeks ago -- the President signed out a billion-dollar package. Some of that equipment is already on the battlefield. On Friday, he signed out another package. Some of that equipment will get onto the battlefield this week.

Now, some of it has a longer lead time, in terms of our ability to ship it, organize it, and get it in. So, I don't want to suggest that all billion dollars' worth of equipment is on the battlefield. But what you will see is a steady flow week by week. It's not like we've got to wait well out into the future before stuff starts getting delivered.

And we are going to have another what we call PDA -- Presidential Drawdown Authority -- package just in the coming days, because we're trying to really accelerate the tempo of the deliveries, recognizing, as I said before, the delay put Ukraine in a hole, and we're trying to help them dig out of that hole as rapidly as possible.

Q Can we expect PDAs every week now or even faster?

MR. SULLIVAN: I -- how we do the drawdown is a little bit less of the central issue than what the size of it is and what the sequence of actual deliveries are. So, I'm not going to suggest that there'll be a drawdown every week. What I am going to suggest is that the level of intensity being exhibited right now, in terms of moving stuff, is at a 10 out of 10.

I spoke this morning, along with Secretary Austin and Chairman Brown, with our counterparts in Ukraine -- General Syrskyi, Minister Umerov, and -- and Andrii Yermak. We spoke for 90 minutes. It was a detailed conversation about the situation on the front, about the capabilities that they are most in need of, and a real triage effort to say, "Get us this stuff this fast so that we can be in a position to effectively defend against the Russian onslaught."

And so, at the highest levels in our government, we are engaged with the highest levels of theirs to be able to ensure that we're doing everything humanly possible, both ourselves and our allies who are surging equipment as well to get it there to the frontlines.

Q And can I actually follow up on an Israel question? Sorry. Secretary Blinken said yesterday that Israel could be, quote, "holding the bag on an enduring insurgency." I'm curious whether -- would Israel be holding that bag alone? In other words, are you -- is there any concern or are you concerned that Israel's ongoing prosecution of the war using U.S. weapons is going to help Hamas cultivate kind of a new generation of -- of people who will be, you know, targeting U.S. interests and attacking Americans?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, we have a painful experience in counterinsurgency campaigns fighting terrorists in urban environments and populated areas, and we know that it is not as simple as executing a military operation and calling it a day.

As I said in my opening comments, military operation has to be connected to a political plan for the day after so that there is a clear alternative and there is governance and there is security and all of the steps you need to take to finally and fully defeat a hardened, entrenched terrorist foe.

And, yes, one of the risks of engaging in any kind of counterinsurgency campaign is the ability of the terrorist group to attract more recruits and more followers as time goes on. This is something we have talked to the Israelis about.

So, one of the key points that we have been reinforcing is to step back just from a tactical military analysis of the situation and ask strategically: How do we get to the common goal, the enduring defeat of Hamas? And that is going to require military pressure, yes. But more than just military pressure -- a political plan to get there.

Q In the back, Jake.

Q Hi. Thank you. One of the big questions about Rafah is that -- why does the United States -- the strongest ally of Israel, the biggest weapons supplier -- seem to have so little clout with the Netanyahu government.

And you said, for instance, that they need a strategic endgame. They don't have one yet. Bibi Netanyahu has said they're going to go ahead in Rafah no matter what. What is the evidence that the United States still has clout with the Netanyahu government? Or is it just too early to tell?

MR. SULLIVAN: Well, I think you can go back to the beginning and look at the pattern of engagement of the United States and the impact that it's had on, for example, the flow of humanitarian assistance. And we believe also that in engaging Israel on the question of civilian protection and civilian harm, they have made adjustments over the course of time.

And then, with the question of a strategic endgame, I don't think that's really a question about American influence. That's a question about Israel's strategy and what Israel chooses to do. The Prime Minister doesn't have to answer to us on that. He's got to answer to the Israeli people on that because he's --

Q Well, you're encouraging him to do this, and he doesn't have one yet.

MR. SULLIVAN: -- he's ultimately having to deliver for them the long-term security and a clear answer to the question: How does Hamas get defeated on an enduring basis, and what comes after?

So, I think sometimes this whole issue gets put a little bit too much into the frame of the U.S. and Israel and not enough into the frame of these are sovereign Israeli decisions that they're making in a democracy. Their leadership is choosing how to prosecute this war. They are going to make those decisions. We're a sovereign country too. We're going to make our decisions.

And as a very good friend of Israel, we are going to stand with them as they work to defeat their determined enemy. But we're also going to offer our advice and make clear where we stand on these issues as well.

That's the most we can do. That's the most you could ask of anyone. That's what we will do every day. We do believe it has borne results. We hope it will bear more results in the period ahead.

Yeah.

Q Thanks, Jake. Another question on Secretary Blinken's comments yesterday. He said that even if Israel goes further into Rafah, then there will still be thousands of Hamas soldiers left. So, why is then Israel saying that they have to go into Rafah to defeat Hamas?

MR. SULLIVAN: Look, I'll leave that to the Israeli government.

A point that we have made to them is that Israel has gone through Gaza City. Israel has gone through Khan Yunis. And in both places, you've seen terrorists emerge from the rubble because, from our perspective, there's not a sufficient integration of a military plan with a political plan.

We have concerns about that. We've raised those concerns -- not with rancor but because we want to see a successful outcome to this war. We want to see Hamas defeated. We want to see its leaders -- justice delivered to its leader, starting with Sinwar.

So, we'll continue to talk to them about this. But really, that question, which is a good question, is a question best posed to the Israelis who are formulating the military plans that they are unfolding.

Q A quick question on China tariffs. What is the President's goal with his review of those tariffs? And do you expect any retaliation from China if tariffs are, in fact, raised?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, I will not get ahead of the President on this. I've seen, obviously, all of the reporting on it. It -- it's no secret that the President, this entire administration has been concerned about unfair practices by the PRC that harm American workers and businesses, the issue of overcapacity, the ways in which China has put in place a series of nonmarket distorting practices and strategic sectors. And he has said consistently, "I'm going to stand up and push back against that."

And so, that's the frame that he approaches this with. And then I'm going to leave the specifics to be announced in due course -- I would say in short order.

Yeah.

Q Jake, you cited the humanitarian aid as a way to influence Israel U.S. But this -- even the aid coming to Gaza has been curtailed now. It's barely -- it's been blocked to barely any aid coming in. And also, the repeated attack by settlers and extremists in the West Bank the aid in. So, how can you make sure that actually the U.S. has that clout that you mentioned?

And second, if you'll allow me, many Arab states said that allies said they're not going to take part in the day-after plan in Gaza in any shape or form, whether it's a force or its administration. Netanyahu said, too, that he doesn't want the PA to take part or a two-state solution.

So, what's your vision when it comes to the day after? How can you push the Israelis to materialize this into some kind of plan of action?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, on the first question, in the past few days, since Israel took the Rafah crossing, we have seen difficulty getting aid through either Rafah or Kerem Shalom, and this is a matter of great concern to us. This is something we're working not just with the Israeli government but the Egyptian government and the United Nations, because it will take all three of them working together to make this happen.

In the meantime, Israel has opened yet another crossing in the north beyond Erez, a crossing called Zikim, and has moved flour through that crossing. We have managed to get some fuel in down through the south despite all of the other difficulties.

This is an urgent and critical situation. We have got to get those crossings open to get more aid in. That has been an issue of the past three days since these military operations, and it's something we are working through with all the relevant parties.

It is a total outrage that there are people who are attacking and looting these convoys coming from Jordan going to Gaza to deliver humanitarian assistance. We are looking at the tools that we have to respond to this. And we are also raising our concerns at the highest level of the Israeli government, and it's something that we make no bones about. This is completely and utterly unacceptable behavior.

On the day after, we are, in fact, having constructive conversations with Arab states about it. But what they do want to see is a political horizon. They want an answer to what does the long-term future look like for the Palestinian people. That's something we're talking about with them. That's something we're talking about with the Israeli government as well.

Yes.

Q Thanks, Jake. Just to your -- put a little bit of a point on Nadia's question. Is Israel restricting the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, or is it not?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, first, I would point you to the findings of the State Department report that just came out over the weekend. We believe that there were periods over the last few weeks where there were restrictions that had to be worked through. But at the time we put that report forward, we felt that there was sufficient work being done by the Israeli government with respect to the facilitation of humanitarian aid that we did not make a judgment that anything had to be done in terms of U.S. assistance.

Q So --

MR. SULLIVAN: That continues to be our position today.

Q So, in plain language, they're restricting that, but it's okay in the way that they're restricting?

MR. SULLIVAN: Those are your words. They are certainly not my words. I'm not sure if that's how you ask questions.

But, yeah, go ahead.

Q Jake, good afternoon. As we sit here seven months into this war in Gaza, how confident are you, as you stand there, that the hostages -- the remaining hostages will come home, A? And, B, how many of them do you believe are actually still alive?

MR. SULLIVAN: I cannot give you a clear number of how many are still alive because we do not have total fidelity on that, unfortunately. And it's something that we watch every single day. We know there are deceased hostages, and we know there are living hostages. And we know that with each passing day, the risk to those hostages also goes up, which only redoubles our commitment to try to get to a ceasefire and hostage deal as rapidly as possible.

But, unfortunately, I'm not in a position to give you fidelity on those numbers because nobody entirely has it. We have our analysis, our assessments. Some of that is driven by intelligence, so I have to be cautious in sharing them. But I -- to look you in the eye and say, "We know exactly how many are alive," nobody can do that for you.

Q And how would you describe the relationship between -- right now between President Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu?

MR. SULLIVAN: I would describe the relationship as how it's been for the duration of the time that they've known each other. It is straightforward. It is direct. It is a relationship where the two of them can each share -- share their views and perspectives. And that is how it's going to continue as we go forward.

And I'll take one more. Yeah.

Q Thank you, Jake. A quick Ukraine follow-up . Ukraine's government is desperately asking for anti-aircraft assets, including Patriot batteries. What's the plan? How are you going to get those to them? Through which allies or ?

MR. SULLIVAN: So, one of the things I do every single day is talk to at least one ally, if not multiple, about getting more Patriot batteries into Ukraine. And I think we recently had some good news from an ally about getting one in. We're working on more. That's just something that we're going to continue to try to procure.

And beyond Patriots, we're looking for other systems, as well, because we believe that there are a number of allies who have capabilities they could share and ways in which the United States could help them with their -- their air defense needs as a backfill. That is an ongoing conversation. It is a -- it is a matter of utmost priority.

Q So, just to be clear, you're looking at, like, one or two at a time, not dozens, not a bigger number?

MR. SULLIVAN: I mean, do- -- dozens of Patriot batteries I don't think is the right order of magnitude for what we're trying to get in there.

Q And then on the Middle East.

Q Jake, a Ukraine question.

Q Jake, you forgot the back of the room.

MR. SULLIVAN: All right. I'll -- I'll take you last. Yeah. Fine.

Q Awesome. Thank you.

Q We're a package deal.

Q Egypt has said that they will support South Africa's case at the ICJ against Israel for genocide. How is that affecting the negotiations right now, the situation in general? And, you know, what is -- what is Washington's message to Cairo about this decision on their part?

MR. SULLIVAN: I can't say that it's helpful to the discussions between Egypt and Israel to try to sort out the humanitarian assistance and access issues. But I do know that Egypt, Israel, the United States, the United Nations, we are all trying to work together to figure out a way forward.

So, last question.

Q Okay. Thank you. You said at the start of this that you don't believe what's happening in Gaza is genocide. What criterion are you using?

MR. SULLIVAN: We're using the internationally accepted term for genocide, which includes a focus on intent. And it's not just me standing here at this podium. In the context of this International Court of Justice case at The Hague, the United States actually made a presentation backed up by legal analysis, which I would invite you to read because it lays out all of --

Q Okay. Because I looked up --

MR. SULLIVAN: -- those criterion.

Q -- Francesca Albanese, the Special U.N. Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine presented one in March. Her -- she presented it in Geneva. The three criterion she used, citing international law, three acts: Israel's intent to destroy national ethnic, racial, or religious groups; serious bodily or mental harm to a group; inflicting on a group conditions of life calculated to bring physical destruction, in whole or in part, with imposing measures intended to prevent birth within the group; process of erasure of the native Palestinians.

So, those three things are happening. How can you say genocide is not being committed?

MR. SULLIVAN: As I just told you, I think the best way for me to answer that question is actually to ask you to look at the laydown that we gave which --

Q I just laid out -- are you saying this isn't happening?

MR. SULLIVAN: I'm sorry, I thought you asked me how I can say it. I'm saying I'd like you to look at the United States' --

Q I just did.

MR. SULLIVAN: Ca- -- ca- --

Q I'm asking: Are you saying this isn't happening?

MR. SULLIVAN: Ca- -- do you mind if I finish answering your question before you interrupt?

Q I'm challenging you to say -- are you saying that she's a liar?

MR. SULLIVAN: The United States has laid down at the International Court of Justice in writing, in detail its position on this issue, and I'd ask you to read it. Thank you.

Q Are you saying that it doesn't line up for them with what she's saying?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Thank you, Jake. Thank you, Jake.

Okay. I know -- folks are leaving right now. Okay. I have -- I have an effect on folks.

I know there is a call happening in short order. And so -- and I know it's about an issue that you all care about. So, feel free to -- to step away from the briefing. And I won't -- I won't be up here too much longer. As you know, we'll have a briefing tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day.

Go ahead, Seung Min.

Q At a fundraiser over the weekend, the President began his remarks by talking about Israel. He said, "Israel said it's up to Hamas; if they wanted to do it, we could end it tomorrow. It all has to do" -- and then he cut himself off and said, "I shouldn't get into all of this. I don't want to get going." Can you just finish his sentence for us? And what do you -- and what he was trying to say when -- especially when he was talking about "it all has to do" with --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I -- I'm -- obviously, I -- as I say often, certainly going to let the President speak for himself.

Q But he didn't finish speaking, so can you finish?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know, I know. But I -- look -- look, I think, obviously, Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, came here and gave a very good and -- and detailed, in-depth laydown of where we are. And it's very much where the President is. And he talked about humanitarian aid, obviously, the importance of getting that into -- into Gaza, and -- and how we want to make sure that we deal with what we're seeing there with the dire -- dire situation in Gaza.

Obviously, he talks about our continued support. He talked about our continued support for Israel's security. That is ironclad. That is what we want to make sure that, you know, they are able to defend themselves.

And so, I think all of that remains to be true: hostage deal, we want to get to a ceasefire, and also create a situation where we can get more of that humanitarian aid, bring hostages home.

So, all of that continues to be true. I think the words that you heard from the President's National Security Advisor, I think, is -- is very clear on where the President is. I -- you know, I can't -- I can't, you know, speak beyond -- beyond that.

And, you know, I think the -- the President started out saying what was on his mind. But, more broadly, how -- where we are with the situation in Gaza and Israel has been very clear. And we want to continue to -- to lay that out. That is one of the reasons that -- that Jake came out here.

Q And a quick one. The House is likely to vote on the Israel Security Assistance Support Act later this week, which would ban the administration from withholding military aid to Israel that have been congressionally approved. Is that something that -- it's obviously a response to the President's comments over the last week. So, is that something that the White House would oppose? Are you talking to Democrats who might be inclined to go with Republicans on this?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'll start off -- I just repeated basically what -- what I wanted to say to this question, which is Pre- -- this President has been very clear. His -- his commitment to Israel's security is ironclad. That has not changed.

We share Israel's goal of defeating Hamas and will continue to stand with Israel to make that happen. We've been very clear.

As it relates to the announcement that the President made in the interview yes- -- last week on CNN, we have paused only one shipment. That includes 2,000-pound bombs, which can be very destructive in densely populated urban environments such as Rafah. You heard, obviously, Jake just speak to this.

And then so, regarding this bill -- as you just asked me about, Seung Min -- we strongly, strongly oppose attempts to constrain the President's ability to deploy U.S. security assistance consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. It is -- it is our objective, as well, that we plan to spend every last cent appropriated, consistent with legal obligations, including in the recent supplemental -- that national -- national security supplemental that was just passed and the President obviously signed. We are committed to that -- to that supplemental. So, that has not changed.

Go ahead, April.

Q Karine, this week, President Biden is going to commemorate the anniversary of Brown v. Board. Does this president or -- and/or this administration believe that Brown v. Board may have been weakened by the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action in college admissions?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, as you just stated in -- in your question to me, the President is going to commemorate the Browned -- Brown v. Board, and he's also going to meet with the families. That's going to happen on Thursday.

On Friday, he's going to go over to the National Museum of Af- -- African American History and Culture. He'll be there on Friday to give a really important speech.

I don't want to get ahead of -- ahead of the President. But to your question about the Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissi- -- Admini- -- Admissions v. Harvard last year, the President reiterated that his administration will fight to preserve the hard-earned progress we have made to advance racial equity, civil rights, and expand educational opportunity for all Americans.

Specifically, the President called on colleges and universities, when selecting among qualified applicants, to give serious consideration to advers- -- adversities students have overcome, including the financial means of a student or their family; where a -- a student grew up and went to high school; and personal experience of hardship and discrimination, including racial discrimination that a student may have faced.

As the President said last June, when this verdict came down, he strongly disagrees with the court decision and believes that one of the greatest strengths of America is indeed our diversity.

The President, again, is going to speak about this on Friday, so I don't want to get ahead of him. But we have made very clear how we feel about this decision that happened almost a year ago.

Q But does he believe that it undermines Brown v. Board, this historic integrate -- this historic ruling that integrates schools, and we are actually seeing the segregation of schools still in this country?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I totally agree with all the points that you made. I laid out what we thought about that decision that came last -- last June. And we had said it is something that is concerning -- incredibly concerning.

The President is going to give a speech on Friday. I'm going to let the President speak for himself. He will address this. Obviously, we are indeed -- we are indeed commemorating the landmark [DEL: Browd :DEL] [Brown] v. Board of Education. And so, that's something. We're going to meet with the families on Thursday.

So, you see a pattern here that the President is going to meet with the families on Thursday, he's going to give remarks on Friday, and he will -- he will speak to this himself. But wanted to lay down what we have said already about -- about the ruling -- the Admissions ruling versus Harvard that happened last year. We've been very clear about that.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go. And then I'll go to you.

Q Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino is going to be in town this week. She's going to meet Antony Blinken from the State Department. Can you confirm she has a meeting with Jake Sullivan here at the White House?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don't have anything for you. Once we have something to share, certainly we will share that with you all.

Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. So, Warren Buffett this month said that "taxes will have to be raised to pay for the national debt." He said, "The government will -- may want to decrease spending." So, with -- you know, we've had announcement after announcement of taxpayer money being doled out -- we've seen almost weekly now. Is the federal government spending too much money?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, let me just say a couple things that Warren Buffett did say that we certainly agree with, and I'll quote him: "The wealthy are definitely undertaxed relative to the general population," which is why the President has a plan to make sure that the wealthiest among us, the billionaires and big corporations, pay their fair share. And we've been very clear about that.

They pair th- -- they pay their fair share in order to pay for -- for his investments in America and cut the deficit by $3 trillion. And it -- and Buffett also said it doesn't ma- -- bother him to pay taxes.

And so, it has been very clear. The President has said that he will not raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000. That is what the President has said. Warren Buffett pretty much agrees with us. We agree, obviously, with him.

And this is very different than what Republicans want to do. They put out their plan. They put out what they want to do. They want to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.

We do not agree with this. And what we want to do is continue to make sure that we're lowering costs for Americans, for families -- whether it is Big Pharma, fighting Big Pharma; lowering healthcare costs; making sure that we go after corporation, as we -- as we -- you hear us talk about junk fees. Those are the ways that we want to move forward. That's what our focus is.

Q So, increase taxes to pay the debt?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: We -- on -- but let's be really, really clear -- right? -- on billionaires and big corporations, who Warren Buffett him said -- himself said -- as you started asking me about Warren Buffett, he says that they are undertaxed. And that is something that the President agrees on. And he believes if we are able to do that, to tax corporations and billionaires, that would pay for his investments in America and cut the deficit by $3 trillion. That is something the President has been very clear about since day one.

Q One more, if I could, on China and the tariffs that are coming. So, in July of 2019, then-candidate Biden said the tariffs on China are abusive policy. Has the President changed his mind and now believes tariffs work?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I'm not -- I'm not -- I'm going to be really mindful. I'm going to -- going to let -- in due -- in due order, you'll -- you'll hear directly from the President, directly from us. So, don't want to get ahead of that.

Jake said it really well when he was here: We have always had concerns on China's unfair trade policies. We've been very clear about that. And the last administration, when they did the trade deal with China, what it did is it failed to increase Ameri- -- American exports or boost manufacturing.

That is not something the President wants to see. He has been doing the opposite: making sure that American manufacturing is created here -- right here in America. And so, that is something that he has been very focused. He says he wants to protect American workers, protect businesses -- American business. That's what the President wants to do.

He spoke about this when he was in Pittsburgh not too long ago, talking about making sure that it -- we see fair business practices as it relates to American workers and American businesses. So, don't want to get ahead of that. But we've been very, very clear on how we move forward on -- on these types of practices -- trade practices -- and what we want to see. And that is the framework, as Jake Sullivan said here moments ago, that we move forward with.

Q So, he now believes tariffs work?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm just going to be really mindful, not get ahead of what we're -- what we're about to announce soon. And what we have been really, really car- -- clear about is protecting workers, protecting businesses, and we have called out China's unfair trade policies. And so, we're going to continue to do that.

Go ahead, Phil, in the back.

Q Thank you. There's new reporting in The Wall Street Journal that found that the FD- -- FDIC Director Martin Gruenberg disrespected, disparaged, and treated unfairly officials there and that he was known to be someone who could not control his temper. Obviously, President Biden said early on in his administration that he would fire on the spot anyone who bullied or unfairly bul- -- belittled a coworker. So, has the President seen those reports? And if those reports prove to be accurate, will he take action?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have any personnel announcements to make at this time. The FDIC Administrator -- Chairman, to be exact, made -- apologized and spoke to this. And so, certainly, I would -- I would send you there. The FDIC is an independent agency, so would refer you to them as to anything else coming out from the FDIC on this particular matter.

But I just don't have any policy -- personnel announcement to make at this time.

Q Thank you, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Selina.

Q Thanks, Karine. I know you don't want to get into the announcement. Can -- but can you just more broadly talk about the role that tariffs play here in trying to balance protecting American workers versus consumers? Because tariffs are often a tax to consumers. So, how can you ensure Americans that with more tariffs, it doesn't come with higher costs?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, going to let the announcement speak for itself, but what I can say about what China has played -- has played here in -- they've played by a different set of rules. And this is what we know to be -- to be clear. And it has been unfair and anticompetitive economic practices.

For example, forcing technology transfers and stealing intellectual property; distorting market for- -- forces with un- -- un- -- unrivaled subsidies, barriers, and regulations; flooding markets with artificially cheap products to wipe out the competition.

And that's what we have seen from China with their unfair trade policies. We have done the opposite here. And what we have tried to do is invest in our Invest in America agenda -- is 3- -- $860 billion invested by the private sector in manufacturing and clean energy; nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs created right here in the U.S.

So, you see the President is investing -- investment in America. This is what his agenda has been all about. And I --as I stated moments ago, the Trump administration, when they went forward with their trade deal, it -- what it did is it showed that -- that deal with China, it failed to increase American export and boost manufacturing. We have tried to change that, reverse that.

And so, I want to be mindful. I'm not going to get into an upcoming potential announcement. And so, going to be really mindful there. But we are all about -- and this President has been very clear -- protecting American workers, protecting American businesses. And we're going to continue to do that under this administration.

Q And can you just talk about the President's preparations for the upcoming commencement speech at Morehouse? And does he plan to address the concerns of some students and faculty who have conflicting views about the President being there?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things there.

The President is going to continue to work on his speech with his senior advisors. That's what he's going to do all week. He sees this moment in -- as a very pivotal moment, an important moment to a lot of these young graduates.

Let's not forget, some of these -- some of these graduates missed out on their graduation from high school because of the pandemic. And this is going to be a celebration for them -- an opportunity to have a commencement, to have a graduation that they sadly missed out on.

So, the President has done these type of commencements. He did two of them last year. He's done them throughout his vice -- as a vice president, as a senator. He knows how important it is not just to the graduates but the families, the people who love them.

And so, he will -- you'll see themes, obviously, in his commencement speech. He will give an uplifting -- uplifting remarks on what's to come and what they can look forward to, but also acknowledging, you know, what's ahead, the difficulties that are ahead.

And, look, as you started your question to me about what -- how people are feeling, we've been very clear about that too. We understand how deeply personal this moment is for many Americans across the country. We've been very clear about that. We understand that.

That's why we've had conversations with members of the community that's affected by this. We've had conversation with the Mus- -- Muslim Americans, Palestinian Americans, Arab Americans. The President has; White House officials here have. They've traveled to -- to states across the country to have those very important conversations. And we'll continue to do that.

But also, this moment, the commencement speech, is such a celebratory moment. And we believe it's important. It's important f- -- in this instance, Morehouse is going to hear directly from the President of the United States. And I think that's -- that's a memorable moment as well.

AIDE: Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead, Nancy.

Q Thanks, Karine. Where do deliberations stand on this potential White House plan to allow a certain number of Palestinian refugees into the U.S.?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I don't have any updates for you. I know I've been asked this question multiple times about conversations happening here. Don't have anything to share.

What I will say is -- and I've said this many times before in the beginning of -- of what happened -- occurred on October 7 th. We actu- -- we put in a plan. The -- there were about 1,800 Palestinian Americans that were in -- in Gaza, and we did everything that we can to get them out if they choose to -- if they -- if that's something that they wanted to do. And certainly, we were able to do that.

As it relates to a refugee program or anything in that nature, I don't have any announcement to make. And -- and I'll just leave it there, because I want to be really mindful about that --

Q Does --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- about getting ahead of that.

Q Does the fact that a lot of Democratic senators were sort of lukewarm on the idea make it less likely that something like that will happen?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I -- I wouldn't say that. I wouldn't -- I wouldn't say that -- confirm that either way. What I will say is we're -- we don't have any announcement to make at this time. And so, obviously, we're going to look at everything.

Go ahead.

Q So, the U.S. has withheld bomb shipments to Israel. And on Friday, the State Department sent a report to Congress. So, did the report further support the administration's stance? Or are they having second thoughts about it?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say -- say that one more time.

Q So, the U.S. has withheld bomb shipments to Israel.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, just one shipment: 2,000 bombs. Yeah.

Q Right. And so, we had the St- --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: 2,000-pound bombs.

Q Right. So, we had --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: And that -- that is connected to what we have said and we have made very clear about our -- our public and -- and -- made this publicly and privately -- our concerns about a major mil- -- major military operations into Rafah.

And so, we have been very clear about that -- because of the more than 1 -- 1.4 million Palestinians who are there, who are -- they are seeking refuge. And so, we've been very clear about that.

So, we have paused one -- one shipment, and the -- that's what the President spoke to last week. That's what Jake spoke to just moments ago.

Q Right. So, the report -- does it sort of further strengthen what President is -- what the President is doing? Or is it giving him pause? Wh- -- what did he think of the report that the State Department sent to the Congress?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, I think Jake spoke to that. And he talked about the findings of the report, how it wouldn't change our policies. That's number one. And -- and this is an ongoing, transparent process. I don't have anything else to add beyond that.

Look, when you think about the pause on these 2,000-pound bombs, the reason why we paused it is because we want to be mindful -- right? -- we want to -- we understand that there is in -- in Rafah, there are dense -- dense areas that have Palestinians who are seeking refuge. And we want to make sure those civilian lives -- those innocent civilian lives are protected.

That's why we're -- we've made very clear -- very clear about our concerns about a major military operations there. That is the reason. That is the focus: understanding that fact. And that is a fact.

And so, we're going to continue to have those conversations. You heard Jake talk about in -- in upcoming days having an -- an in-person conversation with his counterparts, continuing -- continuing these -- these group meetings that they've been having with -- that NSC has been having with -- with the ID- -- IDF, the Israeli government. And so, that's going to continue.

We're going to -- and we're going to continue to be really clear about our concerns, as we've been publicly as also privately.

And so, those conversations continue. And that's why the President has been very clear. There are 1.4 million civilians -- innocent civilians that are in Rafah right now. And we want to be really careful and mindful. We want to see a plan that speaks to how are we going to -- how is Israel going to make sure that those lives are protected.

It is a pause of one shipment. And that shipment is related to what we believe is -- could be potentially, you know, an issue here -- in -- in Rafah. Being very, very clear about that.

AIDE: Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Go ahead.

Q Thanks, Karine. Some recent polls -- and I know you've said the President doesn't govern looking at polls, but some have shown his popularity eroding amongst young people and also nonwhites. And it's not only related to Israel. Is he aware of that? Is he going to try to refocus his messaging or tweak it to speak directly to those groups that have felt left behind?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, and I -- I -- look, you know, going to be mindful about this upcoming election. Not going to comment about that, the 20- -- 2024 election or how these polls will affect the 2024 election. Going to be super mindful.

But more broadly, you know, we believe that young Americans support -- support the President's agenda more broadly -- right? -- in overwhelming way. And the President has stood on many -- has stood with young Americans on many of the issues that they care about, because you said beyond -- beyond what's happening in the Middle East.

And so, when it comes to climate change -- right? -- that's something that he's been very clear about and has been the most progressive president on that particular issue. And he's going to continue to do that.

We understand, as well, that while the economy is turning around -- and you've heard me talk at the top about the 15 million j- -- million jobs created and what we've been able to do to turn around the economy -- we understand that prices are too high, and young people, in particular, are feeling that. And so, we're going to continue to work on those issues. We're going to continue to do everything that we can to lower costs.

I talked about the situation in the Middle East and how young Americans are feeling about what they're seeing in Gaza, and we understand how painful it is -- this moment is for them. That's why we've been working so hard to try to get a deal to -- that would lead us to a ceasefire, get hostages home, and make sure that we get that humanitarian aid. Let's not forget that the U.S. has led the effort in getting humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

And so -- so, going to be super -- kind of super -- super mindful about the particular polling questions. But we do believe that, you know, we want to make sure that we have an economy that works for young people. We want to make sure that we listen to young people and hear them out. We want to make sure that we continue to work on some of the issues that the President has talked about, whether it's student debt relief -- this is something that the President -- it's not going to stop him from doing the work that he has been very clear about wanting to deliver for the American people, including -- including young Americans. So --

Q On his messaging to minorities?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well -- and what do you mean spec- -- like, what do you mean spec- -- like, specifically about that?

Q Hispanic voters --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q -- or --

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I'm not going to speak to Hispanic voters or voters --

Q

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: -- more -- more specifically.

But if you look at what the President has been able to accomplish for different communities, we have seen an economy that he has created -- right? -- that he's wanted to create. That is not a trickle-down economy. That -- that is very much from the bottom up, middle out.

And you've seen unemployment go down for the Hispanic community. You've seen wealth -- when we talk about wealth gap: closing the wealth -- wealth gl- -- gap and making sure that we're creating jobs for Latino and Hispanic communities, more specifically. I think we've created more than 4 million jobs in this administration for that particular community.

We've seen that as well for the Black community, the African American community.

We've been very consistent. You heard me lay out what we've been able to do for Asian Americans with this -- with the President's economic policy. So, we are very, very committed to making sure that communities that are normally seen to be left behind are not left behind as it relates to the President's economic policy.

You see that when he fights Big Pharma. When he's fighting Big Pharma and lowering costs, that helps communities that you're asking me about. When we're talking about junk fees, that helps communities that you're asking me about.

And so, when we're talking about expanding ACA -- we expanded that for DREAMers, for DACA recipients. That's because -- and you heard this president say this last week -- because he understands that DACA recipients -- many of them are part of our military, right? They're part of what makes this country great.

And so, those are actions that the President is going to continue to take and continue to have those conversations and certainly message that.

I have to go. Thanks, everybody. I'll see you tomorrow.

I'll be back tomorrow, guys. Thanks, everyone.

Q Thank you.

3:35 P.M. EDT