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Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding from November 3 to November 9, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas, Washington, and Wright.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. Andrew P. Meyer 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 state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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The post President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Missouri Major Disaster Declaration appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal assistance to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding from November 3 to November 9, 2024.

Federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in the counties of Carter, Crawford, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Shannon, Texas, Washington, and Wright.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Mr. Andrew P. Meyer 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 state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

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The post President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Missouri Major Disaster Declaration appeared first on The White House.

I have been continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans regarding the horrific incident that occurred there overnight. The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury. I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind. 

I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden appeared first on The White House.

I have been continually briefed since early this morning by federal law enforcement leadership and my homeland security team, including Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and the Mayor of New Orleans regarding the horrific incident that occurred there overnight. The FBI is taking the lead in the investigation and is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. I am grateful for the brave and swift response of local law enforcement in preventing even greater death and injury. I have directed my team to ensure every resource is available as federal, state, and local law enforcement work assiduously to get to the bottom of what happened as quickly as possible and to ensure that there is no remaining threat of any kind. 

I will continue to receive updates throughout the day, and I will have more to say as we have further information to share. In the meantime, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday. There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden appeared first on The White House.

Leading by the power of their example, mentors represent the very best of America’s spirit of community and care for one another.  During National Mentoring Month, we honor all the Americans who give their time and their hearts to mentor our Nation’s young people. 

My Administration has been committed to giving youths the resources they need to thrive, including by ensuring students feel supported and have opportunities to connect to meaningful mentors.  My American Rescue Plan secured a record $130 billion for K-12 schools, putting more teachers, counselors, social workers, and staff in our schools, who are so often our young people’s first mentors.  And that law gave AmeriCorps funding to support new mentors and volunteers who can serve our communities.  Moreover, my Administration created the National Partnership for Student Success, which recruited more than 300,000 tutors and mentors to help young people reach their full potential, as well as student success coaches and postsecondary transition coaches.  We also called on colleges and universities to use at least 15 percent of their Federal work study funds to assist their students in serving as mentors and other critical volunteer roles that support our Nation’s children and youth.

At the same time, my Administration recognizes the value of mentorship in the workplace, and Registered Apprenticeships not only help provide it, they also produce some of the best workers in the world.  That is why I am proud to have worked with labor unions and made historic investments in pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs that provide the training and skills necessary to get a good job and launch a fulfilling career.  My Administration also launched the American Climate Corps to put over 20,000 Americans to work in fast-growing green sectors like clean energy and conservation.  

I have often said that we are a great Nation because we are a good people.  During National Mentoring Month, we honor all the good people across our Nation, who are helping young people find direction, grow, and tap into our Nation’s unlimited possibilities.  As so many mentors know, being a mentor can be a transformative and enriching life experience.  I encourage every American — whether you are a college student, community leader, or person hoping to make a difference — to explore opportunities to mentor or tutor by visiting americorps.gov/serve and partnershipstudentsuccess.org. 

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 January 2025 as National Mentoring Month.  I call upon Americans across the country to observe this month with mentoring, appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Mentoring Month , 2025 appeared first on The White House.

Leading by the power of their example, mentors represent the very best of America’s spirit of community and care for one another.  During National Mentoring Month, we honor all the Americans who give their time and their hearts to mentor our Nation’s young people. 

My Administration has been committed to giving youths the resources they need to thrive, including by ensuring students feel supported and have opportunities to connect to meaningful mentors.  My American Rescue Plan secured a record $130 billion for K-12 schools, putting more teachers, counselors, social workers, and staff in our schools, who are so often our young people’s first mentors.  And that law gave AmeriCorps funding to support new mentors and volunteers who can serve our communities.  Moreover, my Administration created the National Partnership for Student Success, which recruited more than 300,000 tutors and mentors to help young people reach their full potential, as well as student success coaches and postsecondary transition coaches.  We also called on colleges and universities to use at least 15 percent of their Federal work study funds to assist their students in serving as mentors and other critical volunteer roles that support our Nation’s children and youth.

At the same time, my Administration recognizes the value of mentorship in the workplace, and Registered Apprenticeships not only help provide it, they also produce some of the best workers in the world.  That is why I am proud to have worked with labor unions and made historic investments in pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs that provide the training and skills necessary to get a good job and launch a fulfilling career.  My Administration also launched the American Climate Corps to put over 20,000 Americans to work in fast-growing green sectors like clean energy and conservation.  

I have often said that we are a great Nation because we are a good people.  During National Mentoring Month, we honor all the good people across our Nation, who are helping young people find direction, grow, and tap into our Nation’s unlimited possibilities.  As so many mentors know, being a mentor can be a transformative and enriching life experience.  I encourage every American — whether you are a college student, community leader, or person hoping to make a difference — to explore opportunities to mentor or tutor by visiting americorps.gov/serve and partnershipstudentsuccess.org. 

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 January 2025 as National Mentoring Month.  I call upon Americans across the country to observe this month with mentoring, appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Mentoring Month , 2025 appeared first on The White House.

During National Stalking Awareness Month, we honor the courage and resilience of the millions of people in America who have suffered from stalking and recommit to ensuring every American feels safe and protected from this abuse.  And we recommit to building a world where every person can walk through life knowing they are safe, secure, and will be treated with respect.

For the one in three women and one in six men who have endured stalking, the fear it causes can be all-consuming.  No matter where it was committed or who it was committed by — at home, at work, online, or by a stranger or a neighbor — stalking can destroy a person’s sense of security and safety.  And it can have immense consequences on their lives:  some have to leave everything behind to flee at a moment’s notice or are haunted by their experience forever.  It is wrong.

For too long, people refused to talk about stalking and other forms of gender-based violence, leaving survivors feeling alone, isolated, and forgotten.  That changed with the passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act more than 30 years ago — a law I was proud to write and champion as a United States Senator.  It helped shine a harsh light on the scourge of gender-based violence in America and ensured that survivors were getting the support they needed.  In 2022, I signed a reauthorization of the law, giving survivors of stalking more support and cracking down on perpetrators.  It expanded the jurisdiction of Tribal courts to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of stalking and other gender-based violence, while ensuring survivors can bring a civil lawsuit in Federal court against someone who shared intimate images of them online without their consent.

My Administration has taken action to crack down on stalking and gender-based violence in America.  We released our Nation’s first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, laying out a strategy to best support survivors, work on prevention, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.  The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has continued providing grants to community organizations, prosecutors, and law enforcement to stop stalking and other gender-based crimes.  And to ensure victims have a safe place to call home and rebuild their lives, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided tens of thousands of emergency housing vouchers.  Furthermore, I established the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse to make sure we are stopping gender-based violence committed online. 

My father used to say that one of the greatest sins a person could commit is the abuse of power — and that is fundamentally what stalking is.  During National Stalking Awareness Month, we recommit to supporting survivors of stalking and reaffirm that harassment, abuse, and violence have no place in America. 

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 January 2025 as National Stalking Awareness Month.  I call on all Americans to speak out against stalking and to support the efforts of advocates, courts, service providers, and law enforcement to help those who are targeted and send the message to perpetrators that these crimes will not go unpunished.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Stalking Awareness Month, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

During National Stalking Awareness Month, we honor the courage and resilience of the millions of people in America who have suffered from stalking and recommit to ensuring every American feels safe and protected from this abuse.  And we recommit to building a world where every person can walk through life knowing they are safe, secure, and will be treated with respect.

For the one in three women and one in six men who have endured stalking, the fear it causes can be all-consuming.  No matter where it was committed or who it was committed by — at home, at work, online, or by a stranger or a neighbor — stalking can destroy a person’s sense of security and safety.  And it can have immense consequences on their lives:  some have to leave everything behind to flee at a moment’s notice or are haunted by their experience forever.  It is wrong.

For too long, people refused to talk about stalking and other forms of gender-based violence, leaving survivors feeling alone, isolated, and forgotten.  That changed with the passage of the landmark Violence Against Women Act more than 30 years ago — a law I was proud to write and champion as a United States Senator.  It helped shine a harsh light on the scourge of gender-based violence in America and ensured that survivors were getting the support they needed.  In 2022, I signed a reauthorization of the law, giving survivors of stalking more support and cracking down on perpetrators.  It expanded the jurisdiction of Tribal courts to prosecute non-Native perpetrators of stalking and other gender-based violence, while ensuring survivors can bring a civil lawsuit in Federal court against someone who shared intimate images of them online without their consent.

My Administration has taken action to crack down on stalking and gender-based violence in America.  We released our Nation’s first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, laying out a strategy to best support survivors, work on prevention, and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.  The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has continued providing grants to community organizations, prosecutors, and law enforcement to stop stalking and other gender-based crimes.  And to ensure victims have a safe place to call home and rebuild their lives, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided tens of thousands of emergency housing vouchers.  Furthermore, I established the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse to make sure we are stopping gender-based violence committed online. 

My father used to say that one of the greatest sins a person could commit is the abuse of power — and that is fundamentally what stalking is.  During National Stalking Awareness Month, we recommit to supporting survivors of stalking and reaffirm that harassment, abuse, and violence have no place in America. 

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 January 2025 as National Stalking Awareness Month.  I call on all Americans to speak out against stalking and to support the efforts of advocates, courts, service providers, and law enforcement to help those who are targeted and send the message to perpetrators that these crimes will not go unpunished.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Stalking Awareness Month, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

I believe that health care should be a right – not a privilege – and throughout my presidency I have advanced that goal. This week, we take another step closer to an America where everyone can afford the quality health care they need, as Medicare’s new $2,000 cap on prescription drug costs from my Inflation Reduction Act goes fully into effect.

Before I took office, people with Medicare who took expensive drugs could face a crushing burden, paying $10,000 a year or more in copays for the drugs they need to stay alive. When I took on Big Pharma and won, we changed that, capping seniors’ out-of-pocket spending on drugs they get at the pharmacy for the first time ever. Costs were capped at about $3,500 in 2024, and in just the first six months of the year, this policy saved people with Medicare $1 billion in cost-sharing. On January 1, 2025, the cap on drug costs fully phases in, and costs are now capped at $2,000 per year. As a result, 19 million people are expected to save an average of $400 each. That’s a game changer for the American people.

My Inflation Reduction Act has changed Medicare for the better, and as a result Americans will have more money back in their pockets in the years to come.

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The post Statement from President Biden on Medicare’s New $2,000 Cap on Prescription Drug Costs Taking Effect appeared first on The White House.

I believe that health care should be a right – not a privilege – and throughout my presidency I have advanced that goal. This week, we take another step closer to an America where everyone can afford the quality health care they need, as Medicare’s new $2,000 cap on prescription drug costs from my Inflation Reduction Act goes fully into effect.

Before I took office, people with Medicare who took expensive drugs could face a crushing burden, paying $10,000 a year or more in copays for the drugs they need to stay alive. When I took on Big Pharma and won, we changed that, capping seniors’ out-of-pocket spending on drugs they get at the pharmacy for the first time ever. Costs were capped at about $3,500 in 2024, and in just the first six months of the year, this policy saved people with Medicare $1 billion in cost-sharing. On January 1, 2025, the cap on drug costs fully phases in, and costs are now capped at $2,000 per year. As a result, 19 million people are expected to save an average of $400 each. That’s a game changer for the American people.

My Inflation Reduction Act has changed Medicare for the better, and as a result Americans will have more money back in their pockets in the years to come.

###

The post Statement from President Biden on Medicare’s New $2,000 Cap on Prescription Drug Costs Taking Effect appeared first on The White House.

Across the world, more than 27 million people, including thousands here at home, are subjected to the shameful, abhorrent abuse of human trafficking and forced labor.  Human trafficking targets the most vulnerable in society and exploits them — denying their human rights, freedom, and dignity.  It is a stain on our collective conscience and an affront to basic human dignity.  During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we recommit to working to end human trafficking in America and around the globe.

Any form of trafficking in people — from forced labor to sex trafficking — must not be tolerated, in the United States or anywhere around the world.  That is why in 2021, I signed an updated National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Human Trafficking, detailing my Administration’s focus on prosecuting perpetrators, protecting survivors, and partnering with governments and organizations around the globe to end this scourge.  The NAP also recognizes that human traffickers target people considered vulnerable in society — people from racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, and others from marginalized backgrounds. 

Here at home, we have worked to crack down on human trafficking and combat gender-based violence in America.  I remain proud that I first wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a United States Senator and I have worked to strengthen it ever since.  That is why when I reauthorized it in 2022, I expanded Tribal court jurisdiction to prosecute non-Native sex traffickers.  Furthermore, through my American Rescue Plan, my Administration delivered tens of thousands of housing vouchers to ensure people fleeing human trafficking or other violence have a safe home to go to.  At the same time, we have been committed to working with survivors to support their path to recovery and healing, and improving our approach to preventing, identifying, and prosecuting these crimes.  We have also taken steps to prevent trafficking in the United States by strengthening protections for vulnerable workers, including issuing new rules to improve worker protections and strengthen program integrity in temporary visa programs and releasing an updated version of the Department of State’s Wilberforce “Know Your Rights” pamphlet.

Around the world, we are also working with governments and organizations to put a stop to human trafficking.  I signed the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in 2021 and, from the moment the law took effect in 2022, Federal agencies have been working to ensure that no American imports are produced using forced labor.  I signed the first-ever Presidential Memorandum to prioritize strong labor standards in our Nation’s foreign policy as we work to build a world where our economic system gives predatory traffickers no safe harbor.  In the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Department of State measured progress in 188 countries, including the United States, by deploying powerful technology tools to combat this scourge, and sanctioned over 240 individuals and entities for serious human rights abuses under the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program.

During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I encourage Americans to learn the signs of human trafficking and share the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888), where one can report a tip or ask for help.  Together, we can create a world where every person is treated with dignity and respect, lives free from fear, and can lead a life full of freedom and liberty.

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 January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  I call upon businesses, civil society organizations, communities of faith, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we play in combating human trafficking and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities aimed at preventing all forms of human trafficking.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

Across the world, more than 27 million people, including thousands here at home, are subjected to the shameful, abhorrent abuse of human trafficking and forced labor.  Human trafficking targets the most vulnerable in society and exploits them — denying their human rights, freedom, and dignity.  It is a stain on our collective conscience and an affront to basic human dignity.  During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we recommit to working to end human trafficking in America and around the globe.

Any form of trafficking in people — from forced labor to sex trafficking — must not be tolerated, in the United States or anywhere around the world.  That is why in 2021, I signed an updated National Action Plan (NAP) to Combat Human Trafficking, detailing my Administration’s focus on prosecuting perpetrators, protecting survivors, and partnering with governments and organizations around the globe to end this scourge.  The NAP also recognizes that human traffickers target people considered vulnerable in society — people from racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, and others from marginalized backgrounds. 

Here at home, we have worked to crack down on human trafficking and combat gender-based violence in America.  I remain proud that I first wrote the Violence Against Women Act as a United States Senator and I have worked to strengthen it ever since.  That is why when I reauthorized it in 2022, I expanded Tribal court jurisdiction to prosecute non-Native sex traffickers.  Furthermore, through my American Rescue Plan, my Administration delivered tens of thousands of housing vouchers to ensure people fleeing human trafficking or other violence have a safe home to go to.  At the same time, we have been committed to working with survivors to support their path to recovery and healing, and improving our approach to preventing, identifying, and prosecuting these crimes.  We have also taken steps to prevent trafficking in the United States by strengthening protections for vulnerable workers, including issuing new rules to improve worker protections and strengthen program integrity in temporary visa programs and releasing an updated version of the Department of State’s Wilberforce “Know Your Rights” pamphlet.

Around the world, we are also working with governments and organizations to put a stop to human trafficking.  I signed the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in 2021 and, from the moment the law took effect in 2022, Federal agencies have been working to ensure that no American imports are produced using forced labor.  I signed the first-ever Presidential Memorandum to prioritize strong labor standards in our Nation’s foreign policy as we work to build a world where our economic system gives predatory traffickers no safe harbor.  In the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, the Department of State measured progress in 188 countries, including the United States, by deploying powerful technology tools to combat this scourge, and sanctioned over 240 individuals and entities for serious human rights abuses under the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Program.

During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, I encourage Americans to learn the signs of human trafficking and share the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888), where one can report a tip or ask for help.  Together, we can create a world where every person is treated with dignity and respect, lives free from fear, and can lead a life full of freedom and liberty.

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 January 2025 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  I call upon businesses, civil society organizations, communities of faith, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we play in combating human trafficking and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities aimed at preventing all forms of human trafficking.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post A Proclamation on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

By this Message, I officially inform you of the death of James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.

     President Carter was a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history.  He embodied the very best of America:  A humble servant of God and the people.  A heroic champion of global peace and human rights, and an honorable leader whose moral clarity and hopeful vision lifted our Nation and changed our world.

     The son of a farmer and a nurse, President Carter’s remarkable career in public service began in 1943 as a cadet at the United States Naval Academy.  He later served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets before becoming a decorated lieutenant, and being selected to join the elite nuclear submarine program.

     After his father died, he shifted from active duty to the Navy Reserve and returned home to Plains, Georgia, to help manage his family’s peanut farm.  He worked hard stewarding the land while leading his community as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and board member of a hospital and library.  His deep faith inspired a passion for public service that led him to be elected State Senator, Georgia’s 76th Governor, and ultimately President of the United States.

     As President, he understood that Government must be as good as its people — and his faith in the people was boundless just as his belief in America was limitless and his hope for our common future was perennial.

     With President Carter’s leadership, the modern Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created.  He championed conservation and his commitment to a more just world was at the heart of his foreign policy, leading on nuclear nonproliferation, signing the Panama Canal treaties, and mediating the historic 1978 Camp David Accords.  His partnership with Vice President Walter Mondale is one that future administrations strived to achieve.

     Following his Presidency, President Carter advanced an agenda that elevated the least among us.  Guided by an unwavering belief in the power of human goodness and the God-given dignity of every human being, he worked tirelessly around the globe to broker peace; eradicate disease; house the homeless; and protect human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Through his extraordinary moral leadership, President Carter lived a noble life full of meaning and purpose.  And as a trusted spiritual leader, he shepherded people through seasons of pain and joy, inspiring them through the power of his example and healing them through the power of his guidance.

     As we mourn the loss of President Carter, we hold the memory of his beloved Rosalynn, his wife of over 77 years, close in our hearts.  Exemplifying hope, warmth, and service, she and her husband inspired the Nation.  The love Rosalynn and President Carter shared is the definition of partnership, and their devotion to public service is the definition of patriotism. 

     May President Carter’s memory continue to be a light pointing us forward.  May we continue to be guided by his spirit in our Nation and in our world.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    December 30, 2024.

The post Message to the Congress on Death of James Earl Carter, Jr. appeared first on The White House.

By this Message, I officially inform you of the death of James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States.

     President Carter was a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history.  He embodied the very best of America:  A humble servant of God and the people.  A heroic champion of global peace and human rights, and an honorable leader whose moral clarity and hopeful vision lifted our Nation and changed our world.

     The son of a farmer and a nurse, President Carter’s remarkable career in public service began in 1943 as a cadet at the United States Naval Academy.  He later served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets before becoming a decorated lieutenant, and being selected to join the elite nuclear submarine program.

     After his father died, he shifted from active duty to the Navy Reserve and returned home to Plains, Georgia, to help manage his family’s peanut farm.  He worked hard stewarding the land while leading his community as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and board member of a hospital and library.  His deep faith inspired a passion for public service that led him to be elected State Senator, Georgia’s 76th Governor, and ultimately President of the United States.

     As President, he understood that Government must be as good as its people — and his faith in the people was boundless just as his belief in America was limitless and his hope for our common future was perennial.

     With President Carter’s leadership, the modern Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created.  He championed conservation and his commitment to a more just world was at the heart of his foreign policy, leading on nuclear nonproliferation, signing the Panama Canal treaties, and mediating the historic 1978 Camp David Accords.  His partnership with Vice President Walter Mondale is one that future administrations strived to achieve.

     Following his Presidency, President Carter advanced an agenda that elevated the least among us.  Guided by an unwavering belief in the power of human goodness and the God-given dignity of every human being, he worked tirelessly around the globe to broker peace; eradicate disease; house the homeless; and protect human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Through his extraordinary moral leadership, President Carter lived a noble life full of meaning and purpose.  And as a trusted spiritual leader, he shepherded people through seasons of pain and joy, inspiring them through the power of his example and healing them through the power of his guidance.

     As we mourn the loss of President Carter, we hold the memory of his beloved Rosalynn, his wife of over 77 years, close in our hearts.  Exemplifying hope, warmth, and service, she and her husband inspired the Nation.  The love Rosalynn and President Carter shared is the definition of partnership, and their devotion to public service is the definition of patriotism. 

     May President Carter’s memory continue to be a light pointing us forward.  May we continue to be guided by his spirit in our Nation and in our world.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    December 30, 2024.

The post Message to the Congress on Death of James Earl Carter, Jr. appeared first on The White House.

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States. 

Sec. 2.  The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3.  January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States. 

Sec. 4.  The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    December 30, 2024.

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By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1.  All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States. 

Sec. 2.  The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.

Sec. 3.  January 9, 2025, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States. 

Sec. 4.  The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.

Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

     (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

     (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    December 30, 2024.

The post Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025 appeared first on The White House.

Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression.  

Since Russia launched its further assault against Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the Ukrainian people, and it has been a top priority of mine to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. Today’s announcement—which includes an additional $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package—builds on this effort and will provide Ukraine with both an immediate influx of capabilities that it continues to use to great effect on the battlefield and longer-term supplies of air defense, artillery, and other critical weapons systems.

As I committed earlier this year, the Department of Defense has now allocated all remaining USAI funds appropriated by Congress in the supplemental that I signed in April, and my Administration is fully utilizing the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine. I’ve directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible—including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons. The Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles which will strengthen Ukraine’s hand as it heads into the winter.  At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on U.S. Support for Ukraine’s Defense appeared first on The White House.

Today, I am proud to announce nearly $2.5 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, as the Ukrainian people continue to defend their independence and freedom from Russian aggression.  

Since Russia launched its further assault against Ukraine in February 2022, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the Ukrainian people, and it has been a top priority of mine to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. Today’s announcement—which includes an additional $1.25 billion drawdown package for the Ukrainian military and a $1.22 billion Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) package—builds on this effort and will provide Ukraine with both an immediate influx of capabilities that it continues to use to great effect on the battlefield and longer-term supplies of air defense, artillery, and other critical weapons systems.

As I committed earlier this year, the Department of Defense has now allocated all remaining USAI funds appropriated by Congress in the supplemental that I signed in April, and my Administration is fully utilizing the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine. I’ve directed my Administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible—including drawing down older U.S. equipment for Ukraine, rapidly delivering it to the battlefield, and then revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base to modernize and replenish our stockpiles with new weapons. The Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles which will strengthen Ukraine’s hand as it heads into the winter.  At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on U.S. Support for Ukraine’s Defense appeared first on The White House.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:

It is my solemn duty to announce officially the death of James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States, on December 29, 2024.

President Carter was a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history.  He embodied the very best of America:  A humble servant of God and the people.  A heroic champion of global peace and human rights, and an honorable leader whose moral clarity and hopeful vision lifted our Nation and changed our world.

The son of a farmer and a nurse, President Carter’s remarkable career in public service began in 1943 as a cadet at the United States Naval Academy.  He later served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets before becoming a decorated lieutenant and being selected to join the elite nuclear submarine program.

After his father died, he shifted from active duty to the Navy Reserve and returned home to Plains, Georgia, to help manage his family’s peanut farm.  He worked hard stewarding the land while leading his community as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and board member of a hospital and library.  His deep faith inspired a passion for public service that led him to be elected State Senator, Georgia’s 76th Governor, and ultimately President of the United States.  

As President, he understood that Government must be as good as its people — and his faith in the people was boundless just as his belief in America was limitless and his hope for our common future was perennial.

With President Carter’s leadership, the modern Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created.  He championed conservation, and his commitment to a more just world was at the heart of his foreign policy, leading on nuclear nonproliferation, signing the Panama Canal treaties, and mediating the historic 1978 Camp David Accords.  His partnership with Vice President Walter Mondale is one that future administrations strived to achieve.

Following his Presidency, President Carter advanced an agenda that elevated the least among us.  Guided by an unwavering belief in the power of human goodness and the God‑given dignity of every human being, he worked tirelessly around the globe to broker peace; eradicate disease; house the homeless; and protect human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Through his extraordinary moral leadership, President Carter lived a noble life full of meaning and purpose.  And as a trusted spiritual leader, he shepherded people through seasons of pain and joy, inspiring them through the power of his example and healing them through the power of his guidance.

As we mourn the loss of President Carter, we hold the memory of his beloved Rosalynn, his wife of over 77 years, close in our hearts.  Exemplifying hope, warmth, and service, she and her husband inspired the Nation.  The love Rosalynn and President Carter shared is the definition of partnership, and their devotion to public service is the definition of patriotism.

May President Carter’s memory continue to be a light pointing us forward.  May we continue to be guided by his spirit in our Nation and in our world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr., and as an expression of public sorrow, do hereby direct that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for a period of 30 days from the day of his death.  I also direct that, for the same length of time, the representatives of the United States in foreign countries shall make similar arrangements for the display of the flag at half‑staff over their embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

     I hereby order that suitable honors be rendered by units of the Armed Forces under orders of the Secretary of Defense.

     I do further appoint January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States.  I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.  I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Proclamation Announcing the Death of James Earl Carter, Jr. appeared first on The White House.

TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES:

It is my solemn duty to announce officially the death of James Earl Carter, Jr., the thirty-ninth President of the United States, on December 29, 2024.

President Carter was a man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history.  He embodied the very best of America:  A humble servant of God and the people.  A heroic champion of global peace and human rights, and an honorable leader whose moral clarity and hopeful vision lifted our Nation and changed our world.

The son of a farmer and a nurse, President Carter’s remarkable career in public service began in 1943 as a cadet at the United States Naval Academy.  He later served in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets before becoming a decorated lieutenant and being selected to join the elite nuclear submarine program.

After his father died, he shifted from active duty to the Navy Reserve and returned home to Plains, Georgia, to help manage his family’s peanut farm.  He worked hard stewarding the land while leading his community as a church deacon, Sunday school teacher, and board member of a hospital and library.  His deep faith inspired a passion for public service that led him to be elected State Senator, Georgia’s 76th Governor, and ultimately President of the United States.  

As President, he understood that Government must be as good as its people — and his faith in the people was boundless just as his belief in America was limitless and his hope for our common future was perennial.

With President Carter’s leadership, the modern Department of Education and the Department of Energy were created.  He championed conservation, and his commitment to a more just world was at the heart of his foreign policy, leading on nuclear nonproliferation, signing the Panama Canal treaties, and mediating the historic 1978 Camp David Accords.  His partnership with Vice President Walter Mondale is one that future administrations strived to achieve.

Following his Presidency, President Carter advanced an agenda that elevated the least among us.  Guided by an unwavering belief in the power of human goodness and the God‑given dignity of every human being, he worked tirelessly around the globe to broker peace; eradicate disease; house the homeless; and protect human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Through his extraordinary moral leadership, President Carter lived a noble life full of meaning and purpose.  And as a trusted spiritual leader, he shepherded people through seasons of pain and joy, inspiring them through the power of his example and healing them through the power of his guidance.

As we mourn the loss of President Carter, we hold the memory of his beloved Rosalynn, his wife of over 77 years, close in our hearts.  Exemplifying hope, warmth, and service, she and her husband inspired the Nation.  The love Rosalynn and President Carter shared is the definition of partnership, and their devotion to public service is the definition of patriotism.

May President Carter’s memory continue to be a light pointing us forward.  May we continue to be guided by his spirit in our Nation and in our world.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, in honor and tribute to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr., and as an expression of public sorrow, do hereby direct that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for a period of 30 days from the day of his death.  I also direct that, for the same length of time, the representatives of the United States in foreign countries shall make similar arrangements for the display of the flag at half‑staff over their embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

     I hereby order that suitable honors be rendered by units of the Armed Forces under orders of the Secretary of Defense.

     I do further appoint January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States.  I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.  I invite the people of the world who share our grief to join us in this solemn observance.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

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