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In October, unemployment was unchanged at 4.1%, but the devastation from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and new strike activity, lowered job growth. Job growth is expected to rebound in November as our hurricane recovery and rebuilding efforts continue. In addition, I want to congratulate the leadership of the Machinists and Boeing for negotiating a new contract proposal that will be voted on by union members. Machinists at Boeing have sacrificed over the years and deserve a strong contract.

America’s economy remains strong, with 16 million jobs created since I took office, including an average 180,000 jobs created each month over the last year—more than the year before the pandemic. We have the lowest average unemployment rate of any administration in 50 years, our economy has grown more than any presidential term this century, incomes are up $4,000 over prices, and inflation has fallen nearly to its 2% target.

There’s more work to do. We are working every day to lower costs for working families on rent, prescription drugs, health insurance, and child care. Congressional Republicans, however, are proposing a national sales tax that would cost families nearly $4,000 a year, hurt American manufacturing, and cut hundreds of thousands of jobs. They are fighting for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations—we are fighting to grow the middle class.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the October 2024 Jobs Report appeared first on The White House.

The application for the 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program is now open.

Today, Rose Vela, Director of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, announced the opening of the application season for the 2025-2026 White House Fellowship year: “This uniquely non-partisan program has a distinguished legacy that reaches back more than half a century, and we hope that Americans with a passion for leadership and public service will take a look at the website, examine the criteria, and consider applying – or urge others to consider applying.”

Founded in 1964, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships is the Nation’s premier program for leadership and public service. The White House Fellowship offers exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal Government on a strictly non-partisan basis. Selected individuals spend one year in Washington, D.C., working as full-time paid government employees, aiding Cabinet Secretaries, senior White House staff, and other top-ranking government officials.

The program has fostered a remarkable legacy of leadership. Of the nearly 900 alumni in the last half-century, scores have gone on to top positions in the military, business, education, media, and philanthropy. Alumni currently serving in the Administration include Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Deputy Secretary of State Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, and U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte.

The 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program year will begin in August 2025, and conclude in August 2026. All applicants must be United States citizens, and must have completed at least their undergraduate education. With the exception of active-duty military personnel, Federal Government employees are not eligible to apply.

Selection criteria include:

• A record of remarkable early-career professional achievement.
• Evidence of leadership skills and the potential for further growth.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service.
• The skills to succeed at the highest levels of the Federal Government and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Interested individuals may apply at: https://fellows.whitehouse.gov/. The application is available as of November 1, 2024, and will remain open until January 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Any applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

For more information, including details about the Fellowship, its history, and the selection process, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get–involved/fellows/. Any questions regarding the White House Fellows Program can be directed to whitehousefellows@who.eop.gov.

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The post 2025-2026 White House Fellowship appeared first on The White House.

The application for the 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program is now open.

Today, Rose Vela, Director of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships, announced the opening of the application season for the 2025-2026 White House Fellowship year: “This uniquely non-partisan program has a distinguished legacy that reaches back more than half a century, and we hope that Americans with a passion for leadership and public service will take a look at the website, examine the criteria, and consider applying – or urge others to consider applying.”

Founded in 1964, the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships is the Nation’s premier program for leadership and public service. The White House Fellowship offers exceptional Americans first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal Government on a strictly non-partisan basis. Selected individuals spend one year in Washington, D.C., working as full-time paid government employees, aiding Cabinet Secretaries, senior White House staff, and other top-ranking government officials.

The program has fostered a remarkable legacy of leadership. Of the nearly 900 alumni in the last half-century, scores have gone on to top positions in the military, business, education, media, and philanthropy. Alumni currently serving in the Administration include Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Deputy Secretary of State Dr. Kurt M. Campbell, and U.S. Ambassador to Panama Mari Carmen Aponte.

The 2025-2026 White House Fellows Program year will begin in August 2025, and conclude in August 2026. All applicants must be United States citizens, and must have completed at least their undergraduate education. With the exception of active-duty military personnel, Federal Government employees are not eligible to apply.

Selection criteria include:

• A record of remarkable early-career professional achievement.
• Evidence of leadership skills and the potential for further growth.
• A demonstrated commitment to public service.
• The skills to succeed at the highest levels of the Federal Government and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.

Interested individuals may apply at: https://fellows.whitehouse.gov/. The application is available as of November 1, 2024, and will remain open until January 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Any applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

For more information, including details about the Fellowship, its history, and the selection process, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get–involved/fellows/. Any questions regarding the White House Fellows Program can be directed to whitehousefellows@who.eop.gov.

###

The post 2025-2026 White House Fellowship appeared first on The White House.

President Biden travels to Philadelphia to announce over 29,000 union workers and retirees covered by a Pennsylvania-based pension plan will have their benefits protected.

Today President Biden will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to announce that the Biden-Harris Administration has protected more than 1.2 million pensions because of the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) Butch Lewis Act, according to a new report from the Department of Labor. During the visit, President Biden will announce actions to prevent cuts to the earned pension benefits of 29,000 United Food and Commercial (UFCW) workers and retirees, primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan – which zero Republicans voted for – the Biden-Harris Administration has protected the pensions of over 65,000 Pennsylvanians, 80,000 Michiganders, 78,000 New Yorkers, 73,000 Illinoisans, 63,000 Ohioans, 63,000 Californians, 42,000 Floridians, 38,000 Missourians, 36,000 Texans, and many more to date.

The President’s announcement in Philadelphia comes after the Vice President announced the protection of pension benefits of over 22,500 union workers and retirees under the Detroit Carpenters Pension Fund last month.

Last week, President Biden spoke with Pennsylvania residents Roger Custer, a retired Teamster, and his wife, Marsha. Roger’s earned pension benefits were cut by hundreds of dollars per month in 2019, but because of the American Rescue Plan, Roger’s pension benefits were fully restored and protected for decades to come.

Since they took office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have fought hard to protect union workers and ensure a secure retirement for every American.  The ARP’s Butch Lewis Act pension protections – called the Special Financial Assistance program – will provide security for roughly 2 million workers and retirees, ensuring their pensions remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that these workers have earned over the next several decades. Additionally, for retirees who previously suffered cuts to their earned benefits due to their pension plans becoming insolvent, or to avoid future pension plan insolvency, the Butch Lewis Act restores their benefit level and makes them whole for previous losses.

Today’s announcement will save the workers and retirees covered by the UFCW Tristate Pension Fund from an estimated reduction to their earned benefits of 15% on average beginning within four years. Instead, thanks to ARP, the plan will now pay full benefits to workers and retirees into at least the 2050s.

The President also will highlight new data from the Department of Labor’s report showing the historic progress in delivering pension security for union workers and retirees that finds:

• More than 120,000 retirees who otherwise would have continued to suffer or would have seen new reductions in their earned pension benefits have instead received an average of roughly $13,600 each in earned benefits so far that were protected or restored thanks to President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan. The Butch Lewis Act is restoring benefits levels, making retirees whole for previous benefit cuts, and preventing additional cuts that would have resulted from new plan insolvencies suffered through no fault of their own. That includes thousands of Western Pennsylvania Teamster retirees who saw their benefits cut by up to 30% back in 2019.

• Workers and retirees in plans receiving assistance from the Butch Lewis Act had suffered or faced projected average cuts of 41% to their monthly pension benefits, with many facing cuts to earned benefits as large as 70% or more.

• Union workers and retirees across many industries have had their pension benefits protectedto date, including:
  • Nearly 620,000 workers and retirees in Teamster pension plans,
  • More than 152,000 workers and retirees in UFCW pension plans,
  • More than 103,000 workers and retirees in Bakers and Confectionery worker pensions plans,
  • Over 89,000 workers and retirees in United Steelworker pension plans,
  • Tens of thousands of workers and retirees in Communications Worker of America (55,000), Musicians (49,000), and Carpenters (29,000) pension plans, among many more.

The pension protection legislation included in President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan was named after veteran and retired Teamster Butch Lewis (1951-2015) for his role in fighting to protect union retirees’ pensions from harsh benefit cuts through no fault of their own. Ultimately, the Butch Lewis Act is expected to ensure roughly 2 million workers’ and retirees’ pension plans remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that workers have earned through at least 2051, making its inclusion in the ARP the most significant effort to protect the solvency of the multiemployer pension system in 50 years.

Today’s announcement builds on historic actions President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken to support union workers. While the prior Administration rolled back overtime protections and appointed union busters to the National Labor Relations Board, this Administration has expanded overtime protections for millions of workers, appointed worker advocates to the National Labor Relations Board, and also ensured federal dollars are going to create good jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and that federal construction projects are built using a project labor agreement. The Biden Administration has also expanded worker protections and safety, made it easier to organize and collectively bargain, provided funding to increase registered apprenticeship programs, and is making sure the Administration’s historic infrastructure investments are built with American-made construction materials and create good jobs. And, the Administration worked to protect and strengthen Social Security and the retirement plans of hardworking Americans, including by taking action to ensure retirement advisors act in the financial interest of retirement savers. The President also signed SECURE 2.0 into law, which encourages more employers to offer retirement plan benefits to their workers and makes it easier for Americans to save for retirement.

Ensuring that union workers and their families enjoy the retirement security they earned through a lifetime of work is just one of the ways that the Biden-Harris Administration has kept its commitment to workers and delivered on being the most pro-union administration in American history.

States with the most workers and retirees who have had pensions protected under the Biden-Harris Administration, through October 2024:

StateWorkers and retirees protectedMichiganMore than 809,000New YorkMore than 78,000IllinoisMore than 73,000PennsylvaniaMore than 65,000OhioMore than 63,000CaliforniaMore than 63,000FloridaMore than 42,000MissouriMore than 38,000TexasMore than 36,000MassachusettsMore than 35,000IndianaMore than 34,000WisconsinMore than 33,000MarylandMore than 32,000New JerseyMore than 31,000MinnesotaMore than 30,000TennesseeMore than 25,000GeorgiaMore than 24,000North CarolinaMore than 19,000VirginiaMore than 18,000KentuckyMore than 17,000

Source: Department of Labor, “Report on Special Financial Assistance”

The post FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces 1.2 Million Pensions Protected Under Biden-Harris Administration, Celebrates Historic Support for Unions appeared first on The White House.

President Biden travels to Philadelphia to announce over 29,000 union workers and retirees covered by a Pennsylvania-based pension plan will have their benefits protected.

Today President Biden will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to announce that the Biden-Harris Administration has protected more than 1.2 million pensions because of the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) Butch Lewis Act, according to a new report from the Department of Labor. During the visit, President Biden will announce actions to prevent cuts to the earned pension benefits of 29,000 United Food and Commercial (UFCW) workers and retirees, primarily in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan – which zero Republicans voted for – the Biden-Harris Administration has protected the pensions of over 65,000 Pennsylvanians, 80,000 Michiganders, 78,000 New Yorkers, 73,000 Illinoisans, 63,000 Ohioans, 63,000 Californians, 42,000 Floridians, 38,000 Missourians, 36,000 Texans, and many more to date.

The President’s announcement in Philadelphia comes after the Vice President announced the protection of pension benefits of over 22,500 union workers and retirees under the Detroit Carpenters Pension Fund last month.

Last week, President Biden spoke with Pennsylvania residents Roger Custer, a retired Teamster, and his wife, Marsha. Roger’s earned pension benefits were cut by hundreds of dollars per month in 2019, but because of the American Rescue Plan, Roger’s pension benefits were fully restored and protected for decades to come.

Since they took office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have fought hard to protect union workers and ensure a secure retirement for every American.  The ARP’s Butch Lewis Act pension protections – called the Special Financial Assistance program – will provide security for roughly 2 million workers and retirees, ensuring their pensions remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that these workers have earned over the next several decades. Additionally, for retirees who previously suffered cuts to their earned benefits due to their pension plans becoming insolvent, or to avoid future pension plan insolvency, the Butch Lewis Act restores their benefit level and makes them whole for previous losses.

Today’s announcement will save the workers and retirees covered by the UFCW Tristate Pension Fund from an estimated reduction to their earned benefits of 15% on average beginning within four years. Instead, thanks to ARP, the plan will now pay full benefits to workers and retirees into at least the 2050s.

The President also will highlight new data from the Department of Labor’s report showing the historic progress in delivering pension security for union workers and retirees that finds:

• More than 120,000 retirees who otherwise would have continued to suffer or would have seen new reductions in their earned pension benefits have instead received an average of roughly $13,600 each in earned benefits so far that were protected or restored thanks to President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan. The Butch Lewis Act is restoring benefits levels, making retirees whole for previous benefit cuts, and preventing additional cuts that would have resulted from new plan insolvencies suffered through no fault of their own. That includes thousands of Western Pennsylvania Teamster retirees who saw their benefits cut by up to 30% back in 2019.

• Workers and retirees in plans receiving assistance from the Butch Lewis Act had suffered or faced projected average cuts of 41% to their monthly pension benefits, with many facing cuts to earned benefits as large as 70% or more.

• Union workers and retirees across many industries have had their pension benefits protectedto date, including:
  • Nearly 620,000 workers and retirees in Teamster pension plans,
  • More than 152,000 workers and retirees in UFCW pension plans,
  • More than 103,000 workers and retirees in Bakers and Confectionery worker pensions plans,
  • Over 89,000 workers and retirees in United Steelworker pension plans,
  • Tens of thousands of workers and retirees in Communications Worker of America (55,000), Musicians (49,000), and Carpenters (29,000) pension plans, among many more.

The pension protection legislation included in President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s American Rescue Plan was named after veteran and retired Teamster Butch Lewis (1951-2015) for his role in fighting to protect union retirees’ pensions from harsh benefit cuts through no fault of their own. Ultimately, the Butch Lewis Act is expected to ensure roughly 2 million workers’ and retirees’ pension plans remain solvent and will be able to pay the full benefits that workers have earned through at least 2051, making its inclusion in the ARP the most significant effort to protect the solvency of the multiemployer pension system in 50 years.

Today’s announcement builds on historic actions President Biden and Vice President Harris have taken to support union workers. While the prior Administration rolled back overtime protections and appointed union busters to the National Labor Relations Board, this Administration has expanded overtime protections for millions of workers, appointed worker advocates to the National Labor Relations Board, and also ensured federal dollars are going to create good jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and that federal construction projects are built using a project labor agreement. The Biden Administration has also expanded worker protections and safety, made it easier to organize and collectively bargain, provided funding to increase registered apprenticeship programs, and is making sure the Administration’s historic infrastructure investments are built with American-made construction materials and create good jobs. And, the Administration worked to protect and strengthen Social Security and the retirement plans of hardworking Americans, including by taking action to ensure retirement advisors act in the financial interest of retirement savers. The President also signed SECURE 2.0 into law, which encourages more employers to offer retirement plan benefits to their workers and makes it easier for Americans to save for retirement.

Ensuring that union workers and their families enjoy the retirement security they earned through a lifetime of work is just one of the ways that the Biden-Harris Administration has kept its commitment to workers and delivered on being the most pro-union administration in American history.

States with the most workers and retirees who have had pensions protected under the Biden-Harris Administration, through October 2024:

StateWorkers and retirees protectedMichiganMore than 809,000New YorkMore than 78,000IllinoisMore than 73,000PennsylvaniaMore than 65,000OhioMore than 63,000CaliforniaMore than 63,000FloridaMore than 42,000MissouriMore than 38,000TexasMore than 36,000MassachusettsMore than 35,000IndianaMore than 34,000WisconsinMore than 33,000MarylandMore than 32,000New JerseyMore than 31,000MinnesotaMore than 30,000TennesseeMore than 25,000GeorgiaMore than 24,000North CarolinaMore than 19,000VirginiaMore than 18,000KentuckyMore than 17,000

Source: Department of Labor, “Report on Special Financial Assistance”

The post FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces 1.2 Million Pensions Protected Under Biden-Harris Administration, Celebrates Historic Support for Unions appeared first on The White House.

Today is the first day of Open Enrollment for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, which has given millions of Americans the peace of mind that comes with quality health care. I am proud of the work we have done to make the Affordable Care Act more accessible and more affordable than ever – lowering costs by $800 per person per year and getting rid of red tape. As a result of my and Vice President Harris’s efforts, 9 million more Americans have been able to receive coverage, and starting today and running through January 15th, 2025, Americans across the country can join them.

Just this week, prominent Republicans in Congress threatened to undo this progress and undermine the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. Their plan would rip coverage away from over 45 million Americans, eliminate critical protections for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums for women and older adults, and erode Medicaid coverage for millions of children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. We won’t let it happen on our watch.

Vice President Harris and I will always stand up to these attempts to roll back access to health care and drive up costs. We will continue to fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. I encourage Americans to visit HealthCare.gov before January 15th to sign up for or renew your health coverage for 2025.

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The post Statement by President Joe Biden on the Beginning of the 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Period appeared first on The White House.

Today is the first day of Open Enrollment for health insurance in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, which has given millions of Americans the peace of mind that comes with quality health care. I am proud of the work we have done to make the Affordable Care Act more accessible and more affordable than ever – lowering costs by $800 per person per year and getting rid of red tape. As a result of my and Vice President Harris’s efforts, 9 million more Americans have been able to receive coverage, and starting today and running through January 15th, 2025, Americans across the country can join them.

Just this week, prominent Republicans in Congress threatened to undo this progress and undermine the Affordable Care Act, just like my predecessor tried and failed to do repeatedly. Their plan would rip coverage away from over 45 million Americans, eliminate critical protections for over 100 million people with pre-existing conditions, increase premiums for women and older adults, and erode Medicaid coverage for millions of children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities. We won’t let it happen on our watch.

Vice President Harris and I will always stand up to these attempts to roll back access to health care and drive up costs. We will continue to fight to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. I encourage Americans to visit HealthCare.gov before January 15th to sign up for or renew your health coverage for 2025.

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The post Statement by President Joe Biden on the Beginning of the 2025 ACA Open Enrollment Period appeared first on The White House.

Talking Stick Amphitheatre
Phoenix, Arizona

1:53 P.M. MST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Arizona.  (Applause.)  Hi, everyone. 

AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Okay, we have work to do.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Can we hear from Ruben Gallego?  (Applause.)

And I’ve known Ruben a long time and, of course, Arizona knows him so well.  He is a veteran of the Marine Corps, a proven leader, a champion for all of Arizona, and please send him to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

 So, it’s so good to be back in Arizona and Phoenix.  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)

     Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

     Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

     Oh, it’s good to be back and to be with so many incredible leaders. 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  I love you!

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you back.  (Laughter.)

I want to thank Governor Hobbs; Senator Kelly; Gabby Giffords — (applause); Mayors Gallego, Romero, and Giles — (applause); Ambassador Jeff Blake.  (Applause.)  I am so grateful to all of you for your support.

And to all the Tribal leaders, the elected leaders, community leaders here today — (applause) — I thank you.

And let’s hear it again for Los Tigres Del Norte.  (Applause.)

Okay, work to do.  So, Arizona, tomorrow, Friday, November fir- — by the way, Happy Halloween.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

So, tomorrow, Friday, November 1st is the last day to vote early in person.  And if you are voting by mail and still have your ballot, please take it to any drop box in your county or any voting location by 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 5th.  And you can go to IWillVote.com to get all the information you need.

And to all the leaders here: Please help spread the word on that.  (Applause.)  Okay?

And we need you to vote, Arizona, because we have five days left — (applause) — five days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.

And we have work to do, but we like hard work.  (Applause.) 

Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.)

And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win. 

And we will win because we know that it’s very clear to all of us here: When you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)

And we love our country.  And we love our country.  And we know, in this election, we have an opportunity to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We’re done with that.  We’re exhausted with that.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we know — and we know that’s who he is.  But, Phoenix, that is not who we are.  (Applause.)  That is not who we are.  And it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

And, Arizona, many of you know me.  I’m not afraid of tough fights.  For decades, I was a prosecutor.  I was the top law enforcement officer of the biggest state in our country, and I have won fights.  I won fights against the big banks that ripped off homeowners, against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students, against predators who abused women and children.  And we are fighting for democracy —

     (A protestor disruption can be heard.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And that’s all right.  That’s all right.  Democracy can be complicated, but we believe in democracy and the right of everyone — (applause) — to have their voices heard.  It’s all right.

 And I have fought for many who have harmed other human beings.  I have fought against the cartels that trafficked in guns, drugs, and human beings, and it is my pledge to you that if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)

     And look, we all know who Donald Trump is.  This is not —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Because here’s the thing we all know: He is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  This is someone who is unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and out for unchecked power.  And in less than 90 days, it will either be him or me in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes, we’re going to get this done.  And — and I thank you.  I thank you.  And here’s the thing, because we’re really clear, and we can all picture it — we can picture the Oval Office, right?  And if he is elected, on day one, Donald Trump would walk into that office with an enemies list.  On day one, when I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list.  (Applause.)

     And on top of my list is bringing down —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sí, se puede, sí.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  Sí, se puede.

AUDIENCE:  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  And on top of my list, in that spirit, is bringing down your cost of living.  (Applause.)  It’s an issue that we need to address, and it will be my focus every single day as President.

I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans.  (Applause.)  I will enact –I will enact the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)  I will fight to make sure that hardworking Americans can actually afford a place to live.  (Applause.)

And if you are caring for an elderly parent — look, I took care of my mother when she was sick. 

     (A protestor disruption can be heard.)

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  If you are taking care of an elderly parent, I understand what you are experiencing, and my plan will cover the cost of care under Medicare for the seniors in your life who need help and support.  (Applause.)

Because so much of my plan, for me, is about the dignity that all people deserve, which is why my plan inlu- — includes lowering the cost of childcare, cutting taxes for small businesses, and lowering health care costs. 

Do we have small businesses in the house?  (Applause.) 

I will focus on health care, because this is where I come from.  I believe access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.)

On the other hand, Donald Trump’s answer to th- —

     (A protestor disruption can be heard.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, guys, you know what?  Here is the thing.  Let’s talk for a moment about Gaza.  We all want this war to end and get the hostages out.  (Applause.)  And I will work on it full time when I am elected president, as I’ve been.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’ve got your back!

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I have yours.  (Applause.)

So, there’s a contrast in this election on so many issues, including our plans for America’s economy.  Donald Trump’s answer to the financial pressures you face is the same as the last time: another trillion dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and the biggest corporations, and this time he will pay for it.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, his plan is a 20 percent national sales tax on everything you buy that is imported: clothes, food, toys, cell phones.

A Trump sales tax, according to The Economist, would cost the average American family an additional $4,000 a year.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of that, Donald Trump still wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — also known as Obamacare, and he has a powerful friend in Congress, the speaker of the House, who recently said, if Trump wins, there will be, quote, “no Obamacare,” which would throw — understand the meaning of that.  It would throw millions of Americans off of their health insurance and take us back to the time, which we remember, when insurance companies could deny people with preexisting conditions.

     Well, we are —

     AUDIENCE:  Not going back! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)  We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are not going back.  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back.

And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future, and it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.) 

And remember how we got here: Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.  And now, in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many with no exceptions even for rape and incest, which is immoral.  

And — and — and Donald Trump is not done.  Did everyone hear what he just said yesterday?  That he will do what he wants, quote — and here’s where I’m going to quote — “whether the women like it or not.”

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     Vote!  Vote!  Vote!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we must vote, because this is the thing.  You know, there’s a saying that you got to listen to people when they tell you who you are — who they are.  And this is not the first time he has told us who he is.  He does not believe women should have the agency and authority to make decisions about their own bodies. 

This is the same man who said women should be punished for their choices.  He simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to know what’s in their own best interest and make decisions accordingly.

But we trust women.  (Applause.)  We trust women, which is why, yes, we will vote, because we also understand, if he was elected, he has been pretty clear in his behavior and his deeds.  He will ban abortion nationwide.  He will restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and force states to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

 And you don’t have to take my word for it.  Just google Project 2025.

 AUDIENCE:  Booo —

 THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Read the plans for yourself.

And I think everyone here knows that we can agree one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government shouldn’t be telling her what to do.  (Applause.)  Not the government.  Not the government.

So, Arizona, to protect your right to make your own health care decisions, I would recommend you vote yes on Proposition 139 — (applause) — and make sure you vote up and down the ballot to truly protect that right.

     And it is my pledge to you: When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.

So, Arizona, I’m here to ask for your vote — (applause) — which I would be so honored to have.  And here is my pledge to you.  As president, I pledge to you to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.

I will tell you I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress. 

     I pledge to you to listen to experts, to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, and I pledge to you to listen to people who disagree with me.

And unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  Who — he wants to put them in jail.  I’ll give them a seat at the table — (applause) — because that’s how a democracy works, and that’s how real leaders work.  (Applause.)

And I pledge to you to always put country above party and above self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)  That is my sincere pledge to you.

 And so, Phoenix, with five days left in this campaign, my opponent is also making his closing argument to America —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And you’ve probably seen a bit of it.  It is an argument that is full of hate and division.  He insults Latinos, scapegoats immigrants.  And it’s not just what he says, it’s what he will do.  If elected, you can be sure he will bring back family separation policies —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — only on a much greater scale than last time.  And it is time then to turn the page on Donald Trump.  (Applause.)  We are done with that. 

So, five days out, and it all comes down to this.  We are here together, and you all have taken time out of all the demands on your life and your busy schedules.  You have taken the time to be here because I know we all love our country.  We love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.

And when you love something, you fight for it.  You fight for it. 

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yes.  Yes.  And with that spirit — and with this spirit, we know that one of the highest forms of patriotism, the love that we have for our country, is to then fight for its ideals and to fight to realize the promise of America.  That’s what this is about. 

And I have always believed in our nation’s promise, because I have lived it.  I grew up as a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to marches when I was in a stroller.  And people, during that time, would come together from every walk of life, together from every background, every race, and come together to fight for freedom and opportunity.  (Applause.)

Gro- — growing up — when I was growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to give her two daughters the same chances our country gave her.  And I was blessed to have family by blood and to have family by love — (applause) — who instilled — who instilled in me the values of community and compassion and faith.

I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and counted out but never stopped believing that anything in our country is possible. 

I have lived the promise of America, and today I see the promise of America in everyone here, in all of you.  (Applause.)

I see the promise of America in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom — (applause) — and the men who support them — (applause); in the fathers and mothers who work hard every day for their children’s future — (applause); in Republicans who have never voted for a Democrat before but put the Constitution of the United States before party.  (Applause.)

 And I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  Where are you?  Let me see you.

And I love this generation of leaders.  You are rightly — (applause) — I mean, you guys are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)  And you are determined to live free from gun violence, to tackle the climate crisis, to shape the world you inherit.  (Applause.)

And for our young leaders — here’s the thing.  None of this is theoretical for them.  It’s not political.  For you all, it is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your incredible power, and I am so proud of you.  So, can we hear it for the first-time voters who are here?  (Applause.) 

Although, why aren’t you guys in class?  (Laughter.)  It’s okay.

So, Arizona, we have five days to get this done, and no one can sit on the sidelines.  Let’s spend the next five days so that when we look back on these five days, we’ll know we did everything we could. 

So, let’s knock on doors.  Let’s text and call voters.  Let’s reach out to family and friends and neighbors and coworkers and classmates. 

And as we do, here is my request.  Let us please be intentional about building community.  Let us be intentional about building coalitions. 

You know, there’s been so much about these last several years that is making people feel alone, making people point their fingers at each other as though we’re not all in this together. 

 So, let’s approach this with the spirit that is about bringing folks back together, and reminding everyone, the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  So, let’s approach it that way.  Let’s approach it that way.  We will be the stronger for it.

And always remember: Your vote is your voice and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

So, Arizona, today, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

     And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

     And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

     God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.

                             END                2:17 P.M. MST

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Phoenix, AZ appeared first on The White House.

Reno Events Center
Reno, Nevada

5:21 P.M. PDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Nevada.  (Applause.)  We’re doing this.  Happy Nevada Day!  (Applause.)

And can we please hear it for Michon?  (Applause.)

Oh, it’s good to be back.  (Applause.)  Oh, it’s good to be back.  Oh, it’s good to be back. 

It’s — I have spent a lot of time in Reno over the years, and it is so good to be back in Reno.  Are we ready to do this?  (Applause.) 

     Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.)

     Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

Yes.  It is so good to be back and with so many incredible leaders.  And I want to just start by thanking everyone here for taking time out of your busy lives to be here this afternoon for us to celebrate — (applause) — to celebrate each other and community.  And I thank you, everyone. 

 I want to thank my dear, dear friend, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto.  (Applause.)  As you know, we were AGs together.  I was in California; she was here.  We were fighting the good fight, arm in arm, always together. 

I want to thank Mayor Schieve — (applause); DNC

chair, Jaime Harrison —  (applause); Michael Gordon with LiUNA Local 169 — (applause); and, Nevada, please send Jacky Rosen back to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)

And to all the Tribal elected and community leaders with us today — (applause) — I thank you.  I thank you.  I thank you.

So, Reno, tomorrow — well, by the way, Happy Halloween.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

So, tomorrow, Friday, November 1st, is the last day to vote early in person.  And if you are voting by mail, please do not wait.  Sign the envelope and return your ballot today.  Your ballot must be returned to a drop box or postmarked by Election Day, next Tuesday, November 5th.  So, please help get the word out and ask people to go to IWillVote.com if they’re not sure.  (Applause.)  Let’s spread the word.

And we need you to vote, Nevada.  You are going to make the difference in the outcome of this election.  And I thank you.  I thank you.  (Applause.)

So, okay, we got some work to do.  Okay, we have five days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.  And we do have work to do. 

But here’s the thing I know about everybody here: We like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.)  And make no mistake: We will win.  We will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.

And one of the reasons we will win is because I know who the folks are here.  I know who you are.  And here’s the thing about all of us: We know that when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  You know what to fight for.

And we know we have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We’re done with that.  (Applause.)  We’re exhausted by it.  We’re done with that.  We’re done with it. 

And, Reno, this is the thing.  We know that this is not who we are.  That’s not who we are.  And it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

     And, Nevada — (applause) — we’re going to —

     AUDIENCE:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  All right.  Okay, okay.  We got work to do.  We got work to do. 

So, listen — but let me say this.  And a lot of folks here know: I am not afraid of tough fights.  For decades, as a prosecutor and as a top law enforcement officer of the — of the first cousin of Nevada, California — (laughter) — I won fights. 

I won fights with Catherine against the big banks that ripped off homeowners — (applause); against for profit colleges that scammed veterans and students — (applause); against predators who harmed women and children; against the cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

And it is my pledge to you that if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way of fighting for you — (applause) — for the people. 

     And, look, we know who Donald Trump is —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — because we all know he is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  And this is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance, and he’s out for unchecked power.  And in less than 90 days, either he or I will be sitting in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

And, listen, here’s what we can imagine, right?  We’ve all seen on TV — you’ve seen the Oval Office.  But here’s the thing.  Just — we have to get the word out to help people even just visually imagine what that day will be, because if elected, Donald Trump, on day one, would walk into that office with an enemies list.  When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list — (applause) — on behalf of you.

And at the top of my list is bringing down your cost of living.  That will be my focus every single day as president.  (Applause.)  I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans, enact — enact the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)  I’ve taken on that issue before.  I’ll take it on again. 

I will make housing more affordable by building more homes and taking on corporate landlords who unfairly buy up all these properties and jack up rents.  (Applause.) 

We will fight for working families by raising the minimum wage and eliminating taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.  (Applause.)

And if you’re caring for an elderly parent — I took care of my mother when she was sick.  Listen, this is personal for me, as so many of these issues.  If you are taking care of an elderly parent, my plan will cover the cost of home health care for seniors with Medicare — (applause) — so you don’t have to deplete whatever savings you’ve got to qualify for Medicaid. 

It’s just about dignity so that seniors can stay in their homes and you can be able to do all that you need to do — especially if any of you are in the sandwich generation, raising young kids while you’re taking care of your parents.  It’s just about dignity.  (Applause.)

 My plan will lower the cost of childcare.  Same point: We will also cut taxes for small businesses.  Can I see the small-business owners who are here?  (Applause.)  Oh, I love our small businesses.

And we will lower health care costs, because here’s where I come from.  I believe that health care should be a right — (applause) — and not just a privilege of those who can afford it. 

So, this is about values, right?  How do you think about what people need to live with dignity, to live where they are able to work and know that it actually means something that is not just about getting by but getting ahead?

On the other hand, Donald Trump’s answer to the financial pressures you face is the same as it was the last time: another trillion dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, he will pay for it with a 20 percent national sales tax on everything you buy that is imported.  Just imagine — on clothes, food, toys, cell phones, — a Trump sales tax that economists have measured will cost you, on average, an additional $4,000 a year.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of that, Donald Trump still wants to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And he has a very powerful friend in Congress, the speaker of the House — who recently, if you noticed, said that there will be a, quote, end to Obamacare.  The words used were “no Obamacare,” which, if he were to get his way, if Trump wins, means they would throw millions of Americans off of health insurance and take us back — which would take us back to when, you’ll remember, insurance companies had the ability to deny people with preexisting conditions.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But, Nevada, we are not —

     AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We are not going back.  (Applause.)  We are not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We are not going back.  We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  We’re not going back.  And we are not going back because ours — ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.)  And ours is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body — (applause) — and not have her government tell her what to do.

And we all remember how we got here.  Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade.  They did.  And now one in three women in America lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many with no exceptions for rape or incest. 

     (A protestor disruption can be heard.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know what?  Let me say something about this.  We’re here because we’re fighting for a democracy.  (Applause.)  Fighting for a democracy. 

 And understand the difference here.  Understand the difference here, moving forward — moving forward.  Understand the difference here. 

What we are looking at is a difference in this election.  Let’s move forward and see where we are.  Because on the issue, for example, of freedom of choice —

     (A protestor disruption can be heard.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s okay.  That’s okay.  That’s all right.  That’s all right.  That’s okay.  That’s all right.  You know what?  Democracy can be complicated sometimes.  (Applause.)  It’s okay. 

We’re fighting for the right for people to be heard and not jailed because they speak their mind.  (Applause.)  We know what’s at stake.

And on the issue of freedom, listen, Donald Trump is not done.  Did anybody hear what he had to say just yesterday?  And I’ll tell you, it was outrageous. 

So, he said on the issue of freedom of choice — reproductive freedom — he said that he will do what he wants.  Because, quote, he — this is his perspective, he will do it “whether the women like it or not.”  “Whether the women like it or not.” 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Can you imagine?  And this is not the first time he has told us he does not believe women should have authority or agency over their own bodies. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  This is the same person who said that women should be punished for their choices, and what we know is we — we know what we are seeing.  This is someone who simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives.

And we know that what he has planned includes a national abortion ban, restricting access to birth control, putting IVF treatments at risk, and forcing states to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

     You don’t have to take my word for it.  Google Project 2025.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Read the plans for yourselves. 

And I know we all know that one does not have to abandon their faith or reasonably held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do with her body.  (Applause.)

So, Nevada, to protect your right to make your own health care decisions, vote yes on Question 6.  (Applause.)  And make sure you vote up and down the ballot to truly protect that right.  (Applause.)

And I will tell you, when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  Proudly.  Proudly.

So, Nevada, I am here asking for your vote.  (Applause.)  I am asking for your vote.  And here is my pledge to you —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’ve got your back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and I’ve got your back.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

As president, I pledge to you to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  (Applause.)  I am not looking to score political points.  I am looking to make progress.  (Applause.) 

And I pledge to listen to experts, to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make, and to listen to people who disagree with me — (applause) — because that’s what real leaders do.  That’s what real leaders do. 

And unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that the people who disagree with me are the enemy.  He wants to put them in jail.  I’ll give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That’s what leadership looks like.

And I pledge to you to always put country above party and self — (applause) — and to be a president for all Americans — for all Americans. 

So, it all comes down to this.  We are all here together — and, again, you are taking this time to be here — because we love our country.  We love our country.  And when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  You fight for it.

And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

And I’m going to tell you, I have always believed in our nation’s promise, because I have lived it.  I grew up a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to marches when I was in a stroller.  And at those places, people from all walks of life came together to fight for the ideals of freedom and opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to give her daughters the same chance our country gave her.  And I was blessed to have family by blood and family by love — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community and compassion and faith. 

I’ve spent my life fighting for the people who have been hurt and who have been counted out and people who never stopped, even then, believing that, in our country, anything is possible. 

I’ve lived the promise of America, and I see the promise of America in everyone here.  (Applause.)  It is in all of us.  It is in all of us.  It is in all of us. 

It is in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)  It is in the men who support them.  (Applause.)  It is in the fathers and mothers who work hard every day for their children’s future.  It is in the Republicans who never voted for a Democrat before but have put the Constitution of the United States above party.  (Applause.)

I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  Right?  And I’ll tell you what I love about this generation, Gen Z — I’m going to shout you out.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

     Let me tell you, what I love about you all, you leaders, you young leaders, is you are rightly impatient for change.  (Applause.)  I love that about you.  You are determined to live free from gun violence, to take on the climate crisis, to shape the world that you inherit.  (Applause.)  I love that about you.

     And for them, I say to everybody else, look, none of this is theoretical.  This, for them, is a lived experience.  It’s not political.  It’s what they’re living. 

     And to the young leaders, and I say, I see you, I believe in you, and I see your power.  You are so powerful.  And I would just ask, can we give it up for the first-time voters who are in the house?  Can we?  (Applause.)

     Right.  See, I’m telling you: Our future is bright.  You just have to see it in front of you.  The future of our country is bright. 

     And so, to the people of Nevada, look, you are “Battle Born.”  (Applause.)  And we are ready for the hard work ahead.

     We have five days to get it done.  And so, look, nobody can sit on the sidelines.  Let’s spend the next five days so that when we look back on these days, we have no regrets.  And let us make sure that we are knocking on doors; that we are texting folks, calling folks, reaching out to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers.  

     And as we do — I have a request: As we do, please let’s be intentional about building community.  And let’s be intentional about building coalitions. 

     You know, these last many years, it’s had a way of, you know, trying to make people point their fingers at each other, trying to divide us, trying to make people feel alone.  So, let us all, in this moment, be intentional about building back up and reminding folks we have so much more in common than what separates us.  (Applause.)  So much more.  So much more.

     And so, we all know here: Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)

     So, today, Nevada, I asked you, then: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.) 

     And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

     And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win. 

     God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America. 

                             END                5:46 P.M. PDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | Reno, NV appeared first on The White House.

Craig Ranch Amphitheatre
North Las Vegas, Nevada

9:15 P.M. PDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Nevada!  (Applause.)

Can we hear it for Jennifer Lopez?  (Applause.) 

Happy Nevada Day, everybody!  (Applause.)  Happy Nevada Day.  It is good to be back.  Hello, Nevada.  Good evening.  Good evening.  Good evening.  (Applause.)  And happy Diwali to everyone celebrating. 

So, listen, Las Vegas, are we ready to do this?  (Applause.)  Are we ready to vote?  (Applause.) Are we ready to win?  (Applause.)

 All right.  All right.  It is good to be back and to be with so many incredible leaders, including, of course — and for anybody who has a seat, please do feel like sitting.  (Laughs.) 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Sí, se puede! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sí, se puede.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)

I want to thank Senator Jacky Rosen, who we must reelect to the United States Senate.  (Applause.)  And while we’re at it, let’s reelect Representatives Horsford, Titus, and Lee.  (Applause.) 

Can we please applaud Maná?  (Applause.) 

We also have my dear husband, the second gentleman, with us this evening.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

 And we are joined by Tribal leaders from across the country here for the National Conference of American Indians.  (Applause.)  And I have to say, I strongly believe that the relationship between Tribal Nations and the United States is sacred and that we must honor Tribal sovereignty always and embrace our trust and treaty obligations and ensure Tribal self-determination.  (Applause.)  And, as president, I will defend these principles always.  (Applause.)

All right.  So, Nevada, tomorrow, Friday, November 1st, is the last day to vote early in person.  And, Nevada, if you are voting by mail, please do not wait.  Sign the envelope and return your ballot as soon as possible.  Your ballot must be returned to a drop box or postmarked by Election Day next Tuesday, November 5th.  Go to IWillVote.com.  And to all the leaders here, please help get the word out.  (Applause.)

 And we need you to vote, Nevada, because we have just five days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime, and we have work to do.  But we like hard work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is good work.  (Applause.)  Hard work is joyful work.  (Applause.) 

 And make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.)  We will win.  We will win.  We will win. 

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!  We will win!  We will win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we will win — we will win because here’s what I believe: When you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for.  (Applause.)  And we all know we have an opportunity in this election to turn the page on a decade of Donald Trump trying to keep us divided and afraid of each other.  We’re done with that.  We’re done.  (Applause.)  We’re exhausted with it.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we know that is who he is.  That is who he is.  But, Las Vegas, that is not who we are.  That is not who we are, and it is time for a new generation of leadership in America.  (Applause.)  And I am ready to offer that leadership as the next president of the United States.  (Applause.)

 And, Nevada, you know me.  I’m not afraid of tough fights.  (Applause.)  For decades, as a prosecutor and the top law enforcement officer of our biggest state — the first cousin of Nevada — (laughs) — I won fights against the big banks that ripped off homeowners.  I won fights against for-profit colleges that scammed veterans and students, against predators who abused women and children.  I won fights against cartels that trafficked in guns and drugs and human beings. 

And I pledge to you, if you give me the chance to fight on your behalf as president, there is nothing in the world that will stand in my way.  (Applause.)

And, look, we all know who Donald — Donald Trump is.  This is not someone who is thinking about how to make your life better.  This is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge —

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — consumed with grievance —

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and he’s out for unchecked power.

     AUDIENCE:  Yes!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And, look, in less than 90 days, it’s either going to be him or me in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here’s the thing we know — and this is part of what we’re fighting for, because we can — we have the image of what it could be — it won’t be, but what it could be if he was elected.  If he were reelected, on day one, Donald Trump would walk into that office with an enemies list. 

When I am elected, I will walk in with a to-do list on behalf of you — (applause) — on behalf of you.  And at the top of my list is bringing down the cost of your living.  That will be my focus every single day as president. 

I will give a middle-class tax cut to over 100 million Americans.  (Applause.)  I will enact the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging on groceries.  (Applause.)  I will make housing more affordable by building more homes and by taking on those corporate landlords who unfairly buy up all those properties and then jack up your rent.  (Applause.) 

And we will fight for working families by raising the minimum wage and eliminating taxes on tips for service and hospitality workers.  (Applause.) 

And if you are caring for an elderly parent — you know, I took care of my mother when she was sick.  If you are taking care of an elderly parent — this is personal for me — my plan will cover the cost of home care for your elder parent under Medicare — (applause) — so you don’t have to spend down your savings in order to qualify for Medicaid, so seniors can get the help and care they need to stay in their homes.  And this is just a matter of dignity.  (Applause.)  Dignity. 

Dignity is why I will lower the cost of childcare, because we know families are struggling right now and folks just need a little bit to not just be able to get by but get ahead.  It’s about dignity, and it’s about values that you bring to your position of leadership. 

 And as far as I’m concerned, we’re done with the idea that the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down, when we know the real measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)

We will cut taxes for small businesses.  Do I see any small-business owners in the house?  (Applause.)  I love our small businesses.  You all are part of the backbone of America’s economy. 

We will lower health care costs, because here’s the value I bring to that.  I believe health care should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it.  (Applause.) 

On the other hand, Donald Trump’s answer to the financial pressures you face is the same as it was last time: another trillion dollars in tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And this time, he will pay for it with a 20 percent national sales tax on everything you buy that is imported.  Think about that: clothes, food, toys, cell phones.  A Trump sales tax, the economists say, would cost the average family an extra $4,000 a year. 

And on top of that, Donald Trump still is trying to get rid of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And he has a powerful friend in Congress, the speaker of the House, who recently said — who recently said there will be, quote, “No Obamacare if Trump wins” —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — which would have the effect, if they were to win, to put millions of Americans off of their health insurance — to throw millions of Americans off of their health insurance, to take us back to that time when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.  Do you remember what that was?

     Well, we are not —

     AUDIENCE:  Going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — going back.  We’re not going back.  We’re not going back. 

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back because ours is a fight for the future — (applause) — and it is a fight for freedom, like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government tell her what to do.  (Applause.) 

And we all remember how we got here.  When Donald Trump was president, he hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade.  They did as he intended.  And now, in America, one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban, many with no exceptions even for rape and incest, which is immoral.

And Donald Trump isn’t done.  Did anybody hear what he just said yesterday?  He said — I mean, come on.  Right?  So, he said that he will do what he wants — now I’m about to quote — whether the women “like it or not.” 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  This is the same person who said that women should be “punished” for their choices. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He simply —

     AUDIENCE:  Lock him up!  Lock him up!  Lock him up!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, I hear you.  But you know what? 

     AUDIENCE:  Lock him up!  Lock him up!  Lock him up!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know what?  The courts are going to handle that.  The courts will handle that.  (Applause.)  We’ll handle November.  How about that?  (Applause.)  We’ll handle November.

Because, see, we know the man simply does not respect the freedom of women or the intelligence of women to be able to make decisions about their own lives.  And we know, if he were elected, he would ban abortion nationwide, restrict access to birth control, put IVF treatments at risk, and force states — listen to this — to monitor women’s pregnancies. 

Don’t believe me.  Look at — just google Project 2025, which I cannot believe they put in writing.  (Laughter.)  And —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  I love you back.  I love you back.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  I love you back. 

And on this topic, I know everyone here knows and agrees that one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government shouldn’t be telling her what to do — (applause) — not the government and not Donald Trump. 

So, Nevada, to make your right heard and to protect your right to make your own health care decisions, I would also recommend you vote yes on Question 6.  (Applause.)  And make sure you vote up and down the ballot to truly protect your rights.  (Applause.)

And when Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  I will proudly sign it into law.  So —

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  When we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  — we win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, Nevada, on that point, I am here to ask for your vote.  I am here to ask for your vote.  And here is my pledge to you.  And here is my pledge to you. 

As president, I pledge to seek common ground and commonsense solutions to the challenges you face.  I pledge to not try to score political points but to make progress — to make progress in your lives and in our country.

I pledge to listen to those who will be impacted by the decisions I make.  I pledge to listen to experts.  I pledge to listen to people who disagree with me because, you see, unlike Donald Trump, I don’t believe that people who disagree with me are the enemy.  (Applause.)  He wants to put them in jail.  I’ll give them a seat at the table.  (Applause.)  That’s what real leadership looks like.  (Applause.) 

And I pledge to always put country above party and self and to be a president for all Americans.  (Applause.)

And — and now, with five days left in this campaign, my opponent is also making a closing argument to America.  I don’t know if may- — you may have seen I — I talked in Washington, D.C., the other day.  You know, he likes to compare crowd sizes.  I had 100,000 people there.  (Applause.)  (Laughs.) 

But listen to what he’s saying as his closing argument.  It’s all about hate and division.  Jennifer talked about it.  It’s all about hate and division.  And it’s not just what he says; it’s what he will do. 

Because, if elected, you can be sure he will bring back family separation policies, only on a much greater scale than the last time.  We can imagine what he will do with unchecked power, because recall that, recently, the United States Supreme Court — now this is what’s different from 2016 and 2020 — the Court said essentially that he will be immune no matter what he does in the White House.

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And so, for all the reasons we know, it is time to turn the page on Donald Trump.  (Applause.)  Let’s turn the page. 

And it all — it all comes down to this.  You all have taken time out of your busy lives to be here tonight, and I thank you for that.  And I thank you for that.  (Applause.) 

And I know that one of the biggest reasons we are all here together tonight is because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country, and we know, when you love something, you fight for it.  (Applause.)  When you love something, you fight for it. 

     And I do — and —

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And — and —

     AUDIENCE MEMBERS:  We love you!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I love you.  And, yes — (laughs) —

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And here’s the thing. 

     AUDIENCE:  USA!  USA!  USA!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  That’s right.  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism, of our expression of our love for our country, to then fight for the ideals of our country and to fight to realize the promise of America. 

And I have always believed in our nation’s promise because I have lived it.  You know, I grew up a child of the Civil Rights Movement.  My parents would take me to the marches when I was in a stroller, where people from all walks of life came together to fight for freedom and for opportunity. 

You know, growing up, I saw how hard my mother worked to raise her daughters and give us the same chances our country gave her.  And I was blessed to have family by blood and family by love — (applause) — who instilled in me the values of community, of compassion, and faith. 

And I’ve spent my life fighting for people who have been hurt and who have been counted out but who never stopped believing in what our country can do and what is possible. 

I have lived the promise of America, and today I see the promise of America in everyone here tonight — (applause) — everyone here tonight, in all of us.

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  Sí, se puede! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Sí, se puede.

     AUDIENCE:  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede! 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I see the promise of America.  (Laughs.)

     AUDIENCE:  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede!  Sí, se puede! 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I see the promise of America in the fathers and mothers who work hard every day for your children’s future.  I see it in the women who refuse to accept a future without reproductive freedom and the men who support them.  (Applause.)  I see it in Republicans who have never voted for a Democrat before but have put the Constitution of the United States before party.  (Applause.) 

And I see the promise of America in all the young leaders who are here and are voting for the first time.  (Applause.)  Oh, I love Gen Z.  I love you guys.  (Laughs.)  I love you guys. 

And here’s what I love about our young leaders: You guys are rightly impatient.  (Applause.)  You are rightly impatient for change.  You, our young leaders who are determined to live free from gun violence, to take on the climate crisis.  You intend to shape the world you inherit. 

I love that about you, because, for you, none of these issues is theoretical.  It’s not political.  This is your lived experience.  And I see you, and I see your power.  And I’m so proud of you. 

And I want everyone here — let’s applaud our first-time voters.  (Applause.)  I’m so proud of our first-time voters and our young leaders.  Let’s applaud them, our young leaders.  (Laughs.)

And I know the people of Nevada, you are “Battle Born” — (applause) — and ready for the hard work ahead.  So, we got five days to get this done — five days.  (Applause.)  And no one can sit on the sidelines. 

     AUDIENCE:  No!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, let’s spend the next five days so that when we look back on these days, we will have no regrets that we did everything we could, that we knocked on doors, that we text and we called folks, we reached out to family and friends and classmates and neighbors and coworkers. 

And as we do, I have another request of you.  In these next days, let us please be intentional about building community.  (Applause.)  Let us please — you know, these — these years, this Trump era, you know, this — this time of trying to have people point their fingers at each other, the division, the hate, the — the trying to make people feel alone, when we all know we all have so much more in common than what separates us. 

So, let’s be intentional in building community.  Let’s be intentional in building coalitions.  And let us remember: Your vote is your voice, and your voice is your power.  (Applause.)  It’s your power.  Don’t ever let anybody take your power from you. 

 So, Nevada, today, I then ask you —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Kamala!  (Applause.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Are you ready — are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

     And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.)

     And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.

     God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)

                        END                     9:40 P.M. PDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris at a Campaign Event | North Las Vegas, NV appeared first on The White House.

     From the energy that powers our homes to the networks that connect us and the systems that protect our health and safety, our critical infrastructure keeps our economy thriving and our communities secure.  This Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to strengthening our country’s critical infrastructure and building an America that is safe and secure for generations to come.

     This year, I signed a National Security Memorandum to secure and enhance the resilience of United States critical infrastructure — updating the policy for the first time in a decade.  This represents the launch of a new era in protecting our infrastructure against all threats and hazards by safeguarding our strong and innovative economy and enhancing our collective resilience to disasters before they happen.  But there is more to do.  Climate change is making natural disasters more frequent, ferocious, and costly — endangering our supply chains, creating more instability for our communities, and straining the critical infrastructure Americans depend on for their livelihoods.  And we need to stay vigilant against adversaries that seek to maliciously target our critical infrastructure, including through cyberattacks.  

     To meet this moment, my Administration made a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure — creating an opportunity to build in resilience to all hazards upfront and by design.  Through my American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, we are investing billions of dollars to secure and bolster our infrastructure.  That includes improving our electric grid so that people can maintain power in any situation, elevating roads and bridges over possible flood zones, funding community resilience programs, and more.  These investments have not only helped to protect Americans — they have benefited our economy, creating jobs and new possibilities for our communities.  At the NATO summit this year, I announced an arrangement with Canada and Finland to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers.  The partnership will advance United States economic and national security interests by strengthening our shipbuilding and industrial capacity while simultaneously opening up new trade routes and pushing back against foreign aggression and bolstering our international alliances.  This year, I also announced a United States Port Security Initiative to reverse our dependence on foreign manufactured port equipment.

     Ensuring our Nation is resilient in the face of threats also means working with other nations around the globe to build better, stronger, and more sustainable infrastructure.  At the G7 Summit in June, I was proud to announce the historic progress we have made with our Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.  This initiative will strengthen United States national and economic security for Americans at home and enable sustainable economic growth for partner countries.  To date, we have mobilized $60 billion to create high-quality global infrastructure.  That comes on top of our work with the European Union and African heads of state to develop the Lobito Corridor as well as our work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to expand regional and global trade markets through the Port of Lobito in Angola.  We continue to pursue opportunities to expand our investments across Africa and around the world, including the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere.  Investments like these create more shared opportunities, prosperity, and security for everyone.

     Across the Nation, America is writing the greatest comeback story we have ever known — people are putting shovels in the ground, founding new businesses, and creating hope for entire communities.  It is more important now than ever before that we remain vigilant against any threats that seek to undermine our collective security and prosperity. 

     During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to safeguarding and strengthening our Nation’s critical infrastructure to save lives and allow our Nation to continue doing what it does best:  creating new possibilities.

     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 November 2024 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation’s infrastructure and to observe this month with appropriate measures to enhance our national security and resilience.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

     From the energy that powers our homes to the networks that connect us and the systems that protect our health and safety, our critical infrastructure keeps our economy thriving and our communities secure.  This Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to strengthening our country’s critical infrastructure and building an America that is safe and secure for generations to come.

     This year, I signed a National Security Memorandum to secure and enhance the resilience of United States critical infrastructure — updating the policy for the first time in a decade.  This represents the launch of a new era in protecting our infrastructure against all threats and hazards by safeguarding our strong and innovative economy and enhancing our collective resilience to disasters before they happen.  But there is more to do.  Climate change is making natural disasters more frequent, ferocious, and costly — endangering our supply chains, creating more instability for our communities, and straining the critical infrastructure Americans depend on for their livelihoods.  And we need to stay vigilant against adversaries that seek to maliciously target our critical infrastructure, including through cyberattacks.  

     To meet this moment, my Administration made a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure — creating an opportunity to build in resilience to all hazards upfront and by design.  Through my American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, we are investing billions of dollars to secure and bolster our infrastructure.  That includes improving our electric grid so that people can maintain power in any situation, elevating roads and bridges over possible flood zones, funding community resilience programs, and more.  These investments have not only helped to protect Americans — they have benefited our economy, creating jobs and new possibilities for our communities.  At the NATO summit this year, I announced an arrangement with Canada and Finland to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers.  The partnership will advance United States economic and national security interests by strengthening our shipbuilding and industrial capacity while simultaneously opening up new trade routes and pushing back against foreign aggression and bolstering our international alliances.  This year, I also announced a United States Port Security Initiative to reverse our dependence on foreign manufactured port equipment.

     Ensuring our Nation is resilient in the face of threats also means working with other nations around the globe to build better, stronger, and more sustainable infrastructure.  At the G7 Summit in June, I was proud to announce the historic progress we have made with our Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.  This initiative will strengthen United States national and economic security for Americans at home and enable sustainable economic growth for partner countries.  To date, we have mobilized $60 billion to create high-quality global infrastructure.  That comes on top of our work with the European Union and African heads of state to develop the Lobito Corridor as well as our work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to expand regional and global trade markets through the Port of Lobito in Angola.  We continue to pursue opportunities to expand our investments across Africa and around the world, including the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere.  Investments like these create more shared opportunities, prosperity, and security for everyone.

     Across the Nation, America is writing the greatest comeback story we have ever known — people are putting shovels in the ground, founding new businesses, and creating hope for entire communities.  It is more important now than ever before that we remain vigilant against any threats that seek to undermine our collective security and prosperity. 

     During Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, we recommit to safeguarding and strengthening our Nation’s critical infrastructure to save lives and allow our Nation to continue doing what it does best:  creating new possibilities.

     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 November 2024 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation’s infrastructure and to observe this month with appropriate measures to enhance our national security and resilience.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

     Every child deserves to know the unconditional love of a permanent home.  During National Adoption Month, we honor all the wonderful families that grow through adoption, we remind our foster youth and adoptees that we are right by their side, and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

     More than 100,000 children are in our Nation’s foster care system awaiting the adoption that could offer them familial love, a lasting home, and a stable foundation for them to grow.  That is why I have called on the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable, lowering the cost of adoption and giving families and legal guardians some breathing room.  I have also called on the Congress to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually — a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition.  To further support kinship caregivers, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule last year that requires States to provide them with the same level of financial support that other foster parents receive.  My Administration is also working to eliminate barriers LGBTQI+ families face in the adoption process and ensure LGBTQI+ foster youth grow up in safe and loving environments.  And through the expanded Military Parental Leave Program, we are giving service members more time to spend with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed in their homes for long-term foster care.

     My Administration also remains committed to supporting youth who are aging out of foster care.  Since the beginning of my Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded over $60 million to provide over 4,000 vouchers to foster youth, helping them secure housing as they leave the foster care system.  And my Administration is working to ensure these youth can keep their SNAP benefits without work reporting requirements, easing a difficult transition period.  We have also been working to help foster youth stay in school and graduate, make the successful transition to postsecondary education, train for jobs, pay their bills, and get their lives off to a solid start.

     During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the love shared by adoptive families and professionals across our country.  And we honor the millions of adoptive and kinship families who have welcomed new family members into their loving homes.

     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 November 2024 as National Adoption Month.  I encourage all Americans to honor this month by helping the children and youth in their communities secure their forever homes and find the love and connection that they need to thrive.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Adoption Month appeared first on The White House.

     Every child deserves to know the unconditional love of a permanent home.  During National Adoption Month, we honor all the wonderful families that grow through adoption, we remind our foster youth and adoptees that we are right by their side, and we rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

     More than 100,000 children are in our Nation’s foster care system awaiting the adoption that could offer them familial love, a lasting home, and a stable foundation for them to grow.  That is why I have called on the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable, lowering the cost of adoption and giving families and legal guardians some breathing room.  I have also called on the Congress to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually — a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition.  To further support kinship caregivers, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a final rule last year that requires States to provide them with the same level of financial support that other foster parents receive.  My Administration is also working to eliminate barriers LGBTQI+ families face in the adoption process and ensure LGBTQI+ foster youth grow up in safe and loving environments.  And through the expanded Military Parental Leave Program, we are giving service members more time to spend with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed in their homes for long-term foster care.

     My Administration also remains committed to supporting youth who are aging out of foster care.  Since the beginning of my Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded over $60 million to provide over 4,000 vouchers to foster youth, helping them secure housing as they leave the foster care system.  And my Administration is working to ensure these youth can keep their SNAP benefits without work reporting requirements, easing a difficult transition period.  We have also been working to help foster youth stay in school and graduate, make the successful transition to postsecondary education, train for jobs, pay their bills, and get their lives off to a solid start.

     During National Adoption Month, we celebrate the love shared by adoptive families and professionals across our country.  And we honor the millions of adoptive and kinship families who have welcomed new family members into their loving homes.

     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 November 2024 as National Adoption Month.  I encourage all Americans to honor this month by helping the children and youth in their communities secure their forever homes and find the love and connection that they need to thrive.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Adoption Month appeared first on The White House.

     Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those living with lung cancer and their loved ones.  We thank the researchers searching for answers and the medical professionals who are working tirelessly to care for those with lung cancer, and we recommit to ending cancer as we know it.

     Although scientists have made incredible breakthroughs that have improved prevention, detection, and treatment for cancer and saved lives, a lung cancer diagnosis can be terrifying.  This year, nearly 250,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease.  Treatment can be grueling.  Medical bills can cause concerns for the whole family.  And the flood of medical information directed toward patients and their caretakers can be overwhelming.  Too often, people feel lost and left behind, especially those who are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer — such as Black men, rural residents, and women under 50 years old.

     Cancer is personal to many families, including mine, so I made fighting cancer a top priority in my Administration.  The First Lady and I began by reigniting the Biden Cancer Moonshot, aiming to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.  I also secured $4 billion in bipartisan funding and established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to support scientists, innovators, and public health professionals in driving innovation to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

     My Administration is also working around the clock to make cancer treatments more affordable and the treatment process more manageable for families.  We have saved millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums by strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.  Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we are capping total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year, including for cancer drugs, which can cost many times that.  And for the first time ever, families fighting cancer can access patient navigation services that are fully paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance — helping guide families through the diagnosis and treatment process and offering them much-needed support.

     My Administration is also committed to preventing cancer by tackling another driver of cancer deaths in this country:  smoking.  To ensure that Americans who want to quit have the support they need, the Department of Health and Human Services created a Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation, setting goals and strategies to help our communities reduce smoking.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $15 million program that will help increase awareness about smoking and options for services to help people quit.  For anyone looking to quit smoking, you can find resources at BeTobaccoFree.gov or smokefree.gov or by calling 877-44U-QUIT.

     My Administration is expanding early detection and screening services because an early diagnosis of lung cancer can save lives.  Together, Federal agencies, community health centers, and other partners are providing early detection knowledge and support services to underserved communities.  I encourage all Americans to talk to their doctors about lung cancer symptoms.

     During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we strengthen our commitment to standing by all those facing lung cancer and their families, and we ensure they have access to the care they need.  We also rededicate ourselves to spreading awareness about lung cancer and working to end cancer as we know it, in order to save more lives. 

     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 November 2024 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about lung cancer.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness about what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Lung Cancer Awareness Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

     Too many Americans know the pain of losing a loved one to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor all those living with lung cancer and their loved ones.  We thank the researchers searching for answers and the medical professionals who are working tirelessly to care for those with lung cancer, and we recommit to ending cancer as we know it.

     Although scientists have made incredible breakthroughs that have improved prevention, detection, and treatment for cancer and saved lives, a lung cancer diagnosis can be terrifying.  This year, nearly 250,000 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease.  Treatment can be grueling.  Medical bills can cause concerns for the whole family.  And the flood of medical information directed toward patients and their caretakers can be overwhelming.  Too often, people feel lost and left behind, especially those who are disproportionately impacted by lung cancer — such as Black men, rural residents, and women under 50 years old.

     Cancer is personal to many families, including mine, so I made fighting cancer a top priority in my Administration.  The First Lady and I began by reigniting the Biden Cancer Moonshot, aiming to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50 percent over the next 25 years.  I also secured $4 billion in bipartisan funding and established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health to support scientists, innovators, and public health professionals in driving innovation to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

     My Administration is also working around the clock to make cancer treatments more affordable and the treatment process more manageable for families.  We have saved millions of families $800 per year on their health insurance premiums by strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.  Through my Inflation Reduction Act, we are capping total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 per year, including for cancer drugs, which can cost many times that.  And for the first time ever, families fighting cancer can access patient navigation services that are fully paid for through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance — helping guide families through the diagnosis and treatment process and offering them much-needed support.

     My Administration is also committed to preventing cancer by tackling another driver of cancer deaths in this country:  smoking.  To ensure that Americans who want to quit have the support they need, the Department of Health and Human Services created a Framework to Support and Accelerate Smoking Cessation, setting goals and strategies to help our communities reduce smoking.  And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a $15 million program that will help increase awareness about smoking and options for services to help people quit.  For anyone looking to quit smoking, you can find resources at BeTobaccoFree.gov or smokefree.gov or by calling 877-44U-QUIT.

     My Administration is expanding early detection and screening services because an early diagnosis of lung cancer can save lives.  Together, Federal agencies, community health centers, and other partners are providing early detection knowledge and support services to underserved communities.  I encourage all Americans to talk to their doctors about lung cancer symptoms.

     During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we strengthen our commitment to standing by all those facing lung cancer and their families, and we ensure they have access to the care they need.  We also rededicate ourselves to spreading awareness about lung cancer and working to end cancer as we know it, in order to save more lives. 

     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 November 2024 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about lung cancer.  I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness about what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Lung Cancer Awareness Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

The Edgewater Hotel
Madison, Wisconsin

10:08 A.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Good morning, everyone.  Happy Halloween.

     Q    Good morning. 

     Q    Good morning.

     Q    Happy Halloween.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And for those of you who are without your children today, thank you for just being on the road.

So, today, we will be leaving Wisconsin, heading west.  And I’ll be, obviously, in three states again today talking with the American people about the stakes of this election and the opportunity that we, the American people, have to chart a new way forward.

I will comment on the former President Donald Trump’s remark about women and — and whether they “like it or not.”  And, listen, it’s just — it actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right, and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.

And this is just the latest on a series of reveals by the former president of how he thinks about women and their agency, whether he has said, as he has, that women should be punished for their choices; whether he has talked about his pride in taking away a fundamental right from women; whether it be how he has actually created a situation in America where now one in three women lives in a Trump abortion ban state and has legal restrictions on the right she rightly should have to make decisions about her own body.

The other point I will refer to about — in the last many hours is the speaker’s comments about the Affordable Care Act.  Look, I’ve been saying throughout this campaign: Be very clear that among the stakes in this election are whether we continue with the Affordable Care Act or not.

It has been a part of Donald Trump’s agenda for a very long time.  He has made dozens of attempts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.  And now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House.

And what that would mean for the American people is that pharma- — that — that insurance companies could go back to a time when they would deny you coverage for health insurance based on preexisting conditions — preexisting conditions, such as you being a survivor of breast cancer, asthma, diabetes.

And what I know is that the American people, regardless of who they’re voting for, know the importance of the Affordable Care Act — of, as it is also called, “Obamacare,” in terms of expanding people’s coverage to health care based on a fundamental principle that I hold deeply: Access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege to those who can afford it.

So, there’s still a lot of work to do.  But each day, I think that there are also indications that we are receiving from my opponent that verify, validate, and reinforce the fact that, one, he is not going to be fighting for women’s reproductive rights.  He does not prioritize the freedom of women and the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives and bodies.  And health care for all Americans is on the line in this election as well.

I’ll take your questions. 

     AIDE:  Tam. 

Q    Oh, yeah.  You know, since the beginning stages of your campaign, you’ve described yourself as an underdog.  That language is gone from your speech now.  Has something changed in how you’re feeling?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, listen, I am putting it all on the field, and it’s going to be a very tight race.  And I — I am running like the underdog, because we are.  Donald Trump has been running for the — the last decade.  I’ve been in this race about three and a half months, and the stakes are so high.

But I’ve been saying for quite some time, regardless of what the polls say, we are going to win.  I do believe that, because I do believe that this is a choice about two very different directions for our country. 

And the choice being offered by Donald Trump is about going backward, about a constant emphasis on degrading the American people in our capacity, versus a track that is about bringing the country together, knowing we have more in common than what separates us. 

And we should have a plan, which I do, to actually get things done, including bringing down the cost of living for people, investing in our small businesses, expanding access to health care, investing in American industries, including the future of American industries and American workers. 

So, there you go. 

AIDE:  Will. 

Q    So, you talked about the — what the former president said being offensive to women.  Wh- — 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I think it’s offensive to everybody, by the way. 

Q    Well, that — that was my question.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    The sort of hypermasculinity that he is talking about, do you — what do you think about it possibly resonating with men and male voters specifically?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You will — you — you’ve been following me, and you will see that in the tens of thousands of people who attend our rallies — which is an opportunity to talk about the issues, talk about the future of our country — right? — there are men, women, young people, people of every race, every background. 

One of the points, I think, that is a point of pride for everyone who attends — and including myself — is that our campaign really is about bringing people together, people of very different and diverse backgrounds, around a common theme that is about love of country, defending the Constitution of the United States, and investing in our future as — and rejecting the notion that we are divided or that that should be acceptable that we would be divided as a nation. 

So, I’m very proud to have the support of — of men, women, young people, people of every background.

AIDE:  Ebony. 

Q    So, we know we have five days until the election.  How are you going to continue to draw the contest with former President Donald Trump, specifically with the undecided voters, as the pool is really shrinking now?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I will continue — as we will do today, as we did yesterday, and so on — to talk with people where they live — so, again, here in Wisconsin, heading to Arizona, heading to Nevada — to talk with people about issues, like how we’re going to deal with price gouging — corporate price gouging as a way to deal with grocery costs; how we’re going to invest in small businesses and expand access to capital; how I will give first-time homeowners a $25,000 down payment assistance if they are a first-time homebuyer to help them get their foot in the door. 

These are the issues that the American people want to talk about, because these are the issues that affect them.  These are the issues they think about when they’re sitting at their kitchen table or when they’re trying to go to sleep at night. 

And what I know is that they want a president of the United States who, as I say, will walk into the Oval Office with a to-do list and not an enemies list. 

And so, that’s what I will continue to do over the course of these next few days to let folks know that I see them, I hear them, and I’m prepared to address their challenges with a plan that is about getting things done.

AIDE:  Thank you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Thank you. 

                             END       10:15 A.M. CDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Madison, WI appeared first on The White House.

The Edgewater Hotel
Madison, Wisconsin

10:08 A.M. CDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Good morning, everyone.  Happy Halloween.

     Q    Good morning. 

     Q    Good morning.

     Q    Happy Halloween.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And for those of you who are without your children today, thank you for just being on the road.

So, today, we will be leaving Wisconsin, heading west.  And I’ll be, obviously, in three states again today talking with the American people about the stakes of this election and the opportunity that we, the American people, have to chart a new way forward.

I will comment on the former President Donald Trump’s remark about women and — and whether they “like it or not.”  And, listen, it’s just — it actually is, I think, very offensive to women in terms of not understanding their agency, their authority, their right, and their ability to make decisions about their own lives, including their own bodies.

And this is just the latest on a series of reveals by the former president of how he thinks about women and their agency, whether he has said, as he has, that women should be punished for their choices; whether he has talked about his pride in taking away a fundamental right from women; whether it be how he has actually created a situation in America where now one in three women lives in a Trump abortion ban state and has legal restrictions on the right she rightly should have to make decisions about her own body.

The other point I will refer to about — in the last many hours is the speaker’s comments about the Affordable Care Act.  Look, I’ve been saying throughout this campaign: Be very clear that among the stakes in this election are whether we continue with the Affordable Care Act or not.

It has been a part of Donald Trump’s agenda for a very long time.  He has made dozens of attempts to get rid of the Affordable Care Act.  And now we have further validation of that agenda from his supporter, the speaker of the House.

And what that would mean for the American people is that pharma- — that — that insurance companies could go back to a time when they would deny you coverage for health insurance based on preexisting conditions — preexisting conditions, such as you being a survivor of breast cancer, asthma, diabetes.

And what I know is that the American people, regardless of who they’re voting for, know the importance of the Affordable Care Act — of, as it is also called, “Obamacare,” in terms of expanding people’s coverage to health care based on a fundamental principle that I hold deeply: Access to health care should be a right and not just a privilege to those who can afford it.

So, there’s still a lot of work to do.  But each day, I think that there are also indications that we are receiving from my opponent that verify, validate, and reinforce the fact that, one, he is not going to be fighting for women’s reproductive rights.  He does not prioritize the freedom of women and the intelligence of women to make decisions about their own lives and bodies.  And health care for all Americans is on the line in this election as well.

I’ll take your questions. 

     AIDE:  Tam. 

Q    Oh, yeah.  You know, since the beginning stages of your campaign, you’ve described yourself as an underdog.  That language is gone from your speech now.  Has something changed in how you’re feeling?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  No, listen, I am putting it all on the field, and it’s going to be a very tight race.  And I — I am running like the underdog, because we are.  Donald Trump has been running for the — the last decade.  I’ve been in this race about three and a half months, and the stakes are so high.

But I’ve been saying for quite some time, regardless of what the polls say, we are going to win.  I do believe that, because I do believe that this is a choice about two very different directions for our country. 

And the choice being offered by Donald Trump is about going backward, about a constant emphasis on degrading the American people in our capacity, versus a track that is about bringing the country together, knowing we have more in common than what separates us. 

And we should have a plan, which I do, to actually get things done, including bringing down the cost of living for people, investing in our small businesses, expanding access to health care, investing in American industries, including the future of American industries and American workers. 

So, there you go. 

AIDE:  Will. 

Q    So, you talked about the — what the former president said being offensive to women.  Wh- — 

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, I think it’s offensive to everybody, by the way. 

Q    Well, that — that was my question.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Yeah.

Q    The sort of hypermasculinity that he is talking about, do you — what do you think about it possibly resonating with men and male voters specifically?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You will — you — you’ve been following me, and you will see that in the tens of thousands of people who attend our rallies — which is an opportunity to talk about the issues, talk about the future of our country — right? — there are men, women, young people, people of every race, every background. 

One of the points, I think, that is a point of pride for everyone who attends — and including myself — is that our campaign really is about bringing people together, people of very different and diverse backgrounds, around a common theme that is about love of country, defending the Constitution of the United States, and investing in our future as — and rejecting the notion that we are divided or that that should be acceptable that we would be divided as a nation. 

So, I’m very proud to have the support of — of men, women, young people, people of every background.

AIDE:  Ebony. 

Q    So, we know we have five days until the election.  How are you going to continue to draw the contest with former President Donald Trump, specifically with the undecided voters, as the pool is really shrinking now?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I will continue — as we will do today, as we did yesterday, and so on — to talk with people where they live — so, again, here in Wisconsin, heading to Arizona, heading to Nevada — to talk with people about issues, like how we’re going to deal with price gouging — corporate price gouging as a way to deal with grocery costs; how we’re going to invest in small businesses and expand access to capital; how I will give first-time homeowners a $25,000 down payment assistance if they are a first-time homebuyer to help them get their foot in the door. 

These are the issues that the American people want to talk about, because these are the issues that affect them.  These are the issues they think about when they’re sitting at their kitchen table or when they’re trying to go to sleep at night. 

And what I know is that they want a president of the United States who, as I say, will walk into the Oval Office with a to-do list and not an enemies list. 

And so, that’s what I will continue to do over the course of these next few days to let folks know that I see them, I hear them, and I’m prepared to address their challenges with a plan that is about getting things done.

AIDE:  Thank you. 

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay.  Thank you. 

                             END       10:15 A.M. CDT

The post Remarks by Vice President Harris in Press Gaggle | Madison, WI appeared first on The White House.

     Each veteran and military family represents a link in a chain of honor that stretches back to our founding days, unwavering in their devotion to their loved ones who served in uniform.  This month, we honor all of our military and veteran families.  They too serve and sacrifice to answer our Nation’s call to duty.  We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.

     I often say that, as a Nation, we have many obligations, but only one is truly sacred:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they come home.

     We are continually working to make sure that our Nation’s veterans and service members have access to the benefits and care they deserve.  I have signed more than 34 bipartisan bills to better support our service members, veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors.  One of those bills, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, was the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans and survivors in nearly 30 years.  To date, more than 1.1 million veterans and over 11,000 survivors are now receiving new service-connected disability benefits, and over 796,000 veterans have newly enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care since the law was enacted.  This law is helping families who lost loved ones to toxic illness gain access to critical resources and services, including monthly benefits, educational assistance, home loans, and more.  Actions outlined in our national strategy to prevent military and veteran suicide are tackling the root causes of the military and veteran suicide crisis, including by better supporting families through the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.  And we are making progress in eliminating homelessness and improving financial security for veteran and military families.  Too often, veteran and military families become the targets of bad actors and scam artists.  My Administration’s Veteran Service Member Family Fraud Evasion initiative is providing easy, one stop access to resources to report fraud and get help from the Federal Government to combat scams.  Additionally, I signed an Executive Order that implemented historic, bipartisan military justice reforms to transform how the military handles sexual assault and domestic violence cases.  And I directed the Department of Defense to review pay and benefits for our service members — an important step toward ensuring their compensation reflects their service and sacrifice.

     Military-connected families sacrifice for our country, answering the call to duty over and over again.  Many military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors struggle to achieve their desired career goals due to unique challenges military-connected families face.  This is why I signed an Executive Order that takes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in history to support the economic security of military families and veterans’ spouses, caregivers, and survivors.  I encouraged Federal agencies to do more to retain military spouses through flexible policies, ensuring they have access to stable jobs throughout their careers.  Last year, I signed an Executive Order that directed more than 50 actions to improve the care economy, which included critical actions to better support military and veteran caregivers and expand access to military child care.  These orders build on the efforts taken by my Administration to improve the quality of life for military families, including initiatives to ease military moves, afford housing, and find child care.  Joining Forces, the First Lady’s initiative, is working to better support military and veteran families — doing everything from making school transitions easier for military children to expanding economic opportunities for military spouses and caregivers.

     This is personal for my family and for me.  We know the pride of seeing your child wear the uniform of the United States.  We know the pain of long deployments far from home.  We know what it is like to pray for the safe return of someone you love.  This month, may we show our immense gratitude for our military and veteran families, whose courage and dedication represent the best of who we are as a Nation.

     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 November 2024 as National Veterans and Military Families Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor veterans and military families with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Veterans and Military Families Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.

     Each veteran and military family represents a link in a chain of honor that stretches back to our founding days, unwavering in their devotion to their loved ones who served in uniform.  This month, we honor all of our military and veteran families.  They too serve and sacrifice to answer our Nation’s call to duty.  We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.

     I often say that, as a Nation, we have many obligations, but only one is truly sacred:  to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they come home.

     We are continually working to make sure that our Nation’s veterans and service members have access to the benefits and care they deserve.  I have signed more than 34 bipartisan bills to better support our service members, veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors.  One of those bills, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, was the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans and survivors in nearly 30 years.  To date, more than 1.1 million veterans and over 11,000 survivors are now receiving new service-connected disability benefits, and over 796,000 veterans have newly enrolled in Veterans Affairs health care since the law was enacted.  This law is helping families who lost loved ones to toxic illness gain access to critical resources and services, including monthly benefits, educational assistance, home loans, and more.  Actions outlined in our national strategy to prevent military and veteran suicide are tackling the root causes of the military and veteran suicide crisis, including by better supporting families through the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.  And we are making progress in eliminating homelessness and improving financial security for veteran and military families.  Too often, veteran and military families become the targets of bad actors and scam artists.  My Administration’s Veteran Service Member Family Fraud Evasion initiative is providing easy, one stop access to resources to report fraud and get help from the Federal Government to combat scams.  Additionally, I signed an Executive Order that implemented historic, bipartisan military justice reforms to transform how the military handles sexual assault and domestic violence cases.  And I directed the Department of Defense to review pay and benefits for our service members — an important step toward ensuring their compensation reflects their service and sacrifice.

     Military-connected families sacrifice for our country, answering the call to duty over and over again.  Many military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors struggle to achieve their desired career goals due to unique challenges military-connected families face.  This is why I signed an Executive Order that takes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in history to support the economic security of military families and veterans’ spouses, caregivers, and survivors.  I encouraged Federal agencies to do more to retain military spouses through flexible policies, ensuring they have access to stable jobs throughout their careers.  Last year, I signed an Executive Order that directed more than 50 actions to improve the care economy, which included critical actions to better support military and veteran caregivers and expand access to military child care.  These orders build on the efforts taken by my Administration to improve the quality of life for military families, including initiatives to ease military moves, afford housing, and find child care.  Joining Forces, the First Lady’s initiative, is working to better support military and veteran families — doing everything from making school transitions easier for military children to expanding economic opportunities for military spouses and caregivers.

     This is personal for my family and for me.  We know the pride of seeing your child wear the uniform of the United States.  We know the pain of long deployments far from home.  We know what it is like to pray for the safe return of someone you love.  This month, may we show our immense gratitude for our military and veteran families, whose courage and dedication represent the best of who we are as a Nation.

     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 November 2024 as National Veterans and Military Families Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to honor veterans and military families with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, 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 Veterans and Military Families Month, 2024 appeared first on The White House.