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I am proud to welcome President Zelenskyy back to the White House today. For nearly three years, the United States has rallied the world to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom from Russian aggression, and it has been a top priority of my Administration to provide Ukraine with the support it needs to prevail. In that time, Ukraine has won the battle of Kyiv, reclaimed more than half the territory that Russia seized at the start of the war, and safeguarded its sovereignty and independence. But there is more work to do. That is why, today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war. 

Today, I am announcing that: 

• I have directed the Department of Defense to allocate all of its remaining security assistance funding that has been appropriated for Ukraine by the end of my term in office. As part of this effort, the Department of Defense will allocate the remaining Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds by the end of this year. I also have authorized $5.5 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority to ensure this authority does not expire, so that my Administration can fully utilize the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine and then replenish U.S. stockpiles.
• The Department of Defense is announcing $2.4 billion in security assistance through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.
• To enhance Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities, I have decided to provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition.
• To further strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses, I have directed the Department of Defense to refurbish and provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense battery and to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot missiles. This builds on my decision earlier this year to divert U.S. air defense exports to Ukraine, which will provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional Patriot and AMRAAM missiles over the next year and will help Ukraine defend its cities and its people. 
• To build the capacity of Ukraine’s air force, I have directed the Department of Defense to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including by supporting the training of an additional 18 pilots next year.
• To counter Russian sanctions evasion and money laundering, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Secret Service have taken action today to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network, in coordination with international partners. The United States will continue to raise the costs on Russia for its war in Ukraine and to deprive the Russian defense industrial base of resources.
• I will convene a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Germany next month to coordinate the efforts of the more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.

Through these actions, my message is clear: The United States will provide Ukraine with the support it needs to win this war. 

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

New Executive Order Directs Federal Agencies to Combat Emerging Firearms Threats and
Improve School-Based Active Shooter Drills

Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris are announcing a new Executive Order directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the emerging threats of machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms, as well as additional executive actions that advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives.

After the prior Administration oversaw the largest one-year increase in murders ever recorded, President Biden and Vice President Harris took action from the start of their Administration to reduce violent crime. The President and the Vice President helped deliver over $15 billion in funding through the American Rescue Plan for law enforcement, community violence interventions, and other public safety strategies. By the middle of 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration had already announced more executive actions to reduce gun violence than any other administration. Then, on June 25, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention law in nearly 30 years. On September 22, 2023, to help drive further progress, President Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris.

Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, in 2023 the United States experienced the single largest homicide rate drop in recent history. The reduction in homicide has accelerated this year. Data submitted to the Department of Justice shows that the homicide rate dropped another 17 percent from January through June 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023. Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that the number of mass shootings so far this year is 20 percent lower than it was at this time last year.

Today, as we mark one year since the establishment of the Office, President Biden and Vice President Harris are announcing additional meaningful actions to reduce gun violence and save lives. This announcement builds on the numerous additional life-saving actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken, as detailed in the Office’s Year One Progress Report.

President Biden is signing an Executive Order to accelerate progress on two key priorities: combating emerging firearms threats and improving school-based active shooter drills.

Combatting Emerging Firearms Threats: In April 2021, one of the Biden-Harris Administration’s first executive actions to reduce gun violence was to address the emerging threat of firearms without serial numbers, often referred to as “ghost guns.” To expand these efforts, ATF established an Emerging Threats Center. This Center focuses ATF’s resources on identifying developments in illicit firearm marketplaces, including the use of new technologies to make and unlawfully distribute undetectable firearms and devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into illegal machineguns.

Now, President Biden and Vice President Harris are taking additional action on two emerging firearms threats: machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms.

• Machinegun conversion devices enable semi-automatic firearms, including easily concealable handguns, to match or exceed the rate of fire of many military machineguns with a single engagement of the trigger—up to 20 bullets in one second. From 2017 through 2021, ATF recovered 5,454 of these devices, a 570 percent increase over the previous five-year period. Machinegun conversion devices are illegal to possess under federal law, but we continue to see these devices show up at crime scenes because they are small, cheap, and easy to install. Machinegun conversion devices are often illegally imported or illegally made on a 3D printer from computer code found online. The 3D-printing of a machinegun conversion device costs as little as 40 cents and takes fewer than 30 minutes.
• Unserialized, 3D-printed firearms can be used for illegal purposes such as gun trafficking, unlawful possession by people convicted of felonies or subject to domestic violence restraining orders, or unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing or selling firearms. These firearms can be 3D-printed from computer code downloaded from the Internet and produced without serial numbers that law enforcement use to trace firearms recovered in criminal investigations. Some 3D-printed firearms can be made to be undetectable by magnetometers used to secure airports, courthouses, and event spaces, even though these undetectable firearms are illegal to make, sell, or possess under federal law. As 3D-printing technology continues to develop rapidly, the safety threat posed by 3D-printed firearms may suddenly increase.

In this Executive Order, President Biden is establishing an Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force, consisting of leadership from key federal departments and agencies. President Biden is directing the Task Force to issue a report within 90 days that includes: an assessment of the threat posed by machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; an assessment of federal agencies’ operational and legal capacities to detect, intercept, and seize machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; and an interagency plan for combatting these emerging threats. The report will include any additional authorities or funding the federal agencies need from Congress in order to complete this work.

Improving School-Based Active Shooter Drills: The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to preventing gun violence in schools, including by keeping guns out of the hands of potential school shooters and investing more resources in school safety and violence prevention. The majority of schools are currently using drills to prepare for an active shooter situation. Despite the ubiquity of these drills, there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause. Many parents, students, and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills. Federal agencies need to help schools improve drills so they can more effectively prepare for an active shooter situation while also preventing or minimizing any trauma.

In the Executive Order, President Biden is directing the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Surgeon General, to develop and publish, within 110 days, information for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education regarding school-based active shooter drills. The information will include a summary of: existing research on active shooter drills and resources for school districts and institutions of higher education on how to create, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed active shooter drills; how to conduct effective and age- and developmentally-appropriate drills; how best to communicate with students, families, and educators about these drills; how to prevent students and educators from experiencing trauma or psychological distress associated with these drills; and how best to serve people with disabilities and those with language-related needs, including by ensuring compliance with federal civil rights laws, when designing and implementing school-based active shooter drills.

In addition to the Executive Order, federal departments and agencies are taking the following actions:

Promoting Safe Gun Storage and Red Flag Laws

• Encouraging Safe Storage of Firearms: Today, the Department of Education is providing schools, school boards, and policymakers with a new tool to promote safe gun storage in their communities. Following up on its initial safe storage actions, the Department of Education is publishing an interactive website that highlights examples of state, community, and school district actions across the nation that promote safe gun storage within school communities. The website includes a map with state safe storage laws, examples of how schools are communicating with parents about safe storage, and examples of local policies on safe storage education. This new resource builds on guidance the Department published earlier this year to highlight physical safety measures schools can pursue to help keep students safe in the event of gun violence in schools.
• Clarifying Medicaid Reimbursement for Counseling on Firearm Safety: Health systems, hospitals, and healthcare workers are an essential component of a healthy gun violence prevention and intervention system. By the end of October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will announce that states may choose to use Medicaid to pay a health care provider for counseling parents and caregivers on firearm safety and injury prevention. This announcement will build off the coverage that Medicaid provides for “anticipatory guidance,” which is health education and counseling to help parents and caregivers understand and improve the health and development of their children. For example, Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines include firearm safety guidance, such as safe storage guidance, as recommended anticipatory guidance for pediatricians to provide to parents.
• Implementing State Red Flag Laws: The Department of Justice is announcing over $135 million in formula awards to 48 states under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP), which provides funding for the implementation of extreme risk protection order, or “red flag”, programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related programs/initiatives. The implementation of state red flag laws is supported by the National Extreme Risk Protection Resource Center.

Funding Community Violence Intervention

• Funding Community Violence Interventions: In furtherance of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to invest in community violence interventions as a proven solution to prevent gun violence, the Department of Justice is announcing an additional $85 million in funding through the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). This funding will help 30 agencies and organizations develop and expand their community violence intervention work, including hospital-based violence intervention, street outreach, and cognitive behavioral therapy. These strategies are essential complements to law enforcement and this investment is part of the $400 million in total funding that the Biden-Harris Administration has secured for CVIPI. CVIPI is only one part of how the Administration funds community violence interventions. This fact sheet lists the full range of federal resources available to address community violence.
• Clarifying Medicaid Reimbursement for Violence Intervention: CMS previously clarified that states may authorize health care providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for violence intervention programs. In October, CMS expects to proactively raise this clarification with states. CMS will also explore how best to convene state governments and healthcare providers on incorporating Medicaid benefits into violence prevention programs.

Improving the Gun Background Check System

• Facilitating Enhanced Background Checks for Individuals Under Age 21: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) established enhanced background checks for individuals under age 21 trying to purchase a firearm. These enhanced checks have already stopped over 900 transactions, keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. But a number of states across the country have privacy laws that prevent state officials from fully responding to enhanced background check inquiries. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Safer States Agenda made fixing this issue a top priority for states, and Connecticut, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, and Kentucky have all recently made necessary changes. Today, the Department of Justice is issuing model legislation that additional states may use to inform their own legislation and allow a carve-out to share juvenile records solely for the purpose of enhanced background checks. In addition, the Justice Department is releasing information on whether state laws permit information-sharing with regard to juvenile records for the purposes of enhanced background checks.
• Maximizing the Enhanced Background Check with Red Flag Laws: Part of the enhanced background check requires requesting records from state and local law enforcement and mental health repositories about potential purchasers under 21.  In these and other circumstances, if a person shows clear signs of being in crisis and a danger to themselves or others, they may qualify for consideration under applicable red flag laws which would generally result in that person being ineligible to possess or receive firearms.  By October 22, the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) National Resource Center will provide training to state and local law enforcement on the ERPO process, including how it intersects with individuals under 21.
• Improving the Federal Gun Background Check System: BSCA’s enhanced background checks for gun purchasers under age 21 and the law’s narrowing of the “boyfriend loophole,” along with the expanding number of states with red flag laws, are placing new challenges on state and local agencies attempting to ascertain what records they need to send to the federal gun background check system. To address these challenges, there needs to be system-wide improvements and a new era of collaboration among various entities engaging with the federal gun background check system. By December 15, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs will have evaluated the existing grant programs that support improvements to the gun background check system and make any changes needed to support states looking to improve their records systems, which may include lengthening the duration of grants where appropriate. 

Expanding Data on Gun Violence and Gun Trafficking

• Publishing Additional Data on Ghost Gun Trends and Firearms Trafficking: This winter, ATF will publish the fourth volume of its National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. This volume will provide an update on ghost gun trends and trafficking investigations, as well as expanded information on machinegun conversion device recoveries.
• Expanding Collection of Gun Violence Data: There is a lack of reliable and timely data on gun deaths and gunshot injuries that show what is happening nationwide and in individual communities. This data is critical to focusing investment and enforcement efforts. Today, the FBI is announcing that it will collect additional detail in its data collection for gunshot injury wounds in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) by June 2025. The FBI will implement a new injury code to reflect a gunshot wound in the NIBRS victim segment. NIBRS will also enable law enforcement agencies to submit additional detail as to how firearms were used in specific crimes, and the nature of the crime at issue.
• Improving Data on Gunshot Injuries: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is improving a data visualization tool to present gun death and injury data faster and at a more local level. Using data from vital statistics and emergency rooms at the local level can help inform prevention strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.

Supporting Survivors of Gun Violence

• Addressing the Trauma Resulting from Gun Violence: This fall, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will take additional action to support individuals dealing with the trauma that results from gun violence. SAMHSA will release:
  • Best practices for local offices of violence prevention to use in addressing trauma resulting from gun violence;A tip sheet for individuals affected by gun violence who may be seeking more information on the behavioral health impacts of gun violence and how to seek help;A report on lessons learned from the federal ReCAST grant program to uplift the voices of communities impacted by violence as well as share strategies other communities can implement to promote healing, recovery, and resiliency; and
  • A toolkit for faith-based leaders, educators, and other leaders to help communities affected by the trauma resulting from gun violence.

Destroying Crime Guns

• Ensuring Appropriate Disposition of Firearms Seized by Law Enforcement: Firearms or firearm parts that were presumed to be destroyed by law enforcement have begun showing up in crimes. Sometimes the guns recovered by law enforcement are sent to a third-party that only partially destroys them. By October 30, the Department of Justice will refresh and clarify best practices for federal law enforcement disposition of seized firearms, including when working in partnership with state and local law enforcement. The Department of Justice will also release a plan to offer new training and education for state and local partners on safe and appropriate firearm disposition.

Preventing Firearm Suicide

• Facilitating Voluntary Out-of-Home Storage to Prevent Firearm Suicide: Voluntary out-of-home storage of firearms is an effective tactic to saves lives by creating time and space between a person in crisis and a firearm. A number of states, including Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, have developed gun storage maps to show different locations where a gun owner can voluntarily store their firearms. A federally funded program has developed model guidelines, contracts, and standard operating procedures for businesses interested in providing this option. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs and SAMHSA are using their network of teams committed to preventing Veteran suicide—known as the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Families—to encourage states to convene federally licensed gun dealers around offering out-of-home storage to our Nation’s heroes and their families.

Congress must act. While the Biden-Harris Administration’s gun violence prevention actions are saving lives, there is much more to do. President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to call on Congress to enact commonsense gun safety legislation—from a ban on assault weapons and bump stocks to universal background checks to a repeal of gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability—and to enact federal safe storage and red flag laws and fully fund community violence intervention programs and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

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The post FACT SHEET: President Biden and Vice President Harris Announce Additional Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Save Lives appeared first on The White House.

New Executive Order Directs Federal Agencies to Combat Emerging Firearms Threats and
Improve School-Based Active Shooter Drills

Today, President Biden and Vice President Harris are announcing a new Executive Order directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat the emerging threats of machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms, as well as additional executive actions that advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda to reduce gun violence and save lives.

After the prior Administration oversaw the largest one-year increase in murders ever recorded, President Biden and Vice President Harris took action from the start of their Administration to reduce violent crime. The President and the Vice President helped deliver over $15 billion in funding through the American Rescue Plan for law enforcement, community violence interventions, and other public safety strategies. By the middle of 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration had already announced more executive actions to reduce gun violence than any other administration. Then, on June 25, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most significant gun violence prevention law in nearly 30 years. On September 22, 2023, to help drive further progress, President Biden established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, overseen by Vice President Harris.

Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, in 2023 the United States experienced the single largest homicide rate drop in recent history. The reduction in homicide has accelerated this year. Data submitted to the Department of Justice shows that the homicide rate dropped another 17 percent from January through June 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023. Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that the number of mass shootings so far this year is 20 percent lower than it was at this time last year.

Today, as we mark one year since the establishment of the Office, President Biden and Vice President Harris are announcing additional meaningful actions to reduce gun violence and save lives. This announcement builds on the numerous additional life-saving actions the Biden-Harris Administration has taken, as detailed in the Office’s Year One Progress Report.

President Biden is signing an Executive Order to accelerate progress on two key priorities: combating emerging firearms threats and improving school-based active shooter drills.

Combatting Emerging Firearms Threats: In April 2021, one of the Biden-Harris Administration’s first executive actions to reduce gun violence was to address the emerging threat of firearms without serial numbers, often referred to as “ghost guns.” To expand these efforts, ATF established an Emerging Threats Center. This Center focuses ATF’s resources on identifying developments in illicit firearm marketplaces, including the use of new technologies to make and unlawfully distribute undetectable firearms and devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into illegal machineguns.

Now, President Biden and Vice President Harris are taking additional action on two emerging firearms threats: machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms.

• Machinegun conversion devices enable semi-automatic firearms, including easily concealable handguns, to match or exceed the rate of fire of many military machineguns with a single engagement of the trigger—up to 20 bullets in one second. From 2017 through 2021, ATF recovered 5,454 of these devices, a 570 percent increase over the previous five-year period. Machinegun conversion devices are illegal to possess under federal law, but we continue to see these devices show up at crime scenes because they are small, cheap, and easy to install. Machinegun conversion devices are often illegally imported or illegally made on a 3D printer from computer code found online. The 3D-printing of a machinegun conversion device costs as little as 40 cents and takes fewer than 30 minutes.
• Unserialized, 3D-printed firearms can be used for illegal purposes such as gun trafficking, unlawful possession by people convicted of felonies or subject to domestic violence restraining orders, or unlawfully engaging in the business of manufacturing or selling firearms. These firearms can be 3D-printed from computer code downloaded from the Internet and produced without serial numbers that law enforcement use to trace firearms recovered in criminal investigations. Some 3D-printed firearms can be made to be undetectable by magnetometers used to secure airports, courthouses, and event spaces, even though these undetectable firearms are illegal to make, sell, or possess under federal law. As 3D-printing technology continues to develop rapidly, the safety threat posed by 3D-printed firearms may suddenly increase.

In this Executive Order, President Biden is establishing an Emerging Firearms Threats Task Force, consisting of leadership from key federal departments and agencies. President Biden is directing the Task Force to issue a report within 90 days that includes: an assessment of the threat posed by machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; an assessment of federal agencies’ operational and legal capacities to detect, intercept, and seize machinegun conversion devices and unserialized, 3D-printed firearms; and an interagency plan for combatting these emerging threats. The report will include any additional authorities or funding the federal agencies need from Congress in order to complete this work.

Improving School-Based Active Shooter Drills: The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to preventing gun violence in schools, including by keeping guns out of the hands of potential school shooters and investing more resources in school safety and violence prevention. The majority of schools are currently using drills to prepare for an active shooter situation. Despite the ubiquity of these drills, there is very limited research on how to design and deploy these drills to maximize their effectiveness and limit any collateral harms they might cause. Many parents, students, and educators have expressed concerns about the trauma caused by some approaches to these drills. Federal agencies need to help schools improve drills so they can more effectively prepare for an active shooter situation while also preventing or minimizing any trauma.

In the Executive Order, President Biden is directing the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Surgeon General, to develop and publish, within 110 days, information for K-12 schools and institutions of higher education regarding school-based active shooter drills. The information will include a summary of: existing research on active shooter drills and resources for school districts and institutions of higher education on how to create, implement, and evaluate evidence-informed active shooter drills; how to conduct effective and age- and developmentally-appropriate drills; how best to communicate with students, families, and educators about these drills; how to prevent students and educators from experiencing trauma or psychological distress associated with these drills; and how best to serve people with disabilities and those with language-related needs, including by ensuring compliance with federal civil rights laws, when designing and implementing school-based active shooter drills.

In addition to the Executive Order, federal departments and agencies are taking the following actions:

Promoting Safe Gun Storage and Red Flag Laws

• Encouraging Safe Storage of Firearms: Today, the Department of Education is providing schools, school boards, and policymakers with a new tool to promote safe gun storage in their communities. Following up on its initial safe storage actions, the Department of Education is publishing an interactive website that highlights examples of state, community, and school district actions across the nation that promote safe gun storage within school communities. The website includes a map with state safe storage laws, examples of how schools are communicating with parents about safe storage, and examples of local policies on safe storage education. This new resource builds on guidance the Department published earlier this year to highlight physical safety measures schools can pursue to help keep students safe in the event of gun violence in schools.
• Clarifying Medicaid Reimbursement for Counseling on Firearm Safety: Health systems, hospitals, and healthcare workers are an essential component of a healthy gun violence prevention and intervention system. By the end of October, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will announce that states may choose to use Medicaid to pay a health care provider for counseling parents and caregivers on firearm safety and injury prevention. This announcement will build off the coverage that Medicaid provides for “anticipatory guidance,” which is health education and counseling to help parents and caregivers understand and improve the health and development of their children. For example, Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines include firearm safety guidance, such as safe storage guidance, as recommended anticipatory guidance for pediatricians to provide to parents.
• Implementing State Red Flag Laws: The Department of Justice is announcing over $135 million in formula awards to 48 states under the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP), which provides funding for the implementation of extreme risk protection order, or “red flag”, programs, state crisis intervention court proceedings, and related programs/initiatives. The implementation of state red flag laws is supported by the National Extreme Risk Protection Resource Center.

Funding Community Violence Intervention

• Funding Community Violence Interventions: In furtherance of the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to invest in community violence interventions as a proven solution to prevent gun violence, the Department of Justice is announcing an additional $85 million in funding through the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVIPI). This funding will help 30 agencies and organizations develop and expand their community violence intervention work, including hospital-based violence intervention, street outreach, and cognitive behavioral therapy. These strategies are essential complements to law enforcement and this investment is part of the $400 million in total funding that the Biden-Harris Administration has secured for CVIPI. CVIPI is only one part of how the Administration funds community violence interventions. This fact sheet lists the full range of federal resources available to address community violence.
• Clarifying Medicaid Reimbursement for Violence Intervention: CMS previously clarified that states may authorize health care providers to be reimbursed by Medicaid for violence intervention programs. In October, CMS expects to proactively raise this clarification with states. CMS will also explore how best to convene state governments and healthcare providers on incorporating Medicaid benefits into violence prevention programs.

Improving the Gun Background Check System

• Facilitating Enhanced Background Checks for Individuals Under Age 21: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) established enhanced background checks for individuals under age 21 trying to purchase a firearm. These enhanced checks have already stopped over 900 transactions, keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals. But a number of states across the country have privacy laws that prevent state officials from fully responding to enhanced background check inquiries. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Safer States Agenda made fixing this issue a top priority for states, and Connecticut, Vermont, Nevada, Texas, and Kentucky have all recently made necessary changes. Today, the Department of Justice is issuing model legislation that additional states may use to inform their own legislation and allow a carve-out to share juvenile records solely for the purpose of enhanced background checks. In addition, the Justice Department is releasing information on whether state laws permit information-sharing with regard to juvenile records for the purposes of enhanced background checks.
• Maximizing the Enhanced Background Check with Red Flag Laws: Part of the enhanced background check requires requesting records from state and local law enforcement and mental health repositories about potential purchasers under 21.  In these and other circumstances, if a person shows clear signs of being in crisis and a danger to themselves or others, they may qualify for consideration under applicable red flag laws which would generally result in that person being ineligible to possess or receive firearms.  By October 22, the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) National Resource Center will provide training to state and local law enforcement on the ERPO process, including how it intersects with individuals under 21.
• Improving the Federal Gun Background Check System: BSCA’s enhanced background checks for gun purchasers under age 21 and the law’s narrowing of the “boyfriend loophole,” along with the expanding number of states with red flag laws, are placing new challenges on state and local agencies attempting to ascertain what records they need to send to the federal gun background check system. To address these challenges, there needs to be system-wide improvements and a new era of collaboration among various entities engaging with the federal gun background check system. By December 15, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs will have evaluated the existing grant programs that support improvements to the gun background check system and make any changes needed to support states looking to improve their records systems, which may include lengthening the duration of grants where appropriate. 

Expanding Data on Gun Violence and Gun Trafficking

• Publishing Additional Data on Ghost Gun Trends and Firearms Trafficking: This winter, ATF will publish the fourth volume of its National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. This volume will provide an update on ghost gun trends and trafficking investigations, as well as expanded information on machinegun conversion device recoveries.
• Expanding Collection of Gun Violence Data: There is a lack of reliable and timely data on gun deaths and gunshot injuries that show what is happening nationwide and in individual communities. This data is critical to focusing investment and enforcement efforts. Today, the FBI is announcing that it will collect additional detail in its data collection for gunshot injury wounds in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) by June 2025. The FBI will implement a new injury code to reflect a gunshot wound in the NIBRS victim segment. NIBRS will also enable law enforcement agencies to submit additional detail as to how firearms were used in specific crimes, and the nature of the crime at issue.
• Improving Data on Gunshot Injuries: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is improving a data visualization tool to present gun death and injury data faster and at a more local level. Using data from vital statistics and emergency rooms at the local level can help inform prevention strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.

Supporting Survivors of Gun Violence

• Addressing the Trauma Resulting from Gun Violence: This fall, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will take additional action to support individuals dealing with the trauma that results from gun violence. SAMHSA will release:
  • Best practices for local offices of violence prevention to use in addressing trauma resulting from gun violence;A tip sheet for individuals affected by gun violence who may be seeking more information on the behavioral health impacts of gun violence and how to seek help;A report on lessons learned from the federal ReCAST grant program to uplift the voices of communities impacted by violence as well as share strategies other communities can implement to promote healing, recovery, and resiliency; and
  • A toolkit for faith-based leaders, educators, and other leaders to help communities affected by the trauma resulting from gun violence.

Destroying Crime Guns

• Ensuring Appropriate Disposition of Firearms Seized by Law Enforcement: Firearms or firearm parts that were presumed to be destroyed by law enforcement have begun showing up in crimes. Sometimes the guns recovered by law enforcement are sent to a third-party that only partially destroys them. By October 30, the Department of Justice will refresh and clarify best practices for federal law enforcement disposition of seized firearms, including when working in partnership with state and local law enforcement. The Department of Justice will also release a plan to offer new training and education for state and local partners on safe and appropriate firearm disposition.

Preventing Firearm Suicide

• Facilitating Voluntary Out-of-Home Storage to Prevent Firearm Suicide: Voluntary out-of-home storage of firearms is an effective tactic to saves lives by creating time and space between a person in crisis and a firearm. A number of states, including Colorado, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, have developed gun storage maps to show different locations where a gun owner can voluntarily store their firearms. A federally funded program has developed model guidelines, contracts, and standard operating procedures for businesses interested in providing this option. Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs and SAMHSA are using their network of teams committed to preventing Veteran suicide—known as the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Families—to encourage states to convene federally licensed gun dealers around offering out-of-home storage to our Nation’s heroes and their families.

Congress must act. While the Biden-Harris Administration’s gun violence prevention actions are saving lives, there is much more to do. President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to call on Congress to enact commonsense gun safety legislation—from a ban on assault weapons and bump stocks to universal background checks to a repeal of gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability—and to enact federal safe storage and red flag laws and fully fund community violence intervention programs and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

###

The post FACT SHEET: President Biden and Vice President Harris Announce Additional Actions to Reduce Gun Violence and Save Lives appeared first on The White House.

Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

3:31 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:   Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.)  Hi. 

Well, it’s good to be back in Pittsburgh.  Thank you all.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

Please have a seat.  Please have a seat. 

Andrea, thank you so very much for — for that beautiful introduction and for your leadership.  It really is my honor to be with you today.  Thank you.

And thank you to Risa and the Economic Club of Pittsburgh for hosting us today. 

And I also want to thank Mayor Gainey for being here.  (Applause.)  Mayor, you greet me each time I come to Pittsburgh.  I thank you so very much for that and — and your leadership.  Thank you.

So, hello, friends.  Let’s get started.  (Applause.)  Okay.

So, we gather at a moment of great consequence.  In this election, I believe we have an extraordinary opportunity to make our middle class the engine of America’s prosperity, to build a stronger economy where everyone everywhere has a chance to pursue their dreams and aspirations, and to ensure that the United States of America continues to out-innovate and outcompete the world. 

Over the past three and a half years, we have taken major steps forward to recover from the public health and economic crisis we inherited.  Inflation has dropped faster here than the rest of the developed world.  Unemployment is near record low levels.  We have created almost 740,000 manufacturing jobs, including 650 at the batty- — battery manufacturing plant over in Turtle Creek.  (Applause.)  And we have supported another 15,000 jobs at Montgomery Locks.  (Applause.)

So, these are local, great examples of the work that we have achieved thus far. 

And last week, for the first time, of course, in four and a half years, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates, which will make it just a little easier for families to buy a home or a car or just pay down their credit card bill. 

But let’s be clear.  For all these positive steps, the cost of living in America is still just too high.  You know it, and I know it.  And that was true long before the pandemic hit. 

Many Americans who aspire to own a home are unable to save enough for a down payment on a house and starting to think that maybe homeownership is just outside of their reach.  Folks who live in factory towns and in rural communities who have lost jobs are wondering if those jobs will ever come back.  Many Americans are worried about how they’ll afford the prescription medication they depend on. 

All of this is happening at a time when many of the biggest corporations continue to make record profits, while wages have not kept up pace. 

I understand the pressures of making ends meet.  I grew up in a middle-class family, and while we were more fortunate than many, I still remember my mother sitting at that yellow Formica table late at night, cup of tea in hand, with a pile of bills in front of her, just trying to make sure that she paid them off by the end of the month, like so many Americans just trying to make it all work.

Every day, millions of Americans are sitting around their own kitchen tables and facing their own financial pressures because, over the past several decades, our economy has grown better and better for those at the very top and increasingly difficult for those trying to attain, build, and hold on to a middle-class life. 

In many ways, this is what this election is all about.  The American people face a choice between two fundamentally very different paths for our economy.  I intend to chart a new way forward and grow America’s middle class.  Donald Trump intends to take America backward to the failed policies of the past. 

He has no intention to grow our middle class.  He’s only interested in making life better for himself and people like himself: the wealthiest of Americans. 

You can see it spelled out in his economic agenda, an agenda that gives trillions of dollars in tax cuts to billionaires and the biggest corporations while raising taxes on the middle class by almost $4,000 a year, slashing overtime pay, throwing tens of millions of Americans off of health care, and cutting Social Security and Medicare. 

In sum, his agenda would weaken the economy and hurt working people and the middle class.  You see, for Donald Trump, our economy works best if it works for those who own the big skyscrapers, not those who actually build them, not those who wire them, not those who mop the floors.  (Applause.)

Well, I have a very different vision.  I have a very different vision for our economy.  I believe we need to grow our middle class and make sure our economy works for everyone, for people — (applause) — like the people in the neighborhood where I grew up and the hardworking Americans I meet every day across our nation. 

So, I call my vision the “opportunity economy,” and it’s about making sure — (applause) — everyone can find a job and more — and more.  Because, frankly, having a job, I believe, in our ambition and aspiration should be baseline, and we should aspire and have the ambition and plan to do more. 

 I want Americans and families to be able to not just get by but be able to get ahead — (applause) — to thrive — be able to thrive.  I don’t want you to have to worry about making your monthly rent if your car breaks down.  I want you to be able to save up for your child’s education, to take a nice vacation from time to time.  I want you to be able to buy Christmas presents for your loved ones without feeling anxious when you’re looking at your bank statement.  I want you to be able to build some wealth not just for yourself but also for your children and your grandchildren — intergenerational wealth.  (Applause.)

And here’s the thing.  Here’s the thing.  Here’s the beauty of it all.  We know how to build an economy like that.  We do know how to unlock strong, shared economic growth for the American people.  History has shown it time and again: When we invest in those things that strengthen the middle class — manufacturing, housing, health care, education, small businesses, and our communities — we grow our economy and catalyze the entire country to succeed. 

I have pledged that building a strong middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency.  And the reason — (applause) — but let me tell you, the reason is not about politics, and it’s not about ideology.  From my perspective, it’s just common sense.  (Applause.)  It’s just common sense.  It’s actually what works.  When the middle class is strong, America is strong.  And we can build a stronger middle class.

The American economy — we know this here — the American economy is the most powerful force for innovation and wealth creation in human history.  We just need to move past the failed policies that we have proven don’t work, and like generations before us, let us be inspired by what is possible. 

As president, I will be grounded in my fundamental values of fairness, dignity, and opportunity.  And I promise you, I will be pragmatic in my approach.  I will engage in what Franklin Roosevelt called “bold, persistent experimentation.”  (Applause.)  Because I believe we shouldn’t be constrained by ideology and, instead, should seek practical solutions to problems, realistic assessments of what is working and what is not, applying metrics to our analysis, applying facts to our analysis, and stay focused, then, not only on the crises at hand but on our big goals, on what’s best for America over the long term. 

And part of being pragmatic means taking good ideas from wherever they come.  Listen, you all know my career.  Andrea shared it with you.  I am a devout public servant.  (Laughs.)  I also know the limitations of government. 

I’ve always been and will always be — and be clear about this — I’ve always been and will always be a strong supporter of workers and unions.  (Applause.)  And I — I also believe we need to engage those who create most of the jobs in America. 

Look, I am a capitalist.  I believe in free and fair markets.  (Applause.)  I believe in consistent and transparent rules of the road to create a stable business environment.  And I know the power of American innovation. 

 I’ve been working with entrepreneurs and business owners my whole career, and I believe companies need to play by the rules — (applause) — respect the rights of workers and unions, and abide by fair competition.  And if they don’t, I will hold them accountable. 

And if anyone has a question about that, just look at my record as attorney general.  (Applause.)  Look at my record in California, taking on the big banks for predatory lending — (applause); taking on big health care companies for conspiring to jack up prices — (applause); taking on a big for-profit college for scamming veterans and students. 

At the same time, I believe that most companies are working hard to do the right thing by their customers and the employees who depend on them, and we must work with them to grow our economy.  I believe an active partnership between government and the private sector is one of the most effective ways to fully unlock economic opportunity.  (Applause.)

And that is what I will do when I am president.  I will target the major barriers to opportunity and remove them.  We will identify commonsense solutions to help Americans buy a home, start a business, and build wealth, and we will adopt them.

So, let’s start, then, with the first pillar of an opportunity economy, which is lowering costs.  So, I made that our top priority for obvious reasons, because if we want the middle class to be the growth engine of our economy, we need to restore basic economic security for middle-class families.  To that end, the most practical thing we can do right now is to cut taxes for middle-class families and individuals.  (Applause.)  And that’s what we will do.

Under my plan, more than 100 million Americans will get a middle-class tax break that includes $6,000 for new parents during the first year of their child’s life — (applause) —

to help families cover everything from car seats to cribs.  We’ll also cut the cost of childcare and eldercare — (applause) — and finally give all working people access to paid leave, which will help everyone caring for children, caring for aging parents, and that sandwich generation, which is caring for both.  (Applause.)

So, I have a personal experience with caregiving.  I remember being there for my mother when she was diagnosed with cancer — cooking meals for her, taking her to her appointments,

just trying to make her comfortable, figuring out which clothes were soft enough that they wouldn’t irritate her, and telling her stories to try and make her laugh.  I know caregiving is about dignity.  It really is.

And when we lower the costs and ease the burdens people face, we will not only make it then easier for them to meet their obligations as caregivers, we will also make it more possible for them to go to work and pursue their economic aspirations.  And when that happens, our economy as a whole grows stronger.

Now, middle-class tax cuts are just the start of my plan.  We will also go after the biggest drivers of cost for the middle class and work to bring them down.  And one of those — some would argue, one of the biggest — is the cost of housing.

So, here’s what we will do.  We will cut the red tape that stops homes from being built and take on, in addition, corporate landlords who are hiking rental prices.  (Applause.)  And we will work with builders and developers to construct 3 million new homes and rentals for the middle class because increasing the housing supply will help drive down the cost of housing.  (Applause.)

We will also help first-time homebuyers just get their foot in the door with a $25,000 down payment assistance.  (Applause.)

Because the goal is clear: Let’s help more Americans afford to buy a home, which we know is a critical step in their ability to grow their wealth and intergenerational wealth. 

And we will work to reduce other big costs for middle-class families.  We will take on bad actors who exploit emergencies and drive up grocery prices by enacting the first-ever federal ban on corporate price gouging.  (Applause.)  I had the experience of dealing with that when I was attorney general. 

We will take on Big Pharma and cap the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans — (applause) — just like we did for our seniors.

Now, by contrast, Donald Trump has no intention of lowering costs for the middle class.  In fact, his economic agenda would actually raise prices. 

And, listen, that’s not just my opinion.  A survey of top economists by the Financial Times and the University of Chicago found that by an overwhelming 70 to 3 percent margin, my plan would be better for keeping inflation low.  (Applause.)  Objective economists have been very clear.

The second pillar of an opportunity economy is investing in American innovation and entrepreneurship.  So, for the last century, the United States of America has been a beacon around the world.  And as your vice president now for almost four years, I’ve been traveling the world, meeting with world leaders, meeting with foreign leaders, meeting with business people in various countries with which we have partnership.  And I will tell you, America remains a beacon for what it means to inspire and invest in innovation not only for our ability to come up with some of the most breakthrough ideas but also our ability to turn those ideas into — into some of the most consequential innovations the world has ever known.

I believe the source of our success is the ingenuity, the dynamism, and enterprising spirit of the American people.  To paraphrase — (applause).  Yes, it is.  It’s our nature.  It’s our nature.

To paraphrase Warren Buffett: Since the founding of our nation, there has been no incubator for unleashing human potential like America.  And we need to guard that spirit.  (Applause.)  We have to guard that spirit.  Let it always inspire us.  Let it always be the source of our optimism, which is that spirit that is so uniquely American.

And let that then inspire us by helping us to be inspired to solve the problems that so many face, including our small-business owners. 

So, as I travel the country, what I hear time and again from those who own small businesses and those who aspire to start them is that too often an entrepreneur has a great idea — not too often; that’s good — and they have the willingness to take the risk, but they don’t have access to the capital that they need to make it real. 

And as Andrea said, not everybody was handed on a silver platter $400 million and then filed for bankruptcy six times.  (Applause.)  Oh, I said that.  (Laughs.)  Right?  I sa- — I actually said that.

Well, we can make it easier.  We can make it easier for our small businesses to access capital.  On average, it costs about $40,000 to start a new business.  But currently, the tax deduction for start-ups is only $5,000.  So, currently for start-up costs, the tax deduction is $5,000. 

Well, in 2024, it is almost impossible to start a business on $5,000, which is why, as president, I will make the start-up deduction 10 times richer and we will raise it from $5,000 to $50,000 — (applause) — tax deduction and provide low- and no-interest loans to small businesses that want to expand, all of which will help achieve our ambitious, some would say — but that’s okay; let’s be ambitious — our ambitious goal of 25 million new small-business applications by the end of my first term.  (Applause.)  I know this is very achievable.

And for anyone here who is a small-business owner, works for a small business, or has a small business in your life, you understand what I’m talking about in terms of when we build up our small businesses, what that does to entire communities to lift them up economically, civically, culturally, and in every way.

Small businesses, the point being, help drive our economy, and they create — (applause) — they create nearly 50 percent of private-sector jobs, and they strengthen our middle class. 

And if we can harness the entrepreneurialism of the American people and unlock the full potential of aspiring founders and small-business owners, I am optimistic that no one will be able to outpace us.  (Applause.)

By contrast, Donald Trump, when he was president, has been described by one of the nation’s leading experts on small businesses in a piece he published in a major paper as not being good for small business.  In fact, the title — (laughs) — the title — wait, because I’m burying the lede right now.  (Laughter.)  One of the leading experts on small businesses published a piece in one of the major newspapers, and the title — I’m going to quote — “Does Donald Trump Hate Small Businesses?”  (Laughter.)  And their answer was yes.  (Laughter.)  Their answer was yes. 

Because at the same time that Donald Trump was giving a tax cut to big corporations and billionaires, he tried to slash programs for small businesses and raise borrowing costs for them.  Instead of making it easier, he actually made it more difficult for them to access capital.  And that’s not surprising, because Donald Trump just does not prioritize small businesses.  He does not seem to value, frankly, the essential role they play. 

But, look, when I look at small-business owners, I see some of the heroes of our economy — not only entrepreneurs but, as I said, civic leaders, community leaders, part of the glue that holds communities together.

The third pillar of our opportunity economy is leading the world in the industries of the future and making sure America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.  (Applause.)

One of the recurring themes in American history is that when we make an intentional effort to invest in our industrial strength, it leads to extraordinary prosperity and security,

not only for years but for generations. 

Think of Alexander Hamilton having the foresight to build the manufacturing capabilities of our new nation.  Think of Lincoln and the transcontinental railroad.  Think of Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway System; Kennedy committing America to win the space race and spurring innovation across our society.

From our earliest days, America’s economic strength has been tied to our industrial strength, and the same is true today.

So, I will recommit the nation to global leadership in the sectors that will define the next century.  We will invest in biomanufacturing and aerospace; remain dominant in AI and quantum computing, blockchain and other emerging technologies; expand our lead in clean energy innovation and manufacturing —  (applause) — so the next generation of breakthroughs from advanced batteries to geothermal to advanced nuclear are not just invented but built here in America by American workers.  (Applause.)

And we will invest in the industries that, for example, made Pittsburgh the “Steel City” by offering — (applause) — tax credits for expanding good union jobs in steel and iron and manufacturing communities like here in Mon Valley.  (Applause.)

And across all these industries of the future, we will prioritize investments for strengthening factory towns — this is so important — for strengthening factory towns; retooling existing factories; hiring locally and working with unions, because no one who grows up in America’s greatest industrial or agricultural centers should be abandoned.

And understand what that means for real people — people we know, people we care about.  We don’t have to abandon a strength we’ve known to achieve a strength that we plan.  (Applause.)

And here’s what else we will do when I am president.  We will double the number of registered apprenticeships by the end of my first term.  (Applause.)  Because I almost made it — a goal of mine — I — I am — I think I am going to fall short, but trying to visit every IBEW Local in America — (laughter) — because I’m going to tell you, those apprenticeship programs, those are tough-duty, man — and women and everyone.  (Laughter.)  They’re tough-duty. 

I mean, talk about the skills that are about engineering and science and math and just the most highly skilled folks who are in those apprenticeships and teaching there. 

And so, one of the things we must do, understanding that and understanding the nature of that part of our educational system, is let’s eliminate degree requirements while increasing skills development.  (Applause.)  And let’s start with something I can do as president — was ensure that we do that for the half a million of federal jobs that are within our ability to make it so — (applause) — showing what is possible and then challenging the private sector to make a similar commitment to emphasizing skills and not just degrees.  (Applause.)

And we will reform our tax laws to make it easier for businesses to let workers share in their company’s success.  And I will challenge the private sector to do more to lift up workers through equity, profits, and benefits so more people can share in America’s success and prosperity.  (Applause.)

And not only must we build the industries of the future in America, we must also build them faster.  You know, there’s a time for patience, and there’s a time for impatience.  That’s not in Ecclesiastics [Ecclesiastes], but — but — (laughter). 

Just went off script for a minute, Mayor.  (Laughter.)

But the simple truth is, in America, it takes too long and it costs too much to build.  Whether it’s a new housing development, a new factory, or a new bridge, projects take too long to go from concept to reality.  It happens in blue states, it happens in red states, and it’s a national problem. 

And I will tell you this.  China is not moving slowly.  They’re not.  And we can’t afford to, either.  If we are to compete, we can’t afford to, either. 

As president, if things are not moving quickly, I will demand to know why, and I will act.  I will work with Congress, workers and businesses, cities and states, community groups and local leaders to reform permitting, to cut red tape, and get things moving faster.  Because, look, as I said, patience may be a virtue but not when it comes to job creation or America’s competitiveness. 

Many of you know — the Empire State Building, you know how long it took to build that?  One year.  The Pentagon, you know how long that took?  Sixteen months. 

No one can tell me we can’t build quickly in our country.  (Applause.)  I’ve got empirical evidence. 

Now, look, my opponent, Donald Trump, well, he makes big promises on manufacturing.  Just yesterday, he went out and promised to bring back manufacturing jobs.  And if that sounds familiar, it should.  In 2016, he went out and made that very same promise about the Carrier plant in Indianapolis.  You’ll remember Carrier then offshored hundreds of jobs to Mexico under his watch. 

And it wasn’t just there.  On Trump’s watch, offshoring went up and manufacturing jobs went down across our country and across our economy.  All told, almost 200,000 manufacturing jobs were lost during his presidency, starting before the pandemic hit, making Trump one of the biggest losers ever on manufacturing.  (Applause.)

Donald Trump also talked a big game on our trade deficit with China, but it is far lower under our watch than any year of his administration.  While he constantly got played by China, I will never hesitate to take swift and strong measures when China undermines the rules of the road at the expense of our workers, our communities, and our companies, whether it’s flooding the market with steel, inferior or at all; unfairly subsidizing shipbuilding; or hurting our small businesses with counterfeits. 

Recall Donald Trump actually shipped advanced semiconductor chips to China, which helps them upgrade their military.  Understand the impact of these so-called policies that really are not about a plan for strengthening our prosperity or our security. 

I will never sell out America to our competitors or adversaries.  (Applause.)  Never.  Never.

And I will always make sure we have the strongest economy and the most lethal fighting force anywhere in the world.  (Applause.)

So, at this pivotal moment, we have an extraordinary opportunity to chart a new way forward, one that positions the United States of America and all of us who are blessed to call this home for success and prosperity in the 21st century. 

You know, there is an old saying that the best way to predict the future is to invent it.  Well, that is the story of the Steel City.  (Applause.)  That is the story of the Steel City, the city that helped build the middle class, birth America’s labor movement, empower the rise of American manufacturing, and the city where Allen Newell and Herbert Simon launched the first AI research hub at Carnegie Mellon — (applause) — and created entirely new fields like machine learning.  And Carnegie Mellon is now home to the largest university robotics center in America.  (Applause.)

So, the proud heritage of Pittsburgh I so strongly believe reveals the character of our nation, a nation that harnesses the ambitions, the dreams, and the aspirations of our people; seizes the opportunities before us because we see them, because we believe in them; and then invents the future. 

That is what we have always done, and that is what we must now do.  And I know we will. 

I thank you all for inviting me. 

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

Thank you all.  (Applause.)

                        END                4:11 P.M. EDT

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

Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, New York

5:49 P.M. EDT

THE FIRST LADY: Good evening. (Applause.)

Aren’t all of our U.S. military musicians spectacular? (Applause.) Thank you for all that you — for joining us this evening. It’s great to be with so many friends here.

For Joe, diplomacy is personal. It’s why, for more than 50 years, he’s created deep personal bonds with world leaders. He shows up for our allies and our partners. He listens and is always eager to debate complex international issues to find common ground.

Serving as first lady has be- — of the United States is the honor of my life. This is our — (applause). Thank you.

This is our fi- — our United Nations — our final United Nations General Assembly as president and first lady. So, tonight, I want to take this moment to celebrate Joe and honor the relationships he’s built with all of you — (applause) — to honor these relationships with all of you to shape a brighter future for people around the world.

Please join me in welcoming my husband, President Joe Biden. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) That was worth the trip. (Laughter.)

Well, welcome, everyone. I’m delighted to see you all. You know, my fellow leaders and friends we’ve honored here, it’s an honor to welcome you here tonight.

I should start off by saying we owe a special thanks tonight to — to Mayor Bloomberg. He’s not the mayor right now, but he’s still the mayor. (Laughter.) Mr. Mayor, thank you for all you’ve done.

I want to begin by quoting someone who I wish was here tonight: my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden. (Applause.) Growing up, my mom had an expression. She had a lot of expression. She had a backbone like a ramrod. But my mom, she used to say, “Joey, remember, never bow, never bend, never yield, and never give up.”

Folks, as I said yesterday at the United Nations, I recognize the challenges the world faces: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, war, hunger, poverty, climate change. But my message to you tonight is this: We must never, ever, ever bow, bend, yield, or give up. And most importantly, we must never lose faith — lose faith in our abilities to do so much.

I was first elected to the United States Senate when I was 29 years old, 280 years ago. (Laughter.) Since then, I’ve seen the impossible become — the impossible become reality, for real. I’ve seen the Berlin Wall come down. I’ve seen Poland leave the (inaudible) — I shouldn’t go on, I guess. But I’ve seen apartheid end. I’ve seen humanity pull together to prevent a nuclear war. I’ve seen war criminals and dictators face justice and accountability for human rights violations. And I’ve seen countries in the Middle East make peace. We must always remember.

In America, I was (inaudible) — I spent a lot of time with Xi of China, and we were in the Tibetan Plateau, and it was one of my 90-some hours alone with him. And he looked at me; he said, “Can you define America for me?” This is an absolutely true story. He said, “Can you define America for me?” I said, “Yes. In one word: possibilities — possibilities.” (Applause.) We believe anything is possible. No, I really mean it. Remember, nothing is impossible.

And, folks, look, in our time, we turn the page on the — on the — on a whole range of issues. We turned the page. Nothing is impossible, as I said, but we turned the page on the worst pandemic in a century. We defended Ukraine as a tyrant threatened to wipe it off the map. We made the largest investment in history to fight climate change, the existential threat to humanity.

And, folks, time and again — and I mean this sincerely — time and again, our nation and our world found a way forward. But make no mistake: It didn’t happen by accident. Nothing was inevitable. It took people like all of you assembled here tonight refusing to give up, rejecting the forces that pull us apart, believing that change is possible, and fighting to make it so every single day. That’s what you in this room assembled have done.

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s our change. Together, we can broker deals, end wars and suffering. We can stop the spread of disease and dangerous weapons alike. We can make AI
empower people, not shackle them. We can cut our emissions and achieve our climate ambitions. We can leave our children, literally, a better world.

That’s our obligation, and we can. We can do this.

I can say to you — and I mean this sincerely — I’ve never more optimistic in my life because of all of you, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Keep it up.

And every time I’d walk out of my grandpop’s house up in Scranton, he’d yell, “Joey, keep the faith.” My grandmother would go, “No, Joey, spread it.” Spread it. Spread it. Spread it. (Applause.)

Folks, remember, nothing is beyond our capacity when we work together. Nothing at all.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’re doing. I appreciate it very, very much.

It’s an honor to be with you. Thank you. (Applause.)

5:54 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the United Nations General Assembly Leaders’ Reception | New York, NY appeared first on The White House.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York, New York

5:49 P.M. EDT

THE FIRST LADY: Good evening. (Applause.)

Aren’t all of our U.S. military musicians spectacular? (Applause.) Thank you for all that you — for joining us this evening. It’s great to be with so many friends here.

For Joe, diplomacy is personal. It’s why, for more than 50 years, he’s created deep personal bonds with world leaders. He shows up for our allies and our partners. He listens and is always eager to debate complex international issues to find common ground.

Serving as first lady has be- — of the United States is the honor of my life. This is our — (applause). Thank you.

This is our fi- — our United Nations — our final United Nations General Assembly as president and first lady. So, tonight, I want to take this moment to celebrate Joe and honor the relationships he’s built with all of you — (applause) — to honor these relationships with all of you to shape a brighter future for people around the world.

Please join me in welcoming my husband, President Joe Biden. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) That was worth the trip. (Laughter.)

Well, welcome, everyone. I’m delighted to see you all. You know, my fellow leaders and friends we’ve honored here, it’s an honor to welcome you here tonight.

I should start off by saying we owe a special thanks tonight to — to Mayor Bloomberg. He’s not the mayor right now, but he’s still the mayor. (Laughter.) Mr. Mayor, thank you for all you’ve done.

I want to begin by quoting someone who I wish was here tonight: my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden. (Applause.) Growing up, my mom had an expression. She had a lot of expression. She had a backbone like a ramrod. But my mom, she used to say, “Joey, remember, never bow, never bend, never yield, and never give up.”

Folks, as I said yesterday at the United Nations, I recognize the challenges the world faces: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, war, hunger, poverty, climate change. But my message to you tonight is this: We must never, ever, ever bow, bend, yield, or give up. And most importantly, we must never lose faith — lose faith in our abilities to do so much.

I was first elected to the United States Senate when I was 29 years old, 280 years ago. (Laughter.) Since then, I’ve seen the impossible become — the impossible become reality, for real. I’ve seen the Berlin Wall come down. I’ve seen Poland leave the (inaudible) — I shouldn’t go on, I guess. But I’ve seen apartheid end. I’ve seen humanity pull together to prevent a nuclear war. I’ve seen war criminals and dictators face justice and accountability for human rights violations. And I’ve seen countries in the Middle East make peace. We must always remember.

In America, I was (inaudible) — I spent a lot of time with Xi of China, and we were in the Tibetan Plateau, and it was one of my 90-some hours alone with him. And he looked at me; he said, “Can you define America for me?” This is an absolutely true story. He said, “Can you define America for me?” I said, “Yes. In one word: possibilities — possibilities.” (Applause.) We believe anything is possible. No, I really mean it. Remember, nothing is impossible.

And, folks, look, in our time, we turn the page on the — on the — on a whole range of issues. We turned the page. Nothing is impossible, as I said, but we turned the page on the worst pandemic in a century. We defended Ukraine as a tyrant threatened to wipe it off the map. We made the largest investment in history to fight climate change, the existential threat to humanity.

And, folks, time and again — and I mean this sincerely — time and again, our nation and our world found a way forward. But make no mistake: It didn’t happen by accident. Nothing was inevitable. It took people like all of you assembled here tonight refusing to give up, rejecting the forces that pull us apart, believing that change is possible, and fighting to make it so every single day. That’s what you in this room assembled have done.

Ladies and gentlemen, that’s our change. Together, we can broker deals, end wars and suffering. We can stop the spread of disease and dangerous weapons alike. We can make AI
empower people, not shackle them. We can cut our emissions and achieve our climate ambitions. We can leave our children, literally, a better world.

That’s our obligation, and we can. We can do this.

I can say to you — and I mean this sincerely — I’ve never more optimistic in my life because of all of you, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Keep it up.

And every time I’d walk out of my grandpop’s house up in Scranton, he’d yell, “Joey, keep the faith.” My grandmother would go, “No, Joey, spread it.” Spread it. Spread it. Spread it. (Applause.)

Folks, remember, nothing is beyond our capacity when we work together. Nothing at all.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’re doing. I appreciate it very, very much.

It’s an honor to be with you. Thank you. (Applause.)

5:54 P.M. EDT

The post Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the United Nations General Assembly Leaders’ Reception | New York, NY appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

9:33 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  Good evening, everyone.  Thanks so much for joining, especially on such short notice.  As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials.  The contents of this call are embargoed until the completion of the call.

For your awareness, not for your reporting, on the call today we have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. 

We have limited time, so I’ll turn it over to [senior administration officials] for a few words at the top and then take as many questions as we can.

[Senior administration officials], I’ll turn it over to you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you, Eduardo.  Thanks, all, for joining.  And again, I know it’s a late evening and short notice, so appreciate it. 

Over the last 48 hours or so, the President and senior advisors have been engaging with the parties in the conflict along the Israel-Lebanon Blue Line and with partners around the world — both partners in the Gulf and the Middle East, as well as with partners in Europe and Asia — to reach a consensus for a call for a ceasefire that you have seen that we are issuing tonight. 

The ceasefire will be for 21 days, along the Blue Line.  During those 21 days, the parties — we will negotiate towards a potential resolution of the conflict that has been ongoing since Hezbollah launched the attack on October 8th, and to reach a comprehensive agreement along the Blue Line that allows for residents to return to their homes in both Lebanon and Israel. 

This has been an all-out effort by the administration to reach this moment.  We are grateful to both the Israelis and Lebanese government in working tirelessly to get to this moment. 

This is a call for a ceasefire in Lebanon.  During those 21 days, while we’re negotiating in Lebanon and Israel, we will also work with our partners on seeing what we have done over the last several months consistently.  And I’ll let [senior administration official] talk about the negotiations in Gaza. 

But the 21-day ceasefire, I want to stress, is for a ceasefire in Lebanon and across the Blue Line only.  The discussions towards a potential full agreement along the Blue Line will be accompanied also by negotiations in Gaza. 

And I’ll turn it over to [senior administration official] for comment on that. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, thank you.  Just briefly to reemphasize, I think this is a very important statement joined by — together with the G7 and together with three of our very close Arab partners with important interests in Lebanon.

As you will see, there is a reference in the joint statement to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735, which relates to Gaza.  That resolution, just for awareness and reminder, is the three-phase hostage deal that the President laid out in May.  That is what that Security Council resolution emphasized. 

And of course we recognize, and the statement says explicitly, that opening up diplomatic space for these 21 days to pursue the agreement in Lebanon, of course we hope that it might also open up diplomatic space as well to galvanize efforts on the very important primary effort we have to bring the hostages home. 

So that references the three-phase deal that we’ve been working on.  But this is an important breakthrough on the Lebanon side, given all that has gone on there, particularly over the last few weeks.  But, you know, we will try to use the space that it provides wisely on all fronts.

MODERATOR:  Thanks.  With that, we have time for a couple of questions.  First up, we’ll go to Zeke Miller. 

Q    Thanks so much.  You just called this a breakthrough.  What assurances do you have from the Israelis and from the Lebanese government and Hezbollah that they will actually accept this temporary ceasefire and that you can actually get a sustainable period of calm, that you can have that diplomatic space that you say you need?  I mean, are you prematurely declaring victory here?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, the parties are going to respond for themselves to the call, but I can share that we have had this conversation with the parties and felt this was the right moment to issue the call based on our discussions.  They are familiar with the text.  And again, we’ll let them speak to their actions of accepting the deal in the coming hours.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to the line of MJ Lee.

Q    Hi.  Can you talk to us a little bit about why 21 days?  And also, when you were saying before, “We will negotiate towards” a comprehensive agreement, do you expect that the U.S. will be —

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Can you speak up a little bit?  It’s hard to hear you — if you don’t mind. 

Q    Yeah.  When you say “We will negotiate towards” a comprehensive agreement, do you expect that the U.S. is going to be as heavily engaged as you all have been for the duration of those three weeks as you have been in the last couple of days?

And my first question was if you could explain how you got to 21 days for the duration of this recommended ceasefire.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  We — 21 days, really, is we were looking for a period of time that would be a sustained space that was long enough to allow for negotiations in a realistic basis to be able to reach a complicated agreement during that period of time.  So that’s why 21 days.  There’s no real magic formula to it.  It was something that we felt was long enough to sustain it and one that the parties could agree to. 

Second, on the negotiations: Look, over the last several months, since October 8th, we have been engaging consistently with the parties in Lebanon and in Israel to see what we can do to articulate an outline, an agreement that would enable returning to calm and security along that line.  And it was always going to have to be more than just a ceasefire, because it would be unacceptable for Israeli residents to return to their homes in the north if there weren’t security arrangements on the Lebanese side that prevented Hezbollah from sitting on the border and ensuring that they were secure from a October 7th-like attack in the future. 

So, we have had those discussions for quite some time.  We expect to build on those — on the premise of the conversation we’ve had over the last few months, and to turn that into a comprehensive agreement. 

Again, that is the space that we’re creating with this ceasefire.  And then, no guarantees, but we’re hopeful that this will give us the time necessary to achieve it. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’ll just emphasize: The objective is an agreement, along the lines that we’ve been working on, that would give citizens and civilians the confidence, the security arrangements to return to their homes.  That’s an objective we very much share with the Israelis.  We want to see civilians return on both sides of the border.  And the objective is to conclude that agreement within this 21-day period.

MODERATOR:  We have time for two more questions.  Next up, we’ll go to Alex Ward.

Q    Yeah, very quickly, are you now (inaudible) that Israel’s strategy of escalate to deescalate worked because it led to this moment?  And I’ll leave it that.  Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Look, we have been clear for a long time that we want to identify moments of opportunity to be able to reach a resolution here.  We have consistently said that, ultimately, a solution to bringing the residents home safely and having the security for a long period of time would only be achievable through a diplomatic solution. 

We believe, regardless of what has happened on the battlefield over the last several days, weeks, the moment we feel is now to achieve that diplomatic resolution to get there.  Military means on their own will not be able to achieve that.  That has been our publicly stated policy, and I think both sides agree with that notion, which is why we are, today, at the moment that we’re in.

MODERATOR:  Our last question will go to David Sanger.

Q    Thanks very much.  I’m trying to understand who you think is going to agree to the 21-day ceasefire.  Do we believe the Hezbollah leadership and Nasrallah is behind this?  Or do we believe, in the end, that he would not sign up for it?  And who would then — what are you hearing from the Israeli government specifically on this? 

What I’m trying to get at is how strongly we should all suggest in our stories that this is going to come to pass and why you think, if it does, it builds you some momentum for Gaza.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, I’ll let [senior administration official] answer the last piece on Gaza. 

But, look, we negotiate consistently.  We negotiate and we deal with the sovereign state of Lebanon, with its leadership.  We have been doing that for months.  For the last 48 hours, we have been doing that non-stop, all day and night. 

They are responsible in speaking for the state of Lebanon and for everything that happens on that side of the border.  Who they negotiate with and deal with as far as the non-state actors in Lebanon, that is — I think they’re aware of the responsibility that they have to speak on behalf of the country, for the state. 

So I think you know how this works.  So our expectation is when the government of Lebanon and when the government of Israel both accept this, this will carry and — to be implemented as a ceasefire on both sides of the Blue Line for the period of the 21 days. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’ll just say, David, on — again, this is a deal about Lebanon, so how could it poss- — might it impact the hostage talks?  I don’t want to speculate too much.  I will say a couple things. 

I mean, Sinwar, we know he’s a decision-maker for Hamas.  Obviously, we’ve seen throughout the hostage talks, everything has to go into him.  He also wants a regional war.  That’s something he has basically said in a statement two weeks ago, praising the Houthi ballistic missile attack.  He talked about a long-term war of attrition.  I think he’s been hoping that there’d be a broader, kind of regional conflict and all these other groups would join in.  And frankly, we’ve done an awful lot — an awful lot over the last 11 months to ensure that actually does not happen.  We’ve done that through military means, through diplomatic means, through back-channels and everything else. 

And I think buying some time and space in Lebanon, and particularly if we can conclude this very important agreement — which would benefit the people on both sides of the border, and I think we have a lot of that worked out — it would buy us some time and space to try to pursue an arrangement in Gaza along the lines of the hostage deal we’ve been discussing. 

And if Sinwar understands there is not going to be a broader regional conflict, there really is a choice here: You do the deal, release the hostages, and you get an awful lot of calm in Gaza.  That deal is on the table.  It means that the war stops in Gaza.  It means massive humanitarian relief.  Everything we talked about, that’s very much on the table, kind of ready to go, if we can work out some of the arrangements on the release of hostages and exchange of prisoners. 

So, I mean, we’ll have to see.  But I think this does — it does shake things up, and we’ll try to use the time and space — and that’s why the statement talks about diplomatic space — wisely, again, focused primarily on Lebanon, but we’ll see if it opens up some possibilities on the Gaza side, because we do need to bring the hostages home, and we remain very focused on that. 

I’d say the President, throughout the week here in New York, was focused on this constantly in almost every conversation he had with world leaders.  We had a very important pull-aside this afternoon with President Macron of France, where the President — the two presidents and our teams were able to work out some of the arrangements that we were discussing here throughout the day. 

And of course, President Biden and President Macron issued a joint statement tonight, commensurate with the broader statement by the G7, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. 

So, a lot going on.  Of course, the President remains deeply engaged in this as the days continue, including as we continue the week here in New York.  The President is back in Washington; we’re all here with Tony Blinken, the whole team, to continue to work.

MODERATOR:  Thanks, everyone.  That’s all the time we have for today.  We’re glad to take your follow-up questions as they come.

As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials, and the embargo is now lifted.  Thanks so much for joining.

9:48 P.M. EDT

The post Background Press Call on the Situation on the Border Between Israel and Lebanon appeared first on The White House.

Via Teleconference

9:33 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR:  Good evening, everyone.  Thanks so much for joining, especially on such short notice.  As a reminder, this call is on background, attributable to senior administration officials.  The contents of this call are embargoed until the completion of the call.

For your awareness, not for your reporting, on the call today we have [senior administration official] and [senior administration official]. 

We have limited time, so I’ll turn it over to [senior administration officials] for a few words at the top and then take as many questions as we can.

[Senior administration officials], I’ll turn it over to you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Thank you, Eduardo.  Thanks, all, for joining.  And again, I know it’s a late evening and short notice, so appreciate it. 

Over the last 48 hours or so, the President and senior advisors have been engaging with the parties in the conflict along the Israel-Lebanon Blue Line and with partners around the world — both partners in the Gulf and the Middle East, as well as with partners in Europe and Asia — to reach a consensus for a call for a ceasefire that you have seen that we are issuing tonight. 

The ceasefire will be for 21 days, along the Blue Line.  During those 21 days, the parties — we will negotiate towards a potential resolution of the conflict that has been ongoing since Hezbollah launched the attack on October 8th, and to reach a comprehensive agreement along the Blue Line that allows for residents to return to their homes in both Lebanon and Israel. 

This has been an all-out effort by the administration to reach this moment.  We are grateful to both the Israelis and Lebanese government in working tirelessly to get to this moment. 

This is a call for a ceasefire in Lebanon.  During those 21 days, while we’re negotiating in Lebanon and Israel, we will also work with our partners on seeing what we have done over the last several months consistently.  And I’ll let [senior administration official] talk about the negotiations in Gaza. 

But the 21-day ceasefire, I want to stress, is for a ceasefire in Lebanon and across the Blue Line only.  The discussions towards a potential full agreement along the Blue Line will be accompanied also by negotiations in Gaza. 

And I’ll turn it over to [senior administration official] for comment on that. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Yeah, thank you.  Just briefly to reemphasize, I think this is a very important statement joined by — together with the G7 and together with three of our very close Arab partners with important interests in Lebanon.

As you will see, there is a reference in the joint statement to U.N. Security Council Resolution 2735, which relates to Gaza.  That resolution, just for awareness and reminder, is the three-phase hostage deal that the President laid out in May.  That is what that Security Council resolution emphasized. 

And of course we recognize, and the statement says explicitly, that opening up diplomatic space for these 21 days to pursue the agreement in Lebanon, of course we hope that it might also open up diplomatic space as well to galvanize efforts on the very important primary effort we have to bring the hostages home. 

So that references the three-phase deal that we’ve been working on.  But this is an important breakthrough on the Lebanon side, given all that has gone on there, particularly over the last few weeks.  But, you know, we will try to use the space that it provides wisely on all fronts.

MODERATOR:  Thanks.  With that, we have time for a couple of questions.  First up, we’ll go to Zeke Miller. 

Q    Thanks so much.  You just called this a breakthrough.  What assurances do you have from the Israelis and from the Lebanese government and Hezbollah that they will actually accept this temporary ceasefire and that you can actually get a sustainable period of calm, that you can have that diplomatic space that you say you need?  I mean, are you prematurely declaring victory here?  Thank you.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Well, the parties are going to respond for themselves to the call, but I can share that we have had this conversation with the parties and felt this was the right moment to issue the call based on our discussions.  They are familiar with the text.  And again, we’ll let them speak to their actions of accepting the deal in the coming hours.

MODERATOR:  Next up, we’ll go to the line of MJ Lee.

Q    Hi.  Can you talk to us a little bit about why 21 days?  And also, when you were saying before, “We will negotiate towards” a comprehensive agreement, do you expect that the U.S. will be —

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Can you speak up a little bit?  It’s hard to hear you — if you don’t mind. 

Q    Yeah.  When you say “We will negotiate towards” a comprehensive agreement, do you expect that the U.S. is going to be as heavily engaged as you all have been for the duration of those three weeks as you have been in the last couple of days?

And my first question was if you could explain how you got to 21 days for the duration of this recommended ceasefire.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Sure.  We — 21 days, really, is we were looking for a period of time that would be a sustained space that was long enough to allow for negotiations in a realistic basis to be able to reach a complicated agreement during that period of time.  So that’s why 21 days.  There’s no real magic formula to it.  It was something that we felt was long enough to sustain it and one that the parties could agree to. 

Second, on the negotiations: Look, over the last several months, since October 8th, we have been engaging consistently with the parties in Lebanon and in Israel to see what we can do to articulate an outline, an agreement that would enable returning to calm and security along that line.  And it was always going to have to be more than just a ceasefire, because it would be unacceptable for Israeli residents to return to their homes in the north if there weren’t security arrangements on the Lebanese side that prevented Hezbollah from sitting on the border and ensuring that they were secure from a October 7th-like attack in the future. 

So, we have had those discussions for quite some time.  We expect to build on those — on the premise of the conversation we’ve had over the last few months, and to turn that into a comprehensive agreement. 

Again, that is the space that we’re creating with this ceasefire.  And then, no guarantees, but we’re hopeful that this will give us the time necessary to achieve it. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’ll just emphasize: The objective is an agreement, along the lines that we’ve been working on, that would give citizens and civilians the confidence, the security arrangements to return to their homes.  That’s an objective we very much share with the Israelis.  We want to see civilians return on both sides of the border.  And the objective is to conclude that agreement within this 21-day period.

MODERATOR:  We have time for two more questions.  Next up, we’ll go to Alex Ward.

Q    Yeah, very quickly, are you now (inaudible) that Israel’s strategy of escalate to deescalate worked because it led to this moment?  And I’ll leave it that.  Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  Look, we have been clear for a long time that we want to identify moments of opportunity to be able to reach a resolution here.  We have consistently said that, ultimately, a solution to bringing the residents home safely and having the security for a long period of time would only be achievable through a diplomatic solution. 

We believe, regardless of what has happened on the battlefield over the last several days, weeks, the moment we feel is now to achieve that diplomatic resolution to get there.  Military means on their own will not be able to achieve that.  That has been our publicly stated policy, and I think both sides agree with that notion, which is why we are, today, at the moment that we’re in.

MODERATOR:  Our last question will go to David Sanger.

Q    Thanks very much.  I’m trying to understand who you think is going to agree to the 21-day ceasefire.  Do we believe the Hezbollah leadership and Nasrallah is behind this?  Or do we believe, in the end, that he would not sign up for it?  And who would then — what are you hearing from the Israeli government specifically on this? 

What I’m trying to get at is how strongly we should all suggest in our stories that this is going to come to pass and why you think, if it does, it builds you some momentum for Gaza.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  So, I’ll let [senior administration official] answer the last piece on Gaza. 

But, look, we negotiate consistently.  We negotiate and we deal with the sovereign state of Lebanon, with its leadership.  We have been doing that for months.  For the last 48 hours, we have been doing that non-stop, all day and night. 

They are responsible in speaking for the state of Lebanon and for everything that happens on that side of the border.  Who they negotiate with and deal with as far as the non-state actors in Lebanon, that is — I think they’re aware of the responsibility that they have to speak on behalf of the country, for the state. 

So I think you know how this works.  So our expectation is when the government of Lebanon and when the government of Israel both accept this, this will carry and — to be implemented as a ceasefire on both sides of the Blue Line for the period of the 21 days. 

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL:  I’ll just say, David, on — again, this is a deal about Lebanon, so how could it poss- — might it impact the hostage talks?  I don’t want to speculate too much.  I will say a couple things. 

I mean, Sinwar, we know he’s a decision-maker for Hamas.  Obviously, we’ve seen throughout the hostage talks, everything has to go into him.  He also wants a regional war.  That’s something he has basically said in a statement two weeks ago, praising the Houthi ballistic missile attack.  He talked about a long-term war of attrition.  I think he’s been hoping that there’d be a broader, kind of regional conflict and all these other groups would join in.  And frankly, we’ve done an awful lot — an awful lot over the last 11 months to ensure that actually does not happen.  We’ve done that through military means, through diplomatic means, through back-channels and everything else. 

And I think buying some time and space in Lebanon, and particularly if we can conclude this very important agreement — which would benefit the people on both sides of the border, and I think we have a lot of that worked out — it would buy us some time and space to try to pursue an arrangement in Gaza along the lines of the hostage deal we’ve been discussing. 

And if Sinwar understands there is not going to be a broader regional conflict, there really is a choice here: You do the deal, release the hostages, and you get an awful lot of calm in Gaza.  That deal is on the table.  It means that the war stops in Gaza.  It means massive humanitarian relief.  Everything we talked about, that’s very much on the table, kind of ready to go, if we can work out some of the arrangements on the release of hostages and exchange of prisoners. 

So, I mean, we’ll have to see.  But I think this does — it does shake things up, and we’ll try to use the time and space — and that’s why the statement talks about diplomatic space — wisely, again, focused primarily on Lebanon, but we’ll see if it opens up some possibilities on the Gaza side, because we do need to bring the hostages home, and we remain very focused on that. 

I’d say the President, throughout the week here in New York, was focused on this constantly in almost every conversation he had with world leaders.  We had a very important pull-aside this afternoon with President Macron of France, where the President — the two presidents and our teams were able to work out some of the arrangements that we were discussing here throughout the day. 

And of course, President Biden and President Macron issued a joint statement tonight, commensurate with the broader statement by the G7, UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. 

So, a lot going on.  Of course, the President remains deeply engaged in this as the days continue, including as we continue the week here in New York.  The President is back in Washington; we’re all here with Tony Blinken, the whole team, to continue to work.

MODERATOR:  Thanks, everyone.  That’s all the time we have for today.  We’re glad to take your follow-up questions as they come.

As a reminder, this call was on background, attributable to senior administration officials, and the embargo is now lifted.  Thanks so much for joining.

9:48 P.M. EDT

The post Background Press Call on the Situation on the Border Between Israel and Lebanon appeared first on The White House.

The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon.  

It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.

Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.  

Thus we call for an immediate 21 day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza

We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately consistent with UNSCR 1701 during this period, and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement.  

We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.

###

The post Joint Statement by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Qatar appeared first on The White House.

The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon.  

It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.

Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.  

Thus we call for an immediate 21 day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza

We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately consistent with UNSCR 1701 during this period, and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement.  

We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.

###

The post Joint Statement by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Qatar appeared first on The White House.

It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon.

###

The post Joint statement by President Biden and President Macron appeared first on The White House.

It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon.

###

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam in New York. President Biden celebrated the one-year milestone of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reinforced the United States’ commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam. Both leaders reflected on the lasting legacy of the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and his indelible mark on the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship.

The two leaders underscored our joint commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expressed enthusiasm for bringing momentum into its second year – especially as we prepare to mark important bilateral milestones in 2025,including 50 years since the end of the war in Vietnam and 30 years since the normalization of ties.

President Biden raised opportunities to advance cooperation on a range of  economic, technology, security, and diplomatic issues. President Biden underscored the important work under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework; progress in our cooperation on cybersecurity including for undersea cables, next steps toward building secure and resilient semiconductor supply chains and strengthening our technology partnership. The two leaders discussed the importance of working together to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, and combatting environmental and non-traditional security challenges across the Mekong sub-region. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific – especially in the South China Sea. President Biden also emphasized the United States’ commitment to ASEAN centrality and respect for human rights.

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The post Readout of President Joe Biden’s Meeting with General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam appeared first on The White House.

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with General Secretary Tô Lâm of Vietnam in New York. President Biden celebrated the one-year milestone of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and reinforced the United States’ commitment to a strong, prosperous, resilient, and independent Vietnam. Both leaders reflected on the lasting legacy of the late General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and his indelible mark on the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral relationship.

The two leaders underscored our joint commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expressed enthusiasm for bringing momentum into its second year – especially as we prepare to mark important bilateral milestones in 2025,including 50 years since the end of the war in Vietnam and 30 years since the normalization of ties.

President Biden raised opportunities to advance cooperation on a range of  economic, technology, security, and diplomatic issues. President Biden underscored the important work under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework; progress in our cooperation on cybersecurity including for undersea cables, next steps toward building secure and resilient semiconductor supply chains and strengthening our technology partnership. The two leaders discussed the importance of working together to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific, and combatting environmental and non-traditional security challenges across the Mekong sub-region. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific – especially in the South China Sea. President Biden also emphasized the United States’ commitment to ASEAN centrality and respect for human rights.

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Tonight, bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open through mid-December. I want to thank both houses of Congress—especially Senators Murray and Collins and Representatives Cole and DeLauro—for this bipartisan agreement and for avoiding a costly government shutdown. The passage of this bill gives Congress more time to pass full-year funding bills by the end of this year. My Administration will work with Congress to ensure these bills deliver for America’s national defense, veterans, seniors, children, and working families, and address urgent needs for the American people, including communities recovering from disasters. And while the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the resources it currently needs to continue its successful efforts to ensure that the wealthy and large corporations pay the taxes they owe, my Administration will oppose any cuts or restrictions that would increase the deficit by limiting the IRS’s ability to crack down on wealthy tax cheats.

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Tonight, bipartisan majorities in both chambers of Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the government open through mid-December. I want to thank both houses of Congress—especially Senators Murray and Collins and Representatives Cole and DeLauro—for this bipartisan agreement and for avoiding a costly government shutdown. The passage of this bill gives Congress more time to pass full-year funding bills by the end of this year. My Administration will work with Congress to ensure these bills deliver for America’s national defense, veterans, seniors, children, and working families, and address urgent needs for the American people, including communities recovering from disasters. And while the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has the resources it currently needs to continue its successful efforts to ensure that the wealthy and large corporations pay the taxes they owe, my Administration will oppose any cuts or restrictions that would increase the deficit by limiting the IRS’s ability to crack down on wealthy tax cheats.

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On behalf of President Biden, I want to thank each of you for being here today. 

The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection embodies our shared values and our commitment to work together to elevate the welfare and security of our entire hemisphere. As I listened to each of your remarks, I reflected on how much we have accomplished since your leaders joined President Biden on the podium in Los Angeles a little more than two years ago. 

We have taken key actions to disrupt the smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable migrants through coordinated enforcement efforts.

We have expanded lawful pathways as an alternative to the risks inherent in irregular migration.

And collectively, we have fostered the long-term stabilization and integration of migrants.

I will provide some details to illustrate more vividly what we have done on each of these three pillars of the Los Angeles Declaration.

Enforcement

Together, we are using our immigration and law enforcement tools to deter irregular migration and disrupt transnational criminal organizations that put migrants’ lives at risk for profit.

We are encouraged by how many countries have taken concrete actions to increase enforcement, including by putting in place strong visa requirements and increasing information sharing. We know this is a challenge that can only be met if we work together.

And we have:

• Adopted new rules and processes to strengthen the consequences in place at our border, including refined procedures announced by President Biden on June 4.

• Increased biometric information sharing across the region to identify bad actors before they enter any of our borders;
• Imposed visa restrictions and financial sanctions, and prosecuted human smugglers;

So many of these efforts have been done in close coordination with all of you. 

Lawful Pathways

The Biden-Harris Administration has also expanded lawful pathways to encourage migrants to apply to come to the United States from their home countries rather than making the dangerous journey to our border.

That is why we launched the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan parole process – with notable results.

We are also on track to welcome the largest number of refugees in three decades. This would not have been possible without the Safe Mobility Initiative and our partnership with Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador.

As part of today’s funding announcement, we are providing an additional $83 million to help resettle more refugees and refer migrants to additional pathways as well, including temporary labor opportunities in the United States and other countries.

Stabilization and Integration

And finally, I want to join Secretary Blinken in applauding the pioneering and generous policies that are enabling the stabilization and integration of migrants.

This is a story that I think will be told for years to come: how Latin America rallied together in the face of the historic displacement of 8 million people from Venezuela and rose up to become a model for the world of how to respond to this kind of mass migration with pragmatism and humanity.

We applaud so many of the countries represented here for opening your doors to displaced migrants and giving them hope for their future, enabling them to obtain formal employment, access basic social services, and put their kids in school.

With today’s announcements, over half of the Los Angeles Declaration countries have implemented migrant regularization policies, collectively providing legal status to 4.4 million mostly Venezuelan migrants.

The United States is proud to support these efforts. As part of today’s $686 million funding announcement by Secretary of State Blinken, the United States will assist partner countries as you implement regularization programs and successfully integrate newcomers. In addition, we will continue to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to help the most vulnerable Venezuelans, both inside Venezuela and throughout the region.

Closing

For President Biden, the Los Angeles Declaration was never just a piece of paper that each country signed; it was a call to action.

And I am confident that with our continued commitment to the Declaration, including the establishment of an enduring Secretariat with Colombia as our first Country Chair, we will continue showing the world that regional collaboration can effectively and humanely address the migratory challenges that we face in our Hemisphere.    

Thank you.

The post Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection | New York, NY appeared first on The White House.

On behalf of President Biden, I want to thank each of you for being here today. 

The Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection embodies our shared values and our commitment to work together to elevate the welfare and security of our entire hemisphere. As I listened to each of your remarks, I reflected on how much we have accomplished since your leaders joined President Biden on the podium in Los Angeles a little more than two years ago. 

We have taken key actions to disrupt the smuggling networks that exploit vulnerable migrants through coordinated enforcement efforts.

We have expanded lawful pathways as an alternative to the risks inherent in irregular migration.

And collectively, we have fostered the long-term stabilization and integration of migrants.

I will provide some details to illustrate more vividly what we have done on each of these three pillars of the Los Angeles Declaration.

Enforcement

Together, we are using our immigration and law enforcement tools to deter irregular migration and disrupt transnational criminal organizations that put migrants’ lives at risk for profit.

We are encouraged by how many countries have taken concrete actions to increase enforcement, including by putting in place strong visa requirements and increasing information sharing. We know this is a challenge that can only be met if we work together.

And we have:

• Adopted new rules and processes to strengthen the consequences in place at our border, including refined procedures announced by President Biden on June 4.

• Increased biometric information sharing across the region to identify bad actors before they enter any of our borders;
• Imposed visa restrictions and financial sanctions, and prosecuted human smugglers;

So many of these efforts have been done in close coordination with all of you. 

Lawful Pathways

The Biden-Harris Administration has also expanded lawful pathways to encourage migrants to apply to come to the United States from their home countries rather than making the dangerous journey to our border.

That is why we launched the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan parole process – with notable results.

We are also on track to welcome the largest number of refugees in three decades. This would not have been possible without the Safe Mobility Initiative and our partnership with Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Ecuador.

As part of today’s funding announcement, we are providing an additional $83 million to help resettle more refugees and refer migrants to additional pathways as well, including temporary labor opportunities in the United States and other countries.

Stabilization and Integration

And finally, I want to join Secretary Blinken in applauding the pioneering and generous policies that are enabling the stabilization and integration of migrants.

This is a story that I think will be told for years to come: how Latin America rallied together in the face of the historic displacement of 8 million people from Venezuela and rose up to become a model for the world of how to respond to this kind of mass migration with pragmatism and humanity.

We applaud so many of the countries represented here for opening your doors to displaced migrants and giving them hope for their future, enabling them to obtain formal employment, access basic social services, and put their kids in school.

With today’s announcements, over half of the Los Angeles Declaration countries have implemented migrant regularization policies, collectively providing legal status to 4.4 million mostly Venezuelan migrants.

The United States is proud to support these efforts. As part of today’s $686 million funding announcement by Secretary of State Blinken, the United States will assist partner countries as you implement regularization programs and successfully integrate newcomers. In addition, we will continue to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to help the most vulnerable Venezuelans, both inside Venezuela and throughout the region.

Closing

For President Biden, the Los Angeles Declaration was never just a piece of paper that each country signed; it was a call to action.

And I am confident that with our continued commitment to the Declaration, including the establishment of an enduring Secretariat with Colombia as our first Country Chair, we will continue showing the world that regional collaboration can effectively and humanely address the migratory challenges that we face in our Hemisphere.    

Thank you.

The post Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall at the Fourth Ministerial Meeting on the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection | New York, NY appeared first on The White House.

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. President Biden informed President Zelenskyy that he has directed a surge in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, which will be announced publicly tomorrow, and which will help Ukraine win. President Zelenskyy previewed for President Biden his plan for victory. The two leaders will discuss this plan further during their upcoming bilateral meeting at the White House.

Following their meeting in New York, President Biden convened a historic event in support of Ukraine at which the leaders of more than 30 countries agreed to sign a Joint Declaration of Support for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine.

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President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. met today with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. President Biden informed President Zelenskyy that he has directed a surge in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, which will be announced publicly tomorrow, and which will help Ukraine win. President Zelenskyy previewed for President Biden his plan for victory. The two leaders will discuss this plan further during their upcoming bilateral meeting at the White House.

Following their meeting in New York, President Biden convened a historic event in support of Ukraine at which the leaders of more than 30 countries agreed to sign a Joint Declaration of Support for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Ukraine.

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