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MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

SUBJECT:       Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Natural Gas Leasing

Consistent with principles of responsible public stewardship, and with due consideration of the irreplaceable marine and coastal environments, including wildlife and wildlife habitat, of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific areas of the Outer Continental Shelf; and independently with due consideration of the vulnerability of these ecosystems and coastal communities, where limited or no oil and natural gas development has yet occurred, to oil spills; and independently with due consideration of the benefits of expeditious and orderly development of the vital renewable energy resources of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific areas of the Outer Continental Shelf; and independently with due consideration of the national need to curtail, mitigate, build resilience against, and adapt to the devastating and irreversible consequences of climate change for the human environment and for the marine and coastal environments, I hereby direct as follows:

Under the authority granted to me in section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby withdraw from disposition by oil or natural gas leasing for a time period without specific expiration:

(a)  the areas designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf;

(b)  the areas of the Outer Continental Shelf designated by section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432); and

(c)  the areas designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.

The boundaries of the withdrawn areas are more specifically delineated in the attached map.  The map forms a part of this memorandum.  The withdrawal directed by this memorandum prevents consideration of withdrawn areas for any future oil or natural gas leasing for purposes of exploration, development, or production.

Nothing in this withdrawal affects rights under existing leases in the withdrawn areas.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Memorandum on the Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Natural Gas Leasing appeared first on The White House.

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR

SUBJECT:       Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Natural Gas Leasing

Consistent with principles of responsible public stewardship, and with due consideration of the irreplaceable marine and coastal environments, including wildlife and wildlife habitat, of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific areas of the Outer Continental Shelf; and independently with due consideration of the vulnerability of these ecosystems and coastal communities, where limited or no oil and natural gas development has yet occurred, to oil spills; and independently with due consideration of the benefits of expeditious and orderly development of the vital renewable energy resources of the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Pacific areas of the Outer Continental Shelf; and independently with due consideration of the national need to curtail, mitigate, build resilience against, and adapt to the devastating and irreversible consequences of climate change for the human environment and for the marine and coastal environments, I hereby direct as follows:

Under the authority granted to me in section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby withdraw from disposition by oil or natural gas leasing for a time period without specific expiration:

(a)  the areas designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf;

(b)  the areas of the Outer Continental Shelf designated by section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432); and

(c)  the areas designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management as the Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.

The boundaries of the withdrawn areas are more specifically delineated in the attached map.  The map forms a part of this memorandum.  The withdrawal directed by this memorandum prevents consideration of withdrawn areas for any future oil or natural gas leasing for purposes of exploration, development, or production.

Nothing in this withdrawal affects rights under existing leases in the withdrawn areas.

                              JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

The post Memorandum on the Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Oil or Natural Gas Leasing appeared first on The White House.

President Biden has now conserved over 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, more than any other president in history

Today President Biden will take action to protect the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing. In protecting more than 625 million acres of the U.S. ocean from offshore drilling, President Biden has determined that the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential. With these withdrawals, President Biden is protecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies – including fishing, recreation, and tourism – from oil spills and other impacts of offshore drilling.

Nearly forty percent of Americans live in coastal counties that rely on a healthy ocean to thrive. With today’s action, President Biden is ensuring that these regions can remain healthy and safe from the risk of oil spills resulting from development that would do little, if anything, to meet the nation’s energy needs.

Nearly 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected local, state, Tribal, and federal officials across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts have formally opposed the expansion of offshore drilling in these areas in view of its severe environmental, health, and economic threats. Nearly every Governor along the East and West Coasts – Republicans and Democrats alike – has expressed concerns about expanded oil and gas drilling off their coastlines. In Alaska, the new Northern Bering Sea protections are consistent with a long-standing request from more than 70 coastal Tribes based on the need to help sustain a vital and threatened ocean area, and the natural resources it contains that Indigenous communities have stewarded and relied on for subsistence since time immemorial.

Following this action, President Biden will have conserved more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history.

Protecting the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Northern Bering Sea from Offshore Drilling

Using his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Biden is issuing two Presidential Memoranda to protect all U.S. Outer Continental Shelf areas off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing. The withdrawals have no expiration date, and prohibit all future oil and natural gas leasing in the areas withdrawn. President Biden first used this authority in January of 2021 when he restored protections for part of the Northern Bering Sea, and again in March 2023 to withdraw 2.8 million acres of the Beaufort Sea from future oil and gas leasing, which completed protections for the entire U.S. Arctic Ocean.

Today’s action will safeguard three distinct ocean and coastal regions:

• The entire eastern U.S. Atlantic coast and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. President Biden is protecting approximately 334 million acres of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from Canada to the southern tip of Florida, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. There are currently no active oil and natural gas leases in Federal waters off the eastern Atlantic coast. The southern section of this withdrawal matches a previous Congressional withdrawal enacted by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, and a subsequent time-limited 12(a) withdrawal issued by the previous administration that would have expired in 2032 without today’s protections. Today’s withdrawal builds on those prior withdrawals and helps safeguard the multi-billion-dollar fishing and tourism economies in these states.  
  
  
• The Pacific Coast along California, Oregon, and Washington. This withdrawal protects nearly 250 million acres of Federal waters off the West Coast of the mainland U.S. that are prime habitat for seals, sea lions, whales, fish, and countless seabirds. The State of California has had a moratorium on issuing new leases in its state waters since 1969, and the last Federal lease sale in the area being withdrawn was offshore of Southern California in 1984. The Governors of these states have called for full protection of their coasts for decades.

• The remaining portion of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area in Alaska. This withdrawal will protect 44 million acres of the Northern Bering Sea in far northwest Alaska that is home to fish, sea birds, and other wildlife and where there are no existing oil and gas leases. The Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area was established in 2016 and includes one of the largest marine mammal migrations in the world – beluga and bowhead whales, walruses, and seals travel the funnel of the Bering Strait each year to feed and breed in the Arctic. This is an area where oil and gas development would pose severe dangers to coastal communities, and where the health of these waters is critically important to food security and to the culture of more than 70 coastal Tribes, including the Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Inupiaq people who have relied on these resources for millennia. The Alaskan Congressional delegation has opposed previous proposals to allow oil and gas leasing and drilling in the area.

Building on a Historic Ocean Conservation and Climate Legacy

Today’s actions build upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate agenda and unprecedented commitment to protect America’s natural wonders now and for future generations. The withdrawals advance two important Biden-Harris Administration priorities: honoring and protecting areas of significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples as well as States and other stakeholders; and helping to ensure our oceans and coasts are resilient to the threats of climate change and nature loss. 

The Biden-Harris Administration’s climate and conservation record includes creating three new national marine sanctuaries and a new national estuarine research reserve, including the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Central California; advancing designations for four additional sanctuaries; safeguarding Bristol Bay salmon fisheries; approving more than 19 gigawatts of offshore wind projects, enough to power more than 6 million homes; investing $2.6 billion in coastal communities; and releasing the first-ever U. S. Ocean Climate Action Plan.

With today’s withdrawals, President Biden has now conserved more than 670 million acres of U.S. lands, waters, and ocean – more than any president in history. This includes establishing or expanding ten national monuments and restoring protections for three more; creating six new national wildlife refuges; protecting the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, the nation’s most visited wilderness area; and withdrawing Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota, and Thompson Divide in Colorado from further mineral, oil, and gas leasing.  

These actions are helping advance the President’s America the Beautiful initiative, which is supporting locally led conservation efforts with a goal to protect, conserve, and restore at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

###

The post FACT SHEET: President Biden Protects Atlantic and Pacific Coasts from Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling appeared first on The White House.

I am taking action to protect the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from oil and natural gas drilling and the harm it can cause. My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks. As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren.

From California to Florida, Republican and Democratic Governors, Members of Congress, and coastal communities alike have worked and called for greater protection of our ocean and coastlines from harms that offshore oil and natural gas drilling can bring. In Alaska, dozens of Tribes have fought to protect the Northern Bering Sea, a vital ocean ecosystem that supports their traditional ways of life. Vice President Harris and I have listened. In balancing the many uses and benefits of America’s ocean, it is clear to me that the relatively minimal fossil fuel potential in the areas I am withdrawing do not justify the environmental, public health, and economic risks that would come from new leasing and drilling.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a man-made catastrophe that took the lives of eleven people and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is a solemn reminder of the costs and risks of offshore drilling to the health and resilience of our coasts and fisheries and underscores the importance of the legal protections I am putting in place today. It is also one of the reasons why on my watch we have strengthened offshore safety standards for workers and communities on the front lines of existing operations nationwide, and rapidly accelerated the development of safer and cleaner energy sources, including the approval of eleven offshore wind projects.

From Day One, I have delivered on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history. And over the last four years, I have conserved more than 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, more than any other president in history. Our country’s remarkable conservation and restoration progress has been locally led by Tribes, farmers and ranchers, fishermen, small businesses, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts across the country. Together, our “America the Beautiful” initiative put the United States on track to meet my ambitious goal to conserve at least 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030. 

We do not need to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy, or between keeping our ocean healthy, our coastlines resilient, and the food they produce secure and keeping energy prices low. Those are false choices. Protecting America’s coasts and ocean is the right thing to do, and will help communities and the economy to flourish for generations to come.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Protecting America’s Ocean and Coasts from Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling appeared first on The White House.

President Biden has now conserved over 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, more than any other president in history

Today President Biden will take action to protect the entire U.S. East coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing. In protecting more than 625 million acres of the U.S. ocean from offshore drilling, President Biden has determined that the environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling in these areas outweigh their limited fossil fuel resource potential. With these withdrawals, President Biden is protecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems, and local economies – including fishing, recreation, and tourism – from oil spills and other impacts of offshore drilling.

Nearly forty percent of Americans live in coastal counties that rely on a healthy ocean to thrive. With today’s action, President Biden is ensuring that these regions can remain healthy and safe from the risk of oil spills resulting from development that would do little, if anything, to meet the nation’s energy needs.

Nearly 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected local, state, Tribal, and federal officials across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts have formally opposed the expansion of offshore drilling in these areas in view of its severe environmental, health, and economic threats. Nearly every Governor along the East and West Coasts – Republicans and Democrats alike – has expressed concerns about expanded oil and gas drilling off their coastlines. In Alaska, the new Northern Bering Sea protections are consistent with a long-standing request from more than 70 coastal Tribes based on the need to help sustain a vital and threatened ocean area, and the natural resources it contains that Indigenous communities have stewarded and relied on for subsistence since time immemorial.

Following this action, President Biden will have conserved more lands and waters than any other U.S. president in history.

Protecting the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Northern Bering Sea from Offshore Drilling

Using his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Biden is issuing two Presidential Memoranda to protect all U.S. Outer Continental Shelf areas off the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and additional portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska from future oil and natural gas leasing. The withdrawals have no expiration date, and prohibit all future oil and natural gas leasing in the areas withdrawn. President Biden first used this authority in January of 2021 when he restored protections for part of the Northern Bering Sea, and again in March 2023 to withdraw 2.8 million acres of the Beaufort Sea from future oil and gas leasing, which completed protections for the entire U.S. Arctic Ocean.

Today’s action will safeguard three distinct ocean and coastal regions:

• The entire eastern U.S. Atlantic coast and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. President Biden is protecting approximately 334 million acres of the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from Canada to the southern tip of Florida, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. There are currently no active oil and natural gas leases in Federal waters off the eastern Atlantic coast. The southern section of this withdrawal matches a previous Congressional withdrawal enacted by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, and a subsequent time-limited 12(a) withdrawal issued by the previous administration that would have expired in 2032 without today’s protections. Today’s withdrawal builds on those prior withdrawals and helps safeguard the multi-billion-dollar fishing and tourism economies in these states.  
  
  
• The Pacific Coast along California, Oregon, and Washington. This withdrawal protects nearly 250 million acres of Federal waters off the West Coast of the mainland U.S. that are prime habitat for seals, sea lions, whales, fish, and countless seabirds. The State of California has had a moratorium on issuing new leases in its state waters since 1969, and the last Federal lease sale in the area being withdrawn was offshore of Southern California in 1984. The Governors of these states have called for full protection of their coasts for decades.

• The remaining portion of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area in Alaska. This withdrawal will protect 44 million acres of the Northern Bering Sea in far northwest Alaska that is home to fish, sea birds, and other wildlife and where there are no existing oil and gas leases. The Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area was established in 2016 and includes one of the largest marine mammal migrations in the world – beluga and bowhead whales, walruses, and seals travel the funnel of the Bering Strait each year to feed and breed in the Arctic. This is an area where oil and gas development would pose severe dangers to coastal communities, and where the health of these waters is critically important to food security and to the culture of more than 70 coastal Tribes, including the Yup’ik, Cup’ik, and Inupiaq people who have relied on these resources for millennia. The Alaskan Congressional delegation has opposed previous proposals to allow oil and gas leasing and drilling in the area.

Building on a Historic Ocean Conservation and Climate Legacy

Today’s actions build upon the Biden-Harris Administration’s ambitious climate agenda and unprecedented commitment to protect America’s natural wonders now and for future generations. The withdrawals advance two important Biden-Harris Administration priorities: honoring and protecting areas of significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples as well as States and other stakeholders; and helping to ensure our oceans and coasts are resilient to the threats of climate change and nature loss. 

The Biden-Harris Administration’s climate and conservation record includes creating three new national marine sanctuaries and a new national estuarine research reserve, including the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Central California; advancing designations for four additional sanctuaries; safeguarding Bristol Bay salmon fisheries; approving more than 19 gigawatts of offshore wind projects, enough to power more than 6 million homes; investing $2.6 billion in coastal communities; and releasing the first-ever U. S. Ocean Climate Action Plan.

With today’s withdrawals, President Biden has now conserved more than 670 million acres of U.S. lands, waters, and ocean – more than any president in history. This includes establishing or expanding ten national monuments and restoring protections for three more; creating six new national wildlife refuges; protecting the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, the nation’s most visited wilderness area; and withdrawing Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota, and Thompson Divide in Colorado from further mineral, oil, and gas leasing.  

These actions are helping advance the President’s America the Beautiful initiative, which is supporting locally led conservation efforts with a goal to protect, conserve, and restore at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.

###

The post FACT SHEET: President Biden Protects Atlantic and Pacific Coasts from Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling appeared first on The White House.

I am taking action to protect the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from oil and natural gas drilling and the harm it can cause. My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses, and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs. It is not worth the risks. As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren.

From California to Florida, Republican and Democratic Governors, Members of Congress, and coastal communities alike have worked and called for greater protection of our ocean and coastlines from harms that offshore oil and natural gas drilling can bring. In Alaska, dozens of Tribes have fought to protect the Northern Bering Sea, a vital ocean ecosystem that supports their traditional ways of life. Vice President Harris and I have listened. In balancing the many uses and benefits of America’s ocean, it is clear to me that the relatively minimal fossil fuel potential in the areas I am withdrawing do not justify the environmental, public health, and economic risks that would come from new leasing and drilling.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a man-made catastrophe that took the lives of eleven people and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, is a solemn reminder of the costs and risks of offshore drilling to the health and resilience of our coasts and fisheries and underscores the importance of the legal protections I am putting in place today. It is also one of the reasons why on my watch we have strengthened offshore safety standards for workers and communities on the front lines of existing operations nationwide, and rapidly accelerated the development of safer and cleaner energy sources, including the approval of eleven offshore wind projects.

From Day One, I have delivered on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history. And over the last four years, I have conserved more than 670 million acres of America’s lands and waters, more than any other president in history. Our country’s remarkable conservation and restoration progress has been locally led by Tribes, farmers and ranchers, fishermen, small businesses, and outdoor recreation enthusiasts across the country. Together, our “America the Beautiful” initiative put the United States on track to meet my ambitious goal to conserve at least 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030. 

We do not need to choose between protecting the environment and growing our economy, or between keeping our ocean healthy, our coastlines resilient, and the food they produce secure and keeping energy prices low. Those are false choices. Protecting America’s coasts and ocean is the right thing to do, and will help communities and the economy to flourish for generations to come.

###

The post Statement from President Joe Biden on Protecting America’s Ocean and Coasts from Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling appeared first on The White House.

State Dining Room

7:02 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, hello, hello. (Applause.)

Well, welcome to your house.

AUDIENCE: Aw.

THE PRESIDENT: We’re honored to have you here. Look, we host you, the newest members of Congress. It brings back a lot of memories. Congratulations to you and your families.

And thank you all for — steering and policy chair, Amy Klobuchar, who, if I were you — (applause) — I’d listen to everything she says, everything she does. (Laughter.) House Democratic Caucus chair is here, but before that, we’re going to have Gary Peters announced.

Gary, where are you? (Applause.) There he is.

And Pete Aguilar is here as well. Pete. (Applause.)

Well, you made it through the campaign, and now your work begins to deliver for your people. And we’ve — we’ve been in your shoes — the excitement, the expectations, and — and the little bit of nervousness occasionally. It’s okay.

My advice to you is: Embrace the institution you serve. I really mean it. Improve it. Don’t — don’t tear it down.

You know, we — 36 years ago, I — I loved — for 36 years, I was a United States senator. I got elected when I was 29. You have to be 30 to be sworn in, and I wasn’t old enough to be sworn in. And I came down to — down to Washington, and I — when I was in — a guy — a number of the senior senators helped me out. And I was in Teddy Kennedy’s office, waiting to — hiring staff, interviewing people, and I got a phone call in his office that my — my wife and daughter had just been killed, and my two boys weren’t likely to live. They had been struck by a tractor trailer, broadsided them on — Christmas shopping.

And the reason I bother to tell you this story is not to seek any sympathy but to say to you that my decision at that time was to not — not be sworn in, to get the hell out. And we had a Democratic governor, so I knew they were going to be able to appoint a Democratic senator, and that wasn’t a worry.

And — but a group of about seven Democrats and Republican senators, starting with Mike Mansfield, who they called “Iron Mike,” who was a — the majority leader — and a Southerner named Fritz Hollings. And a bunch of folks got together, and they came to see me in two different groups to convince me to stay because I knew that — that they’d get — we’d get another senator, but I wasn’t sure — I didn’t think they’d get another father, my two boys who were recovering. And so, I wasn’t going to stay.

But — but they brought me into their homes, these senators. There were six, seven of them. I won’t name all — bore you with it. But from Teddy Kennedy to Fritz Hollings to Mi- — Mike Mansfield, and they just embraced me. They — and they — they didn’t — it wasn’t overly sympathetic. It was just, you know, “You just come and stay” — I’ll never forget. “Just come and stay six months; then you can go home. Then you can go home.”

But what they did was they pulled me in. They pulled me in. They invited me to their — their homes. There — there used to be, back in those days, Democrats and Republicans were — had friendships, and they would still have dinners at each other’s homes — private dinners and the like. And all of a sudden, I got included. I got pulled in.

And Mike Mansfield, who was the leader of the Senate — they called him “Iron Mike” — from Montana, he has more integrity in his little finger than most people had in their whole body. And I used to have to report this office every day — every Tuesday at 2 o’clock. I thought everybody reported — he’d give me an assignment. I thought everybody got an assignment. Nobody gets an assignment — (laughter) — in the Senate.

But it just ba- — basically, looking back on it, to take my pulse to see how I was doing. Because every time, as soon as the Senate was out, I’d — I’d literally jog down to the — Penn [Union] Station to get on the train to go home because I commuted every day.

Anyway, to make a long story short, there’s a purpose to my telling you this. I was 100 in seniority and — of the United States Senate, and they — they still cared for me. They — they looked out for me. And they gave me strength, and I stay engaged. They didn’t — I — they didn’t stay — I didn’t stay engaged; I — I got really engaged. I was here for 50 years. (Laughter.) (The president makes the sign of the cross.) (Laughter and applause.)

But — but my point is you don’t have to give up your principles or your beliefs to build relationships, to compromise and reach a consensus. That’s often the only way to get big things done, at least in my experience. That’s what I’ve tried to do my whole career.

And I’m proud of the record we’re going to leave you all to build on: an economy that grows from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down; the once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure — over a billion two hundred million dollars and — a trillion two hundred billion dollars; the CHIPS and Science Act; the climate change; clean energy.

The point is that — (applause) — the point is, whether it’s reducing prescription drug costs or reducing gun violence or reas- — re- — reasserting America’s leadership in the world and, maybe most important of all, standing up for democracy.

And every generation gets tested. I taught constitutional law for a long time, and I used to always give a lecture about every generation has to fight for — I never really believed what I was saying, in the sense that I didn’t think I’d have to fight to maintain democracy.

But tomorrow is January 6th. Tomorrow is January 6th. We gather to certify the results on a free and fair presidential election and ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

It’s a day that — that, most of our history, we took for granted, the 6th, but I hope we never take it for granted again.

You know, four years ago, January 6th, this Capitol was attacked by a violent mob. If you can come over to the Oval before I leave, I’ll show you the room that the former president sat in for three and a half hours, watching what was going on on television in the small dining room off of my — off of the Oval Office. And our democracy was really, literally, put to the test. And thankfully, our democracy held.

But the big reason is because of the bravery of the Capitol Police and the local people who stood with us. (Applause.) Never forget them. They’re guarding you. Give them the respect and support they deserve.

But it’s also due to the members of the House and the Senate, who, even in the face of these threats — threats to their life — courageously fulfilled their duty to the Constitution. They showed up and did the work.

Now it’s your duty to tell the truth, to remember what happened, and not let January 6th be rewritten as a — or even erased; to honor the Constitution not only on the most extraordinary of days but — it’s one of the toughest days in American history, January 6th — but every day. You know, you’ve sworn an oath, and I know you’ll never forget the oath you swore to.

But now, four years later, I’m leaving the office of the president. I’m determined to do everything in my power to respect the peaceful transfer of power.

You know, I don’t think a- — (applause) — I wasn’t going to run when I ran in 2020 because I had lost my son, didn’t want any part of getting engaged again. But my son Beau and — who was the attorney general and likely the governor — next governor of the state of Delaware.

But, you know, I think it’s important to restore basic conditions. The last time this occurred, this transfer of power, the losing party never even showed up — never even showed up for the — for any — for — and everybody, understandably, says to me, “Why are you being nice, Joe? Why’d you have him over to the office for two hours? Why are you cooperating?” Because we got to — the — the rules matter. The institutions matter. The safeguards matter. They really matter.

And, look, you know, the core traditions we’ve long respected in America, certifying an election is — attending an inauguration of an incoming president — and this is all part of the tradition we have to begin to restore. And I hope you, too, will work to restore the traditions to keep this country stronger.

Let me — you know, we can never forget democracy — with demo- — everything is possible. Everything is possible — our freedoms, our rights, our liberties, our dreams. And the work of our democracy falls to every generation of Americans to earn it.

I know — I used to teach con- — I used to say that, “earn it.” And I — I never really — I taught it and I knew it was true, but I never felt it. I never believed it. But we have to defend it and protect it because it’s always under siege.

And, look, we’re going through a really — I know a lot of my colleagues are tired of hearing me saying this, but we’re going through a period in American history which is one of those infl- — those inflection points in history. The Cold War is over. The Cold War era is over. We’re in an entirely new era. Everything has changed, not because of any single woman or man. It’s the nature of things that have changed.

Think of the transitions that are taking place in the world, unrelated to who the leadership is. Think of what’s going on, whether it’s global warming or whether it’s the idea that the whole — whole alliances are breaking down and re- — being rees- — being reestablished. And it seems to me that our safety depends — and security depends, in large part, on who our partners are, who our — who our allies are. They matter.

So, you’re going to be in a position to have to deal with ma- — I — one of the things I’m proudest of is I rebuilt NATO. I say “I,” but I did. For real. (Laughter.) I mean, it took — by the way, I spent over — (applause) — no, no, no, no, no, no. No, I (inaudible) said that — it took me over a — we calculated it — 120 hours with these world leaders individually — speaking to them individually on why it was important.

I remember getting a phone call 10 days before he died from Dr. Kissinger, saying, “Joe” — I — I was, half the time, in a different position than Kissinger was because I was a senior senator at the time during the Vietnam War by that time. And he said, “Not since Napoleon has Europe not looked over their shoulder with dread at was going on in Moscow until you came — you guys came” — he said “you,” but it was about me –“you came along.” We’ve im- — we’ve improved NATO. We strengthened it. We put it back together again. We put it back together again.

We’re in a position where we were able to convince — did you ever think we’d be in a position — those of you who are students of history — where Japan would be spending 2 percent of its GDP on — on defense? We’d get 50 nations to support us — our efforts in — in Ukraine? Why? Because the world’s gotten so damn small — so damn small. They all understand: What happens in my neighborhood is going to affect every neighborhood.

We’re — we’re putting together alliances in — in the South Pacific, in the Indian Ocean, the Quad. Did anybody ever think we’d get India, Japan, Australia, and the United States in one organization?

The point I’m making is, everything is changing.

I’ve known — I’ve known Putin for over 47 years. Met with him many times. I remember when I met with him in off — in the off period between the time that we were elected and before we were sworn in — or just after we were swor- — no, actually, before we s- — no, that’s true — just after we sworn in, in early February. And I wanted to talk about re- — reestablishing arms control and dealing with nuclear weapons.

And he started to talk about how Russia had changed and so on and so forth. And he talked about he — his — he has eight time zones. I said, “Yeah, eight time zones along the — around the — the Arctic Circle. And guess what? The ice is melting, and what’s coming out is not greenhouse gasses. It’s methane. You’re never going to control it. It’s sig- — it’s not going to refreeze. What are you going to do about it?”

So, my point is, so much is changing, and we have — and think about this: You know, if we don’t lead the world, who leads? And that’s not a criticism of any of our allies, but who has the capacity to try to hold the world together? Not a joke. We can do it without going to war. We can do it — as we’ve been able to do, God willing — (the president knocks on wood) — since we’ve become — come into office. We can do it without sending American forces to places.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say to you is — you know, let me close with what I call the Senate point of personal privilege. (Laughter.) You know, my father used to say, “It’s a lucky person that wakes up, put both feet in the ground, and believes that what he or she does matters.” Well, you’re among the lucky few. What you do really is going to matter economically and politically.

But one piece of unsolicited advice, and I was reluctant to say this with the press here, but I’m going to do it anyway, because they — because they — they can know the facts here. Going back to when I told you, when I got elected, I didn’t want to stay. Teddy Kennedy and Fritz Hollings and Tom Eagleton and a number of Republicans as well — there were nine of them — decided to, you know, keep me engaged and invite me to everything they were doing. And Teddy used to come over my office and say, “Let’s go to lunch.” And I wanted no part of going to lunch or getting to know anybody. I didn’t want to — I just wanted to do my job, get — get down on Union Station, and go home. I mean, for real. You — and many of you have been through what I’ve been through and a lot worse.

And so, one day he walks over and he says — I won’t use his exact language. He says, “Darn it, Joe, you’re going lunch with me.” So, I went over to the private Senate dining room. There’s two Senate dining rooms. The one dining room where you take — you’ll be able to take someone if you’re a senator, and the House is not fundamentally different.

But in the Senate, there was — I — I was — I was fairly successful at bringing together coalitions as a senator. I — I don’t mean it like — I mean, but I — I work like hell, and it — and — and I — Barack used to always kid me. We’d meet every morning. The first thing, we’d meet with one another at 9:00 in the morning every morning, and the last person we’d each speak to at night when we ended the day was with one another. That’s the deal we made. And one of the things was he always used to say that — you know, I know and I’d always be — I said, “Look, Barack, all politics is personal. All politics is personal.”

And the reason I mention that is that I went over — Teddy had me come over to the Senate. There used to be a Senate dining room. When you walk in the first floor on the Senate side, you go down that hall on the first cross corridor where the — by the elevators. One goes into the foreign relations executive committee room; another goes down to the staircase going up to the floor, as well as an elevator; and then there’s an office door on the left and one on the right. On the right is the Senate dining room.

Those of you who are senators are going to be able to bring any of your colleagues or friends in to have lunch with you. But the door on the left used to be a private Senate dining room. You had to be — only a U.S. senator was allowed in. And you walked in, and it was a — it was a T-shaped. You walked in, and there was a — a buffet table on the left, which had all the luncheon material out, and a long table on the right, like a big dining room table, but it was — seated, I’m guessing, 18 to 20 people. And then you walk straight ahead, and perpendicular was another table by windows looking out over the parking lot, and there was another table that held 20 or so people, and that was the Democratic table.

And so, what would happen — Teddy brought me in, and he said, “All I want you to do is just” — and you know this to be the case — “just walk in, just sit and listen. You’ll learn more in an hour sitting here with these senior senators and others than you’ll learn in the next 10 hours doing anything else.”

So, I remember sitting down. And Jim Eastland — I — I ran because of civil rights in my state. We were segregated by law, to our great shame. And here is Jim Eastland and, you know, John Stennis and Herman Talmadge and all these guys — these Southern, by any definition, racist Senators. And I sat there and listened. Teddy and Eastland would go at it hammer and tong up on the floor. They’d go down and eat together. They didn’t leave their values behind, their points of view, but they sat and — and — and it — and ate with one another.

And so, what happens when you get to know that the other senator — he is — her husband has testicular cancer and is dying? Well, you have a different perspective. When you find out that one of them has a son that they — that has a — a serious learning disability or somebody has just lost their mother or father, you learn about what they’re going through, and it personalizes things in a way that only private conversations and personal things can do.

And you begin to understand and you begin to learn about — and you’ll find this; you already know this in your states as congresspersons in districts — that the next district over, the person may not be a bad guy or woman, but they have a constituency of a very different view than yours does — not bad or good, different than yours does. Not a whole lot of people in Kansas worry about fishing rights in the Atlantic. (Laughter.) Not a whole lot of people in — in, you know, on the Atlantic coast are worried about agricultural issues on corn in Nebraska.

I mean, so, you begin to look at other people’s perspectives, and it becomes less personal — it becomes less personal. It’s not “you’re a bad person.”

The end result of it all is: We lost that. And so, as — as I think some of my sen- — my senior colleagues in this room can tell you, you know, I was — I was vice president for eight years. I think it was the sixth or seventh year, things had really gone to hell in the way we were dealing with each other on the floor, the leadership. And everybody wondered how in the hell I could get along with a senator from Kentucky. He never once (inaudible) — he never once lied to me, whatever he said he did, and I understood his circumstance he was in.

But here’s the deal. I realized that every time there was something going on in the Senate — I think he’d tell you, the main reason Barack picked me to be vice president was my background in American foreign policy, because I had done so much of it, and because of my relationships in the Senate and the Congress. I was — I — I love the Senate. I — I consider myself a Senate man more than I do a president — for real — after 36 years.

And so, I realized there were a lot of new senators I didn’t know, I didn’t have a personal relationship with, and realized what it — how difficult that was for me to figure out their thinking, why they were doing what they were doing, why — why — and what could I do to answer their concerns without violating any principles that they had.

And so, I decided to go over to the Senate dining room. And I walked in the door. There’s nothing there. There’s lounge chairs. There was no place — and I do- — not sure about the House — there’s no place in the United States Senate where a group of senators can say, “Let’s go have lunch together, all together.” It doesn’t exist.

It’s a gigantic loss — a gigantic loss. When we’d do on CODELs, we used to take our spouses with us. It matters. It matters, when you know one spouse is having great difficulty because their husband isn’t being in the position where they’re home on time because they’re taking too much time what they’re doing in — in their job or whatever it is.

And when you get to — think about your personal relationships. The people you grew up with, you have different points of view on. The people you, in fact, know, you — you worked with, who have different perspectives in life, much of it’s because of their present — their — their circumstance. And when you know it, you can almost always figure a way through it.

We don’t do that anymore. And I’m not saying this for the first time, but the single greatest loss we have is we don’t know each other anymore. We don’t know each other like we used to know each other. I’m serious. Not a joke.

And so, I really urge you — presumptuous of me to say this — if you’re a good politician, you’re good at interfacing with people. You can get people to trust you, looking at you, and knowing what you’re saying to them is true. Your word is your bond. You break it once, man, in the Senate or the House, goodbye Charlie. I’m not joking.

It’s fundamentally, fundamentally different. But if you say, “I’ve got to do this because this — my constituency, this is important to them. I know it’s not to your” — forget it.

The end result of all this is, in my career, I have been asked to do the eulogy of the most incredibly different people: Strom Thurmond, 100 years old, on his deathbed, I get a phone call from the hos- — from — from the — from the hospital, from out of Walter Reed. And it’s his wife, Nancy, saying, “Joe, I’m here with the doctors at the nurses station. Strom asked me to ask you whether or not you would do his eulogy.”

And I said, “Well, Nancy” — “No, Joe, it’s important to him. Would you do his eulogy?”

Well, you know, people change. I’m not making them rewrite Strom Thurmond. He was — he was a segregationist. But when Strom Thurmond got elected to the United States Senate, the second time around, the New York Times had a big headline in 19- — I can’t remember the year now — “Strom Thurmond, Hope of the South,” because Strom Thurmond decided that separate but equal is not right — not that Blacks and whites should be together, but if you do separate but equal, you had to spend as much money on Black schools as white schools.

By the time Strom Thurmond left the United States Senate, he had — I’m not making a case for him, but he had more African Americans on his staff than any United States senator had — more. Strom Thurmond had an illegitimate child with a Black woman. Never denied it and never stopped paying for her — his upbringing.

There’s a lot of strange people, a lot of different people. No, I mean — well, I bet I could look at you, and I could find some strange things too. (Laughter.)

No, but I’m really serious. Think about it. Think about it.

And so, when you sit down with people — I mean, the idea that I got Jesse Helms to vote to fund the United Nations. I’m serious. Went to Jesse Helms’s eulo- — I mean, Je- — Jesse Helms’s funeral. You know what Jesse Helms talked about? Before he died, he said, “I made a big mistake, Joe. I should have never said what I said.”

And, by the — I didn’t get on with him at all. But you know what he said? He said, “I should have never said what I said about, you know, all those folks just got out of trees not long ago, like monkeys.” He said, “I was wrong about that. I want to take it all back.”

People can change. But you got to know that — you got to talk to them. Doesn’t mean you can do it. But things can change.

And, folks, we can’t go through another 4, 8, 12 years what we did in the last previous four years. We can’t do it.

And a lot of you have a lot of experience in foreign policy. The rest of the world looks to us. They look to us. We’re the only organizational capacity of any nation in the world to pull these things together.

Who else will do it? They’re good people — the Brits, the French, the Germans, a whole range of people. But do you think any of them can do it? They’re looking to us.

We can do it without sending troops. We can do it without a war. We can do it without a whole — all the things that are the downsides.

And I think with your help and a lot of people — the help of the leadership here, we’ve done a pretty damn good job so far of putting things back on track.

So, please don’t listen to those who say, “Don’t talk.” You’re smarter than most of these people are. You know what you want to do. (Laughter.)

Well, I’m serious. Think about it.

How many people get here just purely based on prejudice, just purely based on the kinds of things that are just lies?

But people change. And so, I know I drove Barack crazy when I’d say, j- — I know, I know, I know — politics is all personal. But think about it.

How in God’s name do you think I got Yoon and the prime minister of Japan, after World War Two, never speaking to one another and hating each other because of what happened to the women, to sit down and sign a treaty together at Camp David? How did that happen? What changed? Not their publics, but they realized what they had at stake, and they decided to move something.

So, my point is: I’ve looked at all your res- — I should — shouldn’t say this, but I did. I looked at all your backgrounds. (Laughter.) You’re smart as hell. You’re incredibly, incredibly qualified.

So, please reach out. I don’t want you to compromise on any principle you fully disagree with, but just understand the other person’s perspective. It’s a way to get to go. Because if we don’t do that, look at — anyway, I’m confident you’re going to be able to change this, turn this around, in a way that we continue down the road we’re on.

And so, thank you, thank you, thank you. And God bless you all. And keep it personal. (Applause.)

Thank you. (Applause.)

7:29 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden at Reception for New Democratic Members of Congress appeared first on The White House.

Yesterday, I was proud to sign into law the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act, authorizing the placement of a monument honoring the women’s suffrage movement on the National Mall. In addition to commemorating the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Women’s Suffrage National Monument will recognize the generations of women who fought to ensure an equal voice for women in our democracy and honor the leaders who fought for the enfranchisement of all women long after the 19th Amendment was ratified. Vice President Harris and I are committed to defending equal rights for all Americans, to strengthening the federal government’s recognition of women’s contributions to our nation’s history, and to inspiring the next generation to create a more equal future for all.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act appeared first on The White House.

Yesterday, I was proud to sign into law the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act, authorizing the placement of a monument honoring the women’s suffrage movement on the National Mall. In addition to commemorating the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Women’s Suffrage National Monument will recognize the generations of women who fought to ensure an equal voice for women in our democracy and honor the leaders who fought for the enfranchisement of all women long after the 19th Amendment was ratified. Vice President Harris and I are committed to defending equal rights for all Americans, to strengthening the federal government’s recognition of women’s contributions to our nation’s history, and to inspiring the next generation to create a more equal future for all.

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The post Statement from President Joe Biden on the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act appeared first on The White House.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, the President signed into law:

H.R. 670, the “Think Differently Database Act,” which requires HHS to establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families;

Thank you to Representatives Molinaro and Sherrill, and Senators Schmitt and Ossoff for their leadership.

H.R. 1318, the “Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act,” which authorizes a commemorative work to commemorate the women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution;

Thank you to Representatives Neguse and Lesko, and Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their leadership.

H.R. 2997, the “Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act” or as the “CONVEY Act,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Mesa County, Colorado all rights, title, and interest of the United States to a specified property;

Thank you to Representatives Boebert, Buck and Lamborn, and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet for their leadership.

H.R. 3391, the “Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0,” which reauthorizes the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research program at the National Institutes of Health;

Thank you to Representative Wexton, and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership.

H.R. 5103, the “Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act,” which establishes procedures for the review of spend plans submitted to the Department of Commerce by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding;

Thank you to Representatives Donalds and Peltola, Senators Rick Scott, Sullivan, Murkowski, and Rubio, and many others for their leadership.

H.R. 5443, the “Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act” or the “AACE Act,” which authorizes non-Federal land appraisers to perform certain services on behalf of the Department of the Interior in any State;

Thank you to Representatives Susie Lee and Dave Joyce, and Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for their leadership.

H.R. 5887, the “Government Service Delivery Improvement Act,” which requires the designation of OMB and agency officials responsible for improving government service delivery;

Thank you to Representatives Khanna, Timmons, Donalds and Loudermilk, and Senators Hassan and Marshall for their leadership.

H.R. 6062, which restores the ability of the people of American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial constitution based on majority rule in a democratic act of self-determination, as authorized pursuant to an Act of Congress delegating administration of Federal territorial law in the territory to the President, and to the Secretary of the Interior under Executive Order 10264, dated June 29, 1951, under which the Constitution of American Samoa was approved and may be amended without requirement for further congressional action, subject to the authority of Congress under the Territorial Clause in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution;

Thank you to Representative Radewagen for her leadership.

H.R. 6395, the “Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act of 2023,” which amends the Energy Act of 2020 to require the Secretary of the Interior to include the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultations regarding designations of critical minerals, elements, substances, and materials;

Thank you to Representatives Curtis and DeGette for their leadership.

H.R. 6492, the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” or the “EXPLORE Act,” which improves recreation opportunities on, and facilitates greater access to, Federal public lands;

Thank you to Representatives Westerman, Grijalva, Curtis, Neguse, Lamborn, Barragán, Moylan, Peltola, Carl, Susie Lee, Radewagen, Porter, Wittman, Sablan, Kiggans, Dingell, Collins, Leger Fernandez, Levin and Case, and Senators Manchin and Barrasso for their leadership.

H.R. 6852, the “Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates Holcombe Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site;

Thank you to Representative Espaillat for his leadership.

H.R. 7158, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in Santa Maria, California, as the “Larry Lavagnino Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Carbajal for his leadership.

H.R. 7180, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland, Arkansas, as the “Kingsland ‘Johnny Cash’ Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Westerman for his leadership.

H.R. 7365, the “Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act” or the “VETS Safe Travel Act,” which makes certain disabled veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program’s background check and security requirements;

Thank you to Representative Gosar for his leadership.

H.R. 7385, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia, as the “John Mercer Langston Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative McClellan and Senator Warner for their leadership.

H.R. 7417, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 West Spring Street in Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the “Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Mike Kelly for his leadership.

H.R. 7507, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 East 6th Street in Lexington, Nebraska, as the William E. and Elsie L. Barrett Post Office Building;

Thank you to Representative Adrian Smith and Senator Ricketts for their leadership.

H.R. 7508, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the “Gladys P. Todd Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Spanberger for her leadership.

H.R. 7606, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as the “Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Van Drew for his leadership.

H.R. 7607, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Van Drew for his leadership.

H.R. 7893, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 306 Pickens Street in Marion, Alabama, as the “Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Sewell for her leadership.

H.R. 7938, the “Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024,” which amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to provide the Secretary of the Interior with certain authorities affecting the Klamath Basin;

Thank you to Representative Bentz, and Senators Wyden and Merkley for their leadership.

H.R. 8012, the “Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, as a Commemorative Site and makes the Site a part of the African American Civil Rights Network;

Thank you to Representatives Waltz and Soto, and Senators Rubio and Warnock for their leadership.

H.R. 8057, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Steel for her leadership.

H.R. 8641, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street in Brawley, California, as the “Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Ruiz for his leadership.

H.R. 8666, which amends title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello;

Thank you to Representatives Maloy and Curtis for their leadership.

H.R. 8667, which renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the “Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic”;

Thank you to Representative Moolenaar for his leadership.

H.R. 8717, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West Main Street in Santaquin, Utah, as the “SGT Bill Hooser Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Owens for his leadership.

H.R. 8841, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, Minnesota, as the “Floyd B. Olson Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Fischbach and Senator Klobuchar for their leadership.

H.R. 8868, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the “Chief Michael Maloney Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Pappas for his leadership.

H.R. 8909, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82–6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Tokuda for her leadership.

H.R. 8919, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the “SFC Shawn McCloskey Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Ferguson for his leadership.

H.R. 8976, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in Millstadt, Illinois, as the “Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Bost for his leadership.

H.R. 9076, the “Supporting America’s Children and Families Act,” which reauthorizes and modify child welfare grant programs and child support enforcement;

Thank you to Representatives LaHood and Danny Davis for their leadership.

H.R. 9124, which names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, as the “Louis A. Conter VA Clinic”;

Thank you to Representative Kiley for his leadership.

H.R. 9285, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3913 Leland Avenue Northwest in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the “Captain Miguel Justin Nava Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Scholten for her leadership.

H.R. 9322, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in Akron, Ohio, as the “Judge James R. Williams Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Sykes for her leadership.

H.R. 9421, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 North Main Street in Bucoda, Washington, as the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Gluesenkamp Perez for her leadership.

H.R. 9487, the “House Office of Legislative Counsel Modernization Act,” which authorizes the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives to designate more than one of the attorneys of the Office of the Legislative Counsel as a Deputy Legislative Counsel;

Thank you to Representatives Steil and Morelle for their leadership.

H.R. 9544, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the “United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Mfume and Senator Cardin for their leadership.

H.R. 9549, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon, as the “Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Bonamici for her leadership.

H.R. 9580, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the “Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Ross for her leadership.

H.R. 9592, the “Federal Register Modernization Act of 2024,” which provides for changes to the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations;

Thank you to Representatives Clay Higgins and Connolly for their leadership.

H.R. 9600, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Sanford Bishop for his leadership.

H.R. 9775, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 North Anderson Street in Elwood, Indiana, as the “Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Spartz for her leadership.

H.R. 10065, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 802 North Tancahua Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the “Captain Robert E. ‘Bob’ Batterson Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Cloud for his leadership.

S. 2181, the “Keeping Military Families Together Act of 2024,” which extends two current Department of Veterans Affairs burial authorities;

Thank you to Senators Peters, Sullivan, Cramer and Brown, and Representatives Pappas and Moylan for their leadership.

S. 4367, the “Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024,” which authorizes construction of Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects for flood risk management, navigation, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration; modifies previously authorized projects; and contains other water related provisions.

Thank you to Senators Carper, Capito, Kelly and Cramer, and Representatives Sam Graves, Rick Larsen, Napolitano and Rouzer for their leadership.

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The post Press Release: Bills Signed: H.R. 670, H.R. 1318, H.R. 2997, H.R. 3391, H.R. 5103, H.R. 5443, H.R. 5887, H.R. 6062, H.R. 6395, H.R. 6492, H.R. 6852, H.R. 7158, H.R. 7180, H.R. 7365, H.R. 7385, H.R. 7417, H.R. 7507, H.R. 7508… appeared first on The White House.

On Saturday, January 4, 2025, the President signed into law:

H.R. 670, the “Think Differently Database Act,” which requires HHS to establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families;

Thank you to Representatives Molinaro and Sherrill, and Senators Schmitt and Ossoff for their leadership.

H.R. 1318, the “Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act,” which authorizes a commemorative work to commemorate the women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution;

Thank you to Representatives Neguse and Lesko, and Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their leadership.

H.R. 2997, the “Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act” or as the “CONVEY Act,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Mesa County, Colorado all rights, title, and interest of the United States to a specified property;

Thank you to Representatives Boebert, Buck and Lamborn, and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet for their leadership.

H.R. 3391, the “Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0,” which reauthorizes the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research program at the National Institutes of Health;

Thank you to Representative Wexton, and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership.

H.R. 5103, the “Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act,” which establishes procedures for the review of spend plans submitted to the Department of Commerce by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding;

Thank you to Representatives Donalds and Peltola, Senators Rick Scott, Sullivan, Murkowski, and Rubio, and many others for their leadership.

H.R. 5443, the “Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act” or the “AACE Act,” which authorizes non-Federal land appraisers to perform certain services on behalf of the Department of the Interior in any State;

Thank you to Representatives Susie Lee and Dave Joyce, and Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for their leadership.

H.R. 5887, the “Government Service Delivery Improvement Act,” which requires the designation of OMB and agency officials responsible for improving government service delivery;

Thank you to Representatives Khanna, Timmons, Donalds and Loudermilk, and Senators Hassan and Marshall for their leadership.

H.R. 6062, which restores the ability of the people of American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial constitution based on majority rule in a democratic act of self-determination, as authorized pursuant to an Act of Congress delegating administration of Federal territorial law in the territory to the President, and to the Secretary of the Interior under Executive Order 10264, dated June 29, 1951, under which the Constitution of American Samoa was approved and may be amended without requirement for further congressional action, subject to the authority of Congress under the Territorial Clause in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution;

Thank you to Representative Radewagen for her leadership.

H.R. 6395, the “Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act of 2023,” which amends the Energy Act of 2020 to require the Secretary of the Interior to include the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultations regarding designations of critical minerals, elements, substances, and materials;

Thank you to Representatives Curtis and DeGette for their leadership.

H.R. 6492, the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” or the “EXPLORE Act,” which improves recreation opportunities on, and facilitates greater access to, Federal public lands;

Thank you to Representatives Westerman, Grijalva, Curtis, Neguse, Lamborn, Barragán, Moylan, Peltola, Carl, Susie Lee, Radewagen, Porter, Wittman, Sablan, Kiggans, Dingell, Collins, Leger Fernandez, Levin and Case, and Senators Manchin and Barrasso for their leadership.

H.R. 6852, the “Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates Holcombe Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site;

Thank you to Representative Espaillat for his leadership.

H.R. 7158, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in Santa Maria, California, as the “Larry Lavagnino Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Carbajal for his leadership.

H.R. 7180, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland, Arkansas, as the “Kingsland ‘Johnny Cash’ Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Westerman for his leadership.

H.R. 7365, the “Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act” or the “VETS Safe Travel Act,” which makes certain disabled veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program’s background check and security requirements;

Thank you to Representative Gosar for his leadership.

H.R. 7385, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia, as the “John Mercer Langston Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative McClellan and Senator Warner for their leadership.

H.R. 7417, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 West Spring Street in Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the “Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Mike Kelly for his leadership.

H.R. 7507, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 East 6th Street in Lexington, Nebraska, as the William E. and Elsie L. Barrett Post Office Building;

Thank you to Representative Adrian Smith and Senator Ricketts for their leadership.

H.R. 7508, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the “Gladys P. Todd Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Spanberger for her leadership.

H.R. 7606, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as the “Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Van Drew for his leadership.

H.R. 7607, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Van Drew for his leadership.

H.R. 7893, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 306 Pickens Street in Marion, Alabama, as the “Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Sewell for her leadership.

H.R. 7938, the “Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024,” which amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to provide the Secretary of the Interior with certain authorities affecting the Klamath Basin;

Thank you to Representative Bentz, and Senators Wyden and Merkley for their leadership.

H.R. 8012, the “Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, as a Commemorative Site and makes the Site a part of the African American Civil Rights Network;

Thank you to Representatives Waltz and Soto, and Senators Rubio and Warnock for their leadership.

H.R. 8057, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Steel for her leadership.

H.R. 8641, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street in Brawley, California, as the “Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Ruiz for his leadership.

H.R. 8666, which amends title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello;

Thank you to Representatives Maloy and Curtis for their leadership.

H.R. 8667, which renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the “Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic”;

Thank you to Representative Moolenaar for his leadership.

H.R. 8717, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West Main Street in Santaquin, Utah, as the “SGT Bill Hooser Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Owens for his leadership.

H.R. 8841, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, Minnesota, as the “Floyd B. Olson Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Fischbach and Senator Klobuchar for their leadership.

H.R. 8868, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the “Chief Michael Maloney Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Pappas for his leadership.

H.R. 8909, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82–6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Tokuda for her leadership.

H.R. 8919, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the “SFC Shawn McCloskey Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Ferguson for his leadership.

H.R. 8976, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in Millstadt, Illinois, as the “Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Bost for his leadership.

H.R. 9076, the “Supporting America’s Children and Families Act,” which reauthorizes and modify child welfare grant programs and child support enforcement;

Thank you to Representatives LaHood and Danny Davis for their leadership.

H.R. 9124, which names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, as the “Louis A. Conter VA Clinic”;

Thank you to Representative Kiley for his leadership.

H.R. 9285, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3913 Leland Avenue Northwest in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the “Captain Miguel Justin Nava Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Scholten for her leadership.

H.R. 9322, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in Akron, Ohio, as the “Judge James R. Williams Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Sykes for her leadership.

H.R. 9421, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 North Main Street in Bucoda, Washington, as the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Gluesenkamp Perez for her leadership.

H.R. 9487, the “House Office of Legislative Counsel Modernization Act,” which authorizes the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives to designate more than one of the attorneys of the Office of the Legislative Counsel as a Deputy Legislative Counsel;

Thank you to Representatives Steil and Morelle for their leadership.

H.R. 9544, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the “United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Mfume and Senator Cardin for their leadership.

H.R. 9549, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon, as the “Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Bonamici for her leadership.

H.R. 9580, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the “Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Ross for her leadership.

H.R. 9592, the “Federal Register Modernization Act of 2024,” which provides for changes to the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations;

Thank you to Representatives Clay Higgins and Connolly for their leadership.

H.R. 9600, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Sanford Bishop for his leadership.

H.R. 9775, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 North Anderson Street in Elwood, Indiana, as the “Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz Post Office Building”;

Thank you to Representative Spartz for her leadership.

H.R. 10065, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 802 North Tancahua Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the “Captain Robert E. ‘Bob’ Batterson Post Office”;

Thank you to Representative Cloud for his leadership.

S. 2181, the “Keeping Military Families Together Act of 2024,” which extends two current Department of Veterans Affairs burial authorities;

Thank you to Senators Peters, Sullivan, Cramer and Brown, and Representatives Pappas and Moylan for their leadership.

S. 4367, the “Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024,” which authorizes construction of Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects for flood risk management, navigation, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration; modifies previously authorized projects; and contains other water related provisions.

Thank you to Senators Carper, Capito, Kelly and Cramer, and Representatives Sam Graves, Rick Larsen, Napolitano and Rouzer for their leadership.

###

The post Press Release: Bills Signed: H.R. 670, H.R. 1318, H.R. 2997, H.R. 3391, H.R. 5103, H.R. 5443, H.R. 5887, H.R. 6062, H.R. 6395, H.R. 6492, H.R. 6852, H.R. 7158, H.R. 7180, H.R. 7365, H.R. 7385, H.R. 7417, H.R. 7507, H.R. 7508… appeared first on The White House.

East Room

1:23 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Please, everyone, be seated.

Well, good afternoon and Happy New Year.

AUDIENCE:  Happy New Year.

THE PRESIDENT:  As we gather in this room on January 2025, imagine March of 1865.  President Lincoln had just delivered

his inaugural address at the Capitol.  And he returned to the White House for a reception here in the East Room.

There were many well-wishers, but he spotted someone whose opinion he greatly valued.  President Lincoln asked him what he thought of the speech he had just delivered to the nation by a divided Civil War.  The man replied, “It was a sacred effort.”  “It was a sacred effort.”  That man was Frederick Douglass.

Here we are, nearly 160 years later, in the room where Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass stood to unify the nation.

I’m joined by our incredible first lady, Jill.  We’re joined by an incredible vice president, Kamala Harris, and second gentleman, Doug.  Doug is a hell of lawyer, by the way.  (Laughter.)  Finally get to — get to practice again, huh?  (Laughter.)

And for the final time as president, I have the honor of bestowing the Medal of Freedom on — our nation’s highest civilian honor on a group of extraordinary — truly extraordinary people who gave their sacred effort — their sacred effort to shape the culture and the cause of America.

So, let me just say to each of you, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’ve done to help this country.  (Applause.)  You all — you all literally embody the nation’s creed, “E pluribus unum” — “out of many, one.”

Collect in a [A collective of] people of different backgrounds, beliefs, and talents, from the different generations and different genders, using their remarkable gifts and unwavering passion to strengthen our resolve as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

It matters.  It really does matter.

As cultural icons, defined statesmans, di- — excuse me — dignified stateman, humanitarians, rock stars, sports stars, you feed the hungry, you give hope to those — those who are hurting, and you craft the signs and sounds of our movements and our memories.

You know, it’s amazing — your innovation, your — you inspire.  You bring healing and joy to so many lives otherwise wouldn’t be touched.

You answer the call to serve and led others to do the same thing.  And you defend the values of America even when they are under attack, which they have been as of late.  Together, you leave an incredible mark — and I mean this sincerely — this group up — you leave an incredible mark on our country, with insight and influence that can be felt around the globe, in major cities and remote areas alike, binding us closer as a people and showing us that — what’s possible as a nation — there’s nothing beyond our capacity — while representing your families, your communities, your ancestors with pride and appreciation at the same time.

I’d also like to take a moment to recognize those honorees who are no longer with us — (a child speaks in the audience) — including the young man speaking.  (Laughter.)

By the way, kids rule in this house.  Okay?  (Laughter and applause.)  Don’t worry about it.  And you all think I’m kidding.  I’m not.  (Laughter.)

Ash Carter, Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer, George Romney, Bobby Kennedy — heroes of the highest order.  And Bobby Kennedy is one of my true political heroes.  I love and I miss him dearly.

I thank their families — all their families.  You know, as — we carry on the sacred effort of courage and conviction that you all began.

So, today, I want to congratulate you on all you’ve accomplished.  And I’m grateful for the work you’ll inspire for generations to follow to stay engaged, to never give up, to always keep the faith.

And in that spirit, from the People’s House, where Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass and generation of patriots before us have stood watch over the Republic, I ask the military aide to begin the reading of the citations for this year’s Medal of Freedom honorees.  (Applause.)

MILITARY AIDE:  José Andrés.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to José Andrés.  From his parents’ kitchen in Spain, José Andrés arrived in America with little money and big dreams.  Over the course of three decades, he mastered his culinary craft with renowned restaurants that span culture and cuisine and bring people together.  His World Central Kitchen revolutionized humanitarian assistance by mobilizing fellow chefs and providing meals to people left in the wake of natural disasters and war.  With his unmatched personality and heart, José Andrés shows us that there is a seat for everyone at the table.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Bono.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Bono.  As lead singer of U2, one of the most successful rock bands in history, Bono changes the world through his art and activism.  In an Irish tradition of poetry and protest, rebellion and rejoicing, he has composed anthems to peace and civil rights.  As a humanitarian, he lifts up causes from ending poverty and disease to calling for debt relief for developing nations.  The common beat of his life’s work is the power of freedom, a tie that also binds Ireland and America as beloved friends.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of Ashton Baldwin Carter is Stephanie Carter.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Ashton Baldwin Carter.  A scientist turned Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter was a true patriot.  Over four decades, in and out of the Pentagon, he was a key leader, thinker, and strategist on critical issues ranging from nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and our sacred obligation to equip, care, and protect our service members and their families.  His scientific and technological innovations made our nation safer, and his integrity and mentorship inspired generations of Americans to serve and protect our nation with honor and dignity.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Hillary Rodham Clinton.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Hillary Rodham Clinton.  Hillary Rodham Clinton is guided by the Methodist creed, “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can.”  As a lawyer, she defended the rights of children.  As first lady, she fought for universal health care and declared “women’s rights are human rights.”  As senator, she helped New York rebuild after September 11, 2001.  As secretary of State, she championed democracy worldwide.  And her nomination for president broke barriers and inspired generations.  Through it all, her career has been dedicated to an eternal truth: America’s ideals are sacred, and we must always defend and live by them.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Michael J. Fox.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Michael J. Fox.  Michael J. Fox is one of the most beloved actors of our time.  With remarkable wit and charm, he introduced iconic characters to the center of American culture, from Alex P. Keaton to Marty McFly and more.  With undaunted resilience and optimism, he also warms hearts and captivates audiences as a fearless advocate for those with Parkinson’s disease, channeling his endearing personality to advance treatments, move us closer to a cure, and remind us of the power of American possibilities.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Tim Gill.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Tim Gill.  A leading philanthropist and civil rights leader, Tim Gill advances the cause of equality for the LGBTQ community in America and the world.  A visionary entrepreneur, he has helped lead the fight against HIV/AIDS, laid the groundwork for marriage equality, and so much more.  His strong character, unwavering resolve, and indisputable effectiveness in fighting for love and equality for all make him a key figure in our nation’s story of freedom.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Jane Goodall.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Jane Goodall.  From war-torn England to the jungles of Tanzania, Dr. Jane Goodall’s childhood passion for animals led her to explore wildlife in Africa.  Her groundbreaking discoveries of chimpanzees challenged scientific convention, reshaped conservation methods, and redefined our understanding of the connection between humans, animals, and the environment we share.  Jane’s activism, vision, and message of hope have mobilized a global movement to protect the planet.  Above all, she has taught us that when we search for humanity in the natural world around us, we discover it within ourselves.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer is Doris Hamer Richardson.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer.  One of the most powerful voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer spent 18 years as a sharecropper in Mississippi before learning that Black citizens had a constitutional right to vote.  With that newfound freedom, she sacrificed her own safety to organize and register fellow Black voters across the South.  Brutally beaten but undeterred, for decades she spoke truth to power to expand political participation and economic rights for all Americans and left these words echoing in the nation’s conscience: “Nobody’s free until everybody is free.”  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Earvin “Magic” Johnson.  With unmatched vision and versatility, Earvin “Magic” Johnson drove the Showtime era for the Los Angeles Lakers: 5-time NBA Champion, 5-time MVP, 12-time All-Star, Olympic Gold Medalist, and the Naismith Hall of Famer.  Under the same bright lights, his honesty about his HIV status shattered stigma and saved lives.  The first — (applause) — the first retired athlete to build a true business empire, he champions underserved communities.  With a legendary will and smile, Magic Johnson rose from the playground in Lansing, Michigan, to become one of the most beloved athletes of our time.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Accepting on behalf of Robert Francis Kennedy is Kerry Kennedy.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Robert Francis Kennedy.  Born into a revered family of service, Robert F. Kennedy forged a path toward freedom that endures today.  Guided by the Constitution as his conscience, he was a key strategist to his brother’s successful campaigns for Senate and the presidency before serving as attorney general, senator, and a presidential candidate himself.  With deep empathy and resolve, powerful prose and poetry, he focused the nation’s moral compass on the cause of civil rights, the dignity of the poor, and the ripples of hope we can each cast as we choose not division, not hatred, not violence or lawlessness, but love, wisdom, and compassion toward one another.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Anyone who’s not a Kennedy, stand up.  (Laughter.)

MILITARY AIDE:  Ralph Lauren.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Ralph Lauren.  The son of Polish immigrants and a U.S. Army veteran, Ralph Lauren transformed a small necktie business into one of America’s most iconic brands, leaving a lasting imprint on the world of fashion, fragrance, furniture, and beyond.  Throughout it all, he remains a dedicated philanthropist, including fighting to end cancer as we know it.  Classic, yet creative, timeless yet innovative, Ralph Lauren reminds us of our distinct style as a nation of dreamers and doers.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

William Sanford Nye.  (Applause.) 

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to William Sanford Nye.  A Washington, D.C., native, Bill Nye began his career as a cutting edge mechanical engineer in Seattle, before becoming a beloved science educator for the nation.  Earning 19 Emmy awards for his energetic experiments on television as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” he also earned the trust of millions of children and families.  By sharing the magic of fun and science, he inspires generations of Americans to follow facts and reason and leave the world better than we found it.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of George W. Romney is Mitt Romney.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George W. Romney.  Born to humble beginnings as the son of Mormon missionaries, George Romney developed a deep belief in the idea that everyone deserves a fair shot at the American dream.  As a respected auto executive and three-term Republican governor of Michigan, he served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, advanced civil rights, tackled poverty, and stood up for everyday Americans, embodying an enduring faith in God and a love of country.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

David M. Rubenstein.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to David M. Rubenstein.  From a working-class family in Baltimore, David Rubenstein has become a renowned leader in business, arts, and culture.  After serving our nation on the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee and in President Carter’s White House, David went on to become a transformational business leader and philanthropist, from advancing cutting-edge cancer treatment to restoring our nation’s monuments.  His leadership reminds us that at our best, we learn from, preserve, and share our history so that everyone sees themselves in the story of America.  (Applause.) 

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

Accepting on behalf of George Soros is Alex Soros.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George Soros.  Born into a Jewish family in Hungary, George Soros escape Nazi occupation to build a life of freedom for himself and countless others around the world.  Educated in England, he settled in America as he became an investor and philanthropist, supporting key pillars of open societies: rights and justice, equity and equality, freedom now and in the future.  His inspiring generosity reminds us all of our capacity and our obligation to stand up to the abuse of power and to be guardians of democracy and all people yearning to be free.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)  

George Stevens, Jr.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to George Stevens, Jr.  Born into an entertainment family in Los Angeles, George Stevens, Jr., found his own purpose as a storyteller.  As a young aide in the Kennedy administration, he produced hundreds of documentaries that championed freedom and democracy.  He then created the American Film Institute and Kennedy Center Honors, lifting up the arts and artists at the heart of American culture.  In a career spanning seven decades, George’s creativity, vision has helped redeem the soul of a nation founded on the power of free expression.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Denzel Washington.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Denzel Washington.  Denzel Washington is considered one of the greatest actors of our time.  Over four decades on screen and stage, his portrayals of iconic figures and everyday people have earned him wide acclaim that includes two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Tony Award so far.  (Laughter.)  The admiration of audiences and peers is only exceeded by that of the countless young people he inspires.  With unmatched dignity, extraordinary talent, and unflinching faith in God and family, Denzel Washington himself is a defining character of the American story.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

Anna Wintour.  (Applause.)

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded to Anna Wintour.  The daughter of a former newspaper editor, Anna Wintour has used her creative talent, taste, and style for decades to redefine fashion journalism in America and around the world.  Pushing creative boundaries, she uses fashion as a mirror to reflect our culture and helps the next generation of entrepreneurs and designers define their vision and find their voice.  From the pages of magazines to runways and red carpets, Anna Wintour has cemented her legacy as a global fashion, cultural, and business icon.  (Applause.)

(The Medal of Freedom is presented.)  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Not a bad group, huh?  (Laughter and applause.)

Folks, thank you all again.  Thank you and to your families for your service and theirs to the nation.

Congratulations.  But let’s remember: Our sacred effort continues.  We have to keep going.  As my mother would say, we got to keep the faith.

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.

Please enjoy the reception.  God love you all. 

Thank you.  (Applause.)

1:54 P.M. EST

The post Remarks by President Biden at Presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Biden named nineteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

President Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.

The awards will be presented at the White House on January 4, 2025. The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

José Andrés 

José Andrés is a renowned Spanish-American culinary innovator who popularized tapas in the United States. His World Central Kitchen provides large-scale relief to communities affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world.

Bono

Bono is the frontman for legendary rock band U2 and a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty. He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States PEPFAR AIDS program, and is co-founder of campaigning organizations ONE and (RED).

Ashton Baldwin Carter (posthumous)

Ash Carter served as the 25th Secretary of Defense and devoted his career to making the nation safer for all. Throughout his career, he served under 11 Secretaries of Defense in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary Clinton made history many times over decades in public service, including as the first First Lady elected to the United States Senate. After serving as Secretary of State, she became the first woman nominated for president by a major United States political party.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox is an actor who has won five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. He is a world-renowned advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development.

Tim Gill

Tim Gill is a visionary entrepreneur whose work has advanced LGBTQI rights and equality. After transforming the publishing industry through groundbreaking software, he leveraged his success to secure key victories in the fight for marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections.

Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall is a world-renowned ethologist and conservationist whose research transformed our understanding of primates and human evolution. She is a passionate advocate for empowering individuals and communities to protect and preserve the natural world.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous)

Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer transformed the struggle for racial justice in America. As a founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, she challenged the exclusion of Black voices in the political system and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a legendary retired basketball player who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. Off the court, he is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who supports underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

Robert Francis Kennedy (posthumous)

Robert Francis Kennedy is remembered as an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation, and as a United States Senator who sought to address poverty and inequality in the country. His legacy continues to inspire those committed to justice, equality, and public service.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is a fashion designer who redefined the fashion industry with a lifestyle brand that embodies timeless elegance and American tradition. He has influenced culture, business, and philanthropy, notably in the fight against cancer and the preservation of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. He supports healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

William Sanford Nye

Bill Nye has inspired and influenced generations of American students as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” His dedication to science education continues through his work as CEO of the Planetary Society and as a vocal advocate for space exploration and environmental stewardship.

George W. Romney (posthumous)

George Romney was a businessman who served as the chairman and president of American Motors Corporation. A public servant, he later served as both the 43rd Governor of Michigan and the 3rd Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

David M. Rubenstein

David Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, where he built one of the most successful global investment firms. He is renowned for his philanthropy and generous support for the restoration of historic landmarks and the country’s cultural institutions.

George Soros

George Soros is an investor, philanthropist, and founder of the Open Society Foundations. Through his network of foundations, partners and projects in more than 120 countries, Soros has focused on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice.

George Stevens, Jr. 

George Stevens, Jr. is an award-winning writer, director, author, and playwright. His career has been dedicated to preserving and celebrating the best of American film and the performing arts, including by founding the American Film Institute and creating the Kennedy Center Honors.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is an actor, director, and producer who has won two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also served as National Spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years.

Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour is a renowned fashion icon who has led Vogue as editor-in-chief since 1988. A champion for philanthropic causes, she is also the leading architect behind the annual Met Gala fundraiser and chief content officer of Condé Nast.

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The post President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom appeared first on The White House.

Today, President Biden named nineteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.

President Biden believes great leaders keep the faith, give everyone a fair shot, and put decency above all else. These nineteen individuals are great leaders who have made America and the world a better place. They are great leaders because they are good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world.

The awards will be presented at the White House on January 4, 2025. The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

José Andrés 

José Andrés is a renowned Spanish-American culinary innovator who popularized tapas in the United States. His World Central Kitchen provides large-scale relief to communities affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world.

Bono

Bono is the frontman for legendary rock band U2 and a pioneering activist against AIDS and poverty. He brought together politicians from opposing parties to create the United States PEPFAR AIDS program, and is co-founder of campaigning organizations ONE and (RED).

Ashton Baldwin Carter (posthumous)

Ash Carter served as the 25th Secretary of Defense and devoted his career to making the nation safer for all. Throughout his career, he served under 11 Secretaries of Defense in both Democratic and Republican administrations.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Secretary Clinton made history many times over decades in public service, including as the first First Lady elected to the United States Senate. After serving as Secretary of State, she became the first woman nominated for president by a major United States political party.

Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox is an actor who has won five Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. He is a world-renowned advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and development.

Tim Gill

Tim Gill is a visionary entrepreneur whose work has advanced LGBTQI rights and equality. After transforming the publishing industry through groundbreaking software, he leveraged his success to secure key victories in the fight for marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections.

Jane Goodall

Dr. Jane Goodall is a world-renowned ethologist and conservationist whose research transformed our understanding of primates and human evolution. She is a passionate advocate for empowering individuals and communities to protect and preserve the natural world.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous)

Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer transformed the struggle for racial justice in America. As a founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, she challenged the exclusion of Black voices in the political system and laid the groundwork for the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a legendary retired basketball player who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five championships. Off the court, he is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who supports underserved communities through his Magic Johnson Foundation.

Robert Francis Kennedy (posthumous)

Robert Francis Kennedy is remembered as an Attorney General who fiercely combatted racial segregation, and as a United States Senator who sought to address poverty and inequality in the country. His legacy continues to inspire those committed to justice, equality, and public service.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren is a fashion designer who redefined the fashion industry with a lifestyle brand that embodies timeless elegance and American tradition. He has influenced culture, business, and philanthropy, notably in the fight against cancer and the preservation of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is the most decorated player in the history of professional soccer. He supports healthcare and education programs for children around the world through the Leo Messi Foundation and serves as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

William Sanford Nye

Bill Nye has inspired and influenced generations of American students as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” His dedication to science education continues through his work as CEO of the Planetary Society and as a vocal advocate for space exploration and environmental stewardship.

George W. Romney (posthumous)

George Romney was a businessman who served as the chairman and president of American Motors Corporation. A public servant, he later served as both the 43rd Governor of Michigan and the 3rd Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

David M. Rubenstein

David Rubenstein is co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group, where he built one of the most successful global investment firms. He is renowned for his philanthropy and generous support for the restoration of historic landmarks and the country’s cultural institutions.

George Soros

George Soros is an investor, philanthropist, and founder of the Open Society Foundations. Through his network of foundations, partners and projects in more than 120 countries, Soros has focused on global initiatives that strengthen democracy, human rights, education, and social justice.

George Stevens, Jr. 

George Stevens, Jr. is an award-winning writer, director, author, and playwright. His career has been dedicated to preserving and celebrating the best of American film and the performing arts, including by founding the American Film Institute and creating the Kennedy Center Honors.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington is an actor, director, and producer who has won two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, two Golden Globes, and the 2016 Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also served as National Spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for over 25 years.

Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour is a renowned fashion icon who has led Vogue as editor-in-chief since 1988. A champion for philanthropic causes, she is also the leading architect behind the annual Met Gala fundraiser and chief content officer of Condé Nast.

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The post President Biden Announces Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom appeared first on The White House.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to New Delhi, India on January 5-6 for a capstone meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that will span a range of issues across the breadth of the U.S.-India partnership – from space, defense, and strategic technology cooperation to shared security priorities in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.  During his visit, Mr. Sullivan will meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other Indian leaders. He will also visit the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he will meet with young Indian entrepreneurs and give a speech outlining the significant steps the United States and India have taken together to strengthen our innovation alliance under the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

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The post Statement by NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Travel to New Delhi, India appeared first on The White House.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will travel to New Delhi, India on January 5-6 for a capstone meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that will span a range of issues across the breadth of the U.S.-India partnership – from space, defense, and strategic technology cooperation to shared security priorities in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.  During his visit, Mr. Sullivan will meet with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other Indian leaders. He will also visit the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, where he will meet with young Indian entrepreneurs and give a speech outlining the significant steps the United States and India have taken together to strengthen our innovation alliance under the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

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The post Statement by NSC Spokesperson Sean Savett on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Travel to New Delhi, India appeared first on The White House.