What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
July 26, 2024 Recap
President Biden announced that the Department of Justice has arrested Ismael Zambada Garcia (AKA “El Mayo”) and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, two prominent leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel. They face charges for their roles in the Cartel's drug manufacturing and trafficking operations. Biden praised law enforcement for their efforts in capturing these figures. He highlighted the devastating impact of fentanyl on American lives and families and reiterated his administration's commitment to combating drug trafficking and saving lives.
Additional Source: The Department of Justice
President Biden issued a statement on the June 2024 PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) report highlighting significant progress in reducing inflation to 2.5% over the past year, alongside economic growth of 3.1%. He emphasizes the creation of 2.6 million new jobs and wages rising faster than prices. Biden credits his and Vice President Harris's agenda for helping the economy recover from a severe crisis and benefiting working families. He vows to continue efforts to lower costs, including prescription drug costs and housing expenses while criticizing Congressional Republicans' plans, which he claims would increase inflation and benefit the wealthy at the expense of working families. Biden reaffirms his commitment to rebuilding the middle class.
Domestic Policy Advisor Kristine Lucius and HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson convened counselors from the Maternal Mental Health Hotline to discuss the hotline's impact. This confidential, 24/7 service assists pregnant women, new mothers, and their families with mental health support, offering bilingual services in English and Spanish and interpreters for over 60 languages.
Marking the two-year anniversary of Vice President Harris's White House Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, the roundtable highlighted the hotline's achievements. Since its launch on Mother's Day two years ago, it has handled over 40,000 calls and texts. The top issues reported by callers are feeling overwhelmed, depression, and anxiety. Counselors provide a safe space, compassion, and the message that “it’s okay to not be okay.”
The Biden-Harris Administration emphasizes supporting women during pregnancy and postpartum, noting that untreated mental health conditions are the leading cause of pregnancy-related death, with 75% of affected women not receiving treatment. The Maternal Mental Health Hotline, part of a broader effort led by Vice President Harris to combat maternal mortality and morbidity, aims to reduce disparities and improve maternal health experiences.
Vice President Harris has a history of advocating for maternal health, including introducing the Maternal CARE Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in the Senate. She has also urged states to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage to a full year, with 46 states complying so far. Harris continues to promote awareness and resources to address the maternal health crisis.
President Biden has issued a memorandum to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security regarding Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Lebanese nationals. This directive responds to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon due to the ongoing tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, which have placed many civilians in danger. In the interest of U.S. foreign policy, President Biden has determined that the removal of certain Lebanese nationals should be deferred for 18 months.
The memorandum specifies that this deferral applies to Lebanese nationals who were present in the United States as of the memorandum's date, with several exceptions. These exceptions include individuals who have voluntarily returned to Lebanon, those who have not continuously resided in the U.S. since the memorandum date, those who are inadmissible or deportable under specific sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), individuals convicted of a felony or multiple misdemeanors in the U.S., those subject to extradition, those deemed a danger to public safety or not in the U.S. interest by the Secretary of Homeland Security, and those believed to cause serious adverse foreign policy consequences by the Secretary of State.
Furthermore, the memorandum directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to authorize employment for noncitizens whose removal has been deferred and to consider suspending certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students who are Lebanese nationals. The Secretary of Homeland Security is also tasked with publishing this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Vice President Harris addressed questions about a scheduled presidential debate, stating her readiness to debate former President Donald Trump. She confirmed her commitment to the previously agreed-upon debate date of September 10th, which Trump had initially agreed to but now seems to be reconsidering. Harris emphasized her preparedness and highlighted the importance of voters witnessing the contrasting views of the candidates on a debate stage. She reiterated her readiness with a confident, "Let’s go."
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new actions to manage artificial intelligence (AI) risks and foster responsible innovation, alongside welcoming Apple's endorsement of voluntary commitments from major AI companies. This follows a previous Executive Order and commitments from 15 leading U.S. AI firms. Federal agencies have completed all required actions within the 270-day deadline set by the Executive Order, focusing on AI safety, security, and responsible development.
Key initiatives include managing AI safety and security risks by releasing new guidelines for developers, publishing frameworks for managing AI risks, and developing AI testbeds for model evaluation. Efforts also targeted the protection of government software through AI pilots and addressed the issue of AI-generated image-based sexual abuse. Additionally, the administration launched an AI Talent Surge, hiring over 200 professionals to work on critical AI missions, and announced new funding to support AI-related public interest technology.
To advance responsible AI innovation, the administration prepared reports on AI benefits and risks, awarded research resources to AI projects, released guidance for AI use in education and patents, and launched initiatives to promote privacy-enhancing technologies. On the global front, the U.S. issued a comprehensive plan for AI standards, developed guidance for managing AI-related human rights risks, launched a global AI Safety Institutes network, supported a UN resolution for safe AI use, and expanded support for responsible military AI use.
These actions aim to mitigate AI risks, protect privacy, advance equity, promote innovation, and maintain U.S. leadership in AI globally.
President Biden issued a statement on the passing of Ambassador Martin S. Indyk, highlighting his lifelong dedication to peace. Born in Australia, Indyk moved to Israel in 1973, driven by the aftermath of the Yom Kippur War, to focus on peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. His notable contributions include playing a key role in the Oslo Accords and subsequent negotiations during his time on President Clinton’s National Security Council and as U.S. Ambassador to Israel. He also served as Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations under the Obama-Biden Administration.
Biden emphasizes Indyk's influence on many officials in his administration, his unwavering optimism, and his recent commentary following the October 7th Hamas attack and the war in Gaza. The President and the First Lady extend their condolences to Indyk’s family, recognizing his enduring legacy of peace and dedication.
The Biden-Harris Administration has released an Implementation Roadmap for the U.S. Government’s National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET), underscoring the importance of standards in ensuring the safe, reliable, and interoperable functioning of critical technologies vital for national and economic security. Emphasizing the role of the private sector in leading standards development, the roadmap also calls for robust engagement from public institutions to support these efforts. Recognizing the strategic significance of critical and emerging technologies (CETs), the roadmap aims to counteract international competitors' attempts to influence standards development to their advantage.
The roadmap is organized around eight key lines of effort for the U.S. Government, necessitating extensive coordination with the private sector and international allies. These efforts include increasing pre-standardization research and development, tracking and evaluating education and participation in CET standards, enhancing coordination across government and with the private sector, providing strong funding for research and development, engaging academia in standards development, enhancing educational efforts, developing sustained communication about standards, and removing barriers to participation in standardization.
A whole-of-government approach is demonstrated through the commitment of various agencies. For instance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will coordinate federal engagement and establish a Standardization Center of Excellence. The CHIPS and Science Act supports semiconductor research and manufacturing with a focus on technical standards. At the same time, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) collaborates internationally to enhance standards in essential patent licensing markets. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) administers the Public Wireless Supply Chain Innovation Fund to promote standards-based wireless networks. The International Trade Administration (ITA) engages in international dialogues to promote standards for emerging technologies, and the Department of State supports transparency and diverse stakeholder engagement in international standards development.
Additionally, the Department of Defense (DoD) collaborates on standards activities related to national defense, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) supports standards for safe and efficient transportation. The Department of Energy (DOE) contributes to standards in energy and technology solutions, while the National Science Foundation (NSF) encourages standards development through funding and policy changes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) engages in standards activities to enhance public safety and address issues like counterfeit devices and DNS abuse. Through these coordinated efforts, the roadmap aims to strengthen U.S. competitiveness, innovation, and security by ensuring robust engagement in the standardization of critical and emerging technologies.
President Biden announced a Presidential Delegation to attend the inauguration of His Excellency Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani in Mauritania on August 1, 2024. The delegation will be led by Alice P. Albright, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Other members include David Reimer, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, Carol Moseley Braun, and Nora Todd.
The White House hosted a briefing with small business leaders from Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The briefing focused on economic growth, access to capital, and climate adaptation through the Inflation Reduction Act. Over 40 representatives met with senior officials from the White House, Treasury Department, and Small Business Administration.
Under President Biden and Vice President Harris, over 1.2 million jobs have been created, and $161 billion invested in the represented states. This meeting marked the third in a series of regional briefings, following sessions with Mid-Atlantic and Midwest leaders. Key participants included Isabel Casillas Guzman (SBA), Wally Adeyemo (Treasury), John Podesta (Climate Policy), and Jackson Spivey (Public Engagement).
President Biden had a phone conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan. He praised Jordan's significant humanitarian efforts in Gaza, which have been crucial in addressing the crisis in northern Gaza. The President updated King Abdullah on his efforts to secure a hostage release and a ceasefire deal, along with plans to increase humanitarian aid during the ceasefire. They discussed the situation in the West Bank, focusing on enhancing the Palestinian Authority's viability through reforms and financial support. President Biden also expressed gratitude for King Abdullah's friendship and reiterated U.S. support for Jordan as a key partner in promoting stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
President Biden holds a conference call with King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office
