What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
March 12 Recap
President Joe Biden has secured the Democratic nomination for a second term by winning enough delegates in Georgia, surpassing the necessary majority for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
The President's campaign is focused on contrasting his policies and values against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's, particularly highlighting his support for Ukraine, NATO, and democratic freedoms. He has also emphasized his administration's achievements, including infrastructure investments, support for the semiconductor industry, and efforts to bolster the U.S. economy post-pandemic.
The article also touches on Biden's age as a potential concern for voters, with him being the oldest-ever American president. President Biden and his allies are banking on these advantages to secure a victory in the upcoming election.
Source: Associated Press
President Biden issued a statement expressing profound sorrow and devastation over the killing of American Itay Chen by Hamas during their terrorist attack on October 7. He recounted a heartfelt meeting with Itay's father and brother at the White House, highlighting the immense suffering and uncertainty the family had endured while hoping for Itay's safe return. The president reflected on the symbolic gift of a menorah they had presented to him, which served as a poignant reminder that light prevails over darkness and that evil will not triumph. Concluding his statement, President Biden extended his deep condolences to Itay’s family and reaffirmed his commitment to relentlessly work towards the safe return of all individuals held hostage, emphasizing his solidarity and support for their families.
President Biden highlighted his administration's efforts in reducing costs and the progress made in combating inflation, according to the latest February Consumer Price Index report. He noted that inflation has decreased significantly from its peak, with annual core inflation at its lowest since May 2021. He also mentioned that wages have increased faster than prices over the past year, including during the pandemic, and that the prices of essential household items like gas, milk, eggs, and appliances have dropped compared to the previous year.
Despite the achievements in reducing inflation and maintaining unemployment below 4% for the longest period in over 50 years, President Biden emphasized the need for further action to lower costs and support the middle class. He outlined proposals in his budget to lower prescription drug costs, reduce rents, decrease healthcare, childcare, and education expenses, and cut taxes for working families while ensuring billionaires pay a fair share. He criticized Congressional Republicans for lacking a plan to reduce costs, accusing them of favoring tax benefits for corporations and the wealthy at the expense of social security and healthcare programs, and vowed to oppose such measures.
On Equal Pay Day, the Biden-Harris Administration highlighted its ongoing efforts to promote pay equity and enhance women's economic security. Acknowledging the progress in reducing the gender pay gap, with women's labor force participation reaching a high and the pay gap at its narrowest, the administration also recognized the need for further action. Women still earn 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, with larger disparities for women of color resulting in significant economic losses.
To address these challenges, the administration announced several key initiatives:
Promoting Access to Good-Paying Jobs: The President signed an Executive Order to expand and diversify Registered Apprenticeship programs, which will benefit women and other underrepresented workers by providing access to quality jobs.
Supporting Equal Pay and Understanding Pay Inequities: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released aggregate pay data from 2017 and 2018 through an interactive tool to help analyze pay disparities.
Addressing Occupational Segregation: The Department of Labor (DOL) updated the "Bearing the Cost" report, highlighting the economic impact of occupational segregation on women, especially Black and Hispanic women.
The administration has also taken steps to ensure pay equity among federal workers and contractors, including ending salary history consideration in pay decisions and promoting pay equity through Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council proposals.
Further efforts include investments in infrastructure and technology through various acts (ARP, BIL, CHIPS and Science Act, IRA), aiming to create good-paying jobs accessible to women and underserved communities. Initiatives like the Good Jobs Initiative and the Million Women in Construction aim to improve job quality and increase women's representation in high-paying fields.
Access to affordable child care and support for caregivers has been a focus, with the ARP Child Care Stabilization program supporting child care providers and families and an Executive Order aimed at improving care access and job quality for care workers.
The administration has also worked to increase the minimum wage for federal employees and contractors and support women-owned businesses with increased lending and resources for small business formation and growth.
These actions reflect the administration's commitment to closing gender and racial wage gaps and enhancing women's economic security as part of building a stronger, more equitable economy.
President Biden announced the continuation of the national emergency with respect to Iran, initially declared on March 15, 1995, by Executive Order 12957, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat Iran's actions and policies pose to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Since the original declaration, multiple executive orders have been issued to impose or modify sanctions on Iran, responding to its development of missiles, support for terrorist groups, regional aggression, and other malign activities, particularly those involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its surrogates.
The President has decided to continue the national emergency for another year, as permitted under section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act. This action is separate from another emergency declared in 1979 related to the hostage crisis. The notice of this continuation will be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to Congress.
After arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on March 11, 2024, President Biden engaged in a brief exchange with the press. He addressed several topics:
Meeting with Netanyahu: Biden stated he had not scheduled a "come to Jesus" meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and remained non-committal about planning one, indicating a wait-and-see approach.
Executive Action on the Border: When questioned about executive action concerning the border, Biden expressed hope that the situation would resolve itself without specifying further action, despite acknowledging Congress's lack of agreement on the matter.
Addressing the Israeli Parliament: Biden confirmed he has no plans to address the Israeli parliament at the moment and did not elaborate on any future intentions regarding this matter.
U.S. Troops at the Polish Border: The President dismissed the need for additional U.S. troops at the Polish border and mentioned an upcoming meeting with the Polish leader without detailing the agenda for their discussion.
Throughout the exchange, President Biden provided concise answers, often indicating ongoing considerations or decisions yet to be made.
National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard spoke at The Urban Institute about President Biden's housing plan, described as the boldest in a generation, during the State of the Union Address. The plan aims to reduce housing costs for renters and homebuyers and expand access to affordable housing by supporting the construction of 2 million additional homes, lowering rental costs, and facilitating market entry for first-time buyers. The President has also announced administrative actions to lower closing costs and make rental markets fairer, with the Fiscal Year 2025 budget including a historic $185 billion investment in housing.
Brainard highlighted the challenge of housing affordability exacerbated by a significant drop in residential construction since the Global Financial Crisis and increased demand, leading to a scarcity of affordable units and a rise in housing prices. The Biden-Harris Administration has taken steps to boost construction, with a record high 1.7 million units under construction, but more effort is needed to match demand and lower costs.
To address immediate housing market issues, President Biden proposed a mortgage relief credit for first-time homebuyers and a tax credit for middle-class families selling their starter homes to improve market fluidity. Further, the administration is working on reducing closing costs and tackling unfair practices in the rental market, including capping annual rent increases and pursuing rulemaking to increase competition on closing costs.
Long-term solutions include significant investment in housing supply through the expansion of tax credits like the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and the proposed Neighborhood Homes Tax Credit, as well as a $20 billion Innovation Fund for Housing Expansion to support community efforts in increasing housing supply.
Brainard emphasized the administration's commitment to housing as a top priority. Through a comprehensive plan involving legislative proposals and administrative actions, the administration aims to lower costs, improve accessibility, and help families build wealth and savings.
In a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, on March 11, 2024, President Biden expressed gratitude for the support and the unexpected write-in campaign that surprised him. He highlighted endorsements from national Black and Hispanic organizations and the AARP. Biden shared his optimism about the country's future, citing accomplishments such as the passage of significant bills like infrastructure and veterans, often without Republican support. He acknowledged the time it might take for people to see the benefits of these initiatives due to the country's size.
Biden discussed the importance of focusing on the middle class, arguing that their well-being lifts everyone in society. He stressed the necessity for fair taxation and critiqued the education system, healthcare, and research and development in the U.S., advocating for improvements. Biden joked about the media and the change in polling accuracy, emphasizing his goals to restore the nation's soul, dignity, and respect in politics.
He expressed concern about foreign policy and the global perception of the U.S., mentioning Ukraine and border policies. Biden criticized the demonization of immigrants and underscored the need for humane border management. He continued to discuss healthcare, specifically the high costs of medications like insulin, and defended the Affordable Care Act and its benefits.
Biden criticized Trump's fiscal policies, contrasting them with his administration's deficit reduction efforts. He reaffirmed his commitment to the ideals of equality and democracy, contrasting his agenda with Trump's, especially Trump's meeting with Viktor Orbán. Biden concluded by emphasizing the value of direct interaction with voters, expressing a preference for smaller, more personal campaign events to connect with people's concerns and aspirations.
An on-the-record press call with Office Of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young and Council of Economic Advisers Chair Jared Bernstein was held to discuss the President's fiscal year 2025 budget, emphasizing its alignment with the administration's economic strategy to build the economy from the middle out and bottom up. Key points included:
The administration attributes significant economic achievements, such as job creation and reduced inflation, to its policies.
The budget aims to continue lowering costs for families, growing the economy by investing in various sectors, reducing the deficit by $3 trillion through fairer tax codes, and protecting and strengthening Social Security and Medicare.
It plans to lower healthcare and prescription drug costs, cut taxes for families, increase affordable housing, and reduce the cost of college, among other initiatives.
The budget proposes investments in healthcare, workforce support, manufacturing, climate crisis response, clean energy innovation, national paid leave, cancer research, and community safety.
It includes measures to make the tax code fairer, targeting the wealthy and large corporations to fund investments while ensuring no tax increase for those making under $400,000.
Specifics were provided on the budget’s approach to Medicare solvency, extending the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund indefinitely through the policies outlined.
The economic forecast was discussed, highlighting an optimistic outlook for transitioning to steady, stable growth with continued disinflation.
Questions from the press covered aspects like adherence to debt ceiling agreement caps, considerations for emergency spending, unemployment rate projections, and comparisons with congressional Republicans' budget plans.
The administration frames the budget as a detailed, transparent representation of its priorities, in contrast to Republican proposals, which, according to them, lack specificity and could harm essential services and programs.
President Biden issued a memorandum delegating the authority to the Secretary of State under Section 614(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. It authorizes the Secretary to determine if it's in the security interests of the United States to provide up to $126 million in assistance to Ukraine without being constrained by any specific provisions of law that fall under Section 614(a)(1). Additionally, it directs the Secretary of State to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.
A press briefing was held by by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Key points included:
Farewell to Olivia Dalton: Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged Olivia Dalton's departure from the White House, praising her years of service and leadership.
President Biden's Travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Jean-Pierre highlighted Biden's upcoming trip, part of his efforts to discuss his administration's investments in rebuilding communities and creating jobs, emphasizing the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and private-sector investments in clean energy and manufacturing.
Tribute to David Mixner: Jean-Pierre paid tribute to David Mixner, noting his significant contributions to LGBTQ+ rights and his role as a mentor to future leaders.
Biden's Meeting with Polish Leaders: Sullivan discussed the significance of President Biden's meeting with the leaders of Poland, focusing on the NATO alliance, support for Ukraine, and bilateral relations between the U.S. and Poland. He announced a $2 billion Foreign Military Financing direct loan to Poland and the sale of 96 Apache helicopters to strengthen Poland's defense capabilities and NATO interoperability.
Situation in Ukraine: Sullivan announced a $300 million emergency security assistance package for Ukraine, highlighting the urgent need for Congressional action to provide ongoing support.
Haiti and the Multinational Security Support Mission: Sullivan spoke about the situation in Haiti, commending steps towards establishing a transitional council and urging support for the Kenya-led mission to assist the Haitian police.
Israel and Gaza: Sullivan refused to speculate on hypothetical scenarios regarding Israel's potential actions in Gaza but stressed the U.S. position on the protection of civilians and humanitarian assistance.
Miscellaneous: The briefing covered various topics, including the U.S. response to developments in Israel, Poland, Ukraine, and Haiti, as well as internal White House matters such as staff departures and the administration's stance on TikTok legislation.
President Biden met with President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland at the White House to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Poland's accession to NATO. This meeting underscored the strong commitment of the United States and Poland to the NATO Alliance and their shared determination to support Ukraine against Russia's aggression. The leaders discussed the U.S.-Polish energy security partnership and the importance of democratic values.
During the meeting, President Biden announced a new $2 billion Foreign Military Financing (FMF) direct loan to Poland. The loan is aimed at enhancing Poland's security and supporting its defense modernization with U.S. defense equipment. It also benefits U.S. jobs and the security relationship between the two nations. Additionally, the U.S. has offered to sell 96 AH-64 Apache helicopters to Poland, a move that would provide Polish armed forces with advanced defense capabilities, strengthen NATO interoperability, and support the U.S. defense industry.
President Biden meets with Poland’s President Andrzej Duda (Left) and Prime Minister Donald Tusk at The White House
