What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
August 30, 2024 Recap
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President Biden issued a statement on the July PCE Inflation Report highlighting significant progress in the fight against inflation, noting that the current rate has fallen to 2.5%, the lowest level in over three years. He emphasizes that this improvement is not just statistical but has tangible benefits for Americans, as wages are growing faster than prices. This growth has resulted in an additional $1,400 in income per household since the pandemic, providing some financial relief for working families. Despite this progress, Biden acknowledges that prices remain too high, and his administration continues to work on measures to ease the burden on Americans further.
Biden outlines several key initiatives to address these ongoing challenges. The administration is focusing on increasing the supply of affordable housing by committing to build 3 million new homes. They are also working to expand prescription drug caps to all Americans, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs. In addition, the administration is investing in record levels of energy production, which has contributed to a significant decrease in gas prices—currently about 50 cents lower per gallon than a year ago, marking the lowest Labor Day gas prices in three years.
Biden contrasts his administration’s approach with that of Congressional Republicans, criticizing their proposals as detrimental to middle-class Americans. According to Biden, Republicans are pushing for massive tax cuts for billionaires and large corporations while planning to increase taxes on average working families by nearly $4,000. He argues that these measures would reverse the progress made on inflation and undermine efforts to grow the middle class. Experts, Biden notes, warn that these policies would likely “reignite” inflation, undoing the administration’s work to lower costs. He firmly states that his administration will not allow these policies to take hold, as they would harm everyday Americans while benefiting the wealthy.
President Biden issued proclamations for September 2024 to recognize national awareness of several notable issues, emphasizing support, resilience, and action across multiple areas:
National Recovery Month: Highlights the courage of 21 million Americans in recovery from substance use disorders. The administration has launched initiatives like the Office of Recovery and the Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit. Efforts include stopping drug trafficking, increasing access to treatment, and significant funding for recovery support services.
National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Honors children battling cancer and their families. The proclamation details efforts like the Cancer Moonshot, investments in cancer research, and initiatives to make treatments more affordable and accessible.
National Wilderness Month: Emphasizes protecting America’s natural landscapes, with a goal to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The proclamation celebrates the centennial of the Gila Wilderness and calls for responsible enjoyment and conservation of wilderness areas.
National Sickle Cell Awareness Month: Highlights the challenges of those with Sickle Cell Disease and the administration’s commitment to advancing treatment through research and improving access to care, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities.
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Addresses the impact of prostate cancer on nearly 300,000 men annually, with a focus on disparities affecting Black and Hispanic men. The administration’s efforts include expanding healthcare access, capping prescription costs, and promoting early detection.
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Focuses on ovarian cancer, the deadliest of female reproductive cancers. The administration emphasizes affordable care, coverage expansion, and raising awareness of early detection challenges.
National Preparedness Month: Stresses the importance of resilience in response to climate change-driven disasters. Efforts include significant investments to improve infrastructure, enhance disaster readiness, and expand federal assistance.
In his Labor Day 2024 proclamation, President Biden celebrates the contributions of American workers and labor unions, emphasizing their role in building the middle class. He highlights his administration's efforts to support labor, including creating millions of jobs, boosting wages, and investing in infrastructure, clean energy, and manufacturing. Biden discusses policies aimed at worker safety, union rights, and fair wages, such as new federal safety standards, increased overtime protections, and the strengthening of labor agreements. He calls on Americans to honor workers' dignity and recommit to the American Dream for future generations.
In the letter to the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, President Biden announces an alternative pay adjustment plan for civilian Federal employees for January 2025. Citing authority under Title 5 of the U.S. Code, he adjusts pay due to “national emergency or serious economic conditions.” For 2025, he sets a 1.7% across-the-board base pay increase and a 0.3% average locality pay increase, resulting in a total average increase of 2.0%. The decision aims to maintain a skilled federal workforce while acknowledging labor market conditions and fiscal constraints. The adjustment will take effect in January 2025.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan convened a meeting at the White House with key security advisors from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine to reaffirm the collective commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression. The meeting included French Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne, German Chancellery Foreign and Security Policy Advisor Jens Ploetner, British National Security Advisor Tim Barrow, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. Sullivan underscored the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine, highlighting ongoing efforts to bolster Ukraine's military strength on the battlefield. The discussions focused on the provision of essential military resources, including artillery, air defense systems, and other critical capabilities to support Ukraine’s immediate defense needs.
The group also addressed efforts to enhance Ukraine’s air defenses and protect its energy grid amid Russia’s continued aerial attacks on critical energy infrastructure. This aspect of the discussion emphasized the need to protect Ukraine's vital infrastructure as it faces renewed threats from Russian air assaults. The participants also explored the broader strategic investments by the United States and its allies in Ukraine’s defense industrial base, which are aimed at ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security and self-sufficiency in defense production.
Another key focus of the meeting was the ongoing efforts to generate international support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine centered on principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. This included a discussion of outcomes from the recent Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland, where the coalition reiterated its commitment to these principles.
Following the multilateral meeting, National Security Advisor Sullivan held a bilateral discussion with Andriy Yermak. They discussed the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Ukraine, particularly in the areas of military support and economic reconstruction. This meeting underscored the U.S.’s continued dedication to Ukraine’s defense and its broader recovery and reconstruction efforts, reinforcing the "ironclad" nature of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship.
Gwen Walz, the First Lady of Minnesota, delivered a heartfelt speech in Manassas, VA, on behalf of the Harris-Walz presidential campaign, emphasizing her identity as an educator and her deep connection to the teaching community. She began by expressing her pride in being a part of the campaign and acknowledged the special guests, including Senator Tim Kaine, Secretary Anne Holton, and Representative Jennifer Wexton. Walz shared her excitement about speaking at her first solo event and reflected on the joy of being surrounded by teachers, highlighting her ongoing bond with the profession despite not being in the classroom this year.
Walz vividly described the start of a new school year, reminiscing about the anticipation and hopefulness that educators feel during this time. She humorously noted her habit of wandering around school supply sections and joked about the shared "back-to-school dreams" that teachers experience. She spoke of her longing for the excitement of a first day in the classroom, conveying a sense of nostalgia for the new beginnings that define the start of each academic year. Walz also shared personal anecdotes, revealing that her family is filled with educators, including her parents, sisters, and her husband Tim Walz's siblings, underscoring the deep-rooted passion for teaching in her life.
Drawing parallels between the school year and the election season, Walz spoke about the hope and energy that come with the start of both. She emphasized that Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Tim Walz, are committed to building a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Walz introduced herself further, detailing her varied roles as a mom, sister, friend, retired military spouse, and First Lady of Minnesota. However, she proudly identified most with being a teacher, a role she shares with Tim, whom she met while they were both educators in Nebraska.
Walz recounted a poignant story about a student named Whan, whose struggles with reading were masked by disruptive behavior. She and her husband devised a plan to keep Whan engaged in school by allowing him to continue playing football while receiving extra tutoring. Through their dedicated support, Whan’s reading skills improved, and he eventually graduated, illustrating the transformative impact that educators can have on students’ lives. This story highlighted Walz’s belief that every child deserves a chance to succeed, a vision she said aligns with the Harris-Walz campaign.
Walz then shifted to a critique of their opponents, Donald Trump and JD Vance, condemning their proposed policies on education and reproductive rights. She argued that their approach, including Project 2025, would devastate public schools and restrict freedoms. Walz passionately defended her personal connection to reproductive rights, sharing her struggles with fertility and condemning comments made by JD Vance about teachers without biological children. She emphasized the importance of reproductive freedom and criticized Trump’s efforts to rewrite his stance on issues like IVF and abortion access, calling out the dishonesty and the risks they pose to millions of Americans.
Calling on educators and supporters, Walz urged the audience to engage in the campaign, whether through volunteering, donating, or even supporting campaign workers in small ways, like baking treats. She encouraged teachers to utilize their skills in doing the work in front of them, drawing from her own mother’s advice. Walz’s speech concluded with a rallying cry to join forces with Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, and others in building a future that serves all children, friends, and neighbors. Her passionate and personal remarks resonated with the audience, emphasizing the collective power of educators and the importance of fighting for a better future.
Minnesota’s First Lady, Gwen Walz, wife of Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, gives remarks at an Educators For Harris-Walz event in Manassas, VA
