What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
Weekend Recap: September 28-29, 2024
The White House issued a statement outlining the Biden Administration's efforts to support the response and recovery from Hurricane Helene. President Biden and Vice President Harris are closely monitoring updates. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been assessing damage in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Federal teams have been deployed across affected states to provide aid, with 3,300 personnel supporting rescue and recovery efforts.
Key federal actions include approving Major Disaster Declarations for Florida and North Carolina, enabling affected residents to apply for FEMA assistance. Emergency declarations have also been issued for seven states, allowing direct federal support for life-saving measures.
More than 50,000 personnel are working to restore power, while FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Health and Human Services provide food, medical aid, and power equipment. Federal teams are also addressing healthcare needs and supporting communication restoration efforts. Other departments, including Energy, Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency, actively engage in disaster relief efforts.
President Biden expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene across the Southeast. As the storm continued north, he emphasized that he and Vice President Harris focused on life-saving and recovery efforts. Biden is receiving regular briefings on the response, and his administration is maintaining constant communication with state and local officials to ensure that communities have the support they need. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been dispatched to the affected areas to assess the damage alongside state and local leaders. The president acknowledged that the road to recovery will be long but reassured those impacted that his administration will remain fully committed to assisting them. He pledged that no resources would be spared to help families, businesses, schools, hospitals, and entire communities begin rebuilding. Biden concluded by offering prayers for those who lost loved ones and the communities affected by the storm.
Vice President Harris similarly expressed her heartfelt concern for those affected by Hurricane Helene, extending thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring no community faces the disaster alone. She noted that federal personnel are already on the ground providing critical resources like food, water, and generators. Emergency declarations have been approved for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee to ensure the coordination of resources at all levels. Harris assured the public that the administration would constantly contact state and local officials throughout the recovery efforts. She confirmed that she is receiving regular updates from FEMA Administrator Criswell.
In an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell discussed the severe impact of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated multiple southeastern states. Criswell provided an update on the death toll, mentioning 11 deaths in Florida and reports of fatalities across five states: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The hurricane caused massive damage to infrastructure, including water systems, roads, and homes.
Flooding has been especially severe, with record storm surges in Florida and ongoing search and rescue efforts in North Carolina, where historic flooding and landslides continue to pose challenges. Criswell highlighted concerns over access to clean water, with several boil water advisories in place, and noted that FEMA is providing bottled water and satellite communications to affected areas. Healthcare systems are also strained due to the storm’s impact.
Criswell linked the storm's intensity to climate change, noting how warm waters in the Gulf contributed to rapid storm development and increased water-related damage. She assured that FEMA and other federal agencies have enough resources to respond to immediate relief efforts and the complex recovery process ahead.
President Biden, in his statement on the death of Hassan Nasrallah, described the Hezbollah leader as a terrorist responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans and many others over four decades of violence. Biden noted that Nasrallah’s death, caused by an Israeli airstrike, represents a form of justice for his victims, which include civilians from the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon. He highlighted Nasrallah's role in escalating the conflict by siding with Hamas following their attack on October 7, 2023, when Nasrallah opened a "northern front" against Israel. The president reaffirmed the United States’ support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iranian-backed groups. He also underscored the U.S. effort to strengthen its military presence in the region to prevent further escalation. Biden emphasized that the ultimate goal is to de-escalate the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomacy, mentioning ongoing negotiations for ceasefires and the release of hostages. He stressed the importance of closing these deals to restore stability and security in the Middle East.
Vice President Harris also commented on Nasrallah’s death, labeling him a terrorist with American blood on his hands. She stated that his leadership of Hezbollah destabilized the region and led to the deaths of many innocent people in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and beyond. Harris reiterated her firm commitment to Israel's security and its right to defend itself against Iranian-backed terrorist groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. She emphasized the U.S. efforts to prevent the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. She highlighted the importance of diplomacy to ensure civilians' safety and achieve lasting regional stability.
President Biden has declared federal assistance for states affected by Tropical Storm and Hurricane Helene in Tennessee, North Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.
Tennessee: An emergency was declared for Carter, Johnson, and Unicoi counties, where FEMA will provide 75% funding for emergency protective measures. The same assistance, including mass care, evacuation, and shelter support, will be extended to Cocke, Hawkins, and Washington counties.
North Carolina: A major disaster declaration covers 26 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, offering federal grants for housing, property repairs, and recovery support. Federal funds will assist local governments with emergency work and hazard mitigation statewide.
Florida: A major disaster declaration provides federal aid to individuals in 17 counties, with funds for housing, property losses, and business recovery. Local governments and nonprofit organizations will receive assistance on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and hazard mitigation.
Virginia: An emergency declaration for six counties and the City of Galax grants FEMA authorization to provide federal assistance, with 75% federal funding for emergency protective measures.
FEMA coordinators were appointed for each state, and damage assessments are ongoing.
At a campaign rally in Las Vegas, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed many issues central to her platform while rallying support ahead of the upcoming election. She opened by acknowledging those affected by Hurricane Helene and offering prayers to the victims in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, and other impacted states. Harris praised first responders and reassured the crowd that federal assistance was actively deployed to aid recovery efforts. She emphasized that the administration is committed to supporting these communities for as long as it takes to rebuild.
Harris reminded the audience that only 37 days remained as the election nears and urged voters to mobilize. She characterized the election as a choice between two starkly different visions for America, describing her team as the underdogs but expressing confidence in the campaign’s ability to prevail through hard work. Harris referenced her debate performance, contrasting her focus on lowering the cost of living, supporting small businesses, protecting reproductive rights, and strengthening national security with Donald Trump's "tired playbook" of policies that she argued failed to address the real needs of the American people. She reiterated her willingness to engage Trump in further debates to give the American people a clear understanding of the differences in their visions for the country.
Harris outlined her economic plans, focusing on building what she called an "opportunity economy." This vision includes support for small businesses, affordable housing, and tax cuts for the middle class. She stressed the importance of Latina small business owners as a growing economic force. She proposed increasing the tax deduction for new entrepreneurs from $5,000 to $50,000 to foster innovation and business growth. Addressing the housing shortage, Harris called for constructing 3 million new homes and proposed a $25,000 down payment assistance program for first-time home buyers to make homeownership more accessible.
Harris promised to fight corporate price gouging on healthcare, especially in emergencies, and to cut costs for essential items like groceries and healthcare. She highlighted her plan to expand the child tax credit, giving families $6,000 during the first year of a child’s life to help cover essential expenses. Harris also emphasized the importance of creating good-paying jobs, including those that don’t require a college degree. She vowed to eliminate unnecessary degree requirements for federal jobs to ensure that skilled workers can access employment opportunities.
In contrast, Harris criticized Donald Trump’s economic and healthcare plans, accusing him of pushing for tax cuts for billionaires and corporations while cutting Social Security, Medicare, and healthcare coverage. She warned that Trump’s proposals, including what she called a "Trump sales tax," would significantly increase costs for middle-class families. Harris pointed to the threat posed to the Affordable Care Act and the potential loss of health insurance for millions of Americans under a second Trump administration, calling his healthcare proposals nothing more than vague “concepts.”
On immigration, Harris reiterated her call for comprehensive immigration reform that includes strong border security and a pathway to citizenship, especially for DREAMers and long-time immigrants. She discussed her experience as Attorney General of California, emphasizing her commitment to cracking down on transnational criminal organizations involved in drug and human trafficking. Harris also pledged to double resources for the Department of Justice to combat the opioid epidemic, particularly the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.
Reproductive rights were a focal point of her remarks. Harris denounced the Trump administration’s role in appointing conservative Supreme Court justices, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. She expressed outrage at the resulting abortion bans in several states, many of which have no exceptions for rape or incest. Harris vowed to sign legislation that restores reproductive freedom if passed by Congress and reaffirmed her commitment to protecting a woman’s right to choose.
Harris closed her speech by emphasizing the broader struggle for freedom, including the right to vote, form unions, and live free from gun violence. She praised Nevada’s efforts on gun safety and called for national action on the issue. The Vice President framed the upcoming election as a defining moment for America’s future, urging voters to make a plan to vote early and encouraging them to use their voice and power to ensure the protection of their rights and freedoms. Ending on a hopeful note, Harris invoked a sense of unity and patriotism, calling on Americans to fight for the ideals of the country and the promise of a better future for all.
Vice President Harris gives remarks at a campaign rally in Las Vegas, NV
