What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
September 6, 2024 Recap
The White House issued a fact sheet highlighting President Biden's commitment to promoting good, high-quality jobs through the Investing in America agenda. On Labor Day 2024, President Biden traveled to Michigan to sign the "Good Jobs EO," an Executive Order focused on ensuring that the administration’s investments create pathways to the middle class through strong labor standards. This EO emphasizes the importance of family-sustaining wages, workplace safety, and the right to unionize, urging federal agencies to incorporate these principles into their programs.
The Biden-Harris Administration is described as the most pro-union administration in U.S. history. It has already created hundreds of thousands of jobs through initiatives like the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The Good Jobs EO builds on this progress by calling on agencies to adopt labor standards that promote better jobs and high-quality delivery of federally funded projects. This makes the Biden-Harris Administration the first in history to specify labor standards that all federal agencies should prioritize clearly.
The EO's labor standards include promoting worker voice through Project Labor Agreements and Community Benefits Agreements and encouraging union recognition. It aims to enhance job quality by implementing prevailing wage standards and equitable compensation practices, supporting worker economic security through benefits like child care, health insurance, and retirement plans, and advancing workforce development through apprenticeships and training partnerships. Additionally, the EO encourages equitable workforce planning and supports workplace safety by prioritizing compliance with health and safety laws.
To ensure these standards are effectively implemented, the Good Jobs EO establishes the Investing in Good Jobs Task Force within the Executive Office of the President. This Task Force, co-chaired by the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the National Economic Council, will coordinate policies to drive the creation of high-quality jobs and support the administration’s economic initiatives. Federal agencies are encouraged to incentivize these standards through grant criteria, develop best practices, collect data on job quality, and build in-house expertise on labor standards.
The EO builds on numerous actions taken by the Biden-Harris Administration to support good jobs, particularly union jobs. These include the creation of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, which led to over 70 actions promoting worker rights and establishing the Made in America office to ensure American-made materials are used in infrastructure projects. Other measures include rules requiring Project Labor Agreements for federal construction projects, protecting pensions through the Butch Lewis Act, and updating labor standards like the Davis-Bacon prevailing wages for the first time in nearly 40 years.
The Good Jobs EO represents a comprehensive approach to transforming the U.S. economy by leveraging historic public and private investments to promote fair labor standards, support unionization, and enhance economic security for workers across the country. Through these measures, the Biden-Harris Administration aims to create a more equitable and prosperous workforce, driving long-term economic growth and opportunity.
President Biden's statement on the August Jobs Report highlighted significant progress in the U.S. economy, with unemployment dropping to 4.2% and 142,000 new jobs created in the past month. He attributed this growth to his administration's efforts to rescue the economy, which has created nearly 16 million new jobs since he took office. Biden emphasized that wages and incomes are rising faster than prices, and business investment is strong, with many entrepreneurs launching new small businesses. He views these developments as signs of hope and confidence in the nation's economic future. Additionally, he pointed out that inflation has nearly returned to normal levels, underscoring the need to sustain the historic gains achieved for American workers.
Biden reaffirmed his and Vice President Kamala Harris's commitment to expanding opportunities for American workers and growing the middle class. He stressed the administration's focus on supporting workers and businesses while working to lower housing and healthcare costs for hardworking Americans. In contrast, he criticized Congressional Republicans for promoting what he described as failed trickle-down economics, which included tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations and policies that would raise taxes on middle-class families by nearly $4,000 annually. Biden also warned against Republican proposals to cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, arguing that such measures would harm the economic security of millions of Americans.
The Biden-Harris Administration is advancing the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary to protect 4,543 square miles of ocean off Central California, recognizing Indigenous connections and cultural heritage. This sanctuary will be the third largest in the U.S. marine system, preserving significant ecological habitats and endangered species. It aims to balance ocean conservation with clean energy development, excluding areas for planned offshore wind projects but allowing potential expansion in the future.
This effort is part of the broader Biden-Harris conservation agenda, driven by the "America the Beautiful" initiative, aiming to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The Administration’s ocean conservation highlights include creating new marine sanctuaries, protecting the Arctic Ocean from oil and gas leasing, and advancing a 700,000-square-mile protected area in the Pacific Ocean. It also emphasizes combating climate change through initiatives like the Ocean Climate Action Plan, advancing environmental justice, and scaling up offshore wind energy to support clean energy goals.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden delivered a speech at the Fashion For Our Future March in New York, emphasizing the power of clothing as a tool for making statements and the critical importance of voting in shaping the future. She opened her remarks by highlighting how fashion allows individuals to express themselves without words. Still, she stressed that in this pivotal year, it’s crucial to do more: to speak up, march, and most importantly, vote. Drawing from her own experience, she shared a personal story about her first voting experience as a University of Delaware student in the 1970s. Despite coming from a Republican family and having little interest in politics, she felt the importance of voting when Joe Biden ran for the Senate. Joe’s victory, with a slim margin of about 3,000 votes, underscored to her the impact of each ballot, illustrating how easily the outcome could have been different.
She recalled meeting Joe Biden years later when he asked her for a date. Initially unimpressed by his polished appearance, she quickly changed her mind during dinner and felt grateful she had cast her vote for him. Jill Biden used this story to emphasize that elections are about more than just politics; they are about the freedoms that directly affect our daily lives. She highlighted the tragic reality of gun violence, mentioning a recent school shooting in Georgia and calling for a ban on assault rifles. She underscored the broader stakes of elections, including the right to personal freedom, creative expression, and making personal choices—freedoms currently at risk due to court decisions, book bans, and political apathy.
Dr. Biden reminded the audience that the next president and senators would have the power to appoint and confirm Supreme Court Justices, decisions that will have lasting effects on future generations. She urged the audience to recognize the importance of their votes, emphasizing that elections have real consequences. Acknowledging fashion icons like Thom Browne, Aurora James, and Anna Wintour, she praised the fashion community for its longstanding commitment to activism, from raising awareness during the AIDS crisis to supporting breast cancer research. She noted that fashion has always been about the future and encouraged the community to continue that tradition by engaging in the upcoming election.
Closing her speech, the First Lady called on everyone to vote early, mobilize their networks, and use their influence to remind others of the power of their votes. She encouraged them to share the message on social media, reach out to friends, and help drive civic engagement to ensure a future where freedoms are protected. Dr. Biden’s speech was a rallying cry for action, urging the audience to use their voices and votes to shape a better future.
President Biden issued a memorandum that delegates authority to the Secretary of State to use up to $250 million in defense articles, services, and military education and training from the Department of Defense to assist Ukraine. This authority is granted under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. The Secretary of State is also empowered to make necessary determinations to facilitate this drawdown. The memorandum directs the Secretary of State to publish this delegation in the Federal Register.
President Biden sent a letter to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate to notify them about the continuation of the national emergency with respect to Ethiopia, initially declared on September 17, 2021, in Executive Order 14046. According to the National Emergencies Act, a national emergency automatically terminates unless the President informs Congress and publishes a notice within 90 days before the anniversary of the declaration. The President stated that the situation in northern Ethiopia continues to threaten the region's peace, security, and stability, posing an unusual threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, thus justifying the continuation of the emergency.
President Biden will host UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on September 13 for a bilateral meeting, marking their second meeting since Starmer's election. They will discuss global issues such as support for Ukraine, a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Red Sea shipping security, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific. Additionally, they will explore ways to strengthen U.S.-UK cooperation in securing supply chains and enhancing climate resilience, emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-UK special relationship.
President Biden’s proclamation for National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Week, 2024 highlights the importance of HSIs in educating over 4.7 million Hispanic and Latino students, many of whom are first-generation or from underserved communities. The administration has invested over $15 billion, including $11 billion from the American Rescue Plan, to support these institutions. Efforts to make college more affordable, including student loan debt relief and increased Pell Grants, are also emphasized. Biden calls on Americans to celebrate HSIs for their role in empowering Latino students.
In the proclamation for National Grandparents Day, 2024, President Biden honors grandparents for their love, guidance, and support, especially those who serve as primary caregivers. The administration is working to support grandparents through healthcare cost reductions, including capping insulin prices and lowering out-of-pocket prescription expenses. Initiatives like the American Rescue Plan and the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers provide further assistance. Biden encourages Americans to recognize and celebrate the invaluable contributions of grandparents to their families and communities.
President Biden announced his intent to appoint several individuals to key boards and commissions. Notable appointments include:
Troy Coronado to the U.S. Military Academy's Board of Visitors.
Manuel A. Chinea, Janie Simms Hipp, Mark Alan Kaufman, and Susan Chapman Plumb to the Community Development Advisory Board.
Damon Y. Smith to the Council of the Administrative Conference of the United States.
Justin Driver to the Permanent Committee for the Oliver Wendell Holmes Devise.
Kamana‘opono M. Crabbe, Sameera Fazili, Krystal Ka‘ai, and Vida Lin to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Emmanuel Jenkins to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
Charles P. Riley to the Route 66 Centennial Commission.
Additional appointments include individuals recommended by Congressional Republican leadership:
Edgar Gluck to the Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad.
Andrew G. Biggs, Cameron McKenzie, and John Earl Nixon to the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico.
President Biden signs the Executive Order on Investing in America and Investing in American Workers
While so much turmoil surrounds us, I truly appreciate your reporting on President Biden’s continuing sane and capable leadership. It helps to know that good work continues to flourish..