What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
February 27 Recap
In the recent Democratic presidential primary in Michigan, President Joe Biden emerged victorious in their respective contests. The President, facing some dissatisfaction within his party due to his stance on Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza, still secured a significant lead, with preliminary results showing him winning 79% of the Democratic vote against a 16% vote for "uncommitted"* as a form of protest.
Michigan's large Arab American community and some progressive Democrats expressed discontent with President Biden's Gaza policy by either voting "uncommitted" or, in some instances, favoring Republican challenger Donald Trump. Despite these protests, many Democrats in Michigan, particularly in Detroit, continued to support President Biden, driven by opposition to Trump and Republican stances on issues like abortion rights.
President Biden's administration announced a temporary halt to military activities in Gaza for Ramadan, a move seen by some as overdue. Activist groups aimed for a symbolic protest vote count, paralleling the margin by which Hillary Clinton lost Michigan to Trump in 2016. Nonetheless, support for The President's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict remains high among Democrats nationally, according to recent polls.
*As of polls closing at 9 PM Central Standard Time
Source: Reuters
Today, the Biden-Harris Administration announced 141 new commitments totaling nearly $1.7 billion as part of the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. These commitments come from diverse stakeholders, including health systems, insurers, companies, non-profits, philanthropic groups, academia, and local officials, all aimed at advancing President Biden's goal to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 while addressing health disparities. The announcement was made by Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, alongside other notable figures and officials, at a White House event.
This initiative builds on previous efforts, including an $8 billion commitment announced at the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. It complements the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. It also includes new partnerships with major sports leagues and the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to promote physical activity and nutrition nationwide.
Key new commitments include a national public awareness campaign by the Harlem Globetrotters in partnership with KABOOM!, actions by cities across the country to address hunger and diet-related diseases, Ahold Delhaize USA’s investment in nutrition education for children, Ascension’s focus on Social Determinants of Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s expansion of nutrition coaching and healthy food delivery, Food Forward's efforts to recover and distribute surplus fresh fruits and vegetables, the Gaples Institute's nutrition education initiative for health professionals, Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network's $30 million investment in health and nutrition, Homeplate Solutions' technology platform to improve food accessibility, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' commitment to improving physical activity and nutrition.
These efforts are part of a comprehensive approach to meet the Administration's health and nutrition goals, which includes significant investments and regulatory actions by the USDA, FDA, and HHS to improve nutritional quality, address social determinants of health, and expand access to healthy foods and nutrition education.
President Biden gave remarks to the press before a meeting with Congressional leaders. The President expressed gratitude for their attendance and underscored the importance of addressing several critical issues. The key points include:
Government Funding: President Biden highlighted the urgent need to figure out how to continue funding the government, emphasizing the significance of finding a solution to avoid any potential shutdowns, which he noted could significantly damage the economy.
Ukraine: The President labeled the situation in Ukraine as urgent and pointed out the dire consequences of inaction. He mentioned discussions with G7 partners about the situation, indicating international concern over the ongoing conflict.
Israel and Palestinian Areas: The need to address the Israeli portion within the supplemental funding, including the replenishment of Israel's air defenses, was mentioned. Additionally, Biden emphasized the importance of humanitarian assistance to Palestinian areas, indicating a broader scope of support beyond military aid.
Middle East Threats: The President stressed the necessity of ensuring Israel's security against threats not only from Hamas but also from Iran, highlighting the complexity of the security challenges in the region.
Bipartisan Solutions and Economic Impacts: Biden called for bipartisan solutions to these issues, particularly emphasizing the importance of Congress's responsibility in funding the government to prevent economic damage from a potential government shutdown.
The President concluded by expressing a desire to hear from the group of leaders present at the meeting, indicating an openness to discussion and collaboration on these critical issues.
President Biden and Vice President Harris met in the Oval Office with Congressional leaders, including Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries, to discuss the importance of government funding and passing a bipartisan national security supplemental. President Biden emphasized the urgency of preventing a government shutdown, stating it would negatively impact hardworking families, the economy, and national security. He advocated for bipartisan funding bills devoid of extreme policies. The discussion was notably intense regarding the stalled aid for Ukraine, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing urgency and warning of the consequences of inaction. House Speaker Mike Johnson focused on the importance of securing America's southern border and mentioned discussing this priority with President Biden.
The discussion also highlighted the critical situation in Ukraine, which is defending itself against Russia's invasion. The President pointed out Ukraine's challenges on the battlefield, including the rationing of ammunition and supplies, attributing this to Congressional inaction. He stressed the necessity of the bipartisan national security supplemental, which has already received significant support in the Senate and is anticipated to pass in the House if voted on. This bill is not only crucial for supporting Ukraine but also includes provisions to aid Israel's defense against Hamas and provides humanitarian assistance for those affected by global conflicts, including Palestinian civilians facing severe humanitarian conditions.
Additional source: NBC News
President Biden declared a major disaster in New Hampshire due to severe storms and flooding from December 17 to December 21, 2023. This declaration enables federal assistance to support recovery efforts in the state, particularly in the counties of Carroll, Coos, and Grafton. The assistance is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis. It covers emergency work and repairing or replacing facilities damaged by the storm and flooding. Additionally, federal funding is available for hazard mitigation measures throughout the state. William F. Roy of FEMA has been appointed to oversee the federal recovery operations in the affected areas, with the possibility of further designations pending additional damage assessments and state requests.
NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE:
Georgia N. Alexakis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, vice Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, retiring.
Matthew L. Gannon, of Iowa, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa for the term of four years, vice Peter E. Deegan, Jr., resigned.
Krissa M. Lanham, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, vice Douglas L. Rayes, retiring.
Nancy L. Maldonado, of Illinois, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, vice Ilana Diamond Rovner, retiring.
Angela M. Martinez, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, vice James Alan Soto, retiring.
Sparkle L. Sooknanan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, vice Florence Y. Pan, elevated.
David C. Waterman, of Iowa, to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa for the term of four years, vice Marc Krickbaum, resigned.
President Biden meets with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker Mike Johnson, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office at The White House
