What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
December 14 Recap
The White House released a fact sheet as the Biden-Harris Administration announced that dozens of pharmaceutical companies raised their drug prices faster than inflation, triggering Medicare rebates. This fact sheet was released to coincide with President Biden’s visit to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland to announce that dozens of pharmaceutical companies will be required to pay rebates to Medicare for outrageous price hikes on prescription drugs that over 750,000 seniors take per year. For the last quarter of 2023, 48 Medicare Part B drugs raised their prices faster than inflation, and some drug companies raised prices of certain medications faster than inflation for every quarter over the last year. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act cracks down on this exorbitant price gouging, requiring these companies to pay rebates back to Medicare, saving seniors who take these drugs between $1 and $2,786 per dose on their medication.
A press release was issued titled The Congressional Republican Agenda on Prescription Drugs: Giveaways to Big Pharma and Higher Costs for Seniors and Families that emphasized key strategies on behalf of their efforts roll back recent reforms, including:
Repealing prescription drug inflation rebates
Taking away Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices
Opposing caps on insulin prices
Protecting Big Pharma’s ability to avoid paying taxes
President Biden issued a statement on the 11th anniversary of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut when 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 26 individuals. Among the victims were 20 children aged between six and seven, along with six adult staff members.
Senior Biden-Harris Administration officials met again with manufacturers of RSV immunizations, including Sanofi and AstraZeneca and their partners. They discussed the need for manufacturers to work quickly to meet the demand for dose availability through the commercial market this viral season. At the urging of the Administration, manufacturers confirmed that they will make 230,000 additional doses of RSV immunizations available for infants in January. This announcement comes on top of the 77,000 additional doses of Beyfortus released last month following the Administration’s continued efforts urging manufacturers to expedite availability. Read more…
A fact sheet was released by Lael Brainard, National Economic Advisor, Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor, and Arati Prabhakar, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy titled Delivering on the Promise of AI to Improve Health Outcomes.
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration's initiative to advance a sustainable transportation future, they announced fresh commitments, both public and private, aimed at enhancing accessibility to electric vehicles (EVs). These efforts are geared towards saving taxpayer funds and addressing the challenges of climate change. The administration has taken a leadership role by introducing updated travel guidelines for federal employees, emphasizing sustainable transportation for official and local trips, whether within the country or internationally.
These commitments are designed to promote environmentally friendly practices and yield financial savings for taxpayers. Significant economic benefits are anticipated by increasing the adoption of EVs and implementing other cost-effective measures related to clean transportation in federal business travel. Moreover, the State of California, various companies, and nonprofit organizations are joining forces with the Biden-Harris Administration through the EV Acceleration Challenge. This collaboration seeks to expand electric vehicle fleets, enhance consumer education, and bolster the infrastructure for EV charging and other clean transportation services. Read more…
The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled a groundbreaking accord, forging a collaborative effort with Tribes and States in the Pacific Northwest. The aim is to rejuvenate wild salmon populations, amplify clean energy initiatives sponsored by Tribes, and establish stability for communities reliant on the Columbia River System for agriculture, energy, recreation, and transportation.
Under President Biden's directive, this administration is making an unparalleled commitment to uphold the United States’ responsibilities to Tribal Nations. Simultaneously, they are dedicated to safeguarding and reviving America’s natural wonders for future generations, recognizing the crucial contributions of the Columbia River System to communities and businesses in the region. Following two years of regional involvement, in September, President Biden instructed federal agencies to prioritize the restoration of robust populations of salmon, steelhead, and other native fish in the Columbia River Basin.
The present agreement, coupled with additional anticipated funding from the Administration, is poised to inject over $1 billion in new Federal investments into wild fish restoration in the Columbia River Basin over the next decade. Furthermore, it will facilitate the expansion of at least one to three gigawatts of Tribally sponsored clean energy production. Read the fact sheet.
The President issued A Proclamation on Bill of Rights Day, 2023.
A press briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby.
President Biden announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Andry Rajoelina on December 16, 2023, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The Honorable Claire A. Pierangelo, United States Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar, will lead the delegation.
The President spoke with President Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan of Türkiye. They discussed the importance of strengthening the NATO Alliance, including the importance of welcoming Sweden as an Ally as soon as possible and further enhancing Türkiye’s NATO interoperability. They agreed to remain in close contact in the lead-up to the July 2024 NATO Summit in Washington. President Biden expressed support for recent constructive steps in the relationship between Greece and Türkiye. The two leaders also discussed the war in Gaza, and President Biden reiterated his support for Israel’s right to defend itself. The leaders also discussed efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to Gaza and protect civilians and the need for a political horizon for the Palestinian people.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan held discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi, and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz in Tel Aviv, Israel. The talks centered on the ongoing Gaza conflict, emphasizing the joint goal of defeating Hamas while minimizing harm to civilians and ensuring a sustained flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Mr. Sullivan received a detailed briefing on Israel's military campaign in Gaza, covering objectives, phases, and the conditions for transitioning from high-intensity clearing operations to lower-intensity surgical operations against Hamas remnants. He affirmed U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense against Hamas, which has repeatedly threatened to replicate the atrocities of October 7. Mr. Sullivan also expressed appreciation for enhanced coordination with the UN, Egypt, and other partners in delivering humanitarian aid and underscored the significance of expanding and sustaining assistance to Gaza. Read more…
The Biden administration declared on Thursday that hundreds of thousands of elderly Americans could experience reduced costs for specific outpatient drug treatments starting early next year. The White House disclosed a roster of 48 drugs, ranging from chemotherapy medications to growth hormones addressing endocrine disorders, whose prices escalated beyond the inflation rate this year. Under a recent law, pharmaceutical companies will be obligated to pay rebates to the federal government due to these price hikes. The resulting funds will be utilized to decrease the drug expenses for Medicare enrollees in the early months of next year. Read more and watch the President’s remarks at the National Institute of Health.
President Biden gives remarks regarding lowering drug costs for seniors at the National Institute of Health
