What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
October 24, 2024 Recap
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a new rule to reduce lead exposure, potentially benefiting up to 1.2 million people annually. This is part of a larger effort to eliminate lead exposure in the U.S., highlighted by their Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. Lead poisoning disproportionately affects low-income communities and people of color, and the administration has focused on addressing lead hazards in housing, water, air, soil, food, and workplaces.
Key measures include:
Strengthening EPA regulations for removing lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities.
Allocating $420 million for HUD programs to remove lead hazards.
A final EPA rule requires water systems to replace lead service lines within 10 years, and significant funding has been secured for infrastructure upgrades.
Efforts to reduce airborne lead from aircraft emissions and industrial sources.
International collaborations to reduce lead exposure in low- and middle-income countries.
The Administration's actions span multiple agencies and have resulted in over 100 initiatives in 2024 alone to address lead exposure risks across the country.
President Biden issued the first-ever National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Artificial Intelligence (AI), emphasizing its importance in national security and foreign policy. The NSM outlines actions to ensure the U.S. leads in developing safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. It focuses on three key goals: U.S. leadership in AI, utilizing AI for national security, and advancing international AI governance.
Key initiatives include strengthening AI research, securing semiconductor supply chains, supporting AI developers with cybersecurity, and establishing the AI Safety Institute. The NSM also promotes the ethical use of AI, safeguarding human rights, and fostering international cooperation on AI standards and regulations.
Key highlights include:
A 50% increase in SBA lending since FY 2020, with notable increases in loans to underserved groups (Black, Latino, and women-owned businesses).
New rules to simplify federal contracting, potentially increasing small business awards by $6 billion annually.
The Capital Readiness Program, a $125 million initiative, supported over 6,300 small businesses in its first year.
SBA also launched MySBA Certifications to streamline the certification process for small business contractors, reducing the time for application processing by up to 70%.
The Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts contrast with Congressional Republican attempts to cut SBA funding. The administration also plans to release a report on the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which has leveraged over $3 billion in public and private financing for small businesses through 2023.
The Biden Administration has implemented transformative measures to support Indian Country and strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship with Tribal Nations. Central to this effort are historic investments, including $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan—the largest federal investment in Tribal Nations in history—$13 billion for infrastructure improvements, and $700 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for climate resilience and clean energy development in Native communities. Additionally, Biden has issued several executive orders to advance Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. These orders focus on improving public safety, addressing the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), and enhancing educational opportunities for Native American students. In a landmark move, Biden also issued a Presidential apology for the federal government’s role in the Indian Boarding School era, acknowledging the historical trauma inflicted on Native children and communities through forced assimilation practices.
The administration has reinstated the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit and the White House Council on Native American Affairs, fostering meaningful government-to-government dialogue. Economic empowerment has also been a priority, with Biden revitalizing the Buy Indian Act, leading to an $8.2 billion increase in federal contract spending with Native-owned businesses between FY2020 and FY2023. Culturally, the administration has focused on protecting Indigenous sacred sites and ancestral lands by restoring protections for significant areas like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, designating new national monuments, and signing over 200 co-stewardship agreements with Tribal Nations to manage federal lands. Efforts to preserve Native languages have also been advanced through interagency collaborations to revitalize these crucial cultural elements.
In sum, the Biden-Harris administration has made unprecedented strides in supporting Tribal sovereignty, addressing historical injustices, and improving the well-being and cultural preservation of Native communities through a wide range of policy initiatives and executive actions.
President Biden's statement on World Polio Day highlighted the United States' leadership in the global effort to eradicate polio. He emphasized that thanks to initiatives like the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, 20 million people have avoided paralysis, and polio cases have decreased by 99.9%. Despite these successes, polio remains a threat, especially in conflict zones and areas with low vaccination rates. Biden stressed that failure to maintain high vaccination coverage could lead to outbreaks, as seen recently in places like New York, London, Ukraine, and Gaza. He called for global collaboration to secure a polio-free future, which he sees as both a moral imperative and an investment in global health security.
At a high-energy campaign rally featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, and a host of influential figures such as Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen, acclaimed director Spike Lee, media mogul Tyler Perry, and iconic actor Samuel L. Jackson, the overarching theme was the critical importance of voter turnout and the need to secure a forward-thinking, unified America. The event underscored the high stakes of the upcoming election, with each speaker emphasizing the contrasting visions of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, painting the choice as a pivotal moment in American history.
Kamala Harris, introduced by Barack Obama and other speakers, was lauded for her leadership, character, and lifelong dedication to public service. Her background as a prosecutor, Attorney General, and U.S. Senator was highlighted, with speakers emphasizing her proven track record of fighting for vulnerable communities, standing up to powerful interests, and pushing for policies that benefit working families. Harris’s platform, which includes lowering the cost of living, expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting reproductive rights, and cutting taxes for the middle class, was central to the rally's message. Tyler Perry, in particular, shared personal anecdotes about his struggles with poverty in Georgia and how Harris’s policies resonate with everyday Americans who want to build better futures for themselves and their families.
The speakers contrasted Harris's vision with Donald Trump's, presenting him as a threat to American democracy. In his signature oratory style, Obama pulled no punches, warning of the dangers of a second Trump presidency. He characterized Trump as self-centered, divisive, and detached from the struggles of everyday Americans. He recounted the numerous controversies surrounding Trump’s administration, including his mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, his undermining of democratic institutions, and his attempts to erode protections like the Affordable Care Act. Obama also cited Trump’s dangerous rhetoric and authoritarian tendencies, recalling that Trump has even praised Adolf Hitler's generals and expressed a desire to rule unchecked, posing a direct threat to the Constitution and the rule of law.
John Kelly, Trump’s former chief of staff, was referenced by multiple speakers, noting his recent statements about Trump’s disturbing comments about American military personnel and his desire for unquestioning loyalty, similar to that of Hitler's generals. Speakers pointed out that the people who once surrounded Trump to rein in his worst impulses are no longer in his orbit, leaving the possibility of a future Trump administration more extreme and dangerous. This was presented as a reason to act now, with many urging the audience not to underestimate the seriousness of the threat Trump poses.
The rally was infused with a call to action, as Obama, Harris, and others urged the crowd to vote early and get their friends, families, and neighbors to do the same. They reminded the audience that every vote in Georgia counts, especially after the state played a pivotal role in flipping the 2020 election and securing the Senate majority for Democrats. The speakers framed the election as about policy and values—whether America would continue on a path of equality, justice, and opportunity for all or return to a divisive, regressive era.
Bruce Springsteen added to the emotional weight of the event by performing and speaking about the American dream, emphasizing themes of hope, unity, and perseverance. He described Harris as the candidate who understands ordinary Americans' struggles and will fight to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to thrive. He also supported Harris's running mate, Tim Walz, as a team that can lead America forward.
Tyler Perry’s speech was particularly personal and moving. He shared his story of overcoming poverty, recalling his early years of homelessness in Georgia and how he worked his way to success through perseverance and belief in the American dream. He contrasted his journey with Trump’s background, pointing out that Trump inherited wealth and opportunity but failed to manage them responsibly, declaring bankruptcy multiple times. Perry also emphasized that Kamala Harris understands the real struggles of working-class Americans and that her policies would directly address the challenges faced by people like him in his earlier years. He criticized Trump for his disregard for marginalized communities, recounting Trump’s involvement in the Central Park 5 case and his racist birther claims against President Obama.
Spike Lee and Samuel L. Jackson brought their fiery passion to the stage, rallying the crowd with humor, energy, and a sense of urgency. Lee referenced his famous “Do the Right Thing” mantra, calling on voters to do just that by showing up at the polls to support Harris. Jackson, with his trademark charisma, used a mix of humor and serious commentary to call out Trump’s divisive rhetoric and policies, urging Georgians to stand up for the future of their state and country.
The central message of the rally was clear: the election is not just about political differences; it is about the future of American democracy, values, and freedoms. The speakers repeatedly invoked the legacy of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis, reminding the crowd that Georgia has always been a battleground for justice and equality. They called on voters to continue that fight by electing Harris as the next president, framing her as a leader who will protect American values, expand opportunities for all, and restore decency to the office of the presidency.
In closing, the rally left the crowd with purpose and urgency. In her speech, Kamala Harris thanked the speakers and the crowd for their energy, affirming her commitment to fighting for every American. She echoed the rally’s themes of unity, progress, and hope, declaring that with 12 days left, it was time to act, vote, and win. The event ended with a resounding call to make history again in Georgia, to reject the past, and to build a brighter future for all Americans.
Former President Barack Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris embrace after he introduced her to the stage at a star-studded campaign rally in Atlanta, GA
