What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 11 Recap
President Biden has announced that U.S. military forces, in collaboration with the United Kingdom and support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, conducted successful strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The strikes were a response to Houthi attacks on international maritime vessels in the Red Sea, including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles. These attacks posed threats to U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and global trade. Through initiatives like Operation Prosperity Guardian, the international community has condemned Houthi threats and issued warnings. The United Nations Security Council also passed a resolution demanding an end to Houthi attacks on merchant and commercial vessels. The defensive action aims to convey a strong message that the U.S. and its partners will not tolerate attacks on personnel or threats to freedom of navigation in critical commercial routes. Further measures may be taken if necessary to protect people and international commerce.
The President commented on the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, highlighting a nearly two-thirds reduction in inflation from its peak, with core inflation at its lowest since May 2021. He noted decreasing prices for essential goods and services, such as gas, milk, eggs, toys, appliances, car rentals, and airline fares throughout the year. Despite earlier predictions, inflation has decreased while economic growth and job market strength have persisted. President Biden emphasized the creation of over 14 million jobs during his tenure and improvements in wealth, wages, and employment compared to his predecessor's administration.
President Biden acknowledged ongoing challenges and expressed his commitment to further lowering costs for American families and workers. He outlined actions to address specific issues, including reducing the prices of insulin, prescription drugs, and energy, eliminating hidden fees from companies, and urging large corporations to pass on savings to consumers.
President Biden criticized extreme Republicans, accusing them of lacking the plan to lower costs for families and instead favoring giveaways to the super-wealthy and big corporations. He claimed that these Republicans are aligned with Big Pharma and Big Oil in resisting efforts to lower prescription drug costs and utility bills while also opposing measures to prevent Big Banks from charging steep hidden fees. The President asserted his determination to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from Republican attempts to cut funding.
The President announced that Americans filed 16 million new business applications during the first three years of his administration, marking a record-setting period for small business growth. He emphasized the significance of each new business as an act of hope and confidence in the economy. The statement highlighted the administration's strategy to support entrepreneurs, provide resources for small businesses, and promote competition to level the playing field. The president noted that the small business boom has been particularly strong among Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. The broader economic progress was also highlighted, including job creation, wage growth, and lower unemployment rates. President Biden pledged to continue strengthening the economy, supporting the middle class, and resisting attempts to favor big corporations over small businesses.
Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Tom Perez, visited the Dominican Republic from January 8-10. The visit aimed to build on discussions between Presidents Biden and Abinader on economic cooperation, climate change, and the humanitarian/security crisis in Haiti. During meetings with President Abinader, Perez reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to regional economic cooperation under the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP) and acknowledged the Dominican Republic's leadership in the initiative. Discussions also included international support for the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti. In a separate meeting with Labor Minister Luis Miguel de Camps, Perez addressed collaboration for sustainable economic development. The visit included a tour of a clinic supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and engagements with private sector executives and civil society members on topics like commercial relations, democratic values, human rights, and labor rights.
In a background press call by a senior administration official on Taiwan elections, the official discussed various aspects of the upcoming presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan on January 13th. Key points include:
Election Background: The call highlighted that Taiwan's elections mark the fourth transition between democratically elected administrations since 1996, emphasizing the United States' confidence in Taiwan's democratic processes.
U.S. Position and Policy: The U.S. expressed support for Taiwan's democracy, opposed external interference in its elections, and clarified that the U.S. does not take sides in the elections. The U.S. maintains its One China policy and opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo from either side.
Cross-Strait Issues: The U.S. acknowledges differences between the U.S. and China on cross-Strait issues but emphasized the commitment to managing these differences peacefully. The call mentioned President Biden's reaffirmation of the One China policy during a meeting with President Xi.
Potential PRC Reaction: The official did not speculate on China's reaction to the elections but noted that any military pressure or coercion from Beijing would be seen as provocative. The importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait was highlighted for the global economy.
Unofficial Delegation: The U.S. plans to send an unofficial delegation after the Taiwan election, continuing a tradition of such delegations. The purpose is to reinforce support for Taiwan's democratic processes and maintain peace, stability, and the status quo.
Concerns about Interference: The U.S. expressed concerns about any interference or coercion in the elections and conveyed that interference by Beijing would be viewed as provocative.
U.S.-China Relations: The official discussed the broader context of U.S.-China relations, emphasizing that the health of the relationship is not solely dependent on cross-Strait tensions. Contingency plans were mentioned, but the focus is on diplomatic engagement to manage difficulties.
Information Operations: Taiwan's ability to identify and respond to information operations and interference was acknowledged. The official suggested looking to Taiwan as a source for information on these issues.
The call concluded with a commitment to continue the conversation, and a transcript of the call was expected to be provided later.
Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer met with United Nations Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag. During the meeting, Finer expressed strong U.S. support for Kaag in her new role. They discussed collaborative efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and explored sustainable measures to meet the long-term needs of Gazan civilians. Earlier in the week, on January 9, Finer also met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo to coordinate U.S.-UN efforts on Gaza, focusing on supporting Kaag's initiatives and planning future steps.
President Biden has announced key nominees for various positions in his administration:
Nelson W. Cunningham is nominated for Deputy United States Trade Representative. He co-founded McLarty Associates and has a background in foreign policy and political matters.
James R. Ives is nominated to be Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury. He is a career member of the Senior Executive Service with extensive oversight and law enforcement experience.
Stephen Ravas is nominated to be Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service. He has served in various legal roles, including Assistant Counsel to the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security OIG.
Leonardo Martinez-Diaz is nominated to be the United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He currently serves as Managing Director for Climate Finance in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Anne Marie Wagner is nominated to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority. She has been Associate Special Counsel with the Office of Special Counsel and has a background in federal employment law.
The White House will also continue renominating candidates whose nominations were returned at the end of the first session of the 118th Congress. The nominations cover a range of roles, from trade representation to climate finance and labor relations.
President Biden has announced a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Bernardo Arévalo in Guatemala City on January 14, 2024. The delegation will be led by the Honorable Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Other members include Mr. Patrick Ventrell, The Honorable Norma J. Torres, The Honorable Lou Correa, The Honorable Philip H. Gordon, The Honorable Katie Tobin, The Honorable Brian A. Nichols, and The Honorable Tobin Bradley.
The following nominations have been sent to the Senate:
Jennifer M. Adams
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cabo Verde.
Joseph R. Adams
Position: United States Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia.
B. Bix Aliu
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Montenegro.
David O. Barnett, Jr.
Position: United States Marshal for the District of New Mexico.
Dale L. Bell
Position: United States Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Claria Horn Boom
Position: Member of the United States Sentencing Commission (Reappointment).
Tanya Monique Jones Bosier
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Arthur W. Brown
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Ecuador.
Nelson W. Cunningham
Position: Deputy United States Trade Representative (Western Hemisphere, Europe, the Middle East, Labor, and Environment).
Robert William Forden
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
Clinton J. Fuchs
Position: United States Marshal for the District of Maryland.
John Gleeson
Position: Member of the United States Sentencing Commission (Reappointment).
Johnny C. Gogo
Position: United States Attorney for the District of Guam and concurrently United States Attorney for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Gary D. Grimes, Sr.
Position: United States Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas.
James R. Ives
Position: Inspector General, Department of the Treasury.
David J. Kostelancik
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Albania.
David L. Lemmon, II
Position: United States Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Stuart Alan Levey
Position: Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Joshua S. Levy
Position: United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
Rebecca C. Lutzko
Position: United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Leonardo Martinez-Diaz
Position: United States Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Moshe Z. Marvit
Position: Member of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.
Richard Mills, Jr.
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Roy W. Minter, Jr.
Position: United States Marshal for the Southern District of Georgia.
Danny Lam Hoan Nguyen
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Adrienne Jennings Noti
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Kenechukwu Onyemaechi Okocha
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Katherine E. Oler
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
April M. Perry
Position: United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Lisa Peterson
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Burundi.
Judith E. Pipe
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Michael Purnell
Position: United States Marshal for the Northern District of Mississippi.
Stephen H Ravas
Position: Inspector General, Corporation for National and Community Service.
Richard H. Riley IV
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Elizabeth Rood
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Turkmenistan.
Michael Sfraga
Position: Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs.
Stephanie Sanders Sullivan
Position: Representative of the United States of America to the African Union.
Margaret L. Taylor
Position: Legal Adviser of the Department of State.
Mark Toner
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Liberia.
Pamela M. Tremont
Position: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Anne Marie Wagner
Position: Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority (Term expiring July 1, 2024, and Reappointment for a term expiring July 1, 2029).
Charles J. Willoughby, Jr.
Position: Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
First Lady Jill Biden delivered remarks at a Women's Health Research Event at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She emphasized the need for improved healthcare for women, addressing issues such as migraines, menopause, and heart disease. Biden highlighted President Biden's commitment to addressing these issues and announced the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research. The University of Illinois Chicago was recognized for its groundbreaking research on menopause, aiming to provide better information on managing and treating its symptoms. The initiative aims to prioritize women's health, ensuring they leave doctors' offices with more answers than questions and promoting a future where medicine meets everyone's needs. Halle Berry, a advocate for women's health, joined the event to support these efforts.
A press briefing was held in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at The White House by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, NSC Coordinator For Strategic Communications John Kirby, and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard.
The press briefing highlighted National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard's discussion of President Biden's upcoming trip to Allentown, Pennsylvania, emphasizing success stories of small-business owners. Allentown, previously impacted by trickle-down economics, has experienced positive changes, including the creation of 32,000 jobs, a decrease in unemployment from 6.4% to 3.9%, and improved access to high-speed internet.
President Biden's policies played a significant role in Allentown's economic recovery, with investments in infrastructure, energy, airport modernization, and support for distribution centers and manufacturing. The briefing also underscored a national surge in small-business activities, with 16 million business applications filed in the strongest three-year period in the last two decades.
The data showcased positive trends in small-business growth, particularly among Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. Additionally, the briefing shared optimistic news regarding inflation reduction, attributed to eased supply chain pressures, leading to lower prices for household items and gas.
President Biden's priorities include addressing prescription drug costs, negotiating Medicare drug prices, and urging corporations to lower prices in response to reduced input costs. Congressional Republicans faced criticism for advocating tax cuts for the wealthy without concrete plans to lower costs for the broader population.
On January 3, 2024, a coalition comprising Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States jointly condemned Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Despite prior warnings and a subsequent UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR 2722) on January 10, 2024, addressing the ongoing attacks, the coalition took decisive action. The armed forces of the U.S. and UK, supported by the Netherlands, Canada, Bahrain, and Australia, conducted precision strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The objective was to disrupt Houthi capabilities threatening global trade and mariners' lives in a crucial waterway. The coalition underscored their commitment to freedom of navigation and international commerce, expressing a preference for de-escalation but asserting their readiness to defend against ongoing threats in the region.
The Biden-Harris Administration recently held a meeting with manufacturers of RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) immunizations for infants, including Sanofi and AstraZeneca. The focus was on discussing the current supply status and emphasizing the importance of manufacturers' ongoing efforts to meet the growing demand through the commercial market. This meeting followed previous engagements, where manufacturers announced the availability of hundreds of thousands of additional doses in response to the administration's encouragement. Notably, 230,000 additional doses will be available for order by providers and states starting next week. The administration encourages parents of infants under eight months to consult with healthcare providers to obtain RSV immunizations. Expectant mothers are also advised to discuss the maternal RSV vaccine with their doctors. Senior officials and manufacturers pledged to continue discussions on proactive planning to increase availability and meet projected demand for the upcoming viral season in 2024-25, with the administration committed to ensuring access to RSV immunization for every family in need.
16 million new business applications were filed during the first three years of The Biden Administration
