What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 8 Recap
President Biden expressed appreciation for Mitch Landrieu's contributions as his Senior Advisor, emphasizing Landrieu's role in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Biden highlighted Landrieu's extensive experience as a former Mayor and Lieutenant Governor involved in rebuilding New Orleans. The President commended Landrieu for prioritizing collaboration over partisanship, citing his efforts in overseeing a significant investment in American infrastructure. The achievements included announcing over 40,000 projects, expanding high-speed internet access to 22 million people, and initiating improvements on 135,000 miles of roads. Biden acknowledged Landrieu's extensive travel and engagement with communities, governors, mayors, Congress members, labor, and private sector representatives. Expressing gratitude for Landrieu's leadership and decades of service, Biden noted that he would miss Landrieu's counsel. The President also extended thanks to Landrieu's family for their support and willingness to share him with the nation.
The President has announced key nominees for key positions in his administration. Jennifer D. Gavito is nominated to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Libya. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with a background in Middle Eastern affairs, having served in various diplomatic roles.
Vanesa Soledad Simon is nominated for Member of the National Council on the Arts. She is an entrepreneur and artist known for using the arts for health and well-being. Simon founded Healing Through the Arts, a program that brings various art modalities to communities facing health, environmental, and historic traumas.
Additionally, the White House will renominate candidates whose nominations were returned at the end of the first session of the 118th Congress, with the hope that the Senate will take prompt action on these nominations. The first batch includes 25 renominations; more will follow in the coming weeks.
In a press gaggle, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby addressed President Biden's schedule, including his visit to South Carolina and Dallas. Kirby provided an update on the humanitarian aid situation in Gaza and emphasized the U.S. desire to prevent the conflict from escalating or widening. Questions were raised about Secretary Austin's health, and Kirby stressed the focus on his recovery. While acknowledging the lack of transparency in disclosing Austin's hospitalization, Kirby stated there are no plans for his removal, and the administration remains committed to transparency regarding the president's health. A review of processes and procedures surrounding the communication of such information is expected.
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with President Isaac Herzog of Israel, reaffirming unwavering support for Israel's right to self-defense against threats from Hamas. Harris condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization, citing a specific massacre on October 7 and allegations of brutal sexual violence. Discussions centered on preventing the Gaza conflict from spreading, securing the release of hostages, protecting civilian lives, and increasing humanitarian aid. The leaders also talked about transitioning to lower-intensity operations in Gaza, planning for post-conflict Gaza, and emphasizing U.S. positions on Israel's security, avoiding forced displacement of Palestinians, and fostering a hopeful political horizon. Harris reiterated the U.S. desire for a more integrated, connected, and prosperous Middle East.
Vice President Harris held a discussion with Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, addressing the Gaza situation with a focus on protecting civilians and increasing humanitarian aid. Both leaders emphasized the need for Middle East stabilization and collaborative efforts to enhance regional deterrence. They condemned Houthi attacks on Red Sea commercial vessels, labeling them as threats to global trade and navigation. The Vice President stressed the unlawfulness and recklessness of Iranian-backed Houthi actions, echoing international condemnation from entities such as the UN Security Council and Operation Prosperity Guardian. The discussion also covered the recent joint warning against Houthi attacks endorsed by 14 countries. The leaders reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the United States and Bahrain, highlighting cooperation in security, defense, intelligence, and economic ties, including implementing the "Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement" signed the previous year.
The following nominations have been sent to the Senate:
Seth Robert Aframe: To be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit.
Irving W. Bailey II: To be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United States International Development Finance Corporation.
Amy M. Baggio: To be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon.
Jacqueline Becerra: To be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
Nicole G. Berner: To be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit.
Ron Borzekowski: To be Director, Office of Financial Research, Department of the Treasury.
Carol Moseley Braun: To be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation.
Cristal C. Brisco: To be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana.
Derek H. Chollet: To be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Melissa Griffin Dalton: To be Under Secretary of the Air Force.
Melissa Damian: To be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
Hampton Y. Dellinger: To be Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel.
Jennifer D. Gavito: To be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the State of Libya.
Rebecca Lee Haffajee: To be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Cathy Ann Harris: To be Chairman of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Jon M. Holladay: To be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Agriculture.
Mustafa Taher Kasubhai: To be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon.
Ronald T. Keohane: To be an Assistant Secretary of Defense.
Henry J. Kerner: To be a Member of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Edward Sunyol Kiel: To be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey.
Colleen Duffy Kiko: To be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Joshua Paul Kolar: To be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit.
Joseph Albert Laroski, Jr.: To be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade.
Eumi K. Lee: To be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California.
David Seymour Leibowitz: To be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida.
Gretchen S. Lund: To be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana.
Adeel Abdullah Mangi: To be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
Ramona Villagomez Manglona: To be Judge for the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Vivek Hallegere Murthy: To be Representative of the United States on the Executive Board of the World Health Organization.
Jeff Rezmovic: To be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
Deborah Robinson: To be Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, Executive Office of the President.
Marjorie A. Rollinson: To be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General Counsel in the Department of the Treasury.
Sarah French Russell: To be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut.
Dorothy Camille Shea: To be Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations and Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations.
Kirk Edward Sherriff: To be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California.
Elizabeth Shortino: To be United States Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Vanesa Soledad Simon: To be a Member of the National Council on the Arts.
Julie Simone Sneed: To be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida.
Julie A. Su: To be Secretary of Labor.
Suzanne Elizabeth Summerlin: To be General Counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority.
Lisa W. Wang: To be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade.
Richard L.A. Weiner: To be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Erik John Woodhouse: To be Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination.
Janet Louise Yellen: To be United States Governor of the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
President Biden delivered a speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, touching on various topics. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception, reflected on the resilience and strength of the community, and acknowledged the church's role in moments of joy and pain.
The President highlighted the tragic events of June 17, 2015, when nine members of the church were killed in a hate crime, emphasizing the congregation's remarkable act of forgiveness and grace. He credited the community for bringing down the Confederate flag in South Carolina and spoke against the poison of white supremacy.
President Biden also addressed various policy issues, such as the need for affordable healthcare, efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, and the importance of addressing racial and economic disparities. He pledged to work towards gun control measures, particularly banning assault weapons and implementing universal background checks.
The speech covered broader themes of democracy, truth, and the challenges the nation faces, including the aftermath of the January 6th Capitol attack. President Biden emphasized the importance of rejecting political violence and the need for equal justice under the law.
He outlined his administration's accomplishments, such as historic appointments and initiatives to address racial and economic inequalities. The President concluded by invoking the nation's North Star— the idea that all individuals are created equal and deserve equal treatment.
The audience expressed support and enthusiasm, chanting, "Four more years," and the President closed with a call for unity and a blessing for the nation and its troops.
President Biden at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, January 8, 2024. Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP
