What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
March 15 Recap
On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, President Joe Biden issued a statement recalling the tragic shooting five years ago at the Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Center in Christchurch, New Zealand, which resulted in the loss of 51 lives. He highlighted the ongoing struggle against Islamophobia and the violence Muslims face globally due to their religious beliefs, emphasizing the need for a world where everyone can live free from persecution. The President specifically addressed the rise in Islamophobia following the conflict in Gaza and the discrimination and violence Muslims face in the United States, including the heartbreaking example of a young Palestinian American boy killed in his home.
President Biden reaffirmed his administration's commitment to combating Islamophobia by mentioning the 2022 establishment of an interagency policy committee to counter Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of bias and discrimination. He also noted the drafting of a National Strategy to Combat Islamophobia, aiming to involve a whole-of-society effort against hate and to increase awareness of the contributions of Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab American communities. Efforts include strengthening the security of places of worship, preventing and prosecuting hate crimes, and implementing strategies against Antisemitism and hate-motivated violence.
The statement concluded with the President and First Lady extending their best wishes to Muslims observing Ramadan, reaffirming their commitment to combating Islamophobia globally and emphasizing America's promise of equality for all.
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new measures aimed at eliminating hidden and unnecessary fees in higher education, which are often burdensome for students and federal loan borrowers. These "junk fees" can accumulate through various aspects of college life, such as unused meal plan funds, college-sponsored financial products, textbook charges, and loan origination fees, potentially adding billions of dollars in extra costs annually.
Key actions outlined to address these issues include:
Eliminating Student Loan Origination Fees: The administration proposes to remove these fees, which can add significant amounts to a student's debt, as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Proposal. These fees, ranging from 1% to 4% for federal student loans, are criticized as outdated and unnecessary, imposing more than $1 billion in costs on consumers annually.
Ending College Banking Junk Fees: The Department of Education (ED) is considering regulations to prevent college-affiliated financial products from including excessive fees. This move is supported by findings that these products can significantly diminish students' financial aid through high and unusual charges.
Eliminating Automatic Charges for Textbooks: To promote cost savings and choice in acquiring textbooks, the Department is negotiating rulemaking to end the practice of automatically billing students for textbooks as part of their tuition, encouraging competitive shopping and the use of free resources.
Requiring Refunds for Unused Meal Plan Dollars: The proposed regulation would mandate that institutions refund students any remaining meal plan funds, ensuring that students do not lose money or feel compelled to make unnecessary end-of-term purchases.
These initiatives are part of a broader effort to make higher education more affordable and transparent. These initiatives include increasing transparency about college costs, preventing schools from withholding transcripts over unpaid debts, and holding institutions accountable for offering value and protection against excessive debt. Additionally, the administration is investing in the Open Textbooks Pilot Program to support the creation and use of free educational materials, aiming to further reduce the cost of college for students.
This week, the White House hosted a Summer Learning Convening as part of the Biden-Harris Administration's initiative to enhance student achievement. The event, led by Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden and U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten, focused on adopting evidence-based strategies to improve academic performance. These strategies include increasing student attendance, providing high-dosage tutoring, and expanding summer and after-school learning.
The convening highlighted successful collaborations between cities and organizations to offer high-quality summer learning programs. Examples include Tuscaloosa City Schools' Summer Program, now in its fourth year, serving 3,000 students across 19 programs, and the Rochester City School District's establishment of 30 summer programs in partnership with community entities, including a notable program at St. John Fisher University that supported over 5,000 students.
The event aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request, proposing $8 billion for Academic Acceleration and Achievement Grants to enhance student success nationwide. Additionally, it supports the Department of Education’s Engage Every Student Recognition program, recognizing quality summer and afterschool programs that improve academic outcomes and more for children and youth.
Participants included prominent figures from various educational and community organizations, demonstrating a wide-ranging commitment to improving summer learning opportunities as a vital component of student achievement.
President Biden issued a Proclamation on National Poison Prevention Week, 2024, emphasizing the critical issue of poisonings in the United States, where over 2 million cases are reported annually. This observance week is dedicated to thanking staff at poison control centers for their crucial, life-saving work and urges all Americans to learn how to prevent and respond to poison emergencies. Highlighting the risks posed by everyday items like medicines, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, and small batteries in household products, the proclamation acknowledges the significant reduction in accidental childhood poisoning deaths—over 70% since 1972—thanks to federal laws such as the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 and the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015. The recent signing of Reese's Law in 2022, aimed at reducing injuries from small battery ingestion, is also noted.
The Biden Administration's commitment to combating the opioid crisis is underscored, detailing efforts to prevent the trafficking of dangerous illicit drugs like fentanyl and expanding access to substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services. The proclamation also provides practical advice for preventing poisonings, such as labeling medications clearly, using child-safe packaging, and safely storing liquid nicotine and opioids.
The proclamation officially designates March 17 through March 23, 2024, as National Poison Prevention Week, calling upon Americans to protect their families and communities from poison-related risks and to promote awareness to prevent accidental injuries and deaths.
During the St. Patrick’s Day celebration breakfast at the Vice President's Residence at the United States Naval Observatory, Vice President Harris extended a warm welcome to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland and his spouse, celebrating the deep cultural and diplomatic ties between the United States and Ireland. Vice President Harris highlighted the long history of Irish contributions to America, from the signatories of the Declaration of Independence to the millions of Irish immigrants who have made the U.S. their home, including President Joe Biden. She praised the 100 years of diplomatic relations and the shared values of freedom and opportunity that unite both nations. The Vice President commended Varadkar for his leadership in various areas, including women’s reproductive freedom, global security, and support for Ukraine and LGBTQ rights. She toasted to a future of continued partnership and strong bonds between the two countries.
Taoiseach Varadkar thanked Vice President Harris for the hospitality and reflected on the special relationship between Ireland and the U.S. He humorously compared the roles of vice president and Taoiseach, sharing insights from his own political journey. Varadkar acknowledged the U.S.'s support for marriage equality and the recent call for a ceasefire in Gaza, highlighting the importance of humanitarian aid and a just peace in the Middle East. He drew parallels between the peace process in Northern Ireland and the potential for peace in the Middle East, thanking the U.S. for its support in fostering peace in Northern Ireland. Varadkar concluded by expressing gratitude for the warm welcome and extending St. Patrick’s Day greetings.
National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard led a White House meeting with Federal Co-Chairs of six Regional Commissions: the Appalachian Regional Commission, Denali Commission, Delta Regional Authority, Northern Border Regional Commission, Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and Southwest Border Regional Commission. The focus was on the pivotal role of these commissions in fulfilling President Biden's commitment to revitalizing all areas of America, emphasizing rural and distressed communities as highlighted in his State of the Union address.
The commissions, which operate as federal-state partnerships across different U.S. regions, are tasked with making targeted investments in areas like technical assistance, capacity building, economic development, workforce development, and infrastructure. With the support of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these commissions have received over $1 billion in additional funding. This financial boost is aimed at helping local economies and distressed areas to draw significant public and private investments in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, and clean energy.
Success stories were shared by the Federal Co-Chairs, demonstrating the impactful use of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds in supporting over 300 projects across 19 states. Noteworthy projects include the Delta Regional Authority's backing of infrastructure improvements to facilitate Ford's $5.6 billion electric truck and battery plant in West Tennessee and the Denali Commission's provision of technical assistance for securing over $90 million in federal grants for broadband in Alaska Native communities. Additionally, the Northern Border Regional Commission awarded a $3 million grant to enhance childcare facilities in New York. At the same time, the Appalachian Regional Commission expanded its ARISE program for regional partnership capacity building. The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission initiated a $20 million State Economic and Infrastructure Development grant program.
Participants in the meeting included notable White House and government officials, such as Lael Brainard, Gayle Manchin, Corey Wiggins, and representatives from the National Economic Council and the Department of Energy. The discussion underscored the administration's focus on economic revitalization through infrastructure and development projects, particularly supporting underserved and rural communities.
Prior to their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office, President Biden and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland discussed several key topics highlighting the strong relationship between the United States and Ireland. President Biden warmly recalled his previous visit to Ireland, emphasizing the two nations' deep friendship and economic partnership. He celebrated 100 years of diplomatic relations and mentioned the shared efforts in creating jobs, humanitarian assistance in Gaza, and support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression. The President also joked about lobbying Congress for additional aid packages, signaling a serious undertone about the need for bipartisan support for international crises.
Taoiseach Varadkar expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership and brought up four main discussion points: the functioning of Northern Ireland's institutions under the Good Friday Agreement, celebrating a century of diplomatic relations and discussing the strong economic ties between the two countries, the situation in Gaza and the push for a ceasefire and a two-state solution, and the situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of American leadership and continued support.
The dialogue also touched on the importance of peace and progress in Northern Ireland, with President Biden reaffirming his commitment to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. Varadkar highlighted Ireland's significant investment in the U.S., contributing to mutual economic growth. Both leaders agreed on the urgency of addressing the crisis in Gaza and the critical need to support Ukraine against Russian advances. Varadkar plans to share insights from the Washington discussions with EU leaders.
Questions from the press briefly touched on Senator Schumer's speech on Israel and the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza before the end of Ramadan. President Biden expressed a desire to always return to Ireland, reflecting the warmth and closeness of U.S.-Ireland relations.
During their annual St. Patrick’s Day meeting at the White House, President Joe Biden and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland discussed several key issues, highlighting the strong ties between the two nations. They expressed their firm support for Ukraine amidst Russia's ongoing aggression, with President Biden lauding Ireland's hospitality towards over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. The leaders reaffirmed their support for Israel's right to self-defense in accordance with international law, emphasizing the importance of delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza, preventing regional conflicts, and supporting a two-state solution for enduring peace. Economic and social connections between the U.S. and Ireland were also underscored, celebrating historical bonds and looking forward to future cooperation. The restoration of Northern Ireland’s Executive and Assembly was welcomed, recognizing their importance in upholding the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement's achievements and fostering a bright future for U.S.-Irish relations.
At the Annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Mike Johnson highlighted the event's significance as a moment to transcend political differences, celebrating the friendship between the U.S. and Ireland and the commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. Despite concerns over global stability, the emphasis was on peace and national sovereignty.
President Joe Biden, acknowledged as "America's most famous Irishman," expressed gratitude for his Irish heritage and the longstanding friendship between the U.S. and Ireland. He noted the importance of continued support for Ukraine and Gaza and urged the passage of a national security bill to affirm America's stance on freedom. Biden also reiterated his commitment to peace in Northern Ireland and emphasized the enduring possibility and partnership between the U.S. and Ireland.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appreciated the unique international celebration of St. Patrick's Day and praised the Good Friday Agreement's role in shaping a hopeful future for Ireland and Northern Ireland. He thanked the U.S. for its support in the peace process and called for continued solidarity with Ukraine and a resolution to the violence in the Middle East. Varadkar underscored the century-old diplomatic relations between Ireland and the U.S., expressing optimism for another hundred years of friendship.
The speeches at the luncheon underscored a shared commitment to peace, the value of the U.S.-Ireland relationship, and the collective effort to address global challenges.
President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for the Wrangell Cooperative Association following severe storms, landslides, and mudslides that occurred on November 20, 2023. This declaration unlocks federal funding and aid to support recovery efforts in the affected areas. The assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans for uninsured property losses, and support for individuals and business owners to recover from the disaster's impacts. Additionally, federal funding is available for emergency protective measures and hazard mitigation initiatives on a cost-sharing basis. Brian F. Schiller of FEMA has been appointed to oversee the Federal recovery operations. The Wrangell Cooperative Association may request further assistance based on ongoing damage assessments. Affected residents and business owners can apply for assistance through various channels provided by FEMA.
President Biden meets with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland at The White House
