What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 19 Recap
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new actions aimed at reducing electric vehicle (EV) costs for Americans and expanding the EV charging network in the United States. Since President Biden took office, EV sales have quadrupled, with over four and a half million EVs on the road. The administration has made progress in making EV ownership more affordable, with prices down over 20% from a year ago. There has also been a significant increase in publicly available charging ports.
To further these efforts, the Department of Treasury and the Department of Energy are releasing definitions for eligible census tracts, confirming the availability of a 30C EV charging tax credit to about two-thirds of Americans. This tax credit provides up to 30% off the charger cost for individuals and businesses in low-income communities, encouraging the installation of EV charging infrastructure.
The Departments of Transportation and Energy are announcing $325 million in new investments to enhance the reliability and resilience of publicly accessible chargers, advance EV technologies, and support workforce development for EV charging deployment and maintenance. This includes repairing and replacing non-operational chargers, reducing costs for deploying charging in underserved communities, and cutting battery costs.
The administration's historic investments in EV technologies have also spurred private companies to invest in the U.S. EV charging network. Over $25 billion in investment, including $10 billion from the private sector, has been announced. The U.S. EV charging manufacturing footprint has grown significantly under President Biden's leadership.
Despite these efforts, the administration highlights opposition from Republicans in Congress, who are attempting to pass a measure that would eliminate domestic manufacturing standards for EV chargers. The President has pledged to veto this resolution.
The announcement also includes details on lower costs for installing EV chargers, strengthening the foundation for the EV charging industry, increasing EV charging reliability and accessibility, advancing EV technologies through research and development, opening federally funded EV charging stations, delivering grants for school districts to purchase clean buses, and deploying chargers in communities to fill gaps in the national network. The overall goal is to make EVs more affordable and accessible while supporting American workers and families.
The Biden Administration has approved the cancellation of nearly $5 billion in student debt for 74,000 borrowers nationwide. This brings the total number of individuals who have had their student debt canceled under Biden's Administration to over 3.7 million. Among the approved borrowers, around 44,000 are teachers, nurses, firefighters, and others who earned forgiveness after 10 years of public service, while nearly 30,000 have been in repayment for at least 20 years without relief through income-driven repayment plans. The Administration attributes its ability to provide relief to fixes made to broken student loan programs. The announcement builds upon previous achievements, such as increased Pell Grants, improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, and the creation of the SAVE plan, the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history. Borrowers can apply at studentaid.gov, and alternative paths are being pursued for broader student debt relief following a Supreme Court decision. President Biden emphasizes his commitment to improving the student loan system for greater opportunity and prosperity, pledging to use all available tools to relieve borrowers.
The President signed into law:
H.R. 2872, the “Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024,” provides fiscal year 2024 appropriations to Federal agencies for continuing projects and activities funded in four of the 12 annual appropriations bills through March 1, 2024. The CR provides funding through March 8, 2024, for the remaining eight annual appropriations bills.
President Biden spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, addressing ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. They discussed the situation in Gaza, emphasizing targeted operations to allow increased humanitarian assistance while maintaining military pressure on Hamas. The President welcomed Israel's decision to permit the shipment of flour for Palestinians through Ashdod port and explored options for direct maritime delivery to Gaza. They also discussed progress in ensuring Palestinian Authority revenues for salaries and emphasized Israel's responsibility to minimize civilian harm. The President shared his vision for durable peace, regional integration, and a two-state solution with Israel's security guaranteed.
President Biden has announced a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of Joseph Boakai in Liberia on January 22, 2024. Led by Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States to the UN, the delegation includes Catherine Rodriguez, Stephen K. Benjamin, Isobel Coleman, and Judd Devermont in various roles.
The White House held a roundtable on supporting survivors of stalking during National Stalking Awareness Month. Jennifer Klein, Catherine Powell, and Rosie Hidalgo from the Biden-Harris Administration met with stalking survivors to gather experiences and recommendations. Stalking affects a significant number of individuals, with discussions emphasizing the impact of technology on stalking. Participants addressed the Administration's commitment to addressing gender-based violence and stalking through initiatives like the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the White House Task Force on Online Harassment. The focus was on supporting survivors through increased access to training, resources, justice, and safety.
In a press briefing held in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at The White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted evidence of President Biden's economic plan delivering positive results, such as increased consumer sentiment and significant economic improvements. President Biden signed a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown, and the administration announced the cancellation of student debt for 74,000 borrowers. The briefing also covered the President's meeting with mayors to discuss investments in infrastructure and other key issues.
Additionally, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby provided information on President Biden's call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, the situation in Gaza, and ongoing operations. The President emphasized the need for Israel to reduce civilian harm and protect civilians while maintaining military pressure on Hamas. Admiral Kirby also mentioned U.S. self-defense strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Ms. Jean-Pierre and Admiral Kirby then fielded questions from reporters.
President Biden giving remarks at the White House for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting
