What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
July 30, 2024 Recap
President Biden briefly addressed questions upon his arrival back in Washington as he exited Marine One. When asked about his legacy for Generation Z, he humorously remarked he wants to be remembered for curing the economy, the environment, and other significant issues. He mentioned campaigning for the vice president that day.
Regarding his legacy for LGBTQ Americans, Biden expressed pride in his stance on gay marriage, recalling how he was the first to openly support it during the Obama administration. He shared a personal anecdote about his father's acceptance of love between two men, reinforcing his own simple belief in love and equality.
When asked about the vice president's choices for a potential running mate, Biden concluded the session by stating they were in discussions without providing further details.
NCS Spokesperson Adrienne Watson issued a statement regarding the elections in Venezuela. The United States has been closely monitoring the presidential election in Venezuela that occurred on Sunday, July 28, and the subsequent announcements by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council. The U.S. urges Venezuela’s electoral authorities to release comprehensive, transparent, and detailed voting results, including breakdowns by polling station. This demand arises from indications that the announced results may not accurately reflect the will of the Venezuelan people. The U.S. is also examining additional electoral data from civil society organizations and reports from international election monitors. The United States supports the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, including their right to freely express their views without fear of reprisal.
President Biden praised the Senate's bipartisan passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, emphasizing the need for updated regulations to protect children online. He highlighted the mental health crisis linked to social media and the inadequacy of current laws. Biden urged Congress to act, pointing out that the last significant legislation was in 1998. He called for enhanced privacy protections, a ban on targeted advertising to children, and restrictions on data collection. Biden thanked key senators and encouraged the House to expedite the bill's approval.
President Biden issued a statement highlighting the significant role Senior Advisor Anita Dunn has played in his political journey and administration. He began by recalling the launch of his campaign four years ago, noting Dunn's early and unwavering support. Biden emphasized his long-standing professional relationship with Dunn, spanning his entire career, and her service to the nation through three different administrations and numerous political campaigns at various levels.
Biden specifically acknowledged Dunn's contributions as a senior member of his team during the 2020 presidential election, which he described as historic. He credited her with being a vital part of their victory. Within the White House, Dunn has been recognized for her toughness, tested experience, and intellectual contributions, all of which have helped achieve historic results for the American people.
Biden also expressed personal appreciation for Dunn, highlighting the value of her counsel and friendship. He affirmed his intention to continue relying on her partnership and insights as they work to accomplish their objectives in the coming six months.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre held a press briefing highlighting several key points reflecting the Biden-Harris Administration's ongoing initiatives and concerns. She began by celebrating the administration's 500th briefing, emphasizing the importance of a free press as a pillar of democracy. The briefing noted a significant bipartisan step taken by the Senate to enhance online safety for children by passing a bill that strengthens privacy protections, bans targeted advertising and restricts tech companies from collecting personal data on children.
Jean-Pierre also addressed the ongoing wildfires in the Western United States, detailing federal efforts involving over 7,000 personnel, including additional support from FEMA and the Department of Defense, to combat the fires and aid affected communities. She recognized the anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, celebrating their impact on American health care while criticizing Republican proposals to cut funding for these essential programs.
On international matters, Jean-Pierre discussed the Venezuelan elections, with the U.S. closely monitoring the process and calling for transparent results amidst concerns over potential discrepancies. She also covered President Biden's recent proposal for Supreme Court reform, which includes term limits and ethical standards in response to controversial decisions made by the court.
Diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict escalation between Israel and Hezbollah were emphasized, with the administration advocating for a diplomatic solution. Additionally, the Department of Treasury announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities related to Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs as part of ongoing efforts to counter Iran's destabilizing activities.
Jean-Pierre outlined President Biden's schedule and legislative priorities, noting his continued work on key issues such as inflation reduction and measures to combat the opioid epidemic. She also touched on the national debt, emphasizing the president's efforts to reduce the deficit in contrast to the previous administration's significant debt increase.
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the President signed into law:
H.R. 1105, the “Debbie Smith Act of 2023,” which authorizes appropriations to the Department of Justice for each of FYs 2024-2029 in the amount of $151 million for the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program;
S. 227, the “Improving Access to Our Courts Act,” which adds Alpine, Texas, and Mount Vernon, Washington, to the list of locations where court may be held in the Western District of Texas and in the Western District of Washington;
S. 1973, the “All-American Flag Act,” which prohibits, with certain specified exceptions, Federal agencies from purchasing U.S. flags that are not domestically manufactured;
S. 3249, which designates the outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas, as the Captain Elwin Shopteese VA Clinic;
S. 3285, which renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Butte, Montana, as the Charlie Dowd VA Clinic;
S. 3706, the ” Victims’ Voices Outside and Inside the Courtroom Effectiveness Act or the Victims’ VOICES Act,” which requires defendants convicted of certain Federal crimes, including violent crimes, to make restitution to a person who has assumed the rights of a victim; and
S. 4548, the “Foreign Extortion Prevention Technical Corrections Act,” which amends the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) enacted as part of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act and prohibits foreign officials from demanding bribes.
President Biden had a phone conversation with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, during which they covered a wide range of bilateral and regional topics. A significant portion of their discussion focused on the recent political developments in Venezuela following its presidential election on July 28. President Biden expressed gratitude to President Lula for his leadership role in Venezuela.
Both leaders concurred on the necessity for the Venezuelan electoral authorities to immediately release comprehensive, transparent, and detailed voting data at the polling station level. They agreed that the outcome of the Venezuelan election is a pivotal moment for democracy in the Western Hemisphere and committed to staying closely coordinated on this matter.
Beyond Venezuela, Presidents Biden and Lula reaffirmed their dedication to deepening cooperation between the United States and Brazil. They emphasized accelerating the transition to clean energy, recognizing the importance of addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices.
Furthermore, they discussed their ongoing collaboration through the Partnership for Workers’ Rights, which they initiated during the United Nations General Assembly the previous year. This partnership aims to empower workers and tackle significant challenges faced by working people, reinforcing their commitment to improving labor conditions and workers’ rights.
The Biden-Harris Administration has introduced new policies aimed at preventing family separation due to poverty and enhancing support for children and families. Recently, the White House hosted a convening that brought together various stakeholders, including policymakers, child welfare organizations, and families with personal experiences, to encourage innovation and partnership in transforming child welfare. The administration’s new policies focus on four key areas: separating poverty and neglect, expanding prevention services, prioritizing kin and youth needs, and fostering innovations and research.
One of the primary goals is to ensure that children are not separated from their families due to financial hardship alone. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is encouraging states to update their definitions of child maltreatment to exclude poverty-related issues. It is developing training for mandated reporters to connect economically fragile families to support. In terms of prevention services, the administration is expanding how states and Tribes can use federal funding to provide greater assistance to children and families before they reach a crisis point. This includes new policies to provide more flexibility to Tribal governments and to permit federal administrative funding for case management, peer navigation, and transportation.
The administration is also prioritizing the needs of kin and youth. New actions include funding for faster licensing of kinship caregivers, launching a new website to spotlight states and Tribes with innovative kinship licensing rules, and publishing a resource guide for grandparents and kin caregivers. Additionally, a series of listening sessions will be conducted to identify needed federal flexibilities for kinship care. In terms of research and innovation, HHS announced projects to study prevention approaches, the health needs of children and parents involved in child welfare, and the experiences of families in the system to better identify community-based needs.
Ongoing efforts by the administration include accelerating the uptake of the Title IV-E Prevention Program, which funds proven approaches to keeping children with their families and expanding the scope of the Public Law 102-477 plans to strengthen economic stability for families in Indian Country. Home visiting programs have also seen a significant funding increase, with new grants for tribal entities to support families with young children. The administration has simplified kinship caregiver licensing rules and ensured equal financial support for kinship caregivers. Support for youth transitioning out of foster care has been bolstered with increased housing vouchers and grants to prevent homelessness.
The administration has also taken steps to protect parents and children with disabilities from discrimination in the child welfare system. It has expanded the Child Tax Credit, significantly reducing child poverty. Efforts to provide affordable child care have included a nearly 50% increase in funding and changes to lower costs for low-income families. Housing relief measures have provided rental assistance to over 5 million households and established rent increase ceilings for apartments financed by federal tax credits. These comprehensive actions reflect the administration's commitment to keeping families together, providing necessary support, and improving child welfare systems.
NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson issued a statement highlighting the United States firm and unwavering commitment to Israel's security amidst ongoing threats from Iran-backed groups such as Lebanese Hezbollah. She specifically condemned a recent attack by Lebanese Hezbollah over the weekend, which resulted in the tragic deaths of 12 children and teenagers who were playing soccer. Watson described this attack as horrific.
She underscored Israel's right to defend itself against these severe threats. In addition to supporting Israel's right to self-defense, Watson emphasized that the United States is actively working on a diplomatic solution aimed at ending these violent attacks. The goal of these diplomatic efforts is to allow citizens on both sides of the conflict to safely return to their homes.
President Biden has amended the disaster declaration for New Mexico to provide increased federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures. This assistance pertains to the South Fork Fire, Salt Fire, and subsequent flooding that began on June 17, 2024. The federal funding has been raised to cover 100% of the total eligible costs for these activities for a 30-day period, which the state can choose within the first 120 days from the incident's start.
Vice President Harris delivered an impassioned speech at a campaign event in Atlanta, Georgia, expressing deep gratitude to the audience and the people of Georgia for their support and warm welcome. She specifically thanked Tyler for his introduction, recognizing him as a symbol of America's promising future, and also acknowledged Quavo and Meagan for their contributions. Harris extended her appreciation to the attending members of Congress, including Senator Raphael Warnock and Mayor Dan Abrams, for their leadership.
Emphasizing Georgia's critical role in the path to the White House, Harris recalled the state's pivotal contribution to the 2020 victory and called on the audience to help secure another win in 2024. She shared her extensive background in law enforcement, detailing her roles as a prosecutor, District Attorney, Attorney General of California, and U.S. Senator. Highlighting her experience in tackling perpetrators of fraud and abuse, she drew parallels between her past work and Donald Trump’s actions, criticizing his for-profit college that scammed students, his liability for sexual abuse, and his record of fraud.
Harris contrasted her record on border security and immigration with Trump’s, mentioning her work in a border state, where she combated transnational gangs, drug cartels, and human traffickers. She accused Trump of failing to follow through on his promises about border security, prioritizing his electoral success over genuine solutions. Outlining her vision for America’s future, Harris focused on creating opportunities for business ownership, homeownership, and building intergenerational wealth. She emphasized the importance of affordable healthcare, childcare, paid leave, and strengthening the middle class. While acknowledging that the economy is strong by many indicators, she noted that prices remain too high for many families, pledging to tackle price gouging, hidden fees, unfair rent increases, and high prescription drug costs.
Harris criticized Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, claiming it would weaken the middle class by cutting Social Security and Medicaid and giving tax breaks to billionaires. She highlighted Trump’s plans to roll back investments in clean energy and end the Affordable Care Act. Stressing the importance of defending freedoms, Harris reiterated her commitment to voting rights, safety from gun violence, freedom from bigotry, and reproductive rights. She promised to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and implement universal background checks, red flag laws, and an assault weapon ban.
Calling the audience to action, Harris emphasized the need for grassroots support, noting that the election will be close. She encouraged people to volunteer, knock on doors, register voters, and engage in conversations about the stakes of the election. Concluding her speech, she reminded everyone that hard work is necessary for victory and expressed confidence that when they fight, they will win.
Following Harris’s speech, several speakers, including campaign staffers and surrogates like America Ferrera and Sterling K. Brown, reinforced the campaign’s message. They shared statistics about the campaign’s success, including record fundraising, volunteer sign-ups, and engagement at campaign events, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum and building a coalition of voters to secure victory. The event closed with calls to action from campaign organizers, urging everyone to get involved in various campaign activities, whether by knocking on doors, making phone calls, or engaging on social media. The overall message was one of unity, determination, and a shared commitment to fighting for the future and freedoms of all Americans.
President Biden pays his final respects to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee
One area that I hope President Biden will focus on over the time left before the election is making sure that the military and law enforcement are prepared for possible conflict at the polls and are prepared to stop any intimidation or threats to voters. Ensuring that this election goes smoothly without any threats that cause voters to stay away from the polls or experience violence at the polls would be a probably unsung but invaluable Biden legacy for our society.
Thank you for all these detailed comments!