It’s Friday.
This Friday marks President Biden’s 93rd day in office.
For day 93–President Biden will have offered remarks and participated in the “virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 5.” He will have received his daily brief. This afternoon he will receive his weekly Economic briefing, followed by a “virtual U.S. Department of Defense Senior Leaders Conference,” in the situation room. That meeting is closed to the press.
When last we met in yesterday’s Open Thread, President Biden had tweeted 6 times for Thursday and retweeted 0 times; he added 5 more tweets and 1 retweet giving him a Thursday total of 11 tweets and 1 retweet.
3:47 p.m. D.C., time he shared an image from Day 1 of the Leaders Summit on Climate.
The above words in the tweet are taken from bits of his remarks welcoming other world leaders to the Summit on Climate.
President Biden (6:50): No nation can solve this crisis on our own, as I know you all fully understand. All of us, all of us — and particularly those of us who represent the world’s largest economies — we have to step up.
President Biden (8:20): And this summit is our first step on the road we’ll travel together — God willing, all of us — to and through Glasgow this November and the U.N. Climate Conference — the Climate Change Conf- — Conference, you know, to set our world on a path to a secure, prosperous, and sustainable future. The health of communities throughout the world depends on it. The wellbeing of our workers depends on it. The strength of our economies depends on it.
President Biden (10:05) Time is short, but I believe we can do this. And I believe that we will do this.
5:23 p.m. D.C., time he applauds the Senate and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Congress.gov summarizes S.937 aka the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act as follows:
This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) hate crimes and reports of COVID-19 hate crimes.
It defines COVID-19 hate crime as a violent crime that is motivated by two things: (1) the actual or perceived characteristic (e.g., race or ethnicity) of any person, and (2) the actual or perceived relationship to the spread of COVID-19 of any person because of that characteristic.
The bill requires DOJ to issue guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies on how to establish online hate crime reporting processes in multiple languages and how to expand culturally competent education campaigns. Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on best practices for mitigating racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congress.gov.
The bill passed the Senate on April 22nd, 2021 with Senate.gov recording the votes as; 94 YEA’s, 1 Nay, and 5 Senators who did not vote. The bill will now head to the House.
7:02 p.m. D.C., time he shares a 13 second video.
President Biden: Over 200 million shots. We’re saving lives. Keep it up, we’ve got a way to go. But keep it up.
8:04 p.m. D.C., time he says than you to all the “states, cities, tribal nations, businesses, and organizations,” that have taken the lead on tackling climate change.
The tweet is referencing this Fact-Sheet; President Biden Sets 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs and Securing U.S. Leadership on Clean Energy Technologies.
The health of our communities, well-being of our workers, and competitiveness of our economy requires this quick and bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We must:
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
- Invest in infrastructure and innovation. America must lead the critical industries that produce and deploy the clean technologies that we can harness today – and the ones that we will improve and invent tomorrow.
- Fuel an economic recovery that creates jobs. We have the opportunity to fuel an equitable recovery, expand supply chains and bolster manufacturing, create millions of good-paying, union jobs, and build a more sustainable, resilient future.
- Breathe clean air and drink clean water and advance environmental justice. We can improve the health and well-being of our families and communities – especially those places too often left out and left behind.
- Make it in America. We can bolster our domestic supply chains and position the U.S. to ship American-made, clean energy products — like EV batteries – around the world.
The target is consistent with the President’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050 and of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as the science demands. To develop the target, the Administration:
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
- Used a whole-of-government approach: The NDC was developed by the National Climate Task Force using a whole-of-government approach, relying on a detailed bottom-up analysis that reviewed technology availability, current costs, and future cost reductions, as well as the role of enabling infrastructure. Standards, incentives, programs, and support for innovation were all weighed in the analysis. The National Climate Task Force is developing this into a national climate strategy to be issued later this year.
- Consulted important and diverse stakeholders: From unions that collectively bargain for millions of Americans who have built our country and work to keep it running to groups representing tens of millions of advocates and young Americans, the Administration listened to Americans across the country. This also included groups representing thousands of scientists; hundreds of governmental leaders like governors, mayors, and tribal leaders; hundreds of businesses; hundreds of schools and institutions of higher education; as well as with many specialized researchers focused on questions of pollution reduction.
- Explored multiple pathways across the economy: The target is grounded in analysis that explored multiple pathways for each economic sector of the economy that produces CO2 and non-CO2 greenhouse gases: electricity, transportation, buildings, industry, and lands.
Each policy considered for reducing emissions is also an opportunity to support good jobs and improve equity:
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
- The United States has set a goal to reach 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035, which can be achieved through multiple cost-effective pathways each resulting in meaningful emissions reductions in this decade. That means good-paying jobs deploying carbon pollution-free electricity generating resources, transmission, and energy storage and leveraging the carbon pollution-free energy potential of power plants retrofitted with carbon capture and existing nuclear, while ensuring those facilities meet robust and rigorous standards for worker, public, environmental safety and environmental justice.
- The United States can create good-paying jobs and cut emissions and energy costs for families by supporting efficiency upgrades and electrification in buildings through support for job-creating retrofit programs and sustainable affordable housing, wider use of heat pumps and induction stoves, and adoption of modern energy codes for new buildings. The United States will also invest in new technologies to reduce emissions associated with construction, including for high-performance electrified buildings.
- The United States can reduce carbon pollution from the transportation sector by reducing tailpipe emissions and boosting the efficiency of cars and trucks; providing funding for charging infrastructure; and spurring research, development, demonstration, and deployment efforts that drive forward very low carbon new-generation renewable fuels for applications like aviation, and other cutting-edge transportation technologies across modes. Investment in a wider array of transportation infrastructure, including transit, rail, and biking improvements, will make more choices available to travelers.
- The United States can reduce emissions from forests and agriculture and enhance carbon sinks through a range of programs and measures including nature-based solutions for ecosystems ranging from our forests and agricultural soils to our rivers and coasts. Ocean-based solutions can also contribute towards reducing U.S. emissions.
- The United States can address carbon pollution from industrial processes by supporting carbon capture as well as new sources of hydrogen—produced from renewable energy, nuclear energy, or waste—to power industrial facilities. The government can use its procurement power to support early markets for these very low- and zero-carbon industrial goods.
- The United States will also reduce non-CO2 greenhouse gases, including methane, hydrofluorocarbons and other potent short-lived climate pollutants. Reducing these pollutants delivers fast climate benefits.
- In addition, the United States will invest in innovation to improve and broaden the set of solutions as a critical complement to deploying the affordable, reliable, and resilient clean technologies and infrastructure available today.
Here are some other links taken from White House.gov.;
Executive Summary: U.S. International Climate Finance Plan.
1. Scaling-Up International Climate Finance and Enhancing its Impact
The Administration is embracing ambitious but attainable goals regarding the quantity of public climate finance provided by the United States, recognizing the urgency of the climate crisis, confronting the sharp drop in U.S. international climate finance during the FY 2018-2021 period, and understanding the need to re-establish U.S. leadership in international climate diplomacy.
2. Mobilizing Private Finance Internationally
Public interventions, including public finance, must also mobilize private capital. Several efforts will help mobilize more private finance. For example, MCC will expand partnerships and the use of blended finance to catalyze private capital for climate projects.3. Ending International Official Financing for Carbon-Intensive Fossil Fuel Based Energy
Scaling back public investments in carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy is the necessary corollary to increasing investments in climate-friendly activities. Departments and agencies will seek to end international investments in and support for carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy projects.4. Making Capital Flows Consistent with Low-Emissions, Climate-Resilient Pathways
Financial markets are increasingly demanding investment opportunities that are consistent with low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-resilient pathways Supporting the flow of capital toward activities that are consistent with those pathways involves building an ecosystem of data, information, practices, and procedures that enable financial market actors to internalize climate-related considerations into their decisions.5. Defining, Measuring, and Reporting U.S. International Climate Finance
Drawing on over a decade of experience in tracking climate finance, the United States intends to ensure that our future reporting is on the cutting edge of transparency and evolves along with our strategic approach to climate finance. This will include more detailed reporting, tracking finance for vulnerable populations, and enhanced reporting on mobilization and impact.To view the U.S. International Climate Finance Plan in your browser, click here.
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
Fact-Sheet: Biden Administration Advances Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Department of Transportation, Department of Energy, and General Services Administration Announce New Actions to Accelerate Deployment of Electric Vehicles and Chargers
Today, the White House announced new progress on the Administration’s goal to accelerate and deploy electric vehicles and charging stations, create good-paying, union jobs, and enable a clean transportation future. This includes actions by federal agencies:
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
- The Department of Transportation announced guidance on how grants can be used to deploy charging infrastructure and newly designated alternative fuel corridors;
- The Department of Energy announced new funding and partnerships for charger-related research and development; and
- The General Services Administration announced progress on the goal to transition the federal fleet to zero-emission vehicles.
President Biden announced on Thursday 12 Key Climate and Infrastructure Admin Nominees.
- Carlos Monje, Nominee for Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, Department of Transportation
- Amit Bose, Nominee for Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation
- Shalanda Baker, Nominee for Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy
- Asmeret Berhe, Nominee for Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy
- Robert Hampshire, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, Department of Transportation
- Monica Medina, Nominee for Assistant Secretary, Bureau and Oceans and International Environmental and Science Affairs, Department of State
- Bryan Newland, Nominee for Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Department of Interior
- Annie Petsonk, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, Department of Transportation
- Frank Rose, Nominee for Principal Deputy Administrator for National Nuclear Security, Department of Energy
- Margaret Schaus, Nominee for Chief Financial Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Rick Spinrad, Nominee for Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce
- Tracy Stone-Manning, Nominee for Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior
Fact-Sheet: Biden Administration Outlines Key Resources to Invest in Coal and Power Plant Community Economic Revitalization
Today, the White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization released a report that was delivered to President Biden and included the initial recommendations from the Interagency Working Group to catalyze economic revitalization, create good-paying, union jobs, and support workers in energy communities – hard-hit coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities – across the country.
White House.gov. 04/22/2021.
8:44 p.m. D.C., time he says that nobody should be denied a roof over their head.
From the HUDgov tweeted link: HUD Withdraws Proposed Rule, Reaffirms Its Commitment to Equal Access to Housing, Shelters, and Other Services Regardless of Gender Identity
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on Thursday announced that HUD is withdrawing the previous administration’s proposed rule that would have weakened the Equal Access Rule. The Equal Access Rule ensures that all individuals – regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity-have equal access to the Department’s Office of Community Planning and Development programs, shelters, other buildings and facilities, benefits, services, and accommodations.
Hud.gov. 04/22/2021.
Secretary Fudge is quoted as saying; Access to safe, stable housing-and shelter-is a basic necessity. Unfortunately, transgender and gender non-conforming people report more instances of housing instability and homelessness than cis-gender people. Today, we are taking a critical step in affirming HUD’s commitment that no person be denied access to housing or other critical services because of their gender identity. HUD is open for business for all.
For Friday President Biden has tweeted 1 time and retweeted 0 times so far.
10:05 a.m. D.C., time he shares a GIF that breaks down the numbers on “our progress” regarding the coronavirus vaccines.
Speaking of shots…
And unrelated, but the first song I thought of when reading the above tweet was…
Yes, I almost always auto think of a song that relates to the words in his tweets…Judge me, I do all the time. 😉
The White House press briefing is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. D.C., time. Today’s guest at the briefing is the Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland.
Live Feed: The White House.
This is an Open Thread.
HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!
