It’s Monday.
For Monday, December 13th, 2021, President Biden has received his daily brief. At 11:00 a.m. D.C., time the President will receive a briefing on the federal response to the tornadoes that hit several states Friday night. Added to the scheduled; this afternoon President Biden will sign an Executive Order on delivering the Government services and experience the American people expect and deserve.
This morning the White House issued the following fact-sheet; Putting the Public First: Improving Customer Experience and Service Delivery for the American People
The Federal Government interacts with millions of people each day and provides vital services during some of the most critical moments in people’s lives. Whether searching for vaccine safety information, claiming retirement benefits, receiving health insurance, passing through a security checkpoint, or checking the status of a farm loan application, Americans expect Government services to be responsive to their needs. But too often, people have to navigate a tangled web of Government websites, offices, and phone numbers to access the services they depend on. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring an effective, equitable, and accountable Government that meets the needs of its people.
Today, the President is taking decisive action to promote fiscal stewardship by improving the Government’s service delivery to its customers, the American people. The President will sign an Executive Order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government, directing that Government leaders account for the experiences of the public in seeking Government services. The President is making sure we’re building accountability and transparency into everything we do and that we’re good stewards of taxpayer dollars. As the President has said: “We have to prove democracy still works, that our government still works and can deliver for our people.”
The Executive Order directs Federal agencies to put people at the center of everything the Government does. Specifically, the Executive Order includes 36 customer experience (CX) improvement commitments across 17 Federal agencies, all of which aim to improve people’s lives and the delivery of Government services. The Executive Order also creates a sustained, cross-government service delivery process that aligns to the moments that matter most in people’s lives – like turning 65, having a child, or applying for a small business loan. As part of this framework, the Administration will work to identify and define critical services that meet customers’ needs and expectations, assess performance delivery and report it publicly, incorporate customer feedback during each interaction, and ultimately ensure services deliver a better experience to the public. Every interaction between the Government and the public, whether it involves filing taxes or renewing a passport, is an opportunity to deliver the value, service, and efficiency that the public expects and deserves.
The Government has designated 35 High-Impact Service Providers in Federal agencies as key service providers due to the volume and types of benefits, services, and programs they deliver to the public. As part of this Executive Order, agencies commit to putting their customers at the center of everything they do. These actions include modernizing programs, reducing administrative burdens, and piloting new online tools and technologies that can provide a simple, seamless, and secure customer experience. The types of high-quality interactions the American people should expect to have with their Government, and that the Executive Order addresses, include:
White House.gov. 12/13/2021.
RETIRING
For the 54.1 million Americans who are over the age of 65, and the nearly 4 million Americans who become eligible for Social Security benefits each year, who manage their retirement and health care benefits:
- Retirees will be able to claim their benefits online, receiving updates on the status of their application throughout the process.
- Medicare recipients will receive personalized online tools so they can save money on drugs, manage their health care, access expanded customer support options (including an in-network pharmacy finder tool), and enjoy a streamlined enrollment experience with the Social Security Administration.
FILING AND MANAGING YOUR TAXES
For the 240 million individuals and businesses who file tax returns each year and the 167 million people who call the IRS for help:
- Filers will save time by having the option to schedule customer support call-backs.
- Filers will be provided with new online tools and services to ease the payment of taxes, which may include automatic direct deposit refunds based on prior year tax returns, tax credit eligibility tools, and expanded electronic filing options.
SURVIVING A DISASTER
For the 25 million individuals, families, and small businesses who live through a Federally recognized natural disaster each year:
- After a disaster, more survivors will be able to focus on helping their families, businesses, and communities because of streamlined assistance processes, rather than having to navigate a complex Government bureaucracy to get the help they need. Disaster survivors will no longer need to navigate multiple assistance forms across multiple agencies to get the help they need, saving time and energy to allow them to focus on their recovery and well-being. Survivors will have access to more flexible mechanisms to provide supporting documentation, such as virtual inspections and submitting photos of disaster damage from a mobile phone.
TRAVELING
For the more than 2 million daily passengers who travel through U.S. airports each year:
- Americans will be able to renew their passports securely online, saving time from having to wait and the effort and cost required to print, go to a post office, and use a paper check. This new online process will be done with safety and security.
- Passengers will have shorter security and check-in lines at airports due to increased use of technologies, like new security machines and computers with advanced screening features that streamline these processes.
- Passengers with urgent, time-sensitive questions or concerns will find it easier to connect with and get help from the Transportation Security Administration through additional channels of communication.
FINANCING POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
For the 1 in 6 Americans, or approximately 45 million people, who are managing their student loans:
- Direct Loan borrowers will need to navigate only a single repayment portal on StudentAid.gov, so that they can apply for, manage, and repay their loans without having to visit multiple websites and manage multiple sets of credentials for different aspects of their student loans.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness candidates, including civil servants and active-duty service members, will be able to apply for the program with less paperwork than currently and without having to fill out forms with information they have already provided to the Federal government previously.
- Students and borrowers can receive relevant recommendations for other benefits and services they may qualify for, like health care subsidies, broadband support, and food assistance, in order to connect them with support to lower additional economic barriers to post-secondary education completion.
MANAGING VA HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS
For the 200,000 service members who transition to civilian life each year and the more than 18 million Veterans across the United States:
- Service members and veterans will be able to use Login.gov accounts to access VA.gov and its information about the health care and benefits they’ve earned, and outdated and duplicate VA.gov sign-in options will be removed across VA websites and mobile apps.
- Veterans and beneficiaries, and their caregivers or other designated representatives, will be able to access digital services through a single, integrated, and fully inclusive digital platform on VA.gov and a flagship VA mobile application so that VA’s customers don’t have to use separate portals, websites, or mobile applications when managing their health care and benefits online.
REDUCING BARRIERS FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING POVERTY
For the tens of millions of Americans who rely on critical safety net programs:
- Low-income families can more easily enroll in Federal benefits and recertify their income status more easily across programs using direct certification, a process that automatically certifies income-eligible individuals without extra paperwork, instead of managing multiple, complicated processes that waste time and cause frustration.
- Those navigating across multiple programs can expect a “no-wrong door” approach – interacting with one Federal program can help get them connected with other benefits and streamline enrollment for which they are eligible.
FINANCING YOUR BUSINESS
For the more than 30 million small business owners who may seek credit to grow their businesses and the 90% of U.S. farms that are small and family-owned:
- Small business owners will be able to submit applications knowing that they will receive prompt and consistent service, such as reduced call center wait times, across Small Business Administration programs, including loans, grants, and certifications, because the agency will measure these experiences.
- Farmers will be able to quickly and easily apply for loans from the Department of Agriculture with the support of digital tools, saving time, reducing unnecessary paperwork, and avoiding unnecessary trips to a county office.
SUPPORTING WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN
For women seeking maternal health care and nutrition access in the critical early years of children’s lives:
- More patients will be able to get more automated access to their electronic prenatal, birth, and postpartum health records (including lab results, genetic tests, ultrasound images, and clinical notes) to improve their experience and support better care coordination.
- For the women who deliver 43% of all births in the United States each year covered by Medicaid, patients will have access to safer and more equitable care because of strengthened requirements for maternal health quality measurement, including perinatal quality and patient care experience, and measures will be evaluated by race and ethnicity to better identify and address inequities in maternal health care delivery and outcomes.
- 7 million women and their children, including half of all infants born in the United States who are eligible for benefits through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), will be able to grocery shop online, providing an alternative way to access healthy foods for their families.
MANAGING YOUR HEALTH
All Americans should be able to access the vital health services they need at the time that they need them. Under this Executive Order:
- Patients will have increased ability to use telehealth with their doctors, connecting rural Americans, individuals with disabilities, or individuals seeking the convenience of remote options with the health care they need.
UPDATING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONCE
For the more than 30 million people who move each year, and approximately 2 million people who change their names each year:
- Individuals who move their residences can update their addresses one time with the Federal Government and choose which other Federal or State entities they would like that information shared with.
- Individuals seeking to change their names will be able to do so without having to appear in person at a Social Security Administration office, provide a wet signature, and submit original documents.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
- USA.gov will be redesigned as a centralized and streamlined “digital Federal front door” so the public can get access to all Government benefits, services, and programs in just 1 to 3 clicks, taps, or commands from the USA.gov homepage, without navigating duplicate and outdated Federal websites. That home page will feature a new user experience based on the key life events, moments that matter most, and top tasks that Americans experience throughout their lives when interacting with Government.
- Tribal communities will be able to expect more streamlined and integrated grants application processes, rather than having to provide information over and over again to the Federal government and navigate across multiple agency websites.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service will provide more of their service transactions online, including for special use permits for National Wildlife Refuge System locations and several high-volume application forms required for individuals and businesses that import, export, or re-export animals, plant, and their products internationally. These transactions currently can take weeks or even months to process, and can require multiple paper forms to be mailed.
This Executive Order is a continuation of the launch of the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Vision, which prioritizes delivering excellent, equitable, and secure Federal services and customer experience. The PMA recognizes that improving the delivery, efficiency, security, and effectiveness of Government programs will advance equity, enhance people’s everyday interactions with public services, and provide greater opportunities for those who need it the most.
The Government’s primary mission is to serve. By placing people at the center of everything we do, the Government will be able to deliver timely, modern, and secure services to you – the people. We will rebuild trust in our Government, ensure no one is left behind, and inspire others to join us in serving future generations of Americans.
White House.gov. 12/13/2021.
President Biden has not tweeted so far for Monday; it’s currently 8:53 my time… 👀
When Biden Bits was published for Friday, President Biden had tweeted 1 time. He added 7 tweets giving him a Friday Tweeting Total for 8 tweets and 0 retweets.
On Thursday President Biden opened the first virtual Summit for Democracy. The event spread over two days. On Friday he offered his closing remarks to closeout the virtual Summit for Democracy. The below YouTube is 7 minutes and 44 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
On December 8th, 2021, President Biden visited Kansas City, Missouri to offer remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers for Missourians. The above 24 second clip was filmed during his visit.
President Biden: The people who built this country are hardworking, middle class folks and unions built the middle class. That is not a joke. That is simply not a joke. That’s a fact. Prevailing wage. We’re not talking five bucks an hour, seven bucks an hour, or nine bucks an hour. We’re talking about a prevailing wage. And you can live a decent life on that.
The White House issued the following statement:
On Friday, December 10, 2021, the President signed into law:
S. 610, the “Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act,” which delays the Medicare sequester and make other changes to Medicare payments, and to modify procedures affecting federal budget scorekeeping and federal borrowing.
Thank you to House Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, Chairman Neal, and Chairman Pallone; and Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Majority Whip Durbin, Minority Whip Thune, and Chairman Wyden for their leadership.
White House.gov. 12/10/2021.
The tweeted video snip is 9 seconds long.
President Biden: This bill will reassure all the economic markets at home and around the world that we’re going to continue to pay our debts when they are due. And that’s what this is all about.
Reuters explained on Thursday; The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed and sent to President Joe Biden the first of two bills needed to raise the federal government’s $28.9 trillion debt limit and avert an unprecedented default.
They go on to say that the second bill vote is expected in the Senate and the House on Tuesday.
The White House posted the following readout of the call between President Biden and the new Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz:
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany to congratulate him on his appointment and the formation of a ruling coalition. President Biden reaffirmed his support for robust U.S.-German relations and desire to further strengthen transatlantic cooperation in the coming years. The leaders discussed our work together on the full range of global challenges, including continued efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic, counter the threat of climate change, and address Russia’s escalation of forces surrounding Ukraine.
White House.gov. 12/10/2021.
CBS News reported on Wednesday that Kellogg’s said it would now “move forward with plans to start hiring permanent replacements for the striking workers. The company has already been using salaried employees and outside workers to keep the plants operating during the strike.”
The action announcement by Kellogg’s comes after 1,400 workers across the company’s four U.S. cereal plants chose to remain on strike following a rejected contract proposal.
The Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International (BCTGM) Union said on Tuesday that an overwhelming majority of workers voted down the five-year offer, which also would have also provided cost-of-living adjustments in the later years of the deal and preserved the workers’ current health care benefits.
“The members have spoken. The strike continues,” union President Anthony Shelton said.
CBS News. 12/08/2021.
The article goes on to explain that the union and Kellogg’s have been stuck at the bargaining table for more than a year…
The union and Kellogg’s have been stuck at the bargaining table for more than a year. With talks at an impasse, workers have been on strike since October 5 at plants in Battle Creek, Michigan; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee. The plant locations make all of the company’s well-known brands of cereal, including Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies.
CBS News. 12/08/2021.
President Biden has a Saturday Tweeting Total of 2 tweets and 0 retweets.
The below YouTube is 11 minutes and 23 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
The White House posted the following readout on President Biden’s briefing on severe weather:
The President was briefed by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon, and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Chavez Rodriguez on the severe weather and tornadoes that impacted seven states overnight and which continues to affect communities across multiple states today. Administrator Criswell described the severe consequences, including in Kentucky, and tragic losses of life. She also briefed on the rapid deployment of FEMA emergency response personnel, water and other needed commodities. The President has directed that Federal resources be surged immediately to the locations where there is the greatest need to alleviate suffering from the devastating consequences of these storms. Because damage assessments are ongoing, further briefings will be provided to the President in the course of the day.
White House.gov. 12/11/2021.
The White House posted the following call readout between President Biden and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D):
President Biden spoke with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear this morning to express his condolences for the lives lost and the devastation that Kentucky experienced as a result of the extreme weather that impacted multiple states overnight. The President indicated that he has directed FEMA and other Federal agencies to provide the speediest assistance possible to impacted communities. The President and the Governor agreed to stay in contact throughout the day as search and rescue operations and damage assessments are ongoing.
White House.gov. 12/11/2021.
The White House posted the call readout between President Biden and the Governors of the States impacted by serve weather:
President Biden spoke with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to express his condolences for the lives lost and the damage impacting their states as a result of the tornadoes and extreme weather overnight. The President asked each Governor what his state needs and how he can be most supportive. The President expressed his commitment to delivering assistance as quickly as possible to impacted areas via FEMA. The President asked the Governors to call him directly if there is any Federal support they need and said he will remain focused on doing everything he can to help communities recover from the effects of this historic storm. The President was joined on the call by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, Deputy Chief of Staff Jen O’Malley Dillon, and White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Chavez Rodriguez.
White House.gov. 12/11/2021
The White House posted the following Declaration of Emergency for Kentucky:
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal assistance to supplement Commonwealth and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing.
The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the counties of Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer, and Warren.
Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named John Brogan as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
White House.gov. 12/11/2021.
On Sunday the White House posted the following Emergency Declaration for Kentucky:
Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and ordered Federal aid to supplement Commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, flooding, and tornadoes beginning on December 10, 2021, and continuing.
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to Commonwealth and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work in the in the counties of Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Hopkins, Marshall, Muhlenberg, Taylor, and Warren.
Lastly, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for the entire commonwealth.
Deanne Criswell, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named John Brogan as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
Damage assessments are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.
White House.gov. 12/12/2021.
NBC News reported this morning:
President Biden has a Sunday Tweeting Total of 4 tweets and 0 retweets.
The Build Back Better Framework can be found here.
The tweeted video snip is 32 seconds taken from his opening remarks during Thursday’s first day of the virtual Summit for Democracy.
President Biden: My fellow leaders, members of civil society, activists, advocates, citizens: We stand at an inflection point in our history, in my view. The choices we make, in my view, in the next — in this moment are going to fundamentally determine the direction our world is going to take in the coming decades. Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Or will we together — together — have a vision and the vision — not just “a” vision, “the” vision — and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward? I believe we can do that and we will if we have faith in ourselves, in our — and in our democracies, and in each other.
I did not find an actual fact-check as to whether or not the American Rescue Plan did cut child poverty by 40 percent (honest that probably isn’t a known data point yet to be fair, cause data usually takes the year to compile).
But I did find this from the Center on Poverty & Social Policy at Columbia University that says:
Using our innovative approach to tracking monthly poverty rates, we project that ongoing COVID relief efforts continue to have a sizable effect on reducing child poverty keeping 6 million children from poverty in July 2021 alone (a reduction of more than 40 percent). This impact also resulted in a notable drop in child poverty between June and July 2021, due primarily to the rollout of the expanded Child Tax Credit. On its own, this new payment kept 3 million children from poverty in its first month.
Poverty Center.Columbia.edu. 08/20/2021.
The daily briefing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. D.C., time. The daily briefing is now listed on the calendar twice; the second time says 12:30 p.m. D.C., time. *shrug*
This is an Open Thread.
