It’s Wednesday.
I’m back from my one-day trip to the Merriest Place on Earth…
Before we onward to all things President Biden…
We must or I must give a huge shout out to Halodoc, for once again making my vacation days a reality…
As of 5:49 a.m. my time…
I’ll find a countdown clock that works sometime today; maybe…
For Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, President Biden has a busy day, again; he has received his daily brief. At 12:30 p.m. D.C., time, he will offer remarks on the economy…
At 2:30 p.m. D.C., time President Biden will offer remarks on World AIDS Day. He will also launch the National HIV/AIDS strategy and kick off the Global Fund Replenishment Process. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will also deliver remarks.
The White House released a fact-sheet on World AIDS Day; I’m gonna skip the introduction and go right to the bullet points:
Releasing the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. During the campaign, President Biden pledged to update and implement the nation’s comprehensive HIV/AIDS strategy to “aggressively reduce new HIV cases, while increasing access to treatment and eliminating inequitable access to medical and support services.” Today, President Biden is honoring that commitment by releasing a new National HIV/AIDS Strategy to provide the framework and direction for the Administration’s policies, research, programs, and planning through 2025 and lead us toward ending the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030. The new National HIV/AIDS Strategy:
White House.gov. 12/01/2021.
- Incorporates the latest data on HIV incidence, prevalence and trends;
- Expands the focus on addressing the social determinants of health that influence an individual’s HIV risk or outcomes;
- Encourages reform of state HIV criminalization laws;
- Adds a new focus on opportunities to engage the private sector in novel and important ways in the nation’s work to end the HIV epidemic.
Hosting the Global Fund’s Seventh Replenishment Conference. Today, President Biden underscored his commitment, in partnership with several key countries and institutions, to the United States hosting the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Replenishment Conference in 2022. In November 2021, the Biden Administration endorsed the Global Fund’s new five-year strategy, Fighting Pandemics and Building a Healthier and More Equitable World, which places HIV/AIDS at the center of global efforts to strengthen health systems and respond to future health shocks. As a founding member of the Global Fund, the United States will ensure that twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Global Fund and the replenishment serve to accelerate progress to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.
These announcements build on existing action the Administration has taken since taking office:
White House.gov. 12/01/2021.
- Reinstated the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. In his first six months in office, President Biden reestablished the White House Office of National AIDS Policy to coordinate efforts to reduce the number of HIV infections across our nation. This new office has brought an increased focus on efforts to end the HIV epidemic and fostered new partnerships across the federal government and with the private sector.
- Awarded Significant Funding to Help Americans Access HIV Care and Support. In October, the Department of Health and Human Services announced $2.21 billion in Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funding to HIV primary medical care, medication, and essential support services. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program provides care and treatment services to low-income people with HIV, serving approximately half of all Americans with diagnosed HIV.
- Requested Unprecedented Investments to End HIV Epidemic Domestically. The President’s FY22 budget requested $670 million to support the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative—an all-in effort between the White House and federal agencies to reduce HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths. Appreciating that access to stable housing helps individuals stay in medical care and remain adherent to medical treatment, the President’s budget also requested $450 million to provide housing assistance and supportive services for low income people with HIV—a $20 million increase over last year’s—for the Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS Program.
- Diversified the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. President Biden added new members to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, representing racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual minorities with the knowledge and expertise to help further inform our nation’s HIV response.
- Invested American Rescue Plan Funds to Support PEPFAR. The Administration committed $250 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support PEPFAR in FY21, allowing the program to serve as the backbone of many global COVID-19 response efforts without sacrificing ongoing commitments to the HIV/AIDS response. This additional funding is helping local health systems deliver life-saving services and support for those most in need and is contributing to greater global health security.
- Committed to Release a New Five-Year Strategy for PEPFAR in 2022 and Advance Efforts through Country Operational Plans. In keeping with our commitment to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, in early 2022, the U.S. will release a new five-year strategy for PEPFAR, laying out a bold vision for achieving sustained epidemic control of HIV by supporting equitable health services and solutions. In 2022, PEPFAR will continue to advance progress toward these goals through an emphasis on several core program and policy priorities, including accelerating the impact of HIV primary prevention; optimizing data-driven HIV testing strategies; improving care and treatment for those living with HIV; deepening efforts to support children, adolescent girls, and key populations; advancing gender equity and equality; and promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights—all key to advancing HIV efforts.
- Announced Intent to Nominate Global HIV/AIDS Coordinator. In September, President Biden announced his intent to nominate Dr. John N. Nkengasong as Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS Globally at the Department of State, overseeing PEPFAR. If confirmed, Dr. Nkengasong would be the first person of African origin to hold the position.
The White House also posted the background press call held by a Senior Administration Official. The Proclamation for World AIDS Day, 2021, can be bound here.
At 5:30 p.m. D.C., time President Biden and the First Lady are joined by the Vice President and First Gentleman for a Menorah Lighting in celebration of Hanukkah.
President Biden has tweeted 3 times so far for Wednesday; I’ll be sharing the first tweet down thread…
Wednesday’s 2nd Tweet:
I’ve run out of ways to cover these kind of tweets…
It was bound to happen, eventually…
Wednesday’s 3rd Tweet:
The husband and I got our booster shots yesterday afternoon. So far I feel fine. We get the daughter’s booster next week and our flu shots the week after that. 🙂
When Biden Bits was posted for Tuesday, President Biden had tweeted 3 times. He added 7 tweets giving him a Tuesday tweeting total of 10 tweets and 0 retweets.
The below YouTube is 34 minutes and 15 seconds long. President Biden begins his remarks at the 2 minute and 49 second mark. His full remarks can be found here.
President Biden: Our infrastructure used to be rated the best in the world –- not hyperbole. It was rated the best in the world. But according to the World Economic Forum, we now rank 13th in the world in terms of the quality of our infrastructure. And we’re turning things around in a big way now. It starts with roads and bridges.
President Biden: Of course, that’s not all this law achieves. The law will start to replace 100 percent of the nation’s lead pipes in the United States and American service lines. (Applause.) A recent survey estimated there are 260,000 or more lead pipelines here in Minnesota — just Minnesota. And we’ll help communities like Coates build connections to water treatment facilities so every single child in Minnesota and across America can turn on the faucet and drink clean water — (applause) — without their parents worrying about how “forever chemicals” — you ever think you’d hear that phrase 20 years ago, “forever chemicals”? — are in the ground and how they’re impacting on the health and well-being of the population.
Semi-related remarks to tweet text…
President Biden: Look, here’s what this is all about: rebuilding America, getting this done — no. Rebuilding America, investing in America — that’s what this is about. And we’re doing it as we continue to battle the pandemic.
President Biden: But all kidding aside, I — we’ve worked — she’s worked on the infrastructure law. She constantly reminds us that it’s places like Dakota County, and it’s connecting people to jobs and opportunities. And that’s why Angie has always been the champion of schools like DCTC and investments in roads and bridges and high-speed Internet. (Applause.)
Wednesdays 1st Tweet:
President Biden: And here’s what else they’re not telling you. They’re not telling you why it is that they’re fighting so hard against lowering the prices of prescription drugs or childcare or eldercare or healthcare; why it is that they’re so frightened, so hard to — fighting so incredibly hard to protect the 2017 Trump tax cuts that increase the deficit alone by nearly $2 trillion — the bulk of which went to large corporations and virtually none of it paid for. I’m happy to have that debate about how to pay for these priorities.
President Biden: If they want to argue about continuing tax cuts for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans is more important than lowering the cost of childcare, lowering prescription drug prices — that’s an argument I’m happy to have. I’m looking forward to that debate.
The not related to the Bipartisan bill or Build Back Better Act tweets:
The below YouTube is 12 minutes and 29 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
The White House posted the following statement:
On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, the President signed into law:
S. 796, the “Protecting Moms Who Served Act of 2021,” which codifies the Department of Veterans Affairs current maternity care coordination program,Thank you to Senators Warnock, Moran, Menendez, Murray, Blumenthal, Murphy, Leahy, Lujan, and Tester and Representatives Takano and Bost for their leadership;
S. 894, the “Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021,” which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to identify separating members of the Armed Forces with a health care occupation for potential employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs,
Thank you to Senators Braun, Hassan, Tester, and Moran and Representatives Latta, Kathleen Rice, Katko, Takano, and Bost for their leadership;
S. 1031, which requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a race and ethnicity study regarding certain Department of Veterans Affairs benefits,
Thank you to Senators Moran, Tester, Sullivan, Sinema, and Hassan and Representatives Moore, Trone, Takano and Bost for their leadership; and
S. 1095, the “Colonel John M. McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act of 2021,” which requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to disapprove any course of education offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge the in-State tuition rate to individuals using education benefits under the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program,
Thank you to Senators Duckworth and Collins and Representatives Underwood and Bilirakis for their leadership.
The White House.gov. 11/30/2021.
President Biden addressed the Oxford, Michigan shooting during his remarks from the Dakota County Technical College while he was visiting Rosemount, Minnesota.
President Biden: Before I get into my remarks in any detail, I was informed — after the tour, I learned about a school shooting in Michigan. We learned — well, as we learn the full details, my heart goes out to the families enduring the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one. Apparently, there are somewhere in the order of nine people shot and several — or three, I think, are dead. And the young man, I think — as I understand it from staff — was about 15 years old, and he turned himself in. And just said he — and he claimed his right against self-incrimination and handed over his pistol. That’s all that we know about it. But you’ve got to know that that whole community has to be just in a state of shock right now.
NBC News reported yesterday that three students were killed and eight others were injured at Oxford High School.
The suspect, a 15-year-old sophomore, is in custody, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said at a news conference. A handgun was also found, he said.
Hana St. Juliana, 14, and Madisyn Baldwin, 17, were killed in the shooting. Tate Myre, 16, died in a patrol car as deputies were taking him to the hospital, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said late Tuesday.
Eight others were seriously wounded, including a teacher, and taken to hospitals with various injuries, Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
NBC News. 11/30/2021.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. D.C., time. Dr. Anthony Fauci will attend today’s briefing.
In Other News…
I’m sorry, this morning when I logged-in to YouTube I found this…
Well, the little timer told me 12:30 was live time, it wasn’t accurate, cause YouTube is having some “issues” not only with timer times…
So, we join the 2 hour plus in arguments that has Twitter all a twitter…
Some Live Tweeting peeps…
These are current tweets as of 8:08 a.m. D.C., time…
I just found a pic that made me go “AWWW…” out loud…
And this exchange made the above photo better…
This is an Open Thread.
