It’s Monday…
When Biden Bits was published for Friday, President Biden hadn’t tweeted. He ended up with a Friday Tweeting Total of 8 tweets and 0 retweets…
From Thursday and Friday‘s Biden Bits:
AP News shared a graph from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis which led me to finally find the “source” used in the reporting. The Commerce Departments website is garbage. In fairness, the website is just outdated as in the material posted there is last year still, but it was the reporting that led me there last week and I just thought they were lousy at updating…
Anyhoo, from BEA.gov:
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021 (table 1), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 2.3 percent.
The GDP estimate released today is based on source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency (refer to “Source Data for the Advance Estimate” on page 4). The “second” estimate for the fourth quarter, based on more complete data, will be released on February 24, 2022.
BEA.gov. 01/27/2022.
GDP for 2021
Real GDP increased 5.7 percent in 2021 (from the 2020 annual level to the 2021 annual level), in contrast to a decrease of 3.4 percent in 2020 (table 1). The increase in real GDP in 2021 reflected increases in all major subcomponents, led by PCE, nonresidential fixed investment, exports, residential fixed investment, and private inventory investment. Imports increased (table 2).
The increase in PCE reflected increases in both goods and services. Within goods, the leading contributors were “other” nondurable goods (including games and toys as well as pharmaceuticals), clothing and footwear, and recreational goods and vehicles. Within services, the leading contributors were food services and accommodations as well as health care.
The increase in nonresidential fixed investment reflected increases in equipment (led by information processing equipment) and in intellectual property products (led by software as well as research and development) that were partly offset by a decrease in structures (widespread across most categories). The increase in exports reflected an increase in goods (mainly non-automotive capital goods) that was partly offset by a decrease in services (led by travel as well as royalties and license fees). The increase in residential fixed investment mainly reflected an increase in new single family construction. The increase in private inventory investment primarily reflected an increase in wholesale trade (mainly in durable goods industries).
BEA.gov. 01/27/2022.
We got the First Kitty well Cat, Willow is from reports 2 years old.
She’s such a beauty…
On Friday President Biden traveled to Pittsburgh, PA to offer remarks on “Building a Better America,” aka to talk about the Bipartisan Infrastructure law that he signed back in November. The YouTube is 36 minutes and 37 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
Normally, President Biden’s remarks become in all or in part tweets, this time, his tweets are mostly separate from his remarks.
The Washington Post reported that 5 vehicles and a bus were “on the Fern Hollow Bridge when it fell, officials said, and another vehicle was shown dangling at the edge of the chasm. The bridge is located in Frick Park and connected the Point Breeze, Regent Square and Squirrel Hill neighborhoods.”
CBS Local News reported that 10 people were injured with four taken to the hospital. No fatalities were reported.
Three of those injured when the Fern Hollow Bridge collapsed near Frick Park before 7 a.m. were rushed to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. The fourth victim was taken to UPMC Shadyside Hospital, but was released after receiving treatment. At least one of the victims was a first responder. All were said to be in fair condition.
Search dogs were brought in, as were about a dozen NTSB officials, as a chaotic scene began to unfold in the area of Forbes and Braddock avenues, near Point Breeze, just before daylight.
CBS Local News. 01/29/2022.
President Biden: And today, right here in Western Pennsylvania, the Union Pacific Railroad is announcing the largest purchase of American-made battery-electric locomotives in all of history. (Applause.)
Union Pacific Railroad (up.com) announced on Thursday; Union Pacific Railroad (NYSE: UNP) today announced plans to purchase 20 battery-electric locomotives for testing in yard operations. The combined purchases and upgrades to yard infrastructure are expected to exceed $100 million, representing the largest investment in battery-electric technology by a U.S. Class I railroad. The locomotives will be acquired from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, and Wabtec Corporation (NYSE:WAB), two companies at the forefront of locomotive innovation, and will be the world’s largest carrier-owned battery-electric locomotive fleet in freight service.
More on UP’s plans…
Union Pacific anticipates the first units will arrive on site in late 2023 with complete delivery by late 2024. The locomotives will be used in rail yards in California and Nebraska, where they will be tested for performance in cold and warm weather, helping identify the locomotives’ capabilities and challenges for broader deployment.
Battery-electric locomotives do not use fuel and emit zero emissions. For every 10 battery-electric locomotives used, approximately 4,000 tons of carbon will be eliminated annually, the equivalent of removing 800 cars from the highway. By working with the locomotive manufacturers in this test phase, Union Pacific hopes to advance battery-electric technology development and evaluate its potential deployment in long-haul service.
Union Pacific published its first comprehensive Climate Action Plan in December 2021, outlining its efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within its operations. As part of that commitment, Union Pacific will reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 26% by 2030 and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
As it works toward its goals, Union Pacific is collaborating with community partners. The Port of Los Angeles, which recently received a Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, awarded Union Pacific a subaward that will partially cover the cost of one battery-electric locomotive.
UP.com. 01/28/2022.
President Biden: Before I begin, let me just talk a little bit about what we all just saw — many of us saw this morning. A bridge more than 50 years old — a hundred — I think it 150 years; it says “50 years old,” but I thought it was older — collapsed right here in Pittsburgh. It had been rated in “poor” condition for the past 10 years. What you all know — if you don’t, you should know — there are another 3,300 bridges here in Pennsylvania, some of which are just as old and just as decrepit — decrepit condition as that bridge was, including here in Pittsburgh, the “City of Bridges.” I’ve been coming to Pittsburgh a long time. I’m a Pennsylvania kid. I was born and raised, the first part of my life in Pennsylvania, and I’ve been to Pittsburgh a lot. But all these years, I never knew — I never knew Pennsylvania — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had more bridges than any other city in the world. Yo! (Applause.) But across the country, there are 45,000 bridges in “poor” condition. It’s just simply unacceptable.
I like the President did not know about the “City of Bridges.”
On the 26th, 2022, the House announced the America COMPETES Act of 2022.
For more on the COMPETES Act of 2022 @Biden Bits for Wednesday.
USCIA =’s the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021.
The summary:
This bill addresses U.S. technology and communications, foreign relations and national security, domestic manufacturing, education, trade, and other matters.
Among other provisions, the bill:
- provides funding for FY2022-FY2026 to support U.S. semiconductor manufacturing, research and development, and supply chain security;
- provides funding for wireless supply chain innovation;
- establishes a Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation;
- extends through 2025 the authority of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to lease its non-excess real property and related personal property;
- authorizes various programs and policies related to space exploration;
- authorizes various international affairs programs and activities, including foreign assistance for the Indo-Pacific region;
- requires federal infrastructure programs to provide for the use of materials produced in the United States;
- imposes sanctions on China for cybersecurity and human rights abuses;
- requires the Department of Health and Human Services to consider national security risks associated with sensitive genetic information;
- includes initiatives related to elementary and secondary education, including those to increase computer science education;
- contains provisions related to higher education, including those reauthorizing through FY2027 international education programs and addressing China’s influence on institutions of higher education;
- modifies and expands the schedule for graduated merger filing fees;
- prohibits federal funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology;
- requires the U.S. Trade Representative to take certain actions related to digital trade and censorship practices; and
- extends through 2027 the Generalized System of Preferences.
The bill passed the Senate on June 8th, 2021 with an amendment with 68 yea’s and 32 nay’s…
The video PSA is 47 seconds long.
President Biden: Hey, folks, I’ve got great news. Our website to order at home COVID tests is up and running. It’s fast, it’s easy to use and it’s completely free. Let me show you how. First, you go to covidtests.gov. Then you click on the button that says “Order Free At-Home Tests” There you go. Now what you do is you fill out your information. Once you finish entering your information, select, the green button that says, “Place My Order.” It’s easy as that. Go to covidtests.gov., and get yours today, for free.
President Biden has a Saturday Tweeting Total of 5 tweets and 0 retweets…
I’m still looking for the chart above. I’m guessing they took the data from the “Historical Comparisons” PDF and created their own “graph”.
But that’s just my best guess as of past post time…
In my search I found a PDF for the GDP growth report posted above…
Sorry guys, I can’t at this time fact-check the above. Cause family called and has put me behind. They are okay but still need my reassurance that this too shall pass. Wish they’d have listened to me before they got the plague versus telling me how dumb I was, but there you are…
This probably will one day be a campaign ad is 36 seconds long, taken from remarks he gave Wednesday from a CEO rountable hosted at the White House.
President Biden: The Build Back Better plan lowers prices for families and gets people working, it creates the best-educated workforce hopefully in the world, and ensures that we remain the most dynamic and productive economy in the world. It’s good for families, it’s good for the economy, and it’s good for the country. And so I’m grateful for the support of the CEO’s that are here. I know they’re somewhat busy to say the least, and they represent a broad spectrum of the economy and employ workers across the country, from senior executives to high-skill entry level workers.
CNN reported that; Italy’s current president Sergio Mattarella has been re-elected for a second mandate, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Robert Fico, announced Saturday.Mattarella received 759 out of a possible 1009 votes from “great electors” — the members of parliament and regional representatives charged with electing the president in a process that does not involve the public — at the eighth ballot of voting.
They added:
Mattarella, 80, became president in 2015 and had previously ruled out staying in office after his seven-year term expires on February 3. However, Italy’s ruling parties failed to agree on a new candidate after a chaotic week of voting that began on Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, they said they were in agreement that Mattarella should remain president ahead of the eighth round of voting.
Following the vote, Fico and Senate speaker Elisabetta Casellati went to the Presidential palace, or Quirinale, to inform Mattarella of the result, which he accepted. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be held next week.
CNN. 01/30/2022.
The translation:
“I thank the Presidents of the House and Senate for their communication.
I would like to thank the parliamentarians and delegates from the Regions for their confidence in me.The difficult days spent for the election to the Presidency of the Republic during the serious emergency that we are still going through – on the healthcare, on the economic, on the social – call for a sense of responsibility and to Respect for the decisions of Parliament.
These conditions require that we don’t fall into the duties we’ve called ourselves – and, of course, they have to prevail over other considerations and different personal perspectives – with the commitment to interpret the expectations and hopes of our citizens “”.
This is what President Mattarella said at the end of the meeting with the Presidents of the Senate, Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, and of the Chamber, Roberto Fico, who informed him the outcome of the vote for the President’s election The Republic.
Facebook translation 01/29/2022.
From personal experience dealing with the plague. Get vaccinated and boosted. I will however many times they say too, cause yeah, the cough alone is awful…
President Biden has a Sunday Tweeting Total of 2 tweets and 0 retweets…
See GDP growth above…
Connor age 10 says: Dear President Biden. I can’t wait to see these awesome Amtrak trains in the future. Maybe we can ride on one together someday. Congrats on being President and Good luck.
For January, 31st, 2021, (thank fuck it’s the last day of this terrible no good month), President Biden has received his daily brief. This morning the President and Vice President host the National Governors Association at the White House for a meeting. This afternoon President Biden participates in a bilateral meeting with His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.
The White House published a background press call ahead of the Amir of Qatar’s visit.
President Biden has tweeted 2 times so far for Monday…
The video snip is 40 seconds long taken from remarks he gave in PA..
President Biden: And, by the way, thanks to the American Rescue Plan — the first major bill we got passed in March — my Commerce Department is investing an additional $1 billion in local efforts to strengthen regional economies throughout the country. Some of that money is coming right here to Western Pennsylvania in support of efforts that include partners here at Mill 19, helping spread new robotics, artificial intelligence, manufacturing technologies, and create more jobs across the nation.
President Biden: When the federal government invests in innovation, it powers up the private sector to do what it does best: creating incredible new technologies and new industries and, most importantly, new jobs — good-paying jobs. These are the kinds of investments and partnerships that help us build a made-in-America future. We can’t slow down now. We can’t slow down now. And we know what happens when we stop investing in the future of places like Pittsburgh.
The pool spray for the Governors meeting…
More on the meeting probably tomorrow…
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. D.C., time.
This is an Open Thread.
Current moods…
