It’s Tuesday.
Tuesday’s Deep Thoughts by Tiff…
When Biden Bits was posted for Monday, President Biden had tweeted 2 times. He added 7 tweets giving him a Monday Tweeting Total of 9 tweets and 0 retweets.
As seen in Biden Bits for Monday, President Biden met with the White House Competition Council. The YouTube is 8 minutes and 10 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here. The Council stems from an EO he signed in July 9th, 2021, on; Promoting Competition in the American Economy…
While I normally include the YouTube after he posts the Twitter live Feed, today is different as two of the tweets sent prior to the live feed tweet; match-ish his remarks…
President Biden: And in too many industries, a handful of giant companies dominate — dominate the entire market. And we see it in big ag — I need not tell the Secretary of Agriculture that; he’s forgotten more about this than I know — in big tech, big pharma. The list goes on. And rather than competing for customers, they’re consuming their competitors. And rather than doing what they should be doing, they’re doing the opposite — having a negative impact.
President Biden: My executive order is changing that, as everyone at this table knows. It includes — it included 72 specific actions for federal agencies to take and help restore competition in our economy. It includes creating a Competition Council — you all — and — comprised of Cabinet members and heads of several independent agencies to coordinate and monitor our progress all across the entire federal government.
President Biden: “The right to repair” — sounds kind of silly saying it that way, but it’s — but we call it “the right to repair” — is literal. Too many areas, if you don’t own a product — excuse me, if you own a product, from a smartphone to a tractor, you don’t have the freedom to choose how or where to repair that item you purchased.
President Biden: [for context purposes I have to include more than I normally would] Denying the right to repair raises prices for consumers, means independent repair shops can’t compete for your business. And my expe- — my executive order announced that support for the right to repair, rather — right after I issued my order, I was pleased to see the Federal Trade Commission unanimously announce that it would ramp up — unanimously announced it would ramp up enforcement against illegal repair restrictions. That was allowed [followed] by major companies to — or by voluntarily agreeing to change their restrictions on repairs. And — excuse me — what’s happened was a lot of these companies said, “You’re right. We’re going to voluntarily do it. You don’t have to order us to do it.” And voluntarily said, “We’ll do it.” For example, Apple and Microsoft are changing their policies so folks will be able to repair their phones and laptops themselves — although I’m not sure I know how to do that. (Laughter.)
See above…
President Biden: Hearing aids. Roughly 48 million people suffer from hearing loss in America — 48 million. But to get a hearing aid, folks have to get — go see a specialist and then get a prescription and then they pay thousands of dollars for a pair of hearing aids. But the big part is why only — that’s a big part of why only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually use one. And so, my competition executive order changes that. In October, the Food and Drug Administration released a new proposed rule that would make it possible for hearing aids to be sold over the counter without a prescription.
The White House published the following readout of the meeting:
This afternoon, the President met with the White House Competition Council in the East Room to discuss actions they have taken to deliver concrete cost savings to American families and to discuss plans for further action over the weeks, months, and years ahead.
The July 9 Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy established the Competition Council to drive forward the Administration’s whole-of-government effort to promoting competition. Its purpose is to coordinate progress on the Order’s 72 initiatives to restore competition in the economy, to collaborate on addressing pressing competition problems across the economy, and to find new ways of delivering concrete benefits to America’s consumers, workers, farmers, and small businesses. The Council is comprised of ten Cabinet members and the heads of seven independent agencies.
The President commended the Council’s members for meeting each deadline set forth in the Executive Order so far. He emphasized that, thanks to the Council’s actions across a broad range of industries, American families will feel more breathing room in their budgets over the coming months. The President highlighted several examples, including:
White House.gov. 01/24/2022.
- New proposed rules from the Food and Drug Administration that would make hearing aids available over-the-counter, lowering their cost from thousands of dollars to hundreds of dollars for the millions of Americans suffering from hearing loss.
- Progress on the “right to repair” that is making it cheaper and easier for Americans to fix the products they already own. Following the Order’s support for the right to repair, the Federal Trade Commission unanimously announced that it will ramp up enforcement against illegal repair restrictions. Since then, large firms have voluntarily announced changes to their policies to make it easier for consumers to repair their own electronics.
- Agencies with merger oversight authority have ramped up their efforts to challenge or block mergers that are bad for the American economy and for families’ pocketbooks. For example, the Department of Justice recently blocked an insurance mega-merger that would have raised insurance costs for consumers and businesses alike.
The President made clear that the Council’s work is about steadily making changes that will promote competition—resulting in lower prices, fairer wages, and more innovation across the economy.
To that end, the Council’s members used the rest of the meeting to discuss a broad agenda for action. Each member agency spoke to their top competition priorities for the coming months. For example:
White House.gov. 01/24/2022.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced an initiative to save consumers tens of billions of dollars in junk fees in banking, credit cards, and mortgages.
- The Department of Transportation described efforts to promote consumer choice and protect consumers by ensuring travelers can tell the true cost of air travel.
- The Federal Communications Commission described efforts to lower broadband prices by preventing landlords and providers from entering sweetheart deals that shut out broadband competition in apartment buildings, and by adopting a Broadband Nutrition Label that helps Americans comparison shop.
- The Department of Agriculture explained its plan to expand competition in meat processing by funding new and independent processors and strengthening rules to protect farmers and ranchers.
Each member described a robust agenda to promote competition—actions that will help reduce the prices people pay for everyday things, from internet plans, to groceries, to shipping costs, to vacation travel.
In-person participants in today’s meeting included:
White House.gov. 01/24/2022.
- Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen
- Attorney General Merrick Garland
- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
- Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
- Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra
- Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
- Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young
- Chair of the Federal Trade Commission Lina Khan
- Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission Gary Gensler
- Chair of the Federal Communications Commission Jessica Rosenworcel
- Chair of the Surface Transportation Board Marty Oberman
- Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission Daniel Maffei
- Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra
- Acting Chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Rostin Behnam
- Assistant to the President and Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Cecilia Rouse
- Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese (Chair)
The White House published the following readout:
President Biden held a secure video call with European leaders today. They reiterated their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders and expressed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The leaders underscored their shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions and reviewed recent engagements with Russia in multiple formats. The leaders also discussed their joint efforts to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, including preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank. They committed to continued close consultation with transatlantic Allies and partners, including working with and through the EU, NATO, and the OSCE.
Participants in the call included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Andrzej Duda of Poland, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom.
White House.gov. 01/24/2022.
On Monday Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby announced that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had placed a range of units in the U.S. on heightened preparedness to deploy. If NATO should activate a NATO Response Force.
The video is 5 minutes long.
Kirby: As you’re all aware, the United States is deeply concerned about the current situation in Europe. We remain keenly focused on Russia’s unusual military activities near the Ukrainian border, including in Belarus, and consulting extensively with our transatlantic allies and partners. The department continues to support diplomatic efforts to deescalate the situation. Now as the president has said, even as we continue to prioritize diplomacy and dialogue, we must also increase readiness. In support of its obligations to the security and defense of NATO and the security of its citizens abroad at the direction of the president and following recommendations made by Secretary Austin, the United States has taken steps to heighten the readiness of its forces at home and abroad so they are prepared to respond to a range of contingencies, including support to the NATO Response Force if it is activated.
Kirby con’t: As you have heard me describe many times, our commitment to the security of NATO allies and our Article 5 commitment are ironclad. As the president has also made clear, the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us, our allies, our partners. As part of that commitment, the Department of Defense maintains significant combat-capable forces forward in Europe to deter aggression and enhance the alliance’s ability to defend allies and defeat aggression if necessary. The United States also has a commitment to provide forces to the NATO Response Force, otherwise known as the NRF, in the event that NATO should activate that construct. And as you may know, the NRF is a multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and special operations forces, all components that the alliance can deploy on short notice wherever needed.
Kirby con’t: Altogether the NRF comprises around 40,000 multinational troops. Within the NRF is something called the very high readiness joint task force or VJTF. This NRF element, which is about 20,000 strong across all domains, includes a multinational land brigade of around 5,000 troops in air, maritime and special operation forces components. I want to provide some facts on these preparations that will reinforce our commitment to NATO and to the NATO Response Force and increase our readiness. Secretary Austin has placed a range of units in the United States on a heightened preparedness to deploy, which increases our readiness to provide forces if NATO should activate the NRF or if other situations develop.
Kirby con’t: All told, the number of forces that the secretary has placed on heightened alert comes up to about 8,500 personnel. We’ll continue to provide updates in coming days about these decisions. But specifically this will insure that the United States in our commitment to the NRF has — is consistent with their readiness for — for rapid deployment, again, if activated. In the event of NATO’s activation of the NRF or a deteriorating security environment, the United States would be in a position to rapidly deploy additional brigade combat teams, logistics, medical, aviation, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, transportation, and additional capabilities into Europe.
Kirby con’t: Again, I want to reinforce that as of now the decision has been made to put these units on higher alert and higher alert only. No decisions have been made to deploy any forces from the United States at this time. And when I say heightened alert, in some cases some of these forces were already on a heightened posture, readiness to deploy posture and the secretary decided to make it even more — shorten the tether even more. So in some cases units would go from say 10 days prepare to deploy; now they’re at five days. That’s not the case for every unit that is being notified that they’re on a heightened alert. Some are simply more ready and — and postured that way than others. The idea, though, is that all of these units that he is putting on prepare to deploy will be ready to go on a shortened timeframe.
Kirby con’t: Again, no final decision has been made to deploy them. The secretary will continue to consult with the president and the United States will maintain close coordination with allies and partners as we continuously review our force posture and make decisions regarding movement of forces into and within Europe. As always we will remain in close coordination with allies and partners, as well as NATO and other multilateral organizations, as we continue to review our force posture as we make decisions regarding potential movements of forces into Europe and as we review the disposition of U.S. forces on the continent.
He took several–over my pay grade questions, that you can read at the link posted above.
My parents and Aunt seem better now, I’m still trying to get my son to vaccinate and my mom was open to it, but well, as they recover…
For Tuesday, January 25th, 2022, President Biden has received his daily brief.
President Biden has tweeted 2 times so far for Tuesday…
This is taken from his remarks from Monday, posted above…
President Biden: And — but what we’ve seen over the last few decades is less competition and more concentration that literally holds economy back. And in too many industries, a handful of giant companies dominate — dominate the entire market. And we see it in big ag — I need not tell the Secretary of Agriculture that; he’s forgotten more about this than I know — in big tech, big pharma. The list goes on.
Highlights from Media.GM.com‘s announcement:
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced today an investment of more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites, creating 4,000 new jobs and retaining 1,000, and significantly increasing battery cell and electric truck manufacturing capacity. This is the single largest investment announcement in GM history. The investment includes construction of a new Ultium Cells battery cell plant in Lansing and the conversion of GM’s assembly plant in Orion Township, Michigan for production of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the electric GMC Sierra, GM’s second assembly plant scheduled to build full-size electric pickups.
Today’s announcements include investments in the following locations:
Media.GM.com. 01/25/2022.
- Orion Assembly for production of Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra — GM is investing $4 billion to convert the facility to produce electric trucks using the GM-developed Ultium Platform, which gives the company the flexibility to build vehicles for every customer and segment. This investment is expected to create more than 2,350 new jobs at Orion and retain approximately 1,000 current jobs when the plant is fully operational. GM estimates the new jobs at Orion will be filled by a combination of GM transferees and new hires. Electric truck production, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV and electric GMC Sierra, will begin at Orion in 2024. The Orion investment will drive significant facility and capacity expansion at the site, including new body and paint shops and new general assembly and battery pack assembly areas. Production of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV will continue during the plant’s conversion. Site work begins immediately.
- New Ultium Cells battery cell plant at Lansing site — GM and LG Energy Solution, via their Ultium Cells joint venture, are investing $2.6 billion to build Ultium Cells’ third U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant. This investment is expected to create more than 1,700 new Ultium Cells jobs when the plant is fully operational. Site preparations will begin this summer and battery cell production is scheduled to begin in late 2024. Ultium Cells Lansing will supply battery cells to Orion Assembly and other GM assembly plants.
In addition to the EV-related investments in Michigan, GM is investing more than $510 million in its two Lansing-area vehicle assembly plants to upgrade their production capabilities for near-term products:
Media.GM.com. 01/25/2022.
- Lansing Delta Township Assembly — Investment is for production of the next-generation Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.
- Lansing Grand River Assembly — Investment is for plant upgrades.
In addition to strategically adding battery cell and electric vehicle assembly capacity, GM is working to build a new supply chain via strategic supplier agreements for batteries and EV components, one that is expected to be scalable, more resilient, more sustainable and more North American-focused. These strategic supplier agreements include:
Media.GM.com. 01/25/2022.
- MP Materials to scale rare earth magnet sourcing and production in the U.S.
- VAC to build a new magnet factory in the U.S. to support EV growth.
- POSCO to build a new North America plant to process Cathode Active Material.
- GE Renewable Energy to serve as a source of rare earth and other materials.
- Wolfspeed to develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions.
- Controlled Thermal Resources to develop a source of U.S.-based lithium through a closed-loop process with lower carbon emissions when compared to traditional processes.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. D.C., time.
This is an Open Thread.
