It’s Thursday.
When Biden Bits was posted for Wednesday, President Biden had tweeted 2 times. He added 5 tweets giving him a Wednesday Tweeting Total of 7 tweets and 0 retweets.
On Tuesday, President Biden offered remarks at the AFL-CIO Convention. The YouTube is 36 minutes and 48 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
The video snip 41 seconds long.
President Biden: (16:19) Folks, that’s the approach I’ve taken to build this economy. And what has to be done? Well, we brought down COVID deaths by 90 percent. We opened schools and businesses that were shuttered. All — it all created the greatest job recovery in American history. People don’t want to talk about it these days, but it’s true: Since I’ve become President, we’ve created 8.7 million new jobs in 16 months. An all-time record. (Applause.) And even last month, 390,000 jobs and 600,000 new manufacturing jobs. And they said manufacturing is dead in America. (Applause.)
President Biden: (17:38) Better-paying jobs, for better jobs for them and their families. It’s been a long time since that’s happened in this country, but it’s happening now. And it’s working.
President Biden: (13:36) Look, the infrastructure law is about more than rebuilding our infrastructure. It’s about rebuilding the middle class. And that’s why we made sure that the infrastructure law included significant labor protections. For example, I insisted that the overwhelming majority of the funds included in the law are subject to Davis-Bacon requirements. Union has to do it. (Applause.)
The YouTube is 25 minutes and 26 seconds long. The First Lady also offered remarks. President Biden begins his remarks at the 11 minute and 11 second mark. His full remarks can be found here. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s opening remarks can be found here. After his remarks, President signed an Executive Order on; Advancing Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Individuals. The full fact-sheet was posted in yesterday’s Biden Bits.
His full statement on his call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine:
This morning, I spoke with President Zelenskyy to discuss Russia’s brutal and ongoing war against Ukraine. I reaffirmed my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression.
I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas. We also discussed Secretary Austin’s efforts in Brussels today to coordinate additional international support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
We also remain committed to supporting the Ukrainian people whose lives have been ripped apart by this war. Today, I am also announcing an additional $225 million in humanitarian assistance to help people inside Ukraine, including by supplying safe drinking water, critical medical supplies and health care, food, shelter, and cash for families to purchase essential items.
The bravery, resilience, and determination of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world. And the United States, together with our allies and partners, will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom.
White House.gov. 06/15/2022.
The Department of Defense released the following statement by Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense (Media) J. Todd Breasseale:
This afternoon, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced $1 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine. This includes an authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $350 million, as well as $650 million in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds.
The PDA authorization is the twelfth drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021. Capabilities in this package include:
Defense.gov. 06/15/2022.
- 18 155mm Howitzers;
- 36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition;
- 18 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;
- Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems;
- Four Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment;
- Spare parts and other equipment.
Under USAI, the DoD will provide Ukraine with near-term priority capabilities to defend against Russian aggression. Included in this package are:
Defense.gov. 06/15/2022.
- Two Harpoon coastal defense systems;
- Thousands of secure radios;
- Thousands of Night Vision devices, thermal sights, and other optics;
- Funding for training, maintenance, sustainment, transportation, and administrative costs.
Unlike Presidential Drawdown, USAI is an authority under which the United States procures capabilities from industry rather than delivering equipment that is drawn down from DoD stocks. This announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional capabilities to Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
The United States has now committed approximately $6.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including approximately $5.6 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $8.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.
The United States also continues to work with its Allies and partners to identify and provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its evolving battlefield requirements. At today’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group hosted by Secretary Austin, 48 countries participated to discuss security assistance, generating new announcements of donations, including for high priority artillery and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems.
Defense.gov. 06/15/2022.
For June 16th, 2022, President Biden has received his daily brief. This afternoon he will sign into law S.3580, the Shipping Reform Act of 2022.
S.3580 Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 summary:
This bill revises requirements governing ocean shipping to increase the authority of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to promote the growth and development of U.S. exports through an ocean transportation system that is competitive, efficient, and economical. For example, the bill requires the FMC to (1) investigate complaints about detention and demurrage charges (i.e., late fees) charged by common ocean carriers, (2) determine whether those charges are reasonable, and (3) order refunds for unreasonable charges. It also prohibits common ocean carriers, marine terminal operators, or ocean transportation intermediaries from unreasonably refusing cargo space when available or resorting to other unfair or unjustly discriminatory methods.
Congress.gov.
I learned something new about the “actions” section at Congress.gov. As you can see. The passage of the bill forms text boxes and keeps the links! Well done, updated WordPress. Well done.
| 06/13/2022 | Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 369 – 42 (Roll no. 256).(text: CR H5460-5464) |
| 03/31/2022 | Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. |
President Biden has tweeted…
He’s tweeted 1 time so far for Thursday…
His one and only tweet so far ties into the remarks he gave at the AFL-CIO Convention.
President Biden: (10:39) Folks, we need an economy built from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down. Because I know when the middle class does well, everybody does. The wealthy do very well. They’re never hurt.
The daily press briefing is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. D.C., time.
President Biden’s remarks plus the bill signing are scheduled for 3:10 p.m. D.C., time.
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