It’s Wednesday.
When Biden Bits was posted for Tuesday, President Biden had tweeted 2 times. He added 4 tweets giving him a Tuesday Tweeting Total of 6 tweets and 0 retweets.
President Biden and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico held a bilateral meeting in the Oval on Tuesday, prior to President’s trip overseas. The YouTube is 45 minutes 41 seconds long. Their full remarks can be found here.
They offered a joint-statement:
The United States and Mexico affirm our broad and deep cooperation and commitment to building a more prosperous and secure future for the people of North America. As we face unprecedented global and regional challenges that require the concerted efforts of both our nations, we uphold democracy, inclusive growth, transparency, rule of law, and human rights as core values that underpin our shared security and prosperity.
The United States and Mexico, together with Canada, represent an economic powerhouse. The foundation of North American competitiveness is the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and we reaffirm our commitment to its full implementation for the benefit of working families, including by fully upholding its labor provisions and actively collaborating with stakeholders in the private sector and civil society. Through active coordination of our economic policies, we will make our supply chains more resilient and expand production in North America. We look forward to working on this and other relevant issues at the 10th North American Leaders Summit (NALS), which will take place in Mexico at the end of the year.
Increasing inflation impacts the wellbeing of families in both our countries, and requires strong, immediate, and concerted action. That is why we have committed to jointly combat inflation by accelerating the facilitation of bilateral trade and reducing trade costs. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement enhances the free flow of goods without barriers, which promotes innovation that boosts productivity and increases resilience, helping both countries fight inflation and supporting families. As part of joint efforts to improve food security, Mexico plans to purchase up to 20,000 tons of milk powder from the United States to assist Mexican families in rural and urban communities. In addition, Mexico will buy up to one million tons of fertilizer (ammonium sulfate) from the United States to distribute to subsistence farmers and continue to buy animal feed to assist small producers.
Borders that are more resilient, more efficient, and safer, will enhance our shared commerce. We are committed like never before to completing a multi-year joint U.S.-Mexico border infrastructure modernization effort for projects along the 2,000-mile border. The joint effort seeks to align priorities, unite border communities, and make the flow of commerce and people more secure and efficient. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $3.4 billion to undertake 26 major construction and modernization projects at land ports of entry on the northern and southern border. These land port modernization projects will create good-paying local jobs, bolster safety and security, and make the economy more resilient to supply chain challenges – all while serving as models for sustainability and innovation. Mexico has committed to invest $1.5 billion on border infrastructure between 2022 and 2024.
The next U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) in September will focus on strengthening mechanisms to create more secure and efficient corridors for trade and commerce, foster an environment that encourages investment to help generate more and better jobs for our people in both countries. We confirm our efforts to create a more inclusive workforce that is better educated, more competitive, and better trained to meet the needs of the 21st Century economy. We reiterate our commitment to conduct outreach to understand stakeholder considerations to increase investment and bolster supply chain resilience, specifically on strategic sectors like semiconductors and information and communication technologies. We will focus our development efforts on climate solutions and the development of southern Mexico, with its vast human potential and important opportunities for commerce, conservation, and clean energy.
Facing the shared challenges of climate change, we resolve to promote a business environment that advances a greener, cleaner North America, acknowledging the importance of investing in and promoting renewable sources of energy. We commit to tackle methane emissions from oil and gas and other sectors, accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles, and deepen our efforts to seek nature-based solutions, enabling our two countries to become global leaders in clean energies and actions to combat climate change. In support of the Global Methane Pledge and Global Methane Pledge Energy Pathway, Mexico and Pemex, in cooperation with the U.S., will develop an implementation plan to eliminate routine flaring and venting across onshore and offshore oil and gas operations and identify priority projects for investment.
Through the Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities, we reaffirmed our commitment to work together to address major security issues affecting our nations, including the challenges of fentanyl, arms trafficking, and human smuggling, and to reduce levels of drug abuse and addiction. We committed to deepen our cooperation to combat transnational criminal organizations that foment violence in both our countries. We reaffirmed the robust operational efforts between law enforcement agencies to address these paramount security efforts. We pledged to establish a U.S.-Mexico operational task force to disrupt the flow of fentanyl into our countries.
Building on the commitments at the Summit of the Americas made by twenty-one countries in the hemisphere pursuant to the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection, we are taking immediate and coordinated steps to manage the flows of migrants arriving into our countries. We have joined efforts to address the underlying economic and security drivers of migration and, recognizing that development must be at the center of all migration policies, we will accelerate and expand international cooperation programs focused on the most marginalized communities. At the same time, we will maintain strong border enforcement policies while ensuring full protection of human rights.
The United States and Mexico reaffirmed our commitment to launch a bilateral working group on labor migration pathways and worker protections. We will work to promote greater worker protections as part of a labor mobility strategy for migrant workers who seek access to legal pathways. Mexico and the United States will also convene a working group to strengthen our cross-border response to child migration, a phenomenon that has significantly impacted both of our countries and puts youth in unnecessary peril. We also reaffirm our pledge to improve economic and social conditions throughout the region, creating dignified job opportunities as viable alternatives for potential migrants, and helping tackle the root causes of migration across the Americas.
The tragic deaths of migrants at the hands of human smugglers in San Antonio further strengthens our determination to go after the multi-billion-dollar criminal smuggling industry preying on migrants and increase our efforts to address the root causes of migration. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security and Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office have coordinated to arrest and prosecute those who endanger the lives of vulnerable migrants, including through the work of Joint Task Force Alpha and its Mexican partners. This year our countries will celebrate 200 years of formal diplomatic relations. As neighbors, friends, and family, we are united as two nations that share one future.
White House.gov. 07/12/2022.
Vice President met early Tuesday with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico. The YouTube is 1 minute and 28 seconds long. Their full remarks can be found here.
The White House posted the following readout of their meeting:
Vice President Kamala Harris hosted President Lopez Obrador of Mexico for breakfast at the Naval Observatory today to deepen the longstanding cooperation between the United States and Mexico. The Vice President conveyed her appreciation for the close friendship and shared values between Mexico and the United States. Vice President Harris and President Lopez Obrador had a wide-ranging discussion about our common challenges and opportunities as neighbors, partners, and friends. They discussed our shared work to address the root causes of migration from Northern Central America and the need to collaborate on concrete next steps in this effort. The leaders discussed the importance of public-private partnerships in generating investment-led growth, and agreed to explore further cooperation in this area under the U.S.-Mexico High Level Economic Dialogue (HLED), with a particular focus on economic development initiatives in southern Mexico.
White House.gov. 07/12/2022.
Secretary of HHS Xavier Becerra said on Monday:
The full statement:
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new guidance and communication to ensure all patients — including pregnant women and others experiencing pregnancy loss — have access to the full rights and protections for emergency medical care afforded under the law. This announcement follows President Biden’s executive order on reproductive health issued Friday.
HHS, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), issued clarifying guidance on the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and reaffirmed that it protects providers when offering legally-mandated, life- or health-saving abortion services in emergency situations. In addition to the guidance, Secretary Xavier Becerra, in a letter to providers, made clear that this federal law preempts state law restricting access to abortion in emergency situations – PDF.
“Under the law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care — including abortion care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Today, in no uncertain terms, we are reinforcing that we expect providers to continue offering these services, and that federal law preempts state abortion bans when needed for emergency care. Protecting both patients and providers is a top priority, particularly in this moment. Health care must be between a patient and their doctor, not a politician. We will continue to leverage all available resources at HHS to make sure women can access the life-saving care they need.”
“Everyone should have access to the health care they need — especially in an emergency,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Under federal law, providers in emergency situations are required to provide stabilizing care to someone with an emergency medical condition, including abortion care if necessary, regardless of the state where they live. CMS will do everything within our authority to ensure that patients get the care they need.”
The EMTALA statute requires that Medicare hospitals provide all patients an appropriate medical screening, examination, stabilizing treatment, and transfer, if necessary, irrespective of any state laws or mandates that apply to specific procedures. Stabilizing treatment could include medical and/or surgical interventions, including abortion. If a state law prohibits abortion and does not include an exception for the health or life of the pregnant person — or draws the exception more narrowly than EMTALA’s emergency medical condition definition — that state law is preempted.
Read the Secretary’s letter to health care providers – PDF.
Read the EMTALA guidance issued.
Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Secretary Becerra announced HHS’s action plan to protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion care, which includes five priorities:
HHS.gov. 07/11/2022.
- increasing access to medication abortion;
- protecting patients and providers from discrimination, and ensuring privacy for patients and providers;
- protecting emergency abortion care;
- ensuring providers have family planning training and resources; and
- strengthening family planning care, including emergency contraception.
Since the plan was announced, HHS has taken the following actions:
- Launched the ReproductiveRights.gov public awareness website, which includes a know-your-rights patient fact sheet;
- Convened a meeting with health insurers, and sent them a letter, calling on the industry to commit to meeting their obligations to provide coverage for contraceptive services at no cost as required by the Affordable Care Act;
- Issued guidance to patients and providers that addresses the extent to which federal law and regulations protect individuals’ private medical information when it comes to seeking abortion and other forms of reproductive health care, as well as when it comes to using health information apps on smartphones;
- Announced nearly $3 million in new funding to bolster training and technical assistance for the nationwide network of Title X family planning providers; and
- Met with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, and Maine Governor Janet Mills and state attorneys general to discuss state-specific concerns.
HHS will take additional actions in the coming days.
HHS is committed to providing accurate and up-to-date information about access to and coverage of reproductive health care and resources. The Department’s goal is to make sure patients and providers have appropriate information and support.
Visit ReproductiveRights.gov to learn more about the care available to patients, and their right to that care.
HHS.gov. 07/11/2022.
The YouTube is 7 minutes and 31 seconds long. The White House has once again failed to provide a transcript of their remarks at the picnic. It’s becoming a bad habit now.
President Biden’s Public Schedule for July 13th, 2022:
| 6:00 AM | Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route Jerusalem, Israel Joint Base AndrewsOut-of-Town Pool |
| 8:20 AM | The President arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel (3:20 PM Local) Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, IsraelOpen Press |
| 8:30 AM | The President delivers remarks at the arrival ceremony (3:30 PM Local) Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, IsraelOpen Press |
| 9:20 AM | The President receives a briefing on the Iron Dome and Iron Beam Air Defense Systems (4:20 PM Local) Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, IsraelOut-of-Town Pool |
| 9:50 AM | The President departs Tel Aviv, Israel en route Jerusalem, Israel (4:50 PM Local) Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, IsraelOut-of-Town Pool |
| 10:25 AM | The President arrives at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel (5:25 PM Local) Yad Vashem, JerusalemOut-of-Town Pool |
| 10:35 AM | The President participates in a Wreath Laying Ceremony (5:35 PM Local) Yad Vashem, Jerusalem |
As mentioned President Biden is visiting overseas. As of right now the White House has posted:
Joint U.S.-Israel Statement on Launching Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology:
Today, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of the State of Israel reaffirm their commitment to elevating the strategic partnership between the countries to new heights by launching the new Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology, tasked with establishing a U.S.-Israel technological partnership on critical and emerging technologies and solutions to global challenges: pandemic preparedness, climate change, implementation of artificial intelligence, and trusted technology ecosystems. The dialogue will also reinforce existing collaboration mechanisms.
The United States-Israel relationship reflects our shared values and interests and the true friendship between our peoples. We pledge to boost our mutual innovation ecosystems, to deepen bilateral engagements, advance and protect critical and emerging technologies in accordance with our national interests, democratic principles and human rights, and to address geostrategic challenges.
First, we recognize the importance of the technological ties between the United States and Israel, along with other key partners and allies.
Second, we resolve to encourage innovative solutions to global challenges and promote a shared agenda in the international arena.
Third, we will advance and facilitate a high-level bilateral inter-agency dialogue led by the respective national security councils of the United States and Israel to enhance our collaboration on promoting and protecting critical and emerging technologies in areas of global concern:
White House.gov. 07/13/2022.
- Pandemic preparedness: exploring cooperative tech R&D ventures, including technology fordisease surveillance and early warning and for rapid medical countermeasure responses.
- Trustworthy artificial intelligence: addressing important challenges, such as large scale planning, implementation and logistical challenges through multidimensional optimization by means of cutting-edge AI in the fields of transportation, medicine and agriculture. This includes discussing evaluation and measurement tools for trustworthy AI, and for risk management and privacy-enhancing technologies.
- Technology for addressing climate change: cooperative R&D ventures and/or deploying technologies to drive equitable climate solutions (e.g., water reuse, solid waste management, clean and renewable energy).
- Trusted tech ecosystems: exchange information and seek to increase coordination on policies on risk management in our innovation ecosystems, including research security, investment screening, and export controls, as well as on technology investment and protection strategies for critical and emerging technologies.
Fourth, the Strategic Dialogue on Technology will convene annually, alternating between the United States and Israel. The first meeting will take place in Israel in the fall of 2022, to discuss advancing specific projects in the fields for cooperation mentioned above.
Fifth, we affirm our commitment to expanding our cooperation to further areas, and beginning an exchange program in quantum information science, so that the U.S. and Israel can jointly address strategic technology challenges and pursue our common goals for the mutual benefit of both our countries.
White House.gov. 07/13/2022.
The White House has also posted his remarks at his arrival ceremony; there is not video posted by the White House at this time. The Washington Post posted the following YouTube. It’s 47 minutes and 25 seconds long. I’ve cued it to when they begin remarks.
President Biden has tweeted…
He’s tweeted 3 times for Wednesday.
His full statement:
While today’s headline inflation reading is unacceptably high, it is also out-of-date. Energy alone comprised nearly half of the monthly increase in inflation. Today’s data does not reflect the full impact of nearly 30 days of decreases in gas prices, that have reduced the price at the pump by about 40 cents since mid-June. Those savings are providing important breathing room for American families. And, other commodities like wheat have fallen sharply since this report.
Importantly, today’s report shows that what economists call annual “core inflation” came down for the third month in a row, and is the first month since last year where the annual “core” inflation rate is below six percent.
Inflation is our most pressing economic challenge. It is hitting almost every country in the world. It is little comfort to Americans to know that inflation is also high in Europe, and higher in many countries there than in America. But it is a reminder that all major economies are battling this COVID-related challenge, made worse by Putin’s unconscionable aggression.
Tackling inflation is my top priority – we need to make more progress, more quickly, in getting price increases under control. Here is what I will do:
First, I will continue to do everything I can to bring down the price of gas. I will continue my historic release of oil from our strategic petroleum reserve. I will continue working with our European allies to put a price cap on Russian oil – sapping Putin of oil revenue. And, I will continue to work with the U.S. oil and gas industry to increase production responsibly — already, the U.S. is producing 12.1 million barrels of oil per day and is on track to break records.
But I will also continue to insist – as I have with urgency recently – that reductions in the price of oil must produce lower gas prices for consumers at the pump. The price of oil is down about 20% since mid-June, but the price of gas has so far only fallen half as much. Oil and gas companies must not use this moment as an excuse for profiting by not passing along savings at the pump.
Second, I will urge Congress to act, this month, on legislation to reduce the cost of everyday expenses that are hitting American families, from prescription drugs to utility bills to health insurance premiums and to make more in America.
Third, I will continue to oppose any efforts by Republicans – as they have proposed during this campaign year — to make things worse by raising taxes on working people, or putting Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years.
Finally, I will continue to give the Federal Reserve the room it needs to help it combat inflation.
White House.gov. 07/13/2022.
From the CPI (pdf):
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 1.3 percent in June on a
seasonally adjusted basis after rising 1.0 percent in May, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 9.1 percent before seasonal adjustment.The increase was broad-based, with the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food being the largest
contributors. The energy index rose 7.5 percent over the month and contributed nearly half of the all
items increase, with the gasoline index rising 11.2 percent and the other major component indexes also
rising. The food index rose 1.0 percent in June, as did the food at home indexThe index for all items less food and energy rose 0.7 percent in June, after increasing 0.6 percent in the
preceding two months. While almost all major component indexes increased over the month, the largest contributors were the indexes for shelter, used cars and trucks, medical care, motor vehicle insurance, and new vehicles. The indexes for motor vehicle repair, apparel, household furnishings and operations, and recreation also increased in June. Among the few major component indexes to decline in June were lodging away from home and airline fares.The all items index increased 9.1 percent for the 12 months ending June, the largest 12-month increase
BLS.gov. 07/13/2022.
since the period ending November 1981. The all items less food and energy index rose 5.9 percent over
the last 12 months. The energy index rose 41.6 percent over the last year, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending April 1980. The food index increased 10.4 percent for the 12-months ending June, the largest 12-month increase since the period ending February 1981.
This is an Open Thread.
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