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.
On Tuesday, President Biden signed into law H.R. 4346 Supreme Court Security Funding Act of 2022/CHIPS and Science Act of 2022…
The YouTube is 44 minutes and 38 seconds long. President Biden begins his remarks at the 25 minute and 22 second mark. His full remarks can be found here.
President Biden: This increased research and development funding is going to ensure the United States leads the world in the industries of the future — from quantum computing, to artificial intelligence, to advanced biotechnology — the kinds of investments that will deliver vaccines for cancer, cures for HIV, invent the next ge- — big thing that hasn’t even been imagined yet.
“America invented” appears twice in his remarks:
President Biden: America invented the semiconductors. They powered NASA’s mission to the Moon.
President Biden: America invented the semiconductor, as mea- — as has been mentioned already, and this law brings it back home. It’s in our economic interest and it’s in our national security interest to do so.
“Hollowed out” only appears once in his remarks.
President Biden: As a result, over 30 years ago, America had 40 percent of the global production of these chips. And then something happened: American manufacturing, the backbone of our economy, was hollowed out, and we let semiconductor manufacturing go overseas.
According to Computer.org: Robert Norton Noyce (12 December 1927 – 3 June, 1990), nicknamed “the Mayor of Silicon Valley,” co-founded Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957 and Intel in 1968. He is also credited (along with Jack Kilby) with the invention of the integrated circuit or microchip. While Kilby’s invention was six months earlier, neither man rejected the title of co-inventor.
The YouTube is 9 minutes and 21 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
President Biden: Sweden and Finji- — and Sweden and Finland have strong democratic institutions, strong militaries, and strong and transparent economies. They’ll meet every NATO requim- — requirement; we’re confident of that. And we will make — and make our Alliance stronger, and it will make America and the American people safer in the process.
President Biden: In just a few minutes, I’m going to sign the U.S. Instrument of Ratification, making the United States the 23rd Ally to approve Sweden and Finland’s membership to the strongest, most powerful defensive alliance in the history of the world.
Atlantic Council.org., has a timeline of when each NATO ally ratified the amended treaty to allow Finland and Sweden’s full membership to NATO. The count stands at 23 as of yesterday. There are 7 more countries to go. The process toward full membership could take up to a year.
President Biden: And two proud and independent countries, each with a long tradition — a long tradition of non-alignment, exercising their sovereign right to make their own decisions about their security. And responding to the will of their citizens, following their democratic processes they have, choosing to join NATO. It was and is a watershed moment, I believe, in the Alliance and for the greater security and stability not only of Europe and the United States, but of the world.
The White House posted the following readout of the call:
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of Sweden and President Sauli Niinistö of Finland before today’s signing of the Instruments of Ratification for the Accession Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty for Finland and Sweden. President Biden congratulated them on the U.S. Senate’s swift, bipartisan ratification of their NATO accession protocols, and welcomed Finland and Sweden moving one step closer to becoming NATO Allies. The United States looks forward to depositing its instrument of ratification at the earliest possible moment. President Biden affirmed that the United States will work with Finland and Sweden to remain vigilant against any threats to our shared security, and to deter and confront aggression or threat of aggression.
White House.gov. 08/09/2022.
The White House posted President Biden’s letter to the President of the Senate:
Dear Madam President:
Consistent with the conditions set forth in the Senate resolution of advice and consent to ratification of the Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden of August 3, 2022, and based on the recommendation of the Department of State, I hereby certify to the Senate that:
(i) the inclusion of the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will not have the effect of increasing the overall percentage share of the United States in the common budgets of NATO; and
(ii) the inclusion of the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden in NATO does not detract from the ability of the United States to meet or to fund its military requirements outside the North Atlantic area.
White House.gov. 08/09/2022.
The timeline:
The U.S. carried out successful counterterrorism mission against the leader of al Qaeda was announced on August 1st 2022.
The PACT Act passed the Senate on August 2nd 2022. (President Biden will be signing the PACT Act into law this morning, but more on that later).
President Biden signed an Executive Order on reproductive rights on August 3rd 2022.
Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act on August 7th 2022.
President Biden signed into law the CHIPS and Science Act on August 9th 2022.
Signed the NATO accession protocols for Sweden and Finland happened yesterday; August 9th 2022. (see above for all that).
Gas is below $4.00 in over half gas stations; AAA says as of this morning, August 10th 2022, the national average for a gallon of gas is $4.010. Gas Buddy Guy says…
I’m gonna go off-book once again and share Wednesday’s 2 tweets before the daily schedule.
President Biden: This law funds the entire sumercondictor [sic] — sumer- — semiconductor supply chain: for research and development, to key inputs like polysilicon manufactured by a factory in Hemlock, New York [Michigan]. Nearly one third of all the chips in the world use polysilicon made in Hemlock. Imagine if we had more of these kinds of factories across the country. This law will make that a reality.
President Biden: One third of the core inflation last year was due to the higher price for automobiles — for automobiles and a shortage of semiconductors.
The second part of the tweet is only somewhat related to his remarks.
President Biden’s Public Schedule for Wednesday, August 10th 2022:
| 9:00 AM | The President receives the President’s Daily Briefing Closed Press |
| 9:15 AM | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 10:00 AM | The President delivers remarks and signs into law S. 3373, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022; The Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Homeland Security attend East RoomPre-Credentialed Media and Pooled for TV [RSVP here by 9:00 AM] |
| 11:00 AM | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Joint Base AndrewsOut-of-Town Pool |
| 12:30 PM | The President and The First Lady depart the White House en route Joint Base Andrews South GroundsIn-Town Travel Pool |
| 1:00 PM | The President and The First Lady depart Joint Base Andrews en route Charleston, South Carolina Joint Base AndrewsOut-of-Town Pool |
| 2:30 PM | The President and The First Lady arrive in Charleston, South Carolina Out-of-Town Pool |
| 2:55 PM | The President and The First Lady arrive Charleston Executive Airport Charleston |
He has re-tweeted one time for Wednesday:
The montage is 3 minutes and 14 seconds long and worth a listen.
The White House posted the following fact-sheet; President Biden Signs the PACT Act and Delivers on His Promise to America’s Veterans
PACT Act Marks Most Significant Expansion of VA Health Care in 30 Years
Today, President Biden is delivering on his promise to strengthen health care and benefits for America’s veterans and their survivors by signing the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The PACT Act is the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years.
In his first State of the Union address, President Biden called on Congress to send a bill to his desk that would comprehensively address toxic exposures that have impacted veterans, as well as their families and caregivers, and provide them with the health care and benefits they have earned and deserve. Thanks to the bipartisan leaders of the House and Senate Veterans Committees, the PACT Act does just that.
President Biden believes that our nation has a sacred obligation to properly prepare and equip the troops we send into harm’s way – and to care for them and their families when they return home. Sometimes military service can result in increased health risks for our veterans, and some injuries and illnesses like asthma, cancer, and others can take years to manifest. These realities can make it difficult for veterans to establish a direct connection between their service and disabilities resulting from military environmental exposures such as burn pits – a necessary step to ensure they receive the health care they earned.
President Biden made clear that supporting those who wear the uniform is a commitment that unites all Americans – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – and why he made supporting our veterans a core element of his Unity Agenda. And, the legislation supports President Biden’s reignited Cancer Moonshot to help end cancer as we know it.
By signing the bipartisan PACT Act, President Biden is delivering for America’s veterans and their families, and demonstrating that we can – and will – come together where we agree to get big things done for our country.
White House.gov. 08/10/2022.
The PACT Act: Delivering Critical Health Care and Other Benefits for Veterans
Named in honor of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson, a decorated combat medic who died from a rare form of lung cancer, this historic legislation will help deliver more timely benefits and services to more than 5 million veterans—across all generations—who may have been impacted by toxic exposures while serving our country. Danielle Robinson, the widow of Sergeant First Class Robinson, was a guest of the First Lady at President Biden’s first State of the Union address when he called on Congress to pass a law to make sure veterans devastated by toxic exposures – like her husband – finally get the health care and benefits they deserve.
White House.gov. 08/10/2022.
The PACT Act will:
- To ensure veterans can receive high-quality health care screenings and services related to potential toxic exposures, the PACT Act expands access to VA health care services for veterans exposed during their military service. For post-9/11 combat veterans, the bill extends the period of time they have to enroll in VA health care from five to ten years post-discharge. For those combat veterans who do not fall within that window, the bill also creates a one-year open enrollment period. These expansions mean that more veterans can enroll in VA health care without having to demonstrate a service connected disability.
- The PACT Act codifies VA’s new process for evaluating and determining presumption of exposure and service connection for various chronic conditions when the evidence of a military environmental exposure and the associated health risks are strong in the aggregate but hard to prove on an individual basis. PACT requires VA to seek independent evaluation of this process as well as external input on the conditions it will review using this framework. The new process is evidence-based, transparent, and allows VA to make faster policy decisions on crucial exposure issues. This new process has already fundamentally changed how VA makes decisions on environmental exposures and ensures more veterans have access to the care they need.
- The legislation removes the need for certain veterans and their survivors to prove service connection if they are diagnosed with one of 23 specific conditions. This greatly reduces the amount of paperwork and need for exams that veterans diagnosed with one of these conditions must complete before being granted access to health care and disability compensation, thereby speeding up their receipt of the benefits they have earned. This list includes 11 respiratory related conditions, along with several forms of cancer, including reproductive cancers, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, and brain cancers such as glioblastoma. Survivors of veterans who died due to one of these conditions may now also be eligible for benefits.
- To better understand the impact of toxic exposures, the PACT Act requires VA to conduct new studies of veterans who served in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War and analyses of post-9/11 veterans’ health trends. The new law also directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to convene a new interagency working group to develop a five-year strategic plan on toxic exposure research.
- Ensuring veterans get the care they need includes ensuring that they are screened for toxic exposure and that VA personnel have the appropriate education and training. The PACT Act requires that veterans enrolled in VA health care be screened regularly for toxic exposure related concerns. This new law also requires VA to establish an outreach program for veterans regarding toxic exposure related benefits and supports, and to require additional toxic exposure related education and training for VA personnel.
- This bill also delivers critical resources to VA to ensure it can deliver timely access to services and benefits for all veterans eligible – including those already enrolled. The PACT Act provides VA with mechanisms to enhance claims processing and to increase the workforce. The bill also invests in VA health care facilities by authorizing 31 major medical health clinics and research facilities in 19 states.
Biden-Harris Administration Record of Action on Military Toxic Exposures
This historic legislation builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s existing efforts to address the harmful effects of environmental exposures affecting service men and women:
White House.gov. 08/10/2022.
- Established Presumption for Rare Respiratory Cancers: In April 2022, VA defined presumptive service connection for several rare respiratory cancers for certain veterans – a step that marked progress toward President Biden’s commitment to end cancer as we know it. Since this change, VA has been able to complete more claims for veterans and survivors involving a possible presumption of rare respiratory cancer. With VA taking steps to raise awareness of these benefits, we expect the number of claims to rise in the months ahead.
- Processing Claims for New Presumptive Respiratory Conditions: In August 2021, VA began processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis based on presumed exposure to particulate matter. Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and other areas and who developed these conditions within ten years of military service are now eligible to apply for disability benefits and access to VA health care. Since August, VA has completed 33,276 claims, granting over 25,000 veterans and their survivors benefits for one or more conditions, leading to over $93 million in retroactive benefit payments.
- Raising Awareness of VA Benefits Related to Military Exposures: Many veterans remain unaware of their eligibility for benefits and services related to potential military exposures. Beginning in November 2021, VA launched a proactive campaign to inform and encourage veterans to file claims related to military environmental exposures.
- Requiring Training for VA and Non-VA Providers: Health care providers and compensation and pension examiners sometimes do not have the training to understand or treat veterans’ exposure concerns. To address this challenge, VA directed compensation and pension providers and Veterans Health Administration clinicians to complete a training module on assessing deployment related to environmental exposures. VA is also encouraging all providers who care for veterans outside of VA through the Community Care Network contract to complete training on the TRAIN Learning Network, VA’s publicly available training site. Furthermore, VA employees and community care providers have been directed to utilize the Exposure Ed App to help providers provide information to veterans on health effects associated with certain exposures during military service. More information on the app is available here.
- Implementing a Network of Specialized Providers and Call Center: Veterans with concerns about the health outcomes of military exposures experience inconsistent care to address these specific issues, especially outside of VA. Earlier this year, VA launched VET-HOME, The Veterans Exposure Team-Health Outcomes of Military Exposures. VA plans to hire health professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who will specialize in conducting patient assessments regarding the health effects of military exposures. By January 2023, VA expects to have a fully operational call center and network of experts to help veterans concerned about environmental exposure and provide consultative services to veterans in primary care clinics.
President Biden’s remarks are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. D.C., time.
There doesn’t appear to be a briefing today…*shrug*
This is an Open Thread.
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