Biden Bits: Texted In…

Biden Tweets Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

President Biden’s public schedule for Thursday, 01/26/2023:

9:00 AM The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Closed Press
10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time
In-Town Pool
1:40 PM The President departs the White House en route Springfield, Virginia
South Grounds In-Town Travel Pool
2:45 PM The President delivers remarks on our economic progress since taking office
Open Press
3:50 PM The President arrives at the White House
South Grounds In-Town Travel Pool
5:30 PM The President and The First Lady host a Lunar New Year Reception by 7:00 am]
East Room Pooled for TV and Pre-Credentialed Media

President Biden’s 2:45 p.m. D.C., time remarks:


The Lunar New Year Reception remarks:


President Biden has tweeted…

He’s posted 3 tweets so far for Thursday.

His 2nd tweet from Thursday will be shared down thread.

President Biden’s 1st tweet for Thursday:

Inflation Reduction Act.


President Biden’s 3rd tweet for Thursday:

The Department of Labor said this morning;

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA
In the week ending January 21, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 186,000, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 2,000 from 190,000 to 192,000. The 4-week moving average was 197,500, a decrease of 9,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 750 from 206,000 to 206,750. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.2 percent for the week ending January 14, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending January 14 was 1,675,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up 8,000 from 1,647,000 to 1,655,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,664,250, a decrease of 10,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 2,000 from 1,673,000 to 1,675,000.

DOL.gov. 01/26/2023.

When the post was posted for Wednesday, President Biden had tweeted 3 times. He added 14 tweets giving him a Wednesday Tweeting Total of 17 tweets and 0 retweets.

The YouTube is 9 minutes and 23 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.


President Biden’s 2nd tweet for Thursday:

The video is 1 minute and 28 seconds long.

President Biden: I worked very hard to bring gas prices down. And Republicans on the Hill are trying to make it harder to bring them down again. I’m not kidding. Last spring we saw gas prices skyrocket as Putin intensified his attacks on independent Ukraine. I took decisive action.

President Biden: I talk to our allies, and I ordered the largest, most significant oil release from U.S. and global reserves in all of history. I took this action to protect American families and to strengthen the economy. And it worked. Energy prices came down across the board. Natural gas, oil, electricity, gasoline.

President Biden: Gas prices are down as much as $1.60 per gallon from their peak. Inflation came down as well. The American economy proved its resilience despite threats from Putin. And guess what the Republicans in Congress are trying to do now?

President Biden: Raise prices on American drivers–take away the very tools we used to secure America’s economy. Blinded by politics, they reduce the ability of any president to provide relief to American families from natural disasters and foreign threats.

President Biden: And for what? To support oils companies who already have record high profits? I’m not gonna stand for that. Isn’t this crazy? Republican came to Congress talking a big game about bringing costs down. Well, right now they’re proposing a 30 percent national sales tax while tying our country’s hands when it comes to lowering gas prices.

President Biden: I can’t believe I have to say this, but members of the Congress should be making your costs lower, not higher. I oppose this bill and so should you.

He is talking about two separate bills.

H.R. 21–Strategic Production Response Act and H.R. 25–FairTax Act of 2023


The article linked by Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm takes us to a Canary Media article titled; Chart: Clean energy jobs are booming. What sectors are growing most?

The opening snip:

Canary Media’s chart of the week translates crucial data about the clean energy transition into a visual format.

More than 120,000 new clean energy jobs were created in the U.S. in 2021, according to research from trade group Advanced Energy United (formerly Advanced Energy Economy). Two sectors dominated job growth in what the group calls ​“advanced energy”: Nearly half of the new positions — 48 percent — were in energy efficiency, and 31 percent were in electric vehicles.

Canary Media.com. 01/20/2023.

Having never heard of Canary Media I clicked over to their about page that says; Canary Media is an independent, nonprofit newsroom covering the transition to clean energy and solutions to the climate crisis. We report on how the world is decarbonizing — from electricity to transportation, buildings and industry — with a critical focus on finding out what works and what doesn’t. Through uncompromising reporting, our journalists dig into the ways businesses, policymakers, investors and communities are moving toward a clean and equitable energy future.



President Biden: And today — today, I’m announcing that the United States will be sending 31 Abram tanks to Ukraine, the equivalent of one Ukrainian battalion.

President Biden: These tanks are further evidence of our enduring and unflagging commitment to Ukraine and our confidence in the skill of the Ukrainian forces. As I told President Zelenskyy when he was here — and today is his birthday, by the way — in December: We’re with you for as long as it takes, Mr. President.

The White House posted the background press call by a Senior Administration on U.S. Support to Ukraine:

Senior Admin Official 1:

Thanks, [senior administration official].  I know you guys have lots of questions, and we want to provide time for you to ask them to our experts.  So, I will make this incredibly short just to sort of set up — offer some framing thoughts.

Number one, today’s announcement that the U.S. is going to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine is very much a continuation of our effort to provide Ukraine with the capabilities that they need to continue to better defend themselves and also, in keeping with that, representative of a long-term — long-term commitment that we have to Ukraine’s defense needs.  And I know [senior administration official] will have more to say on that.

Number two, it’s also very much an indication of the strong unity and the resolve inside the international community to support Ukraine.  You saw that Secretary Austin was out at Ramstein last week, one of 50 nations, for the eighth, now, Defense Contact Group. 

There is incredible unity among our allies and partners to continue to support Ukraine.  And that’s, I think, a real testament to the kind of leadership that President Biden has exuded here, really rallying the world through multiple levers to continue this support, as he says, for as long as it takes. 

So, with that, I’m going to turn it over to [senior administration official].

White House.gov. 01/25/2023.

Senior Admin Official 2:

Great.  Thanks, [senior administration official].  Good morning.  Pleasure to be here with you this morning. 

Today, we will be announcing that the United States will send 31 (inaudible) Ukrainian tank battalions.  Secretary Austin is focused on ensuring that we deliver a full capability to the Ukrainians. 

Together with the collective training we’ve been providing, armored capabilities will improve the Ukrainians’ ability to maneuver, which is a critical asset for Ukraine as they continue to defend and reclaim their territory.

On the tanks specifically, I’m proud to say that Abrams tanks are the best in the world.  This is a tremendous new capability that Ukraine will be getting to boost its long-term defenses. 

We will be procuring these Abrams tanks for Ukraine through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative — or USAI — funding.  While the deliveries will take some time because this is a procurement, the United States will begin now to work to establish a comprehensive training program for the Ukraine (inaudible) tanks are complex systems that require a significant amount of training and maintenance.  So, DoD is currently working through the mechanisms to deliver the fuel and equipment Ukraine will need to operate and to maintain the Abrams.

We do expect other nations to announce contributions of additional armored capability, including some that will be readily available for use on the battlefield in the coming weeks and months.  As you all heard Chancellor Scholz announce, Germany has committed to sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine. 

This Abrams announcement builds on the drawdown package that the Biden administration announced last week at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.  This package includes more than 500 armored vehicles of various types for Ukraine.  And there are additional announcements that came out at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (inaudible) in the category of armored vehicles but also in other critical capability areas, like air defense and artillery.

At this point, as we stand 11 months since Russia launched its brutal and barbaric war against Ukraine, the United States has been the leading provider of weapons and equipment to support Ukraine.  But we have rallied the world and stood strong with our allies to help Ukraine defend themselves against Russian aggression. 

And I would just echo the comments of my colleagues that President Biden has been clear: The United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

White House.gov. 01/25/2023.

Defense.gov posted the following readout; Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov to discuss the U.S. commitment of Abrams tanks. The two leaders also followed up on last week’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which produced an unprecedented level of donations from allies and partners. Secretary Austin and Minister Reznikov also discussed the situation on the ground in Ukraine. 

The leaders pledged to remain in close contact.

Defense.gov. 01/25/2023.

From the USDA; Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Protections for Tongass National Forest

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today finalized protections for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. USDA’s final rule, announced today, repeals the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule and restores longstanding roadless protections to 9.37 million acres of roadless areas that support the ecological, economic and cultural values of Southeastern Alaska.

On his first day in office, President Biden committed to reviewing rules – such as the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule – that may conflict with important national objectives including protecting the environment. This action is among a series of steps the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to conserve and restore some of America’s most cherished lands and waters, many of which are sacred to Tribal Nations.

“As our nation’s largest national forest and the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world, the Tongass National Forest is key to conserving biodiversity and addressing the climate crisis,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Restoring roadless protections listens to the voices of Tribal Nations and the people of Southeast Alaska while recognizing the importance of fishing and tourism to the region’s economy.”

At 16.7 million acres, the Tongass National Forest represents the largest intact tract of coastal temperate rainforest on earth and is considered critical for carbon sequestration and carbon storage to help mitigate climate change. America’s forests are a key climate solution, absorbing carbon dioxide equivalent to more than 10% of U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Today’s announcement reflects the Administration’s commitment to strengthening nation-to-nation relationships and incorporating Indigenous knowledge, stewardship, and Tribal priorities into land management decision-making. Roadless areas in the Tongass are of immense cultural significance for Alaska Native peoples. The forest is within the traditional homelands of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.

This final rule is based on the multiple ecological, social, cultural, and economic values supported by roadless areas on the Tongass, and follows months of engagement with Tribes, rural communities, and partners. The Forest Service received about 112,000 comment documents from individuals and organizations during the public comment period between November 2021 and January 2022 — the majority of which were in favor of restoring roadless protections. The agency reviewed, analyzed and applied this input, alongside the input received during the 2020 rulemaking, to inform USDA’s final decision. USDA also consulted with Southeast Alaska Tribal Nations.

Repealing the 2020 Alaska Roadless Rule, which exempted the Tongass from roadless protections, will return the inventoried roadless areas of the forest to management under the 2001 Roadless Rule, which prohibits road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest in inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions. USDA determined that the underlying goals and purposes of the 2001 Roadless Rule continue to be a critical part of conserving the many resources of the Tongass, especially when it comes to the values that roadless areas represent for local, rural communities, Alaska Native peoples, and the economy of Southeast Alaska.

“Today’s announcement reflects our continued focus on listening to Tribal Nations and people in Southeast Alaska,” said USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources & Environment (NRE) Dr. Homer Wilkes. “Protecting the Tongass will support watershed protection, climate benefits, and ecosystem health and protect areas important for jobs and community well-being – and it is directly responsive to input from Tribal Nations.”

Protecting the Tongass builds on a series of conservation and climate actions the Biden-Harris Administration has undertaken to restore, conserve, and build resilience in our national forests. On Earth Day 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14072 on Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies which led to the first national strategy to scale up nature-based solutions to the climate crisis and directed the first ever national inventory of old growth and mature forests on national forests and grasslands.

At COP26 in Glasgow, the United States joined countries representing 90% of global forest cover in a pledge to reduce deforestation to zero by 2030. The Administration has also made record investments in forest restoration, health, and wildfire prevention through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

The official notice is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Jan. 27, 2023. Additional information also will be available on Regulations.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

USDA.gov. 01/25/2023.

Inflation Reduction Act.

From the White House fact-sheet By the Numbers posted 08/15/2022:

TAXES

Making the Tax Code Fairer

  • $0: how much some of largest, profitable corporations pay in federal income tax.
  • 55: the number of America’s largest, wealthiest corporations that got away without paying a cent in federal income taxes in 2020.
  • $160 billon: how much the top 1 percent of earners is estimated to evade each year in taxes.
  • 15%: the minimum tax on corporate profits the Inflation Reduction Act imposes on the largest, most profitable corporations.
  • $124 billion: savings over 10 years the Inflation Reduction Act will generate from collecting taxes already owed by wealthy people and large corporations, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
  • And no family making less than $400,000 will see their taxes go up a penny.


The event hosted on Tuesday by President Biden and attended by the VP and the Second Gentleman was closed to the press. Reuters reported on Tuesday that several of the Freshman Republican Congresspeeps skipped the event.

All first-time lawmakers were invited to the bipartisan reception hosted by Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, but dozens of Republicans opposed to Biden’s policies were missing from the list of more than 40 registrants that was distributed by the White House for the event.

Among the missing were several who tried to block Republican Kevin McCarthy from being elected speaker earlier this month, before relenting once he offered them extensive concessions.

Reuters. 01/24/2023.

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About Tiff 2519 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.