President Biden’s public schedule for Tuesday 05/02/2023:
| 10:00 AM | In-Town Pool Call Time The White House In-Town Pool |
| 12:00 PM | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Oval Office Closed Press |
| 1:00 PM Press Briefing | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
The Small Business Week Tweets
From Monday…
The YouTube is 30 minutes and 9 seconds long. President Biden’s remarks can be found here. Remarks given by Vice President Harris can be found here.
I posted the full fact-sheet; President Biden Delivers Update on His Strategy to Build on America’s Small Business Boom, while Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans Threaten to Harm Small Businesses and Eliminate Jobs in Monday’s Biden Bits.
What I did not see for yesterday’s Biden Bits was; A Proclamation on National Small Business Week, 2023
From barber shops, beauty salons, and pizza parlors to manufacturing companies and mom-and-pop shops, Americans have applied to form a record 10.5 million small businesses in the past two years. This week, we celebrate the backbone of our economy and the glue of our communities: our small businesses, which help make our Nation strong.
Nearly half of all private sector workers in our country are employed by small businesses. These businesses also account for almost half of our Nation’s gross domestic product. They create many of the goods and services Americans rely on to sustain their everyday lives. For many families, owning a small business is also the fulfillment of their dreams, their path to a better life, their chance to build a family legacy, and a source of community enrichment. But as so many entrepreneurs know well, success can never be taken for granted.
Success requires access to capital to meet payroll, pay rent, buy inventory, and grow. Small businesses need resilient supply chains so products can get out the door and arrive on time, and they need high-speed Internet to process transactions and connect with customers around the world. They also need the confidence that, when the going gets tough, support is close by.
When companies were shuttering their doors and laying off workers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Administration delivered a capital infusion of more than $450 billion to the small business sector to keep Main Streets across America operating and employees on the payroll. To create long-term benefits for our economy, I signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Together, these new laws are creating billions of dollars in contracting opportunities for America’s small businesses and investing hundreds of billions of Federal dollars to rebuild our infrastructure, bring manufacturing back to America, and launch a clean energy revolution right here in the United States.
Our historic investment in semiconductors — the tiny computer chips that power everything from smartphones to cars — will create a manufacturing boom, including for small businesses throughout the semiconductor supply chain. Record funding for clean energy development means small businesses have the opportunity to build electric and other fuel cell vehicles and charging stations. My Administration is committed to investing in America and empowering its small businesses to thrive. I underscored that during my State of the Union Address when I announced new standards that require all construction materials used in these new Federal infrastructure projects to be made in America — ensuring our country’s future is built right here at home.
We need to make sure all American small business owners benefit from these investments. That is why I am committed to improving access to capital, contracts, technical expertise, and financial and legal assistance for small business owners from historically underrepresented communities. Through our State Small Business Credit Initiative, States, territories, and Tribal governments are helping small business owners, including socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, access billions of dollars in loans and investments. The Small Business Administration is revamping its existing loan programs to expand access to small-dollar loans and increase the number of lenders that offer guaranteed loans, both of which can make a major difference for the smallest businesses and minority- and women-owned businesses that may have trouble accessing capital.
One of the first actions taken by my Administration was to make the Minority Business Development Agency a permanent part of the Department of Commerce. In March, I hosted the second annual Women’s Small Business Summit at the White House, where I announced the establishment of the largest network of Women’s Business Centers ever across America. My Administration has invested nearly $70 million in this network, expanding it to all 50 States for the first time in our history. The centers offer training and mentoring to help women entrepreneurs develop business plans, launch new businesses, and access credit and capital.
Vice President Kamala Harris has convened small business owners and entrepreneurs across our Nation to inform them about the resources, capital, and support we are offering them. Last year she announced the formation of the new Economic Opportunity Coalition, an alliance of private sector companies and nonprofits committing tens of billions of dollars of investments in community financial institutions and small businesses. In April of this year, she and the Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo announced our new $1.73 billion investment in the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which provides historically underserved and often low-income communities access to credit, capital, and financial support to grow their businesses.
We are making progress, but I know there is more we can do. I have set a goal to award 15 percent of all Federal contracts to small disadvantaged businesses by 2025, which will bring an estimated additional $100 billion in Federal contracting money to these companies. My new Budget calls for an additional $341 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and I am seeking an additional $30 million for the Community Navigators Pilot Program — which we have already supported with $100 million — so that local nonprofits, government agencies, and organizations can help new entrepreneurs navigate the complex paperwork involved in applying for small business loans.
Building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down, means investing in America’s small businesses. It means opening up doors of opportunity for doers, dreamers, and job creators who represent the restless, bold, and optimistic American spirit. When we make these investments and support these innovators, our Main Streets thrive, our families have good-paying jobs, and America’s future truly knows no bounds.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 30 through May 6, 2023, as National Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the American economy, continue supporting them, and honor the occasion with programs and activities that highlight these important businesses.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
White House.gov. 04/28/2023.
The Mental Health Awareness Month Tweets
From Monday…
From Tuesday…
04/28/2023 the White House posted a; Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month, 2023
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day. Treatment works, and there is no shame in seeking it. Together, we will keep fighting to get everyone access to the care they need to live full and happy lives.
As Americans, we have a duty of care to reach out to one another and leave no one behind. But so many of our friends, colleagues, and loved ones are battling mental health challenges, made worse by the isolation and trauma of COVID-19. Two in five adults report anxiety and depression, and two in five teens describe experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, exacerbated by social media, bullying, and gun violence. Drug overdose deaths are also near record highs, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. It does not have to be this way.
As President, I released a new national strategy to transform how we understand and address mental health in America — supporting and training more providers, improving access to care, and building healthy environments that promote mental health. This work is a core pillar of the Unity Agenda that I outlined in my first State of the Union Address. Mental health is health; it affects everyone, regardless of race, gender, politics, or income. Promoting it is one of the big things that we can all agree to do together as Americans to make our country stronger.
The United States has long faced a shortage of mental health providers. It takes an average of 11 years to get treatment after the onset of symptoms, and less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness ever receive the care they need. This is especially true in rural and other underserved communities. That is why the American Rescue Plan made our Nation’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs — recruiting, training, and supporting more providers at the State and local levels, including in our schools. Last year, when we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years, it contained measures to further increase the number of school psychologists and counselors available to our kids, to make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health care, and to expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care. Additionally, we have invested in training more first responders to address mental health-related issues.
Last year, we also launched 988 as the Nation’s new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline so anyone in the midst of a crisis can receive life-saving confidential help right away. We added dedicated counselors trained in supporting LGBTQI+ youth to the 988 lifeline, and for veterans, we made it easier to reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to reach trained crisis responders. We created a separate Maternal Mental Health Hotline to help mothers navigate mental health issues like postpartum depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, which affect one in five pregnant and postpartum women. Far too often, these disorders go undiagnosed and untreated, so we have invested in programs that bolster screening and treatment and call specific attention to them during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which we also observe this month. Finally, we have passed historic laws that further require insurers to cover mental health care as they would any other kind of treatment, that lower prescription drug costs, and that expand health coverage generally. I am proud that we have seen historic health insurance coverage gains since I took office.
At the same time, we are fighting to expand access to prevention and treatment for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder, which have devastated so many families and communities. This includes expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment in jails and prisons and during reentry to support people when they return home. And last year, we passed a law making it easier for doctors to prescribe effective addiction treatment. Anyone suffering should know they are not alone: We believe in recovery, and we celebrate the courage of the 23 million Americans who have come so far down that road.
We are also expanding mental health care for service members and veterans, to better honor our sacred obligation to the troops we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they are home. We cannot keep losing 17 veterans a day to the silent scourge of suicide. My Administration is increasing access to mental health care, hiring more mental health professionals, and investing in programs that recruit veterans to help one another get the support they need. And we are working to expand rental assistance and job placement programs to help smooth veterans’ return to civilian life. I have also signed laws extending counseling, benefits, and other mental health resources to first responders and their families to help them heal from the trauma that they or their loved ones faced on the job.
There is much more to do. For one, we must finally hold social media companies accountable for the experiments they are running on our children for profit. I have called on the Congress to limit the personal data that tech companies collect, to ban targeted advertising directed at minors, and to require social media platforms to put health and safety first, especially for kids.
We all have a role to play in ending the stigma around mental health issues. It starts by showing compassion, so everyone feels free to ask for help. If you are facing a crisis, dial 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are a new or expecting mother, you can call 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS for confidential professional advice. If you are feeling overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, ask your healthcare provider, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP, or visit www.FindSupport.gov. If someone you know is going through a tough time, reach out and tell them you are there for them. We are all in this together.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to join in activities and take action to strengthen the mental health of our communities and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
White House.gov. 04/28/2023.
twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Find support =’s SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration).gov/find-support.
The Celebrating Eid al-Fitr Tweets
From Monday…
The YouTube is 20 minutes and 28 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
The House Republicans [suck] Tweets
From Monday…
From Tuesday…
The House passed H.R.2811–Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 on 04/26/2023.
| 04/26/2023 | Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 – 215 (Roll no. 199). |
| 04/25/2023 | Introduced in House |
The summary says:
This bill increases the federal debt limit and decreases spending. It also repeals several energy tax credits, modifies the permitting process and other requirements for energy projects, expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs, and nullifies regulations for the cancellation of federal student loan debt.
Specifically, the bill
Congress.gov.
- suspends the debt limit through March 31, 2024, or until the debt increases by $1.5 trillion, whichever occurs first;
- establishes discretionary spending limits for FY2024-FY2033 that include decreases in discretionary spending;
- rescinds certain unobligated funds that were provided to address COVID-19 and to the Internal Revenue Service;
- nullifies certain executive actions and regulations for cancelling federal student loan debt and implementing an income-driven repayment plan for student loans;
- repeals or modifies tax credits for renewable and clean energy, energy efficient property, alternative fuels, and electric vehicles;
- establishes new work requirements for Medicaid and expands the work requirements for SNAP and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; and
- requires major federal rules (e.g., rules likely to result in an annual economic effect of at least $100 million) to be approved by Congress before they take effect.
The bill also includes various provisions related to the development of energy resources such as oil, natural gas, and minerals. For example, the bill requires additional federal oil and gas leasing, reduces or eliminates certain royalties and fees, and expedites the permitting process for various energy projects.
Congress.gov.
When attempting to find a fact-check; like you know, does it truly cut veteran benefits I came across:
CBS News (05/01/2023) that says this; The dispute over veterans’ benefits stems from the mandate in the GOP debt ceiling bill to return to the levels of discretionary spending in the fiscal year 2022 budget. Democrats say that would result in a 22% cut across all programs, while Republicans say they would tailor the cuts through the appropriations process. The GOP plan to raise the debt limit does not explicitly cut veterans programs — but it does not exempt them from cuts either.
They go on to say:
The Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Sen. Bernie Sanders, independent of Vermont, has announced a Thursday hearing to debate the House debt ceiling bill. Democrats are expected to use the hearing to blast the legislation. An early witness list includes an economist, an environmentalist and a clean energy expert. The committee said witnesses from veterans’ groups will be announced.
CBS News.com. 05/01/2023.
VoteVets.org (04/27/2023); wrote a letter saying:
Dear Congressional Colleague,
On behalf of the organizations listed below and the millions of veterans, caregivers, and survivors we represent, many of whom rely on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits, we write to express our grave concerns with The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and urge Congress not to pass this legislation unless it includes protections for VA funding.
Over the past few years, VA has seen significant advancements in veteran healthcare and benefits. If enacted, the proposed legislation would dramatically reduce total federal discretionary spending and could endanger funding for VA and veterans’ programs. Without specific language to explicitly protect VA from the impact of the proposed budget reductions, it would leave many veteran resources open to cuts, potentially undoing years of progress VA has made for those that have earned it.
If the proposed budget reductions were applied across-the-board, the impacts would significantly affect the delivery of care and benefits to veterans. According to VA, cuts of this magnitude, would mean 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, leaving veterans unable to get appointments for care, including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services, and substance use disorder treatment. Additionally, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) would eliminate more than 6,000 staff, increasing the disability claims backlog by an estimated 134,000 claims and forcing Veterans and their surviving loved ones to wait longer for the benefits they have earned, including pensions, life insurance, GI Bill educational support, and employment services.
Our nation’s veterans, caregivers, and survivors have already sacrificed too much. Our country must keep our promises and provide them with the best healthcare and benefits possible. The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 does not spell out the necessary protections and puts these benefits at risk.
We strongly urge Congress to not pass The Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and request that protections to VA funding be added to “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”1
VoteVets.org. 04/27/2023.
Stripes.com said on 04/26/203; The Department of Veterans Affairs projected the bill would reduce its budget by 22% and immediately rescind $2 billion in funding to support veterans. Some lawmakers said Wednesday that the proposal will result in 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits and significantly increase the backlog for benefit claims.
They went on to say;
House Republicans have denied that services for veterans would be affected by their plan. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., the chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, insisted in a statement last week that the bill would protect veterans’ benefits, Social Security and Medicare.
“Republicans have always prioritized veterans in our spending to ensure veterans have access to the care, benefits and services they have earned,” he said. “Anyone who questions our commitment to the men and women who have served should find new talking points.”
Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., a former Navy officer who deployed to Iraq, described the legislation as a betrayal.
“They’re doing these cuts against the backdrop of holding our economy hostage. They’re telling us, ‘If you don’t want to put the economy into default and wreck this country, well, you have to cut veterans care,’” he said. “It’s the same guys who I see all the time wrapping themselves in the flag, using my fellow veterans and me as props in their ads and on their websites. No more. They should be hearing from all of us.”
Stripes.com. 04/26/2023.
President Biden has threatened to veto the spending bill if by some miracle it passes the Democrat held Senate.
The Foreign Policy Tweet
From Monday…
The White House posted the following joint-statement; of the Leaders of the United States and the Philippines
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. is honored to welcome Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Washington, DC. The leaders recognize the remarkable ties of friendship, community, and shared sacrifice that serve as the foundation of the U.S.-Philippines alliance.
President Biden and President Marcos welcome the historic momentum in U.S.-Philippine relations, and resolve to continue expanding engagement and cooperation on all issues of common concern. In efforts to promote inclusive and broad-based prosperity, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, uphold international peace and stability, and ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, the United States and the Philippines will remain the closest of allies, working together to deliver a better future for our citizens and tackle the emerging challenges of the twenty-first century.
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
Partnering for Peace and Security: Strengthening our Alliance, Upholding International Law, and Expanding Regional Collaboration
President Biden reaffirms the United States’ ironclad alliance commitments to the Philippines, underscoring that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, including in the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
The leaders welcome the identification of new sites pursuant to the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving U.S. investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
The leaders underscore their unwavering commitment to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, and the importance of respecting the sovereign rights of states within their exclusive economic zones consistent with international law. The leaders support the right and ability of Filipino fisherfolk to pursue their traditional livelihoods. The leaders note the ruling of the 2016 arbitral tribunal, constituted pursuant to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They affirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity. The leaders convey support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, noting that the conflict has adversely affected food and energy security in the Indo-Pacific.
The leaders welcome cooperation with partners that share the United States’ and the Philippines’ commitment to international law and mutual respect, and in that spirit, they reaffirm their strong support for ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. They look forward to establishing trilateral modes of cooperation among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, as well as the Philippines, Australia, and the United States. Furthermore, they welcome the Quad’s commitment to support a peaceful and stable, rules-based region with ASEAN at the center, through its efforts to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Delivering Prosperity and Resilience: Driving Broad-Based Economic Growth, Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition, and Promoting the Well-Being of Our Citizens
President Biden and President Marcos resolve to draw on the strength of their partnership to promote enduring economic growth and prosperity in the United States, the Philippines, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. To that end, President Biden will dispatch a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines on his behalf, to enhance U.S. companies’ investment in the Philippines’ innovation economy, its clean energy transition and critical minerals sector, and the food security of its people. Furthermore, the leaders announce that the United States and the Philippines will co-host the 2024 Indo-Pacific Business Forum – the United States’ marquee commercial event in the region – in Manila, which will further establish the Philippines as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment. Additionally, the two countries will pursue engagements with stakeholders, including in the business and social sectors, regarding opportunities to enhance bilateral economic engagement in a manner that is worker-centered, sustainability-driven, fair, and transparent, focusing on sectors in which it is critical to develop resilient supply chains and in which significant and meaningful economic value-added and employment can be generated in the United States and the Philippines.
The leaders welcome their countries’ plans to prioritize bilateral economic cooperation through the U.S.-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). The leaders also applaud progress in developing the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which will deliver concrete benefits to our workers, families, and businesses by promoting trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy development, and anti-corruption throughout the region. The two leaders look forward to seeing one another again in San Francisco this November for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, to advance sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the region.
Recognizing that the climate crisis poses an existential threat to the world, and the Philippines’ particular vulnerability to the effects of climate change, the leaders reaffirm they will undertake urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They resolve to expand collaboration on renewable energy production to accelerate the clean energy transition while bringing down energy costs and expanding energy access for families. The leaders hail progress in negotiating a U.S.-Philippines civil nuclear cooperation agreement (“123 agreement”). The United States and the Philippines will also pursue an ambitious program of cooperation on wind, solar, and geothermal energy, while enhancing cooperation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the waste, road, and shipping sectors.
The leaders further resolve to expand cooperation on environmental protections, including enhanced domain awareness, marine conservation, and protecting coastal areas from environmental degradation. Acknowledging the paramount significance of science and technology in propelling our countries forward, the leaders pledge to promote increased cooperation and knowledge sharing between the United States and the Philippines through the Science and Technology Agreement (STA), and they welcome U.S. plans to establish an Open-RAN Interoperability Lab in Manila. Recognizing the importance of enhancing and sustaining joint efforts in outer space activities, the leaders also welcome their countries’ plan to prioritize and strengthen bilateral space cooperation, including by convening their first bilateral Civil Space Dialogue this year.
The leaders underscore the importance of strong democratic institutions, rule of law, and respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, press, and association, and they note the importance of countering any form of violence in our societies, such as that against civil society, women, children, and marginalized groups. The leaders welcome the establishment of a bilateral Labor Working Group as part of the U.S.-Philippines TIFA, which will provide an important opportunity for the United States and the Philippines to work together on implementation of internationally recognized labor rights, and to facilitate exchange and dialogue among U.S. and Philippine governments and labor unions, as well as employer organizations.
The leaders recognize that the people-to-people ties between the two countries are an indispensable pillar of our partnership, manifested in their immense contributions to both the United States and the Philippines. The leaders note the service and sacrifice of Filipinos in World War II, and more recently, the significant contributions of Filipino Americans on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking to the future, President Biden and President Marcos express the utmost confidence that the special ties between their nations and their people will only grow stronger with time, as the United States and the Philippines continue to realize their shared vision of partnership, peace, and prosperity.
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
The White House posted the following fact-sheet; Investing in the Special Friendship and Alliance Between the United States and the Philippines
At the White House, President Biden and President Marcos advanced an ambitious agenda for the U.S.-Philippines alliance and celebrated the tremendous momentum now animating bilateral efforts to advance prosperity, security, and friendship among our peoples.
Today President Joe Biden welcomes Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to the White House. This follows President Biden’s September 2022 meeting with President Marcos in New York, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to the Philippines in November 2022.
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines, and the leaders discussed efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance. The leaders reviewed opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand our nations’ special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy transition and address the climate crisis, and ensure respect for human rights. The leaders discussed regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
President Biden and President Marcos announced a number of new arrangements and initiatives to expand on the historic momentum in U.S.-Philippine relations, including the adoption of Bilateral Defense Guidelines, President Biden’s dispatching of a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines, the launch of an Open RAN 5G interoperability lab in Manila, and the establishment of a bilateral Labor Working Group.
THE U.S.-PHILIPPINES ALLIANCE
The Philippines is the United States’ oldest ally in the Indo-Pacific. Since 1951, the U.S.-Philippines alliance has advanced peace, prosperity, and security for the United States, the Philippines, and the broader Indo-Pacific region. Now the United States and the Philippines are modernizing the alliance and building a strong and resilient architecture that is designed to meet emerging challenges, while routinizing joint planning and improving interoperability. On April 28, we concluded the largest-ever iteration of our flagship bilateral military exercise, Balikatan. We are also expanding cooperation among our coast guards to better address the challenges posed by illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and other unlawful maritime activities; when Vice President Harris visited Palawan in November 2022, she announced $7.5 million in new assistance to enhance the capabilities of Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies, as well as a new program to upgrade the Philippine Coast Guard’s vessel traffic management system.
Furthermore, the Philippines and the United States have identified four new sites pursuant to the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which will strengthen Philippine security and support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization goals, while driving U.S. investment to local communities across the Philippines and improving our shared ability to rapidly deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
At the White House, President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad alliance commitments to the Philippines, underscoring that an armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. President Biden and President Marcos announced the following arrangements and initiatives:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Bilateral Defense Guidelines: The United States and the Philippines are adopting Bilateral Defense Guidelines that institutionalize key bilateral priorities, mechanisms, and processes to deepen alliance cooperation and interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. The Guidelines support the continued modernization of the alliance and ongoing efforts to adapt alliance coordination to respond to the evolving security environment. As outlined in the Guidelines, the United States and the Philippines will advance efforts to deepen interoperability, particularly through enhanced bilateral planning; information-sharing; accelerated defense capability development; and collaboration on emerging security challenges.
- Enhancing the Capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines: The United States intends to transfer to the Armed Forces of the Philippines two Island-class patrol vessels, two Protector-class patrol vessels, and three C-130H aircraft, pending applicable Congressional notification requirements. Additionally, two Cyclone-class coastal patrol vessels were transferred to the Philippines in late April, and are now en route to Manila. These transfers will support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program by enhancing its maritime and tactical lift capabilities.
- EDCA Sites Driving Sustainable Development and Investment in Local Communities: The United States is working closely with communities in the vicinity of the EDCA sites to fully realize their positive value for local development and for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. To that end, the United States will expand our work in these communities and areas to support health, education, environmental protection, economic growth, and disaster preparedness.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION: PROMOTING INVESTMENT, INNOVATION, AND INCLUSIVE PROSPERITY
The close economic ties between the United States and the Philippines have long supported high-quality investment, good jobs, and sustained economic growth in both countries. All regions of the Philippines benefit from U.S. investment, and employees of U.S. companies in the Philippines earn annual wages that are 50% above the average family’s income. U.S. business services company Concentrix is the Philippines’ largest private sector employer, while U.S. investment firm KKR invested $1 billion in Philippine telecom infrastructure in 2022 alone and U.S. technology companies such as Texas Instruments, onsemi, Amkor, and Analog Devices have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the Philippines’ semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
The Philippines and the United States are also partnering with other regional countries to negotiate an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which will promote trade, supply chain resilience, clean economy development, and anti-corruption and tax efforts. The countries are also collaborating closely at meetings throughout the U.S. 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) host year. To add further momentum to our special economic ties, President Biden and President Marcos announced the following new initiatives:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Presidential Trade and Investment Mission: President Biden intends to dispatch a Presidential Trade and Investment Mission to the Philippines on his behalf – the first mission of its kind – to enhance U.S. companies’ investment in the Philippines’ innovation economy, its clean energy transition and critical minerals sector, and the food security of its people. The Presidential Trade and Investment Mission will feature the highest caliber of U.S. business leaders.
- Bringing the Indo-Pacific Business Forum to the Philippines: The United States and the Philippines will co-host the 6th annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) in Manila, pending Congressional notification. The IPBF, sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), is the United States’ marquee annual commercial event in the region, convening the highest level of public and private sector leaders to review policy developments, announce new investments, and identify new commercial partnerships. Expected to take place in spring of 2024, the Forum will strengthen the Philippines’ position as a key hub for regional supply chains and high-quality investment.
- Open RAN 5G Interoperability Lab: To advance a secure 5G rollout in the Philippines, strengthen its innovation economy, and provide digital upskilling opportunities to Philippine workers, the United States intends to establish a brick-and-mortar Open RAN Interoperability Lab in Manila, pending Congressional notification. The Lab will provide hands-on training to current and aspiring 5G professionals and provide an opportunity for vendors and operators deploying Open RAN worldwide to teach and educate local engineers in how to design, build, and operate these open, secure, and interoperable networks.
- Investing in Sustainable, High-Quality Infrastructure: The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is launching a new partnership to scale up infrastructure development in the Philippines and support the construction of high-quality railways, ports, and transport systems. Additionally, over the course of 2023, USTDA will launch new sustainable infrastructure activities intended to leverage over $3 billion in public and private financing to strengthen the Philippines’ critical mineral supply chains, advance smart grid technologies and clean energy solutions, promote secure 5G deployment, strengthen airport security and maritime safety, and support healthcare infrastructure across the Philippines.
- Expanding U.S.-Philippines Air Transportation Links: The United States and the Philippines intend to expand air connectivity and modernize our bilateral aviation relationship, which will strengthen our economic and people-to-people ties. U.S. and Philippine aeronautical authorities will formalize a technical aviation dialogue at the upcoming APEC Transportation Ministerial Meeting in Detroit to enhance policy and regulatory alignment, with a view towards modernizing the U.S.-Philippines air transportation agreement.
- Space Cooperation: The United States and the Philippines will strengthen bilateral cooperation on space situational awareness and the use of space for maritime domain awareness, including through the first-ever U.S.-Philippines Civil Space Dialogue. The countries will collaborate on the use of space-based technology in the areas of disaster management and emergency response, healthcare, mapping of resources and accessibility, pollution monitoring, deforestation, land use and infrastructure planning, and maritime awareness. The leaders welcome the strengthening of bilateral cooperation on the Landsat Program, including the possibility for the Philippines to download imagery directly from Landsat satellites to its ground stations.
EDUCATION AND PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES
The United States and the Philippines benefit from unique bonds of friendship and community among our peoples, and millions of Filipino Americans enrich communities across the United States. The United States’ only overseas VA Service Center is located in Manila, where it fulfills our special obligations to the many Filipinos who served under the U.S. flag. The Philippines is also home to the longest continuously running Fulbright Program – now celebrating its 75th anniversary. We will mark this special milestone by expanding U.S.-Philippine exchange programs and strengthening alumni networks among the thousands of Filipinos who have benefited from these programs. Additionally, President Biden and President Marcos announced the following new initiatives:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Investing in the Next Generation of Philippine Leaders: The U.S. government is on track to provide $70 million to support more than 2,000 exchange participants between the Philippines and the United States over the next ten years. This investment will allow for an expansion of the Fulbright program, the International Visitor Leadership Program, the Philippines Youth Leadership Program, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, the Humphrey program, and other bilateral exchange initiatives with the Philippines. This represents one of the U.S. government’s largest long-term people-to-people commitments globally.
- Philippines-U.S. Friendship Fellowship: The United States and the Philippines welcome plans to establish a Philippines-U.S. Friendship Fellowship (PUFF), which is designed to provide Philippine students and young professionals with unique educational opportunities in the United States, building life-long ties among the next generation of Philippine and American innovators and leaders.
- Building World-Class Universities in the Philippines: USAID will launch a $30 million next-generation higher education partnership to strengthen the Philippine education system, working with Philippine universities to expand their innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development capabilities, pending availability of funds. This flagship education partnership will advance Philippine human capital priorities by supporting universities’ curriculum development, faculty training, higher education policy and management, research, and community engagement.
- Fulbright Advancing Innovation and Capacity-Building: Noting the importance of collaboration among our scientists, innovators, and entrepreneurs, the United States supports the partnerships the Fulbright Commission has established with the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Competition Commission, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and Space Agency; and commits to explore avenues for harnessing these partnerships to achieve capacity-building in areas critical to the Philippines’ national development and economic growth.
ADVANCING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
The United States and the Philippines’ shared democratic values strengthen our alliance immeasurably. Promoting respect for human rights and rule of law, and ensuring civil society leaders and members of marginalized communities are safe from violence, are key priorities for the U.S.-Philippines relationship. The United States looks forward to contributing to the Philippines-UN Joint Programme for Human Rights, a unique mechanism intended to strengthen Philippine accountability mechanisms. The United States and the Philippines are also focused on ensuring workers can organize freely and safely. The United States appreciates President Marcos’s participation in the second Summit for Democracy and looks forward to launching a U.S.-Philippines Democracy Dialogue this year. Today, President Biden and President Marcos announced:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Establishment of a U.S.-Philippines Labor Working Group: The United States and the Philippines will establish a bilateral Labor Working Group, pursuant to the U.S.-Philippines Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. The Labor Working Group will serve as an important platform through which the United States and the Philippines can collaborate to accelerate implementation of internationally recognized labor rights. It will also facilitate exchange and dialogue among U.S. and Philippine governments and labor unions, ensuring that workers’ voices will shape the way ahead.
COLLABORATION ON CLEAN ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The United States and the Philippines are deepening collaboration to fight climate change, expand clean energy production, and protect the environment. We will endeavor to keep energy prices down for families while urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions by expanding wind, solar, and geothermal energy production in the Philippines, including through our Energy Policy Dialogue. We are expeditiously negotiating a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (or “123” Agreement), which will provide a legal foundation for significant transfers of nuclear material and equipment, while concurrently enhancing capacity-building and commercial cooperation in nuclear energy. Furthermore, the United States and the Philippines have adopted a “ridge-to-reef” model of environmental protection, collaborating to promote sustainable fisheries and marine conservation, combat the illegal lumber and wildlife trade, advance ecosystem-based adaptation, rehabilitate valuable wetlands, and promote good governance in the mining sector. Today, President Biden and President Marcos announced the following new initiatives:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Partnership on Critical Minerals: USAID will invest an additional $5 million, pending Congressional notification, to support increased production of processed minerals and expand downstream mineral industries in the Philippines, such as the production of electric vehicle components and information and communications technologies (ICT) equipment, while improving governance standards in the mining industry. In addition, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) intend to partner on the identification and classification of mineral commodity resources, and capacity-building on minerals governance. Finally, the Department of State will establish technical cooperation with the Philippines to develop the country’s nickel and copper resources in a manner that promotes sustained economic growth and social benefit. This builds on USTDA’s ongoing work to support the development of environmentally sustainable nickel processing facilities in the Philippines.
- Green Energy Auctions: USAID will partner with the Philippine Department of Energy to conduct the Philippines’ second round of green energy auctions – bidding out a combined 11.6GW of solar, onshore wind, biomass and waste-to-energy capacity to be installed from 2024 to 2026, representing nearly half the country’s current energy capacity.
- Partnership on Nuclear Energy: As the United States and the Philippines continue to develop a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, the United States will provide capacity-building support through the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) program, which will help the Philippines develop a national civil nuclear engineering workforce. The United States will also arrange a study tour this summer for Philippine legislators and government officials to explore the potential for nuclear energy to meet the Philippines’ clean energy needs, consistent with the highest standards of nuclear security, safety, and nonproliferation.
- Environmental Protection: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DENR have committed to work jointly to address the serious health and environmental risks associated with climate change and environmental degradation. This partnership will apply best practices and cutting-edge technologies to address challenges like methane reduction, food waste, marine plastic litter, water quality, and environmental justice. In addition, the Department of Interior intends to partner with DENR to protect shorelines and ecosystems through “ridge-to-reef” conservation and research efforts.
SUPPORTING RESILIENT AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
The United States and the Philippines are close partners in promoting health security and supporting inclusive community resilience. In FY 2022 funding alone, USAID expects to provide over $135 million in development assistance to support these efforts, subject to Congressional approval. We are proud to have provided the Philippines more than $52 million in COVID-19 assistance, in addition to donating 33 million safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines in partnership with COVAX, building on the United States’ $600 million investment in the Philippine health sector over the past twenty years.
USAID has responded to over 50 disasters in the Philippines since 1990, providing life-saving emergency assistance while building up the Philippines’ domestic response capacity. Since 2010, the United States has provided over $363 million in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery assistance–excluding COVID-19 assistance–to help over 100 cities and municipalities across the Philippines. The United States is also supporting Philippine efforts to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious disease threats through technical assistance and investments that strengthen the capacity of laboratories, improve disease surveillance and emergency management systems, and establish robust risk communication and biosafety and biosecurity measures.
Today, President Biden and President Marcos announced the following new initiatives:
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
- Advancing Food Security: On May 5, the United States and the Philippines will convene their inaugural Food Security Dialogue, a high-level platform led by the U.S. and Philippine Departments of Agriculture, mandated to coordinate enhanced bilateral efforts to create resilient food systems and advance agricultural trade, innovation, and sustainability. The Department of Commerce intends to dispatch its first-ever trade mission on agricultural technology to the Philippines in September 2023, with stops in Manila and Davao City. In addition, the U.S. National Science Foundation will support joint research on food security with U.S. and Philippine experts at the International Rice Institute in Los Baños.
- Advancing Water Security: USAID assistance will mobilize $100 million over the next five years to increase access to safe drinking water for 1.22 million Filipinos and provide sanitation services to 710,000 people, while strengthening water management institutions, increasing access to climate-resilient water supply, improving water resource management, and addressing water financing gaps.
- Protecting Critical Water Infrastructure: The United States and the Philippines will partner to strengthen the security and resilience of Philippine water infrastructure, supply, and distribution systems. We plan to share best practices and tools, and conduct expert exchanges on ways to prevent, detect, and address physical and cyber incidents. We will also provide cybersecurity training for government personnel and undertake other capacity building efforts.
- Disaster Risk Reduction: USAID is providing an additional $5.3 million for disaster risk reduction and resilience programming in the Philippines, building national and local capacity to prepare for and respond to disasters, while addressing the long-term needs of at-risk communities. In addition, the United States and the Philippines, building upon long-standing cooperation in the field of science, technology, and innovation (STI), will co-host an international workshop on “Harnessing STI for Disaster Risk Reduction” in Metro Manila this year, in partnership with the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
- Promoting Health Security and Fighting Tuberculosis: USAID will award an additional $8 million, pending Congressional notification, to support global health security in the Philippines and invest in the Philippines’ biosafety and laboratory capacity, disease surveillance, risk communication, and emergency preparedness. In addition, USAID will partner with the Philippine Department of Health to address the double burden of non-communicable diseases and tuberculosis. This partnership will ensure all Filipinos have access to quality treatment. USAID will also expand support to the Philippines National Tuberculosis Reference Lab, introducing the use the Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing technology to address drug-resistant strains.
The leaders offered remarks before their bilateral meeting. The YouTube is 3 minutes and 39 seconds long.
Their full remarks:
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, Mr. President, welcome back to the White House. We were talking on the way over. It’s been a while since you’ve been here.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: You were with — here with President Reagan, with your father. And we welcome you back.
And, you know, when we met in New York last year, you told me that — that a strong alliance has to continue, quote — I’m using your phrase — “to evolve as we face the challenges of this new century.” And we are facing new challenges. And I can’t think of any better partner to have than you.
I couldn’t agree more that we have to. This relationship has to continue to evolve. And together, we’re tackling climate change, we’re accelerating our countries’ transition to clean energy, and we’re standing up for our shared democratic values and workers’ rights and the rule of law.
And together, we’re deepening our economic cooperation, which is going to continue to deepen and I think is mutually beneficial.
And we’re going to announce that — we’re going to announce today that I’m sending a first-of-its-kind presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines. We talked about that very briefly —
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: — up in New York.
And the United States also reminds [sic] ironclad in our — remains ironclad in our commitment to the defense of the Philippines, including the South China Sea, and we’re going to continue to support the Philippines’ military modernization goals.
Mr. President, our countries not only share a strong partnership, we share a deep friendship — one that has been enriched by millions of Filipino Americans in the communities all across the United States of America.
So, I want to thank you again for being here, and I look forward to our conversation today. And I invite you to make any comments you’d like. The floor is yours.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you very much, Mr. President. And I — as you say, in the difficult times that we are facing ahead of us, I — we need to find many ways to strengthen our alliances and our partnerships in the face of the new economy that we are facing post-pandemic.
Beyond that, there is — there are also the issues — geopolitical issues that have made the region where the Philippines is possibly, arguably the most complicated geopolitical situation in — in the world right now.
And so, it is only natural that — for the Philippines to look to its sole treaty partner in the world to strengthen and to redefine the relationship that we have and the roles that we play in the face of those rising tensions that we see now around the South China Sea and Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions.
So, I welcome very much the opportunity to come here, to visit with you at the White House, and to discuss all these terribly important issues.
We have many things that — that are new that need to be assessed and, again, our role as partners in the world — in our worldview of what we are hoping for the future of peace, not only in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific region but in the whole world.
So, thank you once again for this opportunity, Mr. President.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you. And I’m optimistic things will get even better.
PRESIDENT MARCOS: Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you.
White House.gov. 05/01/2023.
The Jewish American Heritage Month Tweet
From Tuesday…
The White House posted the following Proclamation on; Jewish American Heritage Month, 2023
This month, we celebrate the enduring heritage of Jewish Americans, whose values, culture, and contributions have shaped our character as a Nation. For generations, the story of the Jewish people — one of resilience, faith, and hope in the face of adversity, prejudice and persecution — has been woven into the fabric of our Nation’s story. It has driven us forward in our ongoing march for justice, equality, and freedom as we recommit to upholding the principles of our Nation’s founding and realizing the promise of America for all Americans.
For centuries, Jewish refugees fleeing oppression and discrimination abroad have sailed to our shores in search of sanctuary. Early on, they fought for religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles upon which America was built. Union soldiers celebrated Passover in the midst of the Civil War. Jewish suffragists fought to expand freedom and justice. And Jewish faith leaders linked arms with giants of the Civil Rights Movement to demand equal rights for all.
Jewish Americans continue to enrich every part of American life as educators and entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, scientists and entertainers, public officials and activists, labor and community leaders, diplomats and military service members, public health heroes, and more. Last year, I was proud to host the White House’s first-ever Jewish New Year reception. During our Hanukkah celebration, I was also proud to unveil the first-ever permanent menorah at the White House — reinforcing the permanency of Jewish culture in America. In my own life, the Jewish community has been a tremendous source of friendship, guidance, and strength through seasons of pain and seasons of joy.
But there is also a dark side to the celebrated history of the Jewish people — a history marked by genocide, pogrom, and persecution — with a through line that continues in the record rise of antisemitism today. We have witnessed violent attacks on synagogues, bricks thrown through windows of Jewish businesses, swastikas defacing cars and cemeteries, Jewish students harassed on college campuses, and Jews wearing religious attire beaten and shot on streets. Antisemitic conspiracy theories are rampant online, and celebrities are spouting antisemitic hate.
These acts are unconscionable and despicable. They carry with them terrifying echoes of the worst chapters in human history. Not only are they a strike against Jews, but they are also a threat to other minority communities and a stain on the soul of our Nation. I decided to run for President after I saw this hatred on display during the rally in Charlottesville, when neo-Nazis marched from the shadows spewing the same antisemitic bile that was heard in Germany in the 1930s. These incidents remind us that hate never truly goes away — it only hides until it is given just a little oxygen. It is our obligation to ensure that hate can have no safe harbor in America and to protect the sacred ideals enshrined in our Constitution: religious freedom, equality, dignity, and respect. That is the promise of America.
I have made clear that I will not remain silent in the face of this antisemitic venom, vitriol, and violence. During my first year in office, I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to help State and local law enforcement better identify and respond to hate crimes. I appointed Deborah Lipstadt, a historian of the Holocaust, as the first Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. And my Administration also secured the largest increase in funding ever for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and Jewish day schools.
At my direction, we are also developing the first national strategy to counter antisemitism that outlines comprehensive actions the Federal Government will undertake and that reflects input from over a thousand Jewish community stakeholders, faith and civil rights leaders, State and local officials, and more. This strategy will help combat antisemitism online and offline, including in schools and on campuses; improve security to prevent antisemitic incidents and attacks; and build cross-community solidarity against antisemitism and other forms of hate.
But governance alone cannot root out antisemitism and hate. All Americans — including business and community leaders, educators, students, athletes, entertainers, and influencers — must help confront bigotry in all its forms. We must each do our part to put an end to antisemitism and hatred and create a culture of respect in our workplaces, schools, and homes and across social media.
This Jewish American Heritage Month, let us join hands across faiths, races, and backgrounds to make clear that evil, hate, and antisemitism will not prevail. Let us honor the timeless values, contributions, and culture of Jewish Americans, who carry our Nation forward each and every day. And let us rededicate ourselves to the sacred work of creating a more inclusive tomorrow, protecting the diversity that defines who we are as a Nation, and preserving the dignity of every human being — here at home and around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year two thousand twenty‑three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
White House.gov. 04/28/2023.
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