President Biden’s public schedule for 06/07/2023:
| 10:00 AM | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing The White House Closed Press |
| 12:15 PM | The President and The Vice President have lunch The White House Closed Press |
| 1:00 PM Press Briefing | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
Press Briefing:
All The Tweets
From Tuesday…
The 17 second video GIF shows a map of the states; one click shows the “private investments” and the other click shows “public infrastructure”. You can view the interactive map @ Invest.gov.
EPA’s tweet thread:
Full statement:
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the City of Jackson, Mississippi will receive $115 million to support critical water infrastructure investments that will help ensure safe and reliable drinking water for residents. The funding comes from a $600 million Congressional appropriation championed by President Biden as part of the 2023 Federal budget. With this award and other funding from the President’s Investing in America agenda, the EPA is delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to ensuring that all people, including the people of Jackson, Mississippi, have access to clean, safe drinking water.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting with Jackson residents in their homes, in their churches, and in their schools, and I’ve seen firsthand the water infrastructure challenges they’ve endured for far too long. President Biden and I pledged to do everything in our power to help deliver clean, safe drinking water for the Jackson community, and this action reaffirms our commitment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “These funds will help stabilize and rebuild the city’s water system and make significant strides to provide reliable water service to people’s homes, schools, and businesses. As I’ve said since the onset of this crisis, we will continue to stand with the people of Jackson and work to resolve this longstanding issue together.
President Biden secured an unprecedented $600 million in disaster supplemental funding for the City of Jackson under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, or bipartisan 2023 Federal budget. This initial $115 million award to the Jackson Public Water System will be used to stabilize and rebuild the city’s water infrastructure. These activities include identifying and fixing leaks in the distribution system, developing a system-wide assessment of valves and hydrants, ensuring adequate pumping capacity to maintain water pressure and distribution, and developing a system stabilization and sustainability plan.
“This is an incredible milestone towards ensuring access to safe drinking water for the Jackson, Mississippi community,” said U.S. Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02). “It is a testament to the work Congress has done to provide this funding to Jackson through the bipartisan 2023 federal budget and is a first step in resolving the water crisis for the citizens of Jackson. The continued dedication and commitment of President Biden’s administration is essential and very much appreciated.”
“This is great news for the city of Jackson and our state,” said U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (MS). “Last year’s prolonged water crisis showed us the urgent need for drinking water infrastructure improvements, and I was glad to work with members of the Mississippi congressional delegation to secure emergency funding to help. With this first award, the City of Jackson will have the resources necessary to begin addressing many of the longstanding challenges with its water supply and help guard against future emergencies.”
“This historic funding will impact the residents of Jackson in unprecedented ways. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration for standing with us and leading the efforts to ensure our community received the necessary funding that has been denied to us for so long,” said Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba. “These funds will help provide relief to Jackson residents, who have suffered decades of water insecurity. This aid helps to restore dignity to our city.”
EPA is using its emergency authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Section 1442(b) to award funding to the City of Jackson’s Public Water System. Section 1442(b) allows EPA to make grants to publicly owned water systems to assist in responding to and alleviating emergencies affecting public water systems that are determined to present substantial danger to the public health.
In addition to this appropriation, the City of Jackson and State of Mississippi are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in additional financial support to support water infrastructure upgrades. Many of these programs are part of President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which is advancing environmental justice by ensuring that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment.
Background
Flooding in Mississippi in early August 2022 caused the City of Jackson’s already vulnerable public water system to lack sufficient pressures in some areas, leaving around 150,000 residents without drinkable water. By Aug. 30, 2022, emergencies were declared by the Mayor, the Governor, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and the President. The city was under a state-imposed boil water notice for 40 days, ending on Sept. 16, 2022. Multiple federal, state, and local partners responded, making progress in restoring water pressure and repairing equipment; however, the city needed more time to address staffing shortages, operations, and maintenance issues, and needed infrastructure repairs. In December 2022, a severe cold snap reduced ambient temperatures to well below freezing for 48 hours. Once again, the city lost pressure to thousands of customers and a precautionary city-wide boil water notice was issued. There continues to be an imminent danger that the system could fail again and return to boil water notice without improved management, operation, and maintenance of the system.The City of Jackson has had long-term challenges in meeting National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and has incurred several violations over the years. On Nov. 1, 2022, EPA made an Emergency Determination under Section 1442(b) of SDWA, authorizing the Agency to provide grant funding and technical assistance to the City of Jackson Public Water System and the State of Mississippi, consistent with this emergency authority. On Nov. 29, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint in federal court on behalf of the EPA against the City for failing to comply with SDWA. On the same day, the court approved the Interim Stipulated Order, which was signed by the city and the Mississippi State Department of Health. The Order appointed an Interim Third Party Manager to stabilize the City’s system and build confidence in the system’s ability to supply safe drinking water to customers. To assist the Public Water System in fulfilling commitments established in the order, EPA used its emergency authority under SDWA Section 1442(b) on Dec. 20, 2022, awarding over $2.1 million in grant funding to the City of Jackson’s Public Water System for immediate needs. This latest grant award builds on the great work that has begun to end the drinking water crisis and protect the public health of the citizens of Jackson, Mississippi.
EPA.gov. 06/06/2023.
President Biden’s full statement on Funding for Jackson, Mississippi’s Water Infrastructure:
For years, the people of Jackson, Mississippi, have suffered the consequences of aging water infrastructure. Last summer, the city’s water system reached a crisis point when a major flood aggravated longstanding problems in the system and left tens of thousands of people without any running water for days on end. Long before then, families in Jackson lived under the constant threat of boil water orders.
All Americans deserve access to clean, safe drinking water. That’s why I directed my Administration to make sure the people of Jackson have the resources they need and deserve.
In December, I was proud to sign bipartisan legislation to help stabilize Jackson’s drinking water infrastructure and protect against future crises. Today, as a result of that legislation, I am announcing an initial $115 million investment towards repairing the city’s water infrastructure challenges and delivering clean water for all.
This historic investment would not have been possible without Congressman Bennie Thompson, who has been a steadfast leader in times of crisis, a strong advocate for his constituents, and a great partner, and I want to thank him for his untiring commitment to the Jackson community.
While we have made a lot of progress, there is much more work to do to ensure that all Americans have access to clean water. Thanks to my Investing in America agenda, we’re already deploying record resources to communities all across America to replace lead pipes, improve water quality, and rebuild the Nation’s drinking water infrastructure, ensuring it can withstand the impacts of the climate crisis.
Until all our children can safely drink water from the tap, our fight for clean water must, and will, continue.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
There was a pool spray prior to the Cabinet Meeting. The YouTube is 4 minutes and 27 seconds.
His full remarks:
All right, well, good afternoon. This could have been the week that a catastrophic — catastrophic devault [sic] — default happened, putting millions of people’s jobs in jeopardy. But, instead, we prevented the default, and our historic recovery continues.
And, you know, through a bipartisan agreement here, we proved once again that American democracy can function, and I think it’s impossible for it to be able to function unless you can have compromise and consensus. And we got a lot of that done.
And we got another piece of good news on Friday. We learned that our economy produced 339,000 jobs last month. That’s up to 13.1 million jobs since we came to office.
And today, I’m here with my Cabinet continuing to focus on getting the job done for the American people and continuing to invest in America.
Invest in America is more than just a slogan. We’re investing in the American people, in our infrastructure, our manufacturing. We’re investing in jobs in every — almost every community across the country.
And for the first time in a long time, America is actually investing in itself, and it’s beginning to pay off.
Today, we’re going to discuss the progress we’re making Investing in America and the steps each agency around the table here is taking to build upon that progress and finish the job. Because we’re not finished yet. We got more to do.
We’ll also review the bipartisan budget agreement signed last — I guess I signed it last Saturday, I think it was — to reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion on top of the $1.7 trillion we already reduced in the first two years of — of our administration.
And — and after my predecessor — the last guy that — to sit in this chair — he actually increased the — the national debt by $8 trillion in four years.
And the agreement — this — our agreement protects Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans care. And it protects the economic progress, like the $470 billion in that private investment we’ve attracted to the United States and in the United States in manufacturing, clean energy, and our historic investments in — to fight climate change.
And it also protects the progress we’ve made in lowering costs for insulin and other prescription drugs and home energy bills as well.
Our administration, led by the folks in this room, is focused on implementing the laws we’ve passed and continuing to invest in America.
And we’re focused on securing our border, combatting the climate crisis, and protecting the fundamental rights of Americans.
And one more thing. Just today, we’ve launched a new website. It’s called Invest.gov. You can go online and find the projects we’re delivering on, both the public and private. There’s 32,000 investment projects and billions of dollars in private sector projects that are — communities all across America are already beginning to experience. And we got a lot of work to do.
I’m going to ask Natalie, quickly, to explain, while you’re all here, how it works. We don’t have the ability — it’s not — we don’t have a laptop to type over (inaudible). We’re just going to show you.
She’ll explain the rest of what’s going on.
Nat.
MS. QUILLIAN: I think you explained it quite well. This shows all of the inv- — infrastructure investments on this map. And then if you toggled over, you can see all the private sector investments as well. And then you can go by your state and find what’s happening in your community.
THE PRESIDENT: You can go by — you can go down to every city, town, anywhere on the map and find out exactly how much has been invested so far, what the investment is for, and how it’s going to affect your community. And so people will know. You can check it out and what’s going on.
So, anyway, thank you all for taking the effort to come in. And I’ll see you in a little bit.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
Q: Mr. President, what’s your message to Russia on the dam explosion in Ukraine?
We’re not leaving.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
Q: Sir, what’s your message to Russia?
We are not leaving. We’re going to help Ukraine.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
Q: Mr. President, why no statement on the anniversary of D-Day? It’s such an important day in America’s history and the history of our country.
That’s coming.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
Q: Do you have a comment on the PGA Tour merger with LIV? Do you support it?
I plan on being in the PGA.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
Q: Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
I too was curious as to how come the White House had not posted his D-Day statement before noon D.C., time. But it did finally get posted:
79 years ago today, American and Allied forces “set upon a mighty endeavor”—storming the shores of Normandy and launching the greatest amphibious military operation in history. The brave service members who served on D-Day represent the greatest generation in our history. They stood to oppose the forces of fascism. They volunteered to lay down their lives for our liberty. And together, they answered freedom’s call at its hour of greatest need.
Our World War II service members and veterans kept the ultimate faith to our country, and we must always keep our sacred obligation to them, their families, caregivers, and survivors. Today, as we reflect on their service and remember their sacrifice, let us also recommit to the future they fought for—one grounded in freedom, democracy, equality, and opportunity for all.
White House.gov. 06/06/2023.
From Wednesday…
American Rescue Plan.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
Inflation Reduction Act.
CHIPS and Science Act.
H.R.3746 – Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023
This is an open thread
