President Biden’s public schedule for 07/28/2023:
| 9:00 AM Presidential Daily Brief | The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing Closed Press |
| 9:15 AM | Out-of-Town Pool Call Time Joint Base Andrews Overhang Out-of-Town Pool |
| 9:30 AM | In-Town Pool Call Time In-Town Pool |
| 10:10 AM Leaves the White House | The President departs the White House en route to Joint Base Andrews South Lawn (Gather 10:00 AM – Palm Room Doors) Open Press |
| 10:30 AM Leaves Joint Base Andrews | The President departs Joint Base Andrews en route to Brunswick, Maine Joint Base Andrews Out-of-Town Pool |
| 12:05 PM Leaves Brunswick, Maine | The President departs Brunswick, Maine en route to Auburn, Maine Open Press |
| 12:20 PM Arrives in Auburn, Maine | The President arrives in Auburn, Maine Out-of-Town Pool |
| 12:45 PM | Supplemental Pool Call Time Stakeout Location |
| 1:15 PM Bidenomics Remarks | The President discusses how Bidenomics is driving a manufacturing boom and helping workers and innovators invent and make more in America Open Press |
| 2:15 PM Leaves Auburn, Maine | The President departs Auburn, Maine en route to Brunswick, Maine Out-of-Town Pool |
| 2:30 PM Arrives Brunswick, Maine | The President arrives at Brunswick, Maine Out-of-Town Pool |
| 4:00 PM Campaign Event | The President participates in a campaign reception Restricted Out-of-Town Pool |
| 5:25 PM Leaves Brunswick, Maine | The President departs Brunswick, Maine en route to Dover, Delaware Out-of-Town Pool |
| 7:00 PM Leaves Dover, Delaware | The President departs Dover, Delaware en route to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Out-of-Town Pool |
| 7:30 PM Arrives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware | The President arrives in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle aboard Air Force One en route to Brunswick, Maine |
By the time the post is posted the audio only press gaggle will be a replay…
Extreme Heat Tweets
From Thursday…
The YouTube is 24 minutes and 41 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.
President Biden:
Most people don’t realize: For years, heat has been the — I have to admit I didn’t know it either. I thought it — I knew it was tough, but the number one weather-related killer is heat. The number one weather-related killer is heat. Six hundred people die annually from its effects, more than from floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes in America combined. And even those places that are used to extreme heat have never seen it as hot as it is now for as long as it’s been.
[snip]
I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of climate change anymore. There used to be a time when I first got here — a lot of people said, “Oh, it’s not a problem.” Well, I don’t know anybody — well, I shouldn’t say that — I don’t know anybody who honestly believes climate change is not a serious problem.
Just take a look at the historic floods in Vermont and California earlier this year. Droughts and hurricanes that are growing more frequent and intense. Wildfires spreading a smoky haze for thousands of miles, worsening air quality. And record temperatures — and I mean record — are now affecting more than 100 million Americans.[snip]
Today I’m announcing additional steps to help states and cities deal with the consequences of extreme heat.
[snip]
Even those who deny that we’re in the midst of a climate crisis can’t deny the impact that extreme heat is having on Americans. Americans like an elderly woman in Phoenix who fell out of her wheelchair and, after five minutes on the ground, had third-degree burns. Third-degree burns.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
I posted “FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Heat” in Thursday’s Biden Bits…
Economy Tweets
From Thursday…
From Friday…
From the White House…
Inventions resulting from Federal funding should benefit American producers and workers when possible.
Bidenomics is mobilizing historic levels of private sector investment in the United States, supporting American innovation and research and development (R&D), strengthening domestic manufacturing after decades of offshoring, and creating new, good-paying jobs, including union jobs and jobs that don’t require a college degree. Over the last several decades, American workers, researchers and companies have created and commercialized many of the world’s most important technologies. However, many innovative technologies have ended up being manufactured elsewhere, even when the research behind those inventions has been funded with taxpayer dollars and can be manufactured domestically. On Friday, July 28,President Biden will sign an Executive Order to prioritize America’s policy of “invent it here, make it here”—to the benefit of American workers, communities, and global supply chain resilience.
White House.gov. 07/28/2023.
With the President’s Invest in America historic investments in Federal R&D through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the United States has a once-in-a-generation package of tools and resources to expand our innovative capacity. Through the government innovation practices in the Executive Order, the Administration will promote R&D investments than can directly support American manufacturing and American jobs in the industries of the future—a key pillar of Bidenomics.
To achieve this outcome, today’s Executive Order tackles four core objectives:
First, it will improve transparency, cut red tape, and streamline reporting requirements in the Federal R&D process to better track progress towards our domestic manufacturing goals.
- The Federal Government has historically faced challenges when tracking the lifecycle of technologies developed and commercialized through Federal R&D investment. In particular, the government has lacked the ability to understand how, when, and where investments in R&D lead to domestic manufacturing and the creation of good-paying U.S. jobs. The Executive Order helps to modernize use of the government reporting system—iEdison—to help researchers, companies, and the public better understand the innovation landscape in the United States.
- The Executive Order directs the Department of Commerce to develop contract terms for use by agencies to ease implementation. Agencies are encouraged to use these terms to collect data on inventions and their manufacturing locations. The terms developed by the Department of Commerce will make sure that this reporting protects business confidential information while providing increased visibility into taxpayer-funded R&D investments.
- The Executive Order encourages agencies to streamline reporting requirements to reduce the administrative burden on funding recipients and provide more consistent innovation and commercialization data.
- The Executive Order directs most agencies to transition reporting requirements to a single reporting portal—the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s iEdison—by the end of 2025. Already used by many agencies, iEdison will simplify and centralize reporting for Federal R&D funding recipients and their licensees, who will use one system to report all required information.
- Beginning within two years after the date of this order, agencies that make substantial R&D investments will report annually to the Made in America Director in the Office of Management and Budget on the utilization of inventions developed through their R&D awards, as well as where products using those inventions are being manufactured.
Second, it will boost the incentive to manufacture new inventions in the United States when those inventions are developed using Federal funds.
- The Executive Order encourages agencies to consider domestic manufacturing in their R&D award solicitations.
- The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), working through the National Science and Technology Council, will seek to add domestic manufacturing to the Federal Government’s technology R&D roadmaps. This emphasizes the importance of domestic manufacturing for federally funded inventions, and also encourages potential recipients of Federal funding to build domestic manufacturing into their long-term planning to commercialize their inventions.
- The Executive Order encourages agencies to consider using the broad range of agency authorities used to purchase or invest in leading-edge technologies to support their production in the United States, extending the incentive to manufacture domestically beyond use of those authorities that historically included such a requirement.
Third, it encourages the expansion of domestic production for critical industries while maintaining flexibility to build strong international R&D partnerships
- In deciding whether to expand domestic manufacturing requirements, agencies shall consider the economic and national security interests of the United States, including whether certain critical or emerging technologies should be produced domestically.
- Under the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act, domestic manufacturing requirements are limited to a narrow set of entities—third parties who have received an exclusive license to use and sell an invention in the United States. The Bayh-Dole domestic manufacturing requirement doesn’t apply to an organization with a non-exclusive license, Federal funding awardees themselves, or an organization that takes an invention developed with U.S. Federal funding to market to sell solely overseas. For critical and emerging technologies, agencies are encouraged to expand the domestic manufacturing requirement to not just exclusive licensees but other entities.
- This Executive Order also is forward-facing and maintains the flexibilities to create critical international R&D partnerships that support supply chain resilience and economic security.
Fourth, it will make the domestic manufacturing waiver process clearer, timelier, and more consistent, including when production is not commercially feasible.
- The Department of Commerce will develop a set of common waiver questions for use across the U.S. Government. Relevant criteria for these questions should include, among other things, how the waiver will be used; why it is important that the invention be brought to market; whether there are any potential economic or national security impacts to manufacturing the invention outside the United States; and what benefits will accrue to domestic manufacturing and United States jobs as a result of bringing the invention to market.
- Importantly, waiver applicants will be required to describe the conditions under which the invention will be manufactured abroad, including unionization of workplaces, health and safety standards, labor and wage laws, and environmental impacts. This will support the goal of manufacturing inventions under conditions that are in line with U.S. values when they cannot be manufactured domestically.
- The Executive Order encourages agencies to improve the timeliness of the waiver process by acknowledging receipt of waiver applications within 10 business days and finalizing waiver decisions as soon as possible.
- The Executive Order instructs the Department of Commerce to improve the transparency of the waiver process by developing public guidance on how agencies will approach waiver decisions. The guidance will include a non-exhaustive list of factors for consideration when assessing whether domestic production of an invention is not commercially feasible. This waiver guidance will provide clarity and confidence to the business community and continue to enable collaboration with trusted allies and partners, all while ensuring that U.S.-based manufacturers are not disadvantaged.
Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration met with representatives from more than manufacturers, manufacturing experts, and manufacturers’ associations to discuss how small and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can participate in the Investing in America agenda. Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard, Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mayor Mitch Landrieu, and Chief Economist to the Investing in America Cabinet Heather Boushey, and other senior administration officials reviewed opportunities for domestic manufacturers to participate in clean energy, infrastructure, and semi-conductor supply chains.
During the event, Administration officials highlighted how the Administration’s work to invest in American infrastructure and clean energy is revitalizing America’s manufacturing base, promoting innovation, and creating high quality jobs across the country, as well as the Administration’s work to support training and education so that manufacturers can find the skilled workforce they need. Manufacturers offered advice on how the Biden-Harris Administration can better reach small firms to ensure they can capitalize on the opportunities to participate in Investing in America supply chains.
White House.gov. 07/28/2023.
Participants in the Industrial Strategy for Domestic Manufacturers event included:
Presenters:
- Lael Brainard, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council
- Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator
- Heather Boushey, Member, Council of Economic Advisers, and Chief Economist to the Investing in America Cabinet
- Celeste Drake, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
- Joelle Gamble, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
- Kristina Costa, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy for Clean Energy Innovation & Implementation
- Livia Shmavonian: Made In America Director, Office of Management and Budget
Domestic Manufacturers
- Peter Rawlinson, CEO and CTO, Lucid Motors
- Jessica Nigro, Vice President, Lucid Motors
- Daryl Bouwkamp, Sr. Director, Government Affairs, Vermeer Corporation
- Daniel Catalano, President and CEO, TechSolve
- Daniel Dwight, President and CEO, Cooley Group
- Lori Olund, President, Miles Fiberglass
- Brendan Jones, CEO, Blink Charging
- Vehya Will, A10 Associates
- Bridgid Chandler, Associate, A10 Associates
- Ben Morris, Business Development and Government Affairs, EdgeEnergy
- Christine Callahan, A10 Associates
Other:
- Keith Phillips, Executive Director of Alabama Technology Network
- Alyssa Rodrigues, Director, Alaska MEP Center
- Jim Harrison, Senior Client Advisor, Arizona MEP
- Keith Gammil, Director of Manufacturing Solutions, Arkansas Economic Development Commission
- Rustyn Stoops, Delaware MEP
- Kevin Carr, Chief Executive Officer, FloridaMakes
- Timothy Israel, Director, Georgia MEP
- Wayne Inouye, MEP Center Director, Innovate Hawaii
- David Boulay, President, Illinois Manufacturing Excellent Center
- Ranae Stewart, Interim Executive Director, Purdue MEP
- Mike O’Donnell, Director, Iowa State university, CIRAS
- Scott Broughton, Director of Manufacturing Engagement, Executive Director of Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership
- Jim Fay, Interim President, Maine MEP
- Kimberley Ingalls, Massachusetts MEP
- Ingrid Tighe, President, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
- John Connelly, Consulting, VP, Enterprise Minnesota
- Jeff Sterling, Area Business Manager, Missouri Enterprise
- Paddy Fleming, Center Director, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
- Rhea Gustafson, Senior Manufacturing Business Advisor, Manufacture Nevada
- Jessica Herbert, Director, Manufacturing and Innovation Programs, Empire State Development
- Phil Mintz, Director, North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership
- Traci Spencer, Associate Director, Manufacturing Assistance Programs Strategic Investments Division, Development Ohio
- Dave Rowland, President and CEO, Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance
- Rikki Riegner, Executive Director, Pennsylvania MEP
- Andy Carr, President and CEO, South Carolina MEP
- Jennifer Severson, Grants and Compliance Manager, Lake Area Technical College
- Dwaine Raper, Director, Tennessee MEP
- Bill Donohue, President and Executive Director, Genedge Alliance
- Deloit Wolfe, President and Center Director, Impact Washington
- David Carrick, Associate Director, West Virginia University Industrial Extension
- Buckley Brinkman, Executive Director and CEO, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing and Productivity
- Mark Schmit, Division Chief, MEP NIST
- Olivia Antonelli, Massachusetts MEP
- Kathie Mahoney, Massachusetts MEP
- Kayla Viveiros, Program Manager, Polaris MEP
- Paul McQuade, Director of Operations, ITAC
- Scott Boos, Alliance for American Manufacturing
- Kenneth Rapoza, Coalition for a Prosperous America
- Alaska Chamber Member in place of Kati Capozzi, President and CEO of the Alaska Chamber
- Lance Hastings, President and CEO, CMTA
- Mike Quaranta, President, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce
- Sherry Menor-McNamara, President and CEO, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce
- Alex LaBeau, President, Idaho Assoc. of Commerce and Industry
- Mark Denzler, President & CEO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
- Michael Ralston, President, Iowa Association of Business and Industry
- Frank Jemley, President and CEO, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers
- Brian Davis, Director of Education and Workforce Development, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
- Mary Kane, President & CEO, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Mike Johnston, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs and Workforce Development, Michigan Manufacturers Association
- John McKay, President & CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association
- Ray McCarty, President and CEO, Associated Industries of Missouri
- Carla Sonntag, President, New Mexico Business Coalition
- David Taylor, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association
- Bradley Jackson, President and CEO, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Drew Scheberle, Executive Director, Texas Association of Business
- Rebecca McPhail, President, West Virginia Manufacturers Association
President Biden’s “Bidenomics” remarks are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. D.C., time:
Cancer Moonshot Tweets
From Thursday…
From the White House…
Program launch represents major milestone for new agency established and funded by President Biden and bipartisan members of Congress to revolutionize how we improve health outcomes for Americans facing cancer and other diseases
President’s Unity Agenda also delivering progress in fight against cancer thanks to the Bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act and SERVICE Act, with new steps from the Department of Veterans Affairs, including to expand access to breast cancer screeningsToday, the Biden Cancer Moonshot announced a first-of-its-kind Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) program to develop novel technologies that will allow surgeons to remove cancerous tumors with more precision and accuracy, resulting in better health outcomes for Americans facing cancer. The launch of this program—ARPA-H’s first program targeting cancer and second program overall—represents a major milestone for ARPA-H, the new agency President Biden established and funded with Democrats and Republicans in Congress last year to generate breakthroughs in ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other diseases.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
This historic program will accelerate progress toward the goals set by the President and First Lady for the Cancer Moonshot: cutting the cancer death rate in half—preventing more than 4 million cancer deaths by 2047—and improving the experience of cancer patients, as well as their families and caregivers. It will also advance the President’s Unity Agenda, which is focused on areas that unite Americans, including ending cancer as we know it today.
As part of his Unity Agenda last year, President Biden called on Congress to establish and fund ARPA-H to drive breakthroughs in cancer and other diseases. He has since delivered results—working with Congress on a bipartisan basis to invest $2.5 billion in ARPA-H, leading, in part, to this new program.
Surgical procedures are often the first treatment option for the approximately 2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year. However, current surgical technologies do not allow doctors to easily and fully distinguish cancer cells from normal surrounding tissue in the operating room. This can lead to repeat surgeries, a more difficult recovery, and cancer recurrence, as well as higher health care costs.
ARPA-H’s new Precision Surgical Interventions (PSI) program aims to deliver groundbreaking new tools to enable surgeons to successfully remove cancer for patients through a single operation by better identifying and differentiating between healthy and cancer tissue. Technologies developed through this program will also help surgeons spot and avoid important structures such as nerves, blood vessels, and lymph nodes, which can be mistakenly damaged during invasive surgical procedures. In alignment with the Biden Cancer Moonshot and to advance equity, the PSI program is designed to ensure emerging technologies are accessible in rural and urban areas, improving health outcomes for all Americans facing cancer.
Through a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the PSI program, ARPA-H will solicit proposals for methods and techniques to improve visibility of cancer and other critical anatomical structures during surgery. ARPA-H’s PSI BAA will solicit proposals focused on cancer localization and healthy structure localization. Recognizing that there is likely more than one ambitious solution to this tough challenge, multiple awards under this BAA are anticipated and resources available will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. To ensure the devices can be readily adopted in the real world, awardees will consult with surgeons and ARPA-H on usability. A Proposers Day for interested research teams is scheduled for September 7, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition, the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering progress in the fight against cancer for service members and veterans with new steps through bipartisan action:
- Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxins during their service are now eligible for breast cancer risk assessments and clinically appropriate mammograms at VA. Veterans are eligible for these screenings regardless of age, symptoms, family history, and whether they are enrolled in VA health care. This step marks progress on implementing the SERVICE Act and advances President Biden’s Unity Agenda by supporting veterans and driving progress toward the goals of the Biden Cancer Moonshot and its efforts to expand access to cancer screenings, so more Americans can catch cancer early, when outcomes are best.
- On Tuesday, VA announced that it will conduct a scientific review to determine whether there is a relationship between three conditions—acute leukemias, chronic leukemias, and multiple myeloma outside of the head and neck—and toxic exposures for service members who deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Uzbekistan, and Southwest Asia. This review is a part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts under the Honoring our PACT Act to expand benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans and their families. This action will also deliver on the Biden Cancer Moonshot goals to understand exposures to toxins, and to prevent cancer before it starts.
The Big Question
What if surgeries fixed problems flawlessly, the first time?
The Problem
Every year, nearly 2 million Americans are newly diagnosed with cancer. For solid tumors, surgical removal is often the first option. Yet during surgery, it can be difficult to tell where a tumor ends and healthy tissue begins due to a lack of contrast. Multiple surgeries are often required to successfully remove an entire tumor.
Such tissue contrast challenges are not unique to cancer surgeries. Important anatomical structures such as nerves, blood vessels, and lymph ducts look like the normal, surrounding tissue, and are difficult for surgeons to visualize. Avoiding damage to these critical anatomical structures is a pressing problem for all surgeries. Unintended healthy tissue damage can lead to longer hospital stays, re-operation, pain, and potential trauma for patients. Corrective procedures and post-surgical treatment have an estimated total cost of more than $1 billion per year in the U.S.
The Current State
Many surgeries, including oncology, cardiology, and orthopedic procedures, deal with challenges in tissue visualization. Sometimes, during cancer surgeries, parts of the tumor’s edge can be analyzed. This, however, is time-consuming, uncertain, and not available to all patients and for all types of cancer. Detailed medical imaging is also sometimes available before surgery, but there are no tools that let surgeons clearly see nerves, blood vessels, and lymph ducts during the operation.
The Challenge
Precision Surgical Interventions (PSI) aims to help all surgical procedures reach their intended goal with no errors and no need for re-operation. The program aims to develop solutions to two major surgical problems: tumor edge visualization and critical anatomy visualization.
PSI seeks to develop technologies that will be used by surgeons during operations to visualize tumors’ edges, in order to increase chances of complete removal. Solutions may come in the form of bedside devices or devices that image inside the body, and will draw from technical disciplines that include chemistry, microscopy, biomedical engineering, and digital pathology.
PSI also seeks to develop devices that surgeons can use to clearly see critical anatomy in 3D while operating. PSI aims to leverage innovations in chemistry, optics, machine learning, and other disciplines to make sure surgeons can find and avoid hard-to-see nerves, blood vessels, and other structures, even if they are buried under other tissue. These tools promise to help enable surgical success in oncology and beyond.
The Solution
The PSI Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) calls for proposals focused on cancer localization, healthy structure localization, and improving outcomes during surgery. One portion of the BAA focuses on cancer surgeries, while another applies to surgeries for any relevant condition. Teams from different fields with knowledge of oncology, surgery, imaging technology, and other disciplines are invited to apply their expertise to the visualization needs of surgeons, in service of improved patient outcomes.
ARPA-H.gov. 07/27/2023.
President Biden’s full statement:
Today, we’re marking a major milestone in the fight to end cancer as we know it.
Last year, I worked with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to launch and fund the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) to fundamentally transform how we prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other diseases. Today, ARPA-H is delivering on that goal with its first program directly funding innovation in the treatment of cancer.
As surgical oncologists know, removing cancer can be incredibly challenging. Determining how exactly to operate to excise all cancerous cells, while saving healthy cells and protecting critical organs, nerves, and blood vessels, is a huge challenge. In some cases, the surgical team can’t safely perform the procedure. Still, despite many innovations in treating cancer, surgery is often the first best step. Researchers and innovators across the country are pioneering new techniques and technologies to make cancer removal surgeries more precise, accurate, and achievable. It’s an exciting horizon in cancer research and development that could save and extend many lives. Now, through ARPA-H, we will fund promising new approaches to removing cancer surgically.
Harnessing the power of innovation is essential to achieving our ambitious goal of turning more cancers from death sentences to treatable diseases and – in time – cutting the cancer death rate in half. As we’ve seen throughout our history, from developing vaccines to sequencing the genome, when the U.S. government invests in innovation, we can achieve breakthroughs that would otherwise be impossible, and save lives on a vast scale. ARPA-H follows in that tradition of bold, urgent innovation.
Cancer has touched nearly every family in America, including ours. That’s why Jill and I believe so deeply in the Cancer Moonshot, which will be transformational for people across the country and around the world. That’s why it’s a central component of my Unity Agenda, which aims to bring people from both parties together to get big things done for the American people. We have made real progress across that agenda, from tackling the mental health crisis to supporting our veterans to fighting the opioid and overdose epidemic. Together, we are also moving toward a world where cancer loses its power. That’s a goal worthy of our great nation.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
Mental Health Tweet
From Thursday…
The video clip is 53 seconds long.
Remarks by President Biden on Expanding Access to Mental Health Care
Improving our mental health system means addressing the three Cs: coverage, care, and causes.
Today, we took a big step on coverage. Now we need to keep expanding care — for example, by increasing access to telemedicine; expanding our mental health workshop — workforce — doctors, therapists, and counselors. Expanding it.
[snip]
Insurers still make it far too difficult to get mental health care. Their networks of providers are badly inadequate, with far fewer psychiatrists, therapists, and other mental health professionals compared to all other mental — all other medical specialties.
[snip]
Today, my administration is announcing new steps to dramatically expand access to mental health care in America. Our plans would require health insurance plans to identify the gaps in the mental health care that they provide.
[snip]
Let me close with this. Many people will have to seek mental health care at some point in their lives. Whether you’re in a red state, a blue state, it doesn’t matter.
[snip]
Folks, this mental health crisis is something we need to face together as a country. We have a moral obligation, in my view, to be there for each other, to reach out — reach to our neighbors in grief and stress and trauma and despair. Reach out to them to offer help or just a listening ear; to have the courage to ask for help when we need it. And it’s hard, because we know that even when it feels as dark as it can get, we aren’t alone. It’s important for people to realize they’re not alone.
White House.gov. 07/25/2023.
Truman Civil Rights Symposium Tweets
From Thursday…
From Friday…
The YouTube is 40 minutes and 11 seconds long. President Biden begins his remarks at the 15 minute and 8 second mark. His full remarks can be found here.
President Biden:
Just like Army — just like the Army captain who became president of the United States of America walked toward our North Star when he signed executive order that Jim mentioned 9981 that desegregated the United States Armed Forces on July 26th, 1948 — 75 years as of yesterday.
[snip]
And as Commander-in-Chief, I’m honored to oversee the greatest fighting force — literally, not figuratively — in the history of the world. And that’s not hyperbole. (Applause.) And I might add: the most diverse fighting fic- — force in the history of the world. (Applause.) And, folks, these two parts are not — these two points are not unrelated.
[snip]
As our military became more diverse, it became stronger, tougher, and more capable — proving our diversity is a strength, not a weakness — a necessary part of our warfighting and our deterrence and our successful military operations.
And our unity out of many, not division, ensures good order and discipline, unit cohesion, effectiveness, and military readiness. We’ve seen it with generations of patriots, regardless of who they are mentored by and trained by. Fellow servicemen from every background, like my friend, the late Colin Powell — he was a friend.
[snip]
That’s what happened 75 years ago when an American president chose to do right. And that’s what we commemorate tonight: a forward march in our own lives, in the life of the nation, toward our North Star — the idea of America that beats in the heart of all of our people.
I know we’ll do this. I’ve never been more optimistic about America’s future. Let us reflect and repair. Let us rise to the occasion and redeem the soul of our nation. Treat each other with decency and respect. Change the — the dialogue.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
From the White House…
Statement from President Joe Biden on the 75th Anniversary of the Desegregation of the Armed Forces
Seventy-five years ago today, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, ending the unconscionable racial segregation of our Armed Forces and bringing our nation closer to our founding values. This landmark Order, issued more than a decade before the passage of the Civil Rights Act, directed the military to ensure the “equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.” It was a vital step forward for our nation. It recognized the equal bravery and equal sacrifices of generations of service members of color who deserved to be equally honored. So today, as we commemorate this milestone on our unending journey toward our more perfect union, we honor the contributions, sacrifice, and resilience of the brave servicewomen and men of every background who stepped up to defend our nation—in so many cases, even before their rights as equals under the law had yet to be realized.
This contrast is particularly poignant in the stories of Black service members, whose contributions to our Armed Forces date back to the Revolutionary War and the founding of our country. Black regiments joined the cause of the Union in the Civil War, while fighting for their own freedom from enslavement. The Harlem Hellfighters helped turn the tide of World War I, but did so while assigned to the French Army because American commanders did not allow them to fight alongside white units. The proud Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties in World War II, only to face discrimination and oppression when they returned home. These stories, and countless others, venerate American heroes who never gave up on our country, and in so doing, relentlessly pushed our nation closer to the ideals of liberty and justice for all.
Likewise, courageous women and men of color, including Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans have always stepped up to serve our Nation dating back to our revolution. From the Native American Code Talkers of World War II, whose innovative use of their native languages formed an unbreakable code that helped securevictory in the Pacific while back home the Tribal Nations were dispossessed of their land; to the famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team of Japanese Americans who fought to liberate Europe even as their own families were wrongly imprisoned in Japanese internment camps at home; to the Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment of Puerto Rican service members known as the Borinqueneers, who fought bravely in the Korean War only to be court martialed and jailed, these troops have led the fight for freedom and equality at home and abroad.And today, as we celebrate this proud legacy of service, we also honor those who currently serve in uniform and recommit ourselves to the work we must do – as a military, and as a society – to ensure they can do so with dignity and respect, secure in the knowledge that their talents will be valued, their sacrifices will be honored, and their families supported.
I have long said that our one truly sacred obligation as a nation is to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families both while they are deployed and when they return home. Our military thrives and succeeds when our people succeed. Today, more than 40 percent of active-duty service members are people of color. Yet, despite this growing diversity, service members of color still face unacceptable barriers. They are underrepresented in positions of senior leadership, face bias in the military justice system, and are still more likely to be dishonorably discharged. We owe it to them and the entire force to continue working to build a military where equal dignity and equal respect are fully realized.
As Commander in Chief, this is a priority for me personally, and for my entire Administration. It is critical that the full diversity and strength of our force is reflected at every level of the Department of Defense, including at the highest levels of leadership. Our service members deserve nothing less than a fair and equitable work place, from the Secretary of Defense down to the newest recruit. That’s why the Department of Defense has taken steps to better address racial bias in the ranks and to strengthen equal opportunity, including by increasing the transparency of promotion selections and updating hair and dress standards. It’s also why I have committed to strengthening the military justice system, advancing reforms to enhance fairness in the prosecution and defense of serious crimes, including changes to ensure random selection of panel members for courts-martial.
America’s greatest strength has always been our diversity, and there is no greater testament to this than the success of our military. Let us continue to break down barriers so that all qualified servicemembers, no matter their race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religious background, are treated with dignity and respect, can reach their full potential and have their contributions valued. On this day, the 75th Anniversary of the Executive Order that forever strengthened our military, we must remain unflagging in our effort to complete the work that lies ahead. That is how we will ensure the United States Armed Forces remains the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.
White House.gov. 07/26/2023.
FACT SHEET: President Biden to Sign Executive Order Implementing Bipartisan Military Justice Reforms
Today, President Biden will sign an Executive Order to implement historic, bipartisan military justice reforms that significantly strengthen how the military handles sexual assault cases. The Executive Order transfers key decision-making authorities from commanders to specialized, independent military prosecutors in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, and other serious offenses by amending the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
These changes, which implement reforms passed by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (FY22 NDAA), represent the most significant transformation of the military justice system since the UCMJ was established in 1950. The historic reforms announced today will better protect victims and ensure prosecutorial decisions are fully independent from the chain of the command. They follow decades of tireless efforts by survivors, advocates, and Members of Congress, to strengthen the military justice system’s response to gender-based violence and build on recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military (IRC), which Secretary Austin established at President Biden’s direction as one of his earliest acts in office.
These reforms are a turning point for survivors of gender-based violence in the military. They fulfill President Biden’s promise to fundamentally shift how the military justice system responds to sexual assault and related crimes, which is something President Biden has prioritized since Day One of this administration. Ending gender-based violence wherever it occurs has been a top priority for the President throughout his career—as a Senator, and as Vice President. As Commander in Chief, he’s made clear that our one truly sacred obligation as a nation is to prepare and equip those we send into harm’s way, and to care for them and their families both while they are deployed and when they return home. The reforms implemented through today’s Executive Order do just that, promoting dignity and respect for those who serve by better protecting our servicemembers and making the military safer and more just.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
Today’s Executive Order takes important action to reform our military justice system by amending the Manual for Courts-Martial and its accompanying Rules for Courts-Martial including by:
- Establishing the rules that will govern the new Offices of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC), the independent military prosecutors who will now decide, in the place of commanders, whether to prosecute covered offenses such as sexual assault and domestic violence, child abuse, and murder;
- Making clear that prosecutorial decisions made by special trial counsel are binding and fully independent from the chain of command;
- Delineating the relationship and authorized interactions between special trial counsel and commanders to protect the independence of special trial counsel;
- Modernizing procedures to better protect victims and promote fairness before, during and after court-martial proceedings;
- Reforming the court-martial sentencing system to promote uniformity and fairness, as recommended by the IRC, to reduce disparities in sentencing in cases of rape and sexual assault; and
- Creating a uniform evidence standard for non-judicial punishment actions, which the IRC highlighted as critical to make consistent across the military services given that most sexual misconduct cases are handled by nonjudicial punishment rather than courts-martial.
This month also marks two years since the IRC published its final report, outlining recommendations to improve accountability, prevention, climate and culture, and victim care and support. Today’s Executive Order advances the IRC’s core accountability recommendations and builds on the progress that has already been made by the Department of Defense in implementing the IRC’s more than 80 recommendations, including:
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
- Establishing the Offices of Special Trial Counsel. In July 2022, with direction from Secretary Austin, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, including the Space Force, established and staffed their OSTCs to assume authority for prosecutorial decisions for covered offenses including sexual assault and domestic violence at the end of 2023. Beginning January 1, 2025, special trial counsel prosecutorial authority will expand to include sexual harassment cases.
- Hiring, Training, and Empowering the Prevention Workforce. Consistent with the IRC’s recommendation to establish a dedicated prevention workforce with public health expertise, the Department of Defense launched a phased approach to hiring a primary prevention workforce with 2,000 skilled professionals who will promote the health of their military community and work with leaders to change policies and implement prevention activities. In December 2022, the Department of Defense released guidance for this new workforce, and hiring and onboarding is underway at installations around the world.
- Strengthening and Professionalizing the Sexual Assault Response Workforce. The Department of Defense, in collaboration with the Military Services and National Guard has adopted a comprehensive approach to restructuring, professionalizing, strengthening, and resourcing for the sexual assault response workforce. This includes moving Sexual Assault Response Coordinators (SARCs) and Victim Advocates (VAs) from the command reporting structure, and generally eliminating collateral duty for SARCs and VAs. This standardized approach across the Department of Defense is nearing completion.
- Improving the Military’s Response to Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment. Recognizing sexual assault can overlap with other forms of gender-based violence, the IRC recommended ways to improve accountability and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual harassment. The Administration has:
- Reissued and revised the Defense Department’s domestic abuse policy in December 2021. Key updates include expanding eligibility for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program services to domestic violence survivors who have experienced sexual assault;
- Tracked the prevalence of domestic abuse/intimate partner-related sexual assault by collecting information on the victim-perpetrator relationship in the Workplace and Gender Relations Surveys of Active-Duty Members (WGRA), and Workplace and Gender Relations Surveys of Reserve Component Members (WGRR);
- Expanded victim advocate services, reporting options and support to survivors of sexual harassment, through new guidance issued by the Department of Defense in September 2022. This guidance has been implemented across all Military Departments;
- Starting with the Navy and the Marine Corps, issued policies for the independent investigation of sexual harassment reports, moving these investigations outside the chain of command of both the individual reporting sexual harassment and the alleged offender. The Department of Defense is working to develop a comprehensive approach to address this issue across all Military Departments; and
- Amended the Manual for Courts-Martial through an Executive Order in January 2022 that established sexual harassment as a specific offense under the UCMJ, strengthening the military justice response in prosecuting cases of domestic violence, and implementing changes to the UCMJ to criminalize the wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images.
Executive Order on 2023 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. 801-946a), and in order to prescribe additions and amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, prescribed by Executive Order 12473 of April 13, 1984, as amended, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Part II, Part III, Part IV, and Part V of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, are amended as described in Annex 1, which is attached to and made a part of this order. The amendments in Annex 1 shall take effect on the date of this order, subject to the following:
(a) Nothing in Annex 1 shall be construed to make punishable any act committed or omitted prior to the date of this order that was not punishable when committed or omitted.
(b) Nothing in Annex 1 shall be construed to invalidate any nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action begun prior to the date of this order, and any such nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action may proceed in the same manner and with the same effect as if the Annex 1 amendments had not been prescribed.
Sec. 2. Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, and Appendix 12A of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, are amended as described in Annex 2, which is attached to and made a part of this order. The amendments in Annex 2 shall apply in accordance with the effective date established by section 539C of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA FY 2022), Public Law 117-81, subject to the following:
(a) Nothing in Annex 2 shall be construed to make punishable any act committed or omitted prior to the effective date established by section 539C of the NDAA FY 2022.
(b) Nothing in Annex 2 shall be construed to invalidate any nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action begun prior to the effective date established by section 539C of the NDAA FY 2022, and any such nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action may proceed in the same manner and with the same effect as if the Annex 2 amendments had not been prescribed.
Sec. 3. Appendix 12B, Appendix 12C, and Appendix 12D are added to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, and Part II of the Manual is amended as described in Annex 3, which is attached to and made a part of this order. The additions and amendments in Annex 3 shall take effect on December 27, 2023, and shall apply in accordance with section 539E(f) of the NDAA FY 2022 (10 U.S.C. 853 note), subject to the following:
(a) Nothing in Annex 3 shall be construed to make punishable any act committed or omitted prior to the effective date established by section 539E(f) of the NDAA FY 2022.
(b) Nothing in Annex 3 shall be construed to invalidate any nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action begun prior to the effective date established by section 539E(f) of the NDAA FY 2022, and any such nonjudicial punishment proceeding, restraint, preliminary hearing, referral of charges, trial in which arraignment occurred, or other action may proceed in the same manner and with the same effect as if the Annex 3 amendments had not been prescribed.
White House.gov. 07/28/2023.
Met the PM of Italy Tweet
From Thursday…
From the White House…
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, it’s a delight to welcome the Prime Minister. We have become friends. And it’s good to have you back at the White House. Thank you for coming.
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: And let me offer my condolences over the — in Italy and throughout the Mediterranean, to those suffering from extreme, extreme weather and wildfires. Italy and the region are grappling with this, just as we are here in the United States.
I just did a major initiative on dangers of this excessive heat here in the United States. And we’re grappling with it as well.
And as NATO Allies, the transatlantic partnership is the cornerstone of our shared security. And the Italian troops are playing a critical role in Europe, in the Mediterranean, and beyond.
Italy and the United States are also standing strong with Ukraine. And I compliment you on your very strong support in defending against Russian atrocities. And that’s what they are. It’s not just a war, but they’re — Russia is committing atrocities that they’re focusing on. Well, I don’t want to get into it.
But, you know — and I thank the Italian people. I want to thank them for supporting you in supporting Ukraine. It makes a big difference.
Today, we’re going to talk about our deepening economic connections, which fueled more than $100 billion in trade last year. In my view, there’s no reason why that can’t increase.
And we’re also expanding the partnership in new areas, including space cooperation and strengthening our support for developing countries.
And I look forward to our discussion today on Mediterranean — the work with Mediterranean nations to address the legitimate migration challenges you have coming from Africa.
And — and Italy is going to be leading the G7 this next time around and — next year. And I also look forward to pursuing an ambitious agenda for progress.
And — and I hope you’ll be nice to me as the chairman.
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: (Laughs.)
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Thank you.
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Please.
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: Thank you. I am very pleased to be here today to testify the deep friendship that bonds the United States and Italy.
I want to thank President Biden for his hospitality. And this closeness is based on common values and cultural roots.
And our bond was made strong by the contribution of millions of Americans of Italian origin. And that — that means Italy is an integral part of the great American nation and contributed in shaping its culture and identity.
And also for that, our relations are historically strong. They cross governments and remain solid regard- — regardless of their political colors.
We know who our friends are in times that are tough. And I think that Western nations have shown that they can — they can rely on each other much than some have believed.
Moreover, after the Russian aggression against Ukraine, for all together we decided to defend the international law. And I’m proud that Italy, from the beginning, played its part in it. We did it simply because supporting Ukraine means defending the peaceful coexistence of people and states everywhere in the world.
Contrary to what some claim, Ukrainian resistance distances a world war. It does not bring it closer, as some say.
Those who believe in peace should be the first supporters of the Ukrainian cause.
And then, Italy and the United States have important common interests in enhancing, as well, a global trade that is not only free but also fair. Competition from other nations that do not meet our standards in terms of worker protection, safety, environmental protection undermine our companies and workers.
So, free trade without — without rules has shown its limits. We must find the right balance between openness and the protection of our economy — economies — and strategic interests.
And similarly, we will discuss also these within the West. We must work together to support our injus- — industrial system by fostering convergence on our national interests. In this respect, dialogue between us — between Italy, Europe, United States — can avoid counterproductive tension to the benefit of everyone.
And on the other hand, we also need to be fair with nations that feel they have been exploited of their resources and that they show distrust towards the West. President Biden knows I take care a lot about Africa, about the role that we can play in these countries that can help us, building with them a new relation based on a new approach, which is a peer-to-peer approach. Also to fight illegal migration and all the problems that we face.
It’s all things that we will discuss in the G7 presidency of Italy next year.
And then, United States is our most important trade partner outside the European Union. And I think — I do agree with you, Joe, that our trade partnership is very high, but no reason why we could not improve it.
So, thank you very much for hosting us, and thank you for your time.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Well, I think you made an interesting point about the closeness and how many Italian Americans there are here.
And I just want you to know I was raised in a neighborhood where I felt self-conscious my name didn’t end in “O.” And I want you to know I’m the only non-Italian named Man of the Year by the Italian Society.
And I — when I got the award, I said to everybody what — (inaudible) what I was going to say. I said, “You know, I was thinking about this.” I named all the guys and families I grew up with, (inaudible). Anyway, I went through the list. And I said, “I was thinking about it. I deserve this award.” (Laughter.)
And — but I may be Irish, but I’m not stupid. I married Dominic Giacoppo’s granddaughter. Just want you to know that. Okay? So be nice to me. All right?
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: (Laughs.) Now I know it.
PRESIDENT BIDEN: Any rate, thank you all very much.
PRIME MINISTER MELONI: Thank you very much.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
Joint Statement from President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni
Today, the President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, and the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni, met at the White House. They reaffirmed the unshakable alliance, strategic partnership, and deep friendship between the United States and Italy. The ties between Italy and the United States are rooted in history, cultural affinity, and economic cooperation. They are founded on our shared values and principles – democracy, freedom, respect for human rights – reinforced by the shared objective to promote peace and security, enhance prosperity, and advance sustainability all around the globe. The connections between our people are at the heart of this relationship. Both leaders highlighted the important role of the Italian-American community, whose contributions make the United States stronger, more prosperous, and more vibrant. Prime Minister Meloni also affirmed the key contributions of Italian communities abroad.
President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni both affirm that the NATO Summit in Vilnius demonstrated the unity and the strength of the transatlantic bond, and the Alliance’s unique capacity to adapt its deterrence and defense posture to address challenges from all strategic directions, including NATO’s Southern Flank. Both leaders also stand with Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s illegal aggression. The United States and Italy will continue to provide political, military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine for as long as it takes, with the aim to reach a just and lasting peace that fully respects the UN Charter and Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The United States and Italy also recognize the need to address the global consequences of the conflict, especially on vulnerable countries’ stability, energy, and food security. They reaffirm the importance of enabling Ukraine to export food via the Black Sea and condemn Russia’s unilateral withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has been instrumental in reducing world food prices, and its attacks on Ukrainian grain storage and transport infrastructure. They welcome the progress on food systems transformation reported at the Stocktaking Moment of the UN Food Systems Summit held in Rome on 24-26 July. Both sides also commit to further coordination on Ukraine’s reconstruction and recognized the role Italy will play in this effort, with Italy’s presidency of the G7 in 2024 and hosting of the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference in 2025.
The United States and Italy note the vital importance of shared efforts to promote stability and prosperity in the wider Mediterranean region, including by addressing the root causes of instability, terrorism, and irregular migration flows. The United States and Italy affirm their support for the Tunisian people as Tunisia endures continued economic and political challenges. The United States and Italy also affirm their shared desire for a prosperous, secure, and democratic Tunisia. The United States welcomed the Conference on Migration and Development held on July 23 in Rome, as well as the establishment of the “Rome Process” to promote partnerships between countries of origin, transit, and destination of migration in the broader Mediterranean region, the Middle East and Africa. In this framework, the United States takes note of the Italian government’s “Mattei Plan” for Africa.
The United States and Italy reaffirm their shared commitment to the security, stability, and prosperity of the Western Balkans and their longstanding support for the region’s Euro-Atlantic integration. They determined to reinforce coordination to favor de-escalation and reconciliation and acknowledged the crucial role of the Quint. The United States welcomes the Italian government’s commitment in the Western Balkans, including through the contribution of the Italian armed forces to KFOR, EULEX, and EUFOR Althea missions.
The United States and Italy are firmly committed to a free, open, prosperous, inclusive, and secure Indo-Pacific. The United States welcomes the increased presence of Italy in the region. The two sides reiterate the vital importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is instrumental to regional and global security and prosperity. The United States and Italy also commit to strengthen bilateral and multilateral consultations on the opportunities and challenges posed by the People’s Republic of China.
The United States and Italy pledge to continue coordination, including within multilateral fora, on issues to advance global prosperity, inclusive growth, and peace and security. The United States looks forward to Italy’s leadership of the G7 in 2024, where the G7 will increase efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition, and tackle pressing global challenges, including the climate crisis, poverty, food insecurity, economic security, critical mineral supplies, and migration, further engaging in dialogue and cooperation on all these issues with developing countries, and especially with African countries. The leaders are united in their commitment to raise the level of ambition and commitment to supporting developing counties hard hit by multiple crises and to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni committed to advance work to evolve the multilateral development banks to make them more responsive to shared global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and conflict and fragility, including through implementation of critical financial reforms begun under Italy’s leadership in the G20 and a review of the climate finance architecture to make it more effective and efficient. In parallel, the leaders committed to work together toward a successful IDA 21 next year. The leaders also discussed ways to explore mobilizing more headroom and concessional finance to boost the World Bank’s capacity to support countries addressing global challenges and provide strong support for the poorest countries.
The United States welcomes the participation of Italy in the Minerals Security Partnership and its intention to join the steering committee of the Blue Dot Network. Both sides also stress their support for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. Italy also confirms that the Italian Presidency of the G7 will support the Global Coalition to address synthetic drug threats. The United States also welcomes Italy’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030, acknowledging the opportunity of using the Expo as an inclusive platform to find shared solutions to common challenges.The United States and Italy share a mutual intent to enhance relations with Africa on the basis of a partnership among equals, and note the importance of mobilizing the private sector, our UN partners, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions in support of these efforts. Both countries also renew the commitment to promote effective policies to fight terrorism in the framework of the D-ISIS Coalition.
The United States and Italy share a focus on the role of emerging technologies in shaping the global economy and influencing the future of the international system in the coming decades. Both sides recognize cybersecurity as a key component of resilience that enables societies to reap the benefits of industrial and technological cooperation and development. The United States and Italy commit to deepen bilateral and multilateral collaboration in these domains, along with intensified focus on the impact of artificial intelligence, including under Italy’s Presidency of the G7 next year. Both sides welcome the Counter Ransomware Initiative and international coordination efforts, including the “NATO Cyber Pledge Conference” in Rome.
The United States and Italy recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking, diversifying, and reducing excessive dependencies to build resilient and secure supply chains. Both sides underline the importance of strengthening transatlantic economic cooperation, including through the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and the U.S.-EU Energy Council, to improve security, cooperate to secure energy supplies and avoid fossil fuel dependencies, continue to secure supplies of critical minerals, and ensure that technologies work for – not against – democracies, and create opportunities for growth, jobs, and public welfare. The United States and Italy both reaffirm their commitment to continue the momentum from the G7 Hiroshima Summit related to strengthening economic resilience and economic security, including efforts under the G7 Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion to increase our collective assessment, preparedness, deterrence and response to economic coercion.
Free and fair trade remains a fundamental tool to foster the balanced growth of the global economy and to benefit our people. U.S.-Italy bilateral trade, amounting to $117 billion in 2022 and steadily growing, is a pillar of this expanding partnership. Bilateral investment between the United States and Italy supports hundreds of thousands of jobs across both countries. The United States and Italy commit to strengthen the economic partnership by increasing cooperation, co-investments, workforce development, and friend-shoring across different strategic sectors that will define not only the present, but our common future, including on emerging technologies, the clean energy transition, and the defense sector. The sides also commit to intensify bilateral judicial cooperation, in line with ongoing joint efforts to promote the rule of law and counter international organized crime, including human trafficking.
Both President Biden and Prime Minister Meloni affirm the existential threat posed by climate change and their commitment to taking decisive actions this decade to keep within reach their shared goal of limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Both recall the valuable contribution of the Net-Zero Government Initiative, launched by the United States and joined by Italy, inviting governments to lead by example and achieve net-zero emissions from national government operations by no later than 2050. The United States and Italy share an interest in working together to address emissions in developing countries, including methane. The two countries plan to continue enhanced cooperation and alignment on timely solutions towards achieving shared climate goals and an ambitious COP28 outcome, with the aim of ensuring social, economic and environmental sustainability.
The United States and Italy commit to strengthen space cooperation, including through the creation of a “new space dialogue” to promote industrial cooperation with government support. Both reaffirm their partnership on space exploration and express, as original signatories, support for the principles of the Artemis Accords. The United States and Italy recognize the importance of addressing space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviors, and welcome innovative new commercial space partnerships, including to advance human spaceflight. Both sides look to encourage further space-related investments, and industrial collaboration, including on commercial space stations.
The leaders also commit to strengthen bilateral collaboration in science and technology research and development, anchored in values of democracy, equity, fair competition, freedom of inquiry, openness, research integrity and transparency. Both sides confirm their shared objective to foster high quality and equitable education, including through partnerships between respective high schools and universities and arrangements for joint or double degrees. Initiatives to promote the study of languages and cultures and broader people-to-people exchanges are especially important in this approach, including the flagship U.S.-Italy Fulbright Program, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2023. Both countries intend to develop new ways to enhance high level research and exchanges, including through the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies in America. The United States and Italy also commit to continue working together to protect and preserve cultural heritage, including within the framework of the U.S.-Italy bilateral cultural heritage agreement.
White House.gov. 07/27/2023.
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