Biden Bits: “Cannot Wait”…

December 7, 2023 12:22 pm EST Tiff Biden Tweets (Open Thread) Comments Off on Biden Bits: “Cannot Wait”…
Biden Tweets Christmas Logo. Image by Lenny Ghoul.

It’s Thursday…

President Biden’s public schedule for 12/07/2023:

10:00 AMIn-Town Pool Call Time
In-Town Pool
11:00 AM
Presidential Daily Brief		The President receives the Presidential Daily Briefing
Oval Office Closed Press
1:00 PM
Press Briefing		Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and John Kirby @1:00 p.m. D.C., time:


Nation Security Supplemental Request/G7 Virtual Summit Tweets

From Wednesday…

The YouTube is 8 minutes and 58 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.

From the White House…

12/06/2023:

This cannot wait.  Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess.  It’s as simple as that. 

Frankly, I think it’s stunning that we’ve gotten to this point in the first place.  While Congress — the Republicans in Congress is — are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for and abandon our global leadership not just to Ukraine, but beyond that.   

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

From Thursday…

The video clip is 55 seconds long.

Look, I know we have our divisions at home.  Let’s get past them.  This is critical.

Petty, partisan, angry politics can’t get in the way of our responsibilities as a leading nation in the world. 

And, literally, the entire world is watching.  The entire world is watching: What will the United States do?

And think, if we don’t support Ukraine, what’s the rest of the world going to do?  What’s Japan going to do, which is supporting Ukraine now?  What’s going to happen in terms of the G7?  What’s going to happen in terms of our NATO Allies?  What are they going to do?

If we walk away now, it’ll only embolden other would-be aggressors, so, I’m calling on Congress to do something and do the right thing: to stand with the people of Ukraine, stand against the tyranny of Putin, stand for freedom — literally, stand for freedom.

Let’s get this done.  We’re the reason Putin has not totally overrun Ukraine and moved beyond that.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

From the White House…

12/06/2023:

FACT SHEET: The White House Announces New Actions to Strengthen Cooperation and Co-Production between U.S. and Ukraine’s Defense Industrial Bases:

Today, on Ukrainian Armed Forces Day, the United States government hosted the first day of the U.S.-Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Conference at the Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The conference convened around 350 U.S., Ukrainian, and European industry and government representatives to focus on significantly increasing weapons production to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom against Russian aggression, and strengthen Ukraine’s long term self-defense.

The U.S. and Ukrainian governments together seek to advance a robust and self-reliant Ukrainian defense industrial base that captures Ukraine’s innovative culture, provides materiel for urgent military needs, and contributes to Ukraine’s long-term security and economic success. Initial conference deliverables focused on first steps: institutionalizing relationships, processes, and dialogue between industry and government partners.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.
  • MSI Embedded Advisor: Working with Congress, the Department of State plans to send an advisor to the Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine to support and accelerate Ukraine’s transition to an interoperable military force, combat corruption, and attract foreign investment in critical industries.
     
  • Interagency “Ukraine Deal Team”: The U.S. has established an interagency team, consisting of representatives from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce, that will support industry, Ukrainian, and other partners who seek guidance on potential deals, and export requirements for Ukraine’s defense industry.  The interagency team will respond to case-specific questions via: UkraineDealTeam@state.gov
     
  • Co-production and Technical Data Exchange: The Department of Defense, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, and Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine signed a Statement of Intent on Co-production and Technical Data Exchange, which will work to address the urgent operational needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including in the areas of air defense systems, repair and sustainment, and production of critical munitions. The Statement of Intent increases cooperation between the United States and Ukraine and will facilitate the quicker movement of investment deals more quickly through systems.
     
  • Technical Data Package. The Department of Defense and industry partners provided Ukraine with technical data to start local production of some of the FrankenSAM projects that seek to enable Ukraine’s legacy air defense systems by integrating certain Western munitions. Parallel production of these systems in Ukraine and the United States will allow for faster fielding and enable Ukraine to contribute significantly to the sustainment of its air defense systems.

These initial deliverables will not only expand U.S.-Ukraine cooperation and provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to be successful on the battlefield in the short-term, but will support Ukraine’s long-term economic recovery and defense.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

White House Tribal Nations Summit Tweets

From Thursday…

The YouTube is 15 minutes and 36 seconds long. His full remarks can be found here.

This fall, it was announced that lacrosse will once again be an official Olympic sport. (Applause.) And the Six Nations team asked to compete under its own Tribal flag. (Applause.) And today, I’m announcing my support for that request. (Applause.)

Their ancestors invented the game. They perfected it for a millennia. Their circumstances are unique, and they should be granted an exception to field their own team at the Olympics. (Applause.)

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

Let me close with this. It’s hard work to heal the wrongs of the past and change the course and move forward. But the actions we’re taking today are key steps into that new era of Tribal sovereignty and self-determination — a new era, grounded in dignity and respect, that recognizes your fundamental right to govern and grow on your own terms.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

That’s why, today, I’m signing an executive order to reform the federal funding system for Tribes, cutting that red tape so you can deliver for your communities faster and better. (Applause.)

And here’s what that order does.

It requires federal agencies to streamline grant applications, to co-manage federal programs, to eliminate heavy-handed reporting requirements. It gives Tribes more autonomy to make your own decisions. Not to mention, it’s more efficient.

[snip]

It’s all a part of my vision for a new era of respect. Respect for you as leaders, respect for Tribal sovereignty, respect for the Nations’ fundamental right to build a future and own — on your own terms, not anyone else’s terms, not anyone else’s terms.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

Condemning Gun Violence

Show more =’s terrorized by a horrific act of gun violence, and the community is still awaiting information on casualties.   Jill and I join citizens across our nation in praying for the families of our fallen, and for those injured during these latest acts of senseless violence. We are grateful for the courageous work of law enforcement – who risked their own safety to bring an end to these deadly shooting sprees.  For all the action we have taken since I’ve been President, the epidemic of gun violence we face demands that we do more, but we can’t without Congress. Together, we must do more to prevent more families and communities like Austin, San Antonio, and Las Vegas, from being ripped apart by gun violence.

His full statement:

Yesterday, in Austin and San Antonio, at least six people were killed and several more injured by a gunman—leaving families devastated, and communities forever changed. And just hours ago, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas became the latest college campus to be terrorized by a horrific act of gun violence, and the community is still awaiting information on casualties.  
 
Jill and I join citizens across our nation in praying for the families of our fallen, and for those who were injured during these latest acts of senseless violence. We are also grateful for the courageous work of law enforcement—who risked their own safety to bring an end to these deadly shooting sprees. Federal law enforcement officials are on the ground working with State and local law enforcement in both states and I have directed that all necessary support be provided to assist in the investigations and support these communities.
 
This year alone, our nation has experienced more than 600 mass shootings, and approximately 40,000 deaths due to gun violence. This is not normal, and we can never let it become normal.
 
For all the action we have taken since I’ve been President, the epidemic of gun violence we face demands that we do even more. But we cannot do more without Congress. Republican lawmakers must join with Democrats in Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, pass a national red flag law, enact universal background checks, require the safe storage of guns, and advance other commonsense measures that will help stem the tide of gun violence. And together, we must do more to prevent more families, and more communities like Austin, San Antonio, and Las Vegas, from being ripped apart by gun violence.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

Statement By Vice President Kamala Harris on the Shootings in Nevada and Texas:

Every person in every community across America should have the freedom to live safe from gun violence. But instead, our nation is being torn apart by the fear and trauma of this epidemic.
 
Today, it was another campus of students terrorized while being told to RUN-HIDE-FIGHT as an active shooter opened fire at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas – only miles from the site of the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
 
And yesterday, it was two more communities in Texas experiencing a string of senseless violence as a gunman killed six people and injured three more, including two police officers, in Austin and San Antonio – only miles from the sites of devastating mass shootings in Uvalde and Sutherland Springs.  
 
Doug and I are mourning those who were killed and praying for the victims and their families. We are grieving for the students and so many more whose lives are forever changed. And we are thinking of the members of law enforcement who put themselves in harm’s way to bring these shooting sprees to an end.
 
While we have more to learn about these incidents, we know that they are sadly not unique in America. An average of 120 people are killed by a gun every single day across our country. Gun violence is the leading cause of death for children throughout our nation. And one in five Americans has lost a family member to this epidemic. These are not simply statistics; these are our loved ones, our neighbors, and our classmates.
 
It does not have to be this way. Solutions do exist. Congress must make background checks universal, pass red flag laws, and renew the assault weapons ban. It is past time. In the meantime, President Biden and I will use every tool we have to urgently advance commonsense gun safety policies and save lives, including through the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. There is not a moment to spare, nor a life to spare.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

Austin American-Statesman has posted a timeline of the shootings that occurred between Austin and San Antonio, Texas on Tuesday.

Authorities believe Shane James, 34, shoot and killed 6 people and injured at least 3 others. It’s believed that James parents were the first killed in the shooting rampage.

AP News reported this morning that according to a law enforcement official with direct knowledge on the matter, that the UNLV shooter who killed three people and critically wounded a fourth person, was a professor that had sought a job at the school unsuccessfully. The shooter was killed in a shoot with police.


Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Tweet

From Thursday…

The video clip is 16 seconds long:

President Biden: Today, we’re taking a very important step toward ending price gouging so you don’t have to pay more for medicine than you need.

From the White House…

12/07/2023:


Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tweet

From Thursday…

From the White House…

12/06/2023:

A Proclamation on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, 2023:

     On this day 82 years ago, 2,403 service members and civilians were killed in a painful and unprovoked attack on our Armed Forces.  On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we remember these women and men, who gave their last full measure of devotion to our Nation.  We honor the brave service members who — with the horrors of Pearl Harbor weighing on their hearts and the hopes of humanity resting on their shoulders — answered the call to defend freedom against the forces of fascism during World War II.

     The stories of the Greatest Generation’s ultimate courage and commitment continue to inspire an enduring sense of unity and purpose throughout our Nation.  They remind us that, in the darkest of moments, we have the power to bend the arc of history toward a freer and more just future.  They remind us that, from death, destruction, and division, we can build a better world — one grounded in peace and security.  They remind us that the forces of tyranny and terrorism are no match for the flame of liberty that burns in the hearts of free people everywhere.  Above all, they remind us that every generation can — and must — defeat democracy’s mortal foes.

     Together, we must continue to answer that call.  We must continue to honor our sacred obligation to care for our service members; veterans; and their families, caregivers, and survivors — including our World War II veterans, who dared all and risked all for our country.  With bipartisan support in the Congress, my Administration is meeting that obligation — including now welcoming all World War II veterans to enroll in Veterans Affairs health care services, regardless of length of service or financial status.

     As we honor the patriots who perished on this tragic day 82 years ago and the service members who defended democracy in the days and years that followed, let us carry forward their mission of forging a better future for humankind, one of greater dignity, opportunity, and security for all.  Let us remember that we are the United States of America — and there is nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.

     The Congress, by Public Law 103-308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”  Today, let us commemorate the patriots who were wounded and who perished on December 7, 1941, and continue to fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our service members; veterans; and their families, caregivers, and survivors.

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2023, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.  I encourage all Americans to reflect on the courage shown by our brave service members that day and remember their sacrifices.  I ask us all to give sincere thanks and appreciation to the survivors of that unthinkable day.  I urge all Federal agencies, interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff on December 7, 2023, in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of December, 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-eighth.

White House.gov. 12/06/2023.

This is an Open Thread.


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About Tiff 2559 Articles
Member of the Free Press who is politically homeless and a political junkie.