It’s Wednesday…
President Biden’s public schedule for 07/03/2024:
| 10:00 AM | In-Town Pool Call TimeThe White House In-Town Pool |
| 11:30 AM | The President receives the President’s Daily Brief; The Vice President attends. Oval Office Closed Press |
| 12:15 PM | The President and The Vice President have lunch Private Dining Room Closed Press |
| 1:30 PM Press Briefing | Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre James S. Brady Press Briefing Room |
| 4:45 PM | The President delivers remarks at a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House East Room Pre-Credentialed Media and Pooled for TV |
| 6:30 PM | The President meets with Democratic Governors Roosevelt Room Closed Press |
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre @1:30 p.m. D.C., time:
Today, Privates Philip Shadrach and George Wilson will be awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joseph Biden. On April 5, 1862, Shadrach and Wilson, along with twenty-two other men (including two civilians), penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a… pic.twitter.com/S9GEA2e7QD
— Congressional Medal of Honor Society (@CMOH_Society) July 3, 2024
Show more =’s penetrated nearly 200 miles south into enemy territory and captured a railroad train at Big Shanty, Ga., in an attempt to destroy the bridges and track between Chattanooga and Atlanta. Known as the Great Locomotive Chase, or Andrews’ Raid, this Civil War military raid resulted in the awarding of 19 Medals of Honor, including the first ever Medals of Honor which were presented on March 25, 1863. To learn more about the actions for which Shadrach and Wilson will be awarded the Medal, visit: https://army.mil/article/277644/civil_war_heroes_get_long_awaited_medal_of_honor_recognition
President Biden Delivers Remarks at a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House @4:45 p.m. D.C., time:
Extreme Weather Protection Tweets
From Tuesday…
Join me as I deliver remarks on protecting workers and communities from extreme weather. https://t.co/jeHmPDtxBV
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
Remarks by President Biden on Extreme Weather; the YouTube is 14 minutes and 40 seconds long.
Folks, we’re going to face some tough weather this summer, but we’ve taken significant steps to address concerns, like proposing the first-ever federal safety standard addressing heat in the workplace and funding to help communities protect against natural hazards.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
Despite the severe impacts of extreme weather events, Republicans in Congress continue to deny the very existence of climate change and expose their constituents to health and safety dangers
Across the country, tens of millions of Americans are experiencing the effects of extreme weather events. From the record-shattering heat wave across the Midwest and Northeast, to devastating flooding in Iowa and Minnesota, to raging wildfires in New Mexico, Oregon, and California, communities in every corner of the country are being directly impacted by the compounding effects of extreme weather. The Atlantic is also facing an active hurricane seasonal outlook that will require residents to maintain vigilance against flooding and wind threats. In addition to posing direct threats to lives and livelihoods, major weather events – which are becoming increasingly extreme due to the climate crisis – have had significant economic impacts: last year’s record 28 individual billion-dollar extreme weather and climate disasters caused more than $90 billion in aggregate damage.
FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Weather. 07/02/2024.
Meanwhile, many Republicans in Congress continue to deny the very existence of climate change and remain committed to repealing the President’s Inflation Reduction Act – the biggest climate protection bill ever – which would undermine the health and safety of their own constituents.
As the impacts of flooding, drought, wildland fires, heat waves, and other extreme weather events intensify, President Biden is delivering on the most ambitious climate agenda in American history — an agenda that is lowering energy costs for hardworking families, bolstering America’s energy security, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, and strengthening community-driven climate resilience across the country.
Today, the President is receiving an operational briefing on extreme weather forecasts for this summer, and he will announce new actions to protect workers and families from the impacts of extreme weather, including:
- The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to protect workers that, if finalized, would establish the nation’s first-ever federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace. The risk that extreme heat poses to certain workers has long been recognized – even apart from the impacts of climate change. Recognizing these risks, the proposed rule includes requirements for identifying heat hazards, developing heat illness and emergency response plans, providing training to employees and supervisors, and implementing work practice standards — including rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatization for new employees. If finalized, OSHA projects the rule would affect approximately 36 million workers and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace.
- The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency is announcing nearly $1 billion dollars in awards for 656 projects across the country to help communities protect against disasters and natural hazards, including extreme heat, storms, and flooding. Historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program will go to projects that will eliminate or reduce flood damage, mitigate the effects of extreme heat, and enhance infrastructure resilience. Projects include $50 million to Philadelphia, PA, to improve the resilience of a stormwater pump station and mitigate flooding; $6 million to Goldsboro, NC, for an improved flood drainage channel; and $724,000 to build shaded bus stops in areas of high heat exposure in Washington, D.C. This program is part of the President’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to ensure 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy and other investment areas flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
- The Environmental Protection Agency is releasing a new report showing the continuing and far-reaching impacts of climate change on the people and environment of the United States. The report highlights how climate change impacts – including heat waves, sea surface temperatures, coastal flooding, and wildfires – are increasingly affecting people’s health, society, and ecosystems in a variety of ways. For example, the report notes that the average length of the heat wave season is 46 days longer today than it was in the 1960s and, in recent years, the average heat wave in major U.S. urban areas has lasted about four days – about a full day longer than the average heat wave in the 1960s.
President Biden is also announcing that later this summer, he will bring together state, local, Tribal, and Territorial leaders – who are protecting U.S. communities and workers from extreme weather every day and helping strengthen America’s global leadership on climate – for a White House Summit on Extreme Heat. Today’s announcements build on numerous actions that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to bolster our preparedness and resilience nationwide, including working with state, local, Tribal, and territorial partners to provide clear and accessible information on how individuals and communities can protect themselves from extreme weather events.
Protecting Communities from Extreme Heat: President Biden has taken historic action to protect workers and communities from the impacts of extreme heat, including lowering home energy costs and helping more Americans stay safe, cool, and healthy in their homes. President Biden has also taken important steps to increase the resilience of the power system against extreme heat and wildfires, including through more than $14 billion to enhance grid flexibility and grid resilience, including the deployment of resilience-enhancing microgrids and energy storage. The Administration has also announced $1 billion in grants to expand equitable access to trees and green spaces in urban communities, which will reduce heat-island effects and cool cities. The Administration is also strengthening America’s leadership overseas, including by convening global stakeholders to advance heat-related resilience efforts and reducing heat risk for U.S. workers abroad. To better equip local officials and the public with robust and accessible information, the Administration launched Heat.gov, a centralized portal with real-time, interactive data and resources on extreme heat conditions, preparedness, and response.
Combating the Growing Threat of Wildfires: In addition to implementing a Wildfire Crisis Strategy that will limit the impact and severity of fires, the Administration has invested $7 billion to expand the wildland firefighter workforce, deployed new technology to better respond to fires, and completed a historic 6.85 million acres of hazardous fuels treatments. The Administration also launched a new Community Wildfire Defense Grant program that helps local communities develop and implement wildfire preparedness plans. In addition, the Administration is tackling the pronounced health effects of wildfire smoke by investing over $10 million to enhance wildfire smoke preparedness and protection in communities across the West. AirNow.gov and its specialized Fire and Smoke Map provide Americans with real-time information about smoke and air quality so people can make informed decisions about how to stay safe.
Reducing Flood Risk for Households and Communities: Most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance does not cover flood damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program is helping communities proactively protect their homes, businesses, and belongings from unexpected flood damage by providing guidance to communities on how they can mitigate their flood risk. In addition to investing billions of dollars to reduce flood risks across America and protect communities from rising insurance costs, President Biden also reinstated and is implementing the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, which ensures that Federal agencies are considering and managing current and future flood risks in order to build a more resilient nation.
Strengthening Water Security Across the West: Over the past two decades, the Colorado River Basin has experienced the driest period in the region in over one thousand years. President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda is providing over $15 billion—and has already funded nearly 500 projects—to enhance the West’s resilience to drought, including projects to reuse, recycle, recharge, store, conserve, and desalinate water resources, and to revitalize aging water infrastructure. The Administration has also taken historic action to conserve millions of acre-feet of water in the Colorado River Basin, securing our nation’s water resources for future generations and staving off the immediate collapse of the Colorado River.
Promoting Climate-Smart Buildings and Infrastructure: Buildings and infrastructure investments last for generations when done right, so it is critical to plan and build in ways that promote climate resilience. President Biden’s National Initiative to Advance Building Codes is accelerating adoption of modern building codes that protect people from extreme-weather events and save communities an estimated $1.6 billion a year in avoided damages. The Administration is also making billions of dollars available to build climate-smart buildings and green infrastructure which will keep American’s homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Empowering Communities to Better Understand and Plan for Climate Risk: The Biden-Harris Administration is advancing actionable data, information, tools, and technical assistance to help people understand and address their climate risks. These tools will help communities understand and plan for local climate-related hazards ; assess changes in coastal flood risk ensure that Federal agencies are producing coordinated, actionable climate information; and increase support for regional applied science and services centers.
Incorporating Climate Risk into Decision-Making: Extreme weather, intensified by climate change, threatens the U.S. economy and the financial security of families, businesses, and workers. President Biden’s Executive Order on Climate-Related Financial Risk ensures that climate risk and resilience actions are appropriately factored into the formulation and execution of the President’s Budget, thereby properly managing and protecting Federal funding on behalf of taxpayers. This includes formally accounting for the risks that climate change pose in the President’s Budget for the first time.
FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Protect Workers and Communities from Extreme Weather. 07/02/2024.
Communities in every corner of the country are being directly impacted by the compounding effects of extreme weather – from heat and floods to wildfires.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
Today, I received an operational briefing on extreme weather outlooks so that my Administration remains ready to respond. pic.twitter.com/ywV2Yp8gJj
Remarks by President Biden Before Briefing on Extreme Weather:
Well, thanks, everybody, for being here — and particularly you for hosting us, Mayor.
Look, we’re here to talk about extreme weather. We’re here to talk about a briefing my — from my team on what we’re going to face this summer. And it’s going to be significant.
And, by the way, you’ve got the guy running this show doing the elevator too. I get in the elev- — he’s operating the elevator. He does it all, man. I tell you what.
So, we — we’re going to face a tough summer, but we’ve taken significant steps to ameliorate the concerns.
That’s what we want to talk about, so why don’t we get started. Why don’t we get the meeting underway.
Remarks by President Biden Before Briefing on Extreme Weather. 07/02/2024.
From Wednesday…
Get prepared for extreme heat this summer and stay safe, America.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
Visit https://t.co/VIqPmlq3KL for resources. pic.twitter.com/XpnFEdej44
Supreme Court’s Presidential Immunity Tweet
From Tuesday
I concur with what Justice Sotomayor wrote regarding the Supreme Court’s dangerous decision on Presidential immunity:
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
“With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”
I dissent. We all should.
From the Opinion released on 07/01/2024:
Lowering Prices Tweets
From Tuesday…
If Big Pharma refuses to lower prescription drug prices and end their greed, we will do everything within our power to end it for them.@SenSanders and I will not rest until every American can afford the prescriptions they need to lead healthy, happy, and productive lives. https://t.co/u1h8LIOhpb
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
The Op-ed written by President Biden and Senator Sanders is not paywalled. I will not be copying the article.
There is no reason why 1 out of 4 Americans is unable to afford their medicine.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
Because of my Inflation Reduction Act, seniors and Medicare recipients are paying no more than $35 a month for insulin. And in January, no senior will pay over $2,000 a year for their prescriptions.
Grocery costs are too high for families across the country.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
We have a plan to tackle them. pic.twitter.com/hmEOfXdFMF
Civil Rights Act Turns 60 Tweet
From Tuesday…
Sixty years ago, President Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964 — one of the most significant pieces of legislation in United States history.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
Today, we continue the work that the Act began and stand together, choosing community over chaos.
A Proclamation on the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
Sixty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in history — the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibited discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. That day, our Nation moved closer to our North Star, the founding ideal of America: We are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that idea, but we have never walked away from it either. On this anniversary, we promise we will not walk away from it now.
On July 2, 1964, when President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, a crowd gathered behind him. Among them were some of the Black leaders and activists who had led the movement that made it possible: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, Dr. Dorothy Height, and others, who had fought, protested, and prayed for this moment. It was the work of changemakers like them — from the countless protests, sit-ins, and marches they organized to the many speeches and sermons they gave — and the courageous activism and participation of everyday Americans that brought the bill to President Johnson’s desk. It was an answer to President John F. Kennedy’s call for national action to guarantee the equal treatment of every American regardless of race. Change only rippled out from there: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 also helped set the foundation for other critical legislation like the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The legacies of those activists and extraordinary Americans have had a profound impact on me and others of my generation. It inspired me to become a public defender and then a county councilman, working to change our State’s politics to embrace the cause of civil rights. Their efforts made us fundamentally better as Americans, opening the doors of opportunity wider and bringing our Nation closer to its promise of liberty, equality, and justice for all.
Despite this critical step forward, securing our civil rights remains the unfinished fight of our time. Our country is still facing attacks to some of our most fundamental civil liberties and rights, including the right to vote and have that vote counted and the right to live free from the threat of violence, hate, and discrimination. That is why my Administration is remaining vigilant — fighting actively to protect the rights of every American. I signed the Electoral Count Reform Act to protect the will of the people and the peaceful transfer of power. I appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be on the Supreme Court, and have appointed more Black women to the Federal appellate court than every other President in history.
We are also working to reverse the shameful legacy of segregation in our country and creating new opportunities for every American to thrive. My Administration is investing more money than ever in Black families and Black communities. We are reconnecting historic business districts and neighborhoods cut off by old highways, redlining, and decades of discrimination and disinvestment. We have invested over $16 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which will help raise the next generation of Black leaders. At the same time, we are creating good-paying jobs that people can raise a family on; making capital and loans for starting small businesses and buying homes more accessible; and making health insurance and prescription drugs more affordable. I also signed the boldest policing reform Executive Order in history. My Administration is changing our Nation’s failed approach to marijuana, which disproportionately impacts communities of color. I have used executive clemency more than any recent President at this point in my Presidency in pursuit of justice and fairness. And I continue to call on the Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act — it is the only way to fully secure the sacred right to vote.
On this anniversary, may we recommit to continuing the work that the Civil Rights Act began six decades ago — it is still the task of our time to build a democracy where every American is treated with dignity and has an equal opportunity to follow their dreams. We must continue to move forward together, stand with one another, and choose democracy over autocracy and beloved community over chaos. We must choose to be believers, dreamers, and doers.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 2, 2024, as the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and activities that celebrate this accomplishment and advance civil rights in our time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
A Proclamation on the 60th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. 07/01/2024.
first day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Liquified Natural Gas Tweet
From Tuesday…
Yesterday’s court ruling on our pause on Liquified Natural Gas exports is incredibly disappointing.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 2, 2024
I’ll continue doing everything I can to protect our environment and our communities, while ensuring America’s energy security.
AP News reported on Monday that; The Biden administration can’t delay consideration of projects aimed at exporting liquefied natural gas while a legal challenge by 16 Republican-led states plays out in federal court, a Louisiana judge said Monday. U.S. District Judge James Cain, Jr. sided with the states, granting a preliminary injunction that puts the Biden administration’s delay on hold.
From the White House…
01/26/2024:
- Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi; the YouTube is 1 hour and 26 minutes long.
I googled to check Liquified v. Liquefied; turns out it can be spelled either way (I guess based on results) or shortened to LNG. Which is what it seems is the preferred method used by a lot of news sites.
National Plan to End Parkinson’s Disease Tweets
From Tuesday…
Thank you to Representatives Wexton, Bilirakis, and Tonko, Senators Capito and Murphy, and all the Members of Congress and advocates across the nation who made it a reality.
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 3, 2024
From the White House…
07/02/2024:
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the President signed into law:
H.R. 2365, the “Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act,” which requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and evaluate progress on a government-wide plan to address Parkinson’s and related diseases, and to require the convening of a Parkinson’s advisory committee.Thank you to Representatives Bilirakis, Tonko, and Wexton, and Senators Capito and Murphy for their leadership.
Bill Signed: H.R. 2365. 07/02/2024.
From Congress.gov:
Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson’s Act
This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a project to address Parkinson’s disease (a progressive brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements) and related conditions.
Among other components of the project, HHS must (1) implement and periodically update a national plan to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent, diagnose, treat, and cure the disease; and (2) improve the care of those with the disease. HHS must also annually assess the preparations for and response to the increased burden of Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, the bill establishes a council, comprised of federal and nonfederal stakeholders, to advise HHS on and make recommendations concerning the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
The provisions of the bill terminate at the end of calendar year 2035.
Summary.
| 07/02/2024 | Signed by President. | |
| 06/28/2024 | House | Presented to President. |
| 05/30/2024 | Senate | Message on Senate action sent to the House. |
| 05/23/2024 | Senate | Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S3897) |
| 05/23/2024 | Senate | Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions discharged by Unanimous Consent. |
| 12/14/2023 | Senate | Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
| 12/14/2023-10:53am | House | The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. |
| 12/14/2023-10:53am | House | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 12/14/2023-10:53am | House | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 407 – 9 (Roll no. 724). (text: 12/13/2023 CR H6916-6917) |
| 12/14/2023-10:45am | House | Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6962-6963) |
| 12/13/2023-4:39pm | House | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| 12/13/2023-4:02pm | House | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2365. |
| 12/13/2023-4:02pm | House | Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6916-6921) |
| 12/13/2023-4:00pm | House | Mr. Bilirakis moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. |
| 12/12/2023 | House | Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 253. |
| 12/12/2023 | House | Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-313. |
| 12/06/2023 | House | Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 47 – 0. Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce |
| 12/06/2023 | House | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce |
| 12/05/2023 | House | Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce |
| 07/13/2023 | House | Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote. Action By: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health |
| 07/13/2023 | House | Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held Action By: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health |
| 04/07/2023 | House | Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. Action By: Committee on Energy and Commerce |
| 03/29/2023 | House | Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. |
| 03/29/2023 | House | Introduced in House |
From the White House…
07/02/2024:
- Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, July 2, 2024; the YouTube is 58 minutes and 13 seconds long.
07/03/2024:
This is an open thread
