Thread: President Joe Biden

• Biden directs agencies to take steps to restore Pacific Northwest salmon

President Biden on Wednesday directed federal agencies to take steps to restore salmon, steelhead and other fish populations in the Pacific Northwest.

The White House said it was taking such actions because dam construction, population growth and overfishing have “severely depleted wild fish populations in the region.”

It said that this has harmed tribes’ ability to hunt and fish, rights preserved under treaty.

The White House’s directive tells federal agencies to both use existing authorities and resources and see what else is needed to restore the wild fish populations.

It also directs White House offices to create a partnership with tribes and states to work together to resolve the issue.

While the directive doesn’t contain any specific actions, environmentalists see it as a key step toward concrete action in the future.

“This is a big, big deal. We haven’t had a statement come out like this from any administration in the past,” said Bradley Williams, associate director of legislative and administrative advocacy for the Sierra Club’s wildlife and lands protection campaign.

“I think this is going to set us on a path for some more concrete action, which we hope will be dam removal on the lower Snake River dams in particular,” Williams added.

• Statement from President Joe Biden on the Passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Dianne Feinstein was a pioneering American. A true trailblazer. And for Jill and me, a cherished friend.

In San Francisco, she showed enormous poise and courage in the wake of tragedy, and became a powerful voice for American values. Serving in the Senate together for more than 15 years, I had a front row seat to what Dianne was able to accomplish. It’s why I recruited her to serve on the Judiciary Committee when I was Chairman – I knew what she was made of, and I wanted her on our team. There’s no better example of her skillful legislating and sheer force of will than when she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons. Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties. She’s made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.

Often the only woman in the room, Dianne was a role model for so many Americans – a job she took seriously by mentoring countless public servants, many of whom now serve in my Administration. She had an immense impact on younger female leaders for whom she generously opened doors. Dianne was tough, sharp, always prepared, and never pulled a punch, but she was also a kind and loyal friend, and that’s what Jill and I will miss the most.

As we mourn with her daughter Katherine and the Feinstein family, her team in the Senate, and the people of California, we take comfort that Dianne is reunited again with her beloved Richard. May God Bless Dianne Feinstein.

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• Biden honors outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley

President Joe Biden honored outgoing Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley at a ceremony Friday where the nation’s highest-ranking military officer handed the reins to his successor, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

The program, filled with pomp and circumstance, included Milley's swearing in Brown as the 21st chairman. Brown previously served as the Air Force chief of staff.

Biden topped his remarks with a tribute to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., whose office confirmed on Friday that she died at the age of 90.

"She was a historic figure, trailblazer for women, and a great friend. Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment, gun safety to protecting civil liberties," Biden said. "The country is going to miss her dearly, and so will Jill and I."

Biden added that he would have more to say on the late California senator later Friday.

The president also addressed the looming government shutdown, saying that if the House fails to fund the government, it would be failing troops who would continue to show up for work despite not getting paid.

"It's a disgrace," he said, adding that the longer a shutdown lasts, the harder it becomes for military families to pay their bills.

"You can't be playing politics when our troops stand in the breach," Biden said. "It's an absolute dereliction of duty."

Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also attended the armed forces' farewell tribute to Milley.

“General Milley is a scholar and a warrior," Austin said. "We respect him for his wit, but we love him for his heart. And he’s thrown his whole heart into leading this tremendous joint force of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, guardians.”

Milley was presented with his retirement certification, capping a more than four-decade career that included positions as Army chief of staff and commanding general of the U.S. Army Forces Command.

In remarks at the ceremony, Milley appeared to take a jab at former President Donald Trump, when he suggested the nation's armed forces took an oath to the Constitution rather than to a "wannabe dictator."

"We don't take an oath to a king, or queen, or to a tyrant, or a dictator, and we don't take an oath to a wannabe dictator," Milley said.

"We don't take an oath to an individual," he continued. "We take an oath to the Constitution, and we take an oath to the idea that is America and we're willing to die to protect it.

Remarks by President Biden at the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in Honor of General Mark A. Milley | Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall | The White House

President Biden - I just signed a law to keep the government open for 47 days. There’s plenty of time to pass Government funding bills for the next fiscal year, and I strongly urge Congress to get to work right away.

The American people expect their government to work.

Let’s make sure it does. https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1708323029745389928

• Actor Selma Blair lauds Americans with Disabilities Act at White House event

Selma Blair said the country’s laws must show that the lives of disabled people “are not of lesser value,” as the “Legally Blonde” actor introduced President Biden at an event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“I’m Selma Blair, and I’m here before you today as a proud, disabled woman with my cane and my service dog, Scout, by my side,” the performer said Monday at the White House’s gathering, timed to the kickoff of Disability Pride Month.

“Although I’d had symptoms since the age of 7, it took a lifetime of self-advocacy to finally lead me to a diagnosis at age 46,” Blair said. In 2018, Blair revealed she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“In my own disability advocacy, I have realized that these historic pieces of legislation were vital steps towards fairness,” Blair, 51, said of the ADA, which was signed in 1990, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, “but the push towards equity continues.”

“Our laws and policies must reflect that our disabled lives are not of lesser value,” she said, praising the Biden administration for “working to do just that.”

Blair called it an “honor” to introduce Biden, whom she described as a “friend to the disability community.”

Biden lauded Blair, saying her advocacy “has given people hope” and “changed people’s lives.”

Remarks by President Biden to Celebrate the Americans With Disabilities Act | The White House

• Drug companies agree to participate in Biden Medicare price negotiation program

All 10 manufacturers of the first drugs selected for Medicare price negotiations will be participating, the White House said Tuesday, even as many of them are currently suing the administration in an effort to halt the process.

Many of the companies told The Hill separately ahead of the Oct. 1 deadline that they would participate. The White House confirmed the news in an announcement, taking a political victory lap.

Last year, about 9 million Medicare enrollees spent $3.4 billion out of pocket on the selected drugs from companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca, the White House said.

“For decades, Big Pharma fought to block Medicare from directly negotiating lower drug prices for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries,” the White House said. “President Biden and Congressional Democrats finally beat Big Pharma and allowed Medicare to directly negotiate lower drug prices by passing the Inflation Reduction Act.”

The drugs on the list are widely used for treating or preventing common conditions including heart disease and diabetes. They include blood thinners Eliquis and Xarelto; Januvia, Farxiga and NovoLog for diabetes; and Enbrel, for rheumatoid arthritis.

Sunday was the deadline for the companies to decide whether they wanted to participate in the price negotiation program, and Monday was the deadline for them to submit manufacturer-specific information — such as research and development costs, as well as sales and revenue data — to the administration.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will send each company an initial offer by Feb. 1, and the negotiation process will continue until Aug. 1. The negotiated prices won’t take effect until 2026. More companies will be added in the future.

Drugmakers have been fighting against negotiation since the Inflation Reduction Act passed last year, and there have been at least nine separate lawsuits filed across the country as part of the effort.

A federal judge last week ruled denied an attempt by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to temporarily block implementation of the negotiation process, the first time a judge weighed in on the program. But the judge also denied the government’s motion to dismiss the case.

The companies have argued that the negotiation process is unconstitutional and amounts to forced price fixing, which could lead to lower profits, less money invested in research and development and, consequently, fewer drugs on the market.

The companies said they agreed to participate essentially because they had no choice.

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• President Biden - In August I announced Medicare had selected ten drugs for price negotiation.

Well, last Friday a court blocked Big Pharma and their allies when they tried to stop us.

Now, those manufacturers are coming to the table, where Medicare will work to lower prices for seniors. : https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1709177956285759844

• Biden calls allies to reassure them of U.S. Ukraine support

President Joe Biden held a call with leaders of U.S. allies, the European Union and NATO on Tuesday, the White House said, amid efforts to reassure them about U.S. support for Ukraine.

The call was scheduled after a deal to avoid a government shutdown included no new aid for Kyiv, fueling doubts about future support in Washington for the fight against Russia.

Biden had aimed to convey that his administration is committed to assisting Ukraine, despite resistance among some Republicans in Congress, three U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said before the call.

The call included the leaders of Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom, as well as France’s foreign minister, the White House said in a statement. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and leaders of the European Union were also on the call, it added.

Biden may call for other leaders to step up their efforts, one of the officials said.

E.U. foreign ministers are meeting in Kyiv, a historic show of public support at a crucial moment in the war.

But there are signs of fatigue and frustration beyond Washington as Ukraine struggles to convert billions of dollars in aid into a battlefield breakthrough.

Kyiv has brushed off fears that backing for its cause may be waning.

“We don’t feel that the U.S. support has been shattered,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Monday.

Biden gave Ukraine and its supporters a boost last month, telling President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. will provide a small number of long-range missiles he has long been asking for.

News that the administration would provide the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, was seen as a significant development.

There also remain $5.4 billion in funds left for assistance to Ukraine that was freed up when the administration realized an accounting error, a U.S. official said Monday.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces an Additional $9 Billion in Student Debt Relief

The Biden-Harris administration announced today that an additional 125,000 Americans have been approved for $9 billion in debt relief through fixes the U.S. Department of Education has made to income-driven repayment (IDR) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and granting automatic relief for borrowers with total and permanent disabilities. Today's announcement brings the total approved debt cancellation by the Biden-Harris Administration to $127 billion for nearly 3.6 million Americans.

The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing it has approved:

• $5.2 billion in additional debt relief for 53,000 borrowers under Public Service Loan Forgiveness programs.
• Nearly $2.8 billion in new debt relief for nearly 51,000 borrowers through fixes to income-driven repayment plans. These are borrowers who have been in repayment for 20 or more years but never got the relief they were entitled to
• $1.2 billion for nearly 22,000 borrowers who have a total or permanent disability and have been identified and approved for discharge through a data match with the Social Security Administration.

To date, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved the following in debt cancellation:

• Nearly $42 billion for almost 855,000 borrowers who are eligible for forgiveness through income-driven repayment by fixing historical inaccuracies in the count of payments that qualify toward forgiveness;
• Almost $51 billion for 715,000 public servants through Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) programs, including the limited PSLF waiver and Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF);
• $11.7 billion for almost 513,000 borrowers with a total and permanent disability; an
• $22.5 billion for more than 1.3 million borrowers who were cheated by their schools, saw their institutions precipitously close, or are covered by related court settlements.

President Biden Announces an Additional $9 Billion in Student Debt Relief for 125,000 Americans

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Extras:

• Biden dogs bit White House residence staff, too

• Biden cheers jobs numbers, asks House to get back to work

President Joe Biden welcomed job growth news released Friday, but warned of the economic consequences that would ensue if House Republicans do not pass a funding bill to prevent a government shutdown next month.

“The unemployment rate has stayed below 4% for 20 months in a row, the longest stretch in 50 years,” Biden said at the White House.

“It’s no accident — it’s Bidenomics,” said the Democratic president, who is seeking reelection next year.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 336,000 jobs in September, well above the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 170,000 and more than 100,000 higher than the previous month, the U.S. Department of Labor said.

The unemployment rate was 3.8%, compared to the forecast of 3.7%.

The jobs report increase was the best monthly number since January.

Biden warned of the fallout the country would face if the House did not pass longer-term appropriations bills before the current continuing resolution expires next month.

“House Republicans shouldn’t put us back in a crisis again,” Biden said.

“We have only 40 days for Congress to get back to work — the same House Republicans are on recess now — to fund the government, avoid a shutdown and protect the tremendous gains Americans have made over the past two and a half years.”

“It’s time to stop fooling around,” Biden said Friday.

“House Republicans, it’s time for you to do your job, continue our progress growing the economy, investing in America, investing in the American people. So let’s get to work for the American people. They’re waiting and they’re watching. We’ve got to get to work.”

Biden said he would try to work with whoever is ultimately elected speaker of the House.

“They control half the Congress and I’m going to try to work with them,” Biden said. “There’s some people I imagined it could be easier to work with than others but whoever the speaker is, I’ll try to work with them.”

• Biden condemns 'appalling assault' by Hamas on Israel

Biden decries the ‘unconscionable’ Hamas attack and warns Israel’s enemies not to exploit the crisis

President Joe Biden on Saturday decried the “unconscionable” assault by Hamas militants and his administration pledged to ensure Israel has “what it needs to defend itself” after the surprise attack that drew worldwide condemnation and anger from Israel’s allies.

Biden said from the White House that he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States “stands with the people of Israel in the face of these terrorist assaults. Israel has the right to defend itself and its people, full stop. There’s never a justification for terrorist attacks and my administration’s support for Israeli’s security is rock solid and unwavering.’’

The president also warned Israeli’s enemies that “this is not a moment for any party hostile to Israel to exploit these attacks to seek advantage. The world is watching.”

Secretary of State Antony Blinken was at the White House for meetings and spoke to Israel’s president and foreign minister, while Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israel’s defense minister. The Pentagon chief said the U.S. was committed to helping Israel to “protect civilians from indiscriminate violence and terrorism” and with its defense needs.

Hamas’ unprecedented incursion, which Biden noted came not long after Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, was the deadliest attack in Israel in years and was threatening to spiral into a broader conflict. Israel retaliated with airstrikes in Gaza. “We are at war,” Netanyahu said.

Biden said the people of Israel were “under attack orchestrated by a terrorist organization” and that “in this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere, the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back. We’ll make sure that they have the help their citizens need and they can continue to defend themselves.”

He said ``the world has seen appalling images -- thousands of rockets in the space of hours raining down on Israel cities” and that Hamas had killed not just Israeli soldiers but also Israeli civilians – “in the street, in their homes, innocent people murdered and wounded, entire families taken hostage by Hamas just days after Israel marked the holiest of days in the Jewish calendar. It’s unconscionable.’’

The hostilities dealt a significant blow to U.S. efforts to expand the Arab-Israeli Abraham Accords normalization agreements, not only with Saudi Arabia, which has commanded most of the public attention, but also with smaller Arab states.

U.S. officials say they intend to press ahead but acknowledge efforts are unlikely to bear fruit while there is an active conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

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• Sen. Dianne Feinstein honored at a funeral service in San Francisco

Sen. Dianne Feinstein was honored by President Joe Biden and other high-profile Democrats at a private funeral service Thursday in San Francisco.

Feinstein, the oldest member of the Senate, the longest-serving female senator and the longest-serving California senator, died early Friday at the age of 90.

Biden delivered a tribute to Feinstein's life and legacy by audio message, while the other Democratic leaders — Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California — made remarks in person. San Francisco Mayor London Breed opened the service.

"She was always tough, prepared, rigorous and compassionate," Biden said in his recorded message. "She always served the people of California and our nation for the right reasons, to make life better for everyday people and ensure America stood for freedom, transparency and justice at home and abroad."

The funeral took place at San Francisco City Hall, where Feinstein began her political career on the city's board of supervisors before becoming mayor in 1978, serving for a decade in that role. She was elected to the Senate in 1992.

“There are few women who can be called senator, chairman, mayor, wife, mom and grandmother," Feinstein’s office said in the statement announcing her passing. "Senator Feinstein was a force of nature who made an incredible impact on our country and her home state. She left a legacy that is undeniable and extraordinary.”

Feinstein’s memorial service was initially open to the public, but it was changed to a private event for security reasons, according to a news release. The service was livestreamed on San Francisco Government TV’s YouTube page. Feinstein's body lay in state at San Francisco City Hall on Wednesday.

“Dianne made her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties,” Biden said in a statement after the announcement of her death last week. “She’s made history in so many ways, and our country will benefit from her legacy for generations.”

Feinstein’s granddaughter, Eileen Mariano, delivered the closing remarks Thursday, followed by a music performance by the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

Mariano said her grandmother would be remembered for "shattering the glass ceiling."

"She showed young women everywhere that they too can be leaders, that they can make an impact, and that they deserve a seat at the table,” Mariano said. "But to me, she will be remembered as the most incredible grandmother."

Harris swore in Feinstein's temporary, appointed successor, Laphonza Butler, on Tuesday. Several Democrats, including Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, are vying for the seat next year.

In photos: Sen. Dianne Feinstein lies in state in California

• Biden directs ‘additional assistance’ to Israel Defense Forces after call with Netanyahu

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• US will send Ford strike group to Eastern Mediterranean in support of Israel

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Sunday he has ordered the Ford carrier strike group to sail to the Eastern Mediterranean to be ready to assist Israel after the attack by Hamas that has left more than 1,000 dead on both sides. Americans were reported to be among those killed and missing.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, and its approximately 5,000 sailors and deck of warplanes will be accompanied by cruisers and destroyers in a show of force that is meant to be ready to respond to anything, from possibly interdicting additional weapons from reaching Hamas and conducting surveillance.

The large deployment, which also includes a host of ships and warplanes, underscores the concern that the United States has in trying to deter the conflict from growing. But the Israeli government formally declared war Sunday and gave the green light for “significant military steps” to retaliate against Hamas.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least four American citizens were killed in the attacks and an additional seven were missing and unaccounted for, according to a U.S. official. The numbers were in flux and could change as a fuller accounting is compiled, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss initial reports received by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. Most, if not all, of those reported dead or missing are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens, the official said.

Along with the Ford the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16, and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region.

“The U.S. maintains ready forces globally to further reinforce this deterrence posture if required,” Austin said in a statement.

In addition, the Biden administration “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions. The first security assistance will begin moving today and arriving in the coming days,” Austin said.

The Norfolk, Virginia-based carrier strike group was already in the Mediterranean. Last week it was conducting naval exercises with Italy in the Ionian Sea. The carrier is in its first full deployment.

• Biden says he's doing 'a lot' to free American hostages, hasn't given up hope

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he was doing "a lot" to free hostages held by Hamas, including Americans, and that he hasn't given up hope, but he revealed no details.

"We're working on every aspect of the hostage crisis in Israel, including deploying experts to advise and assist with recovery efforts," he told a gathering of Jewish community leaders. "Now, the press are going to shout to me, and many of you are, that you know ... what are you doing to bring these -- get these folks home? If I told you, I wouldn't be able to get them home. Folks, there’s a lot we're doing, a lot we’re doing.

"I have not given up hope of bringing these folks home," he continued. "But the idea that I'm going to stand here before you and tell you what I'm doing is bizarre. So, I hope you understand how bizarre I think it would be to try to answer that question."

Earlier, the White House said the U.S. is "keeping options wide" for the recovery of Americans being held hostage by Hamas, but at the same time, a spokesman acknowledged it had no update on their condition or whereabouts.

At least 22 Americans have died in Israel since the fighting began on Saturday when Hamas launched unprecedented surprise attacks. Seventeen Americans remain unaccounted for or missing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

According to White House spokesman John Kirby, a "number of those Americans" are being held hostage by Hamas. He said the public should prepare for the possibility that the number of U.S. citizens being held by the terrorist group will grow.

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• The Supreme Court rejected a Republican challenge to Biden’s climate math

The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the “social cost of carbon,” one of the most important calculations in U.S. climate policy, on Tuesday. The controversial metric attempts to quantify the hidden price of emitting carbon dioxide, from flood damage to health effects. The court’s surprise decision sets the stage for the Biden administration to broaden the metric’s use across federal agencies when formulating climate-related regulations.

One of President Joe Biden’s very first executive orders in January 2021 directed agencies to recalculate the social cost of carbon — currently placed at $51 a ton while the government finalizes its revised estimate. In the meantime, Republican state attorneys general have been flinging lawsuits at the administration in an attempt to block its ability to use the metric in evaluating regulations.

But their plans were thwarted by Tuesday’s order from the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. Without any explanation, the justices declined to hear Missouri v. Biden, a case in which 12 states alleged that Biden’s executive order violated the constitutional separation of powers. A federal appeals court ruled last year that the states suing over the use of the estimate didn’t have legal standing because they couldn’t show they’d been harmed by the way agencies had applied the metric.

It’s the second time the Supreme Court has declined to take up a challenge to the social cost of carbon. Last year, the justices blocked a similar request led by Louisiana.

The social cost of carbon is likely to have cascading effects on agriculture, power plants, oil and gas leases, and more. That’s because federal agencies have to weigh the costs and benefits of any regulation they adopt. If the government accounts for the true costs of emitting greenhouse gases — lost lives, dying crops, homes swallowed by rising seas — then decisions that result in more carbon emissions start to look a lot more expensive, while those that reduce emissions look like a smart deal.

The Obama administration, the first to require agencies to use this metric in assessing rules, placed the social cost of carbon at $43 a ton — a move that helped justify things like stronger emissions standards for vehicles. The Trump administration calculated the number differently and, in typical fashion, slashed the number down to a couple bucks per ton. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed $190 a ton, nearly four times higher than the estimate the Biden administration currently uses. (The EPA’s number is in line with estimates from independent experts.)

Because the social cost of carbon is so influential in developing climate policy, some Republicans consider it a paragon of the “radical climate agenda.” In response to the Supreme Court’s rejection of Missouri’s challenge, Andrew Bailey, the state’s attorney general, vowed to “continue to combat government overreach at every turn.”

Analysts say the fight isn’t over yet. In a note to clients, the research firm ClearView Energy Partners said the ruling doesn’t preclude states — or anyone else — from suing over specific agency actions and rules that rely on the social cost of carbon, E&E News reported.

In recent months, the White House announced that it was considering applying the social cost of carbon more broadly across agencies, in everything from annual budgets and permitting decisions to fines for violating environmental regulations. It represents a sea change in how the government approaches climate policy: For decades, policies to reduce emissions had been cast as an economic burden, a narrative propelled by oil industry-backed studies that made legislation look prohibitively expensive. Now, the frame has switched: Carbon emissions are viewed as the economic harm, and climate policy is the balm.

^
He's really trying to gain a few evangelical votes, which is impossible, while turning off a segment of Democrats, who might abstain from voting. Don't forget, the election will come after the inevitable war crimes and genocide commited by Israel become hard to ignore. Another great strategy.

Originally Posted by pickel

Don't forget, the election will come after the inevitable war crimes and genocide commited by Israel become hard to ignore. Another great strategy.

Getting into bed with Bibi is a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for him.

Originally Posted by pickel

^
He's really trying to gain a few evangelical votes, which is impossible, while turning off a segment of Democrats, who might abstain from voting. Don't forget, the election will come after the inevitable war crimes and genocide commited by Israel become hard to ignore. Another great strategy.

Biden will do just fine

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Biden will do just fine

He is doing fine

For an old demented puppet

Originally Posted by S Landreth

Biden will do just fine

You have the unbridled optimism similar to a cult member.

nope. just the truth

Biden will be fine

• Biden marks 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s murder, noting increased threats, violence targeting LGBTQ Americans

President Biden warned Thursday of increasing violence against the LGBTQ community in remarks commemorating the 25th anniversary of the killing of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was brutally attacked and later died of his injuries in one of the most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in U.S. history.

“Matthew’s tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people,” Biden said in a statement. “And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, turned Matthew’s memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.”

Shepard’s parents are the co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which seeks to amplify his story.

In 2009, then-President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expanded federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

The law also granted federal agencies greater authority to investigate and prosecute hate crimes. It was jointly named for James Byrd Jr., a Black man who was killed in 1998 by three white men in Jasper, Texas, in a gruesome and violent hate crime.

In a video released Thursday by the Human Rights Campaign, Judy and Dennis Shepard said LGBTQ Americans, particularly the transgender community, need to “stay positive” in the face of rising political attacks and threats of violence.

“We just want you to know that we’re here for you, and we’ve always been here for you. Just don’t give up,” Judy Shepard said in the video.

Biden said, “Today, as threats and violence targeting the LGBTQI+ community continue to rise, our work is far from finished. No American should face hate or violence for who they are or who they love.”

Twenty-five years after Shepard’s death, LGBTQ people still face increased risk of violence. In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned government and law enforcement agencies of intensifying threats of domestic violence against the community.

“These issues include actions linked to drag-themed events, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQIA+ curricula in schools,” the DHS said in the briefing, which was first reported by ABC News.

The warning coincides with a tidal wave of state legislation targeting LGBTQ Americans: More than 500 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, and 84 became law. Advocates and civil rights groups say anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric have put a target on the community’s back and make it more difficult for LGBTQ people to live openly.

LGBTQ people are much more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to be victims of violent crimes. The rate of violent victimization of gay and lesbian people was more than two times that of heterosexuals between 2017 and 2020, according to a 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, the most recent federal data available.

Transgender people during the same time period were 2.5 times as likely as cisgender ones to be victims of a violent crime, the report found. An analysis of the agency’s National Crime Victimization Survey last year by Everytown for Gun Safety found that homicides of transgender people in the U.S. had jumped 93 percent over four years, from 29 killings in 2017 to 56 in 2021.

Biden on Thursday called on Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would amend existing federal anti-discrimination laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The proposed legislation, resurrected in June by House and Senate Democrats, is essential to guaranteeing LGBTQ Americans full civil rights protections, the president said, “because every American is worthy of dignity, acceptance, and respect.”

Biden’s reelection campaign has been endorsed by top LGBTQ rights groups including the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Transgender Rights.

In an Oct. 10 statement, Human Rights Campaign President Kelly Robinson said the current administration’s leadership is “needed now more than ever,” citing increased hate and violence against the community. In June, the organization declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ people in the U.S. for the first time in its 40-year history.

Statement from President Joe Biden on the 25th Anniversary of the Tragic Death of Matthew Shepard | The White House

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• Treasury lays out rules for instant EV rebate

The Treasury Department laid out how car dealers can give customers immediate access to federal tax credits for electric vehicles, a move the Biden administration hopes will persuade more people to buy the battery-based cars.

The new guidance lays out how dealers can effectively reduce the price for an electric vehicle for consumers by as much as $7,500 at the time of the purchase, rather than requiring the buyers to wait until they file their annual federal taxes to claim the credit.

The administration hopes the immediate refund will help dealers sell more electric cars and meet President Joe Biden’s goal of lifting EVs to 50 percent of new car sales by 2030. But the Treasury Department had to structure the program to avoid placing too much burden on car dealers to front the cost of the incentive.

The proposed rule is aimed at “expanding consumer choices and helping car dealers expand their businesses,” Laurel Blatchford, Treasury’s chief implementation officer for the Inflation Reduction Act, said in a statement.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is focused on lowering transportation costs for consumers and giving American car companies the tools to lead the market,” Blatchford said.

Details: Under current rules, EV buyers must pay the full purchase price of the car, then wait until they next file taxes to receive the nonrefundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for new vehicles and $4,000 for used vehicles.

EPA chief says new EV rule will spur innovation, save money

But a 2022 George Washington University study found that EV buyers — especially lower-income buyers — overwhelmingly preferred a point-of-sale rebate to a tax credit, valuing the rebate at $1,450 more than a credit. The IRA stipulates that beginning in January 2024, dealers can provide the credit as a rebate at the time of purchase.

Friday’s proposed rule explains how that process will work. Dealers must register with the IRS to be eligible to offer the credit at point of sale, and buyers must attest they will not exceed the tax credit’s income limit. They can then receive cash or apply the credit toward the cost of the car or a down payment. If the buyer ends up exceeding the income limit, they will have to pay back the credit to the IRS when they next file their taxes.

In effect, the point-of-sale rebate makes the EV tax credit refundable as buyers will be able to take the rebate regardless of their tax liability, according to the proposed rule.

Albert Gore, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association, praised the proposed rule in a statement Friday.

“This guidance makes it easy for everyone to access the IRA’s new and used electric vehicle tax credits at the point of sale,” Gore said. “A simplified process will maximize the benefit of these credits, not just to drivers and their communities, but to the entire EV supply chain.”

Dealer worries: Car dealers had expressed concerns that the point-of-sale EV rebate could force them to provide cash upfront with an uncertain timeline for repayment.

They pointed to the “Cash for Clunkers” program, a 2009 initiative in which the government paid dealers to provide cash rebates for drivers trading in older, less efficient vehicles. Dealers complained at the time that they didn’t receive timely rebates from the government.

With the EV tax credit, Treasury said it expects to refund dealers within 72 hours of a sale. Dealers will use a new IRS website, called Energy Credits Online, to confirm a vehicle is eligible for credit and submit a “time of sale” report to begin the payment process.

Mike Stanton, president and CEO of the National Automobile Dealers Association, said in a statement the guidance is aligned with dealers’ priorities “for successful implementation of the clean vehicle tax credit program in the showroom.”

“The information Treasury released Friday should allay the biggest dealer concerns with their role in facilitating advanced clean vehicle tax credits to consumers at the point of sale starting in January 2024,” Stanton said.

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• Paul Krugman - The war on inflation is over. We won, at very little cost https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/stat...94317024026761

• Readout of President Biden’s Call with President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority

This afternoon, President Biden spoke with Palestinian Authority President Abbas. President Biden condemned Hamas’ brutal attack on Israel and reiterated that Hamas does not stand for the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and self-determination. President Abbas briefed President Biden on his engagement in the region and his efforts to bring urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza. President Biden offered President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority his full support for these important and ongoing efforts.

President Biden discussed with President Abbas U.S. efforts to work with the United Nations, Egypt, Jordan, Israel and others to ensure humanitarian supplies reach civilians in Gaza.

Finally, President Biden detailed U.S. efforts to coordinate with partners to prevent the conflict from widening, and the two leaders discussed the need to preserve stability in the West Bank and the broader region.

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Biden delivers remarks on his Bidenomics agenda in Philadelphia

• Biden talks up historic spending on hydrogen hubs, to be spread over 16 states

President Joe Biden on Friday touted the selection of seven regional projects that will receive a total of around $7 billion in federal funding to build out hydrogen hubs, which are key for meeting climate goals.

“I’m here to announce one of the largest advanced manufacturing investments in the history of this nation — $7 billion in federal investments,” Biden said during a speech in Philadelphia. “It’s going to attract $40 billion in private investment in clean hydrogen power spread over 16 states, creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs.”

The president said he’s made it a goal for the U.S. to get to net-zero emissions from pollutants no later than 2050, and he said that clean hydrogen is going to help the country meet that goal.

The funding for the hydrogen hubs stems from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. The aim of the hubs is to create networks of producers, consumers and connective infrastructure that will accelerate the use of hydrogen, according to the Department of Energy.

The White House said there will be a mid-Atlantic hub for Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey; an Appalachian hub for West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania; and hubs for California and Texas. There is also expected to be a hub for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota; one for Illinois, Indiana and Michigan; and one for Washington state, Oregon and Montana.

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• Biden announces regional hydrogen hubs in hopes of sparking a clean-energy revolution

President Joe Biden on Friday announced the locations of seven regional hubs to manufacture hydrogen – a fuel cleaner than fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal – but one which can be derived from renewable energy, nuclear power or planet-warming methane gas.

Biden made the announcement alongside Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm at the Tioga Marine Terminal in the Port of Philadelphia – which will eventually use hydrogen produced from renewable energy and nuclear power at a new Mid-Atlantic hydrogen hub comprising parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Speaking in front of port workers on Friday, Biden touted the hydrogen hubs as a major part of his “Bidenomics” plan to create new jobs and new industries. “It’s all part of my plan to make things in America,” Biden said.

He also said the hydrogen initiative would make progress on his ambitious climate goals.

“I made it a goal for our country to get to net-zero emissions from pollutants no later than 2050,” Biden said, adding that hydrogen is an important supplement for renewables like wind and solar, especially to power heavy industry, heavy duty trucks and shipping.

US to invest 7 billion dollars in seven green hydrogen plants - EFE Noticias

They're going to have a hell of a compilation video come election season.



https://twitter.com/i/status/1712914382714265794

EPA announces second $1 billion round of infrastructure funding for Superfund cleanup

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday announced an additional $1 billion in funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to be used for cleanup efforts at 22 Superfund sites.

The bipartisan law allocated $3.5 billion toward Superfund cleanup. Friday’s announcement marks the second $1 billion round of funding, following an initial wave in December 2021. The funding round announced Friday includes sites in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virginia and Vermont.

On a call with reporters Friday, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) highlighted one of the sites, the Westside Lead Superfund site in Atlanta, which was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List in 2022. The site includes over 2,000 homes in the city’s English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. The elevated lead levels were first detected in the area in 2018, likely remnants of the foundries that once dotted the area.

“We’ve known for decades the terrible damage that lead contamination does to communities, particularly children, and so I’m glad that we are at this moment,” Warnock said. “This cleanup will include investigating the extent of contamination, excavating and properly disposing of contaminated soil and backfilling and restoring the property. This is a process that typically takes years to advance.”

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) also praised the inclusion of the Southern Solvents Inc. Superfund site in the North Tampa area, which she noted has been under EPA scrutiny for nearly a quarter century.

“The infrastructure law, of course, was written with environmental justice in mind, the idea that no matter your ZIP code, you have a right to clean air, you have a right to clean water and a safe community to live in and raise your family,” she said.

A major backlog in Superfund cleanup has developed, which the EPA hopes to clear through infrastructure law funds. At the time of the first round of funding, 49 unfunded sites existed across 17 states.