Foreign Affairs

Nomination Sent to the Senate

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE: Sandra L. Thompson, of Maryland, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency for a term of five years, vice Mark Anthony Calabria. ###

Updated: Sat Dec 18 2021

FACT SHEET: The Biden-?Harris Administration's Historic Investments and Support for Historically Black Colleges and Universit

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were founded in the face of discrimination and have a proud history and legacy of achievement. HBCUs vary in size and academic focus and serve a range of diverse students and communities in urban, rural, and suburban settings. But all of them create pathways to opportunity for Black students...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Advances Equity and Opportunity for Black People and Communities Across the Count

From the first day in office and every day since, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken a historic approach to advancing racial equity, including directing every agency across the whole of the federal government to address the lasting impacts of systemic racism on Black communities. For generations, entrenched disparities in our society and economy, at times...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

President Biden Announces 2 Key Nominees

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced that he has nominated the following individuals to serve in key roles: ? Paul Monteiro, Nominee for Director of the Community Relations Service, Department of Justice ? Laura Ross, Nominee for Member of the Board of Directors, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Paul Monteiro, Nominee for Director of the...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, HUD, and FEMA

WASHINGTON - Today, President Joe Biden announced that he has appointed the following individuals to serve in key regional leadership roles at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the Department of Homeland Security: David Baker, USDA State Director,...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

Via Teleconference 11:06 A.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good morning. And thanks for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will give an overview of the state of the pandemic and on new practices that will help keep schools open, and Dr. Fauci will provide an update on the latest science and the importance of boosters. But before...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jen Psaki En Route Orangeburg, SC

Aboard Air Force OneEn Route Orangeburg, South Carolina 8:00 A.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Good morning. Thanks for joining us bright and early for this trip to Orangeburg, South Carolina, where the President will deliver remarks at South Carolina State University's 2021 Fall Commencement Ceremony. Just to give you a little bit of background on what...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Readout of AUKUS Joint Steering Group Meetings

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America recently held the inaugural meetings of the AUKUS Trilateral Joint Steering Groups, which were established as part of the governance structure of AUKUS in September 2021. The Joint Steering Group for Advanced Capabilities met on December 9 and the Joint Steering Group for Australia's Nuclear-Powered...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Readout of the Roundtable on the Biden-?Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration convened trucking companies and industry associations to discuss both near- and long-term challenges the industry has faced meeting the unprecedented demand for goods as we recover from the pandemic. Participants noted how the global pandemic had shown a spotlight on the important role trucking plays getting essential goods to families and...

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

Rwanda - Q&A - (17 Dec. 2021)

Q: Do you have any comment following the verdict handed down by the Paris Criminal Court in the trial of Claude Muhayimana, a French-Rwandan national sentenced to 14 years in prison for complicity in genocide? A: We do not comment on court decisions. As President Macron reiterated during his visit to Kigali last May, France is committed to the fight against impunity for those presumed to have been involved in the Rwandan genocide through the international judicial cooperation it maintains (...)

Updated: Fri Dec 17 2021

A Proclamation on Wright Brothers Day, 2021

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved a feat that humankind had dreamed of since time immemorial - a sustained, controlled, powered flight that opened the skies to all humanity. Today, we honor the extraordinary achievements of the Wright Brothers and celebrate their enduring contributions to America's unparalleled leadership in flight. Many intrepid...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Bills Signed: H.R. 5142 and S.J. Res. 33

On Thursday, December 16, 2021, the President signed into law: H.R. 5142, which provides for the award of a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation of citizens of the United States and Afghan allies at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Thank you to...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Development - Jean-Yves Le Drian convening the National Council for Development and International Solidarity (Dec. 17 2021)

On December 17, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian will be convening the National Council for Development and International Solidarity (CNDSI). Among those in attendance will be Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister Delegate for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Minister Delegate for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, attached to the Minister for the Economy, Finance and Recovery. The Minister (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Letter on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuse and Corruption

Dear Madam Speaker: (Dear Madam President:) Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

New version of the Advice to Travelers app (Dec. 16 2021)

A new version of the mobile Advice to Travelers app is now available. Created in 1999, the Advice to Travelers page has seen a massive increase in hits on the France Diplomatie site in recent years, with 32 million hits in 2020 compared with 9.4 million in 2019, and more than 58 million since the beginning of 2021. In light of the rapidly evolving health situation, it is more necessary than ever to make proper preparations for travel abroad. To meet the needs of French citizens who (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Northeastern Syria -Q&A - (16 Dec. 21)

Q: A 28-year-old French woman died in a camp under Kurdish control in Syria. Her lawyers say they had alerted you about her health in 2019 and asked that she urgently be returned to France but never received a reply. How do you respond to that? Will France bring home her daughter, who is now an orphan? A: We learned of the death of a French national detained in the Roj camp in northeastern Syria. The death of a French citizen is always very sad, especially when it occurs in tragic (...)

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, December 16, 2021

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 3:50 P.M. EST MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hello. Q Heads up. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Heads up, indeed. Good afternoon, everybody. Q Good afternoon. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. So, joining us today is Deputy National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi, where he helps implement the President's domestic climate agenda, coordinating the all-of-government approach to tackle...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Remarks by President Biden After Meeting with Members of the COVID-19 Response Team

Roosevelt Room 4:48 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Folks, I'm not going to take questions today because I have a direct message to the American people and, tomorrow, the team is going to be on television and talking in more detail about what I'm going to be speaking about today. But I want to send a direct message...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Remarks by President Biden at Presentation of the Medal of Honor

2:09 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Please, be seated. Thank you. Good afternoon, and welcome to the East Room of the White House, decorated for the holiday season and to celebrate the gift of gratitude. It's an appropriate backdrop for this ceremony, we believe, because our hearts are overflowing with gratitude today as we honor...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Biden-Harris Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan

AFL-CIO HeadquartersWashington, D.C. 9:52 A.M. EST THE VICE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Good morning. Have a seat. Have a seat. Good morning. Ms. Jackson, I want to thank you. Your leadership is so inspiring, and the whole group of women and men and the community leaders that - that really have been a voice on these issues for...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with B9 Counterparts

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with National Security Advisors, Foreign Ministers, and other officials from the Bucharest Nine (B9) group of our eastern flank NATO Allies. Mr. Sullivan briefed on the latest U.S. engagements with Russian officials and consulted his counterparts on issues of importance to Transatlantic security. Mr. Sullivan and his counterparts all...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with National Security Council

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan of Armenia today. Mr. Sullivan conveyed the commitment of the United States to peace, security, and prosperity in Armenia and the South Caucasus region. He expressed concern over ongoing tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and emphasized that military movements near un-demarcated borders are irresponsible and...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021

Statement from President Biden on the Build Back Better Act

I had a productive call with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer earlier today. I briefed them on the most recent discussions that my staff and I have held with Senator Manchin about Build Back Better. In these discussions, Senator Manchin has reiterated his support for Build Back Better funding at the level of the...

Updated: Thu Dec 16 2021