Our country has lost an honorable public servant. Harry Reid rose through the ranks in Washington, becoming Senate Majority Leader, but he never forgot his humble beginnings in Searchlight, Nevada - and he always fought for working families and the poor. Leader Reid also got things done: from expanding access to healthcare through the Affordable...
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution announced that the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), constitutes a variant of concern. The WHO further reported that the number of cases of this variant appeared to be increasing in almost...
France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack carried out on December 25 in the city of Beni, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's North Kivu province, which killed several people and left many casualties. It offers its condolences to the victims' loved ones and to the Congolese authorities and extends its solidarity to those who were injured. The perpetrators of this attack must be identified and brought to (...)
Q: On December 21, Nicolas de Rivière, France's permanent representative to the UN Security Council, issued a statement concerning the Israel-Palestine situation that attracted considerable attention. He emphasized international law, denounced the multiple announcements being made on settlements, and stressed the fact that France will not recognize any changes to the 1967 borders (a statement disseminated by your department). However on December 26, the Israeli government approved a plan to (...)
I was outraged and troubled to learn of the liquidation of the International Memorial Society by Russia's Supreme Court, while the other branch of this NGO, the Memorial Human Rights Center, is also facing court proceedings. In this 100th anniversary year of the birth of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Andrei Sakharov, the organization's founder, this announcement is deeply disturbing for the future of historical research and the defense of human rights in Russia. As I emphasized at Charles (...)
Q: Russian historian Yuri Dmitriyev, a specialist on Stalin-era repression who works with the NGO Memorial, was sentenced on Monday to 15 years in prison. What is France's reaction, at a time when Memorial itself is risking liquidation? A: I refer you to today's statement by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian.
1. On January 19, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary's investigation into the effect of imports of aluminum articles on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Secretary found and advised...
1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary's investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The...
On Monday, December 27, 2021, the President signed into law: H.R. 1664, which authorizes the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation to establish a commemorative work to honor Medal of Honor Recipients. Thank you to Representatives Veasey and Blake Moore, and Senators Cornyn and Kaine for their leadership.
On Monday, December 27, 2021, the President signed into law: S. 1605, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022," which authorizes fiscal year 2022 appropriations principally for Department of Defense programs and military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, and intelligence programs; specifies a military basic pay increase and other authorities relating...
France condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack carried out in Northern Burkina Faso, in the vicinity of You, on December 23, which left several dozen civilians dead. It extends its condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of Burkina Faso. Together with all the partners in the Coalition for the Sahel, France stands with the authorities of Burkina Faso to combat (...)
Q: The Malian government denies that it is deploying any mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group in Mali. It says they are Russian trainers who are in the country as part of a partnership between Moscow and Bamako. What is France's response, as it was one of some 15 Western countries that on Thursday announced this deployment? A: I refer you to the language in the joint statement we issued with some 15 of Mali's international partners on December (...)
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the "Stafford Act"), I hereby order as follows: Section 1. Policy. It is the policy of my Administration to combat and...
Today President Biden joined White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, Chief Medical Advisor to the President Dr. Anthony Fauci, and CDC Director Rochelle Walensky for their regular call with the bipartisan National Governors Association regarding the country's COVID-19 response. After his public remarks, President Biden joined Jeff Zients, Dr. Fauci, and Dr. Walensky to...
South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building (December 25, 2021) THE FIRST LADY: Hi, Merry Christmas. How are you? THE PRESIDENT: Bahrain, Qatar, Romania - you're everywhere but home. THE FIRST LADY: Yeah. THE PRESIDENT: Sorry. THE FIRST LADY: We are sorry. You know, one of the things we know - because we are a military...
South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 11:33 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: A lot of govs. We ready? MR. ZIENTS: We are ready. Governors, can you hear me okay? Welcome, Mr. President. This is actually the 40th time we've convened this group of governors, and we're - in addition, we're in constant one-on-one contact with the...
South Lawn 12:20 P.M. EST Q President Biden, why did your administration reject the holiday testing surge in October? Does the buck stop with you there - rejecting the surge? THE PRESIDENT: We didn't reject it. Q What did the governors tell you they're worried about? THE PRESIDENT: Well, they're not - they didn't tell...
Q: Yesterday, the Russian President's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, expressed hope that negotiations on security guarantees could begin in January. Is France aware of Russian proposals relating to that issue? In your opinion, can our countries reach a consensus under the Russian initiative? Could negotiations begin in January? A: We are aware of the Russian proposals and we are working closely with our allies and partners to analyze them. As we have said regularly, a rigorous dialogue is (...)
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke by phone today with Poland's National Security Bureau Chief Pawel Soloch and Head of the International Policy Bureau Jakub Kumoch. They exchanged views on Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's border and affirmed the importance of Allied unity in diplomatic and deterrence efforts. Mr. Sullivan reiterated U.S. support for the North...
Today, I have signed into law S. 1605, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022" (the "Act"). The Act authorizes fiscal year appropriations principally for the Department of Defense, for Department of Energy national security programs, and for the Department of State. The Act provides vital benefits and enhances access to justice for...
On this morning after Christmas, we are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a true servant of God and of the people, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. We were blessed to spend time with him on several occasions over the past many years. His courage and moral clarity helped inspire our commitment to change American policy toward the repressive...
On behalf of our family, we wish a merry Christmas to everyone in the United States and around the world who is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the promise of hope and renewal. During this season of joy, we are inspired by the countless Americans who are a reminder that the things we...
Yesterday, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Arkansas and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and tornadoes from December 10 to December 11, 2021. The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in...
France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcome the statement of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser (SASG) on Libya, Stephanie Williams on 23 December and commend the work of the SASG to engage in broad consultations across Libya over the past ten days. We express our strong support for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Support mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to further a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process towards the holding of free, fair and inclusive (...)
1. Section 1205(a) of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the "1988 Act") (Public Law 100-418, 102 Stat. 1107, 1150 (19 U.S.C. 3005(a))) directs the United States International Trade Commission (the "Commission") to keep the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) under continuous review and periodically to recommend to the President...
