Via Teleconference 11:20 A.M. EST MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone, and thank you all for joining for today's press call on Russia. As a reminder of the ground rules, this call will be on background, attributable to a senior administration official. The contents of the call are embargoed until its conclusion. Not for attribution but for...
On Thursday, December 23, 2021, the President signed into law: H.R. 3537, the "Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act," which requires the Department of Health and Human Services to create grant programs, a public-private partnership, and an action plan for the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases, including investigational drugs, Thank...
On Thursday, December 23, 2021, the President signed into law: H.R. 6256, which bans imports from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang) of the People's Republic of China and imposes sanctions on foreign individuals responsible for forced labor in the region, Thank you to Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Representatives McGovern and Chris Smith, and Senators...
We welcome that participants of the session of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) expressed their strong determination to fully adhere to the Measures to Strengthen the Ceasefire agreement of 22 July 2020, thus significantly contributing to the security situation along the contact line before Christmas. We urge the sides to respect the ceasefire and to continue discussions on further steps in the humanitarian field, e.g. the opening of crossing points and the exchange of detainees, along (...)
The President is announcing two new judicial nominees, both of whom are extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution. These choices also continue to fulfill the President's promise to ensure that the nation's courts reflect the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a country - both...
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 12:07 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Okay. Hi, everyone. Q Hi, Jen. How are you doing? MS. PSAKI: Well, I'm great. How are you guys? Q Good. Good. Very good. MS. PSAKI: Merry Christmas Eve eve for those who celebrate. Q Same to you. MS. PSAKI: Only the bold and...
Via Teleconference 3:14 P.M. EST MR. ZIENTS: Good afternoon. And thank you for joining us. Today, Dr. Walensky will share the latest on the Omicron variant and discuss how people can stay safe over the holidays. And Dr. Fauci will provide an update on the latest science. First, I want to underscore the President's message...
South Court AuditoriumEisenhower Executive Office Building 3:32 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. As we enter this Christmas and New Year, the bill I'm about to sign into law truly represents the spirit of the season, in my view - a season of hope and light, goodness and grace, and the power of unity in...
Senior administration officials met today with European Commission counterparts on progress and next steps towards achieving the U.S.-EU Agenda for Beating the Global Pandemic Vaccinating the World, Saving Lives Now, and Building Back Better Health Security. Led by Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer and President Ursula von der Leyen's Head of Cabinet Bjoern...
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Head of Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak of Ukraine. They discussed their shared concerns and common approach regarding Russia's military build-up near Ukraine's border. Mr. Sullivan welcomed yesterday's OSCE announcement regarding the "strong determination" of Ukrainian government forces and Russia-led forces in eastern Ukraine to fully adhere to...
Especially as the US faces the highly transmissible Omicron variant, it is critical to protect workers with vaccination requirements and testing protocols that are urgently needed. At a critical moment for the nation's health, the OSHA vaccination or testing rule ensures that employers are protecting their employees and the CMS health care vaccination requirement ensures...
We, the international partners committed to supporting Mali and its people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and stability and combat terrorism, firmly condemn the deployment of mercenary troops on Malian territory. This deployment can only further deteriorate the security situation in West Africa, lead to an aggravation of the Human Rights situation in Mali, threaten the Agreement for peace and reconciliation in Mali resulting from the Algiers process, and hamper the efforts of (...)
Calling the defense of democracy "the defining challenge of our time," on December 9-10, 2021, President Biden convened world leaders in the first-ever Summit for Democracy, a gathering that spurred dialogue and initiated concrete action toward global democratic renewal. The Summit brought together more than 275 participants, representing governments, multilateral institutions, activists, journalists, parliamentarians, human...
M. Clément Beaune, Minister of State for European Affairs, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is visiting Bulgaria today. The Minister of State will have a meeting with Mr Rumen Radev, President of Bulgaria, Mr Kiril Petkov, Prime Minister, and Ms Teodora Genchovska, Minister of Foreign Affairs. With his interlocutors, Clément Beaune will discuss the priorities of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 January 2022. Among other (...)
Q: What can you tell us about the Security Council's imposition of sanctions yesterday on the Central African national Ali Darassa? A: Following a proposal by France and with the sponsorship of the United States, India and the United Kingdom, on December 21 the Security Council adopted individual sanctions against Ali Darassa pursuant to the terms of Resolution 2588 (2021). The founder and head of the UPC armed group, one of the Central African Republic's most active armed groups, this (...)
Q: Alaa Abdel Fattah, a central figure in the Egyptian uprising of 2011, has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment by a special court for "spreading false news". Two other activists were sentenced to four years in prison on the same charges. Do you believe this trial was fair and the rights of the defence were fully respected, two points on which you have said you remain "mindful"? A: We have noted with concern the heavy sentences handed down yesterday regarding the situations of Alaa (...)
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Statutory Pay Systems. The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set...
Commerce, Treasury, and USDA Award Broadband Funding to Tribes Ahead of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments President Biden has set a clear goal of ensuring all Americans have access to reliable, affordable, and high-speed internet to learn, work, and participate in the 21st century economy. This includes Native Americans, many of whom lack sufficient access to...
Franck Riester, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, met virtually on December 21 with Robert Habeck, the German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The ministers discussed the main challenges facing the EU's trade policy and the priorities of the French presidency of the Council of the European Union in that area, especially the implementation of the new European Commission strategy enacted (...)
France is deeply saddened by the devastation caused in the Philippines by Super Typhoon Rai (Odette), which has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced thousands of people and caused considerable damage to many areas of the Visayas and Mindanao. The French Embassy in the Philippines is fully mobilized, in coordination with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs' crisis and support centre and the local authorities, to assist French nationals affected by the typhoon. France assures the (...)
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 12:38 P.M. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi everyone. Q Hello. MS. PSAKI: Okay. I know we've done - hello - a lot of news in your inboxes this morning, so a couple of other notes for all of you and for those of you who haven't caught up with everything quite yet. As you...
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan traveled to Israel and the West Bank December 21-22, and was joined in his meetings by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, Deputy Assistant to the President and Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Brett McGurk, and the State Department's Acting Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert. In...
Today, President Biden held a meeting with members of his Cabinet, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Port Envoy John Porcari, and private sector leaders to discuss progress that has been made over the last few months to lower costs for families by alleviating bottlenecks that are rooted in the global pandemic. Less than one...
South Court Auditorium Eisenhower Executive Office Building 10:48 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hello, folks. How are you? I want to thank the business leaders for joining us today, as well as members of my Cabinet and the White House team. Before getting an update from my Supply Chain Task Force, I want to say a word about...
We received good news today in our fight against COVID-19. The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization of the Pfizer antiviral pill, a promising new treatment option that will significantly reduce hospitalization and death as we battle the more transmissible Omicron variant. With today's action, we add the first-ever oral treatment to our...
