Shakebird/white_house_speech huggingface dataset:
Remarks by Vice President Harris on Addressing Bias in Home Valuations
MARCH 23, 2022
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building

11:15 A.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everyone.  Hello.  (Applause.)  Hello.  Good morning.  Please have a seat.  Please have a seat.

Tenisha, thank you for that kind introduction.  She and her family, her husband have been so courageous in telling their story and really speaking up and speaking out to help fix a terribly broken system.  Tenisha, I’m talking about you.  (Laughter.)

But really, because your story is the story of so many families and individuals.  And the more that we are able to really highlight this issue, to educate the public in general about what is happening, the more we will be able to be successful in fixing the problem. 

So, thank you for that introduction.  Thank you.

So, today, we are joined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the great Marcia Fudge.  I — I’m going to go off script and say that this — this is a real national leader.  In her years in the United States Congress, she was always fighting for families, for working families, and for homeowners.  As the Secretary of HUD, she has been — this has been personal to her, to push through the bureaucracy, to make this a priority, and it will benefit so many people who deserve to be seen.  So, thank you, Secretary Fudge, for all that you do.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

We are also joined by the Director of our Domestic Policy Council, Ambassador Susan Rice — thank you for your leadership; and a group of homeowners who have been leaders in speaking against the injustice of appraisal bias.  So, thank you all for being here.

So, imagine a young couple that saves enough money to put a down payment on a home.  The day they pick up the keys is a day of excitement and pride.  That day, they own a piece of America.  That home, they know, will be the foundation on which that family builds their future.  As that home increases in value, that couple can count on that equity to help put a child through college, or afford retirement, or pass along assets to the next generation — and, usually, all of those things.
Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Equal Pay Day Summit
MARCH 15, 2022
Location: Not determined

3:01 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Good afternoon. 

Jen Klein, thank you for the introduction and mostly for the work that you do every day, tirelessly, as the Director of our Gender Policy Council.

And to the members of Congress, members of our administration, business leaders, community leaders, and equal pay advocates who are here with us virtually and in person, thank you for your leadership, for your partnership, and for your commitment to action every day.

So, I’ll begin with a simple truth: Our economy just has not been working as it should for the women of our nation.  Across industries, women are less likely to be hired than equally qualified men.  They are paid less and promoted slower for doing similar work.  Women are routinely shut out of good jobs in high-paying industries — such as science and technology, construction, and truck driving — in part because our society tells women that some industries are just not for them.  

 And as study after study has shown, women are expected to shoulder an unequal share of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.     When families cannot afford or cannot find caregiving — such as childcare, eldercare, or home care — it often falls on women to fill the gaps, whether that means going part-time or leaving the workforce entirely or working full time at a paid job and full time performing unpaid caregiving.  

And over the past two years, the pandemic has only deepened these inequities as caregiving has become more expensive and more difficult to find.

And here’s how that all adds up: Today, on average, working women who are working full time, year-round, make just 83 cents for every dollar that a man makes. 

And for many women of color, the gap is even wider.  Over a 40-year career, a woman will lose out on about $400,000.  For Black women, Latina women, Native American women, that loss in wages is closer to $1 million.  

And of course, that is money that a woman could use to pay off her student loan debt or put a down payment on a house or pay a mortgage or invest in a small business or save for retirement. 

As one must recognize, lower wages mean working women have less money — less money to save today.   And lower wages mean they receive lower Social Security benefits in their senior years.

For so many women, the gender wage gap acts as a virtual tax, making it so much more difficult to pay the bills and invest in their future.
Remarks by President Biden at the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference
MARCH 14, 2022
Location: Washington, D.C.

2:31 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, hello, hello.  (Applause.)  It’s great to be back with you all, in person this time.  Please, sit down.  Please, sit down — if you have a seat.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.) 

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you, Mr. Biden!

     THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. President, Mayor Vince Williams, thank you for your leadership of this organization and your leadership down in Union City, Georgia.  (Applause.)
Remarks by Vice President Harris at the DNC Winter Meeting
MARCH 12, 2022
Location: Washington, D.C.

12:41 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everyone!  (Applause.)  Good afternoon, Democrats!  (Applause.)  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Please, have a seat.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.  Good afternoon.

Jaime, thank you for those kind words and for your continuous leadership.  You’ve done such an outstanding job.

And on behalf of the first Second Gentleman of the United States and myself — (applause) — (laughs) — I want to say thank you to everybody in this room.  It is wonderful to see this group of friends in person.  

This, of course, is the first time that we have been able to get together in person since the President and I were inaugurated.  And I can just feel the energy in the room, which, of course, is reflective of the extraordinary dedication, commitment, and work that each of you have been doing over the course of the last couple of years, which presented, of course, many challenges because of the pandemic. 

But for so many of you, this is part of a lifetime of commitment to extraordinary work on behalf of so many people in our country.  So thank you all.  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.

And thank you for the work that you did to get us into the White House — (laughs) — (applause) — and to win control of the Senate, and to keep control of the House!  (Applause.) 

You all did that work.  And, you know, sometimes you make it look easy, but it’s not.  It’s hard work.  It’s difficult work.  It’s around-the-clock work.  It’s work that requires great sacrifice in terms of the other commitments in your lives.

And you do this work on behalf of people sometimes that you meet, on behalf of people that you don’t meet.  You do this work on behalf of people that may never know your names, may never know my name, but will be forever impacted and, to our mission, uplifted because of the work of the people in this room.
Remarks by Vice President Harris to U.S. and Polish Troops
MARCH 11, 2022
Location: Warsaw, Poland

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  Good morning, good morning.  So it was very important for the President of the United States and me to be here on the ground to say hello and to say thank you to all of you for your service, for your sacrifice, for your dedication, for your patriotism.

You know, I’ll just say that I start every morning reading what we call the Presidential Daily Brief, which is generated by our intelligence community, and where I read about hotspots around the world and, in the case of the United States, threats to our national security.  (Inaudible).

Then I got into the Oval Office and I sit down with the President and the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs, the Chairman.  And we talk about you guys, and how proud we are and your service. 

We talked about the fact that Poland joined NATO in 1999.  And since 2014, the United States made a commitment to our friends in Poland to support you.  And that’s when we first sent troops on a rotational basis, averaging about 5,000, and then over the course of the last couple of months, another 4,700 to stand with you in the alliance that is the NATO Alliance. 

I’ve said in many places, I will say again today, that part of being in the NATO Alliance means that we have a motto which we (inaudible): An attack against one is an attack against all.  And the United States takes that commitment very seriously.  It is part of the reason I am here.

In this moment of Russian aggression and Putin’s war, we take seriously our commitment to defend, if necessary, every inch of NATO territory.  So that is why I’m here, to reinforce and reaffirm that commitment.  But these men and women are on the ground to see it through as necessary. 

I was with President Duda yesterday, and we spoke of this collaboration, this partnership, this friendship and what it means to our two nations, and what it symbolizes for us as nations that are grounded and founded in certain principles, including the importance of sovereignty and territorial integrity.  And that’s what’s at stake as much as anything in terms of Russia’s reinvasion of Ukraine. 

So, we stand as partners.  We work together.  We train together.  We form friendships that are based on solidarity, mutual values, and shared principles. 

All of you took an oath to protect and defend your country.  You have each decided to live a life of service, doing some of the most important work any individual could ever do, which is prepare to sacrifice for the sake of your nation.  That is some of the most noble work any human being (inaudible). 

So, before I got on that plane, I wanted to come by and tell you all — all of you — thank you.  When we are in those rooms making decisions, it is you we have in mind, knowing that when we stand firm, we can back it up with you — some of the best fighting forces in the world.  So thank you all — all of you.  Thank you all. 

And with that, I want to meet every one of you.  So let’s do that.
Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Iohannis of Romania in Joint Press Conference
MARCH 11, 2022
Location: Bucharest, Romania

4:14 P.M. EET

PRESIDENT IOHANNIS:  (As interpreted.)  Good afternoon.  I’m pleased to welcome to Bucharest Vice President of the United States of America, Her Excellency, Madam Kamala Harris. 

Dear Madam Vice President, welcome to Romania.

I would like to thank Madam Vice President for her presence in Romania in this challenging moment for the democratic community and for the Euro-Atlantic security.

Your visit, Madam Vice President, reflects once more the strength and solidity of the bilateral strategic partnership and the firm commitment of the United States for the security of Romania and NATO Allies from the eastern flank.

I have conveyed to Madam Vice President the appreciation of Romania for the efforts and leadership of the United States, of President Biden, of Madam Vice President, and of the entire Washington administration in this very complicated context.

The continuous dialogue and the close coordination of the United States with Romania and with all the Allies and partners had an essential contribution to delivering a unified and strong message of the international community to the actions of Russia.

Together, we have come up with a firm and prompt response, both from the point of view of assistance in multiple areas, both for Ukraine and for the individuals affected by the conflict, both when it comes to the sanctions applied to Russia and to the measures for adopting the Allied posture in its entirety, especially on the eastern flank.

Madam Vice President has reconfirmed as part of our — today’s discussions the full commitment of the United States of America for the Article 5 regarding the collective defense of the NATO Washington Treaty.  This Article contains the essence and spirit of NATO and guarantees that any attempt to impact the security of one NATO state will receive a firm, prompt response of the entire Alliance.

I’m saying it with a great responsibility: NATO will act without hesitation to defend each and every Allied state, including obviously Romania.  It is a scenario that all of us want to avoid.  But we, as Allies — and I’m saying it while I stand next to our most important strategic partner — will defend every inch when it comes to respecting the commitments that bind us.

I have conveyed my gratitude for these unshakeable security guarantees as the Romanian society has never had in its history, and thanks to which every citizen of Romania can be confident about his own safety and the safety of his family.
Remarks by President Biden and President Duque of the Republic of Colombia Before Bilateral Meeting
MARCH 10, 2022
Location: Not determined

2:31 P.M. EST

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Welcome, folks.  I’m honored to welcome President Duque here today.  He’s my friend.  We’ve known each other for a long while.  And we were reminiscing about how far back we go and — and how he — he knew Beau when — he met Beau when he was here.
Remarks by Vice President Harris and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada Before Bilateral Meeting
MARCH 10, 2022
Location: Warsaw, Poland

6:48 P.M. CET

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Mr. Prime Minister, it’s good to see you.  And as part of the strong, enduring, lasting, and deep friendship between the United States and Canada, we find ourselves by coincidence, or maybe fate, to be here in Warsaw at the same time, with the same purpose, which is to continually reaffirm the strength of the NATO Alliance and our two countries’ commitment, in that regard, to Ukraine — the people of Ukraine — and, as we are here in Warsaw, also the people of Poland.

And so, it is good to see you.  We have many things to discuss — in particular, what we can continue to do together to strengthen our assistance in terms of security assistance, humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine, what we can continue to do to coordinate and collaborate within the NATO Alliance and with our EU partners in terms of the ongoing needs and the dynamic nature of what we are presented with in terms of this crisis.

I know we stand in solidarity in terms of our outrage at this war and the aggression that Russia has taken against Ukraine, unprovoked, unjustified.  And we value, of course, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and look forward to continuing our partnership in that regard. 

So, thank you. 

PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU:  Thank you so much, Madam Vice President.  It’s a real pleasure to see you again and to see us once again standing so strongly, side to side, on issues that matter so deeply. 

You, yourself, and the Biden administration, and President Biden particularly, have been so strong on this issue, coordinating likeminded countries over the past week to prepare for this possibility of the unthinkable — of Russia invading Ukraine.  And so, when it did, the kind of alignment, the kind of strength of unity that we’ve shown, I think, has really made a difference. 

First of all, Vladimir Putin totally underestimated the strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people.  But he also underestimated the strength and resolve of democracies to stand up in support of Ukraine but in support of those values and principles that underlie everything we do. 

So, from crippling sanctions on Putin and his top supporters, to unprecedented humanitarian aid, to security and military support for Ukrainians who are fighting not just for Ukraine but for all of us, we continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder and will continue to.

We also have lots of other things to discuss.  But obviously, the priority that brings us both to Warsaw is our standing with Ukrainians and all Eastern Europeans as we reinforce the eastern flank of NATO and continue to do the work that matters in the world.

END                      6:52 P.M. CET
Remarks by Vice President Harris Before a Roundtable Discussion with People Displaced from Ukraine
MARCH 10, 2022
Location: Warsaw, Poland

2:52 P.M. CET

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  This afternoon I have invited and asked these very important people to join me for a conversation about their experiences and also their thoughts about what we can do — the United States and our allies in this region and around the world — to support the many people that have been displaced through the necessity to flee Ukraine and the harm that it represents at this moment. 

And so, I want to thank each of you for your willingness, your courage, and your time to have this important conversation. 

The latest numbers I’ve received tell me that there are 1.4 million people, at least, that have fled Ukraine just in the last couple of weeks.

I just met with President Duda of Poland to talk about the commitment the United States has, partnering with Poland and our other Allies, to support the individuals and families that have had to flee Ukraine. 

And so the conversation we will have this afternoon will help inform me, the President of the United States, and the American people about what you have experienced so that we can best support you and your families. 

So I thank you for agreeing to come here to have this conversation.  You’ve been through so much.  And the people at this table represent, at this point, over a million people who must be seen, their stories must be known so that we as a community of people around the world can support you. 

And I — and I do want to say what we will talk about after the press left — leaves, which is: We are here to support you, and you are not alone.  And I know there’s so much about the experience that you’ve had that has made you feel alone.  You are not alone.  We, around the world, are watching.  People around the world are expressing their support and asking how they can help. 

So with that, I want to thank all of you for being here.  And I will thank the press for being here.  And now we’re going to have a conversation.

END                 2:55 P.M. CET
Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Andrzej Duda of Poland in Joint Press Conference
MARCH 10, 2022
Location: Warsaw, Poland

12:57 P.M. CEST
 
PRESIDENT DUDA:  (As interpreted.)  Your Excellency and distinguished Madam Vice President of the United States of America, distinguished ladies and gentlemen: This is a very important moment in our relations.  But, first and foremost, under these circumstances which we are facing right now in Europe, behind our Eastern border, in Ukraine — friendly to us and with us — where the Russian troops are carrying out a barbarious aggression and murdering innocent people, murdering civilians, bombing maternity hospitals from which, under dramatic circumstances, wounded women right before labor — are being carried out.
 
None of us has ever expected that we would be able to see such things in the 21st century.
 
Especially it is a great satisfaction to all of us here in Poland that Madam Vice President of the United States of America, Ms. Kamala Harris, is here with us in Warsaw, in our country.
Remarks by President Biden in Roundtable With CEOs and Governors in Support of the Bipartisan Innovation Act
MARCH 09, 2022
Location: Not determined

2:05 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  All right.  Well, thanks, everybody, for being here.  And for my colleagues that are on the screen, thank you for being here.

I’m pleased to be joined by — by a group of very distinguished people, and particularly by the governor from Indiana, Eric Holcomb; and my good friend, Gretchen Whitmer, from the state of Michigan; and some of America’s world leaders and most important manufacturers in the world and — Cummins, Hewlett-Packard, Meda- — Medtronic, Micron, Samsung, Whirlpool.
Remarks by President Biden and President Niinistö of the Republic of Finland Before Bilateral Meeting
MARCH 04, 2022
Location: Not determined

2:56 P.M. EST

PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Welcome.  I’m delighted to have a good friend here with us today, the President of Finland, in the White House in what is a critical moment involving all of Europe.

And, you know, we’ve been in regular touch for some time now and coordinated a united, transatlantic response to the Russians and holding Russians accountable for their unprovoked and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine.

And we agreed it’s not only an attack on Ukraine, it’s an attack on the security of Europe and on the global peace and stability.

And Finland is a critical partner of the United States, a strong defense partner as well, a partner to NATO, especially in — on strengthening the security of the Baltic Sea area. 

And we’re committed to helping Ukraine defend itself and — in support of the humanitarian needs of Ukraine and its people.  And we’re coordinated on everything from sanctions to export controls and broader global issues of energy, security, climate, and human rights.

So, I want to thank you for making the trip, Mr. President.  Our bilateral relati- — relationship is vitally important to the United States, and I think you see it the same way.  And this is another opportunity for us to further strengthen that relationship.

So, thank you for being here.  Welcome to the Oval Office.  And the floor is yours.
Remarks by Vice President Harris and Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain Before Bilateral Meeting
MARCH 04, 2022
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building

1:05 P.M. EDT

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Good afternoon, everyone.  Well, I am pleased to meet, in person, the Crown Prince and to welcome him to Washington.  As he and I briefly spoke earlier, the Crown Prince and his family have a longstanding relationship with the United States and with visits to Washington, D.C.  So it’s my great honor, Your Highness, to welcome you today.
Remarks by Vice President Harris at Signing of H.R. 4445, “Ending the Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021”
MARCH 03, 2022
Location: Not determined

5:42 P.M. EST
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon everyone.  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon.  (Applause.) 
 
President Joe Biden, members of Congress, and my fellow Americans: Today, we are gathered to celebrate the passage of a law that will make our nation’s workplaces more safe and more just.
 
Forced arbitration silences survivors of sexual assault and harassment.  It shields predators instead of holding them accountable and gives corporations a powerful tool to hide abuse and misconduct.  And it compels the people of our nation — and most often the women of our nation — to sign away one of their most fundamental rights: the right to seek justice in court.
 
The legislation the President will sign today will end forced arbitration in all cases of sexual abuse.  (Applause.)  And — and almost equally as important, it will apply retroactively — (applause) — invalidating every one of these agreements, no matter when they were entered into.
And as many of you know, it has been a long road to get to today.  
 
I co-sponsored this legislation five years ago when I was a senator.  And we would not have reached this very moment were it not for a bipartisan group of legislators, many of whom are here today.
 
These leaders — they saw clearly: This is not a partisan issue.  This is not about Republicans or Democrats.  This is about right and wrong.
 
As I think about the future, our administration will work with Congress on broader forced arbitration legislation to — (applause).  And we will do that to also protect the rights of workers in cases of wage theft, racial discrimination, and unfair labor practices.  (Applause.) 
 
So, I will conclude today by thanking all of the people who are here — and all that your represent to make this day possible — and, in particular, all the survivors and their allies who spoke out and demanded change.  (Applause.)  Thank you for your courage and your resilience and for your leadership.  
 
And now I will now welcome to the podium a woman who was instrumental in the passage of this law: Gretchen Carlson.  (Applause.) 
 
                        END                5:45 P.M. EST
Remarks by Vice President Harris After Swearing In Scott A. Nathan as Chief Executive Officer of the United States International Development Finance Corporation
FEBRUARY 24, 2022
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I know you all — well, all eyes around our country and the world are on Ukraine, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 
 
And I want to be clear that we know and believe that this is a war of choice.  It is unprovoked, it is unwarranted, and it is unjustified.
 
As the President made clear from the beginning: If Russia were to take aggressive action against Ukraine, our response would be swift and certain.  And that is, in fact, what has occurred.
 
Today, the President outlined the sanctions, which are going to have a direct impact on Russia’s economy, both in terms of sanctions and in terms of export controls.  Those — the effect will be immediate on Russia.
 
And we will continue, as we have from the very beginning, to work with our Allies and our partners around the world.  We are unified in our position on this and in our reaction to this unjustified, unprovoked attack on a sovereign nation.
 
Thank you.
 
END
Remarks by Vice President Harris, President Levits of Latvia, President Nausėda Of Lithuania, and Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia Before Multilateral Meeting
FEBRUARY 18, 2022
Location: Munich, Germany

2:55 P.M. CEST

VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Good afternoon, everyone.  I am here in Munich because it is a top priority for President Biden and myself that we are continuously engaged with and working with our Allies and partners around the world, and that we work always on strengthening those relationships.  And certainly, the last several months have been evidence of the work we have done collectively, all of us, in that pursuit.
Fact Sheet: Department of Defense Releases New Report on Safeguarding our National Security by Promoting Competition in the Defense Industrial Base
FEBRUARY 15, 2022
Location: Not determined

The term “defense industrial base” (DIB) describes the vast network of companies that provide goods and services to DoD. These companies make up a significant part of our economy, ranging from small businesses and startups to some of the biggest corporations in the world. They provide products ranging from intercontinental ballistic missiles and highly specialized military satellites to everyday commercial products like batteries and laptops.
Remarks by President Biden at an Event to Reignite the Cancer Moonshot
FEBRUARY 02, 2022
Location: Not determined

2:06 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  (Applause.)  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I’m Joe Biden, Jill Biden’s husband.  (Laughter.)  I want to thank you, Doctor, for that introduction.  But I want to thank you more for all the effort you put in to change, save, alter people’s lives and your dedication to it.

And as we used to — I used to say in the Senate and I think it’s still said in the Senate — “if you excuse the point of personal privilege,” I’d like to — see that doctor on the end there?  That’s the man who spent 18 months trying to save our son’s life.  Doctor, I love you.  The whole family loves you.  (Applause.)

Folks, the doctor’s optimism and fearlessness embodies what our Cancer Moonshot is all about. 

And, of course, I want to thank Jill and Kamala and Doug.  They just shared how personal it is for them and our families and — like so many of you.  Every one of you have a story.  Every one of you have a story.

And our message today is this: We can do this.  I promise you we can do this.  For all those we lost, for all those we miss, we can end cancer as we know it. 

I committed to this fight when I was Vice President.  It’s one of the reasons why, quite frankly, I ran for President.  Let there be no doubt: Now that I am President, this is a presidential White House priority — period.  (Applause.)
Remarks by President Biden in Meeting with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin and Ranking Member Chuck Grassley on the Forthcoming Supreme Court Vacancy
FEBRUARY 01, 2022
Location: Not determined

1:57 P.M. EST 

THE PRESIDENT:  Look, I invited — we’re different parties but two good friends down here.  We’ve done an awful lot of Supreme Court justices together, Senator Grassley and I, as well as Senator Durbin.  And we’ve worked together on a lot of court nominations overall but particularly Supreme Court nominees.

And selecting a justice is one of the President’s most serious responsibilities.  And as I always said — and I went back and looked at a lot of the opening statements I made — apparently, Dick, I’ve presided over more Supreme Court justices than anybody around that’s still in Congress or associated with the government, which is — it kind of means we must be beyond 60, Chuck.  I’m not sure what it is, but we’re a little older.  But —

 SENATOR GRASSLEY:  For me, it’d be 15 or 16.

THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  Yeah, well, and I started way back early on in the early ‘70s.
Remarks by Vice President Harris During Service Event at Martha’s Table
JANUARY 17, 2022
Location: Washington, D.C

Q    Madam Vice President, what’s the next step on voting rights after your speech today?
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  To keep working on it.  I’m making calls.  I’m meeting with folks.  We’re not going to give up.  You’ve heard me say that before, and I mean it.  This is too important.  This is not about — it — this is literally about the future of our country in terms of its democracy.  And we have to remain deeply committed to getting this done and seeing it through however long it takes. 
 
But right now, we have bills before us.  The United States Senate has the opportunity and, I daresay, the responsibility to pass these bills through Congress so the President can sign them.  And the resistance to doing that will not deter us from our commitment to getting it done.
 
Q    What’s your message to Manchin and Sinema?  Vice President Harris, what’s your message to Manchin and Sinema?
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  As I’ve said before, there are a hundred members of the United States Senate, and I’m not going to absolve — nor should any of us — absolve any member of the United States Senate from taking on a responsibility to follow through on the oath that they all took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. 
 
                        END
Remarks by President Biden During a Virtual Meeting to Discuss Boosting Competition and Reducing Prices in the Meat-Processing Industry
JANUARY 03, 2022
Location: Not determined

2:28 P.M. EST 

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, folks.  How are you?  Welcome.  Welcome.  I wish you were here in person.  One of these days, we’re going to be able to do that again.  I want to thank you for joining us, and Happy New Year.

And before we begin, I want to say a word about where our economy stands today.

We’re entering 2022 in a position of a unique economic strength: Six million new jobs –- a record number for a new President — have been created since January last.  Unemployment is down to 4.2 percent, three years ahead of predictions.  New small-business applications are up over 30 percent compared with before the pandemic.  And the fastest growth in America in nearly 40 years. 

And America is the only leading economy in the world where the economy as a whole is stronger than it was before the pandemic, even after accounting for price increases.

Because — because we took action for the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’ve made important progress: We’ve begun to change the trajectory — to change the trajectory of our economy — the one that we inherited — to finally make it work for working people, to build up from the bottom up and the middle out, and to give working people the wages and benefits they deserve, and to encourage more innovation and faster growth.

So now, we’re in a strong position to address the challenge we face — and we have challenges — including the cost and prices that people have to pay.

We already laid out three — a three-part plan to address costs that families are facing. 

Number one, fix the supply chains.  We’re going to have another discussion on that in a couple of weeks with the Secretary of Agriculture.

Protecting consumers — number two.

    Three, lowering kitchen table costs, including with my Build Back Better Plan.

But today, we’re here to talk about strengthening competition, which will bring down costs.
Remarks by President Biden in Meeting with the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force
DECEMBER 22, 2021
Location: 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 the progress our economy has made this year and how my administration will continue to tackle the cost increase that the American people are facing.
Remarks by President Biden After Meeting with Members of the COVID-⁠19 Response Team
DECEMBER 16, 2021
Location: Not determined

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 to the American people: Due to the steps we’ve taken, Omicron has not yet spread as fast as it would’ve otherwise done and as is happening in Europe.  But it’s here now, and it’s spreading, and it’s going to increase. 
 
For unvaccinated, we are looking at a winter of severe illness and death — if you’re unvaccinated — for themselves, their families, and the hospitals they’ll soon overwhelm. 
 
But there’s good news: If you’re vaccinated and you had your booster shot, you’re protected from severe illness and death — period. 
 
Number two, booster shots work. 
 
Three, boosters are free, safe, and convenient. 
 
About 60 million people have one — have been boosted.  So, go get your shot today.  Go get boosted if you’ve had your first two shots.  If you haven’t, go get your first shot.  It’s time.  It’s time.  It’s past time. 
 
And we’re going to protect our economic recovery if we do this.  We’re going to keep schools and businesses open if we do this.  And I want to see everyone around enjoy that.  I want to see them enjoy the fact that they’re able to be in school, that businesses are open and the holidays are coming. 
 
So, get your booster shot.  It’s critically important. 
 
And if you haven’t — if you haven’t gotten your booster shot, get your first shot.  We’re in a situation where we have 83 percent of the American people who’ve gotten one shot — 12 years and older.  Four hundred thousand shots per day now.  Two hundred and two are fully vacc- — two hundred and two million are fully vaccinated. 
 
Fifty-seven -– excuse me –- five hundred and seventy –- excuse me –- I don’t want to read -– I’m not sure I got the right number.  The — the total number of boosters is what? 
 
DR. FAUCI:  Fifty-seven million.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Fifty-seven million boosters — one million a day. 
 
So — but the whole point is: Omicron is here, it’s going to start to spread much more rapidly in the beginning of the year, and the only real protection is to get your shots.  If you get one shot — if you haven’t gotten it yet — it’ll help. 
 
If you’re at a point where you have everything, including your booster, you’re in really good shape. 
 
So, move now.  Move now. 
 
Thank you all very much.
 
4:51 P.M. EST
Remarks by President Biden in Press Gaggle
DECEMBER 15, 2021
Location: Dawson Springs, Kentucky

3:27 P.M. CST
 
Q  Mr. President, should congressional Democrats move on to working on voting rights legislation this year and put off your Build Back Better plan until 2022?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  If we can get the congressional voting rights done, we should do it.  If we can’t, we got to keep going.  There’s nothing domestically more important than voting rights.  It’s the single-biggest issue.
 
3:27 P.M. CST
Remarks by President Biden After Surveying Storm Damage During Tour of Mayfield, Kentucky
DECEMBER 15, 2021
Location: Mayfield, Kentucky

12:25 P.M. CST
 
Q    Can you tell us your impressions of what you’ve seen so far?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  What I’ve seen so far is a group of incredible people pulling together, helping each other.  And they’re hopeful.  And we’re going to stay until this gets finished and totally reconstructed. 
 
A lot of people are going through a God-awful mess now.  And right now, they’re just recovering from the shock of it all.  But in a month, in two months, in three months, when things are going to get really — they’re going to get really worried because they’re not — it’s not — can’t all be done that quickly. 
 
But we’re not leaving.  We’re not going to leave.  I promise you, the federal government is going to be involved until this gets rebuilt, this whole — not just here, but particularly here, but also the other states as well.
 
You know, we’ve got $99 billion worth of damage just this year — just this year — because of foul weather and climate change.  And so we’re going to get it done.
 
And I’ve — I’ve been impressed how everybody is working together.  I really mean it.  It’s just amazing.  The stories I’ve heard are all personal stories, not stories about “I lost…”, “I did this.”  They’re talking about other people and helping other people.  It’s just been amazing, and — but not surprising.
 
12:27 P.M. CST
Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
DECEMBER 15, 2021
Location: Not determined

9:02 A.M. EST
    
Q    (Inaudible.)  Do we need another U.S.-Russia Summit?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  We’ll be talking at length.
 
Q    President Biden, on the 800,000 coronavirus deaths, do you have a statement on your responsibility? 
 
And why haven’t you asked China to do more to be transparent on the origins?
 
Q    Do you still believe you can get — do you still believe you can get Build Back Better Act done this year?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I hope so.  It’s going to be close.
 
Q    What’s your reaction to Congress holding Meadows in contempt?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I don’t know enough — just what I’ve seen.  I have not spoken to anyone.  It seems to me wor- — it’s worthy of being held in contempt.
 
Q    What do you think about the texts that have been released?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I haven’t seen them all.
 
Q    Mr. President, what kind of progress have you made on Build Back Better?  What kind of progress?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Some.
 
9:02 A.M. EST
Remarks by President Biden at Signing of Executive Order on Government Services
DECEMBER 13, 2021
Location: Not determined

1:39 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, folks, thanks for coming in.  I was telling my Cabinet before you all came in that when I was a kid — in grade school and high school and college — one of my closest friends was a guy named Pete McLaughlin.  And if you’re a real basketball fan, he was the “sixth man” on the Riordan-Walker team in Providence College back in the — back in the late ‘60s. And — anyway.
 
And he used to have an expression when someone would say something to us.  (Inaudible) say, “Look, you got to know how to know.”  “You got to know how to know.”  Unfortunately, he passed away some time ago. 
 
But, you know, you can go on the Library of Congress and, if you don’t know how to read the card catalog, it doesn’t do you much good; it’s all a matter of luck.  
 
And since I got involved in public office and got elected, I’ve really — not a joke — I’ve tried starting my home office in my home state — like, get to a point where people could get their — we assume — bureaucracies assume that people understand how they function.  But it’s, really, a very complicated web for the vast majority of people, whether they have PhDs or high school educations.
 
And so, today, I’m signing an executive order to ensure — to ensure that the federal government puts you, the American people, at the front of the line and for — first in everything we do. 
 
I’m directing 17 agencies here to focus on more than 30 key areas to make it easier to apply for services and benefits that they’re entitled to and they’ve paid for and is theirs, their government.
 
Let me give a few examples.  For millions of people who retire each year, you should be able to apply for Social Security benefits without needing to go to a Social Security office and have Medicare proactively reach out to you with the tools you need to manage your health and save money. 
 
Or if you’re one of the tens of millions of people who move each year, you should be able to take and update your address one time, in one place, and check off which agencies that new information should go to instead of going to each one separately to let them know.
 
And you’ll see better technology to speed security lines and wait times at our national airports; make filings and refunds to the IRS more — more rapid; and for disaster aid, which I was talking a little bit earlier today about; and to student loans.  The list goes on.
 
The bottom line is we’re going to make the government work more effectively for the American citizens so it’s not as confusing and it’s straightforward.  And we’re going to — because I believe this will go a long way to restoring faith in government. 
 
I know it sounds like a simple thing, but I think it’s pretty consequential.  And so, I’m about to sign that now.  And I’d ask all the Cabinet members to come around behind me here, if you would.
 
 I used to wonder how Barack did this all in one (inaudible).  (Laughter.)
 
(The executive order is signed.)
 
Thank you.  (Applause.)
 
1:45 P.M. EST
Remarks by Vice President Harris on Electric Vehicle Investments
DECEMBER 13, 2021
Location: Brandywine, Maryland

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Secretary Granholm, for all of your years of incredible leadership.  And good morning.  Good morning, Maryland. 

So, before we get started, I do want to say a few words about this weekend’s devastating storms.  Our hearts, of course, go out to the communities that have been impacted.  You’ve lost so much and so quickly.  So, we are committed — the President and I and our administration — to helping you, and to helping to heal the wounds which will probably be long-lasting.

And we will continue, of course, to monitor the situation closely and to do everything in our power, as the federal government and as leaders, to help you get through this. 

With that, again, I want to thank the members of the administration, American leaders for joining us here today. Secretary Jennifer Granholm, National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy: Thank you for the work you do tirelessly.  You’ve been traveling around the country talking about these issues in a way that, yes, is inspiring people to see what is possible and believe in it. 

Ben Cardin — Senator Ben Cardin and who — where is Chris Van Hollen?  Chris Van Hollen, who was my classmate entering the Senate.  And I’ve seen him work so hard.  I want to thank you both, as my former colleagues.  I do think of you as partners in everything we are doing.  And thank you for your leadership.  (Applause.)  Yes. 

The one and only Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, thank you for all that you do.  I was joking with him backstage about: Every time I’m with Steny, traveling around the world sometimes, but always with a focus on what’s in the best interest of the people in Maryland.  And he really is a gem.  And I thank you, Maryland, for sending him to Congress.  (Applause.)

And Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who I’ve known for many years.  We have worked closely together.  I thank you for your leadership and for the warm welcome.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

And I will tell you, Maryland, I have seen these leaders when the cameras are on and when the cameras are off, and they are the same people — always fighting.  Fighting for the people of America, fighting for the people of Maryland.  And they do so much that really is about having, yes, fight, but a fight that is borne out of optimism.  Their work really is the work of inspiring people to see what can be, unburdened by what has been. 

And on behalf of the President and I, thank you so very much for your continuing and longstanding service to our country. 

So, Maryland, in the year 2021, there can be no doubt: The future of transportation, in our nation and around the world, is electric.
Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court Ruling on Texas Law S.B. 8
DECEMBER 10, 2021
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Q    Madam Vice President, on the SCOTUS ruling today, I’m wondering — the Biden administration promised a whole-of-government response to S.B. 8.  So after DOJ’s lawsuit was defeated, what will the Biden administration do next?

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, listen, the ruling today is an attempt to undo — in terms of what’s happening in Texas, Mississippi, and around the country — is an attempt to undo 50 years of precedent.
Remarks By President Biden At The Summit For Democracy Opening Session
DECEMBER 09, 2021
Location: Not determined

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, hello everyone, and welcome to the first Summit for Democracy.

     This gathering has been on my mind for a long time for a simple reason: In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights, and — all around the world, democracy needs champions.

     And I wanted to host this summit because here is the — here in the United States, we know as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort.

     American democracy is an ongoing struggle to live up to our highest ideals and to heal our divisions; to recommit ourselves to the founding idea of our nation captured in our Declaration of Independence, not unlike many of your documents.

     We say: “We hold these truths to be self-evident” that all women and men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

     Democracy doesn’t happen by accident.  We have to renew it with each generation.  And this is an urgent matter on all our parts, in my view.  Because the data we’re seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.

     Freedom House reports, in 2020, that it marked the 15th consecutive year of global freedom in retreat.

     Another recent report, from the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance, noted that more than half of all democracies have experienced a decline in at least one aspect of their democracy over the last 10 years, including the United States.

     And these trends are being exacerbated by global challenges that are more complex than ever and which require shared efforts to address these concerns:

     By outside pressure from autocrats.  They seek to advance their own power, export and expand their influence around the world, and justify their repressive policies and practices as a more efficient way to address today’s challenges.  That’s how it’s sold.

     By voices that seek to fan the flames of societal division and political polarization.

     And perhaps most importantly and worrying of all — most worrying of all, by increasing the dissatisfaction of people all around the world with democratic governments that they feel are failing to deliver for their needs.

     In my view, this is the defining challenge of our time.

     Democracy — government of the people, by the people,
for the people — can at times be fragile, but it also is inherently resilient.  It’s capable of self-correction and it’s capable of self-improvement.