Shakebird/white_house_speech huggingface dataset:
Remarks by President Biden on How the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Delivers for Missourians
DECEMBER 08, 2021
Location: Not determined

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I tell you what, I don’t know where that phrase “It’s a big deal” came from.  (Laughter.)  If anybody remembers that — which you seem to all remember — after the President spoke, and I spoke after then-President Obama — he was back to my right.  And I went back and I made sure I was talking on his left ear, because it was — all of — he was down the hallway.  And I whispered what I said.  (Laughter.)  How in God’s name anybody heard it, I have no idea.  (Laughter.)
Remarks by Vice President Harris During a Menorah Lighting in Celebration of Hanukkah
DECEMBER 01, 2021
Location: Not determined

5:48 P.M. EST

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And I love my husband.  (Laughter.)  Happy Hanukkah, everyone.  Happy Hanukkah.

To our great, phenomenal President Joe Biden, to our phenomenal First Lady Jill Biden, thank you for welcoming all of us and for what you do every day — for what you do every day.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, thank you for your leadership.  (Applause.) 

And Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt and Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt and all of the Rabbis here tonight: Thank you for joining us and always lifting our spirits and reminding us of the importance of seeing the light in each other and, through these periods that we experience of darkness, always reminding us of what each of us has and can give to each other — that is about light. 

It is an honor to be here with friends, old and new, and to mark the fourth night of Hanukkah.

As the Second Gentleman — the first Second Gentleman –said, Hanukkah is a one of our family favorites as a holiday.  And every year, our family, like so many around the world, gather to reflect on the lessons of the Hanukkah story — the power of the people, the possibility of the future; that even in despair, there is hope; that even in darkness, there is light.

We all know, for 2,000 years, these important lessons have been a beacon for people across our world.

As Jews have gathered to light the menorah — a tradition that has endured, yes, during moments of darkness; a tradition that has endured in moments also of celebration — we have known, and always known, that we will not be deterred, that we will not be distracted from what we know is good and our commitment — an enduring commitment — to good.

After World War Two, we remember Jewish immigrants together with merchants and members of the Coast Guard gathered for Hanukkah services on Ellis Island.

And as Doug mentioned, he went to Ellis Island and looked at the papers of his family members who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island. 

Decades later, when a brick was thrown through the window of a Jewish home in Billings, Montana, the town came together.  Thousands put menorahs in their windows in a stand against hate.

And just last year, as [at] hospitals and nursing homes, staff members celebrated Hanukkah with patients who were separated from their families due to the pandemic.

So, tonight, we carry on this ancient tradition, this sacred tradition.

And when we light this beautiful menorah, we will do so not only for ourselves, but for all those who came before and for all those who have yet to arrive.

As one candle lights many, may the hope we share tonight ignite the hope throughout our world for generations to come.

And now, it is my honor to introduce a man of deep faith — I work with him every day, and he is guided by the light always — a leader who deeply understands the Jewish faith and stands with the Jewish people of our nation and our world, our President, Joe Biden.

                          END                 5:52 P.M. EST
Remarks by President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden in Phone Call with Al Roker During the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade
NOVEMBER 25, 2021
Location: Not determined

9:38 A.M. EDT
 
MR. ROKER:  Wow!  Oh, hold on.  My phone is ringing.  Just a sec- — oh, my gosh!  Look at who is calling. 
 
Hello?  Hello, Mr. President?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Al.  How you doing, pal?
Remarks By Vice President Harris On The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
NOVEMBER 19, 2021
Location: Columbus, Ohio

3:41 P.M. EST

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you all.  Have a seat.  Have a seat, please.

     Well, it is good to be in the house of labor.  It is good to be with all of you.

     Thank you, Secretary Marty Walsh — my friend, an incredible union man.  And the President and I and our administration are very fortunate that you decided to take on yet another role of public service.  And thank you for your leadership.

     You know, as the Secretary mentioned, the two of us lead our administration’s Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.  And I’m going to tell you something about Marty.  I’m going to talk to you — talk about you in front of your face.  Solidarity is in Marty’s blood; it is his life’s work.  

     And I see him every day there in the Department of Labor but in the halls of the White House.  I’ve seen him with members of Congress.  I’ve seen him with business executives and CEOs.  He’s always fighting for the working people of America.  He understands what it means to work hard.  He understands and fights for the dignity of work.  And it is so my great honor to be a partner with you in the work that we are doing together.
REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU OF CANADA BEFORE BILATERAL MEETING
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building

3:56 P.M. EST
 
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.  Welcome.  And to the delegation, welcome.  It is very good to see you all. 
 
We’ve had many conversations, at this point, over the telephone, by Zoom.  It is now a great honor and joy to see you in person and to welcome you. 
 
As you know and we have discussed, the relationship between the United States and Canada is a very personal one to us as Americans and to me as an individual. 
 
As you know, I spent time in Canada as a young person.  And what I know from that experience and what I’m certain of as Vice President is that the relationship and the bond between our two nations is a long and enduring one, based on many principles and ideals that we cherish and hold dear; that our relationship is as family, as you and I have discussed; and in the context of being fellow members of North America and as being partners to many of our allies and friends in this region, the work that we do together is vitally important not only to the people of our nations, but the people in the region. 
 
And so, I welcome you.  I look forward to the work we will do together — to continuing not only on the bond, but on strengthening the region as a whole. 
 
So, welcome and thank you.
 
PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU:  Thank you so much, Madam Vice President.  It is a real pleasure, as you say, to be able to sit down with you in person for the first time, even though we’ve had lots of phone calls and even Zoom calls, and been at the same events virtually a number of times.
 
It’s an opportunity for us to continue to deepen our friendship, our relationship, the close ties that bond Canada and the U.S. together — not just economic ties and people-to-people ties, but the deep value-based perspective that we have on promoting democracy, on being there for inclusion and diversity and empowering — empowering marginalized people. 
 
These are the kinds of things we need to continue to work on together.  This is how we build back better from the pandemic.  And I’m really excited about the opportunity to dig into some of those things with you here today.
 
(Speaks in French.)
 
VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS:  Thank you.  Thank you.
 
                         END                  3:59 P.M. EST
Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure
NOVEMBER 16, 2021
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire

4:56 P.M. EST
 
Q    Mr. President, what happens next on Taiwan?  You said you talked to President Xi about it —
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Nothing.
 
Q    — but it’s clear that there’s a lot of tension on both sides. 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Nothing.
 
Q    Nothing happens?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Nothing happens.  We’re not going to change our policy at all.
Remarks by President Biden and President Widodo of the Republic of Indonesia Before Bilateral Meeting
NOVEMBER 01, 2021
Location: Not determined

PRESIDENT WIDODO:  I believe, under Your Excellency’s leadership, we can further strengthen our cooperation. 
 
I appreciate President Biden’s leadership in various global issues — climate change, green energy, COVID-19, and democracy.
 
Allow me to convey my appreciation for our cooperation during the pandemic through the doses-sharing mechanism in which I received 13.4 million doses of vaccines and 1,000 ventilator unit, therapeutic medicine, and other medical equipment.
 
Once again, thank you.
 
PRESIDENT BIDEN:  It’s an honor.  Thank you. 
 
4:23 P.M. GMT
Remarks by President Biden at the Annual U.S.-ASEAN Summit
OCTOBER 26, 2021
Location: South Court Auditorium

9:05 A.M. EDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you, Sultan, for bringing us together today.  And I might say, it’s good to see you again.  We met when I was a United States senator.  You would — we’ve established a relationship, and it’s good to see you looking well and running this meeting. 
 
Brunei’s leadership has been vital to seeing ASEAN through a very challenging year.  And it is my hope that in the future we’ll be able to hold these meetings in person again, because the relationship between the United States and ASEAN is vital — vital for the future of all one billion of our people. 
 
Our partnership is essential in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, which has been the foundation of our shared security and prosperity for many decades.  And the United States strongly supports the ASEAN Outlook and the Indo-Pacific — on the Indo-Pacific and the rules-based regional order.  
 
Our continued cooperation is only growing more important — not less — more important as we strive together to meet the challenges that are going to shape the 21st century moving forward: tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, taking on the climate crisis, strengthening our cyber defenses, and producing new technologies, upholding freedom of the seas and commerce, and so much more.  So much more.  
 
So I’m looking forward to hearing from each of you and to our discussion today, but I want you all to hear directly from me the importance the United States places on our relationship with ASEAN.
 
You can expect to see us showing up as Vice President Harris did with her recent trip to the region.  You can expect to see me personally showing up and reaching out to you.
 
You can expect to see the United States deepening our longstanding cooperation, pursuing new avenues of ministerial dialogue, investing in our countries, and driving inclusive prosperity in this critical region.
 
In fact, we intend to launch a new program and initiatives to enhance our cooperation across the range of issues totaling more than $100 million.
 
Our bottom line is that ASEAN is essential, I want to say — it is essential to the regional architecture of the Indo-Pacific.  And the United States is committed to ASEAN’s centrality.  You know, it’s a linchpin.  It’s a linchpin for maintaining the resilience, the prosperity, and security of our shared region.
 
And I want you to know I’m looking forward to working with you to advance not only our many shared interests, but our shared values and shared vision for a region where every country can compete and succeed on a level playing field and all nations, no matter how big or powerful, abide by the law.
 
So I want to thank you all for this opportunity.  And I look forward to this being the first of many meetings. 
 
9:08 A.M. EDT
Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure
OCTOBER 25, 2021
Location: New Castle, Delaware

9:38 A.M. EDT
 
Q    Mr. President, how was your meeting with Senator Manchin yesterday?  How did your meeting go, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  It went well.  A few more things to work out, but it went well.
 
Q    Do you think you’ll have a plan before Wednesday?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  With the grace of God and the goodwill of the neighbors.
 
Q    Do you want a plan — a deal by the time you leave for COP? 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.
 
Q    Is that something you’ve expressed to Democrats? 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  That’s my — that’s my hope.
 
Thank you.
 
Q    Do you expect a vote this week?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  What do you think?  I don’t know. 
    
Q    We’re asking you.
 
Q    How critical is it to get this — how critical is it to get this done before the trip?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  It would be very, very positive to get it done before the trip. 
 
Thank you.
 
9:39 A.M. EDT
REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS IN PRESS GAGGLE AFTER VOTE ON S.2747, THE FREEDOM TO VOTE ACT
OCTOBER 20, 2021
Location: Washington, D.C.

Q    Madam Vice President, what options do Democrats have left on voting rights?  It’s clear that Republicans are not going to support this.
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, let’s start with what just happened, which is the United States Senate and members of the United States Senate had an opportunity to uphold the importance of every American’s right to exercise their fundamental right in a democracy, which is the right to vote. 
 
And when presented with this opportunity, the Democrats unanimously upheld the importance of that right, and the Republicans, sadly, unanimously failed to do so.  So, we’re not going to give up.  We’re not deterred.  But there’s still a lot of work to do.
 
And I think it’s really a sad day.  I thought that Senator Schumer, the majority leader, he spoke well in reminding us of America’s history.  And sadly, we have seen these moments before.  I’d like to think that we have evolved as a nation and that we would not have to return to a moment where the United States Senate would have to debate yet, in this situation, fail, as a body, to even move forward protections as it relates to the right to vote.
 
So, we’re not going to give up.  We have never given up, those of us who have fought for the right of every American to be able to express their voice for their vote.  We’re going to continue to do the work.
 
Q    Can you get a framework done for Build Back Better by next week?  And do you think that it’s possible to actually get your party together, who is very divided on what the — what should the scope of this bill should be?
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  So, I don’t have an exact timeframe, but I will tell you that I think all of us agree that we need to get this done.  And we’re working out the details. 
 
Yesterday, the President and I had some very, I think, productive meetings, candid meetings with members of the Democratic Caucus, both on the House and the Senate side.  And I think there’s a meeting of minds in general about what we need to accomplish, but the details have to be worked out.
 
                          END
REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS ON THE PASSING OF COLIN POWELL
OCTOBER 18, 2021
Location: Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hi, guys.  It’s going to be very windy out there, so I thought I would take a moment to just talk with you for a second about Secretary Powell.  What an extraordinary public servant, American patriot. 
 
I last saw him in July at the dinner — it was a small dinner — that the President hosted for Chancellor Angela Merkel; she had breakfast with me that morning at the residence.  And Secretary Powell and I had a chance to catch up.
 
     You know, what an incredible American.  He obviously served with dignity; he served with grace.  He was the epitome of what it means to be strong but, at the same time, so modest in terms of everything that he did and said, in a way that it was never about him, it was about the country and it was about the people who served with him.
 
He — we talked a bit about the challenges of this moment.  And as you all know, he was very supportive of the President and the work that we needed to get done.
 
But I just want to say that, also, you know, he as the first Black person, Black man to be Joint Chiefs — Chairman of the Joint Chiefs; to be National Security Advisor; to be Secretary of State — every step of the way, when he filled those roles, he was, by everything that he did and the way he did it, inspiring so many people.  And there’s been a lot of conversation about that — how young service members and others, not only in the military, but in our nation and around the globe, took notice of what his accomplishments meant as a reflection of who we are as a nation. 
 
And I think that’s one of the most important things to take away, which is that he broke so many barriers, and those barriers were not easy to break by any stretch.  But he did it with dignity.  He did it with grace.  And because of what he was able to accomplish, it really did elevate our nation in so many ways. 
 
So, may he rest in peace.
 
Q    What is your message for Americans who know that he was fully vaccinated with COVID, who are — now remain skeptical about getting the vaccine, despite the fact that, yes, he did have a cancer diagnosis as well?
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  well, I don’t think that — what happened in terms of his health situation is exactly what the doctors have told us can happen — right? — in terms of people who are immunocompromised, people who have preexisting conditions. 
 
I think it’s — today is a day to really reflect on the life of the man and his extraordinary service, and not to politicize the efficacy of vaccines.
 
Thank you.
 
                            END
REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS DURING A TOUR OF A VACCINATION SITE
OCTOBER 08, 2021
Location: Newark, New Jersey 

Q    Madam Vice President — Madam Vice President, we’re seeing now (inaudible) booster shots are outpacing people who are getting first doses.  What does that say about —
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Listen —
 
Q    What is the message —
 
THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Let me — the message is this: Vaccines will save your life. 
 
When you look at the people who are currently in hospitals, in ICU rooms, who are near death — it breaks my heart — I’m sure all of us — when we see those videos of folks who are on what it turns out to be their deathbed, begging the people they know, “Please, get vaccinated.”  
 
And here’s the thing: For any of us who have had that awful experience of holding the hand of somebody we love while they’re in an ICU bed — none of us should want to put anybody we love through that.  And the way to do that is: Get vaccinated.  It’s free, it is cheap, and it will save your life, period. 
 
And that’s why I’m here.  And to applaud the governor and Mayor Baraka, and the — the executive of the county, and the congressmember for all the work that they have been doing here in New Jersey as a model of what we can do and continue to do around the country.
 
But we cannot give up.  We have to be vigorous.
 
                        END
REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AFTER VISITING A SMALL BUSINESS
OCTOBER 04, 2021
Location: Washington, D.C.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Okay, guys.  Well, let me just say that part of the reason I met with Daniella last week — she came with a number of incredible business leaders to talk about the work that we are doing and the impact of Build Back Better and the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal.  And it ranges. 
 
Part of the ability of any of our businesses — our small businesses, our medium-sized businesses — to thrive is they need to have a transit system that allows their customers to get here, that allows them to move their product.  This is part of the real nuts and bolts of why the infrastructure deal is important.  It’s important to these leaders who then are not only business leaders, they’re community leaders, they’re civic leaders.
 
     On the issue of Build Back Better, one of the extensive parts of our conversation was around access to capital, in particular for minority- and women-owned businesses.  That is part of the Build Back Better agenda, is to make sure that we are identifying those businesses and making it easy for them to do what they would normally do, which is qualify for assistance so they can not only open a business but grow a business.
 
     Another point that is critically important to the work of our small businesses is to allow their workers, like the people in here — the people who I just visited with, who are working in the kitchen — to have affordable childcare.  There are so many women who have left the workforce for a number of reasons, including a lack of available and affordable childcare.  Both pieces are important.  Both pieces are being addressed by the Build Back Better agenda.
 
     And Daniella’s work here at Colada and her other businesses is a prime example of why these two pieces of legislation are critical and are about everyday folks trying to contribute to their community, contributing and growing our workforce, and in that way, essential to all of us if we want a productive and an economically healthy community.
 
     So, I thank you.
 
                                            END
Remarks by President Biden During a Tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
Location: Flatirons Campus

2:41 P.M. MDT
 
THE PRESIDENT:  (In progress.)  I tell you what, man — by the way, they tell me the ones that are going to be offshore are going to be 100 meters long. 
 
SECRETARY GRANHOLM:  Twice as big.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Twice as long as — as big as this, per blade.
 
Q    What have you learned on this trip, sir?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I learned on this trip that we made a great investment in this laboratory.  I was out here in 2011.  It’s expanded considerably, and we’ve brought down — just in the time that I was running the Recovery Act, we brought down the cost of energy generated by wind and solar cheaper than the cost of a new coal plant.
 
These guys are changing the world, man.  No, they really — not a joke.
 
Q    Mr. President, would you sign a reconciliation package with slimmed-down climate measures?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I’m for more climate measures.
 
2:43 P.M. MDT
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall on the Future of the U.S. Counterterrorism Mission: Aligning Strategy, Policy, and Resources
SEPTEMBER 09, 2021
Location: Not determined

I am delighted to speak at the Atlantic Council today and want to express my great thanks to Fred Kempe for his generous introduction. Fred, your leadership has been transformational, including in the work that the Atlantic Council has done recently on how counterterrorism policy needs to evolve. I know you have formed the Atlantic Council’s Counterterrorism Study Group and that many distinguished former counterterrorism officials participate in it.  Indeed, I benefit every day from the meaningful discussions of that group because two of my closest colleagues on the National Security Council team, Russ Travers and Josh Geltzer, are both former members of it. So thank you for what you are doing – on this front as well as on so many others. 

In these times I am especially grateful that the Atlantic Council continues to be a beacon for civil, nonpartisan consideration of pressing national security challenges – from energy security to the future of NATO – and on the topic that we are gathering to discuss today on the US counterterrorism mission.
Remarks by President Biden in a Briefing on the Impact of Hurricane Ida
SEPTEMBER 03, 2021
Location: LaPlace, Louisiana

1:50 P.M. CDT
 
MR. RICHMOND:  Let me — let me thank everybody for coming here.  I’m sure he doesn’t need any introduction, but I just want to say it’s good to be back, but, more importantly, the President wanted to get here as soon as, one, it wasn’t a distraction and draining resources.  So we’re glad that the governor assured us of that and invited us down.
 
But the President has been chomping at the bit to really make sure that recovery is going well and to make sure that he can see hands on.
 
But you don’t need to hear from me.  With that, I’ll turn it over to the President.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, folks, you know, this storm has been incredible, not only here but all the way up the East Coast.  I’ve been spending time with — in talking with the governor a lot, but, in the meantime, also with governors of my state of Delaware and Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, where there are more deaths than you have here.  I hope that doesn’t change in terms of the number of lost lives.
 
And I have a daughter who went to Tulane.  And she runs a Boys and Girls Club operation, and she called me and said, “Dad, when are you going — why are spending a time talking to the governor of New York?  Why are you not in Louisiana?”  (Laughter.)  So, you all got to write a note for me that I’m down, all right?
 
Look, you know, Cedric and — and the FEMA Administrator, we came because want to hear directly from you all what is — what specific problems you’re dealing with.
 
We’ve been working with you on key areas to deliver more than 6.7 million meals and 6.1 million liters of water.  But sometimes what we deliver and what is needed aren’t all the same thing.  And we’re frustrated, I know — you got to be frustrated about the restoration of power.  And I understand two gentlemen who run those two operations are working like hell.  I think you got — you got about 25,000 linemen from around the country here.  A couple have already given their life trying to get things going.
 
And — and so we’re working 24/7 with the energy companies — I think they had to acknowledge that — to get the system up and moving.  And we also deployed even more federal resources, including hundreds of generators to restore power and — faster than we were able to do in Katrina.
 
You know, it’s dangerous work, as I said, and I want to thank those 25,000 linemen from 32 different states.  I’ve always been — responded in big time.
Remarks by Vice President Harris at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, Vietnam
AUGUST 26, 2021
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, I — first of all, I want to thank the Vietnamese — your Office of Health and Hygiene that’s, obviously, a lot of work to do.  And as I’ve mentioned, we as the United States are very thankful to the Vietnamese for coming through when we needed support early on in the pandemic; I think was about April of 2020.  We needed help with PPEs, and Vietnam sent them. 

We have already donated 5 million, and this now is a delivery of an additional 1 million, for 6 million doses of the vaccine.  This is probably one of the — if not the number one issue, in terms of a challenge facing Vietnam right now.  

And this donation, and it is a donation — there are no strings attached; it is free — is an expression of America’s support to Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.  And this is on top of the 500 million doses of vaccines that President Biden has pledged that we will send around the world.  This is, obviously, what is morally right to do.  And it is, obviously, also a public health issue, and really speaks to the importance of the relationships and the partnerships that we have as Americans around the world when it comes to dealing with this crisis, which is the global health crisis.

So, we’re very proud to see that this delivery has made it here and will get into the arms of the Vietnamese people.
Remarks by Vice President Harris at an Embassy Lease Signing Event in Hanoi, Vietnam
AUGUST 25, 2021
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, I would like to say that, on behalf of the United States, we are very excited about this symbol of our enduring relationship with Vietnam. 

     And for anyone who may not be aware of the small print, it’s a 99-year lease.  (Laughter and applause.)  And we — we have visions and — and a dream, which is going to be achieved when we build this structure, of it being a home and a facility where many important things will happen, where Vietnamese students will go to apply for visas to continue in the longstanding tradition of Vietnamese students seeking an education in the United States. 

     Within those walls, we expect that there will be many very important meetings that range from the agreements and the work we will do together on trade, to the work that we will do together dealing with new technologies and thinking of new areas of focus and cooperation. 

     So, we are very excited about this as a symbol of the ongoing relationship — the working relationship between the United States and Vietnam.  And we thank everyone and, in particular, the leaders in Vietnam for being so welcoming, and for the agreement for our continued cooperation and partnership.

     Thank you.  (Applause.)

     Q    Madam Vice President, what is your message to embassy staff on the Havana Syndrome attacks?

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Here’s my message — here’s my message to embassy staff: Thank you.  The people who work in our embassies around the world are extraordinary public servants who represents the best of what the United States believes itself to be and aspires to be, which is a good neighbor to our partners and allies around the globe. 

     And in particular, in this last year and a half, our staff at our embassies around the world have done their work at great personal sacrifice because of COVID — because of the confinements, the restrictions that has placed on their natural desire and ability to be present, to be in the communities, to engage in the best of what diplomacy can produce. 

     So, to our embassy staff, to our Chargé d’Affaires, I thank you, on behalf of the President and myself, for doing the work on the ground every day in representing the best of the United States in our commitment to our partnerships around the globe and here in Vietnam. 

     Thank you.
Remarks by President Biden on Collectively Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity
AUGUST 25, 2021
Location: Not determined

2:11 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you all for being here to discuss the core national security challenge we’re facing, the American people are facing, and — and our economy is facing with cybersecurity. 

We’ve seen time and again how the technologies we rely on — from our cell phones to pipelines, to the electric grid — can become targets of ha- — hackers and criminals. 

At the same time, our skilled cybersecurity workforce has not grown fast enough to keep pace.  We’re about — the estimates many of you have given us and we’ve concluded are — on our own — about a half a million cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled. 

That’s a challenge, but it also is a real opportunity.  And I’ve made it — this a priority for my administration from the outset. 

And in May, I issued an executive order to modernize our defenses and improve our federal government’s cybersecurity.  Because of that order, government will only buy tech products that meet certain cybersecurity standards, which will have a ripple effect across the software industry, in our view, ultimately improving security for all Americans.

We’ve launched a 100-day initiative to improve cybersecurity across the electric sector.  That initiative has already resulted in more than 150 utilities that serve 90 million Americans being deployed.  And we’re committing to deploy cybersecurity technologies that are — that are extending that initiative as — to gas pipelines as well, next.  That’s where we’re going.

And because cybersecurity is a global issue, we’ve also rallied G7 countries to hold nations who harbor ransomware criminals accountable. 

And, I might add, I had a — a summit with Vladimir Putin and made it clear to him that we expected him to hold them accountable as well, because they know where they are and who they are.  But that’s another issue we will not be discussing so much today. 

We updated NATO cyber policy for the first time in seven years.  And today, my team is hosting a meeting, bringing together 30 of the nations — 30 nations to step up in their fight against ransomware. 

But the reality is, most of our critical infrastructure owned and operated — is owned and operated by the private sector, and the federal government can’t meet this challenge alone.

So I’ve invited you all here today because you have the power, the capacity, and the responsibility, I believe, to raise the bar on cybersecurity. 

And so, ultimately, we got a lot of work to do.   And thank you all very much.  And thank the press for being here.  We’re going to go private now.

Q    Mr. President, if Americans are still in Afghanistan after the deadline, what will you do?  Sir, what will you do if Americans are still there after the deadline?  No?  Okay.

THE PRESIDENT:  You’ll be the first person I’ll call.

Q    Please call them. 

2:14 P.M. EDT
Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Phúc of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi, Vietnam
AUGUST 25, 2021
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam

PRESIDENT PHÚC:  (As interpreted.)  Good morning, everyone.  Madam Kamala Devi Harris, Vice President of the United States of America; distinguished American and Vietnamese guests: On behalf of the State and people of Vietnam, I extend a very warm welcome to Madam Vice President Kamala Harris and the U.S. high-level delegation to Vietnam.

Your visit has a very important meaning, as both Vietnam and the United States have recently had the newly elected leadership.

In the solemn and cordial atmosphere of the welcoming ceremony today, we would like to express our special feelings to welcome the first female Vice President of the United States to Vietnam.  You are the first African American and the first Asian American to be elected Vice President, and you are also the first Vice President of the U.S. administration to pay a visit to Vietnam.  And once again, my warm congratulations to you on that.
Remarks by President Biden Before a Briefing from the FEMA Administrator, Homeland Security, and COVID-⁠19 Response Teams
AUGUST 10, 2021
Location: Not determined

4:46 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hey, folks.  I’ll make a brief opening statement here.  I want to thank you, Administrator Criswell, for the job you’ve been doing — outstanding work helping our country navigate what is overlapping challenges we’ve been facing.  And you’ve been very busy.

We’ve got wildfires in the West.  We’ve got — approaching the peak of Atlantic hurricane season.  All across the country, the Delta variant is spreading, as Dr. Fauci and others can tell you, and it’s spreading rapidly — rapidly among the unvaccinated.  When these crises intersect, they compound one another — natural disasters and the Delta variant.

And that’s what we’re going to be discussing today with the group I’ve assembled here.  We need to be ready to manage our natural disasters caused by hurricanes hitting the Southeast and the environment and with a broad community spread of COVID-19.
And the best thing we can do is — to prepare for that is for everyone who is not vaccinated — I know it’s a broken record, and I keep saying it — but to get vaccinated.

With the Delta variant, we’re seeing a pandemic of the unvaccinated.  Cases and hospitalizations are rising faster in states with low vaccination rates, such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, which are the states that — from a hurricane-prone — they’re the states that are most at risk.

And so, we don’t wait until it’s too late.  And if, God forbid, a natural disaster strikes, we have to make sure we’re ready to be protected against COVID-19 as well.

Let me be clear: If you’re in a state where hurricanes often strike — like Florida or the Gulf Coast or into Texas — a vital part of preparing for hurricane season is to get vaccinated now.  Everything is more complicated if you’re not vaccinated and a hurricane or a natural disaster hits.

If you wind up having to evacuate, if you wind up having to stay in a shelter, you don’t want to add COVID-19 to the list of dangers that you’re going to be confronting. 

Get vaccinated now so you’re ready for whatever may come this month.  And it’s likely some serious hurricanes are going to come this month. 

So, go to Ready.gov to make sure that you’re prepared with the hurricane — with a hurricane plan.  Know your evacuation zones.  Have a plan with your family.  And get your emergency supplies and a go-bag ready, and don’t forget to pack one for your pets as well.  I mean that seriously.

And if you’ve got older neighbors or people in your community who might need your help, check in to see if you can help them make a plan as well. 

And the bottom line is this: The more we do to prepare, the better off we are when disaster strikes.

We can’t prevent hurricanes making landfall, but we can prevent people from getting seriously sick and dying from COVID-19.  Get vaccinated and make a plan.

Thank you, all.  That’s what we’re going to discuss in some detail today with my team.  Thank you all very much.

4:49 P.M. EDT
Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
AUGUST 10, 2021
Location: Not determined

3:06 P.M. EDT

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Please have a seat.  Good afternoon, everyone. 

The President has been clear that every day, in every way, our administration will work on behalf of the American people. 

And this has been true as we delivered historic relief through the American Rescue Plan to families and small businesses, as we continue the fight to pass legislation to protect and strengthen the sacred right to vote, and as we continue the work to strengthen our nation’s care economy. 

And this is true today, because today we move one step closer to making a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure.  Today, Democrats, independents, and Republicans in the United States Senate passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

So, let me describe just a little bit about why this bill is so important.  It is an investment in the roads and bridges we drive on every day to get our kids to school.  It is an investment in the public transit we rely on to get to work.  It will mean people in our nation won’t have to drink water from lead pipes or go to a fast food parking lot to get high-speed Internet. 

This bill will also establish a national network of electric vehicle chargers — the President has been fighting for for a long time — and build toward a national fleet of electric school buses. 

And the way I see it: An investment in infrastructure, it provides people with what they need to get where they need to go.  This bill that passed the Senate today gives people what they need to get where they need to go. 

And it will do that while also creating millions of good union jobs for our nation’s workers.  It will do that while also helping our nation’s businesses compete worldwide. 

And so, just so we are clear: We are not going to raise middle-class taxes to pay for it, because that’s what the President promised and that is what we must deliver.

This afternoon, I was proud to preside over the Senate vote.  And I want to thank the senators who worked together to pass this bill.  I also thank the members of the House, who will now work to get this bill to the President’s desk. 

And, first and foremost, we would not be here today were it not for the leadership of our President, Joe Biden.  Mr. President, from the very start, you welcomed ideas, you welcomed debate, you welcomed Democrats and independents and Republicans to meet with us in the Oval Office. 

In those meetings, I watched as you listened.  In those meetings, you deliberated.  You were determined to bring all sides together and to deliver real results for the people of our nation. 

And I know that even after this vote, our work will not stop.  Even when you sign the bill into law, our work will not stop.  We will never stop working on behalf of the American people. 

So, thank you, Mr. President.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

And now it is my great honor to introduce the President of the United States, Joe Biden. 

3:10 P.M. EDT
Remarks by Vice President Harris at Signing Of H.R. 3325, “An Act To Award Four Congressional Gold Medals To The United States Capitol Police And Those Who Protected The U.S. Capitol On January 6, 2021”
AUGUST 05, 2021
Location: Not determined

5:14 P.M. EDT

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Please be seated.  Good afternoon, everyone.  It is an honor to be with you. 

     Speaker Pelosi, Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member Roy Blunt, and all the members of Congress, including the mayor of Washington, D.C.: Thank you for being here with us this afternoon.

Like so many gathered here, I was at the United States Capitol the morning of Wednesday, January 6th.  I was in a classified meeting with Senator Blunt on national security with fellow members of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

And not long after I left, the chaos began.  Like Americans everywhere, my husband Doug and I watched with absolute shock, as our Capitol was under siege and the people within it afraid for their lives. 

What we know now is in the midst of that violent attack, there were countless acts of courage.  And we are here today in the Rose Garden at the White House to recognize that courage.

The officers of the United States Capitol Police and the D.C. Metropolitan Police risked their own lives to save the lives of others, both on January 6th and on April 2nd.  They sacrificed so much to defend our nation.

And in securing our Capitol, they secured our democracy.  These officers are heroes.  (Applause.)  And these officers are patriots.  (Applause.)  And they deserve, today and every day, this honor.  Our nation is grateful for your service.

And now there are some officers who, of course, continue to suffer from the injuries, seen and unseen.  And I want to make it clear that you know that you are not alone and that we all stand with you.

And, of course, there are other officers who tragically lost their lives.  There’s nothing that we can do to bring these officers back or to take away the pain their families feel now.  But it is my prayer that their sacrifice will serve as a constant reminder of the work we must all do together, of the vigilance we must have in order to protect our democracy.

So, I returned to the Senate at around 8:00 p.m. the night of January 6th, and we gathered in the Senate Chamber — in the same chamber where the New Deal was struck and the Great Society was forged, in the same chamber where the Interstate Highway System was started and voting rights were won.  And in that chamber, just before 1:00 a.m., as officers stood guard, the final vote was tallied. 

Democrats, independents, and Republicans came together and upheld the vote and the voice of the American people.  As those officers continued, even at that late hour, to secure our Capitol, they secured our democracy.  So, let us never forget that, and let us always remember their courage.

And now, it is my great honor to introduce a true champion for all those who serve in uniform, President Joe Biden.  (Applause.)
Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
JULY 30, 2021
Location: Not determined

6:15 P.M. EDT    

Q    Mr. President, do you want to open travel with Cuba again?  Do you want to open travel with Cuba, Mr. President?

THE PRESIDENT:  I just had a long —  

Q    Mr. President, do you have plans to invite Polish President to the White House?

THE PRESIDENT:  Pardon me?

Q    Do you have a plan to invite Polish President to the White House?  Polish President.  

THE PRESIDENT:  The Polish President?

Q    Yes.

THE PRESIDENT:  No I haven’t yet. 

Q    Should Americans expect more — should Americans expect more guidelines coming up, more restrictions because of COVID?

THE PRESIDENT:  In all probability. And, by the way, we had a good day yesterday, almost a million people got vaccinated.  About half a million of those people for the first time — for the second shot.  And so, I’m hopeful that people are beginning to realize how essential it is to do.

Q    Mr. President, you had talks with Russia in Geneva on arms control.  Are you satisfied with those talks — how those went?

THE PRESIDENT:  They’re in process, and I’m hopeful.

Thank you. 

6:17 P.M. EDT
Remarks by Vice President Harris During a Voting Rights Listening Session
JULY 12, 2021
Location: Detroit, Michigan

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  I am very happy to be back in Detroit, Michigan, and to be here with these extraordinary leaders.  We have a very important conversation to have about voting rights in America.  And I’m very pleased to be with the Secretary of State, who has been not only a leader in Michigan, but a national leader on this issue, as well as the congresswoman and so many others. 

So, we will talk about many issues.  But I do want to first start by making a statement about the legislators in Texas who are showing extraordinary courage and commitment.  I met with them when many of them traveled to Washington, D.C.  We sat down and had an extensive conversation in the Roosevelt Room in the White House.  And I applaud them standing for the rights of all Americans and all Texans to express their voice through their vote, unencumbered. 

I will say that they are — they are leaders who are marching in the path that so many others before did when they fought — and many died — for our right to vote. 

And I’ll say this later in my comments, but I do believe that fighting for the right to vote is as American as apple pie.  It is so fundamental to fighting for the principles of our democracy.  So I applaud them.  And it is with that spirit, as well, that we meet today.  

Over the past many weeks, I’ve been meeting with advocates and activists on the ground in places like South Carolina and in Georgia.  Here, of course, in Michigan, again, I applaud the work that is happening.  

In 2020, you had folks mask up and get to the streets to do what was necessary — to stand in line, to mail in ballots — to vote.  And you turned out extraordinary numbers. 

And when people ask, “Well, why is my vote important?”  Well, we know the people here in Michigan voted because they said they wanted, on the issue of the pandemic, a national plan for vaccinations.  They voted, and they got that.  

The people of Michigan said, “We’re going to vote because we want more jobs.”  Well, they voted, and we have 3 million more jobs. 

The people of Michigan said, “We’re going to vote because we want to see children in America lifted out of poverty.”  They voted, and we got the Child Tax Credit expanded so that we will lift half of America’s children out of poverty.  

The people of Michigan have a strong and important voice.  And I’m here to meet with these leaders to ensure — and for President Joe Biden and I and our administration to ensure, partnering with the Secretary of State, the congressmember, and so many others, that we fight every day to make sure that all Americans, unencumbered, are able to express their voice through the ballot and through their vote. 

And so, with that, I want to thank everyone.  I’m looking forward to our conversation.  Again, it’s so important that we meet with folks on the ground.  You are the leaders on the ground who are making these rights real every day.  

And with that, let’s begin our conversation.  And thank you all.  I’ll talk to you all later.
Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure
JUNE 29, 2021
Location: Not determined

10:05 A.M. EDT    
 
Q    Are you going to Florida? 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Yes, I hope so.  That’s —
 
Q    What’s — how soon?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Unless I — as soon as we can.  Maybe as early as Thursday. 
 
Q    Dr. Biden going to Tokyo, Mr. President?  Jill Biden going to Tokyo, Mr. President?  
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Am I going — I’m sorry?
 
Q    Your wife, Dr. Biden, going to Tokyo next month?
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Well, we’re trying to work that out now.  That’s the plan. 
 
10:06 A.M. EDT