Politics. On Point.

  The Biden-Harris Administration  plans to invest at least $55 billion in  Africa  over the next three years, working closely with Congress .   President Biden meets with African leaders at Africa-US Leaders' Summit in Washington, D.C. The administration is dedicated to following through on these commitments and are establishing a new   Special Presidential Representative for U.S.- Africa  Leaders Summit Implementation  to coordinate these efforts.  President Biden announced his intent to name for this role Ambassador Johnnie Carson, former Assistant Secretary of State for   African   Affairs and Ambassador to Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.  New investments and policy initiatives highlighted at the Summit included: People-to-People Ties Establishment of a New Diaspora Council :  The President issued an  executive order  (EO) directing the Secretary of State to establish the President’s Advisory Council on  African  Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE).  The PAC-ADE wi

President Biden, in his 2022 Christmas address to the country, admonished Americans to 'look out for one another', and be 'kind' to one another. Here a few excerpts from his address. "That’s why sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean so much.  A simple smile.  A hug.  An unexpected phone call.  A quiet cup of coffee.  Simple acts of kindness that can lift a spirit, provide compo- -- comfort, and perhaps maybe even save a life.   So, this Christmas, let’s spread a little kindness.   This Christmas, let’s be that -- that helping hand, that strong shoulder, that friendly voice when no one else seems to care for those who are struggling, in trouble, in need.  It just might be the best gift you can ever give." "The Christmas story is at the heart of the Christmas -- Christian faith.  But the message of hope, love, peace, and joy, they’re also universal.   It speaks to all of us, whether we’re Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other fa

  December 23, 2022   TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS UNDER THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION        1.  In Proclamation 7853 of December 10, 2004, the President designated Burkina Faso as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the "Trade Act"), as added by section 111(a) of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (the "AGOA") (title I of Public Law 106-200, 114 Stat. 251, 257-58 (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(1))).      2.  Section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)) provides that the President shall terminate the designation of a country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A if the President determines that the country is not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.      3.  Pursuant to

  December 23, 2022   EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   ADJUSTMENTS OF CERTAIN RATES OF PAY      By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:       Section   1 .   Statutory Pay Systems .  The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:      (a)  The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;      (b)  The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and      (c)  The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7401, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3.       Sec .  2 .   Senior Executive Service .  The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth

  Remarks by Vice President Harris During Roundtable Discussion With Environmental and Clean Energy Leaders   Chief of Mission Residence Bangkok, Thailand   THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Ambassador Godec.  And thank you for your leadership and service to our nation and the partnership and the relationship we have with Thailand, for being here on the ground doing so much important work.  Thank you. And to the leaders who have joined us for this discussion, I thank you, and it is good to see you.  I'm looking forward to a robust discussion about so many very important and critical issues. The climate crisis is at the intersection of so many priorities.  When we think about the impact of the climate crisis, it affects our goals that are societal goals of supporting public health, sustainable livelihoods, and economic growth, in addition to just protecting this precious planet of ours. In particular, we know that the climate crisis presents a real threat to the communities who depend

  While no motive in this attack is yet clear, we know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years. Gun violence continues to have a devastating and particular impact on LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of violence are increasing. We saw it six years ago in Orlando, when our nation suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQI+ community in American history. We continue to see it in the epidemic of violence and murder against transgender women – especially transgender women of color. And tragically, we saw it last night in this devastating attack by a gunman wielding a long rifle at an LGBTQI+ nightclub in Colorado Springs. Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often. We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate. Today, yet anothe

 The president took to the podium to address the notion that there are those who think America is in a recession. The following are pool reporter notes from Biden's remarks: "Simply put, the bill will lower health care costs for millions of Americans and will be ... the most important investment" in clean energy   "This bill will fight inflation."  See also: Inflation reduction   "This investment in environmental justice is real."    "Let me be clear: this bill would be the most significant legislation in history to tackle the climate crisis."    "This legislation will bring down the deficit. Bring down the deficit."    "With this legislation, we're facing up to some of our biggest problems as a nation."    "This bill is far from perfect. It's a compromise. But it's often how progress is made."    "Pass it. Pass it for the American people. Pass it for America."  See also: Stagflation?   On

Equal opportunity for all. The Biden administration has announced new initiatives that would allocate billions of dollars to America's underserved communities. Read complete Fact Sheet here . Twenty-one corporations and 3 foundations have come together to create the Economic Opportunity Coalition, committing themselves to aligning major investments in communities of color with investments made by the Biden-Harris Administration. The EOC will coordinate across public, private, and social sector organizations to develop and deploy products that solve challenges in getting resources where most needed and drive towards outcomes for meaningful action. The founding members of the Coalition include Ariel Investments, Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Capital One, Citi, Discover, Ford Foundation, Goldman Sachs, Google, Key Bank, Kresge Foundation, Mastercard, McDonald’s, McKinsey & Company, Micron, Momentus Capital, Moody’s, Netflix, Next Street, PayPal, PNC, The Rockefeller Foundation, TIA

In an announcement in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday the president said that after isolating for five days, and taking PAXLOVID, he has tested negative for COVID-19. "I'm feeling great", the president said. He thanked those concerned for their well wishes, and credited his being vaccinated and boosted for his quick recovery. He also reminded Americans that the BA.5 COVID variant is still among us and admonished everyone to do the work to protect themselves, including getting vaccinated and boosted with readily available vaccines. "You can now prevent most  COVID  deaths", he said. "And that’s because [of] three free tools my administration has invested in and distributed this past year: booster shots; at-home tests; easy-to-use, effective treatments." "We’ve got through  COVID  with no fear -- I got through it with no fear.  A very mild discomfort because of these essential, lifesaving tools." "Americans can go to covid.gov , i

  S TATEMENT OF  A DMINISTRATION  P OLICY H.R. 3771 – South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022 (Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-WA, and 32 cosponsors) The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R. 3771, the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2022, and looks forward to working with the Senate on this critical bill.   South Asian Americans carry a disproportionate risk of cardiovascular disease and related disorders like type 2 diabetes.  Worldwide, despite comprising just a quarter of the population, South Asians account for 60 percent of all heart disease cases.  In the United States, South Asian Americans have a significantly higher risk of mortality from coronary heart disease than the general population.  Earlier recognition and treatment of this community’s specific risk factors for heart disease is therefore essential to mitigate disease burden and reduce disparities in care and outcomes.   The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Rese

 WHITE HOUSE  FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Marks Important New Milestone in Administration’s Efforts to Cut Costs for American Families   Vice President announces that since GetInternet.gov launch in May, Administration has signed up 1 million new households to save hundreds of dollars a year on internet service Access to high-speed internet is no longer a luxury. Still, too many families go without high-speed internet because of the cost or have to cut back on other essentials to make their monthly internet service payments.  That’s why President Biden and Vice President Harris worked with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to include the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which  provides $65 billion  to expand internet for all — to ensure that every American has access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet.   See also : The Susan Muffley Act Photo/Verizon home Internet   The ACP, administered by the Federal Communications C