Politics. On Point.

On Monday, December 27, 2021, the President signed into law  S. 1605, the “ National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022,” which authorizes fiscal year 2022 appropriations principally for Department of Defense programs and military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, and intelligence programs; specifies a military basic pay increase and other authorities relating to the U.S. Armed Forces.  The NDAA strengthens the All-Volunteer Force and improves the quality of life of the men and women of the Active Duty, National Guard, Reserves, the families, and DOD civilian personnel while reinforcing the principles of a strong, diverse and inclusive force. U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) praise their bicameral, bipartisan efforts in support of the legislation as President Biden thanks Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL), and other members of the Senate an...

Former senator Harry (D-NV) Reid passed Tuesday, December 28. He was one of the longest running and most impactful senators Congress had the pleasure of working with, serving from 1987 to 2015. Reid branded himself as a hard worker from Searchlight, NV who "wasn't a genius", nor the "best looking." RELATED: A good read about Reid,  oppositions included. Scores of colleagues, friends, and naturally the Biden administration, shared their thoughts and remembrances of Reid.  Wrote President Biden, " During the two decades we served together in the United States Senate, and the eight years we worked together while I served as Vice President,  Harry  met the marker for what I’ve always believed is the most important thing by which you can measure a person—their action and their word." Vice President Kamala Harris remembered Reid as the person who " made a meaningful difference in people’s lives", recounting how he had worked for working families an...

  First Lady Dr. Jill Biden relents on holidays past and remarks on the first Biden White House Christmas.  Each first lady creates a theme for their Christmas holiday.  (One of the many Christmas themes during First Lady Michelle Obama's tenure was Shine, Give, Share ). The Biden holiday theme is Gifts From The Heart .   In the above video you can see the different gift-themed decorations for various White House rooms, all exceptionally luminated for the season with a special nod to the military and Gold-Star families, the arts, nature, friendship and more.  First Lady Biden made remarks during the revealing of the Biden White House Christmas, which are available below. "We all have our own traditions that make the holidays special—whether it’s decorating the tree together or watching your favorite Christmas movie; the annual family photo by the fireplace; or fishing out that faded, butter-stained recipe that takes you right back to baking with your grandm...

Initial External Contributions In Response to Vice President Kamala Harris’s Call to Action to Reduce Maternal Mortality and Morbidity   On behalf of the Biden-Harris Administration, Vice President Harris is issuing a nationwide Call to Action to both the public and private sectors to help improve health outcomes for parents and infants in the United States. Below are initial external contributions to kick off the White House Maternal Health Day of Action. Read more about the Day of Action  here. (listed alphabetically ) The   Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)  is announcing that they will hold a Maternal Health Incubator on May 24-25. This Incubator will consist of a two-day virtual convening to better understand the data needed to effectively address maternal health inequities. Participants will identify and share evidence-based strategies to decrease racial/ethnic maternal health gaps, and will develop an action plan aimed at eliminating existing ine...

President Biden: My winter plan fights COVID with testing and vaccines and without lockdowns     I know that Americans are exhausted from COVID-19 and want to know when it will end, and the new variant is adding to that unease. I get it. Read also: Omicron can hit the doubled-vaccinated I pledged to always be straight with the American people and tell you the truth. Here’s the truth about the new omicron variant: While it is a cause for concern, it is not a cause for panic. Experts say that COVID-19 cases will continue to rise in the weeks ahead this winter, and that we will see more omicron cases here in the United States in the days, weeks and months ahead. Our best scientists and doctors are on the case and gathering data, but early indications are that our vaccines will provide a measure of protection against this strain. We have the tools to protect ourselves and battle this virus, and I’m laying out a plan to do just that this winter. Photo/mindsamericana.com We are goin...

FACT SHEET: Vice President Kamala Harris Announces New Commitments as Part of the  Call to Action  for the Private Sector to Deepen Investment in Central America, Now Totaling Over $1.2 Billion CARE International, Cargill, Grupo Mariposa, Parkdale Mills, PepsiCo, JDE Peet’s, and PriceSmart announce commitments to support economic development in northern Central America, as part of a conference convened by the State Department, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Partnership for Central America to support investment in the region. Photo/ Source   As part of her role addressing the root causes of migration from Central America, Vice President Kamala Harris announced seven new commitments as part of the  Call to Action  she launched on May 27 for businesses and social enterprises to make new, significant commitments to sustainably address the root causes of migration by promoting economic opportunity. Commitments announced today include those from: CARE Inte...

  Statement of President Joe Biden  On Passage of the Build Back Better Act  in the U.S. House of Representatives   Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act to take another giant step forward in carrying out my economic plan to create jobs, reduce costs, make our country more competitive, and give working people and the middle class a fighting chance.   The Build Back Better Act is fiscally responsible. It reduces the deficit over the long-term. It’s fully paid for by making sure that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations begin to pay their fair share in federal taxes. It keeps my commitment that no one earning less than $400,000 a year will pay a penny more in federal taxes.   Leading economists and independent experts on Wall Street have confirmed that it will not add to inflationary pressures. Instead, it will boost the capacity of our economy and reduce costs for millions of families.   Here are...

Al Aribiya bureau chief, Nadia Charter, gives us an inside report on the meeting between President Biden and Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, Thursday.  Kenya is a country in East Africa. The Republic of Kenya borders the Indian Ocean to the southeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Sudan to the northwest, Ethiopia to the north, and Somalia to the northeast.  The meeting was the first time Biden has met with an African head-of-state since becoming U.S president.   Source: AP photo Pool report reads as follows: Pool was ushered to Oval office around 3:20 pm. President Biden welcomed Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and made a joke about allowing the US to stay at the United Nations  Security Council . President Uhuru spoke in English. He highlighted the discussion that will take place on four areas of cooperation.   Covid Vaccine and increase dosages to Africa Counter terrorism Climate Change Trade and investment The Kenya delegation included : H...

  FACT SHEET: President Biden’s Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better   September 22, 2021   Today, President Biden convened heads of state and leaders from international organizations, the private sector, philanthropies, non-government organizations, and other partners for the Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better, a virtual summit on the margins of the UN General Assembly.   The President called on leaders to elevate global ambition to end the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022 and to build back better global health security to prevent and prepare for future pandemics.  As emerging variants have set back global response efforts, President Biden challenged the world to advance this agenda with new, focused urgency and to cooperate to rapidly advance our collective response to this crisis to secure our future.   Conquering COVID-19: Measuring Progress, Collective Action, Common Targets   Throughout t...

  EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   ADDING MEASLES TO THE LIST OF QUARANTINABLE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 264(b) of title 42, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section   1 .   Amendment to Executive Order 13295 .  Based upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Surgeon General, and for the purposes set forth in section 1 of Executive Order 13295 of April 4, 2003 (Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), section 1 of Executive Order 13295, as amended by Executive Order 13375 of April 1, 2005 (Amendment to Executive Order 13295 Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), and Executive Order 13674 of July 31, 2014 (Revised List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases), shall be further amended by adding "Measles" to the ...

  September 14, 2021   NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, 2021   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION   During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize that Hispanic heritage is American heritage.  We see it in every aspect of our national life:  on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy.  We benefit from the many contributions of Hispanic scientists working in labs across the country to help us fight COVID-19 and the doctors and the nurses on the front lines caring for people's health.  Our Nation is represented by Hispanic diplomats who share our values in countries all over the world and strengthened by military members and their families who serve and sacrifice for the United States.  Our communities are represented by Hispanic elected officials, and our children are taught by Hispanic teachers.  Our future will be ...

Fox News reporter, Lawrence Jones, talks to a Texas resident about conditions at the Texas border where migrants continue to pour in from South America and Haiti seeking asylum in the U.S. Texas resident Alison Anderson voices her concern over migrant trespassing, COVID-19 (and other health issues), border patrol agent job performance and more.  The treatment of Afghans vs the treatment of Haitians. It was less than a week ago that the world watched as the U.S. offered free plane rides to America for people of Afghanistan after the Taliban took over when U.S. troops departed the country after a twenty-year war stemming from terrorist attacks on several U.S. cities on September 11, 2001. In contrast, the U.S. has begun  flying Haitians back  to their native country.  READ: The Economic Benefits of Extending Permanent Legal Status to Unauthorized Immigrants In August U.S. president, Joe Biden, put out a very brief statement pledging that Haiti would have the support o...