US Executive Branch Update

US Executive Branch Update – April 23, 2021

by: Stacy A. Swanson of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP - Capital Thinking Blog

Friday, April 23, 2021

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Administrative & Regulatory, Coronavirus News

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

9:15 a.m. EDT – The President delivers remarks and participates in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 5:The Economic Opportunities of Climate Action | East Room

11:00 a.m. EDT – The President receives the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

1:45 p.m. EDT – The President receives the Weekly Economic Briefing | Oval Office

2:45 p.m. EDT – The President participates in a virtual U.S. Department of Defense Senior Leaders Conference | Situation Room

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

9:25 a.m. EDT – the Vice President will travel to Plymouth and Concord, New Hampshire

11:55 a.m. EDT – the Vice President will hold a listening session on the American Jobs Plan’s investments in broadband at New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in Plymouth

2:00 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will take a tour of IBEW Local 490 with apprentices and staff in Concord

2:40 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will deliver remarks on the American Jobs Plan’s investments in workforce development and infrastructure

4:45 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will depart New Hampshire en route Washington, D.C.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

11:00 a.m. EDT – Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and public health officials | The White House

11:30 p.m. [stet] EDT – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

Recap of Thursday, April 22, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19, the American Jobs Plan and reopening developments.

The White House

Remarks by President Biden at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Opening Session
Remarks by President Biden at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Session 2: Investing in Climate Solutions
Remarks by Vice President Harris at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate Opening Session
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Advances Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Fact Sheet: President Biden Sets 2030 Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs and Securing U.S. Leadership on Clean Energy Technologies
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Outlines Key Resources to Invest in Coal and Power Plant Community Economic Revitalization | April 23, 2021
Executive Summary: U.S. International Climate Finance Plan
Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, and National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, April 22, 2021
Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi of Indonesia
Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Plan Empowers and Protects Workers | April 23, 2021
Nominations: President Biden Announces 12 Key Climate and Infrastructure Administration Nominations
Nominations Sent to the Senate
Proclamation on Earth Day, 2021

Department of Defense (DOD)

Transcript: Secretary Austin Remarks at Climate Change Summit
Press Release: DOD Announces Installation Climate Exposure Assessments Plan Through the Defense Climate Assessment Tool
Article: Defense Secretary Calls Climate Change an Existential Threat
Article: Deputy Secretary Discusses Climate Crisis, DOD Response
Article: DOD Using Climate Assessment Tool to Understand Impacts of Climate Change
Article: Official Describes Impacts of Climate Change, Standup of Working Group
Article: DOD Working to Mitigate Climate Change Effects on Installations
Article: Action Team Leads DOD Efforts to Adapt to Climate Change Effects
Transcript: Navy Adm. Charles A. Richard, Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Holds a Press Briefing
Article: Military Leaders Discuss Defense Authorization Request, Future Years Defense Program
Article: Nuclear Triad Modernization the Nation’s Highest Priority, Admiral Says
Press Release: DOD Announces Winners of the 2021 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards
Article: DOD Announces 2021 Environmental Award Winners
Contracts for April 22, 2021

Department of State

Daily Schedule | Friday, April 23
April 22: Remarks | Opening Remarks at the Virtual Leaders Summit on Climate
April 22: Fact Sheet | Bureau of Energy Resources: Clean Energy Diplomacy on Climate
April 22: Statement | Earth Day 2021
April 22: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Kamilov
April 22: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Kazakhstan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tileuberdi
April 22: Transcript | Briefing with Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle Ricardo Zuniga on Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts to Address the Root Causes of Irregular Migration from Central America
April 22: U.S.-India Joint Statement | Launching the “U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership”
April 22: Statement | OPCW Condemns Syria’s Repeated Use of Chemical Weapons
April 22: Remarks | Introductory Remarks for Youth Speaker Xiye Bastida
April 22: Statement | Congratulations on Cabo Verde’s Parliamentary Elections
April 22: Statement | ANZAC Day
April 22: Statement | Annual Greening Diplomacy Initiative Award Winners Announced
April 22: Statement | Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute
April 22: Transcript | Department Press Briefing

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

Press Release: Leaders Summit on Climate | USAID Announcements
Press Release: Commemorating Earth Day 2021

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

Statement: UN Security Council Press Statement on Ethiopia
Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a Panel Discussion on Climate Security during the White House Leaders Summit on Climate
Remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East

Department of the Treasury

Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen at the Leaders Summit on Climate
Press Release: Two Million More Economic Impact Payments Disbursed Under the American Rescue Plan; Total Reaches Approximately 161 million as Payments Continue

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Press Release: Alex Oh Named SEC Director of Enforcement

Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
Statement by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Earth Day
Press Release: D. Chemist Convicted of Conspiracy to Steal Trade Secrets, Economic Espionage, Theft of Trade Secrets and Wire Fraud
Press Release: Six Language Recruiters Indicted for Recruiting Unqualified Linguists for Deployment with U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan
Press Release: Iowa Woman Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime Charges for Attempting to Kill Two Children Because of their Race and National Origin
Press Release: Five Individuals Charged for Roles in $65 Million Nationwide Conspiracy to Defraud Federal Health Care Programs
Press Release: Justice Department Finds that Alameda County, California, Violates the Americans with Disabilities Act and the U.S. Constitution
Press Release: Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for ISIS-inspired Bombing in New York City Subway Station in 2017
Press Release: Justice Department Warns Taxpayers to Avoid Fraudulent Tax Preparers

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on the Confirmation of Deanne Criswell as FEMA Administrator
Press Release: Secretary Mayorkas Announces New DHS Commitments to Address the Climate Crisis at Leaders Summit on Climate
Press Release: Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’ Virtual Meeting with European Commission’s Commissioner for Justice
Press Release: Yuma Sector Canine Alert Leads to Meth and Gun (Arizona)
Press Release: CBP Officers at the Laredo Port of Entry Seize Hard Narcotics Worth Over $11 Million (Texas)
Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol Apprehend Three Criminals in Less Than 24 Hours (Texas)
Press Release: Three Large Groups of Migrants Encountered in the RGV (Texas)
Press Release: CBP Announces Opening of Sheboygan County Memorial Airport User Fee Facility (Wisconsin)
Press Release: Philadelphia CBP Scores Ecstasy Trifecta (Pennsylvania)
Press Release: CBP at JFK Seize Various Prohibitive Food Items (New York)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Press Release: FEMA Seeks Public Comments on Future Program Delivery (re: Climate Change) (Washington, D.C.)
Press Release: Paulding County, Ohio, Residents Invited to Attend Flood Map Open House
Press Release: President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Tennessee
Press Release: FEMA is Supporting Several COVID-19 Vaccination Sites for Hampton Road Residents (Virginia)
Press Release: FEMA approves $7.18 million for Bay District Schools Hurricane Michael recovery expenses (Florida)
Press Release: FEMA Awards City of Jacksonville $2.45 Million for Hurricane Dorian Costs (Florida)
Press Release: FEMA Awards over $6.2 Million for Ecotourism Facilities (Puerto Rico)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on Earth Day

Department of Commerce

Press Release: Happy Earth Day!

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Statement by FTC Acting Chairwoman Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling in AMG Capital Management LLC v. FTC
Press Release: Cash Advance Firm to Pay $9.8M to Settle FTC Complaint It Overcharged Small Businesses

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

Press Release: DFC Achieves First Close of $100 Million Loan to WaterEquity’s Global Access Fund to Improve Access to Water and Sanitation | April 23, 2021
Press Release: DFC Commits to Net Zero by 2040, Increases Climate-focused Investments

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

Press Release: EXIM Announces Chair’s Council on Climate to Advise on Increasing Support for U.S. Clean Energy Exports

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Press Release: On Earth Day, USDA Invests $487 Million in Rural Water, Energy, and Biofuel Infrastructure

Department of Energy (DOE)

Press Release: DOE Announces $109.5 Million to Support Jobs and Economic Growth in Coal and Power Plant Communities | April 23, 2021
Statement by Secretary Granholm on President Biden’s Latest Department of Energy Nominees
U.S.-India Joint Statement on Launching the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership

Department of Interior (DOI)

Press Release: Secretary Haaland’s Earth Day Message
Press Release: Secretary Haaland Continues Pursuit of Justice in Indian Country, Begins Implementation of ‘Not Invisible Act’
Press Release: White House Announces Additional Interior Leadership Nominations

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Link: Other Daily EPA Press Releases
Press Release: EPA Region 7 Launches 2021 ‘See a Bloom, Give It Room: Urban Waters Edition’ Video Challenge
Press Release: EPA Selects West Virginia University Research Corporation for $1 Million Training and Technical Assistance Funding
Press Release: EPA New England Celebrates Earth Day by Opening Nomination Period for Annual Environmental Merit Awards

Department of Transportation

Press Release: NHTSA Advances Biden-Harris Administration’s Climate & Jobs Goals

Department of Labor

Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor announces funding opportunity to support workforce training in Appalachian, Lower Mississippi Delta communities

Department of Education

Press Release: Education Department Announces State Allocations of $800 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness | April 23, 2021
Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools Announced

Health & Human Services (HHS)

Press Release: Long Beach Emergency Intake Site for Unaccompanied Children Opens Today
Press Release: HHS Launches ‘We Can Do This | Live’ Initiative to Increase COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence